Chapter Text
Levi heaved a deep sigh as his pale eyes came across the white particles drifting silently from the sky. If there was one season he absolutely despised; it was winter. There were more than a few reasons for his hatred, each of them was justified in his opinion. He couldn't stand the way the snow gathered dirt in the gutters and turned into mud onto the side of the streets; it was also a pain in the ass to shovel. He disliked that his birthday was held during the winter, he'd rather just forget about the date altogether. But, most of all, he especially found himself becoming grouchier whenever the holiday season approached. Christmas was a miserable time.
He found himself captivated by the pristine flakes nonetheless as he watched tentatively from inside his workplace. He huffed once more, breaking away his gaze and trailing it back towards the white rag he was clutching onto. "Oi, Mikasa, can you close the shop today?" Levi asked from over his shoulder, swiftly finishing his task of wiping down the surfaces.
His younger sibling strode out from the back room, a white apron placed around her waist and her short black hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She wiped her flour-coated palms hastily on the material, nodding her head slowly in response to his request. "Sure, but why? You're usually super strict when it comes to closing." She observed him with narrowed, almost suspicious eyes.
Levi resisted the roll his eyes at her curiosity, not in the mood to reveal his evening plans to the teenage girl. Not that it was anything eventful in the first place. "None of your business." He droned out in boredom, turning back around and feeling around for his keys that he kept in a glass bowl beneath the counter.
He blatantly ignored the feeling of her glaring holes into the back of his head as he finally came across his set in the other few keys that had piled up. "I'm going now. If anything happens here, or if I find anything out of place, It's coming out of Eren's paycheck." He threatened emptily, knowing it would annoy her further if he brought up one of his other employees. A teenage boy that was apparently one of Mikasa's childhood friends. One that she very obviously had taken an extreme liking too.
With those last spoken words, he strode easily out of the shop. In his ears rang the distinct bell that Mikasa had insisted they place on top of the doorway. He shuddered involuntarily as the frigid air bit venomously at his pale cheeks. He glared at his surroundings as the white dust settled in his hair and eyelashes, effectively making him feel damp. Freshly fallen snow was most definitely to be experienced from the comfort of your own home while the heater blasted at the highest setting.
He unlocked the doors to his car, sliding in hastily as his fingertips grew numb from the cold. He reached downwards into his pocket, grasping onto his cell phone and pulling it out sluggishly. He felt drained from the day's ventures, it didn't help that he had woke up at the crack of dawn after a rough night of attempting to fall asleep. He raised a thin brow as he came across two text messages from Erwin. Both of them seemed to be written anxiously which was strange for the usually well-composed man.
From Erwin:
Are you on your way home?
From Erwin:
I have something to tell you. It's important.
Levi paused in thought, wondering what the blonde could have possibly wanted to tell him. After a brief moment of silent contemplation, he figured it wasn't worth being baffled over. He would be finding out upon arriving back to their shared apartment. He twisted the key into the ignition, starting his car and feeling relief as the heater immediately threw out hot air that grazed his pink tinted cheeks.
It was a mere five-minute drive to head back towards his apartment, which was something he found himself being grateful for each passing day. Traffic and idiotic driving made for a highly peeved off Levi, more so than usual.
Levi entered his home with a calm demeanor, carefully placing down his keys in the bowl next to the entrance. The raven-haired man walked further into the apartment, scouting the area with a narrowed gaze for any sight of the blonde man in the living room or kitchen. Upon realizing that he was nowhere to be found, he ventured towards his roommate's bedroom in slight agitation. The man was adamant about revealing something and then hides in his room with the knowledge he was on his way home. He rapped his knuckles on the wood of the door twice, waiting for him to speak up.
"Come in." Came his invitation, seemingly more calm than Levi imagined it'd be considering the tone of his texts.
With those spoken words, Levi swung open the door carelessly, as it thudded aginst the wall. Erwin shot him a look in response, hunched over the small desk he kept in his room, his fingers primed over the keyboard. "Hello. How was work?" The blonde began conversationally, swiveling around in his chair to face him properly.
"Tiring," Levi answered truthfully, leaning against the door frame. "Can we just skip all of the bullshit and get to what you wanted to tell me?" He spoke bluntly as he often did, which seemingly amused the older man by his expression.
"Very well, then." Erwin nodded once, pushing his chair away from his desk and standing up his full height, towering over the shorter male. "I'm going to be leaving." He announced carefully, looking down at his longtime friend.
