Bargain (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 5: Hollow Victory

When Levi awoke, Wrath was gone. However, the lingering warmth on the bed revealed that she had stayed beside him the entire night. He vaguely wondered if, perhaps, her comforting presence was what had made him sleep so well.

A tray of food sat on the table, along with a note. He carefully unfolded it, admiring the elegant handwriting. Of course, it was from Wrath.

When you're ready, pull the rope, and a servant will come to send you back to the mortal world. Of course, there's no rush, if you would rather stay for a while. I would like it if you could think of this place as your home, where you are always welcome.

Levi paused, unable to help the slight curl of his lips. It had been a long time since he'd been able to call a place "home", since he'd had anyone to welcome him there. Sure, Wrath's mansion may have been in Hell, but it wasn't so bad, all things considered.

He kept reading.

You don't have to worry about Lust anymore. We of the Seven cannot die, but getting stabbed through the heart is not exactly pleasant, so she'll have to stay in her House for a while to recover. She definitely won't have enough power to return to the mortal world anytime soon. I don't expect that any other demons will bother you, but if anything happens, I'll be there. Our bargain allows me to sense when you are in danger, and to find you wherever you are.

I apologize for not telling you that last bit earlier. I thought it might make you angry, but regardless, I should not have kept it secret. I hope you can forgive me.

Levi glanced around for a pen. When he found one, he scratched a quick reply in the space underneath Wrath's careful handwriting.

There's nothing to forgive. You saved me last night. Thank you.

He didn't feel slighted that she had, once again, neglected to see him off. He had realized that it wasn't out of any malice or resentment. In fact, now that he thought about it, being a Demon Princess of Hell probably came with a busy schedule.

Levi ate the breakfast that she had left, which was surprisingly tasteful, considering that no one else in this mansion ate human food. Afterwards, he rang for a servant to send him back to the mortal world. Although he was starting to like it here, he couldn't linger.

He still had a promise to keep.

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"So, we're all in agreement, then?"

Each member of their unlikely alliance nodded, Levi included.

When he had returned to the mortal world, he had asked Wrath's servant to send him straight to Zeke. The servant did as requested, and Levi appeared right in front of the bearded bastard while he was still on his way to Eren. Levi had quickly killed the titan that Zeke was riding on before chaining the man himself to a thunderspear. He didn't think he should kill Zeke – not yet, not when the future of Paradis still hung in the balance. So Levi intended to find someone to eat the monkey instead.

However, he had made a grave mistake.

Levi had assumed that Zeke wasn't crazy enough to set off the thunderspear and kill them both. But Levi had been fatally wrong. He didn't remember much after the explosion – only that Hanji had found him and whisked him away before the Jaegerists could finish him off.

By the time Levi regained full consciousness, Zeke was gone again – having been healed by his titan powers. Hanji had stitched and bandaged Levi to the best of her ability, but there was no getting around the fact that some parts of him were damaged beyond repair. His fingers, for one, were never coming back. And he also wasn't too sure about his right eye.