Chapter Text
July 28, 2023
The drumming of his fingers drowned out the conversation unfolding in front of him. Levi had set up a steady rhythm, focusing on the sound of his skin tapping against the hardwood. An acceptable choice for a table, he thought to himself. Less likely for dents and scratches from utensils to appear. He lifted his head up slightly, surveying the low hanging lamps, its yellow hue bringing warmth to his eyes. The place was mostly decorated with plants, framed pictures, and vintage trinkets. The walls that were adorned with floral green patterns and the beat-up wooden flooring gave him the atmosphere of a house he once lived in. A house in which Levi can still conjure up in his mind vividly. Slowly closing his eyes for a little while, he took in the sounds of chatter occurring in the other tables. The volume was just enough for him to consider it white noise. He thanked his friends in his head for constantly selecting places to dine that are up to his preferences, whether intentional or not.
“Oh! She’s also taking a class in literature this semester. I think she’s in one of your classes.”
A booming voice coming from across the table brought Levi’s attention back from his wandering mind. He acknowledged it with a soft hum, taking a moment to replay the sentence in his head and process it, before directing his sight towards the person who spoke. Levi was met with an all too familiar bright smile, a speck of light reflecting on the lenses of their glasses, sitting neatly on their nose bridge. “She’s quite excited for that one, was up all night sitting in front of her laptop,” they continued whilst waving their hands dramatically in the air as they talked, “She waited for the campus website to open up the class registrations to save a seat.” Levi only faintly nodded to that. The man sitting on his right chuckled at the last sentence whilst leaning back on his chair, “I remember you scolded her because she didn’t set up an alarm before midnight instead.” He grinned at the memory, before continuing with his teasing, “You guys were bickering up until twelve. She almost missed the registrations because of you, Hange.” The both of them let out a hearty laugh. These are one of those times where Levi resorts to simply watching his two friends’ banter, silently appreciating their presence.
“Where is she anyways? She’s rarely late,” the man spoke soon after, and Hange went on to check their phone for any new messages. “Erwin, have you checked your phone? Any texts from her?” They replied, still facing the phone screen. Erwin patted his pockets and pulled out his phone. Levi then turned his head near the restaurant’s entrance. His pair of eyes scanned the area, searching for any signs of the aforementioned person, her lack of presence way above the agreed upon time started to gnaw at him. After some time observing, he was only met with a distant sound of a bell ringing. An elderly couple had just entered through the front doors of the restaurant, walking up to the host to discuss their seating.
“Her last message was almost two hours ago, telling me that she had to go to her usual meeting first before going here.”
“Well, that should take about an hour? An hour and a half? She’s supposed to be here at least thirty minutes ago.”
“I know right? It’s only like… Twenty? Thirty minutes away from her apartment. It’s one of the reasons why I picked this place, so that no one will be late. A point I stressed mostly for myself!”
“Yeah, I think this is Hange’s first time being earlier than her.”
“Fuck you, Erwin! I’m not that tardy.”
“You are. But seriously, I’m… concerned. I’m going to call her.”
Erwin started dialling her number and then pressed the phone to his ear, concern written on his face. Meanwhile Hange was busy bombarding her with text messages, typing words at a quick pace. Levi folded his arms, a quiet scoff escaping his lips. Levi understood that his friends knew punctuality is of great importance to him. Yet, he couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback by his friends’ unusually heightened reaction to her tardiness. Usually, when someone showed up late, the duo would dismiss it with a shrug. After all, they weren’t exactly paragons of punctuality themselves. When the phone screen flashed with the words ‘no answer’, Erwin exhaled in frustration, locking his phone and placing it on the table.
“What kind of meeting was she attending anyway?” Levi finally chimed in after some time passively contributing to the conversation. Both of his friends tensed and quickly shared a look, though this brief interaction didn’t go unnoticed by Levi. He scrunched his nose in suspicion, slowly eyeing them one by one. The weight of his gaze made Hange look away, pretending to make efforts in recalling their memories. Witnessing his friend’s evident panic, the blonde man lightly coughed to turn the attention towards himself. Erwin straightened up his back and calmly stated, “Just an organization she’s a part of, they meet around once in two weeks.” Levi lightly tilted his head to the side and hummed in acknowledgement, dragging the sound. Levi was still giving this stranger the benefit of the doubt. Hange did mention that her lack of punctuality was not a common occurrence. Feeling awkward with their hands, Hange fidgeted with the napkin on their lap. Their thoughts coming in all at once, figuring out a way to distract his gloomy friend from their long-awaited guest. “Sorry Levi… but I’m sure she’ll be here any minute now,” they spoke after a minute of silence between the three, a hint of guilt flashing. Once again, Levi only nodded to that, donning his usual stony expression. With tension slowly overtaking the table, Erwin gently tapped on the hardwood, gathering the attention of the other two.
