One minute, everything was going smoothly. The next, absolute chaos.
While battling the onslaught of titans, you and Captain Levi had been driven away from the rest of the regiment. You couldn't see the others anymore, not even their smoke signals – if indeed anyone was left alive to use them. Still, you fought on, using the scattered buildings of an abandoned farm as jumping points to slay the monsters.
You didn't see the last titan coming for you, but Levi did. In his rush to save you, he put himself at risk, with devastating results. Within seconds, the building he had landed on was crushed, and Levi was lying motionless in the middle of the wreckage.
You screamed, killing the titan as quickly as possible before rushing to Levi's side. Your heart stopped when you saw the blood soaking the left side of his shirt. Thankfully, a quick examination revealed that the wound wasn't as bad as it looked, but Levi would still need immediate medical attention. Since your regiment was nowhere to be found, you would have to do.
You carried your captain into the farmhouse. All the while, he kept his eyes squeezed shut, as if he were in immense pain. He also clamped a hand over his mouth and nose, which led you to believe that he was trying to stop himself from screaming. After being in his squad for a few years, you knew how much he hated showing emotion, so you weren't surprised at his efforts to hide it now. You also knew that the pain must have been incredible if it managed to crack Levi's stoic mask.
Your chest constricted upon seeing him hurt like this. You and Levi had been dating for quite some time, and you loved him with everything in you. Levi felt the same way about you, which was why he insisted on keeping your relationship a secret – knowing that the commander would move you to a different squad if he found out. Levi wanted to keep you close, to keep you safe. And now, you were going to do the same for him.
As delicately as you could, you laid him down on the bed. "I'm sorry if it's dirty," you murmured. "It's all we've got." To you, the bed looked mostly clean, but Levi was more sensitive to dust and grime than anyone you had ever met. "Just stay here. I'll look around for some supplies."
You gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead before rushing off to search the house. Thankfully, you were able to gather water, a clean cloth, and some bandages. You also grabbed a few candles and matches, knowing light would soon be scarce now that the sun was slipping below the horizon.
You returned to the bedroom, focused on not dropping the plethora of objects in your arms. "Okay, I think we can make due with...Levi!" You gasped in surprise when you noticed that he had moved. He was now curled into a ball, sitting in the farthest corner of the bed, practically pressing himself into the wall. His face was completely hidden from your view.
"Levi," you said in a quieter tone, trying to soothe him, "I know it hurts, but you can't sit like that. Just lie down and let me –"
"No!" he snapped hoarsely as you took a step toward him. "Don't come any closer."
You nearly jumped at the sudden intensity in his voice. "Levi, what's the matter?" you asked softly. You couldn't understand why he wouldn't want you near him when he so clearly needed help, or why he sounded so much like a frightened animal. "It's just me. It's (f/n). I'm only trying to help you." You set your supplies on a nearly table and continued toward the bed. Each one of your movements was slow, delicate, trying not to startle him further.
"Are you deaf? I told you to stay away!" he hissed, still not looking at you.
"I can't do that, Levi," you murmured. You were really starting to worry now. Had he hit his head or something? You needed his compliance if you were going to treat his wound. Even though he was injured, you were certain you wouldn't win if Levi fought you. "You're hurt. Let me help you. I only want to help."
"Please, (f/n)," he begged. Though it was impossible, he seemed to press himself further into the wall, further away from you. "Just go. I don't want to hurt you."
You stopped short, shocked by the strangled, broken sound of his voice. You had never heard Levi sound like that before, had never even imagined that you would. But there he was – the strongest man alive – pleading with you to keep your distance.
"You're not going to hurt me, Levi," you said gently, taking another step as you regained your determination. "I've known you for years, and you've never hurt me, not once. You're wounded. Just let me take care of you." You carefully lowered yourself to the edge of the bed. "I promise, everything will be alright." You reached out a hand...
Before you knew what was happening, you were pinned to the mattress, looking up at Levi. His beautiful, icy-blue eyes had turned blood-red. As they stared back at you, they were animalistic, hungry. There was nothing left in them of the man that you knew. The creature that had taken Levi's place opened his mouth, baring fangs – fangs – that he brought closer and closer to your exposed neck.
Terrified, you struggled against him, but his grip on your wrists was like iron. "Levi!" you cried.
Just before those fangs touched your skin, he froze. Then he pulled back. This time, when you looked into his red eyes, you could see the human in them. And he was horrified, disgusted.
As suddenly as it had come, his weight was lifted off your body. You bolted upright, facing Levi, who was now sitting against the wall opposite you.
He whispered, almost inaudibly, "Sorry. I wasn't myself just now." Indeed, it did seem that he had regained his composure. The only exception was the regret that shone clearly in his gaze, which was locked on the floor.
"Levi," you breathed, hardly daring to believe it, "you're a...a..."
"A vampire," he finished, turning to look at you with those piercing red eyes. "Will you leave now?"
"B-but, that doesn't make any s-sense," you stammered. "I mean, I've seen you in the sunlight –"
"Tch," he scoffed. "That's just a lie we fed humans to make them think they were safe. Sunlight doesn't hurt us."
You gaped at Levi as you processed his words, processed everything you had seen in the past minute. And the more you thought about it, the more it made sense – his inhuman strength, his speed, his heightened senses – it was all because he was a vampire. And earlier, he had closed his eyes so you wouldn't see the red, covered his face to stop himself from biting you...
