He'll glare extra hard at you. Those steel grey eyes digging into your back when you train, spar, clean, eat. Watching, mesmerised, the way you move with such assuredness, such strength, muscles rippling beneath your uniform, the way you execute titan kills with such perfection that it might as well be an artform. Hange calls him a pervert, but Levi calls it observing. Appreciating. In his own silent way.
He'll always make sure to give you extra cleaning duties. He doesn't really know how else to talk to you, if it's not to give you orders. Besides, he can't deny how damn hot you look with sleeves rolled up to your elbows, brows furrowed and biting your lip as you meticulously scrub stains from the dining table, only leaving sparkling clean surfaces in your wake.
He'll stand awkwardly close to you whenever he has the chance. Trying not to make it too damn obvious that he's secretly sniffing your scent. You just smell so fucking good. Clean, like the soap provided as part of the monthly allowance from the Survey Corps, but also faintly of metal and gunpowder, testament to your time in the military. And so fucking sweet. He always walks away drunk after such an encounter.
He'll never go easy on you when you spar. That would just be to insult you. No, instead, he gives it his all. Because you deserve his all. He wants to give you his all. That might mean that you lose every damn time and end up pinned beneath him, breathless and writhing as you try to push him off. And before anyone asks, then no, that's not one of the reasons why he doesn't go easy on you. Not at all.
He'll always make sure to provide you with anything you need. But God forbid that you ever find out it's him. He won't ask. Somehow, he just knows. Maybe, from all that glaring. He notices you shivering? Next thing, a warm cloak is draped over your shoulders, its owner gone like a shadow in the night as soon as you lift your head to see who it is. He notices you cough during breakfast? He'll leave steaming mugs of tea, made with the precious dairy and honey only available to the higher-ups in the military, outside your room at headquarters. With just a knock on your door to alert you of his gift even if the sender himself is gone as soon as you open it. He notices the way your ODM gear whirs and complains from lack of oiling? He'll clean it for you, oil it, polish it, until it's so silent and shiny that you could hang it on your wall to use as a mirror. And you'll never know how you fell asleep one night after a gruelling training session, only to wake up the next day with your ODM gear propped against the wall exactly where you placed it the night before, but somehow magically fixed.
If someone asks how he feels about you, he'll deny it. Without second thought. "It wasn't you I saw coming out of their room last night, right?" No. "Admit it, you think they look hot when you're sparring, right?" Tch, no. "Aww, did I just see you smile at them? Did I? Did I?" No, for fuck's sake. "You're sure you don't have a thing for them?" No. And Levi doesn't even realise what he just admitted until much later, when he sees Four-Eyes whispering something in your ear and your eyes widen with shock, just before they seek his across the training grounds, your cheeks flushing a pretty pink. Tch. Why do you have to look so damn cute??
lmaoo these were originally inspired by the quote I put in my Levi moodbard (Love language: Glaring), and then the snowball rolled from there😂😂 And I promise, he's not a pervert, just...emotionally constipated...
Imagine realizing he was clingier than you initially thought,
with Levi Ackerman.
levi x gn reader
Genre||Vibe; fluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuffy, love language, soft physical touch, snuggles, cat, i feel warm
Summary; On your first date, you asked Levi what his love language was and he'd answered with something expected—not physical touch. Lately, you can't help but look back at the memory and come to realize how fucking wrong he was.
🗡tags; sfw || modern au || soft levi || early relationship || warm romance || fluff || bed snuggles
🗡word count; 715
🗡a/n; i couldn't help it, i was giggling writing the end bits of this one. i just cannot see Levi as any other animal. can you? if so im curious, TELL ME!
You see, Levi isn't the kind of guy who likes being touchy.
You remembered asking him something you read in an article called conversation-starters-for-the-first-date—on the topic of love languages. You already knew which ones he'd say now, not a surprise, of course back then you didn’t. But even so, you kind of have gotten enough of a vibe during that first date that made you not consider physical touch to be one of the probable options.
Now that you’ve been together for about three months, the memory of it somehow found its way back up from the depths of your temporal lobe and into the front of your mind—made you ponder on it.
The more you think about it, the more it slowly begins to become funny since you realize that you never questioned it either.
Don't get it wrong, he loves you. Too much sometimes. But ever since the very beginning of your little love story, it became harder to recall at least five times he’d held your hand in public and barely ten times at home.
