Author's Note: (: I do not own Attack on Titan.
So sorry this update has taken a bit to write. Thank you all for reviewing each chapter. Levi is still the stoic man we all like but he has a protective side toward his friends and people Zoe likes. But the chemical attraction s building. I promise!
I slept way too good. Is that birds chirping? I need like...oh shit! I'm going to be late! Petra's eyes shot open, no longer completely relaxed in her bed. Finally out loud she shouted, "I'm going to be totally late!" She looking at the clock beside her bed. In a rush, she whipped the covers back and jumped out of her bed with a thud.
She got in late last night after the hockey game. Zoe insisted on celebrating. She knew how to celebrate too. She downed at least five shots of tequila, proceeded to sing 'we are the champions' all before falling flat on her ass. Mike had a drink or two but called a taxi to pick him up. As much as he loved being out with the guys, he had to work the next morning.
Erwin took Zoe back to his place, shaking his head disapproving of her drunken state of mind. Levi hauled Petra home. Again. Petra didn't drink at least. That was her only saving grace that Levi admitted aloud. It earned him a totally silent cruise back to the apartment building. He only rolled his eyes once or twice.
Now here she is, glaring at her failure of an alarm. Shit.
Petra scrambled to keep her balance in the shower because she couldn't keep still long enough, trying to pick out warm clothes for the chilly air outside, dry her hair and brush her teeth at the same time. But she never stopped cussing about the situation.
"Dammit! I mean literally, what in the hell happened?" She said spitting the toothpaste out. "Damn alarm!"
Knock. Knock.
Just what I need, someone trying to be cheerful this morning.
She stopped her tirade and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She hurried out of the bathroom, but before opening the door she made sure she had her clothes on. Long sleeve black shirt, gray trousers and socks. She puled her hair back in a bun with a few strands loose around her forehead. Yep. Opening the door, she was greeted with the cold stare of her neighbor, Levi. He looked disgruntled with dark rings under his eyes.
"Brat, why the fuck are you shouting?" He inquired though wary of the look she was giving him. Petra beamed seeing him. He didn't like that look. She had something up her sleeve and it could spell bad news for him. She knew she didn't have time to fix her own pot of coffee this morning so he could do it.
"You, fix the coffee!" She commanded completely ignoring his question and hurrying back to her bathroom.
"Are you smoking weed? What the fuck do you mean?" He asked but when no answer came he sighed and walked slowly inside to fix the coffee. He didn't like someone telling him what to do. Who did she think she was, Joan of Arc? Okay, Joan didn't tell him what to do either, but it was the principle. He scoured the cabinets before he found the beans and turned the machine on.
He could still hear a cuss word escape her from the bathroom. He shook his head disapprovingly. The coffee began simmering by the time Petra returned to the main room. The warm bitter smell of the coffee was pleasant.
"That smell is heavenly, shorty." Petra leaned over the countertop dreamily.
"Don't call me that, brat." He grumbled pouring her a glass and handing it to her. He didn't use any cream in her glass. "Why are you up so late?"
She sipped her coffee cringing a bit at the extreme bitterness before answering. "My alarm didn't ring. I am going to be late - Hey Levi can you take me to work?" The thought interrupted her previous line of jabber. It sounded perfect in her head but the alarmed look on Levi's face said otherwise. She smiled charmingly at him nonetheless.
He almost choked on the coffee at her request. Shit. Fuck. Hell. So help with the coffee wasn't all she wanted. Devious ginger. Did he look like her personal chauffer? That smile...that blasted fucking smile. He didn't like when women smiled like that at him. It was the smile that sung, 'you're wrapped around my finger, bitch!' "Why, brat?"
"I am going to be late if I have to wait for a taxi. Please?" She said to him again. It sounded like a good idea in her head. If he drove, she wouldn't be late. Problem solved. She downed the rest of the bitter liquid and shoved the cup in the sink. She didn't bother rinsing it out. Levi's eye twitched watching and his teeth gritted together.
"One condition."
"Yes?"
"I want your apartment key so I can clean these cups you carelessly dropped in the sink. I'll drop it back by your office."
"You know you have an insane obsession with being sanitary?"
"It's only one condition."
"..." Petra stared at him and blinked rapidly several times. Her lips drew a thin line across her face and she lost herself in thought. He's such a neat freak that a cup with remnants of coffee left bothered him. It wasn't like she thought he'd copy the key and assault her later. "Sure." She agreed not giving it another thought. Levi nodded and quickly rinsed his cup out before walking out with her.
"Isn't that the same pair of pants you wore last night?"
"Do you ever shut up?" He asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh god, you can't drop me off here." Petra covered her eyes embarrassingly. She watched the brunette on the sidewalk talking with a few coworkers. If she saw her get out of Levi's vehicle, she would have a thousand questions. Zoe flipped her brown hair over her shoulder and removed her glasses to clean them.
"Why?" Levi asked. He didn't realize what was going on.
He drove Petra to work as promised. Upon arrival, she froze with her hand on the door knob. He grumbled under his breath watching her wondering why it was taking her so long.
"Zoe is standing right in front of the door."
"Are you fucking serious?"
"Just drive up a bit further before she notices your vehicle." Petra fumbled removing her apartment key to leave for Levi. She planned to keep her part of the deal.
"Get out, you inane woman." He sighed. He knew Zoe would bombard him with questions if she saw them. He wanted Petra out of his vehicle sooner before that happens. "The longer you wait, the more likely it is she'll see you."
