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unicornshinylove · 2 years ago

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Tied Up in Marley

Should be studying or at least finishing my other works, but random bursts of inspiration get me to write small drabbles instead. So here you go! I think I'll start making a collection of these on my AO3 so it's easier to find and navigate in one place.

Synopsis: Follows after the event of the SC making it to Marley. Levi finding it difficult to adjust to the ties worn in the new lands in comparison to his cravats and bolo ties that they have in Paradis. Hange, however, helps him out.

Pairings: HangexLevi

"Tch... these are stupid." Levi grumbled as he fiddled with the smooth piece of fabric in his hands. Eventually throwing his hands up in frustration at annoyance of it becoming a tangled mess once more.

"Sounds like you're having fun over there, huh, Levi?" Hange's amused voice called out to him as she made herself known at his door, characteristically having intruded without much as a knock.

They were staying in Marley at the moment, getting ready to meet up with Onyokopon and the kids for their secret mission of surveying what the new world was like. Onyankopon had given them all Marlian outfits to fit in and blend in the crowd, and needless to say, Levi was not particularly fond of this thing called a tie.

"Fuck off... why do these people bother making such a complicated thing when there's more sophisticated forms to adorn their wear?" He grumbled as he got his fingers stuck in the black fabric, eliciting a swear from him.

Hanger watched her companion struggle for a bit longer before heading his way, pulling his hands away to stop him from further messing with the tie.

"Here, I'll do it for you." Before he could reject their offer, Hange's slim fingers pulled at both ends of the long piece of fabric, pulling the shorter man closer to her by the neck.

Eyes wide and complains dying in his throat, the man stared at his companion in surprise.

"What? Cat's got your tongue?" Hange teased, but kept her eyes on the black garment as she started making intricate loops out of them.

With a clear of his throat and the slightest of pink adorning his cheeks, he looked away, grumbling at something that neither could really decipher. "Oi, Shitty-glasses, I'm not a fucking titan that you have to decapitate, you know."

But the man's initial discomfort at their proximity eventually faded as he glanced at the woman's deft fingers, her expression one of concentration as she hummed along to a random tune as she finished. His heart jittering a bit at the calmness she displayed for the first time in a long time.

"There!" She proudly presented, pushing the man towards the mirror centered in his room.

"Hm... Not bad." He finally responded after a careful inspection of the woman's handiwork. "Where'd you learn the Marlian's way of tying this? Books?" But as he threw a look at the woman next to him through the mirror's reflection, he caught sight of the matching tie perfectly adorning around her neck. The look causing a sinking sensation in his stomach. "Or did someone else teach you? One of the Marlians within the residence?" He finally asked, turning away as he started noticing the way the woman's eyes captured his own through the mirror.

A moment of silence fell between them, and the longer it did, the worst the feeling in him deepened.

"Let's go. The kids are waiting." He finally said, deciding he didn't want to find out either way. He didn't know when he started developing these strange thoughts and feelings towards his commander, but all he knew was that when it started making itself known, aspects and thoughts of someone else being at her side other than him had become more and more frequent. And in turn, more painful.

"Jean. Jean was the one who taught it to me. He learned it from Onyancopon and taught it to the rest of us while you were adamant on cleaning your room." She finally said as she caught up to him. "Although I have seen some books while on our way here that show different ways of doing it."

As they made their way down to wait for the kids, they took notice of Mikasa tying Eren's own tie. The young man fussing around saying he could do it on his own while Mikasa attempted to try and recreate the one that Jean had sported earlier. At seeing the two veterans join them, the two immediately spread apart, a bashful look on their faces.

"Corporal... Commander..." They greeted.

With a knowing smile, Hange walked up to them. "Need help? I can do it for you." But before anyone got the chance to answer, Levi walked up to them, pulling Hange towards him.

"They need to learn how to do it themselves, just give them a demonstration instead."

Throwing her friend a confused look, Hange tilted her head to the side. "Demonstartion? On who?"

At her words, Levi deftly pulled apart his tie again. "Here, do it again."

His three companions threw incredulous looks at him, but otherwise didn't comment at his suggestion. Finally relenting, Hange eventually started doing as asked, teaching the kids how to do the intricate pattern of steps on the scout's corporal's tie.

When finalized, both Levi and Eren sported perfectly made ones. And by the time they finished, the rest of the kids had joined them, all ready and eager to go to the outside world.

But right before they left, Mikasa slowed down to walk next to the corporal, a smug look on her face. "Smooth. Couldn't be more obvious about your feelings." She said, earning a hiss from the man as she stuck out her tongue and left for her friends.

As they walked side by side, marveling at the new atmosphere around them, Levi continued to subtly throw glances at the woman beside him, his hand feeling at his knotted fabric every now and then.

"Is it uncomfortable? Did I tie it too tightly?" She asked, finally taking notice of the glances.

