On Levi's way to the attend the luncheon, Reiner didn't expect that the traffic would be bad so the car hasn't been moving for the past 10 minutes, which brings torture for the vice president.

The man averts his eyes to the window.

It is a coincidence that the car stops at the roadside where Levi and his secretary played the prize claw crane yesterday night.

Levi eyed the machine, 'if I had gotten that toy, then she'd have fainted already. Because then it wouldn't be just 3-fold, but 10-fold.' he smirks to himself as he purses his lips, already making his mind, "Mr. Braun."

"Yes sir ?"

"Drive back to the office, I'm gonna take a walk from here."

The blonde turns around to face Levi on the passenger seat, "b-but sir, what about your luncheon ? You never miss it-"

"I'm out of here. Suit yourself."

Levi opens the door and sets his foot outside before fully getting out of the car.

"W-WAIT ! IS IT BECAUSE MY HANDS ARE STAINED ??! SIR I SWEAR THEY'RE ALL CLEAN ! I-I'LL JUST KILL MYSELF AND LET MY COMRADE-"

*SLAM*

The man doesn't give a shit and begin to make his way to the prize claw crane machine he had been eyeing before. His pale veiny hands begin to work their magic to win the stuffed toy prize that (Y/n) targeted yesterday. That pair of emotionless steel blue eyes now has a look of determination.

"Tch ! Almost there !" Levi muttered under his breath upon his failed attempt for the fourth time.

The claw always seems to always fail to grasp the stuffed toy.

He's busy groaning in frustration. Levi was about to punch the goddamn machine and just take out the stuffed toy for (Y/n) when a certain someone startled him.

"Gosh, you suck !"

Levi stiffened before turning to see who just said that. His eyes darts down to meet a golden eyed little girl around 14 years old, "what the fuck did you just say you little piece of shit ?"

"That you suck," the girl sticks out her tongue at him, "so move it already, Mr. Good-for-nothing."

"...Good-for-nothing ?"

She nods enthusiastically, "yeah ! That's what mom calls those people who don't go to work !"

"You brat may not know who I am," Levi scoffed, "but you know the electronics in your homes and the toys you play with ? At least one or two of those in your house is my company's product. To put it simply, I'm rich and better than you brat."

"Then why would a rich guy try to win toys when you could just buy them with your money huh ?" she sneers.

"Tch, not quite. That's not fair play. This only has value when it's won by hard sweat. So brat, shut the fuck up, it's time for me to focus."

The little girl stares at him weirdly. Never in her life she has seen a grown up man trying to win a cheap ass stuffed toy from a prize claw machine. If anything, most men would just look up the online shop and buy the desired prize. But not with this.. weird... short man in an office suit.

Closing his eyes, Levi inhales before chanting a prayer in his mind.

'Lend me the strength to win this shit so I could make my girl proud of me..'

His grey eyes immediately snap open as he starts to insert a coin, ready to play the game one more time. Levi inspected the claw crane's movements as it moved directly on top of the stuffed toy. He then smacks the button for the claw crane to grab it.

Every muscle in his body tensed when he realizes that the claw crane manages to grasp and lift the stuffed toy, even the little girl beside him feels an uptight sensation in her chest as she watches Levi play. Both man and the little girl then gaped their mouths open when the claw crane finally dropped the stuffed toy into the prize.

Levi Ackerman did it.

"Holy shit ! WOOOHOO !!!"

The little girl couldn't help but scream hysterically in happiness as she witnessed the man had won the.. stuffed toy. She jumps up and down, adrenaline pumping in her blood even though all she did was watch him.

On the other hand, Levi takes out the prize and smiles softly.

"Oi brat," the smile disappears from his face as he glares at the enthusiastic kid, "what's your name ?"

She sends the vice president a grin.

"Gabi. Gabi Braun."

Levi hummed, "good. Now that I know your name, I can kick your ass someday in the future for talking shit about me earlier. Now get out of my sight, I have someone special waiting for me."

