Over the course of two weeks, Nicoleta went to the library to learn how to block her mind from him, and any other mind readers.
The first few days were mortifying.
"blocking your thoughts is similar to locking your bedroom door" she listened intently, soaking up every word, and trying to put it into practice.
"Reach for the knob and twist it to lock" Nicoleta obviously failed, and thus she put all her frustrations on him
"Could you be more specific?" Leonardo placed another book on his stack, which counted twenty.
She tried not to focus on the obscure amount of books he was stacking before replying.
"Tell me how to locate this door," she answered.
He placed two more books on the stack, and disappeared behind the shelf.
"The door is your brain Nicoleta, whenever you close your eyes the blackness that you see- " he appeared again, with five more books, and settled down across from her.
"That is your door," she nodded. When she retired to her room that day, she closed her eyes and tried to find the knob.
But it remained black, nothing materialised in front of her, not her flame, not a knob, not a carved shape of a door.
"I need more help" Leonardo's smile was straight out of a painting by da Vinci, mild, almost unnoticeable, but when it was noticed, it was the most beautiful thing.
She had gladly brought a notebook with her that day, and also a pencil.
"Have you fallen into such a delusion that you believe I have not noticed?" He asked, gesturing to the notebook hidden behind stacks of books, Nicoleta groaned.
"I told you to stop doing that" he nodded, "and I have earnestly heeded to your pleas- unless you wish for me to stop paying attention to your person all together" he might have been Leonardo Da Vinci with how he spoke.
Who spoke like that?
"What is that supposed to mean?" He smiled, that mild pretty smile. She drew it subconsciously.
"Your body language" he opened a book and flipped through the pages, before placing it back down, and picking up another.
"You can't read like that-"
"I'm not. Nicoleta your problem lies within your ability to halt your thoughts" she furrowed her brows, "halt my thoughts?"
He nodded. How does one halt their thoughts?
She was thinking about things whether or not she knew about it.
How could she just bring her thoughts to a stop?
"It is entirely palpable to make your thoughts quiescence" Nicoleta's brows knitted together. They both stared at each for a long moment.
"It is possible to make your thoughts inactive" he repeated himself, emphasizing the words as if Nicoleta was the problem.
"I'm not a child- i speak English" he chuckled, "Are you sure?" Nicoleta rolled her eyes.
"Maybe I need a visual demonstration" he stood up on his feet.
"Walk with me" she followed him to the opening of the library, there he sat on the floor and gestured for her to do the same.
"I want you to think about an intricate personal memory," Nicoleta nodded, letting out a breath of air.
She thought about her time in sector twelve, those days were secret, not even her father knew about her experience in sector twelve.
She went back to the first time she arrived there. When she ran away from the doctor with the needle, when someone caught her, and her powers wrapped around her as if she were being attacked.
"Close your eyes, and guard that memory" she did so. A moment later she felt something inside her mind, as if a weight had been added onto her brain.
"Have you discerned me?" Leonardo's voice echoed, she nodded unsure whether he was looking at her still or not.
"Good" Nicoleta felt a weight in her arms, whenever the heavy thing in her brain seemed to get close she moved away.
Everytime it neared her she moved away.
"You cannot simply flee from my presence, you must prevent My penetration" she focused on trying to find the knob on the door she held.
But she had stood too still for too long, and before she knew it the figure had gotten hold over her door, Nicoleta panicked.
"No! No! Stop! Get out of my head! Get out of my head!" She jumped, opening her eyes in a panic.
"Alright" he said.
She stared at Leonardo, breathing heavily, hands shaking.
"Alright" he reassured, but the look in his eyes was full of guilt. He already saw it.
Why did she think about that memory?
Why couldn't it be something else? What was she thinking?
She stood up on her feet in a hurry. "We will continue another time. I have to go" she turned around and made for the door when Leonardo stopped her.
"Your notebook" she turned around and brought her notebook and pen to her person with her telekinesis.
