Captain WhAckerman?

But he knew he truly messed up when he found himself clinging to Jean for dear life. His vision swam while labored breaths rattled his aching ribs, nausea seeping through the pits of his stomach. He'd barely managed to drag himself to the mess hall before the world around him spun, his fluttering fingers trying to grasp onto anything that would keep him from doubling over. Of course, his nosey cadets were by his side the second they'd notice how their Captain looked ghastly pale; his sickly complexion was enough to sound the alarms within their heads. 

How he ended up clutching Jean's arm as the boy frantically tried to ease him onto a chair, he didn't know. He might've blacked out for a second. A grunt escaped his throat, pushing past gritted teeth, muscles protesting as he settled down on the seat Connie had dragged over. 

"Captain! Are you alright?" Eren shoved Jean out of the way and faced the Captain with a look of concern. His brows pulled together and it was then Levi was reminded of how young his cadets were. Damn, they're just kids. 

Levi only spared the boy a heavy-lidded glance accompanied with a wave of his hand. "I'm fine. I was only a little dizzy," He sighed, "I apologize for scaring you like that."

"No offense Captain, but you've definitely seen better days." Connie pipped up, earning a smack in the head from Sasha.

Mikasa met the Captain's gaze, a look of disapproval leveling him. "You skipped the check-up again, didn't you?"

"My doings and whereabouts are none of your concern," Levi answered, his words clipped by the company of sharp breaths. The younger Ackerman clicked her tongue, earning a glare from the Captain.

Armin frowned. "Sir, that would be the third time you skip the check-up." The boy pulled at the sleeves of his jacket nervously, hoping he hadn't spoken out of terms. 

At that, Jean nodded. "And I can't imagine Squad Leader (Y/n) will be happy to find out you've been neglecting your health again." 

Damned brats were right, Levi knew they were. He knew you'd be dragging his ass to medical by the ear if you saw his current state. Pale, sweaty, bruised, and dizzy. But Humanity's Strongest didn't have the luxury of settling for a moment's worth of rest. No, there was no rest for the man who'd been tasked with the impossible— to be the strength of all of humanity. Broken or bruised, he had to keep himself upright for the sake of others. Because what was he if not more soldier than man? Who would he be if he weren't humanity's top weapon against the enemy?  

"I can assure you," Levi breathed, his voice crackling painfully as it spilled past his lips. He winced slightly. "I do not require her medical services. I'm fine." 

"Like hell you are," The sound of your voice had the Captain sitting up quickly, cursing colorfully at the stabbing pain that shot through his chest. Anyone else would've missed the subtle look of guilt and embarrassment that flashed behind his silver eyes, but not you. You, who could read even the most minuscule shifts in his expressions. You, who could differentiate the pained pinch of his brows from his usually stern stare. You, who seemed less than pleased with the signs of his condition. "You're so stubborn." You sighed.

It was only then that Levi noticed Sasha lingering behind you. She must've ratted him out. All he could do was accept defeat and slump back in his chair.

A few beats in silence passed, the air thick and tense. The cadets waited anxiously for their next orders, willing to help care for their Captain. It's the least they could do for the man that protects them at all costs. Their eyes flickered from the Captain to you, and back to their leader, their shoulders held back in attention.

"Go back to your table, kids," The reassurance in your voice had them relaxing ever so slightly. Your eyes remained on Levi as you spoke, "I can handle it from here." Sparing the cadets a final glance accompanied by a short nod, they were quick to scramble away, allowing you a moment with your lover. 

"I'm not going to medical," He rasped, instinctively leaning into your touch the moment your cool knuckles caressed the sharp lines of his cheekbones. "I can't stand that place." The hot stench of death, blood, and bleach were always quick to make him queasy. 

The sharp disapproval in your gaze softened in understanding as you gave a gentle nod. "I know," you sighed. "But I still need to make sure you're okay, love."

"Could I possibly pull the rank card here and say you can't make me go there?" A futile attempt at escaping the dreadful confines of the medical wing, he knew, but he couldn’t help the fluttering of his heart when a huff of laughter bubbled past your lips.

"You could," you started, a knowing smile pulling at your lips. "But it won't work."

Levi frowned, tilting his head curiously. "And why's that?" He truly wanted to know.

"Because, Captain," you teased. Oh, he knew you were enjoying the savory taste of your next words. "When it comes to the health of the Scouts, I outrank even the Commander himself." 

