[ He said he didn't even want to live with the knowledge. Levi just closes his eyes for a moment at that, though it appears more as a slow blink as he takes a breath. It's not the first time he's heard similar words from Eren, remembering his wailing as the crystal caves began to crumble around them. It'd been one of his lowest moments since Levi had taken charge of him, and it'd been in the middle of a fucking crisis. He'd ended up saving them all.
Levi would like to think he could bounce back again. Eren had been pretty downtrodden when they'd been all whisked away to the party, but...better, maybe.
This situation with Erwin and Mikasa, though, is giving him a fucking headache. So that's why Erwin chased him and Hange out of the house earlier. He sets the teacup down, pinching the bridge of his nose. Fucking dumbass blonde fucking asshole-
He fucking sighs. ]
Look, we all fucked up. You're right - you and Mikasa should have been allowed to take the lead, or at least have been there. I don't know what exactly Erwin was thinking, but he wouldn't have done it if he didn't think it was necessary. We should have all talked about this, but we didn't, and Eren's the one suffering the most because of it.
What did they say to each other? Mikasa and Erwin.
[ He'll talk to them both, but he wants to know how bad the damage actually is. ]
[ Jean reaches for his tea to take a sip, to chase the taste of suddenly cloyingly sweet chocolate out of his mouth. Maybe he'll get this taken to go, since he's finding it hard to eat it right now. The tea is sweet, too, in the way that most fruit teas are, but it's different enough that it helps.
He listens to Levi and after a moment he nods in agreement with his words. It's a mess, and Eren's hurting because of it. ]
I know he wouldn't; he's not cruel.
[ At least so Levi knows Jean doesn't feel the same way.
[ Erwin may not be cruel, but it sounds like he certainly hadn't bothered to pull any punches. Levi was supposed to be the one bad at tact, but between Erwin and Mikasa, he's about ready to throttle them both. His gaze definitely sharpens when Jean gets to the part of her threatening to kill Erwin, staring at him intently. Of course, he can't even dismiss it as a bluff, because frankly Levi doubts Mikasa even understands the very concept of bluffing when it comes to Eren.
Fucking great. They'd managed to have an understanding and then she'd gone right back to being pissed at him. He'd just maybe managed to salvage that again, but now he gets to go and remind her that she can't just fucking kill Erwin because it would make her feel better.
Before he can formulate a response other than a string of muttered profanity, Jean leaves him with that last little comment. ]
...
[ Levi sucks at his teeth. Presses his lips together. Sips loudly at his tea. ]
Cocky fucker thinks he's funny.
[ Sounds like he also gets to have a conversation where he reminds Erwin that he's not immune to all Ackermans. ]
itt: two men being like "god damn it" at their significant others
[ Likewise, Jean feels that Mikasa is a bit too blinded by her feelings for Eren to see the necessity of what Erwin did. Maybe that's just Jean's guilt talking, but there really had been no standing agreement the five of them and Reiner had agreed on. Reiner hadn't wanted to tell Eren anything period, after all.
Despite all that, Jean allows himself one small smile for Levi's comment. ]
That or he's got balls of steel. It could have gone much worse.
[ He could have actually had to try to stop Mikasa from hitting or harming Erwin. ]
[ You don't go after a shifter just after having your arm bitten off or orchestrate a bloodless coups from your fucking jail cell without having steel balls.
Levi lets out an annoyed sigh, breaking off part of the scone to spread some jam on one end, but he doesn't eat it yet. ]
I'll talk to him. And Mikasa. [ because at the end of the day, he can't let that threat go. ] I don't expect them to start braiding each other's hair any time soon, but something better than this stupidity.
No, I think they made their feeling pretty clear. As long as they aren't going out of their way to mess with each other, I'd be happy.
[ Jean doesn't imagine either would, even now, but he's realistic about the kind of thing you can achieve with two stubborn individuals.
He feels a little bit more like having an appetite, so he resumes taking small bites of the cake. He's careful to make sure he's chewed and swallowed before he speaks again. ]
Sorry it took me a bit to catch you up. And thank you for being willing to talk to them.
[ Levi just mutters something under his breath that possibly sounds like 'stubborn assholes' and takes a bite of the scone. He's not much of one for pastries - most are too sweet, but this is more his speed. ]
It's fine. [ Frankly, Erwin should have let him and Hange stay for the meeting in the first place, but - whatever. It's done now. ]
[ Jean doesn't want to just get up and leave after Levi agreed to meet him out here, so he slowly eats the piece of cake between sips of his tea. The silence isn't exactly peaceful, seeing as they both have things to think over, but it is companionable, at the very least.
He doesn't have much appetite, but he does eventually finish the cake, and his tea, sitting there and watching Levi. After a moment, he clears his throat. ]
I'm going to try talking... wishing... whatever, to that crystal for my ODM gear. I'll keep up practice with it.
