Levi is the type of guy who’s incredibly tense all the time. He can’t help it, it’s just who he is. His body’s always wound up, muscles coiled. It's as if relaxation is a foreign concept to him, constantly on guard and warily navigating the world around him.
But than you hug him, your arms encircle him, and there’s this slight crack in the impenetrable armor he wears. The tension slowly eases, his rigid posture softens ever so slightly, his tightly wound muscles relax under the gentle pressure of your touch. His tenseness fades, the stiffness that defines his every movement begins to melt away and he feels a momentary moment of peace, wrapping his arms tightly around you if only just to feel it a second longer.
there’d already be no mistaking his hostility towards someone who meant to hurt you and did. Levi is in his head a lot, so he works himself up about it when his thoughts wander there, not that he means to.
they are literally on his shit list forever, and that’s an open secret if by some chance they cross paths. Levi's also passive aggressive as fuck, it wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration to say he'd be starting a fight on purpose.
but it ascends to an entirely different realm of hatred if he knows the name of someone who hurt you sexually. almost no emotion he could feel compares to that encompassing loathing as someone chronically familiar with the environment of trauma/exploitation from his childhood in the underground, where it thrived.
Summary | Levi is caught in a dark place following the battle of heaven and earth. Believing he’s undeserving of life’s sweetness, he deprives himself until you show up on his doorstep. Inspired by and based on Too Sweet by Hozier.
Content | Angst, Fluff. Sort of slow burn? No use of y/n. Levi is a grump, reader is shorter than him. Brief mentions of off-screen sex. Italics are song lyrics that each section is inspired by.
Pairings | Levi/Reader. Mentions of Jean/Pieck.
Notes | As soon as I heard Too Sweet, I knew I needed to write about Levi. Header is from ‘kii on Pinterest. Hope you enjoy!
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It can’t be said I’m an early bird, it’s 10 o’clock before I say a word. Baby, I can never tell, how do you sleep so well?
After the war, Levi becomes a creature of the night. His meticulous bedtime routine and eves of deep, restful slumber have become wrought with nightmares, teeming with the faces of everyone he’s ever loved having succumbed to their bitter ends. He’s forgone the tea, a relic of a previous era; he now prefers an amber liquid that stings on the way down. A balm that numbs, heavy bottomed glass filled only a quarter of the way. When he ventures beyond the confines of his home, he asks for the tippy top of the top shelf - Levi always takes his whiskey neat.
You know you don’t gotta pretend. Baby, now and then, don’t you just wanna wake up, dark as a lake, smelling like a bonfire, lost in a haze?
Some days, he’s lucky if he retires before the sunrise peeks over the hills and pulls itself up to the high point of the sky. Letters go unanswered, bookshelves less sparse as he fills the majority of his time with thick, leather-bound tomes. The newspaper has becomes the perfect kindling, headlines boasting peace negotiations melt and turn runny with the heat of the blaze. When Levi wakes each hazy afternoon, it’s with the lingering scent of bonfire strung about the atmosphere. His once grey eyes have turned deep, a color so sharpened it resembles the water on a lake just before the claps of thunder rumble and bring down swells of rain.
But while in this world, I think I’ll take my whiskey neat. My coffee black and my bed at three.
He knows he won’t live forever. He’s not at all interested. At this point, he’s pleading for the same sweet release from the world he afforded Erwin. Levi has spent so much time dwelling in the night, the darkness is threatening to become him. Then, you show up, one damp afternoon. Modest sundress, two small bags, a green ribbon tying back your hair. The glow you emanate is too much for him. He wants to be angry, filled with a rage so intense it convinces you to leave running in the midst of the spring storm, ribbon flying behind you. The pit in his stomach solidifies when he can’t bring himself to be irate, softened by the cold flush of your cheeks and the sheepishness of your smile as you stand, delicate in his doorway.
You’re too sweet for me, you’re too sweet for me.
