Only You & Me | (Levi x Reader) | Alternate Universe

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Stealth

It was the following Saturday morning when Kutchel had asked Levi to help her pack Kenny's belongings into the trunk of her jet-black Titan Rover. Levi hadn't protested—doing this only affirmed one of his long-withheld hopes: Kenny was finally being kicked out.

However, the lone prospect of Kenny's overdue eviction hadn't been enough to psych Levi out of his miserable headspace.

Yesterday, Levi had forced himself to have a devastating conversation with you—an update on the investigation. He'd chosen to stop by your house after filing an additional report with the Chief of Police on what he'd witnessed in the school hallways during lunch: Hange being all friendly with Mike. Although contrary to his initial plans to see you as soon as he had left the school, Levi had later decided that he didn't have the heart to break the news to you; at least not then.

But at half-past-five on that Friday afternoon, Kutchel remained parked in the one-car driveway of your house, waiting patiently in her car as Levi knocked softly on your front door. He could not even bother himself to reach for the spare key beneath the mat of your front door. Any sudden movements would cause his stomach to turn.

"Levi?" you had spoken hoarsely after the patient creek of your front door. Your hair appeared disheveled and your eyes were contrarily both cloudy with fatigue and surprise. "Hey...you're back late."

"Feeling better?" he asked, lividus eyes observing your appearance closely for any lingering signs of intense sickness. Your nose was tinted with red and your voice still sounded nasally. But you looked okay. 

"Much better," you confirmed with a nod and a brief, appreciative smile. Opening the door wider, you gestured a silent Levi inside your house, taking a brief look outside before closing the door behind you. "...Your mom is here?"

"I won't be long," Levi informed rather stoically, opening his bag to pull out your collected homework and textbooks. "We just...we need to talk." His statement was met with silence. The air...it had changed from the many comfortable silences the two of you often shared. It was...awkward. Extremely so. And you couldn't help but think it was all your fault.

Perhaps if you hadn't proceeded with your "story" earlier, he'd at least be able to look you in the eye...

"O-Okay," you replied shakily before clearing your throat. You set yourself down on the loveseat, expecting Levi to follow suit.

He didn't. And you seemed to understand why when he began to retell a long spectacle of events that had taken place since he'd left.

Levi began with Hange and Mike before transitioning into his speculation on Hange's "science club". He then followed it with his trip to the Trost Police Department, where he was required to file a statement about the events that had transpired at school. And finally, Keith Shadis' update on a new suspect in the case; Petra Ral.

By the end of it all, you hadn't said anything. And it took quite a few moments before you reacted with a nervous swallow and nod of your head. You finally arose from your seat. The distant and bewildered look in your eyes told Levi everything he needed to know; you were in shock. You felt betrayed. And it hurt Levi to see you collect your homework from the living room coffee table and whisper a mere "thanks" before heading up to your room for the evening.

He had never seen you that sad.

"Levi? You ready?" Said male blinked himself out of his trance, stuffing a few small picture frames of Kenny's into the final box of his belongings. Kutchel had told Levi to label the boxes according to their contents.

He labeled this one, 'Don't fucking care #5'.

"Yeah..." he finally said once he reached the main floor, box in his arms. He passed it to his mother's offering hands before muttering, "didn't realize Kenny had so much shit in this house."