a/n: merry christmas everyone and happy birthday Levi :D
———————
Levi loves you fresh out the shower.
You know how particular he is about cleanliness, so when his partner is all clean and soft…he adores it, more than he will admit.
So when you climb into bed beside him, hair damp and skin soft from your lotion, your not surprised to find him automatically pulling you towards him and onto his lap, straddling his muscular thighs.
“You showered?”
“Mhmm.”
Levi buries his face into your neck without a second thought, you shiver as you feel his nose brush against your neck.
He slowly meets your eyes. “you smell good.” he comments, a hand coming up to run through your hair.
He leans forward slightly, lips brushing against yours.
his lips latch onto yours, the hand in your hair moving to your cheek, holding your face as he kisses you.
You both slowly break away, you giggle as you notice the slight flush of his cheeks.
“Your blushing, Levi.” You tease.
“…i’m not blushing.” His eyes dart away from your face.
Levi’s greatest weakness was you, and despite his best efforts at hiding it, you see right through him.
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Little blurbs that I write when I'm sleep deprived or under the influence. I don't write in my normal style for these—they're more like brain dumps and what my outlines look like rather than actual drabbles. Usually less than 500 words. There will probably be errors (I don't proofread these).
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Map of the Soul Collection (coming soon)
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❥ Levi doesn't understand memes ♡
❥ Levi reminds you about your appointment ♡
❥ Levi's reaction to his plus size s/o wanting to work out ♡☼
Pairing: levi ackerman x f!reader
Fandom: attack on titan (modern au)
Word Count: 7.2k
Story Summary: So you're dating your neighbor who also happens to be a sex hotline dom named Levi Ackerman. Stranger things have happened, right?
Tags: 18+, suggestive sexual content, thirsty for levi warning, tooth-rotting fluff, neighbors au, newly established relationship, ex-boyfriend mention, the direct sequel to Press Four For More Options
Credits: dividers by @/saradika-graphics
part four. / part six. | masterlist
SEVEN WEEKS LATER
Six o'clock, on the dot.
Not only is this the first time in a long time that you've woken up way before your 7:00 a.m. alarm, but you have never felt more refreshed in your life.
Levi Ackerman is a creature of habit — a lifelong quirk he revealed very early into your relationship. Even if he's tempted to (finally) take a night for himself, the morning routine is always the same: show up to the gym around 6:30 a.m., spend an hour or two working out on a rotation schedule, take advantage of the quiet from people trapped at their office jobs to run errands... all before noon.
Except he's added a new checkbox to his laundry list of tasks, lately, specific for your eyes and your eyes alone.
While you lie waste in the office cafeteria for your lunch break wishing you were anywhere else, your phone dings with one (1) new notification.
LEVI ❤️ : Photo
Yeah.
Your boyfriend sends daily photos.
Levi claims they're just so you are aware he's thinking of you.
You know damn well he is not that innocent.
Because the photos are not of him. Not completely.
Sometimes he'll show off a new shipment of tea that came in early with his sleeves rolled up, showing off his veiny forearms.
Sometimes he'll send his reflection in the mirror asking if a shirt looks nice, but the top buttons of the white Henley are undone, his slacks hugging his thighs just so.
Sometimes he'll go off the routine and send an additional late-night selfie. In the censored darkness of his bedroom — damn that old phone of his for not having Night Sight settings — you can still see his bare collarbone and shoulders as he wishes you good night.
It's torture.
(You've saved every single one, for reasons.)
But as soon as the clock strikes five, Levi invites you over for dinner with a preview of the night's menu before he's due to clock in for his shift.
Every.
Night.
For weeks.
Hypothetically, dinner is supposed to start at six.
Realistically, it never does — because there are more pressing matters at hand, like the warm ones splayed under your shirt.
For an apartment as spotless as his, you've likely defiled two-thirds of it by accident. Although there have been plenty of moments fooling around in the past with (failed) partners, making out with Levi feels… different. You're grown adults, but you feel that juvenile spark in the center of chest more when your lips meet after a (admittedly grueling) nineteen hours of being apart; infinitely charged like a battery that refuses to die, even when the work day has your patience tissue-paper thin.
The days used to be long. Monotonous. Stale.
Now your life is in technicolor, hinging on the big hand hitting :00 so you can rush home to see him.
And worrying about whether or not you're coming on too strong disappears the minute his front door opens. More often than not, you're met with the sight of Levi in an apron, his white button-down already halfway undone and his sleeves rolled to his elbows.
His head tilts like he's daring you to make the first move faster than him this time.
(He's lightning fast. You're more than happy to always lose.)
Neither of you seem to great each other by spoken word anymore.
Door opens, eyes meet—
Your mouth gravitates towards him like he's the opposing end of a magnet to yours.
How else are you meant to pass the time?
Waiting for the udon to cook? His hands free themselves from kitchen mittens to press you up against the counter, dipping his fingers under your shirt, all while kissing you senseless.
Stir fry taking an extra ten minutes? You'll end up on his couch, leg hooked around his hip, while he cradles your face and rocks his hips deliciously against yours.
Steeping the tea? Rather than staring down at a cup, you're half-lidded staring at a ceiling, back pressed into his dining table, while he worships your neck with slow, methodical kisses.
As you've come to learn, he's a phenomenal cook.
According to Levi, he's modesty a little out of practice (lies) because he can't remember the last time he entertained company that wasn't his mother or his two best friends.
For the longest time, he made ten-and-under meals; didn't try, didn't have to, didn't want to — when he was alone.
Now? It's his excuse to try a little harder, to be a little better, while life feels this easy.
It's a sentiment that resonates with you, too.
Although you don't stay overnight — it's too soon, he promised not to move too fast — Levi walks you back up the stairs to your apartment, every night, with a hand resting on the small of your back as if you are tethered in permanence.
Your back hits the cool sheets of the mattress, and sated exhaustion seeps in.
Whether from the day or overexerted lips, you can't really tell anymore.
What you feel is an all-consuming ache.
Safety.
Peace.
And as you lay there, all you can do is fixation on the ceiling, channeling the desire to be six floors above where you lay now to learn what it looks like when Levi Ackerman drifts off to sleep after a long shift at Scout Services Hotline.
.
.
.
.
.
6:28 a.m.
You're stationed by the corner of the free weights section before he even taps his membership card.
Lately the abrupt influx of new campaigns and ASAP requests at your job has made it difficult to meet him at the gym. It's invented a new layer of tired that you never knew existed.
You're so tired that you can only lay on Levi's couch, slow-kissing him during a television show neither of you were really interested in watching.
It's torture.
Yet the idea of seeing his face when he notices you by his usual space, thinking you were stuck running to the office earlier than usual, fuels the anxious jitters that had you jumping out of bed a half hour ago.
Because being near him is an addiction. It feels like an acute sickness.
Seeing his face is the only cure.
(God forbid you ever slipped that thought out in Annie's presence. She would wither and die from the co-dependent sentimentality.)
Dee-doooo!
The door chimes jingle in the dead, six-in-the-morning air.
An additional digital chirp sounds at the front of the gym — someone tapped their membership tab off a jingling key chain, their sneakers shuffling across the rubber floor.
Craning your neck, you spy him: sporting black gym shorts and a white tank top, Levi Ackerman's bare shoulders are peppered with fresh droplets from the light drizzle outside. His dufflebag is slung over his shoulder, head hung low, as music faintly plays through his wireless earbuds.
Levi makes it past the elliptical, the treadmills, curbs the corner and—
Oh.
Oh, he's not going to look up.
You leap a step back from the workbench when you realizing he isn't stopping his absent-minded walk.
The abrupt movement causes his neck to nearly snap from how fast he whips his head at attention.
Rounded stormy eyes meet yours with confusion before blinking into wild surprise.
"Oh, shit — baby, hey," he exhales like you've punched him in the stomach. His finger plucks one of the earbuds out. "You didn't say you were coming today."
Right.
Instead of updating him to death about your life through a series of texts, you're trying something new that it's frightening and, so far? Not a fun time:
Spontaneity.
(Trying to be a little less predictable to a person who seems to predict your every move.)
"Uh, surprise?" you say with the inability to make the declaration not sound like a question. "I mean, I thought it… That I could surprise you by showing up early, since I finally finished that big project."
Even in the best of moods, you still have the habit of seeking some kind of verbal approval.
It's a habit you have to kick, fast, before it sours something beautiful.
However, Levi takes your nerves in stride. Albeit not a wide grin, the corner of his mouth upticks with a short but nonetheless approving nod.
"A welcomed one," he reassures, taking out the additional earbud to put them back into their case. "I didn't think I would get to see you until tonight. I was making peace with it."
(You have half a mind to start walking around with a pillow in hand, since his mission as your boyfriend is to make you scream into one from his sweet, earnest confessions.)
"Well, ta-da, rip that peace treaty up because I am here to join you!" you blurt instead, waving jazz hands at your sides. "If that's alright."
His brow bends, knits, with amused confusion. "If that's alright?"
Your hands drop with a small, embarrassed huff. "Yeah."
"In what universe would it not be?"
"I'm just—"
Something warm touches your lips, silencing your explanation.
When Levi angles your chin towards his by cupping your jaw, you sigh against his mouth and kiss back. Your eyes close without another thought.
And just like that, you forget why you second guessed your decision to surprise him in the first place.
(Even if the only other soul in this gym at this hour is the front desk woman, you never took Levi as a public display of affection kind of guy.)
When you pull away just a fraction, you notice his lips continue to hover. He chases your mouth to seek more before pausing, forgetting himself. Blue-gray eyes flutter until they rise to meet yours.
(You're so not mad if he's secretly a PDA guy with kisses like that.)
"What's on your workout docket for today?" he asks breathlessly.
Without thinking, you swallow and shake your head. "I completely forget."
"You forget?"
"You zapped it right out of my head."
"How?"
"I don't know, you just kiss in a very zappy way."
"Zappy?" he repeats, squinting. His hand continues to rest on your cheek. "I have never heard anyone call a kiss zappy. What does that even mean?"
"Like electricity." You raise a hand, flicking your fingers. "Pew."
He can't help it: Levi snorts out loud.
"It's fucking criminal how cute you are."
Butterflies burst free in your stomach as you try not to melt.
(Who knew going to the smelly, sweaty gym could be a romantic place? News to you.)
"And you are way too distracting right now," you reply, unable to stop smiling as you turn back towards the mirror to pick up your abandoned free weight.
It's true: everything about him is distracting, but especially when he's dressed in his gym clothes.
The droplets of water from the gentle rain outside are just a delicious preview of the eventual sweat that will kiss his biceps once he picks up his weights of choice.
"This is distracting?" Levi replies simply. You nod. "But I just got here."
"Trust me," you promise, "with you doesn't take much."
His head tilts, the fringe following, before his eyes squint with threatening amusement.
He moves in a semi-circle to come around behind you, his hand gliding effortlessly down your forearm to fix your positioning with the free weight now clutched in your hand.
Levi leans in against your back, his lips purposely grazing the shell of your ear.
"I could make it worse."
Oh.
You feel the saliva disappear in your mouth when he holds your gaze with a knowing stare in the mirror — the same stare he held when you were lying on his bed, his thighs hugging the edges of his chair, his hand—
"Levi!"
An animated voice chirps from behind the two of you, cutting the fantasy short.
Levi's narrowed gaze rounds with mild recognition in his reflection.
"Oh, what a coincidence!" the voice continues. "I didn't think you'd be here so early."
When you move out of position to turn around, the first thing you notice is how impossibly still Levi becomes. The second thing happens to be his reflection: the twitch of his brow under his black fringe screams sheer irritation. His fingers instinctually flex at your forearm.
Between gritted teeth, he spits out a singular name:
"Hange."
As you whip your attention over your shoulder, you see two somewhat-familiar faces.