At first, your presence does nothing to alter his routine. You rise with the sun, the first blinks of morning are spent brewing a sweet coffee in his kitchen, silent save the chattering of the birds. The dregs of his previous evening’s fire catching in the wind and mingling with the scent of bitter coffee grounds. Levi rises long after the sun has hit it’s peak, emerging in loose slacks and a half undone shirt, the sleeves rolled. You cross paths only briefly, while he pours his glass of amber whiskey and you prepare your cup of evening tea. A silent understanding has occurred - you can stay, if you don’t intervene. So you read in the overgrown garden, take your coffee with milk and two sugars, visit the bookstore, the seamstress down the block from the town’s main square, and worry about him only when you are tipping over the ledge into sleep.
But who wants to live forever, babe? You treat your mouth as if it's Heaven's gate.
The first change is subtle: tea leaves are disappearing faster than you’re brewing them; you know he’s dipping into the store after you retire each evening. Then, when the usual night terrors creep up again, plaguing your mind and leaving your lungs in a vice grip, the second change occurs. Levi waking and comforting you after a string of particularly violent dreams, a different sort of understanding passes when he murmurs, “I still see them, too.” You find him in your bed then, most mornings. Your routines still separate, bodies occupying different halves of the day for weeks. Coffee, bookstore, seamstress, reading, garden. It continues on, life in your solitary bubbles, except the brief overlapping in the early morning when your breaths mingle in the same space between your sleeping forms.
I wish that I could go along, babe, don't get me wrong.
The paradigm shifts once more when he begins to rouse the same time as you. A brief wave of shame washes over you as you realize he’s already awake, you cannot observe his closed eyes and smoothed forehead, the lines of his face set in peace, the soft parting of his lips, or the slow rise of his chest beneath the thin blankets. That morning, you show him how to make the coffee, and he grumbles after burning the first pot, squinting in the bright light. He notices you smiling out of the corner of his eye and something rattles around in his chest. You add three sugars to your cup. He accompanies you to both the bookstore and the seamstress, his silent presence a new comfort. Levi wants to ask why you chose him, chose his home, when there are happier and more accommodating friends, current or former members of the 104th. There’s no doubt in his mind that you’d be better off with someone like Mikasa, in her quiet cottage by the sea. Even Jean and Pieck, or hell, Reiner and his family.
You're bright as the morning, as soft as the rain.
Within a few months, Levi’s world has changed. It’s brighter, fuzzy around the edges. There’s a few sundresses in the closet of his room, a growing stack of books on his dresser. A knit shawl is draped over the chair in the living room; and the guest bed hasn’t been used in several weeks. He lets her brew the coffee in the morning, his palate now well suited for the taste, and takes chrysanthemum tea in the evenings. The garden has a bench now, front row to the beds of geranium, lavender, and snapdragon. When you smile at him through the kitchen window, an understanding dawns on him, an awakening blooms inside of him. He’s seen this look before, many times; over a shared water jug during an expedition, sleepy and exhausted over a fire surrounded by their comrades, during meetings with military leadership, after the battle of heaven and earth, and on the day you were assigned to his squad. You would never go to Mikasa’s, or to Jean and Pieck, even Reiner, or anyone else. He would never let you.
Pretty as a vine, as sweet as a grape.
The first touch of morning is chill, a breeze dancing its way through the open window, sheet gathered at his waist as Levi rouses from sleep. He hears your hums from the kitchen and swings his feet over the bed. He’s drawn to you like bees are to flowers, cloying aroma and sunlight and all things good. Forgoing the tie of his robe, he begins purposeful strides down the hall. Then, you’re there, back turned and hair down. The hem of your pale nightgown sways as you wait for the pour of coffee, glowing in the sunrise, hands over your upper arms to stave off the late summer air. You’re lost in a daydream. Levi comes to stand behind you, listening to the melody you hum quietly. The deprecating, nagging voice he contends with daily in his mind is quieted - it’s just you now; always you.
If you could sit in a barrel, maybe I’d wait.
