A one-shot for the Levi Ackerman x Fem!OC series, North Star
Tags: fluff; post-Rumbling world; postwar!Levi feeling the healing power of nature
Author's note: While this one-shot is part of the North Star world, it can still be enjoyed without having read the series.
But the story is best enjoyed while sitting under the trees.
Levi canāt recall ever enjoying summers in Paradis. It had always been unbearably hot and humid; every shred of his uniform sticking to his body making it difficult to move. Not to mention that summer was the busiest time of year for expeditions. Riding for hours in the heat, the only time he felt a cool breeze was when he was flying through the air on ODM gear. The sound of nearby thunder from a summer storm would mingle with the footsteps of titans, and the flowers that dotted the forest ground were often splattered with the blood of his comrades.Ā
No, he had no good memories of summer.Ā
Heād arrived in Mursa at the peak of the season and with no knowledge of mountain summers.Ā But the moment heād moved into your home he saw how much you treasured it: the fresh flowers neatly displayed on the breakfast table every morning, and the basket of vegetables from the garden under your arm. You opened every window in the house to let a crosswind cool the rooms, the gossamer fabric of the curtain blowing in the wind.Ā
He started his walk to his job at the stables in the early dawn hours, when the sun had not yet burned off the heavy dew collecting on each leaf and flower, the birds just beginning their songs. He noticed that the air was cool and crisp in the mornings and evenings here, and youād given him a jacket when youād seen him bristle at the chill.Ā
If people could be seasons then heād decided you were summer. You were bright and warm, and had a bustling energy about you. He could hear you humming in your garden when you were pulling weeds, humming when you put laundry on the line to dry. Always humming, always singingā¦
āCome ride with me,ā you said one day while visiting the stables. You were brushing your horse, Astrid, and she seemed to snort in approval. āYou were saying you need to ride Demon more anyway, right?ā
Itās true, he needed to get the stallion out and stretch its legs.Ā
āOk, but just for a quick ride. I need to get back and do the rest of todayās chores,ā he answered.Ā
āPfft, youāve done most of them already, the rest can wait. Besides, itās summer!ā
(This was something you often said, heād realized -Ā when you wanted to sleep in a little longer on the weekends, when youād eat an extra helping of strawberries with cream, when youād stay up too late reading a book - as if summer was some magical pass to do things you donāt normally do.)
āHeās fine to leave for a few hours, right Mathieu?ā
The old man smiles, the deep wrinkles around his mouth deepening. āLevi works so efficiently, I barely have anything left for him to do today.ā He grabs a saddle and gives it to Levi. āGo, enjoy the summerās day.ā
Once both horses are saddled, you and he ride out of the stables and into the meadow.Ā
āWhere to?ā he asks, having a feeling youāve got something in mind.Ā
āWeāre gonna ride up into those mountains a bit.ā You point to a mountain range just to the west of the stables. āI have a place to show you that I think youāre gonna love.ā
You look at him with a gleam in your eye. āWanna race to the foot of the mountain?ā
He liked this competitive side of you. āYou know Demon and I will beat you.ā
āNot if I get a head start!āĀ
A gentle prod to Astridās and youāre off in a flash. Levi smirks and pets the side of Demonās neck.
āTime to show off a little, eh?ā Levi clicks his tongue and taps Demonās sides, just as theyād practiced over the past week. The black stallion snorts, stomping the ground before he starts his cantor. It doesnāt take long before theyāre neck-in-neck with you, but he says a command and Demon goes even faster. By the time you and Astrid reach the foot of the mountain, the other two are relaxed, Demon nibbling on some blades of grass.
āWhat was that about beating me?ā Levi smirks.
You roll your eyes before moving past him, starting up a narrow trail that leads into the trees. He follows behind, welcoming the cool shade as you ride further up. Thereās a rustling in the bushes and Levi whips his head toward the sound, suddenly on alert. A deerās head rises, seemingly unbothered by their presence.
Levi sighs. Even after all these years, itās hard not to think that any movement in a forest is a possible threat. He keeps his eyes on your back as you ascend, the trail too narrow for you to ride side by side. But itās a well worn trail, Levi notices; whether it was you or someone else that created it, itās been used often. You donāt speak a word the entire trek until suddenly the ground evens out and you stop.
