This is not my first fic, but it is my first for SNK. I've been wanting to write something for Levi for the longest time, so here it is. Let's see how it goes. For Heichou!

P.S. I do not know French or anyone who speaks it, so I will try my best to keep it as accurate as possible, though sometimes things vary depending on context and all. Main point is that I'll do what I can with the bits I add :)


She sat, right leg over the left, hunched over slightly with her elbow pivoting against the deep, cherry table. Curls, deep like rain soaked soil, tickled her round face as she scribbled into the book before her. She took one after the other, what seemed to be an endless conveyor belt of books both paperback and hardcover. She didn't mind. In fact if one looked close enough they'd notice her slight bouncing, her excitement, though the only blatant clue that she felt anything in that moment was the dancing of her dangling right foot. The clock ticked. Tick, tick, tick, and tick. She smiled at the approaching young woman, no older than 20, before glancing back at the large security guard set in place, shoulders broad, eyes alert. Scribbling her name after the polite message, she handed the woman her book and greeted the next - a man this time - and stole a peek at the twisted line. Nowhere near as long or dense as the line for a #1 bestselling author, it was massive to her, and although thankful for each individual taking the time to see her specifically, she found herself growing tired, tired of sitting in that uncomfortable metal chair, tired of scratching down variations of the same greeting followed by her own signature, tired of having to interact with strangers she was not comfortable around because of her own anxiety.

Tilting her head just a bit, she exhaled, pleased to see the line had dwindled. Her back ached, her hand sat on the verge of cramping, and it took everything in her to control her empty stomach that constantly threatened to groan loudly in hunger. Almost there. She was almost there. Almost free.


"This fucking traffic."

"You're telling me," the plump cab driver scoffed, head bald, mustache thick. "In a hurry, pretty boy?"

"Tch, look where we are. Everyone's always in a fucking hurry." He tapped impatiently against the book in his lap.

"To bad no one ever gets anywhere." The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, eyeing the foreign, dark haired man pressed against the backseat, head thrown back with shut eyes and furrowed brows. He chuckled to himself at his irritation and the way certain words slipped his lips.

"Have we even moved in the last ten minutes?" He peeled open his eyes, letting the hardcover slide onto the seat beside him.

"Not at all, but I get paid regardless. You'll just have to sit tight until the road clears. I can't tell what's holding everything up." He leaned forward, squinting to see up ahead. "Shouldn't you be used to traffic where you're from?"

"And where exactly am I from?"

"Not here," he grinned, deciding it'd be best not to guess. "I'm sure we'll be moving again. Like I said, sit tight, pretty boy."

"I don't have time to sit tight," he sighed, staring at his watch. He lifted his hips, digging through the back pocket of his jeans. "Oi, here." He waved a few green bills beside the driver. "I have somewhere to be. Can't waste my time in shitty traffic no matter how close we've become in the meantime," he sneered before popping open the cab door and hopping out.

"Hey! Seriously – ugh."


Teal sneakers marched angrily against the sidewalk – or – perhaps not so much out of anger as it was irritation and the fact he really needed to be somewhere. He looked up with dull eyes when thunder rolled through the greying sky. Shitty traffic. Shitty weather.

"Fantastic." Checking his watch again, he picked up the pace, wondering how fast he could walk without seeming ridiculous, not that he really cared if anyone saw him.


He stepped inside the old bookstore, escaping a whip of lightning and another roll of thunder. The small bell tied to the door jingled, catching the attention of the young worker on his knees slipping books onto a low shelf to the left.

"Hello," the boy said with a smile, pushing himself to his feet. He brushed unkempt, coffee hair behind his ear. "Anything I can help you with?" He stuffed his hands in his pockets, waiting for a response. The man from the cab faced him, glancing up at bright, olive eyes.

"I ran my ass down here for the book signing, but it seems like…" He sighed at the empty area.

"Yeeeaah." The boy rubbed the back of his neck with a sympathetic smile. "You just missed it. They're putting everything away. Sorry."

"Well isn't that lovely –" He narrowed his eyes at the nametag crookedly pinned to his shirt. "Eren."

"Shouldn't you know my name by now? You're always creeping around here," he chuckled.

"I do, but I like making you think you aren't important enough to remember your name, you shitty brat."

"Calling me names? You're the one showing up to a book signing without a book to have signed, Levi."

"Eh?" He glanced down and stared at empty hands. Eren tilted his head, concerned for the man who stood there silently staring at his palms.

"You're kidding me."

"What is it, Frenchy? Lost your invisible book?" he mustered the courage to say.

"Keep trying. You aren't funny yet. I must have left it in the damn cab. It could be anywhere by now. Also, call me Frenchy or make fun of my accent again and I will shove my foot so far up your ass –"

"All right, all right. You should watch how you talk to me. I can have you thrown out for employee harassment or whatever they call it." Eren returned to his books.

"Watch yourself, kid."

"Mmhm. Let me know if you need any help finding something, Sir."

