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inazuma-eleven-translations · 7 years

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Shinrai ‘Trust’ Part One - A Mini-Novel about the Sixth Platoon

Notes: FINALLY! I started translating this months ago, but lost interest. I’m currently on a super DanSen high so I HAD to finally finish it.

This was different from a magazine translation - this was a novel translation, so it involved being more creative with words to make it read like a novel. I REALLY hope I did a good job. Vanessa’s battle in the forest against the Arabista forces was particularly difficult to understand and translate, so it’s probably full of mistakes. But the conversation and communication between the Sixth Platoon members - I spend ages searching for the right words. I LOVE this platoon so much.

This is part one - part two focuses on Kageto slowly growing to trust Muraku and the birth of the Violet Devil.

If even one DanSen fan reads this I will be satisfied but I guess I translated it mostly for myself. And as practice for the Inazuma GO novel I will eventually translate...

Shinrai ‘Trust’ Part One

In the corner of the classroom, a girl reclined back in her seat, legs resting on top of her desk, as she stared at the screen of her CCM (Control and Communication Manipulator) - bored.

From her appearance one would assume she was born in Southern Asia, as she stood out conspicuously even amongst her classmates. Her dark indigo hair was gathered into a thick plait, and only her light colored pupils expressed her hidden resolution.

Her name was Vanessa Gala, a class 1 second year student of Kamui Daimon Comprehensive Academy. She was feared as the Brown Mustang by certain students.

However, she also had another nickname: ‘Captain Killer’.

Rossius Sixth Platoon - Vanessa’s platoon. Their war record was not bad by any means.

However, for some reason one by one every newly appointed captain came and then left. One captain became lost, another expressed a wish to be transferred to a different platoon out of his own free will.

Within the classroom, students were scattered around in small groups, but kept their distance from Vanessa’s seat. This wasn’t surprising. The sixth platoon’s newest captain, who had been appointed not even two weeks ago, had become LOST during yesterday’s War Time.

“Another one bites the dust.”

“Just how many people have there been?”

“Those guys are nothing but trouble…”

Vanessa heard them whisper in hushed voices. Even though she’d planned to pay no attention to their conversation, it was still unpleasant to her ears. Still, it wasn’t as if she particularly cared.

“Vanessa.”

The boy sitting in the seat beside her addressed her. He was a member of the same sixth platoon, Mikhail Rourke.

“I thought you had more guts than that.”

She knew what Mikhail was going to say. Take it easy. But she couldn’t do that. In War Time the danger of being LOST and expelled went hand in hand with combat. She couldn’t care less if a captain got himself LOST due to his own inability to give decent commands. Smiling wryly at Vanessa’s words, Mikhail answered her.

“Please don’t bully the new captains so much. Do you understand?”

Mikhail sounded just like a mother scolding her child. Vanessa turned her gaze towards him.

“Oh, please. You didn’t like that captain either, did you?”

“That’s not true at all. I believe he was trying his utmost.”

At Mikhail’s words, Vanessa huffed and once again dropped her gaze to her CCM. As she did, this time the boy sitting on her other side, their mechanic Kiba Kageto, opened his mouth.

“Vanessa thinks captains are nothing but a nuisance, and she’s too stubborn to change her opinion.” He teased her with a weak smile.

“You got it! There’s no way I’m following orders from a useless captain.”

Mikhail and Kageto looked at each other. Mikhail continued to smile wanly. Kageto sighed in disappointed.

“What if-”

Mikhail once again engaged Vanessa in conversation.

“-you were the next captain?”

This time Vanessa laughed at Mikhail’s words.

“No way! If that was the case, I’d have been given the order a long time ago!”

“I wonder what kind of guy is gonna come next?”

Kageto mumbled.

“Who knows? I’m praying it’s gonna be a decent guy with a lot of battle experience more than anything.” Vanessa replied, looking up from her CCM.

At that the classroom door opened. The homeroom teacher for the Class 1 second years entered the room, followed by a boy. Vanessa turned her sharp gaze towards this boy. She did this every time a newly assigned captain came, in order to determine his character and evaluate whether or not he was worth following orders from. Up until now, all of the captains had been startled by her intense gaze and usually faltered. This time Vanessa intended to do the same thing. However, this boy didn’t react at all and just kept walking.

“Well, it looks like this guy’s either stupid or just stubborn.”

While she was thinking this, she crossed her legs and folded her hands under her chin, waiting for the homeroom teacher to speak.

“Well then, everyone, I’d like to introduce your new classmate, Houjou Muraku-kun.”

At the middle-aged homeroom teacher’s introduction, Muraku lightly bowed his head.

“He will become the new captain for the sixth platoon. Vanessa, Mikhail, Kageto. Please support Houjou-kun.”

“Sensei.”

At that Vanessa raised her hand.

“Please tell us his past war record.”

The homeroom teacher was silent for a moment, before stroking his chin and beginning to talk.

“He has no past war record, since he’s only just transferred here.”

Vanessa looked shocked.

“What?!”

At this, Mikhail also stood up.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand. Why is a guy with no war record all of a sudden becoming our captain?”

“You’re leaving our fate to him? Aren’t you at least able to transfer in a guy from another class?”

“That’s right! I don’t want to do maintenance for a guy like that.”

Vanessa and Kageto continued Mikhail’s protest.

“This was Krosky-sensei’s judgement.” At this, the homeroom teacher sighed before continuing to speak. “The sixth platoon has no sense of order at the moment. Don’t you three have any self-awareness?”

This shut all of them up completely.

“Anyway, he will become your captain. You will communicate willingly with him.” At this the homeroom teacher turned back to Muraku.

“Your seat is over there.”

“Understood.”

Without saying anything else, Muraku passed through the desks over to a free seat and sat down.

---

The students were gathered in Rossius’ control room. Vanessa was still bristling with irritation as she listened to Krosky speak.

‘We have received information that Arabista plan to invade the Far East domain of Rossius’ territory. Platoons 6, 12 and 88 will defend against their attack.’

‘Yes, sir.’ The three platoon Captains answered in response. Naturally one of them was Muraku.

Why did this guy have to become our captain…? The briefing continued, regardless of Vanessa’s feelings, until it became time for War Time to start. Just as they left the control room, Vanessa called Muraku to a halt.

‘Hey!’

When he turned around, Vanessa let Muraku know exactly how she felt towards him.

‘I refuse to accept you as our Captain.’

‘...’

‘Well, don’t you have anything to say?’

‘Well then, what should I do in order for you to accept me as your Captain?’

‘There’s nothing you can do!’

‘So what are you going to do during War Time? Ignore all of my orders and fight on your own terms?’

‘Obviously!’

‘Very well. But no matter how long you keep this up, you’re not going to improve yourself at all.’

That annoyed her. Those were fighting words.

‘...I’ll show you.’

‘What was that?’

‘During today’s War Time I’m going to eliminate Arabista all by myself! All you need to do is shut up and watch!’

After her declaration, Vanessa began to run towards the Control Pod room. Mikhail and Kageto rushed after her. Giving their retreating figures a cursory glance, Muraku too began to slowly walk after them.

---

‘All systems go. 180 seconds to War Time. All players please enter battle position.’

Following the system announcer, Vanessa set her partner Gunther into the LBX Shooter.

‘Who would follow orders from a guy like that…’ Grumbling to herself, she opened the communication window. ‘Vanessa Gala, Gunther check.’

‘I heard that.’ Mikhail appeared on the monitor. ‘What you’re saying is correct. All we can do is see what he has to offer.’

At this, Kageto entered the chat.

‘In any case, he is our Captain now. We have to cooperate with him.’

‘I guess.’

‘Mikhail, Kageto, once we reach the designated battleground, let me go ahead with the Riding Armor. You guys be Muraku’s opponent.’

‘Wait, you’re not seriously going to…?’

‘What did I say? I’m going to annihilate the enemy. In the meantime, you guys stop Muraku from entering the battlefield.’ At this point Muraku entered the chat.

‘Houjou Muraku, Gunther check.’ As soon as he spoke, Vanessa felt a surge of anger. Why did this creep have to use the same LBX as her?

‘Muraku, I won’t call you Captain.’

‘...I never asked you to.’

‘Well, whatever. I’ll show you what I can do.’

‘...I’m looking forward to it.’

The way he answered without any change in his expression infuriated Vanessa. She immediately closed the chat.

---

Whilst looking at the monitor that had just been shut off, Muraku - as if nothing had just happened - called Kageto over the chat.

‘Kiba Kageto.’

Since he’d been called, Kageto had no choice but to answer him.

‘Yes?’

‘Do we have a spare set of sabres?’

‘Huh?’ Kageto replied without thinking.

‘I’m asking you if we have a spare set of sabres?’

‘Yeah, sure we do. In the craft carrier.’

‘Understood.’ With a one-word response, Muraku prepared for landing.

---

The Rossius Union’s enormous territory spread from the West to the East. The East division was under the 6th Platoon’s jurisdiction, moving to the place where Rossius bordered Jenock and Arabista. According to Commander Krosky’s information, the enemies were planning an invasion from the sky by the Arabista borders. The platoons had to scout the area before the enemy craft carriers arrived. That’s where Vanessa was headed.

‘Kageto!’

‘Affirmative.’

The bottom of the craft carrier opened and Vanessa’s Gunther aboard a Riding Saucer descended. The Control Room noticed this immediately and contacted them.

‘6th Platoon, what are you doing?’

‘...’

Vanessa ignored this.

‘Respond, 6th Platoon!’ At this Muraku cut into the chat.

‘Control Room, this is the 6th Platoon. We’re sending out one unit in order to scout the enemy’s movements.’

‘!’

Vanessa was taken back. This Captain, just what on earth was he playing at? Her head became clouded with suspicion.

‘This is the Control Room, affirmative. Report back on Arabista’s movement.’

‘6th Platoon, affirmative. Vanessa, send us your report as soon as you can.’

‘...Tch!’ Without replying to Muraku’s order, Vanessa piloted her Riding Saucer towards the country’s border.

---

As she neared the border’s coastline, Vanessa cautiously observed her surroundings. She didn’t see anything that could be an enemy. That went for both the airspace and above ground was also clear. There didn’t seem to be anything to be concerned about.

‘What’s going on? Did our secret intelligence get false information again?’

Recently, the Rossius Union’s secret intelligence were getting quite a lot of false information, and every time they did Rossius platoons were sent dashing about all over the place. It seemed like this time once again false info had been received. Bearing this in mind, Vanessa had just placed her hand on the gear stick.

A beam of light broke through the water’s surface. A second later, it hit her Riding Saucer.

‘What the-?’

Before she had time to question what was going on, her Riding Saucer had already began to crumble. Taking a look out over the coastline, one by one Arabista LBX units - Jirant - were coming from the water’s surface to land.

‘They weren’t coming from the air at all!’

Rounding on Vanessa’s routed LBX, the enemy units began to fire. Vanessa hurriedly instructed her Gunther to dismount from the Riding Saucer, and the minute she did it exploded from the impact of the guns. As soon as she landed, she lost her balance, teetering across the earth. And that was when she dropped her hand rifle.

‘Shit!’ Vanessa made her LBX dash behind the shadow of a rock near the coastline.

(Shit, I can’t do a thing to attack them without a weapon! … I’m in big trouble.)

Gritting her teeth, she desperately tried to think of a plan when the communication window opened again.

‘Vanessa, what’s your situation?’ It was Kageto.

‘I messed up. Arabista didn’t come from the air, they came from the water. My Riding Saucer’s out of action and I’ve lost my weapon.’

‘What did you just say?’

‘I’m hiding right now, but I don’t know when they’re going to find me.’

At this, Mikhail also entered the chat.

‘How many enemy units are there?’

Vanessa check the monitor to see how many enemies were caught on the radar.

‘Nine. All Jirant. I can’t confirm what kind of weapons they’re using, but there is a sniper.’

‘Can you get out of there?’

‘I think if I move they’ll catch me.’

‘Understood. We should get there soon too. Until then, try to wait it out and respond to any communication.’

When the chat ended, Vanessa looked out over to the enemy units milling around in front of her eyes. She had no weapon and she was at a serious disadvantage in numbers. Going into battle in these circumstances would be like dashing into the hornet’s nest, the best possible outcome getting a Break Over. The worst possible outcome was getting LOST.

(Is my battle really gonna end here…?)

As much as she wanted to stick it to Muraku, dashing out onto the battlefield by herself was probably just reckless. The thought crossed her mind that it was possible Muraku tolerated Vanessa’s defiance because he knew something like this would happen. That way if Vanessa became LOST, Muraku might peacefully settle into the 6th Platoon.

Faced with a dangerous situation, Vanessa found herself unable to think anything but negative thoughts.

(This is bad, now of all times I’ve gotta stay calm and move.)

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then let it back out. When she opened her eyes once again, she focused on the enemy LBX.

The Arabista Captain’s LBX started to move. Almost as if he were the head of special forces or something, he began making his way up the mountain. He knew Vanessa’s unit was still alive, and he was looking for it. An army of Jirant, the Captain’s unit in the middle of the pack, was heading her way.

‘At this rate I’m done for…’

Vanessa made up her mind and dashed out from under the shadow of the rock. She turned towards a forest she could see a lit bit farther ahead and made her Gunther run for it. At this sudden movement, the Jirant instantly began to shoot. Vanessa began to sweat.

‘Shit, I don’t want to lose here!’

She yelled, making her Gunther dash left and right as he ran. Suddenly its left leg was hit by one of the enemy’s bullets, and Gunther flipped head over heels. But the hit wasn’t fatal and it managed to dash into the forest and the bullets only collided with the forest of trees.

‘That was close…’

When she took a deep breath and looked over her surroundings, she could see the Captain of the Jirant and the others heading towards her.

‘...Alright.’

Vanessa thought for a moment, then grabbed hold of a branch that lay in front of her.

The Jirant pack entered the forest while carefully surveying their surroundings. With 6 units defending the front of the pack, the units proceed into the forest. 3 units made up the rear defense. If an enemy ambushed them, the 6 units in front would defend. This was their formation for entering a territory like a forest.

They continued along the dirt road, careful not to slip in the mud. Vanessa’s Gunther, covered in mud, aimed her stick at one of the enemy Jirant and threw it at its gun, which slipped out of its hand at the impact. Straight away, Gunther tackled the Jirant and punched it - once, twice, three times - resulting in a Break Over.