If he was surprised by her attention, he didn't show it. "No. But I'm not planning on making this a part of my every day wardrobe at all. It's too much of a hassle." He muttered.

Hange chuckled but understood. "That's fine, I don't think we'll be staying in Marley for too long anyways." She said as her eyes followed after Jean, Connie, and Sasha as they all gasped loudly at some exotic food. And after a heavy sigh, she went on to stop them from pestering the poor merchant, leaving the man alone for a moment as the commander went on to deal with the mess.

After some time walking, the two decided to settle down on a bench next to the water as the kids went off to try some of the foods giving out free samples, leaving Onyankopon to look after them. And as they basked under the warm sunlight, he couldn't help but notice the smile that grazed the woman's face. This was probably the most free they've felt after taking on the task of a commander, he thought. Here they were just normal citizens, or at least presenting themselves to be. No one knew who they were, what their titles implied, or what fell onto their shoulders to carry. They were just two normal people.

"Since I'm not planning on learning how to tie this fuckery of a choking hazard... maybe it'll save me the trouble if you experiment them on me while we're here." He spoke up.

Hange threw him a confused look for a moment before Levi pulled out a book from his pocket, handing it to the woman without as much as throwing a glance at her. "You said you wanted to try learning other methods of tying them." He muttered, pushing the book into the woman's hands.

Hange's exposed eye widened in surprise as she took the book into her hands. Slowly leafing through the pages, awe and excitement could be seen appearing in her eye, the long-lost spark finally coming back alive, with it igniting a new fire within her.

"Hope you're ready for tomorrow then! I got the one I want to try!" She exclaimed excitedly as she continued focusing on the book in her hands, completely oblivious to the warm look the man next to her gave.

"Can't wait." He muttered.

And just like that, the following days started with Hange joining him in his bedroom to try a new pattern. The events turning into an unspoken tradition while staying in the foreign lands. Each time allowing a few minutes of alone time between them, and each one bringing back a piece of Hange Levi seemed to miss from when they were mere scouts.

But now that the war was over and a years have passed and the first days in Marley were behind them, Levi stared at the lose piece of fabric draped around his neck. The man looking back at him through the reflection of the mirror missing the familiar smiling figure that always stood behind his as she worked on his accessory.

A knock on the door alerted the man of a visitor, and as expected, Onyankopon walked in. "Hi, Captain. Are we ready?" He asked as he stepped in after being invited in.

With a nod, Levi looked down at the worn out cover of the book in his hands. His gift to Hange now in his possession after the outcomes of the war. The paperback having survived because Onyankopon had brought it onto the ship with him knowing its significance to both the ex commander and the corporal.

"Let's do this one today." Levi said, pointing to one particular page.

Onyankopon raised an eyebrow as he took the book into his hands, surprised by his choice. "But this is the original form, Captain. You sure you want this one today?" He asked.

Levi nodded. "Yes. It's Shitty-glasses' birthday, and I think she'll appreciate this one the most." He said. The memories of their first day in Marley and their tradition on the new world coming back to him.

With a nod, the young man got to work. Recreating the original knot that the woman had done for him on one of the last normal days they'd have.

Onyankopon, Gabi and Falco all joined Levi on his yearly trip to the ocean. It wasn't the same one that he and the 104th had seen when encountered with the large mass of water for the first time. But as Hange's said once, all bodies of water connect to each other one way or another. And he sincerely hoped she was right as he'd always envisioned her as the human embodiment of water. Always free flowing and expansive. And most importantly, never truly gone, just present in different forms.

While the others left Levi alone to say his words in private, he set down a bouquet of flowers down. Bright yellow roses, as bright as she'd always been.

"Hey Four-eyes... I'm wearing that stupid tie you were so excited learning about. You know that the only times I ever wear it is when i come visit you, right?" The raven-haired man asked out to the ocean. A gust of gentle breeze sweeping around him as if in response to his words, a small smile gracing his lips at the mere thought.

"You promised me you'd keep tying them for me, Shitty-glasses..." He muttered into the sky. "You better keep your word when we meet again."

---------

"I'm going now!" Hange called out as she raced towards the door, a shoe in one hand and a piece of toast in the other.

"Oi, wait a minute, Hange. You forgot something." A male voice called to her. And as she looked up, she was met with the sight of her husband. Fully clothed but his tie hanging loosely around his neck.

With a soft smile, the woman stood back up, placing her piece of toast into her mouth before pulling the man by his lapels, earning a grunt from the man at the woman's childish behaviour. "Come here, grumps." She said, carefully tying the intricate knots with ease from all the years of practice she'd had tying them for her husband.

"I'll be back before dinner! Love you!" She said as she took the toast back into her hand, leaving a peck on the man's lips before heading out the door.

"Tch... thanks for keeping your promise, Hange."

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