Work Text
Levi checks his watch for the fifth time that evening, drumming his fingers onto the steering wheel. Hange is late. Again. And it’s started to get cold, and he has to bear the hushed discussions of Mike and Nanaba from the backseat regarding that stupid psychology seminar Nanaba participated in. In his opinion they're way too engrossed in their discussion about the study of body language. It isn’t that interesting a subject.Erwin lets out a breath through his nostrils, starting to grow impatient too. “Give her some time. I’m sure she’ll be here,” he reasons, because he’s Erwin.Levi rolls his eyes. “In three hours, if even at all, but fine with me. You’re the ones who dragged me into this posh thing, I don’t give a shit if I miss it.”He sighs. “Everyone will be there, Levi. You can’t be absent without a reason.”He does have a reason. Levi likes to be at peace during holidays and not spend it in a hall crammed with coworkers and brats. Dressed in those shitty white and pink clothes that make him look either like a flower or like something edible—he hadn’t yet settled on which one. Hange will solve that conundrum, she was always the most creative one with insults. Unfortunately, his family will be at the celebration as well —even that traitor he calls mother—, so Erwin didn’t need to put in much effort to convince him.On the other hand, there’s Hange too. Who got so excited when she heard he was joining that she laughed that stupid clear and bubbling laughter, and hugged him with those warm and strong arms, and his stomach flipped and he said "alright I'll come, let me go now", so he masked his awkwardness with a string of incoherent curses and complaints.Hange, and her stupid bright smile and tendency to get too close to him. Hange, and whatever it is that she’s doing to him that leaves him weirdly empty when she detaches from him.“Tch.” Levi picks up his phone, dialling Hange’s number. It rings twice, thrice, four times. She picks up, her cheerful voice flooding his ears.
“Hello Levii! Did you call to wish me a happy new year?”
“Where are you shitty-glasses? We’ve been waiting for half an hour outside your house.”“Oh shit, it was today?” she exclaimed distressed, and all Levi wants is to go up there and drag her by that greasy ponytail to the event—even if she’s in her pyjamas and fuzzy slippers. Before he can translate his thoughts into a string of colourful words, Hange chuckles from the other end.
“Kidding, I’m ready. Look over here!”
They all look up at her window, where a silhouette waves at them excitedly.“Hurry up you shithead,” he spits out unamused.
“If you wanted to see me that bad you should’ve called soon—”
That’s all she manages to say before he hangs up.
Levi never prides himself in anything—vanity is a waste of time and selfishness is the stupidest thing a person can do to themselves and to the community as a whole. Still, he’s well aware that driving is a skill he has mastered quite easily due to sharp focus and attention, reflexes and quick thinking. All of those, he possesses.But right now his eyelid twitches without a reason and he has to force himself not to steal glances at the rear mirror when it isn’t necessary. His palms stick sweaty to the steering wheel. Something at the backseat is beckoning at him to look.Hange squeezed herself next to Nanaba, chatting with her, throwing quips at Erwin, fake-punching Mike. Levi only caught a glimpse of her as she ran from the front door to the car and brought a breeze of cold along with her. So he didn’t confirm whether she really planned to join them in her pyjamas. But he can smell her, and this time it isn’t coffee and dirty clothes and those weird chemicals she’s always on about. Hange smells clean, like she actually took a bath, but with a faint hint of something that’s undeniably hers. She’s carrying something else with her too, a faint scent, heavy and sweet, which he can’t put his finger on. Flowers. A summer morning.She leans over, arms resting around the two front seats. “Hey Levi! Who got you into a suit?”His skin itches from her closeness and he doesn’t know why. He tilts his head towards the back as a response without taking his eyes off the road. “That sly bastard did. Fasten your seatbelt, four-eyes, before I throw you out.”“It is fastened. Did you really, Mike?”He shrugs. “That was the only midget-sized outfit I could find. Bought it from the kids’ section.”“No the fuck you didn’t.”Hange cackles, throwing her head back. “Don’t take it personally shortie. That’s a sign to buy your own clothes next time!”“There will be no next time.”“Now now, kids,” Erwin placates with a small smile. “You turn left here.”“That’s what you always say but you can’t say no to us, can you?” Hange croons as Levi attempts to park. She sticks out her tongue at him in the half-dark when he twists around his torso to get a better look behind.“Oi.” He bats her hands away when she reaches for his hair. “That’s dangerous.”She snorts. “What’s dangerous is that outfit. Look at it, it doesn’t even look like it’s clothing. I’m sure I could eat it.” Her voice lowers dangerously towards the end, her eye glimmers behind the lens.
Bump.