Noticing something was wrong, the rest of the enemy LBX took aim in her direction and began to fire. Vanessa picked up the fallen Jirant’s gun and made her way out of that area, followed by a shower of bullets.

‘Taking out just 1 unit really doesn’t make much difference…’

She had her LBX slip into a low pit, careful not to show her face as the enemy approached and began to shoot blindly until she was out of bullets, then threw away the gun. She took a deep breath as she lay in hiding. The sound of approaching LBX echoed all around her. When she confirmed it on the radar, she saw another unit heading towards her. She was weaponless. Preparing herself for the worst, Vanessa

Gazed at the monitor. She couldn’t confirm her location on the radar.

Suddenly she found herself face to face with an enemy unit. She thought she’d let her judgement slip, but the enemy unit must have been tailing her. It aimed its gun at her unit’s chest.

‘I never saw you coming…!’

Resigning herself to her fate, she shut her eyes.

Suddenly, a white shadow descended from the sky. Clutching a sabre in both hands, the unit began its massacre of the Jirant pack.

‘Good job hanging in there.’

(Muraku…!)

She felt something like anger rise inside her. There was nothing worse than the very person she wanted to show up be the one to save her. However, Muraku wasn’t concerned with how she felt, and immediately dashed into the pack of enemy units. Wielding a sword in both hands, one by one he began to take down each enemy. He would take an attack from the enemy units with the sword in his right hand, and with the sword in his left hand he would penetrate them. When one enemy was defeated he quickly turned to the next.

(He’s so fast…)

There were no flaws in his movement - it was beautiful. He deftly dodged an oncoming attack from both sides, causing both units to crash into each other. It was like he could predict the enemy’s attack.

‘Vanessa, are you okay?’

When she heard his voice and turned around, she found Mikhail’s Glerior in a ready to battle position, his gun aimed to fire.

‘Respond!’

‘Oh, I’m fine.’ Vanessa responded, relieved, all the while watching Muraku’s battle. Muraku’s unit swiftly sliced the final enemy in two, an action followed by a large explosion. In no time at all, he’d taken down 8 enemy units without a single word.

‘He’s crazy good…’

‘Yeah…’

Mikhail was also momentarily stunned by Muraku’s battle.

‘So this is… our new Captain?’ As Vanessa continued to watch Muraku’s battle, her heart swelled with pride.

---

When War Time ended, Vanessa made her way over to Muraku’s Control Pod. Without saying a word, Muraku climbed out of the pod and stood in front of Vanessa.

‘...What?’

‘...I guess I can accept you as our Captain.’ As embarrassing as it was, she had to admit it. Even it hadn’t been for him, she would have probably been LOST today. That was a fact.

‘Is that so.’ Saying no more than this, Muraku turned and began to walk away from the control pods.

‘What the hell is his problem?’ Kageto said bitterly.

‘...Vanessa…’ Mikhail looked anxious. However, Vanessa looked completely refreshed.

‘Doesn’t matter. He’s our Captain after all.’ When Vanessa said this with a smile, the two boys exchanged baffled glances.

‘That guy is the new Captain for the 6th Platoon.’ Seemingly saying this to reassure herself rather than anyone else, Vanessa turned to watch their new Captain walk away.

#danball senki wars #dansen wars #vanessa gala #sixth platoon #houjou muraku #mikhail rourke #kiba kageto

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fruitpunchninja101 · 7 years

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Perks of Coincidences (Ch.4 ) Characters: Hanji Zoe x Levi Genre: Humor / Romance

Check out Ch1 Ch2 Ch3

Hange should've been home two hours ago but she got distracted when she wandered into the university library.She happily tapped her feet against the floor as she plowed through piles books about history and weaponry used in early mesopotamian warfare.Strained from reading,she removed her glasses to massage the inner corners of her eyes.As she was pushing her glasses back to place,her eyes wandered off to the windows.

The orange tint of sunset swirled with the impending dark night sky,the tall buildings of the city seemed like hands reaching out to heavens.Its a breathtaking scene.

The brunette pulled her phone out of her pocket and traced a prominent crack across her screen.She needs to be more responsible with her belongings she thought.

Hange took a photo of the scenery from her seat,but her first shot was a bit blurry.She stood up,moved closer to the window and took another shot.Still no good.Finally, the brunette opened the windows,stuck her arms out and took another photo.Much better.But the angle was a bit off so once again,she stuck her arms out and snapped a photo.

Suddenly,her phone vibrated prompting her that she got a new text message.Startled, her phone slipped out of her hands."Motherfucker!"Hange exclaimed.She immediately slapped a hand over her mouth when she realized how loud she was.A bunch of students quietly studying on their desks perked her heads up and stared at her.The librarian let out a loud shush to which the brunette mouthed an apology.The librarian only responded with a scowl.Hange chuckled a little at that,she inexplicably remembered a short raven haired man who wears a similar scowl plastered on his face.

The brunette propped her hands by the window sill,half of her body leaned out as she frustratingly searched for the device that plopped over a fountain downstairs."I should probably get that."She huffed.

Her scandalous attempt to fish her phone out of the fountain left her dripping wet when she arrived home.When she got out of her car,she immediately spotted a teal bike parked on the yard.She placed her hands on her hips."Huh..I guess missed the little guy."

As soon as she opened the front door,Rico and Nanaba turned their heads towards her.They are slumped on the floor eating cereals while watching reruns of the The Bachelor which they insist that they only watch ironically,secretly denying that they actually love the show.Hange threw her bag on the floor and crashed on the sofa.

"Rough day at work?"Nanaba inquired as she put a spoonful of cereals on her mouth,eyes glued on the brunette.

"Not really"

"Are you sure?You are dripping from your waist down.That pretty much screams rough day at work in my book."Rico added.

"Oh this?...I dropped my phone at the school fountain today."Hange pulled the ruined device out of her pocket and waved it in front of her friends."How many times do I have to remind you to be more careful with your stuff!"Her blonde friend reprimanded her to which the brunette replied with an apologetic smile as she stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

"Speaking of phones!Did you receive any interesting texts today?"Rico asked wanting to know if her little plan worked.

"Not really"The brunette opened one of the cupboards and contemplated whether she should eat lucky charms or that weird healthy whole grain cereal she bought at the farmers market.

"Tsk"Rico whispered to herself,slightly shaking her head."By the way,he ring guy returned your bike earlier."she added.

"Yeah,I saw it parked outside."Hange reached for the healthy cereal when she remembered her heaving breath when she climbed towards the rooftop earlier.She poured milk over her food ,wallked up to her friends then settled on the floor as she ate her bland and miserable cereals.

"Big bro?You called me?"Isabel poked her head on Levis door and found him standing at the other end of the room staring at two coats laying on his bed."Whats that for?"The redhead entered the room and closed the door behind her.

"Im attending a gala with Erwin this weekend.Which one is better,midnight blue or a classic black?"Levi spoke plainly.His arms are folded across his chest contemplating.

Isabel walked around the bed and stood beside Levi to get a better look at the clothes laying on the bed.She crossed her arms over her chest imitating her big brother and let out a contemplative hum"Go for the midnight blue,everyone will probably wear a black tux."

Levi looked at her on the corner of his eye slightly adoring her niece fighting a smile that crept up his face."Okay."He deadpanned.

Isabel sat on Levi's bed as she watched the raven haired man pick up the black tux and started to store it carefully back on the cabinet. "So...hows it going with the bike lady?"

"Nothing is going on."

"Really?She didnt reply to your text?"

Levi paused briefly.He is certain he didnt tell Isabel anything and now he's confused as to how she figured out that he texted Hange the other day."I didnt-"

"Shh!Dont lie to me.I found this on your pocket when I washed clothes yesterday."She held a crumpled up a piece of post it and tossed it on the bed.

"Why are you hoarding trash from the laundry?And besides,That could be anyones number."

"Yes but I checked your phone earlier and..."

"Why the fuck are you snooping on my stuff?"

"Oh please!Your phone password is 1234.You're practically begging me to snoop on you"Isabel grabbed one of Levi's pillows and hugged it.

"I just thanked her like you said.No big deal."Levi deadpanned as he opened a drawer full of neckties folded neatly.

"Do you think youll see her again?"

"No"

"How do you know?"

Levi turned to look at her niece and gestured her to go near him.As soon as she did, Levi ruffled her hair."I just do.Now,enough with this bike lady nonsense and help me pick a tie"

The brunette just got out of the shower and now shes laying lazily on her bed wearing nothing but a bath towel wrpapped around her torso.Her dripping hair was splayed all over her bed as she stared unto the ceiling absentmindedly .

Hange's usual Saturday nights are spent inside her lab writing theories and performing light experiments.But unfortunately for her,professors are required to attend the annual university summer gala.Not that she minded events like these,but her teaching job has robbed her a huge chunk of time and she missed her experiments.The sound of beakers clinking against the tiled table,the smell of her chemicals reacting against one another, heck!she even missed the occasional explosions.

She was pulled out of her reverie when her eyes caught sight of the clock placed on her bedside table and realized that shes already an hour late.She frustratingly stood up,toweled off her hair and put an actual effort to tie it up nicely.She wore an off white cape jumpsuit and even decided to go the extra mile and grabbed an unused lipstick on her drawer she got from Nanaba a few months back."Not bad Hange."She mentioned to herself as she checked her appearance through the mirror.

"Looking sharp."Nanaba whispered quietly.Her ear was pressed against Rico's door.

"What are you doing there?"Hange's brows furrowed across her forhead as she closed her bedroom door behind her.

The blonde held a finger signaling Hange to shut up."I'm listening..."

"To what?" Hange came closer and placed her head against Rico's door but all she heard was her muffled voice."Who's she talking to?"

"Coconut's on the phone with Ian."

"Oh!Are they getting back together?"Her voice came out louder because of excitement.

"Ssshhhh!Not sure,but I'll fill you in when you get home."

"Okiedokie!..Im off!"She waved her friend goodbye and headed out the door.

The brunette never had trouble talking to anyone.Minutes after she arrived shes already aquatinted to a bunch of professors from different departments.One in particular is Petra Ral,accompanied by Oulo Bozado from the business department.They spent a good amount of time talking about each other's respective fields.

She can see Petra was a bit squeamish about her detailed explanation on how they harvest human organs and make artificial versions of it.While Oulo only snickerd at her and told her how strange she is.Good thing Petra came to her defense and hit Olou's side with her elbow.The impact was powerful enough for him to accidentally bite his tongue.The poor man excused himself to check his injury in the mens room.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side."Hange chuckled as she gulped the last of her champagne.

"I'm sorry about Oulo.Dont mind him,I dont know why he acts like that...probably because his man crush is attending tonights ball."

"Man crush?"Hange placed her empty champagne glass on a tray carried by a passing server.

"Oh!theres this man who gave a talk about product rebranding last week.You should have seen him.Hes so good at what he does even though he had a really..."Petra paused to carefully pick her next word "colorful manner of speaking" she continued."Oluo immediately gravitated towards him.Since that,Hes been hopelessly imitating him.Its really embarrassing."

Hange took note of the twinkle on Petra's eyes and her endearing smile."Well theres nothing wrong about having a little inspiration.Besides,It seems like he left a pretty good impression to you.He must be one heck of an extraordinary man."

"He is."Petra replied,a blush dusted her cheeks as she tucked a piece of her hair to her ears.

"Oh!Theres Eld and Gunther!I'll have to head over there and say hi.Thank you for your time Miss Zoe"Petra excused herself.The brunette smiled at her and started looking around the room.She doesn't know anyone.She took a deep breath and decided to roam around the fancy ballroom.

Levi was never a fan of grand gatherings and meaningless chatter.Unfourtunately, this is what the whole night is about.He gave a talk at the university a the week prior and Erwin insisted that hes technically part of the university family and he's required to attend tonight's festivities .He didnt really put up a fight against him and complied to his request.He knows his friend is only concerned of his lack of interest to go out and socialize.

Unfourtunately for him,Erwin has to leave him and mingle with potential school donors and now he's was stuck with this guy whos babbling about how vaccination isnt real and Levi is starting get pissed off.True he's not an expert on the subject but he knows people like these are fools for ignoring facts and believing down right outrageous conspiracy theories.He knows needs to get away from this bastard before his patience runs out.

The raven haired man immediately turned around and scurried away the first chance he found and bumped with a short shaved haired kid who served champagne."Sorry sir" the kid apologized.Levi lifted his palm gesturing that its fine and started to look for a secluded place to pass time to get away from all the needless socializing.He walked towards an open balcony and was greeted by a person standing on the ledge.

Levi froze.

Images of his mom standing on the ledge just before she jumped flashed before his eyes.His heart almost jumped out on his chest when this person tripped on their own toes and started to lose balance.Levi immediately grabbed the persons wrist and pulled with such force that they both stumbled on the floor.

"What the hell are you-"He turned to the person he pulled,and a pair of familiar pair brown orbs met his stare."Oh!For fucks sake!"Levi rolled his eyes as he pushed himself to stand and brushed the dust on his pants.

"H-Hey!Long time no s-!"Hange was scratching the back of her head when Levi angrily walked towards her and grabbed her by the collar"What the hell are you thinking?Do you have some kind of a death wish?If you're so eager to kill yourself,do it in the comfort of your own home!Not here where you can traumatize some guests."He was shaking but he tried to keep his composure.

Hange cocked her head on the side and stared at him naively."Uhh..we're at the second floor"

"What?"Levi said in almost a whisper as he knit his brows together.

"If I want to kill myself,jumping from the second floor wont do it"The brunette replied innocently.Levi is wondering if she grasped the fact that she almost fell off the balcony.It is true that she wont die from that fall but she should at least have some idea of the injury she'd be subjected to.He took a deep breath and decided to let it go.

"Tch" Levi loosened his grip on her collar and walked towards the balcony.He propped his elbows at the ledge and stared at the empty garden below them.

Hange pushed herself off the floor and started brushing off the dirt from her pants "I knew I shouldnt have worn white" she mumbled to herself.As soon as shes up,she settled beside Levi and leaned her back against the ledge facing the open balcony door. "What brings you here?"She started.Still sounding enthusiastic despite the fact that Levi grabbed her agressively moments ago.

