You couldn't help but wonder...if this was something to be worried over. Logically speaking, you were sure it was nothing; you probably were making it into a bigger deal then it actually was. However, emotionally, you honestly were not sure.
Levi has been courting you for a little over a year and a half now and up until now, everything had been going relatively smoothly. Very few people knew of your relationship with the Corporal, mostly to avoid too many questions and long winded explanations. The two of you kept it professional, almost to a fault in some cases, seeing that Levi needlessly picked on you in some situations to "prove" he had no interest in you, romantic or otherwise. Sometimes this would raise issues amongst yourselves privately but it was always sorted out in the end. In all honesty, you truly believed that your relationship with Levi was healthy in every aspect, and you both loved each other deeply.
The trust you held for Levi was astounding, both on and off duty, and the sacrifices you were willing to make for him always threw him a bit off guard. Although your skills were no where comparable to his, you've done your fair share of reckless feats in order to ensure Levi's safety and/or success with each expedition.
But now there was a tiny little thorn in your side causing you some emotional heartache, and you honestly couldn't remember when it first appeared.
Petra Ral.
Like you and the rest of the Special Operations Squad, she was hand selected by Levi for her skill in taking down titans, especially within a team. Fifty-eight kills: forty-eight in team, and ten solo Titan kills; that was right up your alley too. Petra was gentle, kind, and warm and always held a smile while off the field. There was a certain fire she had for her career as a soldier that was contagious, and you attributed that to her young age. You've always gotten along with Petra; in fact, there had been times where you and her would sit up late at night and whisper in admiration over Levi. You had always held romantic interest for humanity's strongest soldier, but you were never quite sure if Petra held feelings for Levi or if she merely had deep respect for his skills and wished to live up to his expectations. She didn't know "officially" that you were Levi's girlfriend but you figured she has put two and two together after so long.
At least you assumed so.
It started out slowly, almost unnoticeable at first. You would notice there was a new sort of light in Petra's amber eyes whenever Levi spoke to her or how she very suddenly grew a habit of touching Levi's shoulder or arm when she would be conversing with him, even within your presence. If it were just those things, you'd brush them off without so much as another thought.
But now she was addressing him by first name and Levi always seemed to be barking orders at Petra to accompany him with particular duties among the headquarters. She would follow him like a puppy to her master, clinging to his every word. You wondered if the fact that Levi saved her life on the last expedition had something to do with it. If that were the case, Petra could have fallen for Levi in the midst of all the chaos, misplacing her fear into a form of love for her savior. It was common for soldiers to have this happen to them.
Again, it all seemed relatively minor, especially since your sexual life with Levi hasn't seemed to fall or altogether stop. Privately, Levi was still as affectionate as ever, surprising for him in itself. Nothing changed on his end, other than perpetuating Petra's behavior by either being completely oblivious or tactless. Regardless, you knew Levi the best and you knew the signs he showed when he was interested in someone, no matter how subtle.
It's been like this for the last month now and you didn't dare bring any of your concerns up to Levi, not when he had so many duties as the commanding officer of the Spec Ops Squad. That aside, you didn't want to be wrong about what your womanly intuitions were telling you and come off as an overbearing and possessive girlfriend.
But this was beginning to be a bit much for your patience.
Presently, most of the Spec Ops division and am Survey corp were eating in the mess hall. As usual, you were not sitting anywhere near Levi so as to avoid suspicions. Petra, however, was all over Levi, who had his usual emotionless expression on while eating quietly. Petra kept playing with his hair, to which he would snap at her to stop touching, and was continuously yet innocently flirting with him. It was a very different side of Petra that you honestly didn't think she had. Normally, she seemed very level headed and calm, not a giggling, teenaged-esq girl.
"Levi, it's cute with the way you drink your tea!!" Petra laughed, watching him take a long gulp out of his cup. Levi raised an eyebrow just a fraction, not favoring her with a glance and scoffed, unconvinced.
"Shut up, Ral," he snapped. He shook his head in annoyance and cast a look over in your direction. Your (e/c) eyes met his for a moment, before you decidedly returned your gaze to your food, attempting to hold a conversation with the cadets Jean, Connie, and Armin at your table. Unbeknownst to you, Levi frowned very slightly.
