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quillsandblades · 2 days

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A Levihan fic based on the post by @devoteurheartlh

(I think I took the hand-holding too far)

With Us, it's Simple

‘C’mon Levi!’ Hange’s excited shout rises above the hubbub of the crowd, and he rolls his eyes. When will shitty glasses learn to behave in public? She sprints in the room as if she’s in a fucking amusement park and not her boss’s party. But maybe he can let it slide just this time as her boss also happens to be their best friend, Erwin. In an interesting turn of events, she ended up working for him almost two years ago and bringing the three of them together for the first time since their graduation. Levi was glad it worked out like that, he’d missed Erwin.

Four-eyes shouts something about wanting to introduce him to all her colleagues and he internally groans. Why did he even agree to come with her in the first place?

Without giving him a chance to backtrack, she seizes his hand and pushes him into the chatting crowd. He feels her hand wrap around the base of his palm, her fingers brace over his wrist, in a way he’s learnt that she’s feeling excited because her grip is tight but not too tight, like she’s carelessly letting her excitement seep into her actions. She drags him, he follows helplessly. Just like he has for almost ten years now.

She stops in front of a sleepy looking dark-haired woman and introduces her as, ‘This is Pieck! We’re best buddies, Levi!’

He smacks her head, ‘Oi! Aren’t we best buddies?’

She laughs and leans into his shoulder, ‘Oh Levi, you’re jealous?’

‘Shut up. Why the hell would I be jealous?’ And he turns to walk away but she’s still holding his hand and yanks him back just as quickly.

‘Don’t worry shorty,’ she winks at him. ‘No one’s taking your place. It’s special.’

And he feels irrationally warm at those words. But he doesn’t let himself mull over it; it’s simply one of the things Hange does and he’s come to accept the fact over the years that his body has a weird way to respond to her little statements and gestures.

Pieck gives them a charming smile and her eyes flit to their connected hands, ‘So you’re Hange’s boyfriend?’

She drops his hand and barks out a laugh, ‘What even made you think that? We’re just friends, silly.’

‘Really?’ Pieck arches a brow.

‘Yeah,’ Levi confirms. ‘For ten years now.’

The woman hums in a way that screams she would beg to differ, but if Hange notices she doesn’t dwell on it and Levi follows suit. Both women continue to talk and Levi throws in his own comments when Pieck mentions how challenging it is to work alongside Hange Zoe. She knows nothing. He’s been going through her shit for far longer, at this point he can actually consider himself an expert in Hange’s behavior and mood. And that’s saying something because according to everyone, she’s too damn unpredictable to be figured out, and whenever he hears that Levi allows himself a tiny whisper of a smile as he has her almost completely figured out. Almost completely meaning ninety eight percent. He’s still working on that two percent.

Soon Hange’s dragging him away once more, but her fingers now curl hesitantly around his in a manner that says she’s stuck over something in her mind. He jerks her back, ‘What?’ he asks.

She gets him without needing much words, shrugs off the thoughtful look from her face and straightens her shoulders. ‘Nothing.’

She turns around and leads him to more people.

The night progresses in more or less the same way, laughter tinkles and glasses of champagne clink, soft lighting of the room morphs around them. Almost every person they come across mistakes them for a couple. They brush it off, they’re used to it.

Erwin meets up with them soon.

‘So, how’s the host doing?’ Hange asks, jabbing an elbow into his crisp suit.

He chuckles and hands over some drinks to them from a waiter passing by. They sit and talk, about everything and anything and stuff friends talk about.

‘I see you two haven’t broken the tradition,’ Erwin comments after a bit.

‘Huh?’ Hange throws him a questioning look.

‘Still going to gatherings as “platonic dates”?’ he makes air quotes at that, an expression that seems too uncharacteristic of him. To the outside eye at least, they both have known Erwin long enough to guarantee that the man has some unexpected sides. ‘When am I gonna see a real couple here?’

‘Oh come on, Erwin!’ Hange snickers. ‘Not you too. You should know, of all people, that we’re just really close friends. I mean, I’m the same with you and Mike.’

‘I don’t see you asking me out for parties. But you’ve been doing that with Levi since we were in high school.’

‘Exactly,’ she points out. ‘He’s used to it. Besides,’ she nudges him playfully, ‘he’s more fun.’

Levi rolls his eyes. Erwin gives him a long, calculating look and he responds with his trademark bored stare. Sure his words made sense but Hange was right, there wasn’t anything like that between them.

