What You Deserve

Request from Anon: Heyo! If its okay can I request a scenario where the reader has a fight with Levi and then gets hurt while on a mission and thinks he lost you. And Levi regrets what he said as the last thing that happened was the argument. Basically lots of fluff and Angst! c:

Warnings: Blood, traumatic injuries, mentions of loss/death, pregnancy, angst, allusion to abortion

Word count: 4.1k

A/n: Holy FUCK I am so sorry that it took so long, but here ya go! Also, I hadn’t written angst in so damn long, so fingers crossed this is at least half-decent. I promise there’s plenty of fluffiness at the end! Thank you for the request

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Fuck. No. No, no, no, no, no.Where the fuck is she?

Levi desperately scanned the city streets, soaring between buildings faster than he had ever managed to travel before.

Everyone else had already retreated. The mission to scout within this section of Wall Maria was an absolute disaster from the get-go. There were far too many titans, dozens more than past expeditions would have led anyone to believe, and most of the new recruits had paid the insurmountable price of the regiment underestimating this excursion with their lives.

It was a dark day for the Scouts, but it was an even darker day for one in particular.

Levi had seen you not ten minutes ago, catapulting through the air and claiming the napes of countless titans. You both knew that if any more lives were to be spared, you’d both have to fight with everything that you had to give the others who still could flee a chance at returning home in one piece.

He was humanity’s strongest, it was his duty to throw himself into battle to protect others. You were a fiercely skilled soldier, your kill rate: second only to Levi’s. If there was to be a chance for everyone else, it rested on both of your shoulders.

But now that burden was crushing him. Pulling the air from his lungs faster than he could inhale. Cracking his sternum under the immense pressure; threatening to pierce his very heart with the shards of what crumbled within him.

The others had gotten away; no further lives were lost. He should be relieved, but instead he feels regret.

Regret that he didn’t take all those titans on himself.

Regret that he lost track of you in the commotion.

Regret that he couldn’t find you now.

Regret that he couldn’t hear your response when he cried out to you.

But most of all he felt regret for what he had said when you last spoke.

//Earlier that morning//

You had been standing outside Levi’s room for a few minutes too long, drawing curious stares as people passed down the hall, no doubt wondering why you, who were normally so composed, looked like such a mess.

A quick, shallow inhale was the last burst of self-assurance you could offer yourself before you landed an urgent knock on his door.

“Levi, can I talk to you for a minute?”

The fragile quality of your voice matched the urgent tone of your approach and before you could have any second thoughts, the door swung open.

“Good morning to you too, brat.”

The handsome, playful smirk that you had come to love so much greeted you as you carried yourself through the door, promptly shutting it behind you as you pushed your way past Levi.

Another, deeper breath in and you were searching for the nerve to initiate the conversation that you never thought that you would have with this man, this absolute specimen.

You took a moment to observe him, trying to collect your jumbled thoughts. It was still early, but he’d probably been up for hours. If he even slept; he usually didn’t the night before an expedition. His eyes were tired, as they usually were, but soft as they fell on your frame.

Not many people would use that word to describe Levi Ackerman. Actually, there probably wasn’t a soul within the walls who would. Except you. He had shown his soft side, his most intimate, vulnerable parts of himself with you. That meant something, right? You couldn’t help but doubt yourself once again as you took in the sight of him.

His hair was still a bit askew, his cravat dangling untied around his neck. Those eyes were piercing straight into yours, threatening to dive in and pull the words you were too scared to say from your lips, whether you bid them to leave or not.

There was no turning back now.

“I-I-…I thought that,” you stammered, dropping your gaze to the floor as it became obvious you wouldn’t be able to beat holding eye contact with him. “I thought that I might have been pregnant.”

There it was. The horror that had been plaguing you for weeks now. It was out in the open, finally. It felt somewhat relieving to actually say the words out loud; to acknowledge the anxiety that had been haunting you for so long now, but it also invited a whole new wave of torment.

Levi’s jaw was immediately sharpened into a hard set line, his eyes blazed with a concoction of confusion and rage that encouraged all that anxiety that you had thought you’d finally purged to come flooding back into your system.

