Erwin, Levi, And Hanji Reaction To S/o Getting A Haircut

Erwin, Levi, and Hanji reaction to s/o getting a haircut

Erwin:

When Erwin was inside his quarters reading on your shared bed he heard the sound of the bathroom door being open. You were in there for a quite a while but he wasn't sure as to why. When Erwin looked up from his page he became in awe and realized you had cut your hair short. His eyes twinkled with delight of you sporting a new look and his mouth came to a smile. "You look beautiful, (Y/n)." His compliment made you feel really shy especially with the way he was smiling at you so charmingly. Your hands went to your face for a second before saying, "You like it? I was worried with what you would think." Erwin nodded his head and gestured you to sit next to him. "It suits you very well dear." Your worry went away fast as the blonde giant cuddled up next to you and whispered sweet nothings in your ear.

Levi:

You knew Levi didn't care about your physical appearance. But that didn't stop you from worrying about his opinion on your new haircut. It was pretty short from what you had before and it went right to your chin. Would he not like it? What if he thought it didn't look good on you? Your overthinking came to a halt when you heard a knock on the door to your shared bathroom with Levi. "(Y/n) you've been in there for at least half an hour. You're not taking a shit so open the door." You let out a huff before you came to the door and unlocked it letting you get the view of Levi on the outside with his arms crossed. "What's up with you?" Levi said nonchalantly. "Nothing..." You told him trying not to feel self conscious. He read your body language really well so it wasn't that hard for him to decipher that you were feeling insecure. Levi saw your new haircut and stared at it for a few seconds admiring it silently. "You know you shouldn't feel bad about your hair. It doesn't even look bad on you." Levi told you in his tone of voice. "Really? It doesn't?" Levi shook his head and uncrossed his arms. His hand went to your head to pat it lightly and he said, "It suits you." You have never gained more confidence in your life.

Hanji:

"You sure you know what you're doing?" You asked your brunette lover that was cutting your hair. "I'm positive! It's just hair, how hard can it be?" You rolled your eyes in amusement while you heard the sounds of snipping behind your head. Your hair has always been on the longer side but this time you wanted to try cutting it shorter so it'd be easier to maintain. When Hanji heard, they immediately volunteered to cut your hair but you were a bit hesitant to trust them. "I hope you don't end up making me bald because you messed up my hair." You said teasingly. "Oh hush (Y/n)! I'm actually more good at this than you think!" As Hanji finished the last segment of your hair, they prepared to grab the mirror to show you what they've done. "Tada! What do you think?" You looked at the mirror seeing yourself and came to a shock that Hanji did a decent job. "I like it Han. Thank you for cutting it." Hanji pressed a kiss to your cheek and said, "See, I told you I'd do a good job." You smirked to yourself and muttered sarcastically. "Yeah yeah." Hanji was in thought for a few moments before saying. "I kinda wish you went bald though." "Really Hanji?" "I'm joking!!"

Erwin, Levi, and Hanji's reaction to their s/o's death

Erwin:

His face remained the same. He was as calm and composed as ever as he led his soldiers back to the walls. While he looked calm and composed, something in his eyes became eerie. Eventually when the scouts returned back to headquarters Erwin still managed to go on with his normal duties like nothing. But people around him knew he wasn't the same without you. His orders became more harsh sounding and he couldn't bring himself to show much emotion on his face. The return to his office was grieving when he came inside. His hands tightly gripped his hair as he started to blame himself for everything. The tears he held in were slowly falling out. Erwin believed he was at fault for all these soldier's deaths. Including yours. He would never get to feel your love for him again.

Levi:

Hearing from the fellow soldier that you died struck something within him. His face fell and he could feel absolutely nothing. Only emptiness and sorrow. Levi couldn't utter a word to anyone when they came back to base. The expression on his face remained the same as it always was but people like Hanji knew it was something different. Once Levi was inside the base, he immediately went to his office and shut the door behind him. He looked around inside the office to see some of the items you've left behind. Levi dusted all of them off and cleaned the entire office too many times to count. He needed to forget and move on with his duties like always. But everything inside reminded him of you. Including the ring inside the office drawer.

