Don't Write Me Notes || Levi x Reader

4. it doesn't count if it's to convince the in-laws

Technically, you're done, but it's just not perfect. "Just about there," you say, turning to him. "Do I- do I look okay?"

His grey eyes scan you from top to bottom. "You're fine," he says.

Not exactly the most reassuring, but you're figuring out that Levi's pretty blunt and means what he says, so you must look okay. "Okay," you say, straightening yourself up. Your eyes widen as you remember what you forgot. "Shit. Jewelry. I might need-"

"Don't bother," Levi interrupts. "Your Christmas gift is a necklace."

You pause. "You got me one?"

He looks away. "Yeah. I know we said we'd bring each other things to use as gifts, but I figured I needed to get you something that looked expensive. Didn't know if you had anything like that."

Your face flushes. "I have some things that look like they could be expensive."

"This was easier. I can return it later, so don't worry about the cost," he adds.

"Alright." You shrug. "Should we go?"

"Yeah." You follow Levi towards the door to his room, and before he opens it, he offers you his arm. "Eyes everywhere," he murmurs warningly, and you nod in understanding, taking hold of his arm.

Show time. Together, the two of you exit Levi's room.

The atmosphere is significantly lighter than it had been last night. Levi's mother- Kuchel- hugs you and wishes you a Merry Christmas, which is leaps and bounds more than his stepfather does- he just sits in a massive armchair in the corner of the room and glares at you. This is just what he's like, you remind yourself as you and Levi sit down on one of the couches. It's fine.

Everyone eats food brought in by some of the staff, and you surprise yourself by doing most of the small talk, mostly with Kuchel. You normally wouldn't, but you think Levi's more antisocial than you are (if that's possible) and you feel like you have something to prove. Besides, if last night was any indicator, letting Levi and his stepfather get involved could be trouble. Kuchel tells you that the staff are only around for the morning and have the remainder of the day off, so the kitchen will be all yours to bake with her.

Gifts start after the staff come in and take your dishes away, and Levi hands you a small box. "It's not much," he murmurs, and you do your best not to roll your eyes since you know this is all just for show, "but this is for you."

"Thank you," you reply quietly as you take the box from him. Definitely a jewelry box, probably a necklace. He said he got you something expensive, you remind yourself as you pull away the lid. So don't be shocked if it's something with a huge gemstone and super gaudy, just wear it anyways.

But it's nothing of the sort: not a huge gem, not something ugly or tacky. "Oh my god," you breathe.

It's genuinely gorgeous. You're holding something that must cost more than anything you own, a gorgeous silver chain with what looks like an emerald dangling from it. You've got no way of knowing if it's real or not, but you would wager that it is. It shimmers in the light as you rotate it in your hands, completely in awe.

Levi reaches for the box. "Let me put it on you."

Speechless, you hand him the box, then raise your hands to pull your hair away from your neck. Levi moves behind you, setting the necklace on your collarbones, and you can feel his fingers brushing the back of your neck as he fiddles with the clasp. It gives you goosebumps. 

You feel the necklace settle, and Levi pats the back of your neck. "There."

Your fingers move to touch the gem, still completely in shock that something you think is ridiculously expensive is around your neck. He mentioned returning it- you can give it back to him after the two of you leave. So nothing to be worried about.

But still: you have to play it up. You pull out your phone and open the camera, using it as a mirror to see how it looks on you. "Levi, this is gorgeous," you tell him, and you're not lying in the slightest. It's a beautiful necklace. "I can't- I can't accept this, it must've cost you-"

"Don't," Levi interrupts, and when you look at him, you can see the corner of his mouth quirked, so you must be going about this right. "Worth every penny."

Beaming, you turn towards him, and with a hand on his jaw, you kiss him on the cheek. But you can feel it, feel the stares on you, the anxiety in your head telling you not good enough, they're going to see through you- so after his cheek, you kiss him on the mouth. Thankfully, Levi reciprocates so it's not an awkward, one-sided thing; it lasts for all of a second before you pull away.

With the best smile you can force onto your face, you sit back in your seat, trying not to immediately look to Levi's family to see if they bought it. Your heart is racing, and you ignore it by fiddling with the new necklace sitting on your chest.

It's fine. We're doing fine, you tell yourself as Levi moves to open the 'surprise' present from you that he got for himself.

Even though this charade has been going since you arrived last night, it feels like you haven't even properly started yet. And judging by the hard glare on Levi's stepfather's face, it's only going to get harder from here.

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Rough week. Hoping for a double update soon. Love you guys xoxo