What Dreams May Come

Chapter 8: who hates toes?

Levi woke up suddenly, half expecting to be back in the cryo box. The room and the bed were disorienting, but he remembered where he was before he started to panic. What time was it?

He rolled out of bed, staring at his toes before daring to stand. His legs weren't shaking this time, which was nice; hopefully Dylan would show him more of the base so he could start finding his way around. And he would need a job, he decided. People kept mentioning this free week that he and Dylan had, but Levi knew that he would need some sort of occupation for credits and respectability.

He pulled his jacket off and left it draped on the bed before heading out to the main room. Dylan wasn't there as he had hoped, but he took the time to acquaint himself with the bathroom and the shower. He hadn't showered in over a hundred years, he laughed to himself. Hopefully the mechanics hadn't changed much.

There were a couple towels already folded over the rack and he undressed, peering at the knobs with more confusion than he would have liked. The water was icy at first, but at least it was functional and warmed up fairly quickly. He used Dylan's soap, hoping she wouldn't mind, and felt more awake for being clean.

He turned off the water and was just about to reach for a towel when someone rapped on the bathroom door.

"Levi?"

"I'll be out in a sec, I just have to towel off," he called.

"Pas mal," she responded.

He was surprised at the French but dried off quickly; staring at the clothes he had changed out of. He hadn't brought any others inside, and wasn't too sure that Dylan would like it if he emerged from the bathroom wearing only a towel. He decided to forgo his shirt, hoping that Dylan had printed some yesterday. If not, then it wouldn't be the worst to wear the same shirt two days in a row. He opened the bathroom door, expecting Dylan to be standing there. But he spotted her on the couch, peering through one of his books.

"I'm out," he said. "Sorry, I didn't know if you were up."

"You figure out the shower?"

"Barely," he admitted. "Do I have any more shirts?"

She glanced up at him, setting the book down. She snorted.

"You are so pale," she complained. "Is that from being in cryo?"

"I think I've always been this way," he answered. "Though, maybe less spindly. I had some muscle mass before, or at least, that's what I'm telling myself and so will tell you the same thing."

She rolled her eyes, rising from the couch to peer through a box. She tossed a shirt at him; it was the same dull grey that she was wearing. Levi pulled it over his head and then ran his fingers through his hair, getting the longer pieces out of his eyes. It didn't make much of a difference; his hair had grown too long to sit nicely against his head. Had it grown in cryo; there was no way his father had let him have it this long.

"So what's the plan for today?" he inquired.

"Visit Lisel and thank her for leaving so much behind, inquire about buying a disc player, visit the comm bay, and maybe meet up with Alcott and the others once they get out of work." Dylan ticked these things off her fingers. "I've already eaten. We can go as soon as you put on some shoes."

"Are feet scandalous nowadays?" Levi asked, wriggling his toes.

"Non, but they're...feet. Feet are gross," Dylan responded.

Levi glanced down at his toes. They didn't seem gross. Was this a girl thing?

"They're not gross," he laughed, stepping towards her. "Everyone has feet. See?"

He raised his foot, nearly touching her. Dylan scrunched up her face and took a step back.

"Don't touch me with those," she told him.

Levi wasn't one to forgo a challenge and so he took a step closer. She already had shoes on, he noted. He'd have to be careful, or she'd stomp on his bare feet. Dylan protested again, and in a bizarre turn he darted around the couch, just as Dylan jumped over it. She backed away to the counter, her features sliding between a fierce scowl to a playful smile.

"So what do your feet look like?" Levi teased.

Her eyes went wide, and he grabbed her around her waist, sitting them both down on the couch with her squealing her protests. Her cap fell off and her curls were freed from its hold. Levi paused, noting that for the first time since he'd met her, she wasn't carefully composed.

"How are you stronger than me?" she demanded, punching him in the arm. "I've seen noodles with more heft. Let me go."

"Nah. I'm comfortable here," he grinned. "Did you triple knot your shoes? Dylan, no one cares this much about your feet."

"I don't like tripping," she retorted, trying to unlock his hold on her. He leaned forward, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I'm not so spindly now, am I?" he smiled.

"Whatever," Dylan sighed, leaning back against him.

They sat like that for a while, as if trying out what it would be like to be a real couple. Levi wasn't certain how Dylan felt about him now, but perhaps with work they could be all right.

"So I have a question," Levi said. "Moonshy. Where did it come from and what does it mean?"

"What do you mean?" she asked. "It's just a word."

"Never heard it before yesterday," he told her. "And I know four languages, mind."

She snorted. "It's like...foolish or silly. It could be your last name."

"Why? You want to be Mrs. Moonshy?"

Dylan groaned. "Levi, come on. We have a lot to do and sitting on this couch isn't going to get that disc player, is it?"

"Ah, you know my weakness," he laughed, releasing Dylan.

She stood up, picking up her cap and tucking her curls back under it. He couldn't help the sigh as she did so. Dylan scowled.

"You and my madre," she said. "It's just hair."

"My hair will never be that fun and curly," he replied. "Mine just sits on my head like it hasn't found anything better to do."

She reached over and tousled his wet hair, parting it at the side. Fewer strands were in his face and Dylan nodded approvingly.

"Anything else we need?" she asked. "Non? Let's go."

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My housemate also is weird about feet. I don't have such a...neurosis about them. Dylan has her girly moments, right? 
I've been flying solo for quite sometime and find feedback to be magical. You are magical.
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