A lanky brunette with glasses and a costume pencil mustache stands on a stagnant treadmill beside a broad-shouldered, stone-faced blond wearing a black baseball cap. The person with glasses pokes mindlessly at the screen, never quite catching the number as if trying to appear aloof and busy. The other stands beside the treadmill, holding a comically small free weight curled to his large, left bicep.
Both wear appropriate gym attire, though the logo on the chest of the blond hits you like a freight train: SURVEY CORPS.
Levi remains statuesque behind you, hand removed and eyes downcast at the bench while his nostrils periodically flare for signs of life. Back and forth, your eyes shift from his reflection to the duo resting at the (very vacant) treadmills.
The second you make eye contact with the brunette — the one he called Hange at his place last week — a brilliant smile invades their face.
"Hi."
You blink. "Hello."
They press a hand to the center of their chest. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm—"
"One of his former coworkers?"
Hange's glasses nearly fall down their nose as they lurch to grip both sides of the treadmill screen, their gasp dramatic. "Oh my gosh, Erwin, he's talked about us."
"Hange," Levi hisses again. You may not have known Levi for long, but you know what that tone means: he's not happy.
"I am unsurprised," the man — Erwin — states in monotone. "What other friends would he mention to his significant other if not us?"
"Well, ya hope the guy would bring up the most important people in his life, but you never—"
"Why did Nanaba let the two of you in?" Levi shuts down the banter as he finally turns to face them, his expression deathly serious. You elect to remain silent. "You have to show a membership card to even get past the front desk."
Erwin, without missing a beat, holds up a bright yellow slip.
"We signed up for a Groupon."
"A what?"
Hange snorts, peeling off the pencil moustache adhered to their upper lip. "Honestly, I didn't think they'd honor it. Pretty sure it's out of date on the website."
Erwin briefly glances sidelong to Hange. "They didn't read the small print but handed over a week pass nonetheless."
"A week?" Levi repeats. "You're shitting me."
"Did you expect us to take the day pass and lose out on value?" Erwin quips in return, deadpanned, before his eyes trail to yours. "Is this the famous Scarlet?"
"Famous?" you repeat softly.
(He's talked to his friends about you more than once?)
Hange grins, nudging Erwin's side with their elbow.
"They're a bunch of parrots, eh, Erwin? Very birds of a feather."
Exhaling sharply, Levi crosses his arms over his chest. "Yes, this is my girlfriend. And before you two shitheads pretend to be surprised, I showed you photos before. If you wanted to meet her so damn bad, you could have asked."
Hearing the word girlfriend fly so flippantly from his mouth makes your throat close with a contained scream.
He's shown photos.
Wait, which ones?
"We didn't know if you'd say yes!" Hange cries, exasperated. "You're always so cagey with these sorts of things. Plus, you didn't answer a single meme I sent you the last two days."
"You also ignored the group chat," Erwin reminds, "which implies you were too busy to respond to an offer, so Hange—"
"We," Hange corrects, waggling a finger between the two of them. "Joint effort."
"—so we could meet you in the middle of your rigid routines."
Levi looks ready to explode as he grits his teeth. "I'm gonna strangle that fucking group chat with my bare hands—"
As they continue to banter back and forth amongst themselves, a litany of emotions flurry through your body as the trio fights: excitement, anxiety, elation, pride. Not only were you meeting the two most important people in his life beyond his mother, but you were known.
(Your ex-boyfriend never did that in the time you were together. Hell, no partner ever has.)
Hange makes their way over to you, scrunching their nose with light amusement as Erwin pulls out his phone to show the evidence of Levi's shortcomings. Levi, for the time being, seems distracted.
"For the record, it is always this chaotic in this friend group."
With a tiny, nervous laugh, you nod. "So I've heard."
"You'll get used to it," they say. "Erwin is much more aligned with Levi's brevity, but I have to say that I'm cursed with the gift of gab."
"Trust me, I'm not much better."
Hange grins. "Thank god, we need more yappers in our lives. Maybe you can convince Grumpy McGrumps to show up for Thursday dinner next week."
Your heart skips a beat. "Dinner?"
"Mhm, Erwin's favorite get-together excuse besides roping us into golfing," Hange explains. "We invited the two of you on our group chat, but as you can imagine, Levi is terrible with keeping up with it. Usually it's because he's working himself to death, but if this is why he doesn't answer?" They shrug playfully. "I'm not mad. Can I see you phone?"
"Oi, Four Eyes," Levi interjects, whipping his attention from Erwin to the two of you. Without thinking, you hand Hange your phone. "The hell're you talking to my girl about?"
My girl.
It never gets old.
"I'm inviting her to dinner, ya big recluse!" Hange exclaims as they open up a new contact form and type in a number, before handing it back to you. "Just in case he bails."
Levi's head drops back, face to the sky, as he sighs. "Not fucking dinner…"
"Too late, I think she's game!" Hange turns to you. "Are you?"
Your mouth opens, shuts, then opens again like a fish out of water before you blurt the first sentiment that comes to mind.
"Only if we go to Happy Hour before?"
Erwin nods, almost sagely. "The best answer one could have possibly given. Happy Hour is essential for Thursday dinner."
"Thirs-ty Thurs-day," Hange sing-songs.
Erwin quirks a brow to his ally. "Hange, make a new group chat and add her."
"Already on it."
Bringing your lips into your mouth, you try not to smile too wide. The fact that Levi's friends are so eager to get to know you — to involve you — is a high unlike any other.
If your mood wasn't already in the clouds, then it's certainly shot into space.
When you catch Levi's eye, he mouths — I'm sorry.
Your furrow your brow and mouth back — don't be.
With how fast Hange speaks, it's easy to forget the time. It's like you've known them your whole life despite just meeting them. Erwin is kind, cordial, and seemingly excited about meeting you in general.
They want to know the new person in Levi's life.
(How, in such little time, have you felt so seen?)
Suddenly your palm vibrates, forcing you to raise your arm and look at your phone. An alarm shimmies in a panic across your lock screen: GET TO WORK, BITCH.
(Did an hour pass by that quickly with Hange and Erwin? Did you really talk that much?)
"Shit," you murmur to yourself before looking up at the trio. "Sorry, I actually have to get ready to leave for work."
Albeit subtle, the corners of Levi's mouth turn south as he moves past Erwin to make his way back to your side. Hange scoots out of the way to rest their forearm on a nearby treadmill.
"Is it already 7:30?"
"Almost," you tell him, showing him your phone.
Levi huffs, and your surprise, appears visibly disappointed.
"Guess that's what happen when two blabbermouths decide to show up unannounced."
He hesitates — contemplating, it seems, as his eyes drop down to the right — but whatever he's unsure of, he seems to have shaken away. His foot shuffles forward, his thumb and forefinger grab hold of your chin to tilt it so he can capture your lips with his in a tender, chaste kiss.
You accept it — with surprise, obviously, but there are very few scenarios that you would say no to a goodbye kiss from your boyfriend.
(As if there is any scenario where you say no.)
When he pulls away, his stare softens.
"I'll see you later?"
Wordlessly, you nod.
"Good. Have a good day a work, alright? Text me if you need anything."
Sealing that promise with one quick, brave peck, you turn to Erwin and Hange with sheepish excitement. "It was nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise," Erwin replies, a ghost of a smirk playing against his lips. "We'll see you next Thursday at 6 p.m. sharp."
"I texted myself on your phone!" Hange exclaims, waving goodbye as you disappear into the locker rooms with a newfound pep in your step.
.
.
.
.
.
"For the record, I didn't say anything."
That's not a sentence you want to hear out of Annie's mouth the second you take a seat at your cubicle for the day.
Your quad of desks and chairs belongs to Annie, of course, as well as your colleagues Eren, Reiner, and Jean.
Eren's got a shit-eating grin on his face, his feet propped up by the mini-filing cabinet rolled out from under his desk. Jean is sitting on top of Reiner's desk eating an apple, but the two men are clearly interested in your arrival.
When you make eye contact with them, the four of them give a synchronized shrug.
Great.
Because that isn't suspicious or anything.
Sighing heavily, you pull out the contents of your work bag to produce your breakfast bento box. "Okay, I'll bite: say anything about what?"
"Someone saw you leave the bar a few weeks ago." Eren waggles his brow. "With a guy."
"Technically it was Armin," Reiner adds. "The person who saw, not the guy that left."
"Yeah, but he didn't realize he was talking out loud when he asked who she left with," Jean defends, "you know how he gets."
"And that guy was not—" Eren pauses, pointing his mechanical pencil to a wall leading to the finance department. "—He Who Shall Not Be Named Because Annie Will Hurt Me."
"Correct," Annie says, monotone. Her arms remain crossed with a steeping tea in her left, manicured hand. Her brow quirks. "Then Eren asked me who it was."
"She didn't budge."
"Can't get a word out of me, Yeager."
"It's so annoying."
"Just like you," Annie quips, sickeningly sweet.
"Love you, too," Eren mocks in return.
Reiner pulls a face, sitting back in his chair. "You really don't have to tell us anything if you don't want to, but it's nice to see you in better spirits lately."
A part of you wants to never tell another soul — a buried, selfish wish desperately wishes to keep Levi all to yourself. It's irrational, you know that, but there is something sacred about keeping him so close to your chest.
Although Levi's world has collided with yours, your world has yet to collide fully with his. Why?
Are you worried he won't like your friends?
Are you nervous he may see how much of a pushover you can be outside of him?
Are you scared of breaking some twisted imaginary narrative you've created, where somehow you can accept his life without any judgement but, for some reason, he can't accept yours?
(That's the anxiety of ruining a good thing creeping in.)
The nail of your index finger digs at the edge of your thumb, both hands resting in your lap. Pressing your tongue into the side of your cheek, you contemplate in circles about revealing your heart or keeping it back until you exhale slowly through your nose.
"He's a guy who lives in my apartment," you nonchalantly begin, causing Eren to nearly flail off of his seat before straightening up, "and we've been together for… a few weeks now."
"A few — a few weeks?" Eren yelps. "So a couple of months?"
"That's usually how long a few weeks are, yeah."
"Holy shit," Eren says, running a hand down his face. "Not that that's a bad thing. That's a great thing. A few weeks is awesome. What does he do for a living?"
"Sales," you answer without hesitation. "Contractor stuff."
(Not technically untrue.)
Annie's lips purse to avoid a smile while Jean and Reiner lean further towards your cubicle.
"He got a name?" Jean asks.
"Levi."
Eren squints. "Levi what?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yeah, stupid, that's why I'd as— ow! Annie!" Eren ducks from the flyby of a large eraser getting chucked at his head, holding his arm above for protection.
"Don't be rude."
"I wasn't being rude!"
"You're always rude, one way or another," Jean says flatly, standing up from Reiner's desk to lean against the edge of his cubicle. "Alright, so… Levi. Sales. He nice?"
"Very."
"How many dates?" Reiner chimes in.
Your nose scrunches as you swallow your food. "I mean, as in like, going out to a restaurant or the park? None. But he cooks me meals every night, pretty much, so I guess like… a lot?"
"Damn, he even cooks," Jean repeat in awe.
"Who cooks?"
A voice, casual but enthusiastic, sends a chill down your spine.
The food in your mouth seems to sour when you realize who's standing by Eren's cubicle. Porco Galliard probably hasn't realized you're sitting at your desk, considering Reiner's hulking frame tends to take up a lot of the space. He seems to think he's talking amongst his own friends — which he is, technically speaking.
Jean and Porco game on weeknights. Eren and Porco run the fantasy leagues of your department during the major sports season.
Hell, Porco is the reason Reiner even has a job here. Their friendship goes all the way back to childhood.
It's just unfortunate that you fell for him and, yeah, he was into you for a spell, but it was in-between his will-we, won't-we with Pieck that's superseded your own history.
