Retrieving Footsteps [Levi x Reader]

Fragile Trust

"Eren!" I called out, my spirits lifting as he approached.

"Hey (y/n)! I heard you were working on something important," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "What's going on?"

Before I could respond, Levi interjected, his voice sharp. "We're in the middle of something. Make it quick, Yeager."

Eren shrugged off Levi's tone, clearly unfazed. "Right, right. I just came to see how things are going. I trust you're managing everything?"

"Trying my best," I replied, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness. "We're making progress with the crystal project, but it's a lot of pressure."

Eren nodded, his expression turning serious. "I get it. Just remember, if you need help, don't hesitate to ask. We're all in this together."

Levi crossed his arms, his impatience evident. "You've got your hands full already. Don't let distractions derail your focus."

Eren shot Levi a playful smirk. "Come on, Levi. A little support never hurt anyone. Besides, you know how tough this is. She's got to push herself, but it's okay to lean on others sometimes."

Levi's gaze flickered between us, and I could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips, though he quickly masked it. "Just don't let that support become a crutch."

"I won't," I promised, feeling more motivated. "I appreciate both of you. I'll keep pushing forward."

"Good. Just remember," Eren said, his tone lightening, "if you ever need to vent or take a break, I'm here."

Levi shot him a warning glance. "This isn't a social outing, Yeager."

Eren laughed softly. "Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean we can't look out for each other."

With that, Eren nodded goodbye and headed back to the limousine, leaving me feeling reassured. I turned to Levi, ready to dive back into our work.

"Let's get started," I said, determination burning in my chest. "I won't let you down, Levi."

"Good. Then let's make sure we're ready for anything." His gaze hardened, signaling the serious work ahead.

Levi stepped inside the limousine and drove off. I let out a big sigh, releasing all my nerves. Seeing Eren had really helped ease my mind for a bit. I treasured Eren like a little brother, but it was also unsettling to see how closely he and Seiji resembled each other. Shaking my head, I headed back inside to start my work and briefly talk to Seiji about what happened in the meeting and the next steps we needed to take. Before seeing him, I went to the restroom to quickly refresh myself.

As I stepped out of the girls' restroom, I spotted Hana and Seiji laughing together. Seiji was clearly teasing her, and Hana responded with a bright smile, playfully returning his banter. Suddenly, I noticed Hana wrap her arms around his waist, gazing up at him with a flushed face. A wave of shock and anger washed over me.

Why did I feel a slight pain in my chest when I saw that? I closed my eyes and shook my head. This is nothing. I was just overthinking it. Seiji is my husband; he wouldn't betray me. Hana is my friend. I smiled to myself, trying to reassure myself that they were just being friends.

But as I turned to walk away, the image of them together lingered in my mind. What if I'm wrong? I couldn't ignore the nagging doubt. I tried to focus, but my thoughts kept drifting back to that moment.

Maybe I needed to talk to Seiji, or perhaps I should confront Hana about what I'd seen. I knew I had to find a way to ease the growing tension in my heart before it consumed me.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for the conversation with Seiji. He was always reasonable, and I hoped he would help clear the storm brewing inside me. As I made my way to his office, I rehearsed what I would say, trying to keep my emotions in check.

When I knocked on the door, Seiji's voice called out, "Come in!"

I opened the door to find him sitting at his desk, papers scattered around him. He looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Hey! How did the meeting go with Levi?"

"It went well," I replied, trying to sound casual. "But there's something else I need to talk to you about."

His expression shifted to one of concern. "What's wrong?"

I hesitated for a moment, weighing my words. "I saw you and Hana earlier... You looked pretty close."

Seiji raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion crossing his face. "Close? What do you mean?"

"I mean, the way she was looking at you and... well, hugging you," I said, my voice wavering. "It just caught me off guard."

He leaned back in his chair, a serious look settling on his features. "It was nothing, really. We were just joking around. You know how Hana is—she gets playful sometimes."

"Yeah, but..." I trailed off, unable to articulate the nagging feeling in my gut. "I don't want to overthink this, but it just felt... different."

Seiji stood up and walked around the desk, closing the distance between us. "Look, I love you. You're my wife, and that won't change. Hana is just a friend, and I wouldn't let anything come between us."

His words should have reassured me, but doubt still gnawed at my heart. "I trust you, but I guess I'm just feeling a bit insecure."

Seiji's expression softened. "You don't need to feel that way. I'll make sure you know you're my priority. If it helps, I can talk to Hana and set some boundaries."

I shook my head, appreciating his willingness to help, but unsure if that was the answer. "No, I don't want to make things awkward. I just needed to share how I felt."

"Then let's tackle this together," he suggested, his voice steady. "If you ever feel uncomfortable about something, just tell me. I'd rather have an open dialogue than let things fester."

Feeling a bit lighter, I smiled. "You're right. Thank you for understanding."

"Always." He leaned down and kissed my forehead, grounding me. "Now, let's get back to work. We have a project to finish, remember?"

As we returned to our tasks, I felt a renewed sense of determination. I would keep my insecurities in check and focus on what truly mattered—our partnership and the goals we were working toward together.

But as I sat down, the image of Hana and Seiji lingered in my mind, a reminder that I needed to stay vigilant. I could face this challenge head-on, but I wouldn't ignore my instincts. After all, in this world, trust could be as fragile as glass.