How Could I Ever Know (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 7

Eren had experienced splitting headaches. He hit his head during the first few weeks of training. He once broke his leg when he was a child. He sprained his ankle when he was dealing with some bullies.

All of those couldn't compare to what he felt right now.

As he was being ushered to a different room, he could barely walk. With blood dripping down his nose, bruises that flared every time he moved—all he wanted the most was to lie down and sleep for a week.

Though, for now, it had seemed the world had other plans.

One of the members of the Military Police knocked on a door, and it flew open.

Eren took a while to register her (H/C) hair, (E/C) eyes, and the worried expression on her face. But once he did, his eyes widened and a weight was lifted from his chest.

"Eren!" (Y/N) cried, tears forming in her eyes.

"(Y/N)!" Eren fell into her outstretched arms, and she helped him into the room. The siblings held each other on the floor, both crying unabashedly. Eren took a good whiff of his sister, something he missed doing while she was away.

Mike was right, he thought, burying his face in her jacket and letting more sobs rack his figure. She does smell like cakes.

After a while, when they had both wiped away their tears, (Y/N) helped Eren onto the couch, where Hanji swooped down on him as soon as (Y/N) pulled away.

(Y/N) was surprised to feel her brother's strong and lean body, instead of the awkward, skinny boy that he once was. He had grown taller, his voice had dropped, and his eyes...were a lot sadder.

Erwin was sitting on a table, reading a few papers. He had smiled at seeing Eren and (Y/N) unite again, but returned his attention to his work. Mike stood by the window, but watched Eren intently.

Levi had been leaning on the wall away from them, studying the siblings since Eren had been brought in. He could see traces of (Y/N) in Eren: the way they walked, the way they held themselves, but most of all, the resiliency and fire in their eyes.

During the stunt in the courtroom, Levi looked at Eren, and briefly saw (Y/N). He had hesitated, and held back, unlike what Erwin instructed him to. It didn't matter, anyway: the court bought the story, and Eren was still a massive wreck.

He felt a twang of guilt resonate in his chest, and turned away. Don't get me wrong, he thought, looking at Eren. I'm guilty because I don't want to hurt someone for a stunt. Not because I thought you were your sister. I'd put her down in a second.

Levi turned to look at her. (Y/N) had been ignoring him ever since she came in. She was fixated on Eren as Hanji patched him up, and was looking at him in a way that annoyed Levi. Tch, he grumbled. You've known each other since birth, it's not like you've been separated since then.

"That was so mean of him," Hanji was saying to Eren. "It must hurt a lot."

"A little." Eren winced as Hanji dabbed some ointment on his wounds using a cotton ball.

"Where's the pain?" Hanji asked curiously.

"Possibly...everywhere?" (Y/N) laughed, sitting on the arm of the couch next to Eren. Eren sighed and leaned on her, his head lying on her chest. (Y/N) smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair, making Eren smile.

Erwin finally stood up and handed the papers to Mike. "Sorry about doing that," he said, making Eren look at him. "But as a result, we got you for ourselves."

"We were able to play our trump cards at the most effective moments. Your pain was worth our gain." Erwin knelt in front of Eren, holding a hand out. "Thank you."

Eren was stunned, seeing the commander address the situation so casually. He looked up at (Y/N), a habit he had developed ever since he was born. Whenever he needed support or permission, he'd look at his sister, and she'd give him whatever he needed. This time, she smiled and nodded encouragingly.

"Eren, I look forward to working with you," Erwin said, smiling.

"Y-yes! I look forward to working with you too, sir!" Eren said, taking Erwin's hand in a handshake.

(Y/N) squealed and wrapped her arms around Eren, pressing a kiss on top of his head.

However, Eren jumped in fear as someone took the seat next to him, rather loudly.

"Say, Eren," Levi said, crossing his legs casually. "Do you hate me?"

"N-no," Eren replied, his grip on (Y/N) tightening. "I understand it was necessary."

"Glad to hear that."

"You could have at least held back a little," Hanji scolded. "You even broke his tooth." She unwrapped a white handkerchief, revealing one of Eren's teeth inside.

"Don't pick that up," Levi said, a scandalized look on his face. "It's disgusting."

"It's an important sample for me," Hanji protested.

"Eren, I bet you're glad you won't be dissected by freaks like her, huh?"

"Don't put me in the same league as them. I wouldn't kill Eren," Hanji said, kneeling in front of Eren. "His sisters would kill me."

"Or anyone who'll hurt Eren, for that matter," (Y/N) added, shooting Levi a sideways glance.

"Hey, Eren," Hanji said, leaning forward. "May I see the inside of your mouth?"

Eren hesitated, then opened his mouth, allowing Hanji to look inside. The squad leader gasped, gaining the attention of Erwin, Mike, Levi, and (Y/N).

(Y/N) craned her neck to see what Hanji was looking at.

"His tooth...already grew back."