The Edifice

40. Two's a Company, Three's a Good Time

My eyes... well...

I thought becoming one with Otis would make me less myself, but in truth this new rush of magic has made me so much more. Everything moves slower, I can't stare in one place too long before before my vision enhances until every mote of dust is clear of day. I can see the heat in the air, the electricity behind the walls.

If looking normal is the cost for this, then I'll pay it. I'd pay it all for Otis.

"Olivia," the godling in question calls, patting the lap I so recently vacated. "Come back and help me with this one."

I do as I'm bid, sliding back into his embrace and letting his arms encircle me once again. The spellbook of Lee's that we've slowly been deciphering hovers above us at the wave of my hand. I'm getting good at this.

"Lee, what's the pronunciation of this one? My Aramaic is awful."

"Nope. Not helping," Lee says, returning to the client scheduling he's been working on at the far end of the sofa. Otis's feet in his lap, he absent-mindedly massages the other man's calves while he works.

"Why not?" Otis objects. "You don't know how handy defensive spells might be, especially now people know about you two. My brother has made it somewhat of a life's mission to make sure I'm miserable and alone. It's a long shot, but there is a chance he might try and scare you away."

"Oh surely not," Lee drawls sarcastically. "He's such a sweet young boy. Surely he wouldn't dream of tracking me down and threatening the ones I love."

"I'm serious, Lee."

"So am I, Otis. You're the pacifist here." Lee fixes Otis with a withering stare, all good humour cut short. "You could have all the defensive spells in the world and what would you do to stop him? If it came to it could you bring yourself to lay a hand on him or anyone else? If my life was on the line, if Olivia's life was in danger, would you break your little vow of peace?"

"I- Levi..." Otis pauses.

"Would you? I'm not... I'm not mad, Otis. But be honest with us."

"Lee, you know why I'm not going to hurt anybody. Therefore you know that my stance won't change."

Lee closes his eyes and sighs deeply, before sliding the lid of his laptop shut. He tosses it to one side and lifts one of Otis's leg up to his lips, planting a row of gentle kisses up the inside of his bare ankles. "Then the both of you stick to your magic talent of being pretty and if Zagan or anyone else does show up, I'll handle it like I always do. Like a fucking asshole."

"That doesn't mean I want you hurting him either, Lee," Otis mutters.

"Cake and eating, Otis," Lee responds. His kisses don't stop and with a thrill I realise where he's heading with this. Otis tenses up beneath me too, so I do my best to silence the argument myself by occupying his lips with my own  Almost offhandedly, Lee adds, "although, out of curiosity, does your darling little brother know about the video you showed me?" 

"If we could have this conversation some other time..." Otis's hesitates under the mixed barrage of affection and questions. "But no, he hasn't. I dread to think what that would do to him."

Once again, before I can question Otis, Lee pulls me into another kiss, squashing me between his body and the godlings. I sink into the topic I'm the more interested in and and return the touch.

When Levi whispers in my ear as the three of us fall backwards on the couch, I'm not entirely convinced as to who he's talking to.

"Good. Very good."

-

"Jesus fucking Christ..."

I follow the sound of Lee's muttering to the upstairs bathroom. Leaving Otis down below, I pause outside the door and hold still. His breathing echoes through the cracks in the door back to me and suddenly I understand what Otis first saw in Levi and myself. Two marvels of flesh and blood, fragility and strength and so much soul trapped within a complex vessel.

"Can I come in?" I ask, knocking lightly on the door. The warlock's bare feet scuffle amidst a sudden flurry of movement.

"No. Uh- just a moment," Lee calls. Two seconds later the door opens, revealing him wrapped in  bath towels, his eyes bruised and weary. He sweeps back his wet hair distractedly. "What can I do for you?"

Like sight, hearing and the half-dozen other senses that have reared their heads the last few days, my ability to smell has heightened to thrice what it was. Below the scent of Lee's body wash and shampoo, something tangy hangs in the air. Trying and failing to place it, I get to the point. "I just wanted to talk."

"Oh."

"Is... everything alright? You've been tense recently and I was hoping... I don't want you to be scared of me." God that sounds ridiculous, but I'll do anything to skirt around the issue and avoid jeopardising the dynamic we've built.

"Scared of you? Olivia, I'm not scared of-" Lee cuts off in disbelief. He rests back against the sink and meets my eyes for the first time all day. "Olivia. Liv. Sweetie. I'm not scared of you, I'm scared for you. Two days left until Otis breaks his end of the deal and..."

"It's under control," I say. What he would say to know that I've come to accept Otis's soul, I hate to think.

"No it's not." Lee pauses on the verge of saying something else. He closes his eyes as though praying for patience, shoulders slumped in resignation. "Olivia, I have been trying so hard not to care about you, let alone about you and Otis."

"Lee?"

"Do you trust me, Olivia?" he asks unexpectedly.

Isn't that what I've been doing all along?

"I can-" Lee's voice drops, he glances up at the door behind me nervously, probably scared of being heard by Otis. Rightly so, if my own hearing is anything to go by. "Olivia. I promise you that I can fix this. I just need you to trust me when the time comes."

"What does it sound like you're asking me to choose-"

"I'm asking you to trust me, Olivia. Can you promise me that?"

What answer could I possibly give to the man whose life I've flipped with my actions? Someone I care about so deeply that I can't even begin to explain it.

"Yes, Levi. I do."