“Damn,” Silver eyes searched your gaze. There was no doubt in his mind that you were completely capable of tossing him over your shoulder and carrying him to medical if necessary; he’d rather avoid such commotion. He was never a fan of the monotonous medical rooms, cold with grief and mourning, so he was really hoping he could avoid them.

As if understanding his train of thought, you brushed a strand of hair away from the slick sheen of sweat on his forehead, bringing his attention back to you. A tender stroke of your fingers down the contour of his jaw had his pained expression loosening subtly. You needed to get him out of the mess hall; there was no need for his condition to be exposed in front of all the Scouts. “Can you walk?” When conflict glimmered within his silver gaze, you nodded. “Alright, that’s okay. Come on, love” Carefully wrapping his arm over your shoulder while pulling his waist close to you, you slowly maneuvered him out of the wooden chair, whispering apologies as his troubled breathing hitched through hisses of pain. With his body so close to your own, you could feel the cold sweats that soaked his skin, the way he leaned most of his weight against you, the soft loll of his head as he fought through the fog in his brain. Your heart clenched with every muffled groan he kept within tight lips. 

Before he knew it, he was being eased down onto your shared bed, carefully propped up by the pillows behind his back. Through dark lashes, he watched as you pulled out the medic pack you always had in the room, setting it by the bedside table before sorting through its contents. Even through his foggy mind, he could make out the pull of your brows accompanied by the gentle downward curl of your lips. It made his heart twinge with guilt. “I thought we were—”

“Going to the infirmary?” You finished for him, turning to fill out of bowl with cool water and pluck a rag from your drawer. Dampening the cloth and wringing out the excess water, you carefully began wiping away at his flushed skin. Levi sank into the pillows behind him in relief, the cool temperature of the rag working wonders against the nausea that spilled over him. “No,” You shook your head. “I’m sure I can care for you just as well here than I can over there. You aren’t the only one who’s tired of that place.”

Levi could only nod, wincing as he fixed himself into a more comfortable position, grateful for the help of your gentle hand guiding him with nurturing touches. “Careful,” you breathed, your jaw ticking. “You shouldn’t have been moving so much without knowing how bad you were hurt.” When your eyes flickered down to his chest, Levi nodded, granting you permission to pull up the fabric of his shirt. Darkening bruises tainted the skin above his ribs, but you didn’t wince at the sight; you merely set your jaw as you inspected the wounds, gracing his tender skin, frowning when Levi’s breath hitched and he instinctively shifted away with a pained look on his face. 

The low droop of your shoulders were a tale-tell sign of your exhaustion, but before he could comment on it, you were carefully rubbing cream onto his bruised skin, the circular motions of your fingers soothing some of the aches rattling his bones. “This should numb the area for a bit,” You allowed for your touch to linger, feeling the jagged rising and falling of your lover’s chest. “Thankfully you don’t seem to have any broken ribs— they’re just bruised.” 

Levi hummed his head falling back, squeezing his eyes closed. Maybe that would help shut the pain out. “Still hurts like hell,” he grumbled. 

Falling back into the task of wiping at his clammy, flushed skin, you spared a lingering glance now that his eyes were shut. The sight before you was enough to drop your heart into a pit of uneasiness. Silver and reddenned scars littered his skin, accompanied by the angry bruises that claimed the curves and planes of his figure; his labored breathing and pinched brows enough to make your jaw tick as you held back your sorrow.

The wounded Captain had barely registered your ghostly touch as you worked to bandage and prop us his injured leg, but he surely felt the silence that swallowed the room like a weight on his aching chest. Cracking his eyes open tiredly, he was met with the sight of your contemplative expression, and though he knew he shouldn’t stare, he couldn’t look away. How could he? How could he possibly break away from the pintoresc view before him? As the sun kissed the horizon, light pooled into the room through the window next to the best, plunging his surroundings into a golden glow. But you were truly a sight to behold. Warm hues danced over the contours of your face, the gentle streaks of light outlining your figure in the most delicate of manners. He nearly scoffed at himself.

It was only logical that the light from the heavens would recognize you and claim you as one of its angels. It’s the only explanation he could come up with for the way your mere touch could heal an army. 

“You do know you don’t have to be Humanity’s Strongest with me, right?” The melodic sound of your voice pulled him in and he found his fingers fluttering by his side, aching for your acceptance. He sighed in relief once your fingers were locked around his own, and he allowed himself a moment to admire how perfectly your hand molded against the calloused skin of his hold. “Even the strong need to settle for a moment or two every once in a while.”

