Faults ~Levi x Reader AU~

Chapter 17: Broken Jar of Hearts

~Hanji's POV~

"Hey, freckles," I called, hurrying behind Marco.

He let out a groan and turned to face me, his features masked by frustration as he pleaded, "Hanji, please, please stop calling me that."

I rolled my eyes and ignored his request, continuing, "Anyway. Have you seen Y/N? She's been missing class for the last couple of days."

I watched as he went from agitated to concerned. I hadn't seen her for the last few days, causing me to worry about her. The last time she went MIA for an extended length of time she wound up in the hospital. I shuttered at the thought of her held prisoner by her psycho ex again, which only fueled my anxiety. I refused to let it show, but I was nervous as hell.

Freckles sighed, "No. I haven't seen her, but I've texted her."

"And?" I inquired, crossing my arms over my chest. "What has she said?"

He shrugged, lowering his gaze to the floor before meeting mine again. "She just...she just said that she hasn't been up for much." He scratched the back of his neck. "To be honest, I'm kinda worried about her. But, every time I go to check on her, she won't answer her door."

Damn it. I scratched my chin, trying to think. If it wasn't her crazy ex-boyfriend keeping her trapped, then something else had happened. Something that struck a cord with her. All I could do was shake my head, doing my best to deduce the cause for her abrupt shift. Only one thing came to mind. One little shorty made sense.

"Okay," I huffed. "Well, I'll give it a world then." I met him directly in the eyes. "I'll go check on her now."

"Do you want me to come along, then?" freckles asked, sincerity in his tone.

I shook my head. "Nah. I have a feeling this will be strictly girl talk." I patted his shoulder, smiling, "You just hang out with your buddies, freckles."

I spun and began to trot away, grinning to myself as freckles yelled, "Marco! It's Marco! Stop calling me that!"

***

"Y/N?" I called as I knocked on her door. A frigid gust blew, its icy kiss nearly cutting through me. "Shit." I knocked harder. "Y/N! It's me! Let me in!"

I continued to bang on the door until I heard the latch of the lock release. The door slowly opening, revealing a puffy eyed Y/N. My heart broke the minute I saw her. Her long h/c hair was tied up into a sloppy bun, the lose strains brushing the side of her soft cheeks. Her skin was paler than usual, which was heart wrenching. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt, which her little baby bump still protruded from slightly and a pair of short gym shorts. Any other day I would've assumed she was dressed for comfort, but given her glossed over eyes, I knew otherwise.

"Oh, Y/N," I murmured. "May I come in my sweet?"

She nodded and stepped aside, granting my access to her apartment. I hurried in, closing the door quickly as to keep the cold from entering her home. I watched closely, observing her as she shuffled over to her sofa and plopped down on it. It hurt to see her so upset and disconnected. In fact, it concerned me. She had grown to be so lively after her first ultrasound and even became excited abut little Peiper. Hell, we were all growing excited. Freckles, me, and, of course, Y/N were all anticipating Peiper's arrival.

So, it worried me to see her so devastated and broken down. I feared the worst, my mind imagining all the worse possible scenarios. But, I shook my head, shoving those horrid thoughts to the deepest recesses of my mind.

I sighed again and hung my coat up on the coatrack before joining her on the couch. I faced her direction, keeping my composure as I spoke softly, "What's the matter?"

She shrugged, not speaking a word.

I pressed on, "Is it your parents?"

She shook her head, her gaze still locked on the blank TV across from her.

"Is it Peiper?" I knitted my brows in concern.

Once more, she shook her head.

I was at a loss. I didn't know how to ask the next question. In fact, I feared it. I knew how sensitive Y/N was...especially over what it was that weighed on my heart. I didn't want to ask, but I knew it needed to be done. The only way I was going to dig to the cause of her destress out was by getting my hands dirty.

I breathed in a deep breath and continued, "Okay...okay. Is it shorty?"

I watched as a fresh batch of tears glossed over her eyes, her glasses steaming from her face flushing red. Before long, sobs were escaping from her parted lips, her wails causing the hair on my arms to raise. Two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks like small rivers, her face flushing a bright pink in reaction to her cries.

"H-Hanji," she sobbed, finally meeting my gape. "H-Hanji...I'm...I'm so s-stupid."

I knitted my brows in concern and rested my hand on her shoulder. "Y/N? What do you mean by that? Talk to me, my sweet."

That was when she froze, biting her bottom lip as if she was trying to keep from bursting while she answered in a hoarse voice, "I'm so stupid." She shook her head. "He...he never cared about me...never."

I tilted my head to the side, "What? Wait, what are you talking about?"

"I saw her," she sniffled, drawing her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms around her shins. "I...I saw Levi...with...with...Petra."

At that name, she burst back into another sobbing fit. My heart sank at the sound of her cries, prompting me to embrace her in a hug. I wrapped my arms around her and gently stroked her hair, cradling her closely. I did my best to sooth her, though her sobs still echoed through my ears.

Damn it, Levi. You fucking idiot.

**Ello my lovelies! This isn't my most favorite chapter, to be honest. But, eh. I hope y'all liked it. If so, ya know the drill! As always, thank you so much for all the love and support! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross

P.S. "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perry