"Y/N get your ass out of bed before I come in there and sit on you!" Hanji yelled from the other side of my locked door.
It was a quiet Sunday morning. Well, quiet apart from Hanji's irritating voice echoing off of my walls.
My body felt entirely relaxed for the first time in months. Last night I had finally been given the promotion that I have been pining for all these years, even if there are a few challenges, I will overcome them. All I wanted was a day away from everyone and everything in order to prepare myself. But Hanji wouldn't allow that to happen.
I groaned as I rolled over onto my side, shoving a pillow over my head to block out Hanji's calls.
"Bloody hell Hanji, can't a woman sleep in peace?" I yell back to her.
No response.
She had been quiet for too long, normally she would be attempting to break the door down. I removed my pillow from my face, just to check.
Yep, my door is still in tact.
I squinted at the light shining through my window, bouncing straight into my eyes. I threw my hand out to my side, reaching for a book. My bedside table was stacked with a pile of ragged books that I needed to finish. They were the only things, apart from my clothes, that I had brought with me after leaving home. A stray and stained mug sat alongside the books, drained of its previous coffee. In the centre of my table was a single red rose sitting in a skinny vase , curiosity of Hanji. I ran my fingers lightly over the velvet leaves, recalling the day that she had given it to me.
It was only a few days ago when she had gotten down on one knee, like she was proposing, and offered me the flower. I had graciously accepted in an overdramatic manner, and we had skipped through the square, ignoring all of the questionable glances that people were sending us.
The other members of our squad always joke about Hanji and I's relationship as "more than professional", I can't say I disagree.
I wasn't interested in Hanji romantically, although I wouldn't blame anyone who was, but the bond I shared with her was unconditional and unbreakable. We were cheesy at times, but even when things got tough, neither of us hesitated to be the other's shoulder to cry on.
Suddenly, I heard the squeaking of a knob, followed by my door slamming open into the wall behind it.
There stood Hanji under the threshold, a grey wire in hand.
"Ah hah! I knew this would come in handy!" Hanji laughed while examining the tiny object she held.
"Hanji!" I gasped, sitting up straight in bed. "Did you just lock pick my door?"
She looked from the door, back to my face and shrugged. "Um, no?"
Hanji gave a large grin and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. I groaned and flopped back onto my bed, returning to the warmth concealed under my blankets.
"Oh no you don't!" Hanji yelled. She dashed across the room to my bed and ripped my blankets out of my hands. "I did not go through all of this trouble just to watch you fall asleep again."
"You can be a real pain in my ass sometimes, you know that right?" I replied. I sat up again and let my legs swing off of the side of my bed.
"Yes, but you still love me." Hanji poked my cheek several times until I returned her smile and lightly pushed her hand away.
She examined my room, picking up a single book from the top of the stack to read the spine.
"Are you ever going to stop reading these trashy romances?" She questioned.
"Hey! Give that back!" I snatched the book from her. "They aren't trashy, they are just...cliche. Also, I don't believe in silly things like love, I just read them to escape this cruel world."
Hanji tilted her head and nodded, "Fair enough."
"So is there any reason you came rushing into my room at such an early hour?" I rubbed my eyes roughly, and then squinted up at her.
The sun gleamed through the window onto us, proving that it was not early at all, but I ignored it. Instead I soaked up the warmth that it brought in.
"Well uh, I do have something to tell you...But! You have to promise you won't hate me!" Hanji replied meekly, she had backed away a few steps.
"Oh please, I could never hate you." I laughed. "Did you take more of my clothes again?"
"Ok yeah I did that as well, but no. I have a message for you." She responded, pulling a note out of her brown jacket pocket. "I received it this morning and was ordered to give it to you.
"Ordered aye? Must be someone pretty important, maybe I have a secret admirer." I answered in a funny voice.
Hanji laughed at my cheesy joke, then handed the note over.
I took it, unfolded it, and started to examine the exquisite handwriting.
12 pm
Courtyard. Don't be late.
- L
Who is L? I pondered to myself, trying to recall the names of my colleges, until I remembered one in particular...
"Oh HELL no." I threw the note back into Hanji's face. "I already have plans today, and I will not let this little gremlin interfere."
Hanji laughed weakly, "Gremlin, that's actually a good one." I shot a glare at her and she stiffened while clearing her throat. "Listen, you are going to start shadowing him tomorrow, so you have to meet with him to get your schedule."
"I don't have to do anything. Why didn't he just send a note with the schedule instead of this?" I crossed my arms tightly. "And he couldn't even be bothered to give me the note himself. Why would he make you deliver it?"
I was pissed. The famous Captain couldn't take a minute out of his day to hand-deliver his precious message.
Imbecile.
"Oh I know why." Hanji replied with the same amount of attitude. "He asked me to give this to you because of your little performance last night. He didn't know if you had 'given him permission to see you'"
Her words infuriated me more. This was his way of mocking me. Trying to make me regret what I had said last night. I assumed he had quite the array of insults that he wanted to spit at me, but I refused to give him that opportunity.
"I'm not going, he can kiss my ass." I laid back onto my bed, facing away from Hanji.
"I don't think it is a wise choice to stand Captain Levi up." Hanji tried to shake me, but I held firm.
"You can go about your day now, I will still be in bed when you return." I yawned and curled up even more, waving a hand behind me to dismiss her.
Hanji sighed and said, "Well I'm not going to force you to do anything, but just know that all of this attitude that you are giving Levi is going to come back to get you."
"And I look forward to that day." I responded sarcastically. "Have a good day Ji! Make sure to lock the door on your way out please."
Hanji chuckled then leaned over to kiss my forehead before walking to the door. She grabbed the handle and pulled it to a crack. I twisted my head and we locked eyes for a split second, smiling kindly at each other before she closed the door with a click.
I laid in my bed, deep in thought.
Who does he think he is to order me around? Sure he may be my superior in theory, but I only take orders from Hanji and Commander Erwin. I would see him on Monday, when my shadowing officially starts. Or in other words, when my personal hell opens up.
Judging by the sun's height in the sky, it was around 9 am. I still had most of my day at my disposal. I would read some more, practice a few sparring moves, then shower and hang out with Hanji. All of course, after my morning nap.
Smiling at the thought, I snuggled further into my blankets, allowing my eyes to droop close and for sleep to take over me.
---
Knock, knock, knock
The sound shook me out of my slumber.
I could only assume that Hanji had returned to haunt me after visiting her titans. But now I knew that if she really wanted to get into my room, she could.
Attempting to return to my sleep, I rolled over and hugged my pillow tighter.
Knock, knock
The pounding on the door was growing louder with each passing second.
"Bloody hell, leave me alone you dimwit!" I yelled through my door to Hanji, who was attacking it with her fists. The banging stopped for a split second before a loud crack boomed through my room.
The sound of wood splintering.
I scrambled out of bed, running to the door in order to preserve it.
Swinging the door open I yelled, "Hanji! You aren't allowed to actually break my door down-".
I paused mid-sentence at the sight in front of me.
In all his glory, Captain Levi stood outside of my bedroom, dressed in his usual white and brown Scouts uniform. Each of his hands were placed on the walls beside my door to steady himself, his knee was stretched back, ready to attack my door again.
My mouth dropped open. His eyes were filled with fury and his face was set, jaw clenched. He slowly brought his knee down and crossed him arms.
He scoffed and said, "Thanks for meeting me this morning, brat."