"You have to do something!" you insisted, nearly yelling at your commander. "We all know Levi is innocent! This is just a farce to weaken the Scout Regiment!"
"(F/n), we are trying," Erwin stated calmly. "But it's going to take time. The government is making us go through the whole bureaucratic process."
"They could be hurting him!" you exclaimed. "You know what they're like. While he's in their custody, they could beat him, or torture him, or God knows what else."
"Levi's tough. He can handle it." Despite his words, the barest glimmer of regret appeared in Erwin's eyes.
"Well, I can't handle it," you muttered as you stormed out.
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It had been almost a week since Levi was arrested and charged with three counts of murder. You knew it was a complete sham, of course. Levi hadn't killed anyone since he left the Underground City, and that was years ago. The government had framed him because they knew that doing so would be a severe blow to the Scouts.
You couldn't sleep at night, because you were unable to stop imagining what they might be doing to him. The MP's had complete reign over anyone in their custody, and they were famous for abusing that control.
Your anxiety only grew when the MP's announced that they were going to publicly whip Levi for all the citizens to see. You knew it was retaliation for the Scouts not bending to their will. Levi was nothing more than a hostage.
"Get him out!" you screamed at Erwin. "If you can't do it legally, then send someone to break him out! Hell, I'll do it!"
"We can't, (f/n)," Erwin insisted as he tried to calm you down. "There's no way to rescue him without getting caught, and we can't afford to lose any more soldiers in the attempt." Erwin sighed. "We just have to keep trying through the legal channels."
You growled in frustration, going back to your room so that you could think in private. Erwin wouldn't help, but there had to be something you could do. There just had to be.
You didn't care what the price was. You would pay it.
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They dragged him out in chains. His beautiful, pale skin was covered in cuts and bruises from where they had beaten him. But still, he held his head high, not giving them the satisfaction of seeing him break.
They forced him to kneel on the platform and tied his hands to posts. Then they ripped open his shirt, exposing his back to the cold air, and to what would come next.
An unforgiving voice rang out over the hushed crowd as the accusations against Levi were read. A signal was given, and the whip was raised.
Before it could fall, you vaulted onto the platform and threw your body over Levi's. "No!" you shouted, putting yourself between him and the whip.
The wielder looked to his commander for direction.
"(F/n), what are you doing?" Levi whispered frantically. "Get away!"
You shook your head.
"Move, girl, so that we can get on with it," the MP officer snapped.
"I won't!" you shouted, loud enough for the whole square to hear. "He doesn't deserve this! He's innocent!"
The MP paused, as if considering your words. Then he smiled sadistically. "You intend to take his punishment, then?"
You swallowed. "I will."
"No, (f/n), don't!" Levi insisted, trying but failing to shake you off.
The MP tilted his head. "Why would you do that?" he asked, genuinely not understanding.
"I love him!" you confessed without hesitation.
He shrugged. "Very well. I'm flexible. Ten lashes it is, then."
"(F/n), please don't do this!" Levi begged. "I can take the whipping! Save yourself!"
You simply replied, "Keep your head down and your eyes shut." You hugged him tighter, pressing your chest into his back. Then you took a deep breath, trying your best to prepare for what was coming.
However, there was no preparing for that agony. You felt each individual barb that ripped through your skin, over and over, tearing it to shreds. It was worse than anything you had ever experienced.
You screamed, probably damaging Levi's eardrums, but that was the least of his concerns. "Please stop," he whispered hoarsely. "Stop this, (f/n). Let go. Let me take it."
But you didn't. You held firm.
The pain was so immense that you didn't notice the crowd booing and shouting. Your actions had moved them enough that they no longer supported what was happening on that platform. However, despite their protests, the whip kept cracking.
After what seemed like an eternity, the tenth lash hit home. You cried out before slumping against Levi, nearly passing out from the pain.
"(F/n)? Are you alright?" he asked, worry coating his voice. "(F/n)?"
Somehow, Hanji was there, carefully lifting you away without touching the gashes on your back. She had seen you sneaking away from the barracks and had gone after you, afraid that you might do something reckless. However, once she realized your plan, she couldn't bring herself to stop you. She knew how much you cared about Levi.
"Hanji, help her! Please!" Levi begged as the MP's dragged him away.
"I will," Hanji assured him.
The touching display only fueled the crowd's anger. But you were too far gone to notice.
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You spent the next few days fading in and out of consciousness. Hanji treated the wounds on your back, but there was no stopping the fact that your once-perfect skin would be marred with scars forever.
It was the middle of the night when you drifted awake, lying on your stomach, head turned to the side. Your eyes met a familiar pair of grey-blue ones, which were filled with concern as they gazed back at you.
Levi was kneeling next to your bed, gently cradling your hand in his own. His other hand brushed the hair back from your face. "You're so stupid, (f/n)," he murmured tenderly.
Despite your pain, you managed to smile softly. "You're back," you whispered blearily. "I'm so glad."
As relief flooded your body, you instantly fell back asleep. Your lips were still curved into a smile.
Levi pressed a kiss to your forehead, then took the opportunity to examine your back. He winced when he saw the gashes that tore through your once-smooth skin. He remembered how his fingers used to savor that smoothness, brushing it over and over in lazy circles. No longer.
