twenty-eight

The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a muted glow on the bedroom walls. It was still early, and the house was still quiet-too quiet. You shifted beneath the covers, savouring the warmth, but the sound of the door creaking open made your heart skip.

It had been a week since you'd received Levi's letter. A week of waiting. A week of missing him. You had been living in a kind of limbo, your days stretching long and slow. Every second apart from him felt like an eternity, and now, the moment you'd been waiting for had finally come. Levi was home.

There was no dramatic fanfare-just the soft sounds of his boots on the floorboards, his quiet footsteps carrying across the house. You didn't even open your eyes at first; just the sound of him moving around brought a warmth to your chest that you hadn't realized you'd been craving.

"Still asleep?" His voice broke the silence, the usual gruffness there, but it lacked the edge it usually carried when he was working. There was an undeniable softness beneath his words, and it made your heart ache in the best way.

You gave a lazy groan, stretching beneath the blankets. "Mm, I might be. Couldn't sleep well, you know... missing you and all," you teased, your voice muffled into the pillow, though there was no mistaking the genuine affection in your words.

Levi didn't respond right away, but you could feel his presence beside you, his weight shifting on the bed as he sat down near your feet. A moment of silence passed, and you half-expected him to just leave you to your slumber. But instead, there was the soft sound of fabric rustling, and then-

"Don't tell me you've been in bed this whole time," Levi said, voice slightly incredulous. "You should at least be making an effort to get out of bed when I'm back." His tone was sharp, but you could hear the faintest hint of amusement.

You opened your eyes slowly, just enough to peek at him. "I'm doing my best," you muttered, already smiling at the way his presence seemed to fill every inch of the room. He was back, and it felt like everything was finally where it belonged.

"Yeah, well... when I finally found this cabin, I was about ready to break down the door and drag you out of there." Levi's voice was low, but you could hear the slight annoyance underneath the words. "Took me forever to find it. You didn't exactly make it easy for me."

You raised an eyebrow, a playful grin curling at the corners of your mouth. "Oh? What, you couldn't find me? I thought you were supposed to be the great Captain Levi."

He huffed at that, his posture still rigid as ever, but you could see the flicker of a smile in his eyes. "This place is impossible to navigate. It's not like there's a sign that says 'Welcome, Captain Levi.'" He shook his head, a little more amused now. "Not that I needed it, but still... I wasn't sure if you were here or halfway to the next town."

You couldn't help but laugh at the thought. "Yeah, well, I live in the middle of nowhere. It's cozy, though, isn't it?"

There was a beat of silence, and Levi shifted closer, close enough that you could feel his warmth without him even touching you. He didn't speak for a moment, his expression unreadable as his gaze fixed on you, but there was an undeniable tenderness in his eyes.

"So, you missed me, huh?" he asked, his voice unusually soft.

You smiled at the change in his tone, no longer playful but something more sincere. "More than you know."

Levi's lips twitched upward ever so slightly, before he sighed and shook his head. "You're a nuisance," he muttered, but there was no bite to his words.

The silence stretched between you two, comfortable, familiar. It was a kind of silence that spoke volumes, where words weren't necessary to convey everything you both felt. You didn't need him to say "I missed you too," because you could feel it in the way he stayed close, how his presence had become a constant in your life. He was here now, and that was all that mattered.

You shifted slightly, unable to resist any longer. Without saying a word, you slid over, resting your head against his chest. Levi didn't move, but you could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath you.

His arm gently draped over your back, and for the briefest moment, it felt as if you were the only two people in the world. The weight of his presence was comforting, grounding you in a way nothing else could.

"I swear, you're too clingy for your own good," Levi murmured, but the words were soft, his tone much less harsh than usual. It almost sounded like a compliment in disguise.

You smiled into his chest. "I think you like it."

"I do not." The words came out quickly, but he didn't pull away. Instead, you felt his arm tighten around you ever so slightly.

You looked up at him, your face inches from his. He wasn't looking at you; his gaze was fixed on the floor, his expression still cool, but the faintest flicker in his eyes betrayed the unspoken affection. The quiet way he pulled you in closer, as though afraid to let you go.

