Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Another day, another doings. A man with clean freak attitude named Levi Ackerman decides to go to the grocery store to buy new clean supplies and do ‘deep cleanings’ since today is Sunday. He wears his so-called casual outfit: black turtle neck, black pants, and black shoes. He looks like he will attend to the funeral but didn't budge to that ‘insult’ since he always find an odd comfort by wearing all black clothes.

As he walks towards the grocery store, he sees a woman flirting with a man while holding the crying infant. He usually don't give a fuck about children because he doesn't like loud surroundings and people, but his feet goes straight towards them otherwise.

“Hey. With all due respect, your child is crying. Maybe you want to focus on her first?” Levi wants to punch himself so bad because of his sudden action but he can't ignore the infant.

The woman looks at him from head to toe then pushes the infant towards him, “If you want to take care of that child then go! She's not my baby anyways, I am just her nanny.”

Levi doesn't know what to react except to carry the infant with all care. The so-called nanny just shove the infant in his arm, making the infant to cry loudly than before. He gives nanny a quick death glare then puts his attention to the baby as they walk away. The fact that she was supposed to take care someone's baby because the parents gave their trust to her yet she is being irresponsible makes Levi to feel more irritating.

“Sawatari Midori...” He mumbles when he saw the infant's small bracelet. “This must be your name. I don't know if this is the right thing to do but I can't bear to see you crying in the arms of your careless nanny, so I will do grocery with you. Make sure to behave so we can finish early and hopefully find your parents.”

The infant named Sawatari Midori giggles after Levi's reminder as if she can understand it because she really stopped crying, making Levi to unconsciously smile then enters the grocery store.

As usual, Levi buys different brands of cleaning supplies first then his diet food such as oatmeal and fruits, and snacks is the last one since he likes watching movies at night. It's somehow hard for him to put the items due to he is holding Midori in his left arm and making sure not to fall her while his right hand is pushing the cart and getting the items, but overall everything went well and pays the items.

Levi was about to carry the three plastic bags using his right hand when the man and woman approaches him while panting. They look very similar to Midori.

“Excuse me. Why are you holding our baby?” The man asks while still catching his breathe. Levi can see that they really ran because their foreheads are sweating as well.

“Ah. You two must be the parents. Make sure to find a responsible nanny next time for your daughter. She literally did let Midori to cry while doing a childish flirting with a man earlier. She even gave Midori to me, who's completely stranger. Good thing I was the one who approached her to comfort your baby, not some child predator.” Levi says as he hands Midori to her father gently.

The woman hugs him while sniffing, “Thank you so much for taking care of our baby.” She then pulls out after then wipes her tears. “We already fired her nanny, we also saw her outside talking with random man. Good thing Midori ended up with good hands. We really owe you.”

Levi nods then carries the plastic bags. “Midori is a good listener, I am sure that she will be a fine woman in the future. If you guys will excuse, I need to go now.”

“Wait!” The man stops him. “Let us know first your name at least.”

“Levi. Levi Ackerman.”

“I'm Sawatari Yutaka while this is my wife Sawatari Yukari.”

Levi nods again as an answer then looks at Midori, “Be a good girl to your parents, okay? Until next time, Midori.” He then smiles a bit at them then walks away. Midori and her parents waves their arms as a farewell. The odds of meeting them again is impossible but Midori surely made Levi's day.

Chapter Text

The community where Levi lives have their own rules and one of those is to do community cleaning every month to maintain the clean surrounding, and knowing Levi's clean freak attitude, he will surely join and make sure that every corner of their streets are clean. For this day, he will wear something new: white shirt, black knee length shorts, and black sneakers shoes.

He goes out from his house when he is fully dressed. Most of his neighbors are looking at him (and some of the girls are even giggling) since he is undeniably a good looking man with mysterious aura who rarely goes out. He then lets out a small ‘tch’ then walks straight to their community hall to get some cleaning supplies.

It's been only almost an hour since they started cleaning but Levi is already oddly tired. He sits on the bench and leans his right elbow on his right thigh to massage his temple, he is also sweating and vision is kind of blurry. He's having lack of sleep these past few weeks so maybe the bad effects is attacking his body. Sleep deprived has been with him since he started living alone.

“Sir? Are you okay?” The soft tone made Levi to look straight once again. There's a toddler standing in front of him while holding a broom.

“I am okay. Don't mind.” Levi answers with his unusual low but soft tone. Ever since he encountered Midori last month, he can't help but to have a soft spot for children. He never knew that a stranger toddler will changed his perspective about children; they aren't always that loud as long as you will be good to them.

“Here!” The toddler hands him a white towel, “Use it to wipe your face.”

“Is that clean? I don't like using dirty towels.”

