#mea.levi

The marketplace started to grow in view, stalls perched and merchants started to line their displays, loading their products and fresh produce out for all. Everyone talked amongst themselves, greeting one another and throwing the word around about the latest gossip. It was always a lively walk through the market; one of the reasons you encouraged Levi to start coming with you.

The two of you had crossed paths long in the past, neither dwelling upon the first meeting until it became apparent that you had a plan to stick around for whatever reason. Levi with his usual cold, unapproachable demeanour and steel-grey eyes watched every movement but not once did you seem phased by his attitude and unamused stare.

Even to this very moment, as he watched you out of the corner of his eyes, the same passive resting feature was present as the two of you made your way towards your errand stop. Nothing he did seemed to phase you, nor did the uncertainty of your lives as members of the Scouts. Even after countless losses, you were still able to hold some form of a smile on your lips.

At the provoking thought, Levi suddenly scoffed, gaze flitting over the crate of potatoes on his right. You briefly looked over at your partner, the stalk of corn in your hand suddenly forgotten as an impish gleam crossed your features, "Do the potatoes offend you, Levi?"

Levi's ears twitched at the sound of you giggling to yourself, returning to the corn as you sifted through the pile for a few more to add to your basket. You knew the potatoes had nothing to do with the offended noise from the man at your side, but teasing Levi was one of your favourite things to do. It threatened to unhinge the captain from time to time, how you found amusement at the cost of his patience from silly comments and ridiculous jokes.

He almost scoffed again, but was interrupted by you thanking the merchant and moving away from the stall without him, "Oi, don't walk away like that or you're gonna get lost."

The hand he had extended to tug on your shoulder never reached you, instead, he found himself retreating his hand under his black overcoat with hesitancy. As touch-starved as Levi was, a part of him still existed to refuse casually find physical comfort with you in public—reasons stemming from his fear of being vulnerable in front of others and the possibility of hurting you or getting you hurt.

Levi settled on following your steps, a firm watch on you despite the close distance he kept. Content that you were close enough should anything were to happen.

Despite having been together for almost a year, Levi was still obviously learning the ropes of being in a relationship. Far from a seamless mending of friends to lovers, the relationship between you and Levi just kind of awkwardly came up. His own team praising him for even uttering the words of summation all by himself.

Levi didn't quite ask you on a date. Had it not been for you piecing the almost incoherent words together, you would have assumed he was asking you to help him run errands—much like what the two of you were doing right now.

As the two of you went about the farmers market, grabbing bits and pieces of everything you would need for the week, Levi couldn't help but take notice of how you seemed to spare a glance in the direction of every couple or small family that walked by. By now he knew that people-watching was just one of the few things you liked to do when out and about, taking in the way each individual went about their days unaware of your curious gaze, but this felt different.

It was different.

You spun around on your heel, almost swinging your wicker basket into Levi in the midst of doing so, "Do you want stew and soda bread for dinner tonight or should we fry up some fish with steamed vegetables?"

Levi gave you an irritated look, your unapologetic smile beaming brightly at him as you awaited an answer.

"Food is food. We eat one thing tonight, we eat the other tomorrow. Does it matter which comes first?"

The only issue with spending nearly every day for a prolonged period of time with someone is the tendency for their behaviour and articulation to rub off. Unamused with his lacklustre response to your question, you gave him a pointed look, "Choice is a luxury that you can now afford, Ackerman."

Levi was ready to hurl back a sarcastic, I choose not to care what I eat for my dinners, but his response was interrupted by a shout of an unfamiliar name. Your attentions were drawn to a girl who stood off to the side, one arm waving as she stood on the tips of her toes. The namesake came rushing down the street, a bouquet of fresh colourful arrangements in one hand, the other opened to embrace the girl.

Grey eyes flickered from the couple back to yours. A wry smile tugged at your lips as you watched the girl gush over the flowers, the boy bashful in response. You noticed they had the same intricate wrapping as the ones on display at the vendor you always passed. With Levi in tow, you never stopped to check the stall because you knew Levi would be against the idea of getting "dying things that would just make a mess in the house."

Right, Levi.

Turning your attention back to your partner, you pinched the fabric of his coat, tugging him along to leave the couple alone, "If you really won't pick, then I'll just feed you mash potatoes and brussels sprouts, no butter."

Grimacing at the idea of the dry, bitter vegetable, Levi rolled his eyes, "Stew is fine."

Levi almost missed the satisfied smirk on your lips as your eyes searched for the last of your ingredients. You continued to weave down the cobblestone path between the rows of stalls, Levi lingered to spare a quick glance over his shoulder. The couple, now far from sight, remained an active memory; how stupidly happy the girl looked, and the yearning look on your face.

What has gotten into you today?