“What? Y—what do you mean you thought? When? Why in the hell am I just now hearing about this? Pregnant? Dammit, Y/n, are you fucking kidding me?”

He spun away from you, one hand raking through his hair as he shut his eyes tight, before sliding his palm over his face until it rested on the desk in front of him.

“Levi, I-I’m sorry I didn’t come to you about this sooner, I thought I might have been, but I didn’t want to alarm you and..well, I-I didn’t know how you might..react..”

Trembling, you took a step back, leaning against the wall as if the physical support it offered might help you quell the doubts swelling in your chest.

Levi’s weight shifted as he leaned against the desk, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the edge and hung his head. You could see the curvature of every rippling muscle that carved his back into the work of art that it was. Normally, the sight would inspire different feelings in you, but right now all it offered was fear.

He would never lay a hand on you; you knew that for a fact. However, no amount of physical pain could even come close to what you would suffer if he ever left you. You would gladly endure any torture over having to lose Levi.

Your heart sank in your chest as you waited for what seemed like ages, desperately listening for his response. It was hard to tell what Levi was thinking almost all of the time, even as well as you had been blessed enough to come to know him, but standing here, shaking as you watched his shoulders clench and unclench as he shook his head, unable to even glance at whatever expression he was making, made it impossible to speculate what was going through his mind.

Finally, his shoulders seemed to relax a degree and his voice was low and measured when he spoke.

“But you’re not. Correct? You’re absolutely certain?”

Venturing away from the wall, you cautiously took a few steps towards him. Craning your neck, you were able to see that his eyes were shut tight and he seemed to be intently focused on his breathing.

You nodded in vain, bobbing your head nervously as you stepped closer to him still, reaching a hand out to lay atop his left hand, which still had the edge of the desk in a vice grip.

“Yes, I’m certain.”

His shoulders sank further as he let out a long sigh and opened his eyes, keeping them fixed on the desk before him.

“Well thank God for that at least.”

A pang in your gut made you take a small step back, retracting your hand from atop his. His eyes followed your fingers as they broke contact and he fixed his eyes upon you, squinting in confusion as you shrank away from him.

It’s something that you had never considered before: kids, that is. You were a solider. You were both soldiers. The life you currently lead wasn’t conducive to starting a family.

But isn’t that part of what you were fighting for? For freedom? For a world where humans didn’t have to live in fear? One where you could live in peace and maybe bring children into the world without wondering what might become of their future?

It may be a far-fetched dream, but it was a nice ine to consider. Having spent some time contemplating what being a mother might entail, the idea has started to grow on you. It was just something you’d never even considered, but now that it had seemed within reach, maybe it was something you wanted?

But Levi’s reaction seemed to indicate anything but willingness to be a parent. The way he had said those words made it seem like the two of you literally creating a life together would be the worst thing that could happen to you both. Or to him, at least.

“What’re you doing?”

Levi’s words shook you from the runaway train of thought you’d become stuck on. His hand left the desk and reached toward you, but all you could do was stare at his palm as you backed against the wall, folding your hands behind your back and leaning against them.

Suddenly, the floor seemed to be the only thing that you could bear to look at as you inspected the pattern of wood beneath your feet. You tried to sound strong, but the crack in your voice betrayed you when you finally found the courage to speak.

“Would it really have been the worst thing if I had been?”

Another exasperated sigh fell from his lips, his head hanging as he rubbed his palm to his forehead.

“Yes. It would have been.”

The sharpness of his tone added to the cutting nature of his words, which sliced into your gut once again with that heavy pangs for sensation. It felt as if a void had been opened up within you and your heart was sinking into it, with no hopes of escape.

Tears immediately threatened to spring from your eyes and you had to swallow to choke back a sob as you nodded in a reluctant acknowledgement to his confession.

“I have to go.”

You turned to leave, bringing one hand to wipe the tears already rolling down your cheek, while the other clasped around the doorknob.

Levi’s fingers caught your wrist before you could twist the knob and pulled your hand toward him, turning you back to face him as he stepped closer, essentially pinning you between him and the door.

