when everyone knows you're Levi's – everyone except you...
Kenny has known since you were both kids. Just two brats he'd taken under his wing in the Underground (why he'd done that, he still doesn't even know himself). Kenny knew you were Levi's when he saw the way the runt would always stay close, moving when you moved as if some invisible string were tying you together. Levi would always make sure you ate first, that you were always warm, always safe. It was also during that time when Kenny realised that, even with his own shit influence, the runt would turn out alright.
Isabel and Furlan have known since before Levi knew himself. They noticed the way that, in a room full of people, Levi's eyes would always seek you first. When you spoke, he'd listen with an intensity so unlike the usual disinterest he showed towards most other people. When you were separated for some reason – maybe, you were with another team during a heist, or just out for an errand – Levi's shoulders were tense, he was snappy, on edge, and overall unpleasant to be around. But it only lasted until he saw you again, safe.
Mike has known from the moment he saw Levi's eyes widen with pure terror when you'd been held at knife-point. It was that day when the Scouts had finally caught Levi's infamous gang in the Underground. It was almost comical how fast Levi dropped his dagger and let himself get dragged to his knees, then shoved right into a puddle of sewer filth. Especially now, when Mike knows how much that guy hates filth, he marvels at how Levi didn't even seem to notice it – no, his attention was solely focused on you, and first when the immediate threat to your life had been removed had he looked at Erwin.
Erwin and Hange learned that you were Levi's shortly after you both joined the Scouts. You were always seen together – during training, meals, and every other time of the day. They noticed that, unlike with others, Levi was always patient with you. He'd spar with you, even though he was much better at it than you were (you were still remarkably good, it was just that no one was as good as Levi), and he'd show you a move again and again and again just so you could learn it, never raising his voice at you and always answering your questions. And he didn't express even the tiniest hint of annoyance during those moments – only a softness in his eyes they would've described as adoration, if that word wasn't so strange when associated with Levi.
The Levi Squad also quickly learned that you were his. At first, they'd thought that the rumours about Levi being an aloof asshole were wrong. How could he be, with the way he acted around you – talking more than they'd ever heard him talk before, smiling like it was natural to him, letting you hold his hand, hug him, and kiss his cheek as if the two of you were a happily married couple. However, it didn't take long for them to realise that he was every bit as grumpy as rumours had claimed him to be – not quite an asshole, but still blunt and private. That is, to everyone but you.
The revelation had spurred Petra to casually ask how long you and Levi had been together. To their surprise, Levi had fallen very silent, while you spluttered and waved your hands frantically in front of yourself. "No no, I promise it's not like that! We've just known each other since we were kids!"
Petra was sceptical, Oluo confused, and Eld and Gunther exchanged looks. Later, they asked Hange about it, but they'd just pinched the bridge of their nose, mumbling something along the lines of, "If that idiot doesn't tell them soon, I'm going to ask them out myself. That should get him going."
But after that day, you notice that Levi suddenly starts acting strange around you for some reason. He'll get very still every time you hug him or get too close, something he's never done before. When you ask him about it, he doesn't say anything at first, so you ask if you did something wrong.
That seems to catch his attention, and he immediately pulls you close. "Don't be an idiot. It's not you, it's me."
You laugh a little at that. "You know, it sounds like you're breaking up with me when you put it like that." You say it as a joke of course, but it seems like Levi is taking your statement very serious.
"To break up, you have to be together first, you know."
"Right. But you never really saw me like that," you muse, looking away and trying to sound like you don't care when, really, your heart hurts just thinking about it
Again, Levi doesn't say anything, so you look at him again – only to find him staring at you as if you've suddenly grown an extra head.
"Huh? Was it something I said?"
He groans loudly. "You really are an idiot." Then, he flicks your forehead. "I always liked you, dumbass. It used to drive me mad – no, scratch that, it does drive me mad. You drive me mad, but in the best fucking way."
Your eyes light up. "Really?"
"Don't make me say it again."
"Does that mean I can kiss you?"
Levi blinks in surprise, his lips parting. Then, he quickly snaps his mouth shut, only for it to spread into a smirk a split second later. "I'd be pretty fucking stupid to say no to that, wouldn't I?"
You agree wholeheartedly, right before leaning in to kiss Levi. Right on the mouth.
Levi's road to confessing was arduous (to him) and full of longing
contains: angsty fluff. canon universe, reader joined the survey corps a little before Levi became Captain. mentions of canon typical events and minor character death. mostly focused on Levi's view of things. Miche and Erwin are rooting for the two of you, and they gossip about your relationship in their minuscule free time. slow burn ish. no smut.
wc: 6.2k
To Levi, meeting you felt like further proof that the world wanted to consistently push him to the edge of insanity, even if at a smaller scale than every unfortunate event of his past. It was the first time he felt completely weakened by something so harmless, idiotic infatuation.
He realized very early on, during your first week as a new member of the Corps, that he had an unparalleled interest in you. It appalled him.
For the first couple of months he refused to admit to himself that what he felt when you were around meant anything beyond idle curiosity.
He chalked up his harsh treatment of you during training to simply proving you were a good soldier; instead of what it actually was, a weak attempt to make you give up, because he felt someone like you shouldn’t have to deal with the horrors of the world.
He convinced himself the headaches he would get when you were called on for patrols or expeditions were just a result of his lack of sleep. And that the constant thoughts of you swirling in his mind every damn night would dissipate the longer you were around. He was very wrong about that.
He made it a point to not interact with you outside of training, missions, or briefings. Nonetheless, that didn’t mean he didn’t feed into his curiosity. As subtly as he could.
He watched you a lot. Enough to know that you were always late for breakfast, trained yourself to the bones even on your off days, volunteered to help around with anything you could, and were particularly good at mending clothes. He knew you liked eating with Hange almost every night, and it was the part of your day he enjoyed the most. On each of those nights he followed the two of you into the mess hall, sitting far enough that Hange wouldn’t get the idea of asking him to join, but still giving himself the appropriate distance to observe you. To commit to memory every little detail he could, how you ate, how you sat, what you talked about, if your nose also scrunched up at the disgusting taste of the tea everyone but him was subjected to; any information he could gather before the sound of your laugh warmed his chest enough to make him leave.
Truthfully, he could have kept that stalker-ish routine going for ages, and he fully intended to; being able to keep his distance while still getting the smallest doses of you seemed like an ideal arrangement in his mind.
It wasn’t until one damning night that he decided this restrictive mindset had to change. He saw you walking with another recruit, late, and alone. He couldn’t properly hear whatever wildly amusing conversation you were having from where he stood; regardless of that, he could still clearly make out the faint sound of your laugh accompanying it.
