a lover in every universe

A few weeks had passed, but it felt like an eternity. You were worn down by the constant words of comfort and the sympathetic look everyone gave you as you walked down the halls. Levi had done his best to be there for you, shoving his own grief away and focused on helping you through yours. But it didn’t help. You needed him to grieve too, to know that you weren’t alone in this. But was it selfish to wish that he felt as bad as you did? Was it selfish to want him to grieve in the way you wanted him to rather than to let him grieve as he needed?

You kept thinking over this as you soaked in the bathtub, the glow of candles radiating around the room, the comforting smell of lavender in the air. There was a soft knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Levi entered, his shoulders relaxing a little as he took in your peaceful form. It was the most peaceful he had seen you in a while, and it brought him a small sense of relief.

“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked. You shook your head and slid forward to make space for him behind you. He peeled off his clothes and climbed in, pulling you back to lean against his chest. The steady rise and fall of his breathing was comforting.

“How was training today?” you started.

“Shitty.”

He rested his hands on your legs under the water, gently stroking your soft skin. When was the last time you had relaxed with him like this? Months? Years? Being in the Scouts afforded you little time for nights like this, especially after Isabel had been born. You closed your eyes and tried to enjoy it, tried to shut out the painful, intruding thoughts.

“How was your day?” he asked, trying not to weigh you down with his negativity. You shrugged and nuzzled back against his chest. “I just feel numb,” you admitted. He nodded and wrapped his arms around you to hug you. “It’s okay,” he whispered into your ear. You closed your eyes, relishing in the feeling of his warm breath against the shell of your ear. He noticed the slight shift in your movement and pressed a kiss on top of your head. You sat up and turned to face him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

You remained silent, instead leaning forward to kiss him. Perhaps something good could come out of this grief, you thought. Maybe you and Levi could reconnect, become closer again. Parenting had been difficult for both of you and you had grown distant. Not necessarily for any bad reason, but more so out of necessity. You not only needed to raise a child, but to also train her to survive in this harsh world. And now you needed to face that world without her, but perhaps you could do it together.

You pulled back, scanning Levi’s face for any reaction. His lips remained parted, his eyes slightly widened by the sudden shift in mood. You leaned forward again, just close enough so he could feel your breath against his lips. “I just want to forget. Please, just for tonight, let’s forget,” you pleaded. You couldn’t quite explain your shift in mood either. Maybe it was your fucked up way of responding to the grief, but you craved him, desperate to preoccupy your mind with thoughts of him instead of Isabel. His eyes searched yours, hands cupping your cheeks. He pulled you forward into another kiss. You lingered there for a moment, kissing, until his hand slid to your lower back and gently pulled you to lean against him. His back to the edge of the tub, your breasts pressed against his chest, your legs tangled in each other.

He slid his tongue along your bottom lip, asking for access, and you obliged, opening your mouth more to let him slip inside. He was happy to forget the grief for tonight. It had been so long since he had felt you against him like this, and he hadn’t realized how much he had missed it. He deepened the kiss as he felt your hand slide down between his legs, gently stroking his length. He was ashamed to admit that he couldn’t remember the last time he had an orgasm. It was no fault of yours – he simply was never in the mood, always too exhausted. But he knew what it meant to you tonight, so he allowed himself to get hard under your touch, enjoying the way your fingers dragged up and down along his shaft.

While you stroked him, he moved his free hand down to grasp at your ass. You moaned into the kiss, encouraging him to take more. He moved his hand further down and started teasing your entrance. “Please,” you begged breathlessly. Anything for you, he thought to himself as he slowly slipped one slender finger inside. You squeezed your eyes shut in bliss, head tilted back, nearly smiling at the sensation. He watched you carefully, adding another finger as he slid in and out. You gripped his cock tighter and sped up your pace while beginning to ride his fingers, softly moaning together. He could feel you quickly approaching your climax, the way you tensed and tightened around him. But before you could fully get there, he pulled his fingers out, bringing them to his lips and licking your juices off. You whimpered at the sight.

“Don’t stop,” you whined.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he responded, lining his cock up at your entrance and pushing in with little resistance. You moaned louder this time as he filled you, hitting every right spot, fulfilling every need you had. He began to fuck you in earnest as he held your hips and encouraged you to ride him, whispering soft praises in your ear. The words made your heart swell, masked the painful ache in your chest, even if only for a few minutes. You opened your eyes to find him gazing at you and you found it in yourself to half-smile at him.

“I love you.”

He didn’t respond, but you knew from the look in his eyes that he loved you too.

He fucked you harder, water spilling over the edge of the tub as you both panted and moaned. Levi felt himself getting closer and closer to his euphoria and desperately pleaded within himself to hold on until you got there first. Luckily for him, it only took one, two, three more thrusts until you screamed out his name, burying your face in the crook of his neck as you tightened around him. He let out a loud groan and followed closely behind.

You lay there for a few minutes, catching your breath, as he traced light circles along your back.

“Thank you,” you said quietly. He nodded and pressed a kiss to your forehead.

“Do you feel a little better?” he asked.

You nodded lightly. “For now.”

He exhaled a small breath of relief and patted your back, signaling that it was time to get up.

–

In your bedroom, you sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. It was true, the sex had helped you forget, and you were grateful that the post-sex glow continued as long as it had. You ran your fingers along the bedsheets and bit your bottom lip as Levi walked in.

“Was that fucked up?” you asked.

He scoffed. “Was I that bad?”

You let out a huff of laughter. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

He sat down next to you and placed a hand on your knee. “No, it’s not fucked up. Do what you need to cope.” He crawled over onto his side of the bed and slid under the covers. “I could think of worse ways to cope,” he added. You rolled your eyes and joined him under the blanket, finding his hand and interlacing your fingers in his.

“How do you feel?” you asked timidly, testing the waters for his reaction.

He hesitated. “I don’t know.”

You stared up at the ceiling. He could sense that you wanted more, but he wasn’t sure that he was ready to have this conversation. But would he ever really be ready? Was there ever going to be a good time to discuss the unimaginable loss they had experienced, the grief that threatened to drown him every time he found another piece of Isabel in their home? A set of boots too small to be yours, a journal filled with doodles and scribbled notes, a crumpled green cloak left in a heap of dirty laundry that you couldn’t bring yourself to wash. He thought back to the first fight you had after Isabel’s death. He had scooped up the pile of dirty clothes to wash them, but before he could get them into the washbasin, you had rushed over and snatched the cloak from the pile. “You can’t wash this, this is all I have left of her!” you had screamed at him. He didn’t understand at the time, yelling right back at you that it was nonsense, regret sinking into him as he raised his voice.

“I miss her,” he managed to say.

“I do, too,” you returned, squeezing his hand. He remained silent after that, but you appreciated the effort to talk about it. Small steps for now.

