{LeviHan} Inspiration

Chapter 12: Well Played

Weeks later, my bump was starting to show already. Nanaba just left for her apartment, leaving Levi and I in front of the TV. My eyes were being droopy, which is most likely a side effect of me carrying a child. We weren't even watching TV for any reason- we were just bored. The door rings, and I thought it was Nanaba again... because she left her phone here.

"I'll get it." Levi says, softly pushing me off. "Just don't fall asleep just yet."

"But... the darkness... it calls me..." I groaned, falling into the cushion where he was. "It calls me... to sleep... goodbye... cruel world... I shall... plunge into darkness..." A soft chuckle escaped from the both of us when I whimpered for sleep. 

A few locks were unlocked, and Levi began to speak. "Seems like you finally came back for your phone-"

"Hanji, we got a problem." Perking up, I groggily turned to the door. Nanaba was out of breath, nearly gasping. "Somehow... Erwin found out that you're here... so... wanna act like children again?"

I smile began to tug at my lips. "Hide-and-seek?"

"Hide-and-seek." She says with a confirmed smirk. "Levi, where can we hide her? I don't want Erwin to see her- especially he's furiously searching for her."

Levi shrugged, sighing heavily. "Well... my room... not sure if you really-"

"It's fine, it's fine. Hanji's just hiding there." Nanaba says, pushing me away from the front door. "Hanji girl, I don't know where his room is- but go in there and just hide. Don't come out until we come and get you, alright?"

I nodded, slowly wandering into Levi's room. The first thing that popped in my mind was... a closet. I climbed there, and practically fell asleep immediately. A second there, I just passed out. Thank you, my little one... for putting me to sleep when I wanted to be wide awake. Again... thanks. Pregnancy hormones... seems to be the worst.

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Levi's POV

Just as Nanaba said, some car drove up and out popped this blonde dude. I scowled at him, seeing the man that broke Hanji's heart... and honestly... just a grown up brat. He makes his way up to me, looking around for any clue.

"Sir, I'm Erwin Smith. I'm looking for my girlfriend-"

"Girlfriend? Strange. Isabel never mentioned any boyfriend in her life." I cut him off, trying to push him away. If he ever laid his eyes on Hanji, I may never win the war. "If you're talking about Nanaba, she's right here. Now on the other hand... Farlan-"

"Enough with your games, Ackerman." My heart skipped a beat when I heard that. "I know who you are. You know Hanji Zoe, am I correct?"

"May I ask why you're asking for this... Hanji Zoe?" My hands waved around in the air, trying to paint a vague picture of her. Too specific, he'll get suspicious. "I may know a lot of people. Paint a picture in my head, Smith."

He rolled his blue eyes, leaning against the door. "Ackerman, listen here... I hired an investigator to find her. She led me here. She gave me records of employment, and it said that she was hired by you personally. You know her, don't you? Where is she? This is my girlfriend we're talking about here."

I scoffed in disgust. How long had Hanji had to be away from him in order for her to recover? I can't exactly feel empathy for him. "I hire all of my employees personally. They all get interviewed by me personally, and I decide their fate. Whatever this Zoe person said, it was good enough for me to hire them."

"It doesn't explain her being here."

"Sometimes people seek me out at my private residence. Is that not normal?"

"No, it's not normal. She stays here overnight for long periods of time-"

"Big deal. When she arrived at my house, she was a mess. She was struggling to get by because... her ex was cheating on her. So, I got to know her when she stayed with me. Glad she finally moved on... got herself a new life."

Erwin Smith slammed his fist against the door frame; his eyes were gleaming with angered sapphires. "Where is she?!"

"Left."

"Left?"

I nodded, keeping a stern face towards him. "She left the city area. Said this place gave her too much memories... so I sent her over to a different location. We still communicate. Says that she's actually enjoying her life-"

"Where?!"

"Rose City... somewhere around there."

Scoffing loudly, "Waste of $5000..." He then turns around, getting back into his car and driving his way out. I could tell that he was angry because no driver can safely drive that way. To ensure he wouldn't take any lives, I called some people and reported him just in case.

I turned around, locking the front door and walking towards my room. "Come on, let's see where Hanji went hiding."

It took a few minutes to find her in the closet. How she was curled up in the clothes... just like an infant. I smiled, picking her up from her little nest. Her soft breathing was gentle and steady. Carefully, I laid her in bed, tucking her in like a child. In a weird way, it made me feel... fluttery inside. Just seeing her act like a child... makes me wonder if I would ever be like that to my kids. One last time, I caressed her cheek as I took her glasses off. Then, I kissed her forehead. 

"Night my little dove."

Turning around, Nanaba was giving me a gentle smile. "So, now I see you're really not that bad of a guy. Well played, Ackerman. Even though you slipped part of the truth to him, you didn't expose her to anything that would wound her too badly. Thanks."

"She's gonna be part of my family- no, she is a part of my family. I love her, Nanaba... I really do. Every single time I talk to her, or every single time she exposes a great part of her personality... I'm inspired by her. Guess that's why I've fallen for her more and more each time I spend time with her. I'm grateful..."

"Your next steps?"

I sighed, giving one last glance towards Hanji. How she slumbers peacefully. Like a princess awaiting for her prince to wake her from her curse. I shall be that prince. "I'll marry her."