"Leaving?" Levi echoed blankly. "You're going on vacation?" Erwin had gone on plenty of other exotic getaways beforehand; what was so special about this one? Levi buried his slight bewilderment under a blank mask that dressed his pale features.
Erwin shook his head once, no. "Not exactly." He paused in an attempt to gather his thoughts and speak in a way that wouldn't upset the man further. "I'm going to be moving out." He finally revealed, his tone unwavering as he stared down the raven-haired man.
Silence blanketed the room uncomfortably before Levi recomposed himself hastily. "Why the fuck are you -" He started but was interrupted by the other man right away.
"I was offered a job promotion I couldn't refuse," Erwin explained calmly. "Besides, you know that I've been needing a change of pace after what happened earlier this year."
"What does your relationship ending have to do with your living arrangements, idiot?" Levi glared darkly at him, not willing to admit he understood the circumstances. Erwin moving out was a foreign concept considering he was the only roommate he'd had since moving out at the age of eighteen. A little over fourteen years ago. "Where are you even going?" He inquired, crossing his arms over his chest.
"London," Erwin answered after a brief moment of hesitation. His gaze observing Levi's expression which flickered with an emotion he couldn't decipher before it disappeared.
"It better damn well be a fan-fucking-tastic job since you're moving out of the damn country for it." Levi told him blankly, resolving to defeat as he knew he couldn't change the blonde's mind nor did he want too. The older man obviously needed a change of scenery after the last few events that had taken place in his life. His father passing away, and his three-year relationship falling apart included.
Erwin let a smile grace his lips, letting out an amused chuckle at his friend's dry words. "I'm leaving in three weeks. In the meantime, you should start to search for a possible new roommate candidate." He advised him and Levi didn't bother to hide the disturbed look that crossed his features.
"A new roommate?" Levi frowned deeply, unsettled at the idea. Would there even be a person who could cooperate with him? Erwin barely threaded the line at times and they had known each other in high school, so what would the outcome of living with a stranger be like? Someone who knew not to bother him at certain hours. Who understood how important it was for him to live in an extremely clean and pristine environment at all times.
"Don't look so distraught. This might be good for you." Erwin quirked a brow in a teasing manner. "Or maybe not and you'll end of murdering your new roommate for not using hot water to clean the dishes."
"The latter seems to be more realistic," Levi said dryly.
Erwin nodded in admittance, before straightening himself. "I'm sorry, but I need to get back to what I was doing before you came in. I was in the middle of emailing my boss."
Levi nodded in understanding, before turning and walking out of the room after he had finished speaking. He felt ultimately torn between being the slightest bit happy that his friend was moving on to bigger and better things and annoyed that he was leaving him behind in the dust. He frowned and threw the thoughts away, he was a thirty-two-year-old man. Life was much more complicated than 'friends leaving each other behind'.
They both had their own lives, and at some point, it was obvious one of them was bound to move out. Levi couldn't picture himself at the age of seventy (god forbid he live that long) taking up space in Erwin's attic while his friend had a wife, kids, and grandchildren. "Gross," Levi muttered under his breath in disgust at the vision.
He figured he could wait a few days before posting up wanted ads on the internet. Erwin had told him three weeks until he moved out which seemed like more than enough time. Or, perhaps not. He couldn't be sure seeing as he'd never been in this situation.
All he was certain of was that the next few weeks would surely give him countless amounts of migraines.
~
Levi gave a puff of breath, ignoring the white fog that descended from his lips as he did so, lingering around his face before it disintegrated. His pale gaze connected briefly upwards, taking in the variety of colors painted in the sky. Yellow, pink, and a hint of blue combined together prettily, highlighting the snow on the ground nicely. The once pure crystal flakes now turned into a muddy slosh mixture in the roads. He would have to get Eren to shovel the front of the shop as soon as he arrived.
it was Saturday, meaning both of the kids would be off from school. The two of them would likely arrive something between eight thirty, meaning he had a few hours by himself which he preferred in all honestly. Customers wouldn't start piling in until at least another hour or so, and all he had to do was get prepped for the upcoming day in delightful silence.
He unlocked the door swiftly, eager to be shielded from the bitter weather. Upon entering the cozy space, he shed the extra layers of clothing, placing his thick coat on the stand near the door. He took in the small leather couch in the corner of the room. The cherry wood of the coffee table sat in the midst of the small area, piles of gossip magazines placed neatly on the surface. Mikasa had suggested the furnishing. She and her friends spent countless amounts of hours lounging there, talking amongst themselves.