Hanji:

Their ears weren't believing what they were hearing. You couldn't be actually dead right? You were one of the strongest people they knew. Hanji was in shock and disbelief. Hanji still went along and did their duties but in a more serious manner than usual. The emotion on their face left completely and they looked as if they were dead themselves. Moblit knew they lost their light. Later at night, Hanji went inside the showers to wash their sorrows off. They never would shower and even feel the need to care of themself. But without you, Hanji needed to wash off the pain. The lavendar scent of the soap smelled just like you. They broke down in distress repeating to themself. No matter how much they repeat your name wanting you back, they know you never will.

Continuing with my endless saga of loving Levi, chapter 123 will always make me emotinal because we get another glimpse at just how beautiful his soul truly is.

They're all shopping and Levi realizes that a kid is trying to steal Sasha's purse, so he quickly grabs the boy's wrist so he can't move any further.

The scene quickly takes a turn for the worse and people start crowding the boy, discussing ways that they can make him pay for trying to steal. They're extremely aggressive and have no compassion for him, and the scene reminds me so much of Levi in his younger days.

Kenny taught him how to survive in the underground, surely taught him how to steal too but he definitely didn't coddle and protect Levi if he got caught or lost a fight. Kenny taught him how to grow a tough skin, and that wouldn't happen if he came to Levi's aid whenever he got into trouble. That's why, when Levi looks into Ramzi's terrified eyes, he can feel every emotion that the boy is feeling because he's been in that situation too.

I don't think anybody in the underground was particularly excited that they had a new little assassin being trained by Kenny the Ripper himself, so I'm sure Levi wasn't welcome in places before he solidified his reputation as Underground's Strongest. Not only that, but the punishments in the underground had to be a thousand times more severe than those from the people in the surface.

The scene is just incredibly meaningful because Levi knows what it feels like to be looked down upon because of your origins, and having nobody but yourself as a protector.

He didn't have people to protect him as a kid, but he can't simply stand and watch while somebody's being mistreated the same way he once was. So he grabs Ramzi and gives him the aid that he didn't get to have as a kid.

And the look in Ramzi's eyes is the sweetest thing. He's raising the money up in the air like he's just won a gold medal, and it's clear that he's very thankful for Levi's help. It's like he's saying 'thank you! i'll use this money well!' and in the end... The sweetest part of all... Is how Levi simply doesn't care that Ramzi stole from him. I'm sure he didn't really know what to do with his allowance in the first place, so it's like he's giving it to someone that'll actually make a use for it. It really is just like Erwin once said:

[...] "Levi is capable of seeing the true nature of man, not only from just handwriting, but also from other outer aspects, like appearance, posture and way of talking… He can discover the true nature of a living thing called man from those qualities.”

Incorrect AOT quotes

i haven't seen one of these for the lesbian flag yet so here u go fellow lesbians

I have sent you one request before but I can't wait to ask again! <3 Can you do a Levi x reader where the reader is apart of the volunteers from Marley (same group as yelena and onyankopon) and like Nicolo she starts to fall in love with someone from paradis? (Levi obviously) tysm and I can't wait to see how you write this! <3

DIFFERENCES ASIDE - LEVI ACKERMAN X READER

Warnings : racism and prejudice against Eldians, some curse words (c'mon now, this is Levi), reader is female!

Genre : enemies to lovers fluff!!

Word count : 4.6K words (oops)

Synopsis : It isn't that impossible anymore for her to see how Niccolo and Sasha fell for each other.

Additional notes : I... have no idea what I was thinking when I wrote this but I was on a writing high I guess?? I got so carried away afshsksk anyways, I hope you like it, and I'd love to hear your feedback as usual!

Requests : Are open! Check the rules over here.

Masterlist

The first time she saw Levi, she genuinely wondered if the island devils were so grotesquely different that they were all shorter than the average person---by quite a bit. Nothing condescending about it (alright, in all honesty she did look down on them more than she'd like to ever admit), she just thought it was some sort of genetic variation that set them apart from the rest of the civilized world.

