[DISCONTINUED] Entangled in the Strings of Fate ~ Attack on Titan (Levi x OC)

02. Meeting the Shopkeeper

The woman coughed, her napkin covered head and her upper body were covered in flour. "Curse you, shelf." She muttered to herself. She slowly stood up and removed the napkin from her head and dusted it.

"That's not going as smoothly as I thought it would," she slightly chuckled at the trio.

The three stared at the woman before them. The woman had shoulder-length straight auburn hair. Her bangs were parted at the right side of her face, with some strands hanging between her eyebrows. She was a petite woman, as she wasn't even on the same height as Levi.

The woman tied back the napkin over her head. "I'd like to tidy that up as soon as possible, but as the shopkeeper, serving customers comes first. What can I do for you?"

"Uh miss, your forehead's hurt," Isabel gestured at her own forehead. The woman blinked and touched her forehead.

"Probably just a small bruise. Don't worry," the woman flashed them a small smile, and walked to behind the counter. "So, how can I help you with?"

The three approached the counter.

"How much does this worth?" Without further ado Farlan put the watch on the counter.

The woman took the watch and carefully observed it. "Ah, this is quite a watch," she commented. She pressed its button and the watch opened. There was a neatly carved design circling the glass. "I see..."

"So?" Isabel asked impatiently. The woman glanced at her for a second. "With this you could at least get ten gold coins," she finally said.

"Whoa, ten!" Isabel chirped. "And gold, she said!"

"However," the woman broke in. She showed the watch to the three. There was a small crack on the glass surface. "It's damaged, thus cutting its price by four."

"Which means, six gold coins?" Levi raised a brow. The woman nodded. "Still better," Farlan said with a forced smile.

"So do you want to buy it?" Isabel looked expectantly at the woman.

"You must be joking," the woman waved her hand. "I just recently opened this shop, and that damn shelf needs replacement."

"You ought to buy it," Levi stamped the jar that he was holding on the counter roughly.

The woman furrowed her brows. "Do I need to explain it?" She put her hand on her hip as she looked peevishly at them. "I don't have that much money."

"This place offers the highest price for this watch compared to the bars we've visited before," Farlan tried to talk to the woman.

The woman lazily looked at the watch again. "Is that so? Then it'll be no problem for you if you look again."

"We are running out of time!" Isabel slammed her hands to the counter desperately. "At this rate I'll do it!"

The three raised a brow at her, then Farlan and Levi realized what Isabel meant when she made a certain facial expression.

Farlan started to freak out. "You can't do that here, you moron!" "Like I care!" Isabel hissed in return, crossed her arms and pouted.

"Oi, you got any food?" Levi abruptly shouted at the woman. "Anything will do!"

"Huh? What?" The woman looked puzzled. Levi glanced back at the double-pigtailed girl. "Hurry, otherwise..."

Too late.

Isabel took a deep breath, opened her mouth...

...and started singing.

Actually, bellowing.

The other three immediately covered their ears from the unpleasant sound wave. Isabel's voice caused the windows to crack and the crack on the watch extended.

"Where's the food?!" Levi outstretched his hand impatiently. The woman quickly reached the locker beside her and picked a bread from there. She immediately handed it to Levi's outstretched hand.

Levi took the bread and shoved it to Isabel's jaw. Isabel nearly choked, but then she looked like she enjoyed the bread. "Munch munch..."

"Seriously, an ultrasonic voice?" The woman murmured as she slowly uncovered her ears. She glanced back at the watch. "How nice, the price had dropped again."

Levi and Farlan gave Isabel annoyed glares while Isabel just grinned nervously in response.

Levi let out a thin sigh. "So, how much does it worth now?"

"Two gold coins." The woman immediately declared without hesitation.

Isabel forcefully gulped down the whole bread before exclaiming, "What the hell?! That's less than half of it!"

"You really did a good job, Isabel." Farlan sarcastically said. Isabel flinched, then grimaced as she looked down. "Aniki, I'm sorry..."

Just then the three's stomachs growled loudly. "Ah, so you guys are hungry," the woman smirked at the trio.

"...We're done here," Levi curtly said as he walked up to the counter and grabbed the watch. He was about to pick it up when the woman suddenly placed her hand on his.

"Move it." Levi glowered at her.

"Even though I changed my mind?" The woman replied with stoic face. The two was still glaring at each other even though Farlan decided to break in. "Levi, let's hear her out."

The woman slowly lift her hand from Levi's. "I'll buy the watch, but I still don't have enough money for that," she began.

The woman took a small jar from the locker beside her, and picked coins from its inside. She lined the coins on the counter.

"Here, I have one gold coin and seven silver coins," she gestured at the coins. "Only that?" Isabel scoffed.

The woman sighed. "I told you, I don't have enough money. But I sell food here--"

"What are you implying?" Levi cut in while kept glaring at her.

"Alright, alright, I'll get straight to the point," the woman rubbed her temple with a frown. "I'm thinking of paying the shortage of gold by serving you guys food whenever you feel like it, until the shortage paid off. How about it?"

The three exchanged looks again.

"That's actually not a very bad idea..." Farlan commented while putting his hand on his chin. Isabel nodded at his statement. "Yeah, and we're going to use the money to feed ourselves, anyway,"

The two now looked at Levi, waiting for his opinion.

Levi thought for a moment. "...I guess." He finally said as he looked at his side.

The woman's face lightened up. She walked away from behind the counter and approached Levi. She then outstretched her hand to him.

Levi just stared at it. "What?"

"If we are going to make a deal, we need to introduce ourselves properly and shake hands," the woman replied. "And it's clear to me that you are their leader."

Levi glanced at Farlan and Isabel before looking back at the woman's outstretched hand. Then, he slowly grabbed it. "...Levi."

The woman smiled widely as she shook Levi's hand. "I'm Aile Engel. Nice to know you!"