Songs of Freedom

by Erin Nire 376

One shots of Elle and Levi in different scenarios and ratings.

2. Chapter 2

Songs of freedom part 2- Onigiri days part 1

Rated- T

Status-single

Humor/ romance

I looked out the peep hole to see yet another beautiful girl walk out of my neighbor's apartment, looking like a twenty-ish work woman. Her hair was long and a shimmering amber color, her make up perfectly done and clothes oh so expensive. But from what I could tell, a few buttons were ripped off from her shirt. Looks like Levi went rough again.

I sighed as I went back to the kitchen, scooping rice from the cooker and forming into a ball nimbly. Gosh, Levi couldn't be away from a girl for at least a day, hot strangers going into his apartment and performing the walk of shame the next morning. What really surprised me sometimes was when a number of girls were invited over. He had three at the same time last week, looking as if they had been at a club.

I couldn't expect much different from a player like him, but the noise was unbearably loud last night, and I hadn't gotten much sleep. But I could never complain. He was my childhood friend after all, and besides the sexy side I've never seen, he has a stoic yet sarcastic side he reserved only for me.

We grew up together on Maria Street. Our mothers were coworkers and lived near the neighborhood park, so they let us play there every day after school, and we grew close. We always went to the same school, and if lucky, our classes were close by. The age difference wasn't so steep, but manageable. We were three years apart, so we didn't stay in the same school long before Levi graduated and I counted the years till I did the same, just to be with him. I'm not sure when I began to fall in love, but I noticed in my first year of high school, when the number of girls he saw increased. While I was merely looking for colleges, He was a senior while I a freshman when his mom died in an accident, and he went to live on his own while he went to college. After three years of saving my money and waiting to get my license, I moved out to follow, and got an apartment right next to his, skipping college completely. He wasn't surprised, he saw it coming. We've known each other our entire lives, so of course he'd know I'd follow him anywhere.

Finished with the food, I tied my hair up in a scrunchy, still dressed in my comfy pink and white striped pj pants and a white guns and roses t-shirt as I headed out. I carried a plate full of rice balls and a freshly packed bento I had made the night before as I slipped on my house slippers and left the apartment. To where in this odd attire? The neighbors. I knocked on Levi's door in a childish rhythm, waiting patiently as I heard his shuffling feet behind the wood.

"Who is it?" His muffled voice grumbled and I rolled my eyes.

"It's me levy, rise and shine!" I called, the door locks rattling before the door opened, showing the naked Rivaille with only a sheet around his waist to cover himself. I quickly snuck a peak at his chiseled chest and abdomen, but smiled, holding out the food. "I brought you a snack and lunch, since you slept through breakfast." I told him as he leaned against the door jam, rubbing his eyes.

"Yah, thanks, you can put them in the kitchen." He wobbled back into the house and I knew he had a hangover, plus the empty vodka and beer bottles everywhere didn't hide the hint. If he weren't so out of it he wouldn't have let them stay.

Walking into the kitchen, I placed the food on the counter and got a glass from the cabinet, and filled it with water. "You look tired." I called to his bedroom and heard him scoff.

"No shit." He walked back out with his phone in hand, taking the glass of water I offered and a rice ball off the plate. He plopped on the couch as he rubbed his eyes once more with a groan, the sheet still twisted around him. We knew each other long enough to not feel shy near each other.

"So that woman who left, who was she?" I asked, practically the same question I asked every time someone left his apartment. He wasn't surprised, and gave the back story.

"We met last night at a bar after work; she practically threw herself at me so I couldn't really refuse."

"Uh huh, cause a man who's five three is such a lady killer."

"Can it shorty, your like four eleven."

"I'm a girl, that's different. At least I don't wear healed soles in my shoes. So that makes you five six right?" He rolled his eyes, holding out his hand for another rice ball.

"Guys wear heels too. They were originally for men. Butchers would wear them so their shoes wouldn't get dirty in blood."

"So your a butcher now?"

He ignored me as I brought over the tray to the coffee table and he gladly dug in. "These are good today, what is that, sausage?" I gave a nod as I sat next to the man on the couch, taking one for myself.

"So what was her name?" Let's see if he can answer.

"Um...lily-something. I forgot her last name."

"Like always." I watched him as he took another bite of his snack, even though a shorty, he really had an impressive build. He probably was just showing off by now-

"Hey, are those scratch marks?" I asked, tapping the pink lines on his shoulders and back.

He rubbed the area, and gave a shrug. "Could be anything."

"Should I get disinfectant? Who knows she could have had poison in her nails." I teased, flicking the scratch.

"No, that'd sting. Just leave it."