Levi waited until you fell asleep, listening for your breathing to slow and even out. He rarely slept, even less after Isabel’s death. Once he was sure you were asleep, he quietly climbed out of bed and pulled on his own green cloak, wrapping it around himself for warmth. He made his way out of your shared quarters and down the hall towards the kitchen area. It was mostly empty, save for a few lingering scouts who went silent as he entered the room. He ignored them, instead heading for the pantry to retrieve a box of tea leaves. They were Isabel’s favorite, slightly too sweet for his liking. He prepared the tea in silence as the scouts stood, nodded at him, and retreated to their rooms. Once ready, he poured the tea into a chipped white mug and sat at a small table by the window, enjoying the soft breeze rolling in while he sipped on his drink.

“Thought I’d find you here.” Without turning his head, Levi groaned internally.

“What do you want?” he grumbled.

Hange pulled out the seat across from him and sat down, chin rested on their fist as they gazed out the window.

“I thought you could use some company.”

“You mean Erwin thought I could use some company.”

They laughed lightly.

“How is she doing?”

Levi thought back to your peaceful sleeping form. “She’s okay right now.”

Hange hummed and turned to Levi.

“And how are you doing?”

Levi finally turned and looked them in the eyes.

“I don’t want to talk about this, Hange.”

“You’re never going to want to talk about it. But you need to.”

His eyes softened as he contemplated their words. They were right. He was never going to want to talk about it. 

As he looked at them, he remembered the excitement Isabel always felt whenever she was watching Hange tinker and experiment with equipment. Part of him hoped that maybe she would’ve wanted to take a backseat and focus on equipment maintenance or some other behind the scenes role that didn’t require her to be out in the field. But she was as stubborn as he was and insisted that she follow in his footsteps. And as hypocritical as it was, Levi was proud of her for standing up to him.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said quietly.

Hange remained silent, offering space for Levi to continue.

“I… I was right there. I was so close and… I failed,” he breathed out, voice slightly cracking. “She looked so scared, and all I can hear at night is her screaming out for me.” He let out a deep sigh and looked away.

Hange watched him carefully, noticed the way he gripped his mug a little tighter, the way he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. They knew that pushing any further was only going to shut him down.

“You should tell her that. Let her know she’s not alone,” Hange said. But Levi wasn’t sure if he’d be able to tell you that truth, to say the things he knew you were thinking. You hadn’t blamed him, never told him it was his fault, but he felt it unspoken between the two of you. And part of him resented you for it – he wanted you to get angry and to scream at him and to blame him. But instead, you remained by his side, putting on the best brave face you could.

Hange stood, squeezed his shoulder, and left. Levi exhaled in relief as he watched them exit the kitchen, draining the rest of his tea and standing to return to you.

A few days passed since your explosive fight. You had agreed to return to Medali with Larry, ignoring Nemona’s disapproval. You had not yet put your ring back on, but you had held his hand on the journey back. It’s something at least, Larry thought to himself, stroking his thumb across your hand.

You were now laying in bed, scrolling through your phone again, trying to block out any thoughts of the past few days. A horrible depression blanketed you now, and Larry wasn’t sure what to do. Geeta and the team had returned to Mesagoza already, so he couldn’t ask Rika for advice. Plus, he still had several unread messages from the trainer Geeta thrust upon him.

Hey Larry, it’s Ellie!

I’m around this weekend if you are!

Maybe Saturday night?

Saturday night? Why would they train at night? Larry groaned. Was she still trying to make a move? He was staring at his phone, debating if and how to respond at this time, when he heard you padding down the hall.

“Need anything?” he offered.

You shook your head and walked into the kitchen to grab a box of cookies out of the cabinet. Without another word, you headed back down the hall, munching on the cookies straight out of the box. “I’m just tired,” you said, pausing before the bedroom door. You hesitated, then turned around to face him.

“...do you want to come lay with me for a bit?” you asked timidly.

Larry’s eyes widened, surprised by the sudden offer.

“Of course.”

He followed you in and climbed into his side of the bed. He wasn’t sure whether to simply lay next to you or to try and hold you somehow, not sure how much you had forgiven him, if at all. You popped another cookie into your mouth and glanced over.

“Do you want one?”

“Sure,” he smiled softly. 

His fingers brushed yours as he took a cookie from you and the fleeting moment sent butterflies to his stomach. You sat in silence for a few minutes, awkwardly avoiding eye contact.

“I’m sorry I took off and worried you,” you began.

“No, don’t apologize. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he sighed.

“I just don’t want you to be bored with me. The whole situation just made me feel like you wanted to relive something more exciting, like I wasn’t doing enough,” you said, voice cracking.

He sat up and turned to you, facing you directly, his dark eyes intensely focused on yours. His hands came up to cup your face.

“You will always be enough for me.”

A tear rolled down your cheek as you took a deep, steadying breath, pleading with yourself not to start crying. You knew, deep down, that it was true. Larry was always direct and honest, never exaggerating or over-promising; it was one of your favorite things about him. But you needed more assurance, something tangible, something physical.

As if he could sense this need, he pulled you in for a kiss, tangling his fingers in your hair. You kissed him back, hesitant at first, but then driven by a deep desire to feel wanted by him, to be the only thing he needed. “I love you,” he mumbled, stopping for air. You didn’t respond, simply climbing on top of him and pressing your body against his. His arms came to wrap around you and hold you there.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked as he pulled away briefly. You still remained silent, instead reaching down to feel his growing erection. “It seems like you want to,” you teased. He let out a small huff of laughter and kissed you again. You pushed down harder against him, eager to feel his bulge between your legs. “Touch me,” you whispered, on the verge of begging. He was more than happy to give you what you wanted.

Without breaking the kiss, he shimmied your shorts off, gently squeezing your ass and moaning. He could already feel you getting wet through your panties and the feeling of your arousal dripping in between your thighs only worsened the throbbing in his pants.

“How could you think I’d ever want anything other than you?” he breathed as he slid his fingers into you. The sensation felt like heaven. You grinded down against him to gather more friction, riding his long, slender fingers, chasing that magical high. But before you could get there, he removed his fingers, the sudden emptiness overwhelming. He brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them clean, savoring your taste as he closed his eyes and hummed in pleasure. The sight shot a bolt of heat to your core.

“Larry,” you moaned.

“Hmm?” He was still enjoying his treat.

“Fuck me, please.”

He smirked. “Anything for you.”

Before you knew it, you were both naked, tangled in the bedsheets. Your moans echoed off the walls as he thrust deeply into you, hands intertwined with yours. His eyes were squeezed shut as he focused solely on the sensation of your walls tightening around him. It had only been a few minutes, but he knew his end was near. Deep breaths, he thought, hoping it would steady his stamina and help him last just a bit longer. He felt like it was actually working, until you suddenly let out a scream of his name and came, gushing around him, squeezing him tighter than he had ever felt before. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he groaned, unable to stop himself from spilling into you.

He stilled, panting heavily. Your eyes were closed and your breathing had mostly evened out. You looked peaceful, Larry thought. He leaned down to kiss your cheek.

