Levi x Reader | Cold

Chapter Twenty-Three [Part Two] - Uncover

I blink away threatening tears. It's okay, I tell myself. It's okay. He's my superior. He isn't mine. He's my superior. He's my superior.

As I repeat this in my head, I watch the man walk away from Levi, searching for his daughter. I continue walking with my horse, and Levi's head jolts up as he notices me.

"What are you doing?" He asks. "You're injured, you shouldn't even be on your horse, much less walking it."

I inspect the way he walks. His leg just hardly twitches every time pressure is put on his heel.

"You're injured," I reply blankly, not replying to his question.

He looks slightly surprised, but nods. "It's minor. How could you tell?"

"Intuition," I lie, deciding to not explain myself honestly until I understand him.

I begin walking faster with my horse, getting a good distance in front of him, and spot Hanji.

She looks a bit unsettled when she sees me, and I assume she can see my misfortune.

"Estelle?" She asks, in her regular cheery voice.

"He's engaged," I mutter to her, my voice coming out whiny and childish.

She gives me a troubled glance and nods. "I'm sorry. But are you sure? I know you two were kissi-"

"Hanji!" I groan. "Yes, I'm sure."

"Well maybe even Levi doesn't know," She suggests. "You could be over thinking it."

I shake my head in denial. "How would that even work? I'd rather assume the worst than wrongly guess the best."

"But why?" She questions. "There's hardly a difference. If you get hurt by all of your options, do something about it."

"Like what?"

She starts laughing hysterically. "You really are naïve," she smiles. "And here we all thought you had great ideals and morals."

"Sorry," I whisper.

Hanji looks at me with a frown. "It's okay, I didn't mean it." She looks up into the sky. "I think believe you're always too ready to sacrifice yourself for the good of others, so you're not good when it comes to doing things for the good of yourself, which is why Squad Levi is still alive today. Those soldiers that died today didn't sacrifice themselves for nothing." She looks over at me. "They gave themselves so people like you and Eren," she looks over and points to Levi, who's walking along with the group of soldiers, "and Levi could help save this troubled world."

I let her words sink in. "You're a great person, aren't you, Hanji?"

She laughs and grins. "I just know too much for my own good."

"So what can I do?" I ask. She looks deeper into my eyes, her eyes shining with an idea.

"You can make a new option."

---

I think over Hanji's suggestion again and again. Is she seriously recommending I still confess?

Biting the inside of my cheek, I ponder the thought, and nod to myself. If he's gonna reject me, I might as well give it my all.

"You're so complicated," I whisper under my breath.

I begin thinking about a more serious crisis going on, the situation concerning Annie.

I can willingly admit that I'm surprised that it's Annie. Thinking back to the first day I spoke to her, I frown, wishing it was anybody but her.