"You know," you started, your voice barely above a whisper, "I've been thinking about you a lot while you were gone. A lot of lonely nights... no Levi around to keep me company."

Levi didn't respond at first, but you could feel his thumb tracing circles against your back, a movement so small, but it made your heart flutter.

He didn't need to say anything. The silence between you felt right, comfortable.

"You can stop pretending to be indifferent," you huffed, looking up at him again. "It's pretty obvious you missed me too."

He turned his head slightly, his lips curving into the smallest of smiles. "You're not that special," he muttered, but there was no malice in his words.

"Right. Sure," you replied, the sarcasm lacing your voice as you pulled away just enough to look at him. "If I'm not special, then why are you still here?"

Levi's eyes flicked over to you, narrowing slightly, before he sighed in resignation. "You're detestable."

"And yet, you keep coming back," you replied, a grin tugging at your lips.

He didn't argue this time. Instead, he simply leaned forward and rested his forehead gently against yours, his breath mingling with yours in the quiet space between you.

There was no rush, no urgency-just the two of you, together. The kind of connection that had been growing ever since you'd gotten together, now solidified in these small, intimate moments.

It didn't matter that he wasn't yet settled into the cabin or that he was still in the process of adjusting to this new chapter of your lives. What mattered was that he was here now, close enough for you to feel the heat of his skin, the pulse of his heart, the steady rhythm of his breathing.

And as his hand brushed the back of your neck, pulling you closer just a little more, you couldn't help but smile softly.

You moved up, taking the silence as a simple ask and pressed your lips onto his. You could feel him let out a satisfied breath out of his nose as you did, his hand tightening its grip around the back of your neck.

The kiss was deep, but unsloppy and full of affection. Levis lips parted yours in sync with his before letting out a small chuckle.

"..guess i have missed you" he muttered, his hand gently playing with your hair.

.

Weeks passed, but the warmth of Levi's presence didn't fade. It became something constant, like a quiet hum in the background of your days.

It wasn't just the early mornings where he'd sneak in quietly before you woke up. It wasn't just the moments when you'd come home to find him lounging on the couch, sleeves rolled up, a rare softness in his eyes as he pretended to watch the fire crackling.

It was the little things-the small changes you barely noticed at first.

You'd gone to bed one night, having spent the evening with him talking, laughing, and enjoying the kind of quiet that only came when the two of you were together.

When you woke up the next morning, a small black coat was draped over the back of the chair in the corner of the room. Levi had only been back for a few days after another Scout expedition, but the coat was a subtle sign.

It wasn't that you'd never seen him leave things behind before; you had. You were used to the occasional shirt or a stray pair of boots left by the door. But this was different.

It wasn't a forgotten object-it was a piece of his daily life. His presence had become so familiar, so woven into the fabric of your own that his things were becoming as commonplace in your home as your own.

As the days passed, Levi's things started to multiply slowly. A book left on the table, the very one you'd seen him reading just the night before. A worn-out pair of boots near the door, dusted with dirt from his expeditions, sitting alongside your own shoes. A shaving kit, left on the counter, even though he never said anything about it, he has been slowly leaving more and more of his belongings there.

At first, you didn't mention it. You didn't need to. Every time you walked past something of his, you couldn't help but smile. It was like a secret between the two of you, an unspoken agreement that neither of you had to address.

It wasn't about labels or commitments-it was about him, about the moments you shared, and about the quiet intimacy that came with having him around.

You weren't sure when it happened. When did it become normal for him to stay over every night after his missions? When did his worn-out shirts end up in your drawers, his boots tucked neatly beside yours by the door? It wasn't a question of when-more like a feeling of inevitability.

But it wasn't until you noticed a small, familiar tin on the kitchen counter one morning that it fully hit you. You picked it up absentmindedly, inspecting the label.

A small canister of Levi's favourite tea, the one he always kept in his coat pocket when he was out on expeditions.

You couldn't help but laugh quietly to yourself, the tin warm in your hands as you realized what was happening. It was no longer just a place for him to rest after a long, exhausting day-it was starting to feel more like home. His home.

