Vase

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Summary: Levi breaks Petra's favorite vase.

He broke it.

Utter dismay and horror came over his features. I'm fucking dead. He looked around frantically. Levi could hear the water running from down the hall. Petra was in the bathroom, showering. They were supposed to meet with their friends and watch a movie then go drinking later, and he'd dropped by early.

It had been an accident. He had turned the TV on to pass time as he waited. He wasn't looking, eyes glued to the TV, walking backward to the kitchen for some water. Too absorbed, he wasn't being mindful of his surroundings and bumped into the small, dark-brown table Petra had bought just to display the beautiful vase.

Levi's wide eyes stared at the shattered mess at his feet in silent terror. Petra was going murder him. He cursed himself profoundly. Numerous explanations and excuses and scenarios played out in his head. Burglar? Wind? Earthquake? Aliens? Levi's mind raced frantically.

He couldn't sneak out and pretend he was never there. She had talked to him before getting into the shower. Whipping out his phone, he quickly searched the store she'd told him she bought the vase from, knowing the item was a limited edition and praying they weren't sold out.

Levi flinched, letting out a strangled gasp at the price.

Although it was cheaper and less deadly compared to the fury Petra would rain down on him when she found out he destroyed her beloved vase.

Making up his mind, Levi raced out of the apartment. He had less than half an hour before the store closed. Fortunately, the place was relatively close by and traffic was calm at that time of the evening. He was able to make it without breaking too many traffic laws and getting only one middle-finger flipped in his direction.

He shoved his phone under the nose of the woman, Rico according to her name tag, that greeted him. "I need this vase!" He was glad he had saved the photo Petra sent.

"Yes," Rico said. "Very good choice. It's—"

"Yes, yes, I'm going to buy it so no need for the sales pitch."

Anxiously, he followed the woman to the glass display. Another couple was standing there, admiring the same vase, debating whether they wanted it or not. "It's mine," Levi declared. He pulled out his credit card. "I call dibs!" The couple was too stunned to reply and he hurried the saleswoman to the register.

Levi checked his phone as Rico rang up the purchase. Petra would be drying her hair now. It would take approximately twelve minutes to drive back. Then she'll do her make-up. She never takes more than ten minutes to do her makeup. Hopefully she wouldn't leave the bathroom until she was all done. Snatching the package, ignoring Rico's annoyed expression, he quickly left.

Levi carefully placed the vase in the center of the table. Dashing to the hallway closet, he pulled out a small broom and a dustpan. The broken mess was collected in a plastic bag and he went to stash it in the trunk of his car. If he threw it out in her trash she might notice.

Petra was in the living room when he returned. "Hey, where'd you go?"

Heart pounding in his chest, trying to calm his breathing, Levi shrugged casually. "I couldn't remember if I locked my car. Just went to check really quick since you're driving us in your car."

She nodded. "I'm gonna put my stuff in a different purse. This one is too small. Give me a minute. Then we'll go."

Levi faked a sigh of exasperation, really only wanting to exhale to get his stress levels under control. "Fine." He collapsed on the couch when she went into the bedroom. Pride and relief washed over him. He couldn't believe it. He'd done it! Petra would never know. He felt quite smug.

"Okay, let's go."

Levi stood.

Petra was checking to make sure everything she needed was in her bag when she accidentally bumped the vase with it. Levi leaped forward, but it slipped through his fingers and crashed to the floor. He almost screamed in disbelief. Are you fucking kidding me?!

"Whoops." Petra stepped back. "Guess you'll have to wait another minute while I clean this up."

Levi looked at her, utterly shocked. "You, you aren't upset?"

"What? No." She waved her hand. "I was babysitting Eren the other day and that boy is a human tornado. Whenever I'm expecting the company of children, or Hange," she added, amused, "I always replace the real vase with an almost identical knock-off. I got it from Chinatown for almost nothing."

Levi gaped at her.

"Pretty smart, huh," she said proudly. "Let me get rid of this mess really quick." Petra tossed her bag on the couch. "Can you text the others and let them know we'll be a few minutes late?"

Levi looked at the vase shattered in a hundred pieces on the floor, almost crying at a thousand dollars wasted over a cheap knock-off.

None of his friends could figure out why he was in such a shitty mood and spent the entire night sulking.

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