So that kind of made it easy to pick out those small, cute moments, like wrapping his pinky to your pinky.
Even hugging you was a rare emote, or holding you for no fucking reason. It definitely wasn't because he didn't like touching you, god no. Levi once joked about you being the only other thing he liked the feeling of touching. With the sole exception of himself and his dick.
He brushed it off as a joke but you were sure there was some truth to it. Most of it.
Admittedly, you were clingy, so maybe you were just overthinking the lack of grand cuddles and overbearing-reciprocated clinginess. You also don't quite remember a time when you asked him about it along the lines of; "Don't you want to hold my hand?"—or say something like; "You act like I'm dirty with how little you touch me."
Intimately speaking, this—minimal-physical-touch-thing wasn't really a problem because fuck, Levi was good in bed—in you. Every other touch instance beyond that? You can count them with all twenty of your fingers. Yes, including feet fingers.
However...since you have been letting your brain be occupied by these thoughts, you eventually started seeing the minority you didn’t count. Especially that one little thing Levi does with you that your mind often lets slip from your memory.
Cats.
Cats have this thing they do—what was it called?
Ah,
Nuzzling.
When the idea first crossed your mind, best believe you crashed into your bed and smacked your laptop open to confirm something.
“...cat nuzzling...feline...f, e, l, i...” you mumbled as your fingers flew across your keyboard, typing the thought away before you forgot about it.
“AHA!...itisafelinebehaviorwhereacatgentlyrubstheirheadandfaceagainstyou—HAH!” You semi-rapped the definition part out of pure excitement. The aha and hah’s you’d yelled out had Levi poking his head into your room asking if the reaction came from you figuring out how to multiply his detergent stock without spending twice the money.
The way your eyes looked up to him slowly plus the growing grin of your face said otherwise. It made him recoil, “what?” his eyes narrowed, suspicious and well aware that you had that look that said you fucking-found-something-out.
“Nope. Nothing.” You sucked your lips in in an act of hiding the rest of the rise of a cheeky smile, “it’s nothing.” you added quickly, shutting the screen of your laptop with deliberate slowness.
Levi had to stare at you for another good minute, just to see if you’d spill. You didn’t, so he gave up and finally walked in, sinking into the space beside you on your bed, snug against your side.
You really didn’t tell him and you struggled not to giggle while he just now was doing the very thing you were refusing to tell him. Nuzzling his face against the ball of your shoulder, the motion soft, lighting up your heart in the warmest way possible.
At least now you knew that the instances of Levi and physical touch being under the same breathing space exceeded all twenty of your fingers. Now counting the small moments in the past you didn’t include, and the ones that’ll happen in the long future ahead of your relationship.
• Levi take things very seriously when you get sick, he would not let you work or go out and make sure you don't overwork your self even for small things.
•After an argument, Levi doesn't apologize directly with words, he is too stubborn, but he always comes back to you naturally.
• Levi's favorite person would be his wife, he is not really open up with people, but with her he would make an exception because he value family relationship which is unfamiliar to him .
• Levi has a dry sense of humor, he is sarcastic and love to make snarky comments to tease you, even if sometime he get too blunt he doesn't want to offended you accidentilly.
• He is brutally honest with you he rant and criticizes people he dislikes and sometimes gives them silly nicknames, but in a blunt calm way, without trying to be hurtful.
•He like quite moment with you, it's one of his favorite thing. To spend time with you without too much stimulation or noise. Just quiet entertaining time.
•Levi like to sleep spooning you, his favorite position. You wrapped in his arms and his chin in your head, make him look protective even in his sleep.
•At the end of the day he like to have you on his laps while he is laying and talking about his day, he would listen to what you say without jugement
•Levi love when you talk about your complaint to him, he doesn't admit it but it make him feel needed and trusted
• Levi somehow takes the role of a maid, he never lets you get overwhelmed he does things by instinct, cooking, doing household chores, picking up after you when you feel too tired or lazy.
•Levi would be your rational side,If you oversleep or feel too lazy to get up, he’s already awake. When you’re overwhelmed, he places a cup of tea in front of you and ask you to take a break.
Levi is afraid to break you, at first. His hands have sown so much violence, have been stained with so much blood. It almost feels wrong that they should touch your face. But the way you look at him, the way you trust him, gives him the courage to try.