"Good morning." His voice broke your thoughts, and you turned around to find him standing in the doorway, his face still slightly flushed from the cool morning air, his coat hanging loosely over his shoulders.

You smiled, setting the tin back down. "Morning. I see your tea's making itself comfortable here," you teased, raising an eyebrow.

Levi walked over to you, his boots making soft thuds against the floorboards. "I guess it is," he replied, a slight smirk pulling at his lips as he eyed the tin. "I didn't expect you to go through my things, but if you're going to, at least make yourself useful and put the kettle on."

You reached for the kettle without missing a beat. "I don't mind," you said lightly, not looking at him as you set it on the stove. "I'm just glad to see your making yourself at home ."

Levi paused, and you could almost feel his gaze on the back of your neck. "that sounded very passive aggressive," he muttered, his words making you let out a tiny snort. Levi was more of an over thinker than you thought.

As the kettle heated up, you couldn't help but glance over your shoulder, catching his eyes for just a moment. There was something in his gaze-something soft, something almost vulnerable-

For all his gruffness, for all the barriers he put up, Levi was letting his walls slip. Slowly. But it was happening.

You broke the silence, nudging the small tin of tea toward him. "I don't mind having your things around. Feels nice, actually."

Levi's expression softened, and his lips twitched in that small, familiar smile. "i havent moved in, officially yet, you know."

You raised an eyebrow at him as you poured hot water into the cup. "Mm, sure. Whatever you say, Captain." You threw at him. Sure, officially he hadn't but it was clear he had no issue moving in, there wasn't much to say other than that this was more his house than his own.

"mm.. hate to admit it, but i missed hearing you say captain.," he replied, his voice a little lower now. But it didn't have the usual edge. It was more of a husky, teasing tone.

You glanced over at him, catching the amusement flickering in his dark eyes, but there was no need to push it further, so you just chuckled.

You'd learned by now that Levi's affection wasn't something he'd ever speak of out loud, but you could feel it in the small moments.

The way his fingers would brush against yours when he passed you something. The way he always made sure to be there with you, even on his busiest nights.

But honestly, as surprising as it sounded, when he was teasing, using that husky tone.. it made your heart do backflips, somewhat more than the lovey dovey moments.

Which, then, always led to other things.

The kettle whistled softly, and you set the cup in front of him. He took it without a word, his hand lingering just a little longer than usual.

You smiled quietly to yourself, walking to the window as you looked out at the soft light of the morning creeping over the horizon. It didn't matter that Levi hadn't verbally admitted it-his presence here, his things scattered around, the way he kept showing up night after night-it was enough.

Levi wasn't moving in, not in the way anyone else would. But the reality was that you'd become part of each other's lives in ways that didn't require labels or promises. His presence had settled into your life like a gentle current, soft and unyielding, carving a path into everything. And even if he never said it, you both knew that this was where he wanted to be.

Over the next few days, the changes continued. The small, steady accumulation of Levi's things became almost comforting, like pieces of him settling into your space. You never questioned it-just let it happen. Let him stay close, and let him grow more comfortable, even when his duties with the Scouts kept him away.

And you couldn't deny that, despite his insistence on not moving in, it was starting to feel more and more like his home too.

The days had a way of stretching on now that you weren't part of the Scouts anymore. The frantic rush of missions, the constant training, and the ever-present danger were all gone, replaced by the soft rhythm of daily life. At first, it had felt strange, almost empty, like there was a quiet space in your chest that hadn't been there before. But in time, you grew to appreciate the silence, the simplicity of it all.

Now, mornings were filled with quiet routines. The kettle would begin to whistle just as the first light of dawn broke through the window. You'd get up early, just as you had before, and make tea. The familiar motion of boiling water, setting out the mugs, and placing the tea leaves in the pot had become something you looked forward to.

It wasn't just the tea, though. It was the mornings spent with Levi.

Levi hadn't moved in. Neither of you had spoken of it. But over the past few weeks, he'd begun to show up more frequently. His visits stretched from a few nights after missions to a few days, and then longer. Sometimes, he'd disappear for a few days, always returning just as quietly as he'd left. His things were scattered around his jacket slung over a chair, his boots by the door, his spare coat hanging in the entryway. Neither of you had acknowledged it, but it had become the norm, and neither of you minded.

