Retrieving Footsteps [Levi x Reader]

Final Straw

Another day, another round of abuse from Kenny—but today, he was angrier than ever, his temper igniting the moment I mentioned I was following Levi's orders.

"Levi is my boss, not you, Kenny," I said, my voice steady, though my heart raced.

Kenny's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening at my defiance. Without a word, he approached me, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and forced me to look up into his cold, unrelenting gaze.

"Oh, you think Levi's word overrides mine now, do you?" His voice was low, menacing. "Let me remind you, rookie, that I don't take orders lightly. You answer to me, and I don't care what Levi told you."

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my face steady and mask the pain. Every instinct screamed at me to push back, but I forced myself to stay calm, knowing that any reaction would only fuel his anger further.

As Kenny's grip tightened, a sudden surge of fear jolted through me. This time, I couldn't take it anymore. Before he could react, I pulled back sharply, wrenching myself free from his hold. Heart pounding, I darted out of the room, Kenny's angry footsteps echoing behind me.

Panic and determination fueled my steps as I sprinted down the hallway, desperate to find Levi. He was the only one who could stand up to Kenny, the only one I trusted to understand the nightmare I was trapped in.

As I dashed past my teammates, they turned in shock, eyes widening at the sight of me with Kenny hot on my heels. Eren and Armin exchanged a look, clearly unsettled, while Mikasa took a step forward, her expression darkening with concern. Whispers erupted around us, filling the hall with a tense murmur.

I kept running, focused only on finding Levi. Finally, I spotted him down the corridor, talking with Hange. Without thinking, I called out, my voice breaking. "Levi!"

He turned, his eyes immediately narrowing as he took in the scene. In an instant, he understood. His gaze shifted to Kenny, who had come to a halt a few steps behind me, his expression a mix of frustration and irritation. Levi's face darkened, his usual calm replaced by a cold fury.

"Kenny," Levi's voice was like steel. "This ends now."

Kenny sneered but didn't take another step forward. He glanced at me, then back at Levi, his jaw clenched in defiance. "She needs to be reminded who's in charge here," he spat.

Levi stepped between us, blocking me from Kenny's view, his stance unwavering. "You've had enough chances. You go near her again, and you'll answer to me."

Kenny's eyes flickered, but he finally took a step back, muttering something under his breath before turning on his heel and leaving. I stood there, catching my breath, trying to process what had just happened.

Levi turned to me, his gaze softening just a fraction. "Come on," he said quietly. "Let's talk somewhere else."

With a nod, I followed him, grateful beyond words for his help—and for the promise of safety he'd given me.

Once we reached a quiet spot away from the others, Levi stopped, turning to face me. His expression was calm, but his eyes held a level of intensity that made me feel like I could finally let down my guard.

Taking a shaky breath, I tried to find the words, but everything came spilling out in a rush. "Levi, he's been... Kenny's been relentless. Every day, he's there, criticizing everything, throwing things, threatening to go to the higher-ups. I—I just wanted to do well, but no matter what I do, it's never enough for him..."

My voice wavered, and I looked down, fighting back the tears that threatened to overwhelm me. But the weight of everything, the endless pressure and exhaustion, finally broke through. Before I knew it, I was clutching the fabric of Levi's jacket, sobs spilling out as I pressed my face into his chest.