"Mmmm.."

Hanji hums in ecstasy, sipping the fine red wine in the Dauper restaurant. She looks so satisfied, yet her friend is not, "why are you all serious, shorty ? You're not even touching your drink !"

He looks down in silence.

"Is this because of Ms. (L/n) ?"

A sudden cough erupted from Levi's throat, "well... no."

"Something's up huh ?" Hanji wiggles her eyebrows playfully, only to earn a death glare from the short man, "oya oya, I'll take that as a yes."

She puts her glass down, "alright, listen to me, Mr. CEO. A relationship is like facing each other, stark-naked-"

"How vulgar."

"I DON'T MEAN IT LITERALLY ! I mean as in, you should have nothing to hide. Think about it. Let's say you said you'll both strip. And then she's taken it all off, but you.. If you still have something on, how embarrassed and uncomfortable would she feel, huh ? It's like 'hey, I took the leap but why not the bastar-"

The brunette immediately shrieks under his sudden sharp glare, "I-I mean, 'why not him ?' Anyways, she'd feel so betrayed ! Just like that, Levi."

"Your point is ?"

"Take off all of your underpants." She replies.

"....what ?"

She then squinted her eyes behind the glasses, "you're hiding something from Ms. (L/n), aren't you ?" Her brown eyes glistened with something that could make Levi squirm a little on his seat.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"You know.." Hanji sighs, "ever since I was busted for lying to my husband about how good his eyebrows look, I never kept anything from him again. Wanna know why ? Because the more you hide it, the more you're forced to lie, and that'll only torment both of you. For someone as silly as me, I know, because I've been through it. And, there's just one thing I want to say here, so listen closely, Levi."

"If you're hiding something, then it's manners to take it all out before you start anything."

Levi broke his sharp glare, "this is not that simple. Because sometimes, knowing the truth can hurt you."

Her shoulders slump down in realization.

He's got a point...

-------------------

She tosses around.

Even beneath the cozy blanket, (Y/n) fails to feel safe in her own dream, or rather, old memories..

--Flashback--

*BOOM !*

Thunderclap echoed in the air, sending a shock through (Y/n)'s veins. Bad memories began to rush inside her head as a whimper escaped her mouth. Was her brave actions earlier just for a show ? No. (Y/n)'s not like that. It's just.. Thunder, lightning.. are something that she had difficulty to overcome.

A pair of steel blue eyes stole glances at the quivering girl.

The fearless looking little girl had turned into a vulnerable one just in one strike of thunder in the middle of the thunderstorm. A look of surprise took over the boy's face when he heard the girl who had saved him broke into heart-wrenching tears that made him feel something.. different.

She wailed and wailed. Her tiny hands were covering her ears from the clamorous sound of the thunder. Tears were streaming down her soft chubby cheeks. The boy beside her didn't know what to do, for he was used to this kind of cruel weather.

--End of flashback--

(Y/n) then abruptly awakened from her... lane of memories. Her chest is heaving up and down in a rapid motion, thus she puts her shaking hand over her heart to calm down herself and turns on the bedside lamp.

"Bloody hell..."

"Bloody hell...."

"Ugh.. Bloody hel- Wait, I'm starting to sound like Harry Potter. Jeez.. What was that dream ? I thought I'd remember everything once I'd see him. But I'm feeling more and more.. unsure about something."

*Buzz*

She groggily checks the notification, squinting her eyes a little since the phone's brightness is too much.

- Vice President Ackerman

Oi brat, are you sleeping ?

(Y/n) (L/n) -

Nope, just woke up a while ago.

- Vice President Ackerman

I see. I saw the lights were on, so I wondered.

'Wait what ?'

Without bothering to fix her hair, the woman jumped off the bed and went straight to the window. Only to see Levi leaning on his car, parked right in front of her apartment. A small smile tugged on her lips. Still clad in baggy comfy T-shirt and shorts, (Y/n) rushes downstairs.

As soon as she stands face to face with her boss, Levi shoves a beautifully wrapped box into her hands without a word.

"Eh ? What's this ?"

(Y/n) easily opens the box and sees its content. A bright radiant childish smile appears on her face.

Levi has to hold back the urge to take out his phone and snap thousands of pictures of that smile. To him, making his woman smile like that is a personal achievement, "a token of my apology for that black tea flavored candy I ate earlier," he answered, "and.. I also wanted to see you."