The quad goes deathly silent.
Steeling your nerves, you decide to poke your head out from the side to see him for yourself. Porco stands with his arms crossed, feet planted wide, with his signature smirk on his lips. His hair is perfectly swooped, the edges of his fade freshly done. He's wearing your favorite polo, the one that accentuates his arms, but you don't feel the same pathetic yearning you once did for the image before you.
When his hazel eyes meet yours, the smirks fades at an instant.
"Shit, sorry. Didn't see you come in this morning."
"Did you have a report to hand over, Porky?"
Annie asks with such disdain that even Jean winces. She glares directly at your ex-boyfriend, body language taut — like one ill-timed joke will set her off to risk the HR write-up.
"I, uh… no. Just heard Jean so I stopped by," Porco adds, detaching his crossed arms to rub the back of his head. "Sorry."
"Mhm."
(Nothing ever gets past Annie.)
"I'll catch up with you later, Reiner."
With a brief please-get-me-out-of-here wave, Porco turns on a heel to walk down the hallway. Reiner gives a half-hearted wave in return, but his hand falls in his lap with a decided thump. No one speaks until they're certain he's out of earshot.
"Awk-ward," Eren sing-songs.
"You okay?" Reiner questions, voice softer.
Are you?
To be honest, in your current state of being wrapped up in Levi, you had completely forgotten about the ex-boyfriend that pushed you to find him in the first place. Those sickeningly feelings that tumbled you over the edge hadn't followed you home from work for weeks. There isn't a Porco-sized shadow of self hatred lurking behind your shoulder.
If anything, you're grateful he broke your heart.
Not in the way it happened, but if that's what it took to find Levi? Then maybe you can make peace with that chapter of your life.
Maybe one day you'll talk to Porco. Iron things out. Let bygones be bygones.
Maybe.
You reply, shrugging a shoulder. "It's fine. I'm over it."
"Seriously?" Jean blurts, but it's coming from a genuine place. "The holiday party didn't exactly spell 'over it', but—"
"Jean, I'll filet you where you stand," Annie interjects, and the man quickly throws his hands up in surrender.
"Annie, it's fine," you tell her, shaking your head. Sitting back in your chair, you avoid your food for the time being — let the anxiety settle in your belly — and heavily sigh. "Shit happens. If we hadn't broken up, then I wouldn't have met Levi, and that would have fucking sucked."
"For what it's worth, he sounds like he's a good guy," Reiner offers, nodding. "You deserve to be happy."
Reiner always tried his best to stay impartial. You know that.
Given he's your friend and Porco's friend, there is only so much he can do.
Hell, he even went above and beyond by bringing you the coffee that Porco used to grab for you for the first week after the split.
Besides, it isn't like he's thrilled his friend made you a casualty with his obsession over Pieck. And you can't hate her, either. She's pretty. Smart. Sweet. There's not a bad bone in her body.
(Wrong person, right time.)
Once your nervous system evens out, you clear your throat and give a small smile to the group. "Anyway, yeah, that's my life right now and, no, you are not going to meet him anytime soon."
Eren grimaces. "What about Annie?"
"Annie's different."
"I am," Annie adds, counting off her fingers. "Intellectually. Mentally. Spiritually."
Squinting at the blonde, Eren picks up an eraser and throws it at Annie, aiming for her desk. She catches the flying object with obscene precision, brow quirked as if to ask: am I wrong?
Crisis of an ex aside, you decide today is going to be a good day.
You surprised Levi at the gym. You met his two best friends. They didn't hate you.
It is good. Things will continue to be good.
.
.
.
.
.
"I love her."
"You love everything, Four Eyes."
"Uh, false. I hate licorice. I hate getting stuck in traffic. I do not hate the fact that you finally have such a super freaking cool partner."
Levi pauses as he turns with the tea kettle in his hand, washing it by hand. Hange takes up the full couch, their tea cup and saucer sitting idly on their belly. Erwin sits on a dining room chair, his white button-down sleeves rolled up to his elbows and overlapping over his chest as they cross, tight. His tea remains half full.
"Zoe is right, Levi," Erwin chimes in, matter of fact. "I like her."
"Don't get it twisted, shithead. I never said they were wrong." Levi sets the kettle on the drying rack before leaning against the counter, mirroring Erwin's body language. "I do have a 'super freaking cool partner', but I'm not sure if she has one in return."
When Erwin's brow lifts — pray tell — Levi meets his eyes.
"We haven't been on a real date yet."
"Not a single one?" Hange chirps, propping their head up with the throw pillow his mom gifted him upon moving into this place — something about 'living the place up'.
(Fuck, he still hasn't told his damn mother about all of this. Would you even want to meet Kuchel? Is there a timeline he should adhere to? Is he going too slow? He's been worried about that for the last three weeks, but you keep coming over every night and you always look so good in those casual clothes and home cooked is better and—)
"Start with the basics before you spiral," Erwin states simply.
"Who said I'm spiraling?" Levi challenges, eyes narrowing under dark fringe.
That thick, blonde eyebrow raises imperceptibly higher.
Yeah, yeah, I get it, you asshole.
"I'm not," Levi argues with less conviction. "Just… wanna do it right."
"By stalling until you're two months with no date?" Hange asks.
A frown tugs at Levi's lips.
Yeah. He was afraid that his stalling of… well, everything might make you lose interest.
Granted, he has put effort in. His kitchen hasn't seen this much action since he was a fighter in need of constant protein. He's running out of recipes he knows off of the top of his head and has started resorting to the internet for ideas.
So, in a way, he's trying.
He's just not at the level that's considered normal.
(Then again, you promised you were fine with the abnormal.)
"Well, what does she like?" Erwin tries instead, squaring his shoulders.
Levi opens his mouth to answer, but Hange butts in. Again. "Does she like flowers?"
"Probably."
"What kind?"
"I didn't ask yet."
Hange sits up, nearly sloshing their tea over their burgundy tee. "Ooh, what about going to the movies? There's some romcom out right now."
"Go to the theater so I can, what, stare at something that isn't her?" Levi replies. "Pass. I'd rather do something more productive that shows I'm interested, not sit in a black box where people text on their phones for two hours instead of watching the damn movie."
"Hot takes with Ackerman tonight, I see," Hange singsongs as they hold the cup to their curved lips. "I'm only trying to help here."
He knows.
He knows his friends are just trying to get him out of his goddamn head, because this is how he'll ruin the one good thing he's got going for him. It's a miracle you've been so relaxed about his profession, for one, but he refuses to have a lame, forgettable first date.
As silence settles in the small apartment, he clicks his tongue at the roof of his mouth. "…she likes food."
Erwin and Hange stare.
And stare.
And stare, what the hell is wrong with fo—
"That is an abysmal observation," Erwin says. "Everyone likes food."
Their cup rattles as Hange sits up on their knees, unable to sit still for more than two minutes. "No! No, this is promising. What about dinner? That's a real first date, right? Maybe her favorite spot?"
True.
It's basic, simple, but it would work.
Levi winces as he unfolds his arms. "I'm booked this whole week for shifts. I don't know if it's romantic to cut out early on a dinner date to do… well, what I do." He pauses, mulling it over. "Does a lunch date not seem serious?"
Erwin and Hange look at each other, responding in kind.
"A little."
"Not at all."
But there it is: Erwin gets that gleam in his eye like he's solved the world's problems, inhales slowly through his nose, before he sits up tall.
"I figured it out."
Levi blinks, waiting.
Another beat passes.
"Are you… gonna elaborate on that, or—"
"Brunch. Early brunch."
Erwin leans forward, resting his elbow on the table as he uses his fingers to list off his foolproof plan.
"That leaves you with the entire day to pick things she wants to do with you, and you won't have to sacrifice time."
"Mm. No," Hange counters, "the datees don't want you ask them what they want to do. They want the dater to have a plan."
"What if it was to get to know her better?" Levi replies. "I show up and give her three ideas: show me your favorite place to go when you're stressed, your favorite place to share with people, and your… I don't know, your favorite place no one else knows about."
Erwin's lips screw to the right as he considers before nodding sagely. "…that way you can get to know her better and make it a date personalized to her."
"Right," Levi agrees, running a hand through his hair. "And if she blanks or gets in her head about it, I'll show her mine instead."
Hange snorts, setting their tea and saucer down on the coffee table. "You'd show her rock climbing?"
"If she'd be up for it," Levi quickly adds, wincing. "Should I ask her to dress casual?"
"Suppose you do." Erwin says, going with the line of thought. "Do you think she would be offended?"
"If anything, it might take the pressure off of both of us," Levi mumbles, mulling over his plan. Erwin isn't wrong. Brunch, as much as he can't stand the concept, would give them plenty of time to just… be. To explore the city, to get to know the day in the life of Former Scarlet.
And to be fair, Levi was going to do all of this weeks ago, but… well, he keeps losing his train of thought when you make that noise the second his lips touch your neck.
He never said he was the strongest soldier.
"Might as well ask her," Erwin finally agrees, standing to grab his coat.
Hange catches the memo and rolls off the couch, somehow landing on their feet. "Can't hurt to try, so long as you actually try!"
Yeah.
He really needs to try.
.
.
.
.
.
Work is… well, work.
Corporate can be draining. That isn't anything new.
There's something waiting for you when you get home, you're sure, despite how Levi's last text trailed around three o'clock in the afternoon. You're eager to get these damn clothes off and put on a pair of leggings before taking the stairs six floors up.
However, since Levi isn't technically here, you're hitting the elevator.
(You really like your boyfriend, but you're not about to take that many freaking stairs.)
Catching dailies on one of your game apps to pass the time, you only look up when the elevator dings to indicate your arrival at your floor. You shift your messenger bag on your shoulder, adjusting its weight, before stepping out and turning.
What you don't expect is for the dark-haired man to stand at your door, arms crossed, as he seemingly counts the tiles on the ceiling.
The ding wakes him from his trance, his eyes meeting yours.
(You'll never get tired of the butterflies in your stomach when he looks at you.)
"Visiting six floors down for once?" you asks playfully. "Unfortunately I cannot in good conscience let you inside, because my apartment is looking like a—"
"Lunch."
The word blurts from his mouth like he'd just gotten punched in the stomach.
Levi stands with his hands at his sides, flexing his fingers into fists.
You stop walking down the hallway, blinking twice. "…lunch?"
With an overdrawn inhale through his nostrils, he reaches to pinch the bridge of his nose. "That wasn't what I was going to say."
"Hello to you, too," you greet, but slower.
Is he okay?
Levi looks a little off — maybe even agitated. His expression is tense, body language tight. The warning signals that have lay dormant for the last few weeks awaken to suffocate those butterflies, causing your stomach to cramp from anxiety instead.
So you ask.
"Is something wrong?"
Those gray eyes expand, as if realizing his own presence, before he shakes his head.
"No. No, everything's fine."
"Are you sure?" you repeat.
A huff of a laugh exits his mouth before he leaves your apartment's orbit and meets you in the middle of the apartment hallway. You expect him to lean in and kiss you, but instead he reaches for your hand and gently lifts it to his face.
Kissing each individual knuckle, Levi's lips linger until he turns your hand, exposing your palm. He kisses the center of it, seemingly relishing in the warmth of your skin.
"Let me start over before I make an ass out of myself," he says. "Please."
Silently, you hold your breath and nod, stuck in a mixture of nerves and hope. Levi runs his thumb along your hand, reverent, before meeting your gaze.
"I've been failing as a boyfriend," he begins, to your surprise.
You blink twice, opening your mouth, but you only get "When—?" out before his other hand rises to rest his index finger against your lips.
"I have," he continues. "Apartment dates are fine and good, sure, but I've been so stuck in my head about making our first real date perfect that I haven't done a damn thing at all. You granted me the gift of going slow for long enough. You deserve more than that."
