Don't Write Me Notes || Levi x Reader

7. it doesn't count under mistletoe

"We do," Levi agrees. "Feel okay?"

"I feel great." You pause. "I'll feel great until I see how crowded the place is."

"That makes two of us."

"And we can't just..." you gesture vaguely to the entirety of his room. "We can't just hide in here for the night?"

"What, I can't show you off?"

Your mouth suddenly feels dry. But Levi's smirking- it's a joke, get your crap together- and you scowl, then recover and spin in a circle. "It'd be a shame, after the trouble we went through for the dress."

"We?" Levi asks. "I went through trouble. You had a grand time."

"I thought you said you had a good time."

Maybe he can hear how your voice wavers slightly- how your anxiety manages to get the best of you. Because Levi's expression softens just the tiniest bit, and he murmurs, "I did," and holds out his arm. "We're in this together," he reminds you. "If you need a break, let me know. Ready?"

Not really. "Ready," you lie, and you hook your arm with his. 

Levi leads you out of his room, and while yes, you're nervous, you're starting to have another revelation. Some extra contact where it's not needed, like in the market place. Staring at him for a bit too long. Little things he says that make your face heat up more than it should.

Do you like him? Are you starting to like him? God, you haven't had a crush on anyone in so long, you've got no idea. Is there a... hm. Is there a proximity version of Stockholm syndrome? Like, you like someone only just because you're spending more time with them? He hasn't kidnapped you, so not Stockholm syndrome. But there's got to be something for this- developing feelings just because you're in forced proximity with someone. Or maybe that's just developing feelings. Maybe you're being stupid.

You misstep and nearly trip over your own feet; Levi catches you, hands on your arm and shoulder to pull you upright. "Clumsy," he remarks as the two of you start walking again.

"I'm normally not," you tell him, trying to push your revelation to the back of your mind. "Just- thinking."

"About?"

"...Stockholm syndrome?"

Levi frowns at you. "Do I want to know?"

"You do not," you tell him, readjusting your grip on his arm. "You definitely do not."

The sound of chatter grows louder and louder, and before you know it, you're at the ballroom. The ballroom itself is massive, and luckily, it's not too crowded, but there's still too many people for your liking.

Levi steers you around the edge of the room, avoiding the bulk of the crowd. He's murmuring something in your ear- that's Aunt Lydia, that's Uncle Baron- but it all feels like it's going in one ear and out the other. There's too many people, too many to know, too many faces and too many stares and-

He squeezes your hand, and you look to him. "You with me?" Levi murmurs.

You nod. "Not really."

"Scale of one to ten. How freaked out are you?"

"Solid seven, bordering on eight."

"Let me know when you hit nine, and I'll pull you out." Levi guides you towards what looks like a massive buffet table. "Most of these people are here for Lovof and I don't give two shits about them."

"We don't care about his side," you murmur, squeezing his arm. "Got it."

"And there's only two people that might come from my side of the family," he continues. "A cousin we reconnected with recently, but I don't know if she'll show up, and- oh, fuck, he actually came."