Nightmares to Dreams

3

Hanji sat curled up in the corner, her body trembling. She didn't know how much time had passed since they'd gotten home... A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts.

"It's me again," Levi said.

"I've left some tea and toast outside your door. You should eat a little something."

Hanji heard footsteps walking away. She opened the door. There sat a tray with tea, cinnamon-sugar toast (her favorite), sliced apples and a little cup with her pain medicine. Hanji reached out with her bandaged hands. She shakily picked up the teacup. It slipped out of her grasp.

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Levi heard the sound of shattering and rushed to Hanji's room. She was kneeling by the door, a shattered teacup by her knees. As Levi approached her, Hanji looked up at him. Her eye shining with tears as fresh ones fell down her cheek.

"I-I'm sorry...I...I didn't mean t-to," Hanji stammered.

Levi cleaned up the broken cup.

"Shh, it's all right," he said stroking her cheek.

"I-it was an accident," Hanji replied.

Levi took her bandaged hands in his.

"It's just a cup Zoe, I'm more concerned about you," he said.

Hanji looked at him. Levi dried her eye.

"Are you okay? No new injuries?" he asked.

"I'm a-all right," Hanji replied.

Levi picked her up and carried her back to bed. He helped her take the pain medicine and drink some tea and eat. Hanji got settled into bed. Levi sat with her. He placed a pillow on his lap. Hanji laid her head on it. Levi gently ran his fingers through her hair.

"C-can you sing?" Hanji asked.

Levi nodded.

"No soul can say they've died in vain, Not until the end... When the final arrow meets the battlefield. How can we win? Our foe is gigantic, but deep within we're just as barbaric...

Wielding the blades of Gloria! We're made for victory...Only we dare to bare these wings on our backs! We've all carved an oath into our hearts, beating in unity. As our voices form the battle cry of the free. We were born for the skies with these wings of freedom..." he sang.

Hanji closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep. Levi kept singing till he could tell she was in a calm sleep. He stayed with her all night.

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It had been a rough several days. Hanji would wake multiple times a night from nightmares and sudden pains. Levi would always be there to help and calm her. He took wonderful care of her, keeping her bandages clean, checking her wounds and doing his best to help her feel cared for and loved.

Tonight...was one of the worst nightmares. Levi woke to screaming. Hanji was clawing at her eye and shoulder, her wounds bleeding from ripping off the bandages.

"Hanji!" Levi said.

"Hanji STOP!"

He grabbed her hands. Hanji jolted awake.

"Easy! Easy!" Levi said.

Her breathing was erratic.

"It was just a nightmare, not real," Levi said.

Hanji's eye darted back and forth. Levi put his hands on the sides of her face.

"Zoe, you're okay," he said, gently stroking her cheeks with his thumbs.

Hanji looked at him. Her single brown eye fixated on his grey ones. Most people only saw them as cold and emotionless, but Hanji saw the worry, concern and care in them.

"See? Here is safe," Levi said in a calm voice.

Hanji's breathing slowed and she began to calm down.

"S-sorry," Hanji said.

"There's nothing to apologize about," Levi replied.

"It's okay."

He cleaned up her bandages and wounds then got her settled into bed.

"I-I can't sleep," Hanji muttered.

Levi knew it was her fear of the nightmares happening again. He sat next to her.

"Those are just bad dreams Zoe, they can't really hurt you," Levi said as he began to play with her hair.

"Yes, something happened recently in real life that has left you with some trauma but do not worry, you will overcome it and I will be by your side the entire time. You are still and will forever be my Zoe."

Hanji smiled a bit.

"Thank you Levi," she said.

Levi leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Get some sleep, I will be here if you need me," he said.

Levi gently ran his fingers through her hair and hummed softly. Within minutes, Hanji was sound asleep. Levi looked at her. It broke his heart she was suffering like this and that it'd really been a week full of shit for her. Suddenly, an idea came to Levi. Something that would for sure help brighten Hanji's mood and spirits. He very carefully slipped out of the bedroom so he didn't wake her and sat down at his laptop.