“In the meantime, how about we get the drinks ordered first?”
“Sounds good. Should we get a pitcher of this?” Hange pointed to one of the options in the menu.
“I think this other one is a lighter option for tonight,” Erwin pointed the drink next to it.
“I guess. Is two good?”
“Fine with me. What do you think Levi?”
Distracted with his own thoughts as he stared back at the restaurant’s entrance, Levi hummed in response to Erwin’s question. It didn’t take long for his two friends to be engrossed in discussing the menu, whilst Levi’s mind wandered to her whereabouts. All the stories and mentions of her name had never really made him sought for further information. Although, it seemed like something was stopping him. He somehow could never pry for more. They were enough for Levi to draw her up, at least on a surface level, although her face was still a blurry image in his mind. A picture of a silhouette. There were times where he would never admit it, but he was filled with curiosity. But it was usually a passing moment. After all, she was still a stranger to him. A stranger he had never met. It was then that Levi realized, he hadn’t actually met her. He had not actually gotten to know her.
From the tales that Erwin and Hange had told, Levi could only piece together fragmented pieces of who she might be. He could vividly recall the night when Erwin and Hange had bounced around the room, their animated gestures trying to reenact the absurd story of how she once forged a letter “from Hange’s parents” to the school board to cover up Hange’s explosive escapade—quite literally. Hange had apparently blown up half the school’s laboratory after hours. Both of them had ended the retelling with their bodies sprawled out on the floor, struggling to catch their breath from laughing so hard in a mix of nostalgia and drunken haze. During a quiet, sappy movie night, Hange had opened up to Levi about how much they missed her. They mused on about her—The writing contests she won, the band performances, getting on top of her classes, sneaking out to comfort Hange or Erwin on a rough day, yelling at seniors who mistreated her friends, her little homemade gifts for them, and the list goes on. Levi remembered every word, every image, and above all, he remembered how Hange had gotten teary-eyed as they finished their ramblings. Their voice had faltered towards the end, muttering something incoherent, but Levi was certain he heard the hushed ache in their words, “I really, really hope she’s okay now.”
Something must’ve come up, is what he tried to reassure himself with. For about two years now, she had become a familiar name in his ear, yet he had never seen a sight of. Ever since Levi decided to return, his two friends began making dinner plans for the four of them. She had just entered university last year, and Levi’s absence in campus for the past year had led up to this long-awaited meeting. He never really minded the idea in the first place, overtime learning just how much she means to his two closest companions. Since he first stepped foot on campus, Erwin and Hange had been constants in his life. The bond between them had always seemed odd to others, and even Levi himself occasionally found himself questioning how it worked so seamlessly. Despite taking a leave of absence, those two were among the very few he still made efforts to see.
“Hange calm down. You got what I wanted last time! It’s only fair if I get the fettuccine alfredo mushroom now.”
“Gaslighter. It was the other way around! I’m ordering it no matter what.”
“That means if this happens again, twice at that, you won’t be getting the food you wanted, twice in a row.”
“Damn it. Okay fine, get the fucking fettuccine alfredo mushroom you fucking giant.”
“Why do you guys keep on picking the same things anyway? The menu has a broad selection of shit,” Levi groaned watching the two bicker as he opened the menu to browse the food. Erwin raised up his hand to call on the waitress who had been walking past their table way too many times. She let out a relieved sigh as she made her way towards them. “At this point, I feel like Erwin is doing it on purpose. Always envying what I order,” Hange shrugged their shoulders exasperatedly, setting down the menu. Erwin let out an amused scoff as Levi rolled his eyes. His right foot that was neatly crossed under his left, which started to bounce repeatedly. Levi continued to look through the tattered menu when the waitress stood in front of them with a pen and a notepad, ready to take their orders. Exhaustion was painted on her face, and it was apparent that she tried covering it with a smile, as it doesn’t seem to reach her eyes. Levi winced, feeling guilty that they hadn’t ordered earlier. “I’ll have the fettuccine alfredo mushroom,” Hange stated confidently.