“(Y/n).”

Your eyes fluttered open.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” you smiled softly.

He helped you get to your feet to wash off in the bathroom. As he stepped into the shower, you picked up your ring, which had been resting in a small dish on the counter. You slid it onto your finger and admired it. It was easier to forgive him, you thought. He had made a mistake and apologized; what more could you have asked from him? He loved you and made sure you felt loved. He provided everything you needed. He was always there when you needed him. In the glow of your post-sex haze, a thought came to you.

“We should elope.”

He shut off the shower and grabbed his towel.

“Did you say something?” he asked, rubbing the towel against his hair and shaking out the water.

You hesitated. Why were you nervous to suggest it?

“I said we should elope.”

He froze. He wasn’t sure if he heard you right. It was only a few days ago that you had run away from him. Had you really changed your mind? You sensed his hesitation. Fair, you thought, you had almost left him just a few days ago. His mouth hung open slightly, no words forming.

“I know it’s sudden, I just… It would make me feel more secure,” you admitted.

“Secure in what?”

“Like, people would know you aren’t single, you aren’t available? I don’t really know. It’s stupid,” you sighed, turning away.

“Hey,” he said, reaching out to stop you by grabbing your hand. You shut your eyes, frustrated that you had even brought it up.

“We don’t need to get married just to keep people from, I don’t know, trying anything. I’m perfectly capable of turning people down myself,” he reassured you. A hint of irritation pricked at you. Clearly you’re not if you brought someone home, you thought. He saw the flash of anger in your eye and let go of your hand. “It was a mistake,” he said, trying to stop you from falling down that rabbit hole of anger again. You didn’t say anything.

You exited the bathroom and went to lay back in bed when you heard Larry’s phone buzz. You really shouldn’t look, the voice in the back of your head told you. The angry, bitter part of you said otherwise. You glanced to see if he was still in the bathroom – he was – and picked up the phone. You didn’t even need to enter his passcode and sneak a peek to read the message, it was displayed clearly on the home screen.

Maybe dinner at the Treasure Eatery Saturday night and then training afterwards?

A shot of cold fury. Blinding rage. You gripped the phone tightly in your right hand, sure that if you squeezed any harder you’d either break the phone or your hand. Larry stepped out and saw you holding his phone, quickly noting the way you closed your eyes and attempted to steady your breaths.

“Are you okay?”

“You’re a piece of shit, Larry.”

You threw the phone on the bed and walked away.

–

“I really can’t do this, Geeta,” Larry sighed, bracing himself to be reprimanded.

“And why is that, Larry?” Geeta asked in an irritated tone.

“She doesn’t understand boundaries.”

“You’re an adult, Larry. Set the boundary with her and train her like I’ve asked you to.”

“Geeta, I’ve tried and she just… I’m not trying to be difficult.”

He could hear Geeta scoff sarcastically.

“Try again.”

Click.

Larry groaned internally. Maybe it was time to call Rika. His finger hovered over her phone number, eventually finding the courage to hit call.

“I need your help,” he blurted out as soon as she picked up.

“And to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Rika, I’m serious. I’m in a lot of trouble on every front and I’m losing my mind.”

Even without seeing her, he could sense Rika stiffen.

“What happened?”

He hurriedly explained everything, detailing the text message you read – out of context, he kept repeating – and Geeta’s insistence on him and specifically him training this new trainer.

“Ah,” was all she said.

“What? What do you mean ‘ah’?” Larry asked incredulously.

“Geeta told me about Ellie. She’s apparently like, Nemona-level good.”

“I still don’t understand why I have to be the one to give her special training. Why can’t you do it? Or Hassel?”

Rika hummed. “She’s probably still mad at you for turning down Alola,” she surmised.

“This is bullshit.”

Rika gave a huff of surprised laughter. “Never heard you curse before.”

“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do, Rika? My boss is breathing down my neck and it feels like everytime I look away, I’m not sure if (y/n) is going to be there anymore.”

“Just go to a training session with Ellie. Do what Geeta says, set the boundary with her. Firmly.”

Larry groaned again. Was that really his only option? He agreed, agitatedly, and hung up. He stepped back into the apartment from the balcony to find you seated on the sofa.

“Who was that?” you asked.

“Geeta and Rika.”

You nodded, then looked away.

“(Y/n), I have to go meet her for training at some point. Geeta won’t let up on that.”

You shrugged. “Go ahead.”

“No, because you’re going to be mad about it the entire time,” he said defeatedly.

“Yes, Larry, because YOU fucked it up from the beginning by bringing her here.”

“I thought we were past this, (y/n).”

The air felt colder between the two of you, the diamond on your finger weighing heavier than usual. Were you being unfair? You knew how Geeta could be, how much pressure she put on him. He had already turned her down once, maybe it wasn’t fair to ask him to do it a second time.

You closed your eyes and sucked in a breath.

“I’m trying to move past it, Larry. But it feels like we keep getting pulled back into it.”

He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face.

“What can I do?” he asked.

You shook your head, realizing you didn’t even know what you wanted from him.

Levi stood behind you, buckling the last of your straps and tugging them to secure their tightness. You could feel his fingers lightly shaking as he fiddled with the buckles. You turned around to face him, his face drawn into its usual pout, but with a hint of concern that only you could discern from your years spent together.

"She'll be fine," he spoke, but you knew he was convincing himself as much as he was convincing you.

Your daughter had grown into a fine Scout, despite your and Levi's initial insistence that she avoid this lifestyle at all costs. But she admired the work of the Scouts, the dedication her parents had poured their lives into. So you relented and allowed her to chase her dreams under the condition that Levi train her in addition to her regular training in the Scout Regiment. And she stuck to it, working day and night to improve her skill, her speed, her stamina.

Today was Isabel's first real expedition. As she stepped into the room with her parents, Levi glanced at her small stature and thought back to Isabel's namesake. Her bright red hair pulled into short pigtails. Her spunky attitude. The way she and Furlan had smiled at him as they reassured him they would be okay. The way her eyes had lost all of their glow when he found her in the aftermath of the Abnormal Titan.

Levi shook his head to clear the thoughts, instead focusing on his daughter now standing before him, her sleek dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, her uniform buckled and strapped securely. "Dad, I did it properly," she muttered as he double checked her straps anyways. You smiled gently and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Remember everything you've learned, everything we've taught you. Today is not a training, Isabel. This is real," you warned. She nodded. She understood the immense pressure you and Levi were under watching their little girl ride out on her first expedition. Truthfully, she was grateful to have you both with her today, even though she hated to admit that she was nervous.

"I know, Mom. I'll be okay," she reassured them.

--

You and Levi rode in front of everyone else, occasionally glancing back to check on Isabel. She faced forward, a familiar serious look on her face, only looking away when someone spoke to her.

