Falling For You (Levi x Reader) Slowburn

Chapter 4:

Y/N wiped down the shelves in Captain Levi's office, scrubbing every corner with the precision he demanded. Today was the day Levi and the rest of the Scouts were supposed to return from an expedition, and the thought alone made her anxious. She didn't want to give him any reason to be irritated. She'd made sure the place was spotless and cleaned to his impossibly high standards. But even the repetitive motion of dusting did little to calm her nerves.

The formation was already being tested out there. Captain Erwin had put her plan into action. All she could do now was wait, hoping that any moment now, they'd be back. The uncertainty gnawed at her. What if her plan, meant to save lives, had put more people in danger? The possibility sent a chill through her.

But it wasn't just the plan that weighed on her. Her thoughts kept circling back to her sister. She wasn't sure why. Anna was strong, always had been. She could handle herself out there, right? But Y/N couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. Her sister was out there, relying on the very plan Y/N had drawn up. The idea that something could go wrong, that Anna could get hurt because of a mistake in her strategy, made her chest tighten. If anything happened to Anna because of her formation, she'd never be able to forgive herself.

But then she reminded herself, Anna was with Levi. He was her captain, and if anyone could keep her safe, it was him. Or at least, that was what she wanted to believe. Knowing Anna was under his command should have reassured Y/N. But instead, her mind began to drift toward Levi himself.

She wasn't sure why, but she found herself more worried about him than she would've expected. It didn't make sense. He was humanity's strongest soldier. She tried to remind herself of that fact, but the fear lingered.

Her hand paused on the shelf. Why was she so concerned? It was stupid. Levi didn't need her worrying about him. He'd survived countless expeditions, faced more danger than most could even comprehend. And yet, no matter how much she tried to reason it away, the thought of him not coming back filled her with a dread she couldn't explain.

Suddenly, the door to the office slammed open, and Y/N jumped, her heart racing. Levi stormed into the room, his expression as cold and sharp as ever. The air around him seemed heavy, but at that moment, she couldn't stop the wave of relief that hit her. He was safe and seemingly unharmed.

"Sir, you're ba—" she started, her voice trembling with anxiety and relief, but he cut her off.

"Levi," he snapped, barely sparing her a glance. "How many times do I have to tell you? It's Levi, not sir. I'm not that old, you know." His annoyance dripped from his words.

"Sorry," she mumbled, forcing a grin, hoping to lighten the mood. "I just—are you okay? Is Anna safe?" The concern in her voice was genuine, and she could feel her heart rate steadying as she awaited his response.

"Yeah," he replied, his tone clipped, but the irritation in his voice softened slightly. "She's fine. Just a bit shaken up, but it's always like that."

Y/N sighed and a wave of relief washed over her, lifting the knot of anxiety in her chest. "I'm glad to hear that. I was so worried."

Levi slammed a stack of papers onto his desk, as he sank into his chair. Y/N stepped back, confusion swirling in her mind. He didn't seem like himself. A tension radiated from his shoulders that she hadn't noticed before. She hesitated, glancing at him, her brow furrowing in concern.

"What are those?" she asked cautiously.

"Post-expedition paperwork," he replied, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. "We need to notify all the families of the deceased." His words cut through the air like a knife, the gravity of the situation settling heavily around them.