"Whatever you say." I stuffed the last piece of mushed rice into my mouth and took away the tray, waving the bento before putting it on the fridge.

"I'll leave it in here all right? Don't forget it."

"Hai." He had already started picking up things around him, so while distracted I dug out the first aid kit from under the sink. I splashed the disinfectant on a rag and snuck up behind the man, slapping it onto the scratch on his shoulder. He gave a yelp of pain, his back arching against the rag. "Ow! What the fuck are you doing?!"

"Stay still!" I held his arm as I rubbed the rag at the scratch on his chest, making him double over as i hung from his back.

"Stop it! That stings!"

"Just one more!" He grabbed my wrist and threw me over his shoulder, getting tangled in the sheet he used for coverage and falling with me. I gasped when I hit the ground, my eyes suddenly burning like hell. "Aah!"

"What?" Levi hovered over me as I rubbed at my eye, his hand snatching mine to see.

"I think I got some in my eye..." I kept it closed to keep it from hurting but the man held my face, angling it to get a better look.

"It's really red; you need to wash it out." I blushed as I noticed the position we were in. Here I was being straddled by the naked man of my dreams, while we were in what was considered kissing distance. Smart women would make a move, but I stupidly panicked.

"Holy shit, put on some clothes!" I squeaked, the sheet barely hanging onto his hips. He rolled his eyes, snuggling closer as I tried to scramble away.

"Oh? Looky there, are you blushing?"

"Of course I am! Put on pants! This is sexual harassment!"

"But I feel kind of left out being the only one naked, you take your clothes off too."

"How can you say that with a straight face?! Why don't you put some clothes on so than it'll be even, you pervert!" He's always teased me like this since we were in high school, but it's always scared me that he'd notice I was enjoying the attention, and then realize my feelings. We both knew he wasn't going to do a thing.

Quickly, I slapped the disinfectant rag onto the scratch on his neck, making him yelp and jump up, allowing me to escape. "Ha! Now get off!" He glared and tossed the rag in the sink as I got to my feet, throwing him a pair of jeans I found on the floor that must have been from the night before. "Make sure to sober up, ok?" He sighed and tugged on the pants, beginning to clean. I knew he was going to make sure it was spotless like the cleaning fiend he was, and I needed to get out of his way.

I went back to my place and got dressed, wearing a green cropped shirt and high waisted shorts, along with blue converse. I tied my hair back in a ponytail and got ready to go to work. Since it was summer and I had no school, I went to my summer job as a waitress at a small cafe. Grabbing my bag and keys, I hurried out the door.

As I locked it behind me, Levi's voice interrupted the routine. I turned to see him give a wave at the doorway and I smiled, throwing up a peace sign. "Later, levy!"

"Ride safe shorty." I hopped over and gave the old friend a peck on the cheek before running off. Levi had a holiday today, so he didn't have to go to work. He worked at Survey Corporation, a multibillion dollar business that worked on making weaponry for the military. Levi was the COO of the company, and Erwin Smith the CEO.

I've only met Erwin once when bringing Levi lunch after work. He was a sophisticated looking man, but not as intimidating as Levi. Levi made a ton of money in his work, but lived modestly, with a humble apartment and mediocre clothes.

But he doesn't hold back when spending for other people. For my birthday he bought me an expensive dress and took me to dinner on a rooftop. I've never had many nice things when young, so he thought it was hilarious when I started crying.

I smiled at the memory, unhooking my bike from the gate. I rode my bike to the cafe, not so long away as it would be walking. "Morning!" I called as I entered through the back door, Sasha looking up from the breakfast she was making alongside Connie, the cafe chefs. "Hey!"

"Morning!"

I went to get changed in the locker room, the uniform just a white shirt and black pants with an apron. "He's here again." Mikasa mumbled as she walked by and I sighed, dressing quickly and heading out to the tables.

Levi sat at his usual two person table by the widow, his face scowling at the world like always when I knew he had nothing to be pissed about. He had a common resting bitch face, no biggy. But the rest of the staff didn't take to kindly to it, they hated his guts.

Pinching my cheeks quickly to make them blush, I walked up to his table and took the notepad from my apron. "Welcome to wall rose cafe, can I help you, probably start you off with a drink?"

"The usual would be nice." I wrote down black coffee, what he usually ordered, on the notepad. "Will that be all?"

"Some more breakfast."

"Didn't you get enough?"

"Rice and sausage ain't gonna cut it shorty."

I snickered, tucking the pad back in my apron. "Hai. Eggs and bacon coming right up."

