Levi is tired and hungry and drenched with rain that suddenly had begun pouring not long ago. His limbs ache even though Hange had done most of the walking. Nevertheless, their day trip through the nearby city had been enjoyable. The bright weather during the day had been not too cold and not too hot, and Hange's starry-eyed look at everything new she discovered made her hauling him into every shop and the never-ending babbling about everything and nothing worth it. In particular, the small teashop had been excellent. Levi could never say no to a new brand of good tea.
When they were on their way back to the car, however, without warning, the rain started pouring, soaking them both to the bone in mere minutes. They had hurried, but by the time they reached the spot where their car was, they were drenched and shivering.
Levi sincerely hoped that the rainwater had not ruined his tea.
He grimaces as he stretches his legs and back. Even though he hadn't walked much, his body still throbs achingly.
"You alright?" Hange slides next to him into the driver's seat, dripping rainwater all over the interior of their rented car, and Levi glares at the sight of the wet patches forming on the upholstery. Not that he had succeeded any better in keeping the car dry and clean, but still.
Hange had been putting away the wheelchair in the small trailer, which she had taken upon herself to create. Honestly, Levi didn't like to use the damn thing all that much, but for longer trips, it was unavoidable, with his leg not being able to withstand long periods of walking or standing. If they wanted to move freely, it was their best choice. With Hange occupied, he had taken care of their bags, which were most of Hange's bags. Because, of course, she had not been able to resist her urge to buy everything she deemed valuable and useable. It was nothing new, though. Even back during their Survey Corps days, Hange tended hoards loads of crap, stuffing it all in her already cluttered room - even going as far as sneaking stuff into Levi's room that one time. He was not amused when he discovered it.
Levi glowers at the memory of the sheepish and apologetic smile Hange had given him. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just shitty leg pain." He suppresses a shiver and wipes at some wet strands of hair, sticking to his forehead, scowling at the feel of his soggy shirt clinging to his skin. He turns to glare at her. "Now, let's get going before we ruin this car even more with all this shitty water."
They end up at Hange's place that is a bit nearer to the city. Once inside, Hange gets Levi one of her long-sleeve shirts. It's a bit too large on him, but he doesn't care much. The shirt is warm and dry. Luckily, he can wear one of his spare pair of pants that he once had forgotten when staying the night.
Hair still wet from his bath and towel slung around his shoulders, Levi makes his way toward the kitchen. Hange looks up from the pot she was stirring in when he shuffles inside.
"Hey." He nods at her while he settles himself at the kitchen table. "Making dinner?"
"Yeah." Hange turns back toward the pot. "Vegetable soup." She glances at one of the cupboards. "I think I also still have some bread left we can roast."
Levi hums and leans his cheek in his hand, watching her contently as she loiters around the kitchen.
They eat in comfortable silence, both tired and hungry. Later, the two of them settle on the couch, although not without Levi insisting they wash the dishes first before doing so.
Levi sips at his tea, the warmth warming him pleasantly, as he watches Hange pour a glass of the wine she bought earlier in the day. He makes a face. "Can't believe you spent money on that." Hange shrugs. "You just don't understand the appeal of a good wine." She glances up at him. "There are good and bad kinds of wine, you know."
"Hmpf." He takes another sip of his tea. "To me, it all tastes like the same sour drain water."
Levi doesn't care about alcohol all that much. He likes to keep his mind as clear as possible. Though, he can appreciate a good whiskey from time to time. The taste holds memories of the times long gone. Late nights full of never-ending piles of reports and weariness, nights lighted by the warm glow of a fireplace, nights with Erwin smiling into his glass and Hange babbling off about her newest discovery and Mike sitting calmly alongside them. Whenever he thinks back on them, on those late nights, there's the same pang of sorrow in his chest - an ache that makes him want to fidget. Still, they are his memories of quiet times filled with a sense of peace, memories Levi cherishes sincerely. He carries them together with all the other memories of their fallen friends and comrades who all gave their hearts.
"Levi?"
"Hm?"
Hange calling his name and the sudden movement he catches in his peripheral vision pulls Levi out of his musings of past times and brings him back to the present and the teacup he is holding in his hand. He starts to turn, but then abruptly, Hange drapes her arms over his shoulders and draws him into an awkward sort of sideways hold. He stiffens from the sudden touch and swears under his breath while he tries not to spill his tea that comes dangerously close to sloshing over the rim. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm hugging you," she murmurs. "Am I not allowed to?"
"I-" he falters, heart beating in his ears.
"You were having that look on your face again." Hange's breathing caresses his cheek, and her body presses warmly against his. His relaxing body stiffens anew, and Levi narrows his eyes. "What look."
"That sad expression. The one you sometimes get when deep in thought."
"I don't-" he shakes his head. "It was nothing bad I was thinking about."
Hange does not ask further and places her head on his shoulder instead, breathing out, body leaning heavily against him. "I'm tired," she murmurs.
He shrugs. "That's probably because of your shitty wine."
She giggles, twirling a few strands of his hair around her fingers.
"Could be."
"Hm, yeah. Are you planning on staying like this?"
"Just for a bit, okay. It's- it's comfortable." Hange's words are beginning to slur a little with her cheek pressed against the fabric of the shirt he got from her.
Levi lets out a breath, body deflating a bit. "Okay." He tilts his head back against the headrest and stares up at the ceiling, fingers wrapped around the cup in his hand. His other hand comes up to rest on her back, fingers brushing the bumps of her spine. He feels the cadence of her sleepy breathing that makes him settle further into the soft cushions of the couch, the remaining tension leaving his body. "Just for a bit then."