A lump formed in his throat. You had taken the whipping. You would bear those scars forever. For him.
At last, Levi managed to tear himself away. He had been so anxious to see you that he hadn't showered before coming here. Now that he had confirmed that you were not in critical condition, he was able to take care of his own needs.
Once he was clean, he slipped into bed next to you. He was careful of your back, instead wrapping one arm around your hips and taking your hand with his free one. He leaned his forehead against yours, cherishing your closeness after what felt like an eternity apart.
Despite the exhaustion and pain that gripped his body, Levi was unable to fall asleep for a long time. He was still filled with guilt over what had happened. He kept replaying your screams in his mind, telling himself that he should have stopped it. Somehow, he should have.
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When you awoke the next morning, Levi was next to you, so close that you were sharing breaths.
You smiled. You had thought that last night was a dream, but seeing him now, you knew it was real. Somehow, Levi was home. Levi was free.
You continued to gaze at him until he woke up.
"Good morning," you murmured, softly kissing his lips.
Levi groggily returned your affections, then asked, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm alright," you stated quietly. It was only half a lie. While your pain had lessened over the past few days, your back still hurt. However, you didn't want to burden Levi with that knowledge. "What about you? How are you here right now?"
"Apparently, your stunt started a riot," Levi muttered. "The government had to let me go so the citizens would stop burning things to the ground."
You giggled. "I guess true love conquers all," you teased.
Levi scoffed, but his tender expression told a different story. A moment later, that expression crumpled. Levi lifted his fingers to stroke your cheek, slowly, gently. "How could you do that, (f/n)?" he asked tightly. "Don't you know that it killed me to watch them hurt you?"
You continued to smile softly as you replied, "I'm sorry. But I couldn't bear to watch them hurt you, either." Your eyes traveled across his face, seeing the scrapes and bruises that still lingered there, and your smile vanished. "It looks like they already did."
Levi shook his head, then met your eyes with complete seriousness. "I can take a beating, (f/n), but I can't stand to see you get hurt. Promise me that you'll never do that again."
You sighed. "I can't do that Levi," you whispered, matching his sincerity. "I love you, so I'm going to protect you in any way I can, just like you always protect me."
Levi looked like he wanted to argue, but he also could tell that you wouldn't budge on this, no matter how much he implored you. That realization left him feeling both saddened and loved beyond imagining. Not knowing what else to do, he gave you a tender kiss – one that you eagerly returned.
"And another thing," you murmured. "Don't blame yourself for what happened to me. It was my choice. The only ones at fault are the MP's." You searched his eyes, hoping that he took your words to heart. You understood him well enough to know that he probably did feel guilty over the fact that you were whipped in his place.
As expected, Levi looked hesitant to believe you. That was just the type of person he was. He felt it was his duty to protect you, and he would always put the woman he loved before himself.
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You helped Levi care for his injuries, but you wouldn't let him see your own. You insisted that Hanji help you instead, knowing that Levi would feel a fresh wave of guilt every time he looked at them.
But when your bandages finally came off, Levi implored you to show him. Your resolve faltered upon seeing the look he gave you. Those eyes that were usually so stoic were now pleading.
When your back was completely exposed to him, you were suddenly filled with a sense of insecurity. You thought your skin looked ugly, especially compared to the way it was before. What if Levi was disgusted by it? What if he never wanted to see or touch you again?
A second later, Levi showed you that those fears were completely unfounded. His hands rested on your hips as he trailed soft kisses along each scar, taking the time to impress upon you how sorry he was, and how much he loved your body, regardless of whether your skin was smooth or not.
You closed your eyes. After all the pain you had been in, the comfort of Levi's gentle affection was exquisite. He handled you so carefully, like you were the most precious thing in the world. You wanted to savor that feeling, to have it imprinted upon your memory forever.
When he was done, he bowed his head, resting it against the nape of your neck. "I'm so sorry, (f/n)."
"Don't be," you cooed.
You turned to face him, your body flush against his. His arms tightened around your waist, holding you to him while you looked into his eyes with such love and sincerity.
"I consider this a small price to pay for what I got in return," you murmured, reaching up to cup his cheek in your hand. "Levi, you're worth more to me than anything."
Levi's breath hitched. His typically expressionless eyes were suddenly filled with a sea of emotion. Guilt and gratitude. Tenderness and regret.
He would always hate himself for the scars on your back, and yet, those same scars also made him feel more loved than he ever had in his life. They were physical proof that you cared for him enough to willingly endure unimaginable pain in his place. Levi couldn't fathom what he had done to deserve that love, to deserve you.
He didn't have the words to thank you for such a gift, so instead, he kissed you, trying to convey how he felt in the way his lips molded to yours.
You understood.
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Ever since that day, Levi took every opportunity to brush his fingers across your back, or press kisses to your ridged skin. Always reminding you of how grateful he was. Always cherishing the love that he felt from you.
He worshiped those scars so much that you never again felt insecure about them. In fact, you were glad that you could demonstrate your devotion in that way. Levi had lost so much, spent so much of his life alone, and you needed him to know that he was treasured, adored.
You needed him to know that he had someone whose love for him ran deeper than the ocean.