"Wait wha-"

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

Levi clears his throat as he stands in front of the receptionist desk with his hands placed behind his back, making the secretary immediately put down her work to stand and greet him.

"You have a guest you might be happy to see."

"Pardon ?"

"This is to thank you for our enjoyable holiday yesterday, Ms. (L/n)."

He then pulls out the stuffed toy he has been hiding behind his back, "there you go, brat."

"Oh my goodness, this is.."

(Y/n) examines the stuffed toy as she accepts it. It's the one she couldn't win yesterday. The thought of her boss playing a prize claw crane on the street in a busy hour just to give her this item touches her heart. Unconsciously, her eyes begin to water, "I'm sorry I didn't remember." (Y/n) smiled at him.

'..She's bringing up about this again. What is it exactly ?'

"I know you're touched, yes," Levi straightens his posture, "but no need to cry over a stuffed toy. Grow up, brat."

She stifled a laugh, ready to give a reply, but then..

"Ms. (L/n) ! Me and the planning team are going to grab some coffee..." the eyes of the person who's currently talking, darted to both (Y/n) and the vice president Ackerman, "um.. would you like one ?"

The secretary sweats, "Y-yes, I do ! Actually, let me grab it, Historia. Well then, Mr. Ackerman, I'll be right back." She stammered before rushing out from the receptionist desk.

Historia purses her lips, feeling guilty for interrupting their.. moment.

In no time, (Y/n) has made it to the cafe on the lobby specialized for the employees who work in Ackerman Company, she inputs her orders, "three lattes and four Americanos please."

"Right away miss."

While waiting for her orders to come, her eyes scans the front side of the cashier desk where some snacks and treats are displayed. But among dozens of mouth watering food, a certain candy caught (Y/n)'s attention.

Black tea flavored candy.

---- Flashback ----

"Eat..."

She pulled away from his arms, "h-huh ?"

The boy had stretched out his hand towards her, "eat..". A tiny candy was present on his palm. (Y/n) only blinked, she pointed her index finger to herself.

"F-for me ?"

He nods.

Her tiny fingers took the candy from his hand, unwrapping it with shaky hands before plopping the sweet treat into her mouth. A bright smile painted her face as soon as she had a taste, "what flavor is this ? I don't think I've ever tried this kind of candy." She munched.

"Mmm.." (Y/n)'s eyes scanned the candy wrapper, "black tea flavored ? Woah.. Where did you buy this ? This must cost a lot."

The truth is, it was found inside trash can where (Y/n) found him in the first place. The boy had a habit of bringing home leftovers or any edible things, including that kind of candy. He actually ate it a few times already, he often found them on the streets without a clear reason why. He collected them, saving it for his mother.

He planned to eat it.

But after the girl gave him her whole portion of bread and water, he couldn't help but want to return the favor. Compared to bread, this candy is.. nothing.

Yet, seeing her enjoying it, made the boy feel satisfied to no end. He was glad he could distract her from the thunder by giving her a tiny piece of happiness.

"Feeling better ?" He gave her a tired smile.

To his joy, the little girl bobbed her head up and down in glee, "Mhm ! I'll try to make it up to you." So childish.. Even the boy noticed it. The chance of them being able to see each other again is dangerously thin. He kept his mouth shut, not wanting to ruin her moments.

---- End of flashback ----

By the time (Y/n) snaps out from her lane of memories, her orders are ready. But then she reaches out to grab one of the black tea flavored candy.

"Excuse me, I'd like to buy this. Please add this to my orders."

5 minutes later, (Y/n) heads to the receptionist desk with a handful of paper cup coffee holders. Historia immediately stands up to help her set things down, "I'm sorry, I should've been the one to grab them for you."

"Nah it's fine."

Historia rummages through the orders, "Waaa you even bought a candy. Do you fancy sweet treats (Y/n) ?"

"Oh," the secretary beside the blonde smiles nervously, "it's.. it's for someone."

"Who ? Your crush ?" Historia teased.