“Hm!” The toddler nods, “Mama gave it to me before I went here.”

Hesitantly, Levi gets the towel then wipes his sweaty forehead. The towel smells nice and it's pure white so it is indeed clean, “Thank you.”

“Don't worry, mister! I will help you to clean!” The toddlers says in most enthusiastic tone and starts ‘sweeping’ the ground using her small broom. He lets out a small chuckle then places the towel on his left shoulder as he stands up to start cleaning once again.

The community cleaning official ended after three hours. Everyone is satisfied because each one of them helped to clean and they are now starting to go back at their homes to clean themselves this time.

Levi was about to go home as well when the toddler holds his short and pulls it gently, looks down to see her, “I don't know your name yet, sir.”

He then squats in front of the toddler to face her,“My name is Levi Ackerman. How about you?”

“My name is Kirin Kumatsuka! Can I see you again, Levi-chan?”

Levi can't help but to ruffle the toddler's hair named Kirin. “We'll see about it since we're living in the same community.”

“Kirin!" A man shouts as he runs towards them then lifts up Kirin when he got close, “Are you trying to hit on my daughter?!”

Levi almost lift up his right eyebrow as he stands up, currently in dumbfounded situation to be exact. ‘Is he even serious?’ He asks in his mind.

A woman then suddenly smacks the man's head using the towel. “Sorry for that, my husband can be stupid sometimes.”

“Mama, look! I helped Levi-chan to clean! Both of us did well!” Kirin announces with a smile on her lips.

“Very good, Kirin!” The woman answers as she pats her daughter's head, “Did my daughter pester you that much? She kept on asking me earlier if she can stay with you since you were alone and kind of sweaty. You should have enough rest, you don't look healthy at all.”

“Oh...” Levi lets himself to smile. The thought of the child tried to help him is enough to hit the soft spot of his heart, “She actually did help me. And for the towel, I will wash it first then I will give it back—”

“No! It's all yours now, Levi-chan! I have lots of towel in my room so I will give it to you now so make sure that you will use it to wipe your sweat.” Kirin says as she hugs her papa's neck who's currently frowning quietly while rubbing the back of his head due to the smack earlier.

“Thank you so much, Kirin. Ah, my name is Levi Ackerman.”

“What a nice name! My name is Yayoi Kumatsuka while this is my silly husband Satoru Kumatsuka. It's actually good to know that you are here since we rarely see you going out. You can come at our home then have dinner with us.”

The four of them gives farewell after and continue spending their time inside of their homes with happy heart and clean surrounding.

Chapter Text

Today is somehow different. Levi Ackerman is heading towards toy shop today to buy a gift, Kirin's parents went to his home last night to ask if he can visit to their home tonight since Kirin kept on asking them when she can meet him, and Levi accepted the invitation since he is not that busy this week. He decides to wear blue long sleeve, black pants, and black shoes today just to look ‘friendly’.

Levi reaches the toy shop after ten minutes of walking. He then enters and looks confused when he sees few kids running around while their parents are buying toys for them. Levi breathes deeply and remembers that they are kids who deserves to be loud and playful around to enjoy their childhood. Although the surrounding is annoyingly loud for him, he is now also finding a comfort in it.

He goes straight to dollhouse section to check if there's anything he can buy and give to Kirin. As he scans the shelves, he hears a toddler crying behind him so he looks around and—

“Kazuma, he is not a monster. He is just buying.”

Levi finds himself in dumbfounded situation (again). Did the crying toddler named Kazuma assumed that he is a monster despite of his ‘friendly’ outfit? And who's the other toddler with him?

‘Are they twins?’ Levi asks himself in his mind.

“Takuma... The man is looking...” Kazuma is having a hard time to speak since he keeps on sobbing.

Contradicting to crybaby Kazuma, his twin named Takuma is cheerful and always smiling. Levi is somehow amused due to this is the first time he saw a twin and the fact that they have different personalities makes them cuter.

“Hello, nii-chan! Kazuma said you are a monster. Is that true?” Takuma asks with pure curiosity since his head is tilting.

Levi squats in front to face them then shakes his head, “I am not. I'm an ordinary human like the both of you.”

“But...” Kazuma sobs for few times then speaks again, “You are tall... and... you are alone.”

The adult man chuckles then ruffles their hair, “Tall? Yes, I am tall and I am also alone but that doesn't mean I am a monster. I just don't have someone to be with.”

“You don't?” Takuma holds his twin's hand, “I have Kazuma with me so I am not alone!” He then holds the adult man's sleeve, “And you can have us so you will not be alone anymore!”

Kazuma slowly nods as he sobs but he is not crying unlike earlier, “You have Kazuma and Takuma now...”

