Mingled relationship
Sumarry: You and Levi ended your relationship back in high school, and a few years later, on a fateful Christmas, Levi decided to reach out to you
Ao3
Divider by @/notaorbital
Tags: Comfort, Female! Reader, Levi in despair, comeback, exes, past relationship, mingled, regret, modern au, Kuchel
Today is Christmas, and a gentle blanket of snow covers the ground outside, transforming the world into a winter wonderland. The warm glow of decorations spills from every window, casting a cheerful ambiance that fills the air with the holiday spirit. The table is elegantly set, adorned with a feast of delicious foods—roasted meats, savory sides, and an array of desserts waiting to be savored. Spoons and forks gleam under the soft lights, while festive plates hold an assortment of culinary delights.
People have gathered around the table, their laughter mingling with the joyful sounds of Christmas carols wafting in from outside. As children sing and shake their bells, the scene is alive with happiness, reminding everyone of the warmth and love the holiday brings. Families unite, sharing stories and jokes, while the crackle of the fireplace adds to the cozy atmosphere of joy reminiscent of the season.
Yet, not everyone shares in the merriment surrounding them. Levi sits apart from the vibrant gathering, his gaze fixed on the glowing screen of his phone, absorbed in a digital reverie filled with old messages and photos.
Each scroll reveals memories that tug at his heart, stirring up a bittersweet mixture of nostalgia and yearning. He finds himself contemplating whether to reach out to you, the thought lingering like an uninvited guest. Years have passed since you last saw each other, yet the echoes of your high school romance continue to resonate within him, haunting his thoughts, especially at this time of year.
Kuchel, his mother, has never truly understood the reasons behind your breakup. To her, you were more than just a girlfriend; you were like a daughter-in-law, someone she envisioned as a perfect match for her son. She often reminisces about the days when Levi first introduced you to the family, her eyes sparkling with pride as she recounts how happy he seemed in your presence.
Those cherished moments now feel like fragmented whispers of a long-forgotten dream. Pensive, Levi gazes out of the window, lost in thought, and wonders if reaching out might reignite the flame of what was once a beautiful connection or if the chasm of time and hurt between you has grown too wide to bridge.
Deep down, Levi knows he can’t absolve himself of the blame for the relationship’s collapse. He reflects on how foolish and immature he was, a first-time lover grappling with overwhelming emotions.
In his naivety, he neglected you, failed to support you when you needed it, and, at times, acted with an unkindness that still stings with regret. The shame washes over him as he grimaces at his past self, recognizing how his actions contributed to the heartache that severed your bond.
He hated himself.
He blamed himself everyday and every year.
You have every right to feel a profound anger toward him — to cut ties and seek out someone new, all while he remains here, adrift and still unmarried, without a family to call his own. In the quiet moments of his day, when the world falls silent, he is haunted by memories of you. The weight of his past mistakes presses heavily on his heart, creating an unending cycle of shame that he cannot seem to escape. It’s as if he is a prisoner in his own mind, yearning for a chance to make amends, yet paralyzed by the fear that the opportunity has slipped through his fingers forever.
Kuchel speaks of you often, mentioning your name with a fondness that pulls at Levi’s heart, tinged with bittersweet nostalgia. Each time your name escapes his mother's lips, it strikes a painful chord within him, a constant reminder of his failures and the secret he keeps buried deep. He finds himself weaving a web of excuses, telling his mother that you are simply too busy or that you’ve chosen not to contact him, all the while knowing that she can see through the mask he has crafted. The guilt festers inside him, gnawing at his conscience and causing him to feel like a disappointment in her eyes.
As the seasons change, ushering in a flurry of memories and emotions he has tried to suppress, Levi resolves that this time he will not hide behind excuses or lies. With newfound courage coursing through him, he retrieves your contact information from his phone and hesitates for a moment, unsure why he kept it all this time. A part of him had always held onto the hope that he would reach out eventually, and today, that hope is blossoming into action.
He presses the phone to his ear, his heart pounding as a knot of anxiety forms in his stomach. He glances down at his trembling hands and takes a deep breath to steady himself. In his other hand, he pulls out a small, delicate silver ring he has kept all these years—a promise ring, once a symbol of the vow he made to you that no matter what life threw at him, you would one day become his spouse. Now, that ring feels more like a relic of a shattered past, buried beneath layers of regret and longing.
Levi twirls the ring between his fingers, the cool metal a stark contrast to the warmth of his memories. He thinks about how time has changed everything, yet the feelings that stirred within him back then remain as potent as ever.
Suddenly, his heart leaps when he hears your voice on the other end, and time seems to freeze. There’s no hesitation as you answer, "Levi?" The sound of your breath, a bit shaky and uncertain, sends a rush of emotions surging through him. "You called."
