"Levi." Hange sat down across from Levi at the table.
"What?" He glanced up at her, eyebrow rising, fingers wrapped around the warm rim of his teacup.
She clasped her hands together, leaning forward. "Say, you want to go on a date?"
Levi promptly inhaled some of his tea.
000
Hange's hand was pleasant in his own while they walked side by side through the small streets. The weather was nice, although a bit too warm for Levi's liking. He glanced at his side - eyes lingering on Hange's smile and the bouquet in her hand. Something in his chest fluttered at that sight.
Hange was happy. And he was- too. Yeah. He felt the upward tug of the corners of his mouth. Even though there were still days where he felt just like lying on his bed all day, staring at the ceiling, the emptiness in his chest screaming at him, there were also many days where he felt light. Lighter than he had ever felt in his life.
"What are you smiling at?"
His gaze snapped back to Hange. "Nothing," he grumbled. And despite himself, he felt a flush rise to his face. Inwardly cursing himself, Levi hoped it would not be noticeable. Damn. Damn him.
Hange suddenly halted her step, pulling him out of his roaming thoughts.
"Hange-"
"Where do you want to go next?"
He shifted to face her and studied her face for a second.
Hange squeezed his hand, head tilting, smiling at him. "We can get ice cream?"
"Hm, too sweet."
"Aw," Hange pouted. "It's the perfect weather for it. And maybe you'll like it. You've never tried it, right?"
He huffed, eying the infuriating dusty street beneath his shoes. "Alright." He shot her a stare. "If we can go to that teashop down the street afterward."
And Hange beamed, pulling him along the uneven pavement.
000
To Levi's surprise, the ice cream was quite good. Hange had gotten him yogurt flavor, saying that he would like it. She'd been right. After that, they went to the teashop. Levi glanced to his side a bit sheepishly at the bag filled with tea. He may have gone a bit overboard with the tea. But it was tea. He shrugged off the nagging feeling, returning his attention to the view stretching out before him.
Endless blue and sparkling gold.
They were seated on the beach, looking on as the sun made its way downward. Along gathering dark clouds, a skyline painted a fiery orange and bright purple. A mild breeze carried away the heat that had plagued them all day long. In the far distance, birds screeched their songs.
"We had our first kiss at the beach, remember."
Levi nearly spilled his water as Hange suddenly broke the quiet. "Fuck." He brought a hand up to the bridge of his nose. "Don't say stupid stuff out of nowhere." Lowering his hand, he frowned down at the bottle in his grasp.
Of course, Levi remembered.
Hange shrugged, tilting till her head rested on his shoulder.
"Oi."
"Let us stay like this for a bit, please?"
Levi did not attempt to shake her off.
"Okay." He inhaled a lungful of the fresh ocean air. "For a bit then."
He remembered, of course. How could he ever forget? Hange's warm hand in his own, the approaching twilight, blue and shimmering gold in the distance. Heat and the taste of strawberries.
The memory was there, engraved into his mind.
Levi took another breath. Rain would be coming soon.
