Detective Levi x Reader - Vintage fic

Chapter Ten - I fall in love too easily

It's the weekend again. Armin got Mikasa to agree to have lunch with me and Julia. The fourth of us sits at a restaurant balcony, enjoying the spring's breeze while we have our meals.

Mikasa seems happy to hang out with us again, like old times. She never stopped talking to Armin, but I know she missed being with my sister too.

"I'm so happy to have you here with us, Mikasa". Julia says. She holds her glass of orange juice high: "A toast for all of us".

We say our cheers and drink. I wish for better days at Maria and for my friends to always be happy. Armin gives Julia a quick kiss on her cheek. He's completely devoted to her. It's so sweet.

Annie Leonhart passes us by in the street. She glances at Armin, then at Julia, and turns her back to us, not saying anything, neither a quick greeting. It has been like this since my sister got married. She was our childhood friend, but her unrequited love for Armin made her distance herself from us.

"Oh, I guess she's still dwelling on this." Mikasa says.

"I wish she would move on..." Armin says softly, his eyes getting sadder.

Annie works at the factory. She has to see Armin everyday. I understand it must be hard for her.

We finish our meals and order ice creams.

"I mean, even Y/N, who was so deeply devoted to Eren, got over him". I give Mikasa a mean look. "I didn't mean to sound bad, I'm sorry".

They didn't know everything that Eren and I had. Everybody knew about our relationship, but not about our confessions and promises. They knew we thought about marriage, but not how intimate we've been. I never felt comfortable telling anyone. My heart was so broken and I felt ashamed.

I just sigh. "It's okay, I've passed this". I take my chocolate ice cream and start eating it. "I was young and we were both in love. I thought he was the meaning of my life. Now I've grown up. I have my own life and other interests".

"And one of her new interests is called Levi Ackerman" my sister spits out.

I almost choke on my ice cream: "Julia!"

"Excuse me, Y/N, but he's all you talk about. You've travelled together to investigate, she claims, but I've seen the flowers he sent you".

"They were just to express his gratitude! It was professional".

"Oh, please, I'm sure there are other ways to express gratitude than giving a lady a giant flower bouquet".

"You've travelled together?" Mikasa asks.

I feel my face burning in embarrassment. "Yes! But just because I wanted to help him close this case so our family's lives are not on the line".

There's a moment of silence. I try to change the subject and also get on Mikasa's nerves in return: "What did you think of working with Hange, Mikasa?"

"Hm...She's something else". I can't get any other information from her.

"I like them both, actually". Armin says. "Levi is stoic and kinda weird, but Hange told me he's the one who got mr. Smith to pay us".

My body freezes. My ice cream almost falls on my lap "H-he did what?"

"Well, that morning when you came in asking for our payments, mr. Ackerman threatened to leave the case if Erwin didn't find a way to pay everyone".

"Armin, are you serious?"

"Really! It was pretty cool of him".

"He risked his own job for our sake".

"He must be confident in himself".

I don't have any words left to say. I'm in shock. Levi acted like he barely cared what I was going through. He barely knew me, or any os uf. I'm so impressed by how...selfless he was. I finish my ice cream quickly and get up. I leave a change to pay for my meal on the table.

"Armin, Julia, Mikasa...I need to go!"

"W-what? Okay, then" Julia says.

"I'm sorry, I just remembered I have some work to do. Bye!"

I leave them behind. There's something I feel I need to do and it's not work related.

— — —

I go home, get some of the money I save for buying emergency items, such as a gift for someone who saved me so many times. Then run to a store, buy the best white cloth I can pay for and run back home to spend the rest of the day sewing and doing embroidery like crazy.

It takes me the rest of the afternoon and after dinner too. My mom asks what I'm doing and I just say that it's an emergency gift and I ask to not be bothered about it.

It's past 10 p.m. when I finish. My parents are already in bed. I take a box I had for keeping some of my things, like papers for letters and nothing really important. I put all my work in there and leave the house, silently.

I go to Hotel Maria. Levi once said he has trouble sleeping. He's got insomnia and spent part of the night listening to music on the radio. I hope he is still awake.

[Song from title: I fall in love too easily, Chet Baker]