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! 💌
જ⁀➴ ✉︎ read on ao3 ⋮ canon masterlist⋮ 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 “you bleed like an amateur.” he never smiled, never said anything tender, but he stayed. that was levi’s 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. “we’re still alive,” you whispered. he stood up so abruptly his chair scraped loud enough to draw stares. “don’t get attached. it’s pathetic.”
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. “levi, stop—”
he yanked away like your touch burned him. “what the fuck do you think you’re doing? you think you can fix me? play hero and make me feel less like a walking corpse?” his voice was ice-cold. “stay away from me. i don’t want you near me anymore.”
that one hurt deeper. still, you tried once more.
the breaking point came three weeks later.
rain hammered the roofs of the headquarters. you’d spent all day helping with the burial preparations—too 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.
“levi… you don’t have to carry this alone. i’m here. i’ve always been here.”
he turned slowly. the look in his eyes was hollow.
“you’re here?” a bitter, ugly laugh escaped him. “how fucking sweet. you think i need your comfort? that your little crush is going to keep the titans from ripping you apart?” he stepped closer, voice dropping into something cruel and precise. “every person who gets close to me ends up dead. my mother. furlan. isabel. everyone. you’re just another idiot who’s going to die because you can’t mind your own damn business. so do us both a favor and fuck off. i don’t want you. i never did. stop embarrassing yourself by chasing after me like a lost puppy.”
the words carved into you. you felt something inside crack clean in half.
you didn’t cry in front of him. you simply stared for one long second, then nodded once.
“alright,” you said, voice barely holding. “i won’t bother you again.”
you walked out without looking back. behind you, you heard the sound of something shattering—maybe a teacup, maybe something worse but you didn’t 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 don’t want you. i never did. you cried until your eyes burned, then wiped your face and told yourself you were done. but you weren’t. you still loved him—fiercely, 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 wouldn’t 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. “i’ll handle it.”
“miss, you’re not assigned—”
“i said i’ll handle it.” 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 couldn’t hear you. “i’m sorry i couldn’t stay away… i’m sorry it hurts this much…”
on the sixth night, the rain returned. levi’s 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 you’d been using to cool his forehead.
he stared at you for a long time.
“why?” the word scraped out, raw and weak.
you straightened up, exhausted. “because someone has to keep you alive, even if you hate me for it.”
levi tried to move and winced sharply. pain flashed across his face. for once, he didn’t hide it. “you should’ve left me to rot. after what i said to you…”
you looked away, throat burning. “yeah. maybe i should have.”
silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
“i meant to push you away,” he rasped eventually. his voice was so quiet you had to lean closer. “every time you smiled at me… every time you stayed… i saw the future. i saw you on the ground with your stomach torn open, or your head crushed, because i couldn’t protect you. so i hurt you first. made sure you’d leave.” his fingers twitched on the blanket like he wanted to reach for you but didn’t deserve to. “i didn’t think it would feel this fucking empty.”
tears welled up before you could stop them. you hated yourself for it.
“you broke me, levi,” you whispered, voice trembling. “i 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?”
levi closed his eyes. a rare, pained expression crossed his face—vulnerability he never allowed anyone to see.
“i’m sorry.” the apology sounded like it physically hurt him. “i’m so fucking sorry. i don’t expect you to forgive me. i wouldn’t. but… when i was under that rubble, half-conscious, all i could think was that i might die without ever telling you the truth.”
he opened his eyes again. they were glassy.
“i need you. i’ve needed you for years. and i was too much of a coward to admit it.”
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. just… there. an offering.
“i know i don’t deserve another chance,” he murmured. “but if you can stand to look at me again… i won’t push you away anymore. i swear it.”
you didn’t 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.
“i’m still angry with you,” you whispered.
“good,” levi said hoarsely. “stay angry. just… don’t leave.”
for the first time since the fight, you stayed.
and levi—bruised, broken, and finally honest—didn’t let go.
levi finds your unsent letters and the love you never said
levi x reader / friends to lovers / canonverse / sfw / 315 w.