He strode around to the back of the counter, swiping an apron and tying it around his waist as he entered the back room where his sister spent most of her time. Eren loved working the counter, interacting with the different types of people that entered the shop, while Mikasa preferred baking in solitude. He opened the large refrigerator, spotting the batch of freshly made cookie dough Mikasa had likely made before leaving yesterday. He needed to keep himself occupied with something, otherwise, he'd be overcome with the stress of the idea of finding someone suitable to live with him for who knows how long.
As he scooped up balls of the dough, his thoughts stubbornly drifted back to the current problem he was facing. Damn Erwin and his fancy fucking job promotion, he inwardly cursed the blonde. He had enough on his plate as is, with running the shop and trying to keep his head above water, he certainly didn't need this news dumped on him in the process of everything. He shoved the tray of cookies into the pre-heated oven, enjoying the warmth it provided before he closed it shut.
Levi's ears perked up as the bell rang throughout the eerily quiet shop, it was unusual for someone to enter so early in the morning. Nonetheless, he strode out of the back room to greet the customer only to be met with the brown tousled locks of hair and green eyes of Eren. "Hey, Boss." The teenage boy greeted him breathlessly, shrugging off his jacket clumsily.
Levi felt dread at the thought of being stuck alone with the Brat for an hour more than usual. "What are you doing, Yeager? You're shift's not for another hour." The older man pointed out blankly, eyeing him as he slipped on a white apron identical to his.
"I came here earlier because I had nothing else to do, and I knew you'd be here. Oh, and I have to be somewhere to be tonight so I can't stick around for my normal shift time. Mikasa is own her way too, by the way." He told him distractedly, routinely grabbing the broom that sat neatly in the corner.
"Great." Levi droned out dryly. "I'm guessing Mikasa also has somewhere to be, then?" He guessed blindly, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Uh, no? I don't think so." Eren answered in clear confusion. "I'm just going to my friend's to hang out. He just came back from vacation so I wanted to spend some time with him."
Levi nodded his head in understanding. He'd wrongly assumed the boy had suddenly grown a fully functioning brain. "Fine. Sweep the floor thoroughly, Yeager. Don't fucking half-ass." Levi muttered out, his gaze trailing back to the brick wall that decorated the space behind the counter. A chalkboard sat neatly on the wall, his cursive handwriting displaying a dozen different caffeine options, along with the few dessert treats the teenagers had begged him to include.
"Yes, Sir!" Eren nodded his head once, continuing his task of sweeping the shining of hardwood floors. Levi made sure he waxed and polished them at least once a week. He was sure they'd need a deep cleaning after he closed for the day, he was already on edge thinking of the dampness people would track in from the snow.
Yet another reason he despised winter.
Silence enveloped the space once more as Levi turned on the light to the glass display case where the sugary treats were usually placed. He remembered that the cookies were placed in the oven and casually made his way back towards the kitchen area. He grabbed the hot tray, his hands covered by beige oven mitts and placed them on the counter, letting them cool a bit before he placed them in the shop.
"Morning, Levi." Mikasa greeted casually as she strode into the room. Her black hair sat just above her shoulders, the signature bright red scarf she wore wrapped around her neck loosely.
Levi nodded in acknowledgment, taking the mitts off of his hands hastily. "Nice job, yesterday."
"You look more terrible than usual." Mikasa blankly noted aloud, uncaring if she offended him in the least. She eyed him warily, taking in his sluggish posture and dark eye circles.
"Shut up." He shushed her in annoyance, fanning the cookies in order to busy himself. Eren walked into the kitchen as well, seemingly done with his sweeping duty.
"Hey, Levi, are you alright?" Eren questioned after a few moments of tense silence blanketed the three of them. Mikasa shot the brunet a look of warning, effectively shutting him up before he spoke once more.
"I come here earlier in order to spend some time by myself, and of course the day I need some peace and quiet the two of you are here in my damn face." Levi huffed out blankly, narrowing his eyes at the pair.
"We're... sorry?" Eren tilted his head, unsure of what to tell the shorter man in response. "What's wrong?" He persisted innocently.
"Eren, leave him be for now," Mikasa told him, glancing over at her sibling.
