[closed] levi, no: vol.1 (bad at communication)

[wingbound]

WHO: Levi, Eren, Hange, also open to other castmates or close CR that might be up to speed!
WHAT: Levi went on a ten-day quest and neglected to tell his family (or anyone). People are mad and letting him know about it.
WHEN: Nebulous early July (after everyone involved returns from Windy Risks)
WHERE: Eren's Levi's apartment, Hange's apartment, the park, department store, cash him ousside
WARNINGS: language, blanket AoT warnings

Comments

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren moves the same direction Levi does, still standing in his way. He's not done talking, thanks! He frowns down at the captain, for once entirely aware of how much taller he actually is. He's been taller than Levi the whole time they've known each other, but not this tall.

Sometimes he forgets, because he doesn't know when he is. Just Eren things.

He's also aware that height difference or not, wrecked leg or not, Levi can move him any time he feels like it. He's plenty strong, but Levi is Levi.

Still. ]

After what happened to Jean, you thought that was enough information?

[ It isn't actually about trust. Eren trusts Levi more than he trusts almost anyone alive, though Eren's trust is a fractured thing. There are things he doesn't trust anyone with. There are things he told people who were untrustworthy (Floch, Zeke).

He trusts Levi to stay alive, too. He does! Just…sometimes that fear of loss is too much. ]

[wingbound]

[ Finally, Levi scowls, because it seems clear now that this absolute tree of a teenager -- no, he's an adult now, isn't he? -- is deliberately in his way. ]

[ He stops and folds his arms, considering simply muscling his way through -- he could, he's sure -- but he figures he'll be forced into this talk sooner or later. Might as well get it over with, even though his skin itches for a proper shower. ]

[ But what the hell does he even say? That he's sorry for worrying everyone? That he didn't think it would be such big of a deal? He's seen people leave for days without so much as a word. Sometimes forever, even. He actually had the foresight to leave a note for them, and they're still acting like it's no good. So, maybe it wasn't. How was he supposed to know? How did he go about fixing it if even the peach didn't help? ]

[ Ugh. ]

My bad. I'll include the schedule and color chart for my shits next time.

[ ...of fucking course. Because clearly there are only those two extremes and nowhere in between is the possibility of actually reasonable amount of information. ]

[ But he had said where he was going and why, was it really not enough? Even if they knew the exact coordinates in the segment he was in, there's no way they could have done anything if something did happen. Right? ]

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren's answering scowl is there immediately. Two can make that face! ]

Better too much information than nothing.

[ He's an adult but he can do "petulant teenager" all day. ]

If we knew where you were or who you were with, if something happened, I...

[ What could they do? Would they worry less? ]

Maybe we could fly an airship to find you. I don't know. But I'd rather know than be in the dark.

[ Like he didn't run off for basically a whole year then commit war crimes. Whatever! That was then, this is now. ]

[wingbound]

[ Damn. Levi has more experience with it, though, surely that should count for something. He's been scowling since before you were born, Eren! But the poop chart acceptance is certainly not the reaction he was hoping for. This whole thing is worse than he thought, apparently. ]

[ He feels annoyance, maybe even anger flaring up, even if he keeps it steady and choked down deep inside. "Nothing"? Does he have any idea how having nothing looks like? Not a note, not a word, not even an inclination -- that's nothing. Something he's actually familiar with, which is why he made an effort to let them know, and it wasn't good enough. Nothing ever was, was it? ]

If something happened, it would've taken you over five days to get there. [ Pointless. That's what it would be. He needs to look up at Eren, which he hates, thanks, and considers kicking him down to size. ] You don't trust me to handle myself, is that it?

[ And here he'd thought they all had an understanding regarding his injuries by now. Guess he was wrong. Maybe they acted normal in his face and then pitied him behind his back. Maybe this was why -- ]

[ His glare suddenly darkens further, the cross of his arms more tight. ]

Is this why Hange didn't tell me shit about what you were going out to do?

