Levi Comforts You After a Nightmare
Levi always seemed cold and heartless, but there was a side of him no one really got to see. The only time anyone got to see this side of him was when they were balancing on the line of life and death.
Levi never liked it when people saw him so vulnerable and caring because he always thought it would ruin his reputation and people would stop respecting him. But there are very very rare occasions when Levi pulls out his caring and compassionate side to a cadet who was not dying. Tonight just so happened to be one of those nights.
The short corporal noticed her absence almost immediately. It wasnβt because he saw that Y/Nβs seat was empty at the table her friends sat at. It wasnβt even because he asked around for her. It was simple, really. On his way to the mess hall he heard Mikasa, Eren, and Armin talking about her condition.Β
βShe hasnβt left her room since chores,β Armin said to his friends. βIβm really worried about her.β
βDo you know whatβs wrong Mikasa?β Eren asked the female. It made sense; Mikasa did share a cabin with the girl in question. Mikasa looked between her two friends before answering.
βSheβs just overworking herself,β Mikasa answered. βMore than she should, if Iβm honest. But I havenβt seen her any more today than the both of you have. She wonβt let us anywhere near her and when we try to talk to her, she doesnβt answer.β Levi had heard enough. Once he was done eating, he would go make sure Y/N wasnβt dead.
She didnβt come to dinner and the more Levi thought about it, she hadnβt come down for lunch either. He made his way to the female cabin, a small piece of bread tucked away in his hand. He knocked on the door loudly.
βCadet L/N,β he called through the door. βMay I come in?β There was no response. Frustrated, Levi threw open the door. βWhen I call for you Cadet you betterββ Levi started to scold before he cut himself off. He didnβt know why, but he couldnβt finish his sentence. Y/N lay on the bed in the corner of the room, whimpering softly. As he got closer, Levi could see tear stains across her face. βCadet?β He gently placed the piece of bread on the small rotting bookshelf beside the bed before pulling a chair away from a nearby desk. Levi sat down in the chair beside Y/Nβs bed, watching her carefully. He knew that you should never wake someone from a nightmare because that could do more harm than good. So instead of waking the girl up he took her hand and held it gently.
As Levi waited for Y/Nβs nightmare to pass, it only grew worse. She started to mumble inaudible words and move around. She started to cry harder and her breathing began to go irregular. Out of nowhere Y/N screamed, high pitched voice piercing the silence of the night. Levi jumped out of his seat at the noise then tried to get the girl to calm down. He pinned down the wrist of the hand he had been holding. She had started to thrash around, posing as a threat to both herself and Levi.
βCadet!β Levi said sternly. He climbed onto the bed, trying to get over Y/Nβs legs. βWake up!β He managed to straddle her, pinning her wrists down with his hands and keeping her legs still with his knees, digging them into her thighs. βY/N!β
With a gasp Y/Nβs eyes snapped open, fear evident in her eyes. She made eye contact with Levi almost immediately.Β
βC-C-Captain,β she choked through her tears. Leviβs eyes softened as he moved off of her legs but he kept his grip on her wrists.Β
βYes,β he said calmly. βItβs me, Iβm here now.β He slowly released Y/N and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing into his chest. It took him by surprise at first, then he also wrapped his arms around her, holding her steady. He rested his chin on her shoulder. βBreathe Cadet.β Levi ran one hand up and down her back as the other combed through her hair. βYou are going to hyperventilate if we donβt get your breathing under control.β Nothing you were trying was able to calm you down. If anything, it made matters worse.
βW-Whereβs Petra?β she choked again. βA-And the squad?β Leviβs breath hitched as he very quickly realized what was going on. Levi gripped you tight and squeezed his eyes shut.
βOh Cadet,β he breathed quietly. βBreathe. You need to breathe.β His attempts failed at calming down Y/N, so Levi gently pulled her head to rest right above his heart, taking large and exaggerated deep breaths. βBreathe with me.β
It took a few moments for Levi to give up, smashing his lips against hers. Breathing out, he forced air into Y/Nβs lungs. She gasped before coughing and breathing on her own.
