A Rose by Any Other Name [Yandere!LevixReaderxYandere!Eren]

Blooming

It had been a week since that time, and I still couldn't look him in the eyes. I had no idea why I was so embarrassed. After all, I hadn't done anything wrong. Maybe it was because he'd seen a part of me I hadn't let anyone but Eren, Mikasa, and Armin see.

My weakness.

Now every time we were in the same room I felt naked, as if his eyes could gaze right through me,-could see into the deepest depths of my heart.

And I was afraid of what he would think of me after what he saw there.

"Eren to dead girl walking, Eren to dead girl walking." Eren's voice drew me back from my thoughts.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to zone out." I replied. Eren laughed, throwing his arm over my shoulder and drawing me in to ruffle my hair.

"Geez, you had me worried there. I thought you'd finally succumbed to my dashing good looks and had been so awe struck you'd lost all reason." I glared, whacking him across the back of his head.

"Good looks or no, Mikasa would kill me if I succumbed to your anything. She thinks you're a bad influence."

"Ouch. Hey, does that mean you think I'm good looking?" I hit him again. "Okay, okay. I'll stop." Despite all his teasing, I was relieved to find that Eren had all but returned to his normal self. After that night with Levi, his advances had come to an abrupt end.

I finally had my friend back.

"Eren, _____."Oluo called to us as he rounded a corner. " ______, the Corporal would like to see you in his office." I glanced over at Eren, who looked at me and shrugged. I sighed. Part of me was leaping for joy. An even bigger part of me wanted to run and hide. I hated the truth in my conflicting emotions. So, taking a deep breath, I came to a stern resolution. I was done hiding. I was going to face Levi head on. I wasn't going to be soft anymore.

And to become stronger, I had to first conquer the weakness within.

When I entered the office, Levi was standing opposite me, his back turned.

"Lance Corporal." I stated, making my presence known. He did not move.

"______, I have something to ask you." My entire being froze. His voice was deadly serious, oozing with a dark determination. Had I done something wrong? Instantly my mind was brought back to that night-back to the weakness I had shown.

Oh...

Was he contemplating removing me from the special operations squadron? If so, his desire to do so was understandable. However....

I thought of the other squad members. Of my friends in the 104th trainee squadron, of Mikasa and Armin, of Eren, of my mother and father, of my sister, and finally of the man standing before me. I clenched my fist, shifting my gaze upwards to stare directly at his back.

...I could not allow that to happen.

"Whether we have something we believe in, or someone to protect," My voice rung out, clear and filled with a certainty I didn't know I possessed, "each of us fights due to one reason, and one reason alone:" Do you hear me, Corporal? This is what I am, this is my weakness! "...we are fools. Filled with worthless hope, with unachievable dreams, we are all of us fools." Something cool dripped down my cheek, and reaching up to touch my cheek, I found my hand damp.

Was I...crying? When I looked back up, I found that Levi had moved to stand directly in front of me. I met his gaze, and was overwhelmed by what I found there. Before I could react, he pressed me up against the door and smothered my lips with his.

***** ***** *****

It was supposed to be his final test, a way to absolve the tempest of emotions raging within him. When she'd first arrived, he felt reassured that after this one meeting, it would all be over. She had seemed so small, eyes on the floor, body completely still.

So he had asked her- his final and most important question.

And after what happened next, he didn't have a chance.

Strong.

She opened up before him, a flower unfolding it's petals for the first time in a brilliant, indescribable spectacle. He felt as if he'd never known joy, never known pain, never known happiness or sorrow or anger until that very moment. Before he could stop himself he'd fallen.

Undeniably, inexplicably, without a doubt.

He loved her.

"_______..." he murmured, pulling away. Her face was flushed and her chest was heaving. He'd left her breathless. He'd left her flustered. Her (e/c) eyes flickered upward, meeting his through lowered lashes.

She looked... vulnerable. The sight of her like that, it drove him absolutely insane.

He brought his lips to hers once again, but more gently this time. He held himself back, allowing his mouth to flutter over every contour, every ridge. Her forehead, her eyes, her nose. She melted beneath him with each gentle touch, her breathing irregular. She was hungry for more. So was he. He built up his passion until he couldn't contain it any longer, and, knotting his fingers in her soft hair, he connected with her once again, releasing his feelings, opening himself to her completely. With her lips against his, he felt bathed in light, completely free of the weight that strangled him- of the guilt and the fears he had to ignore due to his position. He let her see everything.

Most of all, he let her see the emotions roiling within him- the devotion that now stood steadfast within his heart.

When they pulled away again, he pressed his forehead to hers, their noses touching. Even just this, just this small gesture was enough to make his body sing with electricity.

"I love you." He stated, his voice smooth and clear like polished stone.

"Corporal..." she trailed, eyes closed. Levi pulled away, and her eyes fluttered open. He touched her chin, having her look up to meet his gaze.

"Call me by my name?" he asked softly, searching her gaze. Immediately, her face reddened.

"L, l, Levi." It came out as a whisper. His heart raced.

"Again?" Her (e/c) met his.

"Levi..." He couldn't take it any longer. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he spun her around, setting her on his desk.

"Wha, what are you..." He stopped her questions with another kiss, one hand in her hair, the other running along the side of her face, memorizing it by touch. He moved back for a moment to admire her, his _______. She was perfect. She was everything.

Strong, gentle and...

"Lovely..." he trailed, moving in for another kiss.