When she turned to leave she was stopped again, Leonardo grasped her wrist turning her around.
His eyes had softened, a look of what she could only call familiarity bursting from them.
"I understand," he said simply, Nicoleta shook her head.
"No. You don't" she left.
She stared at the finished drawing of him as she walked past the many doors following the library.
A tear stained his pretty smile.
Nicoleta ran into Laura Glass a week before she would head back to sector 2, her deep blue hair was tied back in a bun, and she wore a black uniform, which had no other colour.
There was a serious look on her face as she walked with a group of people wearing the same uniform to the canteen.
"Hi" Nicoleta shouted, waving at her from where she stood, Laura looked around, halfway through the double doors before she saw her.
"Oh hey, Ariti" then turned to look at Nicoleta, before walking inside, tossing her friend a look Nicoleta couldn't see.
"I thought i'd never see you" Nicoleta laughed, between painting, spending time with the boys, and learning how to block her thoughts from Leo, she thought she'd never see Laura as well.
"Me neither, are those your friends?" Laura shook her head, a look of disdain crowding her face, "no, they're selectives, I'm forced to be around them- but since you're here" her stern tone shifted, the look becoming a smile.
"You owe me dinner" Laura pulled Nicoleta to the canteen, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
They walked by Jackson who winked at Nicoleta, only for him to get splashed with his own glass of water by Laura with only a flick of a finger.
"You're welcome" she told Nicoleta, ignoring Jackson's growl.
Nicoleta noticed the entire canteen stealing glances at the two of them, whispering to the closest person with each look.
She almost forgot that they were supposed to be enemies.
"Where do you usually sit?" Nicoleta searched for the boys, "There with Issacher and Levi" she pointed in the direction of the boys.
Laura's face twisted into a disgusting expression. "with De-Luca?" she scrunched her nose as if she could somehow smell him from where they stood.
"He's a friend" Laura didn't look any less conflicted, "of all the people to be friends with," she shrugged, then led her over to the food.
Nicoleta got her usual, and watched Laura stack her tray with so much food that she needed to get an extra bowl.
Laura glanced at her and laughed, "it's all protein" it was rice, chicken, peas and too much beans.
"You should eat more," Nicoleta shook her head, staring at the full bowl of rice.
"This is enough" they walked over to where the boys were seated. Levi looked up with a smile that dropped the moment he saw Laura, "Glass?"
She smacked her lips, and sat down, "don't get excited De-Luca i'm not here for you" he suppressed a growl, but the table vibrated regardless.
How could Nicoleta forget these two hated each other?
She sat down with dread in her stomach.
"Oh you wish I'd get excited to see you" Laura scoffed, "What's the matter still pressed about last year's match?"
"You are one to talk considering you lost to a sector eight resident" Laura grasped her heart in fake hurt, but that actually stung Nicoleta.
So what if she was a sector eight resident a year ago? What did that matter?
"Last time I checked Nicoleta is a sector 2 resident, and you are a selective trainee" Laura said, taking her first bite of the food, "Not a good one at that" she said.
"I won't be a selective any time soon with you still in the program" Levi retorted, Laura rolled her eyes.
"Won't or Can't De-Luca?" she continued, "At this rate you are gonna be booted and demoted,"
"Anything to be rid of you" Levi said, averting his gaze from her, he scooped up some soup.
"Aww but then you wouldn't be able to see Nicoleta again" Laura squeezed Nicoleta's cheek lightly, making her shift uncomfortably.
"She's here on an invitation"
"Everyone knows that's just a long process for a transfer, you of all people should know that De-Luca" Levi opened his mouth to speak, and was stopped immediately by Laura.
"And I know you are going to say inter-sector interaction- I will stop you there. They don't care for unimportant calls"
"I thought you were wailing in your selective suite. How come you're with Nicoleta?" she scoffed, "I'm not a sore loser like you is how that happened De-Luca" Levi rolled his eyes, both Issacher and Nicoleta glanced at each other.
