Close to my heart [Levi x Female Reader]

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩..

... 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪?

Nobody said being part of a military branch, the Survey Corps, which has the highest kill-rate among all those you could have chosen, would be the same that'd make your past resurface unbidden.

Having run from your homeland into the dangerous embrace of armed forces was your only way to escape what previously seemed inescapable - being seen as nothing but a plaything for your family.

Rape, loss of loved ones, alcoholics in the family beating you almost daily. Everything you swore to abandon you came back to you in the form of dreams. Defending humanity from its biggest threat, gigantic humanoid creatures which are called 'Titans' seemed like your only way out.

Dying here wouldn't be here at the hands of those you had to call kin, at least.

Training by oneself alone won't do the trick. So, the Commander assigned you his best soldier as your mentor.

A grumpy, blunt, vulgar and aloof bastard with an affinity for cleaning and tea was the man who would watch over your every step in order to become one of humanity's most valuable soldiers.

Yet, day by day, restless nights keep you awake. Trauma keeps you away from food you once could eat without a problem. And someone who shouldn't make it 𝘢𝘯𝘺 of his business. The 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 person who should 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦, began to visit you regularly at night, when sleep evaded you.

Slowly, a professional boundary merged with unforeseen affection you've never been shown before. A romantic connection begins within barracks.

Will you be able to defeat the ghosts of your past within a world that is bound by loss and death?