I Don't Belong Here (Levi x reader)

The Real Question

"(L/N)! Over here!" I hear a soft, masculine voice call me over to one of the long dining tables near the wall of the dining hall. Armin has his hand in the air, waving me over. Mikasa is sitting across from Jeager, her expression harsh and intimidating. I look to Hange for reassurance, and she nods me over there as she takes her seat at the table with Erwin and Levi.

I walk over at take a seat between Armin and Annie. I wonder if they know... no, they couldn't. How could they know? Reiner is at the other table, seeming to have a drunken laugh with his friends. And this dream has gone on way too long, but not long enough to truly know what time period I'm in.

I've got to stay calm. I can't say too much, because I don't know what they know. They have to continue to trust me if I don't want to become a titan snack or seen as some sort of spy. But how do I also not sound stupid and clueless? Wait, why am I stressing this so much? If it's a dream, and I really am just too exhausted to wake up from it, I have nothing to worry about. As real as this feels, it's only just a dream. Right?

"It's good to see you up and walking around, (L/N)." Armin says, handing me a plate with some bread rolls on it. I take a few, then smile at him. 

"You guys can just call me (F/N). If you don't mind..."

"Not at all! I'm Sasha. I heard about what happened, but I wasn't close enough to the crowd to get a good look at you! You're lucky you survived."

"Tch, we don't need some damsel in distress getting in the way." Jean says from the end of the table, side eyeing me. I tense up, and Sasha pats my back.

"Don't mind him, he likes to push buttons. Anyway, where in Wall Maria are you from? Did you live in the country or the city?" She asks, trying to start a conversation. My stomach turns as I see all their expecting faces, some new ones showing interest as people begin to notice the new girl at the table. Before I can think, I start talking about the only place in Wall Maria that I could think of on the spot.

"We lived on the outskirts of Shiganshina. I don't know how long I've been out there on my own, but I lost my horse not too long ago. That's why when Captain Ackerman and the rest of you found me, I was in a tree trying to stay out of the way of titans. My..." I cut myself off for a moment, feeling the hard wooden seat under me, the dry bread digesting, the realness of the world around me, realizing that I'm scared. I'm scared that I'm in a trance. What happened to me?

"My friends, Jess and Alyssa... I don't know how to get back to them..." I say under my breath. I snap out of my thoughts quickly, catching my breath before I exhale with an awkward chuckle. The eyes on me are full of sorrow and understanding.

"I lost my mom when the titans broke the wall. But... that was almost a year ago." Eren points out.

Shit. What do I say? The titans breached wall Maria a year ago. Jeager and the others are obviously already cadets, that much is clear. But Wall Rose hasn't fallen yet... I could say I found refuge in a nearby village. But I can only lie through my teeth so much.

"A nearby village was almost abandoned, but a family let me stay. I was out to go looking for my friends and family when I got lost and then followed by that titan."

"At least you're safe now behind the wall. And maybe if you join the scouts, you can protect those who lent you their home in that village." Eren says triumphantly. He's still a boy, I can see it in his eyes.

"Eren..." Mikasa says in a displeased voice. He looks at her, resting back into his seat. 

"What?"

"Don't pressure her like that. She's still injured and has probably been through a lot."

I look down at my lap. I hate lying to them, but I'm almost afraid to mess with this dream. Something seems... off about it.

We finish dinner, moving onto a happier subject for a little while. Eren bumped heads with Jean, who was very protective of his tough reputation. While the rest of the people flooded out to return to their rooms for the night, I caught eye contact with Levi. I knew there was a chance Hange would tag me along with her, but I wanted him instead.

"Uh, Captain?" I ask softly, walking up beside him. The jokes were accurate, I'm a good four inches taller than him. It's adorable.

"Wouldn't you rather bother Hange?" He says in a dull tone, but keeps up his stride with mine.

"I guess, but... I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"So..." I take a deep breath. Why am I so damn nervous? "Is uh... is the room I was in the one I should stay in?" I ask, looking over at him. As we walked the hallways, the moonlight reflects beautifully on his pale skin and makes his hair an almost deep purple color. A few pieces of shiny black hair dangle in front of his face that's slightly tilted down as he watches his feet carry him forward with his hands in his trouser pockets.

"Is that really the question you wanted to ask me?" He inquires. Damn, ok he sees right through me.

"It's not."

He actually looks over at me, raising an eyebrow expectedly at me.

"Do you trust me yet?" I ask, stopping my pace in front of one of the windows. He stops, but doesn't turn around. He lets a boasting group of cadets pass us before turning his head over his shoulder to speak to me.

"Maybe."

"What would I have to do to gain your full trust, then?" I say, my voice shaking a bit from the nerves. He looks away from me, tilting his head up to look out at the moon. 

"And why do you want my trust so damn bad?"

"If you have to ask, you're not as inducive as I thought you would be."

As soon as I said this, he turns harshly on his heels and closes the gap between us. I inhale sharply, surprised as his eagerness to become intimidating. I instinctively back away, my shoulder blades bouncing slightly forward from hitting the wall behind me. His hands remain in his pockets as his voice becomes even lower. He may think he's intimidating, but the confidence is driving my crazy. I feel my cheeks blush red as I look at his furrowed brow and intense stare.

"Start by telling me how you actually survived the breaching of Wall Maria."

"I-"

"Don't lie." He spits out,  banging his fist on the wall beside my head.

I flinch, they ask, "You were listening to me during dinner?" cocking an eyebrow at him.

"Of course I was listening. You think I would let some stranger roam these halls? Forget it. There's something..." He scans me up and down, then continues, "off about you. I'll figure it out. Know that I'll be keeping a very close eye on you these next few days." He pushes himself away from me as his hand that was on the wall next to me returns to his pocket. I release my breathe as I watch him walk away from me, his shadow looming behind him. 

"Fuck..." I mutter to myself once he's out of sight.