Author's Note: Just to be clear, this story is not intended to make a statement about whether you should or should not get the covid vaccine. Rather, it was born because I'm kind of a wimp about shots, and in order to help myself out while I was getting the vaccine, I kept imagining what Levi might say if he were there with me. And since I had already done all the work of thinking up this little blurb, I figured I would share it with you all. I hope you enjoy it, and stay safe out there!
You awoke with a gasp. Where were you? Your bedroom? It was so dark.
You jumped out of bed, your frantic gaze scanning the covers. But instead of locating a threat, you only saw Levi – groaning and pushing himself into a seated position. Your sudden movement must have awoken him.
"(F/n)?" he questioned, his voice gravelly from sleep. "What's the matter?"
There was a slight furrow in his brow, a hint of worry in his typically stoic gaze. But...his concern was due to your behavior, not a threat. Around you, the bedroom was quiet, undisturbed – empty except for the two of you. And you slowly came to realize...
A dream. It had all been a dream.
You released a shaky breath, then sat down on the mattress, still feeling quite rattled. "I dreamt...that there were vaccines everywhere...and they kept stabbing me with their needles," you explained haltingly, recalling everything with frightening detail. "And then...there were spiders! All over the bed!"
"Why spiders?" Levi grumbled, confused by this sudden change.
You wrapped your arms around yourself and shrugged. "I don't know. Dreams are weird."
Levi gave a long sigh. "Alright. Come here," he muttered, lying back down while guiding you along with him. He pulled the covers over you – making sure you were warm – before sliding his strong arms around you in a gentle embrace, tucking your head into his chest.
You snuggled into him and breathed deeply, trying to comfort yourself with his familiar scent. Somehow, Levi always smelled like fresh laundry – which really wasn't too surprising, when you considered how much time he spent cleaning things – along with a hint of male musk. The aroma was exquisite to your senses, but even so, it wasn't helping you calm down. Your mind was racing with too many questions, too many worries.
You were scheduled to get your first dose of the new vaccine tomorrow. Levi had gotten both of his doses already, but you had been procrastinating. Even though the government's health department had approved the vaccine for public use, you still felt wary, because it was so new. On top of that, you hated shots. However, the world was starting to reopen, safety measures were loosening, and you felt like you couldn't put off the vaccine any longer.
But despite the fact that you had made the choice, you couldn't help being anxious about it. And to make matters worse, you had read that you were supposed to get a good night's sleep beforehand in order to help your immune system, but here you were at 2am, wide awake.
"You feeling alright?" Levi murmured, stroking your hair with gentle fingers.
"Kind of," you muttered into his shirt. "I don't think I can go back to sleep, though."
Levi hummed, and you felt the reverberations in his chest. "Do you still want to go tomorrow?" he asked softly, knowing exactly how you felt, since the two of you had discussed it a few times before. "You can cancel, or reschedule. There's no penalty."
You tilted your head to look up at him, seeing a tenderness in his gaze that he only ever showed to you – and even then, it didn't appear all the time. He usually tried to hide his softness, but he was letting you see it now, because he knew you needed it. Still, you felt silly for cowering in his arms like a child, when he had gotten both his shots without even a hint of fear. Then again, Levi wasn't really afraid of anything. Ever.
Yet, despite his own bravery, you knew he wouldn't judge you if you skipped your appointment tomorrow. He acknowledged that not everyone was like him, and he showed remarkable patience with you. Most people wouldn't have guessed it, but Levi was actually a very kind and understanding person, especially around those he cared for. It didn't matter if you weren't brave enough or strong enough. He would be those things for you, because he loved you with all his heart.
You shook your head. "No, I'll go. But...could you just...tell me what it was like for you...again?" you mumbled, feeling guilty for making him relay the same information for the fifth time – and keeping him awake to do so.
However, Levi gave no indication that he minded. His tone was still gentle as he explained, "The first shot made my arm feel a bit sore – but it wasn't anything worse than what I normally feel after a workout. If you keep moving it, drink water, and take some meds, you'll be fine. The second shot made me feel like I had the flu, but again, if you drink water and take meds, it's not too bad. It's over in a day or so."