"Erwin's moving out," Levi told them with a short glare. Perhaps now they would leave him alone, now that they knew what was going on. "Now, can you both leave me the fuck alone?" Levi asked them, placing back on his mitts and carrying the tray of cookies back into the front of the shop.
"Wait, what? Erwin's moving out?" Eren echoed in disbelief, his eyes widening slightly.
Mikasa looked a bit surprised at his announcement as well, watching as Eren stubbornly persisted after the raven-haired man. She followed after her best friend, having nothing else to do in the meantime. "Wait - does that mean you need a roommate?!" Eren asked, masking the excitement in his voice.
Levi turned abruptly, looking Eren directly in the eyes. "If you're implying you want to move in with me, the answer is hell fucking no." He rejected his offer immediately, his tone gruff at the mere idea of it.
Eren let out a nervous laugh, shaking his head, no. "No, no. That's not it! I have a cousin who's looking for an apartment, that's why I asked, I swear!" He amended quickly, awaiting Levi's response.
Levi's interest was peaked a bit, and he waited for the teenage boy to continue. "Oh, um, if you want I can tell -"
"Listen, Eren, you know more than anyone that I will not deal with anyone who's -"
"Don't worry! I'll tell my cousin to get in contact with you." He promised the older man, as Mikasa watched the exchange with varying interest.
"If they're interested, tell them to meet up with me here so I can interview them and see if they meet my standards." Levi told him, his attention quickly turning towards the door as the bell chimed, indicating someone had entered the shop.
He could think about everything later, for now, his sole attention would be focused on serving customers and taking care of the cafe.
~
Hange gave an exasperated huff of breath as she hopped off of the noisy bus, grimacing as she was greeted with the frosty weather of mid-November. She clutched onto her carry on that was wrapped around her shoulder, it's weight pressing against her hip in a comforting manner. She knew that piles of research documents and written down notes were compiled into a distinct order in the bag. If anything were to happen to it; she would be up shit's creek without a paddle.
Her cell phone vibrated once in her front pocket and she spared a glance downwards, debating on whether to check it out or not. She quickly decided that it could wait until she got back to Mike's house, she was certain it was most likely Moblit giving her a reminder of some sort.
"Oops, sorry!" She apologized and gave a sheepish smile to the angered looking woman she had bumped into while distracted by her thoughts. The brunette didn't bother looking back as the older lady muttered hurtful words directed towards her.
She bobbed and weaved through the large crowd gathered in the streets, clumsily colliding with several other strangers due to her eagerness to return back to Mike's house. She still had one more bus to catch, and then her course would be set. Her close friend lived further out of the city as he preferred living a quiet and peaceful life, which was fitting considering he was calm and soft-spoken.
She could spot the bus stop from where she was walking, just a few feet away from her. She held in the sigh of exhaustion she felt bubbling in her chest, taking several public transportation routes a day was beginning to get old quickly. Still, she knew this was her only option, and that she shouldn't complain because her friend was being kind enough to her that he allowed her to stay in his home for a few months.
Stupidly enough, she envied her past-self for having the privilege to drive her car to work once upon a time. If she hadn't been so reckless she still would have had the vehicle. however, her driving skills weren't exactly the most cautious and she had totaled the mobile completely a few months back. She tried not to think of her careless behavior, and let out an exaggerated huff of relief as she finally stood beside the bus stop. She reached for her phone in her back pocket, not having the patience to wait until she returned to Mike's house. She turned on the device, wearing a surprised expression as she noticed a text message from her younger cousin; Eren.
From Eren:
Hey call me when ur not busy pls
Hange raised a questioning brow at his elusiveness, now left in intense curiosity of what he could have wanted from her. She rarely spoke to the teenage boy these days. Not because she disliked him or preferred to keep her distance; she was just far too busy to socially interact with those she didn't need too. It sounded harsh, but it was her reality. Her research was her entire life, and she disliked being distracted from it. Often, she stood awake for days at a time, surviving off of a gallon of coffee and granola bars.
Her lifestyle was messy, she could admit that. But, once she came upon a piece of groundbreaking information, everything would be worth it, in her opinion. Her thoughtful gaze trailed back towards her lit up cell phone screen, it seemed her thoughts had trailed off once again. She let out a soft hum, swiping the message and typing a quick reply.
To Eren:
Is something wrong? Did something happen? Is everything okay?