At night, in the merciful dark, he holds you gently, cradles you like something precious. He stares at your hands when they're linked, silently marveling at the fragility of your fingers folded between his, the furthest thing from the handle of a knife.
When he climbs over you, limbs planted in the mattress to keep his weight from your chest, he's afraid you might shatter, a thousand shards of glass he'll never be able to clean from his sheets.
When you offer him your body, willing and wanting, it feels like drowning. He gasps for air in the forgiving crook of your neck, hiding his crumpled face, pressing his lips to your pulse, clinging to the reminder that you're alive, you're alive and here with him, around him, taking him in like he isn't going to destroy you in the end.
The smell of cheap liquor filled the mess hall, Hange was ranting on about how titans would react under alcohol, they were clearly drunk, arms wobbling and voice slurred. Levi never took part in these events he only stood by in case any fights broke out.
He noticed you, sitting in a corner beside the very drunk Hange holding a mug of ale carefully. You looked exhausted, a sheen of tears rimmed your eyes. He saw you take a sip, then another until the mug was over. You then simply slumped your head on the table and fell asleep in an instant. Out like a light.
"Dammit" Now he was responsible for making sure you and Hange got to bed safely. To be fair you didn't really make it hard for him when you simply switched off and slept when you got overwhelmed. Of course you used poison to drown out your sadness. That meant you were hurting more than you let on. "Stupid" But he was really more worried that you'd take up this bad habit. At the same time he was almost jealous how you fell asleep so fast. With a grumble he shook your shoulders. "Don't pass out here like a damn drunkard." Hange then laughed loudly at their own drunken joke about force-feeding titans vegetables. He shot them a glare.
He then turned to you again. Noticing how your head stayed adamantly slumped. He shook you once again.
Nothing.
Not even a flinch.
"Tch Lightweight."
He sat beside you throughout the 'celebration' watching for fights. You were great company anyways since you were passed out, since the others were in a noisy drunken frenzy.
He then pulled you up by the shoulders, lifted you up like a sad sack of potatoes and carried you to bed. Despite his earlier gruffness he laid you gently on your bed. His hands pulled up your covers to your chin to keep you warm. "Don't make a habit of it." That's when you stirred a little, and spoke in a whiny, drunken tone. "Goodnight Captain" A tiny smirk formed on his face. "Goodnight, lieutenant."
Attack on Titan Masterlist
Levi has burrowed into my head and cured my writing slump.
Soft!Levi after an expedition. Gender neutral scout!reader. Light (?) suggestiveness. ~800 words.
It’s too early to think.
The sky was still in that in-between state, a mixture of dark purples, lightening to murky blues.
You shuffle, in the in-between state yourself; in between sleep and alertness. You wonder briefly if your boyfriend found himself in the in-between.
His tightening arms around you tell you otherwise.
Of course. Levi feigns rest for your sake, but he doesn’t really.
The heat of his embrace is suffocating, but you can’t will yourself to pull away.
Your bones were spent, muscles tight with exhaustion—coming back from a month-long expedition does that to you. And so, you refrain from pulling away from Levi. He takes advantage of your acquiescent state and nuzzles closer, face in the crook of your neck.
You still smelled fresh like soap, having scrubbed hours to get the blood and dirt off you. Both of you considered the first night back from these missions as sacred, and tainting the bed with anything dirty felt wrong.
Mind you, there were other ways you did commit sacrilege on this very bed, but that was besides the point.
“Sleep.”
The lowness of his voice penetrates the silence of his quarters and he shuffles closer into you. He could never get enough of you—and early mornings after expeditions made him insatiably needy.
It would be a matter of hours before he returned to “normal”. Back to pretending that he didn’t crave your touch every single goddamn minute of the goddamn day.
In between the suffocation of his embrace and the love you had for him, you found yourself grateful for another one of these mornings with Levi. Even if it was too hot, you’d rather be here than…whatever comes after death. It didn’t matter—you’d be gone and buried, or more likely left out in a plain to rot, but it was Levi you worried about.
He’s loved too much—lost too much—to have to face it all again.
Levi has his leg in between your own, and when he senses you aren’t abiding to his order of rest, does he finally let out a deep exhale before pressing his eager lips to your neck.
“Needy,” you reply breathily, “so goddamn needy.”