Jean was currently begging you to show him your technique in your near perfect blade strikes but you struggled to manage to sound interested in the small talk when all you could hear was Petra giggling about everything and nothing in regards to Levi. It was rather distracting.
Levi, of course, was hardly entertaining any idea of flirting back; the thought of Levi showing any public displays of affection seemed quite impossible, even to you.
"So...Levi," you heard Petra say while Connie was poking fun at Jean in front of you, "tomorrow we have the day off. We should go riding together! You know to get the horses some exercise...?"
"What the hell is wrong with-?" Levi started saying but came to a grinding half when you, without thinking, you slammed your mug down on the table as you bolted to a stand. You have had enough of this but it took every ounce of your self control to not march right up to Petra and punch her in the throat. The noise caused people in your general vicinity to stare at you and you felt your cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"(L/n)?" Armin said with concern. "Is something wrong?"
Your hands were shaking for the jealous rage coursing through your veins and you refused to meet Levi's questioning stare as you lifted your plate up. "I'm feeling sick actually. I'm gonna head for bed and rest up."
Your reply was rushed and probably unconvincing as you hurried out of the hall, a few people's eyes following after you, but you couldn't bear watching Levi do nothing as Petra incessantly made passes at him. You weren't sure who you were more angry with; Petra for treading on already claimed territory, or Levi for letting her do so.
You wrenched open a door to the inner halls, practically stomping the entire way in a furious rage. Just as you reached your door and opened it, a vice-like grip caught your upper arm. You inhaled sharply and snapped your head around to find none other than Levi with a mixed expression of confusion and annoyance.
"What?" you hissed, shaking off his hand roughly.
Levi's face darkened instantly at your harsh tone but you didn't shrink back in fear like you had done so long ago. "What's your problem, (f/n)?" he replied in the same tone. "The hell was that about in there?"
You rolled your eyes but dodged the question by posing your own. "The hell are you doing, chasing after me like that? You're going to give everyone the wrong idea!"
Levi snorted indignantly. "Like that honestly matters anymore. Everyone already knows, they just don't say anything about it."
You didn't reply, fearing you'd say something spiteful. "Besides," Levi continued, "why should we keep it a secret anymore? Why should I hide the way I feel about you?"
Normally, you would have found that statement endearing but you were still too angry with Petra's behavior to even give it any merit. You stepped into your room and spun on the spot to glare at him. Although he was surprised by your look, he didn't show it.
"I don't want to talk to you," you spat. "So run on back to Petra and plan out your little date for tomorrow or something!"
You knew you sounded like a hurt child but you could not have cared any less as you started to swing the door violently shut.
Levi's hand shot out, slamming his fist against the door to stop you from shutting him out. The sound managed to make you jump slightly and you looked at him for a moment in surprise. The way his eyes glinted at you this time actually shook you slightly, having rarely seen this look of anger in him directed at you.
"What the fuck did you just say?" his voice had been barely over a whisper but you knew at that second that what you just said pissed him off. Levi pushed his way into the room and he slammed the door behind him without ever taking his eyes off you.
You were losing your confidence now but you were stubborn. "Y-you heard me!" you shouted defiantly, despite that you were backing away from him while he slowly approached you. "Don't play dumb, Levi! She has been all over your ass for the last month and you have done nothing to stop her!! You just let her say stupid shit to you all the time and you don't even think of how it makes me feel. You even give her more attention these days and let her flirt with you. I never said anything because I didn't want to make a big deal out of this but it is a big deal! It is to me! You don't tell her you don't like her that way, ever! I hate it!! I hate it so much!"
By now, Levi had backed you into the corner of your room but after he heard this from you, he stopped short, eyes wider than usual from surprise. He had no idea; he had always assumed you understood that Petra was young minded and that Levi always had eyes for you.
"I-I don't understand why you don't tell her," you continued, aware that tears were streaking your cheeks with anger and hurt. "I hate watching you two together. I hate that I can't sit next to you during meal times! I hate that I can't be close to you in front of others!! I hate that she gets to talk to you whenever she wants to! I hate it. A-and the way she looks at you and gets to touch you and-"
Without warning, Levi reached out with a hand behind your head and kissed you to quiet you. This kiss wasn't rough though, but gentle and passionate, as if he was conveying every emotion he felt for you with one action. You felt your hands clutch the front of his shirt as your eyes closed and you responded to his loving kiss after a moment of hesitation.
