Just For You {LeviHan}

Chapter 6: I'm Sorry

Levi's POV

Stones felt like they were pinning me down underwater. I don't know how to explain it... because I wasn't drowning. Just sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor. I couldn't breathe or move... held in place. It didn't come to mind until I actually found out why I felt like that. One surprising thing I noticed this morning... I was hounded down by these kids.

Opening my eyes, I could only move my head. Attempting to move my body only resulted in the kids stirring in their sleep. My phone was out of reach, as Eren was sleeping right on top of it. Drat. 

"You little brats," I scoffed heavily as I saw myself unable to move, "I hate you guys."

There were a few patterning of footsteps off to the side- damn the fact I couldn't even see who it was that was approaching. From what I heard... it was a chuckle. "Trapped?" Her voice- Hanji. "Need a little help?"

"Yeah, how do you get brats off of you without waking them?"

"Trick question: you don't." She soon came into view, nudging Armin awake. She did the same with the other kids on my body. Her voice was gentle as the calm breeze in the wind. "Wake up, little ones..." That tone was as close as motherly as it can be. "You guys can't be sleeping here."

Eren stirred in his sleep, groggily answering. "M-Ms. Hanji... no..."

"Mr. Levi has to go to work."

"I don't him to go..."

"Sorry, Eren, but that's not up to you." Hanji carefully carried Eren out of my arms and into hers. "Come on, let's get you guys all tucked in your beds for the rest of the morning. Okay? You can call Mr. Levi later on."

He seemed to have given up... he gave a nod and leaned into her arms. "O-Okay..."

Behind her were the zombified kids, rubbing their eyes. Now free from my prison, I helped carry some kids upstairs with her. Watching her tuck them in... I'm surprised she treated them like that. It honestly did not feel like she was faking it all. Her love for these kids... were pure. 

"Thanks for that, Levi." She said in her normal tone as she escorted me downstairs. "I didn't think they would sleep on you like that... when I came home... I didn't want to disturb them. And you- I didn't want to disturb you..."

My shoulders shrugged a bit as I started to pour water into a kettle. "That's fine. Honestly, I didn't expect to fall asleep there. All I remember from last night... I just got tired and fell asleep. On my part, I apologize for that. I should've been watching the kids- like I promised and-"

Hanji gave a gentle smile, chuckling. "You're alright. That's the calmest I've ever seen them... with my boyfriend, they hate him."

"You have a boyfriend?"

I guess hearing that confirmation tore my heart to pieces. In the first place, I don't even like her. But knowing she was already taken... I guess it was happiness for her. 

She tucked part of her straying hair behind her ears as she smiled. "Yeah, I do. Eren doesn't like him- out of all the kids, Eren dislikes my boyfriend the most. I don't know why... but I have a feeling he's getting the other kids to go and get you as my boyfriend."

My shoulders shrugged as I poured myself that warm water into a mug- the closest I can get to a tea cup. I spent awhile looking for a decent tea bag. "Kids will be kids. Trying to make a path for everyone else while they do their own path."

"Oh please-"

"It's true." I chuckled, blowing gently on the hot water. "At least... I know I did when I was younger. Apparently I got sick of my mom being lonely and tried to urge her to get a boyfriend or something. But it's different than what those kids are doing..."

Hanji chuckled, starting to go through her fridge. "As you said... kids will be kids... and I can't stop them from believing something. But I'll follow my heart... I'm staying with Erwin until otherwise."

"Otherwise?"

"Sometimes... relationships don't hold up. Especially with me..." Her tone went off a bit weird towards the end. Almost like she began to clam up. I guess she noticed me looking at her- that's when she changed the subject with a weird upbeat tone. "Ah- sorry for holding you back. You must be dying to go back to work."

Scoffing a bit, I drank a bit of my tea. "Well... you told the kids I had to go to work... honestly, I have a little more than 3 hours to kill before I head back to the station. I didn't want to break routine between you and the kids..."

Hanji gave a chuckle, starting to brew her coffee. "Yeah... thanks for that. Eren wouldn't have let you go if there was any opportunity to do so."

"Clingy?"

She nodded in response. "I wouldn't blame him... according to his record, after his mother's death, his father dropped him off here. In a way, it seemed he blames his own son for the death. Or he just got too busy... and they didn't have any other family to take care of Eren. He does have some anger issues, but I'm working through them."

Maybe that's why I bonded quickly with Eren- we were similar... in a way.

"Saddening how people are like to such innocent ones..."

"Why did you take over Jenson's job here at the orphanage? Surely you must've had different plans than taking care of kids here."

"Ah... well... long story..."

"I'm here for a long time, Hanji. Talk away."

She began her tale about how she wanted to be a scientist... yet she lost confidence in the first few weeks. She doubted her own intelligence. She then doubled down to be a teacher... but again, she doubted her intelligence. She fell down to the idea of keeping an orphanage. She didn't doubt her abilities there. Surprisingly... her boyfriend did no such thing to push her back to those dreams she once wanted... if I was that boyfriend... I would've pushed for her to be that scientist.

Our warm drinks went cold... and I was beginning to get ready to leave. "Hey, Hanji?" I called out to her right before I drove out of the driveway. She looked at me as she tilted her head with curiosity. "I change my mind about investigating here. But... I do want to come back here. Is that alright with you?"

She smiled brightly, nodding her head. "I don't mind you coming back here. The kids love you."

"Then..." I started off, not paying attention to my words. It just... sputtered out. Maybe I meant a different word, yet started with the same letter. It must've been... because I continued my sentence with: "It's a date."