Don't Write Me Notes || Levi x Reader

3. it doesn't count

"We're in this together," Levi says, and his voice is firm.

You tip your head towards him. His eyes are glued to the road ahead. 

"We agreed to this," he says, eyes shifting to you only briefly. "We agreed because we're both in shitty situations at home. Doing this makes life easier for both of us. I'm not shitty enough that I'd consider backing out for your half."

His eyes meet yours again, this time for a bit longer. You really like the color: grey, almost silver when you pass under a streetlight and his face is illuminated for just the briefest second.

Levi looks away. "And Hange would kill me."

You smile. "Yeah, they would." You pause, then add, "see, that was funny."

"It's not funny, it's true."

"It made me smile, so it's funny."

"You find violence funny?"

"Who doesn't?"

Now he's smirking too. He locks eyes with you again, and you feel infinitely better than you did thirty seconds ago. "We're in this together," Levi says as he looks back to the road. "We'll be fine."

"We're in this together," you echo to yourself, smiling softly as you lean your head against the side of the car. "We've got this."

The rest of the car ride is done in peaceful silence, with the hum of the radio fighting against the raging outside winds for the noise that nearly puts you to sleep. Levi's not a reckless driver- no sudden stops or sharp turns that would snap you out of your semi-conscious state. You're just grateful there's no snow: that would make the trip more dangerous.

You don't know how long it's been since you started dozing off, but eventually, you hear Levi say, "we're here," and you lift your head.

"Didn't mean to sleep, sorry," you say with a yawn as you stretch your arms out in front of you.

"I don't care," Levi dismisses. "Passes time faster. I don't blame you."

You nod along, rolling your neck in a loose circle. Levi slows the car down and he turns off the main road, pulling into a driveway. You glance out the window, and your jaw drops.

"You didn't mention you were rich," you say breathlessly.

The house is massive and it's gorgeous. The driveway alone looks larger than your childhood home, and it wraps around an incredibly intricate fountain with multiple running spouts and a marble finish. There's a separate building for the garage- with six garage doors, six doors- and then the house. Oh my god, the house.

It's like something out of a movie. Minimalistic, with large columns surrounding the covered walk up to the front door. Huge windows and at least three balconies (that you can see). It's just so overwhelming and not what you expected that you're rendered speechless.

"I mentioned he was rich," is all Levi says.

"Not this rich," you retort, eyes still fixed on the front doors that look like they could welcome giants.

"I'll grab your bags," Levi adds as he turns off the car, undoes his seatbelt, and opens the driver's side door. You unbuckle your seatbelt and get out of the car, still in awe, so much so that you barely feel the cold.

You hear the trunk slam shut and you break your gaze away from the house- mansion, it's a fricking mansion- to see Levi, who's got his back over one shoulder and yours in his hands. "Levi, your house is..." 

You can't even find words. Levi starts up the front walk and you follow him. "It's all my stepfather's money," he says. "Married my mother when I was nine. Be appreciative but don't ogle- call it his house, he'll like that- and you'll be fine."

"What about the car?" you ask timidly, staring at Levi's vehicle, which looks awfully small in the vast driveway.

Levi shrugs. "The butler will park it."

Your eyes go wide. "The butler?"

He sighs. "Are you going to be like this the whole time?"

"I- no," you say quickly, straightening yourself up. "Sorry."

"No, don't-" Levi sighs. He pauses midway up the front walk and you pause next to him. "I get it," he says firmly. "I'll give you a full tour tomorrow."

You nod, swallowing the lump in your throat. "Okay. Thank you."

Levi's about to say something else when the front door of the house opens. You stiffen, but it doesn't look like his mother or stepfather: it's a younger man in a suit. "Welcome home, Mr. Ackerman," the man greets. "Can I take your bags?"

The butler doesn't even wait for an answer. He takes the bags from Levi, and holds out a hand for Levi to give him the car keys. Then, he turns around and heads straight back up the walk, leaving the front door open just a crack for you and Levi to follow.

For a second, you just stare. How the hell are you supposed to do this?

"Hey."

You look to Levi. He's offering you his arm.

We're in this together. Levi had said that in the car. It's not like you have to fake this all alone; you're doing this to help Levi out, so he's going to be making it as plausible as he can too. It's not just you. It'll be fine.

With a shaky exhale, you loop your arm through Levi's, fingers curling around his bicep, and let him lead you up the steps to his mansion.

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Happy AOT day !! Have fun defending our favorite war criminal <3 xoxo