𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 || 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟎 : 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜

Toji's usual warmth and affability had given way to an unsettling silence, a noticeable chill that had settled over him like a cloak. It had been a stark transformation, one that had occurred in the instant after he had caught Levi and me kissing in the hospital room.

The memory of that moment still lingered, a potent and awkward tableau that had left an unforgettable mark on our dynamics.

With all of us struggling to articulate our feelings and concerns. After what had felt like an eternity – a grueling half hour of worn-out conversation and unresolved tension – I had made a decision. I would stay at Toji's place, surrounded by the comforting familiarity of his home, and Levi would stay with us if he wished to.

The decision had been motivated by a desire for comfort and security, a need to surround myself with the reassuring presence of friends and the soothing rhythms of a familiar environment.

Toji's place had always been a sanctuary, a warm and welcoming space that had offered me comfort and peace in times of restlessness. And now, as I navigated the treacherous waters of my feelings for Levi, I knew that I needed the stability and reassurance that Toji's home provided.

I stood beside Levi, my curiosity piqued as I followed his gaze to the wall of photos that adorned Toji's living room. The images, frozen in time, told a story of laughter, adventure, and friendship, with Toji's infectious smile and my own goofy grin featuring prominently in many of the shots. "What are you looking at?" I asked Levi, my voice barely above a whisper.

Levi didn't respond, his eyes remaining fixed on the photos as if mesmerized by the memories they held. I filled the silence, launching into a story, "He was always the one with the camera," I said, a nostalgic smile spreading across my face. "He'd snap photos of everything, capturing moments that we'd otherwise forget."

Levi's gaze never wavered, his eyes drinking in the images as if searching for something hidden beneath the surface. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and measured. "Most of the pictures are of you in them," he said, his words simple yet laced with a depth of emotion that caught me off guard.

I felt a flutter in my chest as I realized that Levi had been studying the photos, not just looking at them, but really seeing the memories and emotions that they represented. "Yeah," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "Toji and I were close during high school."

Levi's gaze lingered on mine, his eyes searching for something, before he finally looked away, his attention returning to the photos on the wall. "looks like you two were inseparable," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness.

I nodded, a smile spreading across my face. "We were," I said, my voice filled with nostalgia. "We went through a lot together."

Levi's eyes flicked back to mine, his gaze intense. "I can see that," he said, his voice low and husky.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I met Levi's gaze, the air between us charged with a sense of tension and awareness.

"It's weird," he muttered, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness, as if the very idea of Toji and me being close was somehow unsettling to him.

Levi's gaze remained fixed on the images, his expression unreadable, as if he was searching for something more, something that lay just beneath the surface of our seemingly harmless friendship.