You blink, saying nothing.
You want to tell him that you like the apartment dates — and you especially like what happens before and after dinner's been digested — but it's clear he's made up his mind about his behavior.
A pregnant pause passes until he huffs in disbelief, seemingly at himself.
"Honestly, I had a whole speech and plan when you walked out of that elevator," he continues, "but something happens when I see you."
"Somnhappen?" you garble against the pad of his fingertip, mouth still closed.
There: a grin, there and gone in an instant, flashes over his face.
"You don't notice it?" he asks, dropping his finger from your mouth.
You shrug sheepishly. "We've established I'm pretty bad at social cues sometimes."
"Only sometimes," he teases. "Meanwhile I forget my entire train of thought anytime I lay eyes on you. It's like I just… I don't know, I forget the rest of the bullshit in the world for a second."
You should say likewise, but the sentiment has your throat closing from elation.
There is it: that euphoria he brings after a long day.
Taking a step forward, he brings your joined hands to his chest. "If you're free Sunday, then I'd love to take you to a brunch spot that has rave reviews online. I know going out at night on the weekend would probably be more romantic, but if we start early enough, then we can spend the day together."
Your body burns at the idea of spending the entire day in the sunlight with your boyfriend, in the open, where people can see.
"After that, I can take you somewhere, anywhere. Text me a list of your favorite spots in the city and I'll surprise you with the three of them."
Bringing your lips into your mouth, you stare into his eyes. "And what about what you like to do? It can't just be about me."
"To be completely honest, I'm already doing it," he confesses with a hint of embarrassment at his sentimentality. "Spending time with you's the highlight of my day."
"Okay, Mister Romantic."
Levi rolls his eyes. "Hardly. Just being honest." He squeezes your hand. "So? Is it a date?"
As if you needed to be asked twice.
Nodding, you drag your joined hands to your lips to kiss the tips of his fingers facing you.
You swear his ears grow pink.
"It's a date."
You pause, contemplating.
"But are we still having dinner?"
With a damn-near relieved huff, Levi lets go of your hand and walks past you — but not without giving a playful tap to your ass as he makes his way to the stairs.
"Damn right I'm still making you dinner. See you in twenty."
.
AUTHOR NOTE:
britney vc: it's been a while. i know i shouldn't have kept you waiting - but i'm here now
Appreciate your patience on this (wow, almost-one-year) update. I finished my longfic (yay!) and got a dog (she's 10 months old today!) so I'm happy to finally be back in the P4 realm. I have read every comment, every message, every reply on both here and AO3. I already have part six written and am currently editing as we speak.
Thank you for any likes, comments, etc. Every reblog gives this writer wings.
𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂: As Captain Levi's trusted Lieutenant, you'd done your best to assist in keeping his new squad's morale up during your stay deep within the forest. Guarding the Beast Titan's user, Zeke Jeager, for a month's time had taken its toll on you all—you didn't see the attack coming until it was too late. The squad's death, Zeke's escape and recapture, the explosion...everything happened too fast for you to react beyond shielding your beloved Captain. The next thing you knew, you'd taken the blow, leaving Levi to come to your rescue.
𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽: Themes of grief/loss, descriptions of injury/injury to reader, angst-to-fluff, language
𝓐/𝓝: I'm so sorry this request took so long to publish! I was really off my game for most of 2025 lol. But now that I'm in a better headspace (at the moment), I'm wanting to get back to pushing out requests! I'm pretty self-conscious of this one-
Once again, the writing got away from me; enjoy a 2.8k word count :/ Hope it ended up okay for you lovely!
~𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝑅𝑒𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉~
Just as quickly as it had begun, the chaos came to an end.
Steam from decomposing titans rose up through the trees like tendrils of smoke, enough to nearly obscure your vision entirely—it dissipated all too soon, leaving you with a grim sight just a pace or two away from where you stood on tired legs.
Hadn't you, just a moment before, cautioned your Captain against this? It seemed your concern had gone unnoted, for there Levi was; kneeling onto the forest floor, inches away from the mangled and crumpling corpse of the Beast Titan, reduced to unconsciousness. In one hand he held aloof a thunder spear, curling with steam and dissipating blood—though, the majority of sticky crimson remained, and you had to glance away.
Zeke had fallen captive once more. What remained of him, at least.
Levi had wasted no time in dismembering the blond’s legs and tying back his wrists, but a cruel gleam remained in the Captain’s eyes—malice, rage, bloodlust…you knew he likely wouldn't listen to you now.
Not after what Zeke had done.
And in all honesty, you couldn't blame him.
It had been so quiet just this morning, another day of guard duty in the forest—where had the time gone? One moment, you'd been laying back in your hammock high above the campsite, on break from your “shift” of sorts. Down below you paced your comrades, speaking low or joking quietly. Others read or wrote, some slept or trained.
It had been almost peaceful, if one could call this duty such.
Captain Levi and his squad, yourself included, had been assigned to keep watch over the Beast Titan’s user, Zeke, for a month's time: a long, boring month of detaining a grown ass man within the forest far from the walls. While necessary, many complaints had arisen.
Boredom, homesickness, distrust…a whole plethora of reasons kept Levi’s new squad on edge.
As the Captain’s Lieutenant, you'd done your best to smooth over what you could. If not for them, then perhaps you’d subtract one more stressor from Levi’s long list.
So you’d hoped, anyways.
Even when your companions, and admittedly yourself, had grown restless after the second week, you’d all held out this long. The end had been near, with hopes to return to the walls. The whole ordeal had been stressful, but worth it in the end to see your squadmates lighten up.
Yet now…now, they were gone.
All of them, not a single soldier had been left alive.
They didn't get the chance to return home. To celebrate, to bond outside of duty.
Another squad, gone. Their bodies mutilated in titan form burned into your mind evermore.
All dead.
All but you and your Captain.
So many had been tricked by the enemy with tainted wine and restlessness—the thought made you ill.
You’d been offered a glass, and had declined. Had you accepted…
Levi’s frustrated grunt brought you back to the present and out of your thoughts. Turning to see what it was he was even doing, you froze.
“Captain, I’m serious; this might be too much…” You murmured, quick steps leading you forward to reach for the spear he aimed down at Zeke. But he was quicker, snatching it away from your outstretched hand. He’d had the end of the explosive pressed against the shifter’s abdomen, despite your earlier protests.
“It’ll keep him deterred from disobeying again, once the fur ball wakes up,” Levi scoffed, leveling you with the glare that hadn't left his face since the moment the battle started. You let your hand fall away from the thunder spear he gripped, and sighed.
This was reckless…
"And if he jolts anyways, pulling the wire…?”
“...He won't make it that far. I’ll be watching for the moment he wakes; he owes me a little chat.”
A sickening wet thud followed the moment he lunged forward, and once again you had to look away.
Tying the wire around Zeke’s neck, Levi continued to speak over his shoulder.
“Bet he wasn't counting on both our sobriety’s, the bastard. I…”
He paused, seeming to mull over his thoughts before continuing again, softer this time.
“I’m…glad you didn’t drink, brat.”
“So am I…” you replied meekly, keeping your gaze averted.
“We shouldn't have allowed–”
“Stop that.” Levi cut you off, tying the wire taught before coming to a stand.
“There was no ‘we’, it was me. I gave the okay, I cut them some slack—this is on me.”
He avoided your gaze as he looked around the disarrayed forest, scoffing under his breath. His expression slowly changed from anger to vulnerability, as if the guilt he felt was physically painful and heavy. You knew it was…
“...See if the carts are still intact, and if the horses back at camp are still tethered,’ Levi continued.
“We're taking Zeke to the interior.”
Hours passed by with nothing of interest to note as the horse trotted along the old dirt road.
The forest blurred by as you lost yourself to thought again, watching the horizon color vividly with the dipping sun.
Miraculously, you’d managed to locate a cart still intact, and a horse healthy enough to pull the weight. Levi had taken to placing Zeke upon the floor of the craft and carefully arranging his limp body while you kept a lookout, and then off you'd been.
Your Captain had been more quiet than usual, his gaze never wavering from the blond man at his feet. You hadn't pushed for conversation while you guided the horse’s direction from the front seat: there was nothing to say that hadn't already been felt.
Even as evening turned to night, and night into morning, the pace at which you traveled never slowed. Despite the rain soaking you to the bone, despite thirst and hunger, you carried on.
Chancing a glance back, you were surprised to catch Levi’s eye; the first he’d taken it off of Zeke in hours. He looked about to say something, but hesitated as a quiet murmur above the crash of rain caught both your attentions, and he held up a hand.
Then, and only then, did Levi signal you to pull the reins.
Slowing the horse’s gait, you swept your gaze to the floor of the cart, and cursed under your breath; he’d woken up.
Already Levi had tortured the man, taking out his frustrations after explaining his situation to him—you hadn't expected Zeke to gain consciousness so soon after having his regenerating legs so crudely amputated.
This time, Levi seemed more content to listen to Zeke’s inane rambling before physically lashing out. Even still, you chose this moment to quietly remind him of the time before he could.
“We’re nearly an hour out; it’s best we just keep moving.”
Levi cast you a look over his shoulder, but didn't comment. So, begrudgingly, you turned your attention back ahead and just listened to Zeke’s speech. In the midst of it, you heard Levi scoff.
“Look at that, your legs are growing back already…”
You turned just as he’d unsheathed his blade, but before he could raise it much higher, Zeke began to scream and thrash.
In the moment, you hardly registered what he was saying; because the instant Zeke jerked his head, you were on your feet.
“Cap-!” You started to scream, but already it was too late.
One moment, you felt the slick of rain water slowing your steps inside the cart, and the next you felt nothing at all. Nothing but a vague awareness to the sensation of weightlessness.
The grey skies overhead vanished from sight, the cool chill brought by the downpour warmed, and screams seem to just fade away in your ears. Even the explosion had seemed silent, despite seeing it happen for yourself.
You never registered hitting the ground, nor the sharp sting of injury–everything was blank.
Empty.
Quiet…then still.
The moment you regained consciousness, panic overtook your mind.
Up above you saw a canopy of leaves, swaying in the breeze and bouncing under pelting rain–when had the sky darkened? How long had your eyes been closed?
Where were you? Where was the field, and the burning cart?
Levi…
You hastily swiveled your gaze this way and that, but only saw half of what you expected to; in the way that only one of your eyes seemed to obey your will to open.
A scratchy material itched your face in many places, leaving you feeling a sense of dread.
Who had bandaged your face? What was your condition?
Though, when you attempted to raise a hand up to your face to inspect the covering, you found your arm felt heavy like lead.
Everything felt like lead.
Heavy, bruised, achy, sharp and painful…The explosion, you recalled.
Had you shielded Levi enough?
What became of Zeke?
Where had you ended up?
Why was it so…cold?
All these silent questions swirling around your head only worsened the ache behind your eyes. This wouldn't do…
Sheer determination helped you sit up, despite your brain screaming at you to stay laid down.
The second you did, a firm hand gripped your shoulder, making you gasp.
Levi sat at your side, eyes wide like he hadn't expected you to be awake yet. But upon giving you a once over, he visibly relaxed, though his scowl returned.
“...We never left the forest,” he mumbled, as if he’d heard your silent question. His voice was rough, like he hadn't used it in a while.
Reaching up to adjust the cloak haphazardly thrown over your abdomen, he scoffed.
“...How are you feeling?”
Despite the myriad of thoughts swimming around your head, you finally found your voice–scratchy, quiet, hoarse. Your words came out in a hazy ramble.
“Shitty. Cold, sore, weird–but Zeke, he-”
Levi raised a hand, cutting you off.
“Got away. I got distracted, and…dammit, you paid the price for that.”
His look concerned you enough to sit up a bit straighter, and immediately he tensed like he might reach out to grip your shoulder again.
