"Are you coming with everyone to the festival tomorrow night?" you asked your friend, Corporal Levi, while the two of you brushed down your horses after training.
"Tch," he uttered in his typical, irritated fashion. "No."
"Why not?" you questioned. This would be the first chance he had after arriving on the surface, and it certainly wasn't something to miss.
"I don't like big groups."
"Go with just me, then," you offered with a shrug.
Levi's brush slowed atop his stallion's black coat as he mulled it over. Eventually, he uttered, "Yeah. That'd be fine."
Thus, here the two of you were, standing side by side in casual clothes as you surveyed the festival spread out in front of you. The entire city seemed to be taking part – vendors filling the streets as decorative paper lanterns burned overhead, strung up between the rooftops. Smells of various tantalizing sweets filled the night air, entwining with sounds of merriment from the crowd.
You couldn't help staring at it all with blatant wonder. Meanwhile, Levi kept the same, stoic expression he always wore. However, you figured he must've at least been interested, or else he wouldn't have come.
"Levi, look here! And here!" you insisted excitedly as you pulled him from booth to booth, awed by the different foods and games. "Oooh, and caramel apples! Should we get some?"
"You can do what you want," Levi muttered. "It sounds too sweet for me."
"Sounds?" you questioned. "You mean you've never tried one?"
He shrugged, his eyes flicking to the side. "Sweets aren't exactly cheap in the Underground."
"Then how do you know you won't like it if you've never tried it?" you pressed.
Levi stared flatly at you, not deigning to respond.
"Fine, fine," you acquiesced, already pulling him to the next booth. "Your loss. But you do know that everything they'll serve tonight is sweet, don't you? You'll have to eat something eventually."
"No I won't," he uttered with complete seriousness.
You sighed resignedly, used to his stubbornness after months of friendship. Still, you couldn't allow him to not eat anything at all...
"Hey, bobbing for apples!" you pointed out. "You should do it, Levi! You'd definitely get them all, and then maybe they'd let you keep some to eat. After all, those are probably the only non-sweet food you'll find tonight."
"Tch. No, thanks," Levi grumbled, eyeing the game booth with revulsion. "For one, I'm not in the mood to get soaked tonight. But more importantly, who knows how many people have already stuck their slobbering faces in there, spreading their germs? You couldn't pay me to get in that water."
You chuckled. A lot of people were annoyed by Levi's obsession with cleanliness, but you found it endearing. As the two of you passed the booth, you swiped an apple from a basket of extra ones off to the side, tossing it to Levi. "Maybe you could eat one of these, since they haven't been in the water yet," you suggested. "They'd probably be happy to sell it to us."
"Again, no," Levi grumbled. "Not before it's been properly washed, and I don't see a – oh, shit."
"What is it?" you asked, following his gaze through the crowd.
Your eyes found a group of familiar faces at the same time Levi stated, "Erwin and Hanji's group. If they see us, they'll want us to join them."
Recalling that Levi wanted to avoid a big group tonight, you quickly searched for a hiding spot. "There," you stated, pointing toward an alley tucked away behind the booths.
The two of you slipped down it just in time, pressing your bodies against the wall so your comrades wouldn't see you as they passed. You watched them approach a booth, all chatting and laughing together. Interestingly, Mike and Nanaba seemed especially chummy...
"We might have to wait here for a few minutes until they move on," you remarked.
Levi grunted in agreement. Then, with a hint of genuine apology in his tone, he muttered, "Sorry about all the fuss."
You waved him off. "Don't be. It's actually kind of fun. I feel like I'm on an exciting secret mission," you chimed, giggling softly.
Levi huffed a laugh before sitting down on a crate that he had apparently judged to be clean enough.
You followed suit in making yourself comfortable, slumping a bit as you leaned your weight against the wall. "So, why don't you like doing things in big groups, anyway?" you asked casually.
His eyes flicked to the apple he still held in his hands, absently rolling it between them. "There are...a lot of reasons," he uttered slowly.
"Such as?" you prodded.
He didn't respond, but the movement of the apple stopped.
"Hey, it's okay if your reasons are private," you assured him hastily. Then, a bit softer, you added, "I just...wanted you to know that I'd listen, if you did want to talk about it."
Curiously, Levi glanced up at you. His eyes searched yours for a long time, and you waited patiently, letting him come to things on his own. You were used to his guardedness by now, and from the snippets you'd heard about his life in the Underground, he had a pretty good reason for it. You didn't blame him if there were things he chose to keep to himself.
