Ackerman's Steppes / Levi x Reader

Chapter 14: He is a Man

"Why are you clinging to me so much?" after an hour Levi finally talks. His voice is soft unlike ever before. You smile and grip him tighter for a second. It will show him your true answer.

You can't put in words what you feel now.

"I am just really scared," you murmur softly back. Both of you know it is a lie.

"I see..." he quietly sighs.

Your whole body feels stiff after embracing his back for so long. You didn't even move an inch because you were afraid of losing this secure feeling of love.

Your mind went blank, and you only felt his warmth, his breathing and slow, but steady movement from riding a horse. It all felt like some kind of vivid dream. Everything looked prettier, brighter and more vibrant. It felt like the whole world was watching you two and giving you all of the beauty it secretly possesses.

On the spur of the moment, he gently takes your injured hand's wrist and presses it against his chest, exactly where the heart is. Then, sliding his fingers through your knuckles, he puts his palm over your hand and slowly locks his fingers between yours. Your breathing thickens from the sensation.

You start to think about saying something, but you decide against it. You know he isn't a person who enjoys talking about his feelings, so you will let him show it through actions.

"I just wanted to make sure you relax your injured arm for a little. I suppose it has gotten numb from holding so tightly for so long," he awkwardly starts to explain himself. You will give him a taste of his own medicine. Honestly, you think it is for the better to not say anything, or keep it very short.

"I see," you shrug off and playfully clench your hand with his fingers.

You would love to see his face now. You have no idea how he is reacting to your subtle signs of affection, but from the way he is acting now, you are sure that he must be feeling at least some tension between you too.

You pull away from him a little bit, still holding onto his chest. You gaze at him. His dark charcoal colored hair is elegantly floating up and down from the impact when horse hits the ground and bounces back, revealing his unusually attractive undercut.

-

"We are here. I hope you aren't dripping on my back," Levi stops the horse and shakes his whole body. Riding for a few hours must have numbed his own body. You let him out of your guilty - pleasure embrace and look at the place he took you to because you didn't mind doing it when you were still holding him. He jumps off the horse and looks at you as you do it as well.

It is the same forest of giant trees where you got injured for weeks.

"Why?" you look at him.

"What?" he looks annoyed.

"Why this forest?" you finish your question.

"It is perfect for ODM gear and, overall, the safest," he sluggishly explains whilst taking his horse's leash. "And, also, there are no people around here," he adds. You nod. Even though only few days passed you still miss your little hometown; it is also near too.

You walk deeper into the forest in silence. Atmosphere becomes gloomy from the darkness massive trees create by covering the ground from any sunlight. You watch as he walks in the front holding his horse's leash. Stallion slowly gallops behind him making clip-clop sounds in this quiet and mysterious place. You keep glancing around; your anxiety raises from remembering what happened last time you were here.

After roughly five minutes Levi stops and leashes his horse to a tree. Hi pets his muzzle and takes his bag of its stifle. Following that, he cares the bag in front of you and drops it on the ground.