I'll hold you close

Chapter 4

Nicky kept some distance from Levi while he got used to Litchfield, wanting him to be able to adapt on his own. It was hard to watch him navigate the prison on his own but she knew he had to. His first morning, Nicky woke up and saw him already changing out of his sleepwear and into his orange uniform. She discreetly watched him for a moment as he pulled his shirt off over his head. She noticed the bruises which covered his back and chest, dark blue and purple like watercolour all over his body. She wondered where they all came from.

She also noticed how beautiful he was. His top surgery scars formed neat curves under his pecs, framing them perfectly.

He was perfect.

She also noticed he had been given panties to wear instead of boxers. She felt bad, but she had to admit he looked pretty cute in them.

She looked away as he turned back towards his bunk and slid his orange shirt over his head, pretending she hadn't noticed him at all. It was so weird for her to feel this nervous, but she was determined not to let it show in her actions. He sat back down on his bunk, and she waited a moment before hopping down from her own. She began to undress, and noticed that he was in a similar position to the one she had just been in, trying and failing not to stare. He wasn't quite as discreet about it as she had been though.

She purposely placed her clothes on her bunk above him and pulled off her shirt, leaving her in only a sports bra. This way, every time she reached for something, he'd be staring at her tits. She smiled, satisfied when his cheeks burned bright red. She grabbed her sandals and towel, and headed towards the shower rooms.

On her way, she passed Sophia Burset, who was just leaving the showers and heading back to her bunk.

"Hey, Burset, could I have a word?"

"What can I do for you?" She asked Nicky, raising an eyebrow at her. The two rarely spoke so she was rightfully cautious of the sudden interaction.

"Listen, there's a new inmate that just came in and I was just hoping I could ask you to keep an eye on him."

"Him?"

"Him." Nicky repeated.

Understanding registered on Sophia's face but she still had some questions.

"And you care about this boy?" She asked.

"Look, I just thought it would be nice if he had someone around that he could maybe trust a little more, that's all." She answered, dodging the question.

"Alright, I'll look out for him, but only if you admit you care."

"Burset c'mon-"

"No, no. Tell me the truth."

"Alright fine, I care about him okay? His whole situation just seems really hard, but I don't wanna come on too strong. I want him to carve out a space for himself before I get too close y'know?"

"Okay honey, I understand, but for the record, I know your reputation and you always come on a little strong."

Nicky ignored the jab and thanked Sophia before continuing to the showers.

In the mess hall, Nicky sat down with her usual group. She noticed Levi standing in the line trying to look unbothered, but she could feel the anxious energy radiating from him. He got his food and walked slowly through the rows of tables, until Sophia waved him over. Nicky shot her a grateful look.

"Hey hon, why don't you come sit with me?" Sophia asked him.

He nodded and slid into the seat across from her, looking relieved.

"It's your first full day right?" she asked him and he nodded again.

"How's it going so far?" she asked.

"People keep staring and whispering." he answered quietly.

"Yeah, they'll do that for a while. They did it to me." she told him. Understanding registered in his face.

"But eventually they get used to you." She added.

"It's just that here, everyone knows." He told her. "There is no passing, there is no flying under the radar, everyone knows why I'm here."

"I know honey, it's hard. Just know I've got your back. In our community, we have to."

He gave her a small smile, glad to have this connection.

Nicky didn't see Levi much for the rest of the day. He didn't have a work assignment yet, and she was busy with hers, doing odd maintenance jobs around the prison. She passed him in the hall on her way to fix a laundry machine, and he gave her a smile and a nod, which she returned. Even this small action made her heart flutter a little bit and she hated herself for that. When had she gone soft?

Part of her hoped he'd be in their room when she returned at the end of her shift, but he wasn't. She read in her bunk until dinner.

Levi sat with Sophia again in the mess hall and Nicky glanced over every so often to see them caught up in conversation. She was happy they were getting along so well.

"You keep staring at that new inmate, what's going on there?" Vause asked her about halfway through the meal.

"Yeah you seem pretty interested." Piper added.

"Guys. What's your deal? I barely looked over there and you're both on my ass about it." She dodged the questions the same way she had with Burset.

Thankfully, they both backed off pretty quickly, too consumed with each other to be interested in other people's lives for very long.

She returned to thinking about seeing him that night, and about how he had looked changing that morning.