At last, Levi released a soft sigh. His gaze dropped back to the apple, but there was a tentative openness in it that you had never seen from him before. Apparently, he had decided to trust you with whatever this was.
"Like I said...there are a lot of reasons," he explained haltingly. "For one, big groups are loud. It's harder to get things done with so many people, and harder to keep track of everyone. And also..." He trailed off, and a second later, his expression shuttered. "You know what, forget it."
"That's okay," you assured him. Then, trying to keep things casual, you pushed off the wall and stated lightly, "It looks like the coast is clear now. We should probably return that apple, since I didn't pay for it."
Levi glanced up at you with something like appreciation. "Yeah, alright," he agreed as he stood up.
The two of you returned the apple to its basket. However, while Levi was insistent that he didn't want to eat anything, your own stomach was starting to grumble. Thus, you quickly weighed your options before deciding to visit a stand that sold candied almonds.
"Are you sure you don't want to at least try some?" you asked him while the two of you stood in line. You happened to know that candied almonds existed in the Underground City. However, given that Levi had an aversion to sweets, you weren't sure if he had ever tasted them. "You could have a few of mine."
He grunted dismissively. "Whatever. If it'll get you to stop asking me."
"Really?" you gasped, surprised that he actually agreed. "Oh, you won't regret it! They're so good!" Then, seeing that you were next in line, you started to reach for your wallet.
"Don't," Levi muttered, stopping you as he pulled some cash out of his pocket. "I'll get it."
Your brow furrowed. "You really don't have to do that," you assured him. "Especially if you're only trying a few."
"I want to," he stated flatly.
Before you could argue, it was time to order, and Levi addressed the cashier. "We'd like some dragées, please," he stated, holding out the money.
The cashier raised an eyebrow, confused. "What?"
"We want some dragées," Levi repeated.
The cashier's eyes narrowed with irritation. "I don't know what that is, but we don't sell it here."
You glanced at Levi uncertainly, biting your lip. You didn't appreciate the cashier's tone, but you couldn't deny that you were also quite confused. You'd never heard of...whatever it was Levi had said.
"What do you mean?" Levi asked, sounding slightly annoyed himself. "They're right there –"
Your eyes followed his finger as he pointed, and suddenly, it clicked. "Candied almonds," you interjected hastily, addressing the cashier over Levi's shoulder. "We'd like a pack of candied almonds, please."
It had taken you a second, but you finally understood what was going on. Even though the Underground City had the same type of sweet, the people down there must have called them by a different name – and that was the only name Levi knew. Likewise, people who grew up on the surface had only ever referred to them as "candied almonds". It was a simple misunderstanding.
"Hmph," the cashier grunted, finally taking Levi's money. "Well, why didn't you just say that?"
While waiting for your food to be prepared, you glanced at Levi. He was staring off to the side, and anyone else would only see stoicism or indifference in his expression. However, you were starting to understand him well enough to notice the small hints of embarrassment peeking through the cracks.
You felt a twinge in your heart. After all, in buying the almonds, Levi had been trying to do something nice for you. He didn't deserve to be humiliated over a simple miscommunication. He didn't deserve to be shamed solely because he grew up in a different place.
"Here you go, miss," the casher stated, sounding slightly cheerier as he handed you a paper cone filled with warm almonds. Apparently, he had decided he preferred dealing with you over Levi. "Enjoy the festival."
You nodded vaguely and moved away, preoccupied with concern for Levi. The corporal himself walked at your side, still projecting that mask of stoicism that fooled everyone except you. You wanted to comfort him somehow, but you weren't sure if admitting you noticed his embarrassment would only make him feel worse – given that he seemed to hate showing emotion. Thus, you simply meandered down the street in silence, leaving your food untouched.
Surprisingly, he spoke first.
"Thank you, (f/n)," Levi whispered, his eyes downcast.
"Don't even worry about it," you assured him. "And it's not something you need to feel embarrassed about, either. It's common for things to have different names in different places. That cashier really could've been nicer about it."
Levi was silent for a long moment. Then... "That's the other reason why I didn't want to go with the group," he admitted. "There are still so many things I don't know about the surface, and...I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of them, when it's already..." He trailed off, apparently deciding not to finish the sentence.