Levi's knuckles were white as he gripped the reigns of his horse. He had taught her everything he knew, yet it didn't feel like enough. No amount of training would be enough to make Levi feel safe sending his only child into the death trap that was the Titans' grounds. He looked over to you to find you lost in thought. As he gazed at you, he saw bits of Isabel - slender eyes that sparkled in the sunlight, long dark hair that was susceptible to the harsh winds of today's expedition, and a fierce determination to survive. He loved you deeply, something he hadn't experienced before, something that frightened him after losing his best friends. But he had taken the risk and fallen in love, and now he had you and Isabel in his life.

"Feeling okay?" you asked, snapping him out of his daydream. He nodded and returned his attention to the path ahead. You could see the clearing through the trees, the open field that would leave you exposed on both sides. "Stick close," Levi called to everyone. "Yes, Captain," the Scouts called back.

You emerged from the thick forest and raised your hand to shield your eyes from the bright sunlight. Behind you, Isabel gripped her reins tighter, a pit forming in her stomach. Levi had warned her about the dangers of crossing into an open field with nowhere to latch ODM gear, but this was the only path that led to the last known location of the previous expedition. They had failed to return when expected, and believing that no one was to be left behind, Erwin had sent the next expedition out on a recovery mission. Her hands grew clammy and she tried her best to wipe them on her pants.

"No need to be nervous. We've got humanity's strongest with us today," the scout next to her reassured her, glancing towards Levi. It always embarrassed Levi when people referred to him that way, and the embarrassment rubbed off on Isabel. But it was true. He was humanity's strongest and he was the most capable person to lead them today.

The squad made their way through the open field, wearily scanning their surroundings and listening for any movement in the nearby scattered trees. Suddenly, Levi halted, signaling for everyone else to stop as well. It was eerily silent for just a moment before you spotted it, an Abnormal Titan lurking in the trees to your left. It hadn't moved, only watched as your squad came into its view. "No sudden movements," you said loudly enough for everyone to hear, but hopefully quiet enough to not startle the Titan. Isabel's stomach dropped as she saw the Titan too. It was larger than she had anticipated any Titan to be, save for the Colossal Titan, and she suddenly felt like she couldn't remember anything her father had said to her.

"Levi, we need to move," you whispered, eyes still fixated on the Titan that hadn't moved an inch.

"I know," he said, looking between the Titan and the nearby entrance to another patch of forest. "Everyone start moving forward, slowly. No sudden movements," he commanded, motioning for you to stay back with him. The soft clop of everyone's horses began as the scouts began to move forward, passing you and Levi who took up the rear. Your eyes never left the Titan, whose head followed your group's movements. It seemed to lose interest eventually, turning its body away and stalking off. Levi watched in surprise, but chose to accept it as a blessing and ordered everyone into the forest as fast as they could ride.

You were closing in on the entrance when you heard the first snap of tree branches. Then a scream, then several screams. Your eyes widened as a different Titan crashed through the trees on the right, barreling right into your squad. Some scouts were thrown from their horses, immediately crushed under the Titan's immense weight. Others were scooped into its opening maw, their screams echoing as its teeth clamped around them. You scanned the field in a panic, searching for Isabel. She had been thrown off her horse and was dragging herself towards the trees, her leg twisted in a horrific bend. Good, you thought, remember your training. "Always look for the first point of safety," you had told her early in her training. Levi spotted her as soon as you had and rode furiously toward her, ready to grab her arm and pull her onto his horse.

He slowed, getting ready to lean down and grab her as he called her name. She turned back, her pale face washing over with relief as she watched her father coming towards her to save her.

The scream caught in your throat as you watched the Titan turn around then, swooping down to catch Isabel in its teeth. The force of its movement knocked Levi to the ground, and he watched as Isabel fought, flailing and crying out, begging. "Mom, Dad," she screamed. You rode faster than you ever had, the leather of your reins digging into your palms. Levi staggered to his feet and immediately latched his ODM gear onto the Titan, swinging upwards in a futile attempt to reach Isabel. He watched her slip further into its mouth, listened to the sickening sound the Titan made as it swallowed. It raised its hand up and swatted at Levi, who detached just in time and landed unsteadily on his feet. 

Before Levi could get ready to shoot his gear back in, the Titan turned on its heel and sprinted away faster than you had ever seen one move.

--

You sat up in bed, a cold sweat soaking through your clothes. Just a nightmare, you thought to yourself. But then you looked down at your hands, cut deep by the reins of your horse, the reins you had gripped so tightly as you had made every desperate attempt to reach Isabel in time. A heaviness settled into you, a heaviness that made it hard to breathe. Tears burned in your eyes as you held a pillow to your face and screamed, sobs wracking your body.

Levi sat at his desk in the adjoining room, listening to your muffled screams. He stared at the papers on his desk. The standard report he was supposed to fill out after every expedition. It lay blank on the wooden table, Levi mindlessly tapping his fingers over it. He debated going into the bedroom to comfort you, but he wasn't sure he could bear to look at you, unsure if he could survive the guilt he would feel seeing Isabel's features in your face. He had been so close, his arm outstretched towards her. His little girl. His only child. Gone.

You continued to sob uncontrollably and gasped for air. It was quickly devolving into hyperventilation as the panic consumed your body. Levi rose from his desk, worried about the sounds he heard from the bedroom, and found you kneeling on the ground on all fours, struggling to catch your breath. He knelt beside you and placed a hand on your back, gently shushing you and stroking your hair.

"Breathe," he whispered into your ear. You shook your head, unable to stop.

He pulled you into a sitting position and drew you into his arms, holding you as you continued to sob, feeling his own tears burning behind his eyes. He cupped your face in his hands and found the courage to look into your eyes. They were glistening, wet with tears and bloodshot red. He stroked his thumb across your cheek.

Eventually, your breathing steadied, the tears running dry. He continued to hold you, gently rocking you back and forth.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

You squeezed your eyes shut. You knew deep down that there was nothing to apologize for. He had done everything he could have, you knew that. But a part of you felt angry and you weren't sure where to direct it. At him? At the Titan? At yourself? Everywhere you turned, you found something to blame. Levi could have acted faster. The Titan could have ignored Isabel and gone for another scout instead. You could have trained her better. There were too many what-ifs to consider and it would eat you alive to try and work through them all.

"I'm sorry," he said again, squeezing you tighter. You pulled away from him and rose to your feet, offering a hand to help him stand. He took it, gratefully, and didn't let go as you faced each other.

"What do we do?" you asked quietly.

"I don't know," he breathed out.

You stood in silence for a minute until a knock came at the front door. You followed Levi into the main room and waited as he pulled open the heavy wooden door. Erwin stood in the doorway, tall and imposing.

"I'm sorry," he said to Levi. He glanced over to you, the same words lost on his lips as he took in your fragile form. Levi remained silent and opened the door wider to allow him inside.

"What do you want?" he asked coolly.

"I just came to check on you," Erwin said.

"How the fuck do you think we are?" Levi shot back.

"Levi," you started.

Erwin met Levi's intense glare. He saw the rage boiling up inside him, felt the grief hanging heavily in the air. You stood in the corner, feeling small, unsure how to process that grief, let alone help Levi work through it.