⟡ — @flufftober
levi doesn’t mean to find them.
he’s just cleaning your desk while you’re out on patrol — straightening reports, sorting loose papers. when a small bundle catches his eye. tied neatly with string, tucked beneath an old journal.
he hesitates before pulling it out. the top page is folded, your handwriting familiar and looping. dear levi, it begins.
he almost puts it back. almost.
but curiosity wins.
the first letter is simple — written months ago, maybe longer. you’d thanked him for covering your shift, joked about his attitude, then… confessed, quietly, you make it hard not to care.
his breath catches. he reads another. and another. each one dated differently — some from field missions, others from sleepless nights. words you never sent. thoughts you never spoke. all about him.
the things you noticed, the things you admired, the times he made you smile without meaning to.
by the fifth letter, he’s sitting down, the papers spread carefully across his knees, fingers tracing your words like they might fade if he blinks too long.
when you return, dusty and tired, you freeze at the sight — levi, seated by the window, those same letters stacked neatly beside him.
“you weren’t supposed to read those,” you whisper, heart pounding.
he looks up, unreadable at first. then, softer, “you wrote all this… for me?”
you swallow hard. “i never meant for you to see—”
“i’m glad i did” he says quietly. his thumb brushes the edge of the top letter before he sets it aside. “you should’ve told me.”
“you don’t make that easy” you murmur, half-smiling.
levi exhales through his nose, gaze lingering on you for a long moment. then, quietly, “guess i’ll start making it easier.”
he stands, moving close enough for his fingers to brush yours — tentative, deliberate. “you could’ve just told me” he repeats, voice low. “i’d have written back.”
levi x reader / friends to lovers / mutual feelings / canonverse / sfw / 551 w.
⟡ — @flufftober
you and levi sit across from each other in the mess hall, breakfast trays in hand, when erwin approaches, his eyes sharp and serious.
“you two” he begins, voice cutting through the morning chatter, “tonight, at the council’s gala… i want you to act like a couple”
you blink, fork paused mid-air. levi’s expression remains unreadable, though his eyes flick briefly to yours, calm as ever.
“what? why us?” you asked, leaning slightly closer to him.
“your presence together will prevent unwanted questions” erwin says simply, voice clipped. “no excuses. you both are expected to cooperate”
levi tilts his head, deadpan. “so we’re pretending to be…?”
“yes” erwin confirms. “just tonight. don’t make it obvious, but keep the appearances. any missteps, and it will reflect poorly on the squad”
later, at the gala, you’re both dressed sharply — you in a simple, elegant dress that hints at your figure without drawing too much attention, levi in his uniform jacket crisp and imposing.
hange immediately notices. “ohh, look at you two” they squeals, nudging erwin aside. “i told you! you both are hopelessly cute! just admit it already!” their teasing eyes sparkle as they turns back to you and levi. “look at you two, holding hands, acting all serious… so adorable!”
levi’s arm wraps casually around your waist, keeping a careful distance but letting the gesture be visible. “we’re pretending” he mutters quietly, eyes scanning the room for anyone prying.
“pretending or not, you two look so cute together” hange continues, leaning in with a mischievous grin. “i can already see the little soldiers following you two around!”
“hange!” you whisper, cheeks heating as levi squeezes your waist lightly, steady and protective.
levi doesn’t flinch at her teasing, though a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth betrays him. “we’re not having babies” he mutters quietly, arm still around you.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
throughout the evening, you and levi navigate the gala side by side — smiling politely, leaning in just enough to keep up the act, brushing elbows, and occasionally sharing a quiet word or glance. his arm drapes naturally over your waist, protective yet casual, keeping anyone from probing too closely.
when a curious officer attempts small talk, levi subtly pulls you closer. “remember” he murmurs, voice low and steady, “we’re pretending”
you grin, leaning into him slightly, letting your hand rest against his. “pretending or not… i like it”
he doesn’t answer immediately, just presses a brief, careful kiss to the temple of your head before letting go, gaze flicking elsewhere. even as the act continues, every small touch — his hand brushing yours, the weight of his arm at your side feels oddly comforting, grounding you amidst the formalities and polite chatter.