[ The unspoken invitation is Levi can join him, if he wants. ]
[ Companionable silence has always suited him fine; Levi is content to mull over some thoughts as he makes his way through scone and tea, chewing slowly. He needs to speak with Erwin. Maybe Mikasa, if for no other reason than to just make it Perfectly Clear that she can't actually kill Erwin if she manages to find a reason for it.
His focus returns when Jean finally speaks again. Levi just grunts, sets his cup down before wiping at his mouth with his napkin. ]
Just yell at it. [ That's always worked for him. ] When you get it, I can show you where I've been training.
You've had four extra years, Kirstein. I better be impressed.
[ He's used to it. He took over Hange's job handling logistics and supplies; he liked when he handed paperwork to Levi, because it always came back signed and Levi never tried to make idle chatter with him.
He snorts a bit. ]
Should I try kicking it too?
[ Still, he's reassured that Levi seems convinced it'll work. He smiles wide despite his tired expression. ]
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Levi would like to think he could bounce back again. Eren had been pretty downtrodden when they'd been all whisked away to the party, but...better, maybe.
This situation with Erwin and Mikasa, though, is giving him a fucking headache. So that's why Erwin chased him and Hange out of the house earlier. He sets the teacup down, pinching the bridge of his nose. Fucking dumbass blonde fucking asshole-
He fucking sighs. ]
Look, we all fucked up. You're right - you and Mikasa should have been allowed to take the lead, or at least have been there. I don't know what exactly Erwin was thinking, but he wouldn't have done it if he didn't think it was necessary. We should have all talked about this, but we didn't, and Eren's the one suffering the most because of it.
What did they say to each other? Mikasa and Erwin.
[ He'll talk to them both, but he wants to know how bad the damage actually is. ]
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He listens to Levi and after a moment he nods in agreement with his words. It's a mess, and Eren's hurting because of it. ]
I know he wouldn't; he's not cruel.
[ At least so Levi knows Jean doesn't feel the same way.
Jean, at least, is able to relay what Mikasa and Erwin said to each other fairly word for word.
He doesn't mention what Erwin said to him about Mikasa loving Eren, but does add, with a wry tone, ]
He said it wasn't the first time an Ackerman threatened him.
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Fucking great. They'd managed to have an understanding and then she'd gone right back to being pissed at him. He'd just maybe managed to salvage that again, but now he gets to go and remind her that she can't just fucking kill Erwin because it would make her feel better.
Before he can formulate a response other than a string of muttered profanity, Jean leaves him with that last little comment. ]
...
[ Levi sucks at his teeth. Presses his lips together. Sips loudly at his tea. ]
Cocky fucker thinks he's funny.
[ Sounds like he also gets to have a conversation where he reminds Erwin that he's not immune to all Ackermans. ]
itt: two men being like "god damn it" at their significant others
Despite all that, Jean allows himself one small smile for Levi's comment. ]
That or he's got balls of steel. It could have gone much worse.
[ He could have actually had to try to stop Mikasa from hitting or harming Erwin. ]
the wives gotta fix everything smh
[ You don't go after a shifter just after having your arm bitten off or orchestrate a bloodless coups from your fucking jail cell without having steel balls.
Levi lets out an annoyed sigh, breaking off part of the scone to spread some jam on one end, but he doesn't eat it yet. ]
I'll talk to him. And Mikasa. [ because at the end of the day, he can't let that threat go. ] I don't expect them to start braiding each other's hair any time soon, but something better than this stupidity.
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[ Jean doesn't imagine either would, even now, but he's realistic about the kind of thing you can achieve with two stubborn individuals.
He feels a little bit more like having an appetite, so he resumes taking small bites of the cake. He's careful to make sure he's chewed and swallowed before he speaks again. ]
Sorry it took me a bit to catch you up. And thank you for being willing to talk to them.
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It's fine. [ Frankly, Erwin should have let him and Hange stay for the meeting in the first place, but - whatever. It's done now. ]
Yeah. Thanks for your help.
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He doesn't have much appetite, but he does eventually finish the cake, and his tea, sitting there and watching Levi. After a moment, he clears his throat. ]
I'm going to try talking... wishing... whatever, to that crystal for my ODM gear. I'll keep up practice with it.
[ The unspoken invitation is Levi can join him, if he wants. ]
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His focus returns when Jean finally speaks again. Levi just grunts, sets his cup down before wiping at his mouth with his napkin. ]
Just yell at it. [ That's always worked for him. ] When you get it, I can show you where I've been training.
You've had four extra years, Kirstein. I better be impressed.
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He snorts a bit. ]
Should I try kicking it too?
[ Still, he's reassured that Levi seems convinced it'll work. He smiles wide despite his tired expression. ]
Wouldn't dream of disappointing you, Captain.
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[ That's a better expression. His own eyes narrow a little, crinkling at the edges that seems to often substitute for satisfaction. ]
Good.