"You should never have sent them on that suicide mission as their first expedition." The words flew out of Levi's mouth before he could stop them and consider whether they were unfair. He hesitated for a moment, a flash of regret in his eyes.

"Levi, don't. It's not his fault," you interjected. But Levi stood firm and unwilling to back down.

"It's okay," Erwin said. He knew Levi hadn't meant it, at least he hoped he hadn't. And he trusted that Levi was a good enough soldier to realize that every mission was a suicide mission. But he didn't know what it was like to be a father. He didn't know where to begin imagining the pain that you and Levi were experiencing. So he turned to leave, gently closing the door behind him. Levi watched as the door latched, back turned to you.

"That was unfair," you said quietly.

"I know."

“Look at you making big steps!” Rika shrieked excitedly towards Larry as she held your hand, examining the ring. “How much is the League paying you to even afford something like this?”

“Let me see!” Poppy chimed in. You knelt down to show her as she admired its sparkle.

“Congratulations, Larry,” Geeta said warmly.

“It really is a wonderful change for you. I never thought I’d see the day,” Hassel sighed, wiping away at imaginary tears.

The Elite Four team had arrived in Medali that morning and it only took Rika a few seconds to notice the large diamond on your finger. She jumped up and down, hugging Larry, much to his dismay. “Rika, we have neighbors,” he shushed, trying to get her to calm down and let go of him. She settled down, still squealing excitedly.

“Why don’t we make our way to the gym? I’m ready for lunch and ready to see how things have been progressing on your end, Larry,” Geeta suggested. “I think you should come along too, (y/n). Perhaps the opportunity will come along for you to battle as well,” she smiled. You weren’t entirely sure what she meant by that, but you happily agreed.

The six of you made your way down to the Treasure Eatery, the host straightening his back and nodding as he regarded Geeta and Larry. “Just six orders of the usual, please,” Larry said to the host as he led everyone to a secluded booth towards the back. Geeta and Larry engaged in a tense conversation about the gym, potential modifications, room for improvement, etc. Hassel and Poppy argued over her table manners, while Rika sat across from you and smiled.

“I haven’t seen Larry like this before,” she offered.

“What do you mean?” you asked.

“He just seems… lighter. He actually smiles, and not just when he needs to for work.”

You blushed, unsure how to accept the compliment.

Before Rika could continue, the host called back to Larry, who gave you a weary look. “Geeta, this really isn’t the best -” he began, but she stood and walked away towards the new trainer who approached the arena. She bore the academy’s uniform and seemed close in age to you, perhaps a year or two older. You wondered what circumstances brought her to still be at the academy. Geeta stood to the side as Larry walked up to her and nodded. They exchanged a few words and made their way to their respective sides of the arena.

As they battled, you couldn’t help but notice Larry casting sideways glances at Geeta. He seemed almost distracted, intensely avoiding eye contact with the trainer and instead seeming to plead with Geeta through his usual bored facade. But you had known him long enough now to see through it, to see that he desperately needed something from her. The battle ended as Larry recalled Staraptor, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead and messing up his well-groomed hair in the process. You briefly made eye contact with him and smiled, but he heaved a big sigh and stepped towards the trainer. He passed her the gym badge.

“I believe it’s Larry’s tradition to treat trainers to a meal after battle. Perhaps we should leave them be,” Geeta stated as she returned to your table. You shrugged and followed her out of the restaurant, glancing back over your shoulder at Larry, who looked more worn down than usual.

–

Geeta and the others had returned to their hotel for the night. You sat in bed, waiting anxiously for Larry to come home. You had tried to read a book, watch a show, anything to get your mind off of wondering what had overcome him during the battle, but it was futile. The soft patter of rain on the window was soothing at least. So soothing that you, in fact, fell asleep at some point.

You awoke to find the door to your bedroom closed. Odd, you thought. You usually left it cracked open to allow Larry’s Pokemon to go in and out as they pleased. As you approached the door to open it again, you could make out the sound of someone laughing and soft chatter. It didn’t sound like Rika’s boisterous voice or Poppy’s shrill laugh. It wasn’t Hassel’s deep baritone, and you certainly couldn’t imagine Geeta laughing as happily, if at all.

Quietly, you pulled the door open and peeked through the crack to see someone standing at the end of the hallway – the trainer from the gym. It felt like the earth had fallen out from under you. She laughed again, playfully shoving Larry, who was just out of frame around the corner. “Sounds like a plan then. I’ll text you to see when you’re free!” she said cheerily. What the fuck? What the actual fuck?

You then saw Larry come into view as he guided her to the front door, waving goodbye as she stepped outside. He began to make his way towards the bedroom and you tried to decide in that split second whether to confront him or pretend to be asleep and think on it. There was a deep rooted anger starting to rise in you though and you knew that you wouldn’t be able to sleep if you left it alone. He pushed the bedroom door open, face flushed a deep red color.

“Are you drunk?” you asked incredulously.

He shook his head, bracing himself against the doorframe.

“You’re lying,” you said in a flat voice.

“We had a drink or two after the meal, Geeta insisted everything go on her tab,” he admitted.

We. Him and the trainer. You weren’t one to get jealous usually, but something uneasy stirred inside you.

“And then what?” you pushed.

He stared at you, eyes glazed over, confused.

“And then we came back here,” he stated bluntly as if there was nothing wrong with it.

“You thought it was appropriate to get drunk with another trainer and then to bring her back here, to our home?”

“It was raining, I didn’t want her to walk back in this weather.”

Something ugly reared its head inside you. It was raining. Just like the night you had battled. You tried to stop the words from coming out, but it bubbled up so rapidly, so out of control.

“Is that your playbook, Larry? Battle the pretty trainer then pretend to be a gentleman inviting her over to stay out of the rain? How many times have you done this?”

He sobered up quickly, like a bucket of cold water had been thrown on him.

“(Y/n), it’s not like that. We were just talking.”

“Yeah? You and I were just talking too until you had your hands down my pants.”

“Nothing happened,” he said with a hint of anger laced in his voice.

“You’re fucking drunk, Larry. You can barely stand on your own right now. How am I supposed to believe that nothing happened? In my own fucking home, while I’m right here.”

“Stop.”

“And what’s this ‘I’ll text you to see when you’re free’? You’re making plans to see each other again?”

“(Y/n), stop,” he repeated.

“What am I, just another one on the list?”

That last one was like a knife in Larry’s gut. He froze, but it wasn’t clear if it was because he was still getting over his drunken haze or because he was truly scared of what you were implying. You felt a pang of guilt, letting the words fly out without much thought. But your anger outweighed your guilt and you refused to back down. He stepped towards you, to grab your hand, but you backed away.

“She’s just a friend, (y/n). Nothing more than that.”

“Since when have you ever made friends that quickly? With another trainer? You, who always prefers to eat alone, to enjoy your meal and then leave. Who are you to suddenly decide you want to stay out late and get drunk with someone?”

