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hihi, iโm nana! wandering through thoughts, feelings, and endless daydreams. this blog is my little corner for everything i create, love, or obsess over. ๐ญ๐งบ
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this is my space to dream, create, & share bits of my world. ๐งฉ
hii everyone :3 just a quick heads up that iโll be inactive for a while due to a busy semester and lots of coursework ><
iโll try to be around when i can, but updates, replies, and fics will be slower than usual. feel free to keep sending messages or requests though ๐ญ๐
thank you for your patience and hopefully iโll be back to posting more regularly once things calm down ๐ฅน๐ซถ๐ป
could you write fluff with reader that suddenly wakes up with telepath powersโฆ and thinking that canon! levi doesnโt like her very muchโฆ itโs just the complete opposite (like a huge crush on readerโฆ) , i think itโd be cute if all this time reader find out that levi totally thinks the exact opposite in what he says to reader!
feel free to do this anytime! hope you have a great day (หถหแหหต)
summary: after suddenly gaining telepathy, you discover that every harsh word from levi hides painfully soft affection and that the captain who acts annoyed by you is hopelessly in love
word count: 1,427k w
credit: @angeliicide & @chrisssiren for divider! ๐
@/suzupiyosan on X for levi art! ๐จ
a/n: hii anon! thank you so much for your request!! i really hope this is what you had in mind since itโs my first time writing a telepathy fic ๐ญ๐ฅน
just to clarify, the italic parts are leviโs thoughts (what heโs actually thinking vs what he says out loud)
เชโโด โ๏ธ read on ao3 โฎ canon masterlist โฎ main masterlist
the headache hit the second your eyes opened.
it wasnโt the usual post exhaustion ache. this felt like someone had pried open a door in your skull and forgotten to close it. you sat up in your narrow bunk, pressing the heels of your palms against your temples, and that was when the voices started.
damn boots still arenโt polished rightโฆ
if i have to run laps again today iโm going to throw myself off the wall.
wonder if sheโs awake yetโฆ
dozens of thoughts crashed into your mind at onceโsome loud, some quiet, some bored, some anxious. you gasped, eyes wide. telepathy. somehow, overnight, you could hear what everyone around you was thinking. the survey corps headquarters had never felt so loud.
you dressed on autopilot, heart hammering, and tried to focus on building some kind of mental wall. it helped a little. by the time you reached the mess hall, the roar had dulled to a constant murmur. until you saw him.
captain levi sat at his usual corner table, back straight, cup of tea cradled in his hands like it was sacred. his expression was the same blank mask he always wore around you. you tried to slip past, butโ
โoi. sit.โ
his voice was flat. you obeyed, sliding onto the bench across from him with your tray of lukewarm porridge and stale bread.
โyou look like shit,โ he said, not even looking up from his tea. โeyes are puffy. didnโt sleep? try not to collapse during training. i donโt need dead weight slowing my squad down.โ
your spoon froze halfway to your mouth.
she still looks beautiful. how is that fair? those tired eyes make me want to pull her into my lap and let her sleep against my chest. fuck. stop. she already thinks iโm an asshole.
you nearly dropped your spoon. heat flooded your face.
leviโs gaze flicked up. โwhat? something on my face, brat?โ
โn-no,โ you managed, quickly shoving porridge into your mouth.
all this time you had assumed Levi merely tolerated you. his sharp tongue, the constant criticism, the way he always seemed extra irritated when you were aroundโyou thought he disliked you. maybe even resented you for taking up space in his squad.
but the thoughts flowing from him were impossibly soft.
sheโs nervous again. cute. i shouldโve saved her the softer bread roll instead of giving it to the new recruits. idiot. why canโt i just say something nice for once?
you spent the rest of breakfast stealing glances at him, fighting the smile threatening to break across your face.
training was even worse. or better. you couldnโt decide.
โfix your damn stance,โ levi snapped, circling you with his arms crossed. โyouโre swinging like a drunk civilian. again.โ
look at her. formโs already improved so much. sheโs getting stronger every week. makes my chest feel tight. want to tell her sheโs doing well. want to put my hands on her waist and adjust her posture myself.
you stumbled mid swing. levi clicked his tongue.
โtch. pay attention.โ he stepped closer, gripping your elbow to correct your arm. his touch was firm but careful. โif you die out there because you canโt focus, iโll drag your corpse back and kick your ass.โ
iโd burn the world down before i let anything happen to her.
your heart fluttered so hard you thought it might fly out of your chest. โyes, captain.โ
he released you, but not before his fingers lingered half a second longer than necessary.
later, during hand to hand drills, he paired you with him. you ended up on your back in the dirt, leviโs knee pinning your shoulder.
โtoo slow,โ he muttered, but his eyes were gentle. almost worried. โget up. again.โ
sheโs flushed. looks good like this. under me. shitโstop. focus, ackerman.
you bit your lip to keep from grinning. When he offered you a hand up, you took it. his grip was warm and steady.
after training, you were covered in sweat and dust. levi tossed a clean handkerchief at your face without warning.
โclean yourself up. youโre disgusting.โ
her hands are too soft for this life. i want to wipe her face for her. i want to take her somewhere quiet and wash the dirt off myself. pathetic old man.
you pressed the handkerchief to your cheeks, hiding your smile in the fabric that smelled faintly of his soapโclean, sharp, comforting.
by late afternoon you were emotionally exhausted in the best way. every harsh word from levi was now wrapped in layers of affection in your mind. you followed him when he retreated to his office, pretending you had reports to deliver.
he was already wiping down his desk even though it gleamed. levi didnโt glance up when you entered.