āHere we are,ā you declare in a sing-song voice, āmy little hideaway.ā
The dense foliage of the pine and elm trees has given way to a small clearing dotted with white and blue flowers, their petals open towards the sun as if greeting its warmth. It was almost perfectly circular, like it was cleared of trees and specifically made.Ā
āMartin and I would come here when we were kids.ā You step into the clearing. āWe thought fairies made this place - itās always felt so magical.ā
āMagical beings that live in the forest.ā Levi looks at you, perplexed. āThere arenāt forest spirits where youāre from?ā
āNot that Iām aware of. But there were plenty of things that wanted to kill us,ā he replies.Ā
āFairies can be mischievous, but theyāre usually kind and benevolent. Especially if you give them a gift.ā
You take out a peach and a small bottle from your saddle bag and place it under a large tree next to the clearing. āThey particularly like wine and fruit.ā
āWho doesnāt,ā Levi says, slightly to mock but he must admit, his interest has peaked. āNow what happens? Do they jump out of the trees or something?ā
Ā āNo! Thatās silly,ā you answer. Your eyes shine as you take his arm and pull him into the center of the clearing. āI know you donāt believe in any of this stuff, but..ā
You sit down, pulling him down with you. ā...youāll see, thereās something special about this place.āĀ
Before Levi can respond, youāre lying down in the grass, your face towards the sky, just like the flowers around you. āJust lay down. Close your eyes. Listen.ā
Thereās something about the calm and confident way you voice those three commands, and the next thing he knows, heās lying beside you, his arms crossed against his chest.
One final sigh of resignation, and he closes his eyes. He waits a few seconds, wondering if something will happen, and laughing at himself internally for even entertaining these kinds of foolish thoughts.Ā
But then his breathing steadies, and he notices that itās in rhythm with the breeze blowing through the trees around him: an in and out, as if the trees are also breathing.Ā
He feels a tiny insect - probably an ant - walking across his hand, the tall grass brushing against his body.
He smells the scent of pine in the air, sweet and woody.
He hears the bird song around him - the same melody he hears every day, but now, he notices every note. Itās the most beautiful thing heās ever heard.
Thereās another sound - a voice in the air, but itās not yours.Ā
Levi opens his eyes to the sound of you humming in the distance. He sits up, blinking a few times to adjust to the changing lighting.
āYou felt it, didnāt you?ā
Youāre picking some flowers next to a tree, twisting their stems into a flower crown.
He rubs the back of his neck before standing up and wipes off the grass from his pants. āHow long was I out?ā
āOh, for about an hour. I didnāt want to wake you, you looked so peaceful.āĀ
Levi walks over to the tree youāre sitting under and leans against the trunk. You look up and smile at him.
āThe fairies tend to give us what we need most. Apparently, you needed rest.ā
Levi does a mental scan of his body. He does feel rested, more than he has in a long time. His muscles are relaxed, and even his knee isnāt aching as much. Heās never been a superstitious person - he believes what his eyes and other senses tell him - but he has to admit, there is something special about this place.
He wants to ask you what you were given during your time in the clearing, and what you need most. And why you brought him, of all people,here.
Instead, he looks away, his face apathetic. āYeah, well, an afternoon nap is never a bad idea.ā He glances down to see you smiling at him. āWhat?ā he asks defensively.
You smile so sweetly at him, he feels a slight heat to his cheeks.Ā
āOhā¦nothingā¦nothing,ā you reply, standing up as you hold the flower crown. āThanks for coming with me today.ā
āWould youā¦come here again with me some time?ā
He can feel the blush growing across his face now and he turns away, walking towards Demon, whoās grazing nearby. āSure.ā
He looks back at you to see that youāve now put the crown upon your head. The breeze blows some of your hair across your face, and he almost reaches out to push the strands behind your ear, but you beat him to it. Of all people, why would you want to spend time with him? You'd only just met him a little over a month ago. And what is it about you that makes him want to say yes to whatever you ask?
He canāt explain what it is about this place that makes it feel so special. Maybe itās some natural phenomenon, maybe it is fairies.
Or maybe itās just you.
He reaches out and straightens the crown on your head.
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