Tears welled in your eyes, but you refused them. No, you were not going to let him see you cry tonight.

“I just… I don’t know,” he sighed, rubbing his eyes.

You weren’t sure who felt more defeated. You simply shook your head and brushed past him, making your way to the spare bedroom.

–

The next morning, Larry felt like hell. He thanked whatever gods there were that it was his one day off from work and rolled over in bed. He suddenly noticed the cold emptiness where you usually were. He sat up abruptly to check his phone – no messages or calls from you. He vaguely remembered arguing last night, but his mind was too foggy to remember the exact details. He stood up, swayed a little, and stepped into the hall. He pushed open the door to the spare bedroom to find it empty.

He walked around the seemingly empty apartment, growing increasingly worried. Making his way to the living room, he noticed a small golden tube on the ground near the sofa. He picked it up, turning it over in his fingers. Lipstick? But you never really wore much makeup. Then it hit him suddenly like a brick to the face. The trainer from last night. She wore a deep red lipstick that Larry thought would look good on you. She must have dropped it out of her bag.

A horrible feeling settled in Larry’s stomach as he rushed back to the bedroom and opened the closet doors. Sure enough, one of your duffel bags was missing along with a handful of clothes that had been neatly hung or folded. He remembered the fight last night. Surely you saw the lipstick on the ground outside and assumed the worst, confirmed your worst fears. But nothing had happened other than the gentle pat he gave the trainer to rebuff her advances.

“Geeta said you would be training me personally and I thought… maybe we could train other stuff as well?” she had suggested in a sultry voice. Larry had been so caught off guard that he didn’t immediately respond, which she took as an opportunity to advance. She made her way to move closer to him, but he gently placed his hand on her shoulder to distance himself.

“I have someone already,” he blurted out. She backed down, nodded thoughtfully, and then laughed.

“Right. I was just joking of course,” she forced out embarrassingly, playfully shoving him away.

How had he even ended up with her at his apartment? Sure, he hadn’t lied when he said it was raining, but you were right to be upset that he was drunk. Larry never got drunk, rarely had more than one beer a night. But then he remembered Geeta’s words at the gym, her instructions to take a “trainer with great potential” under his wing and to dedicate his efforts towards her progress for now. He insisted that it wasn’t really a good idea, that maybe someone like Rika would be better suited. But Geeta would not be swayed. So he forced himself to make small talk with the trainer, downing beer after beer to get through the painfully irritating exchange. And he had genuinely felt guilty about making her walk back in the rain, but perhaps he should have just waited out the rain with her at the Treasure Eatery rather than at his own home. A place that was special to the two of you.

Larry’s mind was plagued with ways last night could have been better, alternatives that would have been more reasonable. But there was no point in dwelling on it now. He pulled his phone out again to call you only to be directed to voicemail. Increasingly frantic, he shot you one, two, then three text messages to ask where you were. Nothing. 

An hour went by with no response. He had been pacing back and forth at home, not sure where you could have gone to get away from him. You had brought a bag full of clothes with you - maybe you were at the hotel? There was only one in Medali, so he figured his chances were good that you were there.

He arrived at the lobby only to be surprised by Rika.

“Larry! What are you doing here?” she chirped.

He hesitated, unsure whether to ask if she had seen you, ultimately revealing that you had gotten into a disastrous fight. But he was desperate.

“Have you seen (y/n)?”

“...no? Why would she be here?”

Larry shook his head. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve been down here all morning, Larry. I would’ve noticed. What’s going on?”

He gave her a pleading look to not ask anymore questions and to not share his worry with anyone else. She nodded in understanding, slightly worried, as he quickly left.

Larry stood outside the hotel, his heart racing. He had flashbacks to that awful fight about him leaving to go to Alola, the way you were so determined to end things. No, he would fix this. He would find you and make you understand. A flash of inspiration hit him then – he had access to the contact list for every Champion in the Paldean region. Including Nemona.

“Nemona? It’s Larry.”

“Oh, hi Larry.” She sounded nervous.

“Have you heard from (y/n)?”

There was a pause, then a sigh.

“Larry, I don’t think she wants to talk to you right now. It might be good to give her space.”

The words sent him into a spiral.

“Nemona, I’m just worried about her. Do you know where she went?”

She paused again.

“She’s coming to stay with me for a little bit. She should be here soon.”

A sense of relief washed over him.

“But please don’t come, Larry. I’m serious. She doesn’t want to see you.”

He mumbled a brief goodbye and hung up, hurrying back to the apartment. Once inside, he went to clean himself up in the bathroom, sweaty and frazzled from his panic. He pulled open a drawer to grab his hairbrush when he noticed a slight twinkle at the bottom. The pit inside him only deepened as he reached in and pulled out your ring.

–

Your eyes were sore from crying as you sobbed into Nemona’s shoulder. She didn’t say a word, only held you as you cried and leaned her head against yours. Arven stood in the kitchen of Nemona’s room, nervously tapping the countertop.

“This is probably just a big misunderstanding,” he proposed.

“Yeah, it just doesn’t seem like him. He wouldn’t throw away something this good,” Nemona agreed.

You sniffled and lifted your head. “I don’t feel like I recognized him last night.”

They both nodded, unsure of what else to say.

Nemona stood and let you lay down on her bed. She approached Arven, tugging him to the side.

“I did something bad,” she whispered. “I told Larry she was here.”

Arven’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “Why would you do that?!”

“He called me and I was nervous and… and… you know I’m bad at lying!”

The two of them bickered while you laid in bed, dazed, ignoring their hushed conversation. Had you overreacted? Should you have given him a chance to explain himself? Maybe, but maybe not. Maybe he had felt that same spark with this trainer, maybe he wanted to relive the honeymoon phase you had shared together, but with someone new. There were so many maybes that it made your head swim.

A sudden knock at the door cut through your thoughts, silencing both Nemona and Arven.

“Look what you’ve done,” Arven grunted as he went to open the door.

He stepped back as Larry entered the room. Nemona moved to stand between you and him. 

“I told you not to come.”

“I wasn’t going to just wait around,” he replied. He glanced over Nemona’s shoulder at you and sighed. You looked so fragile, so tired. Guilt rang through him.

“Nemona, I think we should just go,” Arven suggested, shifting on his feet. Nemona turned to you and you slowly nodded in agreement. You loved Nemona and Arven as your best friends, but this was something you didn’t want them to be involved in more than they already were. She walked past Larry without a second glance, following Arven and shutting the door behind them.

You turned over, back towards Larry. He came to sit on the edge of the bed and reached out a hand to touch you, but hesitated, ultimately deciding not to just yet.

“I was so worried something had happened to you.”

“I’m fine.”

He swallowed a lump in his throat.

“It’s really not what you think it is, (y/n).”

