When they first met their baby, Levi was very scared to hold him. He's a children's book illustrator, so he knows how to be soft with his hands, and how to transmit safety through his fingertips, but, still, he finds that holding Udo for long periods of time is so difficult because he's just so afraid he might break.
That all changes when he sees the way Hanji holds the baby. From then on he was no longer afraid of his kid's sensibility, because a couple can't just have TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE UNABLE TO HOLD A CHILD.
Even before he was born and they adopted him, Levi was already dedicating all of his works to Udo. Every single one of his books from the past six years start with a page that says nothing but
To my strength; my Hanji and to my life; my Udo.
Hanji wanted to name him after one of their plants. Levi was PISSED ππ
"For the millionth time we're not naming our son 'abromeitiella brevifolia.'"
They adopted a cat to sharpen their care-taker skills. Levi hated it at first and thought the cat was messy and loud, but, very slowly, they started to open up to each other, and now Levi's lap is his favorite spot when they're watching tv. His name ranges from Sawney, to Bean, and to "little demon" when he kicks something.
Now THIS is the softest one: when Udo first arrived, he and Hanji just did not seem to click. He wanted Levi's arms at all times and cried whenever they were apart. But, one day, a few months after adopting Udo, Levi had an emergency at work and had to run to his office in the city.
"You'll be ok, won't you? I won't be long," he was breathing heavily through his nose, trying to calm his nerves because apparently somebody accidently spilt ink on all the new copies of his book.
"I will, of course, take your time!"
Levi nodded and opened the front door, running out with a muffled "I'll be back soon!"
Hanji watched him drive off with a smile. They didn't want to admit it, but something bubbled in their chest at the prospect of being alone with the baby for once. They weren't even crying! Did their 'Levi-dar' stop working, perhaps? Hanji smiled to themselves, closing the door and thinking that this would be the start of a new lif-
They tried everything. Udo didn't want food, or sleep, or change his diapers, nothing. He just absolutely needed his father because clearly, Hanji wasn't good enough.
"What's wrong, hm?" They whispered softly through the sound of crying, their arms holding Udo very gently and rocking him up and down slowly, but his mood didn't soften. "Is it me?"
They looked at the clock on the wall. Levi obviously had more work than he expected. They went to the couch and sat down, Udo still sniffling in their arms. They turned on the TV in hopes that the noise would soothe him a little bit. Surprisingly, it did.
A documentary about fish, or something. Hanji can't remember very well, because at that moment they were too busy looking down at Udo's face. He wasn't crying, wasn't pouting, was just listening intently to the TV with his eyes closed. Hanji's heart raced. They changed the channel and put on a kid's one, thinking it'd be more interesting for him, but Udo just started crying again.
"Ah...." They sighed, putting back on the documentary. "So you're a little nerd like me, huh?"
Levi raced home, expecting the worst. His mind was filled to the brim with images of Hanji and Udo and terrible disasters, because this was the first time they were alone together and he didn't know what to think. When he opened the front door, the house was silent.
He didn't even bother to close the door or take off his shoes, because he heard something and it was the TV, and he recognized the sound of one of Hanji's favorite documentaries, one he hated because of how much he was forced to watch it.
Oh no. Died watching fucking fish documentary.
His heart was racing and he could feel tears in the corners of his eyes. He went straight to the living room, and almost passed out. They were there.
Hanji scoffed, faking anger "Of course I am. Have you got no faith in me, Ackerman?"
Levi sighed in relief. They were as goofy as ever, that was good too. He walked to the couch, and sat down.
Hanji just smiled, and watched Levi caress Udo's face with his pinky. The baby stirred, but didn't wake. Levi's eyes went back to Hanji's, and he smiled wider.
"Leviiii...!! He likes me..!!"
He scoffed, and caressed their hair. "Of course he does." He kissed their temple, and adjusted himself on the couch. He'd seriously have to work on Udo's taste in entertainment, though. His hand held Hanji's shoulder and he squeezed.
