Nothing in my head but finding Levi.
Modern AU - Levi owns a club
Being the eldest of many siblings, you put food on other people's plates before yours. You carried responsibilities too much overweight for on your shoulders. And you were always there one text or one call away. You knew loneliness and tiredness like a twin, and it made you the person your family and friends call when things went wrong because you didn't want your loved ones to feel the way you felt.
Levi grew up alone in the poorest part of the city. He knew only strength and power could keep him alive. He was introduced to pain, death and hunger at a young age, and he would do anything to keep himself safe until the next sunrise. He started selling cheap liquor to clubs, ended up being a bouncer, and now he owned a club himself.
And it was a call from your younger sisters that made you met at his club.
Your sister was crying when you picked up the call. They snucked into the club with fake identification, and met with people from the wrong side of the city. The moment you jumped out of your secondhand beat-up car, Levi already had his eyes on you. It didn't cross your mind then, how you managed to pushed pass the bouncers at the entrance so easily.
And when you found them, crying together in one of the private rooms, your became a mama bear. You put yourself between your sisters and full grown men, arguing to leave. But were you so wrong. You couldn't pay for the expensive liquor your sister broke. And you couldn't fight any of the men in the room.
The leader of the group was pulling on your collar when the music stopped and the lights turned on. Levi, hands crossed in front of his chest, and two bouncers almost twice his height stood at the door. "Hands off the girl," Levi said.
"Why, Levi, that's my girl. We're just having fun," the man put his arm around your waist and you struggled to escape from his embrace.
The bouncers walked into the room. The man pushed you onto the floor while moving away to the other side of the room as the bouncers put distance between you and them. You quickly pulled your sisters into your arms.
Levi sat down on the leather sofa in a soft thud. He crossed his legs and claimed that the liquor was from his club and it had not been paid. The leader claimed it was his credit card on the tab, and would eventually be charged on him. He was just trying to collect "the girls' fair share of what they had".
Levi thought for a moment, and said, "it's my liquor, I can sell it to anyone I want. You," he pointed at you, "do you want to pay for the entire bottle or... your fair share of what you had?"
"I can pay for the entire bottle." You croaked, knowing full well you couldn't. But all you could think of was letting your sisters go. And Levi seemed to be the more reasonable person compared to the other one.
Levi and the bouncers ushered you and your sisters out of the room and into his office. He scolded the three of you when he found out that your sisters were underage. You apologised profusely, promising to look after your sisters better.
"Just pay for the liquor your sisters broke and get out of here," Levi printed a receipt and put it on the table. You stood for a moment, reading the numbers that could almost make your monthly pay. Levi knew the hesitation too well, but he didn't expect you to fish out your car keys and dropped it onto the table.
"Mr. Levi, I- I'm so sorry, I can only afford to pay about half of this bottle. But you can take my car as a pawn. I promise I can pay for it." You were shaking when you pleaded. You used up your entire savings for this car, and without it, you would lose your delivery job. Tears were welling up in your eyes but you were too stubborn to let them fall.
Levi studied you for a minute. "Just call me Levi."
You raised your eyes to his. He looked away, "I don't need your car, just pay what you can for now, and pay the rest when you have money." A sense of relief brushed through your chest, and one tear drop dripped down your cheek. You swiped your debit card to the max, and brought your sisters home.
After that, you would drop by the club whenever you have money, even as low as $10. Levi never said anything about the crumpled money, or the shillings your stacked up as you counted on his table. He sat quietly, sipping tea in a delicate tea cup as he watched you politely put money on his table and waited patiently for him to update his book.
And he started to offer tea to you as you waited for him to update his book. Sometimes you talked about the weather, and he would nod in silence. Sometimes you talked about politics, and he would give a comment here and there. And one time, you made cookies for him.
"It's Jane's 8th birthday. She really wanted to bring a cake to school tomorrow, but I only know how to make cookies." You shrugged. Levi was quiet when he ate the cookies. He texted on his phone for a moment and announced, "sit here. I ordered a cake for Jane."
Since then, you felt something shifted between you two. On the day you paid off the bottle, Levi asked you out like a gentleman. "I want to keep seeing you." He said.
Your heart was thumping loudly. You said "yes!" too fast, you were embarrased.
After a few dates, Levi asked you to be his girlfriend. But you rejected him. "I.. I can't, Levi. I.. I'm not fit to date. I have my younger siblings to ta-"
"I can help," Levi took your hand in his.
You shook your head, "I don't need your money, Levi. I can do it myself."
Levi rubbed his thumb on the back of your hand, "let me take care of you, and you take care of your siblings. They have you, and you have me."
Tears were streaming down your cheeks. You buried your face in Levi's shoulders, staining his shirt with your tears. Levi held you tightly.
You felt like you finally found home.
