The Butterfly Effect | Levi x Reader

Chapter 4

You sighed heavily as you dragged your many grocery bags through the seemingly too small doorway and heaved them onto the marble countertop. Levi, who was still invested in your text book, glanced up at you struggling with the plastic bags and moved to help you after a moment's hesitation.

"Thanks," you mumbled half-heartedly under your breath.

"No problem," his response equally as dull. He took note of you beginning to unpack the bags and followed suit, pulling out item after item and placing them on the counter.

"I got it, it's fine," you shooed him away, waving your hand in the direction of the kitchen table "you wouldn't know where any of my things go anyways. Go back to reading since you seem to enjoy my boring biology textbook so much," you chortled.

"How is it boring?" he paused with a box of pancake mix in his hands, cocking his head to the side and narrowing his steely grey eyes at you quizzically.

"I don't know, I've never actually thought about it," you mused, "I guess I've just always been more drawn to physics and mechanics instead of biology. You know . . . stuff you can physically calculate and there's a finite answer on the page in front of you, no uncertainty or variability."

"So the stuff this book claims isn't totally true?" his brows knit together as he grew more confused by your explanation.

"Well, no. I mean, it's true because we can prove it through experiments and whatnot, but some of the things explained in the book such as how our bodies work and how the universe began are just very good guesses. Many people strictly believe in this science, but I think a more popular opinion would just sum all life up to God's work," you rambled on.

"And you believe . . . ?" he trailed off.

"Oh I believe in God – to an extent. But I also believe in science. I don't think that I have a perfect vision of him like some religions state and what other people imagine God to be, but I also don't think all of the beauty in the world and the miracle of life could have come to be through any other means but by an all-powerful force. That's my definition of God," you explained in a quickened tone, arms flailing about in all sorts of gestures. Levi couldn't help but smile at the evident passion that lit a fire in your amber eyes when you spoke of this stuff. It was inspiring. A pang of worry hit his chest however when he saw your expression turn from spirited to one of concern and slight anger.

"So there's religion here too?" Levi asked almost under his breath, taking note of the change in the atmosphere of the room.

"How can you be hearing this for the first time? I mean, even a person with amnesia would understand how basic biology works and what God is! And what do you mean by 'here too'? Where are you from?" you bombarded him with questions. Levi remained silent, which only angered you further. "Look, I can tell that you're hiding something. I mean, it doesn't take a rocket-scientis-"

"What in the hell is a rocket?" Levi cut you off.

"Okay," you huffed impatiently and pinched the bride of your nose in an attempt to calm yourself. "Here's the bottom line. I am 99.9 percent sure you are lying to me about losing your memory. I don't know if you are in some kind of trouble or are having financial issues or whatever," you threw your arms in the air in frustration, "I don't care about any of that. I'm not going to judge you, whatever your deal is. But I simply can't have a fucking stranger – especially a man – staying in my house if I don't know your motives and background. I know you said you wanted to leave as soon as possible but I don't exactly see you leaping for the door, and I can tell you need help. I want to help, but in order to do that you need to be honest with me. Okay? Honesty is my only policy, and I've got a damn good bullshit detector."

You worried you had overdone it, because as the steam left you following your rant, looking into Levi's vacant stare revealed dancing shadows of conflict and horror in his normally guarded eyes that raised the hair on the back of your neck. You knew in that instant that his story would not be a mundane one. "Hey," you gingerly rested your hand on his forearm in an attempt to ground him. You nearly let out a gasp when he flinched at your touch, but then seemed to relax into your warm gesture which put you at ease. "I didn't mean to be so harsh. You must have been through a lot. I just . . . need to look out for myself too; as a single female in my twenties living alone in a city," you explained gently.

"I understand," he whispered, "I wish I could explain, but I can't," he said, words barely audible and pained. You suddenly felt a pang of guilt at causing him such conflict.

"Why not?" you softly inquired.

"I just can't."

"That's not an excuse."

"For fuck's sake I can't tell you Kat! This is better for both of us this way!" his outburst had pulled a loud gasp from you. But what had shocked you more than him raising his voice was that was the first time he had called you by name. It felt foreign, almost alien to you in the best way and you couldn't put your finger on why. "S-sorry," he stuttered quietly and averted his gaze from yours, quickly becoming embarrassed at the lack of space between your bodies.

"I have to get ready for work. I leave in half an hour," was your only cold reply to him, trying to hide your own embarrassment. You brushed past him and made your way into your room to get changed for work.

What the absolute fuck was that? You thought to yourself as you pulled on your reliable black jeans and a long sleeved scoop-necked top, pulling your unruly dark brown hair from the shirt and into a loose pony tail and quickly swiping your mascara on. Gotta make tips one way or another, you darkly joked with yourself while addressing your suggestive appearance in the mirror. You sighed heavily and made your way to the kitchen.

"There's bread andfruit on the counter and you can help yourself to whatever's in the fridge fordinner," you said over your shoulder, not mustering the courage to even look atLevi at the moment. "I'll see you later," you said as you gathered your thingsand shut the door (maybe a little too hard) behind you. One last glimpse overyour shoulder revealed Levi staring incredulously at a picture of a pod of bluewhales in your biology book.