You nodded slowly. Levi telling you that it would be alright made things a little better, because there was no one in the world that you trusted more than him. On top of that, something about his calm demeanor and sheltering embrace always made you feel safe, regardless of whatever was happening around you.
"Do you want me to drive you tomorrow?" Levi murmured.
You blinked in surprise. "You'd do that?" you asked, glancing at him sheepishly. Again, you felt childish for needing moral support, but even so, you knew you would definitely feel better if he were there with you.
"Of course, I would," he assured you, his gaze holding yours with quiet sincerity. A moment later, he pressed a kiss to your forehead – doting and protective. "So?"
You gave him a soft smile. "Yes," you replied. "Thanks, Levi."
"No problem, brat."
Your smile grew at the familiar pet name. You snuggled back into his chest, into the powerful muscles that always held you so gently. And within a few minutes of being surrounded by Levi's warmth and love, you realized that you could fall back asleep, after all.
------------------------------------------
"Thanks again for driving me, Levi!" you chimed as the two of you climbed into your car.
"Anytime, brat," he grumbled, buckling his seat belt while you did the same. "You sure you're feeling alright?"
"Yup! My arm feels a little sore, but other than that, it's fine," you replied cheerily.
"Good."
Thankfully, your shot hadn't been nearly as scary as you thought it would be – largely due to the fact that Levi was in the room with you. It was difficult to feel afraid when you were staring into his gorgeous, loving eyes. You hardly even noticed when the needle poked your skin, and it was over before you knew it.
After starting the car and pulling out of the parking spot, Levi handed you a bottle of water. "Here. Drink this."
You grasped it, giggling as you unscrewed the cap. His diligence was really quite adorable. "You take such good care of me," you remarked, smiling broadly.
"Tch," he grumbled, playing it off. "I just don't want to deal with your whining if you get sick from not hydrating properly."
"Sure," you chuckled.
Levi was always like this – acting totally nonchalant, when in reality, he was extremely attentive and self-sacrificing. If there was something you needed, he would give it to you, do it for you, get it for you. Aside from the regular chores around the house, he hardly ever let you lift a finger. Even if he was inconvenienced, that didn't stop him from serving you, from treating you like a queen. It was his natural love language.
The next few minutes were spent in silence while Levi drove and you sipped your water. You watched the world pass by outside the window, but soon, your gaze drifted back to Levi. You didn't bother denying that he looked incredibly attractive – his stunning eyes focused on the road, his dexterous hands controlling the car with expert precision like it was nothing. Then again, Levi always looked attractive.
Suddenly, a thought popped into your head. "You know you owe me a stuffed animal, right?" you informed him.
Levi blinked in surprise. His brow furrowed, and for a split second, his gaze shot to you, conveying just how crazy he thought you were. "What?" he muttered, confusion clear in his voice.
"When I was younger, my mom always bought me a stuffed animal as a present for being brave whenever I had to get a shot," you explained.
"Tch," he scoffed. "So I'm your mother now?"
"You act like it sometimes..." you mumbled, looking askance, recalling how he often griped at you about things you did – like not wearing a jacket, or leaving pens lying around.
Levi rolled his eyes. But after a minute of silence, he uttered, "Fine. You still feeling okay?"
You perked up, surprised that he was actually agreeing to this. "Yes," you breathed.
"Alright. Then we'll stop by the store, and you can pick out a stuffed animal," he acquiesced. Despite his flat tone, you knew that deep down, he didn't mind your antics, your energy. In fact, they helped him unwind from the near-constant stress of his job, and that was something he treasured. "Sound good?"
"Yay!" you cheered. "Thanks, Levi!"
He plopped his hand on the top of your head, ruffling your hair affectionately. "Tch. You really are a brat," he grumbled.
You giggled from underneath his touch. "Yeah. But you love me anyway."
Levi glanced at you sidelong, appearing unimpressed as he muttered, "Clearly. Why else would I make a trip to the store just to buy you an effing stuffed animal? You really are a handful, you know?"
Your grin widened, and you laughed again. "Love you too, Levi."