The small scene was enough to break him from his ridiculous self-imposed prison. Levi didn’t want to allow himself to indulge in his desires for you. He didn’t feel he deserved to be with you in any capacity further than working alongside each other. Despite that, the idea that someone else could come in and take from him the possibility of a chance with you was much more mortifying than his own insecurities and concerns.
From that alone, he made the decision to allow himself a sliver of your time. And so, the very next day you were graced with your first private conversation with the captain, if you could even call it that.
He approached you after you were done with training, standing against a wooden beam trying to steady your breathing, hair messy, and sweat coating your forehead.
“Your stance was horrible today.” The abruptness of his presence and his comment caught you off guard.
“What?” You looked at him with a puzzled look, processing whether he was actually addressing you or not.
“During training. You were terrible.” He explained, his tone maintaining its harshness despite your confusion.
“Oh. Yeah, I guess so, I’m out of my element today.” You explained plainly, a half-smile tugging on your lips both at the bluntness, and the fact this was probably the first time he came up to you alone.
“And yesterday as well.”
“Right.”
“You’re not sleeping well.” More of a statement than a question, the dark circles you've been sporting this week probably gave it away.
“I've been having a hard time with it, yes.”
He gave you a firm nod, pursing his lips together in thought.
“I’ll come find you tonight, I have a tea for that.” He turned around the moment he finished without a second look, not giving you an actual chance to accept or refuse.
Since then, the two of you started a small routine. He’d look for you after dinner and guide you on a brief walk to the top floor of the main building. A teapot and two cups already placed on the window ledge in the back of the room, with a singular candle lit close by; he hoped that the minimal amount of light would make his intense gaze less noticeable.
It was supposed to last only for however long you were struggling to sleep but continued far past those days. Most times he wouldn’t talk, only listened; he’d let you rattle on about the day if you pleased, indulging you by participating in idle gossip.
“I can reprimand them for that. I trust you’re aware.” He’d slip in when you shared a little too much about the escapades of some recruits, forgetting for a moment he had recently become your superior.
“Well, this is all alleged. Maybe I didn’t hear it right. This tea is great by the way; is it a different kind?" A blush creeping up your cheeks while you attempted to change the subject, looking at him with a sheepish smile that begged him to forget your prior information.
It took a few weeks, but he started contributing with topics of his own little by little. An opinion, a small anecdote, a complaint. Slowly chipping away at the facade of mystery and harshness that used to be all you got from him before. A part of Levi worried that the more you learnt about him, the less interested you’ll be, but the enjoyment he got from your small interactions vastly outweighed that concern.
A year into meeting you, Levi had grown accustomed to having you near him, even if for brief moments. He enjoyed your company and physically couldn't continue hiding it from you. He still kept enough distance to make his ever-growing feelings unknown to everyone else, and didn’t properly confess anything to you, but his advances grew slightly bolder.
Your nightly routine changed a lot from how it originally started. Moving from ten minutes of sipping tea in a semipublic space to secluded meetings in the dead of night. Going as far as sneaking you in his private quarters when he came back from travels you were not part of.
Being away from you became the key that pushed your connection forward. Every time he came back, he wanted to have you around for the night, and he needed the certainty that you wouldn’t be interrupted; the reassurance of it enabled him to make these encounters last for hours.
He sat in a wooden chair next to his desk, beckoning you closer with a simple command. “Show me what happened.”
“You can’t see the bruise with my uniform on.” You argued with a stifled laugh; you had complained to him about a minor injury you sustained recently, something insignificant that happened while he was gone.
“Then change.”
You stared at him bewildered.
“Do I have to do it for you?” His stern tone didn’t falter; it would’ve seemed like an order more than playful teasing, if it wasn’t for how relaxed he looked.
“You returned as tactful as ever, I see.” You laughed, amused at his actions. You made your way to the bedroom, missing the smirk on his face.
You returned to the room in a thin nightgown that made Levi tense at the sight, hands tucking into fists on his lap before relaxing again. His hand sprawled on the back of your right thigh without question once you stood in front of him, pulling it closer to properly view the wide bruise on the outer side of it; purplish hues going from your mid-thigh to the bottom of your glute.
“This is nothing to you?” It came out softer than he intended. Thinking of you being hurt when he wasn’t around, no matter how little, lowered his guard.
“It looks worse than it is.”
His hand carefully grazed the bruise, hiking up the edge of your gown in the process. You shivered at the touch. Goosebumps covered your skin, and it did not go unnoticed by him. “Does it hurt?”
“No. I think this helps.” You humored, not bothering to hide your enjoyment of his treatment.
“I’m sure it does, brat.” He smiled, small, but enough for you to notice. His hand still caressing your leg despite his response.
It took Levi five years to make his feelings for you properly known. But it’s not like you, or others, hadn’t suspected them before that. Despite keeping the matter private, much like most things about him, sometimes he struggled to adequately hide that he had a soft spot for you.
He never outright said he cared about you, never properly held you, but all the things he did do, they proved to be more intimate and sweeter than any regular courting could ever be.
For your first birthday after joining the Corps he went out of his way to gift you a treat from a bakery in your home district. It became a tradition that he fulfilled every year since; he’d go as far as getting it for you in advance if an expedition took place around the date, just in case one of you didn't make it back after.
In your second year, after an expedition where two members of your graduating class were tragically lost, he sneaked you into his quarters every night for a week—Both Erwin and Hange knew but they didn’t say word of it—he’d lay you down next to him, let you cry out your grieve for as long as you needed to, and patiently waited until you grew tired enough to sleep to get some shut-eye of his own.
“I’ll never get used to it, will I?” Your voice was barely above a whisper.
“No.” While your eyes were glued to the ceiling, Levi’s gaze was fixed on you. His expression was unreadable as usual, but he was completely tormented, wishing he could take this hurt away from you.
“Am I being weak?”
“You’re being human.”
“That’s a yes.” You smiled, attempting to joke, yet the humor in your voice didn’t reach your eyes. Tears fell down in a stream, and Levi had to try his hardest not to reach out and wipe them off your cheeks. “I just—” Your voice broke. To him, the sound evoked a feeling adjacent to being stabbed. “I feel I should be stronger than this. I shouldn’t be surprised over what I signed up for.”
“You’re not surprised; you’re hurt.” Levi chastised, shifting his position to look at you properly. “You did your job, you don’t have to be strong now. Now stop this nonsense of acting like it's shameful to grieve. At least don't do it with me.”
You didn’t say anything—instead looking back at the ceiling while your hand found his arm, curling up to his side when the tears started burning your eyes once again.
He didn’t try to hold you, but he didn’t pull away. Even after you fell asleep.