Perhaps this was just one of the many things Levi had still yet to grasp when it came to relationships but were flowers all that necessary? People sold cut flowers in assorted bunches that people would bring home, stick a vase and let it wilt all over their dining tables or on the windowsill. It sounded absolutely ridiculous to him and he did not like it one bit; especially the dreaded clean-up after.

As you perused the selection before you, Levi watched you interact with the vendor, asking about the various things they had to offer and their prices. You were always good at bargaining when the opportunity for it arose, the innocent smile and friendly banter always had you sweetening up sellers left and right. If it wasn't a discount, it would be free snacks and little knick nacks for you to bring home—or as Levi saw it, junk.

The man's face turned sour as his eye thinned out over your busy figure, his mind racing over the hard decision between getting you flowers or pretending he didn't catch you gawking at the couples all day. Finally settled on just pulling himself by the uniform straps for once and treating you to a bouquet, Levi hastily spun around in search of the florist, leaving you behind at the merchant's stall as you selected a fresh jar of jam.

The squad captain couldn't bring himself to approach the floral stand on the first try. Levi stood a few feet away, eyes scanning over the bright display of floral arrangements, a part of him debating against his idea to woo you with wilting things. The florist behind the stall noticed the man glaring at the stand, growing worried under the scrutinizing gaze as they started to fidget around, finding something to occupy themselves with the hope he would eventually leave.

After sharply analyzing all the options in front of him, Levi heaved a sigh. If he really had to pick, he would just get you the small bouquet with the lavender sprigs amongst other flowers that seemed to scream you.

Before he could approach the stall any closer, a firm hand fell on his left shoulder. The man was quick to tense, hands ready to brush off whoever dared to lay their dirty hands on his clean coat and throw a punch if needed, but Levi sighed at the sight of your quirked eyebrow and apprehensive chuckle.

"Watching you internally struggle against picking flowers is not a sight I thought I needed to witness."

Rolling his eyes, Levi diverted his gaze away from you and the floral stand, trying to sum up a way to resign this conversation before your teasing started to cycle, "I thought you would... appreciate... the cheesy sentiment."

"Is that how you operate now?"

"You know I'm not good with this shit, so just tell me if you want them or not."

His usual attitude, albeit abrasive from time to time, only made you grin a little wider at his short stature, taking in the way his eyebrows furrowed in frustration. Now Levi is usually the last person to look away when someone decides to hold eye contact with him. Asserting his dominance was not something he had an issue with, but just for today, your longing eye contact and the way you tried to suppress whatever it was you were holding back started to scare him. Once again, he found himself turning his cheek to you in hope of hiding the tinge of pink dusting his tired features.

"You don't need to buy me flowers, Levi. I don't expect, nor will I ever ask you to do something out of your character for me. I know you're not the biggest fan of things that get messy."

As you brushed past your boyfriend, you shot him a little wink, "Plus, if you ask me, I think flowers look better in a pot or planter. Let's find some seeds to start a little garden on our balcony another day, yeah?"

Unspoken but now softer at the adoring words, Levi nodded as he caught up next to you. An extended hand wordlessly offering to hold the heavy basket from your morning errands as the two of you walked home. Taking the weight off of you, Levi started to list off potential herbs and flowers he could grow with you, ones that would do best with the bath products you made or dried for custom tea blends.

"Lavender and chamomile would be a good start, don't you think?" your words garnering Levi's attention from the path ahead of him. "Herbs are easy to grow too, would be a good addition to our cooking."

"Think we could do hibiscus too? For teas," Levi suggested, tilting his head up to look at you. "Perhaps echinacea too, since you have a bad habit of getting sick."

Smirking at your boyfriend, you poked him in the rib with a finger earning a small scowl, "We should get holy basil, bee balm and valerian too then, whatever can help with your stress and insomnia."

"If it all goes well, we should just open up our own little stall and sell herbal tea blends."

He wasn't supposed to say that out loud, how rash.

The blush returned to his cheeks as he tried to duck away out of his embarrassment. Sure Levi had the tendency to be snarky and quickwitted, and it's not that you were unfamiliar with his dream to open a tea shop one day, but the quick utterance of his rather domestic idea seemed unlike him and this was not the first time he has felt that way around you.

As you watched the stoic man struggle with his thoughts once more, shoulders taut and face perplexed, your shock dissolved into a genuine smile, one soft but inviting as you found yourself agreeing with him.

"I'm sure it would be a great start for gathering a clientele base for that teashop of yours in the future."

Levi didn't respond. There was no need to as you both fell into a comfortable silence, minds tracing a faint blueprint for a future you could both look forward to once titans were no longer the threat beyond the walls. Of course, nothing was set in stone yet but the tender touch of your skin against his as you quietly slipped your hand into his free one was enough of a motivation to stay alive—at least long enough to see this future through.

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