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"What took you so long, were you taking a shit or something?" Levi asks as soon as you arrive at the training ground.
"Oh, Captain you really have a way with words," you mutter sarcastically, adjusting the brown leather jacket you're wearing.
Levi rolls his eyes and walks forward. "Let's just get started," he says, nudging you on the elbow.
You follow behind the shorter male, peering at his back worriedly. The truth is, ever since most of his squad was killed in the 57th Expedition outside the walls— you being the only survivor amongst them— he's been very adamant on training you and improving your skills.
He's also been more protective lately, going out of his way to make sure you're pushing yourself and keeping a close eye on you when it has anything to do with the ODM gear, that's not even mentioning when you tag along on missions.
It also doesn't help the fact that he's your boyfriend, but you can understand. If you had been in his position, very close to losing him and watching him fight for his life— not even knowing if he'd survive the next day, it'd make you want to keep him safe as well.
But it's getting a bit excessive...
You can understand the worry when dealing with titans, the gear, and so on; but when it comes to normal things, like going shopping, doing chores, making food, it's a bit much.
Because it's not as if sweeping is the same as killing titans, you really don't understand why he's acting that way. You've been cleared by the doctor to resume your duties, your broken bones and most of the injuries have healed, it really makes no sense— but you won't say anything for now about it.
Training goes as usual, there's really not much else Levi can teach you, he had picked you for his squad for a reason of course. However, after being on bedrest for several weeks, you were a little rusty and had some trouble adjusting to the mobility gear, Levi of course noticed it.
"Hey, work on your balance!"
"Why is your leg like that?"
"Holy—" It only took one little mistake before you were falling towards the ground, you weren't too high up so you weren't worried about the impact, but Levi had sped over quicker than you could blink and grabbed you before you could hit. It almost gave you whiplash, because how is he so fast?
Levi lands gracefully on the ground, holding you with his left arm.
"What was that?" he asks with a sigh, shutting his eyes.
"Uh," you weren't sure how to answer.
"If you did that on the battlefield, you'd be dead no questions," Levi scowls, letting go of you. "I think we should quit for today."
"It was a mistake Levi, I haven't used the gear in months, it won't take me long to—"
"I don't care," he cuts off. "A mistake like that could cost you your life, you should be more careful."
You weren't sure what to say to that, Levi is a man of few words, sometimes it's endearing and sometimes it's irritating. You just wish he would talk with you instead of bubbling it all in.
"Levi—"
"Let's change and head back to your place, I'll make something for you," the male says, chucking off his gear and walking towards the gate.
You sigh and begrudgingly follow after him, you will get him to talk, even if it takes all night.
At your home, now freshly showered, you watch Levi make lunch with a frown on your face.
He's starting to make you angry now.
When the both of you got back to your residence, he swiftly avoided any attempt of talking about what happened by changing the subject or ignoring you altogether. Tch, what a bastard.
He places the sandwich in front of you, sitting down in the chair across.
You don't touch the food, instead just staring at him intently. He knows you want to talk, he knows you know he knows, so why the hell is he still avoiding it?
"Levi—"
"I think Eren is getting better at controlling his titan, maybe Hange's torturing paid off,"
You furrow your eyebrows, he wasn't even trying to be discreet now.
"Levi—" you try again.
"Also, the market down the street is having a sale on black tea, maybe we should go down there—"
"Levi, you damn short bastard," you interrupt him this time, glaring into his gray eyes.
The man at least has the audacity to look surprised at the words, but he quickly regains his composure.
"Yes?" he answers, giving a defeated look. He knows he can't avoid this any longer.
"We should talk," you start, keeping eye contact. "About that day."
Levi's expression doesn't change immediately, but you notice him clench his fist under the table. When he saw the members of his squad dead and defeated, he didn't cry, didn't scream or rage in anger like many other soldiers did, instead forcing the grief away and being the one to make cold hearted decisions.
But when he's with you, a wall comes down, he acts more freely instead of being the serious lieutenant he is most of the time, and right now you want to know how he's feeling, how he's dealing with everything that's happened.
"What do you want me to say?" he asks, looking down at his own plate of food. "My entire squad aside from you is dead, what's the use in talking about it as if it'll bring them back?"
The words are harsh, but you know he's just deflecting his own pain. He cared about them, you saw it, and they cared for him too.
"I want to know what your thoughts were when you found me that day, please be honest with me."
