The Caretaker | Levi x OC

Chapter 7

Titan War Heroes Emerge: Is a Scout Reunion on the Brink?

July 3rd, Adalia May

The lauded and recently incapacitated Levi Ackerman is rumored to have made a public appearance at Moriano Hall for last night's talent debut, though spectators are uncertain. "Even if it was Ackerman, I wasn't about to risk my life to double check," says Ruby Neigh, devout patron of New Marley fine arts. "I don't know about [Ackerman], but I'm pretty sure we were seated by Connie Springer. Hard to tell with those sunglasses though," husband Major Neigh adds.

Connie Springer and Levi Ackerman rumored to be at the same place? Is this the start of a war hero reunion? And just what happened to split up these former colleagues? When asked, Jean Kirstein and fiancee Mikasa Ackerman were evasive. "It's complicated," says Kirstein. "We're not taking questions at this time."

The lack of answers is making Marley Today all the more curious. Just what happened between these former comrades?

Was it for her? Karma wondered as she took in Levi's straight posture on the living room couch with a splayed-out Marley Today.

He met her eye. "Good morning."

"You're not in the library," Karma said, part observation, part question. She anticipated a comment about her outfit since he had eyed it for a fraction of a second. She would hate for him to think she'd perused the catalog in her closet out of anything other than necessity. Her tongue was loaded, ready to fire blame at the summer heat for the newly exposed skin that her usual black slacks and white blouse covered.

But Levi didn't comment on her light pink jumpsuit and nude flats. He just shrugged in response and sipped his tea. It could've been coffee given that it was first thing in the morning, but Karma prided herself in knowing his preferences. By the afternoon, he would be picking through an assortment of scones. Then a shared lunch and dinner with light conversation. By the time they reconveined from the collective pull of nightmares, he'd be back to tea and perhaps a small serving of whatever catered leftovers were currently stacked in the fridge.

Today would be pasta from Le Marion. Jean loved the diced mushrooms. Karma liked the bowtie pasta.

She eyed the cast on his right leg, the heel of which rested on his left knee. Five weeks from now, that cast would be removed along with the "doctor's orders" that enforced a full-time caretaker at Marble Estates. Karma would be free to quit, assuming Levi didn't fire her first. Though she was eager to start music school in August, she would miss her midnight companion and his brooding glances. Even now, she smiled at the way he held his tea cup by the rim.

"What?" Levi said, noticing her staring. Karma blinked her eyes back into focus.

"Why are you suddenly out of the library?"

He answered without a wayward glance from the paper. "You sound as if I've shat in the sink. I'm allowed to read on my own couch."

"Fair point." Karma said. "Then I suppose you won't mind if I join you? I've got a recital to prepare for."

Levi soundlessly swept his hand as an invitation.

Karma lowered onto the cushion opposite him, a curled up Jean between them. For a few minutes, it was quiet. Levi read while Karma dappled notes on blank sheet music, forehead creased in concentration. The minutes stretched with the coffee table's shadow until beside her, Levi whipped a crease out of the newspaper. Karma's eye caught the headline.

"I've heard about that," she said.

She hadn't expected him to look away from the newspaper, AKA his means of deflecting social interaction. But here he was, sitting out in the open, allowing her to sit beside him, and, now, meeting her eye. Again she wondered what had changed within him.