“What? No, talk to me, dammit. You can’t seriously think that us having a child would be a good idea. I know that you’re not that reckless or idiotic.”

Wiping away your tears proved to be a fruitless effort as his words only bid more to flow freely from your eyes. You did your best to repesss the heavy sob that escaped your chest, nearly choking on it as you looked away from him.

You had cried in front of Levi before, but not like this. Certainly never because of him. It was embarrassing. It was painful. It was a cruel torture that you wanted to end, but he seemed resolved to has this out now.

“No! That’s not what I’m saying! Obviously, I’m not that fucking stupid. I get that we can just run off and start a family and live happily ever fucking after, but I come to you with this information and the first fucking thing that you think of is to get angry with ME?”

Once the words started to tumble from your lips, the embrassment and the shame you had just been so smothered in turned to anger. To indignation. To rage. That’s all there was now. You could feel it bubble in your chest, burning within you and fueling your tirade as you found the nerve to lock eyes with Levi.

“I didn’t come to you immediately and maybe that’s my fucking bad, but you—YOU. Do. Not. Know. What I have been going through ALONE. I didn’t tell you when I first suspected, because a part of me was afraid that you would react this way. So I have been sitting with this nagging terror that I had just fucked up in the worst way imaginable and I couldn’t say shit to anyone about it. Not even to you. And every passing day I got a little more fucking terrified that it was real. Terrified and also excited? In a really fucked up way, because I want what I know that I can’t have and what you clearly never fucking want.”

Levi opened his mouth, his eyes narrowing as he readied a response, but you were too far gone now to give him the opportunity.

“No. Shut the fuck up. You have said enough for now. You can’t wait a fucking second to hear what I have to say. I had to wait 3 damn weeks, going back and forth about how awful and how wonderful things could be, before I finally got my period and then I had to let that dream fucking die. Against my best judgement, against everything that I have ever known about myself and about this fucked up life we lead, I allowed myself a few weeks to dream about a normal, domestic life with you and I realized that there was nothing that I wanted more and even if deep down I knew that it could never happen, that didn’t fucking change how badly I wanted it to be possible. How attached I was growing to this idea of you and I being able to have our own family. To have our own lives not having to worry about the burden of carrying the fate of of humankind on our backs. And before you can even hear me out, or think to ask me how in the fuck I FEEL, you’re mad at ME?”

A spiteful laugh echoed between you two, Levi noticeably winced as you shook your head and rolled your eyes before meeting his gaze once more.

“Fuck you, Levi Ackerman. You might be humanity’s strongest solider, but you’re sure as shit not what I’d call boyfriend of the year.”

His eyebrows furrowed and his tone dropped to a nearly venomous whisper. It sounded like he was struggling to contain his emotions, and failing, as his face contorted into an obviously conflicted expression.

“So what in the hell makes you think I’d ever be father of the year, huh? Did you consider that in your little fantasy? Did you account for the fact that if you were pregnant, you’d have been putting yourself and that kid at risk if you went on the mission today? And when in the hell were you going to fill me in? Were you just gonna wait to fucking let me in on this little secret until you were too far along to change your mind?”

Silence.

That’s all that was left between you. You just stared at him, jaw agape as he looked down and furiously ran his hands through his hair, tugging at his raven locks as he spun around before slamming a closed fist against the wall.

“That’s not—I don’t mean that I—“

The sound of the door slamming behind you caused him to turned around and that’s when he saw that you were gone. He rushed after you, desperate to pull you into his arms and apologize and explain himself, but you had already turned the corner and Erwin was expeditiously headed his way.

“Levi, I need to speak with you about today’s expedition.”

A heavy sigh left his lungs as he propped the door open for Erwin to enter. His eyes lingered down the hall, hoping you would reappear, but to no avail.

//end flashback//

You and Levi had never fought before. Not over anything serious. Not over anything like that, certainly. He had never wanted to hurt you, but he broke your fucking heart and he knew it.

He knew that that was the last real interaction you had with him and it killed him inside. Not only had he managed to hurt the one person that he loved more than anything, more than life itself, but that was likely the last thing that he would ever get to say to you.