โyouโre still here? go rest. thatโs an order.โ
please donโt go. stay. the room feels warmer when youโre in it. i like the way you look at my bookshelves like you want to read every title. i like the way you say my name.
you closed the door behind you. levi finally looked up, one eyebrow raised.
โsomething wrong?โ
you walked closer, heart pounding. โcaptain... you donโt actually hate me, do you?โ
he scoffed, turning back to his rag. โdonโt be stupid. if i hated you, youโd be scrubbing toilets with the new recruits.โ
hate you? iโm so fucking in love with you itโs embarrassing. i count the days until i see you in the mess hall. i keep your gear in perfect condition because i canโt stand the thought of anything failing you. i replay your laugh in my head when itโs quiet.
you stepped around the desk until you were right beside him. gently, you placed your hand over his, stopping the endless cleaning.
โlevi,โ you whispered. โi can hear you.โ
silence.
his entire body went still. those sharp gray eyes snapped to yours, wider than youโd ever seen them.
โwhat did you just say?โ
โeverything,โ you said softly, smiling. โhow you think iโm beautiful even when i look like crap. how you saved the soft bread for me this morning. how you wanted to adjust my stance by holding my waist. how you want to kiss me. how youโฆ like me. a lot.โ
levi stared at you for a long moment. a faint flush crept up the back of his neckโthe tiniest, most precious crack in his armor.
โbrat,โ he muttered, but there was no heat in it. his hand turned beneath yours, calloused fingers threading carefully through your own like he was afraid you might vanish. โyouโre a real pain in the ass for telling me like this.โ
she knows. sheโs still here. sheโs smiling at me. donโt fuck this up.
you laughed quietly and leaned your forehead against his. he was shorter than you, but the way he tilted his head up to meet you felt perfect.
โi like you too,โ you confessed. โiโve liked you for a long time. i thought you couldnโt stand meโฆ but hearing the truth? Itโs the best thing thatโs ever happened to me.โ
levi exhaled shakily. one of his hands came up to cup the back of your neck, thumb brushing your skin with surprising tenderness.
โshouldโve said something sooner,โ he admitted, voice low. โbut Iโm shit with words. always have been.โ he paused, then added, almost shyly, โyouโre important. to me. donโtโฆ donโt go getting yourself killed out there. i need you to come back.โ
the words were still a little gruff, but now you could hear the full, beautiful truth behind them.
you pulled back just enough to look at him. โthen iโll keep coming back. every time.โ
for a moment he just looked at you, eyes soft in a way no one else ever got to see. then he tugged you down gently and pressed a kiss to your foreheadโslow, deliberate, and full of all the things he still struggled to say out loud.
โstay here tonight,โ he murmured against your skin. โnot for any weird shit. justโฆ stay. iโll make tea. we can sit quietly. i like quiet with you.โ
you smiled, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. โiโd like that.โ
levi held you a little tighter, his thoughts wrapping around you like a warm blanket:
finally. sheโs mine. iโm hers. and iโm never letting her go.
outside, the headquarters continued its usual chaos, but inside leviโs office, the world felt perfectly still. just the two of youโhis sharp words, his soft heart, and the new, wonderful understanding blooming between you.
Hiii hihi i love your writting! I'm sorry if my english is bad cause it's not my first language >_<. Can i request you to write about Post-war Levi thinking y/n died, but sheโs actually alive somewhere else ๐ฅน i haven't really saw or read stories like this hehe. Thank youuu!
found after the end
pairing: levi ackerman x reader
tags: sfw / canon / post-war / reunion after years / mentions of death / angst / happy ending / hurt & comfort / grief
summary: years after the rumbling, levi learns the person he mourned never died and finds you again in the middle of an ordinary market square
word count: 1,066k
credit: @angeliicide & @chrisssiren for divider! ๐
@/ThisUserIsAngry on X for levi art! ๐จ
a/n: hiii hihi!! ๐ฉท thank you so much for your kind words!! your english is totally fine donโt worry at all >_< thank you for this idea and hope youโll like how it turns out!! <3 ๐๐ญ
เชโโด โ๏ธ read on ao3 โฎ canon masterlist โฎ main masterlist
the sun hung low over the hills outside the city, painting the fields in soft golds and oranges that levi ackerman had never thought heโd live long enough to see. he sat on the porch of the small house theyโd given him โ more like a cottage, his wheelchair creaking faintly as he shifted. the teacup in his hand had gone cold ten minutes ago. he didnโt care.
he still waited.
every evening, like clockwork, some stupid part of his brain expected the familiar sound of your boots on the wooden steps. the quiet โtch, youโre staring again, captainโ that always came with that half smirk of yours. the way youโd drop down beside him without asking, shoulder brushing his, smelling faintly of gunpowder and soap no matter how many years had passed since the last expedition.
but you never came.
because you were dead.
that was the fact he repeated to himself like a mantra. heโd seen it. or close enough. the final chaos of the rumbling, the sky tearing itself apart, titans crumbling into bone and dust. youโd been assigned to the eastern flank with the remaining scouts โ trying to buy time for the others. when the dust settled and the reports came in, your squad was listed as KIA. no body recovered. too many had been vaporized or buried under the collapsing walls of the world.
