Prompt- Reader is innocent but accused of being a traitor and Levi doesn't believe her until it's released that she is innocent
warning- depiction of injuries and violence
stay safe love<3
"For your crimes against Eldia and in organization with the Jeagerists, we find you, Y/n L/n, guilty of treason. You are to publicly whipped and then hanged in a week. Until then, you shall remain in your cell."
"No! I'm innocent! Please, you have to believe me!"
No one listened as you were dragged away, back to the cold, dark, and musty cell.
Days passed in a blur and then day before your public whipping, Levi visited. Your two year boyfriend that you had spent nearly every night with had a sweet and gentle presence to him and you craved it him now more than anything.
"Levi, thank God your here, please help me! Tell them they're mistaken. I never did anything."
"Like i'd believe you." He snapped.
"What?"
He didn't believe you?
"I'm not playing your games Y/n. I came to tell you that it's over, if you hadn't gotten the realized that already, and that you deserve what you get. You filthy traitor." he sneered
"Levi please! I-I didn't do anything! I'm innocent!" He didn't listen to your words as he walked out, leaving you alone once again.
The next day you were dragged out of bed, literally, and hauled through hallways until you were on the surface again, in a town.
The light was blinding and you barely had time to adjust before your already handcuffed hands were chained to a pole. Your shirt was cut open and the cold air assaulted the skin as you shivered. You turned your head to see Erwin, Hange, and Levi all standing at the front of the crowd, the latter looking pissed but you knew it was directly at you, nothing else. A captain of the Military Police read off the same things as before, your accusation and punishment being confessed to the crowd.
"She shall receive 10 lashes." The captain called before raising the whip.
You held eye contact as best you could with Levi was the weapon came down, your poor skin giving way to the harsh strike.
The pain was immeasurable, the hot and stinging sensation felt almost like thousands of nails concentrating on a single line where the whip struck only worse. Much much worse. You could practically feel your skin scream as it slit apart, causing deep cuts into your body.
Levi watched with an unwavering expression, watching your face and back without any visible emotion. Like before, you did your best to keep eye contact but the tears and pain were to blinding. Your eyes watered and then cried as you did you best to at least look in Levi's direction. Even if he wasn't with you or supporting you, you couldn't help but find him calming even with your constant screaming. His demeanor was cool and calculated, always level-headed and soothing no matter the situation - even now.
You had lost count how many hits you had taken before finally a person emerged from the crowd, the crowd of which gasping.
What? Who is it?
"What is going on?" A person yelled.
"None of your business Jeager, she being punished for her crimes of associating with you and your slimy cult of yours." The captain said.
Eren?
"What? She's not with us. She was never a Jeagerist." he argued back causing a gasp to erupt from the audience.
You could barely see though the pain as everyone's face looked towards you. Levi eyes darted from Eren to you, an emotion filling them but the distance too far to determine what it was.
"Get her out! Now!" Levi order before him, Hange, and Erwin rushed forward together.
They frantically undid the chains as Eren slipped back into the crowd. When they finally got you out you fell, the chains not longer being attached to you to hold you up.
"Hey, hey! Stay with me Y/n! Everything gonna be okay." A voice commanded firmly - though you could hear the slight panic within.
"Levi?"
"Right here." the voice spoke again.
"You're a jerk." You wheezed humorously. "Hey, why is it so hard to see? It's so cold. And I'm tired."
"No Y/n, stay awake. Stay awake!"
You didn't have the strength to listen though, drifting asleep while thankful for the subsiding pain as you did so.
Levi's POV
Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid! I'm a fucking idiot.
I paced the floor next to Y/n's bed. She laid on her stomach, bandages wrapping around her back to hopefully help the wounds close and heal.
How could I do this? I had one job, and I failed! I didn't listen, I didn't even try. She told me she was innocent yet I ignored her. And I watched... oh god. I watched. I listened her plead and beg, I witnessed them beat her yet I did nothing. I did nothing.
The sight still haunted me constantly. Her getting dragged out. Her shirt being ripped open to expose her back. Her making eye contact with me and silently pleading for help. The first strike. And then the next. Her teary eyes that struggled to hold onto my own while she endured the blows. The horrifying sound of the whip. The angry red gashes it assaulted her with. Eren stepping out and giving his testimony to her innocence. The chain clattering to the ground. The even more painful marks that could be seen in detail up close. Her strangled pleas for me when she was freed. Her body practically giving up and falling asleep on the spot out of exhaustion.
All of it played on loop, the cycle never ending. I had hoped this was all a bad nightmare and that I would wake next to her soon - the whole situation being a fable of a dream. But it was too real. Everything was too real.
She's been asleep for 3 days, never once waking. Erwin went and sorted the situation out, eventually returning with news that Y/n was now free and not under investigation, Hange and I began to worry about her. They had machines to help her eat and drink out in the world but we didn't have that here. She was practically on her own again and the thought stung. How could I of let this happen? Why didn't I listen? How could I let her go so easily?
The days continued like this until finally she opened her eyes gently, groaning as tears formed nearly instantly.
I crouched on the floor beside her bed, our eyes level as she looked at me.
"Levi?" she whispered hoarsely.
"I'm here. I'm right here." I reassured her in a whisper.
"It hurts." she whispered back, her voice rough and desperate.
"I know, i'm so sorry my love-" I choked at the endearment.
It had slipped out. I didn't deserve to call her that. I didn't deserve to be this close.
I stood up quickly and turned around but before I could move a light tug pulled at the bottom of my sleeve and held two of my fingers. I glanced down to see Y/n's hand feebly holding me before I looked back up at her.
