Chapter Text
Spring
Levi pressed his fingers to his temple in an attempt to rub the stupidity of new cadets out of his brain. It was straining, every year a fresh crop of mostly teenagers entered into his life and though he admired their will to lay their lives down on the line but by god did they drive him up the wall. He was currently watching the new 104th cadets as they spared with their respective partners. Dust flying around shuffling feet, wails of pain and grunts of pride filling the crisp spring air. His eyes flickered between the various pairs not really paying close attention to anyone in particular until an almost musical laugh made his ears perk. Nonchalantly he turned his attention to Connie and the girl he was supposed to be fighting. However Connie was currently face down in the dirt with his fists wrapped around his back by delicate hands, one knee digging into the middle of his spine while you kept your other leg between Connie’s thighs. Your eyes weren’t on your captive, actually he had been yelling at you to get off him for about five minutes but you were too enthralled with a few brightly colored butterflies fluttering a few feet away. Giggling at them you reached your hand out to touch them, smiling softly at the beautiful blue winged creatures.
“CAN YOU HEAR ME?!” Connie wailed trying his best not to swallow dirt.
“Oh, whoops!” You said cheerfully pulling Connie up to his feet. He dusted his front off and spit out a rock, giving you an unhappy glare.
“That’s enough for today brats, go get lunch.” Levi chimed while keeping his eye on the pair of you.
Happily obliging the cadets from the newly graduated class began talking and filing into the castle. You felt Mikasa pull your arm but you shook your head and pointed to the butterflies you had been watching earlier. Mikasa shrugged and joined the rest of the group heading back up the hill. Pushing your fingers through your hair you began walking to where the butterflies had darted off to, the pair dancing in mid air to their own secret tune. You crossed your arms behind your back and sighed, you had always found nature beautiful. It was hard to find solace in this world of death and war, but you always found something stunning to distract you from the harsh reality that loomed over your head like an axe.
“What are you doing? You should be going inside.” Levi said walking up behind you. Turning to face your corporal you gave him a respectable salute to which he scoffed and waved his hand.
“Sorry sir I just love the colors of spring.” You said softly, pointing at the blue and black butterflies. Levi cocked his head and glanced over at the winged creatures, slightly confused as to why you found beauty in weird flying worms.
“What are you talking about?” Levi asked in his trademark tone.
“Spring is when everything is new again, the earth becomes reborn and its colors are so vibrant! The grass always looks so fresh and feels so soft and the flowers seem more vivacious. When the sun shines high in the sky through the tall trees if you stand in the middle they make these pretty little sunspots, it makes it almost look enchanted you know?” You said sheepishly rubbing the back of your head.
“I’ve never noticed.” Levi said averting his gaze away from your eyes. You sighed and pulled your bottom lip in.
“You should sometime Corporal, the world can be really beautiful in the spring.”
“Tch.”
Summer
“Oh my god it’s so hooooooooot.” Sasha whined and fanned herself with her hand.
“Mhmm.” You whispered with your eyes closed.
A rare day off for the scouting legion, something about the squad leaders needing to be in meetings all day so after morning chores the cadets were free to do as they wished. How boring it must be for them, you could never stand being in side for an entire day. Sasha was right about the heat but in your haste to explore the land around HQ you had come across a small lake and you could barely contain your excitement. Almost immediately Sasha, Christa and yourself had stripped down to your underwear and dove into the glittering water. Luckily the lush trees provided enough shade to keep the crystal clear water a perfect temperate and as far as you knew, nobody else had any idea this secret haven existed.
“We’re going to head back, I’m starving!” Sasha said poking your cheek.
“Mkay.” You said dismissively, not wanting to leave your paradise quite yet.
“Don’t stay out here too long! You’ll miss lunch.” Christa said as her and Sasha made their way back into the forest.
It was quiet and peaceful almost like you were a child again, lying on your back under the shade of the trees. Your skin prickled as the wind brushed past your cooled skin, whistling a lullaby into your ears. Draping your arm over your eyes you felt your mind receding into a dream-like state but the constant tickle of grass on your bare legs kept you from fully succumbing to sleep.
You weren’t sure how long you stayed in that position, all you knew was that the cocoon of serenity the pond created wasn’t something to take for granted. By the time you figured you should probably head back the sun was beginning to set and the cerulean sky had been replaced by a swirl of tangerine and pink. You heard footsteps behind you and assumed it was one of the girls coming to fetch you and make sure you didn’t drown or something. Sitting up with a stretch you pulled yourself up to your feet, bending down to get your pants and boots from the ground.
When you looked up you were startled to see a pair of granite eyes instead of Christa’s baby blues. Smiling meekly before turning your head down to avoid him seeing the pink dusting your cheeks you fumbled with the buttons of your pants before stopping and dropping them completely. Levi raised an eyebrow while the white garment fell to the floor, leaving you just in your tank top and underwear.
“Do you want to swim with me sir?” You asked bringing your eyes up to meet his. “It’s still light outside and the temperature doesn’t seem to have dropped. It must be boring to be inside that stuffy castle all day.”
You pointed to the pond behind you, stepping backwards to the edge of the water. Mud squished between your toes, something Levi would probably hate but at the moment you weren’t too concerned with being dirty. You stepped delicately into the water and walked backwards so that it reached your middle, keeping your eyes on Levi. His expression didn’t change though he did begin to unlace his boot very slowly as if rolling the idea over in his head before making a decision.
“You better not be some kind of pervert.” Levi said pulling his right boot off. You laughed and dove into the water not caring that the only shirt you had was now soaking wet.
