"You know…" a calm gruff voice began "you seem off today."
"Can it Levi, it's best to leave it be." Rory replied sharply. Rory avoided Levi's hawk like gaze knowing full well it was full of contempt.
"Let me have my fun. I'll take care of her afterwards. I always take care of them afterwards. All these women want is an adventure. They crave romance. I simply satisfy their needs." Rory tried reasoning without meeting Levi's gaze. If he could just tinker he could avoid the truth. At the end of the night Rory had to face himself in the mirror and it was always easier without Levi's judging gaze in the back of his mind.
Levi simply grunted
"She seems different."
"She could be, but I doubt it."
"Ship should be fixed by tomorrow evening. We can go home after that."
"Excellent news." Rory said while brushing his hair back with his hand "I plan on hitting a few more places before we return with the shipment." Straightening his jacket he tried to appear as if he intended to discuss business only.
"Aw, I see. I was hoping to get home to missus soon. It's been a very long journey and I am keen to return to handle matters at my estate." This was Levi's typical response when he wished to cut the journey short. "I suggest we reach the quota and return promptly."
"Yes well. I will try my damndest to make it quick for you and the missus." Rory cracked a knowing smile.
"You can swallow that grin. It isn't for reasons you think."
"Of course not." Rory feigned ignorance the fact was that even he couldn't help but notice that Levi was quite in love with his wife and had been for many years.
"Speaking of home…."
"Mmm" Rory hummed while turning to examine a map at hand.
"Yours is quite empty. Perhaps your lady friend would enjoy your company."
Rory's face instantly soured. He thought to himself that Levi was fantastic at dancing around a subject. Just when you thought you had navigated away from a sore subject, you found yourself sucked back into the same conversation.
"You want to talk about it."
"I don't if you don't." Replied Levi
"Good because I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay then we won't talk about it."
Rory resumed examining the map in front of him, but he found his thoughts dancing around Aspen. Irritated he roared loudly in frustration.
"Something wrong?" Levi asked innocently
"You know perfectly well what your doing."
"I haven't the slightest inkling as to what you are referring to." The calm Levi picked up another map trying to appear as though he were busy.
"Your doing that thing that you do." Rory said as he rubbed his temples.
"I shall stop doing the thing." Levi said his eyes steady on the same spot as before lifting his eyes to look at Rory who was attempting to remember the task at hand.
"Your still doing it." Rory stated while his eyes continued to scan the same map.
"I simply looked at you captain."
"Don't call me captain."
"You are the captain"
"I am the captain but don't call me captain."
"I always call you captain."
"You call me captain in front of the crew, Levi."
"Whatever you say sir." Replied Levi
"Stop doing that."
"I'm not doing anything."
"Fine! You want to do this?!" An enraged Rory asked
"Only if you want to."
"I don't want to."
"Then don't" replied Levi calmly flipping through a stack of maps to his right. Rory stared at Levi incredulously.
"She'll leave once she realizes why I'm here and why we do this. As soon as we make the delivery she will see me as a monster."
"Undoubtedly." Levi replied cooly
"I can't get to close because we are doomed to fail. I am the villain in a hero's costume here. I am simply meant to lead her to the real hero. And when she does I'll be happy because she's happy. How many times do we have to go over this." Rory's face twisted from the sharp pain that ran through his heart.
Levi sighed "You don't have to be the villain you know that right?" Levi's gaze shifted to look into Rorys pained expression "You can be the hero."
"I can't, we would run for the rest of our lives until we were executed for treason."
"You can love her. She seems sweet and docile a far cry from you. You need balance my old friend."
"I don't know."
"It's hard to know Rory. It isn't easy loving someone. It is difficult and at times perilous. Love is love though Rory. You can't shut yourself from everyone. You can't pretend she will see through it eventually and she will run. Why not try being honest with her….why not…"
"I was" interrupted Rory "I told her the whole truth."
"Really, why?" Levi dubiously asked
"I don't know. She was transparent with me. She could've lied but she didn't. She has this sadness that never leaves her eyes. She carry's the weight of her world in those sad eyes. If I could just unburden her I would. So I told her. I wanted her to feel like she could confide in me."
"What did she say?"
"Surprisingly she didn't judge me. She simply took my burden and made it her own. She held me and told me that she felt sorry for me. That my life was filled with misery and I could trust her. She told me she wished she could give me a new life one without pain. I can't tell you how much I wanted the world she described to me Levi. A world were I am a simple man. A world where I go to work and come home to a wife and my greatest struggles are easy and simple. What my wife is cooking for dinner or could I afford a new car payment. I could see her there with me. I fell deep into those eyes and I found myself drowning. How odd. I knew I wanted her the moment I saw her. I was drawn to those sad eyes. I wanted to spend eternity lifting that sadness and putting light and happiness into them. I want her but I don't l. I could never give her that." Rory sighed frustrated.
"Why?"
"Because I'm the villain in a hero's clothing." Replied Rory solemnly
Levi pondered for a moment. "I think she's different and your an idiot who can't see what the universe is saying." He stated before resuming looking over the maps.