Ever since it opened a year ago, GraviTea Falls was one of the most popular cafes in the entire county. The name had started off as a joke Dipper made but it stuck and eventually Levi and Petra used it officially to open their small store and cafe a little less than a year ago. It was a busy summer day and with a tour bus coming through it was even busier than usual. By the time closing came around eight o'clock, Levi and Petra were exhausted.
Levi was ready to start locking up when the door opened, the annoying little bell Petra insisted on putting up chiming. Tch, can't they tell we're closed, he thought in irritation. He went out into the dining area, ready to break the news, but instead of customers he saw Dipper and Mabel Pines.
"Petra, get out here. The twins are here to see us," he called back to her as Mabel nearly knocked him down with a forceful hug. "Hey there, Mabel."
"We got your wedding invitation in our mail!" she said excitedly. "Congratulations!"
"Mabel woke up half of the neighborhood when she got it," Dipper said with a small grin.
"And Dipper woke up the other half," Mabel added. "I can't believe it's happening! I've been waiting for this for forever!" Levi grinned as Petra joined them in the front of the door, a large smile on her face as well.
"I know! We're really excited," she said, giving the twins a big hug. "You'll be able to come, right?"
"Of course! We wouldn't miss it for the world," Dipper said. "So, how has the shop been holding up?"
"Great! We're getting good business! We think we have enough money to move into that small Victorian a few blocks down from the old, run-down convenience store," she said.
"Isn't that house supposed to be haunted?" Mabel asked.
"Eh, if it is Levi and I can do an exorcism," Dipper shrugged.
"I am never performing an exorcism with you again. Not after the last time," Levi said bluntly.
"Hey, I didn't know it was a demon! I thought it was a poltergeist!" Dipper defended himself.
"The only reason we got rid of it was because that creepy triangle got to him before we did," Petra pointed out. Levi rolled his eyes.
"I'd give anything to forget that whole ordeal," he said.
"So, I guess that means you aren't up for a little paranormal creature hunt tonight?" Dipper asked, temptation in his voice.
"It depends. Are we going after demons or something harmless?" Levi asked back.
"Not sure. Mabel and I have been talking to people around town and they've been telling us about this weird bird that's in the forests. No one knows what it is and the reports are spanning all the way back to last summer! If that's too dangerous for you, I guess me and Mabel can handle it on our own," Dipper said.
"It sounds like a fun night out and not too dangerous for us," Petra grinned, glancing at her fiancé. "Let us lock up and we'll come with."
The forest was darker than normal. Shadows blacker than the night flitted about and the bloody cries of birds screeched through the air. Petra's hand squeezed Levi's every time a cry came out of the darkness. He didn't feel like she was scared; no, it was more of a surprised reaction than anything. A year away from the titans and she's jumpy as hell, he thought, suppressing a smirk. Although if she's going to be like this, I'd rather have her be it here than inside the walls.
The four carried flashlights and their supplies, swinging beams of light in front of them and into the dark forest when they heard nearby cries. Levi and Petra wore their gear over their homemade sweaters and jeans. It had been so long since Levi had last worn his gear he wasn't used to the friction against his belts as they brushed against each other while walking.
"So what exactly are we looking for?" Petra asked.
"It's a giant bird," Dipper began. "According to the people who've seen it, it's white and silver but they don't know whether it's dangerous or not. It's nocturnal, I think, since all of the sightings have been at night."
"Who's seen it?" Levi inquired.
"Toby, Manly Dan, a few other townspeople whose names I can't remember."
"Are we really going to trust Toby?" Levi asked in disdain; Petra giggled.
"Toby might be weird, but he's a good source," Mabel stood up for him. "Just because he tap dances and wears a glittery unitard doesn't mean he's a liar."
"If anything, it just means his sense of fashion is horrible," Petra said snarkily, making Levi chuckle.
"Now we're onto something," Dipper laughed. A loud screech cut through the air. Petra's hand jerked, crushing Levi's hand for a second before relaxing. He pointed his flashlight towards the source of the noise. Dipper gasped at the sight of a large white bird; it must have been as large as Levi.
"Mabel, get the net ready!" Dipper whisper-shouted. She drew it out of her bag and held it up in anticipation. The bird cawed and looked down at the four. Levi's stomach lurched as it's eyes faded from black into a bloody red. That's not a good sign.
"Mabel, let me do this," he said, hand reaching out to grab the net from her.
