Author's Note: Thanks for 800K reads! I've been obsessed with Northern Lights hotels lately, and I think Levi would really like them too, so here you go! (Also, fyi that this one is a bit saucier than normal. Gomen.)
You flopped onto the bed next to Levi, catching your breath, coming back down to Earth while you gazed up at the night sky.
Through the domed glass roof of your igloo, you could clearly see the green, blue, and purple lights dancing in waves across a sea of bright stars. You certainly didn't get this kind of view on Paradis – or most places, from what you had heard. The Aurora Borealis only appeared above countries that were situated toward the top of the world – thus, its other name: the Northern Lights.
They were the reason why you had trekked halfway across the globe to come to this frigid region. It had been a goal of yours ever since you heard about them – but not necessarily for your own enjoyment, though you were excited. First and foremost, you wanted Levi to have this experience. You knew how much he loved the sky.
Besides, this was the perfect occasion for something so special. Exactly one year ago, the war had finally ended, and you and Levi had gotten married. However, you hadn't been able to do anything fancy at the time, because Levi was recovering from the grievous injuries he had sustained during the final battle. Thus, you figured you could double-down for your first anniversary.
All the brochures had said that this place was popular with honeymooners, and it was easy to see why. On top of the spectacular view, the igloos were like perfect little love nests, spaced out for privacy and warm despite the freezing air outside. They weren't made of snow, but rather, they had tile floors and low, wooden walls that met the glass ceiling about one meter off the ground. Thankfully, the lowest panel of glass came equipped with curtains that could conceal your room from anyone who might pass by, while still leaving you with an unobstructed view of the sky. A small, wooden-ceilinged section of your igloo was positioned in the back, containing a dining table for two, as well as a bathroom with a sauna and tub.
Your bed was comfortably small – which, of course, you didn't mind in the least, since it gave you an excuse to cuddle closer to Levi. It was placed directly in the center of the dome, allowing you to snuggle into your blankets while you enjoyed the lights. Or you could do...other things...underneath the breathtaking sky. Like the brochures said, this was a perfect retreat for happy couples.
You certainly were not disappointed. Neither, it seemed, was Levi.
Lazily, you tilted your head to the side so that you could look at him instead. He was still in a bit of a daze, but even so, the way he gazed up at the sky made your entire trip worth the effort, a thousand times over. Your heart filled with warmth, and you were so, indescribably glad that he could have this. He deserved it.
Your gaze slowly drifted across his frame, from his half-lidded eyes to his flushed cheeks, then to his slightly parted lips. Further down, his chest rose and fell in small, quick movements that gradually lengthened – still catching his breath. To you, even the lights dancing across the night sky couldn't compare to how stunning he looked in that moment.
You smiled and rolled onto your side, draping your left arm across his collar, curling it back so your fingers could play with his hair. You weren't trying to get his attention. In fact, you wanted him to stay exactly as he was, to keep enjoying the sky. But in that moment, he just looked so much like a dream that you couldn't resist touching him in order to prove that he was real.
Despite your intentions, he turned his head to face you anyway. His gaze, already reflecting the sky, lit up even brighter when it landed on you. Then he met your grin with a tiny, blissful smile of his own.
Your heart skipped.
He reached his left hand up between you, calloused fingers lightly stroking your cheek, playing with your hair. Warmth bloomed at the contact – not in a sultry sense, but a serene and happy one. To Levi, you were the most precious thing in the world, and he laced that belief into every loving touch.
"Sorry," you murmured, your grin widening despite your words. "You can keep looking at the lights."
"But I want to look at you," Levi breathed, his half-lidded gaze unblinking, his expression still filled with that same, tranquil bliss as he stared at you.
You blushed, that one simple sentence igniting a tizzy of butterflies in your stomach. Most of the time, Levi was quite shy about romance, and thus, the few affectionate phrases he managed to voice came out as quiet stutters – not that you minded such adorable displays. But in moments like this one, when he was hazy and satisfied, the tables turned. He was able to say sweet things so bluntly, with such intense sincerity, that you couldn't help becoming the shy one.
You averted your eyes and tilted your chin downward, trying to hide, unable to hold his gaze when he was looking at you that way. His expression was completely relaxed, but at the same time, so focused, as if you were a masterpiece that he would never be able to get enough of. It was overwhelming.
"Hey," he whispered, a slight rasp sneaking into his voice – probably a result of your earlier activities. His fingertips brushed over your cheek again, gently beckoning. "Don't hide. Please."
You shook your head.
Levi chuckled faintly under his breath, amused by your adorable shyness. "(F/n)..." he murmured, drawing out your name in a coaxing, playful manner.