In your third year, when Erwin told him he’d be pulling you out of his team to make you a squad leader, he became sick almost immediately. The notion that you would no longer be under his supervision, that even if you went on the same expeditions as he did, he’d have to wait until the very end before he could know if you were still alive. It circled his head all morning and gave him a headache so outstanding he had to dismiss himself from training that afternoon.
“What do you think?” Erwin ended the silence that persisted since he broke the news.
Levi stared absentmindedly. “I think she’ll be a fantastic leader.”
“Is that it?”
“Are you asking for my permission?”
“No, I simply respect you enough to ask for your opinion.”
“Unless you’re willing to put my preferences above what’s best for humanity, don't ask for my opinion on what you should do with her.”
“Because your preference would be to retire her immediately?” Erwin prodded, with no real expectation for Levi to speak up. It wasn’t the first time he brought you up, and it wouldn’t be the last if Levi kept refusing to trust him with this information. “You don’t have to answer that. I understand you want to avoid telling me what I already know.”
Following your change in rank, the order of retreating met Levi with a wave of asphyxiating dread rather than relief, one that didn’t dissipate until he was able to spot you on your horse, still breathing and in one piece. These concerns were never brought up to you or anyone else for that matter—despite Erwin being aware and willing to speak with him about it if he could just be honest—even if his fear of losing you and not being able to do anything about it grew stronger with every expedition, he kept his worries regarding your well-being private. You always returned; he had no reason to discuss anything he felt. If you were alive and well, he’d be able to mask his love for you for a while longer.
It wasn’t until your fifth year as a member of the Survey Corps when his ‘while longer’ ended. When he had to come to terms with his fears, and his feelings.
He kept his composure as best as he could while going through the list of those dead and missing with Erwin, watching other scouts load bodies into carriages, though he’s sure it did not go unnoticed how tightly he was gripping his gear while he waited for every name to be read. Even then, after all bodies were loaded, the trek to the walls started, and confirmation that you were not one of those lost received; his heartbeat did not return to a healthy rhythm. He needed to see you.
This was the most stressed he ever felt trying to find you after an expedition. Deep down, he could feel something about today was different, as if you not being okay was something he could physically feel. And it didn’t help the fact that it took him so long to spot you; carriages and horses already on the move to safety without him being able to catch a single glimpse of you.
Every second that passed he could feel his body tense further, cold sweat reaching his palms, a knot tight in his throat that only got tighter the moment he saw you. That sickening feeling of dread he thought he had grown used to crashed down on him and threatened to finish him right then and there. He spotted you being carried by Miche when he made it past the wall. Your body limp in his hold, your inability to even keep your head up made Levi assume the worst and had him rush in your direction before he even realized it.
He got off the horse calm and collected, as if his heart wasn’t threatening to rip itself out of his chest. His relief upon seeing you were still breathing was immediate, yet short-lived as he paid more attention to your injuries. Your left thigh and arm were bandaged. There was blood all over you, dripping from your nose, your mouth, and the seams of the binds on your wounded limbs; you must’ve been hurt close before the order to retreat was given.
It made him sick and brought a vile sting to his eyes, a sensation he had long forgotten.
“She’s okay.” Miche assured him, smiling lightly at how Levi was frowning at you as though telepathically reprimanding you for getting to this state. “Nothing’s broken, but she’s weak. She couldn’t keep riding.”
Levi nodded firmly, not trusting himself to speak right away. He reached under your body, taking you in his arms with little protest from the other man. “I’ll take her. I don’t want her in a carriage.”
“She’d be laying down.” Miche pointed out yet still took a step back once Levi had a solid hold on you, not really wanting to interfere.
“She’d be alone.”
Miche nodded, holding back his reaction at what the captain was displaying, and promptly retreating to his horse; more than ready to get back and tell Erwin about this little interaction.
You were conscious enough to hear the conversation, although far too drained to register the worry behind Levi’s tone let alone comment on it. You had half a mind to realize he carried you back to his horse, helping you on it before getting behind you. He took a hold of the handle and took off in a slow ride, while his left arm went around your waist, keeping you tucked back against him.
One of your hands went to his forearm, giving it a small squeeze to show your acknowledgement before relaxing again.
“Are you okay?” He questioned quietly. Not that anyone would be able to hear him past the sound of hooves against the ground and the many murmurs of civilians watching them pass by.
You turned your head enough to look at him out of the corner of your eye. The concern written all over his face almost made you forget the waves of pain crashing through you. You nodded, small, before letting the back of your head rest on his shoulder; the tiny action having wasted the remainder of your energy.
“Liar.” He murmured against your hair, the touch of his lips against your scalp so fleeting you could only assume you imagined it.
That night Levi had been more consumed in his own thoughts than he would have appreciated. You were out most of the ride back to the base; the only thing keeping you upright was his firm hold on you that didn’t falter once. He spent that time wondering what happened, how did you injure yourself, did somebody help you, did you have to drag yourself all the way to your horse and pretend you didn’t feel so bad until it was inevitable?
He imagined every single heartbreaking scenario his brain could come up with, images of you crying out while you bled in the woods flashed through his mind, torturing himself with the idea that maybe you had been near him, maybe you even called out for him and he didn’t hear it, trying to find ways to blame himself for your poor state.
He woke you gently once you made it to the base, helping you off the horse and onto your feet, guiding you to wrap an arm over his shoulder to steady yourself when you were unable to suppress your limping. Everything was a blur for you, every step you took forgotten when the next one happened.
You could remember briefly smiling at Hange when she approached the two of you, catching some of their conversation, and Levi whisking you away before you could manage a goodbye.
“You really busted yourself out there.” You chuckled at her comment and winced immediately after, a stabbing pain reaching your ribs, the mixed noise making her laugh. “You’re okay?”
You nodded, not getting the time to answer before Levi interjected. “She is.” He stated, adjusting his grasp on your hip when you clutched your side.
“Right… I’ll get one of the scouts to take her to the infirmary. Erwin wants to talk to us.”
“No.” Levi spoke up before Hange could even attempt turning on her heel. “I will take care of it, and I’ll go to his office after. Tell him I’ll only be a moment.” He kept walking without another word, not giving her any time to make a comment on his behavior.
He took you to his quarters, helping you out of your stained cloak and muddied boots before starting to undo the soaked bandages on your limbs. He seemed unaffected by the sight he was met with, the gashes and lacerations covered in dried blood were nothing he hadn’t seen before; but the fact that they were on your body, it brought a shake to his hands he was completely unfamiliar with and he thanked the heavens you were too busy scrunching your eyes together at the stinging feel of him cleaning the open wounds to notice it.
You don’t know if you talked, if he asked you anything, you don’t think so. The only thing you committed to memory was the feel of hardened hands touching you in the softest ways imaginable, guiding you to his bed when he was done and easing you into laying down. He caressed your face before he moved away; the way he looked at you a mixture of longing and thinly veiled restraint.