levi had read the list once. then burned it.
he hadnโt cried. not then. not in front of anyone. heโd simply wheeled himself away from the makeshift command tent and stared at the horizon until his remaining eye burned. you idiot, heโd thought. i told you not to play hero.
months had passed. the world tried to rebuild. he tried to exist in it.
some days were better. onyankopon visited often, bringing absurd contraptions and worse jokes. gabi and falco stopped by like noisy puppies, arguing over who got to push his chair when the ground was uneven.
but nights were brutal.
he would wake up reaching for the empty side of the bed, phantom pain shooting through his missing fingers, his body remembering the weight of you curled against him. the rare nights youโd both let the walls down completely. your voice in the dark, soft and stubborn:
โiโm not leaving you, levi. not even if the whole damn world ends.โ
you were alive.
hundreds of kilometers away, in a quiet coastal village on the mainland that had once been part of marleyโs outer territories, you limped down the dirt path toward the small clinic you helped run. your left leg still ached when it rainedโsouvenir from shrapnel and a collapsed building but you were breathing. walking. helping the locals treat the endless stream of refugees and wounded.
youโd been separated from your squad in the madness. dragged half dead from the rubble by a group of marleyan defectors whoโd chosen survival over loyalty. theyโd smuggled you across the sea with other survivors. communication with paradis had been cut off for months afterward. by the time letters could be sent, rumors had already solidified into facts.
captain levi ackerman had been told you were dead.
youโd written him anyway. three letters. each one returned unopened, marked undeliverable โ recipient deceased or simply lost in the chaos of new postal systems. the last one youโd clutched in your hands until the ink smeared, then tucked it into the bottom of your bag like a wound that refused to close.
levi was in the market square when it happened.
he rarely went himself, usually sent one of the kids but today the walls had felt too close. he needed air. needed to remind himself the world was still turning even if you werenโt in it.
falco pushed the chair while gabi argued with him about bread prices. levi tuned them out, single eye scanning the crowd out of old habit.
then he saw you.
you were standing at a stall across the square, bargaining for bandages and herbs, your hair longer than he remembered, a scar he didnโt recognize cutting across your cheek. you lookedโฆ alive. tired. real.
his heart slammed against his ribs so hard he thought it might crack what was left of him.
โstop,โ he said, voice low.
falco halted. โlevi?โ
leviโs hand gripped the wheel so tightly his knuckles went white. you turned slightly, profile catching the sunlight, and he felt the ground tilt.
it couldnโt be.
heโd buried you. In his mind, a thousand times.
heโd carried that weight like the stump of his legโphantom and permanent.
you looked up. your eyes met his.
the world went silent.
you dropped the bundle of herbs. they scattered across the dirt like forgotten bones.
โleviโฆ?โ
your voice cracked on his name. you took one step, then another, limping faster, ignoring the stares. he couldnโt move. couldnโt speak. just watched you come closer like some ghost that had finally decided to haunt him in daylight.
when you reached him, you fell to your knees right there in the dirt, hands shaking as they hovered near his, afraid to touch and discover he wasnโt real.
โi thoughtโโ your voice broke. โthey said you died. they reportsโฆeveryone saidโโ
leviโs throat worked. he reached out, slow, and cupped your scarred cheek with his remaining fingers. warm. alive. the calluses were the same.
โyou fucking idiot,โ he whispered. the words came out rough, almost angry, but his eye was wet. โi thought you were gone.โ
a sob tore out of you. you pressed your forehead to his knee, shoulders shaking. โiโm sorry. iโm so sorry i was late.โ
falco and gabi stood frozen a respectful distance away, eyes wide.
levi leaned forward as much as his broken body allowed, pressing his lips to the top of your head.
he breathed you in โ soap, herbs, and the faint metallic tang of old blood that never quite washed out. the same.
โyouโre here,โ he said against your hair. it wasnโt a question. it was a fact he was still trying to believe.
you nodded, clinging to him like he might vanish. โiโm here and Iโm not leaving again. not ever.โ
for the first time since the war ended, levi ackerman let himself believe in something after the end of the world.
the front door clicked shut behind you, and leviโs sharp gaze snapped up from the couch before you even kicked off your shoes.
โyouโre home.โ his voice was flat, but his eyes tracked the condensation already dripping from the iced coffee in your hand.
you flopped down beside him, lifting the cup toward your lips only for his hand to shoot out and snag your wrist mid air.
โoi.โ leviโs grip was firm, grey eyes narrowed in that signature death glare. โi didnโt buy these coasters for nothing. use them.โ
you blinked, then grinned, deliberately hovering the sweating cup an inch above the pristine wooden table. โbut the coasterโs all the way over thereโโ
he exhaled through his nose, the sound dangerously close to a hiss, and snatched the cup from you. with military precision, he set it down on the black ceramic coaster heโd bought specifically because it matched the minimalist aesthetic he maintained like it was his religion.
you leaned into his side, chin on his shoulder. โyouโre so cute when youโre annoyed about my slobbishness.โ
โtch. annoying woman.โ despite the grumble, his arm slid around your waist, pulling you closer. his thumb brushed absentmindedly over your hip.
