One Day... {LeviHan}

Chapter 5: Different Than I Expected

Levi's POV

I offered Hanji the bed, but she passed out on the couch after a shower. When I woke up the next morning, I saw her scrambling around with a pair of glasses. She muttered under her breath, angry at herself for some reason. She grabbed a nearby pillow and tossed it on the ground in her wrath.

"What did the pillow ever do to you?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen to boil some water.

"I don't have any contact lenses."

"So?"

"If it's not in my spare bags, then I don't have any. I have to wait until next month to get another batch of lenses."

"You look fine without the glasses."

Hanji was about to say something different, but she shook her head. "They don't know I wear glasses... it'll be embarrassing if I walked into work with glasses on. And it would feel like I betrayed them by not telling them about my glasses."

"Don't give a damn with what they think. It's not a disability."

"It kind of is. Without them, I can't function well because I can't see."

"Fine. But still, don't give a damn about what they think. You look nicer with the glasses."

Hanji sighs before giving a small smile. I remember that smile... it was the purest smile I remember when we were kids. "Thanks..."

"Do you have clothes that you can wear to work?"

"I can use the ones from yesterday."

"Gross. I'm taking you back to your place so you can get clean clothes."

*   *   *

When we came into the building together, I heard the whispers already. They were judging Hanji when she walked in with her head down and a pair of glasses on her face. Not a lot of them were approaching her, only a few greeted her. Then, I heard the other rumor. That one I did not expect to hear this quickly.

"Did he sleep with her already? Zoe's already adding to her body count."

What the hell was that?

Hanji seemed to have heard that because she stopped in her tracks before rushing to her office. Before I could utter a word to stop her, Moblit came up. "Hey, Levi, good to see you come in. Did something happen with Hanji?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's talk outside."

I followed him outside where we walked away from the walls before he started talking. "Some people caught you and Hanji leaving work together. Especially since her car was left here overnight and you guys rode the same car, people started to talk."

"It's only has been one day-."

"Yeah, but everyone has been a chatterbox. Especially since it's you."

"Me?"

Moblit nods his head. "Some women are fawning over you. And I guess they don't like it since it's implied that you slept with Hanji."

"Speaking of her, I overheard someone saying that Hanji's adding to her body count. What was that about?"

"Well..." Moblit chuckles softly, "Hanji has a habit of clinging onto people. I don't mind it. But sometimes when she clings to people, love starts happening. I mean, I did sleep with her. But sometimes, we feel so alone that we just want someone to listen to us. Hanji and I cut that line, and we don't do anything romantic. There was a thing with her and Erwin, but again, didn't last long. And no matter what, that follows her."

"Does she always get that kind of hate?"

"With the women? Always. Men, not really. They see her as 'one of them' or something along those lines. Let's just say... Hanji doesn't get along with the women here. To be honest, I wouldn't want to get along with them either. They are... strange and like to feed off of the negativity like vultures."

"She changed..."

"You knew her? Before all this?"

I nod my head, "We went to elementary school together. She was... an exceptional person in school. But people bullied her because of her glasses. Do me a favor and keep her safe. She'll be wearing glasses for a while."

"I don't see why I have to protect her, but okay."

"She's sensitive about it."

"She's sensitive about a lot of things. I'm used to it. And besides, that's why I liked her in the first place." He begins to walk towards the door again, "You should tell me a bit more about her. Sounds like you know her better compared to us working alongside her for years."

"Other than a few things changing, she's still the same Hanji I knew."

"You're working with the case with her too, right?"

"I am."

"It requires undercover work, so... keep her safe. Promise me?"

"Like I would ever put anyone else but myself in danger. I swear, I'll protect her."

Leaving me outside, I sighed and took in the autumn air. I'm back home... and I'll crush everything that Kenny had. I know he's here... and I'll do whatever I can to stop his next plans. If I fail here... everyone else is in danger. I know he's been here for a couple of months. I wouldn't be surprised if he adds someone else to his body count.

I thought about telling the truth to Hanji, but I'm afraid that she'll take me off the case. No one knows Kenny better than I do. If I'm off the case, we'll be moving at a snail's pace to find him. More bodies would be found if he's not caught soon. 

"I'm sorry, Hanji..." I say, "Tolerate my lies for a while. I'll make everything up. I promise."

Is that another promise I'll break?