Chpt 6: The Maiden Abandons The Beast
It was a bright, sunny day. The clouds were there but little enough to allow enough sunlight to filter through and shine everyone's way. Everyone's way except Levi's. Recounting the past week's event, calling it disastrous would be an understatement.
Petra's dad fell while climbing the stairs and broke his leg. Being daddy's little girl even though she's already a full-fledged adult, she couldn't help but worry all day long. Seeing his girlfriend so distraught made Levi uncomfortable, thus convinced her to take a few days leave and go back to take care of her dad. Initially, Petra denied she was worried sick about daddykins until Levi called her out; names in documents were mixed up, her hair had a different parting everyday, her clothes was probably picked out in the dark, and her coffee had the taste of salt in it.
"Go back and see your dad before you start having dark eye circles that would put a panda to shame." Levi said when he saw the amount of concealer being applied onto her face. "I don't want to spend my time in the cosmetics department thinking how many bottles of concealer to get for you when the creepy salesperson stares at me like I'm the one who uses it."
Glad that her leave got approved quickly and Levi didn't mind her leaving his side for a short while (even though the truth was he felt lonely even before she left), she hopped onto the next express train headed home. She could just imagine her dad toning down the seriousness of his injuries in his emails. He never liked to burden her with his problems; when Petra was in college and university, she only found out that her dad was working three jobs to fund her studies when she went back for a surprise visit. Patrick Ral had always insisted on visiting her apartment thus she never went back before, but seeing the unpaid bills and the emptiness of the fridge made Petra feel so guilty.
The moment she reached home, bursting the door open and seeing her dad's leg in that monstrosity of a cast, she was wedged between her choice of giving him a piece of her mind and giving him a big hug. Choosing the latter first, she walked to the couch and hugged her dad saying, "I'm home."
Leaning back to examine his leg, she said, "Just what part of this is just a small injury and it will heal in a few days?"
Patrick could only grin a sheepish grin and scratched his nape while Petra smiled wryly.
The week passed quickly. Petra helped tidied the entire house from top to bottom; scrubbing the floors, wiping the windows, changing the sheets and curtains; all so that her dad lives in a clean environment while healing, although she didn't wax the floor, not wanting him to slip and fall and break something else. And of course, Patrick got to enjoy his daughter's cooking. It's been a while since the two of them ate together, with Petra working a few towns away and Peter managing his small shop. It may not have the standard of a Michelin star restaurant but they always enjoyed simple fare cooked with love, warmth and the comforts of home.
While Petra was enjoying her time back home although really, the reason she went back is because of her dad, Levi was having the time of his life. That is, if having Jaeger as his temporary assistant is something... good. The poor intern had the luck of getting ahead in his group, with Levi mentioning that this is a head start to let you know how the real world taste like. A head start indeed.
Petra was supposedly Eren's supervisor but now that Petra is on leave, he has to report directly to Levi; known as "Short Bomb" (from Angry Birds) to those at the bottom of the food chain. Sasha mentioned once during lunch, while she was eating a steamed potato in the pantry and the crumbs landed on the table, the crumbs evaporated the moment Levi laid his bionic eyes on them.
Of course nobody believed her. How could crumbs just evaporate?!
Eren had never been so wrong in his entire life. Currently praying to all the gods and deities he can remember from all over the world, he tried not to let his legs give way under Levi's scrutiny. It's been three minutes since he entered the office. Two minutes 30 seconds since Levi checked through the documents he prepared. One minute since Levi started staring at his huge emerald eyes. Oh what he would give to have someone barge in and save his poor ass from being fried. If only Levi would just show a tinge of emotion; an eyebrow twitch; a frown; tightening of his jaw; ANYTHING BUT THAT SCARY STONED FACE!
As if the gods heard his desperate prayer – desperate indeed –, Levi huffed a small huff. Better than nothing, I suppose, even if it is a poor imitation of Mr Mike.
Not letting up his stare, Levi flipped open the file and pointed to a few areas. "This, this and this. Rephrase the entire thing so it doesn't seemed like a juvenile wrote it." Flipping to another page, he continued. "Remove clauses four and eight. It's redundant."
This carried on for a few more pages, Eren taking down notes on what to amend and what to remove, not wanting to make the same mistakes and incur any more of Levi's notorious wrath. When Levi was finally done, he closed the file and slide it across the glass table.
"Is there anything else, sir?"
"Do you think I would close the fucking file if there was something else I want you to amend?"
Eren gulped, "No, sir" He said weakly.
"Overall, it is a shitty effort. Just what have you been learning in law school? Or were you catching twenty winks during lectures, dreaming of your future girlfriend?"
"... No, sir."
After eyeing Eren's fidgeting posture for a good length of time, Levi dismissed him, but not before saying, "It is a shitty effort. But not shitty enough to not make me not sign your timesheet."
It may – actually it is – sound like an insult to anybody else, but to Eren, it was a compliment. While Petra may be kind and gentle, guiding him slowly through his internship, she doesn't hold back her words. And she assured him it is only because her superior is a hard ass so she has to fight fire with fire, and if the situation calls for it, a figurative head-butt. Often hearing how Petra bitches about Levi when he's out of sight, she also praises him. His true meanings are always hidden beneath cuss language and an even worse attitude because he thinks he will lose respect from juniors if he's all friendly and carefree, like a certain Mustang.
