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When you joined the scouts getting injured was the last thing on your mind. you knew it was a possibility that it was bound to happen, you’d been reminded more than enough times, but you just couldn’t find it in yourself to care.
To you getting injured was part of the job, if it were for the scouts cause you’d gladly accept death. That was your philosophy until you’d met the overbearing captain, then it became a nuisance to get even a scrape.
At first he was just irritated at how often he’d have to clean and wrap your wounds, complaining that you were a careless brat and he didn’t have time to nurse your every cut. As time went on though, and you and the captain grew closer it became worried rants and concerned looks.
When you and the captain finally admitted your feelings for each other you vowed to be more careful, to not be one more person added to the list, that your patch wouldn’t sit in a drawer with the rest.
Vowing to do something and actually following through were two very different things you’ve come to realize.
It wasn’t intended, you truly were being careful, but with the craze of the female titans running about and your squad being wiped out you didn’t notice the titans hand coming up and grabbing your wire, flinging it off to the side.
The pain was excruciating, like someone lit your back on fire as the bark dug into your skin before you fell to the ground. As you laid there writhing on the ground, trying to force air into your lungs you wondered if this is how you were going to break your promise to Levi, if you were going to get eaten by a titan before you could regain your vision.
But when your vision had cleared and you could breathe properly again there weren’t any titans around you, which somehow made the giant forest seem that much larger.
As you sat there waiting you slowly tested your mobility, it seemed you couldn’t move your left arm in any way without pain, taking deep breaths seemed to make your lungs seize and you could stand but walking seemed to take a great deal of effort.
After a while you heard the mechanical whirls of ODM gear before Levi was landing in front of you, heaving out a sigh of relief at the sight of you seemingly unharmed.
“What are you doing down here?” He questioned, taking a more critical glance at you.
“my wire got snagged and it broke my gear so i’ve been waiting down here.” It technically wasn’t a lie but the feeling of guilt still wracked your body. You didn’t know if the mission was over and you knew that if Levi knew you were hurt it would distract him and he couldn’t be distracted, not now.
“wha-“ before he could get out what he was saying Levi was cut off by a deafening roar.
“go,” you told him. “They'll need you. I'll be fine here.” Giving him a reassuring glance Levi nodded, promising to come back for you before he was off.
Letting out a sigh of relief you slumped to the ground, knees too weak to continue to hold you up.
Without realizing it you were waking up, disoriented you moved your eyes around you, taking in the familiar sight of the infirmary at the cottage. Trying to sit up you gasped out in pain as the muscles in your back seized, leaving you frozen in pain while you waited for it to die down.
Before long the door was opening and Levi walked through, freezing by the door as you looked at each other, silently seizing each other up. Other than his messy hair and wrinkled clothing Levi looked fine, which meant he was not fine.
Tousled hair was an odd look on Levi, even when he was just waking up in the mornings his hair always seemed to be perfectly groomed. You weren’t sure how long it had been but taking in the dark bags under Levi’s eyes you could assume it hadn’t just been a day.
Breaking out of his trance Levi turned around and shut the door, resting his head against the wall as you watched his back rise and fall harshly, silence creating a thick fog of tension in the room.
“Levi-“ you started.
“You idiot,” he spoke lowly, his voice full of an emotion you couldn’t decipher. “You absolute moron, why did you lie to me?”
Any excuse you had died in your throat as Levi turned around, his lips set in a hard line as his eyes watered, a grief stricken expression on his face.
“I'm sorry,” Moving your gaze away from him, you stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep your own tears at bay as a lump formed in your throat.
“You could have died, I thought you were dead.” You heard his boots hit the floor harshly as he took a couple steps towards you.
“I- the mission wasn’t over,” you breathed out, trying your best to not choke on your words. “I didn't want you to be distracted.”
Taking the last few steps Levi fell at your side, pressing your hand to the side of his face as he silently cried. “I thought i lost you, you were just… laying there and i thought-“
“I'm sorry,” you moved your gaze to him, your own tears slipping out as a new pain formed in your chest. “I didn't mean to worry you, I'm sorry.”
Pressing a kiss to your wrist Levi looked up at you, running his thumb along your knuckles as he spoke. “I don't care if we’re surrounded by titans, I want you to be honest on your condition, you don’t need to push yourself for my sake, no more walking around with injuries okay?”
As you nodded a small smile crept up on your face. “I mean technically I wasn’t walking, I was just standing.”
“shut up.” a small smile played on his lips as you let out a laugh, regretting the action as pain rippled down your back. Levi was quick to move, sitting by your head as he smoothed out your hair, waiting for the pain to pass. “this is exactly what I was talking about.”
“I'm sorry,” you spoke softly, closing your eyes as Levi pressed his lips to your forehead. “I hate making you worry.”
“tch id worry about you regardless, at least now i don’t have to fret about you actively getting injured.” setting his chin on top of your head he let out a sigh, mumbling into your hair. “Just worry about getting better.”