Chapter Text
October
Levi and Hange had built not just a house, but a nurturing and joy-filled haven for their daughter Kira. Today, their daughter was celebrating her fifth birthday and the home was alive with the vibrant echoes of her joy.
Their home was a testament to their commitment to give Kira a different childhood than Hange had experienced as a child of divorce. The small apartment they alternately lived in, which Kira liked to call “other home,” was part of their unique co-parenting arrangement. Other than weekends, when Hange stayed with Kira at the house, Levi would retreat to the apartment, and vice versa. It was a rhythm they had perfected over time, a dance of presence and absence that kept the fabric of their daughter’s world intact.
Beneath the surface of this well-orchestrated routine, however, there were undercurrents of tension and unspoken desires. Levi, his heart still tethered to the memories of what they once had, often found himself yearning for a reconnection, a chance to rekindle the love they had shared. Hange, on the other hand, was a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. Though determined to move forward, there were moments, fleeting yet intense, when she found herself succumbing to the physical connection they still shared. These lapses, rare as they were, added layers of complexity to their relationship, leaving Levi hopeful and Hange guilt-ridden.
Levi, who was a mechanical engineer, had a way of fixing things - not just the broken toys that often found their way into his skilled hands but also the little moments of life that needed a gentle nudge. Today, he was the master of ceremonies, guiding the games with a quiet efficiency that brought a smile to Hange’s face.
Hange, now a research scientist with a passion for physics, brought an air of wonder to the festivities. Her career involved applied physics research with real-world applications, spanning areas from quantum computing to renewable energy solutions. This fascination with discovery was mirrored in the way she engaged with the children, leading them on a backyard adventure that was part treasure hunt, part science experiment.
As the birthday party came to a close and the last of the guests departed, Levi and Hange found themselves in the quiet aftermath.
Levi was packing away the games while Hange stored the leftover pizza in the fridge.
"She had a lot of fun today," Levi remarked.
"Yeah, she loved that science kit you got her," Hange replied.
"I thought she might. She takes after her mom."
"Mommy, Daddy! I finished the crossword puzzle," Kira exclaimed, running into the kitchen.
"That fast? You just started it!" Hange said in surprise.
"You're so smart, my little girl," Levi said, lifting Kira up. "Did you enjoy your birthday?"
"Yes! Playing with my friends and the games were the best," Kira beamed.
"What would you like for breakfast tomorrow, princess?"
"Can we have french toast? I love how you both make it!"
"French toast it is," Levi agreed, kissing her cheek and setting her down. "Go get ready for bed, we'll come tuck you in."
"Okay!" Kira dashed off to her room.
Levi leaned on the counter, watching Hange clean the counter. "How was your week?" he asked, trying to start a conversation.
"Not bad. I'm working on a report due Friday. I hope to finish it by Wednesday, I don't want it hanging over my head all week."
"I'm sure you'll manage. You always do."
"Thanks," Hange smiled. "How about your week?"
"Good. We're designing an engine for a new electric car. Big project and the senior engineers want me and a few others taking the lead.”
"That's great. Sounds like they're testing you guys.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. They want us to attend a conference in about 6 weeks too.”
“Oh, that reminds me, Kira's parent-teacher conference is on Friday."
"I'll note it down. I can drive us all in one car."
"That'd be great."
"I'm ready!" Kira called from her room.
"Coming!" Hange answered.
They walked into Kira's room, finding her in bed, eagerly waiting to be tucked in. Hange sat on one side of the bed and Levi on the other.
“We’ll see you in the morning, Kira. I love you,” Hange said as she placed a kiss on her cheek.
Levi placed a kiss on her other cheek. “Sweet dreams, I love you.”
“I love you both,” Kira said already drifting off into a slumber.
Both parents left her bedroom and walked back to the living room/kitchen area.
“Do you need any help cleaning up?” Levi asked.
“No, I’m all set. Just need to drop these towels in the laundry,” Hange replied.
“Okay, then. I’ll head to the apartment. I'll be back in the morning to help with breakfast.” Levi reached for his keys at the entrance table.
“You know- you can stay. It’s easier if you stay rather than go to the apartment and then drive back in the morning on weekends.”
Levi tried to hide the small smile that appeared on his face. “Sure, thanks.”