by the end of the evening, after farewells, bows, and the dimming of the chandeliers, you realize the line between pretense and truth has blurred. your hand is still in his, your waist pressed lightly to his side, and levi’s quiet presence has become a comfort — more than any act could explain.
amidst the fading laughter, music, and the cool night air, you and levi step outside together. the world still expects the “act” but in that quiet moment, you both know the truth: pretending doesn’t feel like pretending when it’s just the two of you.
levi finds you before the night swallows you whole
bf!levi x reader / established relationship / angst → comfort / canonverse / sfw / 303 w.
⟡ — @flufftober
the mission ended clean or so everyone thought. the formation held, casualties were low, and by sunset, the scouts returned to headquarters. boots hit the cobblestone, tired but steady.
everyone except one.
levi’s eyes swept over the soldiers, counting automatically until his chest went still. hange noticed it first. “hey, levi… what’s wrong?”
he didn’t answer. erwin followed his gaze, expression darkening. “who’s missing?”
“y/n…” a scout spoke up. “they went back during the retreat. they hasn’t returned”
levi’s jaw clenched. the air shifted. hange reached for his arm, but he was already strapping on his gear.
“it’s too risky” erwin said firmly. “if you go now, you’re disobeying orders”
levi’s tone was like steel. “then take my rank when i’m back”
the gates opened just enough for him to slip through before the night swallowed him whole.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
you were slumped against broken stone, uniform torn, blood drying on your sleeve. your gas was gone. your strength, too. every sound from the forest made your pulse jump, but you couldn’t run anymore.
for a long moment, you thought that was it — that levi had made it back, that he’d live, and that maybe dying here meant keeping him safe.
the hiss of ODM gas shattered that thought. a shadow landed in front of you.
“tch” his voice came rough, breathless, almost shaking. “you really thought i’d leave you behind?”
“levi…” your voice cracked. “i thought… i lost you. i thought i’d die out here—alone”
his eyes softened, the tension in his jaw faltering. “idiot..”he murmured, kneeling beside you. “don’t say that”
you let out a trembling laugh. “then don’t make me wait that long again”
his hand found yours — warm, grounding. “not planning to”
and in that ruined forest, for the first time all night, you felt safe.
pressed to the wall — a kiss meant to hide, but he lingers.
underground!levi x reader / friends to lovers / canonverse / sfw / 535 w.
⟡ — @flufftober (alt 11)
levi’s been silent the whole way through the tunnel, the kind of silence that makes the air feel heavier with every step.
his boots splash sharply against the damp floor, shoulders tense, movements clipped.
“you could’ve been caught” he says finally, not looking back.
“i wasn’t” you mutter, adjusting the strap of the bag of stolen supplies.
he stops and turns to face you. the lantern light catches on the hard lines of his expression, the faint smear of dirt on his cheek. “you were one second away from being surrounded. that’s not luck… that’s stupid”
you bristle, meeting his gaze. “we needed the supplies, didn’t we? and i got it”
his jaw tightens. “you should’ve waited for my signal”
“you were taking too long”
he exhales sharply, running a hand down his face. “you never listen”
“you worry too much”
“someone has to” he mutters, the words edged with something you can’t quite read.
you tilt your head. “what’s that supposed to mean?”
he glances away, eyes flickering to the tunnel wall. quietly — almost under his breath — he says, “you just don’t get it”
you don’t get the chance to ask what he means because that’s when you both hear it.
bootsteps. heavy and quick.
voices shouting, echoing down the tunnel.
levi curses softly. “they’re following us”
before you can move, his hand closes around your wrist, tugging you into a narrow recess in the wall. your back hits the cold stone, and he presses in close shielding you from view as the glow of torches spills across the tunnel.