It’s quiet when he slides an arm around your waist, body warm and flushed. It’s quiet when you turn in his hold, meeting his grey gaze with lingering surprise and pink cheeks. It’s quiet as he pulls you in closer still, hands coming up to rest on his chest. Quiet, as Levi brushes his forehead against yours, eyes closed, fingers flexing in their hold of you. Completely silent, as he tilts your chin up, up, up, and brushes his lips with yours. The taste of you nothing like he had ever dreamed, and oh, had he dreamed. When you push up onto your toes to deepen the pressure, sigh into his mouth, his black bitter heart nearly bursts through his chest.
Until that day…
And when he takes you shortly after, coffee long forgotten, limbs so tangled it’s near impossible to discern where you end and Levi begins, lips parted and dewy with sweat and each other; he can only think of the sweetness this life has afforded him in you, how the bitterness of his past has made way for this belonging.. well. There’s truly no such thing as too sweet, is there?
Okay so we all enjoy the cute pregnancy stories BUT! Realistically pregnancies are sometimes worse than the sweet stuff that even I write about
So now I’m thinking of:
Modern Levi! Who was with you through the entire labor who is also there postpartum from the second your baby was placed in her bassinet. He’d help adjust your pillows, feed you and even change your pad if your need help. You desperately wanted a shower and you weren’t sure if you’d make it on your own.
“Come on, hold on to me” he said standing in front of your bed and offering his arms to you. You brace yourself on both as you stand up on shaky legs.
“Levi, I-I don’t know if I can stand in the shower…” you said nearly on the verge of tears. The birth was difficult, labor was a pain and after wasn’t any better. You were overwhelmed, overstimulated and just exhausted.
“Hey, hey…it’s okay. Whatever you need I’m here. Do you want my help with anything in the bathroom?” He’d ask
Modern Levi! Who helps you to sit on and get off the toilet and will stand out side of the shower to help you. Hell take the sponge and scrubs anything from your hips downward so your didn’t have to bend over. While you got dressed he’d prepare another pad for you to put on and even change your sheets. The nurses said they’d do it but he wanted to be of help.
Modern Levi! Who makes Sure to have his paternity leave because he’d rather lose his job then to let you adjust in your own!!!!
Modern Levi! Who knows that even at home it was hard for you to adjust. A lot of crying, diaper changes and feedings. Sometimes you’d go way too long without eating or a shower. He’d make sure to get the baby all night so you’d be able to rest. Change every diaper he could get to and even helped with latching if it wasn’t working. When you do have calmer days he’d take the time to just sit with you and be in the moment
“How are you feeling love?”
“Better, still kinda weird but I’m okay”
“How about some tea and cuddles?” He asked
Modern Levi! Who has seen you when you’re alone and how god look at your new body in the mirror. How you would squish and poke at areas that have now change. How you’d wipe tears away if you heard him coming. He’d even see how you would avoid looking at yourself int he mirror and it broke his heart. He knew your body is now new but, you had done something he couldn’t do and gave him something he never had. He’s never loved someone more each day from looking at them than when he looked at you . At night he pull your in with his hand resting on your stomach and whisper
“You’re the most beautiful creature to ever Grace this world. And to pick me of all people to have a family with, I couldn’t be any more lucky”
Modern Levi! Who is your entire support system postpartum
hey i'm not sure if you're still taking requests for the sour prompts but... levi and "oh god, i sound crazy" i can imagine him saying this when he realizes how in love he is with the reader and isn't sure how to cope with it :') he's experiencing new emotions and is feeling overwhelmed/crazy but he's just in love :((
levi ackerman x “oh god, i sound crazy”
for olivia rodrigo’s sour album prompt!
Levi has never been one to express himself openly. He’d always been a bit standoffish, a little rough around the edges. He’s gotten used to being cold and blunt and closed off. He’d been wrongfully deemed as cruel for so long, he thinks he might've actually become it.
He’s sure that he’s in love with you, whether he speaks it out loud or not. He feels it in his panicked breaths whenever you shuffle closer to him or poke his cheek. He feels it when his thoughts are plagued with your smile and your eyes and your annoyingly adoring laughter. He feels it when he looks himself in the mirror and pleads for his feelings to stop, because this isn’t what he does—because love is for people who can afford to lose it.
