A little death [Levi Ackerman x OFC]

Chapter 12: The Threats

Two months had passed, and with them, Kaia had settled into a routine within the Survey Corps. The embarrassment she'd once felt—wondering if her attraction to Levi was one-sided—had gradually faded into the background, replaced by a quiet acceptance. His distance had told her all she needed to know. He was her captain, and that was all.

It wasn't that she didn't notice the small gestures—how he made sure she rested, that she ate enough, or visited her siblings before missions—but by now, Kaia had convinced herself that these were simply signs of a good leader, nothing more. She had stopped looking for anything deeper.

The barracks were busy that day, the familiar clatter of soldiers filling the dining hall as Kaia worked on her assigned cleaning duty. She wiped her brow, setting her hands against the side of a particularly heavy one when a shadow fell over her.

"Need some help with that?" came the unmistakable voice of Gavin, and before she could answer, he was already lifting the crate with ease, flashing her that cocky grin he seemed to wear so naturally. Gavin was one of those soldiers who carried himself like he was always in on some joke that no one else quite got. She'd noticed him a few times before—more often lately, actually—and she had to admit, he was hard to ignore.

"Hey, I had that," Kaia said, shaking her head.

"Sure you did," Gavin teased, placing the crate down with a thud before straightening up and looking her way. "But I'm always happy to help a lady in need."

Kaia rolled her eyes at his exaggerated chivalry, wiping her hands on her shirt. "Careful, Gavin, your charm is showing."

He laughed, the sound light and easy. "You noticed, huh? I try to tone it down, but some people just bring it out of me."

There it was again, that playful edge. Normally, Kaia would've brushed it off, but today, there was something about it—about him—that made her pause. Maybe it was the ease with which he interacted with her, or maybe it was that she hadn't felt this light in months. She felt... oddly comfortable.

"Someone's feeling generous," she quipped back, glancing at him.

He leaned in slightly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "And what if I am?" His voice dropped, just enough to make her heart skip for a second. "Maybe it's time you let someone entertain you."

His sudden closeness caught her off guard, and Kaia's cheeks grew warm before she could stop herself. She didn't know why, but something about the way he looked at her in that moment, his gaze lingering just a little too long, made her feel flustered. And Gavin, with that smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, clearly noticed.

She tried to hide her reaction, but she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. "Tsk. I might actually start thinking you're serious," she said, forcing a lightness into her voice, even as she fought back the blush.

"Oh, I'm dead serious," he said smoothly, still grinning as he straightened up. "I just don't know if you're ready for it."

Kaia shook her head, trying to compose herself. She had spent months feeling weighed down by something she couldn't quite name, and now, here he was—offering her something light, something playful. It was strange how, for the first time in a while, she didn't feel like she had to hold anything back.

"You're impossible," she muttered, but there was a faint smile on her lips.

"Yeah, I've been told," Gavin replied, his grin widening as he reached for another crate. "That's what they all say, but they still let me carry their crates."

Kaia laughed, shaking her head as she watched him effortlessly lift the crate she'd struggled with. The conversation, the teasing... it didn't feel heavy or complicated. And she couldn't deny that the attention, even if playful, felt good.