You rolled over to look at him. He noticed then how truly hurt you were, the pain in your eyes. He gently placed his hand on yours, waiting to see if you would slap it away or accept him. You flinched, but didn’t immediately retract your hand – a small win. He swallowed again, took a deep breath, and tried to explain everything to you. You listened intently, occasionally looking away and seeming distant, other times staring directly at him.

“I promise you, nothing happened. I love you, and only you,” he concluded.

You considered his words, unsure how to proceed. It made sense, you admitted. Perhaps you really should have let him explain before taking off so suddenly. But you still felt the familiar anger, unable to reconcile everything within yourself, unable to get past the fact that he had gotten drunk with a random girl and brought her home. You sat up, hand still resting within his.

“Do you have any idea what it was like to wake up and hear another girl’s voice in our home? That late at night?”

“I closed the bedroom door to try and let you sleep,” he explained, completely missing the point of the question.

“That’s not the point, Larry. The point is that it really fucking hurt.”

“I’m sorry.”

You rolled your eyes, unwilling to forgive him yet.

He pulled your ring out of his pocket and held it up to you. “Why did you take this off?”

Truth be told, you took it off as an act of defiance, a big “fuck you” to him. It was immature, but it also made you ponder if marrying him was the right move after all.

“Because I don’t know anymore.” Technically the truth.

Another lump to swallow down. He tried to steady his breaths, to not panic.

“Don’t know about marrying me or being with me at all?”

The question stung both of you.

“I don’t know,” you repeated.

In the time you had been together, Larry had learned to let some of his walls come down. He felt safe being vulnerable around you. But now, he felt himself retreating behind those same walls, putting up his guard to avoid the hurt he feared was inevitably coming. Had he truly fucked up this badly? He thought his explanation would have been enough, but you were still so hurt.

“It’s not just going to go away overnight, Larry. I know you didn’t mean to do this, I know you’re sorry, but that doesn’t change the fact that it hurt me. And I’m allowed to feel that way,” you said. He nodded slowly, attempting to squeeze your hand in his.

“Please come home. Let me fix this,” he asked.

You looked away, not wanting to continue the conversation. But part of you also felt exhausted and wanted nothing more than to crawl into your bed and cry into Larry’s chest. As if he could sense your feelings, he added, “We don’t have to talk right now. We don’t have to do anything. I just want you to come home to me.”

--

Several months had passed. You succeeded in becoming a Champion after defeating the Elite Four, Larry included. Geeta had been impressed, commenting that she hadn’t seen Larry perform so well in a long time. She nodded at you in approval at the end of your battle, a silent reconciliation between the two of you for the hurt she had caused in Larry’s reassignment. He was permitted to stay in Paldea, to maintain his job, and everything seemed to be going well in your relationship. You truly felt happy.

It was Larry’s last day in Mesagoza for a bit and you were sorting the details of your next trip to see him in Medali.

“My classes wrap up at the end of that week, so I can probably come on Saturday,” you said.

Larry hummed and nodded, seemingly lost in his thoughts.

“Or I can just never come visit again and this will be the last time you see me,” you said with a straight face. He hummed and nodded again, confirming that he wasn’t listening to you. You nudged his shoulder, which caught his attention and he sheepishly apologized.

“So Saturday?” you asked.

“How long do you think you’ll stay?”

“I’m not sure, maybe a week, a week and a half? I guess it just depends on your schedule.”

“What if you just stay?”

You chuckled.

“Well yeah, I’m going to stay for some time at least, I just don’t know exactly how long yet.”

He turned to you with a serious look on his face.

“No, I mean just stay. Don’t leave and go back to Mesagoza.”

You stared at him, mouth slightly open. You considered his proposal. After this semester, you would be finished with classes at the academy and didn’t have much of a reason to stay in Mesagoza, after all. Your friends would still be here, but you could easily visit them whenever you wanted. All you had to do was tell Nemona you were up for a battle and she’d appear wherever you were instantly. You also didn’t really have a plan for next steps after the academy, let alone a place to live once you moved out of the school dorms.

“Okay,” you smiled.

He nodded, still maintaining a serious face.

“Good, because I signed a lease on a new, bigger apartment.”

It surprised you, the number of times Larry could say something to catch you off guard, even this far into your relationship.

“And if I had said no to moving in with you?”

“Then I would have had a giant apartment all to myself and would probably get lonely.”

You laughed.

–

A few weeks later, you sat in your empty room, taking in its final moments. Nemona and Arven had come to say goodbye; they had opted to stay at the academy longer to continue training and research, but understood that your life had taken a dramatically different path to theirs.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Treasure Eatery, I hear great things about it from other trainers,” Arven mused as he tapped his shoe on the kitchen tile.

“We have to go next time there’s a gym test! It’s amazing to see the whole restaurant transform into an arena!” Nemona excitedly suggested.

You smiled. You would truly miss them, but were looking forward to this next step in your life. As you continued to make plans to see each other again, Larry knocked lightly at the already open door. Arven went silent as he took in Larry’s quiet, slightly imposing frame, but Nemona cheerily waved, welcoming him into the space.

“If you ever want to become a Champion yourself Arven, I’d be happy to face you,” Larry said a little too seriously for Arven’s liking. Nemona clapped at the idea, throwing her arm over Arven’s shoulder. “That would be so cool! Then we could battle all the time!” she cheered. Arven rolled his eyes.

“Ready to go?” Larry asked, turning to you. You nodded, slinging your backpack over your shoulder and following everyone out of the room.

–

In Medali, your new apartment had the same minimalist design that Larry preferred, save for a few trinkets here and there that you had put too much sentimental value into. You were mostly unpacked within a few days, settling in nicely to your new life in the quieter suburbs of Medali.

You were plopped down on the couch scrolling through your phone when Larry returned from work. He carried a plastic bag with him that contained dinner from the Treasure Eatery. He set the bag down on the kitchen counter with a heavy sigh and shrugged off his suit jacket, tossing it haphazardly onto the back of a dining chair. You glanced up at his handsome, albeit exhausted, face.

“Long day?”

“It’s always a long day,” he muttered quietly.

You motioned for him to come sit on the couch with you, gently threading your fingers through his black and greying hair.

“Geeta is bringing the whole team out in a few days to check on the progress of the gym.”

“Did the exceptional everyman do something to get in trouble?” you teased, hinting at the nickname the host always called him by when announcing a new challenger.

He rolled his eyes. “No, she’s just making the rounds to check up on all the gyms lately.”

He sighed as you continued to run your fingers through his hair, admiring the silkiness of it. You glanced at the coffee table in front of you, where a small slice of cake with a candle sticking out sat, ready to be blown out. You knew he was truly tired if he hadn’t even noticed it. You cleared your throat to get his attention, flicking your eyes to the plate.

“What is this for?”

“I believe it’s someone’s birthday today.”

He pulled out his phone and looked at the date.

“How did you even remember?”

“Larry, it’s not that hard to remember someone’s birthday, especially when they’re someone close to you.”

You smirked. “Do you remember when my birthday is?”