โnext time you leave a ring on my table, iโm making you sleep on the couch.โ
you laughed softly and pressed a kiss to his jaw. โliar. youโd drag me back to bed in five minutes.โ
levi didnโt deny it. he just tightened his hold and muttered, โuse the damn coasters.โ
okay so imagine levi keeps pushing you away and then one day he hurts you and you stop talking to him but you still like him. and one day he gets injured during a mission and you take care of him and he apologises.
summary: levi pushes you away to protect you, but after a near fatal injury, the truth breaks through and neither of you can pretend anymore
word count: 1,435k
credit: @cursed-carmine for divider! ๐
เชโโด โ๏ธ read on ao3 โฎ canon masterlistโฎ main masterlist
you had known levi ackerman since the day he joined the survey corps. back then he was feral, untrusting, his eyes sharp as the blades he carried. you were assigned to help integrate the new recruits from the underground. most people gave him a wide berth but you saw something beneath the glare, a man who had survived hell and still kept moving forward.
over the years, the bond grew in silence. shared watches on the wall. you handing him his tea exactly how he liked it without being asked. him tossing you a spare set of clean bandages before a mission because โyou bleed like an amateur.โ he never smiled, never said anything tender, but he stayed. that was leviโs version of care.
until he started pushing.
it began small. after a mission where your squad took heavy losses, you sat beside him in the mess hall, shoulders almost touching. โweโre still alive,โ you whispered. he stood up so abruptly his chair scraped loud enough to draw stares. โdonโt get attached. itโs pathetic.โ
you swallowed the sting and told yourself he was grieving.
but it got worse.
one night after an expedition that nearly wiped out half the regiment, you found him in the stables, knuckles bloody from punching a wooden post. you reached for his hand. โlevi, stopโโ
he yanked away like your touch burned him. โwhat the fuck do you think youโre doing? you think you can fix me? play hero and make me feel less like a walking corpse?โ his voice was ice-cold. โstay away from me. i donโt want you near me anymore.โ
that one hurt deeper. still, you tried once more.
the breaking point came three weeks later.
rain hammered the roofs of the headquarters. youโd spent all day helping with the burial preparationsโtoo many bodies, too few graves. you found levi alone in the old archive room, staring at a map like it had personally betrayed him. exhaustion and grief made you bold.
โleviโฆ you donโt have to carry this alone. iโm here. iโve always been here.โ
he turned slowly. the look in his eyes was hollow.
โyouโre here?โ a bitter, ugly laugh escaped him. โhow fucking sweet. you think i need your comfort? that your little crush is going to keep the titans from ripping you apart?โ he stepped closer, voice dropping into something cruel and precise. โevery person who gets close to me ends up dead. my mother. furlan. isabel. everyone. youโre just another idiot whoโs going to die because you canโt mind your own damn business. so do us both a favor and fuck off. i donโt want you. i never did. stop embarrassing yourself by chasing after me like a lost puppy.โ
the words carved into you. you felt something inside crack clean in half.
you didnโt cry in front of him. you simply stared for one long second, then nodded once.
โalright,โ you said, voice barely holding. โi wonโt bother you again.โ
you walked out without looking back. behind you, you heard the sound of something shatteringโmaybe a teacup, maybe something worse but you didnโt turn around.
the silence that followed was worse than any titans.
you stopped seeking him out. stopped saving him seats. stopped glancing his way during briefings. when your paths crossed in the corridor, you kept your eyes forward, jaw tight, even as your heart screamed at you to look at him.
at night you lay awake replaying every cruel word. i donโt want you. i never did. you cried until your eyes burned, then wiped your face and told yourself you were done. but you werenโt. you still loved himโfiercely, stupidly. every time you saw him limping back from training, or drinking tea alone on the roof, the ache returned stronger.
levi noticed. of course he did.
he saw the way you avoided him. saw how your laughter, once something he heard across the dining hall had disappeared. he told himself it was better this way. safer. you would live longer without him dragging you into his cursed existence.
but the emptiness gnawed at him too.
then came the mission.
a desperate push into titan territory to secure an old supply cache. levi led the vanguard as always. you were assigned to the rear support squad somewhere far enough that you wouldnโt have to speak to him. far enough that you still heard the screams when the abnormals appeared.
the battle was chaos. you fought until your gas canisters ran dry and your blades were dull. when the call came over the signal flares that captain levi was down, your blood turned to ice.
they brought him back on a stretcher. his right leg was crushed. a deep gash ran across his ribs and shoulder where debris had fallen on him after he took down a 12-meter class to save his squad. he was unconscious, pale as death, blood soaking through the makeshift bandages.
the moment you saw him, all your resolve shattered.
you pushed past the medics. โiโll handle it.โ
โmiss, youโre not assignedโโ
โi said iโll handle it.โ your voice cracked with authority and barely contained panic. they let you through.
for five straight days you barely left his side.
you cleaned his wounds when they reopened. you held him down when fever made him thrash and mutter names of the dead. you whispered apologies to him when he was unconscious, even though he couldnโt hear you. โiโm sorry i couldnโt stay awayโฆ iโm sorry it hurts this muchโฆโ
on the sixth night, the rain returned. leviโs fever finally broke. his eyes those sharp, steel grey eyes opened slowly and found you slumped in the chair beside his bed, dark circles under your eyes, hands still holding a cloth youโd been using to cool his forehead.
he stared at you for a long time.