Then he'd spoken words of vitriol with little aggression yet full of malice, and it stunned her, leaving her rooted to the spot as Yelena shot down their troop captain. Were they really that harsh as they claimed to be? She didn't know, and frankly, she didn't want to wait to find out---especially when she saw the way they held a fellow Marleyan soldier captive on their hellish island. She wasn't about to let herself get eaten alive, but with the looming threat of the titan that towered over their heads, there weren't that many options but to quietly comply and follow Yelena's lead, as she and Onyankopon looked ever-trusting of the filthy demons that stood on the cliff.

It hadn't been her free choice when she was forced to meet their highest standing officials, the remarkably short man and the one with the eye-patch who went by Hange. With a look of disdain as she wondered just how orderly they thought they were to have rankings, the Marleyan volunteer was stopped from attacking by Onyankopon's firm hand, gesturing his head towards Yelena, who took the reigns of the conversation---although it was clear to see that there was little to nothing to discuss, seeing as they sounded beyond ignorant and seriously technologically behind.

"There's nothing to benefit from this island, Yelena, can't you see how little resources they have?" she groaned exasperatedly, banging on the table, "This is all in vain."

The look the blonde woman gave her was enough to send tremors climbing up and down her spine, but the man of short stature---Levi, Yelena had pulled the name out of him with her farce of courtesy---was quick to snap at her.

"If you don't like being here, then get off the island. But you're gonna have to swim back."

"Excuse her insubordination, she's new to this," Yelena chuckled light-heartedly, "We're grateful you're hearing us out over a cup of tea."

"You must be a shitty ass leader then," he muttered under his breath, causing the commander to his left to hiss.

"Levi! Too loud!"

"Good," his reply was nonchalant as he sipped on his tea, rolling his eyes as though he couldn't care less what they thought of him (and that probably really was the way he was thinking).

"You're being rather rude for someone at a disadvantage," she went on, not wanting to back down as he insulted Yelena, only to have him narrow his steely eyes at her.

"Did you forget that we posess two titans that can flatten entire cities? Who's the one at the disadvantage here, really?"

The chill in his voice was unnerving, his threatening undertones more alarming when he spoke them with his soft enunciation, and either out of shock or out of rage, she found herself biting down on her tongue and refraining from replying snarkily. Instead, she remained silent the entire time Yelena and Onyankopon talked to the two Eldians, tuning out the entire conversation out of sheer annoyance and disinterest. The last thing she wanted was to associate herself with the two devils in front of her; if Onyankopon was willing to step on his pride in search of their goals being achieved, then that was on him. She certainly wasn't going to be doing the same.

The moment they were ushered into another room for them to stay at headquarters, Yelena turned her back on her.

"You're being relocated," she stated simply, shoes clicking against the cobblestone floors, "You're going to be part of the dock-building squad."

"What?" she sneered, "And deal with more Eldians?" picking up the pace, she stood right behind the tall woman, "Don't forget that you roped us into this."

With a chilling smile, she turned her head, "Would you like to swim back home, as Captain Levi said?"

"You're using their shitty titles now?" her eyes widened as she looked at her incredulously, "Did you forget their crimes?"

"What crimes?" the taller woman chuckled, hand resting on the door, pushing it open slowly, "Anyways, that's my final word. If you can't handle dealing with them while building a ship dock, then I'll have you stationed with Niccolo."

"And do what, stare at the sea?" she barked back, watching as Yelena sat on the chair by the window as Onyankopon mumbled something inaudible under his breath.

"No," calm as ever, her leader pointed at the blonde man who, as seen from their dorms, was trying to set up a stall, boxes with unknown tools stacked beside him, "Cook."

***

"Stupid Yelena with her stupid orders," she hissed, wiping sweat from her brow after having carried over what felt like a ton of pots, pans, and various kitchen utensils to the massive stall they'd finally set up near the construction work.

With a quirked brow, Niccolo looked up at her from his position on the floor, where he was rearranging the cupboards, "You know, you really shouldn't be saying stuff like that out loud when anyone could be listening in on you."

"And? So what?" she snapped back with a huff, before beginning to hand him the pots and pans.

"You'll be exterminated," he said, shrugging, "Yelena doesn't tolerate traitors, and you know that."

"But why do we have to cook for these bastards?" she grumbled, "It's not like they've been starving all this time."