You tucked your face further away.
You heard Levi sigh resignedly. And then...
"Ah!" you gasped.
Levi's fingers were suddenly dancing across your stomach, familiar enough by now to know exactly which spots made you squirm the most. And the man was absolutely merciless.
"Levi! Please, s-stop! That ticklessssss!" you squealed, unable to suppress your laughter. You kicked and twisted, trying to escape the onslaught, but of course, you were no match for Levi.
Your husband simply chuckled as he continued to torture you with his feathery touches. If you hadn't been so focused on your attempts to swat his hands away, you might have noticed that he was still gazing at you with that same, adoring softness from earlier. It warmed his heart to know that he could make you laugh, and the sound was music to his ears.
In a desperate attempt, you grabbed the pillow from underneath you and threw it at Levi's face. While he was momentarily blinded, you flipped him over and pinned him beneath you on the bed, wasting no time in returning all the tickles he had given to you. Of course, he could have prevented all of this if he had wanted to, but he didn't. For once in his life, Humanity's Strongest Soldier didn't mind accepting defeat – because it was to your loving touches that he was surrendering. He wanted you to win, wanted to see your eyes light up, wanted to simply relax and have fun with you.
Meanwhile, your shared laughter chimed throughout the room as your fingers danced across his skin. They brushed over old injuries, over scars, creating joy where there had once been pain. His expression – which had been so cold and lifeless during his years in the military – was now filled with a mirth that melted your heart and made you unable to look away. Even when your fingers stilled and your hands came to rest on his ribcage, your gaze continued to hold his own, drinking in the sight, unable to get enough.
For a long, wonderful moment, the two of you just laughed together. On top of your own personal giddiness, you loved seeing Levi like this – so carefree and playful. Before, when the world was still full of enemies, he had never been able to let go in any capacity. He was forced to carry too many burdens, to minimize and suppress and shut down – for decades, if not his entire life. But now, he finally, finally felt safe enough to accept and express the joy that he so greatly deserved. And you were honored that he trusted you enough to show you that side of himself – to take off the mask after so many years of using it as a wall to keep people out.
Your laughter faded naturally, until you were gazing at one another in silence, soft smiles still gracing both of your faces.
Levi reached up, cupping your cheek, cherishing the feel of you. "M'here," he mumbled.
All too happy to oblige, you snuggled into his side, your body pressing against his as you laid your head on his shoulder. Levi slid his arm underneath your waist, holding you close – even though you would have never dreamed of moving. Together, you gazed up at the sky.
Soon, your breaths slowed, and your heartbeats fell into sync. You loved feeling that gentle thump-thump underneath his skin, loved feeling the steady rise-and-fall of his chest. They were reminders that he was alive, that you both had survived long enough to be free and happy. You were so content that, but for the show going on above you, you could have fallen asleep right then and there – safe and completely at ease in your husband's embrace.
The two of you stayed that way almost all night, silently holding each other, until the lights disappeared from the sky.
------------------------------------------
By the time you finally opened your eyes, morning was almost gone. The sky above you was covered with a layer of clouds, producing a gentle flurry of snow that floated through the air around your igloo.
"It's snowing," you mumbled lazily.
Levi gave a low hum in reply, still half-asleep in your arms.
You chuckled to yourself, amused by his cuteness, and glad that he was able to get some rest. His sleeping patterns had improved gradually since the war ended, since he started spending his nights in your embrace. Yet, he was still only averaging about five hours per night – unless the nightmares came for him first. It was good to see him sleeping late today, and thankfully, this resort was well-suited for lie-ins, given that all of its guests tended to stay up for the Northern Lights. Outside, everything was serenely quiet, as if you and your husband were the only two people on the mountain.
"You hungry?" Levi mumbled. Groggy as he was, your needs were always top of mind for him. It was simply his nature – to devote himself to someone he trusted, to move Heaven and Earth for them, to make his own needs secondary. And even after a year of marriage, his attentiveness never failed to warm your heart.
You shook your head, not wanting to make him get up. "I'm okay."
However, it seemed your stomach had other plans, and it chose that particular moment to growl rather loudly. You cringed, blushing sheepishly as you glanced up at Levi, who was now gazing at you with an unimpressed expression.
"Tch. Don't lie," he muttered, though his tone was too soft to hold any reproach. He reached out and lightly brushed his fingers across your cheek, savoring the moment for just a little while longer.
Too soon, he rolled out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt. The resort did provide breakfast, but you had to walk to the main building to get it, and the frigid temperature outside demanded that you bundle up. Thus, you sat up and made to slip out of the warm blankets, intending to find some clothes.
