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

Whisper

YOU

The night sky hung heavy with deep dark clouds, casting an eerie glow over the camp. The wind tousled your hair gently as you stood at a distance, watching the flickering flames of the bonfire dance against the night.

Conversations melded into a harmonious symphony around you, a cacophony of voices that served as a backdrop to your solitary contemplation.

You had always felt like an outsider, even among friends. The loss of your family at a young age had left you with a pervasive sense of solitude, exacerbated by the gradual disappearance of familiar faces from your life. Yet, amidst the solitude, you had thought to have found a certain resilience and purpose within yourself. Or so you would tell yourself, at least.

That was, until Levi came along.

In his presence, you felt a stirring, as if something vital had been missing from your life without your awareness. There was an inexplicable ebb and flow of unease, tranquility, and gratitude in your interactions with him—a peculiar cocktail of contradictory emotions difficult to decipher, but impossible to ignore.

Reflecting on your conversation with him the previous night, you realized you had been less than honest with him. In truth, nobody in Marley truly needed you, despite your efforts at the hospital. You were certain you were replaceable, at best.

But being around Levi seemed to dispel these feelings of aimlessness, igniting a newfound purpose within you. Getting to know him had gotten you to silently admit to yourself just how much you struggled with finding meaning in your life.

And it did not matter if you would continue to pretend - something within you had shifted. Being close to Levi made you feel, after many years of being in denial, that your existence meant something.

Your gaze scanned the crowd, unconsciously searching for a familiar silver-eyed figure amidst the throng. You longed to hear his low, yet hoarse voice, to be drawn into the depths of his intense gaze once more. Yet, despite your proximity to the fire, a chill crept over you, prompting you to seek refuge among friends.

Jelena and Onyankapon greeted you with bottles of wine, their infectious smiles inviting you to join them on the logs opposite the fire. Though not one for drinking, you found solace in their company and the warmth of the flames against your skin.

As the pianist's fingers danced across the keys, weaving intricate melodies that stirred something quite emotional within you, you couldn't help but envy his talent. How you wished you could touch people's souls in the same way.

Suddenly, you began to wonder if your paintings had ever touched people so significantly, if they ever had such an effect. Yet, amidst your musings, a familiar sight caught your attention—Falco and Gabi sitting together as they gazed into each others eyes, lost in their own private world.

A pang of uncertainty gripped you as you contemplated intruding on their moment, prompting you to rise and draw closer to the music for comfort. Those two, you thought to yourself: it's funny how some things are obvious from the outside, yet oblivious on the inside.

Accepting a stranger's offer of wine, you took a swig, the crimson liquid staining your lips as you held the bottle to your mouth. It was cold - almost too cold, though you had covered yourself with a thick blancket, almost completely hiding the entire length of your dress.

Before you could wipe away the traces of wine, a whisper reached your ears. Turning slowly, you were met with a familiar intense gaze, a small grin tugging at the corners of your lips as you looked down at him. He was sitting on his wheelchair, a stoic look in his eyes.

"Hey."

"Levi, hi."

A moment of delicate silence passed between you, broken only by the crackling of the fire. You took a moment to dab at your lips before meeting his gaze once more, offering him the bottle of wine, which he declined with a shake of his head.

"I don't quite enjoy it."

"Not very good... Just salvaged from an old basement north of the camp," you explained, noting his expression of disbelief as he raised his eyebrows curiously. You continued.

"We're about a century more evolved than you here in Marley," you teased, eliciting a (playful?) frown from Levi.

"I thought you were Eldian," he remarked, his tone tinged with curiosity.

Your smile faltered, a hint of sadness clouding your features. Levi's lips parted slightly as he looked to his side, his eyes escaping yours.

"I...am. But it's complicated," you sighed.

"I bet. If Reiner Braun ever taught me something, it's that Marleyans have identity issues", he looked into your eyes again, his gaze almost defiant as his brows furrowed.

Your irritation flared silently at his comment, his words suddenly striking a nerve. What did he know about the struggles of being a refugee in Marley, exactly?

Yet, as you met Levi's gaze again, you sensed a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

"I don't think you know what it's like to live like a slave," you began, your voice tinged with emotion. "We were demons to people. Expected to fight you, other demons, we didn't even know. We didn't belong anywhere...struggling with a sense of self-hate I can't even describe."

Levi's expression softened entirely, his gaze meeting yours with evident empathy. You recognized then just how just he was: direct yet sympathetic at the same time.

"I think I know how it feels to live like a slave," he admitted quietly. "Eldians were trapped in Paradis without even knowing what was on the outside for years. We were slaves to the wall, to the Royals, to... you."

Your eyes widened in surprise, a newfound understanding dawning between you two. In that moment you regretted getting slightly defensive with him.

"I just...I know how it feels," Levi continued. "I didn't mean to upset you", his tone felt sincere as he looked at you without any reservations. He didn't seem angry or offended, it was as if he truly understood you then.

And in that instant, a silence enveloped you both: you felt a weight lift off your shoulders, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. Closing the distance between you, you knelt beside Levi's wheelchair, offering a reassuring smile.

"Well, it seems like we were the same demons, just in different parts of the world", you whispered to him. You wouldn't bet on it, but you could almost swear his cheeks were flushed then.

Levi's gaze lingered on yours for some seconds, his expression unreadable yet strangely comforting. As you met his eyes, a sense of intimacy washed over you, bridging the gap between your worlds, you felt closer to him than ever before. And the silence between you felt comfortable. Oddly comfortable.

"I...I will get the procedure," Levi confessed suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You will?" you asked, your heart leaping with hope as shivers ran down your spine.

"I will. I...don't want to live like this anymore. I want to ride my horse. I...want to be myself again."

You felt a very familiar sting behind your eyes, and without hesitation, you enveloped Levi in a tight embrace, your blanket suddenly falling to thw ground.

For some seconds, he remained still, but it wasn't long before you began feeling his hesitant arms wrap around you in return. In that moment, words were unnecessary—the unspoken understanding between you two hugged you into silent warmth.

You slowly took in his scent - tea leaves and something else, almost wood-like. You couldn't exactly tell. But you realized then just how much comfort his smell brought to you. How soothing it was.

And as you pulled away, a sense of vulnerability washed over you. As you met Levi's gaze, you found solace in the depths of his eyes, a silent promise of solidarity in the face of uncertainty.

And god, was he close to you then.