Your Wings - Reader X Levi Ackerman

Chapter 47: Return

The wind howls around you, biting at your cheeks and tugging at your clothes as you feel yourself descending, your boots finally meeting solid ground. The sensation is grounding, a stark contrast to the chaos that has defined the past few hours. You turn your head, your breath catching as your eyes fall upon the colossal airship looming before you. Levi stands beside you, his presence steady and unwavering, as he gestures toward the ship with a quiet authority.

He leads you to the door, his footsteps measured and deliberate. With a firm knock, the door creaks open, revealing a scout clad in a black uniform of the Survey Corps. The scout greets Levi with a respectful nod, his voice crisp and formal, but his sharp eyes flicker to you, scrutinizing your presence. He doesn't voice his curiosity, though—your association with Levi is enough to silence any questions. Levi steps aside, offering you a hand as you struggle to climb aboard, the pain from your still-healing wounds flaring with every movement. His grip is firm but gentle, a silent promise that he won't let you fall.

The interior of the airship is alive with muted activity. A handful of scouts are scattered throughout, their postures tense as they await their next orders. Their eyes follow you as Levi guides you through the space, their gazes a mix of curiosity and wariness. You can feel the weight of their stares, but Levi's presence shields you from their unspoken questions. He leads you to a quieter room, its walls bare and utilitarian with a few benches bolted to the floor. 

Levi helps you sit with movements so careful, it's as though you might shatter under his touch. He kneels before you, his sharp eyes narrowing as they focus on the wound at your side. The blood has seeped through your white button-up, staining the fabric a deep crimson. His brow furrows as he notices the faint tendrils of steam rising from the injury—a telltale sign of the Titan power still coursing through you. His gaze softens and for a moment, the usual hardness in his expression melts away.

"You're still carrying that Titan power..." he murmurs. You nod silently, your eyes never leaving his face as his hands move to apply pressure to the wound. It's an instinctive gesture, one born of habit rather than necessity—you'll heal on your own, after all. But Levi's touch is grounding, a reminder of his unyielding care.

As he tends to you, his eyes remain fixed on the injury, but you can't help yourself. Gently, you reach out as your fingers brush against his jaw, tilting his face upward and forcing his gaze to meet yours.

His eyes are tired, shadowed by the weight of everything he's endured, but there's a softness there too. You look at him calmly, though a quiet sadness lingers in your expression. It's hard to believe how much time has passed, how long you were torn apart from each other. The thought of actually forgetting his face aches in your chest.

Levi's lips part slightly, as if he's about to speak, but no words come. Instead, his expression softens further. The walls he's built around himself over the past few years are crumbling in this moment. He can't hold back any longer.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he leans forward, his eyes fluttering shut as he closes the distance between you. You do the same, your heart pounding in your chest as your lips meet his. The kiss is tender at first, a tentative reconnection, but it quickly deepens, fueled by the raw emotion of everything left unspoken. His hands rise to cradle your face, his touch achingly gentle and it's as though this is your first kiss all over again.

The world fades away, leaving only the two of you in this moment. His kiss is desperate yet reverent, a silent confession of all the time you've lost and all the moments he's longed for. And you don't pull away. You can't. Not when his touch feels like coming home, not when his lips against yours feel like the first breath after drowning.

When he finally breaks the kiss, his forehead rests against yours, his breath warm against your skin.

Before Levi can utter a word, the sound of a door swinging open interrupts the quiet moment. A figure strides in, still mid-conversation with someone in the previous room. Her voice carries a commanding tone as she calls out, "Get prepared—we're about to move out." She turns, and in an instant, the world seems to stop. Your breath catches in your throat as your eyes lock with hers, widening in mutual disbelief.