“levi—”
“quiet” he breathes, hand braced beside your head, eyes locked on the light growing brighter.
the shouts draw nearer, men searching the tunnels, calling orders about the stolen warehouse supplies. one passes close enough for you to catch his uneven breath.
levi’s chest is solid against yours, every muscle taut. you can feel the quick rhythm of his heartbeat against your ribs.
and then… he moves.
his hand slides from the wall to your jaw, firm but careful, and before you can react, his lips are on yours.
it’s fast, a distraction, a cover. your pulse leaps as his body shields yours completely, his breath steady while yours isn’t.
the footsteps fade. the voices retreat. the tunnel falls quiet again except for the dripping water.
levi doesn’t move right away.
his hand stays against your cheek, his forehead resting lightly against yours. his voice is low when he finally speaks. “they’re gone”
you nod slowly. “yeah”
he exhales, something fragile in the sound. “you scared me”
you blink. “i told you, i’m fine—”
“doesn’t mean i didn’t worry” his tone drops, quieter, the edge gone.
for a heartbeat, neither of you moves. then he leans in again not rushed, not panicked. softer. this time, it’s not for cover.
when he pulls back, the faintest trace of a smile ghosts his lips before he murmurs, “come on. before they circle back”
he steps ahead, but his shoulder brushes yours as you fall into step beside him, close enough that you can still feel the warmth of his touch long after the kiss fades.
levi returns with mud, mist, and a hug that feels like home
bf!levi x reader / comfort / canonverse / sfw / 315 w.
⟡ — @flufftober
the barracks are quiet when he finally returns. the sun’s long gone, and the air smells faintly of steel and soap—clean, sharp, familiar. you’re sitting by the window, a blanket over your legs, healing still from the injury that kept you from the last mission. the lantern beside you flickers when the door creaks open.
you look up instantly. “you’re back.”
levi steps inside, shutting the door behind him. his cloak is damp from the mist, boots heavy with mud, eyes shadowed but clear. “tch. didn’t think i’d stay out forever.”
before he can say another word, you’re already on your feet—carefully, wincing just a little—and crossing the room. his brows knit, like he’s about to scold you, but you ignore it. you reach him first, arms wrapping around him tight.
for a second, he’s still. then he exhales, low and shaky, and his arms come around you too—firm, grounding, almost desperate. his chin rests against your hair.
“you shouldn’t be walking around,” he mutters against your temple.
“you shouldn’t make me wait so long,” you whisper back.
he huffs out a quiet breath that might almost be a laugh, though it sounds more like relief. when he finally pulls back, his hand lingers at your waist, thumb brushing near the edge of your bandage.
“still hurts?” he asks.
“a bit,” you admit. “but less now.”
he glances at you, something soft flickering behind the usual calm. “good.”
you guide him to sit, and he doesn’t resist. the air between you hums with quiet—the kind that feels full rather than empty.
you brush the dirt from his sleeve. “was it bad?”
“could’ve been worse.” he pauses, then adds quietly, “wasn’t the same without you there.”
your chest tightens, warmth threading through the ache. “you’re home now,” you say softly.
he hums, almost under his breath, and presses his forehead to yours. “yeah,” he murmurs. “home.”
levi x reader / slowburn / friends to lovers / modern au / sfw / 203 w.
⟡ — @flufftober (alt 6)
levi wasn’t exactly the type to do “dates.” when he asked you out, it was blunt, almost careless—“dinner. tomorrow.” but when you met him outside the little café, he was already there, standing stiffly in a dark button-up, like he’d actually put thought into it.
the first fifteen minutes were quiet. you talked, he listened, occasionally giving curt replies. you worried maybe he regretted asking you at all.
then the waiter brought tea, and everything shifted. levi relaxed, fingers curling around the cup, and for the first time his gaze lingered on you instead of the window.
“you’re nervous,” he said flatly, though there was no judgment in it.
“so are you,” you countered.
his lips twitched—almost a smile. after that, the conversation flowed easier. you teased him about his straight posture, he rolled his eyes when you nearly spilled your drink, but he never once looked away from you.
by the time the night ended, he walked you home without being asked, hands stuffed in his pockets. at your door, you hesitated, unsure if he’d even want to kiss you goodnight.
but then his hand brushed yours, tentative, lingering. “second date?” he asked, eyes steady on yours.