As he heard Erwin mutter a few annoyances before picking another food on the menu, the sudden chime of the doorbell caught Levi’s attention. Instinctively, he turned toward the source of the sound. A woman had entered, her hands quickly brushing back strands of hair that had fallen into her face, while smoothing down the stray streaks that Levi assumed was due to the wind. It had been raining quite often lately, paired with strong winds, and he was sure he made the right choice of bringing his car this time around. The woman nervously grinned at the host whilst smoothing down her black dress that stopped mid-thigh, the flared ends of her long sleeves swaying along with her movements. They exchanged a few words before the host pointed at their table, her head turning in the same direction. She squinted as she searched the room, her eyes gradually relaxing when she found her companions waiting for her. But as soon as she noticed the third person seated at their table, her expression faltered. She lowered her head slightly, as though trying to avoid his unwavering stare. She hesitated before walking towards them, her movements slow, as if she was trying to keep her right foot from dragging. As she neared, Levi’s sharp eyes caught the small details—her carefully measured steps, the slight limp, and the small bandage wrapped around her knee. His gaze drifted to the faint bruises on her thighs, and another band-aid placed awkwardly on her cheek. The sight made a tinge of concern rise within him.
“Hi… I’m so sorry, I can explain… I promise,” she softly spoke when she finally stood in front of them, slightly out of breath. The sound of her voice made Hange, who had previously been focusing on their conversation with Erwin, whip their head to the side. They beamed with glee before the realization kicked in. In a matter of seconds, Hange’s face dropped. “Holy shit—Sweety, what happened to you?” Hange’s sudden blaring voice made Erwin’s head swivel to the source of Hange’s concern. “What the fuck? Did you fall or something?” Worry immediately plagued his features. Levi’s eyes widened as he finally noticed the swollen, darkened bruise around her right eye, the skin around it a deep purple that stood in stark contrast to the rest of her complexion. A sharp pang of guilt gripped him, an uncomfortable heat spreading through his stomach. She inhaled deeply, a shaky breath, before turning her body slightly to face him. “I’m sorry for being late, especially to you,” she said, “That must’ve been a terrible first impression.” She extended her hand toward him to introduce herself.
Levi, still processing the sight before him, paused for a beat before slowly standing. His gaze shifted upward, meeting her eyes, and he took note of how the thick, platform boots she wore elevated her, making her taller than him. He shook her hand, finally having the chance to take a closer look at the woman that was painted across his friends’ stories. The simple action sent a surge of a lingering oddness, like the moment had dragged on longer than it should have. For a brief moment, he realized his gaze had stayed fixed on her for far too long. His breath caught in his chest; mind filled with an emotion he couldn’t quite name. His tongue felt thick as his fingers tightened around her hand, before he snapped back to reality, his grip loosening. “It’s fine,” he murmured, though his voice didn’t betray the odd emotion that he felt as he sank back into his seat. “I think everyone here is... more concerned about you.” She nodded slightly, relieved at his understanding, and finally slid into the seat between Hange and Levi at the table. She could feel the weight of the others’ eyes on her, waiting for an explanation for the very apparent injuries on her body. She sighed and shifted in her seat, nervously gazing at Hange and Erwin. “I got into a fight with one of the…” Her eyes darted back to Levi for a split second before returning to her two friends. “Uh... attendees.”
“Hange, I love you. I know you have a lot of questions,” she held out her hands to hold Hange’s, “But honestly, I don’t really feel like talking about it right now.” Hange looked at her with so much tenderness, still searching for a hint of whatever it is she could grasp in her eyes. She stared right back at Hange and blinked hard, which made Hange nod and gave her hand a gentle rub before directing her focus back to the other people present at the table. The hint however, was not taken by Erwin, “But like… why was there a fight anyways? I thought it was a peaceful kind of meeting.” She inhaled and tittered as she released a breath, grabbing the glass of water in front of her. After taking a sip, she sat the glass back down, and started to indulge them. She went on to explain how someone at her meeting made a hurtful comment towards her. She added that before the meeting, a lot of things had happened that made her mood sour, and that the meeting wouldn’t have gone the way it did if it weren’t for all of that. The comment led to an argument, which intensified. No one made the efforts to stop them until the person lunged at her, throwing a punch to the face, an explanation for her black eye. She had dodged the second punch and tackled the person from the waist. The memory had been a quite a blur from that point on, but she can picture flashes of her landing a number of hits on the other person as they were sprawled on the floor. After she broke the other person’s nose, four people successfully separated them.