Those words from the twins really hit Levi's soft spot in his heart, “Can I carry both of you then help me to choose what gift should I give to my...friend?” He finds weird to call the toddler a ‘friend’ but he just let it pass.

Both of them cheers and spreads their arms, so Levi takes it as a ‘yes’ and lifts both of them as he stands up slowly and carefully.

“Strong nii-chan!” They declares at the same time, making Levi to laugh lowly as he nods.

The three of them spent almost twenty minutes in searching and ended up choosing the chibi-size barbie with small pink and white dollhouse. Takuma is holding the dollhouse while Kazuma is holding the chibi-size barbie.

They headed straight on the counter to pay the gifts. Levi is about to put them down when a man runs towards them while screaming the twins' names.

“Papa!” The twins declares. Levi understands already that the... crying man... is their papa.

The man stops in front of them as he pants, “Thank you so much for taking care of my sons! My fans chased me earlier so I don't have a choice but to left them for a while.”

“Ah, I know you. You're Mamizuka Kousuke, the antagonist man in that one movie. I understand but next time bring someone with you, good thing these two approached me and even helped me.” Levi says as he puts down the twins gently, both of them clings on Kousuke's legs after.

The man nods as he wipes his tears, “My wife is with me but she goes in the supermarket for a while to buy snacks. Thank you so much again—?”

“Levi Ackerman is my name.”

“Thank you so much again, Levi.” Both of them does shake hands for few times.

“I need to go now, I still need to prepare for tonight.” Levi says then gets the two plastic bags.

Mamizuka nods to him with a smile as he holds the twins' one of their hand while the twins says ‘bye, nii-chan!’.

Chapter Text

“Thank you for checking out our swords, sir. If there's one that can catch your attention, just approach me.”

Levi Ackerman nods as an answer and continues scanning the displayed swords. He went out today to do jogging so he is now wearing a white shirt, black sport short, and black runner shoes, but he decided to stop for a while to check the sword shop. It might not be obvious but he is professional when it comes to using sword since the Ackerman family inherent that skill from generation to generation.

His eyes then suddenly sees the ‘ODM Gear’ section. This is the first he saw that kind of sword since it stated the sword can be replace from few times and can be use to ‘fly around’. He continues to read the manual on the wall to know more but immediately stops when he felt something on the back of his leg, making him to look back with creasing forehead.

“Titan!” The boy toddler sticks the tip of his plastic sword on the back of his knee.

Levi turns around and looks the surrounding to see if he is with someone, he then squats to face the toddler when he saw no one behind the toddler, “Why are you here? This place is dangerous and I am not a titan, they don't exist.”

“What—?” Levi's word makes the toddler's eyes teary, “But nii-chan said titans are real! We will buy swords today to kill some!”

The older adult rubs his nape. Right, he should not destroy someone's dream especially if it's a toddler's, “Well, you are right. Titans are real but it's hard for us to find them because they are very dangerous.”

The toddler sits on the floor while his eyes are almost sparkling, tears from earlier is completely gone now, “Why?”

Levi completely sits on floor as well, “Because they see us, humans, as their food. They don't know the difference between real food and humans since they are very hungry, and they decided to eat humans because they are easier to find.”

The toddler moves forward a bit towards him then rests his hands on the adult man's knees. Levi can't help but to chuckle because he can sense that the toddler is getting scared, but continues on telling his story otherwise as he pats the toddler's head to comfort him, “There's one history about titans. They stated that humanity way back built high walls to protect themselves from the titans. It worked for 100 years but everything scattered when the tall titan, also known as armored titan, appeared. The titan is taller than the walls so the titan broke the wall easily using his strong foot. Different wars happened and many lives has been sacrificed but they achieved their dream in the end, which is freedom.”

The toddler unconsciously sits on Levi's lap, sign that he is already invested to the story. Levi lets himself and ruffles the toddler's hair, “So there are no titans anymore?” He asks, almost whispering as if he is accepting the fact that they are already gone.

Levi, “I am sure that they are still alive, waiting for you to end them, so make sure to make yourself stronger and upgrade your sword.”

The toddler stands up immediately then lifts his plastic sword, forming a fist using his free hand and stick it on his chest, “I will kill every titans that I will see. Shinzou wo sasageyo!”

Levi laughs once again as he shakes his head, copying the toddler to have fun with him, “Shinzou wo sasageyo!”

“Taka! You piece of shit! I finally found you—” The young man stops from talking when he saw his younger brother and stranger adult having fun.

Levi looks behind when he sensed someone's presence, “Hey. I think that's your brother.”

The toddler looks behind then immediately runs towards the young man, “Nii-chan! Nii-chan! That one nii-chan said titans are real and we can find one to kill!”

