Chapter Text
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Moving day.
The one day you thought would never come. Not because you didn't see yourself here anytime soon, but because of the many people telling you it would be better to just wait.
Why do you want to move back? Isn't it best you just stay here?
She doesn't talk sweetheart, you'll only cause yourself more damage then good.
What do you need to know? Ask me anything-no not that, ask me something else.
So many backhanded comments, they thought they were doing you a favor by holding out, but it was only making you want to know more.
It took so much convincing of both grandparents to let them move back under the supervision of Levi. Even he didn't know if it was the best plan, but you needed this, you had to start seeing her, you needed to make a relationship with her, right? Because having one parent in your life is better than having none...at least that's what you keep telling yourself.
Tired of hearing silence through the phone. The countless letters you had sent, only to get sent back to you all at once, turns out paper was a hazard.
You don't remember much about that night, you were only five. You remember because it was your birthday, the day you got gifted the penguin plushie that was wearing a top hat, you loved that plushie from the moment it landed in your arms, still do.
From the conversations you had overheard when you weren't supposed to, you knew you were there, present in the last audible moments of your mom. After that, it all draws blank.
Your father telling you it was time to visit grandparents, it was just going to be a for short time, until one month turned into one year.
And shortly after turning six, you were standing outside, holding your grandmother's hand as she sobbed, wearing all black because you were attending your father's funeral.
Doctor's said the lost of your mom took a huge toll on his mental health, but the truth is, your mother was still alive. It was what she had done, that your dad couldn't bear to live with knowing.
But there the thing, you didn't know anything about that day, about why thing suddenly changed, what made you move to Marley to live with dad's parents, why visits with mom were much different now, and why you simply couldn't be told the truth.
Maybe it was because you were too young back then...but people were supposed to tell you the truth now, right? Is the age of twenty-one enough for people to take you seriously now, or is it an excuse not to dwindle on the past, and focus on your future, because that's all people do, talk about your future, and hide you from your past.
Standing in the middle of your new apartment, you looked at everything you worked so hard for. The exhausting shifts at the small Mexican restaurant, the only restaurant your grandpa approved of working there given the small distance from home.
All the rude guests, the short staffed days, the lazy ass manager who wouldn't get off their ass to help. None of that mattered anymore because you were here, right where you wanted to be, just before the start of Junior year, at University of Trost State.
The sound of heavy breathing, and heavy steps made your head turned. "How-Jesus, how much stuff do you have, I thought you had decided to pack light?" A low struggling voice was could be heard, behind the boxes being caried into the room, which were hiding him from being able to be seen at all.
Watching as the four boxes that were held in the air, now getting placed on the ground, a small sigh of relief could be heard behind them, the boxes blocking him entirely from view.
A faint laugh escapes from your lips, "This is light," you said with a small scoff. "Also weren't you the one who volunteered to help me? Last I checked, I wasn't the hoarder in the family."
"Hey!" He said sternly, pointing a finger at you as he finally stepped into view from behind the boxes.
"Hoarding doesn't count when the product is being."
"Does one need bubble gum-scented toilet cleaner?"
"Yes," he said without skipping a beat, his head turning to the stacked boxes, doing a double take as he finally realized they were only a couple of inches taller than him.
"Was that everything?" His arms began to stretch above his head, moving from side to side slowly as he stretched the sore muscles he had just used carrying everything up from the van to your apartment.
You look around the room counting the boxes and storage units that surround the entirety of the living room, trying to remember the beginning number that was in the U-Haul, to begin with.
Looking back at him. Your head nods, "Yeah everything seems to be here, I just have a couple of stuff in my car, but don't worry, I can get those myself."
He raised his eyebrow, his face already telling of what he was about to say, "Are you sure, you do realize I'm here to help you, right?"
You let out a breathless laugh as you nodded, "Yes, but I wouldn't want you to strain whatever muscles you have on a couple of light boxes, now would I?"
His eyes narrowed at your comment, "I have muscles, you know that right?"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night buddy." You knew you shouldn't tease him, but you couldn't help it. He made it to easy sometimes, and deep inside, he enjoyed it, enjoyed having you back.