"Oi, don't forget the-"

"Whole wheat toast, I know." Levi nodded in approval as I turned to leave, peaking back over my shoulder to watch him stare out the window. He really did look best in casual clothes, wearing a dark green t-shirt and designer jeans, accessorized with vans. I giggled to myself, knowing that like all his other shoes, there were heeled soles hidden inside.

I gave Connie and Sasha the order and paid attention to the other guests coming in for breakfast. After taking back those orders, Eren and Mikasa left Levi to me. He always found a reason to make fun of the staff besides me, just to get under their skin. But since he was a wealthy and well known customer, he brought in businessmen for dinners. They couldn't really do anything against him unless they wanted those customers to go away.

I took the order out, carrying the tray on my shoulder and placing his coffee down alongside his breakfast. "Here you are, black coffee, no cream or sugar and two sunny side eggs with bacon and toast." He watched the plates as they were set in front of him, his brow quizzical.

"Excuse me, I believe I ordered the breakfast without the smiley face." He pointed at his plate, decorated with two sunny egg eyes and a bacon smile. I laughed, taking a bit of bacon and biting a piece off, arranging it on the plate so the smiley face had a buck tooth. I smiled at the work while I chewed. Levi glared up at me, taking my wrist. He ate the spare piece of bacon from my fingers; my stomach doing back flips as he gently licked my fingers clean of grease.

No! He's just teasing like always, there's no way... The look in his eyes made my cheeks flame, staring up at me as if he wanted to eat me. I winced in shock as he sucked at the tip of my index finger, nibbling a bit before I snapped my hand away. "H-hey!"

"Don't eat a customer's food, that's rude." His eyes went back to uncaring as my face heated, watching him as he continued to eat his breakfast. I turned, and fled for the kitchen.

Levi stayed no later than lunch to finish his meal, and I had the dinner shift with lunch off. Levi was probably at home, cleaning every corner of his house for the weekend coming up. Weekends meant clubs, bars, and beautiful girls. All it meant for me was my noise complaint waiting to happen. I was gonna do it some point in time, probably when I got fed up enough.

It was five when I got off work, the sun setting as I unhooked my bike from the racks. A chill ran up my spine suddenly, getting the ominous feeling I was being watched. My head whipped around, seeing a shadow dart away on the nearby alley wall. My breathing sped as adrenaline coursed through my veins. It's probably nothing... Just a stray dog or something. That's right; at least I have my bike. Unhooking the lock I straddled my bike and peddled down the road, my legs seeming to go faster than usual. I rode home quickly, goose bumps crawling up my arms as cars rode by, the night completely dark by the time I got home.

The silence was deafening when I put up my bike and headed up the stairs. Rustling leaves suddenly sounded behind me and I found myself sprinting the rest of the way, snatching my keys and jiggling them into the door. Footsteps echoed down the long hallway from the stairs and my breath sucked in with a whimper, finally managing to open the door. With a small squeak I threw myself inside and slammed my door shut. After my heart calmed, I sighed.

God, why am I so edgy tonight? "Calm down, you're just tired from work, take a hot shower, drink some tea and get some sleep." I did just that, the shower relaxing my muscles and the tea winding down my nerves. I sat on my couch to try and find a movie to watch, flipping through the channels before I landed on the news.

"Later tonight there were several distress calls of stalkers in the area, though none made further advances, their victims were distraught that such a thing could happen-" I shut off the TV, my fear back to the way it was. So that shadow was a stalker? Maybe I'm totally wrong, but I should ask Hanes if he'll let me get off a bit earlier for the next few days. I decided to just go to sleep, switching off the lights and climbing into bed. I closed my eyes, but the slightest noises seemed to come to my attention. The dripping faucet. A branch tapped my window. The shifting of papers against my desk from the vent.

I lied in bed for who knows how long till I tugged off the covers and set out to fix them. First I made sure the faucet was off, and when it still dripped I put a towel in the sink. Next I fixed the branch by opening my window and breaking the twig. And lastly, I covered the vent with a pillow under my desk. Now satisfied with silence I once again went back to bed. But then it started.

Levi's voice and a giggling girl echoed down the hallway as they went into his apartment, music beginning to play as that idiotic woman kept laughing. Than it turned to sexual noises, which proved that Levi had made a move. I groaned in annoyance, flopping the pillow over my head but the sounds grew higher. This girl sounded like a total idiot, it was just awkward to listen to! Of course there was no noise from Levi, with such a stoic personality it was expected for him to stay that way even during sex. The woman's screaming made my composure snap, throwing myself out of bed as I stormed over to the neighbors.

I trudged out my door and pounded on Levi's, wondering why I didn't just call him the second I did so. Oh god, what would I see? Just as I was planning to run the door opened, Levi standing there with his clothes hanging off his body, and his boxers seeming to have been hastily shucked up his legs. I blushed, looking down at his feet. "Elle? What's with you?" He demanded, making my insides boil with rage.