"Shit, that's true. Alright." Petra opened the door and thanked Levi before scurrying off toward the front doors. Levi rolled his eyes before heading back to the apartment building to clean the cups in Petra's apartment.
Zoe turned and noticed Petra. She tilted her head and pursed her lips.
"Hey Zoe, I woke up late." Petra smiled warmly trying to act naturally.
"Getting cozy with the grumpy man?"
"I'm sorry?" Petra stopped dead in her tracks to stare wide eyed at Zoe who in turn only grinned. Just why? Late once and the jokes about a nonexistent relationship begin.
"Did he give you a ride?"
"NO!" Petra defended herself against the playful accusation.
"That's what she said."
"Zoe!"
"Hahahaha! Love those jokes."
Petra glared at her. Unbelievable this woman.
The women walked in together however, Petra remained quiet listening to Zoe rave about a new alien theory. She still needed to fix the problem with one of the board members. She tuned Zoe out to figure out how to keep her job and let the board know of that woman's intentions.
That's how the day continued until Petra received some paperwork and Zoe sauntered out of her office and closed the door. She sat in her cubicle and began outlining her next story.
As it turns out, Levi dropped by the office with her apartment key, he left it with Zoe though. He figured she already knew he gave Petra a lift. Zoe squealed madly when he leaned against her cubicle wall. She even squealed when he insulted her with the usual "four eyes," after she bugged him trying to figure out if the two were together. She never stopped. He should have just left it with Petra instead.
He looked over to Petra's office. The young woman was massaging her forehead and frowning. She was hunched over just enough to look upset. With her free hand she was tapping a pen against the desk. He frowned openly, not liking how disturbed she looked. The woman was growing on him.
"She's been in there looking grumpy all day."
"Hn."
"Go say, hi."
Levi rolled his eyes at Zoe and shifted his weight from one side to the other. "I'm sure she doesn't want company." Zoe leaned back in her chair and shook her head.
"I think you two were made for each other."
"I'm leaving." Levi didn't wave or acknowledge what Zoe said. He needed to focus on his own shit. Getting involved with ginger was not shit he wanted. He removed the thought from his mind.
The paperwork took Petra hours. Signature after signature. Her brow furrowed deeply as she hurriedly signed each of them. It was legal paperwork as some big name brands wanted to advertise. As a precaution and appropriate step, paperwork was in order. But she was finding it increasingly hard to keep her mind from wondering if Levi was cleaning just the cups or the entire apartment. Her thoughts stayed there. The look of concentration on him...that's the look she tried picturing for about ten minutes. Trying to imagine him with any other expression was difficult though.
Dammit woman, concentrate! She tried shaking the feeling that came with wondering about the stoic man. She was caught up in it so far that she didn't notice the brunette at her office door.
Zoe knocked, startling her when Petra didn't immediately see her.
"Levi dropped your apartment key off." She said dropping it on her desk and standing at the chair opposite of Petra. Petra blinked awakening from her thoughts.
"Oh okay, thanks Zoe. Petra stretched her arms over her head nonchalantly. So he keeps his word. That's nice of him.
"Said he bought condoms. He'll be expecting you later tonight."
WHAT?!" Petra screeched in horror, off guard. Zoe chuckled loving how red she turned, totally embarrassed. She chided Zoe even threw a paperback book at her. Zoe continued laughing at Petra and cracking jokes about a nonexistent relationship.
"Oh Petra, what is wrong about liking Levi Ackerman?"
"I'm sure plenty of women would be interested but not me." Again, Petra was defending herself. Zoe giggled and shrugged before leaving Petra's office. It wasn't much longer until Petra decided it was time to call it a day. She finished half of the paperwork and decided to finish the rest in the morning. Before leaving, she picked up her office phone. She had to deal with the issue sooner or later. The line rang and rang and finally went to voicemail. What good did that do? She hung up deciding the woman would probably hear it first. She'd deal with it in the morning then.
She called a taxi, figuring that Levi done more than his share for her lately. Yet what had she done for him? It hit her pretty hard that she hadn't done anything in return for him. Would he want anything? Would he be receptive? The cab pulled up to the sidewalk and the driver waited. Petra walked over and got in. She told him her address and they were gone.
Once back, she opened the door. Of course, she didn't expect much to be done to her apartment. Levi only said he'd wash the cups. She sat her purse on the couch and removed her shoes. Peeking around the corner, the two cups were washed and drying out on the counter top. She also detected a hint of scented spray. Febreeze maybe? Jeez, did he think her apartment smelled bad?
She made her way back out into the hallway toward his apartment and knocked. She waited for a few seconds.
Levi finally opened the door, looking bored. He had a toothpick dangling from his mouth and he leaned casually against the door frame.
"Thank you, for everything lately." Petra said smiling at him.
"Hn."
"I was going to fix lasagna in a bit. Would you like to join me?" She asked hopefully, closely observing him for any sign of emotion or hints of how he was taking it. He stiffened a bit before looking over his shoulder.
Screw me. Trying to be nice and he is taking it like Zoe is talking to him.
"It's my way of saying thank you, Levi." She assured him.
"Will you stop pestering me if I agree?" He finally asked sounding a bit irritated. "I have work to finish up."
Petra shook her head and giggled at his tone. "Levi, lighten up. It's food."
"Fine, brat."
"It'll be ready in an hour."
"Got it." Levi said before closing his door.