โwhy?โ the word scraped out, raw and weak.
you straightened up, exhausted. โbecause someone has to keep you alive, even if you hate me for it.โ
levi tried to move and winced sharply. pain flashed across his face. for once, he didnโt hide it. โyou shouldโve left me to rot. after what i said to youโฆโ
you looked away, throat burning. โyeah. maybe i should have.โ
silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
โi meant to push you away,โ he rasped eventually. his voice was so quiet you had to lean closer. โevery time you smiled at meโฆ every time you stayedโฆ i saw the future. i saw you on the ground with your stomach torn open, or your head crushed, because i couldnโt protect you. so i hurt you first. made sure youโd leave.โ his fingers twitched on the blanket like he wanted to reach for you but didnโt deserve to. โi didnโt think it would feel this fucking empty.โ
tears welled up before you could stop them. you hated yourself for it.
โyou broke me, levi,โ you whispered, voice trembling. โi stopped sleeping. i stopped eating properly. every time i saw you i wanted to scream and run to you at the same time. i still love you, even though i hate you for what you said. how pathetic is that?โ
levi closed his eyes. a rare, pained expression crossed his faceโvulnerability he never allowed anyone to see.
โiโm sorry.โ the apology sounded like it physically hurt him. โiโm so fucking sorry. i donโt expect you to forgive me. i wouldnโt. butโฆ when i was under that rubble, half-conscious, all i could think was that i might die without ever telling you the truth.โ
he opened his eyes again. they were glassy.
โi need you. iโve needed you for years. and i was too much of a coward to admit it.โ
you let out a broken sound half sob, half laugh and covered your face with your hands. all the months of grief poured out of you. levi watched, helpless, bandaged and broken in the bed.
when your shoulders finally stopped shaking, you felt his fingers brush weakly against your wrist. not grabbing. justโฆ there. an offering.
โi know i donโt deserve another chance,โ he murmured. โbut if you can stand to look at me againโฆ i wonโt push you away anymore. i swear it.โ
you didnโt answer right away. the hurt still lived inside you, deep and ugly. but so did the love.
you slid your hand into his and held on.
โiโm still angry with you,โ you whispered.
โgood,โ levi said hoarsely. โstay angry. justโฆ donโt leave.โ
for the first time since the fight, you stayed.
and leviโbruised, broken, and finally honestโdidnโt let go.
tags: sfw / modenr au / domestic fluff / first time meeting the parents / established relationship / soft levi / teasings
summary: meeting leviโs mother for motherโs day is nerve wracking at first, but kuchelโs warmth quickly makes you feel like family. between homemade food, teasing stories, and quiet moments with levi, the day becomes one filled with love, comfort, and belonging
word count: 1,254k
credit: @strangergraphics for the divider! ๐
เชโโด โ๏ธ read on ao3 โฎ modern au masterlist โฎ main masterlist
the car ride to kuchelโs apartment had been quiet, but not uncomfortably so. leviโs hand rested on your thigh the entire time, his thumb brushing slow, steady circles against your skinโhis silent way of reassuring you. still, your heart hammered louder with every passing streetlight.
โyouโre overthinking again,โ levi said, voice low as he parked the car.
you let out a shaky laugh, clutching the bouquet of white lilies and pink roses a little tighter. โeasy for you to say. this is your mom. this feelsโฆ big.โ
levi leaned over the console and pressed a firm kiss to your temple. โit is big. thatโs why i waited until i knew you were ready. sheโs going to love you. now come on, brat. sheโs probably been cleaning since dawn.โ
the moment you stepped onto the landing, the door opened before levi could even knock.
kuchel ackerman stood there, looking elegant and warm in a soft lavender cardigan over a cream dress. her dark hair was pinned neatly, a few silver strands framing her face. she had the same sharp, observant eyes as levi, but hers sparkled with a gentle kindness that eased some of your nerves instantly.
for a second, everything was still.
then kuchel smiled small, but radiant. โso this is her.โ
she stepped forward and pulled you into a full, sincere hug before you could even speak. she smelled like fresh soap, vanilla, and a hint of lemon cleaner. you melted into it almost right away.
โhappy motherโs day, ms ackerman,โ you whispered against her shoulder.
she pulled back just enough to cup your cheeks, studying your face with open affection. โnone of that formal nonsense. kuchel is perfect. youโre even lovelier than levi described and trust me, heโs been bragging for months.โ
โma,โ levi muttered behind you, ears turning faintly pink. he was holding the neatly wrapped gift and a box of her favorite dark chocolates.
kuchel clicked her tongue exactly like her son. โdonโt โmaโ me. come here.โ she hugged levi next, squeezing him tight even though he only allowed it for a few seconds before gently patting her back.
โyou didnโt have to go all out,โ he grumbled.
โi wanted to. itโs not every day my son brings home the woman heโs serious about.โ her eyes twinkled as she ushered both of you inside.
the apartment was small but absolutely spotless. floors gleaming, every surface shining, and the delicious scent of home cooked food drifting from the kitchen. you noticed leviโs eyes scanning the room out of pure habit, fingers twitching like he wanted to run a finger along the shelves to check for dust. kuchel caught him too and smirked.
