Work Text:
Just like every Sunday morning, right after he finishes his morning run and passes the mailboxes in the entrance of his apartment building, Levi pulls out the stack of letters and store flyers that have accumulated since he last emptied it on Friday evening. He usually has everything separated into important and disposable by the time he reaches his flat, so he can throw what he doesn't need away as soon as he's inside.
This time, however, a small rectangular piece of thick paper catches his attention, and he frowns. It's a postcard from Cancún, Mexico, showing a bright picture of the turquoise sea and white beach on the right, and smooth stone houses along the coast on the left. None of his friends or relatives have mentioned that they are going on a trip, but he also hasn't been the best at catching up with them lately, and going on the trip might've been a spontaneous decision.
Turning the postcard over, his frown deepens at the handwriting he doesn't recognise. It's very neat and rounded, though, which is why it instantly draws him in, and he starts reading despite himself.
"My dearest Hange, Nifa and I are sending you warm greetings from the even warmer, sunny Mexico! We've been missing you dearly on this trip, but as promised, we're documenting everything for you to show you once we're back. The beaches are absolutely beautiful, even if the sand can be pretty warm against your skin in the afternoon, and the water is the most beautiful shade of turquoise you've ever seen. We've already seen a few hot guys—"
That's the precise moment Levi chokes on his water, and as he gasps for air, he is reminded that he really shouldn't be reading someone else's mail. Who is he… his mother hasn't raised him like that.
Though technically, the person the card is addressed to isn't a complete stranger. He's already met her a few times in the stairwell, balancing several packages of takeout and wearing a shoulder bag that looked so heavy it must be hurting.
With a sigh, he slips into his bedroom and fetches a towel before hopping into the shower. It looks like he needs to pay his new neighbour a visit.
The moment Hange Zoë opens the door to her apartment, Levi knows he might've just made a mistake. Not everyone is up at a quarter to nine on a Sunday, a fact that sometimes slips his mind—his internal clock always wakes him up at seven sharp, no matter the day—and given the sight in front of him, he's now pretty sure Hange belongs to that category of people.
She's blinking at him through tired eyes, the hair on her head resembling a bird's nest, with strands standing up and curling in the wildest directions. Her wrinkled sleep shirt is printed with something scientific he doesn't understand, from underneath which peek the brightest yellow shorts he's ever seen. She looks like someone who had been dragged out of bed, and he immediately feels a wave of guilt wash over him.
"Are you real or am I still dreaming?" she finally says, squinting and leaning forward as she studies him.
"I'm… real, and very sorry for disturbing you," Levi says, awkwardly holding out the postcard, which she eyes like an object from outer space. "This postcard accidentally found its way into my postbox. Thought I'd hand it over as soon as possible. I… I'm sorry. I realise I should've just thrown it in."
"Oh, thank you!" Hange takes the card and brings it close to her face, squinting at the writing on it before rubbing her eyes. "Don't worry, I appreciate you handing it over personally. Ah, but I can't read anything like this—let me grab my glasses real quick." She shoves the postcard back into Levi's hand before he can protest and slips back into her flat.
He hadn't really planned on starting a conversation with his neighbour, whom he had already discovered was particularly chatty. And why did she tell him to wait for her? She didn't need him to read her postcard. Seeing that he doesn't have much choice but to wait for her to return, though, he lets out a sigh and resigns himself to his fate. She's probably eager to get back to bed anyway, and it's just a matter of time before they say their goodbyes.
Hange returns a few moments later, her glasses sitting on her nose as she takes the postcard again and reads through the text. She chuckles now and then, mumbling to herself, then proceeds to examine the picture on the front with great curiosity, making Levi wonder whether she would notice if he simply left without a word.
He's just taken a step back when she speaks up again, unmistakably addressing him, and asking him a question he would rather not answer.
"Did you read the postcard?"
"Uh…" Levi stammers, rubbing the back of his neck as Hange's brown eyes pierce him, kind but unmistakably curious. "I… might've. Just the beginning, though. Sorry."
"Let me guess, you stopped when Nanaba started talking about the hot guys?" Hange chuckles, visibly amused.