He left almost as soon as he laid you down, knowing that if you said anything, if you made even the slightest sound, he’d discard his meeting altogether to lay next to you.
Levi came back less than an hour after with a thick bag under his arm, having raided your room before coming to gather anything you might need. He was being exceedingly obvious today; he knew more than well his friends no longer needed a heartfelt confession to know exactly why he had been so special to you in the past five years with how he's behaved, but for once he couldn’t care less about that matter.
He found you just as he had left you, now asleep with your mouth slightly agape. Your messy hair tussled all around was the only indication that you moved while he was gone. He pulled a chair next to the bed, not wanting to risk waking you up; ready to patiently wait until he could get you out of your filthy, blood-stained uniform. Your change of clothes and a clean set of sheets awaiting next to him already.
He doesn’t know how long you were asleep for, but it continued through enough hours for him to follow suit at some point.
He vaulted out of the chair when you woke up with a loud cry; the sound was completely gut-wrenching.
“What happened? What’s wrong?!” He grabbed you by the shoulders with a desperate pull, his eyes searching for yours. The sting of tears threatening to break free he felt earlier returned with a vengeance when you coughed up blood, tears streaming down your face.
“Talk to me, angel. Please.” He begged, hands reaching for your face, wiping your tears. You didn’t speak, didn’t explain what was ailing you, instead your cries became louder, deafening.
Levi could feel his heartbeat hammering in his chest, and before he could do anything, more blood came out of your mouth, then your nose, then from your wounds, white bandages drowned in the crimson red liquid. He couldn’t find the words; he didn’t even know what to do. He frantically moved around the room, searching for anything to wipe the blood with, to apply pressure and stop this someway.
Before he knew it, his own eyes were welled up with tears as he desperately tried to stop you from bleeding out, the sound of your crying overwhelming him completely.
“You’re going to be okay. You’re okay.” He repeated like a mantra, the room spinning around him when he looked at the pool of blood under you. He wiped his tears with his forearm. His heartbeat grew louder, and the sound of it seemed to echo through the room.
You wouldn’t stop crying, and God, you wouldn’t stop bleeding, it was futile to try. Your hands went to his shoulders, bringing him closer to you while you sobbed hysterically.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do.” He wrapped his arms around you tightly, crying onto your hair, hopelessly clinging to you. “I can’t do anything. Please forgive me, angel. Please.” He wept, his grip tightening the quieter your cries became; your energy depleted the longer you kept bleeding.
“Don’t leave me.” It became uncontrollable; he felt completely out of himself, the sound of his thunderous heartbeat, the feel of your blood on his hands, the pain in his chest crushing him further and further. “Please don’t leave me.”
“Levi?... Levi.” He woke up with a jolt to see you standing above him, mind completely fogged by the images his brain came up with. His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of the room, looking around the now empty bed then back to your fragile frame.
The glow of the moon coming from the window was the only source of light, but it was enough to see you properly; not in tears, and not bleeding out. Instead, you were looking at him with a puzzled expression, an arm cradling your midsection as you tried your best to stand upright.
“Are you okay? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I’m—” He closed his mouth before continuing, rubbing his eyes before he looked at you again, a slight wet feeling coating his fingertips—was he crying?—it was just a dream. “Don’t worry. Is something wrong?”
“I wanted to get out of all this blood. But I could barely make it a few steps past the bed.”
He hummed, burying his face in his hands for a moment, trying to regain his composure. “I’ll help you.” His eyes found you again, narrowed. Going over every inch of your body to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary, to prove to himself that you wouldn’t randomly start bleeding out in front of him. He debated telling you about his dream, telling you about how worried he was earlier and how the stress of his concerns was swallowing him whole right now, but that would mean delving into a conversation he’s unsure he’d be good at. Maybe he’ll need to practice it.
He walked you to the bathroom, arm stretched out for you to hold onto through every step. “You look terrible.” He murmured, helping you stand in front of the small tub.
“Aren’t you sweet.” You laughed dryly, slowly loosening your grip on his forearm to let him stand back.
You and Levi stared at each other willfully, both waiting for the other to take the next step.
“Can you do it alone?” He asked while reaching for the top button of your shirt, undoing it slowly, waiting for you to form a response, groggy and restless voice adding something new to his usual stoic tone.
You wanted to object, tell him he didn’t need to continue. But you were sure you’d end up falling face first on the floor at some point if he wasn’t holding onto you. “Maybe I could.”
“Sure.” He muttered, gaze focused on where his hands started to undo the rest of your shirt, a deep frown covering his features at the side of fresh red bruises covering your left side.
He carefully undid the bandages on your arm to slowly slide off the shirt. You didn’t care to watch his movements; you couldn’t look away from his face, how concentrated he was, how troubled he seemed over your wounds. It made you smile, both that and the pink tint of his cheeks when he exposed you further.
If you knew him less, you would’ve asked him to kiss you right then and there, but by now you knew well his only answer to that would be questioning if you were concussed.
Levi kept himself from speaking. Too focused on the crushing weight in his heart over the sight of your bruised and battered frame, a weight that grew more draining the more of your clothes he got rid off.
His mind also trotted over the idea of kissing you. He thought about it every single day, but now more than ever he wished he had done so before. That way he could pepper every single inch of your body with small soothing kisses now and it wouldn’t be strange, there wouldn’t be a possibility of you freaking out, because by now you would’ve been used to his affections.
If only he had been braver about it before.
He desperately wished to hold you tenderly in his arms, to caress your skin and kiss you senselessly, trusting that every bit of his devotion would help you forget about the pain you must be feeling.
“What happened?” He helped you stand above the drain, squeezing your hand before letting you stand on your own. He soaked a cloth before he started carefully scrubbing your arms, trying his best to not pressure the slash on your left arm into bleeding again.
“It was my stupidity. One of my scouts was kicked off his horse, and a titan was going to grab him, and I— It was impulsive. I threw myself at them and I didn’t realize another titan was coming. It was a big mess and I wasn’t thinking clearly.” You yawned between your sentences, watching him with tired eyes, following his hands whenever he bent to dampen the cloth and settling back on his face when he returned; his eyebrows furrowed at your anecdote. “I couldn’t tell you exactly what happened, I just know I flew through more trees than I would like, and when I finally got my cables to stick to something I was hanging two inches from the floor and looked like this.”
Levi stayed silent for a moment, trying to picture the situation, as if that helped him in any way. “How did you get on your horse?”
“Miche found me. I would have only been able to drag myself until I found someone. It’s hard to lift this leg.” His grip on your waist tightened at the notion, his eyes now meeting yours to avoid staring at where he scrubbed on your chest, ever-present frown adorning his features.