Levi didnt answer.He thought that maybe if he just ignore her she'll go away.The brunette scooched a little closer to him and he can almost feel her ridiculous smile.Its as if she's waiting for him to say something.Levi is determined not to talk to her,but shes not backing down.He turned his head at the brunette and he was right,she was already looking at him beaming a bright grin.Levi scoffed and returned his gaze back on the horizon.

"I wasn't planning on jumping,I just want to see the entirety of the garden from up here...But I did get out of balance and you did saved me from a few broken bones so...thank you"

The raven haired man gave her a small nod and hummed in approval,still bent on not talking to her.

"You know,we should really stop meeting like this."Hange chuckled."If I didnt know better you might be stalking me."she added.

Okay,thats just too ridiculous he needed to say something.

"As if."Levi scoffed.

"Oh!I got an idea!Since you saved me,I guess I owe you one.How about I treat you to lunch tomorrow?

"No."He answered almost instantly.

"You cant refuse."Hange pouted.

"I can and I am."

"Oh dont be such a sourpuss!Its a thank you lunch."She pressed.

"No" She knows she had to change her approach or else this man will only keep on saying no all night. "I know you live at 52nd street.I could easily hunt you down and drag you out of your house."

"Thats your game plan?"He turned his head to face her."Do you intend to knock on every fucking door on my street hoping that I pop out eventually?"

"That's not a bad idea."

Levi only rolled his eyes at her."Drop it four eyes.Don't make me say it again."

"Make you say what?No?"

"No...I mean yes..."He paused briefly trying to remember if he should say yes or no.Damn this woman is testing his patience.

"So you're saying yes?"

"No!...Oh Jesus!You're not gonna quit are you?"

"Not a chance short stack."

He exhaled."Fuck you."

"Fuck you too."Hange laughed.Levi cant tell why the hell does she seem to have fun.

"Dont laugh,that was meant to offend you."

"No its not.Its meant to discourage me but thats never gonna happen.So just say yes.Please?"Levi caught sight of Hange's ridiculously big bright pleading puppy dog eyes.Too bad for her that shit wont work on him.Levi turned away from her and did not answer.Hes back to plan A,Ignore her and hope that she goes away.

"Hmmm?Silent treatment huh?They say silence means yes...is that a yes on lunch?"

"Just shut up and leave me alone."

"If you say yes,Ill do just that"

He knows he's going to regret this.But all he needs is to be left alone and he cant understand why this woman is not intimidated or at least put off by him.He huffed a deep breath."Okay."

"Great!"Hange put her hands together."Pick me up tomorrow at noon."

"What?!"

"You still remember where I live right?"

"Why the hell would I pick you up?"

"Because I dont know where you live.Do you expect me to knock on every door on 52nd street hoping you pop out eventually?That's pretty creepy dont you think?"

This clever motherfucker just used his words against him.Levi was about to retaliate but its too late,the brunette was already on her merry way back to the ballroom.He took a deep breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose trying to ease an incoming headache.

A few quiet minutes passed and Levi knows he has to eventually come out of his hiding spot.He walked out of the balcony and was greeted Petra.She's not bad company he thought.Shes smart,reserved,softspoken even and not bad on the eyes.Petra was going on about the contributions of Charlotte Bronte to modern feminism while his eyes roamed around the room.

He spotted Erwin speaking with an old potbellied man trying to entice him to donate for the school.As if feeling his stare,the blond glanced his way and gave Levi one of his clever knowing smile.Erwin was constantly encouraging him to go on a date with Petra and his friend was obviously pleased to see them together.He simply scoffed and rolled his eyes at him.

"Um is there a problem?"Petra asked.

"Nothing,I was just..."He gestured at Erwin and she turned at the man.The blond raised his glass at Petra giving her smile which the woman happily returned. "Dont mind him,Carry on.."He called her attention. And so she did. Levi's eyes continued to wander around the ballroom.Then,his stare drifted to Hange sitting in a bar drinking with a familiar looking man whose back was turned on him.Petra stopped her discussion and followed the raven haired mans gaze.

"Is that Djel Sannes?Whats he doing with Miss Zoe?"Petra asked.

"Im sure that chatty woman is talking his ear off"Oluo appeared out of nowhere joining in the conversation."Hi sir I hope you remember me I was facilitating the talk you gave last week."Olou offered his hand and Levi gave it a firm shake "Olou Bozado"Levi mentioned.Olou almost cried when he heard his full name uttered by Levi.His celebration was cut short when he felt Petra's elbow hit his rib. "Have some respect!That 'chatty woman' has a PhD in Bioengineering and a masters in chemical and mechanical engineering.That woman's remarkable!"

"No wonder shes gone mad."Oluo said with a sigh.

Petra huffed a deep breath and started lecturing him.

Levi did not weigh in with their conversation.Hes preoccupied trying to figure out whos the man shes talking to. He crossed his arms on his chest as he watched Hange flail her arms around as she talked to the man in front of her.Shes evidently upset.Her brows furrowed and he can practically hear her screaming at that man.People who are in their general direction are starting to stare at her.Then,a sudden realization hit him.The man shes talking to is the same man who was spouting nonsense about vaccination.

Hange cant believe what shes hearing.True shes not a physician but as a scientist,she had enough with people who dismiss proven ideas backed up by years of careful research.

"I mean,vaccinations are just a scam .Its total bullshit if you ask me.Thats why I never vaccinated my kids."

Thats when Hange lost it.Its one thing to be ignore someones studies but not vaccinating your own kid is just down right negligence on her books.

"THATS IT!"Hange grabbed the man by the collar and hoisted him up."How dare you put your childs life in dangerYou think you're so clever?Do you have a medical degree?"

Shes brimming with anger.Shes ready to throttle the man off the bar when she felt a firm grasp on her wrists.She turned her head furiosly and saw Erwin Smith staring as if telling her to calm down.The blond turned his head towards Sannes.

"I have to apologize for Miss Zoe's actions Mr.Sannes.I believe she already had too much to drink."

"No I dont!And dont speak on my behalf!this fucking moro..."Next thing she knows shes being dragged out by Levi out of the ballroom.

"Hey!Let me go!"

"Don't say anything shitty glasses...you're only going to make matters worse"He grumbled as he forcibly tugged Hange.

Levi dragged her at the lobby.Hange was pacing back and forth in front of him mumbling angrily as he sat on a sofa.

"What kind of idiot bastard doesnt vaccinate his kids?!"She turned to him"Do you know who he is huh?He is a potential board member for the school!If his donations go through,He'll have a say on every decision the school makes!If that kind of idiot changes the curriculum built around his idiocy..."

"You need to calm the fuck down.Nothing's happned yet."Levi crossed his legs and placed his arms along the backrest of the sofa.He kept his blank facial expression.

"Calm the fuck down?CALM THE FUCK DOWN?How can I calm th-"

"Hange"Erwin emerged from the corner and called for her.

The brunette hastily walked towards the man and grabbed both his hands"Erwin!Please tell me were not taking that idiots money."

"The school needed his resources.You should know that.I'm sorry."

"B-but we cant have people like him influencing the university's decisions.He is an idiot." "Theres nothing we can do.Hes donating $250,000 and the school can really use that for our scholarship funds.Not unless you find a new donor who can top that amount of money...I cant help you"Erwin gave her hand a firm squeeze as some form of apology and walked away.

"I'll do it."

Erwin stopped on his tracks.

"I'll double his price.Just get him out of the university."

"Hange,were talking about 500,000 dollars.How can yo-"

"I'll figure something out.Just get that man out of the school.I dont want him contributing to university decisions for our future generation.Do we have a deal?"Her eyes are brimming with determination.

Erwin took hanges hand ."Okay,but you need to promise to practice more restraint next time.We don't want to scare our future donors"

"Yeah,sorry about that."Her eyes binked and shes are back to their usual jovial state.Seeing that the whole situation has cooled down,Levi placed his hands and his lap and pushed himself out of the sofa."If were done here, Im going back inside." The blond gestured hange to come with them but the brunette crossed her hands in front of her. "I should probably head home.You gentlemen enjoy the rest of your night."Hange made a silly little curtsy and started walking away. # "Thank you for helping me with her earlier.Hange has always been far too intense for her own good."Erwin placed a hand on Levi's shoulder.

"Its fine.Shes a feisty little shit,But you have to hand it to her, her heart is in the right place."Levi mentioned in a bored tone.

Erwin's head turned to look at his friend's face "Did you just complimented her?"

"You got a problem with that?" Levi raised a brow at his blond friend.He didnt wait for his reply and started to walk away missing Erwin's knowing smirk.

#levihan #levi x hanji #levi ackerman #hange zoe #hanji zoe #snk #aot #attack on titan #shingeki no kyojin #levihan fanfiction

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blackkudos · 7 years

Text

Simon Estes

Simon Estes (born March 2, 1938) is an operatic bass-baritone of African-American descent who had a major international opera career beginning in the 1960s. He has sung at most of the world's major opera houses as well as in front of presidents, popes and internationally renowned figures and celebrities including Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Boris Yeltsin, Yasser Arafat, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Notably, he was part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve widespread success and is viewed as part of a group of performers who were instrumental in helping to break down the barriers of racial prejudice in the opera world.

Early life and education

Estes was born in Centerville, Iowa, the son of Ruth Jeter Estes and Simon Estes. His father was a coal-miner and his grandfather was a former slave who had been sold at auction for $500. Named for his father, Estes was called 'Billy' within his family circle to avoid confusion when addressing the two. One of five children, Estes has three sisters and a younger brother. His family was heavily involved in their local Baptist church, and his earliest musical experiences were had there. He remained active with church musical activities and participated in school music programs throughout his youth.

In 1957 Estes entered the University of Iowa, originally with the intent of studying pre-med. He changed his major to psychology and then religion before finally deciding to switch to vocal music through the influence of faculty member Charles Kellis. At the time Estes had been singing in the university's "Old Gold Singers" (he was notably the group's first black singer) and his voice had grabbed Kellis's interest. Kellis became Estes's first voice teacher and it was he who introduced Estes to opera. After finishing his undergraduate studies, Estes pursued further education at the Juilliard School in 1964, a pursuit which was made possible through funds raised in Iowa.

Career

Like many African-American artists of his day, Estes decided to go to Europe where racial prejudice was not as much of a barrier as it was in the United States. In 1965 he made his professional opera debut as Ramfis in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida at the Deutsche Oper Berlin to a warm reception. The following year he scored a major success when he won a bronze medal at Moscow's Tchaikovsky Competition. The competition win led to an invitation from President Lyndon Johnson to perform at the White House in 1966 and several offers for engagements at major opera houses in Europe soon followed.

Estes kept a very busy schedule performing in European opera houses during the late 1960s and the 1970s. He drew particular acclaim for performing leading roles in operas by Richard Wagner. He appeared at such houses as La Scala, Covent Garden, the Opéra National de Paris, the Liceu, the Hamburg State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, the Vienna State Opera and the Zurich Opera among others. He also sang at several notable music festivals, including the Salzburg Festival and the Glyndebourne Festival. In 1978 he notably became the first black male, African-American or otherwise, to sing a leading role at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival when he sang the title role in Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. The performance was a personal triumph for him and he went on to sing at Bayreuth for the next six consecutive years. He returned to Bayreuth again in 1985 to sing the Dutchman again; a performance that was captured on video and is still considered one of the best recordings of that role.

While Estes's career was thriving in the best European houses, he continued to be spurned by many of the major American houses during the 1970s. His debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1971 was in the minor role of the Ghost of Nino in Semiramide, and his successive roles at that house were not any bigger. The Metropolitan Opera did not even attempt to engage him in the 1960s; in 1976 he sang a single tour performance of Bellini's "Norma" with the Met at Wolf Trap. More favorable to him was the San Francisco Opera (SFO) with whom he sang several good roles in 1967, including the 4 villains in The Tales of Hoffman and Carter Jones in the United States premiere of Gunther Schuller's The Visitation. He returned to the SFO several times during his career, singing Ramfis in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida (1972), Don Pedro in L'Africaine (1972), Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor (1972), The Flying Dutchman (1979), Marke in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (1980), Amonasro in Aida (1981), and Escamillo in Georges Bizet's Carmen (1981).

In 1981 Estes was finally offered a contract to sing at the home theare of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He accepted, but at the time was cautioned by Leontyne Price, the first African-American to become a leading prima donna at the Met, about the difficult road ahead. Price, who suffered actual threats to her life when she first opened at the Met, explained, "Simon, it's going to be even more difficult for you. Because you are a black male, the discrimination will be greater. You have a beautiful voice; you are musical, intelligent, independent and handsome. With all of these ingredients, you are a threat. It will be more difficult for you than it was for me." However, the Met audience and critics responded favourably to Simon's house debut on January 4, 1982 as Hermann in Wagner's Tannhäuser with Richard Cassilly in the title role and Leonie Rysanek as Elisabeth.

Estes went on to sing in the next six consecutive seasons at the Met, portraying such roles as Amfortas in Wagner's Parsifal and Orest in Richard Strauss's Elektra. In 1985, he sang Porgy in the Met's first production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. In 1986, he sang Wotan in the inauguration of the legendary Ring production at the Metropolitan Opera directed by Otto Schenk. He returned to the Met in 1990 to sing Porgy again and for the last time in 1999 to portray Amonasro to Sharon Sweet's Aida. Perhaps his greatest Met moment was singing the role of Amonasro to Price's Aida for her farewell opera performance which was telecast live on national television on January 3, 1985.

He is a National Patron of Delta Omicron, an international professional music fraternity.

Humanitarian work

More recently, Estes has turned his attention to the fight against HIV/AIDS, now the leading cause of death among African Americans. At the forefront of Artists for HIV/AIDS prevention and education, Estes leads a collective voice of artists, who through music and arts, seek to break down socio-economic barriers as well as the stigma associated with the disease.

On July 9, 2010, he performed at the World Cup during the opening "Tribute to South Africa" at the FIFA Gala Concert in Johannesburg, South Africa. There he learned about the increasing problem of malaria in South Africa and decided also to get engaged in the fight against this illness.

In 2013, the Simon Estes Foundation has inaugurated a program called "Iowa Students Care," to engage Iowa students in the cause of eliminating malaria in Africa by raising funds to provide treated bed nets for African children. Its "Eliminate Malaria Campaign" was engaged in partnership with the United Nations Foundation and its Nothing But Nets Campaign, and was endorsed the governor and lieutenant governor of the state of Iowa. Activities include selling a benefit CD called "Save the Children, Save their Lives", and an Iowa Students Care Christmas Concert to be held on December 15 in Ames,Iowa, which will also include the Des Moines Symphony led by Joseph Giunta.

