Prompt- Levi is charged for treason but Reader saves him
Warning- there is depiction of violence and injuries so please read at your own discretion and stay safe<3
"I hereby sentence Levi Ackerman to punishment of the military police before being hanged for treason."
Those words haunted your mind. No matter how much you begged Erwin he always had a reason as to not save him- legal or not. Through rumors you heard of Levi's Military Police punishment, he was to be publicly whipped.
You begged Erwin even harder, the man never budging or saying yes, only making excuses and reasons not to. He said it would tarnish not only the Scouts but Levi's reputation as well, as if that was worse than death.
You stood in the towns circle, a post already in place only waiting for the unfortunate victim. You only waited a few agonizing minutes before he was brought out.
Levi's body was pale with multiple cuts, bruises, and scraps covering it. The sight was horrible and pitiful. He kept his head up, showing his defiance and unwilling to submit despite the situation.
His hands were cuffed and then chained to the post, an officer stepping through the forming crowd with a whip in hand.
"For your crimes against the King and Military," he spoke loudly to the crowd and Levi, "You shall receive 20 lashes."
You and the crowd gasped.
The guard lifted his right hand, the whip hanging from it, ready to strike. Before he could do anything you rushed forward, pressing your chest to Levi's back with your arms and legs covering his, shielding him from the officer.
"No." Levi whispered to you, "Go. Now."
"No." you whispered back firmly.
"Listen lady get out of the way."
"I refuse." you yelled back to him.
"Y/n." Levi urged you to leave.
"Then you shall take his punishment." the man barked.
"Y/n go!" he said harshly.
"So be it." you said.
The guard pulled his arm up and back.
"Y/n please don't. Go. Don't do this, please." Levi begged, doing his best to turn his head and make eye contact with you.
Though you had never heard him beg before you couldn't dwell on that.
"Tuck yourself in so I can cover you better. Make sure your eyes are closed and your head is ducked." you instructed.
"No Y/n- get out of here!"
You barely had time to prepare yourself, not that it would've helped, before the whip came down on your back. The harsh weapon easily cutting through your clothes and into your skin. Agonizing screams ripped through your throat next to Levi's ear, and for a second you worried that you were damaging his hearing, but didn't have time to dwell on it before another strike hit you.
"Y/n please! Please just go! I'll be fine I promise just stop! Leave, please!"
You didn't respond and instead stayed silent, trying not to focus on the pain until the next hit came down, starting the cycle over.
Levi's body felt broken, his mind in pieces from what just happened. He watched you slump over after the 20th strike as Hange rushed out grabbed your limp form.
"Please take care of her." Levi cried to her as the soldiers from earlier came back and dragged him away, back to his cell.
Hange gave him a nod before taking you away.
Days had passed and you remained unconscious the whole time. After some convincing from Erwin and witnesses at the whipping, Levi was freed and not charged for anything. Levi was somewhat relived but didn't focus on that, instead first thing Levi did was visit you.
Your body laid on the bed that Hange had set you on after she cleaned your wounds, only a cold damp cloth laying over the entirety of your back to help sooth cuts and tears underneath.
Levi gave you a light kiss on your forehead before glancing down at the cloth. He couldn't help himself, pulling back the cloth and seeing the damage you had taken for him.
Tears pricked his eyes, he would never forgive himself. Angry, deep welts rested on top of even deeper cuts that lined your back side to side in multiple directions. They had barely had time to scab over so a little blood was left of your back, some dried and some not. It made the scene even more painful. Levi's face contorted as he every-so-gently brushed his finger over a spot with blood, the blood transferring to his finger before he lifted it up to look at it.
He was feeling too much, too many thoughts going at one time. You were now hurt because of him and there was nothing he could to change that. The scars that would show eventually would forever be a reminder of what happened.
Days passed and you still hadn't woken up. Levi began to grow anxious. Hange assured him that it was normal and that you were fine but Levi couldn't help but stress. His mind was constantly plagued by thoughts of regret, guilt, sadness, and more.
Through the next couple days you were in and out of sleep, barely doing anything before passing out again. Levi was there every time, refusing to leave your side and soothing you when you woke up with sweet words and gentle pats. Sometimes you'd brush his hair back through your fingers or hold his hand, something simple before you were out again.
Finally three days after Levi returned, you awoke for longer than normal. Hange had changed the cloth to bandages, your back finally starting to show progress in healing itself. Levi was there, watching your eyes flutter open before they scrunched at the pain.
"How are you feeling?" Levi asked, his voice trying to hide the sorrow that hid within it.
"I'm okay." You lied.
In reality, everything was hurting- not just your back. Levi physically looked better but you could see the emotion behind his eyes. He definitely wasn't okay, at least not emotionally.
"I know what your thinking." You said, "Please don't blame yourself for this."