I've never complained about noise before so Levi being confused was to be expected, but I couldn't take it anymore. "What's with me? What's with you! Keep it down will ya?! I can't sleep!"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about the whore in your room there! I can't get to sleep and I'm blaming you! Oh, and by the way, tell your tramp she climaxes like a wailing goat!" I slammed the door in his face, and fled to my apartment, locking myself behind the door. I breathed in deeply, not believing I had just said that. I was a bit proud of myself, but also a bit regretful. He wasn't going to hate me now, was he?

The next day Levi didn't come to the cafe, summing up my doubts. He was mad at me, I was sure he was. I had left the onigiri and bento in front of his door this morning in a paper bag. He probably wouldn't accept them anyway, but I at least wanted him to eat.

I stayed the full shift without meaning to, forgetting my whole idea of getting off early because I was so distracted. Regretfully, I cursed at the time and just decided to ride home and apologize. He should be out late because of work, so I'll make him a big dinner to say sorry. I'll text him early so he won't go out to eat- I froze to the site of my bike, both tires flat and making the bike sag. "What?!" I examined the punctures, both by large knife slashes.

Someone did this on purpose. I looked around me with a pounding heart, trying to spot the culprit. Was it that shadow I saw yesterday? Should I go back inside? No, I had to get home to Levi and apologize, I'll run if I had to. Leaving my bike because it'll slow me down, I burst into a sprint down the street at full speed. Now I could hear someone behind me, their shoes pounding on the concrete like mine. I knew it! Someone was chasing me! I dropped my bag, trying to give them the money inside to get them off my back but they ignored it, running on.

I didn't dare look over my shoulder, too afraid I'd trip and falter, than be attacked because of it. I'm so close to home, I'm almost there! Fingers grasped at my shirt and I yelped, tugging off the button up and leaving my camisole, the shirt being ripped away as I dashed up my apartment stairs. The person followed their shoes loud and menacing as they sped their pace. I had to get to Levi! Bang his door down if I had to! I dug his spare key he gave me from my pocket and dove it into the lock, holding my breath as the large silhouette blundered forth. A hand gabbed onto a lock of hair and I screamed, making it into the apartment and slamming the door into the pursuer's body to push him away. I threw my weight against the door to close it, locking as the man behind pounded on it. After a second, it died down and grew silent.

My shaking legs backed away from the door. "L-Levi! Are you here?" I stumbled into the living room, Levi rushing out of his bedroom in a pair of unbuttoned jeans, his expression bewildered.

"Was that you screaming? What the hell is going on?"

"Th-there was a man-!"

"Larry?" A woman walked out of his room, only in a bra and panties with her long red hair swept from her pretty face. My breathing froze, suddenly feeling insecure of my body as I stared at hers, voluptuous but thin, with confidence too.

"It's Levi. Go back, I'm busy with something."

"What? With her?" The woman gave a laugh, hanging on his arm, her manicured nails trailing over his skin. A lump got stuck in my throat, and I felt like screaming. "How cute, helping a little kid who was locked out." The woman smiled at me as I stared, the pain in my chest now numb. "Are you in ninth grade? Aren't you a little young to be living on your own?" I was nineteen, you bitch. But... of course, how could Levi see me like that? Especially when I look like a child...

"Get out." Levi's voice was sharp and I looked up at him, shocked. He stared down at me, expressionless. He was still mad at me? I did interrupt him. I'll be safe at least going back to my apartment.

"Right, sorry to-"

"I thought I told you to get out, you don't even know my name. Leave." He directed it toward the woman, who looked insulted. He was...telling her to leave...?

"What? Who do you think you are?!" She was shut down by Levi giving her a murderous glare, not expecting to ask again. Flustered, She grabbed her clothes and dressed quickly, heading out in an outraged storm. I just stood there in the living room while Levi turned on the lights, giving a sigh as he looked back at me.

"What happened to you?" He asked, tapping my head and I winced, surprised the touch hurt. "Your bleeding, were you hit on the head? Why are you only wearing a camisole." He examined the wound, his voice and touch comforting. My breath became shaky with relief.

"... A man was chasing me, and he pulled at my hair and my shirt." My voice cracked, and I sniffed my nose to keep it from running. Levi looked shocked for a moment, than upset, his brow furrowing.

"I see... Well it's fine; the bastard can't get to you in here." His arms embraced me, rubbing my back soothingly for reassurance. It's so strange how all my fears just vanished.