I'll just say this and leave. What do you think about writing about Levi giving Yn a back massage?
levi giving you a massage
a/n: there’s something about this idea that felt really soft to me. we all know levi isn’t someone who shows affection loudly, so moments like this feel especially meaningful. it’s quiet, close, and intentional, very him in the way he cares without needing many words 🫶🏻💓
the apartment smelled of clean laundry and bergamot. levi came home early, sleeves rolled up, hair wind tossed. you were slumped on the couch in an old hoodie, laptop heavy on your thighs.
he set his keys down with a quiet clink and returned holding the little bottle of essential oil.
“move,” he said, low and even. “on your stomach. shirt up.”
heat flushed your cheeks, but you obeyed. the couch dipped as he knelt, knees bracketing your hips.
his hands warmed as he rubbed the oil between his palms. firm thumbs pressed into the base of your neck, slow circles pulling a soft hiss from your throat.
“tch. knotted worse than last time,” he muttered, working down your spine. when he hit the worst knot between your shoulder blades, he leaned in harder. you groaned.
“too much?”
“no… don’t stop.”
he huffed and kept going, palms gliding smoother. then came the lightest brush of lips against the back of your neck.
you turned your head. his gray eyes were softer, a faint flush on his cheeks.
“batter?” his voice had gone rough.
you smiled into your arms. “way better. you’re hired.”
Just a thought I had— reader is bloated and and makes a pregnant joke and Levi is just like, I want that ACKZJJC NOT IN A SUGGESTIVE WAY I MEAN THAT IN A dad!husband!Levi way bc he deserves all the love and all the fluff and I want to see him thinking of it and idk I love him sm
levi ackerman wants a family
a/n: oh my this DESTROYED me 😭😭 dad & husband levi is everything to me too. him hearing it as a joke but immediately thinking about a future with reader, protecting them both, quietly wanting it without pushing… yeah. he deserves all the love and softness. thank you for this thought, it lives in my brain rent free now 🥺🤍🫂
you’re on the couch, half-reclined, one hand resting on your stomach as you sigh.
“ugh. i’m so bloated,” you mumble.
“did you eat too fast again?”
“maybe,” you say, then tilt your head, lips twitching. “or maybe i’m secretly pregnant.”
it’s meant to be a joke.
levi freezes.
“don’t joke like that…” he says after a moment, quieter than usual.
you blink and glance at him. he’s looking at you now, expression unreadable but soft around the edges.
“why not?” you ask gently.
he steps closer, resting a hand over yours where it sits on your stomach, careful, almost reverent.
“because i think about it,” he admits. “you. a kid. our home.”
your chest tightens.
he clears his throat. “i’d want that. when you’re ready.”
you smile, leaning into him. “you’d be a good dad.”
𑣲 im on my period & im having cramps rn and when i was writing this..i feel like a zombie :( so i decided to write a short one to comfort myself🧘🏻♀️
levi found you curled up on the bed, half-buried under the blanket, clutching your stomach.
“cramps?” he asked quietly.
you nodded, hair messy, eyes tired.
without teasing, he went to the kitchen, reheated the heating pad, and brewed your favorite tea. a few minutes later, he returned, carefully placing both in your hands.
you leaned on his shoulder, and he adjusted slightly so you’d be comfortable. silence settled around you.
“you didn’t have to rush home” you murmured.
“i wasn’t rushing” he said. “i’m not leaving you to suffer alone”
you smiled into his shoulder. “you’re sweet”
“don’t start with that” he muttered, but his hand rubbed your back anyway.
you stayed like that, quiet, warm, safe, until your breathing evened out.
the list was short — milk, bread, detergent. somehow, you’ve been in the store for nearly an hour.
“we don’t need three types of cereal” levi mutters, pushing the cart like it personally offended him.
“we do” you say, holding up the boxes. “one’s for weekdays, one’s for weekends–”
“and the third?”
“for when i’m sad.”
he sighs, grabs the box, and drops it into the cart. “tch. fine, emotional support cereal.”
you grin, following him down the aisle. he scans shelves like he’s inspecting recruits, then slips your favorite snack into the cart when he thinks you’re not looking.