"According to Onyankopon, they apparently have," he sighed, dusting his pants before he got up, "And it's honestly just because we're the only people that can cook."

With a huff, she leaned against the countertop, "And the only ones with half a brain to not get all buddy-buddy with these scumbags," she shook her head, "I'm never going to be able to have any amity between me and any of these island devils."

***

The second time they'd met was when she was busy decorating the dishes as Niccolo instructed.

In all honesty, the routine they'd fallen into meant that the blonde did the majority of the cooking, while she handled the cleaning and setting up, since he was the better chef out of the two of them. She didn't mind the dirty work; it meant that any thanks were handed to Niccolo instead of her, which meant that she didn't have to deal with any Eldians coming up to her with food-stained fingers and sobbing into her arms (she'd pretended to turn a blind eye to the way Niccolo's face had burned red after a particular brunette had thrown herself onto him; how disgraceful of him to react that way).

Her peace was shattered when a shadow crossed the counter and remained there. Looking up with annoyance etched on her face, she found the same man with the ebony bangs who'd 'welcomed' them upon their arrival.

"What do you want?" she even sounded irritated, as opposed to how serene she'd previously felt.

"Just wanted to check out your food," he shrugged, eyeing their stall with a little interest, "The brats have been speaking highly of this place."

"I'd be surprised if they didn't, uncultured swines don't know a thing about good food after all, must've been a first for them," she mumbled under her breath, and he narrowed his eyes in response, but refused to rise to the bait.

Tugging at the lapels of his jacket, Levi slowly walked around, inspecting the piping hot dishes she'd put out, "What's that?" he pointed at one fish she'd perfectly skinned and dressed with potatoes and lemons, before adding the greens ontop.

Hesitating for a second, she decided against throwing an insult his way, considering the way he'd reacted (or rather, hadn't reacted) to her earlier provocation, "Mackerel. It's fresh."

"You cooked this?" he asked, taking the utensils from her hands, completely turning a blind eye to the way she glared at him and instead focusing on the way the fatty white meat glimmered.

She shook her head, "Niccolo did. I'm in charge of the presentation and services only."

He paused before eating, "You did well. Tasteful."

She almost sneered. What did he expect; for her to thank him? But before she could utter the malicious words, she took notice of how he hadn't made a single complaint since he'd stepped into the vicinity; a clear sign of respect for their work. In return, she remained silent and kept what she wanted to say to herself.

Unlike the group of rowdy teenagers who'd turned up with empty stomachs and a lack of table manners, this man ate slowly and carefully, as though he were savoring every bite. It was a rather surprising thing to see an Eldian act in such a civilized, proper, even mannerly way.

"Give my thanks to Niccolo," he paused, placing the polished dish back where he'd taken it from, before adding, "Please."

The politeness coming from him didn't seem natural, and it was a bit of a shock, seeing as he probably had never felt the need to add pleasantries to his words, given his position, and yet he'd gone through the effort of doing so for someone who clearly despised him. With a nod, she watched as he tugged his jacket tighter around his shoulders and walked off.

Perhaps not all Eldians were complete wastes of space.

***

It was only after the third time they met that she felt absolutely no ill-will towards him, and instead felt a sense of calm wash over her at the mention of his name.

Months after their second encounter, the newest establishment that had been added to the city (kudos to Onyankopon's incessant encouragement that it would be a great idea) was the huge mansion that, once entered, was discovered to be a family restaurant, where the higher ups of the military were supposed to dine at in the near future---if all things went according to the plan Yelena had concocted but remained silent about (and really, it's not like anyone had any complaints; Yelena's word was law to all the volunteers, and it remained that way partially out of fear and partially out of trust).

It was the grand opening of the restaurant, though it really was anything but grand. Only the top brass of the military and Yelena's group of volunteers were welcome to spend the day at Niccolo and the girl's service, an idea crafted by none other than Commander Hange themselves.

"We couldn't help ourselves after hearing his rave review," Hange enthused, wrapping an arm around the shorter man's neck, earning an annoyed click of his tongue.

"It wasn't a rave review, don't blow it out of proportion," he rolled his eyes, "I just gave my honest opinion."