Though he’s never said it, you don’t doubt that he loves you. People love in different ways. You feel it through his protective actions and affectionate eye rolls. Still, you cant deny the fact that he’s been different lately. He’s been avoidant, quiet, and sweaty.
“You alright?” you ask him once afternoon, plopping down next to him on his couch. It’s black and leather; it feels cold against your exposed legs. “You’re acting a little weird, look a little pale too.”
He scoots away from you slightly, “M’fine,” he manages to grumble from behind his mug, “Just think I’m coming down with something.”
“What doesn’t feel good? Do you have a fever?” You’re up and pressing the back of your hand to his forehead, an attempt to see if he’s burning up (which he is, but for different reasons than you’re implying).
He bats your hand away, pouting, “Enough—No, I’m not sick. I just,” he swallows thickly, settling into the cushion, “Feel strange.”
You nod understandingly, even though he knows he’s being so incredibly confusing right now. He doesn't think he’s ever been more grateful for the fact that you aren’t one to push him and his emotions. “Okay. Is there anything I can do to help you feel less strange?”
He looks at you, so kind and innocent and understanding and—
“Shit. Okay, yeah. Just—listen to me for a second, will you?”
“Of course.”
He fumbles restlessly where he sits on the couch once more. His mind begs him to stay still, idiot, but he can’t—not when he feels like he could run a marathon on his anxiety and adrenaline right now.
He begins slowly, “I’ve been feeling…odd...lately,”—different,” he looks over at you, making sure you’re still with him. You nod encouragingly, so he lets out another deep breathe and continues, “and I’ve been thinking…things.”
“Bad things?”
Fuck.
“No, no just, different things,” he assures you rather quickly, suddenly regretting saying anything at all. “Oh god, I sound crazy."
You laugh a little as you rest your hand on his leg, preventing it from bouncing any faster. “No you don’t, Levi,” you urge, “Take your time, I’ll be here.”
You’ll be here. Something about those simple three words gives him a sudden boost of courage.
“I think I’m falling in love with you,” he speaks clearly, though his eyes remain on your hand resting atop his thigh. He finally looks at you when you visibly release a breath you’d been holding in for a while.
“Oh, that’s it? The way you were acting, I thought you were gonna say something insane.”
You beam at him as you voice your concern—he finds himself smiling back at your aloof laughter, meanwhile he just broke a sweat trying to communicate his feelings.
He places his hand on top on yours, sandwiching you between his skin. “It’s hard for me, I don’t—” he makes a funny circling gesture with his head, “—do this, often.”
You lean in to kiss him, “I know, and that’s okay. I appreciate you telling me in your own way.”
The first kiss the two of you share after his confession is just like all of your previous ones together—but something in Levi feels at peace, free, after his exposé. He feels held by you. You feel his lips twinge upward as you speak up in between kisses.
“Oh—I’m falling in love with you too, if it wasn’t already obvious.”
summary: forbidden yet steamy romance piece between levi, a board member, and you, an assistant
a/n: im watching the bold type rn so the thing between sutton and richard inspired me!!
"Y/N, could you please bring these to board member Ackerman for me? I'm running late to the meeting." Your boss asked you, stumbling with a stack of papers in her hands.
"Sure." You answered, feeling the jitters in your gut already.
His assistant let you in his office, where he sat beside his modern desk, nimble eyes running across the computer monitor.
He didn't pay a single glance to you as you approached his desk, rhythmically clacking your stiletto heels against the floor.
"I was asked to deliver these to you, Mr. Ackerman." You explained as you put the files on his desk and turned around to leave him in peace; perhaps he's not in the mood today.
You couldn't move another step when you felt his vice grip around your wrist, gently pulling you back.
"Leaving already?" He asked, eyes still on the screen.
His expression littered with deadly precision always made you blush, and this time was no exception.