I sat on the couch in a borrowed t-shirt as Levi handed me a glass of water, sitting beside me with a cup of coffee, dressed in sweat pants and a sleeveless t-shirt.

The silence lagged on as we sat there, and I tried to think of something to say. "I'm sorry about your date leaving..."

"It's fine, she was a bitch anyway." I sighed, taking another sip of the water. "You can stay here for tonight. Just try not to mess anything up, I just cleaned." I stared at him for a moment, but then began to laugh. He looked at me, rolling his eyes. "What?"

"Nothing, sorry, you just sound like a mother who's kid just got home." Smiling, I stood. "All right, then I'll take a shower first if you don't mind."

"Fine."

I took a towel from the closet and headed into the shower. Levi's bathroom was always so clean it hurt my eyes sometimes. He had a modern style, with black and white tiles decorating the floors and an all glass shower. I kind of felt nervous showering behind the glass wall, but I knew Levi wasn't going to walk in like that. A knock on the door startled me as I lathered my skin with soap, making my heart jump. "Y-yes?"

"I'll leave you some clothes to sleep in; I'm guessing you don't want to go back to your apartment right now.I could get your clothes for you."

"No I don't want you to! That man might be still out there and I don't want you getting hurt!" As I rinsed he said something else, but I couldn't hear it over the noise of the shower. "What'd you say? Hold on-" I began to climb out and grab a towel to go to the door, but I heel slipped and I crashed on the tiles. My yell hurt my ears as I fell with a bang, taking a few soap bottles with me.

"Elle!" The door slammed open and I screamed again, crouching over my bare body to cover myself. Startled, Levi turned away politely, clearing his throat. "You should be more careful."

"Yah, sorry. I just slipped." I got to my feet carefully this time, wincing at where I had almost busted my hip as I covered myself with a towel. "What were you saying?" He looked over his shoulder to see I had gotten up, but glanced away again, to where I couldn't see his face.

"I said I could handle myself, but if you don't want me to go that's fine. I'm going to get you some clothes. Don't slip again." He closed the door behind him and I let out the breath I had been holding. He didn't see my body did he? Compared to the woman who was just here, I wasn't that all impressive. The mirror caught my attention, and I tried adjusting my wet hair to see what would look better, but it was no use...

Finishing up my shower and changing into the clothes Levi lent me, I walked out of the bathroom to see Levi wiping down the coffee table with a rag, making me smile. "I'm done, you can go ahead." My best friend looked up and nodded, escaping to the bathroom where I heard the shower turn on. His showers were quick, because he took so many so often, and it wasn't fifteen minutes later that he was out, rubbing his dark hair with a towel.

"You want to take the bed? Or the couch?" He asked, knowing I had a tendency to sleep on either whether I felt hot or cold.

"Um, the bed if you don't mind." He gave a nod, going to the closet and getting sheets and pillow cases for himself. "That girl that you were with...she was pretty, wasn't she?" He looked over his shoulder at me, a brow raised. What the hell am I saying?! Even though I wanted to stop talking I couldn't keep the words from escaping. "Was she a model? Or worked for a fashion magazine?"

"No, just some boring woman who's the manager of a designer store. She was too bony for my taste, uncomfortable." Grabbing the blankets he walked by me and flopped them onto the couch, situating them. With heating cheeks I turned towards him, my arms wrapped tight around me.

"W-what about me? What do you think about my body?" Regretting the embarrassing words the second they were out,I wish I had just stayed quiet. I heard him sigh as he faced me.

"Honestly? Your mushy. And tiny. But it's not a bad thing, you feel better to touch." Levi pinched my cheek a bit as an example, but I pouted.

"But I'm not...attractive? Sexually..?" I had to whisper out the last bit or else it would have been caught in my throat. I tried to reassure myself he wouldn't take it the wrong way. We were childhood friends; he would just see this as curiosity right? Levi moved towards me, his arms still crossed over his chest as he looked down with his passive eyes.

I swallowed hard, trying to hear past my pounding heart.

"You have an innocent appeal, but not sexual." I stayed silent as that sunk in, the lump in my throat growing painful.

I sighed to try and shake it off, but to no avail. Better quit the stupid analysis, this was just waisting time on things already obvious... "I-I see... I didn't expect much either." I gave a nervous laugh. Shake it off, shake it off. "Even though I'm almost twenty I'm still like a child arn't I?" I tried to laugh it off as a joke. "No man would want something like me right?"

But Levi wasn't laughing.

He looked down at me cooly, just listening. "You don't get it. Not a damn thing..."

I looked up in confusion the man in front of me suddenly moved in close, causing me to jump, his hard hands grabbing my shoulders as his lips crushed onto mine.