βCaptain?!β she exclaimed. Levi wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs, sighing.Β
βThere you are,β he smiled softly. βYou were stuck in a nightmare for a moment. Youβre alright now.β
βW-What?β she muttered, confused, Levi pulled her back into a tight hug. She stayed still for a moment before hugging Levi loosely. Silence sat between the two of them for a moment. βCaptain?β she questioned quietly into his shoulder. βWhy are you here?β
βI overheard your friends talking about how they were worried about you before dinner,β Levi answered. βAnd then I noticed that you werenβt at dinner or lunch.β He suddenly remembered the piece of bread sitting next to the bed. He slowly leaned forward as not to startle Y/N, gently picking up the piece of bread. βHere.β
She lifted her head to see what was in his hand as he gave the bread to her. βWhatβs this for?β
βTo eat, brat,β he said quietly. He didnβt mean it as an insult and she knew that. βDid you not hear what I just said?β She took the bread and took small bites of it.
βThank you,β she whispered once she was finished. Levi noticed the confused look on her face and he furrowed his brows.
βWhatβs wrong?β he asked.
βWhy am I so shaky?β she questioned, lifting a hand to show Levi how bad it was shakin. He took her hand in his.
βYou had a nightmare,β he said softly. βDo you remember what it was about?β She shook her head slowly, looking into Leviβs eyes. He sighed, tightening his grip on her hand.Β βIt was of the night our squad died.β Y/Nβs eyes filled with tears almost immediately. βNo, no, donβt cry,β Levi rushed. βThereβs no need to cry.β
βHow did you know?β she whispered. βAbout my dream?β
βFor a moment after I woke you up you were still out of it. You were asking where Petra and the squad was.β Y/N lowered her head.
βCausing you all of this trouble,β she whispered again. Levi placed a hand under her chin, lifting her face. He could see tears making their way down her face again.
βDonβt ever apologize for something you didnβt have a say in,β he said sternly. βThatβs an order, understand?β
βYes sir.β Levi nodded in approval.
βGood, now come here.β Levi pulled Y/N yet again into another hug. He lifted her up as he adjusted himself, leaning against the wall at the head of the bed. Levi gently placed Y/N on his lap and held her.
βCaptain?β she called quietly.Β
βCall me Levi,β the man corrected.
βLevi,β the word felt foriegn coming from her mouth, βwhy are you doing this for me? If it were anyone else you would leave them be.β
Levi sighed. βWhen you are a part of a squadron, you become family. Weβve spent so much time with each other and the rest of the squad that weβve become a family. Now, itβs just us and family has to stick together.β
Y/N had never heard her corporal be so open with his emotions and thoughts before. It was almost as if she didnβt hear him speak in the first place she was so shocked.
βGet some rest. Iβll leave you be.β Y/N quickly latched on to Leviβs arm as he tried to lace her on the bed. Levi looked at her, confused. βWhat is it Y/N?β
She looked away. βPlease donβt leave.β Her words were nearly inaudible. βI donβt want to sleep alone.β The manβs eyes softened. He knew it would be wrong sleeping with one of his cadets, even if nothing was going on. But the way Y/N looked so distressed, he couldnβt say no.
Levi sighed, βCan you walk?β Y/N stood up slowly, nodding. βCome with me then.β The girl grabbed her green cloak, wrapping it around her body as she followed Levi into the hallway.
βWhere are we going?β she asked quietly, jogging to catch up with her captain, now walking beside him.
βTo my quarters,β he answered. The two walked in silence until they reached the manβs office. Levi led Y/N through his office into his bedroom. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. The room smelled of lemons and was unbelievably clean. As she looked around the room Levi pulled off his jacket and straps. He then walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of grey sweatpants and a tank top. Levi quickly changed as Y/N looked at the books on Leviβs bookshelf.
βDo you like to read, Captain?β Y/N asked quietly, turning to the man.
βI try to read when I have time,β he answered. βNow, lay down.β Levi pulled back the blankets on his bed as she slowly walked over to the bed. Levi got in and pulled her down beside him.Β βNow go back to bed. Youβre going to need your rest for tomorrowβs training.β Y/N pulled the covers up to her chin, looking into Leviβs eyes.
βThank you,β she whispered, eyes starting to slip shut. Levi smiled softly, pulling the hood off of her head. He also removed the cloak from her and hung it on the bedpost. Sitting up, Levi leaned against the headboard and picked up a book from his nightstand.
After reading for almost an hour Levi decided to try to get some sleep. He preferred to sleep in a chair but for the sake of Y/N he stayed in the bed. He laid flat on his back, closing his eyes. He stayed like that for a few minutes before he felt a weight on his chest. Eyes shooting open, Levi looked down to see a H/C head resting on his chest. He huffed, wrapping his arms around the figure.