"Well, yes, since you're quiet today."
He flicked his eyes to yours swiftly, yanking you back so that you ended up in his lap - his nose was brushing against your cheek as his hand snuck its way down from your knee and up towards your inner thigh.
You exhaled, the thrill of getting caught making your brain short-circuit.
"Make this quick." You mewled as he barely grazed his teeth against your ear.
"Hm," he hummed. "That would be no fun at all, would it?"
other than the fact that Levu gets turned on by his partner doing the most mundane stuff and simplest of things...he also loves (adores) to just simply watch them. Not in a creepy way, but because hes so full of love and wonder at how HE managed to have someone like them by his side. Hed be obsessed with his partner (in a health way ofc).
i had to write smth for this<3
Brows furrowed, you finick with the lid to the TV remote's battery compartment. Before, it was stuck like glue in the slot and since then it's grown oversized.
Unbeknownst to you, across the room you pulled Levi's attention from Solitaire on his phone. Nestled in the small armchair, knees folded to his chest. He's perfectly innocuous, head downturned and eyes lidded.
You blink a little. Finally, you notice and find his gaze with a question mark above your head.
His eyes are back on his phone so fast, you might think it was all in your head, and the game is annoying him. But you spot the pink growing on his cheeks. You smile.
“Awe, were you watching me?”
Your persistence is unspoken. Eventually, his lips press more into a pout. "...No, why would I."
“Seriously, is there something on my face, baby?”
He scowls, but it’s severely lacking on the intimidation factor. He was sneaking a peek at you changing the batteries in the TV remote, and now he’s blushing.
“You embarrassed?”
He shifts around in the seat, so all you have to see of him is his back now. He swings his feet over the armrest and reclines, turning his back on you like a little kid.
You laugh out loud. “Oh noo, I’m sorry.”
He throws you a look over his shoulder one can only describe as bratty. Honestly you’re not sure what you’re even apologizing for, but it got his attention. You quickly rise from the couch, and Levi, quick to save literal face, does it again. You get down and there in front of the armchair.
“I didn’t see anything, swear, so why do you ignore me, hm?”
After a beat, he compromises with a cool look, accepting defeat.
You just smile. “I'd do the same thing, but I know you’d catch me.”
“I wouldn’t,” he mumbles. “I’d pretend I didn’t notice. I’d know you like lookin' at me."
Your eyes soften. You're done giving him a hard time, you decide, and lean forward. He seems content to be haphazardly leaned on like a wall (making it even more apparent that his bad attitude was a bluff).
You kiss his cheek. “I definitely didn’t notice. I randomly find you so much cuter now for some reason.”
“Cheeky brat,” he mutters, catching the nape of your neck and pulling you in.
Modern!levi who indulges in your pregnancy finds from Tik tok
“Levi come on watch watch” you say excited as you’d how him your screen
“Y/N….sometimes I think you look this shit up jsut so we can try it” he criticized
…well maybe I did
“Anyway come on come on! It’s our turn now” you say standing in front of him with you back facing him “okay now you put your hands under my bump like you always do and you life slowly” you say simply as if people had been doing this for years
“Tch, Y/N…I’m serious I don’t want to end up hurting you or the baby. What if something goes wrong?” He said concerned as he ran his fingers over your 7 month bump.
“I trust you Levi. I know you want drop it and I know your strong and intelligent” you reassure him planting a kids to his cheek while he head rested on your shoulder
“Alright fine….here” he gently but firmly scooped your baby bump and lifted up gently. You let our a huge sigh as you relax in his hold. All the weight being released from your back for the first time in months. It was a strange feeling for him holding his entire baby, still inside you. But he saw your reflection in the mirror of the vanity and saw how relaxed you felt. In a way he felt good making you feel good even for a couple of seconds.
After about a minute passed he slowly puts your baby back down to where it was. You grown slightly but still turn to your husband and give him a thank you kiss.
“Thank you baby…for indulging in my internet finds” you roll your eyes
He chuckles as he kisses the crown of your head “only for you”