Perhaps she was overthinking things, as she often did, but she couldn't help but be a bit concerned about him contacting her out of the blue. What if her Uncle had fallen ill? Or perhaps her Aunt? Or maybe even Eren himself? She couldn't stop herself from worrying over him, even despite not being very close to him as she once was. She and Eren were as close as siblings when she was younger, back before she had left for college she served as his babysitter most of the time.
She was startled out her thoughts as her phone rang once again, and she eagerly turned on her phone to see the message.
From Eren:
Everything's fine, it's nothing like that. I've got good news!
She audibly let out a sigh of relief, returning her phone to her back pocket. She would make sure to call him as soon as she returned 'home'. She was excited, of course. She hadn't spoken to him in a few weeks, after having told him she was temporarily living with Mike for the time being.
Her thought process was once again interrupted, this time by the bus loudly pulling up to the curb, it's door opening expectantly. She stepped onto the bus, shooting the bus driver a bright smile as she dropped her change in the bin. She grabbed onto the metal pole, steadying herself as the bus took off once more. Public transportation was always a unique experience for her, she liked studying the various amounts of different people that climbed in and out. She spotted a mother with two children, desperately trying to keep them in check as they hollered, obviously not content with having to sit still. She turned her gaze and caught sight of a tired nurse slouched forward, obvious bags beneath her eyes. Hange could sympathize with her; work sucked out all of her energy as well.
She re-directed her eyes to the window, practically bouncing on her heels in anticipation of the news Eren wanted to tell her. Just thirty minutes more!
~
"Hey, Hange." A voice greeted over the phone, picking up after only a few rings. "I didn't expect you to call so soon!" He admitted albeit happily.
She let a smile tug across her lips, leaning back onto the couch lazily. "Yeah, you texted me while I was on the way home from work, so. What's the good news?" She asked, excitement evident in her voice.
"Well, I remember how you told me you were in need of an apartment -" He was interrupted before he could finish by the woman on the other line letting out a squeal.
"You found me an apartment?" She gaped in disbelief after she had gotten recomposed herself. She adored Mike, but just the mere thought of having the opportunity to leave his place made her want to shout in joy.
"Yeah! My boss' roommate is moving out, and he needs someone to replace him. But, uh, I'm warning you, he's very -"
"Yeager, get the fuck back to work." A voice was heard scolding in the background. Hange raised a brow at the rude tone, hoping to god that it wasn't the boss Eren was talking about, but she knew it likely was.
"Ha, sorry Levi." The teenager sheepishly apologized, before clearing his throat and lowering his tone to a more hushed one. "As you just heard, he's super uptight about everything and anything, I'm warning you. I'll text you the address to the shop, and you can have an interview with him tomorrow."
Hange nodded along to his words tentatively. "Sounds great! Thank you so much, Eren." She expressed her gratitude profusely.
"I gotta go now before he whacks me in the head with a broom! See you tomorrow, Hange." He hung up the phone quickly, sputtering out a quick goodbye before the line went dead. Hange let her cellphone fall to the sofa, letting out a string of excited giggles as she leaned her head back.
"What's got you so excited?" Mike inquired softly, stepping into the living room and observing the happy brunette.
"I have an interview for a potential new apartment tomorrow!" She cheered out, throwing her hands in the air in exclamation. Mike let a gentle smile grace his lips, plopping down next to her with a quiet thud. The couch pillow sunk beneath his added weight, and she leaned into him comfortably.
"You know what we should do to celebrate?" Mike asked her slyly, and she lifted her head from his shoulder, a mischievous glint in her sepia irises.
"Hopefully drink alcohol? I definitely need it after work today, to be honest." She told him, already pushing herself off of the couch and up on her feet. Mike didn't protest at her actions, merely watching in amusement as she practically trounced into the kitchen to scour for any type of alcohol they may have had laying around.
A few minutes later she slapped down two shot glasses on the coffee table, along with a tall bottle of vodka. Mike shook his head at her antics but accepted the glass nonetheless when the brunette handed it to him. "Why do I suddenly regret suggesting this?" He quirked an eyebrow at her, which was hidden beneath his shaggy blonde hair.
She shrugged easily, unable to give him an answer. "I can't bring myself to care. Cheers, Mike!" She grinned widely, harshly clinking glasses with her friend, before gulping down the shot swiftly. She hissed as the liquid trailed down her throat, leaving a burning sensation in its wake.