He began to gather his stuff that he placed on the kitchen island before the two of you started to bring boxes inside. "Are you sure you're good on your own? I don't mind helping you unpack, it's a lot of stuff, Y/N."
"I appreciate the hand, uncle Levi, but I got it from here, promise."
Levi was uncertain, like he always was. He was a helper, he couldn't help it, especially now that he had someone to help. He insisted on coming with you to your trip to Ikea, helped you pick out the paint colors for your room, and even ordered your bedframe.
"Okay," he finally gave in as he let chuckled in amusement. "Okay, I will let you be. But you have my number-"
"-I have your number, your assistant's number, your home address, and your office number, and I already have your class number memorized."
He huffed, but had an overall impressed look, "You're a smart one you know?"
Your shoulders shrugged as you walked over to him, "Guess it runs in the family."
His grey eyes softened at hearing her words, "Just please...text me if you run into any problems."
You wanted to tell him that there wouldn't be any problems because you've been thinking about this day for years now. You wouldn't allow anything to happen to be considered a problem, but at last, you looked at him with a firm smile.
"I promise that I will call you the second I have a problem," your arms wrapping around him in a hug, his arms coming around as he let out a deep sigh. "You know you worry too much," you mumbled as your chin let rested on his shoulder.
"I'm your uncle, I'm supposed to be worried," he squeezed her shoulders as he let out a faint laugh, both pulling away now.
"Well, you shouldn't, that's how you'll get all those wrinkles if you keep doing so," your hand raised to wave over his face. Scoffing, he lightly pushed your hand away, "I don't have any wrinkles."
Your eyes narrowed as you stared him down, letting him scoff once more. "Okay fine, I'll stop worrying."
A smile spread over your lips, "Thank you."
He took a second to look around before looking back at you, "Are you sure you don't need any help with anything else, I could help you unpack?"
Your hand immediately waved him off, knowing if you didn't stop him now he would find any excuse to stay. "Levi, I appreciate you so very much for everything, but it's safe for you to just walk out now before I kick you out myself."
A low chuckle escaped his lips, his hands raising in a mock surrender, "Okay, okay, I get it, you're on your own now, better you get comfortable feeling alone."
"Well how can I be alone if you're still here?"
His mouth quipped in a lazy grin, "Message loud and clear, leaving now."
"Thank youuu." He walked back into the kitchen as he grabbed his cap and keys as they rested over the countertop.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, reaching lastly for his cap on the counter, putting it on.
"Love you," you sang out annoyingly, somethin you always did during your phone calls as a kid, and grown with you over the years. His eyes rolled playfully before he waved goodbye, "Alright, I'll see you later kid."
"Bye." You said as you walked him to the door, closing it and locking it behind him.
Finally, you were alone, for the first time in your life you were on your own. It was a scary yet excited feeling, almost made you call Levi back, almost.
It didn't take you long enough to find your old blue speaker, putting the volume on a respectable volume for your neighbors. Finding your phone, opening your music app, you clicked on a random playlist, and began to hear the song playing through the speaker.
Now Playing:
"Bleed-Malcom Todd, Omar Apollo" ★00:0𝟷━━━━━━●─── 03:43
Satisfied with was playing, you began to tackle the first box that you spotted on the floor. Ready to tackle all the unpacking by tonight.
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About two hours later, you decided to take a break and look around at everything you've gotten the chance to unpack. For the most part, your bedroom has been done, only thing missing is a bed frame as that wouldn't be in until the end of the week. So sleeping on a mattress on the floor would do for now.
The kitchen and living room were your biggest priority, and from what everything you have so far, it looks pretty good. A nice warm cozy feeling on both sides, while still having a personality without being too...big. You weren't much of a cook, any way.
The need for water had come quick as you made your way over to the fridge, music still playing in the background, your playlists bouncing around and now landing into classical, recognizing a Mozart piece.
Only taking one sip, you were interrupted as the loud sound of the apartment doorbell was now echoing into the kitchen.
