Chapter Text
Maybe it is the way that Kenny brought him up that makes him suspect that everybody around him has a hidden agenda each time they will approach him.
Each time a colleague would try to ask him to go out for a tea, or may it be when they try to ask him for some extra coupon bond in the office— official business or not— he will throw away reproachful looks at them. A blinking warning that highlights “Stay away from me if you want to live.”
Levi has been a pretty lonely man. Ever since his uncle left him to stay with his newly found “girlfriend”, he had been left with the impression that nobody will ever stay. Not even your family, even if you are bonded by blood. He fears of being attached to anyone. He fears that this time he will loose his mind if he put his trust to someone and be left all alone all over again.
The first time was when he was abandoned by his Dad. He can still smell the stench of the alcohol and the metallic odor of the blood the day when his father left his mom almost lifeless. He cried and begged for his father to stay away from them while he hugs his mother’s limp body protectively. The incident had always been vivid until now. It was after that time that Kenny, his estranged uncle, took them in. He has a very strange way of raising him, nevertheless, he could feel that he cares for him and his mom.
The second abandonment almost came as a shock. He found his Mom lifeless inside her room. What supposed to be a normal day for him turned into another nightmare when everything turned blank and all he could register was the blaring sound of the sirens. This had been the second time that Levi begged. He begged for his Mom to stay, but no matter how he kneeled and cried, it was futile. She was declared dead officially and Kenny had informed him that his Mom had a heart attack while she was asleep. She died while she was asleep, peaceful and still looking serene.
The third abandonment he experienced was the one that made him say “I had enough of this shit.” Kenny greeted him after he graduated college but soon announced that he will be moving out because Levi is already capable of being alone by himself. He thanked Kenny for everything he had done for him but he was so angry that he did not even say a word when he left for the other side of the city.
He was all alone. A gloomy little brat-next-door, who has a freaking habit of cleaning.
He lives a quiet life. He spends all his days going to work and back to his apartment. If he has spare time, he would then go buy necessary stuff for his living— and for cleaning, of course. He made up his mind that this will be his routine until the day he dies and some curious neighbor would find his body, alone & rotting.
This made him somehow sad for himself, but if being sad would spare him a lot of heartbreak, then he would choose it.
He was about to grab his house key when he noticed a small box sitting next to his door.
“Weird, someone might have mistakenly delivered this to me.” He thought, but he picked up the box and saw a note that is seemed to be written by someone who is on a hurry.
“Hey, little, gloomy guy. Try this. -your neighbor”
He blinked again. There is no other “little gloomy guy” in the neighborhood but him. And it is quite strange that he had been in the neighborhood for so long, it is the first time that someone left something on his door. It must be some prank.
He went inside his apartment and placed the box neatly at his spare coffee/tea table where it lay forgotten.
On the next day he saw a same box neatly placed by his door with another note.
“Hey. I might have offended you by calling you little guy. Here is something to appease you. -your neighbor.”
And he placed the box, again, on the same coffee table. He seemed intrigued if who the hell even thought of putting a damned gift on his door?
On the third day there was another present and another note.
“Hey short-stack. If I already offended you, might as well offend you again. Anyway, here’s another. I hope you’ll like it. -your neighbor”
He bit his lip to stop himself from smiling. Who the hell has the gut to call him “short-stack”? Everyone in the neighborhood actually fears interacting with him, and even so, offending him.
He went in again and did not even bother opening the present before putting it on the coffee table.
The next day, he saw nothing by the door. “What is wrong Levi? Were you expecting more?” He might not admit it to himself, but he became fond of reading those notes. It somehow made him feel that at least someone is making an effort to speak to him.
He felt more gloomy to find nothing. He was about to twist the doorknob when he saw a familiar note stuck at his door.
The note: “Hey. I think I shouldn’t have called you short-stack. You have a name? Of course. Why do I even ask? You might have a bad day? But I hope I could see you smile. PS. Leave your name by the door so I could address you properly.-H”
“Who the hell is H and what is wrong with them leaving notes like this?” Levi went inside his apartment and again put the note beside the unopened boxes. He spent all the night thinking if he should leave a note with his name before even going to the office.
Note: “Hello there. I still haven’t seen you smile at all. You never even told me your name. Have a great day.”
Note: “yesterday the sunset was pretty amazing. It must be prettier if you watch it with someone. Anyway. Have a great day.”
Note: “it will be rainy today according to the report. do not forget your umbrella.”
Note: “it seem that you look more gloomy today, did you forget your umbrella and got a cold. Drink your tea and take a medicine”
Note: “seems foolish of me to keep leaving a note without any response, but I really want to be your friend”
It continued for a few more weeks and Levi did not even know if who the hell is leaving the message. They have been persistent even though they do not receive any reply from him. He cannot deny the fact that he had fun and he cannot stop smiling when he is alone each time he reads the note. The notes are what he has been looking forward to everyday—not his works and not even his love for cleaning.
“At least, aside from Kenny, someone knows I exist.”
That night, he slept with a smile plastered on his face. Maybe because it is Friday, or maybe because, finally, he had the strength to reply to their note. “LEVI” was all he wrote, but it took him so much courage to do so.
He will now let someone in.
Saturday morning, and he heard a small noise by his main door while he was preparing his breakfast. He opened the door abruptly and there is someone standing in front of the door, one hand stopping mid-air, holding a sticky-note on another.
Levi was assessing their stance and it seems he found out if who is leaving a note by his door.
“Oh. Shoooot!! It’s weekend and you’re at home!! So stupid of me.” The brunette said, though it is more likely that they are talking to themself.
“Hello there, Levi. You caught me too soon” They greeted him.
“Tch. Soon?” Levi responded and they just showed their wide smile which made their eyes sparkle behind their spectacles.
“You are H?” Was his only reply.
“Well yeah. Technically, I am Hange. You can address me however you like.” Hange replied.
“But which are you more comfortable of?” Levi asked, as politely as he could be.
“Oh my gosh. I like you more now. Thank you for asking. I prefer she/her the most.” She responded.
“Tch. Shitty glasses.” Levi answered, he thought she will be offended but she laughed so hard it made her tear up.
“Sorry. You are funny shorty.” She replied.
“So, you want to join me for breakfast?” Levi asked, although reluctant at first. This is the person who kept you up at night, finally you have let someone in. This time he is ready to take the leap and even fall, unprepared.
“Well, I am glad you asked. Have you opened my present?” Hange asked while he guide her through the door.
“What are they anyway?” He asked.
“So you never opened them?” She asked surprised.
“Well, I received a gift from a stranger. What do you expect me to do, Shitty glasses? What are they anyway?” Levi asked.
“Well they are tea. The other are cookies that go together with the tea. I heard they are good.” She replied, turning a little red.
“How did you know I would like tea?” He inquired.
“I have been watching you after all this time, Levi.” She stared intently at him. Her stare that left Levi’s heart pounding so hard that it drowned all the noise. Her eyes never leaving his and it was then, Levi knew that he made the right choice of letting this person in. She must be the person he had been waiting for.