Levi saw the images of your explanation vividly in his mind; he could clearly see you dragging yourself out of the woods in fear that you wouldn’t make it, as if it actually happened, as if he had been present. It was completely nauseating. “I’m sorry.” His hands stopped, both settled firmly on your hips, indifferent to his proximity and your bare skin.
“For what?”
“I could’ve been there.”
One of your hands reached his bicep, tentatively caressing him. “Don’t do that.”
He pursed his lips together; he knew it was ridiculous to upset himself over something he had no control over, and yet he couldn’t stop. He stayed silent, instead opting to watch you get closer, your hands rubbing up and down his arms to ease him. The delicate body he’s grown to yearn for standing less than an inch away from him, laid bare for his eyes only.
“I’m supposed to be taking care of you.” He murmured, tense muscles taut under your touch as it rose up to his shoulders then back down to the front of his chest.
“I know, but you seem to be more troubled than I am. I may need help getting up, but you’re looking at me like I’m dying.”
“I just don’t know what to do with myself.” Levi let himself get closer, his hands hesitantly moving to your back. “Seeing you like this.”
“I’ve been hurt before.” Your tone was confused, and he hated that it urged him to continue.
“Not like this. Not when I’m not around.”
“I thought you didn’t care if I was not by your side.”
“I lied.”
You couldn’t help the weak laugh that left your lips, looking away from him as you tried to retrieve your composure.
“Are my worries amusing to you?” His gaze narrowed, not in his usual scowl—in dismay.
You shook your head, a hand coming up to caress his face, looking at him with nothing but utter reverence. “I’m more than appreciative of your worries. But I do find it humorous that I have to come back like this for you to say these things.”
The time seemed to stand still between you. Patient, as always, you waited; letting him find the words he’s been struggling to muster. He hated how difficult this was; to expose feelings he has been certain of for years. “Sit, we need to wash your hair.”
You sighed, hands dropping from him with a small nod. He helped you sit in the middle of the tub, kneeling down on the floor next to you, holding onto a small water pitcher with trembling hands.
You closed your eyes at the feeling of water slowly dripping onto your scalp, finally relishing in a soothing feeling. “Don’t look at me when I say this." His voice was low, unusually unsteady, despite being completely certain of his words. "I’m terrified of losing you.”
Your lips pursed together, trying your best to keep yourself from turning your head; wanting to indulge him if it meant being able to hear what he had to confess. “Why?” You asked quietly, eyes stuck to the water falling from your shoulders, bloody and muddy dark streaks slowly disappearing, becoming clearer the more his fingers helped brush water through the thick locks of hair.
Silence lingered for a moment. The only sound being the slow rush of water, and Levi’s deep breaths. He could do this, if there’s someone he could say anything to, it was you. So why did his chest ache this much?
“I’ve belonged to you from the moment I met you.” Levi’s voice came out ragged, broken. His hands softly brushed through your hair, moving back the strands that fell on your face. He cleared his throat, trying to regain some semblance of control. “And I don’t know what will be of me if the only reason I hold any hope for the future is no longer with me.”
You couldn’t help meeting his gaze, lips parting and closing with suppressed praises. To hear something that gentle, romantic, out of the very lips you’ve wished had graced yours long before today; it could’ve been enough to push you through every day of your life from now on.
The way you were looking at him was his undoing, a softness he did not deserve, and that he could only ever receive from you. He watched you uneasy, his throat running dry, unsure of what he was even waiting for. “Please say something.”
Words evaded you completely, too stuck on repeating that sweet confession over and over again in your head. Instead of coming up with some clever poetry of your equal feelings, you did the one thing you knew no amount of prodding would make him do.
Your hands slowly reached for him, cupping his face to bring him closer to you. And you waited, for a moment; not wanting to miss how he relaxed, how he gave in. Only then did your lips meet his with a tenderness that made Levi’s stomach flutter.
One of his hands went to the back of your neck, long fingers twisting into your hair, keeping your lips flush against his while he inched closer to you. His free hand gripped the back edge of the tub, his body looming above yours, completely trapping you under him.
The kiss was searing and all consuming. As if you were trying to pour into him every unsaid word; as if Levi was trying to make up for every single moment he wished your lips had been on his. It grew desperate within seconds, teeth clashing and noses bumping while both of you tried to absorb each other’s oxygen.
It’s only when you tried to wrap your arms around his neck to drag him down did you break away, wincing at the sting from a gash on your bicep.
Levi immediately tensed when you stopped. “I’m sorry.” His voice was breathless, a small whisper followed by him pulling back, softened gaze raking over you to make sure he didn’t hurt you.
“It’s my fault, I should’ve waited until we were laying down.” You quipped, instinctively reaching out for his arm to keep him somewhat close.
He laughed, openly, warm. “That might’ve ended worse.”
A comfortable silence fell in the room after your chuckles died down. Both of you staring at each other with the sweetness of two madly in love idiots. All flushed lips, red cheeks, and stupid smiles.
—
“And then what happened?” Erwin asked while flipping through pages of planning, the words he had written already mixing together from how long he had been staring at them, and how late it already was.
Miche stood by the window, looking out to the empty grounds below them. “I told him she’d be lying down in the carriage, probably more comfortable.”
“Mhm.”
“And he argued she’d be alone, very solemnly.”
“He did not.” Erwin dropped the papers, turning on his chair to meet Miche’s gaze, the other man already snickering to himself.
“He did, and then he just took her away. And I’m completely certain he kissed her hair when they got on the horse.” Miche whispered the last part, as if he was sharing the most confidential work information he could ever manage to get his hands on.
“In front of everyone?” Erwin stared at him dumbfounded, imagining the scene he described before letting out a quiet laugh.
“If they remain nothing but friends after tonight I fear we might have to send Hange in.”
levi ackerman is the sweetest most caring man ever ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)
levi ackerman headcannons ݁˖ ೀ ₊˚
ᛝ levi pretends he hates physical affection but will stand closer than necessary so your shoulders touch. if you try to move away,, he follows anyways
ᛝ he will remember all the tiny details about you - your favorite tea ,, which side you sleep on,, etc - if you point it out he will deny it
ᛝ levi’s love language is acts of service. he’ll fix your gear,, clean your blades, adjusts your uniform straps - its his way of showing he cares for you
ᛝ levi is the type to walk on the outside of the street and subtly move you away from danger without announcing it
ᛝ when you’re worried,, he’ll ground you by handing you something to hold- his cloak, a cup, his sleeve.