When he pulled away, his eyes looked into yours. His face was stoic, but the way his eyes searched yours were filled with genuine concern.
"You're so stupid, (f/n)..." he said quietly, his thumb stroking away your tears. "Getting jealous over a frivolous minded girl like that."
You didn't know what to say but lowered your eyes to the floor, suddenly feeling very ashamed.
"In a way, it's attractive to know you are afraid of losing me to another woman," Levi chuckled dryly. "But it's also really stupid for you to ever entertain the idea in your mind that I'd ever think of Ral that way. Is that really how low you think of me? You think I would betray you so easily?"
Levi gripped your chin and lifted your gaze to his. "The hell is wrong with you? If that shit bothered you for so long, why the fuck didn't you just tell me in the first place?" he said. "I can't read minds, dumbass. Honestly...there is no other woman who will ever get to touch me the way you do and I will never feel the way I do about you for anyone else, especially Petra Ral."
Again, tears welled in your eyes. "I'm sorry, Levi," you choked out. "I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to seem...overbearing."
"Highly unlikely I'd ever find you overbearing." He sighed heavily and pulled away from you finally. "Haven't you heard of the suspension bridge effect?"
You shifted your head slightly in confusion.
"On the last expedition, I saved her life," Levi explained. "That fear she felt right before she nearly got eaten and then my actions following it caused her her fear to 'turn into' a sense of love. She mistook all the adrenaline as a sign of falling in love. That's the suspension bridge effect. Just let her baseless feelings run it's course and soon enough, she will forget them."
You didn't feel satisfied by that for some reason and continued to remain silent.
"If you don't believe I love you, then I guess I have no choice."
You snapped your gaze back up to him, aware of the sudden sexual tension in the air by the way Levi was looking at you. Before you could say a word, Levi swept you up into his arms, warranting a yelp of surprise from you.
"L-Levi!" you cried. "Right now?!"
He gently set you on your bed, hovering over you on all fours. "The best way to prove my words is with action...besides it's been over a week and I'm not about to wait any longer. My woman has needs that need to be tended to regularly to keep her happy."
You couldn't find it in yourself to protest, especially with the way he ran his hand through your (h/c) tresses. With a fistful of hair, he gently pulled your head back to expose your neck for easy access to nip at your skin. Within minutes, you were bent to his will, clothes coming off and his warm skin pressed against yours. With the way your body felt, it seemed that it had been months since you had last been satisfied.
Levi was well practiced in the art of lovemaking; every movement of his tongue to his hands were tailored to you. He knew every spot that made you tremble. His greatest skill was building you up with anticipation, only to back off to make your body beg for more just before he would make you soar higher to the edge of no return. Every husky, breathless whisper in your ear caused shivers to run down your spine, making you drag your nails across the bare skin of his back.
Tonight, he catered to you, proving his love by the mere wordless movements of his hands and the way he gazed into your eyes. Tonight, he wanted you to feel him loving you; this wasn't just a flash of the moment sex to keep the other sexually satisfied.
"(F/n)," Levi panted quietly in your ear, hands running over your skin before stopping at your cheek. "I love you..."
Your eyes welled up in tears but not of sadness, but of absolute bliss and joy. Levi always was straight with his words, always honest. Even still, it was rare for him to outright profess his love for you.
In response, you pulled him closer, your hips rocking in time with him and your entire body pressed against his. Levi's lips searched for yours, kissing you passionately...tongue delving into the recesses of your mouth.
"You are everything to me..." he whispered, pausing to look into your eyes. "There isn't another woman who will ever take your place...."
Levi was unusually romantic tonight but you were glad he was able to swallow his pride and say these things. Even still, you were the only one who has ever seen this side if him.
"I love you," you replied softly, your fingers moving aside some of his raven hair that fell into his face. His skin was damp with sweat, his hot breath fanning over your face. "I love you..."
Levi resumed his gentle movements, whispering every so often everything he loved about you, from the mundane to the extraordinary.
You never wanted this night to end.
*************************************
Eyes fluttering open, you found yourself sharing your relatively small bed while the sun was shining brightly through your single pane window. Sitting up, you clung to the bed sheet to cover your chest and you looked down to find Levi still sleeping. You've rarely ever seen the man before you look as peaceful as he did now. His expression was so relaxed, almost innocent or child like.
