WITH THE WAY LEVI froze, it almost seemed like he had been stabbed himself. He slowly turned from her to the window, lips parting as he tried to process the information. Before he could the officers already pulled them along, likely thinking they were still in shock after everything that had happened. Levi didn't protest, didn't ask her for more information, he just stayed silent. If Ella hadn't known him, she would've assumed he didn't want anyone who ran away to be in his family. Levi as he portrayed himself to the world was cold and tough, someone who didn't need anyone in his life, especially if they didn't seem to want to be.

She knew him though. He had been there during all his mother's relapses, had patiently helped her each time she got out. The anger towards his father was there and would always be, but especially with the stories she had heard regarding how violent he had been in the past, she knew the sizzling fury was dulling somewhat. It wasn't like he was the forgiving type, far from it, but the people he held close in his heart were always en exception. There was no way either Will, Ava or Alex could ever do anything for him to shut them out of his life. Family had always been more than only sharing the same blood to him, but either way, it meant a lot.

Even if he decided he didn't want Kai in his life, he did most likely want to know him. And if not, she at least wanted to give him the chance to be able to choose.

"What are you doing?" the officer exclaimed as she slipped through his arms, turning to run.

"Ella!" Alex exclaimed while being forced into a police car," help me! Tell them I'm your savior!"

"I am her brother!" Sebastian protested, already in the car," why would I have anything to do with this? All those men involved were old and balding, don't throw us in the same group."

"Sure you're the victim's brother," one officer scoffed," what's next? The boy next to you is her cousin?"

"As a matter of fact -" Alex began.

"Fairly sure Sebastian does have a sister," another cop interjected.

The men who had actually been involved with the crime were a lot less enthusiastic, all of them shifty and anxious, not to mention bleeding. They were cuffed and being put in the cars, Carlo threatening them all while others cursed. Everyone was moving, but in the midst of all the chaos she could only fully focus on Levi, their eyes locking before she turned to run.

"Eleanora," he said.

"I'll be right back," she promised.

Then she was off, sprinting through the house to the window, jumping over within no time. The backyard was a mess of weeds, the door behind ajar, leading to  a forest drenched in dusk. Normally she wouldn't have had an idea where to go, but one look down showed blood splatters on the floor, an orange glow on them from the setting sun. In horror movies she always cursed at the main character for running straight towards danger, but she had long since discovered it wasn't like she could avoid it anyway.

Okay, was it a smart and thought-out decision? No. Was she known for them? Also no, so it was fine.

"O my God," she muttered underneath her breath as she ran the straight line Kai had taken through the trees," how far has this man gotten while being stabbed?"

"Not far enough, apparently."

Her head snapped to the right, the sight of a man in the woods welcoming for the first time. Kai was sitting on the twigs and pinecones scattered across the grass, pale and breathing quickly. His shirt was stained red around the knife, but he hadn't removed it yet. Good, because it was probably the only thing stopping him from bleeding to death.

"I'm going to call an ambulance," Ella said.

"Don't," Kai breathed," I don't want to go to a hospital."

"Then perhaps don't choose to hang out with the shadiest people ever," Ella frowned as she walked over to him," you've been stabbed, Kai, this is not a time to discuss things." She put her hand in her pocket, ready to grab her phone, before realizing it obviously had been taken when they had tied her up. Slowly she turned back towards Kai, flashing him a smile. "Unrelated, can you give me your phone for a second."

"No," he said, closing his eyes," you can leave. I'll be fine."

In a way he looked almost at peace, but that was so worrying she wanted to pull him along by force. There was no way she had ran away from a warm blanket and Levi simply to have this man bleed to death here. She wasn't going to leave now.

"You didn't say hello," she said.

Kai's eyes opened at once, the gold in them shadowed. He looked towards her almost sadly, before glancing away again.

"It's fine," he said," I will."

"Not if you die," Ella said," you're pale and have been stabbed by someone who doesn't look like he even showers, so I worry about the bacteria on that knife. I'm telling you, get it treated."

"I will," Kai chuckled, though his laughter didn't feel genuine at all," I always survive somehow, no matter how unfortunate that is." He leaned his head against the tree, a hazy look in front of his eyes. "Perhaps it is better if I just die here. The world would have one problem less and Levi wouldn't ever have to put up with someone who will never make him proud anyway."

