Self-sabotage
Warnings: none. Oh wait, yes, LEVI BEING A CUTIE.
Pairing: Levi x reader.
Summary: Erwin begs Levi to buy him a coffee on his way to university. Having a crush in a barista is so hard when you don't like coffee. FLUFF FLUFF EVERYWHERE. Levi being an awkward cutie. Mordern university au.
Words: 2507
In case you want to check out other works of mine -> here a link to my masterlist.
Clumpy pale slender fingers searching for what was remaining on his leather brown wallet. Quick glance at the clock hanging on the wall. 6:30 am. He had a class presentation in less than an hour. His fingers trembled and his eyes fluttered to the light. He had stayed up for more than 48hs in a row and, even for him, it was too much. The end of the month, he barely had money for some instant ramen brought at some convenience store.
The early sunlight that came inside the shop made him frown, as if the universe had no right to be that bright and happy when he was dead inside. His tired eyes moved up to check once again the prices on the blackboard and clicked his tongue. He barely had money to make it and he admired the rest of the place that matched the vibes of the blackboard.
The place gave away this aesthetic of old school, academia. He wasn’t sure if the prices were to cover up the expenses of buying stuff to make the place look exactly as somewhere where “I’m relatable” influencers would go to do a promotion or to make rich people feel special. Whatever it was, he grimance unpleased.
His combat boot tapped the floor repeatedly, he was in a hurry. Took out the phone from his jeans and checked Erwin’s message again. ‘It’s on your way,’ he repeated in his mind with mockery ‘Yeah because I live across the city, son of a bitch, everything is on my way,’
‘He better pay me back, I need each cent not like certain someone whose father is a politician,’
The whole place screamed “Erwin would waste money here,” and he wouldn’t be doing the blond a favour if it wasn’t because Erwin was one of the only wealthy assholes he tolerated and their friendship has been going on for too many years already. Overall, he wouldn’t have put a step inside there. Not only because the prices were way out of his league as someone who survived with part time jobs and a scholarship that covered the tuition. But also because the only caffeine drink that he enjoyed was a good black tea, coffee felt horrendous in his not so humble opinion.
His turn, finally. Rushed to take the order, checked the receipt given to him to make sure it was his. Grabbed the handful napkins that he was given, took the coffee from the top part and handed the money that he had carefully counted before hand. He was ready to leave, rush through the door and go to his class.
“Thank you so much for your order, I hope you’ve a great day” The soft female voice arrived from the other side of the counter. The light that came from the left window landed on her face with such grace, making the tips of her eyelashes turn blond and her eyes shined with a magnificent colour. Her cheeks softly reddish and the bottom of her eyes raising as she smiled at him. Hair out of the way in a ponytail with some cute scrunchy.
His brain did a dead short and his lips parted a slightly bit, mouth hanging open as if he was stupid. Any kind of mind process eluded him as the only rational thought was ‘She’s gorgeous,’
“May I help you with anything else?” Levi wasn’t aware if it was the lack of sleep, the lack of a healthy lifestyle taking a toll on him or that her voice actually sounded like a chorus of angels.
“Are you alright?” her confusion brought him back to earth and he felt extremely embarrassed all the sudden.
“Yeah, yeah,” he repeated, feeling ridiculously awkward. His right hand grabbed the disposable mug from the top as he was used to and it almost spilled all of the insides if he wouldn’t have been quick to grab it from the bottom too.
“Oh my god, are you ok? Did you get burned?” She quickly rushed to check on him and her face getting closer made him blush intensely.
“I’m fine,” he spitted out as he used the napkins to clean the counter, throw them in the trash and left the place like a bat out of hell.
Once he arrived at his class, Erwin was waiting there to pick up his order.
“Thank you, Lev.”
Levi groaned some monosyllabic reply as Erwin hanged him the money.
“Keep the change,” Erwin was eager to take the mug to his lips as he hung a $20 bill. “I don’t have anything smaller,”
“I don’t need your charity” Levi replied faking offence as he quickly picked up his pace
“Well, then give it back.”
“Fuck you, this is my dinner,”
Attempting against his wallet, he decided to go in again. The next Monday, same hour, same place. He crossed the deep English green walls of the coffee shop as the bells of the entrance announced his presence. Eyes focused on the tiny old-fashioned golden bell and cursed under his breath, he didn’t want to be noticed and that inanimate object wasn’t helping.
“Welcome back!”
Levi froze in place as he felt a chill running down his spine. He slowly turned to the right and there she was mopping the floor. Bright smile as she looked at him. Hectic grey eyes moved from one place to another, only to realise it was only him there. Too much exposure, he felt the necessity to open the door again, leave and never come back after such shameful moment.
But he didn’t, he stood there awkwardly in the front door as he wondered what he could probably say.
“Would you like the same as the previous time?” She inquired as she cleaned her hands on the green apron that matched the walls and moved to the coffee machine.
“Sure” His replied came out uninterested, it was either that or him stuttering. Hands on pockets, avoiding eye contact.
“I’ve time today, would you like me to give you some special offer? Maybe you could taste it and tell me if I should suggest to the owner” She was so outgoing, so charming.
