AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 16 - LOVE SONG by THE CURE

This chapter's song is "Lovesong" by the Cure, the second song featured by them in the story. Yeah, it's a love song, but for me, it's always been about the warm and golden feeling of being seen and accepted by someone who feels important.

I hope you like it!

SPOTIFY LINK https://open.spotify.com/track/7K71priwuwcWwbgfHVQJdq?si=8da66382f7954c07

"I have to tell you something, but I don't want you to get mad."

Levi looked sideways at Hange, his eyebrow rising slowly. His fingers flexed over the keys of his laptop, trying to regulate his breathing. "What did you do, Shitty," he murmured.

They shifted on their bar stool, their bottom lip chewed between ridiculously white teeth. "Well, I might have told someone something..."

Drawing his hands into his lap, he sat up straight and nodded slowly. "Tell me."

"You'll be mad."

"I'm always mad."

Hange grimaced. "It just kind of slipped out when I was doing laundry with Isabel."

"Christ, Hange." Levi rolled his eyes. "Nothing just slips out. She was snooping, right?"

Closing their eyes, the words that came out spilled in a hurried jumble. "I told Isabel about Eren in the alley."

...

Levi stared at his hands in his lap. He felt his heartbeat in his temples. Shit.

...

"Say something."

He could hear the tremor in their voice. They were waiting for him to blow. Truth is, he was relieved. It wasn't meant to be a secret. It's just that the longer time went on, it was harder to just bring it up. Eren had left it to him. He should let him know.

"Lee... I'm sorry." They put a hand to their head. "I just can't shut the fuck up."

"Stop," Levi spoke. "Not a big deal." He felt the tension lift from her as she turned her body to face him.

"Really?"

"Really." He typed a few words into his report. "Now get the fuck away so I can work."

Hange put their hand on his arm for a second and laughed nervously. "Wait, though. I mean I'm happy to be alive, but why?"

Levi sighed heavily to show his irritation. "What, why? It's just not a big deal." He glanced over. "Is Iz upset?"

"No! No. Not upset."

...

"Then what?"

...

"Hang."

"She's kind of excited." Hange paused. "She kind of hopes that..."

"God dammit." Levi checked to make sure the document was saved and closed the windows on his screen. "I don't fucking need this."

"What? Dude, it's not a bad thing." They stood up and hovered over the table. "Don't you sort of want to tap that ass, anyway?"

He huffed a breath and shut the laptop down. Unplugging the wire he narrowed his eyes at his friend. "That's really no one's business."

"It looked like you guys were about to kiss at the club. What happened?"

Levi stepped down off of his stool and started shoving everything into his bag. His stomach fluttered and he just needed some quiet to think.