When you popped up from your dive Levi had already taken everything off except his pants which in reality surprised the hell out of you. It took every ounce of strength not to scream profanities at your stupid belts much less the mile long boots the military made you wear. It’s as if the uniforms were created solely to make sex downright impossible since the amount of time spent on foreplay was redirected to taking the damn things off. Lost in your own thoughts you let out a loud snort earning a slightly irritated gaze from your new swimming partner.
“Oh god sir I’m not laughing at you!” You squeaked. “I mean look at you, any woman would be crazy not to want you! I mean shit, I’m not a pervert just have you seen your abs sir? Oh my god, I’m..bye.” You stuttered before diving into the water again.
“Pervert.” He said with a smirk.
Fall
Each step you took another creak reverberated in the empty hallway, no matter how light your step the old castle was probably ancient and in desperate need of some new floors. Cringing you continue tiptoeing through the drowsy castle, some doors were crammed with heavily snoring soldiers while others contained quiet whispers of night owls conversing between each other. You weren’t sure if it was the time of year that made the stone building seem creepier or if it was the eerie sensation that someone had been following you for the past five minutes. Clutching your bag of treats close to your heart you silently pushed the door to the empty kitchen open, letting your fingers guide the door shut softly before you made your way to the lone teapot on the stove. Lighting a match you coaxed a small fire to pop under the burner and padded over to the cupboard to grab a mug. You watched the teapot closely to assure no loud whistling noise would spring through its spout, you’d be damned if you let an inanimate object rat you out to your superiors.
When you were satisfied with the temperature of the water you grabbed the teapot and snuffed out the fire. Pouring carefully, you watched the steaming water mix with the brown powder and bits of apple at the bottom of your white mug. Soon the delicious aroma of cinnamon and apple filled your nostrils bringing a happy grin to your lips. Quietly you grabbed the mug with both hands and ignored the burning sensation, opting to bite your lip instead of scream in agony. Leaning back on the counter you brought the cup to your lips and blew the wisps of steam away from your delectable cider. You tilted the cup back and allowed the liquid to enter your mouth, emitting a soft moan of pleasure as your taste buds exploded with the taste of this heaven sent drink.
“That must be some drink.” Levi said leaning against the doorframe. You froze with the mug still at your lips, staring timidly at the black-haired corporal.
“Do you want some?” You asked trying to rectify your blatant disregard of the rules with a peace offering. “It’s really good, it’s like fall but in your mouth!”
“You can’t taste a season.” Levi deadpanned. You smacked your hand on your forehead and let out a groan.
“Your creativity is lacking sir.” You muttered. Walking over to him you realized he was dressed in what looked like blue pajama pants and a white t-shirt; his eyes were glazed over as if he had woken up in the middle of a dream cycle. He must have some sort of ‘disobedient cadet’ radar.
Gingerly you held your cup up to him, giving a snort when he looked like you just handed him a cup of plague juice. Whipping around you stalked over to the counter and poured half the contents of your mug into another one, spilling some on the counter in the process. You heard Levi grunt but opted to ignore it; nobody could resist the deliciousness of cider right? You made your way back to where he was standing and thrust the cup under his nose hoping the smell would entice him. He looked at you warily then back in the cup, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips before he took the cup from your hand. His fingertips brushed against yours, it was a simple touch but it had the power of a thunderstorm. He gripped the cup by the rim as he always did and took a small sip, eyes widening momentarily before downing the entire mug in one try.
“Shit is delicious.” He mused.
You smiled.
“This doesn’t mean you’re not going to be punished, cadet.”
You frowned.
Winter
A blanket of fresh snow covered the entire HQ, frosting the windows and topping the roof of the castle like frosting to a cake. All the fireplaces had been burning yet the cold air managed to wind its way through the castle halls making everyone bundle up as best they could. Most of the cadets were finishing dinner while others opted to snuggle in their bunks with one another. Opting to leave your friends to their own desires you made your way up the spiral staircase behind a door you weren’t supposed to know about. Wrapping yourself in your cloak and scarf Sasha had given to you for your birthday you trudged up to the roof of the building.
Your nose was already a bright shade of pink, each time you blinked white droplets fell from your eyelashes dusting your cheeks with their chilly presence. Rubbing your hands together you watched the silent world become enveloped in grey light, the crescent moon hanging groggily above the dark sky. Tiny balls of white drifted peacefully from the sky, the charm of winter wrapping its cold beauty around your body. Puffs of ashen air darted from your parted lips, no matter the cold you were sure to get the next day nothing could replace the intimate harmony of snow and nightfall.
“You’re going to get sick.”
“How’d you know I was up here?” You ask him not bothering to turn his direction.
“I could see you from my office window you idiot.” He said clasping his hands on your shoulders. “Face me.”
Complying you turn on your heels and face your superior. Fluffy balls of snow decorate his raven hair, somber eyes softened under the glow of the moon. He takes a step closer to you, your breath colliding with his. You watch him, drinking him in; you always did this, as you were never sure if you would ever see him again. Cradling your chin in his hand he pulls you forward and brushes his lips against yours. For a moment the world stops, everything turns white and falls around you. In this second, this moment you will cherish for all eternity, it’s just his lips against yours. When he pulls back your eyes are still closed, he watches a smile form on your cherry lips.
Spring
Levi watches a red butterfly flutter aimlessly outside his window, he can hear footsteps echoing in the hall outside his office. The faint sound of familiar laughter catches his attention but he brushes it off, burying his nose deeper in his paperwork. His gaze shifts to the window again, the same red butterfly flapping its ruby wings once more before flying out of sight into the sapphire sky.
“You were right about the colors, ____.” He says softly, fingering the faded cloth between his fingers.
“Can you see it from there brat?” He asks while he looks back at the window up into the sky, hoping the flowers were bright enough to see from heaven.