"Which was surprisingly enthusiastic," the brunette chuckled, letting him go as they stood to shake the girl's hand, a happy smile on their face, and it took her all she had to not push them away, the only sign of her true feelings visible in the twitch of her eyebrow.

"Can't you see you're being overbearing again?" the man huffed, touching his superior's arm with no restraint, "You never learn that people have boundaries, now, do you..."

As he drifted off, the girl took that opportunity to quietly lead them to their tables, "I'll be your waitress tonight, and I'll be presenting the dishes that Niccolo cooks all on his own. Happy dining," with a stiff bow that had her skin itching to do in front of these Eldians (particularly the girl with the long hair who, in a witch-like manner, had ensnared the blond chef), she went off to quickly prepare the plates for their guests.

Before she could take a step into the kitchen, a loud holler stopped her, "Hey, we're veterans, aren't we? How 'bout we have some good ol' wine?"

Just as she was about to whip her head, eyes blown wide as she'd scream in protest that she'd been strictly forbidden from serving them that wine, a sharp voice (though really, if she'd bothered to strain her ears she'd realize was not unkind) stopped the teenager.

"Are you daft? You're already as stupid as they come, I can't imagine what you'll be like when you're drunk."

The short-haired boy whined, "But captain..."

All she did was shake her head and give an almost-imperceptible quirk of her lips that she tried to sell as a smirk of superiority---but Niccolo, who eyed her as he handed her the pots and pans of steaming food, could tell the difference, and opted to do nothing about it. Instead, he asked a question that concerned him, "Is Sasha out there?"

Biting back the 'The pig?' comment she wanted to add, she nodded, "She's with that bunch of kids that have clearly never learnt how to properly eat."

"They're not... bad people, you know," he softly remarked, eyebrows furrowed as the girl began to decorate the plates as she saw best, "They were just born into a world different from ours, that's all."

Scoffing as she scooped the beef stroganoff onto the dishes, she said, "You've gone far too soft, Niccolo."

The man shook his head as she began to walk out, balancing the dishes on her tray expertly, "You're the one being too stubborn."

After serving them for hours on end, and tolerating their loud laughter and slurping of soup that had her stomach churning, she was more than glad when Levi and Hange pushed them out of the brass doors, lingering behind for a moment.

"I'm going to thank the chef," Hange rushed, a happy grin on her face as she burst through the back-door, "Oi, Niccolo!"

Levi stood up to talk to the girl, quiet footsteps as he made his way to the window, "You get much customers?"

"No."

"The military top brass came here to get drunk of their asses, don't they?" he rolled his eyes, "Bastards still don't do their jobs right."

With a stiff nod, she remained silent, a small (not that small, really) part of her wanting to indulge in conversation with the only man of the odd bunch who looked sane enough to talk to.

"You despise me, don't you?" he casually asked, a finger twirling the tassle of the fancy curtains around the window pane.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, the girl folded her hands behind her back, as if feeling some sort of obligation to answer him with honesty (she actually wasn't, but that was what she tried to convince herself of), "Not really, no."

Arching his eyebrow, his expression seemed to tell that he was rather surprised by her confession, "That's odd."

With another nod, she slowly said, "I think... I don't find you as off-putting as the others."

Levi breathed out, and it sounded like a masked chuckle, "Can't blame you when they're a damn handful," pausing he gave her a pointed look, "They're good kids, though."

"You speak as though you're a veteran," perhaps it was her own mind playing tricks with her, but she believed she even sounded slightly teasing.

"I am, actually, and so are these kids," he lifted his pinky finger in the direction of the door they'd just left from, "They might look sometimes like simpletons, but they've seen more shit than the average teenager should."

"Why's that?" she asked, unable to hide the curiosity on her face, for some reason wanting to hear everything the man had to say; it didn't seem like this was the normal for him, because he paused every once in a while as though collecting his thoughts.

Lifting his head away from looking down out the window, he turned to her, grey eyes boring holes into hers, like still yet unpredictable waters, "When Marley launched an attack 6 years ago, half of these kids lost their families to the onslaught of titans, and they spent the rest of their years having to see their precious comrades drop dead like insects under their threat. Now, why were they subjected to that shit in the first place?"