Levi sighs, you reach over towards his hand, placing yours over his. "Please?" you ask softly.
He shuts his eyes, releasing a heavy breath before speaking. "I thought you were dead, too," he admits, squeezing your hand tightly. "You were hardly moving, and there was so much blood, I almost didn't recognize you."
You swallow uncomfortably at the pain in his voice, it wasn't often Levi opened up to you like this, but you hope it'll help him heal.
"After seeing you, I wanted to kill that titan more than ever. I wanted to drop all my priorities and avenge you and the rest of them, but I knew I couldn't," he continues, not realizing the bruising grip he had on your hand, but you didn't mind.
"After I realized you were alive, several thoughts went through my mind. I was relieved most of all, so relieved that I wouldn't have to bury my girlfriend, but I also wanted you to quit the scouts so you'd never have to face that situation ever again."
Your eyes widen, he wanted you to quit the Scouts?
Levi, noticing your expression, quickly added something else. "Of course, I'd never ask you to quit the Scouts. I know the reason why you joined, but I couldn't help it. The thought of you dying keeps me up at night."
You slowly nod, understanding his last sentence completely. Even as humanity's strongest, he is still human and isn't immune to dying, it sometimes gives you nightmares while he's away.
"Occasionally, my mind will drift back to your bloody body, how lifeless you looked. You were so close to death, and there was nothing I could do about it." Now that he's started, Levi wouldn't stop talking, you were glad he felt this comfortable around you to be this vulnerable.
"And seeing you in so much pain trying to recover, I wanted to shield you from that, somehow take all that away," Levi glances at your large scar on your cheek, there were many more from that battle, but that one caught the most attention.
"Having you as my nurse made the pain much more bearable," you say, hoping to crack a smile on his face.
It didn't work, but he huffed a humorless laugh at least.
"Hey," you shake his hand. "I'm not going anywhere, it takes much more to get rid of me, believe it."
He shakes his head. "Tch, I believe it. Only reason I'm dating your ass is because you wouldn't leave me alone," Levi counters back, his tone lifting a bit.
"You were asking for it when you put me in your squad."
"Didn't ask for your poor attempts at flirting,"
"Poor?!" You exclaim, "You know you enjoyed my pickup lines, your face was redder than a tomato."
At that, a tiny smile picked up on Levi's face. It wasn't much, but it was more than you had seen ever since the expedition.
"Levi," you say, suddenly serious. "It's okay to feel sad, if you want to cry, yell, destroy something to deal with your grief, then do it. Just please don't bottle it in from now on."
Levi glances at you before nodding, "I'll try, I'm not... use to talking about my feelings like this. But if it'll make you feel better, I'll do my best."
You smile, unable to stop yourself from throwing your arms over his shoulders. He yelps a bit at the sudden weight on him, but relaxes and wraps his arms around your waist, hugging you back.
"On another note," You say, pulling back from him. "Will you try to chill on the whole protective thing? I'm perfectly able to do chores and whatnot."
Levi scoffs and shakes his head. "Since when did you have an issue with me spoiling you?"
"I mean, I'm not mad at it. But it's weird having you clean my house."
"Then move in with me."
"And also I— wait what?" You stare at the man with wide eyes, wondering if you heard those words right.
Levi once again grabs your hand, rubbing the knuckles soothingly. "Let's move in together, we're at that stage right?"
"I mean—"
"Then you wouldn't feel so bad at me cleaning around," Levi jokes, clearly enjoying how flustered you've become.
"Ugh, fine," You say, trying to sound as if it wasn't a big deal. "Who can say no to that kind of offer?"
You were looking forward to not having to clean, but most of all you looked forward to waking up beside Levi, seeing the morning sun basking on his face, hearing how his morning voice sounds, you were almost tempted to pack your things and go now.
"Can we also get a dog?"
"Hell no," Levi says immediately.
"Why not?" You whine, "It'd be so cute."
"Several reasons, the main one being they're messy and smelly and leave hair everywhere," Levi says, nose crinkling in disgust at even the thought. Yeah... for a clean freak like Levi, having a dog would probably stress him out.
"Plus, sometimes we're gone for months at a time, it'd feel lonely for it, no?"
You nod, frowning at not being able to get one. But he's right, they are messy, and with their jobs there's no telling how long they'll leave for missions.
Man you hate it when he's right.
"Fine," you say. "We'll get an outside cat then."
"No. No animals."
"Ugh—"