Because you were gone. Nowhere to be found. He’d flown into a rage when he initially realized that he couldn’t see you anymore. He never lost track of you in battle; he was always keeping an eye on you, even though you could handle yourself. He just wanted to make sure that nothing ever happened to you and now he’d failed at that too.

Now every last titan was dead. The city was quiet, save for the sound of his ODM gear and the thumping of his heart.

His chest physically ached and tightened as he continued to fly through the city streets, scanning for any sign that you might be nearby, and mercifully in one piece.

With each second, he could feel his hope shrinking and the terror in his soul feeding on the fear he felt with every passing moment that you weren’t within his sights.

He didn’t know how long he had searched or how many times he had inspected the same corpses, praying each one wasn’t yours, but eventually, he had to tell himself to go home. You weren’t here.

Titans had begun to reappear and he didn’t have the gas to engage in any more confrontations, so he forced himself to find his horse and turn back.

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t make you happy. He couldn’t not hurt you. He couldn’t save you. He couldn’t even find you. He could never really say goodbye.

All he could do was replay that awful scene in his mind, over and over and over again.

How selfish he had been. How much pain was evident in your face when he spat those awful words at you.

He didn’t mean them, he was just scared and confused and now because of his own insecurity and thoughtlessness, you had suffered even more than you had ever needed to and he would never get the chance to try and make it up to you, if something that would have even been possible.

The ride back to base was a dizzying blur. Levi didn’t know what to feel by the time he got back. He didn’t think he could feel at all, actually. It felt like a void had opened up in his chest that was now sucking the air from his lungs and the light from his very soul. He felt broken beyond repair.

“Levi!”

He barely registered the sound of his own name being called and he certainly didn’t feel like interacting with anyone, so he kept walking.

“Levi, she’s here!”

What? Had I heard correctly? Did they mean??

He didn’t waste another second when he thought there was a possibility that he could see you again. His head snapped up to look at Hange, who was waving him toward her with a reassuring smile on her face.

Levi had never run so fast in his life. Within moments, he was at your side in the infirmary. His heart broke all over again at the sight of you laid in the bed, bloodied bandages covering most of your limbs and dark bruises peeking out from the places the bandages didn’t cover.

Tears were already falling from his eyes as he gingerly took your hand in his, pressing desperate, soft kisses along your palm.

“Y/n, baby, I’m so sorry. Oh my God, I thought I had lost you. I can’t believe you’re here. I’m so fucking sorry. I love you so much, baby, I love you so damn much.”

You cupped his face in your hand, smiling at him as tears fell from your own eyes.

“Levi, I—“

He carefully leaned over your bed, taking in the state of your body as he caressed your cheek with the back of his hand as delicately as he could.

“Don’t say that you love me.”

He interrupted your impending words as if he could actually read your mind. His fingers pushed into your hair, running through your tresses soothingly as he looked down at you with an sad, apologetic grin. Remorse was evident in his tone when he spoke again.

“I don’t deserve your love right now. I don’t think that I ever have, but I know that I don’t deserve it after how I treated you this morning. I’m so, so sorry, Y/n.”

His other hand delicately wiped the tears that were trailing down your cheeks, brushing his thumb across either side of your face carefully. You put your hand over his and pulled his hand to your lips, pressing gentle kisses along his palm as he had done to your own just moments ago.

“Levi, I do love you. I love you more than anything, even now. I’m so sorry that I didn’t come to you sooner abo—“

“Sshsshssh, baby, no. Don’t apologize to me for that. I was such a jackass this morning. I am so sorry that I didn’t even consider what you must have been going through. I-I-..when you—fuck.”

Levi’s eyes closed and he let out a long breath as he tried to compose himself. He wasn’t one to ever get flustered, so seeing him like this was a bit unusual.

“I didn’t know how to react and I picked the worst option possible. I didn’t mean the awful things that I said, Y/n. I didn’t mean a single one.”

His eyes were focused on you again, both of his hands taking yours as he sat down on the edge of the bed, smiling remorsefully down at you.

