Pluviophile | Levi Ackermann × Reader |

| Chapter 31 | Orphic

I pulled off my the blankets that strung me to the bed, drawing in a rigid breath. My mind spun with newly found images and feelings.
I was writhing underneath the moonlight.

A familiar feeling dug its claws into my back, the sound of a broken record repeating in my mind alongside the images of a dream. My head hung low, and I slithered out of my bed and gazed at the lifeless town just below the hill far down from the Headquarters. It was like reliving a moment of my life, only this time one aspect was different.

The dream I had wasn't of Levi dying.

I let my fingers rest on the windowsill, a single tear falling from my plain face.

There was no snow outside, no rain, nothing. The world was not breathing.

My veins had become string that was being sewn into a fate I didn't want to believe in. In my reflection I could see my hair matted in congealed blood, my eyes without a soul. I could see a red ring around my neck. Then my reflection faded back to normal. I was fine, and yet doomed.

No, Levi was not going to die.

I was.
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|Chapter 31|
Orphic
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Breakfast that morning was nothing more than a blink. It didn't matter to me. I was dazed, not listening to a word spoken by my subordinates that sat at the table with me. My food was untouched, the spoon resting in my hand as I didn't move a muscle.

My mouth hung slightly open, still not moving as the Mess Hall began to empty out. My oats were cold now, drying up in the drafty room. It looked unappetizing to me, and the spoon twitched with my fingers as I dropped it into the bowl and stood. I disposed of the bowl and took myself destinationlessly around the Headquarters.

I stopped by Levi's door, feeling all the more hopeless. I couldn't tell him about the dream. He would be devastated, and It would grow even more difficult for me to be happy.

But to my demise, he opened the door as I stood there stupidly.

"Oh?" He greeted. "Were you waiting for me?"

I didn't want to lie, but couldn't tell the truth. "Yeah..."

He could see my weird face. "Is something the matter?"

I forced myself to smile. "No, I just missed you, that's all."

I really did miss him. I hadn't seen him nearly all week, both of us too wrapped up in work to spend time together.

"Really now? Glad to know I wasn't the only one," Levi said. I felt ashamed of myself, because that wasn't the reason I was here despite it being the truth. I put on my best act to keep him happy.

"Can I... Come in for a little?" I didn't know what I was doing.

"Knock yourself out," He stepped aside, letting me in. I entered and he shut the door behind us. I could see his teacup still sitting on the table.

"Do you not use that?" I asked sadly. Perhaps he truly didn’t like it.

"Don't get the wrong idea," He said as if he read my thoughts. "I don't use it because I can't make something so pretty into something filthy."

I smiled. "You're funny."

"Maybe I should apologize for kissing it then. That probably got some filth on it."

"You kissed it? Why?" He gave me a funny look.

"I was saying my goodbyes when I thought you had died. It was like consultation in a way."

But now I was the one going to die...

Levi shrugged. "I think that just makes it all the more beautiful."