"Well, I needed to make sure the card wasn't directed at me," Levi retorts, a futile attempt at justifying a decision that is clearly wrong. He doesn't even know why he's defending himself—sure, it's her postcard, but whether he had peeked at it or not is none of her business.
"Then you could've just looked at the address. And I'm sure once you read the first sentence," she turns the card around and taps her finger onto the words My dearest Hange, "you knew it wasn't for you."
"I already apologised; I shouldn't have read it. What do you want me to do—I can't just erase my memory and forget the words, can I?"
Levi scowls and buries his hands in his trouser pockets. She seems to enjoy making a big deal out of this; she really doesn't need to keep rubbing it in.
"Relax, I'm just trying to mess with you," Hange says with a grin, playfully swatting his arm with the postcard, then suddenly stopping mid-motion. "Oh no—that, uh… that reminds me of something."
Voices echo through the staircase, and both of them turn towards the sound coming from downstairs. Before Levi knows what's happening, a hand wraps around his and he is pulled forward, stumbling into Hange's apartment.
"Don't need everyone to see me in this attractive outfit," she explains with a sheepish grin, gesturing at her hair, then at her clothes. "Besides, I completely forgot that there's something I need to give you."
Once again, she doesn't give Levi even a chance to open his mouth before she's already disappeared into one of the rooms. He groans, letting his head fall back against the door with a soft thud. This isn't what he expected his morning to go like, and he can think of a thousand things he would rather do than wait while his neighbour pokes at him. Besides, what could she possibly own that belonged to him?
"This is yours," Hange says when she comes back, handing him a brown box. "A package that came in… last week. Monday, if I remember correctly, when you weren't home. I completely forgot about it, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."
"Last week?" Levi exclaims, his eyes searching for the return address and immediately recognising the company. "But I already told them the order got lost, and they refunded the money!"
"Then you just got whatever's inside the box for free, you're very welcome," Hange says with a shrug. When he glares at her, she ducks her head, her confidence wavering slightly.
"I can't just keep it, that would be unfair," Levi says with a shake of his head. "Now I have to buy it again, and as a result I'll have two dustpans, which is completely unnecessary and a waste of space."
"Seriously? You ordered a dustpan online? Why don't you just get one from the grocery store—those are pretty cheap," Hange arches an eyebrow at Levi, and he feels his ears heat up.
"It's… a very good one. It has a silicone edge that really sits flush with the floor and doesn't allow any crumbs to slip through, and the handle of the small brush is ergonomic—it'll definitely be worth the money," he valiantly defends both his purchase and his pride, tilting his chin up when Hange's grin grows even wider.
"That sounds fancy," she says, tapping her finger against the box. "I don't even own a dustpan, just a mop. Though I've managed pretty well so far, so I might not really need one."
Levi can't believe his own ears, and for a few seconds he stares at Hange, eyes wide. "Everyone needs a dustpan," he says firmly, wondering about the state of cleanliness of the ground he is currently standing on. His decision is made instantly, and he shoves the box back into her hands. "Keep it."
"What?" Hange says, almost dropping the package when he lets go of it.
"I said you can keep it."
"No shit?" The surprise on her face is unmistakable, and when her eyes grow rounder with every passing second, he has to fight hard to suppress a huff.
"No shit," he echoes, scratching the back of his head as she smiles at him. "I'll just order a new one. I like to keep what I've paid for."
"Now you're making me feel guilty," Hange says with a pout, balancing the box on one hand as she rests the other against her hip.
"I've read your postcard—well, technically just part of it—so think of it as me making up for that. And I wouldn't want your flat to become overrun with dust and grime. You'll be doing yourself a favour."
"Thanks," Hange says, her voice softer than before. "That's… really nice of you. Though I'm really not mad that you read the card, I was just kidding, you know?"
Levi waves it off with his hand, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable under the warm expression she is looking at him with, and he doesn't know whether he likes it or wants to escape. It's a lovely sight, though, and he finds himself holding her gaze for a moment too long.
Something must be very wrong with him.
"Say, Levi…" Hange says, tilting her head as she weighs the box in her hands. "Since I'm already awake, and you're already here, aaaand I haven't had breakfast yet… would you like to stay for a cup of coffee?"