"Hahahahahah I see you're still going on about that. It's not a crush, just.. someone I want to thank.. Though he won't remember me."

(Y/n) muttered the last words in slight disappointment in her voice.

"By the way, did you know ?" The blonde suddenly perked up, shifting closer to (Y/n), "I got a text from a friend who's also in The Boy Wonder's fan club. Apparently, The Boy Wonder had a rough past ! It was said that he had to spend a night alone as a child, on an empty bus stop near the Underground, moreover, in the middle of a storm ! Can you believe that ?"

(Y/n) frowns deeply, forgetting about her coffee, "..what ?"

"Before he became famous, that's what he had written on his blog. Sadly, he deleted it right away. But many of his fans have a copy of it."

"No way.." The secretary feels a pang in her heart. So.. Could it be that.. Mr. Ackerman is not the boy she's looking for ? Could it be the man that she just met a few days ago.. Zeke Jaeger...?

Is Mr. Ackerman not the 'Mr. Blanket' from 20 years ago...?

"Historia," (Y/n) manages to control her shaky voice, "can I see the copy ?"

The trainee nods, handing (Y/n) her phone which shows the copy of The Boy Wonder's old writing that's now deleted by him. Her (e/c) eyes trace every word. On the screen shot, it's clear that The Boy Wonder is describing a scary and dirty atmosphere from his past.

And then he also mentioned in his writing that he had to bear with the fear and cold on an empty bus stop, with heavy downpour along with roars of thunder.

(Y/n) slowly connects the dots in her mind.

---- Flashback ----

(Y/n) giggled, "you better hold into your words-" she froze, "wait a minute.. I never got your name."

"And so do I."

"What's yours ?"

With a less hoarse voice, he gave her an answer, "...................."

"Well, I'm (Y/n). (Y/n) (L/n)." The little girl extended her hand and they shook hands while exchanging looks, "I think I have to go now, my dad's probably getting worried. You should go back home too."

---- End of flashback ----

Everything was a blur to (Y/n).

What was his name.. what's his name... Who is-

She gasped.

"That's right... From what The Boy Wonder described, it must be him.. His name was Zeke Jaeger.." (Y/n) mumbled, her eyes full of surprise and.. something else. Her frown deepened.

Just in time, Levi exits his office. He was met with a distressed and sad looking secretary. Before he got the time to speak, (Y/n) beats him into it,

"May I speak to you regarding private things, sir ?"

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

"It's true."

The two hold a private conversation, face to face inside Levi's office. And (Y/n) couldn't be more shocked upon hearing the answer from Levi's mouth.

"Zeke.. was an old acquaintance of mine. It's true that he once spent a night alone when he was little, on an empty bus stop near the Underground." He clarified.

(Y/n) gaped a little, yet, no words came out.

"Then.. may I ask just one thing ?"

He keeps silent. (Y/n) takes this as a sign to throw a question, "how did you come to have a fear of porn and women in a sexual manner ?"

"Why are you asking me that all of a sudden ?"

"I- I thought it was you, because you're also haunted by memories, and then there's your fear about women, so-"

"That 'fear' you're talking about..," Levi glares at her, "I just simply hate dirtied women."

"Oh.."

"Tch, was that why ?"

She slowly looked up to her boss, "pardon ?"

"Because you thought I was that boy you were looking for ?" He spat coldly, "is that why you were staring at me all day, with those eyes ?" The venom from Levi's voice strikes her heart.

(Y/n) lowers her head, "I-I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, Mr. Ackerman." Her arms are hanging motionlessly on her sides,

For a moment, Levi searches for her eyes, trying to see what she's hiding behind that face.

"Whoever you're looking for, about your fucking past with a boy.. It's not me."

"Never bring this up again, now go back to work."

a/n :

Oh my.. Who's the real Mr. Blanket from (Y/n)'s past ? Is it Levi the vice president.. Or is it Zeke the famous author ?

STAY TUNED !

LOVE YOU ALL ! :)))