Hange’s mouth hung open. Although shock was evidently etched on Erwin’s face, he was holding in a snicker at the same time. Levi who had also been intently listening to her story, arms crossed in his chest, cocking his brows in surprise. A slight hint of satisfaction painted across his face. She cleared her throat and went on nervously, “They sat us down and we basically talked it out. I was still very much offended and hurt by her comment, but I went a bit too far by breaking her nose. All of this wouldn’t have happened to this extreme if I wasn’t already having a rough day before the meeting. So, we just… shook on it.”
Silence lingered in the air. The people present at the table was still baffled by the retelling of the incident. Hange had opened their mouth to say something, but closed it again, contemplating the right words. Erwin finally broke the quiet, “How are you feeling now kiddo? I mean, not going to lie… would have loved to see you beat the shit out of someone. What a sight to see.” She let out a cascading radiant laugh, inviting in its joy. Warmth began to resurface back to her face, followed by Hange throwing their head back with a loud laugh. She momentarily peered to Levi and noticed that his eyes were pointed at the table, but his lips were curved upwards. Just a little bit. The dark-haired man who seemed cold and distant from the moment she arrived apparently could crack a smile. She reverted her eyes back to Erwin’s, “You’ve always secretly loved chaos Er.” He let out a bright chuckle as she continued, “But honestly, I’m okay. It’s just been a weird… exhausting day. I’m just glad I’m here. Again, I’m sorry for being late.” Hange gestured their hands wildly, dismissing the guilty expression on her face. “No need to keep apologizing! We were worried, and rightfully so. But I’m glad you’re okay, I’ll help check up on your wounds tomorrow, it’s bandaged up pretty nicely for now, but it might need to be changed later,” they reached out a hand to softly caress her unbandaged cheek, earning a smile from her. Hange smiled in return, “I’m sorry that happened to you. Whatever that person said, I know it must’ve been some insane insensitive shit or else you wouldn’t have called them out.” She hummed quietly and her smile had faded for a second.
She waved her hands dismissively, “Ah, enough about this. I was told tonight was a special occasion?” The smile plastered in her face grew, teeth displayed. Hange’s eyes brightened, and they clapped their hands together with an exaggerated flourish before spreading their arms wide, as though preparing to make a grand announcement to the rest of the table. “Yes! Erwin and I planned this for a long time, and finally, we’re all here,” Hange’s voice practically buzzed with excitement, “As you know, Levi, this is our best friend since we were kids. She’s like a little sister to us. And my dear, this is Levi. He looks as grumpy as he can get, but sadly, he’s as grumpy as he looks.” Levi rolled his eyes at the description, mildly annoyed at Hange’s exaggerated words. He clicked his tongue, which only seemed to amuse them more. Hange, undeterred by his response, continued on with a gleam in their eyes. “I’ve told you a little bit about him, right?” She nodded. In fact, a whirlwind of emotions had swept through her just before she stepped through the doors of the restaurant. She had been looking forward to this meeting.
Hange and Erwin were oblivious. At least she’d like to think about it that way. They had no idea that ever since they started telling her stories about Levi, she had grown curious of the man. From their brief and gradual descriptions of him, she had found it interesting that a brooding man had made his way into their hearts. Quite often, Hange and Erwin would be surrounded by people who were alike them. Loud, sociable, and chaotic. For the longest time, she had often felt like an anomaly among Hange and Erwin's usual crowd. A glitch in their pattern. It wasn’t something that was obvious to everyone—only a few, herself included, would ever notice the subtle gap she felt. She had no trouble blending in with various people and their various personalities. But those who are the closest to her are the ones who can point out the clear differences. She was reserved, guarded, and more than anything, timid in comparison to Hange and Erwin’s open, outgoing energy. Traits that are only evident the more time one would spend with her. When they were still kids, nose full of snots, she would rarely open her mouth to speak. Erwin found her to be incredibly shy the first few times he interacted with her. Looking down whenever he tried to talk to her or asked her to play, opting to only one or two words in reply to anything. Hange especially, was relentless. They were persistent that this quiet kid was going to be their friend, and was more than ecstatic when they accomplished just that.