Levi then stands up when the young man walk towards him, ”Thank you for taking care of my annoying brother. His hope about titans is so irritating but I can't kill his dream for now.”

“I understand. Let the child enjoy his little fantasy first.” He stretches his right arm, “My name is Levi Ackerman.”

"Hayato Kamitani and this is Taka Kamitani.” The young man named Hayato holds Levi's hand to do few shake hands.

The three of them did some little chitchats before they decided to part ways because Hayato have afternoon classes today.

Levi looks at the ODM Gear for the last time, a small smile forms in his lips then goes out from the shop to continue his jogging.

Chapter Text

Today is Saturday, 5:30 PM. Levi Ackerman decided to visit the nearest sea to relax himself after the stressful week. He wears a dark brown long sleeves, black pants, and black shoes since he just want to witness a sunset.

He uses his bike to go there since he only have 30 minutes now before the sunset and the wind is cold enough to lessen the stress in his body. He then looks at the surroundings as if he is memorizing everything that he can see, a smile peaks out in his lips due to realizing that everything in his place is beautiful.

Levi finally reached the sea after 10 minutes. He leans the bike on the wall then walks to get closer to the waves but with enough distance so his feet won't touch the water. But the peaceful atmosphere didn't last long when something— or someone bump on his legs so he looks down to see what or who is it.

“Kotaro! I told you not to run around.”

He sees a toddler sitting on the ground while holding his head, probably because of the impact, while he sense that there's a guy running towards them in the distant.

He then squats to check the toddler if he has bruise or whatsoever, “Are you okay?” Levi asks with the softest tone he has so toddler won't feel any fear towards him.

The toddler nods slowly. The guy who's running earlier squats as well then looks at Levi, “I'm sorry. Kotaro is extra hyper right now so I can't stop him from playing.”

Levi looks at him as well then nods, “It's fine. Let the child have fun and freedom—” He stops talking as he holds his forehead when a quick headache attacks him. Blur and unfamiliar memories suddenly enters his mind. Those memories are full of screams, crying for help, blood, fire, and dead bodies. He wants to think that those are just the side effect of being sleep deprived but they are too detailed.

“Nii-chan.” The toddler named Kotaro holds Levi's knees, “Sick?”

The adult looks down at him when he goes back from the current situation then shakes his head, “I'm fine. I think I am just too tired.”

“Uh, what's your name, by the way?” The guy asks him, making Levi to look at him again.

“Levi. Levi Ackerman. How about you?”

“I am Ryuuichi Kashima and this is my little brother Kotaro Kashima. Nice to meet you. I know this is sudden but I have a little favor if it's okay...”

Levi nods, “What is it?”

Ryuuichi, “I need to buy some lemonades there. Can you look for Kotaro? I think he likes you as well. It's rare for him to approach someone like this easily.”

Levi looks at Kotaro for a while who's staring at him then looks back at Ryuuichi, “Sure. I will take care of him.”

After that confirmation, Ryuuichi runs away to buy some lemonades. Levi then sits on the sand completely while Kotaro sits on his lap. They are both looking at the distance, waiting for the sunset.

“Nii-chan. Sun.” Kotaro says as he points at the sun.

Levi ruffles his hair then nods, “Sunset is about to happen, Kotaro. It's so beautiful, right?”

Levi knows that the Kotaro nods without looking because the toddler's head move while the adult man is still ruffling his hair. Levi then looks at his wrist watch. “10 seconds.”

“9”

“8”

“7”

“6”

“5”

“4”

“3”

“2”

“1”

The beautiful sunset finally showed up. Levi and Kotaro are staring at it with a little smile on their lips but everything in Levi's perspective is getting darker.

Before everything turns into completely black, Kotaro hugs Levi tightly, “Nii-chan. Freedom.”

*

“Heichou! Wake up!”

Levi slowly opens his eyes, forehead is creasing while eyes are blinking repeatedly because of the lantern's light. He sees the two important people in his life looking at him with confused eyes.

“Levi. You were crying earlier. Are you okay?” The Survey Corps' commander named Erwin Smith asks while holding Levi's forehead.

Levi, “I am fine. But what happened?”

“You were asleep for five days after the battle, Levi. I thought you were—” A woman named Hange Zoë stops her words when Erwin interrupts her.

“I told you, Hange. As long as he is breathing, he will be fine. Let's just be thankful that he's finally awake.”

Levi lets them to do their little argue. He closes his eyes again and lets out a heavy sigh.

“Right. Those were too good to be true. I hope those kids are doing fine.” Levi says unconsciously, making Erwin and Hange to stare at him once again.

On the other side, the toddlers named Midori, Kirin, Takuma, Kazuma, Taka, and Kotaro lets out a sneeze at the same time.