ᛝ when he gets jealous he becomes very controlled,, such as shorter answers, sharper tone or standing closer to you than needed
ᛝ levi lets you see him when he’s exhausted. he trusts you enough to be tired around you,, knowing you won’t judge him
ᛝ he’s soft with kids and animals,, but if you catch him being gentle he’ll pretend it never happened
ᛝ if you get hurt, he’s shockingly calm but his hands shake just a little when he checks you over
ᛝ when your venting he actually listens —doesn’t interrupt or minimize. he wants to make sure you feel validated
ᛝ he lets you see his scars,, its another way he shows trust. he doesn’t explain them unless you ask,, but he doesn’t hide them from you either
ᛝ levi doesn’t really know how to flirt,, but he’ll try, “wow, you look so - ravishing.. ?” he’s so lost..
ᛝ he loves your presence so deeply that when you’re gone, he feels off-balance - when your gone, he waits for you.
𖤐 levi has never had a girlfriend, not even during his youth in the underground. he rarely ever felt attracted to anyone and to be honest, relationship was the least of his worries. however, the day you arrived to the survey corps, his mind had changed.
𖤐 levi has his own, silent ways of expressing his love for you. he often stares from a distance while you train, admiring how skilled you are, but he can't help but feel extremely proud whenever he has the chance to help you or give you tips. he loves to make sure you're being the best scout you possibly can be, because he genuinely wants you to push yourself and trust in yourself.
𖤐 levi often feels distracted with you during exhibitions, which turns out to be his weakness. even though he knows very well how good of a soldier you are, he is still too traumatized to let go of his fear of loss. he constantly watches you, demands you to stay in his sight and not do anything reckless. sometimes this turns into a disagreement with you two, and levi finds it difficult to let go of these fears. but with time and mutual understanding, you two work through the troubles.
𖤐 levi is extremely perceptive, which allows him to learn new things about you. he quickly remembers your routines, what you like to have for breakfast and which tea flavor you enjoy the most. he even somehow memorizes your menstrual cycle, believe it or not.
𖤐 levi is still very new to showing affection and talking about feelings, especially in a romantic way. he has always been a person who acts instead of speaking, so he finds doing different things for you easier than admitting his love verbally. you often start to prepare yourself tea, only to notice levi has already done it for you. you might find yourself being out of pads, but to your surprise, levi has gotten you new ones just before your cycle starts. these small things reminds you of how much levi truly cares for you, without him doing too much for you.
𖤐 levi notices your mood shifts. he notices when you don't eat, he notices your sadness and anxiety, but also your joy and happiness. he always offers a shoulder to lean on and never feels bitter if you're feeling great and he's not. he's happy when you are.
𖤐 levi needs time to adjust to physical contact. he has never experienced love or physical affection in his childhood, which makes it understandable that even hugs are tough for him.
𖤐 levi is not often jealous, even though you are his first girlfriend. he trusts you and knows you are loyal to him - but that doesn't mean he trusts other guys. whenever you might think he feels jealous, he doesn't. he just feels absolutely protective and possessive over you, every time some man looks at you the wrong way. only a subtle look is enough for him to be suspicious towards the man's intentions.
𖤐 levi feels that intimacy is extremely hard for him, since he has never been intimate with anyone before. but after some time, you two get intimate, and he loves to keep you close and hold you, as if he knows how vulnerable you feel. he always makes sure your pleasure and safety comes first.
tags: modern au levi ackerman, levi x female reader, marriage, no smut just levi being a doting husband
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.✦ ݁˖ Levi Ackerman does not play about you. Not very many things in his life cause a big reaction from him, he's a very rational and logical man who is the furthest thing from “quick to anger”. But that goes completely out the window when somebody disrespects you. He’s very quick to say “Do not talk to/about my wife that way” when he feels as if your boundaries are being pushed, especially if it happens to be another man. Levi will shut that shit down in seconds
.✦ ݁˖ When it comes down to children, he would only want them if you did. if you wanted a big family, you’d get it. if you were the one and done type, he was fine with that. if you wanted none, that was okay too. Kids or no kids, he still wanted to spend his life with you. though if it was up to him, he’d have one kid. He always saw himself as a girl dad, anytime he ever imagined his future with kids in it, he just always pictured a little girl with his attitude and her moms face. He knew he wanted to be a girl dad when his much younger cousin Mikasa was born, he was just a teenager back then but he knew, if he ever had kid’s he would want a daughter.
.✦ ݁˖ being his wife means inevitably dealing with living with a clean freak, sometimes you feel anxious about it. you know how to clean, but the being micromanaged about it by him sometimes gets on your nerves and is one of the few things that you two argue about. He’s particular about how everything from the microwave to windows are cleaned, and sometimes it feels like its never good enough for him. He doesn't mean to nag you, it just slips out and before he knows it you're upset. He always apologizes, not the type of man to be too prideful to admit when he did something wrong
.✦ ݁˖ He doesn't want you to work, but he does want you to do something with your days. he’s willing to pay for any hobby you want, books, art supplies, classes for anything. he would also support you working if thats what you wanted. he has no desire to mold you into any specific shape, you don't have to be anything you don't wanna be to be loved by him. he just wants you to be happy
.✦ ݁˖ the idea of cheating has never once crossed his mind, but he’s also not the type to be rude to women just because he has a wife. as his wife you're so secure in knowing he would never cheat on you that you didn't mind when he was polite to other women. holding doors, offering to carry heavy things, having female friends at work, none of it bothered you. that man wouldn’t cheat on you if someone had a gun to his head
.✦ ݁˖ Levi hoards anything that reminds him of you. he has an entire folder on his phone of just random pictures he’s taken of you over the years, he has a handful of your hair ties hanging from his turn signal in his car, he saves every single note you put in his lunch box for work, has kept every single random thing you've ever given him, from well thought out presents, to a tiny “good job!” star sticker you jokingly stuck to his forehead years ago (its now the only sticker on his work computer) nothing given to him by your hands is too insignificant for him to keep
.✦ ݁˖ Makes you go to the doctor because he knows you’ll put it off. he doesn't play about your wellbeing at all, his greatest fear is losing you so you best believe you will be getting a check up every year and will be questioned about every thing pertaining to your body. “how much coffee have you had to drink today?” “when was your last period?” “have you been taking your medications? with food and water?”. lord help you if one of your answers causes him to worry, because he will stay worrying about it until the problem is solved.