"Tch…" He shuffled in further, deciding he'd look around while he was there.

Levi found himself before one of the front shelves, something he normally avoided. He wasn't one for popular books, mainly because in recent times the books that seemed to sell the best were ones that read the worst; self-indulgent, poorly written smut and fiction, and the occasional scamming self-help/advice books.

He glanced to his right out the large glass window. The world had turned charcoal, and rain dropped heavily, the same thunder and lightning accompanying it. He sighed to himself, rubbing the back of his head, the hair much shorter there from the undercut he once decided to try on impulse and ended up loving so much so that he's had the same cut for years, never even considering switching things up. Something flickered behind those eyes of his when he spotted a book; the book. He pulled it from the shelf, cursing under his breath for actually forgetting his copy in the cab. It was so unlike him. He cursed again at the price on the back. Hardcovers sucked to buy, but how worth it they were. He shifted his weight to one leg, casually flipping through the novel he had come to love, enough that he dragged his ass down there for a book signing, as he told Eren. The scent and feel of paper. He stroked his thumb along the edge, enjoying the familiar passage. It was strange for a book like that to sit up front, but he knew it was because the author was visiting – or already visited – for a signing. He sighed again, disgusted with himself and the ridiculous traffic he still hadn't grown to accept despite living in it for years.

He nearly fell when a figure suddenly backed into him.

"Oi –"

"Uh – sorry!" A young woman, the bored and hungry book signer from before, faced him with a horrified expression, hands waving frantically before her face. "I'm so – I'm sorry," she said, taking a step back. At least she was polite enough to apologize.

"It's fine," he mumbled. She rubbed her arm nervously, shifting her weight from leg to leg. Turning away from the book once again, he eyed her. She stood a bit taller, around 5' 4", and she was trim, but with the way she stood timidly, Levi most certainly held the larger presence. He faced her fully now, making it obvious he was looking at her. She returned the look with her own, cautious. He turned to the back cover of the book and then shifted his gaze back to her.

"Oh?" He turned it so she could see. "That's you."

"Ah – oh – yes. Yeah, that's me," she laughed softly. "Though, the more I see that picture, the more I'm beginning to hate it. I've been looking at it all day." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Ah." He nodded in understanding, truly surprised to have run into the very person he was in such a rush to see.

"Were you here for the signing?" she spoke again, peering over at him. "A lot more people showed up than I thought would, to be honest. I can't really remember," she lied. She would have remembered him. It was impossible to forget those smoldering, dark eyes. They were cold to most, but she saw a fire flickering within, contrasting the pale of his flesh, a top of silky, jet black hair hanging around his face in an undercut she wasn't so sure about but admitted to liking on him. All in all, he was an extremely attractive man – a bit on the short side – but he wasn't some scrawny punk, no. She noticed the way the sleeves of his white button down hugged his upper arms. Be he tall or short, he was fit and filled his clothes nicely. She politely lowered her gaze.

"I just missed it actually. Doesn't matter though. I was stuck in a cab for ages and apparently forgot my copy in the backseat. One of those days I suppose," he sighed, shutting the book. He pulled out his wallet, checking to see if he had enough for it. Looking at him briefly, she glanced away in thought, trying to place his accent. It wasn't heavy, his accent, so heavy that she couldn't piece together what he said, but it was certainly noticeable, enough for her to try and guess which European country he hailed from and for Levi to be self-conscious about it from time to time.

"Hey." She gently took the book from his hand, sliding it back onto the shelf.

"What are you…" He watched her stroll off to the back, holding up a finger. "Once second."

"Hmm," he hummed to himself, admiring the design of the old bookstore as he waited.

"Here."

"What's this?" He blinked, surprised to see her back so soon. Levi took the book from her.

"A free copy. I won't let you pay that much no matter how nice hardcovers are."

"It's not an issue, really."

"I know, but I have a few copies I brought to this event to give out. If you didn't get it I'm sure someone would have. Besides, traffic, losing your book, and this terrible weather, you earned it."

"Thanks…and yeah it is pretty shitty out." He shook his head. She raised an eyebrow at his swearing, amused. "Sorry I missed the signing," he said.

"Not quite. Come here." She led him to that cherry table, taking the book and flipping it to the blank page.

"If you have to be somewhere, no worries," he told her, furrowing his brow at his own comment. After all he went through of course he wanted her to sign it. This wasn't the time to be considerate.

"I'm just hanging in the back waiting to wrap things up," she said softly, grabbing a pen off the table. She uncapped it and hovered above the page briefly.

"Um…any specific message?" she inquired, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Psh, I'll leave that to you. Less work for me."

"Oki dok. So – what's your name?" She looked up quickly before moving back to the book, waiting for his reply.

"Levi." She smiled at how he pronounced his name.

"Levi. L. E. V. I?"

"Only way I know how to spell it."

"Same. Ok." She began writing. He folded his arms across his chest after a minute had passed, wondering what the hell was taking so long and cursing himself again, this time for not bringing a jacket. Was he really so excited for the signing that he forgot his book and jacket?

