Wow. This one is nearly 1,000 words longer than my usual story. That's pretty good, don't ya think? I really liked writing this one. The characters become more vivid and it excites me in a way. XD
Claire awoke early the next morning. She yawned as she stretched out her tired limbs. It was earlier than she'd usually wake, but today would be much more interesting than most. Last night, Erwin had informed her of an expedition the four higher ups were going on. She had planned to ride along with them. Claire got dressed quickly, picking out a long, flowy dress that was pink tinted. It was simple and would be easiest to ride a horse in. She slid on her boots and laced them up around her thin ankles. Finally she clasped her locket around her neck and walked out of the bedroom.
She walked down to the mess hall, remembering the way from last night when Hanji had taken her. As she entered, she spotted Levi sitting alone at the same table as the night before. She sat down across from him, smiling a cheerfully at the stoic man as he read through his papers.
"Good morning, Levi" she greeted.
"Morning" he responded, looking through the papers he had in one hand and taking a drink from the cup of black tea in his other.
"Multitasking this early in the morning is not very good" she teased, pulling his papers down to the table. He looked at her with bored eyes, although, behind those were curious eyes, wishing to know what the person in front of them intended to do next.
"I'm sorry for last night, I understand now that you'd like to keep your past a secret to the others" she apologized, grabbing his hand.
"Brat, you don't need to apologize, you did nothing wrong. I hadn't told you not to, so there's no way you could have known" Levi said, pulling his hand away and setting down his cup as well.
"Well, you two love birds sure are up early" Hanji exclaimed when she walked into the room and sat down at the table.
"Hanji, shut your mouth before I do it for you" Levi rebuked, picking his papers back up.
Erwin and Mike soon joined them, bringing a basket of loaves for everyone.
Claire, Hanji, Mike, and Erwin all picked up their own loaf and began eating. Claire stared at Levi for a few moments, waiting for him to eat as well, but he didn't and this caused Claire to worry.
"Levi, don't tell me you're not eating again. You know I worry when you skip meals. It's not healthy" Claire chided before picking up a loaf and throwing it at him. It hit his head once before falling into his lap, causing the others to try their hardest to keep from laughing at the action. Levi picked up the loaf and set it on the table before going back to his papers. Claire grumbled to herself before picking up another and throwing it at him again. This time, however, Levi expected it and caught it in his hand.
"We're already in a food shortage, please don't continue to waste perfectly good food" Levi stated indifferently, setting down the bread and going back to his papers.
"Please, Levi, ten entire years have deceased since I last encountered you, would you kindly store the paper work and pay attention to me, if only for the present"
Levi sighed, he knew she was right, but he also knew what he had told her the day before about not being able to get close again. Giving in, he set the paper work down on the table and turned his attention to the petite girl. "Well?" he asked, waving his hand in a continuing motion.
"Eat a loaf, Levi" she said, picking up one she had thrown at him and handing to him, a bright, cheerful smile plastered across her face at the knowledge that she had come out triumphant in this battle.
Levi grabbed the loaf from her hand a took a smile bite of it before grabbing for his tea.
"Levi, you don't still believe the tale I told you when we were younger?" Claire asked, slightly worried as she watched him drink the tea.
Levi gave her a questioning glance as he sipped his drink.
"I was wrong, tea doesn't make you taller, it makes you shorter" she 'whispered' to him, one hand at the side of her face as she leaned closer.
Those at the table couldn't help but break out in laughter. Hanji had spit out everything that had been in her mouth and Erwin seemed to be choking on bread. Other tables had looked at them with bewildered glances, while others looked with slight disapproval.
Levi stood, "You said tea makes you taller! Why on earth would you lie about something like that?!" Claire could tell he was angry. This caused her to cower in his presence.
"My mother told me not long ago when I mentioned you. 'It's no wonder he's so short' she said, 'all he drinks is black tea'. It was not until after I asked her what she meant that she told me tea has caffeine in it and caffeine stuns growth" Claire explained.
Levi's face went from angry to shocked. How had he not thought of that?
"Levi? Are you all right?"
"It's okay, Claire, he's just broken for the moment, he'll come back soon" Erwin reassured apparently finished with the gagging.
"Does this happen often?"
"Around Hanji? All the time. In general, not as much" Mike chimed in.
~~~~~l~~~~~
Sixteen years prior...year 829...Thirteen year old Claire
Claire awoke that morning with much excitement welling inside of her. She quickly got dressed in an ivory dress that went to the floor. The back was gone other than the strings that wrapped around in a corset form making it fit snugly to her few curves. The sleeves puffed slightly and lace was used to embellish the gown. Penny helped her with fixing her hair in a neat, yet elegant style and green clovers where placed in her hair as decoration. She stepped into her pearly sandals before striding to the breakfast room.
