Don't Write Me Notes || Levi x Reader

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

The only other person at the table stands up, and you immediately know that it's Levi's mother. She's thin, like a strong gust of wind could knock her over, with dark hair like Levi's that goes down to her soldiers. But when she beams and immediately starts to make her way over to you, you know that Levi must get his grumpiness and unapproachable personality from his father, because his mother just seems much too nice.

"Levi, love, it's so good to see you," she says as she gets closer. Her voice is soft, not like your own mother, whom you don't think has the ability to control her volume. "I've missed you."

Levi pulls his arm away from you so that his mother can hug him, and your eyes flicker to the man at the head of the table. He's glaring at you and you look away immediately, too nervous to maintain eye contact.

Levi pulls back from his mother. "This is my girlfriend," he says, gesturing to you and it only sounds the tiniest bit awkward.

"Hi," you say tentatively, not sure what your boundaries should be. Do you shake hands? Hug her? "I've heard so much about you," you lie, smiling. "It's so nice to meet you."

She smiles and opens her arms, pulling you into a hug. "Please, call me Kuchel," she says as she pulls back. "It's lovely to meet you. I'm afraid Levi hasn't told us much about you."

"Sounds like him," you say, and her smile widens.

"Sit," Lovof calls from the head of the table. "I'm hungry and we've been waiting for you to get home before we served dinner."

Well then. Pleasant. Kuchel's smile wavers slightly, and she reaches out to hold one of your hands in her own, reaching for Levi with her other hand. "Thank you for choosing to spend Christmas with us," she says, squeezing. "It means a lot."

Your heart melts in your chest; Levi's mother seems so sweet. "It's my pleasure," you say genuinely. "Thank you for having me."

"Sit," Lovof calls again.

There's an awkward pause. Kuchel squeezes your hand one last time before she lets go and heads back to her spot at the table. You shoot a quick glance at Levi, but he's glaring at his stepfather. Talk about awkward. Levi starts forward and you follow him, pretending to be admiring the ceiling so that you don't have to look at his stepfather.

Levi pulls out a chair for you, and you murmur "thank you" before you sit down. Levi takes his seat next to you. Lovof is at the head of the table and Levi and his mother are on either side of him, across from each other. It's such a large table for only the four of you.

You look around the table. Do you introduce yourself to Levi's stepfather? He's staring at Levi, not even bothering with you, and it feels too awkward to just speak out into the silence.

"Levi," the man at the head of the table says.

Levi's voice is ice cold. "Lovof."

Silence again. You fiddle with your fingers in your lap, looking anywhere but at Levi or his stepfather. Your eyes accidentally lock with Levi's mother, Kuchel, and she smiles at you, clearly trying to put you at ease. You manage a weak smile in return.

The door opens behind you, and a woman comes in wheeling a cart. "Appetizers," she says politely, and she starts setting food out on the table. You're too stressed to properly look at the food; you just smile at her and murmur your thanks as she passes you, setting dishes in front of you. God, you don't even know what half of this is.

Levi's stepfather starts pulling things onto his plate. Levi does the same. He passes dishes to you after he takes some, and you thank him quietly as you take some food.