"Hey, Levi?"

Levi looked over the edge of his newspaper at Falco, who had sat down beside him at the kitchen table and was looking around nervously to make sure they were alone.

"What is it, kid?"

Reluctant to meet Levi's eyes, Falco stared a small divot in the wood, which he rubbed with his index finger. His face was burning.

"Can… Can I ask you something?"

"Well, you just did, didn't you?"

Embarrassed as he was, Falco couldn't help but smile. "I guess so."

When he made no sign of continuing, Levi sighed, folded up his newspaper, and said, "Shit or get off the pot, kid. Whatever it is you've got to say, it can't be that bad."

Falco's blush had now spread from his cheeks to his ears and down his neck.

Well, he thought, here goes nothing.

"How…" He swallowed. "How do you ask a girl out?"

Falco expected Levi to roll his eyes, make fun of him, or tell him to go to Onyankopon with those kinds of questions (if not all three). Instead, after a long sip of his tea, Levi said, "'Bout time you asked her out. I'm sick of watching you two make eyes at each other when you think no one's looking."

"Y-You saw?"

"Tch. You're as subtle as a titan running down a city block." Levi frowned a little. "And if you and Gabi start going out, you'll probably become even more openly lovesick. I get that you're going through 'that phase,' but—"

"Please, Levi." Falco leaned toward him, wide-eyed and earnest (and desperately hoping Levi wouldn't elaborate on what he meant by "that phase"). "I don't know what I'm doing. I really don't want to screw this up. It's… She's important to me, you know?"

"I know, kid. Take a sec and pull yourself together. Here, have some tea."

Levi pushed a cup of Earl Grey toward Falco, who gratefully accepted it. He took a sip, taking comfort in the warmth that spread through his chest.

"So what part of asking a girl out don't you understand?" Levi asked once Falco had had a moment to calm down.

Falco rubbed the back of his neck while he thought.

"The main thing is, I just don't know how to do it the right way," he said. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do, what rules I need to follow."

"Only real rule is not to be a dick. Don't upset her. Don't push her if she says no. And make your intentions clear—none of this 'Hey, would you like to hang out sometime?' bullshit, or whatever weak-ass thing kids these days say when they're too chicken to be straightforward."

Falco nodded. "I think I can do that," he said. "But… then what? I mean, what if I make a mistake? What if the place we go turns out to be awful? What if something weird happens?"

"You're teenagers. Something weird is always happening." Levi made a face. "Besides, you saw each other turn into titans. That's as weird as it gets."

"I guess you're right," said Falco with a chuckle. The weight of his discomfort and anxiety continued to lift from his shoulders, leaving him energized, excited, and full of daydreams about what he and Gabi could do on their date. Hadn't she said something about wanting to explore the beach nearby…?

When they were done talking, Falco pushed his chair back, stood up, and said, "Thanks, Levi. I feel better now."

"Don't mention it." Levi picked up his newspaper and flipped through the pages, trying to find where he'd left off. Finally, he could get back to reading that article about the new blend of tea the shop downtown was offering.

"Okay."

"Really. Don't. And go wash your teacup."

Levi hadn't even finished reading the article when Gabi came bounding into the kitchen.

"Hey, Levi?" she asked.

"Yeah, kid?"

"How do you ask a boy out?"

Levi sighed.

It was going to be a long fucking day.

A/N: I know Gabi and Falco's parents are alive, so despite the title, Levi didn't actually adopt the kiddos. But I like to think of them, along with Onyankopon, as falling into a family dynamic after the war. (Besides, who would go to their actual parents for dating advice?)