A Heart's Dedication

Chapter Thirteen

The sun was bright on Levi's face the next morning, the dew fresh on his forehead. Groggily, opened his eyes, and the natural light flooded his vision. The green, grassy plains were laid in front of the camp, the wind barely whipping past the blades of emerald. The day was still new, the sky a pale blue. He attempted to sit up, but a little weight on his pectoral stopped him in his mid-stretch. He looked down and immediately smiled.

Y/N was still asleep, her bandaged arm draped across his chest. Her hair was messy from sleep, her face covered in a few more bits of dirt than usual, but he didn't care. She was nothing short of perfection in his eyes. Her face was curved into a tiny smile, a reminder of a happy dream.

Sometime, apparently, they had curled up together in the pelt, their legs entangled together and her face nuzzled into his shoulder. Levi leaned over her, sliding his arm under Y/N's head and pecking her on the cheek. Her face was warm, not unlike the rest of her body, and he gently cooed in amusement. Despite not having bathed in two weeks, she smelled pleasant, like the nature around her. He laid back down, moving his arm to her neck and tilting her forehead to meet his chest. He wouldn't get up yet, he'd let her sleep. He could be up at the drop of a pin if need be, he'd be up and ready if there was trouble. But he wouldn't leave quite yet.

He would enjoy this forevermore.

Y/N awoke a few hours later, and contrary to the last few weeks, she didn't flinch or complain about his touch. Instead, she had simply whispered:

"Don't go..."

The small act of affection had melted his heart, but of course, he didn't show it. Instead, he simply obliged, holding a piece of her soft hair between his fingers and holding her. She talked to him, hours passing as they continued to be inseparable from one another. Finally, both of their stomachs were grumbling intolerably loud and Levi fetched them some food out of storage.

During the day, he did patrol, but never went farther than a mile away from the camp. He constantly checked and doted on Y/N, dropping gentle kisses on her forehead. It was his new favorite thing to do, because every time that he did, she would blush the tiniest bit and smile the brightest smile. He loved her smile, and that was his motivation as he went back to meticulously scanning the woods for any sign of danger. There was only one titan scare that day, and fortunately, it had been nothing but a five-meter that took Levi mere seconds to kill.

Y/N had asked for a bowl and some wild herbs to make a rice dish for that evening, and although Levi had been wary at first, eventually he had relented. After several attempts and spilled dishes, Y/N managed to construct an edible concoction. He thought it was so cute watching her try so hard to be helpful. He appreciated it, and made sure to thank her for working so hard that night when they ate together.

Levi couldn't remember a time when he was so happy. He didn't even care that no one was coming for them, that they might die here. He only wanted to be with Y/N.

As the day grew older and older, the cool night surrounded the camp and the tiny fire. It was peaceful, serene, comfortable. Levi took it all in as he spooned his love, pressing his face into her warm neck, breathing her in. While he hadn't thought about it before, he now understood that he had never loved anyone else but Y/N, and although he hadn't been aware of it until recently, some part of him had always wanted to be with her like this. He never wanted to go back to the way they had once been, he never wanted to part from her ever again.

Her breathing was steady and even, and resonated with his own even through several layers of clothing. However, he knew it was far too rapid for a sleeping person.