โstill canโt help yourself, hm?โ
โtch. force of habit.โ
you gently bumped his hip with yours, and he relaxed.
lunch unfolded slowly and warmly. kuchel had made leviโs favorites: rich beef stew, perfectly seasoned vegetables, fluffy rice, and a beautiful strawberry shortcake for dessert. you helped carry the dishes while levi set the table with military precision.
โso,โ kuchel began once everyone was seated, pouring tea gracefully, โtell me the real story of how you two met. leviโs version was painfully shortโsomething about spilling coffee on him and refusing to let him pay for the shirt.โ
you laughed, glancing at levi who was suddenly very focused on his bowl. โitโs mostly true. i bumped into him at a cafรฉ and spilled coffee everywhere. he looked ready to commit murder, but then he just sighed and said, โat least you have good taste in coffee.โโ
kuchelโs laughter was light and melodic. โthat sounds exactly like him. always so dramatic about stains.โ
conversation flowed easily after that. she asked about your job, your hobbies, and how you handled leviโs intense cleaning habits. you told her about waking up at 2 am. to find him reorganizing your spice cabinet โbecause they were in the wrong alphabetical order.โ
โhe gets that from me,โ kuchel admitted fondly. โwhen he was little, he used to line up his toys by size and color every single night before bed.โ
โma,โ levi warned, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
you grinned. โi wouldโve paid money to see that.โ
kuchelโs expression grew softer as she looked between the two of you. โheโs always been so serious. protective. but with youโฆ he seems lighter. he smiles more. i can hear it when he calls me now.โ
leviโs hand found yours under the table and squeezed. you squeezed back.
after the main course, levi slid the gift across the table. kuchel opened it carefully, revealing the delicate silver bracelet with the tiny teacup charm. her fingers trembled slightly as she fastened it around her wrist.
โitโs beautiful,โ she whispered. she looked at you. โyou helped him choose this, didnโt you?โ
you nodded, cheeks warm. โhe wanted it to be perfect for you.โ
kuchel reached over and covered both your hands with hers. โthank you. both of you.โ her voice softened. โi worried for so long that heโd close himself off completely. but youโฆ you make him want to open up. that means more than youโll ever know.โ
your eyes stung. levi stayed quiet but his grip on your hand tightened protectively.
dessert came with even more stories. kichel shared memories of seven year old levi trying to clean the entire apartment with one sponge, and you told her how patient heโd been when you were overwhelmed at work. levi interjected with dry commentary and the occasional โtch,โ but he never stopped the stories. he even let his mom pull out an old photo album, pointing out pictures of tiny levi in an oversized cleaning apron.
later, while Levi insisted on doing all the dishes โyou cooked, ma. sit downโ, kuchel gently pulled you into the living room.
โhe loves you,โ she said quietly, watching her son through the doorway. โiโve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. like youโre the only clean thing in a dirty world.โ she smiled. โthank you for loving him back. for seeing past all the walls he built.โ
you swallowed hard. โheโs the best thing thatโs ever happened to me. i should be thanking youโฆ for raising someone so incredible.โ
kuchel pulled you into another hug, longer and tighter this time. โyouโre family now, sweetheart. donโt be a stranger.โ
when it was time to leave, the sky had turned a soft dusky orange. kuchel packed leftovers and extra cake for you both, pressing a kiss to your cheek and then to leviโs.
in the hallway, levi slipped his arm around your waist as you walked to the car.
โsee?โ he murmured. โtold you itโd be fine.โ
you leaned into him, smiling. โsheโs amazing. i can see exactly where you get it from.โ
levi stopped under the streetlights, turning you to face him. his expression was serious, but his eyes were warm and unguarded.
โtoday meant a lot,โ he said quietly. โto her. to me.โ he brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. โthank you for coming. for being you.โ
you rose on your toes and kissed him softly. โbest motherโs day iโve had in a long time.โ
he clicked his tongue, but that rare, small smile curved his lips, the one only you ever got to see. โletโs go home. i still owe you that bath i promised.โ
you laughed as he opened the car door for you, heart full and nerves completely gone.
for the first time, the ackerman family felt like yours too.
soft morning light filtered through the half-drawn curtains of your apartment bedroom, bathing the rumpled sheets in a gentle golden glow. the distant hum of city traffic drifted in, but inside everything felt quiet and safe like the world had slowed down just for the two of you.
levi sat propped against the headboard, legs stretched comfortably under the duvet. he wore a simple black t-shirt and grey sweatpants, his dark hair still slightly messy from sleep. in his hand was one of his precious porcelain teacups, steam curling lazily upward with the warm, earthy scent of earl grey. he took a slow sip, sharp grey eyes softening as they drifted over to you, still curled up beside him with your face half buried in the pillow.
these rare, peaceful mornings were his favorite. no alarms, no rush just the sound of your steady breathing and the warmth of the bed you shared.
you stirred, eyelids fluttering open. the first thing you noticed was the faint clink of his teacup and leviโs familiar scent. tea, clean cologne, and the laundry detergent he was so picky about. smiling sleepily, you shifted closer and wrapped your arms around him from behind, hugging him tightly. your cheek pressed against his back as you nuzzled in.
