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When you hear the door quietly creak open in typical (stealthy) Levi fashion, you quickly jam your left hand in your pocket, foolishly. The pain you’ve been successfully managing returns with a vengeance, shooting all the way from the tips of your fingertips to your wrist which is a feeling that’s new for you. Great.
You’ve been waiting the past thirty minutes for Levi to return so he wouldn’t catch you with the poorly wrapped bandage around your hand and wrist. Your plan was to hide your injury as best you could by means of keeping it in whatever pocket you could stick it into.
And, most importantly, without looking suspicious in the process.
“Welcome home.” You beam at him as he enters through the door. Levi loosens his tie with one hand and places his briefcase down with the other. Afterwards, he raises his eyebrows at you, noting the way you didn’t immediately come to hug him and plant the scheduled barbaric, sloppy kiss on his cheek he claims to despise so much but actually loves and looks forward to.
“How was your day?” He eventually asks casually, walking over to you slowly as if to give you time to drop the act and run straight into his arms like you usually do.
You're awkwardly leaning on the edge of the dining table, both hands in the pockets of your sweater. You know you look super shady but you don’t know how to not look shady given the very shady circumstances.
While you’re thinking of what to say and do next, Levi is drinking you in the entire time; his blue-grey eyes slowly moving from one square inch of you to the next.
“Good,” You exhale, nervously, certain that he already knows what’s up. “Missed you.” You smile at him and he returns a smaller, tired one right back.
“If you missed me then show me, hm.” Levi tugs on the hem of your sweater and the force pulls you closer towards him. You keep your hurt hand where it is but take the other one out to wrap around his neck. You breathe in his scent. “Oi, what’s up with you?” He mutters in your ear in that low voice of his.
You stay in his arms. “Nothing. Why?”
“Where does it hurt?” He tries to pull away to investigate but you don’t let him leave your embrace. You want to stay like this just a little longer, though you know very well that you can’t continue your little facade, you’ve been caught and it’s time to come clean.
“Mm, my left hand is acting weird. It’s fine I think, I probably need to rest it.” And definitely see a doctor but you don’t add that part.
“Y/n,” Levi begins but you interrupt him, sighing loudly.
“Ugh. How’d you know something was up?”
He clicks his tongue, disappointed in the fact that you even dared tried to hide this from him. “Because I know you. I know what you’re like when you’re in pain,” He says, holding out his hand for you to place yours into. “Show me now, please.” You reluctantly pull your limp hand for him to inspect and inspect is exactly what he does. Levi is sure to be extra gentle when pulling off the bandage but when you wince from a sudden jolt of searing, white-hot pain, he inhales through gritted teeth. “This happened today, I’m assuming.”
“Yes.”
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
“Bathed?”
You hesitate. You did take a shower earlier but you weren’t able to wash your hair, not properly at least. You whooped and hollered trying to get the shampoo out of the bottle and when you finally got a decent amount of product out after a tedious go at it, you couldn’t bend your fingers hard enough to lather your hair and really get into the roots. You gave up the battle shortly after, making a note to do it another time when you weren’t in intense and excruciating pain. “I wasn’t able to wash my hair.” You admit cautiously.
Levi makes a noise. “And you couldn’t wait for me to come home?”
“I knew you’d be tired and I didn’t want to bother you ab-”
He lets out a disapproving grunt, cutting you off. “Meet me in the bathroom after I get changed out of these clothes.”
———
You’re on your knees, bent over the edge of the bathtub with your hair dangling over the side of it. Levi had already gently placed a clean towel around your neck to keep the rest of you from getting wet. You can feel the heat radiating off his body as he leans over you to detach the removable shower head, he turns it on but you don’t immediately feel the rush of water gush over your hair. “You changed your mind, Levi?” You tease.
“Making sure the water isn’t too cold but if you keep talking I won’t be so considerate.” He teases back. His free hand snakes around your neck to make sure you don’t move around and splash the both of you.
The bathroom falls silent as the only sounds in the room come from the running water. The feeling of it hitting your head mixed with the pressure of Levi’s fingers massaging your scalp makes you hum in pleasure. “You’re good at this.”
“Don’t act so surprised.” You can hear the tiny smile in his voice. A cold dollop of shampoo hits the top of your head and the yummy strawberry smell wafts into your nose. His fingers start to work and lather the shampoo into your scalp which sends shivers down your spine. You’re so relaxed you feel your eyes begin to slowly flutter shut when Levi's voice jolts you back awake.
“Hey you.”
You know what that tone means. You know what’s coming. “Babe, I know. I was clumsy.”
“You were more than just clumsy. How can I trust you to not get yourself hurt when I’m not with you?” Concern laces his usually calm and collected voice. “And to f—cking hide it from me too. Unbelievable,” His words cut harsh but his hands remain gentle on you. He rinses out the shampoo in your hair with great attention to detail, making sure to get every spot. “What the hell were you thinking?”
You sigh loudly, “I didn’t want you to worry more about me than you already do. You worry so much as it is and I hate it. I’m okay— my hand will heal and I’ll be okay. You should—”
“Don’t.” He cuts you off impatiently, turning off the stream of water. “Don’t make it seem like caring about you is a chore. It’s f—cking not.” Levi lifts your chin up slowly and wraps a new towel around your head, draping it around you so your face isn’t covered by it. “I know I don’t say it as often as I should and that’s on me but I love you, okay? So wanting to take care of you isn’t a stretch by any means. It comes naturally to me, actually.”
All you could do is nod your head in response—an overwhelming feeling of pure love for the dark haired man bent over you, washing your hair in the tiny bathroom you two share, completely drowns you. He could figure out all your secrets in the dark; he knows you by heart.
With Levi, you would always have a constant, unwavering love in your life and for that you couldn’t be more grateful.
———
After some time and your hair now semi-dry with Levi’s help, you finally find your voice and say, “It’s hard letting someone take care of me. I dunno why, it just is,” You shrug.
Levi’s eyes soften in your direction, he nods his head once to show you he understands. He knows out of everyone what that feels like, probably the most even. He carefully leans over to press a tender kiss to your exposed forehead, sneaking his hand to caress your cheek in the process. “Let’s get you into bed, hm?” His fingers linger where they are. “Let that shitty hand of yours rest.”
“Carry me.”
Levi lets out a snort before responding, “Something wrong with your legs too? You’re f—cking bold.” But in one swift motion, he sweeps you off the bathroom floor and carries you with ease, in his arms, bridal style. You let out a yelp from the suddenness before erupting into a fit of giggles against his chest. Once reaching the bedroom, Levi gently places you on your side of the bed.
Kneeling down so that his face was a mere few inches away from yours, he pulls you in even closer with his warm hand on your neck. You feel his minty breath on your lips. You can tell he wants to say something but nothing comes out; he closes his eyes forcefully shut out of frustration.
“You love me, I know,” You press your forehead against his and whisper, “You don’t have to say it.”
And with that, he kisses you.