3 times levi didn’t say how he felt… and the time he finally did
pairing: levi ackerman x reader
tags: canonverse / slow burn / unspoken feelings / friends to lovers / sfw / 711 w.
summary: three times when levi cared without saying it to fixing your uniform when you were falling apart, stepping in when someone talked down to you, and staying outside the infirmary all night and the mission aftermath that finally pushed him to admit what he’d been holding back
1. the time he silently fixed your uniform after you broke down in an empty hallway
you thought the barracks hallway was empty when the stress finally caught up to you — the mission prep, the pressure, the fear sitting heavy in your chest.
just a quiet shake of your hands as you tried to steady your breathing.
you didn’t even hear his footsteps.
“your collar’s crooked” levi said quietly.
you jolted, wiping at your face too fast, trying to pull yourself together.
he stepped closer — slowly, like approaching a frightened animal — and reached for your collar with careful fingers. he smoothed the fabric, straightened the crease, the gesture so gentle it nearly undid you again.
he didn’t comment on your shaking hands.
didn’t ask why you’d been crying.
didn’t offer empty comfort.
just fixed your uniform piece by piece, as if putting you back together one adjustment at a time.
when he finished, he hesitated — then brushed a bit of dust from your shoulder.
“there” he murmured. “you’re good”
you whispered a thank you.
“don’t mention it” he said, already turning away.
but you noticed the way he slowed his steps, making sure you could walk beside him if you wanted.
2. the time he stood between you and a senior officer without meaning to
you’d been unfairly blamed for a miscommunication — something that wasn’t your fault. the officer’s tone was sharp, cutting.
levi stepped between you two before he even realized he’d moved.
“enough” he said, voice dangerously calm.
you blinked. “i… didn’t need you to do that”
“i didn’t do anything” he replied, refusing to look at you.
but his hand lingered near yours as if making sure you weren’t trembling.
he just walked beside you the entire rest of the day.
3. the time he stayed outside the infirmary all night
you’d overexerted yourself during drills and passed out — nothing life-threatening, but it landed you in the infirmary for the evening.
when you woke up in the middle of the night, the halls were quiet.
so was the chair outside your door.
levi was sitting there, arms crossed, eyes half-open in that stern, exhausted way.
“you’re awake” he said immediately — like he’d been on guard the whole time.
“levi… were you waiting?”
“don’t be stupid. i was—”
he stopped, reaching for an excuse.
“—checking the… cleaning standards”
“clearly they’re terrible”
but when your blanket slipped, he reached over instantly to fix it — too fast, too natural, like it wasn’t the first time he’d done it that night.
and the time he finally did
the next mission had gone badly. smoke thick in the air, the world ringing with the aftermath. you were helping secure the wounded when levi found you.
his eyes scanning you head to toe, searching for blood that wasn’t there.
“you’re late” he said but the words trembled.
he swallowed hard. “i couldn’t find you”
that was it. the truth slipped out before he could stop it.
“i thought…” he stopped, jaw tightening, breath shuddering in a way he tried to hide. “i thought you were gone”
his hands hovered near you — not touching, but wanting to. needing to.
“i keep telling myself it doesn’t matter” he said quietly. “that losing people is part of the job”
“that’s not something i can… just live with”
he finally met your eyes — unguarded, exhausted, honest.
“i should’ve said it earlier” he murmured.
“i care. more than i should. more than i know how to handle”
“if you don’t want to hear it, fine” he added, softer. “but it’s the truth”
and for the first time, levi didn’t either.
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