Levi, Hanji, and Erwin

Levi's POV

Before the Fireworks...

"Hanji!!!" I shout as I stomped into her room. My stash was stolen, I know it was Hanji. Who else could've stolen them? Her! "Hanji! Where are you!" I shout, but no such luck.

Turning on the lights, I realized that she was gone. Her bed was neatly made, from yesterday morning... she never slept last night. Rolling my eyes, I had to make it quick. I searched every drawer, even going into her personal one. If I was her, I would hide it in a place where I would never touch it.

Quickly surveying her private drawers, I left with a blush on my face. And, the one place that haunted my mind was the one place where we hide our secrets... and my worst fear. Turning slowly towards the bed, I stared at the dark abyss underneath.

"I can do it... just gonna find my cravats and I'm done with this room." Muttering to myself as I gather the courage to go under and into the dusty lairs.

With one swift swing, I managed to get a box, dusty. There was no way that it held my cravats in them... I always dusted my stuff, and there shouldn't be that much dust on there... but then again... curiosity killed the cat.

To protect my spirit animal, as Hanji puts it, I opened the box. With one gaze, I immediately regretted seeing those books... manga as Hanji calls it. But those... weren't ordinary-

"Levi!" I hear her voice echoing as she shouts. Her footsteps rushing up the stairs. I was paralyzed, surprised to see what Hanji hid under her bed... "Sorry about the cravats! I wanted to dry-clean them-" Her voice was closer to her room, and I couldn't move still. "So, yeah, sorry- what are you doing in here?!"

I turned, seeing her face light up in red lights as she noticed what was in front of me. "S-Sorry!"

"My hen- my manga!" Her wailing began as she dropped my box of cravats. She dove for the box, quickly covering it up with a blush on her face. "W-What are you doing in here?!"

"Me?! What about you?!"

"This is my room!" She shoves the box deep under her bed, and she couldn't manage to look me in the eyes. 

I felt that too... the embarrassment as I saw her dark, Japanese secret. What was that? At first, she said, 'hen-' before getting cut off... hen- what? "Why did you go into my room, Hanji?!"

"I wanted to clean your cravats! What about you?! Why did you go into my room?!"

"I was looking for my cravats, four-eyes! And what was that-"

Hanji's eyes narrowed at me, her hazel, beautiful eyes grew intense as she stared at me. "Don't. Talk. About. My. Personal. Collection."

Crossing my arms, I demanded answers. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Those... manga. What were they?"

"Manga."

"Hanji, I'm sure regular manga doesn't have all that-"

"Yaoi and yuri!" She shouts before rushing into her bathroom, locking herself in there.

Groaning... I realized that it probably was pretty personal. Looking back under the bed, should I go back and take a thoroughly look? Maybe... my hand reached under, but I didn't pull it from the shadows. Instead, I left it there. I needed to apologize for my actions... so, as every guy should do for their lovers, I went to the bathroom door.

Placing my ear to the door, I heard muffled crying... did I... my words must've been harsh... or that I went through her personal stuff... her manga wasn't worth my cravats... and she did something nice for me. Gah! Why did I have to mess things up like that?! Oh, Hanji... please forgive me...

Knocking 3 times, I took a deep breath. "Hanji... do you have a minute?"

I hear her sniffle, "What do you want?"

"I want to say... that I'm sorry, okay?"

"For what?"

"For... going through your stuff and demanding an answer. I understand that you were doing something special for me... and I messed it up. Please... can you forgive me?"

Inside, I hear scuffling and the door opens. Her eyes were strained red from her crying. "Yeah... but please, promise me something."

"Anything, Hanji... anything." Begging her, knowing that she might involve me into one of her crazy experiments... better than her hating me.

"I want you to help out in the fireworks festival- and no flirting!"

Chuckling, I know who I always wanted to flirt with, but it's me. An emo kid that doesn't even have the courage to ask out a girl that I... kinda like... being around her. "Alright, I won't." Would you make an exception for me?

"Good..." She wipes her tears away, manages to give me a smile, and walk over to her box that she dropped. She picks it up and hands it to me. "Here... I had it dry-cleaned and ensured that there wasn't any stains on here..."

I take it from her, "Thanks... you really didn't have to..."

"I thought they were dusty... so... yeah, I decided to have them washed."

"Thanks again, Hanji."

"No problem..."

Walking towards my room, I examined the cravats... and it was just what Hanji said. Looking back, she was doing something nice... and I messed it up. Hopefully... I can try and flirt... if I can... and maybe avoid a flying firework, Hanji.

*   *   *

At the Festival

Since they didn't have tea here, I settled for some fruit punch. Not too bad... but full of sugar... tasted weird. But as I promised Hanji, I went with her to the fireworks stage. All of her homemade fireworks was there, waiting to be lit.

"So, Levi. When the clock strikes 9, we light them!" She shouts, laughing as crazy as she was. Man... why do I fall for the craziest people?

"Alright... you're the boss."

It was 8:49, 11 more minutes... and we had nothing else to do. So, I sat next to Hanji, where she was drinking some fruit punch as well. "Ugh! So boring!" She calls out.