Hange walked to the laundry room by the garage while Levi made sure the house was locked and the security system was armed.
He waited for Hange to return from the laundry room before following behind her into the master bedroom. As Hange did her toiletry routine in the bathroom, Levi changed into his sleepwear in the bedroom. Then they swapped locations. When Levi emerged from the bathroom Hange was moving the sheets to get into bed.
He walked towards the door and looked back at her, “Have a good night.”
“Thanks, you too.”
Levi left the master bedroom and walked to the guest bedroom across from Kira’s. He lay in bed smiling at Hange’s suggestion for him to stay at the house. Of course, he would have preferred to be closer to her, to wrap his arms around her while she slept. He knew sleeping in the bedroom next to hers was as close as he would get that night but it was enough to make his night.
The next morning Hange woke up and jumped into the shower to wake herself up. She changed into some casual clothes and stopped by Kira’s room. She smiled as she saw her little girl still sleeping. Quietly closing the door, Hange went into the kitchen to find Levi already making breakfast.
“Morning,” she said announcing her presence.
“Morning, sleep well?” Levi's question was brief, but his glance held a deeper curiosity.
“Yeah, a little too well. Sorry, I was planning to come out and help you but I slept in a little. I had to shower to fully wake up,” Hange chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you got your beauty sleep. Breakfast should be ready soon. Kira’s still out?”
“Like a log. I’m sure the smell of the food will wake her up any minute though.” Hange opened the fridge and picked out some fruit to go with their French toast. She placed a small bowl of cut-up fruit on the table and poured two mugs of coffee and one cup of orange juice.
Levi began to serve two slices of French toast on some plates when he heard little footsteps echo down the hallway.
“Good morning! It smells amazing!” Kira's voice was bright and cheerful.
“Morning,” both parents chimed in unison.
“Honey, come sit, daddy’s serving your plate already.”
Kira excitedly skipped to her booster chair and Hange pushed her seat in.
“Sit, Hange. I have your plate ready too.”
“Oh, thanks.”
Levi set their plates in front of them and then returned with his own.
“Mmmm! This is delicious!” Kira shouted.
Levi chuckled and squeezed her cheek full of food. “Slow down a bit, Kira, I don’t want you to choke.”
Kira nodded and chewed what she had before taking another bite.
“This is delicious, Levi. Thank you.”
“Of course. I always love cooking for my two girls,” he said winking at his daughter.
She smiled at him before placing some fruit on her plate.
“What do you want to do today, Kira?” Hange asked.
“Mmmh, my friend Sofia and her mom gave me a gift card to Barnes and Noble. Can we go today?”
“Sure,” Levi responded. “How about after breakfast we get changed and we’ll head over there.”
“Yay!”
The three finished their breakfast and began to pick up their plates. Hange stayed at the sink ready to wash the plates they had used.
“I got it,” Levi said walking up to the sink.
“No, it’s okay. You made breakfast, I can clean up.”
Levi chuckled at her stubbornness. “Hange,” he said as he placed his hands on her hips to gently move her aside. “I got it.”
His touch made her chuckle awkwardly. Not from discomfort, but from the slight warmth she felt from his touch.
“Fine. I’ll- go help Kira get ready.”
“Sounds good.”
Once they were ready, they drove over to the bookstore. On the drive there, Hange was going back and forth with her colleague about their upcoming report. Levi could sense her stress.
“Work?” he asked as she sighed.
“Hm? Oh, yeah. There’s just a lot to get done. My colleague wants to know if I can start today but I don’t want to. I’d rather spend the day at the house.”
“Want me to tell him you’re busy?” he asked in a fake serious voice.
Hange laughed and shook her head. “No, don’t scare him. He’s very essential to me. He’s the only guy that keeps up with me.”
“Ah, alright then,” he said trying to ignore the way she spoke about her colleague.
“Mommy, are you talking about Mr. Moblit?”
“I am, you remember him?”
“Yes. He’s very smart. And nice. You should meet him, Daddy!”
Levi simply gave his daughter a smile in the rearview mirror. He tried to hide the fact that he was jealous not just of how Hange spoke of him but that his daughter knew him and referred to him.
“Smarter than Daddy?” Levi asked.
Hange looked over at him noticing he was bothered.
Kira giggled, “No one is smarter than you, Daddy!”
