Levi's Tima

pairing: levi ackerman x reader

tags: modern au / reader being stubborn & soft levi / reassurance / comfort & domestic fluff / sfw / 567 w.

summary: you stubbornly refuse your medicine, hating the taste and feeling helpless, but levi’s steady patience wins—and he stays close while you take it

જ⁀➴ ✉︎ read on ao3 ⋮ feveruary’26 ⋮ main masterlist

“you need to take it.”

“no.”

levi doesn’t blink.

you sit propped against the pillows, arms crossed, blanket wrapped around you like armor. your nose is red, your voice wrecked, your head pounding.

you are not taking that medicine.

“it tastes disgusting,” you mumble.

“it’s cherry flavored.”

“it tastes like chemical regret.”

levi exhales slowly.

the cup stays steady in his hand. he doesn’t argue. he just waits.

somehow that’s worse.

“you have a fever,” he says evenly. “you’ve been coughing for six hours.”

“i’ll survive.”

“that’s not the goal.”

you turn your face away. “it’s gross.”

his eye twitches.

“you’re acting like a child.”

“i feel like one,” you snap weakly. “everything hurts and now you want me to drink that.”

he studies you. not annoyed. just thinking.

he sets the medicine down and leans forward.

“you think refusing it makes you tougher?” he asks quietly.

“no...”

“you think i’ll get tired and leave it?”

you hesitate. “maybe..?”

a beat.

he picks the cup back up.

“i can wait,” he says calmly.

you glare. “you’re being dramatic.”

“you’re being stubborn.”

“i hate the taste.”

“drink water after.”

“it lingers.”

“i’ll get you juice.”

“it still—”

he holds the cup closer.

your heart flips. not because he’s intimidating. because he’s patient.

annoyingly patient.

“you’ve taken worse,” he says. “i’ve seen you drink expired protein shakes.”

“that was different.”

“it was not.”

you groan and fall back into the pillows. “i don’t want to.”

your voice cracks. softer than you meant.

levi notices. of course he does.

“is it just the taste?” he asks.

you swallow. “i’m tired. i don’t want to think. i just want to sleep.”

he softens.

“medicine helps with that,” he says gently. “it lowers the fever.”

you stare at the ceiling. “i don’t like feeling helpless.”

he moves closer, sitting beside you instead of standing over you.

“you’re not helpless,” he says. “you’re sick.”

“same thing.”

“it’s not.”

he holds the cup out again. this time just offering.

“i’m not trying to control you,” he says. “i’m trying to help.”

you stare at it like it offended you personally.

“will you stay?” you ask quietly.

his brows knit.

“while i take it,” you add. “don’t hand it to me and walk away.”

something warm flickers in his expression.

“i wasn’t planning to,” he says.

you sigh. “okay…”

he lifts the cup.

you make a face before tasting it. “it’s going to be bad.”

“i know.”

you glare. “not helping.”

“drink.”

you swallow it in one miserable gulp.

instant regret.

your face scrunches. “that’s horrific.”

he’s already holding water to your lips. you drink quickly, then juice.

“still gross,” you mumble.

“but done.”

you collapse back into the pillows like you ran a marathon.

levi sets everything aside and pulls the blanket up around you.

“see,” he says quietly. “you survived.”

“barely.”

he gives you a look.

then he brushes his thumb lightly over your cheek.

“you don’t have to fight everything,” he murmurs.

“i’m not fighting.”

“you were.”

maybe you were.

he adjusts your pillow and settles beside you instead of returning to the chair.

“you’re staying?” you ask sleepily.

“yes.”

you shift closer without thinking.

“i still hate it,” you mumble.

“i know.”

“make sure i don’t have to take it again soon.”

he almost smiles. “you won’t.”

you finally relax, fever-heavy but calmer.

and levi stays exactly where you wanted him.

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