"Want some cotton candy?" I suggested, hoping to get something good to eat. We're planning on getting some pizza when we're done here...

"Sure! Get me the pink ones!"

"Going."

*   *   *

Erwin's POV

The fireworks should be- Hanji! I see her there, sitting as Levi left. Smirking, it was my chance to get her heart! Walking towards her, I hope that she would want me near her. Gah! I still can't believe that she's going to the dance with... with that tiny little rat! Levi... I'm make her understand that you're nothing but a filthy rat...

Softly, I hear her humming to a song... a song that I never heard before. Sitting next to her, I take her hand, hearing her gasp. "Gah! E-Erwin?!"

"Hey... listen... I was wonder-"

"I'm going to the dance with Levi, and that's final."

"I know... but after the dance, we got this field trip, remember?"

She glares at me, "What about it?"

"Did you decide on who's gonna be your roommate? Because, I'm available-"

"Yeah... L-Levi asked me already." Already, I could tell that she was lying. "A-Anyways... we got this festival under control... we're gonna light-"

"Can I help?"

She shakes her head, "No thanks."

*   *   *

Hanji's POV

I had to lie... I don't want him near me, anymore... I can't stand being near Erwin... I thought he was hot, but now... I want to be around Levi... it felt... right.

But then, Erwin walked closer, his hand moving up my arm. "Please... I just want to help you..." His face leaned closer- was he gonna kiss me?!

"U-Um... please..."

With a loud whistling noise, I saw the small firework whizzing past my face. Between mine and Erwin's. Feeling the heat of the fire. Thankfully, Erwin leaned back, and I watched the firework explode into blue and green colors... 

I turned to see who fired it, knowing that it was my firework that was popped. Levi started to run once Erwin caught his eye on who did it. "Levi!" He shouts, running after him.

"No... don't get beaten up, Levi..." I pleaded...

*   *   *

Minutes later, it was time to light the festival up... and I was left, waiting for Levi to sly his way from Erwin to me. He always manages to do that...

A few feet behind me, I hear panting, and hearing his voice. "I think... I managed to lose him..." I turned around, seeing Levi being hunched over as he breathes heavily.

Smiling, I took his hand. "Glad you could make it..."

"Yeah... same here..." He takes a stick, the end held a flame, and held it close to his side of the stage. "You ready?"

I do the same, holding a stick with fire at the end. "Ready."

"3..." We counted together, watching the clock tick down. "2..." This is the closest we ever were... the closest we were was getting to know each other... and shopping... "1..." Levi... thank you for being here... "Blast off."

*   *   *

Levi's POV

As they whistled into the air, popping rainbow colors... they were better than last year. We put the sticks back into the fire, letting them burn out. We turned off all the lights on the stage, watching them whiz into the air.

I sat next to Hanji, seeing the fireworks pop in her glasses. "Levi, thanks for saving me back there."

"Saving you? What did I do?"

"That firework... you lit it on purpose... thanks."

"And what was I supposed to do? Let him harass you like that? Not on my watch..."

Then, Hanji's hand moved onto mine, and no one made a sound. "Erwin mentioned something... about that field trip..."

"What about it?"

"Please... can you be my roommate? I rather not share a room with that guy anymore..."

Smirking, I started to tease her a bit more. That was us... teasing each other until we play pranks. "So... you don't care for him? No crush or anything?"

"No..." Then, she shakes her head. "Anyways... we gotta head home, right? The dance's tomorrow night... and I'm sure we need some sleep..."

Nodding, I helped her up to her feet. "Yeah, let's get some rest..."

Her hazel eyes looked beautiful as I stared into them. Man... it just makes a strong man's heart weak as she blinks. "Yeah..."

I had that chance to kiss her... but why didn't I? It seemed... that I was a coward... not even strong to resist Hanji's cuteness. Or was it Erwin's actions that bothered me? Either way, I'm glad that I'm with Hanji... taking care of her... and seeing her successful firework show... I wish I can see them for all of eternity... just like that sunset dream I had... maybe, we can watch the sunset, make that dream come true. If I find out where that place was, and watch the sunset behind those very hills, maybe I can confess until then... Hanji, please... I want you to accept my feelings, because I don't know how long I can keep it hidden...

*   *   *

Hanji's POV

Walking down that road home... what bothered me was Levi... whenever I look at him, he has that look that he wants to tell me something. But when I stare at him back, he shakes his head, free from that one thing.

Sometimes... I wish I knew what was going through his head... was it because of my collection of hen- I mean, manga under my bed? No... he would've asked that right away...

Levi Ackerman, what is going on in your head? And why won't you let me listen to what's on your mind? Is it that personal that you won't allow a friend to understand? I just... want to be that one friend... that one friend that wants to help others... and you're not giving me that. 

Please, let me help you from your burdens... I just wish... ugh... why are you so complicated?! Is it so hard for me to tell you that I might like you? That you're stealing my heart?!

I don't know anymore... but what I do know is that I don't want Erwin anywhere in my life again...