“saw that” you tease.
he shrugs, eyes forward. “just keeping morale up.”
you bump his shoulder, smiling. “you’re good at that.”
tags: medieval & modern au / forbidden love / knight & princess / angst / happy ending / sfw / 776 w.
summary: reincarnated love finds its way back. once a princess and her knight, torn apart by duty, now given a second chance to love freely
જ⁀➴ ✉︎ read on ao3 ⋮ levi week’25 ⋮ main masterlist
in your first life, you were a princess with a kingdom on your shoulders.
levi was the knight sworn to protect you with his life.
they told you two things very early:
you belonged to the crown.
he belonged to the sword.
you were never meant to belong to each other.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
he is assigned to guard you at fifteen.
you remember the exact moment:
the training yard, sunlight scattering against metal, and a boy with steel-grey eyes standing impossibly straight when your father introduced him as your personal knight.
you nodded politely.
he didn’t dare look you in the eyes.
but you noticed the faint tremble in his hands and for some reason, your heart remembered it.
years passed
he escorts you everywhere:
to councils, to ceremonies, to stables, to garden walks.
you see him more than your betrothed, more than your ladies-in-waiting, sometimes more than your own family.
he learns the rhythm of your footsteps.
you learn the sound of his breathing armor.
and slowly, dangerously,
you begin to fall in love with your protector.
you think you hide it well.
you’re wrong.
levi sees everything.
but he keeps his distance.
he has to.
he is sworn.
until the night he no longer can.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
it happens in the abandoned tower
a place he escorts you to “for your safety,” even though you both know it’s a lie.
you’re crying after another meeting with advisors discussing your arranged marriage.
he wipes your tears with his gloved thumb, gentle in a way knights aren’t supposed to be.
you whisper, “stay with me.”
he breaks.
his forehead rests against yours, breath shaky, hands trembling as they hold your waist, not possessive, not bold, just desperate.
that night, you promise each other everything.
you date in shadows.
a brush of hands beneath a cloak
hushed laughter behind stone pillars
his warm hand guiding your horse reins
your fingers fixing a crooked buckle on his armor
levi loves you fiercely, silently, fully.
but the kingdom belongs to eyes.
and someone eventually sees.
it happens during a festival.
your father, the king, notices how levi looks at you.
not like a knight watching a royal.
but like a man watching the one thing he’d burn kingdoms for.
that night, levi is summoned.
you aren’t allowed in the throne room, but you hear the shouting:
“you swore loyalty to the crown!”
“i swore to protect her.”
“not love her!”
“i don’t choose what my heart does.”
you’ve never heard levi raise his voice before.
it terrifies you more than the king’s rage.
you run to the tower later, but he arrives battered, exhausted, shaken.
“i’m being sent away,” he tells you, voice breaking. “far from you.”
your heart shatters.
you cling to him, sobbing like the princess you’re not supposed to be.
he holds you tighter than armor allows.
he kisses your forehead, painfully soft.
“i’ll find you again,” he whispers.
“even if it takes lifetimes.”
and then he’s gone.
your arranged wedding approaches. the tower grows colder. your dreams shorter.
you never see him again.
the story ends with both of you painfully alive and painfully apart.
unfinished. unresolved.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
centuries later, you walk into a crowded bookstore.
you pick up a book about medieval knights and feel something tug in your chest
an ache you can’t name.
someone brushes past your shoulder.
“sorry” a low voice murmurs.
you look up.
he stands there.
same eyes. same presence. same breath-stealing familiarity.
you don’t know him. but you know him.
he pauses too long, staring in a way no stranger should. like he’s relieved. like he’s found something he lost long ago.
you meet again, by chance, several times. and then, slowly, the dreams begin:
a lantern-lit tower, teary whispers, a knight who held you like you were the only thing that mattered and a king’s furious voice echoing through stone halls.
you mention the dreams one day.
he goes still.
