Chapter 54:

This is Our Place, We Make the Rules

-x-

In just a few days, first day of college was just about to start.

The night before the very big day Hanji is excited for, she found herself rolling and adjusting herself in the bed she shares with Levi for hours and many times already. Levi could feel her doing so endlessly and decided to wrap his arms around her to stop her and let her know he is still awake.

Hanji was surprised when she suddenly felt strong arms around her and locked her from doing another turn and move in the bed. She freezes,, knowing she might piss Levi for moving too much and it's already late.

"Sleep" he ordered.

"Sorry" she whispered and places her face flat on the pillow. She can't stop her thoughts swirling all around her head. She feels excited, anxious, but hopeful. She can't help but also feel the same for Levi if he is going to be okay in his university and if he will like his course or schedule.

Then she thought, will Levi find a new girl in university and then eventually leave her?

Her agitated body and mind was suddenly forced to turn around and have her face slap on a strong chest. Her hand immediately landed on his navel and her face turns up towards him.

"What are you thinking about?" Levi asked as he looked down to see her eyes getting wet.

"Nothing" she whimpers and turns to look down and settle her face flat on him. Levi's fingers pulls her chin up towards him and was forced to look straight to his eyes. Despite the darkness surrounding them, she knows he could still see right through.

"It's not nothing." He responded firmly and Hanji bit her inside cheeks.

She knows he knows.

"Everything's going to be okay" he assures her and she tried to smile a little bit. She blames herself and her brain, why does she need to worry and think about that? Why does her eyes needed to follow the motion of her mind and heart?

"Yeah" she agrees and buries her face on Levi's chest. He tucked her in closer to him and inhaled her scent like an old book with aloe vera, thankful for the shampoo at least.

She's not yet ready to ask him as she fear that it might even help him consider such thought if she brings it up. But maybe someday, after a couple more weeks she thought.

With now heavy eyes and Levi's breath on her skin, she closes her eyes and drift into sleep, the last thing she remember was feeling soft lips kissing her head and forehead, fingers caressing her hair and shoulder giving her entire body a squeeze.

It was enough to make her smile and feel better and submerge into sleep finally.

-x-

"Don't fucking move!"

Levi shouted as he clips Hanji's bra together. Her back was tempting but being early to school is way more tempting, he reminds himself.

They both woke up early but also panicking. Hanji was all over the place, placing her things everywhere and Levi is trying to keep everything okay. Hanji was too excited and had been blabbering a lot about everything of what to expect in their very first day.

"I wonder if they'll have the list of clubs and organizations already so I could choose wisely for the school year." Hanji exclaimed as her hands clasped with anticipation while Levi was busy fixing her bra.

"Yeah, well we should get dressed first before even planning the things that we should be doing at school Hanji" he reminds her and that seemed to have worked on her as she took her shirt and wears it. It was Levi's chance finally to complete his attire, finish their packed meals while Hanji took the cleaning part of it and together, wear their shoes.

Like their usual ways during high school, they went towards the same bus stop but will ride differently.

"Text me if you need anything or something happened." Levi reminded Hanji, knowing that she might get too overwhelmed and not focus on what is more important.

"Yes I will" she breathlessly answered as a bus came to halt right in front of her. Turns out that it was Levi's ride instead of hers and before she knew it, he was already climbing up the bus. Without thinking, she reached up and kissed him on the lips, wherein she was supposed to kiss him by the cheeks. He too, was surprised but Hanji flashed him with a bashful smile instead.

It was still new to them that they are going to start each day this way.

"Take care" she tells him and he could only nod, as the bus is about to move.

Just a few minutes after, the bus Hanji needed arrived and she climbed up right away. Taking a seat, she can't help but feel the contained emotion inside of her. She feels excited about college and everything that goes with it and she wanted to tell more of her feelings to Levi but seeing she is seated beside a much older man, her smile crashed down her face.

As then she realized that she has been used of being with Levi recently, she felt a slight pang of realization that from now on, she and Levi would be studying in different institutions. She is fully aware that she could handle it like she usually does but she can't help but a bothering feeling that she might lose Levi at some point, or that he might get used and preferred not having her around.

Slapping herself in the face lightly, she persuades herself inside that Levi is not like that and it won't happen.

Since when did I even think of such petty things?

When Levi came.

There was a duel in her mind she can't help it. She is both worried and petrified but she knows she is not like this before, but maybe this is also what having a partner in life means.

Thinking of them unstoppably.

Everything's going to be okay.

She reminds herself again and calms herself down.

-x-

How was first class?

Levi texted her as knowing her schedule, her first subject should be over already and is on the second one. It took more minutes for her to reply than he anticipated.

It was great J How about yours? Did you make new friends?

No.

It was a short and safe reply because the moment he step foot in the university, there were already some girls who were looking at him as though he is some sort of stuffed animal in a toy store. He did saw one who he is sure of being a client of his before. The girl, a blonde, looked like she was about to shit her pants when she saw him.

Fuck.

It was the only thing that he thought of, definitely nowhere is safe and realized that the world is indeed small. And it would be better if he won't be telling it to Hanji first. Next time, he thought.

In the right time.

He won't be making any friends either because the way he sees it, he has not yet spotted anyone who seemed deserving to be a friend of his. Most especially with the way they look at him, as though they are his prey.

I am asked to go to the dean after class for my wrestling scholarship.

That's good! J I'll see you at home then. I love you! :*

Levi could only smirk at the kiss emoticon and keep his phone back to his bag as he walks and finds the next room for his second subject. He doesn't need to ask because he has no problem finding it on his own and if ever he really needed to, he usually asks the staffs or the janitor when he finds himself lost or confused.