"You shouldn't take rumors seriously De-Luca"
"I doubt the entire sector hearing you wail in your room is a rumor." she chuckled, "Unlike you De-Luca my ego isn't larger than my lifespan. I lost" she leaned into Nicoleta and whispered, "I lost.. words you will never hear from him"
"I heard that," Laura gasped, "Oh no, I'm shivering." Nicoleta finished her meal, and stood up, blinking away the fire.
"where are you going?" Laura grabbed her wrist.
"I need some fresh air"
There was a general balcony that was almost always void of life, Nicoleta went there and let the breeze steal her away.
Laura gladly didn't follow her there, and she hoped Levi would do the same.
Unfortunately he wasn't a mind reader like Leo, neither could he read body language as well as Laura.
He landed on the railing some five minutes after she got there, and bowed his head, letting out the saddest sounds Nicoleta had ever heard.
They stayed in silence for a while, Nicoleta willing herself to ignore the sadness running through her blood. 'Stop doing that!' she wanted to scream.
Nicoleta clenched her jaw, then relaxed.
She sighed and walked over to him, he peered at her his head still bowed, and leaned in.
Nicoleta hesitated, inhaling a sharp breath when his hot feathers touched her skin, her flame heated her up in a mild attempt at defense.
She placed a gentle hand on his head and traced her fingers through, rubbing the back of his ears. She flinched when her entire body shook, removing her hand to Levi's displeasure.
"Was that you?" he stared at her with wide eyes, then leaned in further making her step back, he stepped toward her again, and connected their foreheads.
"I'm sorry" she stepped back again, eyes wide. his voice was inside her head, as if he was right next to her, or really close to her.
"How did you do that?" he leaned in again, connecting their hot foreheads once again.
"Telepathy" he said, "try it" she grabbed his head, and shut her eyes, "am I doing it?" the phoenix pulled back and looked at her, his features sad once again.
"Why did you say that?" Levi looked back at the pile of clothes he dropped in the corner, before walking over to it.
Nicoleta turned away when his feathers began to disappear.
"I wanted to get a dig at Glass, I wasn't thinking, sorry" she turned to look at him again, human, clothed, not in a uniform but rather a T-shirt, and sweatpants.
"Isn't that against the rules?" he shrugged, "clearly I don't really care for the rules"
She rolled her eyes, resting her arms on the balustrade, "you sound like a child" he chuckled, "yeah i guess that was a bit childish" he was by her side before she knew it.
Levi stared at her for a long time, not saying anything. Nicoleta looked at the blinking stars, and the half moon, taking in the cold winter air.
Much warmer than winter in Ekali. At home.
She sighed heavily.
"Nicoleta?" Levi gently moved a strand of her hair back, tugging it behind her ears.
"I'm sorry" she nodded, "okay"
She looked away, ignoring the heat on her face, which was not as a result of her flame.
"It's fine, I'm not mad, I was just a little offended, that's all" he didn't say anything, but Nicoleta could feel his shoulders sagging beside her.
"I'd like to make it up to you," she laughed lightly, "how are you gonna do that?" Levi smirked.
"Do you want to fly?" Nicoleta furrowed her brows.
Levi stripped off his shirt, and she turned away immediately only looking back when she heard the shift. He had his back turned to her, and Nicoleta's stomach did a backflip.
He was going to fly her, wasn't that against some rules?
Remembering his words earlier, Nicoleta gripped his feathers and jumped only to fall on her butt.
"Umm... " he looked back, and whined, nudging her up with his snout, "I can't get on your back" he tilted his head and turned his back to her again, this time he dropped down on the balcony flat on his stomach.
Nicoleta kicked off her shoes and climbed on his back.
Before she could even blink he shot up in the sky, bringing a scream from her as she fell flat on his back, clutching and unclutching his feathers as the wind rustled through her hair.
She moved her head to the other side, lips trembling.