.✦ ݁˖ Loves your cooking more than any restaurant and definitely gained a little weight after you and him moved in together. which was great as he had always been too skinny and overly picky with food. nowadays he will eat anything you put in-front of him even if its something he thinks he wont like, somehow you just make it taste like heaven. he was always picky as a kid and as a teen, but something about your cooking just makes even basic things taste better. You love baking, so you were always in the kitchen whipping up cookies, muffins, pies, cakes. Levi always did have a sweet tooth, so waking up to gourmet level cookies his wife got bored and made at 2am was always treat
.✦ ݁˖ His mother kuchel adores you, and is so happy her son found someone like you. he was always a loner as a kid and teen and didn't get out much. He didn't date throughout high-school at all and it made his mother wonder if he was even attracted to other people. She was the first person he told when he met you, said there was a woman he met and he didn't know how to feel about you, said he felt weird around you. how his heart would start racing and he would start getting nervous and would get this stutter. Kuchel had to ask him, “have you considered maybe you like this woman and don't know it yet?”, that was the day Levi realized, yes, he did infact like you
.✦ ݁˖ It took over a year after that for him to actually admit it to you, and when he did it wasn't exactly how he planned. The feelings just boiled over one random day and he told you everything, letting it slip that he loved you. He was sure you were gonna get uncomfortable and leave, he was prepared for it. but to his surprise, you told him you felt the same. You two had been inseparable ever since. You two moved rather fast after that, within 5 months you had moved in together, and within a year you were married
Walking up to the Scout headquarters, the building loomed larger than you remembered—stone walls worn from time and war, windows half-open to let in the afternoon air. It wasn’t your first time coming here, but it had been a while. Long enough that your chest felt tight with something between nerves and anticipation.
Still, you smoothed it over with a quiet breath and stepped forward.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
Voices. Boots against the floor. The faint clatter of dishes somewhere deeper in the building.
Soldiers.
Your eyes flickered around, taking it all in before settling on the first person who noticed you—a scout, maybe around your age, standing near the entrance. He blinked, clearly caught off guard.
“…uh—can I help you?”
You offered a small, polite smile.
“Hi. I’m looking for Captain Levi.”
That did it.
The scout’s posture stiffened almost instantly.
“…Captain Levi?” he repeated, like he wasn’t entirely sure he heard you right.
“Yes.”
There was a pause.
A long one.
He glanced over your shoulder like he expected someone else to be there—another soldier, maybe, or some kind of explanation for why a civilian-looking girl was casually asking for humanity’s strongest soldier like this was a normal thing.
When he looked back at you, his expression had shifted into something… cautious.
“…do you have business with him?”
You almost laughed at that.
“Yeah. I’m just here to see him.”
That didn’t help.
If anything, it made him more uneasy.
He rubbed the back of his neck, lowering his voice slightly like he didn’t want anyone else overhearing.
“…look, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but Captain Levi isn’t exactly… approachable.”
You tilted your head, still smiling—soft, patient.
“I know.”
“…he’s not really the type to entertain visitors.”
“I know that too.”
He hesitated again, clearly struggling between protocol and whatever instinct was telling him this was a bad idea.
“…he might not react well.”
That almost made you smile wider.
You shook your head gently.
“It’s okay. I’ll take that risk.”
There was something about the way you said it—calm, assured—that made him pause.
Like you weren’t guessing.
Like you already knew.
“…right,” he muttered, clearly unconvinced but too unsure to argue further. “Just—wait here.”
“Thank you.”
He walked off, glancing back at you once like he expected you to disappear or change your mind.
You didn’t.
You just stood there quietly, hands folded loosely in front of you, taking in the space.
It didn’t take long.
Because whispers started almost immediately.
“Who is that?”
“I don’t know—she asked for Captain Levi.”
“She what?”
You tried not to look, but your eyes flickered just slightly toward the source of the voices.
A group—familiar faces you’d seen before, even if you didn’t know them personally.
A boy with messy brown hair—Eren, if you remembered correctly—leaning forward like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Next to him, Connie looked halfway between amused and confused.
“Why would anyone willingly go looking for him?”
“Maybe she doesn’t know,” Connie added, snorting slightly.
Sasha, chewing on something as always, tilted her head.
“She doesn’t look scared.”
“That’s the weird part,” Eren muttered.
Armin, quieter than the others, studied you more carefully.
“…I think she does know,” he said softly. “She just doesn’t seem bothered.”
That earned him a few glances.
Meanwhile, across the room—
“…this is interesting.”
Hange’s voice, unmistakable.
You didn’t look, but you could feel their attention shift onto you like a spotlight.
“A civilian? Asking for Levi? Oh, I have to see this—”
“Don’t,” someone muttered—Jean, probably. “You’ll scare her off before Levi even gets here.”
Hange hummed, clearly not convinced.
“Or maybe I’ll learn something.”
The energy in the room shifted again.
Subtly.
Like something had entered that commanded attention without needing to raise its voice.
You didn’t need to turn to know. But you did anyway.
Levi stepped into the room with that same sharp presence—eyes already narrowed, expression unreadable, like he was annoyed before he even knew why.
“…what’s all this noise?”
His voice cut clean through the murmurs.
Instant silence.
The scout who had gone to get him stepped forward quickly.
“Sir—there’s someone here asking for you.”
Levi’s gaze shifted.
It landed on you.
And for just a second—
Just a second— something in his expression changed.
Not dramatically. Not enough for anyone else to notice. But you saw it.
The faintest softening around his eyes.
“…tch.”
He clicked his tongue, like the entire situation was mildly irritating—but he was already walking toward you.
Behind him, the room held its breath.
You didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Just watched him approach like this was the most normal thing in the world.
When he stopped in front of you, there was a beat of silence.
“…you’re early.”
Your lips curved slightly. “You’re not.”
A pause.
Then—
“…you came all this way for lunch?”
“Is that a problem?”
“…no.”
Simple. Direct. Like always.
But the fact that he didn’t dismiss you—didn’t question you further—didn’t send you away—
That alone was enough to send a ripple through the room behind him.
Levi glanced back once, irritation flickering again.
“…stop staring and get back to work.”
No one moved.
“…now.”
That did it, again.
Everyone scrambled—except they weren’t really working.
They were watching.
Still watching.
Levi didn’t care.
He turned back to you, already walking past you like he expected you to follow.
“Come on.”
You did.
He led you to a quieter part of the building—a far corner near a window, away from most of the noise.
A small table. Two chairs. Simple. Private.
Or as private as it could get here.
You sat across from him, setting down the small bag you’d brought.
“You still don’t have decent food here?” you asked lightly.
“…it’s edible.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
A faint exhale left him—something almost like a sigh.
“…you didn’t need to bring anything.”
“I wanted to.”
You opened the bag, pulling out containers carefully.
Real food. Warm.
Something that didn’t look like it had been rationed or thrown together in a hurry.
Levi’s gaze lingered on it for a second longer than usual.
“…you carried all this?”
“It’s not that heavy.”
“…still unnecessary.”
But he didn’t stop you.
Didn’t push it away.
You handed him a portion, and he took it without another word. For a moment, it was quiet. Just the soft sounds of eating. The light coming in through the window. Normal. Strangely normal.
“…you look tired,” you said after a bit, watching him.