"You should go back inside now brat, we have a long day tomorrow."

His words warm her heart in the night.

"Sweet dreams, Ms. (L/n)."

He stays a few seconds longer to savor the moment and look into her eyes before turning back and entering his car.

The secretary can only stare and smile to herself as she sees him drive away.

'How strange..' (Y/n) tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, 'why do I suddenly...'

'Feel like crying..?'

----------

"We believe that Ackerman Art Center will satisfy your cultural needs and enrich our community. Thank you."

Kenny ends his speech, followed by a holler of applause from the important guests that attend the opening ceremony. Beside him, there's his nephew. Levi, of course. He stands there in boredom, waiting for the bullshit to end so that he could double check the building and give some critics and more revisions again with his secretary.

--- Little time skip

"Anything we should be aware of from the rehearsal ?"

"No, all the sound, video and the lighting system are in check."

"Well then, please check the press list when our reporters arrive." (Y/n) commands.

"Of course, we'll check them thoroughly." The man who's in charge of the technical preparation bows at (Y/n) and Levi before leaving to do his task.

He steals a glance at her, "you planned the book concert by yourself. Good work."

'Good girl..'

"Thank you sir, it's my job." (Y/n) bowed at him, "I-"

"Excuse me for a moment, I'm looking for Ms. (L/n). Mr. Jaeger has requested her presence at the moment regarding the speech preparation. I suggest you head there now, he's at the backstage.

A janitor just walked by and passed the message to her. (Y/n) then bows before looking for Zeke.

Later...

"Were you looking for me ?"

Zeke looked up from the papers he was scanning through, "Ah yes, do you have some time ? I was wondering if you could go over my script for today. I feel a bit nervous, thinking about the crowd. Could you help me a bit ?"

"...Sure, I'll see what I can do."

Ten minutes later, (Y/n) found herself sitting across from Zeke, flipping some pages of his written speech for the book concert opening. She knows how it feels to be speaking publicly for the first time, so this request is understandable. Every once in a while, she would nod a little in approval before skimming another paragraph.

"I think this is great," she says, "it'll be a meaningful session for our audience as they will get to learn about your values and thoughts."

"You think so ?"

The secretary nods, smiling softly, "I'll get going now-" She stands from chair and takes a step to head outside.

"(Y/n), wait."

Without a warning, a rough hand clasped itself around hers, slightly pulling her back and preventing her from going further. Zeke's standing there, gripping her hand tight. Too tight to her liking. Before she has a chance to tell Zeke to let go of her hand, a certain someone makes his presence known inside the room.

His grey eyes directed (Y/n)'s hand into the monkey's grip.

"Mr. Ackerman !" She forcefully yanks her hand away from Zeke as soon as she sees him, "it's not-"

Zeke cuts her off, "oh ? What's with that glare, Levi ? You see, (Y/n) was only here to check my script."

"If you can't manage that much on your own, then you shouldn't have accepted this."

Levi glares at Zeke once again before turning on his back and walks away, disappearing behind the doors.

Panic erupted inside (Y/n). Without excusing herself, she runs off to find her boss, hoping to tell him that the small encounter earlier was nothing. Fear and worry start to build up as she runs through the crowds of guests. After apologizing here and there for bumping into several people, she finally figured out where he could be right now... She pushes open the heavy exit door while her head frantically turns left and right in search for him.

Bingo.

In the empty outdoor parking lot, there he is. Walking ever so calmly with his hands in his pockets.

"Mr. Ackerman !" She half shouts, running to catch up with his pace.

The man stops. With empty looking eyes, he stops in his tracks to let his secretary approach him, "what is it ?" The woman finally stops running, trying to catch her breath a bit before speaking.

"It's.. It's all a misunderstanding."

"What is ?"

"What you heard and saw just now.." she panted, "it's all a misunderstanding, sir."

He looked down to her, "No need to explain yourself. I can accept and handle everything."

But (Y/n) refused to buy his words, she shook her head furiously, "No. Just let me explain. I want to make myself clear. I don't want even the tiniest misunderstanding between us. I'm scared that.. It'll drive us apart."

"Why ?"

She took a deep breath, ready for the moment she never imagined would come so early.

"Because I like you."