And… and Levi felt like his mother must have dropped him as a baby because he was so stupidly antisocial and awkward. The urgent need to scream to the part of his brain that was supposed to comprehend human relationships “DO SOMETHING” felt overpowering as he failed to come out outgoing.
“Sure,” He sounded like a broken record spun in endless circles.
“Great! Thank you!”
They locked eyes, she was so cheerful and he felt so socially constipated that frowning came as his natural reaction.
“Mh, well, if you’re in a hurry it’s alright” Her enthusiastic tone melted away quickly as it revealed a slightly sad expression with a condescending grimace.
“No, I’m fine,” Levi’s cut and monotone reply was quick to come.
“It’s just that you seem slightly … angry,” The girl did an awkward smile, as if she tried to ease out the mood.
This time Levi did feel the urge to turn around, leave the place and throw himself from the first bridge that he could find.
“I’m not mad,”
“Alright… I’ll be fast!”
“I’m out.” was the message that Erwin received in the middle of a lecture. Frowning expression looking up to find Levi waiting right outside of the classroom. The blond distinguished his appearance even through the frosted glass. He abandoned the lecture for a second, taking long steps to shorten the distance.
“What are you doing here ?” Erwin whispered, trying to not disrupt the class.
Levi didn’t reply, just pushed the coffee mug into Erwin’s hand.
“Oh- why thank you,” Erwin was beyond confused as he searched for money in his pockets and hanged another $20 bill “Her-”
He couldn’t even reply that Levi had taken the money and walked away.
“What's gotten into him?”
After uncounted weeks, Levi swore that he was literally living out of Erwin’s spare change. Soon he found out that she worked there every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Friday double turn. Her name was Y/N, she studied biochemistry and being a barista was a hobby that she turned into a sort of profession to ease her loans. She had a cat named Noctem because it was all black and she wanted to sound “snob” using a latin word. She was in her second year and was two years younger than him.
“How is that one?”
Levi had already turned around to leave when he heard her voice once again. He looked back confused.
“Coffee, how is it?” She insisted.
“Huh?”
“It’s just that you never drink them here so I don’t know if you liked it,” Her body rocked a bit as she played with her hair, blushing.
The momentary panic overtook his body but he thanked his forever unfazed expression to keep it chill. The mug was raised to his lips and he took a quick sip. He fought each living cell inside his body to not gag in disgust. Coffee was just not his thing.
“Not bad,” He said, gathering saliva to wash out the taste remaining in his mouth.
“Really?!” Her enthusiasm was palpable in her features and Levi felt overwhelmingly bad that he could only try to fake a side smile.
“Yeah…”
“Why are you buying me coffees?” Erwin shouted the question as the situationship was getting absurdly abnormal.
“What do you mean with why? It’s on my way to here,” Levi replied faking dementia.
Erwin’s blue eyes squinted as he observed the short man’s body language “Yeah like the past 3 years and yet this is the first time you’re this nice,”
“What are you talking about? I’m always nice”
“Not even yourself believe that,”
Erwin knew something was odd so, when the semester was almost over, he had some time to spare after passing all his finals. He popped up at his regular coffee place, because it was his regular. Lined up and waited for his turn, the bell of the front door rang announcing someone new coming in. The blond, as a reflection of boredness of waiting for his turn, checked the new customer over his shoulder.
Levi froze in place and, if he was naturally pale, he ran paper white when Erwin and him locked eyes. He quickly turned around to leave from where he came but Erwin was already touching his shoulder and loudly announcing “Levi, no time no see!”
The other customers turned around after the loud exclamation, judging eyes landing on both of them and forcing the short man to stay in the process. The Ackerman cursed under his breath knowing damn well the blond was doing it on purpose.
“What are you doing here?” Erwin quickly shot the question.
“What does it look like? Buying you a damn coffee. Since you’re here, I’m leaving” Levi spit each word quickly as his eyes kept checking the front desk to see if he could leave without being seen.
Erwin who was a quiet sharp man noticed immediately “Well, since we are both already here. We should have a coffee together,”
“I’ve no reason to be here-”
“Levi!” ringing melodic voice saying his name from the back of the shop. Both students looked in that direction, a young girl crossing the counter as she walked over them with a bright smile.
Erwin smiled, not to the girl in particular, but prideful. ‘ There it is, the reason’ As he shyly looked from the corner of his eyes to his friend who looked like he wished the earth would swallow him right there.
“I passed my finals!” She announced as she got close enough, did a momentary check on Erwin and greeted him. The blond didn’t take it as an offence that the girl paid him little to no attention “How went yours? How did that essay that you say the professor was being irrationally strict go?”
‘Ok, they definitely know each other,’ Erwin was quick to pick up.
“It was alright,” Levi's monotone voice replied as if he was so uninterested.
“That’s so good. I’m happy for you,”
The way she searched for his eye contact, her slightly shy body language, her rosy cheeks, her subtle smile, the nervous bit on her bottom lip. Erwin wanted to scream, it was obvious that the girl had a crush on him. Only Levi wouldn’t notice.
“You two want a table?” She questioned going back to her work mindset.
“No,” “Yes,”
Mixed replies. The both men exchanged dead glances.