Levi actually appeared...vulnerable.
Your thoughts wandered to the night you spent together and a deep blush hit your cheeks, embarrassed with all his professions of love. Never has he ever revealed that side to you. Last night left you spent, and yet Levi went back for a second round in the middle of the night, and you both ended up making love in a half sleepy state. With a smile, you quietly went to get out of bed, just after kissing his forehead gently. Just as you rose most of the way, his hand caught your wrist.
"Where are you going?" he mumbled in a surprisingly attractive sleepy voice. He spoke with his eyes still closed. "It's our day off so lay here longer."
You let out a brief giggle. "Breakfast is soon though."
"Always thinking of food," he groaned, cracking his eyes open finally. "Just come here."
He didn't give you much of a choice as he pulled you into his arms so that you could lay your head against his chest. You felt Levi stroke your hair as you stared blissfully at the wall in silence.
"So," he said after a while in a slightly more chipper tone. Weird. "Do you think you can walk?"
At this, you burst out laughing. "What the hell kind of question is that, Levi!?" you cried out. "Jeeze!"
He let out a short laugh. "I was curious."
You didn't reply but continued to laugh quietly into his skin, amused to no end with his confidence.
"Damn...I said a lot of shit last night," said Levi suddenly, putting a hand over his face. "How embarrassing."
There wasn't much regret in his voice so you didn't take the statement negatively. In fact, you expected him to feel a little awkward since he was very far out of comfort zone last night in order to prove his love to you.
"Yes you did," you chided, taking this opportunity to tease him. "And here I thought you'd always be the stone cold corporal for the rest of your days."
"Don't get use to it, brat. That was a one time deal," he half spat before tilting your head up so he could kiss your lips. "Ready for round three?"
"A-absolutely not!!" You quickly wriggled away from his arms and jumped up from the bed, taking the sheet with you to cover yourself.
Levi was left completely naked on your bed and he promptly propped up his arm on his leg and gazed at you with a suggestive expression. "Why not? I'm already ready. Give me three minutes and you'll be begging for me to take you."
He definitely was "ready," but that was only attributed to his morningwood. You shook your head vehemently, trying to shake a blush off. "Oh please, you give yourself too much credit!"
Levi laughed again but did not take offense. "I can't help it. You acting all coy by covering yourself up like that is kinda turning me on."
You let out an exasperated sigh and turned away to avoid him eyeballing you. However, after a moment, Levi pressed against you from behind, his strong arms wrapped protectively around you. You felt him kiss your shoulder before speaking.
"You're such a fucking tease, (l/n)," he grumbled in your ear. "Whatever...I have all day with you so I guess I'll just have to wait."
"You're damn right!" you laughed, nestling into his arms.
Thirty minutes later, you and Levi were dressed casually and made your way into the mess hall where many people were still eating. Your playful banter had not let up since you woke up but you realized as soon as you stepped through those doors, things would have to stop.
Or so you thought.
Levi had taken your hand deliberately as you entered the mess hall. "Oi! Listen up, you little shits," he nearly shouted. "As all of you probably guessed by now, (f/n) and I are in a relationship. Thought I'd clear the air up on that after us hiding it for over a year."
"L-Levi!!" You had no idea he was going to pull a move like this and you tried to shake his grip off your hand. However, you distinctly heard Hanji somewhere let out a wolf whistle of encouragement.
"So, that being said, she is mine and I don't plan on giving her up to any of you dumbasses here," continued Levi. He shot the death glare of the century to his left. "Yeah, I'm looking at you Kirschtein! I will fuck your pretty little face up if you even think about making a move on her."
Jean froze in his seat, a look of sheer horror on his face from being called out in front of so many people. By now, you were beet red and trying desperately to quiet Levi.
"Alright, quit with the fucking gaping! Get back to your food!" Levi dragged you along to two open seats, when you caught Petra looking absolutely crestfallen at the speech Levi had given. Against better judgement, you felt a swell of triumph in your chest.
After a moment, conversation resumed within the hall, although a bit awkward before Hanji swooped in on you and Levi to congratulate you both.
You let your gaze linger on Levi sitting beside you and you felt your lips curl into a smile.
You really did love this man.