It was while they were taking a Magcart that Levi started to suspect that something wasn't quite right with bodyguard Trey. As soon as Aris sat down, the man jumped to take the seat next to him as if afraid Levi would act faster than him.
A futile effort. Levi wasn't planning on sitting next to Aris anyway.
How would he be able to observe Aris properly if he was sitting right next to him?
That guard really lacked foresight. And was a bit too bold as well. For a sofa that was meant for four people, he was sitting a little bit too close to his charge.
The two black-clothed men shared a look, sparks crackling in the air. They both felt that the other one was displeasing to the eyes, but neither could quite put their finger on why.
One had an air of an untamed wild cat, while the other had an air of a loyal guard dog. Perhaps they looked at each other, and instinctually felt an interspecies revulsion towards the other?
Noah, on the other hand, was completely oblivious at the silent confrontation. All his thoughts were currently on what he would be ordering next.
Blackie deadpanned "Fish."
"Yes, yes, but which one? Salmon? Catfish? Cod? Carp?" Noah internally rolled his eyes at Blackie
"Are you a cat?! Just pick one and be done with it!" Blackie raged.
"Blackie, oh Blackie, let me tell you, a species of fish is very important! It's like you are telling me it's the same if you eat pork or eat poultry!"
"It is. Both are food."
"Ah, Blackie! It might be all the same to you, systems that don't have taste buds, but to us humans, the taste is the second most important thing in life!"
"What's the first?" Blackie wondered skeptically.
"Staying alive, duh, wasn't it you who established that?" Noah rolled his eyes at Blackie again.
"…" He walked straight into that one, didn't he?
Blackie stopped to rethink his approach. Then finally came out with what he thought to be a good diversion: "So what do you think is behind that life-threatening incident you've just been in?"
"Blackie, Blackie." Noah tsk-ed in disapproval. "Your priorities are all wrong. Now I'm hungry, so naturally, I should be thinking about food. My brain cells don't have enough nutrients to ponder over conspiracies and the like. "
Blackie barely stopped himself from retorting with "What lacking nutrients? What you lack are clearly brain cells!"
After a moment of internal struggle, Blackie bravely tried to change the topic again: "…shouldn't you be entertaining your brother-in-law?" I'm begging you, please stop killing my memory cells with the thoughts of fish!
By some miracle, it worked: "You are right!" Noah was enlightened. "To me, this silence might be a way to wind down and relax from the run we did to make it here asap, but to him, it might be an awkward silence! Blackie, occasionally things you say are rather on point!"
If Blackie wasn't an AI, he would have probably spewed out blood in anger, "What do you mean occasionally?!? Things I say are always on point!"
Noah chose to not correct the delusional system, let it keep a bit of dignity. Instead, his previously unfocused eyes concentrated their full attention on the handsome brother-in-law sitting opposite of him.
While Noah was chatting with Blackie, Levi was staring at him with great interest as if looking at something of high entertainment value. There was just something rather captivating about this little guy. Everything about him was pleasing to the eyes, from the subtle facial expressions he made to the subconscious movements he made.
The way his lip quirked up playfully, the way his eyes curved when he was smiling. The way his eyelashes fanned his face when he looked down, the way his pink lips pursed into a charming pout when something was bothering him. The way his nose wrinkled up cutely in disdain, and the way he moved with a charming grace that attracted attention to every one of his lovely features.
Though, to be honest, Levi had some difficulty locating a single feature that wasn't lovely.
Levi realized that observing his little brother-in-law like he was an interesting specimen at a zoo wasn't quite appropriate. So, he tried to look out of the window, or at least stare at Aris's reflection through the glass. But, every once in a while, he caught himself staring straight at him.
It was as if eyes had a will of their own and couldn't stop themselves from involuntarily straying in his direction.
Levi felt that something must definitely be wrong with him today. Perhaps he had fallen under the influence of some kind of a charm spell. He knew that the existence of Charmers was purely fictional and had never actually been confirmed, but for the first time, he questioned the scientific evidence of it all.