You kept staring at him, and staring, and staring, until you noticed something that yanked you out of your shocked state. "Levi," you whispered, "you're still bleeding."
"Worry about yourself, brat, not me," he growled. "Just get out of here."
No, you couldn't just leave him. Besides, if the legends were true, then... "Blood will heal you, right?"
Levi's gaze shifted, and you could see in his eyes that you were correct.
You scooted down to the end of the bed. "Here," you said resolutely, opening the first few buttons on your shirt. "Take what you need. I don't mind."
Levi's eyes widened. You could see the longing in them, but he didn't move a muscle. "I..." He clenched his teeth together, then turned his face away from you. "Please, you have to stay away from me. I can't keep fighting it." Indeed, his body was trembling with the effort of holding himself back.
"Go on," you encouraged him gently. "If it'll help you, then drink all you want."
Levi shut his eyes, shaking his head.
"What's the matter, huh?" you breathed, tenderness filling your voice. "I love you, Levi. I won't lose you. I can't."
"You don't understand," he hissed. "I could hurt you. I could kill you."
"You won't. Levi, I know you. I know you'd never hurt me," you insisted softly. "I trust you."
"No. I can't do that to you," he whispered, his voice hoarse. His blood was beginning to pool on the floor. "I don't want to be a monster. I don't want you to see me as some grotesque creature. Please, just go. I don't know how much longer I can control myself."
You sighed. "Levi, nothing could ever make me see you as a monster. I love you, and I know that you're a good person. So what if you drink blood? You need it to survive. And it's not like you're forcing me. I'm offering." You smiled reassuringly. "It'll be alright. Just go ahead and give in to your thirst."
Levi placed a hand over his eyes. After a few moments of silence, he smirked – the kind of mocking smirk a person gets when they know that they've lost. "Tch. You're so stubborn," he chuckled ruefully. He removed his hand so he could look at you, and his voice became solemn. "I'm sorry. It's so hard to resist. I want to drink blood so badly."
You held out your arms, inviting him into blissful surrender. His eyes widened in desperation, and you nodded.
Faster than you could blink, he lunged, pushing you down to the mattress as his teeth found your throat. In the split second before they pierced your skin, you noticed how gently he was holding you – not at all like before. Despite his bloodlust, enough of his humanity remained to remember that you were his (f/n). That he loved you.
Then his fangs were inside you, and you gasped at the pain. However, that was quickly replaced by something else – something that felt so, deliciously good. You moaned involuntarily, but you didn't care to be embarrassed as a pleasurable heat coursed throughout your body with each sip Levi took.
You wrapped an arm around his waist, bringing your free hand to the back of his head so you could hold him close. While you did desire more of this tantalizing sensation, your motives went beyond yourself. You wanted Levi to take what he needed, to end his pain, to heal.
"That's it," you breathed encouragingly, stroking his silky black hair.
When he was done, he licked your neck lovingly before pulling back. You felt a strange, tingling sensation, and when you brought your hand up to rub the spot, you found no wounds at all – not even a pinprick. You vaguely remembered from the legends that vampire saliva contained a healing agent.
Levi's eyes were once again blue. Human. Beautiful. He gazed at you for a moment before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to your lips. "Thank you, (f/n)," he whispered against your skin.
"Did you get enough?" you asked breathlessly.
"I did. See?" He gently guided your hand to his side, where you felt for a wound that was no longer there.
You couldn't hide the astonishment in your eyes.
Levi smirked at your reaction, but that was quickly replaced by a more uncomfortable expression. He averted his gaze from you as he explained, "I probably should have warned you. I wasn't sure, since I normally drink animal blood, but..." A blush formed on his cheeks. "I've heard that, when a vampire drinks directly from a human, it feels a bit...uh..."
"Yeah, I figured that out," you said, sparing him from finishing the sentence. You couldn't help but giggle at how embarrassed he looked. It was honestly adorable.
His eyes hesitantly met yours as he mumbled, "Sorry."
You shook your head. "Don't worry about it. Obviously, it felt, um...good." It was your turn to blush as you remembered the noises that had escaped your lips.
You cleared your throat, trying to diffuse the awkwardness of the situation. "Anyway," you began, starting to sit up, "I'm glad you're alri–oh..." Black spots appeared in your vision, and you swayed.
"Easy," Levi murmured as he caught you. He gently lowered you back down to the pillow. "You'll need to rest for a while."
Levi climbed off the bed, then deftly slid the sheets from under you before pulling them back up to cover your body. Then he grabbed the pitcher of water that you had intended to give to him, filled up a cup, and brought it to you. He delicately lifted your head so you could drink. Once you had finished that off, he made you drink another cup for good measure.
"Levi," you mumbled, not entirely coherent. "I'm sleepy."
Levi scoffed, but he couldn't help smiling slightly at your cuteness. "Then go to sleep, brat. I'll look after you."
"Sleep with me," you whined, even as your eyes drifted closed.
Levi sighed before removing his harness and bloodstained shirt. Then he crawled under the covers, pulling you into his arms. "So needy," he teased.
"Bite me," you grumbled playfully.
Levi hummed. "Don't tempt me," he purred into your ear, but you knew he was only joking.
You sighed as you snuggled into the warmth and safety of his embrace. "Goodnight, Levi. I love you."
"Tch. And I love you, you stubborn idiot." He pressed a tender kiss to your forehead. "Now go to sleep."
Like blowing out a candle, his words immediately released you into unconsciousness.