Don't Write Me Notes || Levi x Reader

6. it doesn't count if it's a thank you

The necklace he'd gotten you for Christmas. Yes, it'll match nicely. "Press the button in your room, I'll let the attendant know," he says.

You turn back into the room to press the button to summon the employee, then come back out to the large mirror. You're playing with your hair now, likely trying to imagine it in different styles to suit the dress.

It's a nice dress. It suits you. "You like it?" he asks.

You beam, twisting and turning in the mirror to see yourself from all angles. "I love it," you say, and you twist to him. "And it's got pockets!"

"Pockets."

"Pockets!" you confirm excitedly, and to demonstrate, you find them and slip your hands inside. Levi resists the urge to roll his eyes as you exclaim, "you'll never understand how monumental this is."

The door opens, and the lady who'd been helping you out wanders in. "You called?" she asks, looking first to you and then to Levi when she realizes you're busy twirling in front of the mirror.

"This one," Levi murmurs to the attendant as you spin in circles, smiling so widely that he wouldn't be surprised if your face freezes that way. "And, if you've still got dress shirts that match, I'll take one in size small."

"Of course, Mr. Ackerman," she says politely. She smiles at him, then at you, and then she's gone.

You're still giddy, fidgeting with the sleeves and swishing your skirt back and forth. "This'll look great when we dance," you say excitedly, looking to him. "Now we have to do twirls."

He can't help it; he's starting to smirk. "Still a no to the dip?" Levi asks casually.

"In this? I'll say yes to anything you throw at me."

"Challenge accepted."

You look to him, still smiling, and you beckon to him. "Come here!" you encourage. "Let's try it."

"Ang." But he's got no real protest.

You beam. "Come on, it's just us."

Whatever side of you he's seeing right now- bubbly, excited, anxiety-free- it's infectious. Levi's pushing down his smirk as he moves towards you, and when he extends his hand, you're happy to take it. His arm goes to your waist, fingers sliding along the fabric of the dress, and your fingertips rest on his arm.

He steps; you follow. "You remember what you're doing?" Levi asks.

"Follow your lead and step on you as much as possible," you confirm, letting go of his arm and spinning yourself in a circle. The skirt of your dress blooms out as you spin, and when you grab onto him again, you're nearly laughing. "Oh, this is crazy."

Levi falls into step with you again. "Crazy," he repeats.

"Yeah. This is- this is a dream," you say with a shrug. "This is so gorgeous. And everything in here is just- god. This is a dream."

"You said that already."

"Did I? I forgot. Anyways, I was saying, this is a dream."

His lips twitch. He lets go of you, taking a step back. Levi gives you a once-over. The dress is good, yes. The necklace matches it well. But it's your natural glow, he thinks, that makes you look so good. Is that a thing? He has no idea.

"You're happy with this one?" Levi asks.

You pretend to think. "No, I hate it."

"Figured. I'll go sort out payment."

"Okay- okay. Wait," you say quickly, and Levi stops his walk out of the changeroom. "Can I try on more?" you ask hopefully, your eyes shining as you look to him. "If- if that's alright with you?"

How can he say no, when your face has lit up like the sun and you're more excited than he's ever seen you? He's not heartless. "I'm in no rush to get back," he says.

The smile that grows on your face makes his chest feel warm as you duck back into the changeroom.

.

You feel like you're glowing.

You're practically skipping as you're heading back to Levi's car, barely feeling the chill of the winter night air. Levi's got your dress, on its hanger and tucked safely away in a bag, and he sets it in the backseat of his car as you slide into the passenger seat.

Once Levi's in the driver's seat and the heat in the car is turned on, you sigh happily. Your happy high from trying on dresses is starting to wind down, and you turn to Levi. "I'm sorry if that was boring for you," you say.

He shrugs. "I'm glad you had fun."

"You didn't mind?" You frown. "Is it a pro or con?"

Levi looks at you. He looks amused as he says, "I feel like I could watch you try on parkas and be entertained. It's a pro."

You beam, feeling much more content. You'd been so caught up in what you were doing- trying on pretty dresses, spinning around like you're a princess- that you hadn't even realized that Levi might be getting bored or annoyed. It's good to know he wasn't.

"You enjoyed that more than I expected you to," Levi says casually, pulling his seatbelt on.

You mimic him, pulling the strap across your chest. "Me too, honestly," you say.

"You didn't think you would?"

"No." You click the buckle into place, biting the inside of your cheek as you think about it. "I mean... who doesn't want to try on gorgeous dresses that they'll never actually be able to afford and feel like a princess for a bit?"

He raises his eyebrows. "You can do that anytime."

"Well, sure, but... then I feel like I'm bothering the workers. Or I feel guilty if I leave without buying anything. And I feel like everyone else is judging me." You feel like you could list one hundred reasons, all boiling down to social anxiety. "And with... with that, where I didn't have to pay, and no one else was around, and..."

When you trail off, Levi fills in for you. "It made it easier for you."

You nod, looking to him, still smiling. You want to thank him, but it doesn't feel like words are enough. "You're sure I didn't bother you?" you ask timidly. "Or bore you?"

"No."

"You're sure?"

He frowns at you. "Yes."

He's sure. There's no reason to question him: you haven't known him long, but you've only ever known him to be blunt. You don't see any reason to think that he means otherwise. "Okay," you say, and before the adrenaline from your excitement runs out, you lean over and kiss him swiftly on the cheek. "Thank you," you say as you lean back, looking away from him. "Seriously. That meant a lot to me."

You keep your gaze forward, too sheepish to look back to Levi. He's quiet for a moment, and you're starting to get nervous until he murmurs, "I enjoyed it too."

Good. As awkward and anxiety-inducing as this experience is, you think Levi is probably one of the best people you could do this with. Blunt, honest, and... surprisingly charismatic, even if he doesn't think he is. His bluntness is honestly what makes this easiest for you: anyone else, you'd worry they were being nice to save your feelings. With Levi, you genuinely don't think he is.

You're in such a good mood that you're smiling the entire way home, your gaze fixed on the world going by around you.

You don't notice the small looks that Levi keeps giving you for the entirety of the drive.

.

See you Friday!! xoxo