The phoenix let out a loud melodic sound. Nicoleta vibrated with him as he purred.
Panting, she forced herself to lift her head, tightening her grip on him. They passed through a cloud, then he lowered his flight. Levi looked back with an expression which read 'trust me?' and Nicoleta wasn't sure what to say.
He flew farther down, and stayed just above the waters.
Nicoleta let out a long breath and extended her hand down to the ocean, brushing her fingers over it.
Something very low told her to be free, and another very loud, told her to not fall.
"This is... " Levi went up again, this time he hadn't made contact with the stars, he stayed a good distance between the sky and the ocean, looking back at Nicoleta with hopeful eyes.
She hesitated, moving to sit up.
He flapped his wings and extended them again, glancing at her once more.
She blinked repeatedly, heart racing. Trembling, she outstretched her arms.
He went up higher, and she immediately fell back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Levi lowered once more.
He signaled her again, and Nicoleta gulped and tried again.
The wind hit her face pushing her shirt against her skin, whilst pulling her hair back, undoing the ponytail.
The anxiety in the pit of her stomach twisted, and her frown slowly twitched into a smile.
She laughed out loud, butterflies in her stomach as Levi flew up.
She vibrated when he purred, which only made her laugh more, this was more than winning the sparring competitions, this was... exhilarating.
It was freedom, it was beautiful, he was beautiful, the sky was beautiful.
Nicoleta looked at the stars, the half moon, the beautiful dark blue night sky.
Her smile refused to fade away when she leaned down, closing her eyes, and relaxing her tense body.
Levi closed his wings around her the same he blew out a gust of fire, her eyes widened as they flew through the flame, casting a temporary warmth around them before the cold air settled in again.
He extended his wings again, and spun around making Nicoleta yelp.
She shut her eyes when they flipped upside down, gripping her legs around him, "oh my.. " her words were cut short when he flipped her back right side up, blowing fire into the sky before flying through again.
Nicoleta used her flame to shield herself, but as they passed through, she couldn't help making her own little shapes.
Levi purred again, but this time it wouldn't stop, she laughed, and the purr increased.
She laid back down, and wrapped her arms around his neck again.
Her wrist vibrated, she assumed it was Levi but this one was distinct. She checked her watch, and nearly fell off when she saw the notification. Curfew.
"Levi, Levi! it's almost curfew!" he immediately made a u-turn, speeding up.
The balcony appeared in seconds. Levi quickly landed, Nicoleta slid off his back, landing clumsily on her feet.
The shift happened so quickly Nicoleta could hardly process it.
"Come on," Levi said, grabbing her wrist, "where is your room?"
"Visitors quarters- " she stopped, and pushed him, "you should go, by the sound of it you get in trouble more, i know my way- go" Levi looked between her and the hallway to his room.
"Good night" he said, Nicoleta nodded, before he left, she pulled him in and hugged him tightly.
"Thanks, tonight was... fun" when she pulled away, he had this heated look in eyes, "any time" then he took off, and so did Nicoleta. glancing up at the officers that patrolled the halls.
The rule book said those who missed curfew once would get a warning. Nicoleta wasn't in trouble, Levi might have been and the last thing she wanted was for him to go to the detention zone as said by the rule book.
That night she fell asleep in bliss.
Leonardo taught her all he could in one week; she left on December 1st, saying goodbye to Levi and Issacher as she climbed on the elevator down to sector 2.
Levi winked at her as the elevator doors closed, and Nicoleta blushed a little before settling down on the bench next to Jackson and his crew.
On the other side of the elevator in sector 2 was May, and Charlotte welcomed her with open arms, smiling widely.
She engulfed them in a tight hug, and only realised the clothes they were wearing when she pulled away.
"What's with the set up" they both looked at her as if she was crazy. They were wearing green dresses with red stockings, and white coats.
Their hairs had been styled into pigtails, and holding it together were red and green ribbons.
