Levi x Reader

Chapter 4

You knock on the door to Levi's office, hesitating for a moment. The quiet of the space feels heavier than you expected. A bedroom is connected to the office, the same one where you stayed before. But now, with everything that's changed, you feel unsure. Would Levi be okay with you staying there again, especially since you brought the cat with you? Slowly, you raise your hand and push the door open
You step inside, the cat cradled in your arms, purring softly against your chest. The room feels colder than you remember, or maybe it's just the way Levi looks up at you, his expression unreadable. His gaze flickers to the cat, then back to you, a flicker of surprise breaking through his usual stoic mask.

 "Does she still remember you?"

You nod, running your fingers through the cat's soft, warm fur, the familiar texture grounding you. "Seems like it. She came right over, like no time had passed at all."

Levi's gaze softens almost imperceptibly. He reaches out, hesitates, then strokes the cat's head. The cat leans into his hand, purring louder, vibrating against you, and a ghost of a smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "She was always a good judge of character."

You swallow, caught off guard by the warmth in his voice. It's the first time you've seen him look so... open since you came back. The air between you both feels charged, filled with something you can't name.

"I was worried you might be allergic," you say, trying to keep your tone light, but it comes out a little too breathless, almost like you're grasping for something to hold on to.

Levi's eyes snap back to yours, something unreadable flashing across his face. "You think I'd let a little cat allergy stop me?"

You huff a laugh, shaking your head, though the tension in your chest doesn't completely fade. "No, I suppose not."

The silence stretches between you, filled only by the sound of the cat's steady purring, a rhythmic, soothing sound that somehow makes the moment feel both intimate and fragile. It's almost comforting, but there's an undercurrent of tension, like the calm before a storm. The scent of tea and the soft warmth of the cat in your arms envelop you, but it's not enough to mask the rawness that hangs between you and Levi.

You shift the cat in your arms, feeling a weight settle in your chest. You suddenly feel like you need to say something—anything—to break the spell.

"She's been with Amulet," you say quietly, your fingers absentmindedly tracing the cat's fur, not daring to look at Levi. "It feels strange... so many things have changed in the past three years, and I can't remember anything."

Levi's voice drops, low and rough, pulling you back from the edge of your thoughts. "Not a lot of things have really changed. It's just different people, with the same routine."

Your breath catches, and you feel like the air around you is thicker. When you look up, his gaze is locked on you, intense and searching, as if he's trying to see right through you, past the walls you've built up. The weight of it presses down on you, too much, too raw, and you feel your resolve waver.

"Maybe not," you say softly, meeting his eyes for just a moment before looking away, trying to break the tension that you feel creeping in. "But it doesn't feel that way."

Levi's hand moves, hesitating again before resting on the cat's head. His fingers brush yours for just a heartbeat, the contact lingering, sending a shiver down your spine. It's fleeting but electric, like a silent promise, and you can't help but feel the space between you close just a little.

"Then we'll just have to make new memories," he murmurs, almost to himself, the words soft but weighted.

The vulnerability in his voice surprises you. It's as if he's offering a truce, an unspoken promise that he's willing to try, if you are. And for the first time, you think you might be.

"Yeah," you whisper, giving the cat more scratches behind the ears. She purrs louder, nuzzling your hand, and you feel a small flicker of warmth in your chest. "I'd like that."

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You step out of the shower, feeling the steam cling to your skin like the remnants of a dream you can't shake off. The cool air hits you as you walk into the bedroom, and you collapse onto the bed, staring at the sliver of light shining under the door from Levi's office. It feels like a lifeline—something grounding and real, even if you're not sure where you fit into this reality anymore.

711, my mind's such a mess right now.

{You know I'm always here for you,} 711 replies gently, a comforting hum in your mind. {And that I can analyze your emotions from a data standpoint, if you need clarity.}

You huff out a laugh, but it sounds hollow even to your own ears. "Always the analyst, huh? But what if the second part wasn't necessary?" you murmur, rubbing a hand over your face. "I'm not sure what to think of Levi."

{Your emotions tell me you enjoy being around him,} 711 notes, matter-of-fact yet strangely kind.

"But are these really my emotions?" You let the question hang in the air, staring at the ceiling like it might have the answers. "My body reacts naturally around him—I want to hug him, to feel his arms around me, to curl up together on the couch and share a cup of tea. But my mind tells me otherwise. I feel awkward around him, like I don't belong in my life."

{Have you considered,} 711 begins slowly, {that perhaps Alex changed your viewpoint on love?}

You flinch at the name, a jolt of something sharp and painful. "Love? Between me and Alex? He has his crush, his little sister—you're saying he loved me?"

711 goes silent for a beat, and you can almost feel the hesitation, like it's choosing its words carefully.

{He cares about them, yes. But that doesn't mean he loves them. Even though I can't access his emotions, I can read the surface. When he looks at them, there's fondness, affection. But when he looked at you, there was something different—lust, desire. You've gotten used to that version of connection, and now you're struggling to understand your own feelings towards Levi. What you had with Alex was intense, but it wasn't... this.}

Your throat tightens, a hot, stinging sensation building behind your eyes. "These aren't my emotions," you whisper, voice cracking on the words.

{Are you sure?} 711's voice is softer now, almost gentle, like it's reaching out to hold your hand through the void.

You squeeze your eyes shut, a bitter laugh escaping your lips. "I'm sure."

Without another word, you shut 711 out, blocking the presence from your mind like slamming a door. You reach for (cat/name), pulling her close, burying your face in her soft fur. The cat purrs, a soothing vibration against your chest as you curl up on the bed.

You take a deep breath, trying to ground yourself in the steady rhythm of the cat's purring. It's easier to focus on the simple comfort of her presence than to untangle the mess of thoughts and emotions that swirl inside your head.

"Goodnight, (cat/name)," you whisper, your voice small in the darkness. For a moment, you imagine Levi's silhouette standing in the doorway, the light from his office casting a soft glow around him. But you blink, and it's gone—just a figment of your tired mind.

You close your eyes, willing yourself to fall asleep, but the last thought that echoes through your mind isn't about Alex or 711.

It's about Levi.

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Word Count: 1268