Educator

Estes is currently a visiting Professor of Music at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Ankeny Campus. Before that, Estes was a professor of Music at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where he gives voice lessons when he is in residence. He has performed in Wartburg's Christmas concert, Christmas With Wartburg, and has been known to go on domestic and international spring tours with Wartburg's concert choir. He is listed on the artist faculty of Boston University and he is also the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. His many honorary degrees include a doctorate from Iowa State University, and he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Iowa.

Personal life

In 1980, Estes married Yvonne Baer. They had three daughters, Jennifer, Lynne, and Tiffany. After 21 years, the couple divorced. Baer is now a consultant in Zurich. In 2001, Estes married Ovida Stong, a nurse who had cared for his mother in Iowa.

Selected awards and honors

1966 – Bronze Medal, International Tchaikovsky Competition, Moscow

1971 – National Academy of Recording Artists

1988 – United States Constitution Bicentennial Medal

1996 – Iowa Award (Iowa's highest citizen honor, awarded every five years)

2004 – Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Award, New York

2012 – Gold Medal of Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain

Wikipedia

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thequimmqueen · 3 years

Note

So about your nextgen au, can I see the list of people we have so far and who their parents are?

With pleasure!

Timm+Quinn: Lynn💘

Duke gotcha+Shannon: Raymond📰 & Sarah🔎

Joy+Moe Jamie🐦& Maya💮

Roy+Olivia Rolland📋 & Hollie🍍

Hank+Kayla Dannah🚨 & Savannah💅

Cameo+Cherissa Cairo/Sandy🍉

Cori+Robby Russell🎣 & Coralina🎏

Ember+Hacky Zack Burnett🚒,Axel👔,Zack🚧 & Ámbar✳️

Romanos🇮🇹:

Guy Mortadello+Bruna Romano Marianna🚔 & Gavin🍷

Clover+Carlo Romano+Koilee

Kōi🐠 Carlotta🍜 Bento🎸 & Ginevra🥁

Gino Romano+Okalani Georgina🍳 Kalea👑

Mindy+Whiff: Becky💄 & Belladonna/Chantilly - (Unofficial but possible nextgen)

Iggy+Sasha: Haley🔬

Taylor+Peggy: Stella📷

Marty+Rita Matilda🏈 & Arthur📽️

Brody+Skylar Brandon📚,Cielo🖌️ & Abel🎨

Emmlette+Kingsley: Anastasia🎬 & Kellen📹

Sarge fan+Radlynn: Randall🍠,Sargiene🎮 & Radha🌟 (Adopted,Failed Offspring Harvest Experiment of Radley Madish)

Alberto+Penny: Pilar🏵️,Penn🎤,Abilo⚽️ (previously known as Horton) & Noemí🌼

Scarlett+Rudy: Adonis♦️ (previously known as Carmín) & Kore♥️ (previously known as Diana)

Cooper+Prudence: Carrie🐈,Brooklyn🐕

Greg+Yippy: Courtney🌻 & Lilly🐞

Johnny+Boomer: Bloom🍀,Buttercup/Arán🌰 & Autumn🍁

Chuck+Nevada: Helena💐,Fawn💍 (previously known as Chayanne) & Snow❄️

Utah+Gremmie: Caspian (previously Maru)🐚 & Genaya (previously as Hara)🌠

Hugo+Janana: Tanner🎼

Maggie+Mitch: Megan💼 & Gunther🌮

Mousse+Sienna: Gelatta🍦 & Syrup🍮

Julep+Deano Tulip🌷,Leandro💉 & Eliana🏡

Willow+James: Jhonnen🛵,Whitney👻 & Jennifer🔧

Kenji+Zoe: Eijirou👾 & Amanda🦋

Scooter+Austin: Roopert (previously known as scoobert)🌟 & Adrianna (previously known as adella)🛍️

Connor×Wylan B:

(Liezel=Surrogate Mom) Izabella B🎋Deckard B🎧 (Lisa=surrogate mom) Cassidy🥇

Whippa+Lisa: Créme🍬 & Zandro👾

Drakson+Kasey O: Katey🥋,Diego💌

Pinch+Bertha: Paula⚾️,Abraham🏋️ & Jack Derby⭐

Rico+Rhonda: Roberto🏺 & Jazz🏆

Xolo+Sprinkles: Xefferson🤹

Xandra+Rollie Xanna💥 & Romeo⚗️

Professor Fitz+Edna: 🍀Jerry and Betty☘️ (Genetically modified Clones/Succesful Living Results of Artificial Offspring creation)

LePete+Torhu: Petra☀️,Koko🥊 (previously known as Kumako), Ryu🎐 & Haru🕹️

Nick+Trishna: Michael💙 & Nina🍊

Wendy: Wendyl🔩 & Roger GearSpeed🏁 (Real Name: ???)

Índigo: Magenta👗

Cecilia: Josefina🎒

Allan+Ivy: Allison💰 & Eva🛩️

JoJo+Louie: Johann✒️ & Lauren🥘

Mayor Mallow: Molly💎

Akari: Kuro🍋

Crystal: Shard🃏 & Filasophie📚

Luau Lepunch+Betty Pecan:

Toasty Coconut🍨 (Scoopian+LePunch Hibryd,Looks More like Betty) Gala Donut🍩 (adopted Scoopian Child) Shelly Coir🌴 (Scoopian+LePunch Hibryd,Looks More like Luau)

5th of July Scoopian: StarDust🎆

Rocky Road: Terrance Milch🍡

Jill Berry+Chip Mcmint: Cranberry Jelly💝 & Bianco Ciocco🍫

Sue x Mary: Susan☎️

Sarge×Radley Madish:

Onnelious and Brown (Adopted/Used to be Two of Sarge's youngest soldiers) 💜Pines and Payne💙 (Mutated+Adopted Pinacoolada Twins) Annana💛(Mutated+Adopted Bananapants Daughter) Radetta💗(Sucessful Offspring Harvest Experiment)

Tomatoe Lady🍅: Campari🥫

Foodini: Gabriel🎩

Ripley: Rodrigo🤓

Sprout: Carota🥕

Skip+Daniela: Railey🛎️

Kahuna: Koa🏄‍♂️

Big Pauly×Perri

🧂Salt & Pepper🧂

#hhytheking #flipline nextgen

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meenasmoon · 7 years

Note

I don't know if this is a prompt but I just realized... What if Jhonny had a girlfriend before Meena?? (They broke up pls, MeenaxJhonny 4life). It's just... really uncomfortable when your are with your boyfriend and suddenly his ex appears ;;;

Proof

Sorry for the odd formatting. I’m on mobile only in the islands but when I get back to the states I’ll fix everything. Enjoy!!

Meena nervously adjusted the neckline of her new dress as she looked at herself in the mirror. The mayor had invited them all to a fundraising gala at his mansion where he had insisted that Johnny perform a song of his choice. Flattered that the mayor wanted to him to preform, Johnny had quickly accepted the invitation and the wheels were set in motion.

Rosita immediately got a sitter for the night of the gala and a week before the gala she had taken Ash and Meena shopping for the proper formal attire. Both girls had been especially reluctant to shop but Rosita had been so insistent that they were left with no other option. After an entire day of shopping they each had a dress that met Rosita’s standards and they were dropped off at their homes with strict instructions not to show Johnny.

The confused gorilla had bugged his rommate and his girlfriend for days about seeing their dresses but both had held fast in their promise and he didn’t even catch a glimpse until the night of when Rosita had pulled both girls into the women’s dressing room to get ready.

So here Meena was standing in front of the mirror and hoping against hope that Johnny would like her dress. She was wearing a floor length forest green gown that hugged her torso before flaring out at the waist into an elegant train. The dress was held up by one strap that wrapped diagonally across her chest. Her mother had given her a simple gold necklace with matching earrings to wear that night and her outfit was complete. Where normally she would be marvelling at the dress rather than worrying about the fit, the thought of her new boyfriend waiting to see her was sending her into a self-conscious worry fest.

And that’s why when Ash stepped out of her changing stall in a classy red and black strapless dress she found her best friend still in front of the mirror adjusting imaginary flaws in her dress. If she were honest with herself Meena looked breathtaking and she found herself thinking that Johnny was one lucky guy. At the same time she knew that Meena only saw a mess of flaws rather than the beauty that everyone else saw so she hurried over to comfort her. When Meena saw Ash’s form in the mirror she gasped and immediately began gushing over her appearance.

“Oh my gosh Ash you look amazing!” She exclaimed and Ash gave her a grin in response. She grabbed Meena’s hand and squeezed it once,trying her best to comfort her friend.

“So do you Meena. You look gorgeous.” when Meena tried to protest she gave her hand another firm squeeze and the comment died in Meena’s throat.

Just then Rosita bustled in, already ready in her short but elegant black dress, and began fussing over both of them. Once she was satisfied that they looked as good as she imagined they would she ushered them out of the dressing room. Nervously, Meena squeezed Ash’s hand tight, and in response the porcupine gave her an encouraging smile.

When she exited the dressing room Rosita headed straight for her husband who was waiting nearby. The easygoing pig good-naturedly let her fuss with his tie, an affecionate smile gracing his lips. Ash lead Meena out of the dressing room and over to where Johnny was chatting with Buster and Eddie. Buster was wearing his normal blue suit since he dressed formally everyday. Eddie, who had been forced to attend many such events by his mother, was wearing a tailored tuxedo. Johnny was also dressed in a new suit with a green fest that matched the color of Meena’s dress. Silently, Meena thanked Rosita for secretly making sure that they matched.

Ash cleared her throat and the men immediately turned their attention to the two women. Johnny’s gaze went straight to Meena and instantly his jaw dropped and his heart tried to leap out of his chest. Slowly, he walked up to her and ran his hand up her arm until he was cupping her cheek and pulling her in for a slow, passionate kiss. Meena’s ears flared out slightly in surprise at the sudden kiss and when he pulled back her cheeks were adroably red.

“I’m sorry love but ya just looked so bloomin’ beautiful tha’ I couldn’t ‘elp myself.” He whispered, grinning crookedly when she blushed harder and looked down in embarrassment.

“You look very handsome too.” She said shyly and Johnny’s grin widened in response. He leaned in and gave her another kiss, which was interrupted when Ash cleared her throat and raised her eyebrow at them.

“You think we could head out sometime today lovebirds?” She asked snarkily but both animals knew she was too happy for them to actually be upset that they hadn’t left yet. They both laughed and followed the rest of the theatre family out to the car.

The entire ride to the Gala Johnny couldn’t look anywhere but at Meena, much to her embarrassment. And when they pulled up to the mayor’s mansion he insited on opening the door for her and escorting her inside like the true gentleman that he was. There were reporters lining the walkway into the house and when they saw the famous theatre family making their way up, they immediately swarmed towards them. Meena stiffened nervously, still nervous in the face of the press, but Johnny just tightened his arm around her waist and pushed past the reporterseasily. Meena smiled up at him gratefully and amist the flash of camers he leaned over and placed a comforting kiss on her cheek.

The comforting effect served to drown out the now frantic press as Johnny led a smiling Meena into the mansion where everyone else was waiting. Neither of them noticed the slim gazelle glaring up at the couple as she gripped her camera in her hands. Her glare morphed into a devious grin and she slipped through the crowd towards a back entrance.

Inside the mansion Buster was gleefully introducing his performers to various socialites, including a few movie stars. Finally the mayor himself joined their little group and began to chat with Buster and Johnny. By this time Gunther and Eddie had snuck off to the snack table while Rosita and Norman were twirling around on the dancefloor. So as Johnny and Buster talked with the mayor, Meena and Ash secured glasses of champagne from one of the servers.

They had been there about an hour when the mayor suggested that Johnny go check the piano he had set up for the evening. Johnny agreed and before he left he leaned over and gave Meena a quick kiss on the cheek.

“I’ll be right back love.” He said and then he and Buster followed the mayor to a small stage. Meena watched him go and turned back to Ash to finish the conversation about guitar brands that they had been having. However, before she could even open her mouth tosay anything a pretty gazelle with a tape recorder in one hand an camera in the other appeared in front of her and Ash. Startled, Meena jumped slightly and then gave the gazelle a waty smile. Ash just frowned as she looked over the mysterious woman. She was petite and pretty but Ash could see that her smile was forced and her brown eyes were hard.

“Well hello there, you must be Meera?” Her sugary sweet voice was almost too nice and every one of Ash’s quills stood on end as soon as she mispronounced Meena’s name. She couldn’t be sure but she was pretty certain that she had done it on purpose.

“Um it’s Meena actually.” Meena timidly corrected her but the gazelle just laughed it off and moved closer to them.

“Well Meera, I just thought that I should come over and introduce myself seeing that we have one thing in common. Ash crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the gazelle when she mispronounced Meena’s name yet again but she went ingored as the gazelle went on.

“My name is Carol Antlerson and I-” Before she could get out whatever she was trying to say Ash interrupted, a smug grin pasted on her face.

“Oh I know you. You write for that dishrag of a magazine, Gossip Gal.” She grinned when the gazelle stiffened and forced another smile over at Ash before turning back to Meena.

“That’s me.” She laughed awkwardly and when Meena and Ash just looked at each other in confusion she kept on talking.

“Anyways. I heard that you and Johnny Bannerton are a thing now.” She said ‘thing’ like it was the most disgusting word she could think of. Ash’s eyes narrowed and Meena looked around nervously, wishing that she was anywhere else.

“Um yes we-” Meena stuttered out but Carol decided to interrupt her with the bombshell she had eagerly been waiting to drop.

“Well I wish you luck. Maybe you’ll last longer than he and I did. That really was the best year of my life.” She laughed breathily as Meena’s face went paler than Ash had ever seen it. Her fury was trumped by the deep concern she suddenly had as Meena gaped at the smirking gazelle.

“Y-you and J-Johnny… a year?” She stuttered out and Carol grinned maliciously as she watched the elephant flounder for words.

“You know it really surprises me that Johnny is dating a girl…well…like you.” She gave Meena a toothy smile and Ash shook with fury.

