Something (Levi X Reader) AU

~A/N: Listen As You Read! www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF_lZf… ~














    Even as his mind remained as misty as the rainy day outside the small cafe as well as the brim of his peppermint tea-filled mug, his ashen silver hues remained fixated on a certain figure sitting against the wall, book grasped in her gloved hand as well as a steaming mug of hot chocolate resting in front of her. Something about this woman seemed completely different from all the others who wandered into the shop every morning, with their friends all loudly conversing and all wearing what seemed to be the exact same outfit, or the trend of the day. She had an appeal all her own, a unique device that played along the gentle crease between her brows as she read, how her lips would switch between pressing together and pursing thoughtfully, how her bright eyes illuminated with an intelligence all her own flitted across the pages swiftly. She remained different from the other girls who all giggled along with their buddies and scrolled through their phones, speaking of God knows what while this other girl simple sat in her corner with her legs crossed and sipped her hot cocoa.

    His hues couldn't seem to tear away from her form, and when he finally decided to give up on his pondering, she raised her head and locked her gaze with his. He felt as if he were a deer in the headlights, yet after a moment of silence hung through the atmosphere, she sent him a delicate smile and a wave, one of genuine kindness and compassion. It practically made his heart skip a beat. How could a stranger have such an amazing impact on him, with an action as innocent as a grin and a gesture of welcome? Despite keeping his facial expression a stoic mask as always, it was as if she could read right through his eyes, and she giggled softly before continuing to read her novel. She knew the effect she had on him, and not only did it irk him beyond belief, but it also left him awestruck with incredulity.









    Yet only seconds after the astounding spectacle of a stranger being capable of reading past his mask with ease, she stood and closed her book, gripping it in her hand as she pulled from her pocket a five dollar bill, and set it underneath the mug of hot chocolate, bells fastened to the top of the door jingling to indicate his newfound absence. Even while knowing this woman for merely minutes, he felt absolutely panicked at the thought of losing her, or watching her walk out the door without saying a single word to her. Once the door shut behind her, he began to stand, and fumbled in his pocket for his wallet, pulling out an unidentified amount of money and haphazardly setting it on the table before hurriedly pushing open the door, with the bells attached to the top ringing to signal his departure.

    Diligently glancing to the left and right of him where people walked down the sidewalks, coming in and out of stores and crossing streets, all while a strong buzz of conversation lay about the area, he searched for the familiar charcoal coat that brushed the back of her knees and rest in a collar about her neck. He finally spotted her to his left, adjusting the book she had in her grip and holding it against her chest almost protectively. Attempting to regain his self-confidence and composure, he began to stride in the same direction at a somewhat purposeful pace, yet remaining slow enough to not draw any attention to himself. She turned the corner, heading towards a park where the snow still continued to stick to the Earth and the rain that drizzled down did nothing to melt it, if anything, it added only to feathery heap. Seeing his chance, he gradually picked up his pace and went after her, breaths blending into the foggy atmosphere.









    He reached her side, placing his palm gently on her shoulder as if not to frighten her while he got her attention, breaths still escaping his lips and dissipating into the chilly air. Her brows quirked upwards in surprise as she gazed up and down at him, blinking slowly as she made an effort to make sense of the situation. Keeping his lips slightly parted as he inhaled deeply, he did the same of scanning her up and down, seeing nothing in particular that was striking, which oddly enough was what had him so intoxicated with her in the first place. Her book poked out from underneath her arm, where she had it pressed against her side, and her right hand remained in her pocket securely as she hummed thoughtfully to herself.

    As he parted his lips to speak, she cut him off by taking her hand out of her pocket, and holding it out to him with the palm facing upwards, another friendly gesture than made his heart flutter with fascination and captivation. This stranger seemed so openhearted and amiable to him, when she acted so introverted and desolate to everyone else, hence the way she'd sit in the corner of the coffee shop and remain unsocial and quiet. Yet, maybe just as she read under his stoic mask, he read under her inattentive and solitary costume sticking skin-tight to her.

    Thus, without further hesitation, he laced his fingers with hers and allowed their arms to drop to their sides as a smile adorned her rosy lips. Giving his hand a soft squeeze, and him responding by doing the same, they continued strolling into the snow-covered park together, hand-in-hand.