In this dark little place, Levi was crouching with a soft smile as he stood before a trembling, weeping little child... a child that looked exactly like him, but at the same time, not?
Like being hidden in this place for over a decade changed him... made him easy to scare, to cry, to run, and to feel.
A little wounded fawn...
Levi reached out with his hand and patted him on the head... feeling his gentle, comforting touch, little Levi stopped trembling and lifted his head, gazing at Levi with a broken, tearful look in his eyes.
A look so heavy in pain and trauma, it would make anyone look the other way.
"We went through a lot... I know, I wish we didn't, but we did..." Levi said, his voice soft and assuring, "But... you don't have to be scared anymore... I'm here now. I've grown. I've learned... You can rest at last. You did enough. You survived, for me."
As he listened to his assuring voice, little Levi lifted his head and gazed at Levi with trembling lips.