Her scrunched up facial features eventually relaxed, and she moved to grab the remote, changing the channel to the Discovery Channel. "Ooh, look! There's a documentary on about an island near Africa! Look how big that Spider is!" She gasped in awe, and Mike outwardly grimaced as she pointed at the screen.
"Yeah, think I'm gonna need a few more to watch this." He admitted, pouring yet another two shots.
She let out a boisterous laugh in response.
~
She groaned loudly as sunlight peeked in from window blinds, grazing her face annoyingly and disturbing her peaceful sleep. Hange let her eyes open blearily, squinting as her vision remained unfocused and hazy. She sat up reluctantly, feeling a dull pounding in her head. Thankfully, that seemed to be the extent of her hangover.
She stretched her limbs out, letting a soft moan slip past her lips as she did so. Her gaze flickered to her phone, catching the influx of texts that were swarming her screen. Hange furrowed her brow in slight bewilderment, wondering who could be trying to contact her. It was Sunday, her day off, so it couldn't be work. She quickly reached over to the bedside table, grasping her glasses and pushing them up her nose. She unlocked her phone, feeling a stone sink in her stomach as she came across a dozen texts from Eren.
The apartment! Oh god, how could she be so irresponsible?! She felt panic well up in her chest, but she forcibly pushed it down, determination settling in quickly. She would make it to that interview, and she would move into that apartment if it's the last thing she does. With those thoughts in mind, she flew out of bed and dashed across the hall to the bathroom, not caring if Mike was in the shower.
"Hange?! What are you doing in here?" He exclaimed in surprise at her appearance, obviously flustered as his head emerged from behind the shower curtain.
She brushed him off with a lazy hand gesture, brushing her teeth at the speed of light. "I forgot that I had to meet the guy about the apartment today!" She explained with a mouthful of toothpaste, ignoring how it flecked all over the mirror. She would get to cleaning it later, she inwardly promised.
She bent down and spit in the sink, hastily wiping her face. "Bye, Mike! Wish me luck!" She shouted from over her shoulder, running towards the door.
"You might want to change your clothes, Hange." He called out after her. She skidded to a halt, narrowly colliding with the front door in the meantime. She gave herself a once over, grimacing at the galaxy shorts and a black tank top that had a Totoro imprinted on it. God, imagine if she had actually left the house in her pajamas? She owed Mike bigtime.
"Thanks, Dear!" She yelled out, expressing her gratitude as she bolted to her room. She threw open the guest closet that she was currently living out of, randomly throwing on a pair of jeans and a beige sweater that was a bit oversized. She grabbed her bag that hung from her doorknob and tossed it over her shoulder, feeling it's comforting weight leaning against her shoulder. "Okay, I'm leaving for real this time, bye!" She bid farewell to the blonde who was still showering.
She adjusted to the cold wind after a few moments, jogging towards the bus stop that would drop her off near the coffee shop Eren had directed her too. She would have to walk a few blocks, but it wasn't as if she had much of a choice so she couldn't complain. She muttered to herself in disappointment, still in disbelief that she had let herself sleep in today of all days. She was aware of the long trip, and she was aware that Eren's boss, her potential new roommate had a stick up his ass. This was the first impression he would have of her. Running late, nursing a slight hangover, and sweaty from running around the city like a chicken without a head.
Her day seemed to be going even worse as she spotted the bus she was supposed to be taking pull away from the curb and slowly begin to drive away. She shouted as if that would halt the vehicle in its tracks, taking off after it as if her life depended on it. "Stop, please!" She yelled, her throat feeling raw after the countless screams that had ripped from it.
She managed to keep pace, and miraculously enough, the bus slowly pulled to a stop and opened its doors for her. The bus driver looked extremely annoyed at her actions and glared daggers at her as she sheepishly dropped the amount needed in the bin. "Thank you so much for stopping, Sir! Honestly, you have no idea what you've just done for me." She gushed out, watching as his irritated expression didn't falter at her words.
"Go take a seat, Ma'am." He ordered her in a bored tone of voice.
"Sorry, sorry." She apologized with a sheepish chuckle, moving to plop down in a seat near the doors. The bus was surprisingly vacant with the exception of herself, the bus driver, and an elderly woman who sat near the back. "Hey, how long until we arrive towards Maria St?" She questioned, her leg bouncing all the while in anxiousness.
The bus driver didn't bother sparing her a glance. "It depends."
"Can you give me a rough timeline, perhaps? I'm sorta on a tight schedule" She tried again, hopeful that he'd give her an answer.