However, Levi stopped you. "Just stay there," he grumbled, leaning down to place a quick but tender kiss on your forehead. "I'll get the food and bring it back."
"Are you sure?" you murmured. "I don't want to make you go by yourself."
Levi's gaze was impassive as he looked at you, but even so, you knew him well enough to see the softness and love hidden underneath. "I'm sure," he replied, reaching out to gently brush his knuckles across your cheek. "I want you to stay here and relax."
There was something about the way he touched you, something so exquisite in its feather-light reverence. A warmth bloomed beneath your skin, travelling all the way from your cheek to your stomach, where butterflies were now stroking your insides with their wings. Your eyelids were suddenly so heavy, and you let them fall halfway closed as you inhaled, drinking in his familiar scent of freshness and black tea. Your body stilled, waiting in anticipation, wanting more.
All of this, from just one innocent touch.
"Okay," you breathed, your clouded mind willing to yield to anything he asked of you in that moment.
Levi must have noticed the change in your demeanor – it would be difficult not to. His cheeks had filled with the lightest shade of pink, and yet, he didn't get embarrassed, didn't look away.
Slowly, his hand smoothed across your cheek, down your neck, and your breath hitched. Perhaps it came from years of slicing titan's napes, but you were acutely aware of how vulnerable that spot was, and thus, it was quite sensitive for you. Yet, you wanted Levi there. You wanted him in all the places where you were most vulnerable, places where you would never allow anyone else.
So when he spread his palm across your skin, his fingers caressing your nape as his thumb brushed soft strokes across your throat, you forgot how to breathe. Your eyelids closed completely, every sense narrowing on where his calloused yet gentle hand held you. At the same time, your entire body came alive, as if you were standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting with unbearable anticipation to find out where he would touch next. You felt certain that, wherever he chose, you would be pushed over the edge completely.
Yet, you trusted him to catch you, like he always did.
Levi's hand lingered on your throat for just a moment more. "Breakfast," he rasped, and you could hear the desire in his voice, echoing what you felt in your own body.
A quiet, pleading noise escaped your throat when his touch left you, and you leaned forward a fraction, your body instinctively chasing what it wanted so desperately. When you looked up at him, you could see your own need reflected in his gaze. You knew that it would only take the tiniest bit of convincing to get him to stay, to fall back into bed with you and never leave.
Yet, there was also a layer of devotion warring with that desire. He wanted to meet all of your needs, certainly, but they could only be done one at a time. And he knew how hungry you were, so once again, he was making his own needs secondary, doing his best to take care of you. It was so sweet and earnest that you relented, placating yourself with the knowledge that there would be plenty of time for those other activities later. Besides, Levi was probably hungry, too.
"Breakfast," you murmured, giving him your permission to go.
You stayed wrapped up in the blankets, watching Levi as he moved around the room. His expression was neutral once again, if not a bit focused, now that he had a task to perform. He slipped on his shoes before heading out. However, he didn't bother to wear any winter gear.
"Wait!" you called after him.
Levi paused with his hand on the doorknob while you quickly slipped into a robe and padded over to him.
"Shouldn't you put on a coat or something?" you asked, eyeing his simple shirt and sweatpants skeptically. They certainly weren't thick enough to guard against the cold and snow.
Levi stared at you impassively, unconcerned. "I'll be fine."
"But it's ten degrees below freezing outside," you insisted, your brow furrowing with worry.
"I'll only be out for a few minutes."
You sighed heavily. Honestly, at this point, you knew better than to expect anything different. Humanity's Strongest Soldier was used to toughing through everything, to the point where he didn't think twice about it. Of course, his Ackerman genes meant that he was better-equipped than most to confront harsh conditions, but even so, that didn't mean that he should.
Thankfully, you knew how to make him see reason. Mischief sparked in your eyes, and you stepped toward him. "I'll tell you what," you purred. Then you leaned in close, whispering in his ear. "Every spot that is appropriately bundled-up gets a kiss after breakfast."
You heard his breath hitch, and he went completely still for several seconds while he processed his shock. The tables had turned once again. "Um...a-alr-r-right," he stuttered finally, his cheeks turning a deep shade of pink that had nothing to do with the chilly temperature outside.
You chuckled softly. "Good boy."
And yes, you knew exactly what those two little words would do to him. Even after a year of marriage, he was still so adorably, predictably shy. On top of that, the blatant neediness in his gaze was priceless. You couldn't help feeling a bit of a thrill at having the strongest man alive wrapped around your finger. To everyone else, he was terrifying and invulnerable, but damn if he wouldn't worship at your feet and thank you for the opportunity.
In fact, he probably donned more layers than strictly necessary before venturing out into the cold to fetch your breakfast.