(He chooses to conveniently ignore all the instances when he felt his heart hammer in an odd way, or color rise to his cheeks, or had this weird, warm and giddy feeling in the presence of four-eyes that said he would be happy to stay with her, in whatever place they were together, forever)

‘You know I believe when we’re in love with someone, we try to read into all the miniscule actions, expressions and words of that person,’ Erwin sips his drink. ‘We learn them by heart, like a language. To the point we even know what a certain flick of their brow means.’

Levi is silent. Staring into the swirling gold in his glass.

‘Are you implying something?’ He speaks up without looking at him.

‘I think I’m in love,’ he replies softly. ‘You remember Marie? I met her again.’

Hange’s eyes widen, ‘Oooh, really?’

She sits by the edge of her seat, bouncing lightly, all excitement. Marie was another friend from High School. Erwin falling in love is new, so Levi pushes aside any doubtful thoughts to focus on their words.

‘It turned out we live across from one another,’ Erwin is saying. ‘And she was just too eager to catch up when we met.’

Hange’s marveling at the way life throws people back at each other and giggling while thinking about how she can make Marie fall for Erwin. He laughs at her ridiculous plans and Levi feels a tug at his own lips as she chortles.

While she continues to ramble, Erwin shoots him another look. One that says his previous words were certainly meant for him. Levi just looks away and drowns his glass of champagne.

Erwin excuses himself after a while as he spots some people. Hange jumps up immediately, ‘Let’s dance.’

‘Hell no.’

‘Don’t be a grump Levi,’ she sings out and clamps her hand around his, insistent. She tugs, he resists. She tugs again and soon he’s out of his seat and they’re moving between bodies and Hange’s laughter is loud in his ears and her cheeks are red, a red that he wants to lean forward and brush his thumb over. She’s moving with the beats and urging him to do the same. He halfheartedly mirrors her and she snorts.

Then the music shifts, gentle melodies twist through the air.

And Hange pulls him close with the lull of the song. Her smile is radiant. Her forehead leans against his and she grabs both of his hands. Their eyes fall shut. Her thumbs rest softly around his own, the rest of her fingers encircle his knuckles in a gentle, unperturbed hold.

She’s happy, he concludes.

He knows it from the way her fingers press into his skin and wrap around his hand. He’s come to learn it all with time.

She hums along as they sway, lost in the rhythm of their hearts. He feels her getting closer and snaking an arm around his waist. He pulls back his face and looks at her.

Levi is pretty sure he doesn’t need glasses. Last he checked, his eye site was perfectly fine. So he doesn’t really understand why the lights, the colors and people seem to have blurred out around him and the only thing he can focus on is Hange’s face which holds an odd expression.

She’s not quite smiling, not frowning either. It’s like her eyes are hanging between confusion and revelation. He can see the rapid color gathering in her cheeks. Her lips part to shape words she has yet to say, and Levi feels a knot of anticipation wind in his gut. Thoughts hang at the tip of her tongue but she hesitates ever-so-slightly. Then she says,

‘Do you know Axolotls can regrow their limbs.’

Levi blinks.

He knows that’s the last thing she was gonna say. She’s no longer gazing at him, instead she guides them around other couples dancing.

‘So can starfish,’ Levi grunts at her.

She chuckles, ‘Yeah, but Axolotls are cuter. I wanna study their regeneration process once I’m done with my current project.’

Levi hums. There’s still something hanging between them, almost tangible.

‘You know there are possibilities to enhance human tissue healing or regeneration through such studies. There’s a lot to discover in this direction.’

‘I’m sure you’ll end up finding some weird shit or other.’

‘D’you think Erwin will allow me to bring in live specimens to the lab?’

He shrugs, ‘Only if he thinks it’s worth it.’

He cuts off her next words by suddenly twirling her around, and maybe she’s had a lot to drink so she loses her footing and stumbles backward without warning, brown eyes wide.

Instinctively, he leans to steady her, arm around her back. Their torsos crash against each other and he finds his face inches away from hers. She looks startled, mouth half open and glasses sitting low on her nose. Her face gets a deeper shade of red, or maybe it’s just the light playing upon her cheeks. He can feel the thrum of her heart in his chest.

‘Hange . . .’ he murmurs, not sure what he longs to say.

Her eyes glide over his features. She opens her mouth, ‘I . . . I—uh—’

She slips out of his grasp and crashes to the floor as someone bumps into them.

‘Oi!’

‘Sorry!’ the man calls out over his shoulder.

But Hange’s already standing up, dusting herself and moving in the other direction, ‘Sorry I—I think I need a glass of water,’ she mumbles hastily, and all but runs away from him. He sighs and makes his way to a quieter corner.

‘Hello there, young man,’ a voice beside him makes him turn. An elegantly dressed, elderly lady is sitting on a sofa— probably someone’s mother. She smiles at him, ‘Hope you don’t mind asking me, but how long have you been married?’

