Neighbor

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Summary: Levi falls for his neighbor.

The siren story isn't done yet. There's more to come.

Levi had a new neighbor.

She was short, pretty easy on the eyes, and always smelled good.

Currently, she was standing in his doorway with a charming smile on her face. "Hi, I'm Petra, I live a few doors down. If it's not too much trouble, can I ask you for a small favor?"

I should have known. Levi stared down at her, his face blank. "Let me guess, you want to borrow something."

"Actually, I was wondering if you could help me set up my new dresser."

"You're inviting me, a perfect stranger, into your home just like that?" Levi asked incredulously. "I could be some freak for all you know." And now she probably thought he was. Wonderful. Way to go, genius.

"We have a mutual friend, Gunther, and he told me you lived in the same building I was moving into. He's shown me your photo so I know it's you. And I don't think he'd have a friend who was a psychotic murderer," she said with a shrug.

Levi was about to refuse when one of their other neighbors stepped out of the elevator. If he turned her down, the naïve idiot might bring that creep into her apartment. "Alright," he agreed and grabbed his keys and phone from the table, locking the door and following her.

Her place was just as he expected it to be: clean, full of sunlight, and soft, pastel colors. Without another word, he sat next to the wooden pieces and began to assemble them. Petra's attempts at helping were more of a hindrance and he shooed her. So she opted to sit nearby and talk about Gunther and other random things. Eventually, she left to make them both food.

"It's done," he declared, stepping back to admire his work.

"Thanks! I made you lunch as a thank you for your help."

"I'm meeting a friend soon so I'll be taking a rain check." Levi paused at the door. "And don't go on inviting random strangers into your apartment," he scolded. "It's dangerous."

"Even if they're as handsome and helpful as you?" Petra replied with a teasing lilt to her voice.

"Hmph, whatever." He brushed off her comment and left, fighting a blush, but unable to hide the skip in his step.

Levi jiggled the doorknob angrily. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!"

"Levi?" Petra poked her head out of her apartment. "I thought I heard you." She stepped out fully. "What's the matter?" Then she observed his position and chuckled. "Did you lock yourself out?" He sent her a sulky glare. "Why don't you come in? I still owe you lunch, remember?"

Levi didn't get a chance to reply before Petra disappeared into her apartment. Screw it. He was in no mood to wait out in the hallway for the maintenance man, who was probably out for lunch anyway. And if he wasn't, well, Levi was too lazy to be bothered with preparing food himself.

Petra reheated what looked like leftovers. "Hope you don't mind, I didn't have time to cook," she explained.

"It's fine," he said and shrugged. "Macaroni and cheese are about the only thing I can make properly. And instant ramen."

Petra shook her head in dismay. "You're a grown man. You can't live on that all your life! You should learn how to cook."

"I checked out some classes nearby, but they only offer them when I'm either at work or the gym."

"Yes, because having muscles is so much more important than knowing a basic life skill needed to survive."

"At least I know a more important lesson about not letting strangers into my home."

"He says as he stuffs his face with food prepared by a stranger," Petra retorted.

That didn't even make him pause and he continued to eat the spaghetti squash. "Your boyfriend's a lucky guy."

"That he is."

Suddenly, the food lost a little of its deliciousness.

"Back off."

"You back off. I came here first."

"No, I was here first, but I forgot to grab the kitchen towel and had to go back," Petra argued.

Fingers tightening around his laundry basket, Levi leaned his shoulder heavily against hers as they tried to push each other out of the way. "Too bad. I got here right when the machine became available."

"I have to meet my boyfriend later and I need a clean pair of underwear!"

If anything, that only made the jealous, petty part of him rear its ugly head and he resisted even more. "Serves you right for putting off your chores!"

"Levi," Petra whined, stretching out his name.

Reluctantly, he eased up. He wasn't that much of an asshole.

Petra eyed his basket. "You don't have a lot of clothes. Let's compromise. The washing machine is big enough for both our loads."

It was truly sad and spoke volumes on just how pathetic he was that he got thrilled thinking about how his clothes would be mixed with hers. That does it. He was going forgo his plan to relax at home next weekend and meet Farlan at their favorite bar. "Okay, but we use my laundry detergent."

"Done," Petra agreed immediately.

"And you owe me dinner." There was no way he wouldn't finagle a free meal out of it.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course."

"You sure your boyfriend won't mind?" If she was his girlfriend, he would certainly have some opinions about it. Very strong and unhappy ones. It seemed too intimate somehow. Having dinner once or twice in a while and out in a public setting was quite different than sharing a home-cooked meal multiple times.

Petra shrugged. "Why would he? It's not like he doesn't hang out with his female friends without me around."

But did he also set up their furniture and have private meals with them? Maybe it was wishful thinking, but he couldn't help but wonder if she was drifting emotionally from her boyfriend. Don't be an idiot. After all, he hung out with Hange all the time at her place without Erwin there. "Just don't go stealing my underwear," he grumbled.

"I should be telling you that."

"What's with that look on your face?"

"Nothing," Farlan replied innocently, taking a sip of his beer.

"We've known each other since we were kids. I can read your face well."

"The same applies to me," Farlan countered instead of answering. "I know you well, too."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"So," Farlan began, "I know what you're doing."

"What I'm doing?"

"Yeah."

"Enlighten me then because I have no idea what you're talking about."

