In Another Life | Levi x Reader/OC

Gratitude

(18+, mdni) Content Warning: explicit sexual content

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What was it about you?

What was it about you that had Levi seething the moment he found your body bruised and covered in blood? What was it about you that made him nearly slit the throats of all the men involved in capturing Eren and Historia just because of the one who put his hands on you in such a vicious manner?

If you hadn't pulled the trigger, he would have done it without hesitation.

His heart sank the moment he stepped outside. He thought you were dead, he was sure of it. He called out for you several times, but he'd garner no response. You were like a statue, completely still. It wasn't until he ran over to you that he saw your lips parted, trying to catch your breath.

Thank fuck, he thought.

He hurriedly shoved the dead body off of you to haul you up. The moment you opened your eyes, relief rippled through his body in waves. You were still here. He didn't lose you.

He'd never forget the look you gave him the moment your eyes fluttered open. The fretfulness gradually diminished in your body as he held you, your eyes showing signs of feeling secure and alleviated by his presence. For a fleeting moment, it felt like no one else was around. It was just you two. The world went still.

You clung to him for dear life, your hands wrapped around his waist so tightly while he guided you to safety. He sat you down in that room assuming you'd finally feel at ease to be away from danger, but it was evident you were still mortified from what occurred, trying to process it in your head.

'Don't leave,' you told him. Your grip was firm on his hand, your eyebrows pulled together in distress. The look on your face was pleading for him to stay.

In that moment came an overwhelming urge to protect you.

You were shaking as you looked at him solemnly, the traumatic moment still imprinted in your brain no matter how much Levi tried to console you. He held your hand tenderly to calm your nerves, slowly tracing circles around it. He immediately witnessed the tension leave your body at his touch.

Then you hugged him, and for the first time in his life, Levi reciprocated the affection easily. He was no longer stiff and rigid at your touch. For once, he felt comfortable embracing someone.

He let you cry against him, ignoring the fact he'd have his uniform stained in someone else's blood. All he wanted was for you to feel comforted.

'I'll be back. I promise,' he told you. He was true to his word. If he didn't need to continue with the mission, he would have stayed by your side until you were better.

The moment he stepped foot outside, Armin questioned him regarding the red on his uniform. Levi dismissed it, though, knowing Armin, he probably understood what it meant.

When Levi saw you later that day, it was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. The second he entered your room to find you standing by the mirror, your body cleansed from the blood, and your wounds tended, he felt immediate relief.

And then you smiled at him.

That was when he knew he was fucked.

Something swelled in his chest. Comfort embraced him and warmth spread throughout all of his body.

He couldn't speak to you without stammering, hell, he couldn't even look you in the eye properly. Just having tea with you became such a stressful task. This sudden realization he had regarding his feelings about you made his heart pound relentlessly.