"Twenty minutes." He told her begrudgingly after a brief pause.
"Thank you!" She smiled even though he wouldn't be able to see it, settling down in her seat. She wasn't exactly nervous to meet with the guy who could possibly give her a place to live. In fact, she was more excited about it, than anything.
Thirty minutes later, give or take, the bus pulled up to her desired stop. "Thank you again for stopping, have a nice day!" She told the driver gratefully while traversing down the steps. The man didn't respond to her, merely letting out a grunt before the doors slammed shut and he drove off.
`
"Okay, okay, so the coffee shop is around three blocks from here. No problem." She mumbled to herself absent-mindedly, her feet beginning to move. She quickly sent Eren a text, telling him that she would be there in five minutes or so.
She strode past several little shops and boutiques, passing by a few different bakeries and cafes that looked warm and inviting. She wondered how each shop stood apart from one another, it must have been difficult for a business to strive when there were so many different options just around the block. It silently made her grateful that she didn't have to deal with anything like that. Her job wasn't exactly stress-free, but it was a steady income unlike owning a business.
She clenched her fingers in her coat pockets, having lost feeling in them around ten minutes ago. Her facial expression showed relief as she came across the coffee shop. She observed the classic cursive lettering that read 'The Underground'. She thought it was a bit contradictive, yet she could admit that the place looked warm and inviting from what she could see through the large window panes. She blew out a puff of air, mentally preparing herself as she pushed open the door and was greeted by a pleasant chime. The girl working behind the counter head snapped up at the sound, a soft smile gracing her lips, almost shyly. There was no line, so Hange made her way towards the counter and responded with a bright smile of her own. "Hi, how can I help you?"
"Oh, just a large coffee in a to-go container please, light and sweet." She ordered after a thought, leaning onto the counter to observe the girl further. Her brain was nagging her, something about the teenager seemed so familiar, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly why or how come. She racked her mind but couldn't come up with anything, she supposed it was due to the lingering headache she still had.
"Hange!" A boyish voice greeted happily, and Hange grinned at the sound, turning to the right where her little cousin stood in the back doorway, a mop in his hand's. She noted how his hair seemed longer than the last time she had seen him. He was also taller as well, just about her height. He set down the mop and strode over to her, enveloping her in a quick hug before letting go. "You're way late, by the way."
"I know, I may or may not have drank too much last night." She admitted with a grimace, turning towards the girl once more who handed her a steaming cup of coffee that provided immediate relief for her freezing hands. Hange gaped as she made eye contact with the girl, memories resurfacing of Eren and a little girl with black hair practically attached at the hip each time she visited. "Mikasa, right!? Wow, look at you! I remember when you were little and followed Eren around like his shadow." She laughed lightly at the pink blush that covered the girl's cheeks.
"Nothing's changed." Eren teased which Mikasa shook her head at in exasperation. The girl busied herself by re-stocking desserts into the glass display, and Eren gestured for her to sit down at one of the tables near the window. "Levi's busy at the moment. He might be taking something out of the oven, I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders unknowingly. "I'll send him over once he's done."
She watched as he grabbed the mop once more, getting back to thoroughly cleaning the floors. She turned her attention to the window, her mind wandering back to her research and different types of theories that could be plausible. Her palms were wrapped around the warm paper cup, providing a much-needed warmth. She didn't know how much time had passed until a man stood in front of her.
Her gaze slowly re-directed towards him, scanning him over. He was short, possibly shorter than she was but she couldn't be sure seeing as she was sitting. His black hair contrasted against his pale features, his bangs parted down the middle and falling against his forehead neatly. He had a youthful face, complimented by rounded cheeks and a cute nose, noticeably heavy bags sat beneath his light eyes. A non-impressed expression was painted across his face, and she hurried to sit upright in her seat as he sat in front of her.
"Hello, I'm Hange Zoe!" She introduced herself with a smile, holding out her hand for him to shake.
He merely gave her hand a glance, before intertwining his fingers and placing them neatly on the table. "You're late." He stated dryly, his steely blue eyes glaring at her. His voice also carried a blank tone, devoid of any emotion she could decipher. It was apparent to her that he was, in fact, intimidating, but she felt more curious than anything about him.
She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it, she would need to think carefully about her next choice of words. "I missed my bus and had to wait for another one. My friend, who I've been staying with lives further out of the ci-" She was interrupted rudely by the man across from her.