Your expression softened. Although respect for Levi was growing among the Scouts, and although he was staring to make friends – like you, and Erwin, and Hanji – he was still struggling to fit in. It wasn't that he craved everyone's approval, but even for someone as tough as Levi, it would be lonely to live in a place where you were constantly mocked and wholly unwanted, treated as other simply because of where you came from. He didn't want to risk alienating himself further, especially from the few people who genuinely seemed to like him for reasons beyond his physical abilities.
"But..." Levi continued faintly, "I knew you wouldn't care."
Your heart warmed at his words, glad that he felt safe with you. With a cheeky grin, you bumped your shoulder into his, just hard enough to get his attention. When he looked up at you, mildly surprised, you chimed, "Of course, I don't care. Now, come on. Try some...draja-whatevers before they get cold."
"Dragées," Levi corrected with a soft smirk as he plucked a few almonds from the cone you held out to him.
"Drah-zhays..." you repeated slowly, trying to mimic his pronunciation.
He shook his head, amused. "Just call them 'candied almonds'."
"Hey! I thought I did a pretty good job!" you pouted, but it was all in good fun. "Anyway, how do you like them?"
He gave a soft grunt. "Like I said, they're too sweet for me."
You shrugged. "More for me, then," you chimed as you popped a whole handful into your mouth. "Thanks for these, by the way."
"Don't mention it."
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"Hey, do you hear music?" you asked Levi as you continued to make your way through the festival. You had finished off the almonds long ago, as well as half a strudel that you had actually convinced Levi to split with you.
"Sounds like it's up ahead," Levi muttered.
The two of you rounded a corner, only to find the town square filled with dancers. Off to one side, a small band was playing, their music somehow still audible over the cheers and laughter of the crowd. You recognized the song, given that it was a popular one in your hometown.
"You wanna dance?" you asked Levi excitedly, itching to join the other couples in the square.
"Tch," he scoffed. "If you want to make a fool of yourself, go ahead. I'll stay here."
"Come on, Levi! It's fun!" you encouraged. "Besides, everyone else is doing it, so we won't look foolish."
Levi glanced toward the crowd – which was currently performing a traditional dance you had known for practically your entire life – and something unreadable crossed his features. After a long silence, he admitted softly, "I...don't know how."
"Oh," you breathed.
Yet again, here was another reminder that he came from somewhere else, another way to make him feel like he didn't belong. While everyone here had grown up with these dances – yourself included – he may have never even danced at all. You doubted there was much occasion for such things in the Underground.
Luckily, you could easily remedy the situation. "Well, that's alright!" you chimed, giving him a reassuring smile. "I can teach you!"
Levi glanced at you warily, not saying a word.
However, you didn't give up. "Come on," you encouraged. "It's way easier than using the ODM gear, and you've mastered that. This will be like a walk in the park for you. And I'll be right by your side the whole time. Promise."
You held out your hand, watching him hopefully. Levi's gaze flicked from your face to your palm, and it may have been a trick of the light, but you could have sworn his pale cheeks now had a pink tint to them. After thinking it over for a minute, he finally reached out and placed his hand in yours. Then he looked up at you, hesitant but trusting.
You grinned broadly as you folded your fingers around his own, gently leading him to a less-crowded corner of the dance floor. There, you demonstrated the movements for him, occasionally reassuring him that no one was watching as he tried them out. And as you expected, he caught on rather quickly. Soon, you two joined the other dancers at full speed – Levi spinning and lifting you with such ease that you couldn't help laughing as butterflies swirled around your stomach.
And you danced, and danced, and danced.
------------------------------------------
A part of you wished you could've stayed in the square forever, dancing with Levi, seeing the glow of the lanterns reflected in his stormy eyes, detecting the faintest hint of a blush whenever he pulled you in close. The security in his frame was reassuring, the touch of his skin electrifying. All the hopelessness and bloodshed of fighting titans seemed so far away. Your whole world had narrowed to just you and him, carefree for this briefest of moments in time.
You had to admit to yourself that you were falling for him, that you had been for a while. He may have seemed rude and rough when he first joined the Scouts, but after getting to know him, you realized he was actually one of the most selfless, caring people you had ever met. On top of that, he was incredibly brave, and clever, and possessed of a beauty that rivaled the night sky. Once his trust had been earned, he became an unfailingly loyal friend to you, and despite your differences in background, you two fit well together. You couldn't imagine your life without him, and in fact, you often found yourself imagining a life with him...