“Dont,” he warned, short and simple.
With a huff you leaned back a little.
“Captain…what exactly happened?” you pressed.
For a moment, you weren't sure he’d respond. But eventually he let out a weary sigh of resignation.
“...Let my anger overrule my judgment. Shouldn't have put us in that kind of situation—put you in that kind of situation. It cost you a damn eye and some fingers. Shit, Y/N, I–This is my fault.”
Anything you'd wanted to retort back with died on your tongue in an instant as you absorbed his words.
An eye? Some fingers?
You had to look down–with partial vision–to confirm, but looked away from your wrapped hand only after a brief glance as your stomach dropped.
If you'd had the strength to, you might have vomited. Or cried. Or both.
But you had to stay in control over what little you could.
“...How bad…?” You hesitantly asked, shifting on the makeshift cot he had apparently supplied.
You must have been out a long while…
“All of it–me.”
“Not great, not the worst,” Levi supplied lamely, his eyes transfixed on your hand before they swiveled up to your face–what of it was visible. A frown tugged at his lips, and his expression softened–like guilt, or pity.
You didn't like that look so much. Not aimed down at you.
“Captain…” you murmured, fixing him with a stern gaze. He met it with one of his own, then scoffed.
“Do I look like a damn field medic? I don't know; but you're alive, and that's what matters. We’ll figure out the rest.”
“What is the rest, Captain?” You again pressed, sitting up straighter and moving aside the cape covering half your body despite his glare demanding you didn't.
You ignored it in favor of getting adjusted through the discomfort.
This time, he didn't try to stop you.
“...Concussion, bruising, blinded eye, missing fingers, you feel feverish, bruising–that’s all I can determine for now. You’re lucky camp still had some supplies I was able to scavenge.”
You already regretted moving so soon, but refused to show it as you ground out through grit teeth.
“You went all the way back there?”
“Made sure your body was covered first.” He reassured, taking his eyes off you briefly to look around the clearing you both inhabited.
“But yes.”
“Covered? What–”
“...We're being hunted, Y/N.”
The statement froze the blood in your veins and made your stomach queasy.
Hunted?
Your mind spun with many possibilities before you even asked; by Zeke? By someone else? More Titans? Marlians?
“‘Jeagerists’ turns out,” he continued, seeing your confusion. Your raised brow made him shake his head, and start to backtrack.
“That was his plan all along; taint the wine, turn the soldiers, reunite with Eren, escape and rally with Eren’s ‘followers’. A few showed up with Hange in tow, after the explosion. I'd just gotten to my feet and grabbed you when their guns went off.”
“Hange-” you gasped. They weren't anywhere within sight, and naturally you assumed the worst.
“They’re fine. We got you out of sight and picked off the strangler as best we could with limited ammo. They’re keeping watch while I watch over you–we’re taking shifts.”
You both fell into silence for a long moment, in which time you took to look around and gather your wits about yourself as relief filled your mind.
They were safe…for now.
Everything still ached, still felt like lead; but you were safe. All three of you.
“...They scolded me, you know. For not thinking to look for your fingers after the explosion while getting shot at. They would have had a field day trying to reattach them to your hand, I imagine.”
His sudden comment made you huff with amusement; leave it to him to comment something so dryly and so unprompted.
“I can imagine,” you mumbled, looking around the clearing as if expecting to suddenly spot the Commander somewhere amidst the underbrush. You didn't, of course, and leaned back a little further. Exhaustion felt like a plague…
“Tired?” Levi murmured, glancing back your way again with a raised brow. When you merely nodded, he sighed and leaned his weight forward, resting his forearms onto his knees.
“Rest then, damned stubborn brat. Only thing you're missing right now is watching the shitty grass grow. We’re gonna need you healed up before winter sets in, you know.”
He paused when you actually attempted to lay back, and immediately shifted to sit on his knees and help lower you down. Much to your muted surprise, he even fixed the way his cape rested over your abdomen and shifted the roll under your head once you were settled.
More silence followed as you attempted to relax, yet never took your half-lidded eye off his.
That damned expression of his was back on his face–guilt.
“...I’m sorry,” he whispered, catching you off guard.
“I’d rather it be me than you.”
“I wouldn't, Cap’n” came your muffled reply. Damn the thick bandaging covering the majority of your face, and damn the way the sutures pulled at the skin of your cheek and mouth for every word you spoke. He frowned at that, and turned his gaze away.
“...Levi.”
You perked up a little, forcing your heavy eyelid to open and concentrate on his face–inches from yours.
“...Huh?”
“Just Levi; enough with this ‘formality’ bullshit. Haven't we known each other long enough? You're not just a damned Lieutenant.”
His words caught you off guard for the nth time, and if you could muster up a visible smile in the moment you would have. For now, you settled for a quiet grunt and reached for his hand.
Warm, calloused, steady and grounding. He didn't hold on, but didn't pull away either; it was enough for now.
"I suppose so…Levi…”
Maybe it was the concussion you no doubt suffered from, but you could have sworn you caught the faintest shade of pink spread across his cheeks to his ears the moment you addressed him by name. But the sight vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. He turned his gaze away and sat back onto his heels, leaving you to wonder what you'd really seen.
“...Get some rest; no tossing or turning, you’ll just pull sutures. I didn't save you to watch you aggravate the wounds I stitched.”
Even as you let your good eye close and you relaxed your posture, you noted his loyal presence still right at your side.
And maybe, just maybe, you caught the faint sound of his voice as you drifted off into unconsciousness once more: peacefully, this time.
“I'm not going anywhere, so relax. We’ll figure it out in the morning. You're safe…I’ve got you, Y/N. Always…”
~More Levi Ackerman Content Here~
~Feel free to join the taglist for more Lieutenant!Reader content here!~
Imagine you hadn't replied last night and he found out why,
with Levi Ackerman.
levi x f reader
Genre||Vibe; that time of the month, period comfort, sweet, can't move, drained, i'm-worried-but-i'd-be-damned-if-i-admitted-it, "what's wrong?", "are you okay?", tell-me-and-i'll-do-it-for-you, i don't mind, it's what friends (?) are for, i've got you
Summary; Being in college was one nightmare, getting your rather rare period along with it was a rude double down. You were drained, you were a mess, your place was a mess, the cramps were bullshitting you, the headache was puling on your sanity, and you could not drag yourself off the minimal comfort your couch provided. All of that meant that you weren't online—you couldn't—and one person was bothered by that fact...
🗡tags; sfw || sweet || comfort || period comfort || early friendship || CLOSE friends
🗡word count; 1.2k
🗡a/n; phew, as someone who's irregular, everything seriously feels like it's 10 times worse. i could only imagine having a Levi in my life so i could bleed and deflate peacefully. and as promised, this will be tailed by another fic so watch out for that too! i hope you enjoy them both <3
“You haven’t been responding.” Levi’s foot blocked the door that you were just about to shut on him.
It was one of those few dreadful times of the year. You barely get your period given the erratic and unbalanced nature of your hormones, so unlike others, you only get to have it for about three times annually, or less. It wasn’t that you hated not having it as often as other girls do, but in your case, the problem was that when you did have it—everything’s pretty much ten times worse than if you were regularly menstruating.
To put it simply, being on your period meant that you felt like you were standing on the second to the highest podium of the worst things you get to biologically experience (first being childbirth)—with symptoms that were hitting twice harder.
And, well, Levi didn’t know that.
He’s your friend in college, and it's only been one semester of it. You considered him as one despite his very hard to read expressions and terribly dry sense of humor because under all that, he was a nice guy…sort of. At least to you he was—and the short list of his other friends.
You weren’t chat buddies or anything. Though you two frequently exchanged messages for a few things about uni or, in Levi’s case, to complain about something his friend, Hange, was doing or—was bothering him with. And you always responded minutes or an hour after.
Just not last night.
He stared at you through the gap from where he stood, his foot comfortably wedged between the door and its frame, “ you look like shit.” he noted, glancing past you, into what he could see of your place, then back.
He arrived at your apartment without announcement just a minute ago. Knocked once, you hadn’t called out. Knocked for the second time, you hadn't answered again. Knocked for the third time and called your name, you didn’t answer, again. If he hadn’t threatened to break your door down the second later, you wouldn't have gotten up from the couch and answered it even if he’d knocked for the fourth time.
“...thanks.” You mumbled, clearly not in the mood for anything—even for him. You always were, to his inconvenience. He’d just gotten desensitized enough of your company to not be annoyed. Now he doesn’t admit to the fact that he looks for it everyday.
Levi raised a brow, the palm he had on his side of the door pushed to keep the gap existing, “Are you sick?” He asked, voice low since he didn’t quite know what to say. Partly because he didn’t understand why he’d gotten up so early, opened your dms first thing in the morning, seen that you still hadn’t replied yet, and chose to drive to your place twenty minutes out so he could check on you.
He wasn’t insecure of not getting a reply from someone or anything, but shit, that seems to not be the case with you.
“I’m not.” You answered.
“Your place is a mess.”
“I haven’t even let you in yet.”
“I can see it from here.”
You sighed loudly then pointedly looked at him, “Did you just come here to insult me because I didn’t reply?”
“Maybe I did,” Levi’s hand retracted from the door, now shoved into one of his pockets, “maybe I thought something happened.”
You’d rolled your eyes then spoke, every syllable pronounced like you were talking to a toddler, “It’s just as simple as me missing the notification—”
“You don’t have notifications on.”
“How do you even know tha—”
“Are you okay?” He cut off, expression shifting just slightly, “I didn’t say you look like shit to insult you—I could’ve done a hell of a better job if I really wanted to. I said it because you don’t look okay.”
You shut your mouth, chewing on your cheeks as you looked away, “I’m fine.” you mumbled.
Levi watched you avoid looking back up at him for a good thirty seconds, then he pulled his foot out of the gap, giving you the chance to finally shut the door in his face.
…but you didn’t. Instead, you stepped aside and he walked in.
You welcomed him with saying that you were on your period and that yes, you feel shitty, yes, you were in pain, yes, you hadn’t slept last night, and yes, your place was a trash pile because you could not be bothered to get up either the bed or the couch to clean up.
He didn’t say anything at first, only nodded you to the couch and suddenly started cleaning around you like it was his responsibility. You could only raise your brows and reluctantly become a witness to the statement that Levi was a man who was more cleaning than words.
Every time you tried to tell him off, he kept saying stuff like—”No.”—”It’s fine.”—”Stay on the damn couch.”—”I’m throwing this away whether you want me to or not.”
One thing you did notice was that he hadn’t once said anything that made you feel like you’re a raccoon’s second cousin.
“Need anything?” He’d asked, wiping his hands dry with a paper towel as he approached you, still on the couch, pretty much a melted cocoon on it. You were hugging your knees to your face, laying on your side, half embarrassed, but currently being gnawed at from the inside.
You shook your head, biting your lip as another wave of cramps took over.
A blanket flew over your figure, hovering over you until it covered your body, the material soft, “how bad?” his voice came quiet, crouching in front of you as he’d said it. Gentle, too gentle. You don’t recall any other time he’d spoken to you like this.
When you only managed another shake to your head, Levi stood up and walked somewhere in your place.
He came back crouched in front of you ten minutes later with a warm compress you didn’t fucking know you still had.
“Sit up,” he said, now taking the space beside you on the couch, “use this.”
It wasn’t like he knew what he was doing. Like shit does he know specifics about menstruation, let alone the difference between regular ones and irregular ones—or if it was normal that it was painful enough that it shut you up. Or if a warm compress would actually help for even at least a little.
But what he did know was that you needed someone right now…and that much he was willing to provide.
“Didn’t think sweet could be part of your character’s vocabulary.” You chuckled, most of the pain had subsided, the weight and temperature of the warm compress easing it.