"Are you writing another novel?" he said, stepping on his toes to see what she was scribbling.

"Sorry." She faced him with a giggle, pushing a small section of hair from her eyes. "Here you go."

"Let's see." He held it close, reading out loud.

Levi,

In the future, try not to be late to things. It's rude. Also, don't forget your book because next time I'm not giving you one of my free copies.

Love,

Sabrina

He shut the book with laugh. Eren, who had finished stocking and was headed to the counter, faced their direction in horror. Levi not only smiled, but laughed as well. A first for both. The short, bitter, old man stood in the bookshop…laughing. Granted it wasn't a jolly Santa laugh or really even a normal one. It was quiet and controlled, but Eren, unused to even hearing him say one sentence without swearing, took it as a sign that he had finally snapped. He slowly slipped behind the registers and into the back room, convinced he would be having nightmares for a while.

"Is it all right?" Sabrina asked.

"It's great – perfect. Thank you."

"No pr –"

"Sabrina, could you come?" A tall woman called out, silky, violet hair framing her pointed face.

"Ah – yes. I'm coming," she replied.

"Is this where you take your leave?" Levi commented.

"It seems so. You should probably head home too. The weather's not getting any better. You live close – eh – not that I'm trying to sound creepy or anything…"

"Somewhat. Though, I think I'll have to walk. The traffic still looks like it hasn't budged," he sighed. "I'm not about to go through that hell again."

"How about I help you out," she said.

"You already replaced my book. What else have you got in there?"

"A mini umbrella. I have another one at home, and I don't really need it right now. No need to get soaked. Besides, I told you that's the last time I'm giving you a copy. The rain will ruin the book."

"Tch, hold it over my head for the rest of my life. I forgot it in my rush to get here." He took the umbrella. "Thank you." She nodded, stepping away from the table – but not before stumbling over her own feet and almost falling. She caught herself, shaking it off with a nervous laugh.

"Long day." She rubbed her face. "But it means the world, to see people who care enough about my book. Thank you, Levi."

"Sabrina, now!" the same woman called.

"All right, all right."

"I'll see you around," he said, loosening the Velcro band of the umbrella.

"Mmm," she smiled. "It was nice meeting you." With that, she turned on her heels and scurried over to the woman and her tapping foot. Levi turned as well, strolling up to the front counter – the abandoned front counter. He waited approximately fifteen seconds before sighing and tapping the tiny, silver bell smudged in fingerprints. He cringed, aggressively wiping his fingers across his thigh.

"You finally done?" Eren stepped out, eyeing the man. He sighed, relieved to see Levi wasn't awkwardly smiling or laughing like he had murdered someone and enjoyed it.

"I'm not buying anything."

"Why ring the bell? And what's that?" He pointed to the book in hand. Levi glanced down before returning to Eren.

"A book, dumbass. What's it look like?"

"Are you planning on walking out without paying?" He crossed his arms.

"It's my copy."

"You left yours in the cab."

"This some sort of interrogation?"

"Just doing my job."

"Relax. I bumped into the author. She was still hanging around. She gave me a free copy after hearing about my adventure." He shrugged, waving the book.

"So that's who had you laughing like a weirdo. All right, I'll let it slide this time," Eren grinned.

"Oh, while I have you uh…" Levi narrowed his eyes, staring at that crooked nametag again.

"You know it's Eren!" he huffed.

"I just like embarrassing you. How are you not used to it, kid?"

"Humph." He turned his face.

"I just need a bag. It's pouring out, and I don't want to ruin my book now that I have one again."

"Would you liiiiiiike," Eren dipped down below the counter briefly, popping up suddenly with a bag in each hand. "Paper or plastic."

"It's raining. What would you pick?"

"You know sooner or later you're going to have to start respecting me, Levi," he sighed, handing over the white plastic.

"What? I asked you a question is all."

"Yeah right," he muttered. Levi approached the door. It amazed him how,

"Such shitty weather could wipe away any good feeling." Still, a bit of satisfaction lingered in his heart. To have gone through all that and still not only get the autograph of the author behind the book he could not forget, but chat as well…he was never that lucky. He cringed. Just how much of a fanboy did she see him as? She probably thought his accent was silly. Everyone seemed to.

"Lighten up, Eric."

"It's Eren!"

"Same thing."

"Noooo. And I'll lighten up when you're tall enough to get on adult rides at the amusement park."

"N'importe quoi." With that he stepped out into the rain, laughing at Eren, the bookstore employee who stood glaring where he had been standing. He never had a response whenever Levi decided to drop his fancy French.

Stuffing the bag under his arm and fighting with the little, black umbrella, he failed to see the puddle up ahead, and of course, splash went Levi. He dropped his arms, catching the bag, and stared dully at the hazy water seeping through his teal sneaker and up the ankle of his jeans.

"Disgusting."


Thank you for swinging by, reading, and leaving any feedback. Much appreciated. Arigato ^^