Remembrance ; Levi

♡ Departure

"Are you sure you've got everything?" Levi asked. "Tch. You're always so forgetful." He added, after you thought for a bit.

You grinned, as you touched the flank of your horse. "I've got everything I need."

'Besides. Everything is at home, already.'

You had already bid everyone else farewell, and they were busy preparing for another exploration.

'I hope they all come back soon...and I hope I come back soon, too.'

"...what? What's wrong?" Levi studied your expression.

Shaking your head, you freed yourself from the thought of your father's rage. "If I don't come back..."

You could see him tensing up. "Yes?"

"Don't send anyone. Don't come." You instructed. "Especially you."

'Sorry, Levi. You understand, right?' 

You could see his expression as he was caught off guard. Finally, he gave a firm nod. "I'll wait for you here."

"I know you will," you smiled and leaned towards him. Your face was just inches away. "Can I have a kiss?" You grinned.

His lips curled up into a small grin. "I don't know, do you want one?"

When you started to sulk, his smile grew bigger.

"Just kidding." Levi pulled you in with his arms, and gently kissed your waiting lips. As you smiled gently from the close contact, your eyes closed as you kissed him back. 

"Will you say that you love me now?" 

"What? Why?" 

You pulled a face. "Why? Did you seriously just ask me why?" 

"I'm kidding, stop making that face. You'll get wrinkles." 

"You're the one that will get wrinkles! You never smile, Mr. Frowning-is-my-daily-expression!" 

This was the man you loved with all your heart. And with heart, you would protect him from father's knowledge.

___

You had almost forgotten how long the ride was to the northern district, Utopia. The scenery was showed obvious signs that you were moving towards the cold place.

Greenery slowly faded and the air grew more crisp and sharp.

After a few slow days, you found yourself halting your gentle horse as your steel gaze set upon the familiar withered plants in front of an old, brick house.

You jumped down, and held on to the reins as you led the dark mare down the stony path.

Having taken no more than five steps, the door bang open with a loud sound.

"(Y/N)!"

'Holy shit!' 

A big smile graced your features as you hurried towards the voice- after recovering from your mini heart-attack. 

"Dad-"

The old man reached out his arms for you, and grabbed you into his embrace, smashing you tight against his chest.

'Oh god, okay. Hello to you too.'

The familiar smell you were so used to overwhelmed your senses. "You've grown so much!" He exclaimed, his cheeks already starting to grow pink from the cold.

He gestured towards a seemingly, hand-patched shed. "I've prepared a place for your ride, as well."

You peeked inside the room, which was surprisingly spacious for a horse as large as yours. The ground was already laid down with hay, and there was a bucket for water.

"How...?" You marveled, earning a proud response from your dad, "took me a day. Only a day."

As you took your equipment off from the animal, your father spoke up. "So where did you get a horse, anyway?" He seemed quizzical- almost suspicious.

'It's too early to be this suspicious, dad.' You inwardly sighed.

"I borrowed one," you answered, swiftly, ending the conversation.

"I see."

As you finished in silence, he led you inside the house. Taking a seat on an old, rickety chair, you blinked at him, and grinned.

'...oh, dad.'

He started the conversation, breathing in the dusty air. The filtered light slapped across his face as your father faced you.

"How have you been?"

His old and weathered hands- worn down from the hopeless and crop less farming that he loved- reached for yours.

But the only thing you could think of was:

'...shoot, I didn't bring Mr. Bunny.'

___

Next morning, you awoke earlier than dawn. The air was silent and suffocating and you almost left your bed to head to Lev's room when you stopped.

'Ahh, right. He's not here.'

The lonely thought irritated your mind as you tried to focus on other things.

You glanced around your room, catching sight of everything familiar to you and your childhood.

Even though the windows and floors themselves seemed to have not been cleaned in months, every other object of yours had absolutely no dust on it.

'However, if Levi was here, I'd bet a million that he'd contradict th- stop thinking about him!'

Craning your neck, you took a glance outside the stained glass- and it wasn't the pretty kind.

'This place is so dirty, dad, Levi wouldn't approve.' You chuckled to yourself.

Realizing that your mind just wandered back to him, you let out a huff and just decided to blankly stare outside.

Outside, there was fog, and the fog seemed to coil around anything stable- resembling a snake.

Outside, it was still dark.

Outside, it was cold.

'I should just run away and become a poet.'

Since there was simply nothing to do, you laid back on the sheets and closed your eyes, waiting for sleep to envelop you in it's vice-like grip.