As they grew up, she learned that kids could be cruel. She understood at an early age that this was not the fault of the kids themselves. After all, her own home life taught her that. But watching Hange and Erwin, she realized that learning to be socially adaptable might help her survive school. Deeply insecure, she opted to act if she was the opposite. She observed her two friends whenever they were interacting with other people. Slowly adopting a faux confidence when dealing with peers and teachers, which overtime grew into something more genuine. Although, she knew deep down that it was still a wavering one. Becoming friends with Hange and Erwin taught her many things, and one of them was how to put up a front. She found that this was beneficial to her self-preservation, but at times, troubling for her loved ones. Though these walls can be penetrated by those who are closest to her, she can easily build them back up. Despite that, Hange and Erwin were still an exception. Sometimes she would joke to herself that they just had this unbelievable power of magnetism. Maybe that was how Levi had slowly become an important part of Hange and Erwin’s lives.
Due to the distance, the three of them resorted to regular phone calls to keep up with each other’s lives. Levi’s name gradually became a recurring utterance from Hange and Erwin’s lips. Until finally, during a one-on-one phone call with Hange, she had asked to see a picture of Levi. They ended up sending her a selfie that they took, with Erwin standing in the back, smiling and waving a hand. Levi was sitting down on the couch next to Erwin, facing away from the camera. Only his side profile was visible, a scowl present in his face. His hair had mostly covered his eye from the side, his sharp jaw slightly clenched. As time passed, Hange would send pictures of the three of them to her as life updates whenever they couldn’t call because of their schedules. Picture by picture, Levi was slowly etched in her mind. He was a stranger whose face she could recognize. At one point, there was a picture of Levi and Erwin that Hange had taken at a café. Levi was in a black long-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned with a white undershirt, and a black necklace that dangled from his neck. One of his hands was holding a cigarette, smoke seeping out from the tip. He was staring at the camera with his brows furrowed. She thought he was pretty, and found herself smiling. Quickly, she winced and scoffed at her own reaction. Baffled by the betrayal of her own expression.
The walk to Levi’s car was not far, but the strong winds made her clutch her leather jacket a bit tighter and her legs felt weaker with every step. Hange was walking next to her, with Levi and Erwin striding side by side in front of them. Hange was telling her stories about one of their professors. Dr. Pyxis was teaching the course, ‘Pharmacology and Drug Delivery Systems’. He was an eccentric professor it seemed, and she thought that it fitted with Hange well. She understood their enthusiasm whenever the professor’s name was mentioned in their stories. Levi and Erwin were engrossed in a conversation about Erwin’s football practice. He had become a captain in the university’s team in just the second year of university. Erwin often asked for Levi’s opinions regarding strategies, assessing the skills of the university’s opponents.
Before exiting the restaurant, Levi had offered to drive Hange and Erwin back to their shared apartment. With this arrangement, Hange agreed for her to be dropped off at their place as well. She had agreed, opting to walk from their place back to her own place. Levi raised one of his brows at that, asking where she lived. It was a walkable distance, albeit a bit far and long to walk, but quite a short drive from Hange and Erwin’s. After she stated her address, Levi fell silent for a moment, seemingly processing the new information. The stillness between them stretched for a beat before he finally spoke, “I can drive you there.” She opened her mouth to protest, but Levi quickly cut her off. “The weather’s terrible. It might rain soon.” A small, appreciative smile tugged at the corners of her lips, touched by his offer. “I wouldn’t want to impose. It’s really not far, just a short walk from their place.” He knew the walk wouldn't be short. Levi shook his head lightly, his tone casual yet firm. “Your place is close to mine. It’s no trouble at all.” As he spoke, Hange and Erwin exchanged a quick, confused glance—a silent exchange that she caught but chose to ignore. After a beat, she nodded in acceptance, finally relenting to his offer.
Hange sat in front, while her and Erwin were seated in the back. Throughout the drive, Levi had complained about Hange’s choice of music. Apparently, they had once argued about Hange’s love of rave music. Levi simply rolled his eyes as Hange queued another song, packed with pulsating repetitive loops, the passengers sitting in the back laughing at scene unfolding in front of them.
“How was the session with your last client?” Erwin queried a while after Hange and Levi’s bickering.
“It was fun! At first, she was quite disappointed that she didn’t have the anatomy for a snug,” she replied, “But I suggested that she get two piercings that give the look of one.”
“How was her reaction?”
“She seemed really giddy after we showed the results. It was really nice to see.”