"No, I got it, Levi," she whispered back. But before she could make any move to capture the creature it shrieked and dive-bombed the group. Levi pushed Mabel out of the way in time, but the thing soon turned around and went after Petra. Shit! He engaged his gear, drawing his blades. This thing is dangerous. I need to take it out. Petra flew out of the bird's way with a small shout of shock. Its eyes were now tomato red and once again it opened its beak. A blinding ray of light shot out of its mouth and hit the ground. Wind rushed around them and a hole grew in the ground. Oh fuck.
There was now a portal on the ground.
Time felt like it stopped. Levi stared at the portal. All along, this weird bird had been causing them. Here was their chance to return home; assuming that's where the portal led. Levi knew humanity back inside the walls needed him and Petra. There was sure as hell no way they'd finished wiping out all of the titans in a year. But he didn't want to leave. He'd built a life for himself and for Petra in a world where they didn't have to worry about food, or land, or titans. He and Petra could return to the walls and the thought made his stomach violently sick.
The bird swooped towards Petra against and she narrowly missed its attack. It hissed at her and butted its head into her stomach. She stumbled back and to Levi's horror, fell into the portal. He didn't have to think. His body flew across the short distance, throwing himself down the portal after her. Multicolored lights flew by him as he tried to make himself fall faster, desperate to reach Petra.
"Levi!" she screamed, reaching out to him. Their fingers brushed together and Levi forced his shoulder upwards. His fingers grabbed hers and he pulled himself towards her. Fear was painted on her face, eyes becoming glossy with tears.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine. I-I, do you think we're heading back to the walls? Or somewhere else?" she questioned. A wave of nerves-induced nausea hit him like a punch to the gut.
"I don't know, but nothing can be worse than the hell around the walls," he replied. What if we're going back? What are we going to do? Everyone in the walls needs us, but what about Dipper and Mabel? They need us too. And Petra and I had our lives set out for us. We can't just give up our dream.
"Promise me we'll get married one day!" she cried out suddenly, tears starting to stream down her face. "Promise me that no matter what we'll always be together!"
"You have my word, Petra," he said. He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into a kiss. Heat flowed through his veins at the familiar touch of her lips but his nerves intensified. Who knew where they were going? This could be the last kiss he'd ever share with her.
The feeling of falling switched to flying into the void and before they could brace themselves they were thrown out of the portal and into the air. Levi hit compacted dirt with a thud, the wind getting knocked out of his chest. Shit, that hurt. He slowly sat up as the sound of rushing feet grew louder. He and Petra were back in the small fortress built outside of Wall Maria and their comrades were rushing towards them.
"Oh my God, you're okay!" Nifa cried, helping Petra to her feet. "We were sure you had died! Thank goodness you and Levi are okay."
"You guys are still here?" Petra asked incredulously.
"Why wouldn't it be? It's only been a few hours," Erwin told her. A few hours? But we've been gone for a year. Does time go faster there, Levi wondered.
"Well? What happened?" Hange asked, excited but concerned as she helped Levi up. "Did you see the other side? What was it like?" The memories flashed before his eyes. Fighting the titan bent on killing the crowd Stan Pines had gathered. Kissing Petra for the first time. Teaching Dipper and Mabel self-defense. Moving into a small apartment with Petra. Opening GraviTea Falls with her. Their first time making love. The night he proposed to her.
"It wasn't half bad," he replied, his voice strained.
Months later, Petra walked up the staircase to Levi's office, a stack of paperwork in her hands. She knew he wasn't going to like getting all of this, especially considering it was his day off, but Hange had told her this was important and couldn't wait until tomorrow. I just hope he's not too upset, Petra thought as she knocked on his door. The engagement ring he'd bought for her a year ago was cool against her chest; the engagement was still on but a secret, and so she wore the ring on a chain tucked underneath her clothing. Having to hide the relationship from disapproving superiors was something they both disliked, but there was no way in hell she'd leave him.
Now that she thought about it, he didn't talk much about their experience in Gravity Falls other than referencing moments they spent with themselves or with the twins, but the latter were occasional and getting less and less talked about. She didn't blame him. It hurt to talk about the twins, especially since they never got a proper goodbye and with no portal activity (at least, from what they could tell), they would never see Dipper or Mabel again. And they would never get to live the life they'd planned while in Gravity Falls.
"Name and business?" Levi called out, pulling her out of her reverie.
"It's Petra, sir. I have some paperwork from Hange."
"Of course," he sighed in exasperation. "Come in, Petra." She opened the door and quickly entered his office. She had to choke back lighthearted giggle as she put the huge stack on papers on his desk. He was wearing the sweater Mabel had made for him all those months ago.