“i have them too.” he says it like a confession.
and then
your dream ends exactly where his begins.
the same life. the same heartbreak. the same unfinished love.
you both sit there, breath caught between disbelief and something deeper. this time there is no king, no kingdom, no vows to bind him, no arranged marriage to tear you apart.
in this life, he can hold your hand openly. you can love him without fear. the second chance you never got.
and maybe, just maybe, the universe remembers what you two lost and is finally giving it back.
tags: modern au / friends to lovers / slow burn / confession / levi being jealous / sfw / 398 w.
summary: when a stranger flirts with you at the bar, levi quietly steps in, revealing his feelings and jealousy, finally making your relationship official
જ⁀➴ ✉︎ read on ao3 ⋮ levi week’25 ⋮ main masterlist
the bar is loud and warm, but levi and you have your little corner like always. everyone else drifts around, but the two of you stay side by side, sharing fries and making quiet jokes only the other can hear.
“i’ll be right back” levi murmurs, brushing his hand against your arm before heading to the bathroom.
he’s gone less than a minute when someone slips into his empty seat. a stranger. too close. too confident.
“didn’t think someone like you would be sitting here alone” he says, leaning in.
you shake your head. “i’m not”
“really? looks that way”
he doesn’t move back. his hand lands on the table right beside your elbow, close enough to make your stomach twist.
that’s when levi returns.
he stops, takes in the scene, and something in him sharpens. not loud. not dramatic. just a quiet, unmistakable jealousy that tightens his jaw and narrows his eyes.
“she’s not alone” levi says, voice low but steady. “move.”
the man scoffs. “relax, i was just—”
“she said no.” levi’s tone doesn’t rise, but it hits harder than anything else could.
the stranger backs off and disappears into the crowd.
you exhale. “that was awkward”
levi sits down, closer than before, shoulders brushing. “did he bother you”
“a little…” you glance at him. “were you… jealous?”
he looks away, ears tinting pink. “i didn’t like how he was looking at you”
you can’t help a smile. “i didn’t either”
his eyes flick back to yours, steady and searching. “i don’t want anyone else thinking they have a chance with you”
your heartbeat jumps. “and why’s that?”
levi hesitates only a second before his fingers brush yours under the table, slow and deliberate. “because i want to be the one you go home with”
the noise of the bar fades.
you turn your hand so your fingers slip between his. “you already are”
levi’s breath catches, relief flooding his face in quiet, subtle waves. “yeah”
“yeah” you whisper back. “i’ve liked you for a while”
levi squeezes your hand, thumb stroking once across your skin. “me too. should’ve said something sooner”
“you just did”
he huffs a soft laugh, leaning just a bit closer, knees touching yours. “so… we’re together now”
“we’ve basically been together” you tease. “this just makes it official”
levi doesn’t let go of your hand for the rest of the night.
tags: canonverse / playful teasings / married couple / soft domestic moments / fluffy / sfw / 776 w.
summary: you plan a quiet birthday for levi, filled with teasing, laughter, and small intimate moments, ending with handmade rings and snow-lit streets
જ⁀➴ ✉︎ read on ao3 ⋮ levi week’25 ⋮ main masterlist
the streets of trost are alive with the holidays. cadets are home for winter break, street vendors line every corner, and twinkling lights hang from every balcony. levi walks beside you, hands tucked into his coat pockets, expression stoic, but you can see it, the slightest tightness in his jaw whenever the crowd grows too thick.
“i know you hate crowds” you murmur, slipping your hand into his. he glances down at you, brow slightly raised.
“you’re aware?” he says flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitches.
“of course” you reply, tugging him gently toward a quieter side street. “i promised you a birthday that doesn’t involve elbowing strangers for space”
he allows himself a faint hum, letting you guide him. your fingers lace together more firmly as you wind through less busy alleys, past small shops with warm light spilling from their windows. levi’s shoulders relax gradually, and he leans slightly closer, brushing against you with casual intimacy.
you arrive at a small, tucked-away café, its windows fogged slightly from the heat inside. the faint aroma of pastries and spiced tea greets you, and levi’s sharp gaze softens just a little.
