I Don't Belong Here (Levi x reader)

The Village

This is how I die, I guess. This world is real, the pain is real, titans are real. It's so real that it has to be ending, right? This is when I wake up in my room with Jess and Alyssa and I go to work back at the metaphysical shop, right? Because when you die in a dream you wake up in your real life...

My body is hit hard with something, probably bruising my ribs even more after being in Zeke's grip. I holler at the pain, then smell a familiar smell. I open my eyes and see a tan coat collar wrapped in the green scout cloak whipping around in the wind. Levi's neck is exposed, and I bury my face in it, squeezing my eyes shut again. I hold onto him with all the strength I have left until I know I'm safely on the ground somewhere.

His smell is like crisp, fresh linen, black tea and cedar. I swear it puts me in a trance, either that or I'm fainting. 

We land on the ground, and he leans me against a tree gently, supporting my head the whole time. I slowly open my eyes, seeing my crushed gear and my legs wet with blood sprawled out limply in front of me as I sit on the cold dirt. When my vision clears, I finally see him. Just like a real person in front of me. His jawline is sharp, his skin pale with an oaky undertone. His eyes are much more blue than grey, like a storm cloud. His lips are close to his skin color, but defined like a classic British gentleman. His hair is thick and black, almost blue in the setting sunlight. He's beautiful.

"(L/N), what the hell were you thinking?" He asks, still slightly out of breathe.

"Is... is everyone ok? Did they escape in time?" I ask, my voice weak from exhaustion and pain.

"Yeah, was that your plan all along? To be a distraction for that monster? I thought we all agreed no hero shit today." He says. His words are angry, but his tone is more the sound of relief than anything.

"Sure was. I know that titan. I've... I've read about it. It's called the Beast Titan. He plays dirty, so we have to be careful."

"What you did was the opposite of careful, you damn brat." He says, a growl behind his last word.

"I... I knew what I was doing." I say, struggling to get my words out. I start to get lightheaded, and my eyes fight to stay open.

"Hey, hey stay with me. (L/N)?" Levi says, moving closer to me. He's knelt on his knees, one on either side of my outstretching legs. He's leaning over me, hands on either sides of my face and trying to look into my eyes. "Stay with me!"

I know I'm ok, but I feel so weak. I just want to rest. I want to stay here, in the grass and the afternoon breeze, being cradled by him. "I feel so weak, Levi..." I say, not even thinking about how I used his first name again. 

"Stay with me, damnit!" He gets louder, more desperate. His voice is shaking, and I put all my strength into looking deep into his eyes. They're glassy, like he's going to cry.

"I'm with you." I say softly with a small smile. He exhales hard, a small smile to match mine coming across his lips. He holds my against his chest and kisses the top of my head. "Levi?" I ask, his name muffled by his clothing.

"Hmm?" He asks, not letting go of me.

"Did... did I hear you use my first name earlier?"

He chuckles, and I feel it vibrate in his chest against my cheek. It's comforting, and my body automatically relaxes a bit.

"You uh... you heard that?"

"Everyone heard that."

He chuckles again, then cradles my head away from him to look at me. "Well, you're too damn stubborn if I call you anything else."

"I liked it." I say, smiling again at him. His eyes are no longer so glossy, and it seems like he's calmed down a little. "So what now?" I ask, looking over at the setting sun. Zeke is out of sight, probably regrouping with his pure titans and hidden allies somewhere to take me down personally, and finding a new way to get to Eren. He probably assumes I'll tell everyone about him, and they'll know what he's really after. Come to think of it, even though I know how this story pans out... did I just change the future? Could there now be a different outcome because I stopped his attack? Too much to think about while feeling broken and bruised.

"Well, we have no horses so we can't make it back to the wall in time before dark. Best to head to that old village for the night." Levi suggests, shrugging off my broken gear and leaving it on the ground. He hoists me up and I sling my arm over his shoulder. He walks me towards the town, making sure I wince at the pain as least as possible. "We'll have Hange take a look at you when we get back. For now, I can bind your ribcage when we get to the town."

"Thank you, Levi."

"You're welcome... (F/N)."

We arrive at one of the houses in the abandoned village. Levi helps me inside and lays me down on the bed for me to rest, then scopes out the house. "No titans, but I'm going to check around the village. Stay here."

"Where the hell am I gonna go?" I say, gesturing to my weakened state. He rolls his eyes a bit playfully, than leaves me to my own company. I squeeze one of the pillows on the bed and settle into the one leaning against the wall that he had propped up for me. I begin to fall asleep, trying not to pay attention to the pulsing pain in my ribs and on my hands.

I'm not sure how much time had passed, but I wake up to hear noises from the kitchen. The house is small, only a main room and kitchen combined, a room divider closing off the bedroom with two beds, and a small room off towards the back of the house as the bathroom. I smell something homey and comforting cooking, like soup. Where the hell did this man find soup? Was it here in the house?

He walks over to me with a wooden tray in his hands. It has a cup of hot tea and a bowl of soup. He places it carefully on the bedside table next to me, and sits on the edge of the bed. He places one hand on my shoulder, careful not to startle me.

"I found some soup and tea that was still good in the kitchen. You should try some, I bet you're hungry." He offers me. I open my eyes and rub them awake, putting the pillow I was cuddling on the floor. He helps me sit up a little straighter so I can eat, then hands me the bowl. He gets up to get himself some, then returns, sitting on the other bed to eat.

"thank you." I say, sipping some of the tea. "You know... you could sit over here... if you want. You don't have to sit so far away."

He looks at me, and without another word he's on the edge of the bed again, sitting next to me. His gear is leaning against the wall in the corner, as is his scout jacket and coat. His collar is unbuttoned slightly at the top, exposing his collarbone. I catch my breath, and focus on the food and tea.