"Please don't go." she murmured, her face scrunched in pain from the movement to grab me.
I gently took her hand off and laid it by her side again, doing my best to be as slow and gentle as possible. She's had enough pain.
I sat beside her again, watching as she just stared at me.
"I'm so, so sorry Y/n."
"Don't be I-"
"No. I have to be. I deserve to be. After what I did... I deserve all of it and more. I did nothing. I watched and didn't help. I... i'm disgusted with myself. You're in pain because of me and it's all my fault. You'll forever be scarred because of me. I caused this. It's all my
fault."
"Levi really-"
"Please listen Y/n. I don't deserve your sympathy or forgiveness. Hell I don't deserve to be near you after... after you know. I was suppose to love you, cherish you, and protect you and I- instead I watched as they tortured you publicly and it took a Eren confessing for me to see the truth. God Y/n how could you not hate me? I turned my back on you. I left you alone. I made you suffer. You tried to tell me and I didn't listen. Words will never describe how sorry I am Y/n. I regret everything so damn much. I want to fix this, I want to help you heal and stay by your side as much as possible and do everything you ask of me and more. Although that seems selfish, I don't deserve anything. And if you wish to order me away... request that you never see my face again, i'll respect that too. I'll disappear and never bother you again. I am so, so, so sorry Y/n."
By the end Levi was sobbing, an uncharacteristic thing for him to do yet here he was bawling hard, his face red and nose beginning to become runny. He frantically wiped the tears but it was all for not, they were replaced nearly instantly.
"Y'know... this is the most i've heard you talk at one time." you mumbled.
A strangled chuckle came from the man.
"Please Y/n, i'll spend the rest of my life proving my remorse and making it up to you. I'll do anything."
"Levi, it's fine. I'm okay now and you'resorry. You don't have to do anything. Though I think it'll take some time I... i think we can move past this together." He released a mixed sigh and cry, his body relaxing with relief.
"You're sure?"
"Yes Levi, I'm sure."
"Thank you." He choked out, "Thank you so much Y/n. I swear you won't regret it."
You didn't say anything and instead smiled at him, moving your arms as gently as possible to stroke his hair.
He leaned into your touch while he continued weep, grateful for you acceptance and forgiveness.
From then on Levi was there, taking care of your needs and fetching your every beckoning call and request no matter the time or what it was you wanted. He was always kind, giving you the best and sweetest care possible. The man nearly cried again when you and him slept in the same bed together again. Though, he couldn't sleep, the feeling of lying next to you was so blissful that he stayed awake the whole night watching you breathe and enjoying the feeling of being by your side once again.
He was thankful for your trust as well, not only letting him sleep beside you but as well as the small things. Things that others might overlook made Levi so grateful for your trust. Like going down the stairs, you held Levi's arm and trusted him to help and catch you in necessary.
The first time you got a bath after being saved you asked Levi for help and the man couldn't feel more willing or happy to assist you. He made sure to be extremely careful and delicate, constantly asking if any move he made hurt when cleaning any part of you body, that of which he didn't take for granted. He did marvel at it but never made any advances or inappropriate movements, keeping eye contact sometimes as well to give you more privacy.
Through the next couple weeks, Levi was there. Including when Hange helped you remove the bandages for the last time.
Levi watched from the bed as Hange carefully unwrapped the dressing. You stood shakily before hange positioned you in a mirror, telling you to open your eyes when you were all ready.
The sight was horrifying. Red and white lines crossed your back in all directions, some thicker than others. You twisted your arm around to feel them, the lines being slightly raised from the original skin of your back.
Tears pricked your eyes as Hange left, Levi removing himself from the bed and hugging you from the front with your chests touching. His hands wrapped around and set on your waist, your eyes meeting his when you looked at his face.
"May I?" he questioned softly.
You nodded as tears fell from your eyes. You turned back around as Levi fingers delicately traced the marks, his face looking pained in the mirror.
"You don't have to look if you don't want to. I know it's-"
"No. No that's not it at all Y/n. It's not you. I mean sure the marks look painful but the problem is with what they symbolize. They represent a time where you had to endure pain alone. Because of me. You don't make the marks ugly, I do. Even with them your still absolutely beautiful. They don't take away your beauty at all."
"It's not your fault Le-"
"Yes. It is. It's my fault. That's why I intend to make sure your feel loved, i'll constantly make up for that horrible period where I left. And i'll do it without complaint because you deserve it and I want to. I'm so lucky that you forgive me but i'll never forgive myself. So i'll worship you and the marks you bear, hopefully easing the burden some. For as long as I live."
His fingers continued to trace as the two of you fell into silence. After a while he laid you on the bed, continuing to stroke the marks until he moved onto kissing them lightly. The feeling was so pure that you fell asleep, Levi's lips being the last thought you had before falling asleep.
As promised, Levi showered you with love, adoration, affection, and warmth daily- his devotion never wavering and always there without fail. He made sure to give slight brushes of his fingers across you back with tenderness, showing his feelings through touch. Every-so-often he would have you lay while feeling and kissing the scars before moving onto the rest of you body, making you feel relaxed and loved more than ever. Sometimes he would break down again, whimpering out how sorry he was and still is, always saying how much he needs and cares about you beyond your comprehension.
The first time you kissed him after the event tears fell as he melted into you, his body feeling like it had been holding its breath for too long and now being able to resume living- for you and you alone.
a/n- soo? thoughts? i kinda like this one tbh, ANGST just lives within my soul i guess lol
what super power would you like to have?
[id choose teleportation]
this was request by Savannah_Yovvanne
you going great darling, don't let anyone tell you different<3