Guiding Light

Chapter 11: Stay Through the Storm

Chapter 11: Stay Through the Storm

Levi can do nothing but stare at the door with Nico. He can't wrap his mind around what had just happened, and he didn't even know what happened in the final moments as the exchange had taken place in Korean.

He looks at Nico who seems to be in a state of shock. Levi places his hand on Nico's shoulder and squeezes it gently. Levi opens and closes his mouth multiple times, knowing nothing he says can make the other feel better at this point. Sure, Levi's mother had reacted badly at first, but she had come around. Some hurtful things had been said around the table, and Levi didn't know what the exchange in Korean had entailed. Levi wasn't sure if Nico's parents would come around, the way that they had looked at the two of them spoke volumes.

"Are you..." of course he's not OK, "come on, let's go sit down," he says instead and moves his hand to Nico's back, silently encouraging him to move towards the couch. Nico does as he is told, and they both sit down.

"Well, I knew they would not take it well," Nico says after another moment of silence.

"What, uh, what did they say after you started to speak in Korean?"

Nico explains everything. Levi's eyes widen at Mrs. Kim's declaration about not having a son.

"W-what? Oh, Nico..." Levi says and can feel tears well into his own eyes. He does his best to fight them as this is not about his pain. He quickly wipes the one tear that escaped.

"Nico, I-," he tries to come up with the right words, but he knows from experience there are no right words in a situation like this, "I'm here, whatever you need, okay?" is all he can say. Nico finally turns to face him, and Levi can see that he has heard him and that he appreciates it. Nico nods a bit, and then leans his head on Levi's shoulder.

Levi keeps fighting his own tears for another minute, until their moment is interrupted by both of their pagers going off on the side table.

"I'll get it," Levi says, reaching for them both while still keeping his arm around Nico.

"911 from the hospital," Levi says, and quickly reaches for his phone. It has ten missed calls from Taryn, and one text after that.

Massive flooding and landslides across town, multiple casualties and hundreds injured. Need you NOW.

Levi reads the message out loud to Nico, and they both get up quickly.

"Are you OK to work?" Levi has to ask.

"Yes, I'm fine, it will get my mind off this," Nico says as he puts on his jacket. Levi does the same and they exit through the door.

-

They are driving through the storm with low visibility. There is traffic in front of them, moving as slowly as they are.

"Come on, come on," Nico says and beeps the horn.

"That won't help, there must be miles of traffic in front of us," Levi says and moves his head to try to have a look in front.

They sit in silence for another moment before Levi speaks, "We should talk about what happened while we have the time."

"I really don't want to talk about my parents disowning me right now," Nico answers.

"It's going to be a long night with multiple injuries, don't you think-," Levi starts, but Nico interrupts.

"Levi, I said I don't want to talk about it."

Levi purses his lips at that, but has no time to answer before he hears a thunder-like noise coming from above them.