“I love you so much that it actually scares me. I try not to let myself think about it too much, because the thought of anything ever happening to you kills me. I searched for you for I don’t even know how long, because I just couldn’t accept that I might have lost you and thinking about the last thing that I said to you I couldn’t—“

Silence filled the room for a moment as Levi visibly struggled to choke back a sob and when he spoke again, his voiced cracked; the guilt he was clearly struggling with was evident in his tone as his voice dropped to a whisper.

“I couldn’t live with myself knowing that that was the last thing that you would have ever heard from me. I need you to know that that’s not how I feel. I would give anything to be able to have that life with you. I want nothing more than to be able to give you as many children as you’ll let me. I want a house full of brats running around, driving me insane.”

You smiled and stifled a soft giggle as more tears sprang from your eyes, happy ones this time. Levi chuckled along with you as he continued.

“I want you and I want to give you the world. But I want to give you a world that’s worthy of you. That’s what I wanted to say earlier, but I didn’t know how to put it into words; I still don’t, really. I was scared and I had a knee-jerk reaction and I will apologize to you until I can give you the life that you want; the life that you deserve.”

You closed your eyes, leaning into his touch as he brought a hand up to your cheeks again to wipe away the tears that were seemingly ever-flowing.

“Levi, I love you so much. I want that life with you, but I’m happy with just you.”

Your hand clasped over his as you spoke, before gently removing it from your cheek before you carefully began to sit upright in the bed, wincing only a little as you successfully did so, bringing your face just inches from his.

“I’m happy with whatever life I can have with you. I know this world isn’t fair; it’s downright cruel most of the time, but it’s still a world that I love, because you’re in it.”

His soft gaze fell to your lips as he leaned forward, capturing them in a passionate kiss as his hand cautiously held your waist. When you parted, he rested his forehead against yours and took your hand in his once more.

“I don’t deserve you. I love you so much, Y/n.”

You smiled softly as you soothed your thumb over the back of his hand.

“You deserve the world, Levi. And I love you too, so I’ll make sure you have it.”

How Dad!Levi would react to cadets crushing on your guys’ daughter

Request from @levisliteralbabbymamma: HEHHEHEHEHHEHE IM SOOO EXCITEDFDDDDNDNJH. sorry lmao. Can I get a dad Levi hc where he has a teenage daughter w/ the reader (fem) and they both have to deal with all the 104th boys who have a crush on herrrrr. Take your time love

Date: 5.15.21

Warnings: none

A/n: I couldn’t decide if y/n was a civilian or a squad leader, so I went with both also, it’s a little lengthy for HCs, sorry

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w/ civilian y/n

• would absolutely avoid any and all contact with anything having to do with work anyway while he has time with you two
• y'all would have a home somewhere within a reasonable distance from wherever Levi is based
• he didn’t want either of you to be exposed to the military and the realities of what he had to do, if he could help it
• but he would ride over on horseback as often as he could, spending whatever little free time he had away from training and his usual responsibilities that he could
• but occasionally, you both would visit him and his squad
• and on one particular weekend, when trainings were minimal, the families of the troops, who were able to, spent the weekend with their loved ones at the base
• your daughter is about the same age as the 104th boys
• and she may or may not have looked at Jean a liiiiittle too long
• Jean was absolutely beet red too. Even his ears were practically glowing.
• Eren and Connie also could not seem to suppress their initial reaction to meeting y’all’s daughter
• The rest of them at least had the decency to avert their eyes and try to act cool
• and Levi tried SO hard not to look like he did, but he noticed, ohhhh he noticed
• and you noticed him noticing
• bc he was NOT amused and you got lowkey highkey scared for these poor teenagers
• The introductions were over QUICKLY
• Jean extended his hand out and Levi swooped in with those Ackerman reflexes and just *BAP*
• “You’ve been out in the dirt training all day. Wash your filthy hands before you extend one to my daughter.”
• Jean is grateful he has not actually shit his pants and silently tries to manifest some sense of composure
• Levi would excuse himself and point you and your daughter toward the mess hall, giving you a look that you immediately understand
• Like hon, get our baby away from these disgusting heathens right this instant, please.
• “Okay, hon, your dad’s gonna catch up with us at in a few, let’s go find Hange, huh?”
• Would dismiss everyone but Eren, Jean, and Connie and tell them to make sure the place was absolutely spotless, since there was company

Levi stepped directly in front of Eren, his cold expression radiating absolute authority.