“That’s good that you guys found a solution. I know I would be kind of sad if I couldn’t get what I had been so excited about,” Erwin responded, “Remind me… which one is a snug again?”
She laughed at his question, then gestured to her ears as she began explaining. Her hands moved animatedly, detailing a few stories about her piercing sessions as Erwin had asked more questions. The both of them exchanged in a comfortable back-and-forth that made time pass unnoticed. Unbeknownst to her, Levi had been stealing glances at them through the rearview mirror. His curiosity was piqued by the topic of conversation, and he found himself listening more intently than he’d intended. Meanwhile, Hange was in the front seat, lost in their own world, bobbing to the loud, fast beats that blared from the speakers.
“I’ll see you tomorrow sweety! I’m glad you could make it to dinner tonight.”
“See you tomorrow, Hange! Thank you guys for having me,” she waved to both Hange and Erwin who were already standing outside of Levi’s car, beside the passenger seat. She had moved to the front seat after Hange and Erwin got out of the vehicle.
“Take care, kiddo. I’ll see you at campus later,” Erwin waved back with a smile.
“Bye guys, thank you for tonight,” Levi shortly waved before putting his hand back on the steering wheel. Hange and Erwin slowly faded out of view from the passenger side mirror, and silence had befallen the two of them. All of a sudden, her heart was beating rapidly out of nervousness. It finally dawned on her that it was only the two of them in the car, without Hange or Erwin as the mediator. In the restaurant, the both of them had exchanged information about themselves. Levi’s return to university, and a few things about their majors. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, knowing that she could not probably hide her risinf awkwardness. It did not help that Levi had turned down the speed, slowing down his driving. She wasn’t sure why he chose to do that, throwing around assumptions about the traffic. But the traffic was all the same when Hange and Erwin were still in the car. Her nerves spiked knowing that the relatively short drive would become just a tiny bit longer. Without her knowledge, Levi had eyed her cautiously a few times, making sure she was at ease. He understood that they were still strangers in their eyes, and some things he learned about her through Hange and Erwin had made him a bit more guarded. He didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable around him, a man whom she just met a few hours ago, and he was ransacking his brain on how to prevent that from happening.
After a minute of silence in the car, Levi’s left hand gestured to the screen next to the steering wheel, “If you want to, you can put on your music.” She whipped her head towards Levi, noticing his hand that was pointed to the screen, “Oh um, really? I… don’t want to bother you more, it seems like you’ve had enough of Hange taking over your aux.” Levi let out an amused huff, not taking his eyes off of the road while his index finger pressed some buttons next to the screen. “It’s not a long drive. If your music is unbearable, I’ll only have to bear it very shortly,” he returned his left hand back to the center armrest, “As long as it’s not loud ass rave music, I don’t mind,” She furrowed her brows in amusement, and giggled shortly before connecting her phone to the car’s audio system.
Whilst attempting to connect, the skies were shattered by a deafening crack of thunder, as if the sky itself had torn open, lingering long after its initial burst. The rumble was soon followed by drops of water that quickly turned into heavy rain. “Well, you were right, I guess,” she stated with amusement. Her head tilted to see Levi, who’s lips slightly tightened. “I guess I was,” was all that he said. She looked back on her phone and finally pressed a song after weighing the other options. The sound of a guitar being picked slowly made its way to the speakers, an echo of the drums following along. A deep voice sang along to the melody plucked on the guitar as the man mused about codeine and a woman. Levi raised his eyebrows, miniscule in its movement, but apparent still. “I guess this isn’t bad,” he said stonily, as if contradicting his own statement. She smiled at his words, “Of course it’s not, the man only makes masterpieces.” Levi huffed out a small hum. Whether in agreement or the opposite, she wasn’t sure. Her head moved to the side to look out the window, finding comfort in the music playing in the background that filled the silent air. She learned that Levi was not a man of many words, exactly like how Hange and Erwin had described him. Soon, her eyes closed and her head had leaned back at the seat’s headrest. Despite feeling awkward at first, she started to settle into the atmosphere that surrounded the car, not minding the comforting silence that befell them. Though Levi felt all the same, he wondered if that was the case for her.
“So, why take political science if you’re piercing people and entering writing contests?”