And despite his attempts to hide his heart, you thought he might be falling for you too. Even if you just looked at tonight, he had agreed to come here alone with you, offered to pay for your food, opened up to you in a way he never would with anyone else. And on that dance floor, he never once let go of you, his eyes completely focused on your smiling face, as if that was all he ever wanted to see.
However, all good things must come to an end. You still had half the festival to experience, and you would run out of time if you spent all night in the square. Thus, you reluctantly pulled yourself away, feeling a strange sort of emptiness when Levi finally let go of you.
Yet, that emptiness was quickly forgotten as you made your way from booth to booth, awed and excited by what they had to offer. Meanwhile, Levi seemed to have relaxed somewhat, abandoning a fraction of his indifferent attitude to enjoy the festival with you. Instead of hanging back, he was right beside you at the front of every booth, commenting on their wares, occasionally consenting to share a sweet with you.
Eventually, you two arrived at a booth that housed a test of strength. You didn't pay much attention to the pretty boy swinging a hammer down upon the target, because your focus was drawn by a cute little bear at the bottom of the prize wall. It was a simple thing with mismatched buttons for eyes, and it clearly wasn't valued highly, but you found it charming nonetheless.
"Oh, so close! Better luck next time, sir!" the vendor called. Then, "Alright, who's next? Who would like to test their strength?"
"I'll give it a shot," Levi muttered, and you tore your eyes away from the bear just in time to see him toss a coin to the vendor.
"Excellent! Excellent! Step right up, my boy!" the vendor chimed. "If you –"
While the vendor was still talking, Levi swung the hammer down upon the target. The indicator shot up with incredible speed to hit the bell at the top, the metal cracking as it dinged. Everyone in the area went silent as they watched the indicator fall back down, completely dumbstruck.
It took the vendor a second to recover. "Well, I'll be..." he uttered. Then he cleared his throat, regaining his cheery demeanor. "Congratulations, sir! You get to pick a prize! Any prize!"
Levi glanced at you. "You want that bear?"
You blinked, stunned and a bit unsure. "Oh, no," you gasped, holding up your hands. "It's your prize. You're the one who –"
"And what am I going to do with a stuffed animal?" he muttered. Then he jerked his chin toward the prizes. "Go on."
You swallowed your hesitancy, then turned to the vendor. "I'd like that one, please," you stated softly, pointing to the button-eyed bear.
The vendor handed it to you with a smile, and you marveled at how soft the animal felt in your hands. For a moment, you could only stare at it, gently squishing its fluff beneath your fingers. You had admired it before, but now, you treasured it utterly. Of course, that probably had more to do with the man who had won it for you.
"I love it," you whispered to Levi after he had relinquished the hammer and returned to your side. Then, even though rejection was likely, you met his gaze and asked, "May I hug you?"
Levi's eyes went wide before quickly flicking away, staring off to the side. "...Sure," he uttered, going pink around the ears.
You wasted no time wrapping him in a tight hug, letting him feel your gratitude. "Thank you," you murmured, and you meant it from the bottom of your heart.
Levi was tense at first, but once those hushed words were spoken, he released a sigh, relaxing in your embrace. A moment later, his own arms wrapped around you – a bit hesitant, as if the gesture were unfamiliar. "You're welcome," he grumbled.
After several seconds, you pulled away, smiling broadly as you held up your new bear. "I think I'll call him...Buttons!"
"Tch," Levi scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "Real creative, brat."
"Hey, it fits," you quipped. "Besides, Buttons is an adorable name. An adorable name for an adorable bear."
Levi shook his head. "Whatever makes you happy, I suppose."
You glanced at him out of the corner of your eye, your heart warming at his statement. Although his tone was somewhat critical, you knew the words themselves were a true reflection of how he felt. Otherwise, he wouldn't have won Buttons for you in the first place.
------------------------------------------
It was tradition for every festivalgoer to release a paper lantern at the darkest time of night. When the hour drew near, volunteers lined the streets to hand out lanterns and matches. After obtaining some for yourselves, you and Levi managed to find a deserted bridge to stand on, with only the stars and each other for company. And Buttons, who was still securely nestled in your arms.
You faced the clocktower, waiting for the first lantern to rise from it – signaling for everyone else to release their own lanterns. You and Levi stood side by side while you watched the sky, arms and shoulders touching as you pressed in close, using the chilly night air as an excuse. When the time came, you released your lanterns together, sending them up to join the stars.
