Cat Behavior (Neko!Levi x Reader)

Chapter 3: Communication

The next morning you woke up with a sore back, neck, legs... There was actually no part that didn't hurt from sleeping like this. Levi was already awake, but still lying in your lap and looking at you, while you were yawning.

You slightly petted his head but he pushed your hand away and stood up. Levi went into his bedroom and put on a new shirt. You were stretching a bit, since you hoped it would make the pain go away. When you were done you turned around to see Levi looking at you.

"What?" you asked confused

"Nice butt" he said and walked to his desk, leaving you embarrassed. Maybe you shouldn't stretch with your backside turned to a guy. At least it was somewhat of a compliment.

Shortly after you had noted some things down for Hanji, the scientist knocked at the door and came in.

"Hello~ I got you two breakfast! Here it is and there I go again ~" she sang and placed the food down on the coffee table and ran out shortly after.

"You must have scared her with your attack, Levi" you giggled "she didn't even pick up the notes"

"Serves that shitty four eyes right" he said and you could swear he smiled a little bit. But then he went back to his paperwork.

"Don't you have the weeks off? " you asked

"That just means that Erwin isn't going to give me new ones for that time. I still need to finish the old reports" Levi spoke "and I have troubles concentrating under these circumstances so it takes a while"

"Huh, I understand." you said and you were glad you had already finished your work. Erwin didn't give you any new ones since then and you were sure Hanji had made that happen so you could keep a close eye on Levi.

After you had eaten your breakfast you picked up the Cat Behavior book again and started to read the second chapter.

2. Communication

Domesticated cats communicate in many different ways. They may use vocalizations for communication, like purring, hissing, growling and many different types of meowing, but they also use body language, for example the position of ears and tail, relaxation of the whole body, and kneading of the paws, are all indicators of mood.

You had seen Levi purr and hiss already, so that didn't surprise you much. The part about body language could get interesting though. The captain always tended to show a rather cold facade and didn't like to express his emotions. But now he could not really influence his body language or at least the cat part of him. As he had told you yesterday, the movements of his tail and ears were unconscious actions. You definitely had to try and read his cat body language as soon as you knew more about it.

When cats lie on their back with their belly exposed, they are in a position of vulnerability. Therefore, this position may communicate a feeling of trust or comfort.

'Levi did lie on his back when he slept didn't he? So that must me he trusts me, right?' you thought. 'Well, but maybe he really was just comfortable'

Purring may have developed as an evolutionary advantage as a signaling mechanism of reassurance between mother cats and nursing kittens. Post-nursing cats often purr as a sign of contentment: when being petted, becoming relaxed, or eating.

You really wanted to try petting him in order to hear him purr. But since he was still part Levi, he might just kill you if you would try that. Maybe if he slept? Cats do need a lot of sleep right? You mentally noted that thought down, the next time he takes a nap, you wanted to try it.

In cats, flattened ears generally indicate that an individual feels threatened and may attack. Cats can change the position of their ears very quickly, in a continuum from erect when the cat is alert and focused, slightly relaxed when the cat is calm, and flattened against the head when extremely defensive or aggressive. The tail and ears are particularly important social signal mechanisms in cats; or for example, a raised tail acts as a friendly greeting, and flattened ears indicates hostility. Cats often use their tail to communicate.