His question had knocked her out of her finally relaxed state, opening her eyes to process what was said. Her eyebrows furrowed in shock and her left hand leaned on the door to prop up her head. She gathered her thoughts before speaking, “I think… people’s politics bleed into their writings no matter what. It is an aspect that seeps into our everyday lives—it determines our thoughts, how we act, how we treat others.” He nodded softly in agreement, slightly taken aback by her serious response. She continued her line of thought, “It has always been a major I wanted to take once I entered university. It kind of helps with my writing too, in a way. Also, piercing is fun, but I’m more into tattooing actually.” He briefly glanced at her. Some of her hair was tucked behind her ear, and he saw silver earrings that decorated it. He recalled the conversation that she and Erwin shared in the car not too long ago, not remembering any mention of tattoos, nor was it ever a topic of conversation between him and the two friends he had dropped off. “I mean, I agree. A lot of the things that we do, does reflect our politics. I kind of thought you’d prefer something related to arts instead, especially now knowing that you… tattoo?” Levi replied as he made a turn at an intersection.
“I had considered it, like Fine Arts, Art History, or Literature even. But, Polsci had always been the top option for me. And yea, aside from piercing, I tattoo too.”
“Do you own your own studio or something?”
“No, I have an apprenticeship in a studio near PU.”
“Near campus? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”
“Yea, it’s pretty new actually. Opened up when I started my first year. It’s also a bit… inconspicuous. I told Porco that he needs to renovate the front.”
“I’m assuming Porco is your mentor?”
“Yup, it’s just him and I. Sometimes I think he only hired me because I was the only available apprentice around,” she chuckled heartily. He noticed the hint of self-doubt in her tone, but decided not to press it further. He looked at the sign on the side of the street that read ‘Azaelea Gardens St.’ and made the turn. They had arrived at her street but it seemed like she hadn’t noticed, as she had picked up her phone to queue another song. The downpour also seemed like it was not going away any time soon. “You got any tattoos yourself?” Levi queried. She looked up from her phone to face Levi. His eyes were still trained at the road, foot slowly releasing the gas pedal as the car slowly came to a stop. “Yup, it’s… well my outfit today is covering them. But I have some on my arms and… elsewhere,” she trailed off, realizing that they have arrived at her apartment building. She debated whether to continue or say her goodbyes, wondering if she was overstaying her welcome. “Do you take on tattoo clients a lot?” He posed. She eyed her building briefly before returning back to the conversation, “As of a few months ago, my mentor started to assign more clients to me. He said I needed to start practicing on real skin more.” Her eyes darted back to the driver, “Why? Interested in getting tattoos?” She smiled after asking the question. Levi let out a small huff of amusement, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He turned his head to face her, his right arm resting casually on the steering wheel. “Maybe,” he replied simply. Her breath hitched slightly, and she could feel his eyes on hers. There was an intensity in his gaze, one that made her avert her eyes quickly. She blinked a few times, her cheeks flushing. Panicking, she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind instead of the ‘thank you for the ride’ she had practiced in her head. “Well, when you finally decide to, you can give me a call.” Immediately, she regretted it, mentally slapping herself. Levi hummed softly in response, his eyes still watching her every move. He was about to speak when suddenly, the blaring sound of a ringtone cut through the quiet car. Both of them looked toward the source of the noise. The screen of Levi’s phone lit up, displaying the name ‘Petra’. A picture flashing, under the name, of a woman with light ginger hair smiling warmly at the camera.
He muttered, “Sorry I have to take this for a bit.” She nodded swiftly, feeling confused that he hadn’t kicked her out yet. She debated whether to just exit the vehicle and wave goodbye to him. He took the call and pressed his phone to his ears. She could hear a light airy voice coming from the phone, the volume too small for her to make sense of what was said. She decided to direct her eyes towards her street, and watched a child and his mother pass by in front of her building, the mother holding and umbrella to shield her son from the rain. She tried to avoid looking like she was paying attention to the phone call, but she could still make out Levi’s movements in her peripheral vision. “Hello, yea… no, I was just done with it. I’m on the… I’m on the way home Petra,” she heard him speak. He sounded a tad bit weary, a small noticeable difference from the way he had been speaking all night. He rubbed his temples for a split second as he listened to her response. “You’re there already? Ah… I… yea, no, I’ll be right there.” She could hear her saying something in reply to Levi, still incoherent in her ears. Though this time, Levi tilted his head to the side and eyed her. She read Levi’s sudden movement with her eyes still focused on the street. He returned his gaze back to the road and spoke, “I’ll tell you about it later. I’ll see you later, Petra.” At that, he hung up and exhaled heavily.