[ Ah, yes. He did notice. ]

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren's not sure how fast the airship could get there. Faster than running as a titan, which is saying something. Would it really be five days even then? Maybe he'll have to figure that out just in case. ]

I thought you went alone until Hange finally got an answer. You're the most capable person I know. But this world doesn't play by the same rules as ours.

[ Actually, overall Eren considers this world safer, but he's looking at it through a lens of someone who can heal almost any injury. Levi can't do that, not instantaneously. Jean doesn't have Levi's abilities, but…still. ]

I didn't know Hange didn't tell you anything. I was surprised you didn't come with us actually.

[ This isn't a lie; he flat out asked Hange why Levi wasn't coming. ]

We had to put weights on our legs. They didn't want you to put strain on yours. It wasn't about trust. It was about caring about you.

[ He still sounds angry when he says this; he doesn't know what else to do or how to be. He's never had the kind of relationship with the captain where he can easily talk about something like that. And there's always that part of him that knows he has no rights to it now, to tell these people whose lives he destroyed (will destroy) that he cares about them. Levi already knows that, of course, knows that part of why the world ended was because Eren cared too much, not too little. ]

[wingbound]

[ It would be more, technically. It's five days by airship to the airship station, then potentially several more trekking back to the actual location on foot. Levi went and rented a horse instead, though, which proved to be more efficient as it only took him five days to get to the spot itself. ]

[ He could always test it, of course. ]

So far, it's easier to stay alive in.

[ RIP Jean... ]

[ He does seem to relent somewhat when Eren says he expected him there, at least. Mostly because he thinks he's telling the truth, and if so, then it hadn't been his call. Levi is still irritated about it, of course. ]

[ But having it spelled out like that... Of course they'd do it because they care. He's suddenly not so sure if he's still angry. He should be, he thinks, but somehow it just... dissipates. All of this, all these hurt feelings, and the answer was so fucking simple the entire time. ]

...they could have told me that. [ He sounds more tired than offended now, more normal. He doesn't want to waste neither Hange's nor Eren's second chance on pointless squabbling unless some of it is completely necessary. ]

[ Hell, they could've told him everything and then just ordered him to stay put. He would have hated that, of course, but after both of theirs insistence that Survey Corps was still functioning, he wouldn't suddenly change his mind over something like this. ]

[ He's staring down at the floor in contemplation... and that's when he realizes that something's off. ]

...Eren.

[ He's pointing down at nothing in particular, his eyes rising to meet the younger man's again. ]

Surely you had enough time to clean up since you got back.

[ He doesn't even need to sweep anymore, they have the roomba for that... although it is probably controlled from Hange's phone. Hmm. ]

[dreamsofwings]

Yeah, still. How'd you feel if Hange went off alone someplace and didn't tell you anything?

[ He uses Hange as an example because it doesn't occur to him that it matters if he does it. Not because he thinks Levi doesn't care, but Eren is extremely hard to kill even at home, though sometimes that's been sheer dumb luck.

But…Levi has a point too. ]

…they could have told you that. Right.

[ Whoops! Communication works in more than one direction, who knew.

Eren relaxes just a little bit, some of his own anger-worry mix drained away with Levi's tension.

He glances at the floor, which doesn't even look dirty to him. It's only been a couple days, and it's not like he's all that messy on the outside. Yamask isn't messy, either, being a ghost and all. The cat? Well, who knows. It doesn't hang out here full time, but it hasn't caused any messes that Eren has found. ]

Uh, well.

[ Of course Levi noticed anyway, though. Awkward. He looks off at the other side of the room, rubbing the back of his neck. ]

Hange ordered me not to.

[wingbound]

[ Nice try, Eren. Except: ]

You mean exactly like you did?

