Description
Levi drummed his pen against the alabaster paper of his notebook, glaring at the lines in contempt. His meager attempts at sketching designs for his friend's album cover clotted every inch of the pad. If he didn't whip up something soon he would scream. Drawing was fun at leisure, but under a time crunch it was miserable.
He started at the outline of a large man, sketching in skeletal bones, a creepy smile, and blood splatters. Levi faintly remembered researching Roman myths back in school. The big, terrifying ancestors to the gods were called Titans. They ruled the world in times of terror. His lapsing memory filled in the blanks with input from horror movies. There, it looked damned near perfect.
He took a moment to enjoy the delicious sights and smells of the coffee shop. This place had to be his favorite in the entire city, and for Levi to admit that he liked a place said something about it.
As for the smells, that Jeager brat was tentatively pulling some croissants from the silver ovens, his sister Mikasa watching motherly from the side. Hot butter slid down the creases of the French pastry. He felt his stomach rumble a bit. Never skip lunch while working.
The food as coupled by the wafting drafts from the back room. The sharp, hard scent of coffee grounds permeated the air. Even for a tea drinker he couldn't deny that this place had good stuff. The drink could be easily paired with the dozens of creamers in stock, half of which changed depending on the season or holiday.
And delicious sights? He could be talking about the transparent walls that showcased the LA streets tumbling by, the old wood architecture that decorated the establishment, or the shelving crammed with novellas along the front, but mostly he was talking about you.
An absolutely gorgeous little (h/c) ran the counter on weekdays. Normally Levi went for the heavy hitting girls, bodies coated with studs and tats. No bullshit attitudes and an arsenal of band albums you probably haven't heard of. Basically, you weren't his usual type.
He was surprised to find his skipping heartbeat when you would prepare his tea. You filled the cup a little extra than Horse Face did on his shifts, and Levi liked to fantasize this was a subtle sign of affection. When you wished him a "Good Day", "Merry Christmas", or "Happy Birthday", with that beautiful smile, Levi would sheepishly admit that his hands tingled with a strange adrenaline.
What had really sealed the deal was the little tattoo you had right below the line of your pants. He had seen it on occasion, usually if you were fixing your outfit or reaching up high to get something. He had deciphered a pair of angel wings. Compared to his sleeves of appalling images, Levi found yours very cute. He aspired to see all of it someday, mostly because of the sans-clothing it would entail.
He became enraptured with the view outside, watching a mom corral her brats away from a bicyclist. If was looking gray and muggy outside. He hoped it wouldn't rain, because...
"I'm sorry for the wait! We just got a new shipment of tea leaves, and I couldn't find the box cutter." A feminine voice announced itself.
Levi glanced over only to be treated to a splash of molten hot tea to his jeans. He hissed, standing up poker straight. The smell of black tea was imprinted onto him, along with a searing pain across his lap. He thanked whatever God of testosterone that kept the drink from burning his crotch. Wouldn't have that been the cherry on top.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" He exclaimed.
A few customers stopped munching on biscotti to peek in on the argument. Levi knew he was being a little embarrassing, though he did have a right to. The tea was near boiling when it hit him.
The ravenette quickly blanked when he realized his server wasn't the sort he could make a bad impression on. Frightened (e/c) irises were starring imprints into his table.
"I'm so sorry, I-I didn't know that was an old cup. The bottom just gave out, and I..." You swallowed roughly.
He turned to see what you were so upset about. His drawing pad was soaked with amber. Rivulets of pen and graphite trickled down the wrinkling pages. A whole days work sat pooled in the warm ponds collecting under the table. Son of a bitch.
"Forget it." He growled, stomping off to the bathroom.
He sincerely regretted frightening you like that. Even at his shorter stature, he could strike a frightening figure. If anyone saw an older boy with eyeliner, gauges, tats, and piercings, spewing loud obscenities, the consensus would be fear. He sighed to himself as he watched his chances of going out with you float away.
Levi ducked inside of the one stall bathroom for paper towels. He stood next to the sink, pressing wet towels to his jeans. Luckily, black didn't stain easily. He then unbuttoned his pants, dropping the thin fabric to his knees.
"Shit..." He mumbled.
The pale skin of his thighs was glaring ruby red. He could see the outline from where the tea had near cooked his legs. There wasn't enough lotion in the world to keep this from blistering all week long.
He took a cold towel and pressed it to his skin. That felt way better. Levi sighed with minute pleasure.
A knock interrupted his back alley doctoring. The door creaked open, a head poking in.
"Do you need any help getting the stains out...?" You called quietly.
