When The Snow Melts

Early Summer

Levi's eyes fluttered open and he found himself in his room in the comforts of his bed and quilt covers.

He remembered with certain fondness that his mother had sewn these quilts, for there were stitches sewn from his mother's patience and fondness, strand by strand. Stitch by stitch.

A chair had been pulled out from beneath his paper-strewn desk and placed beside his bed although there was no occupant on it.

He shifted his position and a blinding pain ripped through his leg which made him gasp.

He moved aside his covers to examine his leg. His ankle had swollen twice it's size. He suddenly remembered yesterday's accident and bit his lip in slight annoyance.

"Great...so who's going to do the chores now?" Levi murmured to himself.

There was a knock on his door.

"Come in."

Hanji entered holding a tray of buttered bread and tea. She placed it on Levi's bedside table.

"For you, since you can't go to the kitchen to make breakfast yourself."

Levi stared at the butter on the freshly-baked bread and the steam emitted from the tea which floated gently into the air.

"Did you make that, Hanji-san? Amazing!"
Hanji rolled her eyes to that comment.

"Of course not, shitty glasses. Erwin did. He heard about your little accident and decided to make your breakfast. He's amazingly fond of baking."

"Haha, I guess I'll have to thank him later in the day."

"No, you stay in your bed and rest. I'm doing the chores until you recover, as depressing as it sounds." Hanji folded her arms.

"But..."

Hanji held up her hand to silence Levi.

"When you're injured you'll be of no use to me and will make matters worse so don't try anything behind my back.

"A...alright, I guess..."But as Hanji turned around, he continued,"T-thanks."

"W-wait. Hanji!" Levi sat up straight on his bed. Nothing but silence filled the air as Hanji closed the door behind her.

Hanji returned seconds later, broom and dustpan in hand.

Levi watched in amusement as Hanji carelessly swept the floor. And when Hanji seemed to grip the handle of the broom more tightly in frustration whenever the dust can't seem to get the dustpan.

"Hanji-San!" Levi tugged at her sleeve from his bed, "you're holding the handle wrongly."

"Pfft, I knew that." Hanji tilted her hand slightly around the handle.

"You're still holding it wrongly." Levi couldn't help but smile when Hanji, who was usually full of herself, couldn't seem to get it right.

Levi reached out for her hand and wrapped her fingers carefully around the handle.

"I could have finished sweeping the floor already without your help." Hanji muttered.

"So that's your way of saying 'thanks'?" Levi grinned, which Hanji merely grunted in reply.

You rinse it... No, you wipe...you know what, just hand it over," Levi gently took the damp rag from Hanji to help her squeeze it over a pail. "You see, there's a technique to doing this."

"I'm supposed to be doing my work and not cleaning, shitty glasses. I don't need to know the techniques," Hanji muttered. She had her hair tied up in a messy bun and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows.

"Well, you have to learn the right techniques in order for cleaning to be faster and more effective, Hanji-san," Levi replied calmly before handing the cloth over to the girl. "Here, now you try."

"I see..." Hanji placed her right hand on the cloth. And she held it there for a while.

"Sometimes I don't get why you won't smile at all, Hanji-San." Hanji saw the look of curiosity in his face.

"You should smile more often, Hanji-san." Levi looked at her innocuously as he helped her to wipe the floorboards.

He sat on his ankles, careful not to apply any weight on his damaged one.

"Hmph, you smile too much, shitty glasses," Hanji replied as she continued cleaning, careful not to make eye contact with Levi.

"Levi, don't sit like that, if your ankle gets damaged again, I won't volunteer to help you when you're in crutches." Hanji pointed out.

"Now go lie down properly, Levi." Hanji added, her voice softened this time.

"Will you tuck me in like last night?" Levi added, throwing in a cheerful smile.

"No." Hanji replied, back to wiping the table.

"Please?"

"Levi, you spoilt brat." Hanji walked over. Levi expected her to throw the quilt messily about, but instead she took the time to tuck the quilt underneath his arms neatly.

"There you go, shitty glasses." Hanji stood up.

"I love you Hanji, you're the best."Levi said drowsily.

"Tch, you sprout nonsense when you're half-asleep."

"I always sprout nonsense when you're around." And he closed his eyes.