“…I’m not.”
“Levi.”
“…what.”
“That wasn’t a question.”
A pause.
He didn’t answer.
But he didn’t deny it again either.
You leaned back slightly, studying him.
“…have you been sleeping?”
“…enough.”
“Which means no.”
“…you talk too much.”
You smiled softly.
“And you don’t talk enough. It balances out.”
He huffed quietly, but there was no bite to it.
Not with you.
Not like this.
From across the room—
“They’re just… eating,” Connie whispered.
“…yeah,” Eren muttered, frowning. “Why is that weird?”
“Because it’s him,” Jean shot back. “He doesn’t sit like that with anyone.”
Sasha leaned forward.
“She brought food.”
“…she brought him food?” Eren repeated.
Armin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…and he’s eating it without complaining.”
That made them all pause. Because that— that was strange.
“…so,” you said, glancing around briefly. “you didn’t warn them about me.”
“…no.”
“Why not?”
“…wasn’t necessary.”
You laughed softly under your breath.
“Seems like it would’ve saved a lot of confusion.”
“…not my problem.”
“Mm.”
You didn’t push it.
Didn’t need to.
Because you could feel it—the way his attention stayed on you, steady, unhurried.
Like for once, he wasn’t splitting it between a hundred responsibilities.
Just you.
And then—
“Well, well.”
You didn’t even need to look.
Hange.
Of course.
They dropped into the empty seat beside you like they’d been waiting for an invitation.
“Hi,” they said brightly, eyes already scanning you like you were something fascinating.
“…Hange,” Levi’s tone dropped instantly.
“What? I’m just saying hello.”
“You’re being intrusive.”
“I’m being curious,” they corrected, grinning. “Which is my job.”
Their attention snapped back to you.
“So—who are you?”
You blinked, slightly caught off guard but not uncomfortable.
“I’m—”
“None of your business,” Levi cut in flatly.
Hange ignored him completely.
“How do you know him?”
“…we’ve known each other for a while,” you answered carefully.
“A while?” Hange leaned in. “Define a while.”
“…long enough.”
That only seemed to intrigue them more.
“Interesting. And you’re not a soldier.”
“No.”
“And yet you walked in here and asked for him like it was nothing.”
“…should I not have?”
Hange laughed.
“Oh, no, no—I love it. I just didn’t think anyone could.”
he knows what you're feeling. he can see the tiredness in your eyes. the way your beautiful smile is in a pouted, muted scowl. the way you're so distant, yet so close. he knows what you need.
"you gonna keep pouting? or are you gonna come here." Levi says, more like a statement.
you glanced up at him, his face had just before been digged into his paperwork, but now it was relaxed on your expression, leaning back in his chair. his arms were crossed, his legs manspreading, as he slouched slightly in his chair, his gaze focused on you.
you took a moment to look at him, his whole attention on you now. you sighed gently, sitting up from the couch in his office, and making your way towards where he was sat.
Levi sipped a bit of his tea, his cup still up to his lips as he gently wrapped his arm around your standing waist, pulling you into him, setting down his cup with a soft sigh.
"what's the matter with you," he said, almost gently in his usual authoritative tone.
your head was resting on his chest, your legs propped up on his widely stretched and relaxed lap.
"I don't want you go." you whispered, almost grasping for air.
a quick silence filled the room, his hand gently grazing the side of your hip.
"I know." he replied. "we've been over this-"
"no." you cut him off, desperation in your voice. "I really.. don't want you to go.."
you turned your head, facing the crook of his neck.
"you can't go.." your hand softly grasped his cheek. "you can't leave me behind," he gently looked down at you, your eyes meeting his own.
"darling." he quoted softly, that hint of authority in the back of his throat. his hand came up to your wrist, softly grabbing it.
"please.."
your pleading eyes made him softly melt into your touch, a soft sigh of irritation huffed out of him.
"you know I can't."
"but I need you."
"and so does my duty.. my squad, y/n. my soldiers.''
"what if i lose you..?" you gently breathed out, the thought of it jurastic enough to send a ache of pain ring through your heart.
he gently brought your hand up to his lips, kissing your knuckles softy, his eyes fluttering back up to you.
"i'll do everything in my power to come back to you.."
"what if their's is stronger..?" you admitted your fears.
"i will do, everything, in my power, to come home to you." levi stated, his tone assertive, as he gently caressed the side of your cheek.
you looked down, your expression troubled as he placed a gentle kiss on the top of your forehead. you felt his chest fall and rise with every breath he breathed.
"it'll be alright, sweetheart."
his calming voice almost made your heart skip a beat, the love in his tone, almost like a gust of gentle wind through the crisp air of the morning. his comfort made you want to cry, made you want to hold on to him and never let him go.
you couldn't let go. you couldn't let him go.
''..stay with me, until you leave." you gently whispered, your voice cracked ever so slightly as he placed a kiss to your head.
"always my sweet girl, I'll always be with you."
the night before declaration of war, the liberio raid. 854
pairing: levi ackerman x reader (no age gap, dont worry)
contains: fluff, yearning, soft levi, not friends but not quite something yet
a/n: hi!!!! first levi drabble, idk if i captured my man as good as i wanted to, so any suggestion is welcomed and highly appreciated <333
Levi is not as cold and heartless as people deem him to be. his love if built up behind thick walls, waiting to be released to someone who, for once in his life, won't leave him.
That man's stare, oh my god. it's like a sixth sense, his eyes are drawn to wherever you are and when he catches glimpse of you, his gaze immediately softens, but if anyone dares mentioning it, he'll stare at them blank faced and refuse it.
When he says your name, he doesn't intend to make it sound different than any name, it simply does. It's more careful, more gentle somehow, like a word he's been dying to say but couldn't bring himself to speak unless asked to.
When you're standing near each other, without saying a word, he'll reach for you with his hand, only to end up fixing the strap from your ODM gear.
"There, good job on trying to get yourself killed, idiot."
A big yearner, and I do not argue on this one. He stares at you like you hung the moon and the stars when no one's looking, only to call you idiot to your face one second later.
One time when you were injured and had to stay in bed in the infirmary, the first thing you saw in the morning when you woke up was Levi quietly standing beside your bed, holding a food tray he brought from the dining room for you to eat.
"Eat. It will help you heal that big head of yours that thought jumping onto the female titan's nape was a good idea."
Levi's not exactly the touchy type, but I see him trying to briefly touch you, like he can't help it. Like I said before, fixing the strap from your ODM gear, lightly flicking you on the forehead to annoy you, putting his hand over your arm to offer quiet comfort when he notices you're upset, etc.
You are one of the few people he trusts his whole life to. He can silently rely on you because he knows how good you are and how despite how closed off he could be, you keep him around.
