Levi didn’t respond at first, still fast asleep with his arms splayed out in front of him. He breathed through parted lips, but his mouth was too dry to drool. After a few moments he stirred, and opened his eyes to a drowsy squint.
"Are you awake?" Fiori asked, taking a few tentative steps closer. He set the new collar, a delicate silver thing no bigger than the chocker Fi wore now, at the foot of his bed. "You need to be. There are a few things we have to do."
Levi lifted his head to see the size of the collar, softly sighing with relief. “I’m awake,” He slurred as he made an effort to push himself up with tired muscles.
Fiori couldn't help but smile, reaching forward to help Levi sit up. "Could've fooled me," he joked quietly as he reached over to grab the collar. "Can I put it on for you?"
“If you must,” He answered groggily. He kept himself propped up with an arm, trying to blink away the glaze of sleep.
"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.”