Modern!Laina AU with Agent Lillytiger

[Agent Lilytiger]

Levi smiled and sank back as Raina got her instrument ready. "I'm sure it's fine." He said, shrugging. "I don't expect it to be perfect right off." He teased.

[Agent Blackhawk]

Raina smiled a little bit, drawing the bow over the strings to get a feel for the instrument and its sound. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes momentarily as she tried to remember what she was doing. She paused another moment and then opened her eyes again, starting on a concerto she'd known very well back when she'd been playing consistently. She bit her lip as she hit a wrong note before she was more than a couple measures in, and picked up from a few notes before. She wished she could still play without looking, but her fingers had forgotten some of their old training. She hit another wrong note and backtracked again, the mistakes frustrating her.

[Agent Lilytiger]

Levi watched Raina with a tiny smile as she started playing, then started over, then went back again. He could tell she was getting frustrated. There was a crinkle in her brow and her lips were purses like they only were when she was trying to work out a problem. "You're doing fine." He murmured quietly.

[Agent Blackhawk]

Raina let out a breath as she overheard Levi's soft words. She missed another note and then forced herself to breathe. She felt an odd prompting to just go for it, and so she closed her eyes again. A warmth instantly covered her fingers, and from then out it felt like something besides her memory was guiding her playing. She still had to work at it, but the notes smoothed and she didn't miss any more as she just followed the guide.

[Agent Lilytiger]

Levi watched Raina anxiously, her nerves rubbing off on him. He smiled as she finally relaxed and the notes connected and flowed off of the instrument with an unequivocal ease. Levi looked around at the family gathered in the room, and he could feel the change in them. They each grew quiet, and suddenly Levi realized that this music must remind them of Nick. Their son or brother. He looked over at Raina. Or best friend. He quieted, not moving or looking around as much as the moment settled around them.

[Agent Blackhawk]

Raina chewed her lip a little as she kept playing, focusing her entirety into the music. It had taken her several months to originally learn this song, and she honestly wasn't quite sure how she was remembering it after not touching a violin for a couple of years. She opted to not play past the second piano solo. The warmth guiding her fingers slithered down her arms and settled in her stomach as she played the last few notes. She opened her eyes again, half expecting to see Nick standing with his arms around her and his hands on hers. She smiled a little, looking to Elaine and then to Levi.

[Agent Lilytiger]

Levi closed his eyes as Raina continued to play, enjoying the soft music. He opened them again as the music faded, and he looked to her with a smile. "That was beautiful." He murmured, leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek.

[Agent Blackhawk]

Raina smiled softly as Levi pressed a kiss to her cheek. She straightened up, tucking the instrument under her arm again. "Levi's right. It was lovely, dear." Elaine spoke up. "It doesn't seem you've lost too much of your touch." Raina just smiled again, deciding to keep quiet about the warmth for now. "Thank you for bringing this over." She gently set the violin back in its case, doing the clasps. Elaine looked over at Charlie, who nodded slightly. "Actually, dear, why don't you keep it?" Raina's brow furrowed and she stared at the woman. "But don't you-" Elaine shook her head, smiling a little. "He wanted you to have it." Raina stuttered in shock for a moment. "Thank you."

[Agent Lilytiger]

Levi glanced to Mrs. Murphey then back to Raina, smiling as she gifted the violin. He reached out and carefully brushed his hand over her knee reassuringly. He didn't feel like he could add anything so he just kept quiet, his thumb rubbing the side of Raina's knee gently.

[Agent Blackhawk]

Raina just spent a moment staring at the dark wood of Nick's- her violin. She kind of didn't want to take it. She knew it was a couple thousand dollar instrument and that Charlie would benefit in his skills from playing it, but on the other hand, Nick hard wanted her to have it . . . She snapped the case shut and returned to her seat beside Levi.