As they pulled up in front of Furlan's place, Levi barely stopped the car before the idiot unbuckled his seatbelt.

"Alright, I'll catch you later, dad." Furlan teased, wiggling his eyebrows as he grabbed his bag.

Levi shot him a glare. "Get the hell out."

But before Furlan could fully step out, the brat leaned forward in her car seat, reaching out dramatically.

"GODFATHER!" she wailed, as if they were in some tragic farewell scene.

Furlan gasped and clutched his chest. "My shayla..."

Levi whipped his head toward him, eyes narrowing.

"...The hell did you just say?"

Furlan blinked innocently. "What?"

"Shayla. Shayla." Levi repeated, disgusted. "What the fuck does that even mean?"

Furlan grinned. "Vibe check, bro. Gotta keep up with the times."

Levi's grip on the steering wheel tightened. He had lost all trust.

The brat clapped her hands. "My shayla!"

Levi closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and immediately regretted ever letting Furlan near his kid.

Levi barely pulled up to the curb before the brat was already peering out the window, her mismatched eyes scanning the house in silent curiosity. Their house now.

He exhaled, got out, and unbuckled her car seat. Without a word, he picked her up, set her down on the pavement—

But instead of standing on her own two feet, she immediately latched onto his legs, stepping onto his shoes.

Levi stared down at her. "Walk."

She tilted her head up at him, expression unreadable.

"...Walk."

Levi sighed. "Tch."

And just like that, he had to shuffle his way inside the house with a tiny human clinging to his legs, riding along like some stubborn barnacle.

The moment they stepped inside—

"AWW! OH MY GOD, LEVI—"

Levi barely had time to brace himself before his mother exploded with excitement.

Kuchel had spotted the little girl before Levi could even say a word, hands clasped together, eyes sparkling.

Levi exhaled through his nose, already exhausted. "I don't want marriage, so I adopted."

Kuchel gasped, covering her mouth. "Levi..." Her voice wavered, but not in disapproval. Instead, she looked like she was about to cry—from joy.

Because it wasn't just a child.

It was a girl.

A granddaughter.

Levi cleared his throat, gesturing to the brat. "This is—"

Before he could finish, the brat suddenly threw her arms out and declared—

"TUNA!"

Kuchel blinked.

Levi shut his eyes. "Goddamn it."

Kuchel looked between Levi and the tiny girl still gripping his legs.

"...Tuna?" she echoed, confused.

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. "Yuna. Her name is Yuna."

"Tuna!" the brat corrected, eyes wide and certain.

Furlan's earlier laughter about the name mishap echoed in his head. Levi sent a glare toward the ceiling, as if it were his fault somehow.

Kuchel, on the other hand, absolutely melted.

"Ohhh, she's precious!" She crouched down, hands on her knees, smiling brightly. "Yuna, sweetheart, it's so nice to meet you."

"Tuna."

Levi sighed.

Kuchel ignored his growing frustration, beaming as she reached out. "Come here, sweetie,"

The brat hesitated, glancing up at Levi. He didn't say anything, just looked down at her, waiting to see what she'd do.

Slowly, cautiously, she let go of his leg and took a small, wobbly step toward Kuchel.

And just like that, Kuchel scooped her up into her arms. "Oh, you sweet thing," she cooed, rocking her gently. "You're so tiny, I could just keep you forever."

Levi rolled his eyes. "Don't get too attached. She just repeats shit she hears."

As if to prove his point, the brat immediately parroted, "Shit."

Kuchel gasped, pulling back to stare at her in shock. Then, she turned to Levi with a look.

He raised a brow. "What?"

"She learned that from you, didn't she?"

Levi crossed his arms. "Dunno what you're talkin' about."

Kuchel shook her head, sighing dramatically. "Well, congratulations, Levi. You've been a father for less than an hour, and she's already learning bad words."

The brat, apparently picking up on the situation, looked between them before grinning and mimicking—

"Shit!" 

Levi sighed again. "Tch. This is Furlan's fault."

Kuchel just laughed, cradling the little girl closer. "Welcome home, Tuna."

Levi groaned. "Not Tuna."

Kenny came home late, as usual, grumbling about something or another as he stepped inside. The moment he shut the door, Levi was already there, standing in the hallway with arms crossed and an unreadable expression.

Kenny barely had time to toss his coat on the rack before Levi stepped forward and, without a word, shoved a tiny human into his arms.

"The hell—?" Kenny blinked down at the toddler now perched against his chest, gripping his shirt in her small fists. She blinked back up at him, wide-eyed and unbothered.

Levi, standing there with all the smug satisfaction of a man setting off a bomb, simply said, "That's your niece. Hold her."

Silence.

Kenny stared. Then back at Levi. Then back at the brat.

Then he barked a laugh, short and sharp. "Ha. Real funny." He made to pass her back, but the brat—no, his niece, apparently—latched on tighter, tiny fingers curling into his coat like he was some climbing post.

Kenny's eyes narrowed. "Levi. What the hell is this?"

Levi shrugged, arms still crossed. "You wanted me to get a kid. So I did."

"You adopted a damn kid?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

Kenny stared at him like he'd grown a second head. Then looked down at the brat again, who was now touching the brim of his hat with intense concentration.

Then, to make things worse, the little menace gave a smug, Levi-tier smirk and declared:

"Old man."

Kenny froze.

Levi turned away just enough to hide the smirk twitching at the corner of his lips.

Kuchel, passing by with her tea, casually called out, "You are old, Kenny."

The brat, still staring up at him, repeated with confidence, "Old."

Kenny glared at Levi. "Tch. You got the right kid, I see."

Levi smirked. "Damn right I did."

CHAPTER COMPLETED