Levi kept in his laugh, satisfied with her response.
“Except for Mommy,” his daughter finished.
Her comment made both Hange and Levi laugh.
“That’s a fact. No one is smarter than her,” Levi said looking over at Hange.
She smirked and rolled her eyes at him but Levi could see her blushing cheeks.
When they arrived at the bookstore, Kira pulled her parents towards the fiction section. They watched as she picked out a few books, advanced for most 5-year-olds.
“I can stay with her if you want to look around, Hange.” He had noticed her looking around but staying close to Kira.
“Okay, text me when she’s done and I’ll meet you at the front.”
“Mmh.”
Hange walked around to the adult section. Truth be told it had been a while since she read any ‘normal books’. Most of the time, she would read articles or books that were related to her work or field of study. This time she found herself wandering into the romance section. She picked up a few books some that were purely romantic and others that were more spicy. She stopped when she got to a book that piqued her interest. Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood. She opened the book to read the prologue, she gasped as she felt herself relating to the situation the characters were in.
“There you are-”
Hange quickly shut the book and returned it where she found it when Levi appeared out of nowhere.
“Did you find a book you liked?” he asked.
“Huh? No, I was just browsing.”
“In the romance section?” he asked with a curious smirk.
“Is it?” she asked pretending to look around for the sign. “Oh, guess I browsed without looking at the section I was in. Anyway, Kira, did you find some good books?”
Kira had not been paying attention to their conversation as she had her attention on her books. “Yes! I got ‘Charlotte’s Web’, ‘Winnie the Pooh’, and ‘The Adventures of Peter Rabit’”
“Wow! Those are all good ones. Let’s go checkout.”
Levi followed silently still thinking about the book she was reading. He knew Hange wasn’t one to just browse randomly. She had purposely gone into the romance section and picked up a book. When they got to the car he opened the door for her in an attempt to be romantic.
“Thanks,” Hange said as he closed the door.
He put his daughter in her car seat and drove them home. Once they arrived he did the same thing, he opened the door for her before helping his daughter out of the car. The second time Hange didn’t say anything but smiled to show her appreciation. As they walked to the garage door, Levi almost jogged to get ahead and open the door for her there too.
Hange giggled thinking he was messing around for Kira.
They spent a good amount of the day in the backyard. Though Kira liked going to school during the week, the weekends were her favorite because she got to spend all day with both of her parents. The bright and sunny day turned into a chilly night. The three were watching a movie in the living room before Kira’s bedtime. Towards the end of the movie, Kira began to fall asleep in between her parents.
Levi picked her up as the credits began to roll. He set her down in her bed and both parents kissed her on the cheek before leaving the bedroom.
Hange slipped her shoes on and grabbed her bag and sweater from the entrance area. “I’m going to head out. I have an early morning tomorrow at work.” Hange locked the front door and walked towards the garage exit.
“Okay, I’ll walk you out,” he said following behind her. Even though she was in front of him he reached out to open the door for her for the third time that day.
Hange didn’t respond with any gratitude and instead stopped before getting to her car. “Are you making fun of me?” she asked in a curious tone.
“What?”
“With the doors… are you making fun of me because I was in the romance section at the bookstore?”
“No! I was- just trying to be-” he cut himself off, wondering how she would respond if he said ‘romantic’. “I’m not making fun of you. I’m sorry if it came out that way.”
“Oh. I mean, I guess it didn’t, but I thought I would ask just in case.” Hange continued to approach her car.
Levi opened the door for her and stopped in the middle of closing it. “You know, there’s nothing wrong with you looking in the romance section, Hange.”
“I know. I was just a little embarrassed. To be honest… I knew where I was.”
Levi chuckled when she admitted what he already knew. “Don’t be embarrassed.” He smiled as he saw a bit of red on her cheeks.
“Kay, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said pulling the door to avoid him seeing her reaction.
Levi waited for the car to leave and the garage to close before going back inside and setting the alarm. He walked to the master bedroom and texted Hange before doing his nightly routine.
Let me know when get there. It’s late.
As he got into bed he received a text notification.
Just got here. Good night.
Night.
Levi turned to look at the empty bed space beside him. “Hange… I wish you were beside me.” He closed his eyes and thought back to the day he met Hange.