"I must." Fiori pulled Levi up into a sitting position to make it easier, carefully fastening the clasp around his neck. It sparkled in the light, barely a collar at all. Levi could probably rip it off if he really wanted to. "Wake up, Tharis needs you in for a fitting."
“I am awake,” Levi rolled back his shoulders to stretch. His eyes opened wider the more awake he became, and he was soon sitting up on his own. His long, wily hair sat around his head in a mess of tangled.
Fiori brushed away one of the many strands stuck to his cheek, fighting down a smile. "You look awful, does your hair always do this when you sleep?"
Levi’s lips curled into an amused smile, “Yes, especially after I wash it. It’s a pain to keep it tamed unless it’s braided or tied back.”
Fiori brushed off a few more strands before he tentatively reached forward and eased his hand through it. He winced slightly at all the tangles. "You should braid it then, this feels awful."
“I should,” he slowly nodded, “I hate how it feels too. It shouldn’t take me longer than twenty minutes. Sometimes less.”
Fiori paused and pulled his hand from Levi's hair. There was a brush in the bathroom, he might be able to… "Could I help you with it? I haven't done a braid in a while, but I know how."
Levi thought for a moment, “I suppose if you want to,” He was used to having it done for him; he often asked his servants to help him whenever he wanted it to look neater, “I could just tell you how I usually keep my hair. It isn’t hard to recreate unless your hair is shorter than your shoulders.”
Fiori smiled softly, running a hand through the short hair on the back of his head. "I guess I won't be able to make myself quite as pretty as you, then," he joked with a wry smile, standing and making his way over to the bathroom. "I'll be right back, try to detangle a little."
He half laughed at the wry joke and lifted a hand up to brush out the tangles as much as he could with his fingers. It was difficult to keep his hair untangled with how thick it was: a common trait in his family.
Fiori grabbed the brush and headed back to the bedroom, sitting down beside Levi with a soft smile. He pulled Levi a little closer and started to carefully brush the tangles out of his hair. Every time he hit a snag he winced. "Sorry, your hair's just so thick."
“It’s fine, I’m used to it,” he softly laughed, “My scalp is just as thick. Let me know when you’re ready for the instructions.”
Fiori frowned, but Levi really didn't seem too hurt so he kept going. Levi's hair was well brushed after about 10 minutes and Fiori felt calm for the first time in forever. This was familiar and soothing, even though the person was different. "I think I'm ready," he said, dropping the brush to run his hands through Levi's hair. "What should I do?"
Levi opened his eyes again from letting them fall closed for a couple minutes, “Divide my hair into equal thirds to begin with. You can put the other two thirds over my shoulder for now while you braid the third you have over my head,” he traced a diagonal line over his head to show where the braids should be, “stop when to the back of my head so there’s some unbraided hair still there. Do the same with the other two parts, but make sure they meet at the same place in the middle so you can tie the ends together. Does that make any sense?”
"Mmhmm." Fiori set to work right away, doing exactly as Levi instructed. The braids were tight and neat, not a hair out of place as he finished the third. He lost himself in the rhythm of it, focusing all his concentration on this one thing. He'd stop occasionally to check in. "Is this okay?"
He reached his hand up to feel his hair, “It’s good, yes, but feel free to make it a little bit messier. When you’re done, just pull a few strands looser on the top.”
"I'm sorry, they're normally supposed to be neat like that." Fiori pulled a couple strands loose and evaluated, slightly proud that he could still braid so well. His eyes darted up to the painting in his room, smiling at the precisely done braid crown on her head. His mom let him try it before she sat for the painting. He was still proud. "Now what?"
“After it’s tied back, that’s it. There are more complicated styles for formal events but this is the most comfortable and casual. I wear it everyday.” He rested his hand back in his lap.
Fiori nodded and tied it back, smoothing a hand over the braids appreciatively before he pulled away. "Could you teach me them some time? I… um… it's a hobby. I used to get a lot of practice but… I don't really have anyone to practice on anymore."
“Oh…of course,” he replied, though he was a bit confused why he was asking instead of just telling him to. It was nice. “Yes, I can help you with that.”
It just didn't feel right to order Levi to do this. It wouldn't be the same. It would be stiff and weird and… Fiori didn't really want to order him around anyways. "Thank you," he said, voice small but grateful. "I… um… It means a lot."
“You’re welcome,” he replied sincerely. He reached up to feel his hair again, “And Thank you for doing my hair. It’s easier when someone helps.”
"I'm glad." Fiori stood up from the bed, setting the hairbrush over on the chest, and offered Levi a hand to help him up. "Now, are you ready to leave? We're late, I promised Tharis it wouldn't take longer than an hour but we've already used up a fourth of the time."
Levi hesitated before accepting his help to stand, “Yes, I’m ready to go.” He didn’t like the idea of walking more, but it was better now that he was able to get some much-needed rest.
"You're a little wobbly on your feet, are you okay?" His voice darkened as a thought passed his mind. "Did those men do anything to you?"
He looked puzzled and thought for a moment, then grimaced and replied, "No,no. I'm just achy from sitting in one position for the several-day ride. I'm not…aware of anything else."
Fiori growled at that, hands clenching into tight fists. Just the idea that someone would dare take advantage of a slave in that way made him feel sick with anger. "Not aware? You think they could've…?"
"I don't know, I barely remember anything from the journey," he admitted honestly, "Do you think they're..capable of it?" He doubted it, but the thought of the possibility still made him nauseous.
Fiori let out a soft sigh, unclenching his fists to lay a gentle hand on his shoulder. There was an apology shining in his eyes. "I do not know, but… they don't seem like good men. I would not make any judgments on what they did or didn't do."
“I don’t know them well enough to make judgements either,” he relented in agreement, “Are you still going to try and find them?” Now he was more curious to see these men than before—at a safe place behind Fiori of course. Contrary to his previous belief before he met Fiori, being under the protection of the prince was probably the best place he could be. Maybe this situation was going to turn out alright, maybe not wonderful, but it would be okay.