Chapter Text
The room felt different in the early morning light—calmer, heavier somehow. Levi stood near the edge of the bed, already half-dressed, his expression focused but not distant like it used to be. There was hesitation in the way he moved now, a pause that hadn’t been there before.
You stepped closer without a word.
“Hold still,” you murmured.
Levi glanced at you, surprised, but didn’t resist. You smoothed the fabric of his shirt, fingers brushing his chest as you fastened the buttons one by one. He watched you quietly, jaw tight, eyes softer than they had any right to be before heading back to duty.
You reached for his tie, looping it around his collar with clumsy fingers.
“You’re terrible at this,” he muttered.
“Be quiet,” you said, tugging it into place—then, without thinking, you pulled him down by it just enough to press a brief, lingering kiss to his lips.
Not rushed. Not heated.
Just real.
Levi froze.
For a split second, the captain—the soldier—disappeared entirely. His hand came up to your wrist, not pulling you away, just holding you there like he needed to anchor himself.
“…You make it harder to leave,” he said quietly.
You rested your forehead against his. “Then come back.”
His breath left him slowly. “I always do,” he replied. But this time, it sounded like a promise instead of a habit.
You straightened his collar, smoothing the crease near his shoulder. “Try not to get hurt.”
He snorted softly. “Bossy.”
But his hand lingered at your waist longer than necessary, thumb pressing in once—subtle, grounding. When he finally stepped back, he looked different. Not softer. Not weaker.
Just… changed.
At the door, he paused.
Didn’t say anything dramatic. Just looked at you once more, eyes sharp but warm, like he was memorizing the sight of you standing there.
“…I’ll be back,” he said.
“I know.”
And when the door closed behind him, the room felt emptier—but not hollow. Because for the first time, Levi Ackerman walked back into duty carrying something with him.
Someone.