Ella breathed in, her words tangling with the wind when she spoke.

"I told Levi about you."

Kai didn't speak, but his hand grazed past his wound, as if he was only now feeling the pain shooting through his body.

"Did you tell him I'm sorry?" he whispered.

"You can tell me yourself."

Even while looking startled, Kai had been detached during their whole conversation. There was clearly a line he had drawn between himself and the world, so thick his true emotions could never cross. Now however they were everywhere, colored on the leaves above, drawn all over the trees, soaked into his skin. When he looked at Levi, he seemed younger somehow, drowning in truths he had been avoiding for too long.

"Levi," he said.

In reply all Levi did was grab his good arm and put it around his shoulder, pulling him up with ease and dragging him along. Kai didn't protest this time as Levi called the ambulance, not a word leaving his lips the entire walk back. Once they reached the cops the ambulance had already arrived, people rushing over to Kai and urging him to lie down inside. Kai complied, but his gaze was still on Levi, neither of them talking to each other.

God, they truly were brothers.

When they put Kai in the ambulance, Ella tried to convince them to get Levi along for the ride, but they refused. Before the doors closed, Levi placed his hands between them, staring at Kai one more time.

"I'm fucking angry," he said.

"I understand," Kai murmured," I'm sorry -"

"No," Levi interrupted him," I'm angry because you suddenly came in between and saved me, I'm angry because you came out of nowhere after all these years. I'm angry that you decided you can't ever make me proud on your own." He breathed out. "You can't apologize. Not now. I want to hear it from you when we meet again."

Kai's lips parted, but Levi already had taken a step back, the doors closing now he wasn't holding them open anymore. Right as they clicked shut Kai's answer echoed through, clear despite how quiet it was.

"Thank you."

Ella took Levi's hand in hers, squeezing it as they stood there in silence. He needed a silent moment, she understood that. She just wanted him to be able to rest.

"I just want you to be able to rest," Levi said, shaking her out of her thoughts," come, you need to get your injuries treated."

"I've had worse," she reassured him.

"That doesn't mean it's fine," he said, pulling her along," you have your match soon as well, I know that's important to you."

"Levi," she said," you've been through something life-changing just now."

"You've been kidnapped," he frowned.

"It's not like it's the first time," she shrugged.

Perhaps this would inevitably traumatize her or give her nightmares, but for know all she was going to do was cope with it in her own way: sarcasm. It may not be the healthiest mechanism, but it was something. Their friends caught their attention then, all three of them free and her mother beside them, even while silent still intimidating the officers in front of her.

"Mission successfully completed," Alex grinned.

"You're all going to be punished for excessive violence," one of the cops dared to speak up.

"Is self-defense excessive nowadays?" her mother said, raising an eyebrow," you do remember these are men in their thirties and forties, I don't think they had much room to hold back."

"Actually -" Sebastian started, but one look from their mother silenced him at once.

"We'll speak about this further in the car," she said," but you will not punish them for saving my daughter. Now tell me where she is, right this moment."

"Mamá," Ella spoke up.

Her mother turned around immediately, relief washing over her stern face as she hurried over to Ella, enveloping her in a hug. Her familiar perfume danced around her, all the stress Ella had been holding in finally flowing out as she reassured her mother she was fine. When she finally let her go, her mother opened her arms for Levi, who awkwardly stepped into the hug, but still closed his eyes during.

"I'm glad you're safe," her mother told them," come, we're going to get you checked, because you probably have just run around without any regard to your own wellbeing."

"I told her that as well," Levi nodded solemnly.

"You're taking her side?" Ella protested.

In the one moment her mother had been away Alex had for some reason grabbed an officer by the arms, Sebastian ready to punch him like they were some kind of gang members, Will looking mortified beside them. Her mother shook her head, walking over as she gestured for them to follow. They did, but right before they came close enough for the others to hear Ella grabbed Levi's hand, stopping him in place.

"I forgot to tell you," she said.

"What?" he blinked.

She smiled, leaning in for a kiss.

"I love you as well."