Levi hits the brake, hard. He nearly crashed the vehicle behind him. He curses, twists the wheel, doesn’t look at Nanaba’s sly smile through the rear mirror, and tries again. Not thinking of whatever Hange just said and the way it made his stomach flip.“Hange, don’t disrupt the driver,” Mike advises calmly, stepping out of the car. “You know he can’t concentrate when you talk.”“That’s one way to put it,” Nanaba chimes in with a smirk, never missing a chance.“Nah, Levi doesn’t mind, do you shortie?” Hange counters. “Or should I call you cupcake now?”Levi’s insult dies in his throat when she steps out of the car. Stylish ankle high boots, a navy blue two-piece suit hugging her figure. Hair thrown in her usual ponytail, a smug look to top it off. He feels his heart pounding and for the first time in forever he finds himself at a loss for words.Mike coughs and snaps him out of his trance. Levi locks the car and follows, hoping to tow behind them unnoticed as they enter the house. Eyes unwillingly lingering on Hange as she paves the way, cheerfully talking with Nanaba.Under that giant decorated tree stands Mikasa with her two idiot friends, one of whom quite visibly gloats about something. Typical Eren. Sasha is raiding the buffet with Connie’s assistance while Jean and Reiner fight over who’s in charge of the music. Marie is all prim and proper, welcoming guests. Kuchel chatting with Nile of all people. It’s chaos, and Levi assesses it with a look of disapproval.Then comes a flick of Hange’s wrist, quick as lightning. Levi blinks at the sharp sting at his chin and Nanaba’s laughter. He blinks in surprise, and raises his hand to feel up the length of the pointy item placed on his head and the elastic string encircling his face. A party hat.“Happy birthday Levi!” she beams, and as though it was a cue, all of the brats turn to them and follow suit, wishing him a happy birthday. A day he’s made quite clear he despises. Armin looks like an excited puppy, Connie and Sasha almost crash on him, charged with enthusiasm at finally learning the date of his birth. Mikasa carries herself with poise and offers him a timid happy birthday whereas Eren is all beaming, sticking to her side.It’s awkward and makes his shoulders slump in an attempt to shrink away from the attention. Chirpy wishes, hopeful smiles, sparkling eyes of those he cares about, all around him. It’s… not terrible, he has to admit.“You disappeared on the twenty fifth,” Hange pouts, “so we couldn’t wish you a happy birthday then. We’re doing it now!”Kuchel wades through the crowd, reaching him and kissing him on the cheek. He always lets her.“Here, for the most beautiful man,” she offers when they’re out of earshot. A red boutonniere is in her hand. “You don’t have to put it on, of course,” she whispers with a smile.Levi looks down at his outfit. There’s hardly anything that can make it worse than it already is, so he pins it to his lapel. Blood red standing out against creme fabric.“How bad is it?”“Don’t worry. The hat attracts all the attention.”Levi groans and makes to yank it off, but Kuchel stops him.“You wouldn’t want to disappoint her, would you?”“I don’t care about that four-eyed freak’s mood,” he grumbles, but doesn’t take it off, as much as his hands itch for him to. It’s just one evening. Just one.“You know, Hange’s really kind. She always looks out for you.”“She’s a pain.”“But you like her.”“Tch.” He sips some of his drink and it burns his throat. He hates alcohol. He could be at home right now, alone, drinking tea and reading a book.Kuchel kisses his cheek. “Have fun tonight Levi.”An upbeat song is chosen. Eren and Mikasa chase after the rhythm, laughing by themselves, lost in their dance. Connie and Sasha aren’t even trying to follow normally, they kick and jump like kids. Hange dances with Nanaba, twirling her around. Striking poses which would have looked ridiculous if it were anyone else but surprisingly, she makes them hers. Shuffling through rhythms with every abrupt change of song as the rest of the brats have their own opinions on which song should play. Laughing, without a care in the world, drinking her champagne as she sways. Stealing glances at him, making faces, waving.Nanaba’s whispers regarding her seminar return to him from the car; a person in their happiest always seeks for the one they like the most in a crowd, to make sure they share that joy.“You’re staring,” Mike notes from beside him, startling him. For an oaf he’s stealthy.Levi follows the tall man’s line of sight to Nanaba. “So are you.”“At least I admit it. Do you like that hat so much?”“Fuck off.”As if it was agreed upon, Nanaba picks that moment to break away from Hange and to offer Mike her hand, which he takes. Hange doesn’t seem to mind dancing solo, but then eye lands on Levi. With a spark of horror and something dangerously like excitement, he expects her to drag him to the dance floor. But she only winks at him—yes she quite obviously winks, doesn’t blink—, and pulls Moblit by the hand, leading him to stagger and land between her arms.Something flashes before Levi’s eyes, white and hot and blinding. He knows its name well, it was his companion every time she pulled Moblit close and shouted his ear off about something stupid. Every time she stuck her nose on Erwin’s, blabbering about whatever, lost in her warm and contagious excitement. That excitement that burnt bright and always found its way into his heart.But right now he does nothing, he can do nothing. Levi only watches them twirl as the assistant’s hands nervously come to touch her back as if she’s made of glass. Hange drags him around roughly, playfully, while he’s all cautious and serious. They don’t make a good dancing pair, they’re plain torture to look at, yet Levi is unable to pry his eyes off of them.Hange leans in to whisper something in his ear and Moblit immediately jolts, red in the face.That’s about enough. Levi joins them on the dance floor, roughly pulling Hange by the sleeve.