The color drained from his face. Was it in April, or was it May? He suddenly felt guilty, realizing that he could have completely missed your birthday altogether. His worst fears came true when you leaned down and whispered into his ear, “It was last Thursday.” You weren’t upset by any means that he had forgotten your birthday, you knew that he considered it to be something trivial; if anything, it was a bitter reminder to him about his own age.

“I’m so sorry,” he started, but you shook your head, laughing.

“It’s really okay.”

“Is that why Nemona and Arven sent you that box of candy from Mesagoza?” Your favorite box of sweets from your favorite shop in Mesagoza. It had arrived at your front door last week before Larry had gotten home from work. Part of you wondered and hoped that maybe he had remembered, but you still smiled when you read the card from Nemona and Arven.

“No, I’m sorry, really. I should have remembered,” he insisted, grasping your hand. You kissed him lightly on the cheek and motioned for him to blow out his candle. It was a small gesture that held immense emotional value for Larry. He hadn’t had a birthday cake since he was a child, and even then, his parents barely made an event out of it. He appreciated that you hadn’t gone to extraordinary lengths to throw a lavish surprise together, something that probably would have given him a heart attack. He loved the intimacy of this moment between the two of you, a private, quiet celebration of the changes that had occurred in Larry over the last year.

He reminisced on the last year, thinking back to the first night you had met in Medali at the Treasure Eatery. He remembered you walking through the door, determined and ready to face him. He was absorbed in his meal, not paying attention, until he glanced up to see who he was about to battle, and found himself at a loss for words. He hadn’t seen someone like you before and he immediately knew that you were different from the previous trainers he had battled. Now, he looked over at you, not fully understanding the way you smiled at him and why you had chosen him of all people.

He blew out the candle and plucked it from the cake before the wax ran down.

“What did you wish for?” you eagerly asked.

“I thought you weren’t supposed to tell.”

“You’re also supposed to remember your girlfriend’s birthday, but who’s keeping track?” you sarcastically replied, winking at him.

Even though he didn’t show it, he adored the way you always had a comeback, something to keep him on his toes. He hesitated, debating whether to tell you the truth, or to come up with an innocent white lie.

“I wished that when the time is right, you’ll say yes.”

He stared at you with his best poker face, attempting to mask any emotions as he studied your features for any miniscule reaction. You returned an equally blank stare.

“Say yes to what?”

“You know what I’m talking about, (y/n).”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

He moved to stand up from the couch, heading into the kitchen to grab two forks and a beer. You followed closely behind, determined to make him say the words explicitly.

“Have you really thought about that?” you prodded.

His back was turned to you while he fiddled with the tab on his beer can.

“Have you not?” he returned, still working to open the tab.

You took the can from him and popped it open.

“Well… of course I have. I just didn’t think you were there yet,” you admitted.

“I turned down a job for you and now we live together. I think marriage is the next logical thing anyone would think of,” he stated bluntly. He had a fair point.

“Do you want to marry me because it’s the next thing you think we should do, or because you love me?” you asked quietly, suddenly feeling very small. For some reason, his words had made you feel guilty for prying, especially when he brought up the job offer again.

“They’re not mutually exclusive, (y/n).”

Why couldn’t he just say that it was because he loved you? Sure, he was being logical, and you knew that he tended to lean more on the logical side than the emotional side (save for some intensely difficult moments in your relationship.) But didn’t he know it would be easier to tell you what you wanted to hear anyways?

“I guess,” you shrugged, and let the matter drop.

–

The next morning, you woke up feeling tense from the previous night’s conversation. Larry had gotten up to go to work already and was nowhere to be found. You padded into the kitchen where he had already brewed a pot of coffee for you. Next to your favorite mug was a small folded note:

Meet me by the amphitheater for lunch.

– 

Lunchtime rolled around before you had a chance to do anything productive (thanks to your tendency to scroll for hours on your phone.) You pulled on a summer dress and some sandals and headed out the door towards the amphitheater.

It was a beautiful day out. The sun was shining, the skies were clear, and there was a gentle breeze floating through the air. People were out with their Pokemon, ambitious young trainers running around to gather answers to the gym test. You smiled, remembering when you were in that position just over a year ago.

You approached the amphitheater, which was usually empty for most of the day. Larry was sitting with his back to you and… a bouquet of flowers next to him? You stepped towards him and he turned.

“You look beautiful.”

As you stepped closer, you saw the bouquet of bright pink peonies, your favorite flowers, and the small cupcake with strawberry frosting, your favorite flavor.

“Happy birthday,” he shyly said, gesturing for you to take the flowers and cupcake. “I’m sorry I forgot.”

You blushed, smiling as you sniffed the peonies.

“You really didn’t have to do all this.”

“I know, but I wanted you to know how important you are to me.”

You set everything down on a nearby seat and hugged him tightly. He kissed the top of your head, hoping that no one would be around to see the rest of your lunch date. You unwrapped the cupcake and licked a small scoop of frosting, Larry not missing the way your tongue slipped out and – no, this was not the time for that. He pulled you to sit down on the stone steps.

“I’m also sorry about last night. I know I kind of sounded like an ass.”

“It’s okay, I understood where you were coming from.”

He shook his head. “But I don’t want to get married just out of convenience or because it’s what is expected. I do love you, and I do want to marry you.”

You nodded thoughtfully. “I know.”

“It’s just that after we talked last night… I realized there was no point in pretending like it wasn’t going to happen eventually,” he continued.

You laughed. “Awfully confident, aren’t you?”

“Tell me you want to marry me too,” he said, almost as a plea.

You gazed into his dark eyes, searching for the reason behind his sudden urgency.

“Yes, I want to marry you,” you finally said after a minute of forcing him to hold his breath.

He chuckled, which was an odd reaction you thought. “What’s funny about that?” you asked.

He looked away, seeming to get lost in his thoughts again. “I never believed in birthday wishes coming true. I thought it was just something adults told kids to make them happy.”

“What are you talking about?” Then it struck you. His birthday wish, his wish for you to say yes when the time was right. Your mouth opened slightly, your eyes widening. He looked back at you and smiled, reaching into his suit jacket.

Your eyes burned as he pulled out a ring with a magnificent diamond in its center.

“I feel like you coerced me into saying yes,” you joked, trying to hold in the tears, as he slid the ring onto your finger. “How long have you even had this?”

“I bought it when I thought I was going to have to move to Alola. I wanted to give it to you then so you would remember me. Not necessarily as a proposal at the time, but maybe more like a promise ring?”

You gaped at him, then back down at the ring.

“You know, Larry, you’re the only man I know who would propose to his girlfriend on his lunch break.” He let out a laugh, a genuine laugh, and pulled you in for a kiss.

“I actually took the rest of today off.”

You gasped. “Are you feeling okay? Am I in a dream?” you sarcastically wondered aloud.

He rolled his eyes and motioned for you to eat the cupcake.

“So does the ring count as my birthday gift, or do I also get an additional gift?”

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