โmorningโฆโ you mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
levi set the cup on the nightstand and placed his hand over yours on his stomach, thumb brushing lightly across your knuckles. โtch. youโre up earlier than usual,โ he said, his low, rough voice gentler than usual. โgo back to sleep if you want. iโm not moving.โ
you smiled against his shirt and squeezed him tighter, legs tangling with his. โdonโt want to. youโre too warm.โ
he let out a quiet huff, the sound almost a laugh. one arm reached back to drape around you, pulling you closer as his fingers slowly threaded through your hair. โclingy in the mornings,โ he muttered, but he tilted his head to rest against yours anyway.
โand you secretly love it,โ you teased, pressing a lazy kiss to his shoulder blade.
levi didnโt deny it. he simply held you there, eyes impossibly soft in the morning light. โbrat,โ he whispered fondly.
he slid down a little so you could both sink deeper into the pillows. your arms stayed locked around his waist, heartbeat steady against his back while his tea slowly cooled on the nightstand. outside, the city kept moving. inside, time stretched slow and sweet.
hihi! I stumbled on your account awhile ago and i love how well you write levi ackerman sm
if you want to can you write a slow burn but make it super fluffy and maybe some angst with canon levi? tysm and i hope you have a good rest of your day!
summary: when youโre reassigned, levi says nothingโleaving you both to unravel apart. after a near fatal return, everything breaks open and the feelings you both avoided finally surface
word count: 1,557k
credit: @also-web for divider! ๐
a/n: hey loves, just a quick note to say sorry iโve been a little inactive lately ๐ญ lifeโs been pretty busy on my end, but i havenโt forgotten about you or my fics!! thank you for being patient with me <33
เชโโด โ๏ธ read on ao3 โฎ canon masterlist โฎ main masterlist
the order came down from erwin like any other: a temporary reassignment to the 9th squad for a reconnaissance mission near the eastern forests. you were chosen for your scouting skills and steady hand with the flare guns. it was only supposed to be three weeks. maybe four.
you stood in the hallway outside the captainโs quarters, report in hand, trying to find the right words. your pulse hammered in your throat. levi was inside, quill scratching across paper like it owed him money.
you knocked once.
โenter.โ
he didnโt look up when you stepped in. the afternoon light cut sharp across his desk, catching on the edge of his teacup. you cleared your throat.
โiโm being reassigned, captain. leaving at dawn tomorrow. 9th squad.โ
leviโs pen paused for half a second. then continued.
โunderstood.โ
that was it. no questions. no โbe careful.โ just the same flat tone he used when someone reported a broken harness. you waited another beat, chest tightening for reasons you refused to name.
โiโll see you when i get back, then.โ
โdismissed.โ
you left before the sting could settle fully, but it followed you anywayโsharp, lodged somewhere behind your ribs like a broken blade. youโd spent months convincing yourself that the small things mattered. the extra bread. the brushed fingers. the way his eyes lingered. apparently they didnโt. not enough.
the first week away, you told yourself it was nothing. levi was always like thisโefficient, detached, a wall of obsidian in a world of noise.
but reports filtered back.
captain levi had the new recruits running drills until they vomited.
he re-inspected every horse in the stables twice, then again at midnight.
he hadnโt touched his tea in three days. the entire squad walked on eggshells.
hangeโs letter arrived via raven, the handwriting messier than usual: โ๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ . ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ?โ
you folded the letter small and kept it in your jacket pocket like a secret, pressing it against your chest at night as if it could warm the growing hollow there. he was hurting. or angry. or both. but not enough to say anything when you stood right in front of him.
the nights were the worst.
under thin canvas, rain pattering against it like mocking fingers, you kept replaying the last few months on loop. levi wordlessly sliding an extra portion of bread onto your tray when you looked exhausted after drills. standing just a little closer during gear checks, fingers brushing yours while โadjustingโ straps that were already perfect. the rare, almost imperceptible softening of his steel eyes when you landed a stupid joke that actually pulled a snort out of him.
you had let yourself hope. god, what an idiot you were.
out here, surrounded by soldiers who saw you as nothing but another warm body for the suicide charge, the truth settled heavy and cold: levi didnโt do attachments. heโd lost too much alreadyโhis entire world under the ground, then in the mouths of titans. why would you be any different? you were just another soldier who would eventually die screaming.
on the twelfth night, your squad ran into an abnormal cluster. you barely made it to a tree branch before one of them snatched the soldier beside you. his screams echoed for a long time. you fired your flare with shaking hands, tears freezing on your cheeks, and wondered if levi would even flinch if the same thing happened to you.
back at headquarters, levi was unraveling in the only way he knew how through control.
he cleaned his blades until his hands cracked and bled. he drilled the recruits past exhaustion because if they were stronger, maybe no one would need to be reassigned to fill gaps. he avoided the mess hall entirely; your empty seat at the far table felt like an accusation. sleep brought nightmaresโyour body crushed under a titanโs heel, your eyes wide and betrayed as you reached for him too late.
hange found him in the stables at 2 a.m., furiously brushing down a horse that was already gleaming.