“Eren, have I made it perfectly clear how easily I would be able to kill you, even in Titan form, should the need arise?”

Jean and Connie look on in nervous terror as Eren nods genuinely, nearly trembling as he holds Levi’s looming stare.

“Y-yes, Captain.”

Levi’s attention turns towards Connie and then Jean, allowing his commanding glare to linger over the latter boy even longer than the first.

“Good. Now go clean your damn rooms.”

w/ squad leader y/n

• For the timelines sake, your daughter was born to you while you and Levi lived in the underground
• Both of you were recruited to join the scouts
• Levi did not like it, but it’s not like he could exactly stop you
• You brought your family to the surface and they helped you raise your daughter when the both of you had to serve simultaneously
• Despite Levi’s numerous objections, your daughter joins the military too
• Bc she’s just as stubborn as both her parents
• He is NOT happy about it
• But she’s an Ackerman and therefore, she kicks ass and skyrockets to the top of the 104th, holding her own against Mikasa
• And alllll the boys take notice
• And then your daughter one day seems to notice that some of the boys who have also noticed her are cute
• It’s difficult for Levi to accept that his daughter is growing up
• Allowing her to join the military was one thing, her acknowledging boys exist is another beast entirely
• You thought he was furious about her joining the Scouts?? Oh, that was nothing.
• He has always had a tendency to be a little bit over-involved. Not to the point of smothering, but bc of the way he grew up, he wanted to make it a point to be as involved as he could
• Plus, after everything he’s been through, he absolutely could not handle losing you or your daughter
• It would actually breakhim
• So someone swooping in and just taking his little girl away from him?? Absolutely not. Nope. Not happening. Not as long as he can help it.
• She constantly get embarrassed when he interrupts her talking one on one with any boy, but especially when he does it to Jean
• He does not give a single shit. His instinct to protect her at all costs includes the cost of her getting annoyed with him
• Bc Levi would want to spoil his kids and never have to say no to them or do something they don’t like, BUT
• He would rather her roll her eyes and stomp off than see her get her heartbroken, be he knows the feeling
• Albeit, in a different way, but he doesn’t want that pain for his baby girl
• It seems like every night he’s got a new complaint about at least one of the boys. Bc obviously none of them are good enough for her and they should be more aware of that fact.

“Did you see that idiot today?”

Levi fumbled with the straps of his uniform, his face flustered with a clear expression of annoyance as he strode into your shared bedroom.

“Which one, honey? Ah, wait, lemme guess. Kirstein?”

A mocking grin appeared on your face as you stood from the edge of the bed.

“Ye-“ grey eyes snapped to yours, the unamused look on his face was a telling sign that he knew where you were going with this. “Yes. I know his hearing works. He can hear Jaeger muttering something under his breath from a damn mile away. He’s certainly not deaf. So why does he feel the need to stand so damn close to y/d/n? Her ears work even better than his, I’m sure.”

Walking up behind him, you encircled him in your arms, pressing your face against his shoulder as you placed a gentle kiss on his neck and looked at him in the floor length mirror that held your shared reflection.

“Baby, I know you don’t want to hear this, but how old was I when you met me?

His eyes rolled so far back in his head that you briefly feared they might get stuck there. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand and laid the other on top of yours.

The fingers pinching his nose migrated to his temple, rubbing small circles there as he lowered the tone of his voice, speaking reminiscently.

"I guess you were 15 too, huh?”

Your arms gave him a delicate squeeze as your lips worked slowly to place more soothing kisses along his neck and shoulders.

“She’s growing up. We can’t stop that. We just have to trust her. We won’t lose her, babe. She will always be our daughter and nothing will change that.”

His eyes closed reluctantly as he clasped his other hand over your forearm, relaxing into your touch. Another weighty exhale came through his nostrils as he met your gaze in the mirror.

“I know. I just wish she could have always stayed my little girl.”