“What the hell do you mean by that?!” She tried to come to Meena’s aid but it only seemed to make everything worse as the gazelle took her outburst as a queue to lay out all of the differences between her and Meena.

“Well I mean look at us darling. I’m small and you’re so…big. I have nothing against larger mammals of course but I never thought Johnny would supersize after me.” She giggled at her own joke as Meena began to shake slightly next to Ash, who stood gaping at the Carol’s audacity.

“And I mean are you really sure about that dress because that cut…well it’s not quite flattering on a figure like yours. And green is definitely not your color. I on the other hand look absolutely fabulous in this little pink number if I do say so myself.” She giggled maliciously as she did a little twirl for them.

“Oh and when it comes to the spotlight I’m not shy about performing for an audience. I have a wonderful voice you know, Johnny always used to tell me. He loved my confidence and my voice.” She patted Meena’s shoulder lightly and pasted on a fake sympathetic look, “But I’m sure he likes your lack of confidence too sweetie.”

Meena opened and closed her mouth but nothing but a tiny squeak came out and her eyes began to fill with tears. Ash decided in that moment that enough was enough and Meena obviously couldn’t defend herself against this harpy. But Ash had plenty of experience with prissy girls like her. She stepped forward, using her tiny body as a makeshift shield for her friend to hide behind.

“Listen bitch. Johnny dumped you for a reason and I’m pretty sure it’s because you’re a petty little brat who attacks people for no reason. Now…” she plucked a quill out of her back and pointed it at the startled gazelle, “I suggest you get out of my face and stay away from my friends. Capisce?”

She stuck the quill in the gazelle’s leg for emphasis and she gave Ash a dirty look before stomping away, her hands clenched tightly on her equipment. Ash turned around to comfort Meena and found her friend standing right where she had left her, her face securely shielded by her ears as fat tears streamed out of her eyes and stained her cheeks.

Ash grabbed her hand and pulled her off of the dance floor and into a empty room off to the side of the dance hall. Meena collapsed into a chair just as deep sobs began to wrack her body.

Ash hovered over her nervously, unsure how to comfort her friend. She settled for pulling her into a tight hug. Meena huddled against her and tried to halt her sobs with to no avail. Ash rubbed her back but Nothing had changed after a few minutes she pulled back and looked into Meena’s bloodshot eyes.

“I’m gonna go find Johnny.” She said soothingly and dashed out of the room, searching desperately for the familiar form of her roommate. When she found him next to the stage, chatting with the mayor she hurried over and grabbed him by the sleeve.

“Ash? Wot-?” He was cut off as she yanked him away, practically dragging him across the dance hall towards the room where she had left Meena. When they reached the door Ash opened it and shoved him into the room before following him and slamming the door behind him.

Before Johnny could question Ash about her odd behavior he heard sobbing coming from behind him. He spun around and as soon as he saw that Meena was the one sobbing into her hands all of his attention was on her.

He gathered her into his arms and she cried into his chest as he stroked her back soothingly.

“Ash wot 'appened?” He said quietly as he kissed the top of Meena’s head.

“Some bitch named Carol Antlerson showed up, said she dated you for a year, called Meena fat, antisocial, a bad singer and insulted her dress!” Ash felt her blood start to boil as she remembered what that gazelle had said to Meena.

Johnny growled at the thought and then sighed deeply as he realized the damage that Carol had caused in the minutes that he had been gone. He gently lifted Meena’s head so that she was looking him in the eyes. He wiped away a few tears but they were quickly replaced by more.

“Oh love. Ya can’t believe what that girl said. Ya are the most beautiful, talented, and amazing animal that I 'ave ever met.” He stroked her cheeks and Meena looked up at him with uncertainty in her eyes.

“B-but she-” Johnny cut her off before she could say another word.

“Is a vindictive, cold-'earted, lonely bitch. An’ I dropped 'er the moment I realized tha’. Ya ’re nothin’ loike 'er and that’s wot I love abaht ya.” He whispered and Meena smiled for a second before it faded back into sadness. She ran her hand over the material of her dress and let out a heavy sigh.

Hearing those words from Johnny was enough to stem the flow of her tears but her sadness still haunted her gaze like a ghost that won’t be banished. Carol had stirred up all of her insecurities in one go, as if she knew all of Meena’s fears. They wouldn’t settle back down so easily.

Johnny frowned when she refused to look at him. He wracked his brain for some way to help but came up with nothing, even Ash looked completely lost. He glanced at a nearby clock and thought to himself 'almost time for my song’.

“My song!” He suddenly gasped and leapt to his feet gleefully. Both girls looked up at him in confusion but Johnny didn’t stop to explain as he gently pulled Meena to her feet and began leading her towards the stage. Ash followed close behind, keeping her eye out for a certain unwanted reporter.

When they got to the stage he sat Meena on the piano bench and then gathered the other band members to discuss the change in song. When he was ready he sat next to Meena and signaled the mayor to introduce them.

The mayor gave him a puzzled look but announced their performance anyways. Every eye in the room was on them in that moment and Meena felt herself start to panic. Before she could hyperventilate Johnny gently positioned her face so she was looking away from the crowd and at him instead. With a secret smile he began to play.

Oh, her eyes, her eyesMake the stars look like they’re not shinin’Her hair, her hairFalls perfectly without her tryingShe’s so beautifulAnd I tell her aYeah

He looked at her as he sang, that smile still perched on his face. Meena turned bright red immediately and tried to look away from him but he pulled her gaze back up to his.

I know, I knowWhen I compliment her she won’t believe meAnd it’s so, it’s soSad to think that she don’t see what I seeBut every time she asks me, “Do I look okay?”I say,

Meena saw the brief sadness in his eyes as he sang and for a moment she wished that she could see what she looked like through Johnny’s eyes. Maybe this song was the best way for him to communicate that. She took a deep breath and a small smile began to bloom on her face as he sang to her.

When I see your faceThere’s not a thing that I would change'Cause you’re amazing Just the way you areAnd when you smileThe whole world stops and stares for a while'Cause, girl, you’re amazing Just the way you are.Yeah

Meena couldn’t fight the feeling as her smile began to grow and the blush faded. He was drawing her in with his words and the sincerity in his eyes. It gave her an indescribable feeling to know how he felt about her. That she was special to him.

Her lips, her lipsI could kiss them all day if she’d let meHer laugh, her laughShe hates but I think it’s so sexyShe’s so beautifulAnd I tell her everyday,

The crowd watching them started to fade away as Meena became absorbed in the song and the negative emotions began to fade away. Rationally she had no reason to doubt his feelings for her but she couldn’t help but feel inadequate. In this moment, however, she felt like the most beautiful animal in the world.

Oh you know, you know, you knowI’d never ask you to changeIf perfect’s what you’re searching forThen just stay the sameSo don’t even bother asking if you look okayYou know I’ll say,

When Johnny saw the smile returning to her face he grinned and began to sing louder and with more passion. His goal was to make her feel like nothing could touch her because in his eyes she was beyond perfect.

When I see your face There’s not a thing that I would change'Cause you’re amazingJust the way you are And when you smileThe whole world stops and stares for a while'Cause, girl, you’re amazingJust the way you are

In the crowd Ash grinned and gave Johnny a thumbs up even though he couldn’t see it. She was terrible at cheering people up but in this case she knew that she had made the right decision in getting Johnny. Those two were meant to be and she wasn’t going to let anyone mess with them.

The way you areThe way you areGirl, you’re amazing Just the way you are

As Johnny slowed down the song and Ash hoped that he was finally convincing Meena that she was beautiful because her best friends deserved to be happy.

Out of the corner of her eyes she caught sight of a flash of pink as Carol moved to the front and glared at the couple, watching with disdain as Johnny serenaded Meena.

Grinning mischievous Ash pulled a quill out of her back and snuck through the crowd until she was standing behind the gazelle, poised and ready for her attack.

When I see your faceThere’s not a thing that I would change'Cause you’re amazing Just the way you arehAnd when you smileThe whole world stops and stares for a while'Cause, girl, you’re amazingJust the way you are

As Johnny finished his song the crowd erupted into cheers and Ash jabbed the pointy end of her quill into the gazelle’s butt. She let out a shrill screech and jumped away, creating enough of a diversion for Ash to slip away. Carol screamed in frustration when no one admitted to poking her and began ranting that no one at the party was worthy of her and how she would see them all in hell. Before she could get much further two burly bears appeared and carried her out of the party.

Meena and Johnny watched the whole exchange in amusement and When she was gone Johnny leaned forward and kissed Meena, softly, slowly and passionately.

“Was tha’ enough proof for ya?” He asked teasingly and Meena giggled happily, the only evidence of her sadness was the slight redness in her eyes.

“I might need a little more.” She whispered and pulled him in for another kiss.

#sing the movie #johnny x meena #meena sing #johnny sing #send me prompts #proof #ash sing

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nakedcomedy · 6 years

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Whitmer Thomas experiments with his unique brand of darkwave synth comedy and has his pals perform stand up and sing songs.

"This boy does some of the best crap I've seen in all my years of journalism." -LA ROCK TIMES WEEKLY

SUNDAY 4/21 Doors 8p Show 8:30p $10 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whitmer-thomas-pals-tickets-59008036626 **Comedians get in for free at The Satellite 1717 Silverlake Blvd LA, CA 90026

WHITMER THOMAS is a Los Angeles-based comedian, actor, and filmmaker from Gulf Shores, Alabama. He and his writing partner Clay Tatum co-EP the ADHD animated series Stone Quackers on FXX that they created based on their lives growing up in Gulf Shores. They voice the leads alongside John C. Reilly. You can see Whitmer as the lead in the Happy Madison movie DEPORTED, FX’s YOU’RE THE WORST, and as the memorable villain “Gunther” in season 8 of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD. He will be appearing next on FOX’s GHOSTED, the upcoming season of Netflix’s GLOW, and he will star in an ensemble film SWORD OF TRUST, directed by Lynn Shelton and opposite Marc Maron and Jillian Bell. On the live front, Whit has toured with Bo Burnham and appeared at colleges, clubs and festivals across the country, as well as a headlining gala at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and a stand-out performance at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He is also a third of the popular sketch group Power Violence.

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purrlunar · 8 years

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I keep forgetting putting her constellation on my Hercules girl's chest u w u

#arts #illustration #oc #ocs #gala gunther #hercules #constellations in conflict

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nyami-tee · 8 years

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Get To Know The Blogger

Tagged by: @officialoikawatooru and @shirabaes

Rules: Answer the questions in a new post and tag 20 blogs you would like to get to know better!

-Nickname: Ro, Anne, Rowrow, Rowie, Aimes

-Star sign: Taurus

-Height: 5′2″

-Time right now: 7:43 PM MST

-Last thing googled: “choi minho”

-Favorite music/artists: ummmmm BTS, Pentagon and SEVENTEEN

-Song Stuck in your head: Oh boy….:

Blood, Sweat and Tears by BTS

Ding Dong Song by Gunther

-Last movie watched: A Werewolf Boy

-Last TV show watched: Voltron Season 2

-What are you wearing right now: jeans and a hoodie from Bench that smells like my ex-boyfriend. figures.

-When did you create your blog: two years ago

-What kind of stuff do you post: Haikyuu!!, anime, some depressing poetry that i write lmao, caTS

-Do you have other blogs:

@chiarioscuro (writing/depressing poetry)

@roannime (personal/humor blog)

-Do you get asks regularly: what are asks? (nope)

-Why did you choose your URL: oikawa tooru and toast are my faves.

-Gender: Female

-Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw

-Favorite color: blues and greens, and I’m kinda warming up to like a pastel pink

-Average hours of sleep: Right now 3-6, during school: 12

-Lucky number: 7

-How many blankets do you sleep with: 3

-Dream job: A CEO of an Engineering Firm who has a hot ass doctor for a lover and lives in the penthouse of a skyscraper and goes to galas with expensive dresses with my hot ass lover. That’s my dream life right there man

-Following: its reaching 500 now man idk

I tag: @kenmakittie @sugasets @lets-go-dateko @yaboyseven @owltown @vertigovortex

#not hq #ask meme #wowie wowie wow

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aboutmikasa · 8 years

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La Bella y la Bestia (10) - Otro simple e insignificante malentendido

Title: La Bella y la Bestia Chapter 10: Otro simple e insignificante malentendido Pairing: Levi/Mikasa | Ch WC: 7.583 | Rating: K+ | AU Language: Español Status: En proceso - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ►10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | …

AO3| ff.net

Chapter summary (10): Un viaje de trabajo, un malentendido, hamburguesas y la posibilidad de conocerse mejor.

10. Otro simple e insignificante malentendido

No eran vacaciones, eso lo tenía claro, sin embargo, pasar una semana en Ciudad Ehrmich sin su jefe, ni los problemas cotidianos, era mejor que estar de vacaciones. Mikasa suspiró sintiéndose un poquito patética; atravesaba un momento en la vida en el cual un viaje de trabajo era lo más emocionante que le podía pasar. Lo peor de todo era que estaba convencida que según pintaban las cosas, era lo más emocionante le habría de pasar en mucho tiempo. No se suponía que fuera ella quien acompañara a Erwin, el viaje completo fue cosa de último minuto y a ella le confirmaron hasta unas horas antes del vuelo. Las tres horas que duró el vuelo se la pasó terminando un reporte y coordinando con Bert la vida completa de su jefe para esa semana. Todo en la oficina estaba patas arriba gracias a un caso de último minuto. La noche anterior durmió poco menos de cuatro horas y su cuerpo aun resentía el final del semestre; por eso se sentía patética, le esperaba una semana de trabajo interminable, no una semana de copas con su mejor amiga. Sasha insistía en que tendrían tiempo de sobra para disfrutar de la ciudad, los bares de moda y los casinos. Para Mikasa era más urgente asegurarse que Historia cubriera sus clases en el gimnasio.

Los viáticos que le pagaba la firma eran razón suficiente para sonreír y no porque pensara gastarlos durante el viaje. Al terminar las clases se terminaban también las asesorías y los trabajos que corregir, así que Armin y ella tenían menos ingresos, eso implicaba aprovechar las oportunidades como llegaran. Con todos los gatos del inicio del semestre iban a necesitar todo el dinero que pudieran ahorrar. La practicidad era el leitmotiv de Mikasa Ackerman. Mientras que Sasha planeaba salir de rumba cada noche, Mikasa planeaba disfrutar de la habitación y de las instalaciones del hotel sin gastar un centavo que no fuera indispensable. Iba a ser una semana de austeridad; por regla general en las reuniones en las que asistían había comida y bebida, al menos eso le aseguraba no morir de inanición. Además, dentro de las funciones que debía desempeñar se incluía organizar una de gala donde pensaba comer todo lo que pudiera.

