One-shots & Short Stories [Levi | Reader]

Reality [Levi | Reader]

The salty smell of the waves lingered in the air under the bright sun, the breeze by the seaside spreading it's unique scent towards the land. Seagulls were hovering over the water in circles, and if one looked at them he'd get hypnotized by the rhythmic movement despite its performers being a rather unintelligent kind of animals. The sun was shining blindingly upon the land, the unending sea and the place where the meerschaum died under the many crystal-like bodies of the sand.

The deaf sound of horse hoofs was soon heard in the distance and a little later, a few figures appeared on the horizon, their shadows dancing in the grass behind them, barely reaching the giant wall they had rouded to arrive at the seaside.

When all of the riders stopped their horses, some jumped off of them energetically, while others stayed on top of theirs and just stared at the big mass of salty water losing itself beyond the very horizon.

Usually, Levi would've done the latter, but a mysterious urge was forcing him to do as the kids that played in the water and feel the sand under his boots instead of let his black stallion have all the fun. He let go of the reins and jumped off the horse, landing steadily on his two feet and patting the side of the horse's neck gently, while his eyes strayed off to the sea.

"Good boy." He mumbled, his eyes suddenly changing directions to gaze deep into the animal's dark orbs. 

The horse was definitely his best friend by now, and even if he shouldn't attach to the animal, he knew that the stallion shared his feelings of fondness and trust. With a last pat to his mane, Levi stepped forward, a strange emotion erupting inside of his chest upon feeling the crunchy substance under his feet.

He walked closer to the waves, the blue depths mesmerizing his mind, making him wish he was able to witness this every morning upon his awakening. 

He looked to the side, witnessing Eren, Mikasa and Armin all playing in the water. His eyes narrowed and a soft expression took over his features. At least they finally reached their destination. Partly. 

The raven haired man looked back towards the sea, suddenly feeling like his feet couldn't move from the damp sand. When he looked down, he witnessed a small wave hitting him across the ankles and then dissolving a few inches behind his heels. He'd been so hypnotized by the ocean that he'd entered the water himself. 

With a small snort he stepped a few feet back and took off his boots, undoing the straps around his feet in order not to get them wet. 

From a few steps away, Hanji, still on her horse, watched with amazement the movements of the raven haired man. She knew pretty well that he wouldn't have gotten off his horse. Even more go to such lenghts as to dare and step into the water without a special reason. And then it clicked for her. Why he was doing it.

Levi threw his boots to the side, their heels landing with a deaf thud right next to the hoofs of his horse. He rolled up his pants to his knees and took off his cape, placing it right over the horse's saddle.

He sighed, feeling the sand sneak between his toes and tickle his feet. He walked back to the water, giving a small glance to Hanji before stepping into it, feeling the cool liquid consume all of his worries for a small moment. He closed his eyes, breathing in the smell of salt, containing the small tinge of the grass's scent. The breeze blew calmly past his form, messing up his raven bangs and letting him hear its silent howl.

The raven turned to the side, expecting to see another happy expression added to the three of his energetic cadets that were playing in the water and showing each other seashells, but somehow he couldn't spot her. His eyes narrowed, searching all over the place for her bright smile and big eyes, gleaming with excitement, but she was nowhere to be seen. 

A small sigh left his lips as they were next grazed by a ghost of a smile and Levi looked ahead to the horizon, the water still hitting his skin, his feet being able to feel the crunchy wet sand underneath them. Her smile was forever imprinted on the back of his eyelids, it haunted him every time he closed his eyes, and almost always it brought pain upon his heart, but now he was rather calmed by it. 

He could almost hear her laughter in the distance, her soft small hands on his shoulders, her feet kicking at the water to splash his form, her hair being blown around by the breeze as she laughed and laughed and laughed joyfully. 

When he opened his eyes again, he almost expected to see her grinning face right in front of him. But he knew he wouldn't be able to.

And how could he even? 

Fantasy made him hallucinate about her all the time, by his side, smiling and serene, but reality, in its harshest of forms, whispered in his ear over and over again and he knew even though it was like a jab to his side...

He wasn't going to see her ever again.