''Do not worry, Levan. Enjoy the moment and don't think about it. I know we do not know each other a lot but it will come. In space, it's never a good moment and you never know who listens.''
As to the appreciation of the Levan, Lea Kaufman was satisfied already to help someone, doing something else than shooting. She grabbed his hand to ensure him a bit. ''You owe me nothing. All I will ask is that you keep my place for yourself in case you ever need to hide again.'' After saying that, she released his hand and the pilot warned them they are arrived at destination. She stood up and let Levan to be in front of her while they disembark of the shuttle.
Once out, Lea invited Levan to follow her again. ''From now on, we will walk a bit.'' As they went outside of the station, the cold weather was hitting a bit. The weather felt was minus six with the wind. Compared to Levan, as he could notice, Lea was used to this weather. Where they were was charming even if it was cold. Houses were few due of a lower population. They all wanted to be a part of the city near by about some thirty kilimeters from where they are.
Lea could noticed the sharp roof of her house and she pointed toward it. ''It's there.''
It reminded him of the mines on Pittsburgh. Sometimes, it was just that cold. To keep himself warm, he used mining equipment to heat up rocks around him. Right now, he wished he had a plasma cutter with him.
Following Lea, he felt completely lost. He had no idea where he was, barely knew who he was with, the cold climate hurt his eyes. Apart from Lea, nobody here spoke his language. In a way, it made him lose his hope. His mind, more and more, turned grey, apathetic. Maybe even white, like the snow.
Lea pointed at the house. Levan, however, did not really care. It was a house. It would be warm inside. Rebecca would not be able to find him here.
... looks nice.
Almost begging, he got a bit closer to Lea, hoping she would kind of act as a wind shield.
They both continued to walk and they eventually arrived. From the outside, it was a normal house. Not too fancy, just enough as shelter and somewhere to call home. They both head to the entrance and Lea unlocked the door and opened it, inviting Levan to enter. Once he entered, Lea did the same and closed the door and locked it.
The inside was comfortable, warm. In front of them, there was a closet, at their left, the living room, and their right, the dining room. There was stairs leading to the next floor and on the wall, there was a portrait of a man wearing military cloths. His facial expression was neutral and he was bald with a blond beard. By the physics of the man, he was probably strong. ''Welcome to where I was born. I inherited the house recently once I got enough credit.''
She removed her boots, letting them drying on the floor. She removed her top semi-hot clothe, letting place of a black t-shirt. ''I will do you a short visit of the place, just to make you comfortable to know where the rooms are. After all, you will probably stay here for a while. If you need something, don't hesitate to ask me.''
Doing as Lea did, he took off his boots, however left everything else on. The boy looked around, looked at the portrait, at everything. Was this how people normally live like? A regular house.
It, uhm, looks really nice here. Is it just us here?
Levan gulped, sticking close to Lea. It felt like he needed to stay close and not stray around.
The woman nodded to his answer. ''We are alone. Is it because you saw this portrait?'' She pointed at it with her finger. She laughed a moment but her eyes showed something else than happiness. It was a small sadness. Then she shaked her head from left to right and changed the subject.
''Come! I will show you the house.'' They started by the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, they took the steps leading to the other floor, she showed the bathroom. A basic bathroom, a tub with shower and a toilet and of course and a sink. She showed an empty room with a bed only. It was mostly a room for those who stayed longer and unable to return home because they are too drunk or something. Lea explained to Levan he could sleep there and if he wanted some furnitures, he onlye needed to ask her. She then showed her room. The bed was big for two people. The both returned to the living room.
Lea sat on the couch. ''I fairly know we do not each other really well, but you can consider this place a second house. Do you have questions or wish something?''
Everything seemed fine. His body was warming up now, too, but he kept his jacket on. Following Lea through the various rooms, he sighed a little, his mind struggling to keep up with everything. He just wanted to sit and, close his eyes and forget about everything for a moment. When she showed him the guest bedroom, he felt like he would not hesitate long to go there, lock himself in and fall right into bed.
Uhm, do you, uhm, have Synth Paste here? I, uhm, struggle a bit eating anything else, really.
It was embarrassing to ask for anything, especially for something like that. He knew Rheinland was known for the eternal competition of Synth Foods and Stuttgart's fair products, so getting that question out of the way was important to him.
And, uhm, will you be staying here the entire time?
''If it's Synth Paste you want, there's a market right at the corner of the street. When you go out of the house, it will be at your right. But I will check if I have some here first. And to answer your other question, it's my home. Of course I will stay. If I need to go elsewhere, I will go and come.''
She stood up and walked to the kitchen, looking a bit everywhere and finally fell on a package of it. She grabbed the package, returned to the living room and handed it to Levan. ''You can keep the package.''
She had a funny way of doing things. Direct. Levan took the package from her and nodded at her.
Uhm, thank you.
Feeling a bit helpless, he just kept standing in place, not sure whether he was supposed to sit down or do anything. If anything, he looked visibly stiff and lost. He took a deep breath, trying to look into her eyes despite her being so intimidating to him..
Lea, uhm. Thank you for... everything, really. But, uhm, seriously, if you want me to do anything here, do tell me. I do not want to be a burden. And apparently you do not even want my money.
The woman was not sure what to say. Since she was mostly staying alone, she was used to do things by her own. But when he said the sentence: ''And apparently you do not even want my money.'' She sighed. Not because she was angry but this young man was seeking a way to thank her of what she is doing. ''Levan. I know you want to thank me and all. But I won't ask you to do something nor asking you money. I simply help you because you are interesting. You got an adventure that, at your age, wouldn't even happen to me.''
She stopped talking a bit, taking her breath before to speak again. ''If you really want to thank me, think by yourself and do. Think about what can please me. But you know, at the end, the important is your own decision.'' As she said that, her left hand reached his right shoulder. ''You are young, but what you lived, on Pittsburgh, the incident with the Orbital Spa and Cruise and that woman who wants to hurt you... You should use these to learn what you did wrong and grow up. My father once said this: 'Mistakes can be sever or not, but if you use them to grow up, you won't make it twice.' And the portrait at the entrance, where are the stairs, it's him, my father. He raised me on his own. I never met my mother.''
She sat again on the couch, looking at Levan. She was now thinking a bit to teach him some basics in her native language. It would allow him to go everywhere he wants if he wanted to be alone or tired to be always stick with her.
Inwardly, Levan shook his head. Her somewhat broken english was about as adventurous as she claims his life to be. In a way, funny.
Slightly insecure, he slowly moved to sit down on the couch with her. He exhaled audibly. Her father raised her. Maybe if his father had been around, he would not be such a scaredy cat all the time. A parental figure would probably have helped to become a badass like Lea. He would not need to hide. He would just deal with Rebecca himself.
I will try to think of something.
With that said, he leaned back against the couch. Closing his eyes for a moment. His body absorbed the warmth of the atmosphere like a sponge after having been exposed to New Berlin's snowy climate. Maybe it was another reason why she seemed so much more tough than him. Or maybe because she was not tortured and abused by everyone in the mines.
I would offer you to play a bit on my harmonica for you, but I left it at the Kay. But then again, I am not really good at it, so consider your first repay to be the fact that you got spared.