He found himself sitting alone in the cafeteria to eat the food he packed, silently wishing that Hanji would not forget about the food he made for them both and eat hers. Meeting the principal was also smooth as he was reminded that he would be meeting his coach and his other teammates by next week, which is made earlier as so they could also prepare early.

"We are really happy and fortunate that you are here with us, Mr. Ackerman. As you may know, our school has been incredibly six feet under in the ranks of the universities and colleges in wrestling and we are hoping that you would be able to help us."

He doesn't have any problem with it and even feel privileged and that as long as they would give him free education for college, he would do anything to help the institution win.

At the end of the day, he was able to attend his classes and without making new friends. He was never good in making friends anyway, and Hanji alone is already enough for him.

-x-

"Can't you believe that we have an assignment already? Not that I am complaining but I don't mind and I think I was just surprised."

Hanji went on babbling while preparing dinner with Levi who was just eager to listen to what she is saying as she went on what happened her day, as to who she thinks among her professors were good and who were the newly friends that she had.

When they already sat and were already eating their dinner, Levi decided that it was his turn to speak.

"I'm planning to look around tomorrow for a job." He was a bit unsure as to how Hanji would take it in, although he knows she doesn't mind but still can't help but feel a bit unsure. They did talked about how he wanted to provide for them both and not solely rely on her father as he is not a fucking freeloader in the first place and it was only Hanji is his priority, not him.

"Really? Where?" she asked, mouth full of food, eyes only at him.

"Around school or near here."

"Like what particularly?"

"Anything decent." He replied proudly because this time, he won't need to be naked or get dirty for him to earn money.

Hanji smiled at him, lips pursed but still looking pretty to his eyes. "Want me to come with you?"

"I'm alright. Just do whatever you want and text me where you are at."

"Sure" Hanji smiled and then continued to devour her food. "You have anything in mind where and what you would be doing?"

"I saw a nearby Starbucks along the street and another coffee shop around my university and around here as well, having a post outside their shops that they are hiring. I don't mind being a janitor or anything in those shops as long as they are decent."

She can't help but feel proud of Levi and how happy she felt as she could at least help him even with small she did took note of the word decent that he used more than once.

"Don't you want to adjust into college first before considering a job, Levi?" Hanji asked as she can't help but feel worried.

"What do you mean?"

"I meant, see first as to how difficult college would be or what your subjects would be like or the study time that you would be needing." Hanji's eyes grew with evident worry and instead of making him feel bad, he actually find her cute. All Levi could show her was a smirk and her worried expression withdrew.

Levi approached her, hands on her shoulders and leaned his forehead to hers. Hanji suddenly felt bashful of the sudden approach Levi made towards her, most especially that he locked eyes with her.

"Trust me, I can handle it." He said in an almost like whisper voice and Hanji could only lean in more at him although the gestured that she did was because he did not hear him or she wanted a kiss. So he did both, he leaned closer to her ear and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

"I will handle it better than you could ever know because this is for us." Hanji bit her lower lip for his shown dedication and sincerity. She never had anyone sacrifice so much and have her consider for their hard work except for her parents and Nanaba.

As a sign of gratitude, she wraps her arms around him and kisses him affectionately on the lips. "I wanted to say no and would have you rest or focus on your study, but you always seemed to be very eager about it so okay. I will also try to look for one for myself too."

"Hanji, no, the allowance that your parents are giving you is enough and to add the salary that I will have, it will make things better and enough for us already. You don't need to have a job." It was Levi's turn to feel responsible towards her.

He wanted to care for her and let her have her college without any stress as possible, compared to that of what had just recently happened to their final year in high school.

"You know well that you need time to dedicate yourself with whatever shit you wanted right?" Hanji flashed him a small smile, not a sad one so he is at least grateful.

"I did not say right away, but maybe in the middle of the school year." Levi sighs heavily, at least he could consider that. If she really wanted to work, he would consider that thought at least she had already adjusted by the time she wanted to start on a job.

"That's better I guess" Hanji could only smile at that. She can't help but feel pretty amazed as to how Levi tries to baby her.

-x-

Thanks to the favorites and following:

BlueJoy

Sukia Sulli

Chinadollsoldier

hallunatic

hallunatic: I hope you're doing well, thank you so much for your support! Yes indeed, everyone misses the lives we had before all this pandemic :'(

Guest: Thank you so much! :D

Meryu-chan: Thank you, thank you so much for your support hhuhu T.T Are you a Filipino too? :D

Sleeping Zombie: Thank you, thank you so much for your support! T.T I hope my next chapters will not fail you T.T

The manga has finally ended and for me, Hanji on that last panel has the most emphasis than anyone else, and the fact that she is in the middle? More salt to that painful open wound huhu T.T She and Levi deserves such a happy ending. I still have a few questions in mind like about Zeke and entirely his purpose, his also poor end like no meaning at all, Historia being a bsch and that the entire end that war is needed for them to have peace.

It was a good ride with Shingeki for the past seven years that I've been with it. I've been with it since I was in college, Master's, started my career, and other big parts of my life and now that I am working my butt off to work abroad.

One thing is for sure, I'm staying here in FanFiction and will continue making fics for LeviHan. I still have them all lined up but this one is pretty damn long so yeah, and life is catching up and all.

Anyway, endure and survive guys. This is year is definitely a season 2 of last year's -_-''

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Long live LeviHan!