SORE • l. ackerman ✓

𝐗𝐕𝐈 | 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢'𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ reader ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

By help, he meant sit on the counter and watch him so he could show off his cooking skills.

It smelt better than I expected it to. I didn't think that he would be able to cook as well as he was, but I guess being single and living alone for so long meant he had to.

"Put on some music," he said, handing me his phone. He gave me the passcode and told me to connect it to the Bluetooth speaker on the table. I did as I was told and opened spotify, clicking the first playlist that came up. It was titled "favorites."

As soon as I pressed shuffle, a song began to play. I threw my head back and smiled, instantly recognizing the song.

"Really?"

He smiled slightly and stirred the pan of rice.

"They told him don't you ever come around here, don't want to see your face, you better disappear," he sang along in a deeper key.

"I can't believe this," I teased. He sang the next few lines quietly until the next set of lyrics.

"You better run, you better do what you can
Don't want to see no blood, don't be a macho man,"

I laughed and hid my face in my hands so he wouldn't see the very obvious blush on my face.

"So beat it, but you want to be bad,"

He did a small shoulder dance and tapped his foot. He seemed to forget about his troubles when he was listening to music, something I'd gathered from almost every single time I was around him.

"Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated,"

I took a sip out of the water bottle that sat next to me.

"That's mine," he smiled.

"Mm, I don't see your name on it,"

In one quick motion, he grabbed the bottle out of my hand and started to chug it, never breaking eye contact. When he was finished, he wiped his mouth and handed the empty bottle to me.

"How about now?" He asked.

"You're an asshole,"

"Do something about it,"

I hopped off the counter.

"Maybe I will,"

I hit him over the head with the empty bottle before throwing it in the trash.

"Brat,"

"How original,"

"Don't act like one and you won't get called one,"

"I never said I didn't like it,"

His face dropped for a second but quickly changed back to his soft look. I wondered what was going on in his mind. He hummed the song and turned off the stove.

"Plates are in those cabinets right there,"

Neither of us wanted to drink since I had work the next day and he had to drive me home, not to mention he didn't want the headache that came along with a hangover. He made orange chicken and fried rice, something I hadn't eaten since I was a child. We sat at the table instead of in his living room because he was scared that there would be a mess.

"I really do want to be with you," he said quietly. "Promise me you'll wait until I get this figured out?"

I felt my chest tighten and I avoided his stare. I didn't know how long I was willing to wait. 

"I... I'll try,"

"I know it's a lot to ask, but please promise me,"

"Okay, Levi," I knew I shouldn't make promises I had no idea if I was able to keep them, but the look on his face gave me every reason I needed to say yes. "I promise,"

We didn't talk for a while as we both ate. It was way better than anything I'd had in a while, he was a much better cook than I was though I hated to admit it. I noticed him shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah just.. I'm fine," he said, his tone low and heavy.

I finished eating and went to the sink to wash the plate. I finished and began to wash the pans.

"I can do that myself," he offered.

"I got it,"

I felt his hand rest on my hip for a second while he stood behind me to put his plate down on the counter next to me.

"Thank you,"

I finished washing everything and returned to my seat across from him.  He nervously fiddled with his fingers and his brows furrowed showing that he was deep in thought. He seemed to calm down when he looked up at me, his eyes showing something that I couldn't quite pick up on. 

"Levi?"

He hummed and stilled his fingers.

"Talk to me. About anything. You're doing it again,"

"I'm sorry I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

He shook his head. 

"Your company is enough. Let's watch a movie,"

We settled on his couch under a blanket. His living room was colder than the other rooms in his house. We decided to watch (Favorite movie) and he laid his head on my thighs. I played with his hair and after a while I felt his breath start to slow down and his muscles soften, telling me that he was either relaxing more or that he was falling asleep. I didn't mind either way. I stopped playing with his hair for a split second to scratch my cheek and he let out a dissatisfied groan.

"Who's the brat now?" I laughed softly.

"Still you," he said in a hushed tone, his eyes closed. I went back to playing with his hair, taking some of the raven strands between my fingers and scratching the top of his head with my nails.

I wondered how long it would last. How long would it be before he shut me out again? Loving him was terrifying.

Love.

I knew that I loved him and I knew that for a while. I didn't ever want to express it out of fear that he would leave again.

-

The more I reread this the more I realize that this fanfic is actually more OC levi than it is realistic levi. I'll be writing a story that actually captures his mannerisms and stuff soon <3

-TJ