Sasha, en cambio, estaba dispuesta a todo lo que fuera necesario para que la practicidad de su amiga, no fuera tan práctica esa semana.

La maleta aun no terminaba de dar la vuelta en el carrusel cuando los mensajes comenzaron a llegar. Levi no estaba ahí, pero era imposible olvidarse de él. Pero él no era el único demandando su atención y su tiempo. Historia aun no respondía su mensaje y la joven optó por contactar a Ymir. Al menos lo intentaba porque los mensajes de su jefe caían sin parar y sin dejarla completar una frase. Ojalá hubiera podido dejar encendido el modo avión por el resto de la semana. Ojalá ella tuviera un modo avión en el cual refugiarse. El grupo que Gunther “tan amablemente” había creado, para que todo el equipo estuviera en contacto, no dejaba de sonar. Bert también colaboraba con la reducción de su calidad de vida, claro que no tanto como su jefe. Se rio de sí misma cuando vio, además, diez correos con el llamativo título de “urgente”. Nunca iba a entender por qué Levi tenía que nombrarlos así, todo con él era urgente. No le mandaba cadenas, ni le preguntaba por el clima; si él enviaba un correo, siempre era urgente.

Una semana sin su jefe era demasiado pedir.

Dejó de lado el resto de su vida, como de costumbre, e intentaba dar respuestas concretas a cada mensaje. El problema fue que en cuanto contestó uno, llegó una avalancha de preguntas. Supuso que las respuestas monosilábicas no complacían a su Levi, en cuanto la pantalla se iluminó con el nombre de su jefe; mejor dicho, con sus iniciales. Mikasa se negaba rotundamente a escribir el nombre completo de su jefe. El pobre e inocente aparato no tenía la culpa de nada. Ya bastante hacía con no poner la imagen de Gruñón en el contacto. Estaban por llegar al hotel y Erd le dedicó una sonrisa que no terminó de comprender, lo mismo que pasó con la mirada que Erwin cruzó con el otro abogado. Lo que ella consideraba conmiseración, era uno de tantos indicios de la obviedad de las acciones de su jefe, esas que para ella pasaban siempre desapercibidas.

Consideró por in instante dejar que se perdiera la llamada, pero fantasear con ignorar a su jefe y e ignorar a su jefe no eran la misma cosa.

“¿Llegaron? El reporte de la adquisición no incluye el diagnóstico del último bimestre en bolsa. Erd tiene el resto de la información.”

“Hola Mikasa, ¿qué tal el vuelo?” La joven respondió a su jefe con toda la ironía que pudo.

“Muy graciosa, Mikasa,” algo en la voz de Levi llamó su atención, casi como si lo hubiera sorprendido. “¿Vas a seguir jugado o vas a darme una respuesta.”

“Estamos por llegar al hotel. Lo incluyo y te lo envío.”

“Erd tiene el resto de la información,” la pausa que siguió a sus palabras era poco usual en las conversaciones con Levi, usualmente le decía lo que tenía que decirle y daba por finalizada la conversación. “Que lo revise él antes de enviarlo.”

“¿Qué él revise mi reporte antes de enviártelo?”

Cerró los ojos para evitar ponerlos en blanco, después de todo el jefe de su jefe estaba frente a ella y las reglas laborales indican que no es apropiado evidenciar las ganas de colgarle el teléfono a la mitad de la conversación. Mucho menos apropiado era musitar las maldiciones que le dedicaba a su jefe inmediato cuando le resultaba insufrible; lo que pasaba cada dos segundos. Mientras: cerraba los ojos, contaba hasta cien, respiraba despacio y se repetía que no podía quedarse sin trabajo.

Alguna divinidad se apiadó de ella porque por fin llegaron al hotel, así que la joven asistente se alejó del grupo con disimulo y tomó nota de los mil nuevos encargos de Levi. Hacía malabares con el iPad, el teléfono y los papeles que estaba revisando, al mismo tiempo que pretendía ignorar que tenía hambre y estaba cansada.

“Supongo que, si no confía en que lo que hago, alguien más tiene que revisar mi trabajo… De verdad cree que soy tan estúpida como para no hacer bien un simple informe,” lo dijo en voz baja y para sí misma al terminar la llamada y no notó la alta figura que se había acercado a ella.

“Tiene que quedar listo para mañana,” Erwin la veía con la misma cordialidad del primer día que llegó a trabajar con ellos. “Es mucho trabajo y fue su manera de no cargarte el trabajo a ti sola.”

Mikasa se puso tensa al escuchar las palabras de su superior y se dio la vuelta hasta verlo directo a los ojos. Su rostro mantenía una expresión imposible de leer y habló despacio, como si estuviera reprendiéndose por el desliz que acaba de tener.

“Si usted lo dice,” no acostumbraba a hablar de sus opiniones sobre Levi con su equipo de trabajo, Bert era una excepción; aunque intentaba mantener un tono neutro, supo por la forma en la que su profesor inclinó el rostro, que no estaba siendo efectiva. “No importa. Para nadie es un secreto que a él no le gusta mi trabajo.”

“Te equivocas Mikasa.” Ella lo vio con evidente incredulidad. “Levi no es no alguien fácil de entender, pero si no le gustara tu trabajo hace mucho habrías dejado de trabajar con él.”

La elevación de la ceja derecha de la joven lo hizo sonreír. Mikasa no terminaba de comprender la relación entre su jefe y el jefe de su jefe. Erwin Smith era su profesor favorito, aunque dudaba que él lo supiera; afrontaba cada tema como si fuera una estrategia militar y sus ojos diseccionaban a sus interlocutores como si se tratara de un ejercicio de interpretación dogmática. Levi en cambio… le resultaba cada día más difícil describir a su propio jefe. Levi era una especie de rompecabezas, algunas piezas encajaban perfectamente y sin esfuerzo, otras, no tenían coherencia alguna. No imaginaba dos personas más diferentes, y a la vez más parecidas, que ellos dos.

“La deuda no representa un problema, Mikasa.” Al menor descuido, Erwin leía con demasiada facilidad lo que pensaba y eso la incomodaba. “Ten en cuenta que transferirte a otra área no interfiere con el pago.”

“Supongo.”

“Hay mucho que puedes aprender trabajando con él, aunque sea un reto.”

Una llamada de Bert los interrumpió y ella lo agradeció en silencio. La preocupación profesional del primer asistente era encantadora. Enfermo y todo se las arreglaba para cumplir con sus funciones y echarle la mano. Al colgar, recibió un mensaje de Ymir confirmándole que Historia podía cubrirla y que había perdido su teléfono, otra vez. Le reenvió a Ymir el correo con las horas que necesitaba que la cubriera y aceptó todas las condiciones que la novia de Historia ponía para hacer efectivo el arreglo. Condiciones que Historia no ponía y de las que dudaba estuviera enterada. Por si fuera poco, tenía que coordinar con Armin la llegada del plomero antes que Eren decidiera que él podía arreglar la fuga del lavabo.

Eran las dos de la tarde y el mundo parecía arrimarse en sus hombros para descansar un rato.

Cuando por fin se acercó al lobby del hotel para registrarse, estaba distraída. Al parecer ella era la única que aún no tenía la llave de su habitación. Erwin hablaba con un grupo muy serio de personas y Sasha se alejó por un momento; por su parte, Erd estaba al teléfono y tenía la expresión de quien contiene la explosión de una bomba.

“Mikasa Ackerman,” en el momento en que dijo su nombre, la displicencia con la que la encargada la atendía desapareció. La empleada se quedó viéndola e intercambió miradas con el hombre que estaba a su lado.

“¿Levi Ackerman es su…?”

La pregunta quedó suspendida en el aire, mientras que la mujer actuaba casi con nerviosismo. Mikasa contestó con un “Sí” distraído. Armin por fin le estaba contestando; estaba en la biblioteca y no creía llegar a tiempo para recibir al plomero. Tenían que asegurarse que alguien abriera la puerta y lo llevara al lavabo, además de hacerle compañía el tiempo suficiente para que Armin apareciera. Eren tomaba un curso en la Fiscalía ese día y si Hannah, la vecina de al lado, no podía hacerlo, su única opción era Ymir. Cuando terminara de pedirle favores a Ymir, le iba a haber empeñado el alma.

Si para algo no tenía tiempo Mikasa Ackerman, era para prestar atención a las personas en el lobby del hotel. A menos que fuera Erwin, Levi o Erd, el resto del mundo iba a tener que esperar. Y aun ellos tendrían que formarse en la fila antes de pedirle algo más. Los empleados detrás del mostrador fijaron sus ojos en ella y luego en Erwin antes de regresar la mirada a la pantalla.

“Parece que ha habido un error en la reservación,” el gerente tomó el lugar de la mujer y se dirigió a Mikasa con un tono que reflejaba nerviosismo. Cambió la llave que estaba sobre el mostrador y chasqueó los dedos para llamar al botones. “Acompaña a la señora a su suite y asegúrate que todo esté perfecto.”

Puso levemente los ojos en blanco cuando la llamaron señora; odiaba que lo hicieran, pero nunca corregía el apelativo. Tenía el teléfono en la mano y optó por enviar un mensaje a Armin quejándose del título que le habían dado, como hacía siempre que pasaba. El personal del hotel pareció tomar su reacción como indiferencia y se apresuraron a llevar su equipaje. Hannah no estaba en el edificio, Ymir había dejado de contestarle, Bert necesitaba la contraseña de un documento, Levi quería que le reenviara un correo que Hanji no encontraba, Sasha le estaba comentando algo sobre copias de una licitación… era uno de esos momentos caóticos en los que nada tiene sentido y no se puede hacer otra cosa que resolver un tema a la vez. Eso fue lo que hizo la joven, ante la imposibilidad de saltar por la ventana o cambiarse el nombre e irse a vivir a Los Cabos. Mikasa, en definitiva, no estaba prestando atención a nada ni a nadie que no estuviera en su lista de pendientes. Si los empleados del hotel querían algo tendrían que incendiar una habitación y aun entonces, la joven lo pondría al final de la lista; posiblemente antes que dormir, pero en la lista.

Erd, que observaba lo ocurrido, intentó decir algo, pero Erwin lo detuvo, negando con la cabeza; la escena completa, incluida la sonrisa del socio principal de Smith&Zoe, pasó desapercibida para Mikasa.

Ella sabía que la cadena hotelera en la que se hospedaban era una de más importantes del sector turístico y que ese era el hotel más grande de Ciudad Ehrmich, también sabía que Levi era el abogado que tenía la cuenta; nada de eso la hizo pensar que su habitación sería a donde la llevaron. Incluso le preguntó al botones si no había un error; el joven le dijo que era una de las mejores habitaciones y salió sin preguntar nada más, ni pedir propina. Era una suite en uno de los últimos pisos, con dos habitaciones, un área común con más amenidades de las que ella hubiera visto en cualquier hotel, un jacuzzi y una pantalla gigante. El departamento que compartía con Eren y Armin cabía dos veces en el espacio que ocupaba la suite. Si todo eso era poco, la habitación estaba quirúrgicamente limpia.

La cama era de esas con tecnología viscolástica, como las que salían en la televisión; se recostó un segundo y el colchón se acomodó a la forma de su cuerpo. Quería cerrar los ojos y descansar dos otoños consecutivos. Disfrutaba de la sensación cuando alguien llamó a la puerta, imaginó que una vez descubierto el error, mandaron a alguien para escoltarla a la económica habitación que Bert reservó para ella. La mujer que tocaba la puerta le preguntó si encontraba la habitación adecuada o si necesitaba algo. Sugirió prepararle un baño de burbujas con sales minerales y esencias naturales.

Mikasa preguntó una vez más si no había algún error y al poco rato le llevaron una cesta con frutas y chocolates como cortesía de la casa.

Podía llamar a conserjería, podía recordarles que ella era una asistente y que su habitación no podía ser esa. Había muchas cosas que podía hacer, incluido tomar un baño caliente y recién preparado y descansar en una cama que parecía hecha para su cuerpo. Si Sasha llegaba a enterarse que pensaba siquiera en dejar pasar esa oportunidad, iba a dejar de hablarle; ¿quién era ella para poner en peligro su amistad con Sasha? Después te todo, ella firmó el registro del hotel y en la hoja decía habitación simple; también señaló en dos oportunidades la equivocación sin que nadie hiciera nada al respecto. El mundo no se iba a acabar porque Mikasa moviera el orden de su lista de pendientes y se concediera un par de horas para descansar. Se sintió como quien trasgrede un orden mayor, casi como Daniel el Travieso. Las burbujas, el aroma a lavanda y verbena y la calidez del agua desaparecieron al mundo entero. Durante los treinta y tres minutos de relajamiento que se concedió, Mikasa Ackerman logró, por primera vez en meses, poner su mente en blanco.

Una llamada de Levi interrumpió su tranquilidad. Lo dejó sonar y no porque quisiera ignorarlo, no de forma flagrante; la idea de contestar mientras tomaba un baño le resultaba inconcebible. En cuanto estuvo presentable, le llamó. Se sintió ridícula por necesitar vestirse primero. Era absurdo, él no tenía manera de saberlo. Antes de marcar se sentó en la cama para repasar todas sus obligaciones, tenía a la mano todo lo que podía necesitar para responder a las exigencias de su jefe. La idea era imposible, sin importar qué tanto se aventurara a pensar dos pasos delante de Levi, su jefe se adelantaba cinco a ella. Aun así y a pesar de lo mucho que la hiciera enfadar por su continuo criticismo, ella era más testaruda que él. La necesidad de probarse a sí misma que podía con cualquier reto, y de demostrarle a él que no la intimidaba, la convirtieron en la descripción misma de la eficiencia.