"How can I not blame myself?" he questioned, his voice pleading for an answer.
"It was my choice. I chose to take the punishment, you didn't force it on me."
"Yeah but I still should've stopped you, somehow I should've saved you."
"But I did it to save you. And i'd take it again and again if it meant that you were okay."
"Why? Don't you know it hurts me to see you in pain? I love you so much Y/n, watching that happen because me, I couldn't stand it. I admire your bravery but please promise me never to do that again. I'd rather die then have that happen."
"I can't promise anything."
"Why? Why can't you just keep yourself safe?"
"Because I love you Levi and I-"
"That doesn't matter! Don't ever do that again." Though his words were harsh his tone was sincere, begging for you to listen to him and follow what he was saying.
"That's not fair."
"No, whats not fair was me practically letting you take the punishment, even if my conviction was false."
"Well at least I saved you right? I couldn't bear to see more marks on your beautiful body."
"Yeah but now their on yours." he cried, though no tears were running down his face yet you could tell he emotionally was crying.
"A small price to pay." you whispered.
"No your worth more than that Y/n. Your worth so much more than a beating. I. are about you so much and letting those people make marks on you... I despise them for what they did. I'll never forgive them for hurting you Y/n. And i'll never forgive myself I-
"Shh let's just rest for a while yeah? Don't blame yourself. We're both alive and that's all that matters."
The conversation ended there, your eyes closing as your drifted back to sleep from exhaustion.
When you finally woke again Hange helped remove your bandages, giving you a full length mirror and letting you look at your back through it. It's was still incredibly red but the wounds were closed, scabs covering the harsh lines.
"There's gonna be some scaring Y/n. I'm sorry but there's nothing we can do to prevent that."
"I know, thank you." you smiled at her
Levi stayed silent, sitting on the bed watching the two of you. When Hange left you took one more glance back before looking at him. Levi stared at your back with and unreadable expression. You quickly, but gently, put on a shirt, covering it and letting Levi's eyes snap back to reality and connect to yours.
"I'm so sorry Y/n." he whispered.
"Don't be." You smiled again.
Though internally you were broken. You had be prepared for the scars but actually seeing them was like a wake up call, but still- you wouldn't take back what you did.
"How can I not be? this is all my fault I-" he croaked.
His body silently starting to cry while he desperately tried to stop it.
"Hey, shh it's okay." You cooed.
You walked over to him, letting him hug you and bury his face in your stomach where he sat. His arms wrapped around you gently, ghosting over your back and not making contact as to not hurt you further.
Weeks passed and finally the marks scarred over, no longer as gruesome but still painful to look at. To you they were hideous, you were prepared for them but still, Levi must think they're ugly and revolting to see.
Levi hated them as well but not for the same reasons. He hated that you had endured that pain, that torture, all for him. He did miss running his fingers over your smooth skin but after a while he realized the bumps served as a reminder of your dedication and love for him. He knew how you felt but couldn't think of a way to show you how he felt until now.
You stood infront of the mirror Hange had used to show you your back a couple weeks ago, your back facing the mirror with you head turned over your shoulder to see. From the y you couldn't see Levi approach and jumped when he wrapped his arms around you, your chests pressed together.
Your eyes met his, his eyes looking into the mirror and at your back. You quickly tried to turn, moving out of his sight.
"Don't." He whispered.
"Don't look, please." you sighed.
"Why?" his eyes remain still, his eyebrows furrowing some.
"Cause they're ugly." you murmured.
"No don't say that." Levi gently reprimanded.
"Just look at them, they're gross." you continued.
"No their not, look."
He moved his hand in from the edges, delicately feeling the lines with the tips of his fingers.
"Do you know what I see? I see a strong, capable woman who risked herself for me and went through so much. You should be glorified for bearing these, I will worship them til I die Y/n. Don't ever think that they're ugly because these symbolize how much you gave me. You granted me Something I didn't deserve. I'm hoping I can repay you with what I have though."
"And what's that?"
"My undying love and devotion Y/n. I don't ever what you to dislike these, they're beautiful and don't change anything about you, love." he spoke sweetly.
"Thank you, Levi."
"Anytime darling, now let he see them face to face... please."
You slowly turned around, exposing you back to his gaze. His fingers traced over your skin from the edges in again time but there was another feeling, one that hadn't been there before. Looking in the mirror, you were able to confirm what it was.
Levi pressed light yet loving kisses all along the lines, his breath ticketing you some as his lips traced along your back.
From then on Levi made sure to caress or kiss the marks often, saying how much he loves you and that your absolutely beautiful to him, no matter what.
a/n- this is actually super long compared to the usual but i'm still round of it:)
disclaimer- this wasn't my idea, the original idea came from user @/ReiaBritanna - their Levi oneshots book is very good and i highly recommend it
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you look beautiful<3