You both exchange sympathetic smiles as he breaks from your grasp to turn and pull you into a sweet embrace, placing a kiss on your temple as he holds you tight to him and you whisper your response.

“I know, baby, I know.”

obvious ; levi ackerman

warningsnothing

genremodern au, teashopowner!levi, fluff

word count 0.7k

inspiration modern levi hcs,, aka the best things ever

synopsis in which you try to be discreet about your crush on the local tea shop owner but he’s not stupid, and— surprisingly— doesn’t mind

author’s note finally writing for my husband levi

It was completely accidental, the first time you stumbled in here. It was pouring down rain and you had had probably the worst day of your life at the office. All you wanted was a warm place to sit until the rain blew over.

Luckily for you, a shop you hadn’t even noticed a couple blocks from your job was open. Inside was warm just like you wanted, the atmosphere was nice and welcoming, the smell of various teas and coffees wafting through the air. It lured you to the counter where the display of baked goods were.

You had been so distracted then with the pastries that you didn’t even notice the questioning gaze from the raven that stood beyond the glass. Your memory was a bit hazy but you still remembered the clearing of his throat that brought you out of your trance.

And when your eyes flickered up to meet the gorgeous gray ones, you were greeted with the fact they belonged to an even better face. It still embarrassing that you gasped right in front of him, you still winced at that part.

But immediately you were so taken with the man who stood behind the counter. Who you soon came to know as the owner of the establishment, Levi.

It wasn’t the last time you came. Not only was the service and your order good, you couldn’t resist walking in and seeing his gray eyes welcome you.

To say you had a crush on Levi would be an understatement. It was silly. You felt like your younger self again whenever you were under his gaze. Just filled with butterflies at one simple glance.

You had been coming in for months now and your feelings for him still haven’t wavered. Even if you two haven’t ever held a full conversation together, they still lingered.

Currently, you sat in your usual spot. Enjoying the moment of your break before you had to travel those few blocks back to your workplace. This was the only place you came for breaks now.

Sitting alone in a corner with your tea and a croissant, your usual that Levi had memorized by now.

Speaking of Levi, he was doing his routinely dust down of the place. You could’ve sworn he was doing it just moments ago but you’ve gotten used to his clean freak tendencies.

Like normal, your eyes glued to his figure as he zipped around. Sweeping, wiping, watering plants, even scolding his employees for letting the place get the way it is even though it was spotless.

You hadn’t even realized the fond smile that had formed on your face until it was too late. Those sharp, gray eyes bored into your own. You practically jolted, head clocking the opposite way to avoid his stare.

Ignore me, ignore me, ignore me, you begged, close to even crossing your fingers beneath the table. But when you heard the familiar clacking of his dress shoes coming in your direction is when you knew.

“You know you can always take a picture, it would last longer.” Embarrassingly, his voice sent a quick chill up your spine. You peeled your eyes from the window beside you and locked gazes with Levi.

“I’m well aware, Mister Ackerman. Watching you clean is just fascinating, seeing as your café is practically spotless.” The last sentence was one you mused to yourself. You grabbed your teacup as Levi scoffed.

Leaning forward, he swiped a finger on a ledge beside your table and in front of the window. “See,” he pointed his finger at you, barely covered in dust. “Filthy.”

“Huh. Then I guess since it’s so dirty here I should take my business elsewhere?” You cocked an eyebrow. Hiding a smirk behind your teacup.

Levi narrowed his eyes at you for a moment. “You wouldn’t last a day. You would miss staring me down too much.” You choked on your chamomile, leaning forward in surprise.

The sight seemed to amuse Levi, a slight upturn of his lips appearing.

“I don’t stare you down!” You argued, placing your cup down.

“Oh, no?” Levi inquired, a playful hint to his usual monotonous voice. “I have eyes, brat. I know when you’re ogling, it’s obvious.”

Ready to fire back, you opened your mouth but no words came out. Just the feeling of utter embarrassment creeping up your neck. Great, spending your break getting confronted by your crush.

Levi clicked his tongue while you silently accepted defeat. “Don’t get too down on yourself,” Levi started, looking back as someone entered the shop.

“I don’t mind your little crush on me.”