Levi opened his mouth, but no words came. What was he to say? How could he possibly reply when the butterflies in his stomach have awakened from their slumber, tickling his heart with the fluttering of their wings? How was it possible that a man as strong as an army now found himself defenseless in the face of hushed words full of care and concern? 

He truly hoped the heat rising to his cheeks could be blamed on his weakened health and not on the foreign emotions he’d been ambushed by. 

A reassuring smile pulled at the curves of your lips and Levi nearly slapped himself for wanting to memorize once more the shape of your kiss. Airy pressings of your lips graced the scarred skin of his knuckles, the gentle touch of your love disarming him once and for all. “You are one hell of a stubborn man, my love,” you breathed, a soft breath of laughter fanning against his hand. “And I know your reputation doesn’t give way for moments where you can shake the weight of the world off your shoulders.” His breath hitched, his hand tightening over your own as he found himself pinned by the glimmer in your eyes. “But Humanity’s Strongest is nothing without Levi Ackerman. So please, let me take care of you. Let me protect and care for the man behind the soldier.” The plea in your voice was enough to make his lips quiver; his eyes flickering away in hopes of concealing the tears that threatened to gloss over his silver gaze. 

Never in a million years did he think it would be the sound of your voice that would break him, but, oh, this was much sweeter than anything he ever imagined. Incredible how a few sacred words had broken straight through the walls of a man made of war. Levi was too scared to speak, too afraid of what his voice would sound like if he were to utter a single word under the influence of such foreign emotions. He’d barely recognized his voice when he uttered a trembling “Thank you.” With all his might he tried to keep himself together, and he’d blame his weakened body for it all, but he couldn’t choke back the quiet cry that spilled from his lips. Even though it hurt his sore muscles and irritated his wounds, he was unable to stop the way his body trembled as he cried quietly. 

“Oh Levi,” you cooed, sliding into bed with him. Mindful of his injuries, you rested your head against his shoulder, pulling his trembling body into the warmth of your embrace. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. I’m sorry.” 

Levi shook his head, letting his chin rest on the top of your head as tears trailed down his cheeks. “Please don’t apologize,” he hiccuped between sniffles. To hell with his injuries, he thought as he pulled you closer to him. He’d be damned if he even toyed with the idea of letting you go. He didn’t want you to go. 

“I promise I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe,” you echoed the words he’d whispered to you years before, a sacred promise he had meant to be heard by your ears only now reciprocated within the safety of your embrace. “I promise I’ll take care of you, fiercely and with every ounce of love I have for you, Levi Ackerman.”

The tears had tired him out by the time his breathing had settled into a rhythm similar to the rise and fall of your chest. Levi could barely keep his eyes from fluttering closed, but his hold around you never faltered. He looked down, snickering softly to see that you were already gazing up at him, your eyes twinkling with adoration. 

“How do you feel?” you whispered. 

Levi hummed. “Physically? Like a pile of shit, still.” He rolled his eyes at the giggle you’d failed to contain. “Emotionally, though, much better than I’ve been in a long time.” 

You propped yourself up, just enough to feather his heavy eyes with a kiss. Pulling back, you smiled at the dazed look that softened his gaze. “I’ll start on some tea for you to wash down the medicine with, okay?” Levi instinctively tightened his arm around you. “I’ll be quick, I promise.”

“That stuff tastes like shit,” Levi grumbled, quietly hoping you’ll spare him from the horrid taste that comes with the medication. “I don’t want it.” 

“But it’ll help with the pain, love.” You were already pulling away before he could argue.

“I don’t want it.” He tried again, but he knew it was futile now that your mind was set on the task.

Lingering by the side of the bed, you tickled his cheek with a gentle brushing of your fingers over his skin. A cheeky smile curled your lips, and Levi knew he was fighting a losing battle. “Sorry, but as Captain or as my partner, it’s still my job to nurture you back to health, my love.” Your smile widened as he shot you a halfhearted glare. “Seems to me that I outrank you in either case, so my word is law, no?” 

“Whatever,” Levi muttered, tickling your side and pulling back with a smile before you could smack his hand away. “Just hurry back, alright?”

Silver eyes followed your retreating figure, his heart pounding in anticipation for your return. Looking down at his hands, he smiled at the lingering warmth of your touch that still made his skin tingle pleasantly. Maybe forgetting about the steeled burdens of Humanity’s Strongest and giving Levi Ackerman the opportunity to resurface wouldn’t be such a horrendous thing to allow every once in a while. 

It’s not like either could challenge your care and authority.

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