‘Married?’

She nods, ‘Ah you see, I was just a tad bit awed at seeing how true love can be found even today. You were dancing with your wife just now, right? You both seem very fond of each other.’

He finds it hard to say it around the gentle look she gives him, but he pushes the words out anyhow, ‘We’re not married.’

‘Oh,’ her face falls. Then she smiles again. ‘But still very much in love, yes? I can see that at least, and I tell you my eyes never lied in the matter of hearts.’

Levi swallows, not knowing what to make of this. But that’s when he spots Hange in the distance. A tall blonde man is talking to her, but even from far away Levi can see how her posture is tense. He excuses himself and rushes to her side.

‘. . . was thinking it would be a delight,’ the blonde was saying. He wore round glasses and his beard took almost half of his face.

Hange replied something distractedly.

‘Oi, where were you?’ he comes to stand beside her and lightly smacks her shoulder.

‘Levi,’ she breathes it out almost like an exhale of relief. Then points at the Beard, ‘This is Zeke, we work in the same department. Zeke, meet Levi.’

Zeke offers him a neutral smile, eyes piercing into him. He nods in return.

‘I’ve been looking for you for quite some time, Hange,’ the blonde turns his attention towards her. ‘I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up.’

Hange laughs out a fake sound, ‘I would never miss Erwin’s party.’

‘Of course,’ he smiles widely and his gaze travels over her from head to toe. Her hand creeps out to Levi, fingers lacing through his, pressing the tips hard into his flesh.

She’s anxious.

‘You look gorgeous tonight,’ The Beard murmurs. ‘Would you spare a dance for me?’

‘Um actually I—’ the pressure on his hand increases, a silent plea.

‘We’re sorry,’ Levi cuts in, not sounding sorry at all. ‘But Hange needed some air after all the dancing. We’re just heading out.’

Zeke considers them for a moment, noticing their hands

‘So you’re dating?’ he asks.

Before Hange can speak, Levi answers, ‘Yeah.’ His tone is rough, as if challenging him.

When no one says a word, Levi pulls her towards the entrance and they step out into the cool night air. The noises from the inside grow muffled as they both settle on a wooden bench. There’s a wide garden spread in front of them, coloured dark in the shades of the twinkling night. Above them the stars gleam in the sleeping sky.

Hange leans against his shoulder, ‘Thanks.’

‘That asshole works with you?’

‘Yeah, but he’ll be changing departments soon. He’s been trying to ask me out for so long, but honestly speaking, I don’t like his intentions. Plus, he holds some perpetual grudge against Erwin,’ she speaks quietly.

‘You rejected him then?’

‘Yeah. but I guess he just doesn’t understand the meaning of no.’

They fall into silence. A breeze lifts his hair and Hange’s fringe tickles his neck.

‘Everyone thought we were a couple today,’ She whispers.

‘Not for the first time.’

‘It makes me think, Levi. Why don’t people say the same about me and Erwin or Mike, or you and Petra or Nanaba. We’re all close friends aren’t we?’

She faces him, still resting against his side. They’re in close proximity once more, closer than friends should be, but it doesn’t seem to bother either of them. His heart feels simultaneously restless and content—a phenomenon he associates with the presence of Hange Zoe alone.

‘So you think we’re something more than friends?’ he asks.

‘Everyone says so.’

‘Everyone’s opinion doesn’t define what we really are.’

‘No,’ she agrees. ‘It doesn’t.’

Then she fully turns to him and he reads in her eyes, a question. He gives the affirmative—and really that’s just how simple it is for them, how simple they are. Clicking wordlessly into place like pieces of a puzzle.

She tilts forward and their mouths connect in a perfect symphony as their eyes flutter close. He feels her press her lips softly to his own but with a certain pressure, takes a moment to note their chapped surface from the parts where she’s always pulling at them and the lines that map out their contours. She’s kissing him lightly, her movements unsure, almost shy. He can feel her joyful giddiness though, and the telltale lift of her lips curling into the smallest, most softest smile and he—

He just thinks he’ll let it happen for a while. He’ll get plenty of more chances to read into the press of her lips on his and translate what each kiss represents. Learn how she’ll kiss him when she’s sad, or when she’s happy or angry or any other thing.

For now, he’s at peace with knowing that she loves him.

She tells him that herself: in the way she holds him close, in the way she laughs against his mouth, and how she touches him.

And he knows because he has her figured out already.

#levihan #levi ackerman #hange zoe #my writing #levihan fanfiction #ao3 #attack on titan #inspiration is tempting

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