Levi swallows hard, his heart racing as he instinctively pockets the ring. He wipes his clammy palms on his shirt, trying to regain his composure. "Yeah, I… I know it’s unexpected, but I've been wanting to reach out." He responds, his voice more confident than he feels.
Levi realizes just how much he has missed this connection. It’s as if he had forgotten the sound of your laughter, the way your voice could light up a room, and now those memories flood back with an overwhelming rush of nostalgia and sadness.
"I.... I’ve been wanting to reach you too," you admit, and he hears a small sneeze break the delicate tension between you. He can almost picture you shivering, layered in winter clothes, trying to ward off the chill.
Levi's heart begins to race at the realization that you, too, have a desire to reconnect. Yet skepticism tugs at him; he hesitates to let his hopes soar too high.
A smile involuntarily lifts Levi’s lips. "Are you okay? You’re sneezing," he asks, genuine concern creeping into his voice.
"Yeah, I’m just stuck on this bus," you explain, your frustration evident. "I’ve been waiting for over an hour, and nothing’s moving. I’ve used almost all my data to call my mom, but when you called, I had to answer."
"Do you want me to come pick you up?" he offers, warmth threading through his tone.
“Levi, that’s sweet, but I’m fine,” you reply, though there’s a hint of reluctance in your tone that doesn’t go unnoticed.
“No, you’re not," Levi insists, a sigh escaping him. He can feel the urgency in his own voice as he speaks. "You’ve been stuck at the bus stop for over an hour, right? Let me come get you. I’ll grab my keys now."
"Le—"
"Please."
It was a surprise to realize that Levi never hesitated to act when it came to you. In your memories, if something had ever happened to you, he would have charged forward without a moment's doubt—without a hint of hesitation. This was the man you had fallen in love with, a man who captivated you not just with his striking features and intense gaze, but with his genuine care and unwavering commitment. He would have done anything for you. Yet, as your relationship progressed, a painful shift occurred. He began to neglect you, fail to support you in your times of need, and, at times, display a rough, unkindness that pierced your heart.
Witnessing this transformation was undeniably cruel. It hurt to see the man you thought would care for you forever drift away into someone unrecognizable. But you couldn’t blame yourself; you were just high school sweethearts, young and inexperienced in the complexities of love. As hard as it was, a part of you understood that sometimes, parting ways was necessary for growth.
Even after all these years, you still carried a deep love for him; he was your first boyfriend after all. You felt like you understood him better than anyone else ever could, and you had always been there for him. Throughout the years, you hadn’t found anyone else who could take his place in your heart, nor had you considered marriage. Your heart remained firmly attached to Levi Ackerman.
Years passed, and this year, out of the blue, Levi reached out to you. You’d thought about contacting him, but fear held you back—fear that he’d once again be the man who hurt you. Yet, something in you sensed he had changed for the better. When he called, your heart raced. You hesitated initially, but in a moment of courage, you answered, listening to his familiar voice after so long. It resonated with a mix of sadness and nostalgia, bringing back memories you had tucked away.
As you began to explain your current situation, Levi insisted on coming to pick you up. You felt a reluctance but Levi, being his determined self, simply grabbed his keys and told you he would be waiting for you at the bus stop.
The ride to his home was enveloped in an uneasy silence, punctuated by the soft crunch of snow beneath the car tires. The headlights illuminated the dark road ahead, casting fleeting shadows outside. You glanced at Levi from the corner of your eye. He seemed like the same man you once knew, but upon closer inspection, you could see the marks of maturity etched into his features. He had clearly learned from his past mistakes, even though both of you felt the tension of two exes meeting again for the first time after so long.
Wanting to break the silence and ease the awkwardness, you opened your mouth to speak, but the words got lodged in your throat. Instead, the silence wrapped around you both, heavy and suffocating. When you finally reached his home, stepping out into the cold air, a wave of nostalgia washed over you. Memories flooded back of the first time you had visited Levi’s house and met his mother, who had welcomed you into the family with open arms.
As Levi opened the door, his mother, Kuchel, looked up from the living room, her eyes widening in astonishment. Without any hesitation, she rushed toward you and enveloped you in a warm embrace. The comfort of her presence was something you had missed dearly over the years. She gently released you, her expression brimming with love and concern.
“Oh! It’s been too long since I last saw you. You’ve grown so much! I’ve missed you terribly. Levi says you’ve been busy,” she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of joy and warmth.
You raised an eyebrow, glancing at Levi standing beside you. He looked away, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he mumbled, “Mother, please, can she come inside?”