Your eyes glanced over to the countertop, sighing as you realized Levi had forgotten his wallet, that man can't go anywhere without losing that thing.
Grabbing it, you made yourself over to the door, already ready with the million insults of how irresponsible he was.
You were caught off guard, opening the door wide. "Hi!" two girls who are definitely not Levi, standing in front of you.
"You just moved in right?" One of them had asked, she was chirpy, happy, was she happy to see you? She had brown hair that laid down past her shoulders, and in her hands she was holding something out that looked like a small box of arrange cookies inside.
The girl next to her, seemed much more relax about the interaction, she had a cute pixie cut that wouldn't suit anyone, but her, that was her hairstyle and it looked pretty damn good.
It hit you that you hadn't said anything. Clearing your voice, you let out a very straining, "Yes..."
The brown haired girls eyes had widened with excitement, "Oh thank goodness-see I told you she had moved in-I told her you were moving in!" Her head moving back between you and the pixie girl.
"You see the guy that lived before you was so annoying and so lame-and god he was such a flirt but he was so awful at it, and he always tried to have these parties that just sucked, like absolutely horrible-we went to one remember, wasn't it horrible. And he was such a rude person, and neighbor, never cared that we can hear anything over fifty-like hellooo-"
Your head nodded as you took in everything she was saying, she was a talker, and a fast one.
"Sasha...steady girl, you're tiring her already," pixie girl had said as she had nudged her to stop.
"Oh wow, sorry look at me. I was rambling, again...any way, nice to meet you..."
Even the girl with the pixie's expression had changed into a more intrigued one by this point, you stared before you realized they were waiting to hear your name. "Oh-sorry, Y/N, my name is Y/N."
"Nice to mee you, y/n, this is Mikasa, and I'm Sasha, and oh these are for you," the box of cookies were now in your hands before you could even accept.
"Welcome to the Scout's building are you a student or...?"
Mikasa let out a small laugh, "Sasha of course she's a student, it's an only student building."
"Ohhh, right, haha, oops."
You couldn't help but be amused with her character, "Uh, yes, I'm a student, I'm a transfer actually, third year."
This seem to shock both of them, making you grip the cookie box a bit more tighter. "Really, a third year transfer? And you don't seem like you want to end it all, that's so rare." Sasha had said, her eyes staring at the cookie box the entire time she talked.
Your feet shifted, "Oh?"
Mikasa let out a sigh as she shook her head. "It's not rare, it's more of so that students who try to transfer have a difficult time given that most of the times they have to restart their entire degree plan since most credits from other universities don't transfer completely," Mikasa explained.
"Ah, well, no starting over, over here," your eyes glanced from Mikasa to Sasha, a brow raising as her eyes were still glued to the box.
"Let me know if any of them taste funny, It's my first time baking and they may look pretty, but I just hope they taste pretty as well."
"You didn't taste them!?" Mikasa had asked which made Sasha shrug, "I didn't have time."
You let out a nervous laugh, raising the box as you spoke, "I'll let you know, it was nice meeting you-"
"-Oh!" You tried your hardest to retain your lips from pressing together as Sasha had interrupted. "I completely forgot to mention that we live across, so we're your front neighbors, ha, that's how I knew you were moving in, kinda saw you move your things through the peep hole, not a stalker, just an observer."
"Right...well enjoy throwing those cookies in the trash," Mikasa had cut in before Sasha could go on another long rant. Sasha whined, "Hey, she is not going to throw those cookies in the trash."
"Really? Cause I sure would, anyway, like she said we're right across from you, so just knock if you ever need anything, we'll see you around." Mikasa shot you a small smile before she pushed Sasha to start walking back over to their apartment. You could still hear her mumbling about how you wouldn't throw her cookies away.
You walked back into your apartment, shutting the door as you opened the box of cookies. They certainly look pretty.
Picking the smallest one out of the box, you bring it up to your mouth, and be brave as you take a big bite. Eyes closing with regret as you run to your trashcan, and spitting out the cookie, shame, they definitely looked good, but did not taste good.
Shame, indeed.