[ Yeah, you walked right into that one. And yeah, that totally sucked, by the way. Would also suck if Hange did it, too, but then, Levi blames it on the fact that they did actually die so it makes perfect sense for him to worry. And it's not like they've never done it either, though usually for shorter amounts of time and he would have some inkling about what they were up to, like "task from Erwin" or "reckless titan recon". ]

[ But then, Levi has also provided an inkling here, hasn't he? ]

[ He stares Eren down for a few more moments. Of course. Of course. Hange's on a goddamn vendetta for some reason. This probably isn't going to change until he talks to them, huh. ]

...I see.

[ Well, he isn't going to grief the brat for following a superior's orders even though he's very aware he has no actual need to do so. Maybe they've teamed up against him. Wouldn't that be ironic? ]

[ He silently mourns his shower that seems to be getting further and further away from him and heads to the kitchen. The void cat excitedly runs in front of him, immediately sitting down in front of the fridge and yowling regardless of whether it's been fed recently or not. ]

[ He scribbles a few words on a note, then returns to the hallway. ]

You can let them know I'm back, then.

[ And he hands Eren the laconic note which just spells, ]

[ I'm back. ]

[ Levi ]

[ and could absolutely, definitely, be a text, but it's not for some reason. ]

[ Honestly, Levi is tempted to just go there himself, but, well. If Hange wants to play this "communicating only through Eren" game, he can do the same. ]

[ (Perhaps, at some point, one of them should have asked Eren what he thinks about being a part of this. Maybe one day they'll get there.) ]

[dreamsofwings]

[ Ah, damnit. Hange said something like that too, didn't they? Well, they were a lot less direct about it, but it amounts to the same thing.

He opens his mouth to say he did explain everything. He did! Eventually, in letters. How detailed those letters were, well…we just don't know.

Maybe not. He shuts his mouth again. Point taken, captain.

He's not sure whether he's going to catch any shit for the floors (it's only been a couple days anyway, jeez!) but Levi lets him off the hook about that. It makes sense, since it's not like Eren is lying to him. He isn't entirely above lying to Levi, and obviously isn't entirely above playing him and Hange off each other like a true child of divorce, but this would be stupid as hell to lie about.

He's just following orders, isn't that a good thing? Ugh, what a mess.

The cat is yowling like it's never eaten, which Eren doesn't know enough about cats to realise is the most cat thing it could possibly be doing right now. He literally fed it this morning, damn.

He glares at it for a moment. Little jerk. Be that way.

Levi comes back and gives him the note and he finally stops blocking the hallway.

He stares down at the note and has to bite his tongue to keep from being like Really? out loud. Won't do him any favours. Why is he even agreeing to play this game. Why are they both doing this to him! ]

Yeah, okay.

[ Before he goes, though, he finally opens the bag Levi handed him. Oh. Oh, it's that fruit that he likes. A peach. They're not really the gift giving kind of people, not materialistic and any of that, but this is a little like sharing tea, right? ]

Thanks for bringing me this, captain. I'll go talk to Hange.

[wingbound]

[ See, he should totally be on Levi's side here! He left a letter, too! Well, sort of. Mostly. Probably even less detailed than whatever they got from Liberio, but then, it's not like Levi had fucked off into another country for months, right? This was probably the rough equivalent of one of Kenny's "trips to the merchant" or something. ]

[ Eren could choose not to play the game, but apparently, he goes along. It is the fate of a child of divorce him, it seems. ]

[ Levi watches him open the bag, and looks a little... relieved, maybe, once his gift is accepted. Success? Maybe? He hopes Eren likes it. He hopes the same trick works on Hange. ]

...yeah.

[ "You're welcome", that probably means. "I didn't mean to worry you", quite possibly, as well. Will Eren decipher all that from his look and the fact that he received a peach, though? Who knows, but there's hoping. ]

[ And Levi is going to go dig through the fridge for something to give the cat which is insisting that it has never been fed, ever, and then sit down and brace himself for the other storm. ]