Levi era un hombre extraño. Le preguntó por cosas que Mikasa dejó listas, una camisa que ella recogió de la tintorería por otra de esas manchas invisibles al ojo humano y que solo su jefe veía, camisa que dejó en el departamento de su jefe, correos que él ya tenía y nimiedades por el estilo. Lo más extraño de su llamada fueron las preguntas que hizo sobre Erwin. ¿Cómo iba a saber ella si el otro abogado estaba borracho? Erwin asistió a una comida a la que por fortuna ella no tuvo que asistir, pero era todo lo que podía decirle. Mucho menos podía saber por qué el profesor Smith llamó a Levi para felicitarlo.

Las preguntas de su jefe eran una insensatez, pero no por eso dejó de llamar a Sasha para averiguar lo que él quería saber.

Su lista de pendientes del día quedó completa antes de percatarse. Eso le deba tiempo para dormir o eso esperaba. Sasha, tenía otros planes. La intempestiva visita de su amiga no fue una sorpresa, desde que le dijo que estaba alojada en una de las suites lo vio venir.

Convencerla de dormir era una imposibilidad. Al menos la persuadió para pasar la noche comiendo pizza en compañía de Netflix. La propuesta no era imposible considerando que Sasha aún tenía trabajo pendiente y que llevó con ella tres botellas de vino. Otra cosa más que no hacía desde meses atrás era pasar tiempo con sus amigas, una misión que llevaron a cabo gracias FaceTime. Netflix sin Ymir no era ni una milésima parte igual de divertido.

“Deja el teléfono por un minuto.” Ya fuera en persona o desde la computadora, la demanda de Ymir era la de todos los días. “¿Quién es que no te deja ni un minuto en paz?”

La atención de Historia se desvió de la serie que solo ella quería ver, el tema siempre era su favorito. “¿Nuevo novio, pretendiente o ex?”

“Ninguna de las anteriores,” aunque quisiera seguirles el juego, Erd necesitaba una correlación de datos; información que le pasaron hasta hacía quince minutos.

“¿Eren?” Escuchó a sus dos amigas preguntar desde la pantalla.

“Es Levi,” ante la indiferencia de Mikasa, Sasha decidió intervenir.

“¿Levi? ¿El Levi de la oficina?” Los ojos de Historia brillaron con morbo. “Entonces, Mikasa, ¿a él lo clasificamos como pretendiente, nuevo novio… interés sexual?”

“Jefe,” la repuesta de Mikasa fue simple, demasiado simple.

“¿Solo jefe?”

“Tirano, explotador, maniaco de la limpieza, dictador…” era una lista interminable, pero dicha de manera mecánica, por la costumbre de los meses anteriores. Le importaba más enviar lo que Erd necesitaba que quejarse de su jefe.

Sus ojos no abandonaron la pantalla de su teléfono, su atención no de desvió del trabajo y poco o nada reparó en la profunda decepción de Historia. Desde que la ayudó con Reeves, Historia tomó particular interés en la relación de Levi y Mikasa. Nadie más en su grupo entendía de dónde sacó la idea, Sasha seguía creyendo que Mikasa debía darle una segunda oportunidad a Jean, a pesar que las cosas no pasaron del beso. El resto no tenía una opinión al respecto y no la necesitaban, Sasha e Historia eran un ejército por ellas mismas.

No pasó mucho tiempo antes que Historia e Ymir se pusieran demasiado cariñosas entre sí como para continuar con la llamada. Sasha, muy a su pesar decidió terminar un par de pendientes.

Cuando por fin el teléfono dejó de sonar y pudieron relajarse con la botella de vino que quedaba, era muy tarde como para hacer algo más.

“¿Tú y Jean?”

Era una pregunta que Mikasa había visto venir.

“Nada.”

“Me sorprende que se diera por vencido.” Hizo una pausa para terminar su copa. “No, no me sorprende. Desde que estamos entramos a Smith&Zoe todo lo que haces es trabajar… Mikasa, ¿por qué terminaste con Marco?”

Hizo bailar con la muñeca el líquido en la copa. Tampoco la sorprendió en cambio del tema, no era la primera vez que se lo preguntaba, todos lo hicieron en su momento. Jean lo sabía por Marco y Armin porque ella se lo dijo. Eren lo supuso, pero nunca le preguntó.

Quizá fuera el vino, o el cansancio, incluso podía ser que ya no era un tema delicado para ella; lo que haya sido, la hizo hablar.

“Me pidió que me casara con él.”

Sasha casi se ahoga con el vino y pasó un rato antes de recomponerse.

“¿Con anillo y todo?”

“Con anillo y todo.”

“¿Qué le dijiste?” Mikasa hizo un gesto de obviedad ante la pregunta de su amiga. “Ya sé que le dijiste que no, ¿por qué? Creí que estaban enamorados.”

Era difícil explicarlo, levantó los hombros porque no supo cómo hacerlo. La respuesta evidente era que estaban muy jóvenes, que él se marchaba de la ciudad, que ella no estaba lista para dejar a su familia y su carrera. Todo era cierto, pero no toda la verdad.

“No lo suficiente como para casarme con él.”

“Yo creía que…”

“Yo sé.”

“Estabas tan triste después que se fue.”

“Mucho. No fue fácil decirle que no.”

“Supongo que no era para ti después de todo.”

“Supongo.”

A veces era muy difícil comprender a Mikasa, pero la serenidad con la que respondía decía más que sus palabras.

“¿Mikasa, alguna vez te ha pasado por la cabeza tener algo más con tu jefe?”

“¿Algo más?” El vino la hacía escuchar cosas y le tomó un momento procesar la pregunta de su amiga; sus pensamientos se desviaron a un camino que no le gustaba en lo absoluto. “¿Estás delirando? ¿El vino estaba adulterado? ¿Has visto mi relación con Levi?”

“No me refiero exactamente a Levi… ¿Sería tan malo, aunque fuera una sola noche?”

No era a Mikasa a quién le preguntaba, parecía más un soliloquio. Mikasa entendía muy bien a qué se refería o a quién, mejor dicho.

“Sasha, hay un millón de razones por las que es una mala idea. No solo es tu jefe y tu profesor, lo que ya hace que esté prohibido, pero tú has escuchado las historias. No quieres ser la nueva Nifa, sea lo que sea que haya pasado con ella, no es algo que quiera que te pase a ti.”

“Yo sé y nunca he dicho que estoy enamorada o que me quiero casar con él,” Sasha hablaba despacio, como meditando una decisión muy importante. “Si tuvieras la oportunidad de acostarte con él, sin pensar en las consecuencias, solo dejarte llevar por el momento, ¿no lo harías?”

“No voy a acostarme con Levi. Eso está fuera de discusión.”

“Estoy hablando de Erwin.”

“A eso me refería,” se acomodó en el piso, ordenando sus ideas. “Estas hablando de jefes, mi jefe no es Erwin, es Levi.”

El vino la atontaba y decidió dejar la copa de lado.

“Técnicamente Erwin es jefe de las dos.”

Sasha estaba igual de aturdida que ella o más incluso. También ella dejó su copa y tras reflexionar un momento preguntó con curiosidad si le había preguntado a Bert quién era Nifa. Al menos el tema, tan recurrente como misterioso las hizo pensar en algo distinto.

La cabeza le dolía, el día fue extenuante y la semana que les esperaba iba a ser peor. Cuando se quedó sola en la habitación no podía quitarse de la cabeza lo que Sasha había dicho.

¿Qué podía decirle si se veía tan decidida?

¿Acostarse con su jefe sin pensar en las consecuencias? No habría manera que ella pudiera hacer algo así, era absurdo. Si su relación con Levi era de por si complicada, sumarle… Abrió los ojos y sacudió la cabeza. Era la última vez que tomaba vino, lo último que necesitaba era pensar en tonterías; probablemente fuera alérgica a los taninos. La conversación había sido sobre jefes y su cerebro estaba confundido, eso era todo, dos botellas de vino confunden a cualquiera. Se durmió evitando pensar y por la mañana despertó sin recordar el rumbo de sus pensamientos, ni la mitad de lo que conversaron. Tampoco recordaba el sueño que había tenido, pero tenía la sensación que había sido placentero. Era extraño porque rara vez soñaba; no debía ser algo interesante si no lo recordaba.

Estaba de muy buen humor, una semana de trabajo, pero sin la presencia de su jefe era reconfortante. Fijó los ojos en el teléfono y sonrió involuntariamente cuando aparecieron las iniciales de su jefe en la pantalla. Por una vez sentía que iba un paso delante de él.

Si de algo estaba seguro Levi era que jamás previó nada de lo habría de ocurrir.

El viaje de Erwin se prolongó más de lo esperado, habría sido romántico asumir que dedicó cada minuto a extrañar a su bonita asistente, pero Levi no encajaba en esa definición; no de manera voluntaria. Si en ciudad Ehrmich, Erwin y compañía tenían mucho trabajo que hacer, en las oficinas de Smith&Zoe ocurría lo mismo. Tuvieron un par de días de absoluta locura en los que Hanji sacó la casta y se encargó de que todo fluyera. Eso lo distrajo la mayor parte del tiempo, pero era extraño levantar la vista y no ver a Mikasa tomando llamadas, contestando el teléfono y sonriendo cuando Armin llegaba de visita. Armin estaba en su escritorio y a Levi no le gustaba verlo ahí. Estaba ayudando, pero era difícil saber si Levi lo asustaba o si estaba planeando conquistar el mundo.

Llamarla a las diez de la mañana se volvió una costumbre en los días en los que Mikasa se ausentó. La joven se adelantaba a sus necesidades y encontrar una razón para llamarla se volvía más y más complicado. A veces le contestaba antes que él preguntara por algo, dejándolo sin excusas. Al menos el tono cortante de los primeros meses desapareció sin que ninguno se diera cuenta. Comenzó a dejar libre un par de minutos a las diez en punto e intentaba no pensar en eso. Si por algún motivo ella no contestaba de inmediato, se ponía de mal humor hasta que le regresaba la llamada, por fortuna para Bert solo pasó un par de veces. Armin le llevaba el café y se hizo cargo de temas de la oficina y Bert regresó a organizar su vida privada. El primer asistente era eficiente y sabía de sus gustos y manías más que la propia Mikasa, pero Levi se acostumbró a la manera en la que ella hacía las cosas y le irritaba el cambio.

Una noche, mientras discutía un presupuesto con Hanji, recibió una llamada de Mikasa. Habló con ella el tiempo suficiente para que le pasara a Erwin. Hanji, siempre atenta, notó la molestia en la voz de Levi. Eran casi las diez de la noche y por lo visto su asistente estaba en compañía de Erwin.

"No le va a pasar nada. Erwin sabe que si intenta algo con ella, lo castras." Al menos tuvo la delicadeza de esperar a que colgara.

"Tómate el café y deja de desvariar."

"¿Por qué no fuiste en lugar de Erd? Es una ciudad romántica."

"Hanji," fijó en ella una de sus famosas miradas asesinas, pero sus advertencias estaban perdiendo fuerza.

"Todo lo que digo es que sería el momento perfecto para que esos titilantes ojos negros se fijen en tu existencia."

"¿Titilantes ojos negros?" Lo preguntó despacio, casi con incredulidad y condescendencia.

"Necesitas mejorar tus habilidades declamatorias y poéticas para decirle cosas bonitas al oído," aunque hablaba de él, su atención estaba en la mini aspiradora sobre su escritorio; adoraba el pequeño juguete que ella misma le había regalado.

"¿Terminaste?"

"Aun no, o qué, ¿no tengo permiso de interesarme en tu vida sentimental?"

"Nunca has tenido permiso."

Regresó la conversación al trabajo, pero cada cierto tiempo fijaba la vista en el teléfono. No se le ocurría ninguna razón para llamarla.

Lo último que pasó por su cabeza es que dos días después tomaría un vuelo a Ciudad Ehrmich. No, no para susurrarle ninguna titilante estupidez a nadie. Necesitaban resolver el problema lo antes posible o su cliente se enfrentaría a un juicio que iba a dañar su imagen sin duda alguna. Mikasa se encargó de organizar su viaje, pero fue Erwin quien lo recibió en el aeropuerto y lo llevó al hotel. La situación era crítica y las negociaciones se habían estancado; surgió un conflicto de intereses con uno de los socios y Erwin llamó a Levi para que hiciera desaparecer el conflicto lo antes posible. En el trayecto discutieron la estrategia y decidieron posibles alternativas; en ese punto, limitar al máximo el daño era la prioridad. Mikasa estaba con Erd revisando expedientes en las oficinas de la empresa que representaban, fue lo poco que supo de ella. Toda su atención estaba puesta en el caso y en el resultado que debían alcanzar.

Levi nunca iba a juicio, por lo que en el momento que Erwin lo llamó quedó claro que necesitaban el armamento pesado. No tenían mucho tiempo, pero si todo salía bien el beneficio para Smith&Zoe sería significativo. No dudaba que Erwin confiara en su capacidad para intimidar a sus oponentes. Un acuerdo millonario estaba en juego después de todo, quien tuviera la razón no era relevante, sino quien pudiera argumentar de mejor manera que la verdad estaba de su lado. Todo su equipo pausó cualquier otra actividad.

Era un caso interesante y a él le gustaban los retos.

Supuso que en el hotel sabían de su llegada porque el gerente lo esperaba. Levi odiaba la lambisconería del personal, pero se había acostumbrado. Al menos el lugar era menos repulsivo desde “el incidente”; Hanji amaba nombrar todos los eventos medianamente llamativos y ese no fue la excepción. Casi clausuraron un hotel cinco estrellas por él, después de todo los empleados no estaban tan equivocados al hacer lo imposible porque nunca se repitiera “el incidente”.

Le entregaron una llave magnética y le dijeron que todo estaba listo.

Levi debió sospechar algo cuando el gerente hizo hincapié en que ella era encantadora y que debió avisarles para preparar algo más adecuado. El tono coqueto le pareció ridículo. Le recordaba demasiado a la mirada de Erwin cuando lo dejó en el hotel. También él le dijo algo en esos términos, con una felicitación incluida. Todo lo que quería era descansar antes de llamar a su asistente, alguien debía ponerlo al día después de todo.

