26. The Talk
A few thing need to get straighten this instance. Levine is grumpy. The whole squad is suffering and Levi is...well..not liking it. And as an older brother, which he obviously didn't sign up for, he have to know what's wrong with Levine. At least, that's what Hazel told him. She is the expert when it comes to siblings.
So now, in their day off. Levi invited his brother to their house where Levine is enjoying himself, playing with Louis so far. At least this little bundle of joy gives ray of sunshine and rainbows for his grumpy uncle.
"He's still not saying his first words?" He asked and Hazel sighed and nodded, "Hmm. I wonder what my first word was."
"Probably something incoherent considering Kenny raised you from birth," Hazel said and Levine turned to his sister-in-law whose washing the dishes. People are wondering if she is bad in being a housewife considering her rough and sometimes violent behaviour. But as Levine see so far, she's quite the woman at home.
He then turned back to Louis and he looked into his nephew's green eyes that resembles his own mother. He looks like Levi but the eyes. How can an Ackerman be this charismatic?
If only his charisma is enough to get out of his situation right now.
Even though his face is completely blank, Hazel noticed that he looks blue. She knows that because she'd experience those emotions multiple times.
"Okay, since your stupid brother is not home yet, what's your damn problem?" Hazel asked, placing the last plate in its place in the rack and lean on the sink, crossing her arms.
Levine turned to her with an eyebrow raised.
"What the hell are you talking about?" They should really stop cussing around Louis. For all they know, his first word might be something foul-mouthed.
"You're just like Levi in many aspects, so I can read you like an open book," she said and sat down beside him, taking Louis from him and craddling the boy, "You have a problem."
"I don't have a problem."
"You can deny all you want, Levine but the lady already said it straight on. She can read you," Yami said, playing with Louis who didn't seem to notice him.
"I'm fine, Hazel," he said and stood up. He don't want to talk about it. Heck, he don't even want to think about it, "You and that stupid brother of mine can hold your horses."
"Tch, fine. Suit yourself then," she said and carried Louis to his crib as the boy giggled. Levine looked away and stood up, walking out the house. Maybe some fresh air can help.
But when he got outside, there stood Levi with a plastic bag, staring at him.
"Stay here, brat. We've got something to talk about," he said and entered the house. After a few minutes, he went out again and walked to their horses.
"Get your horse. We're going on a ride."
---
After 30 minutes of riding their horses, they finally arrived in their destination. Levi sure do love trees that stood solely in the middle of a meadow. Cause this time, he brought him to another tree in the middle of a meadow, but this time, it's a tree with two carvings. One that is crossed out and another one at the bottom.
"What is this place this time?" Levine asked, jumping down his horse.
"This is where I first met Hazel. Back whe Farlan and Isabel are still alive," his brother said and sat down under the shade. Levine looked up and found a perfect branch to sit on.
"You like trees too huh?" he muttered and climed the tree which Levi didn't say anything against that.
"I heard you have your own near the HQ. And it's your secret rendezvous spot with Historia Reiss," Levine froze for a moment and stayed silent. He sat on the branch after a while but nodded.
"How did you know?" He asked, looking ahead to see a perfect view of the mountains.
"I saw you every night. You're not the only one with sleeping issues," Levine growled and Yami who sits infront of him shrugged.
"And that gives you permission to stalk me at night?" He sassily said and Levi rolled his eyes, "And wait! Aren't you at home during those times?"
"Every night for five months, you two were seeing each other. But lately you're not showing up. What's the matter?" Levi asked and Levine leaned back to the trunk.
"I don't want to talk about it," this is quite out of character for Levi. His stoic, scary, cold personality just goes away when it comes to his family.
"It's obvious that whatever is happening to you the past few days have something to do with that," Levi said an Levine looked away.
"Go for it, Levine. Tell Levi. I'm not really the right person for you to talk to right now. It's Levi's job at the moment," Yami said, pointing at the older Ackerman under the tree.
"tch, you would think it's weird if I tell you," Levine said and Levi huffed.
"Try me."
Levine jumped down the branch and lay down on the grass, putting his arm over his eyes.
"Well, I've been friendzoned," he said out of shame and Levi raised his eyebrow. He's been friend zone?
"You like someone but you never told me?"
"Like hell, I'll tell you! You probably wouldn't take it seriously anyway," Levine said, glaring at Levi who just stared at him, blankly, "I never told anyone because it's kinda weird."
"Falling in love isn't weird. Fall in love with a tree? That's weird," Levi said. Wow, since when Is Levi a love expert?
"Okay, now you know. Can we just--"
"Now whose the girl? Or tell me, are you gay?" Levine's eyes widened and glared intently at Levi.
"The f*ck I am gay!" He exclaimed and growled, "I knew it's a bad idea telling--"
"Just who is it?"
"And how many times do you have to cut me off?" In Levine's ears. They seem to sound like stupid school girls having a goddamn girl talk.
Levine sighed in frustration and looked away, his cheeks tinting red.
"It's the queen," he said and lay back down, "I'm in love with the goddamn Historia Reiss."
(Seriously, I almost wrote loli)
"That explains it," Levined turned to his brother, "There's this kid in their batch called Ymir."
Levine recognizes the name. He heard it from Historia once but he never asked about it.
"And Historia likes him?" Levine assumed, raising an eyebrow.
"Her. Ymir's a girl. Or more specifically, lesbian."
"The f*ck! I lost to a goddamn lesbian?!" Levine exclaimed and growled.
"Their batch speculated that the two of them are in a relationship because of their closeness and it turned out they were," Levi said and Levine thought of what a gossip his brother can be.
"Wait. Their batch. You mean Eren's batch in the Trainee Squad? How come I don't see her? Did she got killed?" Levi shook his head and looked at his brother with a stern look.
"Ymir's a shifter and she'd known that for most of her years. Vut she only revealed it after the mass suicide of the Braugstein Clan. Then two more from their batch revealed to be the Colossal and Armoured titan. Ymir left with those two and never came back."
Levine just stared at his brother after that explaination. That explains it. Historia's is in love with another person. That didn't help much with the feelings he's bearing. Actually, it only worsen knowing the one he fell inrlhll love with doesn't see him the same way.
"Well f*ck," he muttered and grunted, "Might as well give up huh?"
"Are you my brother?" Levi asked, glaring at him with a hint of doubt. Levine raised an eyebrow at him.
"What--"
"Ymir is now a threat to humanity and that small brat is the queen of it. How do you think she will feel after a year?" Levi asked and stood up, "If you give up so easily after hearing that. Then don't ever call yourself a goddamn Ackerman."
Levine looked down and turned to Yami who's beside Levi who nodded at him.
"He's just saying. If you give up so easily after knowing that you have a competition like that who came in first, then it's like you're a complete wimp and a loser," he said to him and Levine looked away, nodding.
"You're right. I can't just give up," he said in no one in particular, "But you'll help me with something, stupid Onii-chan."
"Why did I got myself into this?"
"Because you are my brother."