"I don't care about your reasoning. If you're late, you're late." He droned out, and Hange fought down the flare of irritancy that threatened to escape her throat. "Where do you work and what's your financial income?" He continued on.
She recomposed herself and leaned forward, gripping her coffee a bit tighter. "I work as a scientific researcher, and enough to live comfortably, I promise."
"Do you have any pets?" He threw back at her without missing a beat.
She made sure to not hesitant and answer him. A little lie wouldn't kill anyone, right? Besides, her lizards were her babies, not her pets. "No."
"Why'd you move out of your old place?"
She felt her shoulders slump at the question, it was reasonable enough, but she still disliked answering it. "I couldn't afford the rent and was evicted." She confessed sheepishly, watching as he raised an eyebrow.
"How often do you clean your toilet?"
Okay, this one was a little bit odd. "Uh, I don't know. When the stains are visible?"
Hange could see the disgust swimming in his light eyes for a brief moment before it disappeared. That was the wrong answer, apparently. "What are your work hours?" Okay... This was getting stranger by the minute.
"I work every day with the exception of Sunday, usually from morning to night. I'm not sure what that has t-"
"I prefer being left alone without any social interaction, I'd like a roommate who's busy most of the time." He cut off quickly with his explanation. Right, so that meant movies nights and getting drunk together was out of the question. Bummer.
"Then I'm your girl!" She grinned out, hoping to sway him into thinking about it. "But, shouldn't we be having this interview while actually at the apartment? It's weird talking about a place I could potentially be living in a few weeks without even seeing it."
Levi raised a thin eyebrow at her words. "No. I'm not letting anyone near it until I deem them acceptable."
"Do I not seem acceptable?" She questioned in curiosity. She wasn't all that offended in all honesty, but she did want to know what it took to be deemed as 'acceptable' enough to enter his home.
"No." He answered simply
"What, why?" She demanded an explanation.
"You're messy, irresponsible, and smell gross." He told her after a moment of silence, his calm demeanor never faltering. She gaped openly at him, unbelieving that he had just said that to her face.
He was more than surprised to see her start laughing, his eyes widening a bit as he watched her. "Why are you laughing..?"
"I don't know, I guess it's because I've never met someone so blunt in my life? I like that. Don't get me wrong, you're a bit of a dick, but it's refreshing in a way." She explained with an amused smile, her laughter dying off. Levi debated on whether he should be offended that she called him a dick or not, but he decided that he probably deserved it for saying those earlier things about her.
"I think we're done here." He said as he pushed himself back up to his feet.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"Um, will you be in contact with me then?" Hange tilted her head slightly, standing to her feet as well. She was correct in predicting she was taller than him, it wasn't much, however, only by a few inches.
"We'll see." He crossed his arms over his chest, and the air turned awkward.
"You know, you never did properly introduce yourself." She reminded him cheekily, stuffing her hand that wasn't occupied with holding her hot beverage in her coat pocket.
"Levi Ackerman." He told her disinterestedly, before walking back into the back room, leaving her there in silence.
That didn't go the way she had wanted it too, obviously. But, he seemed like a difficult person to get along with even despite her tardiness and half-hazard thrown together appearance. She let out a sigh, feeling defeated as Eren made his way towards her once again.
"I warned you that he has a stick up his butt." the shaggy-haired brunette grimaced at her expression. She glanced at her cousin before her gaze trailed towards the room the raven-haired man walked into.
"If it makes you feel any better, that's how he always acts. You didn't do anything especially wrong." He tried cheering her up, which she laughed a bit at.
"It does, but I wasn't all that great either. I shouldn't have shown up late." She huffed in frustration at herself. "Fuck, I really needed this apartment."
"Hey, you don't for sure he won't pick you." Eren reminded her, his eyes glancing towards Mikasa who seemed busy serving another customer. "You should ask Mikasa, he's her brother so she knows how difficult he can be."
Hange didn't bother covering up her surprised expression at the tidbit of information. She scanned over the teenager and noted that they did look fairly similar in some ways, the color of their skin and hair were identical, along with their expressions. They both seemed to be quiet and liked it that way.
"Well, thank you again, Eren, for telling me about this even though I'm certain I screwed up. It means a lot!" She smiled widely, ruffling his hair with her fingers. "I guess I'll get going, then. It was nice seeing you again, Mikasa." She waved to the both of them while walking out, once again being met by the frigid weather.
The only thing she could do now was wait.