Frowning, the girl replied, "Because they murd---"

"They didn't do shit," he bit back, voice as calm as ever, "They were kids back then, the majority of them no older than nine years old. Tell me, what did they do to deserve that trauma?"

Incredulously, she tried to give him the answer, "Their ancestors! They---"

"Are dust six feet under," he interrupted, and she found herself spluttering, trying to find the words to excuse the nation that had flattened the people she'd always viewed as spawns of the devil, and Levi took advantage of her inability to speak, "And they themselves never committed a single crime. There are history books from an entirely different perspective that say so. But at the end of the day, the enemy is just whomever each person likes to blame, isn't it?"

Head swimming with the words he spoke to her, the young woman wasn't able to dispel the doubts that circled her brain after what he'd said. The idea that what she'd believed in her entire life might've been nothing but a pile of lies to pinpoint a fictional perpetrator shattered her. If her core beliefs were to be changed, what would she cling onto? She had nothing but her searing hatred for Eldians, and even that she had to admit wasn't at all as strong as she claimed it was. If her faith wavered, she'd have no home to return to.

"Just a few thoughts to think of at night," his leveled voice snapped her out of her conflicted daze, giving her what she believed might've been a smug smile (she couldn't really tell; the quirk of his lips was too small to decipher), "I'll be visiting next week too. Thank you for your kindness."

She was too busy to tell if he was being sarcastic or not with his last statement.

***

True to his word, Levi did visit the restaurant the following week. And the next, and the one after that, and every single week after that. He occupied the same table that overlooked the same view out of the same window, tirelessly and without a single bored expression. She wondered how he managed to foot the bill every time, but then she realized that he never ordered that much in the first place. Every time he tried a different plate, and every time he'd offer his gratitude towards both her and Niccolo---though she constantly wondered why he thought it necessary to thank her when she barely did anything to contribute to the final dish.

Ever since that one time he nearly sent her into an existential crisis, he avoided talking of their different races, resorting to idle chatter that she chose whether or not to participate in. He was a man of few words, that much she could tell, and oftentimes he was too brisk (which resulted in her temper rising to his unfiltered words), but all in all, she found herself surprisingly accepting of his presence, even going as far as enjoying his company on slow days (it wasn't as though they had that many customers in the first place; despite Niccolo's rising fame as a cook, the majority of the island's population still struggled with poverty). Though he was rather fair-skinned, he seemed to be fond of sitting in the sunlight---but perhaps that was also because sunny spots were considered blissful as winter approached them.

"You're wearing a coat this time," she pointed out, setting down the lemon-honey chicken breast dish in front of him, before adding the chocolate fudge cake Niccolo had just whipped minutes ago as the day's special.

Arm extended as though to take his coat, Levi politely waved her off, instead asking, "Aren't you cold yourself?"

Shaking her head after a moment of thinking, she pointed her thumb at the back door, "With Niccolo slaving away at the stove and oven for hours on end, I actually tend to overheat."

"Have a seat, then."

More than just a little shocked, her eyes grew wide, "Who, me?"

Looking at her as though she were plain stupid (that ruffled her feathers and she felt slightly annoyed, in all honesty), he retorted, "Who else? I'm not going to eat all this on my own. Have the dessert you recommended."

Still gaping at him, she complied, "Are you sure? Chocolate's kind of a novelty for you guys."

Rolling his eyes, he just gave her his spoon, "Won't use it. Eat the damn thing already," he chuckled, and she felt a warmth pool in her belly at the sound, unable to tell exactly why she felt her cheeks start burning at the sound.

So to distract herself from the confusing thoughts, she decided to busy her mouth with the sweet cake, letting out a delighted moan at the taste, "Niccolo's a genius."

"No wonder that kid Sasha likes him," Levi snorted between bites, and her eyes remained trained on him as his were covered by his neatly trimmed bangs.

The woman looked pensive, "I'm not entirely sure if I'm okay with the fact that they're in love."

"Why?" he raised his eyebrow, "I thought you were past that stage of hatred and prejudice."