Levi glared at you from where he sat opposite of you on the couch.
“Seriously though, thank you,” you muttered a beat after, “you didn’t have to.”
His gaze softened a fraction and he looked away, “Thank me by replying to my text.” He said quietly, like he purposefully didn’t want you to hear it, but you still did.
You laughed and swore you would check it out later. Something lighter built in his chest when he heard you laugh despite the lady predicament you were in.
He was happy he was the reason you had.
'til next time. cheers, my love
p.s; im worried i wrote this bad and i do hope it didn't seem so
summary: levi and you are childhood friends, but when you have to leave town because of your father's work, he resigns on losing you. he doesn't know that many years later, life will find its way to lead him back to you.
contains: childhood friends to lovers, college au, grumpy x sunshine, yearner!levi, he fell first and harder, fluff, soft levi, short n sweet iykyk
words: 1.2k
a/n: hiii!!! first proper fic after years of not writing a complete chapter, so sorry if im a little rusty lol, hope u liked it!!! like and reblog if u want more <33
As soon as his last lecture ended, Levi immediately gathered his things up as he stood from his seat, wanting nothing other than going home to lay down to get a cup of tea and turn the heater on.
Shoes clicked against the floor as the rest of the classroom stood up to leave as well, caging him into the mass of people around as he neared the exit.
Levi got into his car and drove far away from campus. The day was crisp and chilly, but the sun shined bright despite it all.
The red traffic light stopped him on his tracks, so his gaze wondered somewhere else as he waited for the light to turn green again. He hadn't noticed until now, too enthralled in the thought of finally arriving to this apartment, but he had taken a different road than he usually did, so the sight of an unfamiliar street welcomed him.
His bright grey eyes narrowed, focusing on a small café on the corner, which read 'Fallen Angel' on warm beige cursive letters. It was still early, 1pm in the afternoon, but this weird sensation took hold of him again. He hesitated for a moment, but then the street light turned green and Levi's hands moved on their own, turning the steering wheel to the left.
Levi parked the car on the nearest parking spot he found and turned off the car's engine. He glanced sideways to the rearview mirror, wondering what was he truly doing, but ran a hand through his face and got out of the car nonetheless.
A strong smell of coffee greeted him when he opened the glass door and looked around. It was warm and cozy, a small but comforting four beige walls with a few sets of wooden tables and brown club chairs, full of plants and bookshelves with countless titles.
The coffee shop wasn't much crowded but wasn't empty either, three of the wooden tables were taken by groups of two and one of the two baristas behind the light-colored counter neared the cashier when she watched him approach.
"Good morning, what can I get for you?" the girl asked. Levi took a moment to glance at the menu, before he decided to order an americano and a croissant. "Perfect, that'll be 9 dollars, it'll be ready in a minute."
"Thank you," Levi nodded, handing the barista the money. He glanced around, only to end up going towards the table besides the closest bookshelf.
His fingers traced the spines of the books, carefully choosing to read the titles engraved when the café door opened once again. Levi was absent from the world, too focused on the warmth of the hard-book covers against his fingerprints but choose to briefly look up.
A girl not older than him with bright eyes entered the cafe, clutching her dark brown purse against her side as she went straight to the counter. Levi looked away but found his attention settling back to the girl.
She greeted the same barista who'd taken Levi's order, casually striking up a conversation with her like they were already familiar with each other.
"I don't know, Claire," the girl sighed "I ordered a chai frappe the last time but I want something saltier now. Or sweeter. I don't know," she shook her head, and Levi pretended he wasn't listening, too busy with the book titles. "Maybe an iced taro? No, I know, a caramel macchiato, that's it. With pistachio foam, please. I wanna try something new."
The barista laughed, like she was used to the girl's rambling. "Great choice, ____. Any pastry?"
"I just ate a huge burrito fifteen minutes ago, I don't think I can stomach anything else than a coffee, but thanks, babe."
"Sure."
Now that the conversation was over, Levi could hear the thumping of his heartbeat against his chest. Something rare striked within him, almost like familiarity, when he decided to finally look up.
His eyes widened when he got to properly catch sight of you. Every nerve on his body seemed to freeze, as his pulse spiked up and his stomach sommersaulted against his will. He had given up long ago on waiting for you, on being privileged enough to be near you once more, on watching that smile of yours, and he felt like a little kid again. A little kid with a big crush.
Apparently, he wasn't discrete enough with his staring because, almost like you were inevitably drawn to his staring, you looked up and froze as well, a huge smile breaking onto your lips as your eyes met Levi's.
"Levi? Is that you?" you laughed, walking towards him to get a good look of him. "It's been a long time, 'Vi, I can't believe it's you!"
"Hi." he breathed out, when you suddenly bumped into him for a hug. He froze once again, hands reaching into the air without touching you, surprised by the sudden hug and by catching glimpse of you after all these years. "Yeah, it's been a while."
When you broke the hug, warmth spread on his chest. You were standing there, smiling in the light of the window, a real person, not a figment of his imagination like you had been for the last few years.
"You still got that perpetually serious face, I can't believe I ever thought it would go away." you laughed, brushing a strand of hair from your face as you shook your head. "How are you?"
Right when Levi was about to answer, coming out of his shock, a voice called out. "Hot americano!"
"You should get that," you smiled, tilting your head to signal the counter.
Levi rushed to get the cup of coffee and his croissant before turning to get back to where you are standing a few feet away.
"I've been good. Busy with my degree," he answered, feeling like his tongue was depriving him of words. "What about you? When did you return to Trost?"
"At the beginning of the semester," you responded. "I got into this exchange program because I missed the quietness of this town. I tried to get ahold of you but I couldn't find you. It seems like we always find our way to each other, huh? That's funny." your eyes shined even brighter at the latest statement, searching for something in Levi's eyes. "You should give me your number," you stated, immediately starting to search for your phone on your purse. "Here."
Levi reached out for your cellphone, tapping the digits of his number in your keyboard before he returned it back to you, accidentally grazing his fingers with yours during the process.
You blinked twice, smile leaving your lips, before deciding to smile again like nothing flickered inside of you at the brief contact.
"Caramel macchiato with pistachio foam!" the barista called again, this time for your order.
You went to grab your coffee and returned back to Levi. You opened your mouth to say something else, when your phone rang in your hands. You looked down to your phone and sighed heavily.
"You don't know how sorry I am Levi, but I gotta go." you reached again for him, and this time, the hug was returned. You inhaled at the proximity, and the smell of his cologne washed over you.
"We should get coffee someday." Levi stated, separating from you.
"Yeah, we should." you smiled. "I'll see you later."
The heavy wooden gates of the Scout Regiment headquarters groan open with a deep, echoing creak, the sound cutting through the anxious silence that has settled over the courtyard like a shroud.
For hours, that silence has lingered, heavy with anticipation and dread.
Every scout expedition beyond the Walls carries the same uncertainty.
Every return is accompanied by the same terrible questions.
Who came back?
And who didn't?
You stand on one of the stone balconies of the Scout Regiment HQ overlooking the courtyard below, one hand resting against the cool railing while the other instinctively settles over the pronounced curve of your stomach.
The child growing inside you shifts slightly, as if sensing your nervousness.
Your heart pounds so hard it almost hurts as the gates open wider.
A moment passes before the first horses appear through the entrance.
The exhausted animals hang their heads low, their flanks streaked with sweat and rain as their mud-splattered hooves strike the cobblestones.
Behind them come the soldiers.
The remaining soldiers.
Far fewer than there should be.
The sight causes a familiar ache to twist in your chest.
The scouts ride through the gates draped in tattered green cloaks stained with dirt, rainwater, and blood.
Some stare blankly ahead, too exhausted to acknowledge their surroundings.
Others sit stiffly in their saddles, carrying fresh injuries beneath hastily wrapped bandages.
The courtyard remains eerily quiet as stable hands and waiting personnel rush forward to assist.
No cheers greet them.
No celebrations.
Only relief for those who survived and grief for those who didn't.
Your eyes immediately begin searching the crowd.
You barely register anyone else.
Not Erwin.
Not Hange.
Not the dozens of soldiers filtering through the gates.
Only him.
Your breathing catches when you see him.
There.
At the front.
Levi.
The sight of him nearly makes your knees buckle.
He sits atop his horse with the same rigid posture he always carries after an expedition.
His expression is carved from stone, unreadable to anyone who doesn't know him.
But you know him.
You see the exhaustion hidden beneath the mask.
You see the slight slump in his shoulders.
The dark shadows beneath his eyes.
The dried blood splattered across his cloak.
The tightness in his jaw.
He looks tired.
So unbelievably tired.
But he's alive.
Whole.
Breathing.
Home.
A shaky breath escapes you before you can stop it.
As if sensing it, Levi lifts his head and his gaze immediately finds you.
It always does.
Across the crowded courtyard.
Across the distance between the two of you.
Across every wall he builds around himself.
His eyes lock onto yours and something changes.
It's subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
Yet you see it instantly.
The cold tension in his shoulders eases.
The harshness around his eyes softens.
For the first time since entering the courtyard, he looks like he can finally breathe.
You're here.
You're safe.
The baby is safe.
That's all he needs to know.
Levi dismounts before one of the stable hands can even reach him.
He shoves the reins into a nearby cadet's hands without looking away from you.
Then he immediately heads for the headquarters entrance.
Not toward Erwin.
Not toward the medical wing.
Not toward the debriefing room.
Toward you.
Always toward you.
A smile tugs at your lips despite the tears gathering in your eyes.
You don't wait for him on the balcony.
You quickly make your way back through the corridors toward your shared private quarters.
The familiar warmth of the room greets you as you step inside.
The fire you had set earlier crackles softly in the hearth.
The kettle of tea you had made and set near the fireplace earlier is still warm.
Everything is exactly as it was before he left.
You place a hand against your stomach and take a steadying breath.
Then you hear it.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Purposeful.
Coming closer.
You turn just as the door swings open.
Levi steps inside.
The scent of rain, wet earth, pine, horses, steel, and smoke follows him into the room.
For a moment, neither of you move.
Neither of you speak.
He simply stands there.
Looking at you.
His grey eyes travel slowly over your face.
Your shoulders.
Your stomach.
The gentle swell of the child growing beneath your dress.
His child.
His family.
The sight visibly undoes something inside him.
The hard edges of the captain disappear.
The soldier who spends his life fighting monsters beyond the Walls vanishes.
Leaving only Levi.
Your husband.
His gaze lingers on your stomach before rising back to your eyes.
Emotion flickers across his features so quickly most people would miss it.
You never do.
"Levi… You're back." you whisper, your voice cracking slightly.
"I'm back." he nods.
His voice is rough.
Tired.
Almost hoarse.
The distance between you suddenly feels unbearable.
Levi crosses the room in three long strides.
His arms wrap around you immediately.
Strong.
Desperate.
Possessive.
Like he needs to physically confirm you're real.
A soft gasp leaves you as he pulls you against his chest.
One hand slides up to cradle the back of your head.
The other settles firmly against your lower back.
Holding you close.
Protecting you.
Anchoring himself.
His entire body relaxes against yours as he buries his face in the crook of your neck.
For the first time since he left, he finally lets himself rest.
You sigh gently as you wrap your arms around him just as tightly.
For several long moments, neither of you speak.
Words aren't enough.
Not after every expedition.
Not after every goodbye.
Not after the fear that follows him beyond the Walls.
You simply hold each other.
Breathing.
Existing.
Together.
After a few moments, you feel his grip tighten.
Just slightly.
As though some small part of him is afraid that if he lets go, you'll disappear.
"Missed you," he mutters quietly against your neck.
The confession is so soft you almost miss it.
Your heart melts.
"I missed you too." you whisper back, your hand moving up to the back of his head, your fingers running through his hair. "More than you know."