Kuchel’s eyes sparkled with hope. “Will she stay here for a while?” she asked eagerly. You found yourself nodding in agreement. Although you hadn’t envisioned staying, Levi had brought you here, and with Christmas upon you, it felt oddly right to accept this invitation.
"Come, come! We have turkeys and all sorts of delicious foods," Kuchel exclaimed, her warm smile lighting up the room as she gestured towards the table. The table stretched out before you, adorned with an array of plates filled with festive dishes and neatly arranged utensils. It was a bit long, but it felt cozy, especially since it was just you, Levi, and his mother for the moment. Other relatives would be joining soon, but for now, the atmosphere was intimate.
As you settled into your seat, Levi slid into the chair beside you. The two of you began to eat, enjoying the savory flavors of the turkey and all the trimmings, while Kuchel returned to the living room, her focus shifting back to the decorations and gift-wrapping for the upcoming celebrations. It was a relief that she didn’t pry into your life with intrusive questions; after all, she hadn’t seen you for years until this reunion.
“Sorry about that,” Levi suddenly said between bites, his voice breaking the comfortable silence. He was munching on a crispy piece of turkey skin, a hint of guilt in his expression. “I told my mom that you were busy, and... I lied to her. She always mentions you and asks how you’re doing, all that stuff.”
You looked at him, a smile creeping onto your lips despite the slightly awkward situation. It warmed your heart to know that Kuchel still thought of you after all these years. You had assumed she had long forgotten, but hearing it from Levi made you realize he had carried a burden of keeping the truth from her, perhaps feeling guilty himself.
“It’s fine,” you shrugged nonchalantly, trying to ease the tension. “I’ve done the same with my mom whenever she asks about things she shouldn’t.”
A shy smile broke across Levi’s face at your admission, and you both finished your meal with a sense of camaraderie. When you moved to the kitchen to wash the dishes, you removed your gloves and set them on the countertop. Levi stood beside the fridge, leaning against it with wide eyes as he watched you attentively.
“You still wear the ring I gave you?” he asked, surprise evident in his voice.
You paused, your hand hovering over the ring on your finger. A blush crept across your cheeks as you took a deep breath in preparation for his question. “Yeah... I still do. It’s your gift, and I didn't want to just throw it away. I mean, I know we haven’t seen each other in years, and I thought you might have thrown yours away, too.”
He shook his head, pulling his own ring from his pocket to show you. Both rings twinkled in the soft light of the kitchen, a shimmering symbol of the connection you once shared. “I never did. I always kept it,” he replied, his voice trailing off as a shadow of sorrow crossed his face. Regret was etched in his features, a clear indication of the weight he carried from the past.
“I regret what I did to you every single day. I’m so sorry,” Levi continued, his voice thick with emotion. “We were just young and foolish, naive high school sweethearts. I was a complete fool for letting my shit affect you.”
As he clutched the ring in his palm, his hands trembled with anger at himself. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and it was clear that the memories of hurt lingered painfully in his mind. “I never found someone else, nor did I ever get married. I blame myself for what happened between us every day, and I truly hate myself for it.”
His deep sigh seemed to echo through the room as he spoke your name softly, sending warmth through you, breaking down the walls that had built up over the years. “I know we’re just exes, and I have my doubts about whether there's any hope for us, but I can feel that you still resent me.”
Unable to bear the sight of his pained expression, you walked up to him and gently wiped the tears from his cheeks—a surprising gesture that caused his gaze to widen in astonishment. You cupped his face in your hands, and for a fleeting moment, he leaned into your touch, closing his eyes as he let out a shaky sigh. To your surprise, he pressed a soft kiss to your palm, the very spot where your ring once rested.
Oh, how he truly missed you.
The warmth spread through you, and you couldn’t help but blush again as you smiled back at him. “I don’t resent you, Levi. I’ve loved you this entire time. I’ve never married or found anyone else. You were my first boyfriend, and no one else holds my heart like you do.”
As Levi opened his eyes, tears began to flow, and you saw a vulnerability in him that was rarely displayed. The stoic man you had known and admired was laid bare before you, Levi is weak and vulnerable only to you.
Only to you.
Just as you both leaned in closer to share a kiss, the door swung open, and Kuchel walked in unexpectedly. You and Levi sprang apart, faking coughs to mask the palpable tension between you.
“Levi! Your relatives are here!” she called out cheerfully. “Come on, both of you! I want you in the living room right away!”
With a light giggle, she exited, clearly oblivious to the moment that had just transpired. You and Levi exchanged a sigh of relief, your eyes locexistsfor a brief moment filled with unspoken promises. Instared shared glance, the love between you felt rekindled, kindledg at the relationship renewed.
