Touch Starved

9

I was sitting in my bed, my back pressed against the wall. My notebook sat open on the blankets while I held the other one, scribbling in it. I had taken to writing my day down in their language as a helpful way to reinforce vocabulary. Levi's friends had started beating me at my own language, and I wasn't about to let that happen so easily.

The light outside was way beyond gone. We had wrapped up practice late again today. It was the fourth day, and tomorrow is the last day for practice before the trip. I had already eaten and taken a shower.

I halted in my writing, not sure on whether the word I was thinking was the correct one. I yelled since the door was open and I didn't quite feel like getting up. "Levi?"

"What?" He called from where he was probably laying in bed.

"Is --- hot?" I asked. I heard a thud.

"What did you just say? Where did you learn that?!" He yelled. I heard more fussing and stomps and then Levi suddenly appeared in the doorway. His face looked horrified as he stood panicked. He had bumped into the door and he held on the frame on both sides of him. I took that as I used the wrong word. A very wrong word.

I flipped my notebook to him. "I want to say the weather's hot." I tapped the paper, where I meant. He hesitantly took the book from me, throwing me a nervous glance. He sighed in relief, his shoulders instantly relaxing from where they had tensed up.

"What did I say?" I asked staring up at him. "Was it a bad word?"

He ignored me. Clearing his throat, he passed the book back. "You meant hot."

I nodded, writing it down. He pushed away from the doorway.

"Go to bed."

He closed the door.

-

Levi sat beside Hanji in the cafeteria for breakfast. (Y/N) was still sleeping, and he let her. After what she had said to him, he needed a moment. He could not believe she said that. He said it sure, but that was different. He knew what it was, what it meant, and it was not something out of his character to use. Her, though? She was like an innocent child. She should not know words like that.

He stared at the bread in front of him. He had the tray ready to take back, but he needed a moment to steel himself over. He shouldn't be this bothered, considering she hadn't meant anything by it, but the way she had asked her question had startled him beyond reason.

Hanji waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of it. "What's the matter, shorty? Kitty troubles?"

He glared at her, snapping open his mouth but clamping it back shut just as fast. His mouth formed a tight frown instead.

She leaned against the table. "What happened? It couldn't be that bad! Did you confess your love or something?"

Levi's head could have gotten whiplash from how fast he turned back to look at her. "What the fuck did you just say to me-" He stopped himself, not falling for the bait.

"No, actually." He started again. Hanji deflated at his stopped response. "Come here."

He leaned over and whispered what (Y/N) had said to him last night.

Hanji doubled over in a wheezing laugh. She laughed until she cried, banging her fist on the table.

"Where did she learn a word like that!" She cried. "Bwahahaha! Can you imagine her face if she knew what she said!"