Your Wings - Reader X Levi Ackerman

Chapter 3: Lesson Number One

You wake to the sound of gentle knocking at your door, causing you to sit up and rub the sleep from your eyes. Pulling the covers aside, you swing your legs over the side of the bed and shuffle to the door. As you open it, you're greeted by Isabel, wide awake and practically bouncing on her toes.

"Hi, (Y/N)! I hope you slept okay on your first night with us!" she beams, her enthusiasm infectious.

"It was a lot better than what I was used to. Probably the best sleep I've had in ages," you reply, stifling a yawn.

"That's great to hear! But you'd better hurry—Levi and Furlan are already downstairs. They wanted to talk to you about something important. Trust me, you don't want to keep Levi waiting; he gets really irritated. I learned that the hard way," she warns, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Okay, give me five minutes!" you say, already turning back to your room.

Isabel nods, her excitement bubbling over as she heads downstairs. You quickly tidy your bed and wash your face in the bathroom, splashing cold water to wake yourself up. Staring into the mirror, you see your hair is a tangled mess. You wish for a brush but make do, working your fingers through the knots until you feel somewhat presentable.

With a deep breath, you head downstairs, where the warm scent of breakfast fills the air. You find Levi, Furlan, and Isabel gathered at the table, plates piled high with food. You sit next to Isabel, whose cheeks are stuffed as she eagerly slides a plate of bread slathered with strawberry jam toward you.

"Thanks!" you say, spreading the sweet topping on a slice before taking a big bite. The explosion of flavor on your taste buds makes you smile.

"Let's get down to business," Levi's low voice interrupts your enjoyment, pulling your attention to him. His cold gaze feels like a weight on your chest. "Now, I hope you didn't think you'd be living here and eating our food for free," he states flatly.

"What? N-no, I—" you stammer, your heart racing.

"Because I will not tolerate a parasite consuming what we worked hard for," he continues, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, expression as unyielding as ever.

You take a deep breath, sitting up straighter. "While I appreciate your hospitality, I know I'll have to work for this. You've given me so much compared to what I had before, and I'm willing to do anything to stay here."

"Yikes, don't say that, or he'll make you do all the chores in this house for months like he did with me," Isabel chimes in with a dramatic sigh. Levi shoots her a look that could freeze fire before turning back to you.

"How quick of a learner are you?" Furlan asks, his tone more encouraging.

"Well, that would depend on what it is..." you reply, glancing between them.

"You mentioned you taught yourself how to fight. Do you think you can learn to use the gear we use?" he continues.

"I... I'm not sure—" you begin, but Levi cuts you off.

"If you can't, then we won't have any use for you," he states, standing up as if to leave.

"It doesn't mean I won't try!" you say, your voice firm, surprising even yourself. His gaze sharpens as you both lock eyes, a tense silence stretching between you. "I'll do my best and work hard to learn. I know that once I figure it out, I'll be a valuable asset to the team."

The air thickens with tension, and you can sense the amusement from Furlan and Isabel, who exchange knowing glances.

"Aww c'mon, Levi, you weren't even that hard on me," Isabel pipes up, trying to lighten the mood.