The Struggles of Kenny Ackerman

Rest for the Sick

"Why are you sniffing me?!" Levi hissed at his classmate, Mike.

The little blonde Alpha had been sniffing him from the moment he entered the classroom. Mike even moved his chair next to the little raven Omega.

"Levi, maybe he had some reasons. Right, Mike?" Erwin tried to calm the fuming raven at Mike's odd behavior.

"Hm!" Mike nodded. He gestured for Hange who just entered the room and placing her bag on the shelf.

"Oh! What is it, Mike!?" Hange cheered and skipped towards their table.

"Levi," Mike pointed at the said raven and Levi wanted to melt when Erwin and Hange's eyes landed on him.

"What?!" Levi grumbled. "Just tell me!"

"He looks pale," Mike finished and Hange jaw dropped.

She dashed to the raven Omega and rested her forehead on Levi's.

"Wha?" Levi asked with pure confusion.

"Ohhh! Your forehead is hotter than mine!" Hange announced.

"Really? Can I?" Erwin asked when Hange stepped out of Levi's personal space.

"Um, okay," Levi nodded and closed his eyes. Unlike Hange, Erwin placed the back of his hand on his forehead.

"Hange's right!" Erwin gasped and turned to Mike. "And you were able to know just by his scent, Mike?"

Mike nodded and immediately went to the teacher who just arrived in their room.

"I'm not sick!" Levi pouted. "I feel okay."

"Oh, I heard from mama that thisbmonth is flue season!" Hange pointed out.

"Yeah, I heard dad saying it too," Erwin supported. "He said that I should always wash my hands and tell other kids to cover their mouth and nose when they sneeze."

While his friends discussed about the flue season, Levi blinked at them as the yesterday's events. The class had ended and Levi was packing his things when Petra came to him. She was asking if they could play together with Hange while waiting for their parents. That's when Petra sneezed at him.

Levi turned towards Petra's table. She was absent today. The little raven had no idea what to do, he's scared, he didn't want to get sick. He didn't want his uncle to get worried.

"Levi, deary?" His teacher cooed at him and placed the back of her hand on his forehead. "Oh my, you have a fever. Let's go to the clinic. Don't worry, I'll call your uncle."

Levi pressed his lips in a thin line. He could feel the heaviness of his body, he thought he was just sleepy but no. He felt cold and vulnerable.

Levi nodded and let his teacher carry him instead of walking along.

----

"This is because Petra sneezed on me!" Levi cried out, tears streaming down on his face. He kept on sobbing as he held onto his uncle's shoulders.

"You're going to be okay, Le," Kenny gently patted his back. "Don't worry, I'm here and so as Captain."

Kenny was called by the little raven's teacher, the old Alpha excused himself at work and immediately drove to the school. When he arrived at the school's clinic, Levi was looking pale. The nurse gave him some chewable medicine but he needed to get the little Omega checked.

The old Alpha did notice that morning that Levi had less energy in him but he shrugged it off. Since they adopted Captain, Levi had been running around and playing with the pup, Kenny assumed he was just tired from all the playing.

Kenny tried so hard not to show his panic and took care of Levi, his workplace allowed him a week off since they knew how important it was for Kenny to be with Levi. Younger Omegas preferred to be together with their mothers when they were sick but since Kuchel passed away, Levi was dependent on Kenny.

They just left the clinic and the doctor explained to Kenny that it was normal for Levi to cry frequently at his state since he didn't have his mother by his side. Kenny was concern at first as to why the little raven cried so much but he did his best to make Levi smile. Threw some dad jokes, read him stories, snuggled with him with Captain. Kenny was now thankful he adopted the dog, Captian helped Levi so much. The pup would sleep next to the little Omega and Levi would eventually fall asleep right after.

"Hey," Kenny lightly knocked on the open door. "I bought your favorite banana cupcake."

"Hmmm," Levi hummed weakly. He was covered in layers of blanket like a cocoon and Captain was all curled up on his side.

Kenny settled at the edge of his bed and help his nephew sit up. Levi took the cupcake and took a bite. Pushing some of the raven hair off the little Omega's face, Kenny observed his nephew. Levi's complexion looked better than before. That's the signs he wanted to see.

Reaching for the thermometer on the bedside table, Kenny placed the device under the raven's arm. After a few minutes, Kenny sighed in relief to see that the fever was going down.

"Just keep eating that cupcake and drink plenty of water. Tomorrow, you'll be well," Kenny ruffled his bed hair.

"I will never let anyone sneeze on me," Levi swore.

"Yes, tell them to cover their mouth and always wash hands."

"I hate Petra," Levi huffed.

"Now, it's not Petra's fault. She's sick now like you too."

"Good for her, now she feels my pain," Levi growled and took a big bite on his cupcake.

Kenny kept on his patient smile. Levi never failed to surprise him. Captian whined and scratch his paw on Levi, his big-sad-puppy eyes zoned on the half-eaten cupcake on Levi's hand.

"I should get Captain fed, don't give him your cupcake," Kenny said as he stood but he didn't miss how his dear nephew tear about 1/3 of his cake and gave it to the puppy. Kenny let it slide.

On the second day, Levi's fever persisted but he was getting better and better. The little raven was out of his bedroom and now in the living room playing with his legos. Kenny made sure the little raven won't get cold and draped a blanket over his shoulders.

In the kitchen, Kenny made a mug of chocolate for his nephew. Hoping that the child would take more liquids. He gasped when a small ball of yellow fur zoned past his legs and body-slammed Levi down on the floor.

"Captain!" Kenny scolded the energetic puppy.

Captain didn't pay him any attention and continued licking the raven's face.

"Captain! No!" Levi laughed. "Ew! Gross! Hahaha!"

Kenny sighed and let this one slide again. He didn't want Levi crying again because he felt vulnerable without Kuchel. Kenny swore to the stars that it would never happen again.

Once Captain finally calmed down, Kenny took a damp towel and wipe the raven's face before giving him the coco.

Levi took a sip and his face grimace at the taste. "Even chocolate taste weird," he whined at Kenny.

Kenny sat down next to Levi with his legs crossed and gently patted his back. "Hang in there, Le. Once you get well, everything will taste like it normally should."

"I want to get well fast," Levi pouted and took another sip with his eyes squeezed shut.

Kenny hummed, knowing exactly what Levi's next words. The little raven gulped down the chocolate and turned the cup to his uncle with determined eyes.

"I want ice cream and see Eren again."

Kenny smiled. "Don't worry. When you get well, I'm driving you straight to the ice cream parlor."