what matters // levi x reader

Chapter 35

[ Levi's POV ]

"By the way, what's your name?"

"The name's Levi."

Her face instantly turned red as she let out a surprised, yet, silent gasp.

"O-Oh! You're.. uh.."

"Why?" I asked, my voice unwillingly becoming deeper than usual.

"No, I didn't mean it in a bad way! It's just that you're very handsome, that's all." she chuckled.

I just instinctively ran my thumb over her cheek, but she flinched. Just looking at her eyes melted my heart, but it also pained it.

"Let's go to the stables."

We remained silent as we made our way towards the said stables, until she decided to speak up.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Me, forgetting. It must be very hard for you."

You have no idea.

"It's not your fault."

"How did it happen?"

Bringing back those horrific memories was hard for me. However, she deserved to know.

Maybe she will remember if I tell her?

After reluctantly telling her, she looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite understand.

"I should be the one apologizing." I said while clearing my voice.

"Of course not. I did it because I cared for you and loved you! I'm sure I didn't regret it either. Heck, I don't even know you and I don't regret it now!" she smiled.

There she is. Or rather, she still is inside there, somewhere.

My eyes widened. Without even realizing it, I hugged her tightly, and the only thing I could hear was my own rapid heartbeat. She stiffened at my touch, and as soon as I felt it, I tried to back off only to be pulled back into the embrace.

"I understand how you feel. You probably missed me right? You must've been so worried." she whispered.

"So much." I whispered back.

She traced small circles on my back which instantly made me feel calmer. Her touch made me feel calmer.

"Ugh.."

Her hands suddenly let go of my body and moved to the top of her head, as she fell to her knees whilst grunting in pain.

"(y/n)? What happened?"

I kneeled down and put my hands on top of her shoulders as she gripped my arms with her trembling fingers.

"I saw something, like a huge human being, it was going to eat me and I heard my bones cracking.." she stuttered. "T-Titans? The wall.."

"Are your memories coming back?" I asked.

"I think so, that was terrifying. But I wasn't crying. That titan crushed my bones but I-" she took some deep breaths.

"No, no you weren't." I tried to calm her down by running my fingers through her hair.

But a teardrop escaped from your lifeless body.

She accepted my hand as I brought us back to our feet.

"That was very brave of me." she said as she dusted the dirt off her boots.

"It was reckless."

"No it wasn't." she argued, and that funny feeling in my chest came back.

"Want to go back inside? We can inform Hange and- "

"No that's okay! You said that you would take me to my horse right? Let's go then." she smiled, trying her best to brush away the things she just saw.

As soon as we arrived at the stables, she walked right at her said horse.

"That's-"

"Kuro!"

Our eyes met. She was surprised, I was excited.

"How did you-"

"I don't know."

She started laughing.

"Oh God this is going to be fun." she said as she started to pet her horse.

It sure will..

Not long after, we visited Hange.

"You remembered?!" she exclaimed, holding (y/n)'s hands in complete delight.

"She did. Do you think that her memories will fully return?" I asked.

"It is possible!" she said while looking back at (y/n).

The sun was starting to set so we all decided to break things up. I walked (y/n) to her room, but before I left, she grabbed me by the wrist to make me face her once again.

"Thank you, for today. I know it's hard for you and I'm still trying to get used to all of this.." she said. "I tried to remember you, or things about you, but I just can't. I don't know what we shared or our memories, and I-"

"It's okay." I assured, taking her hand in mine. "Try not to think about it too much okay? We don't want you destroying what's left inside that little head of yours." I said as I gently tapped her forehead with my pointer finger. "You should get some rest."

"Yeah.. goodnight."

And with that, I let go of her hand and walked away.