“Oi. You’re gonna ruin everyone’s clothes, throwing your drink about like that.”“Sorry Mobs,” she calls out apologetically and joins Levi. They stand aside, watching everyone.“The hell are you smirking for?” Levi asks, annoyed by how her eyes are still on Moblit.Hange motions at him to look. He’s dancing with Nifa, and his shyness makes a tolerable pair with the timid girl, unlike with Hange.Oh.“So you were giving your stuttering assistant love advice back there?”Hange shrugs. “They needed a push.”There she was again, helping everyone in her own unique way. If he were Erwin, Levi would’ve called her something fancy and impressive like “remarkable”, but all he can say is“Smart.”She brings the glass to her lips again, a slight blush blooming on her cheeks. “Well, you know me, it’s what I’m good at.”After that the music turns slow, gentle. Levi can’t escape when Hange tugs him to the corner. Still visible by everyone, but a strategically picked spot where nobody’s eyes can linger. Her arms come to rest around his neck, his hands are on her waist.“I know you don’t like being the center of attention, clean freak, and it’s a shame not to dance when your birthday was only five days ago.” She taps a finger on the tip of his party hat, just once. “I see you haven’t taken it off yet.”“Forgot.” He didn’t, it felt itchy and weird and everyone looked at him as though he’d sprouted a second head. But he remained patient, because she smiled every time their gazes met. And now he can’t help but let his own roam all over her, curved nose, the seam of her lips, her smooth neck. How her blouse hugs her arms, the folded sleeves of her jacket resting at her elbows. Her scent makes him dizzy, earthy tones and champagne mixed with something slightly flowery—He scrunches his nose. “Are you wearing perfume?”Hange looks away, a hint of embarrassment appearing. “A little bit. Nana bought it for my birthday—as if she doesn’t know me—but she insisted it might come in handy.” She sighs. “I have to get rid of it somehow, so I wear it every now and again.”“Just give it away.”“I can’t give away a friend’s gift Levi! How can I be so heartless? Even you kept the hat and it’s not even a gift.” She leans closer. Their proximity makes him dizzy but comfortable at the same time. He wants this moment to spin into eternity, unending.“Really… why didn’t you throw it away?”He could have insulted her excitement and joy and that stupid outfit. But what he says is “because you wanted me to keep it.”It’s the second time he’s made Hange feel embarrassed tonight, and he quite enjoys the sight of her heated cheeks and numb tongue. A rare occurrence. She’s almost regained her composure and prepares another quip.“Don’t give it away,” tumbles out of his mouth before he can stop it.“What?”“The perfume. Just wear that thing whenever you want. It’s good on you.”Her hold on his shoulders tightens ever so slightly. “Careful or I might start to think you’re flirting, Captain.” And there’s something in her voice he can’t put his finger on. Something that mirrors his own wishful thoughts, like wistfulness.Her hand finds his and it’s warm and comforting, fingers slightly shaking as they thread with his own.The lights are out, voices raise in a countdown to the new year. The music has stopped, they don’t know what it is they’re swaying with. The shadow of her smile, Levi thinks. Her eye, her firm hold on his shoulder. Her vibrant excitement, like a sun, engulfing everything in its warmth. Her… confusion.“You’re not. Right Levi?”All that teasing. All that shouting and hugging and those smiles. They were never fully friendly, were they?His eyes give her the answer. She knows to read them by now.
“Ten! Nine! Eight!”
Their voices fade to the back of his mind. Levi forces himself to detach from her warmth, it feels as though being ripped from his own soul.Searching through the crowd he quickly finds the lanky stature he’s looking for. Before Kenny can catch wind of him, he grabs his hat and disappears into the crowd, leaving him behind, tipsy and confused.He returns to Hange swiftly, forcing the hat onto her.“Now we match, idiot,” he deadpans.She laughs and adjusts it over her muddled hair. She’s like the sun, drawing him in. And in she does draw him, with her hands tugging his face closer until their hats bump and their foreheads rest together.
“Three! Two! One!”
Fireworks paint the sky red and green and yellow, excited cries and shared kisses between lovers, hugs between friends.“Happy new year, Levi.”Their eyes slide shut, they savour their shared warmth and peace in a sea of songs and shouting.“Happy new year, shitty-glasses.”