Levi froze, yet his emotionless face remained the same. But (Y/n) here, is shaking, both her voice and knees, "I'm sorry to answer you so late after all your confessions. But... I like you, Mr. Ackerman." She wants to punch herself for saying those words. Maybe, it's too late for her to convey her feelings. So she takes a step back and intends to walk away after her shitty confession.

But the vice president Ackerman has another idea. There's no way he would let the girl he has been thinking for decades slip away from his eyes just like that. With his quick reflexes, Levi tugs on her hand and in a swift movement, he pulls her body close to him and immediately wraps his arms around her, enfolding the woman in his warmth. (Y/n) herself is startled, but then she succumbs into his gentle hold and rests her chin on Levi's shoulder, inhaling his scent. As for Levi, he buries his nose in her hair, and softly kisses her head before slightly pulling her away from him.

The two stare at each other's eyes, realizing each other's feelings.

Levi leans down and slightly tilts his head, his eyes closed as he gets closer to (Y/n)'s face. But then.....

--Sudden flashback--

"....."

"L-levi dear, please go play outside. I w-will.. ggh !!"

The 6 years old boy who's body almost resembled a skeleton, could only watch his mother writhing in pain as a male did some.. weird movements to her.

And it seemed like every move the man made put his mother in vain.

Chuckling deeply, the man then choked his mother, "Your son, huh ? I see you're playing hero now, whore."

He began calling her dirty names.

Tiny Levi, who didn't understand anything back then, watched as his own mother succumbed into the man who forced everything into her. Out of fear, the pale, skinny hand that belonged to Levi, picked up his mother's dress that fell and grasped it close to his chest.

For the man just tore off his mother's clothes.

-- End of flashback--

Levi suddenly pulls away, yet he lowered his face. This time, he manages not to push his loved one away just like the last time. His shaky breath is enough to tell (Y/n) that he's having a trauma again. But now, the woman understands. Ever so softly, (Y/n) reaches out her hand to cup his pale cheek, making every nerve in Levi's body calm down.

If he can't... Then she'll guide him... (Y/n) will guide him away from his fear, to show him that love is a beautiful thing.

Thus, their lips collided.

They kissed passionately under the open sky, lost in a bubble of time and space, not even acknowledging the cold breeze of the night that could freeze them. It seems like fate has approved them.

After a few seconds of breath holding, (Y/n) finally pulls away softly. Eyeing the man with adoration.

As soon as the kiss ended, Levi felt it again. The weird feeling of emptiness occupying his heart. He wants it again, he wants his heart to be filled again, to feel the love once again... So this time, he takes the lead. Levi gently cups the back of (Y/n)'s head for another kiss.

Unknown to them, a certain man is observing the two from afar with his sharp eyes. Well, from the Art Center building window, to be precise. He chuckles.

"Heh.. I see he has grown up, now that's my little runt."

------------------------------------------

Like high school couples, they have decided to ditch the Art Center opening ceremony and take a stroll outside, inhaling the fresh night air. (Y/n) and her boss stand in front of a small coffee shop.

"Hold on. Let's make things clear."

She tilts her head questioningly, "hm ?"

"So we're definitely dating, right ?"

"Yes sir."

Levi scoffed, "'yes sir' ? Why so formal, brat ?"

"But it's true, isn't it ?" (Y/n) smiles politely at him before continuing the night stroll, this time, in a faster pace, leaving the dumbfounded Levi behind. Ah.. so the sassy side in her still remains after all.

He clicks his tongue, "wait for me." he commanded.

Smiling to herself, (Y/n) proceeds to walk ahead.

"Oi girlfriend !"

Her heart dropped, as well as her jaw. (Y/n) stops walking as she tries to process what he just said. Levi takes this opportunity to catch up to her, "I said, wait for me, girlfriend." He emphasizes, before linking his hand with (Y/n)'s.

With that, they walk hand in hand together.

(Y/n) tries her best to cover her face with her other hand as heat rushes to her cheeks, on the other hand, Levi couldn't help but let a small victorious smile took over his handsome face as he keeps their hands intertwined,

This might be the best day he has ever had.

Because this is the start for Levi to show Zeke that now (Y/n) belongs to him.

'Be ready to cry and suck your own dick, you ape motherfucker..'

a/n :

Phew... It takes 45 chapters for them just to kiss. This is a slow burn romance, so please bear with it hahaha. Anyways, thank you for the 1.19K votes and 23.1K reads !! Oh and by the way, I post new chapters everyday unless it's weekend.