“For you, yeah,” he replies with the same air of breathlessness. Yes, Levi foregoing embarrassment was also a sanctity the first mornings back, one that got your ears buzzing each and every time.
You make a move to leave the comfort of his bed, but his fingers wrap around your wrist and pull.
“Where are you going?” And he begins his assault on your neck.
“Hmm, we got reports to do,” you say quietly, but the trail of open-mouthed kisses continues, “I’m spent as it is, I’d rather get it done while I still have the will to do so.”
Levi only hums in response, before his kisses cease and his head tucks back into the space between your head and the pillow.
“Eyebrows gave us the day off.”
“Uh, no. He gave you the day off.”
Levi lets out a deep sigh, chest visibly rising and falling.
“He already knows about us,” Levi’s hand searches for yours, lips trying to place a kiss on the back of your hand. A teasing sort of grin tugs at your lips.
“Oh does he now—and what are we?”
He finally pulls away from your warmth, eyes squinting in a half-hearted glare.
“Shut up.”
You break into a breathless sort of laughter, before he’s pressing a kiss on your lips, effectively making your brain scatter for a moment.
“You haven’t told me that conversation yet,” you voice when he pulls away, “I am but a curious mind.” Levi rolls his eyes.
“It’s enough that he knows. Now stay in bed with me.” He says this while pinning you beneath him, back into the stuffiness of his body—you couldn’t find it in you to mind.
You smirk at him, wanting to continue the banter, but deciding against it. Levi’s eyes are dark, needy for something more than just an early morning embrace.
Right. On mornings like these, Levi got needy for that too.
“Fine,” you respond with mock surrender, “but you’re doing all the work.”
Levi shoves one of his pillows on top of your head.
—
“What are you looking at four-eyes?”
Hange smirks at the raven-haired captain, eyes hidden behind glasses that are gleaming with mischief.
“There’s a purple mark on the side of your neck—no, no—stay shorty! It’s shaped like a titan—let me sketch it!”
the hum of machinery was a constant backdrop in the armory. sparks flew from welding rigs, the scent of oil and metal thick in the air. you didn’t even flinch as a molten drop skittered across the floor. levi, on the other hand, had been doing laps for the past fifteen minutes, trying—failing—to act casual.
“y/n,” he said, voice clipped, eyes darting to where you were bent over the control panel. “uh… did you recalibrate the—”
you didn’t look up. didn’t even pause your movements. “yeah. already did. it was off by point zero seven two. figured you’d notice sooner or later.” your tone was flat, effortless, like solving tiny math problems was just a part of your day, not something to make anyone nervous about.
levi’s chest tightened. “right. okay.” he swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck. he’d planned to sound competent. to sound normal. instead, he sounded like a babbling idiot. “i… mean—good job. obviously.”
you finally straightened, wiping your hands on a rag, and gave him a sideways glance. not judgmental. just amused. the kind of look that made him feel like every bad word he’d ever said was written across his forehead.
“thanks,” you said casually. “not like it was hard. your equipment’s… predictable.”
levi blinked. predictable. like your heart, maybe, except he had no idea what he was doing to yours.
he tried again. “you—you ever, uh… you ever think about taking a break? step away from all this tech stuff… and maybe, i dunno… come have lunch or something?” his voice was low, controlled, but he could feel it shaking.
you shrugged, leaning back against the console, arms crossed. “maybe. if it’s not a fire drill or an explosion or something life-or-death. otherwise, i like knowing everything works perfectly.”
levi ground his teeth. cool. calm. completely untouchable. your brain, your hands, your energy—it was all so… so you. he’d trained his entire life to stay composed, to command, to be untouchable himself. and yet here you were, making him feel like a rookie.
“right.” he swallowed. “understood.”
you tilted your head, a small smirk tugging at the corner of your lips. “you know,” you said, voice deceptively easy, “you’re really bad at hiding that you like me.”
levi choked on his own breath. tried to blink it away. tried to act unimpressed. failed spectacularly.