Another moment passes of the two of you holding each other before Levi pulls back just enough to look at you.
His hand rises to your face.
His thumb brushes gently beneath your eye.
Only then do you realize tears have escaped.
His expression softens further.
Then he leans down.
The kiss is immediate.
Deep.
Slow.
Filled with everything neither of you can put into words.
Weeks of worry.
Sleepless nights.
Fear.
Relief.
Love.
His lips are cool from the rain.
His hand tangles gently in your hair.
Holding you close.
The kiss lingers far longer than either of you intends.
Because neither of you wants it to end.
Because every reunion feels precious.
Fragile.
Earned.
When Levi finally pulls away, his forehead rests against yours and his eyes remain closed for a moment.
Then he glances down and a faint scowl appears on his face.
"Look at this."
You blink. "What?"
"Mud." he replies immediately, his eyes narrowing at the streaks covering your dress from his uniform.
"I'm getting dirt all over you." he continues, his expression somehow growing even more annoyed.
A laugh escapes you.
A genuine laugh.
The first one all day.
"Levi."
"I just got back and already made a mess." he grumbles.
You smile and reach for the clasp of his cloak.
"I don't care about the dirt." You say as you carefully remove the heavy green cloak from his shoulders.
It lands on the floor around his feet with a wet thud.
"But I do care about you." you smile.
Levi watches quietly as you begin unfastening the leather harness crossing his chest.
Normally he'd protest.
Normally he'd insist on doing it himself.
Today he simply lets you.
The straps fall away one by one.
You can practically see the tension leaving his body with every buckle.
When the jacket follows, Levi exhales slowly.
As if he hasn't taken a proper breath in days.
A moment later, you take him by the hand and guide him toward the washbasin waiting nearby the bed.
A bucket of warm water sits beside it.
Prepared hours ago because some part of you always hopes he'll return.
You dip the cloth into the warm water.
Then gently begin wiping away the dried mud along his cheek.
Levi closes his eyes immediately, letting out a soft sigh.
The sound is so rare it nearly breaks your heart.
You carefully clean the dirt from his face.
His neck.
The dried blood staining his skin.
Each touch is gentle.
Patient.
Loving.
His jaw gradually relaxes beneath your hands.
The tension begins melting away.
Piece by piece.
"You do too much," he murmurs eventually as his hands lightly close around your wrists. "I mean it."
You raise an eyebrow. "I'm wiping your face."
"You're pregnant."
"And?"
"You shouldn't be standing this long."
A smile tugs at your lips. "There he is."
Levi opens one eye. "There who is?"
"The overprotective husband." you respond which causes a faint huff to escape him.
You continue cleaning his hands despite his protests.
Removing dirt from every knuckle.
Every callous.
Every scar.
Evidence of the life he leads outside these walls.
Once he's clean, Levi changes into a fresh shirt.
The transformation is immediate.
The captain disappears.
The husband remains.
Your husband.
The man who loves tea.
The man who worries too much.
The man who secretly talks to your stomach when he thinks no one is listening.
Levi then takes you by the hand, gently guiding you toward the bed.
"Sit."
The command is automatic.
You smile and obey.
He waits until you're comfortable before lowering himself onto his knees directly in front of you.
Your breath catches.
His hands immediately settle against your stomach.
Large.
Warm.
Protective.
Almost reverent.
The moment his palms make contact, a sudden kick pushes back.
Levi freezes.
Then another follows.
A rare smile appears on his face.
Small.
Soft.
Beautiful.
The kind only you ever get to see.
"There you are."
Another kick.
His smile grows.
"They kept you company while I was gone?" he asks quietly.
"Every day." you say as you place your hand over his.
"They missed you too."
"Hm."
The baby kicks again.
"They've been active all day y’know?" you smile.
"Active?"
He raises an eyebrow.
"That kick nearly bruised my hand."
“They get that strength from you.” you respond with a laugh.
He hums in reply again, keeping one hand spread across your stomach.
Feeling every movement.
Every flutter.
Every kick.
As though trying to memorize them.
Then slowly, his expression softens.
His eyes lower.
Emotion flickers across his face.
Without a word, he leans forward.
Carefully.
Gently.
Resting his ear against your stomach.
The room grows silent.
Only the crackling fire remains.
You run your fingers through his dark hair.
Slowly.
Tenderly.
Levi closes his eyes.
Listening.
Holding you.
Holding your child.
Holding his entire world.
"Of course they're strong," he whispers eventually, his voice thick with emotion.
"They have to be."
You continue stroking his hair.
"I spent every night out there thinking about them."
His arms tighten slightly around your waist.
"Thinking about you."
Your chest aches. "Levi..."
"I kept wondering how much they grew while I was gone."
His voice grows quieter.
"Wondering if I missed anything."
"You didn't." you reply as a tear slips down your cheek. "You came home."
Levi remains silent for several moments.
Then finally speaks.
"I don't know how to be a father."
The confession is almost painfully honest.
"I know how to fight." he continues, his fingers curling gently against your side.
"I know how to survive."
A pause.
"But this?"
His voice softens.
"I've never had this."
"You don't have to know everything."
His eyes open.
Grey and vulnerable as he looks up at you.
"You already love them."
Another kick answers immediately.
Levi lets out a quiet snort.
"Yeah."
A tiny smile tugs at his lips.
"Brat's already causing trouble."
The baby kicks again.
As if protesting, causing you to let out a small laugh.
Levi places both hands over the movement.
Protective.
Certain.
Devoted.
His gaze softens completely.
"I won't let anything happen to either of you."
The promise is quiet, but unwavering.
The same certainty he carries into battle.
The same certainty that makes soldiers follow him into hell.
Only now it's directed at you.
At your family.
"You don't have to save the world tonight," you whisper.
His eyes lift to yours.
"Right now, we just want you here."
Levi stares at you for a long moment before his shoulders finally relax.
Completely.
For the first time since returning.
He leans forward and presses a gentle kiss against your stomach.
Then another.
Then rests his forehead there.
Listening to the tiny movements beneath his hands.
Feeling every reminder that he made it home.
That you and the baby are safe.
That this moment exists.
A long breath leaves him.
Slow.
Grounding.
Peaceful.
And for the first time in weeks, Levi truly allows himself to rest.
"I'm not going anywhere for a while," he murmurs softly as he wraps his arms around your waist as he remains kneeling before you.
His eyes close.
Content simply to stay there.
To listen.
To hold you both.
To be home.
A faint smile touches his lips. "I'm staying right here with my family."
The next morning you wake slowly, lingering in that comfortable haze between sleep and consciousness.
The mattress shifts slightly beside you, drawing your attention.
The familiar weight that had been pressed against your side during the night is gone.
Blinking sleep from your eyes, you turn your head.
Levi’s already awake.
He sits on the edge of the bed with his back facing you, elbows resting loosely against his knees.
Morning light spills across his shoulders, outlining his figure in gold.
He’s already dressed in a clean white shirt and dark trousers, but his jacket and harness remain folded neatly over a nearby chair, and his boots sit untouched beside the bed.
For a moment, you simply watch him.
This is one of the rare versions of Levi that almost nobody else ever gets to see.
Not Captain Levi.
Not humanity's strongest soldier.
Not the terrifying man who can silence an entire room with a single glance.
Just Levi.
His shoulders are slightly slumped, carrying traces of the exhaustion that weeks beyond the Walls have carved into him.
There are still faint shadows beneath his eyes despite the uninterrupted night of sleep.
You know he probably hasn't slept this deeply in days.
Maybe weeks.
As you shift beneath the blankets, the soft rustle of sheets immediately catches his attention.
His head snaps around.
The movement is instinctive.
Years of survival.
Years of danger.
Yet the sharp alertness in his eyes melts away the instant he sees that you’re awake.
The tension vanishes from his face and his expression softens.
"Did I wake you?"
His voice is low and rough from sleep.
You smile sleepily. "No."
Your voice comes out softer than intended.
You push yourself upright against the pillows, adjusting carefully around the weight of your stomach.
Levi is beside you instantly.
One hand settles at your back to help support you.
The simple gesture makes your heart squeeze.
Even now, after everything he's survived, his first instinct is taking care of you.
Once you're comfortable, your fingers brush lightly against his arm. "How long have you been awake?"
"Not long."
His answer is immediate.
You narrow your eyes. "Levi."
A tiny flicker of amusement appears.
"I've been awake an hour."
You laugh quietly. "I knew it."
"I couldn't sleep anymore."
"You were exhausted."
"I slept."
"You passed out."
A faint huff escapes him. "Same thing."
"It absolutely is not."
Levi rolls his eyes, but that tiny smirk remains.
The sight is enough to make your chest ache.
He looks lighter this morning.
Not completely.
The burdens he carries never disappear entirely.
But he looks lighter.
Less haunted.
Less tense.
As if simply being here has allowed him to put some of that weight down.
Levi carefully shifts back onto the mattress beside you.
The movement is slow and deliberate.
Protective.
Always conscious of your growing belly.
His hand immediately finds its familiar place against the round curve of your stomach.
Warm fingers spread across the fabric of your nightshirt.
Almost instantly, his expression softens further. "The brat is quiet this morning."
His thumb traces a gentle path across your stomach.
"Finally letting you rest."
A smile tugs at your lips. "They're waiting for their father to start talking."
Levi raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"
You place your hand over his. "They hear your voice and suddenly decide it's time for training exercises."
A low sound of amusement escapes him. "Sounds annoying."
Before you can reply, the baby chooses that exact moment to kick.
Both of you freeze.
Then another kick follows and Levi's hand immediately spreads wider across your stomach.
There it is.
That look.
The one he tries so hard to hide.
Pure wonder.
Every single time.
No matter how many kicks he feels.
No matter how many times it happens.
He never stops looking amazed.
The corner of his mouth twitches upward. "Morning."
The greeting is directed entirely at your stomach.
You grin.
The baby kicks again a moment later, causing his expression to immediately turn suspicious. "They're doing that on purpose."
"They like you." you smile.
"Hm."
Another kick.
Levi's eyes narrow. "I take it back."
You laugh.
The sound fills the room.
For a moment neither of you says anything.
You simply sit together in the quiet sunlight.
His hand remains over your stomach.
Yours rests over his.
The peaceful silence stretches comfortably between you.
Eventually you glance toward the window.
"You know you're usually halfway through paperwork by now."
Levi groans.
Actually groans.
You stare.
He notices. "What?"
"You made a sound."
"I always make sounds."
"Not ones that human."
His glare returns.
Much weaker than usual.
"I can still leave."
"You wouldn't."
"No."
A pause.
"Probably not."
Your smile widens.
"Is Commander Erwin giving you a grace period?"
Levi lets out a low cynical huff.
The familiar one.
"Erwin knows better than to bother me the first morning back."
His hand continues resting over your stomach.
"But the paperwork won't file itself."
You make a face.
"Unfortunately."
"The recruits are probably already turning the mess hall into a disaster."
"Also unfortunately."
"Hange is likely blowing something up."
"Definitely unfortunately."
Levi sighs. "Exactly."
The smile slowly fades from your face.
Not because you're unhappy.
But because reality is beginning to creep back in.
The regiment.
The responsibilities.
The endless cycle of preparation.
Even if he isn't leaving the Walls anytime soon, there will still be work.
Still danger.
Still long days.
Your shoulders sink slightly.
The change doesn't escape Levi.
It never does.
His eyes immediately find yours.
"Hey."
His voice softens.
He shifts closer.
One hand slides gently to your hip while the other rises to brush a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
Then he leans forward until his forehead rests against yours.
The simple touch instantly settles something anxious inside your chest.
"I'm not leaving the Walls again for months." he says to you, his voice is steady.
Certain.
Grounding.
"I'll be on training grounds."
A pause.
"In meetings."
Another pause.
"In offices I don't want to be in."