“We’re definitely staying for a coffee,” Erwin insisted with his “oh so charming” smile.
“Great! I will get you two seated,”
She walked away to clean a place. And once left alone, they two began to bicker in low voice.
“What are you doing? I’ve class in thirty minutes!” Levi insisted.
“You’re not running away. You own me one, I’m basically paying your meals”
“Tch,”
The argument concluded with Levi’s tongue clicking and her walking up to them. Once sat down, Levi kept checking the clock of his phone. He’s going to be late.
“I don’t know what the fuck are you thinking on, but whatever it is make it quick. I’m already running late”
Erwin, unmoved by his friend’s naturally aggressive nature, remained stoic to not give away his next move. “Fine,” he spitted shortly.
“Have you two decided what you would prefer?”
“Yes,” Erwin smiled back at her as he hanged the menus for the girl to take “I was wondering if you could give my friend your number because he actually hates coffee and he is looking like an moron coming here every day just to see you,”
Erwin’s cheeky smile didn’t match the girl's confused face. Levi’s hands that were resting on the table pushed him backwards until he hit the back of the seat, eyes opened up as he felt his soul leaving his body and his complexion paled.
Frozen in place, he pondered around slipping down and hiding under the table. His jaw hurt from clenching his teeth out of embarrassment. ‘There goes my social life,’
Neither of them moved an inch and for a second Erwin evaluated that maybe he hadn’t read her body language that good previously. Once she went back to herself, she chuckled. Raising Manu to her face covering her mouth as she had a short blast.
She cleaned her throat as if she was about to give a speech and said “Well, tell your friend that I gave him my number the very first day he came in. He just used the napkin to clean the counter,”
When the information sinked in, the mind processed and recreated the flashback in his head; Levi covered his face with his hands. Pale fingers against his hot face. Groaning loudly, he cursed himself “I’m an idiot,”
She chuckled “Would you like tea to take away? We have a few options”
“Yeah, please,”
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The Mishanks agenda is not letting me go so here’s a brain worm:
After the Warlord system was abolished, high ranking marines are after Mihawk
Mihawk handles them with relative ease but days of constant fighting does take a toll and for one of the fight he lets his guard down slightly only because he’s so goddamn tired
And that’s how he got nicked just a little by a hidden blade of the attacking vice-admiral(?)
Mihawk didn’t think much of the nick until he realised mid-fight that his vision was getting blurry and his exhaustion sets in tenfold
His attacker saw him stumble and smirks and Mihawk knew something was up
The attacker revealed that the blade was laced with a rare poison that kills someone in 24 hours and the pain just excruciatingly worse until death is a kinder way out
There’s either no antidote or it takes longer than 24 hours to brew so it’s basically a death sentence unless someone has it on hand
Mihawk takes down the whole fleet of maybe 20+ ships in a ‘if I’m going down, I’m taking you down with me’ way and goes all out because why not if it’ll be his last fight
This creates major disturbances to the sea and of course Shanks senses this
Shanks sails towards the unease and sees the complete destruction of the aftermath
The sky is split open, wood pieces scattered across the sea and littered with bodies. The sea was tainted red.
Amidst all these, the Hitsugibune floats with a broken mast and a splintered seat, with only one candle left flickering (collateral damage as Mihawk realised there’s no point holding back to protect his ship if he’s gg to die anyway)
Mihawk is curled up on his ship with harboured breathe and barely senses Shanks
Shanks is shocked and confused but rushes to Mihawk side to see him unscathed except for the tiny nick, yet Mihawk’s eyes are unfocused and he’s clearly in pain
Shanks tries to bring Mihawk onto his ship but Mihawk refuses and they bicker until a sharp pain hits Mihawk and he shuts up and tries not to curl up even tighter but is visibly shaking
Shanks is just scared at this point and somehow manhandles Mihawk onto his ship. Mihawk acts like he’s ok until he closes the door to Shank’s cabin and he collapses
Shanks is worried shitless. His ship doctor can’t figure out what’s wrong so could only provide pain killers which helps a lot
Mihawk eventually reveals that he was poisoned and has less than 24 hours to live
Shanks freezes and goes through the 8 stages of grief in a minute. But no way he’s losing Mihawk to a poison NO THATS NOT HAPPENING the world’s greatest swordsman cannot be defeated by this he refuses to allow it to happen
But this is beyond his ship doctor’s help, but he manages to find a way to prolonge 24h to 48h although the pain will only get worse from here
The painkillers stop working at one point and Mihawk pleads Shanks to end his suffering but Shanks apologises and have to sedate or knock him out cold just so he won’t feel the pain
There’s so much angst here - shanks is watching his crush slowly die and there’s nothing he can do. What’s the point of being a yonko if he can’t even save a friend. He is desperate.
Idk if there’s any healing DF cause I’m only at EP430 but I assume there is one and Shanks seeks them out
It’s not always you have a Yonko on his knees begging you to save someone so the healer obliges but at a cost (I can’t think of the trade off yet but I’m thinking somewhere along the lines that takes advantage of Shanks. Shanks doesn’t care.)
I’ll continue the rest later when I can think of an ending
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