She still felt unsure about how to break the lingering silence, but ultimately decided to speak up, “Sorry for taking up your time, I should probably get going.” She placed her bag on her lap, slipping her phone inside before zipping it shut. Levi's response was gentle, as he had sensed what he assumed was feigned indifference in her voice, “It’s no problem. I didn’t want to rush you, especially with how hard it’s pouring outside.” His hand reached for the back pocket of the driver’s seat, pulling out an umbrella. He handed it to her, his voice steady but quiet, “Here, you can return it once we see each other again.” She hesitated for a moment before taking the umbrella from him, “Thank you. And um, thank you for the ride, sorry for all the trouble. I hope you’ll get home safely to Petra.” She fumbled with the umbrella handle, trying to figure out how to open it. Levi opened his mouth to respond to her last comment, but then stopped, reconsidering his words. Instead, a scoff escaped his lips, something she didn’t notice as she was preoccupied with the umbrella. With a small shift in posture, Levi balanced himself with one hand on the passenger’s seat and leaned slightly forward toward the door she had opened. She stood outside, one hand resting on the door, the other gripping the umbrella. Levi’s voice cut through the rain, “Goodnight, please be careful.” Though his expression was stoic, there was a hint of warmth in the way he spoke, something she wasn’t able to discern yet. She smiled weakly, “Goodnight, Levi.” She closed the car door gently, waiting for him to drive away out of courtesy. But after standing there for a few moments, she realized Levi hadn’t moved. His car remained parked with its headlights on, waiting. It wasn’t until she took a few steps toward her building that she understood—he was waiting for her to get inside safely. With that quiet realization, she walked toward the entrance of her building, the rain falling around her. As she reached the front entrance, Levi’s car pulled away, disappearing from view.
After she had entered her building and was greeted with a neighbour, she exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her feet dragged and limped with exhaustion, wincing a number of times as she made her way up the stairs to the third floor. When she finally reached her floor, her eyes landed on her apartment door, and she fished around in her jacket pocket for her keys. The click of the lock turning echoed in the quiet hall as she pushed the door open. She flipped on the lamp beside the entryway as she took off her shoes, and tucked them into the shoe rack by the door. Her eyes darted towards a used glass sitting on the dining table. Her steps were slow as she moved to close the door behind her, picking up the glass as she made her way towards the small kitchen. She gently placed it in the sink before hanging her jacket and bag on the coat tree leaning against the wall of her apartment's small and narrow corridor. She rinsed the glass, the sound of it clinking against the porcelain sink filling the room. After the suds had flowed down with the water, she set the glass in the dish rack. She wiped her hands on the napkin hanging next to the sink, the quiet routine offering a moment of comfort.
The rhythmic tick of the clock resonated in the quiet room, drawing her gaze toward the dining area, where it hung neatly on the wall. It was around ten-thirty, and she decided she still had enough time to smoke before her shower and bed. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out her pack of cigarettes and a lighter, then passed the couch near the dining table as she made her way towards the balcony. She slid open the door and stepped outside, greeted by the humid air. She lowered herself into one of the wooden chairs on the balcony. The balcony, small and cramped, had plants hanging from the railing and a few more pots stacked in the left corner. There was just enough space for two people to sit comfortably, with a small round table between them. Lighting her cigarette, she placed the lighter beside a clay ashtray on the table. She took a slow, deep drag, holding the smoke in her lungs for a few seconds, before exhaling a cloud that lingered in the air. One of her legs slid to close the door behind her, wincing slightly as the pain in her leg throbbed. Leaning back, she rested her exhausted body against the chair.
Her mind was loud, a whirlwind of thoughts about events throughout the day. She rolled her eyes at the memory of the argument during the meeting—Hitch had never been kind with her words. She took another long drag, the cigarette now resting loosely between her lips as she exhaled through her nose. There was a dull throb in her chest as she remembered the phone call in Levi’s car. It was like something had dropped inside of her, an ache she couldn’t quite place. She furrowed her brows, confused by the strange sensation, unsure why it had such an effect on her. Her eyes drifted up to the sky, where the rain trickled down, some droplets gliding down the hanging leaves on the railing, watering her plants along the way. As the skies continued its relentless downpour, her mind, however, returned to thoughts of Levi. She couldn’t figure out as to why this stranger was making her chest ache.