Cruelty's Endless Termination

Chapter 3: Ace of My Heart

12:37pm March 19th, year 849, a few hours after the last chapter...

Sighing heavily, the man pinched the bridge of his nose. Leaning back into his chair, he listened as the old wood groaned beneath himself. A pounding headache intruding his thoughts.

His arm dropped into his lap as he stared aimlessly onto his messy desk, cringing at the awful state it was in.

Letting an exhale slip through his lips, he leaned forward and started to organize it. Neatly placing everything in order once more, watching as the pile of work forms he needed to fill out got larger.

Lifting a hefty stack of papers and folders, he revealed a pack of playing cards. Setting the pile aside, he picked up the small box. Memories from a few days ago warmly flashing into his head.

Several days ago, March 3rd...

Scrubbing into the glass dish, Levi washed off all the residue and gunk that has been previously stuck to it. Satisfied when he saw it shimmer after rinsing it off.

Setting it aside, he reached for the next dish. Hearing (Y/n) enter the kitchen behind himself, he continued to focus on the task in front of him.

A few seconds later, a hand gently found its place on his shoulder from behind. Feeling the woman press herself against his back, he listened as she spoke softly.

"Alright, she's all tucked in."

Tilting his head slightly, Levi's eyes connected with hers. Quickly being drawn down to the glass of whiskey she held as an offering.

"Tch," he scoffed, shutting off the water and wiping his hands dry before taking the glass from her and turning to face her, "What's this for?"

"Um, hello?" (Y/n) raised her eyebrow, turning and walking to the kitchen table, "Perhaps, because I pushed a 7 pound 3 ounce literal human out of me three years ago today?"

Levi's brows raised as he nodded softly, "Fair."

Pulling out a chair from the round table, he tilted it slightly towards the woman who sat in the next one over. Unlike Levi's drink, she held a glass of wine. Knowing he preferred whiskey.

"Do you think she had a good day?" (Y/n) asked, twirling the dark liquid around in her glass.

"I think so, she was smiling almost the whole time." He replied.

"I just feel bad we couldn't get her a proper cake." The woman sighed, biting the inside of her lip.

"Don't. Let's be realistic, she's not going to remember not having a cake. If she's going to remember anything about today, it will be how much effort you put into making it the best day you possibly could for her." Levi took a sip of the drink, "Plus, we made her favorite meal anyways so I'd call it a win."

(Y/n) scoffed, "Yeah, okay. Well, scrambled eggs wasn't that huge of a hurdle to jump so.." She laughed lightly.

"Well, she still had a good day." The man reassured, watching the woman in front of him with light eyes.

Nodding silently, (Y/n) took a slow sip of her wine. Her eyes found their way over to the middle of the table, landing on a pack of playing cards they had been using earlier.

Her eyes lit up slightly, setting her glass down she reached for them.

"Hey, ever played BS?" She asked, pulling the cards out of the case.

Raising his eyebrows slightly, "While ago."

"Do you still remember how to play?" She asked as she sorted the whole deck into two equal piles.