Chapter Text
Levi decides that you smile too damn much. There is no possible way that a person can look like the literal embodiment of sunshine, the way that you do. Even your outfit, with your lilac button up blouse with little grey clouds with smiley faces on it, the grey polka dotted bow in your hair, and your bright yellow skirt was too much. He keeps his eyes from staring too long at your cherry red lips.
Your smile pulls smiles from some of the new first graders. Everyone except for little Eunmi, who’s currently in Levi’s arms and is sobbing.
“I not go, daddy! No school,” Eunmi says through tear-filled eyes.
“Eunmi,” Levi says gently but firmly, “I know. But you have to.”
“No! Please, daddy,” Eunmi cries and Levi is so close to just taking her home and keeping her with him in their apartment. He’s nervous about letting her go, maybe even more so than she is, but if he shows it then Eunmi will definitely get even more scared. He can be a teacher right? He can homeschool her, keep her happy and safe and with him so she never cries about this again-
The sound of her cries breaks his heart. “If you cry, I’ll cry and that won’t be fun for anyone,” He mutters, trying to get her to smile but she doesn’t. Instead, she cries harder.
But then you kneel next to Levi, in front of Eunmi. “Hi, honey,” You say, your voice sweet and soothing. You give Levi a small nod of acknowledgement and he returns it rather suspiciously. Just from the sound of your voice, he thinks it makes sense why you were a teacher for young kids.
You introduce yourself to Eunmi, telling her that you’re a new teacher. “This is my first day here. I’m a little scared, too,” You admit, whispering it to Eunmi as if it’s a secret.
“Weally?” Eunmi sniffs sadly, “You daddy say it okay?”
You let out a soft laugh at that, “My daddy said it’s okay to try new things and be scared. I think your daddy says so, too. Right, Mr. Ackerman?”
“Right,” Levi murmurs, “Eunmi, you’ll have fun, sweetheart. Be good for Ms. Sato.”
“I like your bow,” Eunmi sniffs with a small, barely there smile, “Pretty.”
“Oh! Thanks, Eunmi,” You smile, again, brighter than sunshine, “How about this? If you don’t want to stay or if you feel sad and want your daddy, I’ll call him and you can talk to him, okay?”
“O-okay,” Eunmi nods, looking at you cautiously.
“Be brave for me, sweetheart,” Levi murmurs, cupping his baby girl’s cheeks gently, “I’ll pick you up soon.”
“Be bwave, daddy,” Eunmi whispers.
Anyone can see how close Levi and Eunmi are. You can see her in the center of his irises, how he adores her. Levi peels himself away reluctantly from Eunmi, as if it pains him to do so. Lines of fatigue sit pretty under his icy eyes. You don’t know much about this man or his daughter, and you push your innate curiosity to the side. He regards you warily, almost like he’s assessing you silently.
Levi stays until the last students straggle inside your cozy classroom. Even from his spot outside of the classroom, he can see how colorful and vibrant you’ve made your space.
You catch his eye in your periphery and wave at him, with a warm smile. Levi scans your classroom for a glimpse of Eunmi and his heart stops seizing when he sees her looking at you with wide eyes and a small smile.
Maybe he can make it till the end of the day. Just maybe.