Yet, as beautiful as the multitude of lanterns was, you couldn't tear your eyes away from Levi.
He looked utterly breathtaking – the flames of your lanterns dancing across his pale skin in the brief moments before you let them go, only to allow the moon's glow to bathe his face instead. His own eyes stared back at you, exquisite and depthless, and you sensed yourself slowly falling into them, as if pulled by gravity. You felt the warmth of his breath on your lips, then heard the sharp hitch as it caught. And you were so close, so agonizingly close, to what you both wanted more than anything else on earth.
But then it was gone.
"I'm sorry," Levi uttered as he abruptly stepped back, tearing his warmth away, leaving you aching for his touch. His eyes fixated on the stone beneath his feet, his jaw clenching as his fingernails dug into his palms. "I...I should go."
And just like that, he left you standing alone on that bridge, too shocked to even call out his name.
------------------------------------------
You lined your horse up behind Section Commander Erwin, not bothering to spare a glance for the raven-haired corporal beside you. You hadn't attempted to speak with him since the morning after the festival, when you had knocked on his door to ask for an explanation. He seemed content to ignore you, then and now.
A week had passed. Buttons still sat atop your dresser, but you didn't have the heart to throw him away. In fact, you sometimes held him while you cried, telling yourself you did it because he was soft, and not because he reminded you of Levi.
You gritted your teeth, forcing yourself to focus on the mission. This wasn't the time to be obsessing over that jerk – not when you were about to venture outside the Walls. Thus, you fixed your gaze forward, listening as Commander Shadis shouted orders, watching as the gate cranked upward. And then you were off, the world passing by in a blur.
The Scouts were given two blessedly uneventful hours before all hell broke loose. You tried to stick close to Erwin, trusting his judgement more than any other, relying on him to lead you out of this alive. But even his genius mind couldn't help when your cables were grabbed, and the next thing you knew, you were flying toward the ground at a terrifying speed.
There was an impact. A splitting crack. A rush of pain, and a ringing in your ears.
Then everything went dark.
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You awoke to sunlight filling the infirmary, to crisp sheets and a soft bed. There was a dull ache in your skull, and a cast around your arm, held in place by a sling. Yet, all of that faded to the back of your mind when you realized who was sitting next to you.
"(F/n), you're –" Levi gasped softly, his eyes widening in surprise. However, he cut off abruptly, standing with equal haste as he forced his expression into neutrality. "I...excuse me."
Before he could rush off, you lurched forward, reaching out with your uninjured arm to catch his wrist. "Hold on a minute," you insisted, gritting your teeth against the increased pain in your skull that had been brought on by sitting up so suddenly. The two of you were alone in the infirmary, and you weren't about to let him leave without getting some answers – both for his behavior at the festival, and for his presence at your bedside.
Levi stiffened, but he didn't pull away from your grip – not yet, anyway.
You gave his arm a small tug. "Sit," you demanded. "I think you owe me an explanation."
For a long moment, Levi remained motionless, still facing away from you, apparently deciding whether he wanted to comply. While you technically outranked him by a small margin, this was personal. Besides, even within the context of military functions, Levi didn't obey any officer's orders unless he wanted to – the sole exception being if those orders came from Erwin.
Eventually, he returned to the chair at your bedside, keeping his gaze averted. While you had once been able to interpret his subtle signals, his expression remained shuttered now, giving you no clue as to what he was thinking. You were slightly surprised that he even agreed to stay here, but you didn't show it, instead setting your jaw with determination.
"Tell me what's going on with you," you pressed. "One minute, you're stuck to me like glue, and the next, you want nothing to do with me. Why?"
Levi's hands clenched into fists in his lap. His eyes remained on the wall opposite you, and he was silent for so long that you thought he didn't intend to answer. However, just when you were about to ask again, he responded in a voice so quiet that it was barely audible.
"I was...afraid," he admitted.
You blinked. It wasn't the answer you had been expecting, or anything close to it. In fact, the last thing you'd ever imagined Levi doing was admitting that he felt fear.
"Afraid of what?" you prodded, keeping your face carefully blank.
He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing tightly in his throat. "This," he uttered. "Or something like it. Something worse."
"And by 'this', you're referring to...?" you questioned.