"I am," she didn't know why she was so quick to reassure him, but she realized she didn't want him to think poorly of her as he did the first time they'd met, "I just... I think it's, well, weird."

Setting his utensils down and---again---offering his thanks to her and Niccolo for the food---he leaned back against the back of his chair, crossing his legs in a regal fashion that had her staring against her own will (she didn't even realize that she'd been drinking him in for the past God-knows-how-long).

"There's nothing weird about it. Just a girl who found something in common between her and a guy she found attractive, and vice versa," resting his chin on his fist, he went on, "The differences were jarring, sure, but mutual feelings should rise above that."

Having finished the dessert and having been listening quietly as he spoke, the young woman looked down at her lap, mulling things over in her head. Frankly, she didn't know if she'd be as open to dating someone of another race she'd criminalized her entire life, up until recently---but in all honesty, she hadn't been put in a situation where she was forced to react to something like that, so maybe she wasn't to blame for being so skeptical.

With a sigh that sounded a bit tired, Levi set down a few bills on the table, stopping her abruptly from crashing into her train of thought, "Think about it. I'll be patient."

Cocking her head to the side, she felt even more confusion envelope her. What was he on about? Seeing her so clueless triggered another sigh from him, but this time it was paired with a half-smile that could only be described as a mix between exasperated and fond.

"Do you seriously take me for someone who just splurges on meals regularly for a conversation or two, when there are absolutely no emotions involved?"

He left after that, allowing his words to sink in as he tugged his coat tighter around his retreating form, shoes pattering softly on the carpeted floor. It took her a minute, or two, and then---

Oh. Oh.

***

For weeks on end, she found herself growing more and more flustered with every time he stopped by. While he might've come off as intimidating or even cold at first, she slowly became more entranced by his calm demeanor. Like a sedative, he affected her by putting her at ease, but at the same time her heartbeat---which was so loud she almost swore he could hear it from across her every time---sent her into a frenzy and reminded her of the fact that he was very much a handsome, unconventionally captivating man who was pursuing her; not out of mild interest or curiosity, but out of a genuine desire to acquire her affections.

Daft as she sometimes was, impulsive and hotheaded as she often tended to be, she wasn't entirely oblivious to how she felt. She realized that the pounding in her chest was simply her heart beating nervously under his undivided attention, not knowing how to cope with the fact that she didn't find the idea of dating him repulsive---not in the least; quite contrary, actually.

She couldn't help indulging in his small smiles, the comforting silences, and his quiet conversations. She couldn't find it in her to hate the situation, when she found herself indulging him in blissful grins, bashful blushing, and lingering stares. If this were a war, then he'd have definitely won it, because his presence seemed to have such a great hold on her. And despite how she'd previously felt concerning her comrade and his new girlfriend, she didn't found herself uttering one word of protest concerning the nature of her connection with Levi; instead; it became something she treasured and held dear to her, in a way that sometimes stunned even her, wondering what on earth had happened to turn her world around like that. And the answer was always the same. Levi.

Walking on sunshine, she even began to look forward to the days she spent in his company by that golden windowsill. He never moved from that table, and she never expected him to; it almost was reserved for him and him alone---that is, until after she'd have served him and he'd have usually insisted she sit across from him and eat with him. The habits she'd cultivated within the period of knowing him became subconscious things she did without much thought, like they were second nature to her. She didn't know whether to thank him or curse him for being so magnetic and having such an effect on her.

It was after her shift had ended in the early spring when she discovered that he'd been standing outside the kitchen door the entire time, waiting for her to finish up.

"Levi," she called his name, surprise evident in her voice, "Why're you still here?" Arching his brow as he ran a hand through his ebony locks, he asked, "Should I leave?"

Realizing the implication of her wanting him gone, she was quick to correct herself, "Sorry, I just... is there something you need me for?" He nodded, "Hange gave me the rest of the day off, so I have time to spare after this," this time he was the one who offered to take her cardigan, "I wanted to begin formally courting you, so we might as well go on a date now," he paused, sharp eyes looking far softer as he held out his other scarred hand, "A proper one."

Breath hitching in her throat, she came to realize that there really could only be one reply to that---and the way she spoke her words gently showed just how she felt about that.

"I'd love that, thank you."