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Levi frowned at you from over the top of his teacup, watching you intently as you ate. You were quieter than usual, eyes cast downwards and just focusing on your meal. You even managed to ignore some of Hanji’s jokes when on a normal day, your laughter would be the loudest. Something was definitely wrong. He studied you for a moment longer before just deciding to ask you outright.
“Oi, Y/N, why does your face look like someone slapped it?” Not his most sensitive moment but Levi knew you were used to his way of speaking. The focus on the squad leader’s table abruptly shifted towards you. You opened your eyes in alarm.
“Nothing! I’m just tired that’s all.”
“You slept for 10 hours last night.” Levi’s voice was monotone as he called out your lie. The privilege of being your boyfriend meant he knew exactly how much rest you were getting each day. You opened your mouth to argue back at him but shut it again soon after. A faint blush dusted your cheeks.
“I… i lost something…” Whatever it was must have been highly embarrassing or personal. Levi raised an eyebrow at that. Not intending to pry further until after dinner, when he could get you alone, he took another bite of his food.
“Ooooo what is it, Y/N?” As ever, Hanji was unable to let a mystery remain unsolved. Levi sighed, ready to interrupt as your blush grew.
“It doesn’t matter, it’s not important…” An awkward laugh.
“Oh come on, Y/N! If it was so unimportant, you wouldn’t look so sad!” Hanji continued to push, ignoring the way you shifted uncomfortably in your seat.
“Hanji…” Mike put a hand on her arm to try and placate her.
“It was my sketchbook. I-I don’t remember where i left it…” You looked down. You’d always been rather private about your art, even to Levi. He normally left you to it, knowing it was probably a good way for you to forget the stress of the military - at least for a while.
“You draw?” Hanji screeched, delighted with the revelation. “Will you draw me? I’ve always wanted to know what i look like!”
“Why don’t you just use a mirror?” Erwin frowned.
“I meant i want to see how Y/N, sees me. Will you draw me, Y/N?” She turned back to you, volume still incredibly loud.
You stuttered, face red and a little overwhelmed with the attention. Mike shot you a sympathetic look. It was then that Levi decided to intervene.
“I’ll help you look for it after dinner, Y/N.” He reached across the table and squeezed your hand. You smiled at that, comforted by the gesture. Although Levi’s face remained expressionless, you felt reassured. He rarely showed any kind of affection in public so a simple squeeze on your hand was enough to show you he was serious.
You successfully managed to avoid all further questioning from Hanji for the rest of dinner, Levi and Erwin helping you out and asking Hanji about her latest experiments in an effort to distract her. As you left the mess hall, Levi caught your arm.
“You check our bedroom, i’ll check and see if you’ve left it lying about HQ.” You nodded, letting out a little huff. Levi studied you for a few moments, eyes narrowed as if he didn’t trust you to be on your own, before he set off in search of your sketchbook.
When you arrived back at your shared room, you began to search for your book frantically. You prayed it wasn’t lost - your earlier drawings were of your family and fallen comrades, it was all you had to remember them now. Without those drawings, you weren’t sure you’d even remember what they looked like.
As well as that, you hoped Levi wouldn’t find it first. Not because you didn’t trust him, but because you didn’t want him looking at your latest drawings. They were mostly of him. You supposed since the two of you were dating, it was only natural. But it embarrassed you none the less, and you suspected some of them might be embarrassing for Levi as well. You liked capturing his various expressions - the ones no one else got to see. The face he makes just before he falls asleep at his desk, his little smile when you make a joke, his face when he’s sleeping. Although you treasured those drawings more than anything, the thought of someone else seeing them made you a little shy.
Levi rifled through the cleaning closet first, mentally going through all the chores you’d completed that day and retracing your steps methodically. He figured if you’d kept it with you, you might have accidently left it somewhere.
He huffed to himself when he saw it was nowhere to be seen. And on top of that, the last person to use the cleaning supplies had put them back in the wrong order. Levi had half a mind to find out who it was and give them a lecture, but he reminded himself that now was not the time. You were more important.
The next place he checked was the stables. Levi imagined it would be a pretty good place to draw after your chores had been done - quiet and with plenty of horses for you to practice on. He started with the stalls closest to the door, checking each one as he went along, and then the hay bales at the far end of the stable.
There it was. On top of one of the bales. Spotting it, Levi made his way over, seeing it was still open on your most recent project. He took a moment to study the image.
It was him. Levi’s eyebrows raised minutely but other than that his expression was blank. As for his expression in the drawing, that was something different entirely. His face was split open in a big smile, hair a mess and dressed in civilian clothing. Levi almost didn’t recognise himself. Was that really what he looked like when he smiled? The drawing was certainly flattering and he couldn't help but wonder what occasion you were remembering this from.
Levi turned the page to see your earlier drawings. Some were better than others having more time and care taken in them. Some were of the other scouts but most of them were of Levi again - and those were the better ones. He couldn't help but smile. Was that what made you so embarrassed? If anything, Levi found it sweet. He allowed himself to look for a few more moments before closing the sketchbook.
Stopping to pick up the discarded pencils you’d left lying about, Levi set off back in the direction of your room, uncommonly happy for a monday afternoon.
You let out a huff as you rifled through yet another draw. It wasn’t there. You were on the verge of panic at this point. That sketchbook contained so many memories you couldn’t bare to part with it. You almost felt like crying
When Levi knocked on the door as he entered, you closed the draw abruptly, empty handed. Levi, however, was not empty handed. Your breath caught in your throat when you noticed the sketchbook he carried under his arm.
“You found it?” You wheezed, relief coursing through you. Levi hummed in agreement and handed it over to you.
“Yeah you left it open in the stables.” Open? Oh fuck - had he seen what you’d been working on? Levi seemed to see the question forming and answered it before you had the chance to ask. “Your drawings are pretty good considering the shitty pencils you use.” He came forward and put the pencils on the dresser beside you. You clutched the sketchbook closer to your chest unconsciously. “Might be a bit too flattering though.”
“You saw?” Your voice was small.
“Yeah, and i don’t get why you’re so embarrassed about it, they’re really good.” Levi squeezed your arms now that his hands were free. You blushed at the compliment and looked down. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Levi spoke again. “Where did you get the idea for the last one? It’s of me and even I don’t recognise when it was.”
“It was…” You felt suddenly shy. “It was our last anniversary… We went out for dinner in Mintras, do you remember? We were both pretty drunk by the end of it.” Levi certainly did remember, it was one of his favorite nights with you. After you’d had dinner, you’d walked along the canal for a while. And then decided to test if the local bars were up to Levi’s standard, ordering a drink in each one and giving it a rating out of ten.
“How long have you been drawing?”
“Since i was a kid… I used to use oil paints mostly but after wall Maria fell…” You trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence. Those kind of luxuries were hard to come by now, and certainly not affordable on a scout’s salary. Levi hummed in understanding.
“Well.” He pressed a kiss to your forehead. “If you ever need anyone to model for you, you know who to ask.”