Ymir's Necklace: The Secret You Hold | Levi x Reader

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A/N: Hey hey! Are you enjoying the story so far? I hope you are. Please leave comments so I know what you think! :)

YOU

Your body tingled with apprehension as you met Levi Ackerman's gaze again, his eyes shifting from the book page to you with a mix of shock and curiosity. You were standing by his side, looking over his shoulder, straight at the book's page.

You knew you had somewhat crossed a line with this interaction, but the urge to help him, to alleviate even a fraction of his burden, outweighed any sense of propriety.

All of a sudden, you became overly aware of how close your body was to his, so you straightened your back and placed yourself in front of Levi.

His reaction was unexpected: Levi closed the book firmly and extended it to you, his eyes piercing yours with unwavering intensity.

'Fifthy porcent is not enough,' he declared, his tone devoid of anger however, as his gaze remained locked on his hands, his long fingers still holding the book firmly.

You breathed a silent sigh of relief, grateful that you hadn't offended him. You knew he had every right to decline, it was his body. Ultimately, it was his decision.

'I understand. It's a risky procedure. I simply thought you should be aware.'

Levi quietly extended the book to you, his gaze locking into yours as he looked up at you. Taking the book in both hands, you returned to your seat, crossing your legs as you resumed your work with the paintbrush.

Levi continued to observe you in silence, his expression inscrutable. You secretly enjoyed being able to just look at him, with the perfect excuse of painting his portrait. And although it was intense (almost too intense for you to bare), it felt incredibly indulgent.

'I... appreciate it, though,' Levi acknowledged gruffly. You met his gaze with a calm demeanor.

'There's no need to thank me.' Levi took a sip of his tea, his gaze never wavering from yours. There was something erotic in the act, even if it wasn't intrinsencally sexual. It had an instant effect on your body, and you hoped he hadn't noticed.

'Is that why you approached Gabi and me at lunch today?', he asked. You nodded, then, a flicker of nervousness creeping into your voice.

'Yes.'

'Why do you want to help me, a stranger?' Levi's tone was tinged with skepticism. Your heart raced as you struggled to articulate your motivations.

'I just... don't understand why these procedures aren't performed in the camp,' you (partially) lied. 'Given the advancements in Eldian practices, one would expect—' Levi cut you off with a sarcastic scoff.

'You think a genocidal maniac's actions would inspire universal love and acceptance?"

His words struck a chord, reminding you of the deep-seated animosities that pervaded Marleyan and Eldian relations. It didn't make any sense to you. Why did people, after everything that had happened, still hated each other? But you knew Levi was right. That's just the way the world worked.

'Is that why you're in Marley, then?' you ventured. Levi's response, however, was cryptic.

'No. Most of my cadets chose to remain in Paradis. I could have stayed there too.'

'Then why didn't you?' you pressed. He hesitated before answering, his expression guarded.

'Why all these questions?'

Fuck. You had gone too far. The truth of the matter was that looking at Levi for hours, as you hid behind your canvas, had made you become too comfortable. All that initial uneasiness had vanished after hours of staring at him.

And showing him the book - you felt as if your actions had made you more brave, more blunt. You hadn't offended him, after all.

But truly, you were trying to cross to many lines at once. And the last thing you wanted was to make Levi feel uncomfortable in your presence.

You apologized, as you redirected your eyes and focus on your canvas, sensing his discomfort and quickly returning to your painting. The silence hanging heavy between you now.

Levi's demeanor softened slightly as he sighed, his gaze lingering on you. You could see him from your peripheral vision and dreaded looking at him again, although you knew you had to at some point.

But you heard him speak again.

'There was nothing for me in Paradis but memories. I didn't want to dwell on the past.' You empathized with his sentiment, as you thought of your own past struggles. Your eyes remained on your canvas.

'Gabi mentioned you're an Eldian refugee,' Levi remarked, his curiosity seemed to have piqued. 'You could have left Marley and explored Paradis.'

You swallowed hard, memories of the refugee camps flooding back. And it shocked, just how many conflicting emotions those memories would provoke within you.

They were like concentration camps for Eldians. I spent most of my life in them,' you confessed. 'But my focus has always been survival.' Levi listened intently, his expression softened as you spoke.

'But the war has been over for years. Why stay?'

'This is where my people are. My friends, the patients. The people who need me,' you explained as you heard yourself lie. Levi's gaze bore into yours, a hint of recognition in his eyes.

'I knew that feeling once. Being needed,' he admitted.

Your heart ached at his words. Because deep down, you knew too well just how untruthful you had been in your response. You hadn't fet needed in years. Or ever.

As the conversation naturally shifted to lighter topics, you marveled at Levi's ability to interject humor amidst the weight of your discussion. He never smiled, a stern expression adorned his face at all times, but he would complain about trivial things, like Gabi's elevated tone of voice, or how insipid food at the camp tend to be. It felt like a moment of levity amidst the palpable sorrow that contaminated the camp's overal energy.

As the night grew late, you began packing up your belongings, preparing to leave Levi to his thoughts.

'(Y/n),' he called out, halting your departure as you turned to leave, an almost inaudible goodnight escaping your lips. You turned to face him, a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty swirling within you.

'Please bring your book next time. I want to look at it further,' he requested, his tone even softer than before. A smile tugged at your lips as you nodded.

'Sure. I'll bring it with me.'

With a final exchange of silent looks, you left Levi alone in his tent, your mind buzzing with newfound hope and possibility. And as you departed, unbeknownst to you, Levi's gaze lingered on his legs.