The Vacation Episode (Levi x Reader)

The Vacation Episode - Part 1

You stepped out of the taxi, breathing in the warm, fresh air of this far-away place. It seemed like only yesterday that you believed yours was the last civilization on earth. Now, as you gazed up at what was reportedly the best spa in the world, you were so glad that your history was wrong. And you were eager to see what this serene, exotic place had to offer.

Although she couldn't come herself for security reasons, Queen Historia had generously paid for you and your comrades to go on a week-long vacation, as a thank-you for all your efforts during the war. Thus, you, Hanji, Erwin, and the Levi Squad excitedly boarded a ship, sailed across the sea, and then piled into taxis that drove you the rest of the way. Levi himself came along begrudgingly, because Erwin said he had to.

The spa was organized so that you paid per stay and not per activity, and thus, you all were able to choose your own schedule. You had spent hours huddled together while you planned, reading menus full of relaxing activities that you had never even heard of on Paradis. Now, as you walked up the steps, you mentally ran through the list of things you had picked to do this week, growing more and more excited with each thought.

However, your thoughts soon turned outward, to the incredible setting that surrounded you. Polished, wooden buildings with thatched roofs were nestled in the middle of a lush forest that was miles from civilization, making it feel like you were visiting some sort of secret temple. The sky was a pure, clear blue, without a single cloud to block the pleasant heat of the sun – the climate being so different from Paradis that you all had to purchase shorter outfits and swimsuits before coming here. Chirps reached your ears from colorful birds that you had never seen before, as did the sound of several burbling pools and waterfalls that were placed around the resort.

The inside of the main building was just as beautiful as the landscape outside – open and airy, with an incredible view of the forest that seemed to stretch on forever. A team of smiling employees was waiting to take your bags and get you all checked in, though Erwin handled the last part, leaving the rest of you to bask in the beauty and tranquility that surrounded you.

You caught Levi staring at the horizon, and for once, there was a flicker of something other than fatigue or irritation in his gaze.

"Not bad, is it?" you murmured discreetly as you stepped up beside your friend, admiring the view with him.

Levi grunted thoughtfully. "Suppose not."

You resisted the urge to giggle at his nonchalance, because you found his familiar flat attitude to be quite endearing – at least, in this case.

Levi was always so stoic, in good times and bad. You guessed it was a defense mechanism, a response to the trauma of so many years of fighting – suppressing his emotions so he wouldn't break. On top of that, as Humanity's Strongest Soldier, he had been handed the additional burden of always appearing strong for everyone else. And because no one could experience the joy without also feeling the anxiety and depression and heartbreak, he had chosen to lock everything away.

He never dropped that wall, not even for his friends – or at least, not for you, and you were pretty sure the two of you were friends – though you couldn't say for certain if Erwin or Hanji ever saw a different side of him. Of course, you didn't begrudge him that or judge him for it, because everyone handled the war in their own way, and if a wall was what he needed, so be it. However, now that the fighting was done, you hoped that he would be able to stop suppressing his emotions. It wasn't healthy, but more than that...you really just wanted him to be happy. He deserved it.

Once Erwin finished the check-in process, you were all escorted to your rooms. You each got your own, and they were enormous compared to your rooms in the military barracks. They also felt quite luxurious, given that they included a queen-sized bed, a balcony, and a bathroom with a tub and a shower. They were made of the same polished wood as the lobby, with wooden furniture, blue and white bedding, and matching white curtains framing the glass balcony doors.