Retrieving Footsteps [Levi x Reader]

Breaking Ties, Forging Paths

Before I could continue, I heard someone scream my name. Both Levi and I turned to see who it was, and I recognized Hana, with Seiji not far behind her.

Hana didn't notice Levi and pushed me aside, tackling me in a hug. Shocked, I looked at her and gently pushed her off me. "(Y/N), why did you leave Seiji and me alone? I was looking for you everywhere!"

I smiled at her, trying to maintain a level head. "Sorry, Hana, but I have work that needs to get done. And you should apologize to Mr. Levi for rudely pushing him aside."

She turned to Levi, her expression shifting from exuberance to embarrassment, quickly blushing. Seiji stepped in, bowing slightly to Levi. "I am so sorry for her rude behavior, Mr. Ackerman."

Levi looked at him and let out a dismissive "tch," his eyes narrowing slightly. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again," he replied, his tone calm yet firm. There was a weight to his words, as if he expected everyone to uphold a certain standard of respect, even in casual situations.

I looked back at Hana and saw her blushing—not from embarrassment, but because she was completely mesmerized. I remembered that day she first met Levi and her obvious crush on him. My jaw clenched just thinking about it; she actually had the nerve to try pursuing my husband later down the road. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes to keep calm, when I heard Seiji mention my name.

"So, Mr. Ackerman, it looks like you've met one of our coworkers, (Y/N) (L/N)," Seiji said, glancing between Levi and me.

Levi's gaze shifted to Seiji, and with a simple nod, he answered, "Yeah, we've met."

"Well, I hope she hasn't caused you any trouble," Seiji continued, oblivious to the edge in Levi's eyes. "We weren't expecting a visit from you; if we had known, we'd have greeted you properly."

Levi's expression was unreadable as he responded, his tone cold but polite. "I don't need a welcoming committee. I'm here to assess the team's potential, not to be pampered."

Hana finally seemed to snap out of her trance, straightening up and nodding eagerly. "Right, of course! We're just excited to have someone with your expertise here."

Levi's eyes flickered to her, disinterest clear in his expression. "Excitement isn't useful unless it's backed by hard work."

I suppressed a smile, watching Hana's enthusiasm falter slightly. Levi's no-nonsense attitude had always been one of the things I admired about him, even if it sometimes intimidated others.

Seiji cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension. "Actually, (Y/N) recently came up with an idea—a concept involving crystal structures with potential applications in biology and defense," he said, glancing at me for confirmation. "She's been thinking about bringing it up with management, but nothing's official yet."

Levi's gaze shifted to me, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "An idea, huh?" His tone was calm, but there was a challenge in his voice. "And you think it's worth the company's time?"

I swallowed, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. "Yes. I know it's just a concept for now, but I believe it has real potential. I just need some guidance—and the right resources—to explore it further."

Levi studied me in silence for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Then don't waste anyone's time with half-baked ideas," he said, his voice firm. "If you bring it up, make sure you're prepared to back it up with more than just theories."

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "Of course. I wouldn't present it if I wasn't serious."

Seiji, still eager, added, "If you'd be willing, Mr. Ackerman, we'd appreciate any initial feedback. With your insights, we could at least determine if this is worth pitching to the higher-ups."