Retrieving Footsteps [Levi x Reader]

Playful Teasing

As we settled back into our work, the focus shifted to the final preparations for the prototype's deployment. I attempted to concentrate on my calculations, but my mind kept wandering back to the kiss. Every time I thought of it, I felt a rush of warmth flood my cheeks.

Levi was deep in discussion with Armin about the next phase of the project, but I found myself glancing at him more often than I intended. He was so focused, brow furrowed in concentration, and I couldn't help but admire him. I caught myself daydreaming about what it might be like to be closer to him, and just as I started to imagine the possibility of another kiss, I felt a familiar presence next to me.

"Earth to (Y/N)," Levi said, his voice teasingly low, breaking me from my thoughts. "You look like you're a million miles away. Daydreaming about the next prototype, or perhaps something more?" His smirk was mischievous, and I could see the playful glint in his eyes.

My heart raced as I realized I'd been caught. "I—I was just thinking about the project," I stammered, my voice wavering. "You know, focusing on the task at hand."

Levi stepped closer, leaning in slightly, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Really? Because you looked like you were contemplating another kiss. Should I be worried?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment.

I felt my face heat up again, a mix of embarrassment and disbelief flooding my system. "That's not what I was thinking!" I exclaimed, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. "I was just—"

"Just what?" he pressed, a teasing lilt in his voice. "Imagining how I might react if you leaned in again?"

"Levi!" I protested, but there was a hint of laughter in my tone. He was enjoying this far too much.

"Relax, I'm just messing with you," he said, a small smile breaking through his normally stoic demeanor. "But if you want to kiss me again, I won't stop you."

The playful banter hung in the air, and for a moment, I found myself caught between laughter and anxiety. I could feel the weight of his words, the suggestion hanging just beneath the surface. "Maybe I will, but only if you promise not to let Hange catch us again," I replied, trying to keep my tone light despite the seriousness of my feelings.

"Deal," he said, the smile still on his lips, but there was something deeper in his gaze that sent my heart racing again.

As we returned to our work, I felt the tension of the day melt away, replaced by a comforting sense of camaraderie with Levi. Perhaps this unexpected connection between us was what I had been looking for all along.

But even as we focused on our tasks, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The impending war loomed ahead, but in the quiet moments shared with Levi, I found a flicker of hope and excitement for what the future might hold—both in battle and perhaps something more personal.