"Good morning, Claire" her father greeted her, "You look lovely today"
"Thank you, Papa" she replied, taking a seat across from her mother and beside her father. A tray was soon brought in containing an exemplary meal. Claire had become quite accustomed to life in the great city over the few days she had lived here. Now, sure, she had a mess up every once in a while, but for the most part she did well.
"Did your friend ever respond to your note?" Elizabeth asked her daughter.
"Yes, he did" she began, "He said he would try his best to be here. Oh! You'll simply love him!" she cried, the excitement beginning to flood out of her.
"How old did you say he was again?" her father asked.
"I don't know. He's never told me, you see. Although, I believe he's only two or three years older then me. Making him fifteen or sixteen" she replied to which he nodded.
The couple had spoken long and hard last night about the boy. Claire had gone unaware of the conversation, and they intended to keep it that way. They had spoken of the dangers that could arise, and the fact they didn't know where he was from nor what background. To put it blunt, they were slightly fearful of the boy, and what happened today would decide whether or not he would be aloud to communicate with their daughter again.
After the meal, Claire was escorted by Elizabeth around the house. First to the kitchen to decide on snacks and drinks, in which she selected cucumber sandwiches, cinnamon biscuits, and cranberry scones, along with wild cherry and black tea. She was then taken to a china room where she was to choose a tea set. She decided upon a white cup with delicate looking blue flowers that surrounded it. After that, she was taken to the garden where she was shown several table linens to pick from, in which she picked a pale blue one.
"Darling, have you chosen whether to have it inside or outside yet?" her mother asked her as she sat on the white bench in the garden, staring out at the flowers whom were in full bloom.
"It's such a beautiful day, Ma-ma, I think it'd be nice to have it outside in the garden, maybe under the gazebo?" she replied, glancing up at the sky then down to the flowers.
Elizabeth nodded and told one of the servants who then left to fix the table with dishes and settings.
"Ma-ma, I'm so excited!" Claire declared, turning to face the elder. Her lips beamed with radiance and her joy was obvious on her face.
"I'm glad" she replied, "When did you see him last?"
"The night before you and Papa came for me" she replied, turning back around, kneeling and feeling the soft petal of a lily that had been planted in the ground. Claire blushed lightly as she remembered the events of that night and how he had hugged her affectionately for the first time in a long time.
"Ma'am, it's five til" a servant named Gabe, told them.
"Thank you, as you were" Elizabeth replied, "Come, Claire, let's go to the garden now"
Claire nodded before following close behind her like a lost duckling. The two took their seats at the round table once they reached the arbor, Elizabeth sitting next to Claire. Soon, James joined them and sat next to his wife, leaving an open seat next to Claire for the boy when he got here. They chatted among themselves, however, Claire couldn't help but notice that Levi was late. It was nearly ten thirty when a servant announced his arrival. Claire felt butterflies jumping around in her stomach as the servant left to get the boy. Moments later, Levi came through the door, he was wearing his best attire and in his hands he held a single rose. The servant escorted him to the gazebo before announcing him.
"Levi has arrived" he called before retreating back into the house.
"Good afternoon" Levi directed to the adults, bowing slightly to show respect, "I'm am truly sorry for being late, the Garrison gave me trouble when trying to enter the city"
"No, I am sorry for not calling ahead to make sure they would let you through properly" James replied as the three of them stood, and Claire ran to Levi, embracing him in a hug.
James and Elizabeth watched closely at his actions as he laid his hands gently around her for only a moment then releasing her and handing her the rose.
She smiled, "Why thank you, kind sir" she said in a fake noble accent.
"Your welcome, fair maiden" he replied, taking her hand and placing a gentle kiss atop her knuckles.
The blush that spread across her cheeks was very noticeable by her parents who took their seats once again. It was then that Claire noticed the small bruise that was beginning to form on his face. She reached up and ran her fingers across it gently, retreating quickly when he winced slightly. She gave him a worried look to which he replied with "Every thing is fine". Of course all of this was noticeable to the couple who sat observing the words and movements of them both.
Claire and Levi soon took their seats and the conversations began as they ate and drank.
"Levi, may I ask who your parents are?" James asked after a few minutes of small talk.
Levi nodded, "Kuchel is my mother and I have never met my father" he replied before taking a sip of the black tea in his cup. James and Elizabeth noticed his unusual way of holding his cup. The way he picked it up from the brim and held it to his mouth to take a sip.
"Where are you from?"