It was your turn to freeze now. The sexiest guy ever to walk into your boring little shop was just standing there in his undies. Bulge and everything. Oh sweet god.
"Sorry again!" You wailed, slamming the door.
Levi groaned, applying more water. From threat to pervert. Perfect.
.....::::~~~::::.....
He later returned to his one person table to find a fresh cup of tea in completely safe, brand new cup. He shook his head softly.
Levi sat back down in his chair, glancing at the ruined notebook. He saw where you had been carefully blotting it with napkins, trying to fix the Titan. You were such a doll.
The drawing was salvageable, sure. Perhaps his anger kept close to the surface and he blew up easily. Everyone had their faults. It just sucked when said faults sent your crush running for cover.
He scrounged around in his unattended messenger bag for more paper. He was surprised one of these yuppy shitheads hadn't stolen it in his rush for cold. Probably assumed he had jackshit for money, which was right.
It took the better part of a half hour, but he got back into his groove. The monster came back to life and he set to work detailing the name of the band underneath, "Revenge of Wall Rose." He didn't know what the hell it meant, all creativity aside.
A cough signaled his attention. He glanced up lazily, concerned to find you standing there. He knew the signs well enough. The owner or her manager had probably requested that she kick him out. It didn't matter who's fault the trouble was, with his looks, he always got the blame.
Instead of sugarcoating "Get out", you instead slid him a muffin on a pink napkin. It had a golden, perfect dome encrusted with chocolate chips. From the absolutely adorable smudge of flour on your nose, he could tell you had made this one yourself.
"This is for the accident. I have to apologize again. I never meant for that to happen." You refrained from mentioning you now knew he preferred briefs over boxers.
"Thanks." He nodded.
"Hope you like sweets!" You offered a grin.
He detested sweets.
"I love them." Levi replied, sharing an extremely rare sliver of a smile.
You bashfully looked away, rubbing the back of your neck. You couldn't even believe you were sharing a conversation this long with him. The usual exchange of Hello, Black Tea, and Thanks didn't even wet your appetite for this dangerous looking man.
You had melted the first day he walked in. You disguised your weakness with a smile and some polite chit-chat, but it couldn't hide that you were smitten. Every day you tried to serve him or squeeze in a hello, and the occasional absence made your heart grow fonder.
"What are you drawing?" You asked curiously.
"An album cover for a friend. They're a garage band that's finally making it out there. They're opening for a new bar this weekend, and they want a redesign so they can sell more CDs on location. I don't care much for doing free work, but the guitarist Hange has been annoying me since we were in diapers, and I figure I could do one job."
"That looks pretty gruesome."
"Thanks. They play some heavy shit, so I figured a monster suited them."
"What about her, though?" A single finger pointed to the smudged drawing of a girl in a ponytail.
Levi felt a rush of gratitude to the spilled tea. If it hadn't ruined his indetail rendition of yourself, you would have thought him to be a complete stalker.
"Just a pretty girl I saw. Doodles really." He continued drawing while swiftly changing the subject. "What kind of music do you like?"
"I like a little of everything, really. I'll give any genre a try, and if I like it it goes straight to my MP3 player. The thing is almost full and I only got it last Christmas."
"Then..." Levi cleared his throat. "I mean, if your free, Hange comped me some tickets for the job. There's two of them and I was only going to throw the other one out anyway. It would be less of a waste if you came with me."
"Like a date?"
You heard a faint "Tch" as he clicked and unclicked his pen. It felt a little more relaxing that you were making him nervous. Most of the time he sat around here like a gothic statue, barely moving and just as approachable.
"Yes, like a date, dumbass."
You ignored the insult and focused on the more important part of the sentence. You had to be dreaming. The posterboy of panty dropping punk bands was asking you out.
"I would love to. I get off work at six tonight, maybe you could come by later and I can give you my number and address." You glanced back at the counter with worry. "Everyone is going to be pissed if I don't get back there, so I'll see you later, alright?"
You scooted away, trying to discreetly get behind the counter without anyone having noticed you had left. Levi smirked teasingly at you, which didn't aid in the staying calm process.
He gave the muffin a repulsive look. You had made it, so he felt obligated to take a bite. He tore off a bit of the top, popping it in his mouth. Not too shabby, even if it felt like a diabetics nightmare in his mouth.
Levi whipped out a fresh sheet of paper, and seeing as the cover was done, he'd move on to a new sketch. Pretty soon, the outline of your jaw and nose came to light, along with your pouty lips. He tried not to be perverted and draw you in something more appealing, so he chose your usual uniform instead. Levi didn't even intend for the drawing to be you, but life was a little weird like that sometimes.
He always drew what was on his mind, but especially what was on his heart.