โyou know,โ hange said quietly, โyou couldโve told her something. anything. she looked like youโd punched her in the gut when she left.โ
leviโs hand stilled. โtch. and what? wish her a safe trip? hold her hand? tell her iโโ he cut himself off, jaw locked so tight it ached. โwords donโt bring people back. they just make the hole bigger when theyโre gone.โ
hange sighed. โyouโre scared.โ
โshut up.โ
but he didnโt deny it.
three and a half weeks became four.
the return journey turned into a nightmare. a sudden storm. flash flooding. then worst of allโabnormals drawn by the noise. your squad lost four people. you took a deep gash across your forearm shielding a rookie, and another hit to the head when your horse reared and threw you into rocks. fever set in fast. by the time the gates appeared on the horizon, you were barely conscious, slumped against your horseโs neck, blood and rain soaking through your jacket.
youโd whispered things in the delirium. leviโs name. stupid confessions youโd never dare say awake. i thought you cared. i was so stupid. come find me if i donโt make it.
you barely registered the courtyard when your squad rode in at dusk. mud-caked, shivering, half-dead.
a voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
โyou. medical tent. now.โ
levi stood ten feet away, arms crossed, expression carved from ice. same as always. but his eyes those sharp, terrifying eyes flicked over you once, clinical and fast, then lingered on the bloodied bandage and your pale face.
something fractured behind them for half a second before the mask slammed back down.
you opened your mouth, voice hoarse.
โcaptainโโ
โmedical tent,โ he repeated, already turning away. โthen my office. youโre behind on paperwork.โ
your heart twisted painfully. even now, after everything, that was all he could give.
the medic stitched you roughly, muttering about reckless idiots and blood loss. the fever made everything hazy and too bright. when they finally released you, you dragged yourself to leviโs office on sheer stubbornness.
he answered the knock immediately.
โsit.โ
you collapsed into the familiar chair beside his desk. the office smelled of soap and black teaโthe same as always. your chair. your stack of reports. like the world hadnโt tried to swallow you whole.
levi poured two cups. his hands were steady, but you noticed the slight tremor as he set yours downโblack, with sugar, exactly how you liked it.
he sat across from you and stared into his own cup like it might tell him how to fix this.
silence stretched, suffocating.
you sipped. the warmth hurt. everything hurt.
โIโm back,โ you whispered, voice cracking.
โtook you long enough.โ his tone was low, rough.
โnext time they try reassigning you, tell them to go fuck themselves.โ
you set the cup down hard, fingers trembling.
tears burned your eyes.
โleviโฆ did you even miss me? or was I just convenient? another soldier who made your tea runs easier?โ the words poured out, weeks of doubt and pain and near-death fear finally breaking free. โyou didnโt even look at me when i told you i was leaving. i thoughtโi hopedโthose little things meant something. but you justโฆ dismissed me. like i was nothing.โ
leviโs cup hit the desk. tea sloshed over the rim. he stood abruptly, turning toward the window, shoulders rigid.
โyou think it was easy?โ he said, voice dangerously quiet. โyou think i wanted you gone? every night i saw you out there dead. ripped apart. because i let myself get used to you being here. because i didnโt say anything.โ he laughed, bitter and broken. โiโm good at losing people, brat. iโve had practice. but youโฆ you made it worse. made me hope and then erwin sent you away like it was nothing.โ
you stood on shaky legs and crossed to him. โi almost didnโt come back,โ you choked out. โi kept thinking if i died out there, youโd never know how i felt. that iโve been falling for you for months while you acted like i was just another cog in your perfect squad.โ
levi turned sharply. his hand came up, fingers hovering near your cheek before he let them fall to your injured arm instead. he touched the bandage with devastating gentleness, like he was afraid youโd vanish.
โi know,โ he muttered. the admission seemed to cost him everything. โiโm a coward. always have been when it matters.โ
your tears fell freely now. โthen stop pushing me away.โ
he exhaled shakily and rested his forehead against yours brief, trembling, the most vulnerable youโd ever seen him. โbrat,โ he whispered, voice raw. โdonโt do that again. donโt you fucking dare leave me behind.โ
you took his hand. he let you, turning it palm up and lacing your fingers together tightly, as if anchoring you there.
the wind howled outside. inside, the lantern flickered over cold tea and two broken people slowly piecing themselves back togetherโone careful, calloused touch at a time.
the corridor smelled of soap and steel. levi was polishing his blades again, cloth moving in those infuriatingly perfect circles.
โyouโre going to wear them down to nothing,โ you snapped, leaning against the doorframe. โwe ride at dawn. sleep, levi.โ
he didnโt look up. โif you spent less time nagging and more time cleaning properly, maybe i wouldnโt have to redo everything.โ
โredo? i scrubbed this floor twice. youโre just being an obsessive prick.โ
โtch. bold words from someone who still leaves corners dusty.โ be finally glanced at you, grey eyes sharp. โmost people know better than to talk to me like that.โ
you stepped closer, crossing your arms. โgood thing iโm not most people. someone has to tell you when youโre being an idiot about rest and training and everything.โ
levi set the blade down with a soft clink. he stood, shorter than you but somehow towering anyway. his hand caught your wrist before you could poke his chest. โyou talk too much.โ
โand you listen too little.โ your voice dropped, the familiar heat crackling between you. โbut you only let me talk to you like this.โ
a faint smirk tugged at his lips. down the hall, someone whispered, โtheyโre bickering like an old married couple again.โ
levi didnโt deny it. he just pulled you a fraction closer, thumb brushing your pulse. โget some sleep. thatโs an order.โ
you smiled, refusing to move. โonly if you do too, captain.โ
he clicked his tongue, but didnโt let go.
everyone heard the arguments.
only you two knew how much he needed themโฆ and how you were the only one he let stay.