This made Levi flinch slightly. He knew this was a test. His performance here would affect whether or not he'd get to see Claire again, but they had just asked the one question that could shake the whole decision.
"I'm from the underground, sir" he replied through gritted teeth, only noticeable to Claire whom had known him for years. Claire gave him a weird glance, in all her years she had never understood the severity of living underground.
At Levi's words, James began to choke on the tea he had been drinking.
"Are you okay, Papa?" Claire asked, standing up from her seat.
Eventually the coughing died down, "I'm fine, dear" he responded, "I was merely startled"
Levi grimaced. He knew this was the end. There was no way they'd let him see her again.
"What is it like down there?" James asked, the curiosity in his voice surprising Levi.
"I-it's dark, for one thing" he began, looking down at his plate, "It's dusty and also dangerous. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone"
"The underground has peaked my curiosity as of recently. It could be an asset to have someone from there in my list of contacts" James muttered mainly to himself. Levi lightened up slightly at the sound of this. James's interest in the dark cavern he had called home could be the exact thing to keep him close to Claire.
"I'd be happy to discuss the city with you" Levi offered, causing Claire to laugh.
"When have you ever been happy?" she teased, talking about the scowl that was usually placed on his face. He must have been trying to impress her parents, for his scowl had turned into a look of indifference. He was trying.
"Claire, don't be rude" Elizabeth scolded her daughter, "He's come all this way to see you, you should be happy"
"Yes, Ma-ma" she replied, sinking down in her seat. Levi's lips turned ever so slightly upward at the conversation.
"You should listen to her, Claire" Levi started, teasing her this time, "I might get upset, then who would keep you company?" his hand bringing his cup up to his lips again.
Claire was slightly astounded at his use of her name instead of the usual 'brat' or 'kid', but replied quickly, "Oh, don't worry, your ego won't deflate much with a simple comment as that"
James and Elizabeth smiled at each other. Sure, they didn't know everything about the mysterious boy, but they could see the bonding friendship they shared, and that was enough. The four continued to talk, mainly James asking Levi questions, until it was half past three.
"We'll be going inside now, children, have fun and stay out of trouble" Elizabeth told them as they went inside.
Claire showed Levi around the house before concluding in her bedroom. Levi whistled as they entered. He'd admit, it was a nice room. The two chatted for a long while about how it will be easier for Levi to get to her now because the one of the exits from the underground was right by the entrance to Stohess, much closer than having to walk to Shinganshina.
"Are you going to tell me where you got that bruise?" Claire asked as they sat as the sitting area, drinking tea.
"Well, I hadn't planned on it particularly. Let's just say I got in a fight" he replied, his hand unconsciously moving up to feel the spot on his cheek.
"Levi, you're too reckless. One day you'll end up getting your self killed"
"Please, you should have seen the other guy" he replied, letting out a small scoff.
"Who was it?"
"Just another fat merchant pig. They keep raising the prices down there. I don't know if they're trying to kill everyone off or simply steal everything away from them so they never reach the top"
Claire nodded, shaking her hand slightly as if to say next, meaning a new topic.
"I heard a rumor from one of the maids, Levi" Claire told him, uncalled for fascination seeping into her words as she gave him a sly smile.
"Oh? And what was that?" Levi asked, raising an eyebrow at her sneakiness
"They said that tea will make you grow taller" Claire replied with a joyous smile.
"Tch. Why would I want to know that?" he asked, scoffing at her hypothesis.
"I know you don't like your height. Most boys are at least five foot-eight by the time the graduate, but you're only five foot-two"
"I haven't graduated yet"
"I know, but if you drink lots of tea now, maybe you'll reach six feet high by then" Claire replied, imagining what Levi would look like at the height.
"As long as you stay shorter than me, I don't need to grow taller" he commented.
Claire giggled, "But what if I do grow taller, then what?"
"Then I guess you'll have to be the one to give me piggy back rides all the time"
Claire burst out laughing at the thought of carrying the stoic boy around on her back. "Okay, deal" she replied after the snickers had died down, "If I grow taller than you, I'll carry you on my back, but if you stay taller than me, then you'll carry me on your back"
Levi held out his hand to make the deal official to which Claire hastily shook it, smiling all the way.
A/N
This one was fun to write. It also took the most research. Anyway, what do you think? How did I do? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to vote for the story and add it to your library for upcoming chapters.
QOTD:
Who do you ship?
My Answer?
Hmm. I'm not sure. I like lots of different couples, that and there are so many. I know I like ErenXMikasa, ArminXAnnie, and ConnieXSasha. However I think my favorite is LeviXHanji.
Your answer? Leave it in the comments!