"It's Christmas," Nicoleta smiled. They helped her with her one suitcase, and when Nicoleta climbed on the elevator to the fifth floor she found out that everyone else was sporting something for the holidays.
"No uniform?" She asked, the two shook her their heads, "not during Christmas" the elevator song that was usually something boring was playing Deck The Halls. And all five of them in the elevator bumped their heads to the tone.
Nicoleta exited with her friends waving goodbye to the others inside, the two beamed at them.
"Merry Christmas" they said before the doors closed.
"So how was sector 1?" May asked, interlocking their elbows, Nicoleta sighed a little, "a dream really" Charlotte tapped her shoulder lightly.
"I'm sure you will be transferred" Nicoleta smiled lightly, "yeah- "
"I saw a lot of strange things" they both beamed. Nicoleta told them everything, and nearly forgot about Leonardo.
"And I also met a boy called Leonardo-" she caught herself before saying the words that came to mind. They didn't need to know about her drawing him, or her drawing at all, not at the moment.
She tried not to be too tense when she remembered the paintings of Levi, and Leonardo in her suit case, which May was carrying.
Levi was just so perfect in painting, his face was perfectly symmetrical, and his hair, his pitch black hair…
Those two belonged on a canvas, and Nicoleta wanted to do them that justice.
"Leonardo Alexander?" Charlotte asked, Nicoleta nodded, May jumped, Nicoleta caught her suit case in the air, and brought it to her person, tossing May a heated glare.
"I can't believe you met THE Leonardo Alexander- " May cut her off, "and didn't think to tell us the very moment you arrived? What's wrong with you?" Nicoleta looked at the two of them, confused.
"How do you guys know him?" They bursted, Nicoleta tried not to laugh at their reactions, "Nico he is only the most commended student in sector 1 perhaps in the entire facility" Charlotte explained, May nodded, eyes wide open.
"Everyone who breathes in here knows about hi- " her words were brought to a sudden stop when the ground beneath them shook.
Some of the paintings fell, and despite them being five floors up, Nicoleta could hear some people screaming from below.
Fear made a resting place in her, and before they could even take shelter, the ceiling caved in followed by a loud explosion.
They ran past the rubble, and made their way to the emergency stairs the very same time the alarm sounded.
A robotic voice followed right after.
"Emergency alert this is not a drill. Evacuations are being made on the deck." The voice repeated the same words over and over again.
They ran quickly down the stairs. Fear stank in the air as they joined the crowd of panicking kids, trying to make their way to the deck.
Nicoleta grabbed Charlotte and May's hand and held on tightly, her fear increasing by the second.
May was trembling, her eyes darting from side to side, Charlotte tried to put on a brave face, as they navigated through the crowd but Nicoleta could tell that she was scared too.
They turned a corner, and made it to the deck where the first hover croft was being boarded.
Nicoleta rushed her friends forward, hoping to at least get them on the croft.
She pushed them forward through the horde of bodies, only to find that she had been holding on to strangers.
She panicked, turning around in the haze, "May Charlotte!!" She screamed, the same moment another explosion sounded, shaking the building once more.
She ran back to catch them, only to be pulled back, when someone wrapped their arms around her waist pulling her back.
"Let go let go!!" She shouted hopelessly, as Jackson who was much stronger than her pulled her toward the croft, she kicked her legs, and tried to break free all while holding her flame from bursting out.
She kicked his legs, and punched his arms repeatedly, wiggling, and squirming in his arms, but he was just too strong.
"Let go Jackson, I have to find my friends!!" her eyes burned hot with tears as he forced her into the croft, and onto a chair, "my friends" she told him.
He utterly ignored her, and sat down buckling himself in, whilst stopping her from getting up with his telekinesis.
The doors of the hover croft closed before she could break free, and Nicoleta searched the crowd as they slowly disappeared behind the door for her friends.
The croft took off, and she could only hope they were safe, as she settled down, knowing she couldn't do anything more.