“part one” you announce, sliding into a corner booth, your shoulder brushing his. “tea, sweets, and a quiet view of the street without getting trampled”
levi smirks faintly. “you really thought of everything” he mutters, reaching to lightly tug at the scarf around your neck in a teasing gesture. your chest warms, and you laugh softly.
inside, the café is cozy and almost empty, a stark contrast to the bustling streets. you sip your tea slowly, fingers brushing occasionally as you reach for sugar or stir your cups. levi leans across the table at times, lowering his voice into soft murmurs, teasing you quietly about how you always pick the sweetest pastries and how your blush is so easy to see under the warm light.
after lingering over dessert, you guide him down another quiet street to a small cozy workshop tucked behind fairy lights. the scent of metal polish, wax, and faint cedar greets you both. levi’s eyes narrow, curiosity and amusement mingling.
“matching rings” you murmur, holding up a pair of small aprons. “we’re going to make them ourselves”
levi raises an eyebrow, but allows you to slip the apron over his shoulders. “you trust me with this?”
“of course” you reply, linking your fingers with his as you guide him to the workbench. your hands brush constantly, adjusting his grip on a tool, helping steady his wrist, your shoulders nudging together.
levi, surprisingly, is a natural. his hands move deftly, guiding yours with ease, showing small tricks you never expected. he smirks whenever you fumble. “careful” he murmurs, resting a hand on your waist as he leans close, “you’re making it crooked”
“i’m trying!” you protest, cheeks heating as he tilts his head to watch your movements.
“hm” he hums, leaning just a little closer, “maybe if you watch someone who actually knows what they’re doing…” his fingers brush yours, guiding the tool gently, “you’d stand a chance”
you laugh, swatting lightly at his arm, though your hand stays under his. “you’re impossible” you tease, feeling the warmth of his presence and the playful intimacy of the moment.
he tilts his head dramatically to inspect your progress, pretending to critique the sketch-like scratches on the metal. “hmm…not bad” he says, tone exaggerated, “but i’d expect perfection from my wife”
“i’ll take that as encouragement” you murmur, resting your head lightly against his shoulder.
the hours slip by in laughter, whispered teases, and quiet touches. finally, the rings are done, perfect and cool under your fingertips. levi slides yours onto your finger with deliberate care, thumb brushing over your knuckles. “we’ll see how long we can hide these” he murmurs.
“hide them?” you tease, leaning closer. “to show off later?”
“partly” he admits, voice low. “mostly for me”
the snow outside starts falling gently, dusting the windows with delicate white. levi leans slightly back, arm snug around your waist, the other holding your hand. he presses a soft kiss to your temple. “happy birthday to me” he murmurs, though his gaze lingers on you more than anything else.
“and happy birthday to you too” you reply, leaning into him, thumb brushing against his hand. “for letting me plan a day around your crowd-aversion”
levi chuckles softly, tightening his arm slightly. “i wouldn’t have it any other way” he murmurs.
together, hands intertwined and rings snug, you leave the workshop, stepping into the soft snow of trost, hearts light and close, your day filled with teasing, laughter, and quiet married couple intimacy.
the front door clicked shut behind you, and levi’s sharp gaze snapped up from the couch before you even kicked off your shoes.
“you’re home.” 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.
“oi.” levi’s grip was firm, grey eyes narrowed in that signature death glare. “i didn’t buy these coasters for nothing. use them.”
you blinked, then grinned, deliberately hovering the sweating cup an inch above the pristine wooden table. “but the coaster’s all the way over there—”
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 he’d bought specifically because it matched the minimalist aesthetic he maintained like it was his religion.
you leaned into his side, chin on his shoulder. “you’re so cute when you’re annoyed about my slobbishness.”
“tch. annoying woman.” despite the grumble, his arm slid around your waist, pulling you closer. his thumb brushed absentmindedly over your hip.
“next time you leave a ring on my table, i’m making you sleep on the couch.”
you laughed softly and pressed a kiss to his jaw. “liar. you’d drag me back to bed in five minutes.”
levi didn’t deny it. he just tightened his hold and muttered, “use the damn coasters.”