He shut his eyes as if in pain, growling under his breath. "You're in the infirmary with a concussion and two broken bones in your arm, (f/n)," he snapped. "And the doctors consider that lucky, given that you were thrown into the ground by a titan. Do you even know what I –"
He cut off abruptly, and you noticed a muscle furrowing in his jaw. However, you weren't about to let him get away with hiding things – not now. After all, this...whatever it was...affected you too. You had a right to know.
"You...what?" you asked evenly.
He blinked rapidly a few times, and then his eyes flicked to his hands, which were still fisted in his lap. "I thought you were dead," he stated tightly.
You watched him silently for a minute, observing his demeanor, trying to figure him out. "So...you left me standing on that bridge, because you were afraid I'd die?" you clarified slowly, still not quite comprehending.
"Yes. I..." he began, until the words caught in his throat. However, perhaps because he knew you wouldn't let up, or perhaps for reasons of his own, he forced himself to continue. "I wasn't just afraid of you getting hurt, but also...of letting myself get too involved with you. Because...after what happened to Farlan and Isabel...I couldn't take losing another person. So when I noticed myself...feeling so intensely about you...I had to stop. I couldn't let myself care that much again."
Even now, your heart twinged at the tightness in his voice. As much as you wanted to be angry with him, you couldn't deny that you at least understood his feelings. The pain of losing loved ones was terrible, and it made sense that he would want to avoid it, especially after having suffered it before. However, there was a glaring flaw in his reasoning.
"So, you supposedly decided not to care about me, yet you're still here now. You still sat by my bedside, when clearly, no one else thought it was necessary to monitor me," you remarked coolly. "Tell me, then – does seeing me injured hurt any less now than it would have if you'd kissed me at the festival?"
Levi's eyes widened ever so slightly as they stared down at his fists. He was silent for a long time, apparently processing this revelation. "No," he whispered at last. "It doesn't hurt any less."
You couldn't help shaking your head in exasperation, having finally puzzled him out. It wasn't that he didn't love you. He was just afraid of his own feelings, and he had thought he could make them stop simply by distancing himself from you. However, his actions after your injury made it clear that he was in too deep to be turning back...and so were you.
"You really are a handful. You know that?" you muttered under your breath. Then, before he could react, you grabbed his collar and kissed him.
Levi froze, shocked by the press of your lips upon his own. Yet, after a few seconds, he melted, kissing you back with the tentative shyness of inexperience. You didn't mind that, though. You were too delighted by his supple softness, and his warmth, and the satisfaction of finally achieving what you both wanted.
When you pulled away, a pink blush adorned his pale cheeks. His expression was more open than you had ever seen it, as if the kiss had slid right past every one of his defenses, revealing a mix of nervousness and yearning. You couldn't help staring at him for a long moment, entranced by this stunning man before you.
But then the heat faded, and you realized what you had done. Embarrassed beyond reckoning, you released his shirt and sat back, averting your eyes, feeling a blush fill your face. You could hardly believe how forward you'd been, but at the same time, you didn't regret it.
"So, um..." Levi began before his voice cracked, and he had to clear his throat. "A-are we...okay?"
"Well, I am still mad at you," you stated, your bashfulness fading at the reminder of your anger. You tossed your hair over your shoulder, then met his gaze with a pout. "But I suppose you can make it up to me by waiting on me hand and foot until I recover."
His mouth quirked upward slightly, and something like gratitude shone in his eyes. "I guess that's fair," he uttered softly. "Can I get you anything right now?"
You hummed, thinking it over. "Actually...it'd be great if you could bring me a few things from my bedroom."
"Sure," he acquiesced, already standing up. "What do you want?"
"I want the chocolates from my secret stash..." you began, not bothering to explain further. You and Levi had been good enough friends that he knew where you hid things, anyway. "...and Buttons from my dresser, and the book from my nightstand –"
You cut off abruptly when you noticed the strange look he was giving you, like a mix of shock and remorse and tenderness. "What?" you questioned, your brow furrowing.
He swallowed, then murmured faintly, "You...kept Buttons?"
Feeling a stab of embarrassment, you glanced away, nervously fiddling with a strand of your hair. "Well...yeah," you admitted. Then, not wanting to sound like you'd been pining, you added hastily, "He's soft."
Levi was silent for a moment. Then he gave a low, quiet hum, and you could've sworn there was fondness in the sound. "I see," he murmured, turning toward the door. "I'll get him for you, then."