With a deep frown etched on his face, he did a round of self-reflection. He didn't feel like his judgment had been impacted. He just found the little guy's presence distracting.
And his presence gave him an innately comfortable and pleasant feeling. Which would have been entirely justified since he was a Soother - if it weren't for the fact that no other Soother had such an effect on Levi. This could be because Levi had never run into an SS-ranked soother before. But still, could all of this really be attributed to Soother's innate aura?
He supposed after spending some quality time with this little brother-in-law, he'd surely be able to better understand what was going on. And with that final thought, Levi put the entire matter behind him. Just in time too, because only a moment later, Aris's lovely lips opened to start a conversation:
"Brother-in-law, sister has told me so much about you. It is a real pity that we meet each other officially so late." Noah gently opened up the conversation.
Levi indeed agreed that it was a pity he only got to meet this cute little guy this late, but his attention was attracted by the former half of the sentence. "Oh?" Raised eyebrows in interest. "Like what?"
His fiance spoke of him to this little guy? Of what? It better not be some dark history or see how he'll get back at her!
Noah searched Aris's memories but realized that although his sister often went on dates with Levi, and the two had been officially together for years, she very rarely spoke of him. What was it she usually said when asked about him?
"Er… she often says how lucky she is to be together with the most handsome man in all of Astarea." She didn't often say that, but she did say it once. And it was true that when asked what Levi was like, she would most often say handsome and quiet.
"Now I see she wasn't just bragging; you really are one of the most handsome men I've seen" Noah added his own earnest admiration, in an attempt to steer the conversation away from his sister.
Levi was usually averse to flattery and rather indifferent to complements, but hearing the little one praise him so sincerely evoked a totally different reaction. Pride welled up in his chest, and his heart felt like it had been tickled by a feather. "One of them? Who are the rest?"
Noah was stumped, and in a moment of negligence, responded with the truth. "I don't know. I just left some room for error."
Then he heard a puff, and a moment later, a deep chuckle rumbled out from Levi's throat.
Blood rushed into Noah's cheeks, half from the embarrassment, and half because that chuckle was so pleasant it nearly made his ears pregnant.
But his lovely embarrassment only awakened a primal urge in Levi, a desire to tease and play with this adorable little guy more and more. Ah, how delectable this little brother-in-law's embarrassment was!
"What else did she tell you about me?" Even his eyes were smiling as Levi inquired.
"Many good things! I've only heard good things about you!" Noah hoped Levi would leave it at that, however…
"…like what?" Levi bit in and wouldn't let go.
Brother-in-law, please have mercy! Sister doesn't talk about you at all! QAQ
But saying that would hurt Levi's feelings and Noah had absolutely no intention of doing such a thing. So, all he could do was really dig into those memories and pull something up.
Noah tentatively started, "Like…" then, in a moment of brilliance: "…you are very reliable and great at your job!"
Quick thinking, Noah! Well done! Now you can switch the conversation to his work! As a famous workaholic, he surely has much to say about it!
"And what else?" Levi's amusement bled into his tone, and Noah felt as if someone had splashed a bucket of hot water on him – drenched from head to toe and about to start steaming.
If the foldable table wasn't currently folded… and bolted to the floor, Noah would have flipped it in outrage.
Unbeknownst to Noah, Levi knew his fiance well enough to know she wouldn't have spoken much about him to her brother. Which is why looking at Aris struggling to come up with things was even more amusing. The poor thing had no idea he was being teased!
Ah, but the more he "bullied" him, the more he wanted to "bully" him. He was afraid that at this rate, he'd get addicted to it.
Ah, what to do? With how adorable this little brother-in-law was, he would undoubtedly get "eaten up" in the near future. No wonder his parents were worried enough to insist on him having a personal guard. If he was a sexual predator… or was the official term sexual deviant? Regardless of which, if he was either of them, he'd definitely target this lovely brother-in-law too.
Hmm, hmm, he'd have to help his in-laws guard this little treasure in the future. Levi side glanced the annoying guard Trey, who had a gentle gaze glued to his charge through the entire ride.