“i—what?” he croaked.
you stepped closer, hands still in your pockets, calm as a still pond. “it’s fine. you don’t have to say anything. just… stop trying to act normal around me. it’s cute. i like it.”
levi’s knees almost buckled. “i—i—”
“yeah,” you said, cutting him off with a lazy smile. “you like me. admitted.”
and just like that, levi’s carefully maintained composure crumbled, leaving only the part of him that was completely, undeniably, hopelessly smitten.
you shrugged again, casual as ever, and muttered, “finally said it for you.”
levi made a noise somewhere between a groan and a growl, but it wasn’t angry. not even close. it was… everything.
and just for a moment, the world narrowed to the hum of machines, the smell of oil, and you, still cool, still untouchable, still utterly in control.
levi had never thought a simple dinner would be… this much work.
he walked beside you, hands tucked neatly in his pockets, chest stiff. you, on the other hand, were wandering the streets like you owned them, sunglasses perched perfectly on your nose even though it was dusk. casual, untouchable, untamed. levi’s jaw clenched.
“y/n,” he said, voice tight, “uh… are you sure you want to go in there? it looks crowded.”
you glanced at him, eyebrow raised. “i thrive in chaos. you, on the other hand, look like you might pass out if someone bumps into you.”
levi’s face went hot. “i—i can handle it.”
“sure.” you didn’t skip a beat. you reached over and gently grabbed his elbow, steering him past the line like he was a delicate artifact. levi froze for a second, then realized he couldn’t fight you without looking ridiculous. you didn’t even flinch.
once inside, you immediately claimed a booth, sliding into the seat like it was your throne. levi, careful to maintain military-grade posture, sat opposite you, trying not to stare at how effortlessly cool you looked resting one arm on the back of the seat.
the waiter arrived, and levi opened his mouth to order, but you leaned forward, calm as ever.
“let me do it,” you said. “you look like you’re about to combust.”
levi blinked. “i… i can—”
“nope.” you cut him off with the kind of authority that made soldiers obey without question. you ordered with ease, even subtly suggesting a healthier option for him. levi stiffened, caught between gratitude and mortification.
as you waited for your food, you casually reached across the table and adjusted the collar of his uniform. “loosen up. shoulders too tense. you’re scaring the waitress.”
levi froze mid-breath, heart doing an unprofessional somersault. “i… i’m fine.”
“you’re fine,” you echoed, smirking just slightly, “until you get a cramp from pretending you’re made of steel.”
when the food arrived, you quietly ensured his plate was arranged properly, cutting his meat and nudging him to try a sip of his soup before it cooled. levi wanted to protest but found his voice locked somewhere behind his escalating blush.
“you’re… really… calm,” he muttered finally, leaning back, flustered.
“it’s what i do,” you said, effortlessly leaning one arm on the table, chin resting in your hand. “keeping people alive and functioning. part of the job description.”
levi groaned inwardly. of course. of course this cool, unflappable person also knew how to ruin him silently without even trying.
halfway through dessert, you caught him fumbling with the napkin, sighing like it was a life-or-death mission.
“here,” you said, folding it neatly and placing it on his lap. “relax. breathe. stop trying to impress me with basic coordination.”
levi looked like he was about to combust again. “i’m not—”
“yes, you are,” you interrupted lightly, grinning. “admit it.”
he exhaled sharply, defeated. “i… am.”
you leaned back, finally satisfied, arms crossed casually. “good. now we can eat in peace.”
levi tried to stay composed, tried to act like nothing had happened, but every time you gave a small smirk, or adjusted something for him without a word, he felt himself unraveling all over again.
by the time you left the restaurant, he was a mix of exhausted, flustered, and utterly enthralled. and you? you walked down the street like you’d done nothing out of the ordinary.
except, levi knew better. you’d done everything, and he’d let you.
levi had resolved himself: tonight, he was going to act normal. cool. collected. untouchable.
you met him outside the training compound, hair slightly messy from the wind, hands in your pockets, grin already teasing. “ready?” you asked, voice calm, casual, like nothing could rattle you.
levi swallowed. “i… am.”
“good,” you said, sliding an arm through his. “because i’m taking care of you tonight.”
levi froze. “i—what?”
you squeezed his arm lightly, leaning close enough that he could smell the faint scent of oil and coffee. “you heard me. no overthinking, no stressing. just… follow my lead.”
he tried to protest, of course, but the heat in your eyes made him shut up immediately.
at the small arcade you wandered into, he flinched at the loud sounds. you tugged him gently toward a claw machine. “okay, first lesson: have fun. i got this.”
levi’s brows knitted. “you’re… babying me.”