"Thank you sir! I will leave it on your desk if you are not here when I knock off." Eren all but a toothy grin on his face.
Waving him off, Levi muttered a small "Whatever" but suddenly remembering a thought, Levi said a little louder than normal, "And stop it with the 'sir'. I'm not that fucking old. Call me 'sir' one more fucking time and I will fucking wring your neck. Got it?"
Eren could only gulped at the 180 degree attitude change and rushed out as fast as his feet could take him.
Levi turned back to his computer, trying not to rub his temples because this means he has no choice but to do the will & estate planning of Shabi Inocencio by himself. Sneering at the thought of that pompous brat who accidentally commented about Levi being vertically challenged, how hard Levi had prayed that asshole gets stuck in a manhole and died a miserable death in there before his will is completed. He had actually planned to let Jaeger have a shot at this but after seeing the mistakes he'd made with the previous document, Levi wouldn't risk his sleep count by the days. The mistakes made weren't so bad that he would resort to shredding the entire thing right in his face, but it would take some time for Jaeger to amend everything to his standard for approval.
Of all the shitty timings for Petra to have an emergency back home. I swear, if that Shabi shit jabs at my height again, I'm shoving this binder up his ass, contract be damned!
Levi practices professionalism; but when the other party is an over-aged brat who hides under his daddy's skirts while bragging about his fortune and masculinity when he couldn't even lift a briefcase containing air AND makes fun about his lack of height, Levi would drag Petra to his meetings and let her deal with these idiots. Not that Levi is hiding under Petra's skirt – not that he would mind – but let's face it, the 'Petra Charm' is much more appealing than whatever shitty charm Levi can ever emit. The 'Petra Charm' has the amazing power to make the puss– men she meets become more mature and civilized, making Levi suspect at times she is a witch in disguise because even he himself got bewitched by her. And I didn't even put up a struggle.
Not that all these happenings were disastrous enough for Levi to take cover; but when you have a new neighbour who lets his fucking bird fly around the estate pooping wherever it likes, everything is shitty. The worst part was the damned fowl had taken a liking to his balcony! Every night he sees bird shit on the railings, the floor, in the fake flower pot at the corner, EVEN ON THE GLASS DOOR. HOW THE FUCK DID THAT DAMNED BIRD POOPED ON THE DOOR?! Imagine the horror he experienced when he first saw that long strip of shit, hardened on his ex-sparkling door, figuratively screaming, "I'M HERE! LOOK, I'M HERE YOU ASSWIPE!" Levi spent a good three hours scrubbing and disinfecting the disaster area until his neighbour told him she could smell the disinfectant all the way from her unit.
Shuddering at the bad memory, Levi went back to work, half thinking of calling Petra once he's done. Deciding he needed to take a break anyway, he picked up his mobile and was about to press the speed-dial she's on when his phone rang. Seeing the selfie she took with his phone when the screen brightens up, he smiled a little, feeling his mood lift up a little already.
"Not taking care of daddykins?" Is his way of greeting.
"Hey, how do you want me to take care of him when he has already turned in for the night? Sleep beside him?" Levi could detect playfulness in her tone.
"That's quite disgusting to be honest. Although I wouldn't mind if it was me." He smirked.
Petra could hear the smirk. "You sure sound happy today. Everything went well?"
"On the contrary, everything is shitty. But I guess hearing my girlfriend's voice cheered me up quite a bit. When are you coming back again?"
"Three days later, after I accompany my dad to his next appointment with the docs. He may appear nonchalant about it but I bet he's nervous like a kid on his first day in kindergarten."
Levi snorted, "Well, remember to bring some candies to pacify him then. Make sure he brushes his teeth before bed. I'm sure you don't want him to visit the dentist just to pull those cavities."
"Yes Mama Levi. Anything else I should take note of?" Petra said while laughing softly, not wanting to wake her dad up.
"Just one more thing. Get your ass back here ASAP. I can't 'guide' the brat properly when I'm handling a gazillion cases." He complained.
"Oh shush. Just admit it, you like my ass that's why you want me to go back ASAP."
"Yeah, that too if it makes you happy."
"You know… if you like asses so much, how about having Dita back by your side? He is a full-fledged ass, isn't he?"
"Hell no. Fuck no. The only ass I want is yours"
"I'm flattered, your honour."
"Well, your honour has to get back to work if he doesn't want to spend the night in the office. I'll call you when I get back if it isn't too late."
"Alright. Be careful. Don't the unknown scare you." Petra giggled, imagining Levi shaking in his pants.
"Don't worry. I will pretend I'm hiding under your skirt, all safe and sound."
Ooooh if only Levi could see Petra's blush light up the whole room.
"Whatever! Bye!" She hung up in a fluster.
Feeling his mood significantly better than before the phone call, Levi got back to work, intent on hearing Petra's lovely voice before he sleeps.
A/N 1: I had so much bullying Levi. /evilme