Under the Moon (Levi Ackerman x Reader)

Exiled Beyond Wall Rose

(Name) had been tossed out of the safety and security of Wall Rose, unceremoniously flung into the hellscape of the Titan-infested lands beyond.

With no parents, no friends, and no resources, her chances of survival were almost nonexistent. Each day was a relentless battle against hunger, fear, and the ever-present threat of being devoured by Titans. The walls, towering and impregnable in the distance, loomed like an unreachable sanctuary. She remained trapped in an unforgiving world, a place where survival had become a fleeting dream.

The Garrison had sentenced her to death—not for any crime she had committed, but because her family had failed to pay off their debts. In their eyes, she was nothing more than expendable, a casualty of a broken system.

Time blurred into an indistinguishable haze. Hunger gnawed at her insides, a constant reminder of her fragile existence, while exhaustion weighed down her limbs. She had long since accepted the inevitable—death was not a question, but a matter of when.

But then, everything changed.

A sound broke through the crushing silence of her isolation—a set of footsteps crunching through the debris, drawing closer. Panic surged through her frail body, adrenaline spiking in her veins. Was it a Titan? Had one finally found her hiding spot?

A shadow emerged from the fog, cutting through the grayness like a sharp blade. A familiar voice followed soon after.

"Hange, what the hell are you doing?" a gruff voice grumbled, tinged with impatience.

(Name) barely managed to lift her head, her vision swimming as if the world were spinning around her. Through the haze of exhaustion, she made out a silhouette—wild hair, distinctive glasses, and an unmistakable air of curiosity. Hange Zoë.

Hange knelt beside her, eyes scanning her frail, battered form. "Look at this, Levi. She’s alive. Barely."

Before she could process what was happening, (Name) found herself lifted effortlessly onto Hange’s shoulder. Her body, so light from months of starvation, felt weightless in the Squad Leader’s grip.

The Survey Corps headquarters was alive with motion. Soldiers trained, medics treated the wounded, and the acrid scent of antiseptic filled the air. It was overwhelming after the long months of isolation, a chaotic, bustling world she hadn’t known in what felt like an eternity.

Hange laid her down on a table in the infirmary, her mind racing as she tried to keep from fainting from the overwhelming sense of warmth and security. For a moment, she could barely focus, disoriented by the sudden shift from isolation to this new reality.

Levi stood nearby, arms crossed, his steely gaze fixed on her. His voice, sharp and unmistakable, cut through the confusion. "Why the hell did you bring her here? Is she a new recruit, or did a Titan just spit her out?"

Hange ignored the blunt question, instead beginning her examination with a practiced hand. (Name) was bruised and covered in dirt, her clothes little more than tattered rags clinging to her sunken frame.

Hange adjusted her glasses, focusing on the details. "Something about her survival is unusual, Levi. I found her alone, no weapons, no food—just barely hanging on."

Levi stepped closer, his gaze piercing, his demeanor as cold as ever. "Hey, you. What’s your name?"

(Name) tried to speak, but her throat was so dry, her voice a mere whisper, barely audible. All she could manage was a rasping murmur, an effort so faint she wasn’t sure if anyone could hear her.

Levi exhaled sharply through his nose, muttering under his breath, "Tch. Figures."

Hange gently placed a hand on (Name)'s shoulder, offering what little comfort she could. "You’re safe now. Just breathe."

The words, meant to comfort, triggered something deep inside her. The months of fear, isolation, and hopelessness surged forward all at once. She gasped, her chest tightening, panic seizing her chest in a cruel grip. Her body trembled uncontrollably as sobs wracked her form.

Hange reacted instantly, rubbing slow, calming circles on her back, her voice a soft, soothing murmur. "Shhh. It’s okay. You’re not alone anymore."

Levi, usually indifferent to emotional outbursts, hesitated before crouching beside her. His voice, softer than it had ever been, broke through the fog of her panic. "You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you. I promise."

(Name)'s teary eyes met his, and for the first time in as long as she could remember, she believed it.

The days that followed were a blur of recovery. She had been given food, medical treatment, and a place to rest. Though she still felt like an outsider, an intruder in this world of soldiers and danger, the kindness of Hange and, to her surprise, Levi, made the transition bearable. For once, she wasn’t alone.

One evening, Levi summoned her to speak with him in private.

Standing before him, her mind raced with uncertainty. His expression was serious, as always, but not unkind. He studied her with an intensity that left her feeling exposed.

"I want you to consider joining the Survey Corps."

The words struck her like a thunderclap. Her breath hitched, a startled gasp escaping her lips. "Why? I have no skills. I’m weak. I’m not a soldier."

Levi held her gaze with unwavering steadiness, his voice calm and direct. "That can change. I can train you. You won’t be doing this alone. We’ll be there with you, every step of the way."

For the first time in her life, someone was offering her a future. Someone believed in her potential. It was a promise—something more than mere survival.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded, her voice trembling slightly but filled with quiet determination. "Okay. I’ll try."

A small, almost imperceptible smile touched the corner of Levi’s lips as he extended his hand to her.

Hesitantly, (Name) reached out, her fingers brushing against his. It was a handshake, a simple gesture, but it held weight—a symbol of trust, of something new beginning.

A silent understanding passed between them, and in that moment, (Name) felt a shift within herself. Her life had been nothing but suffering, a never-ending cycle of fear and despair. But perhaps, with Levi and the Survey Corps, there was something more out there waiting for her.

Hope.