Canon Event (Levi x Reader)

One

It was the eve of my eighteenth birthday, a turning point that would change the canon forever.

In my household, birthdays were seldom celebrated extravagantly. Yet, my eighteenth seemed to be an exception, and I could tell my mother had gone out of her way to make it special. Instead of our minuscule serving sizes, she had crafted my favorite meal, a pot of delectable tomato soup. The tomato soup was a burst of warmth and comfort in my mouth. I seemingly inhaled spoonfuls of the rich, velvety texture and the deep, tangy notes of ripe tomatoes.

As I savored each delightful bite, my Mother spoke with exhaustion written all over her face. "The sacrifice your Father had made to make this feast possible included months of diligently saving loose change, all of it went into this meal." A testament to his love for me. I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. "Savour it and enjoy every last bit."

"Thank you Mother, this means more than you realise," I stated, stuffing my face with another spoonful of that flavoursome liquid. The contrast of this meal to the regular bland, boiled potatoes we usually ate of a night time was vast.

Mother's tired countenance spoke volumes of the burdens she carried, especially after her back. Meanwhile, my Father toiled tirelessly at the family bakery across Shiganshina to support us. Though absent on my birthday dinner working a closing shift at the stall, his presence was felt in every morsel of the meal.

Having devoured my two helpings of the tomato soup, Mother placed a cake on the table and gently sung 'Happy Birthday' to me with a warm smile, tilting her head ever so slightly. I turned my attention to the cake after thanking my Mother. It was a simple vanilla sponge cake smothered in icing. There was a single candle with a flickering flame. As the fire danced, my smile dropped slightly and I questioned what I should wish for. A wonderful partner? Another dress so I wouldn't have to alternate between the two I currently own? A lifetime supply of food?

I ended up settling for neither as I blew out the candle.

Mother handed me a knife and I sliced through the middle of the cake, cutting the slices small enough to ensure there would be servings for tomorrow. Delighting in the taste of each bite, my smile crawled back as I imagined how the slice of cake would brighten my day after shopping at the markets tomorrow.

My pinkie finger scooped up the icing leftover on the plate and I quickly sucked it off my fingers before Mother spotted me. She would have reprimanded me for being immature.

I distracted myself by helping Mother with the dishes as I awaited Father's arrival. I glanced outside as the setting sun painted the sky with hues of yellow, orange, and pink, completely captivating me.

"Mother, I'm just going to look at the sunset outside. You know how much I love it,"I looked at mother as she dried the soup pot with a tatted old rag.

"How could I not know? That's all you do lately. But I love how you see the beauty in the small things such as the peace a sunset gives, Y/n. Never change that about yourself. It's something a lot of people lack." Mother chuckled with an upside down smile as she moved to clean the dining table.

I shot her a grateful smile and whispered 'thank you' as I slipped on my worn-down chestnut coloured boots and tied the laces. I ventured outside to lay on a small patch of soft grass in a communal area nearby my home, not caring if my dress got dirty. My hair shone in the remnants of the sun's rays as it danced in the breeze, which whispered sweet nothings as it brushed against my skin. White birds flew freely, cawing to each other as they flew through the fluffy clouds around Shiganshina.

The sunset began to morph with a variety of colours at its arsenal. I continued to watch directly ahead as the colours interacted with each other. It was a magnificent sight that I'd never get tired of. My gaze lingered on the sky for a moment before switching to the monumentous walls surrounding our town. I always wondered what it would be like to view the sunset in its finality as the walls obstructed the view.