"C'mon, dude, you never shut up about your neighbor and are always going on about her." Levi opened his mouth to protest it wasn't true but couldn't get a word in. "And I saw her tagged in pictures Gunther posted online so I know what she looks like." Farlan gave him a pointed look.

Levi shifted in his seat, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "What of it?"

"Do I have to spell it out?" Farlan rolled his eyes. "How every chick that catches your attention just happens to be a redhead?"

"Maybe I'm into redheads in general now."

"Does that mean you're into Petra, too?"

"She has a boyfriend."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Yes," Levi replied, scowling. "It does."

An amazed and slightly pitying look crossed Farlan's face, understanding what he was trying to say but couldn't get out. "Sorry, man, that sucks."

"Whatever. I don't care." The words he forced out sounded insincere to even his own ears. "Let's talk about something else."

Just when he decided to give up on his plan of taking someone home with him, one of the women he had noticed earlier came over to talk. She had shiny ginger hair and a stunning smile. He should have been happy. She was nice and confident and beautiful.

But all he could think about was how wrong her blue eyes were and that she was too tall and needed more freckles.

Please, please don't let me have misheard. With his heart pounding hard at this new information, Levi tried to keep his face neutral. "You broke up with your boyfriend?"

"Yeah. We weren't really going anywhere. I've been meaning to break up with him for a while now. Turns out he did, too." Petra chuckled. "You should have been there, we were both so relieved we couldn't stop laughing about how chicken we were about the same thing."

"So you guys split up amicably. That's good," he offered.

"Yeah. I really do like him," she admitted. "He's a great guy and I hope he finds someone amazing."

Levi hoped so, too.

"Hey, you wanna watch an improv show this weekend?" Petra asked, oblivious to his inner thoughts. "I'm really excited about this new one about Game of Thrones."

He nodded as she talked, mentally making a note to text Mikasa and Hange and ask for their opinions on how long he needed to wait before asking out someone who had such an amicable breakup. In such a case, the wait couldn't be that long, right? He wasn't an expert in romantic relationships and thought it prudent to get some advice first.

Naturally, it went out of control and an hour later, all his friends were bombarding him with congratulations and unsolicited advice.

After the appropriate amount of time had passed, Levi decided it was time to get out of the friendzone. Petra was coming over to pick up a dish he had borrowed and he would ask her out then, knowing she was free Saturday. "Thanks for letting me borrow it."

"You really need to buy a skillet of your own. They're really great."

Levi only grunted, heart fluttering nervously as he worked up his courage. "Hey, so I was thinking we could go to the Sunflower Festival this Sunday."

"Yeah? Sounds fun."

Unsure whether she understood his intentions, he decided to clarify. "As a date." As soon as the words were out, he held his breath, waiting for her answer. She gave him a startled look and he folded his arms over his chest, leaning back against the kitchen countertop. "Sometime this year would be preferable, Petra."

"Wow, you're serious."

"Well, yeah. Thought it'd be fun. We could stop by that bakery you didn't get a chance to the other month."

"Yeah, on my way back from my parents'. You remembered that?"

"Of course. You're pretty awesome and very cute, even if you hog all the snacks at the movies." The nervousness disappeared as an almost shy expression flashed on her face before she grinned at him.

"Okay. Let's go out."

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"I'll see you Sunday, then."

Levi nodded. "Twelve o'clock."

His eyes stung and watered up. Sniffing slightly, Levi wiped them with the back of his hand. He heard the lock turn. Petra stepped in. What was she doing here? "You—"

"Are you cooking?" Petra wandered over to him, curious.

"Yeah." Levi couldn't hold back the sniff and wiped his eyes again.

"Let me do this—"

"No," Levi rejected, shifting his body to stop her attempt to take the knife. "It'll make your eyes sting. Why are you even here so early? You weren't supposed to come over until eight."

Petra shrugged, hugging his back. "I wanted to see you."

He loved it when she hugged him from behind. Her words made him feel even warmer.

"So what're you making?"

"Goulash. Seemed easy. Looked like beefy mac n' cheese."

"You sure you don't want any help?"

"No. You can sit there." He pointed the knife at the barstool across the countertop. Petra squeezed his midsection before she released him. "Wait, don't I even get a kiss?" She pulled him down, leaning up to meet his lips. His smile fell when he heard the bubbling. "Shit!" He ran for the stove, turning it off while Petra moved the pan. "Did I ruin it?" Levi asked, upset.

"No, don't worry. The pasta's fine." Grabbing a fork, she cut one of the pieces in half. "No white. It's cooked." Just to make sure, she blew on it before eating it. "Don't drain it yet. Otherwise it'll dry up and stick together."

Levi nodded, returning to the onion. He listened to her give him tips, reading the recipe he had pulled up on his laptop. It took almost double the time the recipe said it would due to his lack of experience and caution.

Once the food was ready, they settled on the couch, movie ready on the TV.

Petra took the first bite while he waited eagerly. "Wow, it's good! Really good!"

"Yeah," he agreed, taking a bite himself, feeling accomplished. "I didn't think it would turn out so good. Cooking wasn't as hard as I thought it would be."

"I'm so proud of you. We should take a baking class together. I have my eye on one but you'll have to miss the gym once a week."

"That's fine."

"Really?" Petra perked up. "You're such an exercise freak, I thought you'd say no—oh, movie's starting, shhh!"

Levi rolled his eyes. "You're the one who's talking."

"Shh!"

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