“maybe,” you admitted, pressing a coin into his hand. “but romantic babying. pay attention.”
he scowled, fumbled with the joystick. you leaned behind him, hands lightly brushing over his as you guided his movements, murmuring softly. “slow… a little to the left… perfect.”
levi’s face heated, not just from embarrassment but from the intimacy of it. your fingers lingering, your voice so calm, so sure. it was unlike anything he’d ever felt, and he didn’t know how to respond except to keep letting you lead.
“see?” you said as the claw scooped up a plush toy effortlessly. “nothing to worry about. you’re safe. i’ve got you.”
levi’s jaw nearly hit the floor. i’m a grown man, a captain, and they’ve got me feeling like this?
you didn’t stop. on the walk back, you took his hand without ceremony, entwining fingers. “don’t stiffen,” you murmured. “it’s okay to let go. i like it when you let go.”
he tried to say something, anything, but your thumb brushing over the back of his hand stole his words.
at a quiet little café, you ordered for both of you again. “extra whipped cream for you,” you said, setting the cup in front of him with a smirk. “it’s cute when you’re flustered.”
levi groaned, hiding his face behind the cup, heart pounding. “i—i’m not cute.”
“cute and flustered are basically synonyms for you right now,” you said, leaning forward, resting your chin in your hands, eyes soft. “and i like it. a lot.”
levi’s chest tightened. his composure, the thing he clung to for years, was melting under your touch, your voice, your calm, effortless presence.
“y/n…” he started, voice low, desperate to be stern and in control.
you reached across the table, cupping his cheek gently. “it’s okay, levi. you don’t have to do anything. i got you. just… let me.”
and that was it. the dam broke. he leaned into your hand without thinking, letting you cradle him, feel the warmth of your steady, nonchalant assurance.
you leaned in close, whispering softly, lips near his ear: “see? being taken care of isn’t so bad, is it?”
levi let out a small, defeated sigh. “no… not with you.”
you smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “good. now you’re mine, even if you pretend to fight it.”
levi wanted to protest, wanted to reclaim control, but he couldn’t. your calm, your cool, your quiet confidence had him completely undone. and for the first time in a long time, he didn’t mind at all.
he was yours. completely, hopelessly, and utterly.
The walk back to your place was quiet, the kind of silence that felt intentional. Levi’s hand stayed in yours the whole way, your thumb tracing slow, absentminded circles over his knuckles like it didn’t even register as something intimate. He noticed. He noticed everything. He just didn’t say a word.
Every time he even thought about pulling away, your grip tightened slightly. Not enough to restrain him. Just enough to remind him you were guiding this.
Inside, you flicked on a single lamp. Warm light filled the room, softening the edges. Levi lingered near the door, arms crossed, posture rigid like he could still armor himself if he tried hard enough. His eyes, though, kept finding you. Waiting. Watching.
You shrugged off your jacket, draped it over a chair, then looked at him.
“Come here.”
It wasn’t a question.
Levi moved before his brain caught up, stopping in front of you, close enough that he could feel your warmth. You tilted your head, studying him like a problem you already knew how to solve.
“You did good tonight,” you said easily. “Letting me take care of things.”
His jaw tightened. “I wasn’t—”
You stepped closer, lifting a hand to the back of his neck. Slow. Unrushed. Giving him time to pull away if he wanted to. He didn’t.
Your thumb brushed along his jaw, grounding, steady. “You don’t have to explain yourself,” you murmured. “You don’t have to be on all the time. I’ve got you.”
His breath stuttered. Just once.
You guided him back until he sat at the edge of the bed, hands resting on his knees like he didn’t trust them anywhere else. You stayed standing between his legs, fingers smoothing down his sleeves, straightening his collar, movements precise and gentle. Familiar. Caring.
“Look at me,” you said softly.
He did. Gray eyes searching your face, stripped of their usual sharpness. You leaned in, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to his lips. Not hurried. Not demanding. Just enough to make him lean forward on instinct, chasing you when you pulled back.
“Good,” you whispered, brushing your forehead against his. “You’re doing great.”
His hands came up to your waist, tentative, like he was asking permission without words. You didn’t stop him. You just rested your hands over his, anchoring him there.
He exhaled, shoulders finally dropping.
You stayed like that for a moment, quiet and close, Levi letting himself be held without needing to lead or command or protect. Just existing in your space, under your calm, steady attention.
