#clashing styles

Chapter 1 Levi Ackerman

If there’s anything Levi Ackerman has learned from his career as a fashion designer throughout the years, it is that:

1.) When it comes to hosting a runway show, you can never believe anything will be alright until you personally check on it. 

2.) If you think you have checked everything, check again.  

3.) Once you’re confident enough to dare believe that everything will go smoothly, Fortuna herself will make sure you learn a lesson by sending someone to screw things up, in the most unexpected way.

And that is exactly what is happening right now.

“What do you mean she cut all her hair?” Levi hisses to Miche, one of the show producers. The broad man is equally dumbfounded, doesn't even bother to reply. “We specifically told the modeling agency we want long hair models. How on earth…” 

Levi finds himself losing words, unable or unwilling to comprehend the rather unique situation, whether it is the state of the said model’s recognition skills or the fact that they need to find a replacement NOW, in the middle of Fashion Week when literally all decent models in the city had been booked out!!

Four hours before the show is set to kick off, they are already screwed. 

Terrific.

“I’ve already called other agencies to see if they can send someone,” Nanaba, the other show producer, speaks up while she’s staring at her phone. "But don't get your hopes up, Levi. From the photos they sent me, those available either do not have long enough hair or just don't look the part. Maybe we should settle with what we've got, you know? I mean... I'm sure we can still create a fitted look with the headpiece or..."

“That would be unfit to the narrative, and you know it!” Levi fires back, gritting his teeth while looking around the packed backstage. The whole place is in clutter. A necessary evil he is willing to put up with for making a show. But at the moment, with one model short, the mere sight of Nifa, his lead make-up artist, using the working table instead of one of the dressing desks to show other make-up artists the final look, is enough to drive him crazy.

Slowly, Levi breathes in, and out, forcing his shoulders to relax. A rustle catches his attention. Beside him, Mikasa, his intern, and little cousin, is pulling the racks of showpieces to the middle of the room before she and other dressers can start dressing the models. Just as he had instructed 5 minutes ago. 

"Do we really only need long hair, Levi? It’s nearly impossible for us to find someone who not only has waist-length hair but also can fit into the dress and walk the runway," Mikasa says, blinking at him. as she always does since she was a little girl when she senses Levi is about to lose his temper. 

"Well… Petra and Oluo said they can try extensions or wigs,” Armin, the marketing intern who reports directly to Erwin -- the brand’s co-founder and CEO who’s in charge of anything but design -- hesitantly suggests. The boy doesn’t dare to look at Levi’s face when he speaks, “I mean, they are confident that the audience won't notice."

"But I will," Levi sighs in defeat. He glances at Mikasak, the even edge of her inverted bob sticking out like a sore thumb to his eyes. When his little cousin decided to cut her long hair last year, after starting her first term in fashion school, Levi was happy for her. The style suits her. But at this very moment, he really misses her fuzzy locks.

"Do you have any friends from school whose hair is long enough and is willing to walk the runway?" Levi asks Mikasa and Armin. The two interns stare at him, shaking their heads

"Walk the runway? Lots! Long enough hair? One or two. But no one can fit into the dresses." Mikasa shrugs, settling the last rack right in front of Levi, before walking to the dressing desk nearby to grab her phone.

"I can think of one person who’s thin enough and has long hair," Eren says as he sits at the dressing desk suddenly decides to make his presence known, kicking to swivel the chair around to face them. The tin foil Petra and Oluo put on the crown of his head to give his shoulder-length hair a silver highlight shines brightly under the warm lighting.

Levi scowls, knowing the boy’s about to say something dumb, and only Mikasa when he's making that face, something only Mikasa would laugh. 

“Who? Do we know her?” Mikasa asks, giggling as Eren puts his hand on her waist. Levi closes his eyes for a second, swallowing whatever he wants to say to the lovebirds.

The only reason he tolerates Eren in the working environment is because Miche and Nanaba, as well as Erwin , think it’s a good idea to have a rising soccer player on the runway as an athlete cameo. To attract more youth attention. As Erwin puts it.

Focus , Levi says to himself, We have a problem to solve . 

“Aunt Kuchel,” answers Eren. Levi rolls his eyes.

Without a word, the designer turns on his heels and walks away, physically extracting himself before he has a chance to hit his cousin's stupid boyfriend. 

But Aunt Kuchel’s on holiday in Buenos Aires, Eren! Mikasa exclaims. 