Lo llevaron a la suite que ocupaba cuando se hospedaba ahí; a veces se preguntaba si no desalojaban a los huéspedes o si estaba siempre vacante. La atmósfera era diferente, la sala común estaba a media luz, había velas encendidas, la chimenea ardiendo, música al fondo. Llevaron la adulación a extremos escandalosos y lo ponían de mal humor. El botones acomodó la maleta, mientras Levi siguió a una de las habitaciones, la cama tenía pétalos de rosas. Fastidio y perplejidad invadían su rostro, era obvio que lo llevaron al lugar equivocado. Iba a llamar al botones para que corrigiera el error, cuando escuchó la voz de Mikasa. Al parecer la joven entró a la habitación y se sorprendió con el escenario que habían armado. Erwin debió avisarle que Levi acababa de llegar y al ir a buscarlo la llevaron a lo que fuera esa habitación. Debían salir de ahí antes que la pareja que esperaban llegara.

“¿Qué es todo esto?” Era lo que Levi quería saber, al menos su asistente no se andaba por las ramas.

“Buenas noches, Sra. Ackerman, su esposo la está esperando,” la voz del botones era amena, con un toque de picardía que no disimulaba.

“¡Qué!” La sorpresa en la voz de Mikasa igualaba la que inundó a Levi.

Las palabras del gerente, las risitas, la actitud de Erwin, todo cayó en su sitio. La pregunta era, ¿cómo demonios llegaron a esa conclusión?

Salió de la habitación cuando Mikasa respondía, o más bien preguntaba. En cuanto el joven lo vio salir, hizo lo mismo, dejándolos solos en la suite. En el rostro de su asistente se leía con claridad desconcierto. Parecía que ella también estaba armando las piezas, muchas más piezas asumió Levi.

“Buenas noches, Mikasa,” podía dejar pasar la oportunidad o no. No iba a hacerlo. “¿O debo decir queridísima esposa?”

Las sombras oscurecían su rostro, pero no lo suficiente como para que no se evidenciara que se sonrojó. Intentaba buscar las palabras adecuadas, no lo ocultaba. No era que su estoicismo hubiera salido por la ventana, era demasiado Mikasa para ser así, pero toda la situación la tomó por sorpresa.

“Nunca les dije que estábamos casados o que yo fuera tu esposa,” cerró los ojos y Levi supuso que repasaba los últimos días. “Hicieron una pregunta, creo. No estoy segura, estaba mandando un correo y solo dije que sí. Creí que me habían preguntado si era tu asistente. No usaron la palabra asistente, pero qué más podía ser.”

Nunca dejaba de sorprenderle el absoluto desapego que sentía por el apellido que compartían. Aun así, la conclusión a la que llegó el hotel era absurda; no bastaba que se apellidaran igual para creer que estaban casados, no para personas cuerdas.

“Erwin estaba ahí,” Mikasa continuaba con una explicación que a esas alturas no cambiaba nada.

“Por supuesto que estaba ahí y debió parecerle lo más gracioso del mundo.” No sabía si reír o indignarse. “Cejón de mierda…”

“Dame un par de minutos, voy a llamarlos y a aclarar el mal entendido,” se acercó al teléfono y Levi pudo apreciar en detalle las facciones de su rostro.

Había cosas mucho peores en la vida que creer que estaban casados.

“Déjalo así,” la confusión la hacía ver encantadora. “Mikasa, ésta cadena de hoteles es una de mis cuentas más importantes y no solo es el personal quien cree que estamos casados.”

Extendió la nota que estaba en una enorme cesta llena de regalos. Mikasa leyó el inocente papelito y su rostro alcanzó una nueva tonalidad de rojo. El presidente de la cadena enviaba sus más sinceras felicitaciones a la pareja, insinuando que disfrutaran de una segunda luna de miel. Levi le comentó además que era un hombre que valoraba la familia y la santidad del matrimonio como pocas personas en el mundo. No era tan simple como corregirlos.

“Lo lamento tanto,” se sentó en el sofá y Levi se acomodó a su lado. “Cada día había una amenidad nueva, frutas, chocolates, café… me siento como una idiota.” Lo veía como esperando que la regañara o que confirmara lo que dijo.

“Ni el hotel más esplendido del mundo regala cosas así porque sí, Mikasa,” no pudo evitar sonreírle. Para Levi, ella era una mezcla de ingenuidad y frialdad, a veces lo que la rodeaba le parecía insignificante, otras, el mundo la tomaba por sorpresa.

“Erwin dijo que te tenían miedo y que querían que dijera cosas buenas del hotel.”

“El maldito se está divirtiendo mucho con esto, pero tiene razón. Como si asistente o mi esposa,” la última palabra la dijo despacio. “Querían que me dijeras cosas buenas de ellos, es verdad.”

Mikasa por fin asintió, aun incómoda por lo ocurrido, pero menos ofuscada.

“¿Qué hacemos?”

Su ritmo cardíaco se aceleró con la pregunta. Podían cambiar la versión a riesgo de ofender a alguien o podían no hacer nada.

“Hay dos habitaciones, Mikasa,” ella fijó la mirada en sus ojos. “E igual vamos a pasar la mayor parte del tiempo juntos, trabajando. Mientras estemos aquí, estamos casados.”

Ella asintió sin emoción alguna, pero sus ojos reflejaron lo terrible de la noticia. Se preguntó que le afectaba más que la confundieran con su esposa o que su descuido se reflejara en su perfecto desempeño. Levi observó la mano izquierda de la joven y se preguntó si la charada necesitaba de algún anillo. Por fortuna, Mikasa comenzó a hablar de trabajo y eso evitó que saltara por la ventana, frustrado con sus propios pensamientos. Volvió a enfocarse en el trabajo y no pensó en que por lo menos durante unos días iba a tenerla cerca hasta cuando durmieran. Cada uno en su habitación.

Lo primero que tenía que hacer era decidir si agradecer a Erwin o asesinarlo.

Una serie de eventos siguieron a la llegada de Levi. Nada extraordinario en apariencia.

Los dos días siguientes fueron el reto que todos esperaban, horas interminables de trabajo y poco descanso. La primera noche fue la más pesada de todas, todo el equipo estaba reunido en la suite y Erwin a pesar de la seriedad de todo, no pudo evitar hacer comentarios sobre la confusión del hotel y la “felicidad de los Ackerman”. Mikasa, al principio se veía apesadumbrada, pero se acostumbró a las bromas de todos; según se dio cuenta Levi, Sasha se enteró del malentendido hasta que se lo dijeron. Cuando por fin se retiraron y los dejaron a solas, Mikasa terminó de organizar unas carpetas, preguntó si no necesitaba algo más de ella y se fue a dormir. Fue la primera vez que le sonrió.

Desde temprano en la mañana estuvieron reunidos negociando, tomando deposiciones, luego hubo reuniones informales y al terminar el día aún no se resolvía nada. Estaba agotado y todavía faltaba convencer a dos accionistas mayoritarios. Veía las noticias, sentado en el sofá de la sala y masajeando sus sienes; el escándalo en la televisión no ayudaba a los intereses de su cliente. Mikasa puso frente a él una taza de té recién hecho y apagó el aparato.

“No más trabajo por hoy,” tenía otra taza en sus manos y sentó a su lado.

“Todo puede cambiar para mañana.” No podía evitar preocuparse, el trabajo no avanzaba a la velocidad necesaria y no podían extender su estadía indefinidamente.

“Por eso Erd está monitoreando las noticias,” se veía cansada al hablar. “Duplicar el trabajo no nos lleva a ninguna parte. No más trabajo por hoy. ¿Te pido algo para cenar?”

“No más trabajo para ninguno de los dos,” Mikasa no parecía cómoda con el acuerdo, pero asintió. Se levantó y Levi supuso que iba a su habitación. Casi escuchaba a Hanji en su cabeza, a Isabel y al mismo Erwin, en coro, repitiendo que no dejar ir esa oportunidad. “Toma tu abrigo, vamos por comida.”

Antes que protestara negó con la cabeza, le extendió el abrigo y la empujó a la puerta. Ella no tuvo tiempo de tomar su teléfono y él dejó el suyo con toda la intención.

Mikasa caminaba a su lado y cada cierto tiempo preguntaba a dónde se dirigían, él ponía los ojos en blanco y la acusaba de impaciente. La ciudad estaba iluminada y llena de vida, pero ellos, a diferencia de la mayoría de turistas, no se dirigían a los lugares más frecuentados. Dudaba que a ella le gustara ese tipo de sitios. Tenía una sola oportunidad y no iba a desperdiciarle en un sitio donde no pudiera charlar con Mikasa. ¿De qué podían hablar? Confiaba que algo distinto al trabajo se le ocurriera al llegar. Su asistente, en dos oportunidades intentó entrar en cualquier lugar, entre ellos un Starbucks, en ambas ocasiones Levi la miró ofendido antes de tomarla del brazo y obligarla a seguir caminando.

Cuando por fin llegaron Mikasa lo había acusado de querer matarla de hambre, además de tener tendencias de secuestrador.

“Ackerman, te puedo cargar otra vez si es lo que quieres.”

Ella se detuvo en seco y lo amenazó con el dedo índice, “Ni se te ocurra.”

Pronunció cada sílaba y Levi sonrió antes de pedirle que siguiera caminando o él iba a entender que quería que lo hiciera. Le lanzó dardos con la mirada, pero siguió caminando. Casi cuarenta minutos después llegaron al restaurante. No era un lugar sofisticado, era un lugar pequeño y lleno de vida. Solo unas cuantas mesas estaban ocupadas. La mesera les llevo el menú y Levi se lo regresó sin dejar que lo tomara, no tuvo que levantar la vista para saber que Mikasa se indignó.

“Dos hamburguesas, la de ella con gorgonzola y alioli, sin tocino. La mía con cebollas cippolini fritas y mayonesa con pimienta. En brioche. Con camote frito, no papas. Partidas a la mitad. Dos limonadas con fresa y albahaca.”

“Quería ver el menú,” estaba frente a él con los brazos cruzados y cara de fastidio.

“Es lo mejor del menú y no has parado de quejarte de una posible muerte por inanición. Te hubieras tardado toda la noche en decidir.”

Omitió decir que desde que supo que Mikasa adoraba las hamburguesas quería que probara las de ese lugar. También omitió decir que ordenó todo lo que sabía que le gustaba a su asistente. No se equivocó en lo más mínimo. Ella no reconoció que le gustó todo, no necesitaba hacerlo; en cada bocado su rostro reflejaba felicidad. Cuando le preguntó por la de él, Levi le ofreció la mitad y sonrió cuando la vio quitarle el tocino. Mikasa no le ofreció la mitad de la suya de inmediato, durante unos minutos su mirada osciló entre la hamburguesa en su plato y su jefe. Era como una niña disfrutando y acaparando, pero al final ofreció su mitad. Al terminar sus camotes fritos, Levi ordenó más. Incluso pidió tarta de limón con merengue; el postre parecía salido de la televisión al igual que la sonrisa de la joven. Levi nunca la había visto sonreír tanto desde que se conocieron. Era agradable ver que alguien disfrutaba de la comida de esa manera.

“¿Cómo descubriste este lugar?”

“Es un tesoro de esta ciudad, yo trabajé aquí.”

Mikasa dejó la cuchara a un lado y lo vio con incredulidad.

“¿Aquí?”

“Un verano cuando estaba en la universidad.”

“¿Haciendo qué?”

“Mesero.”

“No te imagino como mesero.”

Toda su atención estaba puesta en él, con las manos sosteniendo su rostro y apoyada sobre la mesa. Nunca tuvo el menor interés en él y era extraño ser objeto de sus preguntas. Levi sabía muy bien que era más curiosidad que interés, al menos la forma en la que lo veía era diferente. Si tenía suerte el objeto de su interés podía llegar a considerarlo humano.

“Te sorprenderías.”

“Si la gente se quejaba, qué hacías, ¿los echabas o los regañabas hasta que pedían disculpas por tener mal gusto?”

Ella rio cuando él lo hizo. Era un sonido agradable, más de lo que debía.

“Las dos.”

Mikasa tomó la taza de café y al parecer estaba vacía. Levi lo había notado antes, le frustraba que se le acabara el café.

“¿Otro café?”

La pregunta de su joven asistente lo tomó desprevenido y solo asintió antes que ella llamara a la mesera y pidiera dos cafés dobles.

¿En qué más has trabajado?” Mikasa hizo una pausa para endulzar su bebida. Siempre dos de azúcar, siempre mascabado y nunca endulzantes de moda como el resto de la oficina, negro cuando lo llevaba desde su casa. “¿Además de mesero?”

Fue una charla larga y amena. Ella no imaginaba lo raro que era para él hablar de su vida, pero superado el nerviosismo que ella le producía, se sintió cómodo en su compañía. La conversación era sobre ellos, pero se limitó a trabajos anteriores, a hechos concretos, sin entrar en temas personales. Mikasa le hacía bromas sobre su edad y por primera vez él decidió no hacerla enojar; las bromas no terminaron ni en una discusión, ni con silencios incómodos.

“¿Qué tal el café?”

Su acompañante era una conocedora y el tema era uno de sus favoritos. Siempre había una taza de café en su escritorio; los mugs con frases sarcásticas eran sus favoritos. La mayoría expresaban el poco amor que sentía por los lunes y las mañanas, también estaba el de Gruñón, uno de los enanos de Blanca Nieves. Regalo de Hanji con un mensaje nada subliminal hacía su jefe.

“No es tan bueno como el mío, pero no está nada mal.”

“Modestia aparte.”

“¿Alguna queja sobre mi café?” Entrecerró los ojos como si esperara un golpe bajo, aun así, le estaba dando una oportunidad y él no iba a desperdiciarla.

“Ninguna.” Levi no iba a arruinar deliberadamente la noche. Además, le gustaban las bebidas que ella preparaba para él.

Ella tenía curiosidad por su gusto por el té y en particular por la forma en la que sostenía la taza. Hizo una demostración de lo absurda de su manía por agarrarla desde arriba y no por el asa. Por fortuna Mikasa preguntaba cosas que no tenía problema en contestar, no a ella. Claro que la explicación de su forma de sostener las tazas no la convenció y tuvo que contarle la historia completa. No le había contado esa historia con todos los detalles incluidos a nadie antes. Solo con Farlan e Isabel hablaba de su madre, las historias alegres. Ella escuchó atenta y se río con el desenlace.

Aún tenían trabajo que hacer y por lo menos dos o tres días más en la ciudad. Si esa cena tuvo algún significado fue demostrarle que de alguna manera lograba comunicarse con ella como adultos civilizados. El cambio le gustaba.

Ella le gustaba.

Mucho.

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