Something About You [ Levi Ackerman X Reader ]

Nineteen.

Chapter Nineteen:

"Scruffy."

~ ~ ~

"Make sure to wash your hands, dear!" your mother said.

You nodded, hopping off of the creaky wooden chair, making your way to the sink to wash your hands. After turning off the faucet, you ran to your room, your bare feet thumping on the floor.

Elizabeth smiled. "(F/N) forgot what today is."

~ ~ ~

"(F/N)!"

Responding to your mother's call, you slammed the door open, running to her. Your mother was leaning against one of the older kitchen counter, her hands behind her back.

You approached her, beaming. "Mommy, what's that?"

"(F/N), do you what day today is?"

You didn't answer, not knowing what was so special about a Tuesday. Your mother laughed. "It's your birthday, dear. Have you really forgotten?"

Realization hit. "Oh."

[ just pretend your birthday falls on a Tuesday life is being a bitch just look at what happened to my update schedule ]

Your curiosity multiplied, and an eager grin broke out in your face as you moved to the side to try and see what your mother was hiding from you.

"I got you something, dear," your mother said. Slowly, she revealed her secret; when her wrists peeked out, you began rocking back and forth on your heels, consumed with anticipation.

Finally, she displayed her gift. A stuffed toy puppy that your mother held by the scruff of its neck.

"I love it! I love it!" you exclaimed repeatedly, taking the present out of your mother's hands and holding the toy close to you. "I'll call him Scruffy!"

You were ecstatic, overjoyed, all the words that meant "happy". It seemed to have rubbed off on your mother as well.

The puppy filled with snow-white stuffing instead of red blood, who would come off as a insignificant or childish to others, lit up your little world.

It was now you, Mommy, Daddy, and little Scruffy.

And in a matter of months, this little, perfect world was going to be completely demolished by a band of men thirsting for blood.

~ ~ ~

To Levi, it was another plaid, work-filled night that would blend right in with the other nights he would stay awake. His paperwork was laid out in front of him, a pen in his right hand, as he scrutinized the text.

His mind was filled with thoughts of you, and his loneliness urged his thoughts even more. He found comfort in the fact you were fast asleep, and, in one swift movement he signed the piece of paper and moved onto the next one.

What Levi didn't know, was that you had been thrashing in your bed as a result of the terrors your mind had conjured up.

A few minutes later, Levi heaved a heavy sigh, ready to retreat to the temporary solace that the clean sheets would give him.

"Levi?" his head whipped to the door; "Levi!"

Quickly, he ran out of his room, carelessly leaving the door wide-open, as the Corporal, just as carelessly entered yours. 

Levi stilled, his breathing heavier, only slightly, from the short sprint. The pace of his heart sped up when he saw you sitting at the foot of your bed, breathing much heavier than Levi was -

Crying much harder than Levi had ever seen.

"I'm here, I'm here."

He made his way towards you, and he took in the crumpled sheets that were lying across the floor; but that wasn't what Levi was worried about.

"(F/N), please stop crying."

To have Levi an arm's distance away, relief watched over you, and you immediately clung onto him, fresh tears spilling from your eyes. With a tender look in Levi's usually sullen face, he slowly wrapped his arms around you, silently vowing to protect you in your most vulnerable moments.

The embrace was warm, comforting, full of love, completely contrasting to the hell you endured the moment you had shut your eyes. It reminded you of the puppy that, never once, got to bark, or wag its tail.

Levi began swaying gently.

The distant, bittersweet memories caused new tears to spill - but they weren't tears of fright. They were the pent-up emotions of the young soul that still yearned to live in that tiny, perfect world.

It was you, Mommy, Daddy, and little Scruffy.

But that world was taken away from you.

It was now you and Levi. This world was far from perfect, and it was much more distorted than you could have ever imagined. And you prayed that the man who held you tightly, swaying you side-to-side - the one who completed your world. You prayed that this world wouldn't be taken away from you.

But life has a funny way of doing things.

But this time, it wasn't a band of men. Rather, it was a woman.