head in the clouds~

“sweetheart, your tie…” 

levi grunted in frustration, still trying to settle his tie, clenching his jaw when it still looked a mess. damn these stupid garments. hearing your small chuckle, he looked over at you, hands and shoulders falling in defeat as he silently pleaded you to help him. 

your gentle hands reached for his neck, undoing the poor excuse of his tie and smoothing it out before placing it over his neck again. you worked silently, nimble fingers working the fabric in a way that kept it neat and crisp as you folded it correctly. 

levi sat up straight, carefully watching you work your magic through the mirror - noticing the way you had meticulously put up your hair, the way your shawl draped around your frame, the silk of your dress hanging around your curves… 

“there you are.” 

your gentle voice brought him out of his trace and his breath hitched as you buttoned his vest, completing the look. there was no way he could have done this on his own. 

“didn’t you learn how to tie this when you were in the service?” you teased him, finally peeling your eyes away from his neck to look at him. 

“briefly,” he said simply. “i never used them though…” 

you looked down at his hands, the signature white ascot gently hanging from his fingers. you chuckled again, never knowing exactly what this garment meant to him but knowing it had a deep significance in his life. gently taking the ascot from his hands, you gently folded it into a makeshift handkerchief before tucking it neatly into the pocket of his blazer. 

“this way it can still be with you on this special day,” you whispered, patting the pocket with care. 

levi sighed out a rare chuckle, taking your hands into his and bringing them up to his lips for a gentle peck. 

“what would i do without you?” he whispered. 

“a lot of things,” you responded with a smile. “you did live a whole life before you met me.” 

levi shook his head, bringing your hands back to his lips, kissing them more desperately. it was true, he lived several decades on his own before he met you… but what mattered now was that his life had turned around once you came in - someone who loved him unconditionally despite his past and the obvious reminders of it. 

“not now,” he said. “i wouldn’t be able to live this new life if you weren’t in it- i don’t want to live this new life if you aren’t in it.”

you smiled, his rare vulnerability showing. gently maneuvering your hands, you switched positions and returned the gesture, bringing his war torn hands to your soft lips. 

“you don’t have to,” you promised. 

he looked at you, a newfound passion for life pulsing through his veins, grateful to the gods for giving him another chance. he held his gaze with you for another few moments before you reached out to cup his cheek. 

“come on,” you said. “we’ll be late for the grand opening.” 

you stood up, walking behind him to wheel him out to the main lobby. any other day he would protest, assuring you he was fine doing it on his own, but you insisted that he spends today resting and enjoying himself. a tea shop was always in his dreams but never had he expected it to come to reality and you wanted him to fully enjoy the moment. another reason he was grateful for you as it was your insistence of him following that dream. 

he smiled, repeating back to himself… what would he do without you?