Shaking his head, the designer blames himself for agreeing to let Eren walk on the show. 

As if I haven't had enough of his stupidness in my private life. The brat.

“Hey, Nanaba!" Then suddenly, another voice catches Levi’s attention. 

"How’s the replacement search going? Any luck?” Nifa, Levi’s trusted lead make-up artist whom he has been working with since day one, speaks up as she finishes demonstrating today's look to the make-up team.  

“No. Why? Oluo and Petra are trying to figure things out with headpieces…” Nanaba replies with a rather uncertain tone which Levi is too familiar with. She only speaks in that way when they are trying to salvage something.

Is there really no other way?

Frustrated. Levi turns to look at the entire room. The 44 minus 1 models have begun to find their designated clothes from the racks. 11 of them, plus Eren, will walk for the diffusion line Wings of Freedom . The other 33 minus 1 are walking Levi Ackerman , his eponymous brand, with each look completed with a delicate hairstyle and headpieces, making it inconvenient for models to change clothes during mid-show. Not to mention, the clothes Levi designs for his signature line are not meant to be put on hastily.

Maybe instead of making up a plan B for the hairstyle, he should just pull one look out of the show, sending only 43 models off the runway?

The mere thought of it feels like a punch to his stomach.

“Because if you haven’t found anyone. How about I give Hange a call? It's Wednesday so she's about to finish lecturing like...” Nifa says, pulling out her phone to look at the time. "...like now."

As soon as the name ‘Hange' leaves Nifa's lips, Levi can tell that something has changed. Because immediately, Miche and Nanaba stop, eyes lighting up.

"Hange?! Yes, of course!" Nanaba cries, looking up to Miche, elbowing him. "Why didn't we think of her sooner? Of course, Hange can do this, Miche! She'll be perfect!"

"What are you waiting for, Nifa? Call her!" Miche encourages, smiling as Nifa runs to the side to make a call. 

"Well, it seems that things will turn out as you want, Levi." Miche lets out a long sigh. " I can't believe we can actually find someone at this hour. You should give Nifa a raise." 

Levi stares at the show’s directing duo and long-time friends, trying to feel their enthusiasm as Nanaba goes back to work, talking to the lighting technicians through wireless. Yet, as much as he trusts his friends, he cannot allow himself to share their optimism so easily. Not until he finds out more about this Hange they seem to have so much faith in.

“So, this Hange, ” Levi starts, walking beside Miche as the show producer goes to check if Nifa has successfully made contact. “She’s yours and Nifa’s friend?”

“Roommate,” Miche answers swiftly, arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the wall, waiting for Nifa to finish the call. “Hange is Nifa’s roommate. Nanaba shared their apartment before moving in with me. She fits all the criteria, Levi. Long-hair, 5 ft. 7. Fun and pretty. Runway-experienced . You’re going to love her!”

Love, huh? Levi can’t help but click his tongue . As much as he wants to share Miche’s optimism, his instinct doesn’t allow him to simply accept what he is told without getting further confirmation.

“If she’s that good, why didn’t you or Nanaba bring her up?” he asks, deadpan. “Neither of you thought of her earlier. And you expect me to just…“

“Because she doesn’t do this anymore! And Nana and I haven't seen her for months. Gosh, Levi! you need to have more faith in people. I’m starting to feel a little hurt!” Miche exclaims, fingers caressing his chest while making puppy eyes. 

Levi cringes and looks away. Miche snickers, taking a moment to enjoy his reaction.

“Okay, to answer your question,” the show producer continues, “I didn’t think of asking Hange, because she had retired from the limelight long ago. She’s an academic now. When we hung out, she didn’t behave like a showbiz gal. You know what I mean? But don’t worry about that. If I’m being honest, she’s more than competent to nail a runway. Overqualified , actually. And — ”

He tails off, as Nifa puts down her phone, looking up to face them.

“Well?” The show producer asks eagerly.

The make-up artist grins, fingers curl to a big OK. “Great! Let’s get to work!” 

Miche jumps to his feet, ready to resume whatever he’d left. Levi had no choice but to follow, running behind to keep up. He still has questions to ask.

“What do you mean overqualified ?” The designer yells behind the tall man. “Was she some kind of supermodel I’ve never heard of?”

Miche laughs, catching the sarcasm. 

“Not a supermodel.” The show producer smiles, turning around to face him. “You’re going to love this.”

“Well, what was she?” Levi asks. He’s already starting to feel irritated.