You smile slightly.
"But I'll be here."
His thumb traces slow circles against your side.
"I'll be here for dinner."
Another circle.
"I'll be here every night."
His eyes remain locked on yours.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Your chest tightens.
Not from fear.
From relief.
You close your eyes briefly.
Simply absorbing his words.
His presence.
The warmth radiating from him.
"I know."
Your voice is barely above a whisper.
"But let me hold onto you for five more minutes."
Levi's expression softens completely.
The look he gives you could melt steel.
"Take ten."
Before you can respond, he shifts closer, his arms wrapping securely around your waist.
Careful.
Protective.
Mindful of the baby between you.
You immediately settle against him, your head finding its familiar place against his collarbone.
The steady rhythm of his heartbeat fills your ears.
Strong.
Reliable.
Home.
Levi rests his cheek against the top of your head.
Minutes pass.
Neither of you speaks.
Neither of you needs to.
Outside, life continues.
Soldiers train.
Officers work.
The regiment moves forward.
But inside this room, time slows.
The war disappears.
The Titans disappear.
The expectations placed upon humanity's strongest soldier disappear.
There is only this.
Morning sunlight.
Quiet breathing.
The child growing safely between you.
And the man holding both of you as though you're the most precious things in the world.
Eventually, the distant clock in the courtyard begins to chime.
The sound echoes faintly through the headquarters.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Reality returns.
Levi exhales a long, reluctant sigh into your hair.
Neither of you moves immediately.
But eventually he presses a kiss against your forehead.
Then another.
Then carefully, he pulls away.
Duty awaits.
Even if neither of you wants it to.
Levi swings his legs over the side of the bed and reaches for his boots.
The familiar leather creaks as he slides them on.
One by one, he fastens every buckle with practiced efficiency.
Then comes the harness.
The jacket.
The pristine white cravat.
The Scout Regiment insignia.
Piece by piece, Captain Levi returns.
Once fully dressed, he turns back toward you.
You expect him to head for the door.
Instead, he walks back to the bed, dropping to one knee beside it.
Your heart immediately melts.
Levi reaches up and gently brushes his knuckles across your cheek.
"Eat something proper today."
His eyes narrow slightly.
"And don't let Hange distract you with whatever ridiculous experiment she’s working on."
A laugh escapes you. "I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
"She'll start talking."
You smile.
"Probably."
"She'll forget what they were saying halfway through."
"Most likely."
"She'll accidentally set something on fire."
"Very likely."
Levi sighs "Exactly."
You reach down and squeeze his hand. "I'll eat. I promise."
His expression softens.
Satisfied.
"Good."
Levi then gently cups your jaw, tilting your face upward.
Then he leans down.
The kiss he gives you is slow.
Tender.
Unhurried.
Nothing desperate.
Nothing fearful.
Just love.
Steady.
Certain.
A quiet promise wrapped into a single touch.
You can faintly taste black tea on his lips.
The tea he always drinks every morning.
The familiar flavor somehow makes the moment feel even more intimate.
When he finally pulls away, neither of you moves immediately.
His thumb brushes gently across your lower lip.
Memorizing the moment.
Then his hand lowers to your stomach.
A final protective touch.
A final reassuring pat.
The baby kicks almost instantly.
Levi smirks. "Yeah, yeah."
You laugh.
His gaze softens one last time. "I'll be back before dark."
When he says it, it’s not a promise made lightly.
It’s a certainty.
Because this is where he wants to be.
With you.
With the family you're building together.
Levi rises to his feet and takes one final look at you.
Burning the sight into memory.
Sunlight spilling across the blankets.
Your sleepy smile.
The curve of your stomach.
Everything he fought to come home to.
Then, finally, he turns.
Crosses the room.
And quietly steps into the hallway.
The heavy wooden door closes softly behind him.
Leaving the room warm and peaceful once more.
Yet even as his footsteps fade down the corridor, you can still feel the lingering warmth of his embrace.
And for the first time in weeks, neither of you has to wonder if he'll come home tonight.
Levi doesn't get many chances to escape the walls of the Scouts HQ, but when he does his first stop it always to your home.
You and Levi met when he was out on patrol a few months ago. Your family owns a small tea shop that he just so happened to stumble upon as he was investigating titan activity.
When he saw you, your hair was in soft waves, your skin soft and supple as you dried a tea cup with a small rag, being sure to be gentle with the porcelain. The way your dainty hands moved as you cleaned intrigued him. After all, he is a clean freak.
"Honey, would you please take this kind man's order?" Your mom called as she untied her apron. "I have to run to the ladies room."
Not many people would describe Levi as kind.
Levi isn't known for having friends, let alone getting to know people. Especially a civilian. But there was something about you that made him what to know everything about you.
He put himself on patrol that entire week just so he could see you every day.
"Captain Levi, I have a surprise for you." Your voice was like velvet to his ears. The corners of his lips twitched into a smile - one that is rarely ever seen, only earned.
"Yeah? What's that?" The bell that's attached to the door rang as he walked in. He stepped up to the counter, bracing his hands on the wood as he looked into your eyes.
"I got a new shipment of tea in and I put in a last minute request for that tea you told me about last week - the one you and your mother used to drink together." Your cheeks were burnt with a blush as you explained.
Levi kissed you for the first time that very day.
It's been months since that day and you and Levi have been inseparable ever since. Life inside the walls is scary, but with Levi you felt just a little safer.
"You know, I almost wrote a letter to HQ when I didn't see you for two months." You're leaning your back against your kitchen counter, watching as Levi steeped his tea.
"I keep every letter you send me." He doesn't look up from the tea kettle. "So I would add it to my small pile, may I add."
"I write you letters when I feel the need to, Captain." You smirk, letting your arm brush his side. "They're more special that way."
It's true, they are more special that way. On every letter you would leave a lipstick kiss next to his name. Part of your lips always covered the end of your name.
"Hm, what lipstick were you wearing when you sent me the last letter?" Levi's voice was deep and smooth as he turned to you, his fingertips grazing your elbow. "The red one."
"I knew you would like that one." You turned to grab your purse, pulling a silver tube of red lipstick out to hold in front of him. "I just got it at the new shop down the road. They get cosmetics from outside the walls."
"Put it on for me." He whispered as if you two weren't the only people in the house.
You comply, parting your lips as you twist open the lipstick, gliding it on your plump lips as you stared into his eyes.
So innocent, yet so dangerous.
Levi always thought you were the most dangerous thing in the world. With your innocent eyes, your lips that take his breath away - you are the one thing that could end him.
You push your lips out, puckering up to him making kissy noises to interrupt his thoughts. Levi cups your face in his hands, the fat of your cheeks pushing against his palms as he looks at you.
"Levi-" You whisper, your hands pressing flat against his chiseled chest. Yes, you've been intimate, but he still makes you shy and nervous every time he's close.
"I want to kiss you. Can I?" His voice is soft as his index finger drags down your cheek. His voice was barely above a whisper. You nod, leaning up to meet your lips with his.
Levi kisses with no urgency. Like he could do this all day. His tongue glides along your bottom lip, begging for entry. Obviously you comply, your arms draping over his shoulders as you lose yourself in him.
You pull away to take a breath, opening your eyes and seeing your red lipstick smeared on his lips. "Levi, let me clean that -"
"No." He pulls you back in for another kiss, holding onto your arms as he devours you. Your fingers lace into his hair, nails dragging down his fresh undercut as he lifts you up effortlessly onto the counter, now standing in between your legs.
"Levi, you have red lipstick all over you." You whisper between kisses. "Please let me clean it for you."
He shakes his head, chuckling. "Fine, fine." His storm-cloud eyes look up into yours. As you wet a small rag, you gently wipe his slightly swollen lips.
You're holding his face in your hands as he looks up at you. His usual stone cold eyes are slightly softened whenever he sees you.
He can't lose you. He won't.
Once you finish cleaning his lips, you wipe the lipstick off of your own. The minute you turned your head to put the rag down, Levi's lips were back on yours.
He's never this... impatient.
He kissed you with urgency, his hands roaming your body. His large hands grip your plush thighs as his tongue dives into your mouth.
"Levi -" You whisper against his lips, biting down gently on his bottom lip. "Talk to me,"
"No talking." His voice was low and his lips were back on yours. You complied, cupping the back of his head as your tongue danced with his.
Eventually Levi lifted you again, this time his hands were planted on your ass as he walks you both to your bedroom. As he walks through the house, there are small indications that Levi stays there. One of his napkins, his favorite teacup, a comb...
Levi lays you gently on your back on the bed, his eyes scanning your body. His hands follow the same path, pulling on your dress as he stares at you with amazement.
"You are an angel." He murmured, pushing the fabric up with his hands. "An angel I don't deserve."
You only look at him, letting him speak more. "I won't ever leave you. Remember that." He leans down, crashing his lips into yours.
Taking control, you flip your bodies around so you're straddling his waist. When you look down at Levi, he has a soft blush on his cheeks, his pupils blown.
Yes, his favorite position is cowgirl.
"Levi, I need you to know something." You whisper, your nails dragging down his chest. You unbutton his shirt, shrugging it off along with his jacket to reveal his muscular chest.
Your fingers dance along the scars he's earned in battle, though they don't hurt him physically anymore he still feels the pain in his heart.
"No matter how long you're gone," You whisper, lifting your hips to pull your underwear down by your thumbs and tossing them on the floor. "No matter how far you go," You push your dress up over your head, leaving you in just your lacy bra. Your fingers unbuckle his belt, the sound of the metal clanking as it falls on the floor. "I'm yours."
You see his hardness through his underwear, his length begging for your touch. Your fingertips gently graze him and he winces, his eyes closing. He's so sensitive under you.
As you let him free you push yourself onto your knees, aligning yourself with his tip. You hear him gasp, his eyes meeting yours and he reaches for a condom.
"No, Levi." You push his hand away, rocking your hips against the tip. He shudders, his entire body on edge. "I want to feel every inch of you."
His hands make purchase on the meat of your hips, gently guiding you down his length. His puffy lips are parted as he looks in your eyes, feeling your pussy swallow him.
You sheath yourself onto him, both of you moaning when he fills you to the hilt. After only using a condom for months, feeling him bare was euphoric.
"Fuck, Levi -" You whine, your palms pressing against his chest as you roll your hips. He matches with his won thrusts, looking at you through hooded eyes.
Not once did he look away.
He used one hand to slap your ass, the sound of your skin against his hand filling the room as you start to pant. He watches your tits bounce as you ride him, biting down on your bottom lip almost until it's bleeding.
Levi's hand comes to your mouth, moving your lip between your teeth as he starts to thrust into you. You're close.
Then he flips you over onto your back, still inside you. He starts rutting into you, his lips attaching to your neck as he feels your walls tighten around him.
He grunts in your ear as he thrusts, his teeth sinking into your earlobe. "You're s-so tight." He moans, his pace picking up.
You sink your fingers into his hair, feeling his sweat as you pull him closer to you. You wrap your legs around his middle, giving him another angle to get deeper.
He pushes one of his hands down your stomach to your clit, rubbing it gently as he watches you. His lips only brush yours as he continues to rub, making sure you get there before he dos.
Your pussy flutters around him as his thrusts get sloppy, but he's determined to make this last as long as he can. You whine and whimper in his ear, losing yourself with him.
Your nails drag down his back, no doubt leaving marks as you reach your high.
You feel his cock pulse inside of you, his voice in your ear. "Tell me to pull out."
You shake your head. You want to feel him entirely. "No."
"F-fuck." Levi whimpers, spilling himself inside of you. He's breathing heavy when he looks down at you, moving your hair out of your face as he caresses your blushed cheek.
"I'm yours." Levi presses a kiss to your swollen lips, gently pulling out of you with a hiss. "No matter where I am, I belong to you."