You hadn't realized how much you'd gotten used to him being there until one morning, when you walked into the kitchen to prepare tea, and he was already sitting at the table, a mug in his hand, his gaze fixed on the window. The sight of him there, looking so at ease, made something warm bloom in your chest.

"Morning," you said, not needing to ask if he'd slept well. You knew he'd be tired, as usual, after returning from a mission, but you also knew he wouldn't admit it. He never did.

"Morning," Levi replied, his voice as low and steady as always. He didn't look at you when he spoke, his eyes still trained on the outside world.

You continued to move about the kitchen, the kettle starting to steam as you set out the tea. The soft clink of the spoons and the sound of the water pouring were the only noises that filled the room.

"Same kind of tea today?" he asked, still staring out the window, as though it was the most important question in the world.

You grinned, stirring the tea leaves into the pot. "What, you think I'm going to start changing it up on you now?"

Levi let out a soft huff of amusement, but there was no real smile. He just nodded, his eyes still not leaving the window. "I'm not complaining. Just making sure I'm not getting the same thing every morning for the rest of my life."

You gave him an look, so very clearly amused. The rest of his life, you wanted to tease him for it but instead you let out a small laugh. "You'll get used to it. You've been drinking it for weeks already."

Levi's gaze flicked to you for a brief moment, though his face remained as neutral as ever. "Guess I'll survive."

There was an easy rhythm to the way you two interacted-casual, light, without any pressure. He didn't ask much of you, and you didn't ask much of him.

It was as if both of you had found a quiet understanding in the small things in the gestures that didn't need to be spoken.

When you set the tea down in front of him, his fingers brushed yours as he took the mug. For a brief moment, your breath caught. It wasn't anything new, but the simple contact felt more intimate than it had before.

He didn't comment on it. He never did. Instead, he took a sip, his eyes finally meeting yours.

"Don't burn yourself," you said, a playful glint in your eye as you watched him gingerly sip from the mug.

"Is that advice or a warning?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Both," you said, grinning. "You tend to be a little reckless with hot things."

Levi gave you a pointed look, but it wasn't sharp. More like a warning of his own, though you knew he wasn't really annoyed. "I handle you well, dont I?."

"Annoyingly well," you said under your breath, just loud enough for him to hear.

His eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond, In fact, there was a slight curve to his lips, the ghost of a smile hidden behind his stoic expression. He didn't need to say anything else. You both understood each other in that moment.

The silent discussion of how well everything was going well.

The conversation drifted easily between you both, about nothing of any real importance. You discussed how the garden was coming along, how the weather was changing, and whether the cabin needed any repairs, which, of course, it did, but neither of you wanted to spend the day fixing it.

In between these simple conversations, there were the moments when you'd pass each other in the kitchen and accidentally brush shoulders, or when you'd both reach for the same spoon and your fingers would touch, just enough to make your heart beat a little faster.

After tea, you headed outside together. The morning was warm, the sun still soft and low in the sky. The garden needed tending, and the two of you worked in tandem, moving between rows of plants, each of you focused on your tasks but always aware of the other.

You could feel Levi's eyes on you more than once, but neither of you acknowledged it. It wasn't necessary. He had a way of being present without ever truly being in the way. And somehow, his silence was more comforting than anything else.

You paused, pulling a few stubborn weeds from the ground, when you felt a soft pressure against your back. You turned, surprised, to see Levi standing just behind you, his hand lightly resting against your lower back. He didn't say anything, just waited for you to acknowledge him.

You smiled at him and went back to your task, but the touch lingered. It was small-almost imperceptible-but it meant more than words ever could.

The rest of the morning passed in the same quiet way. There were no grand gestures, no deep conversations. It was just the two of you, slipping easily into the space of shared routines, of quiet moments that spoke louder than anything either of you could say.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, you both returned to the cabin. There was no hurry, no rush. You didn't need to talk about the future or any plans. You didn't need to fill the silence with anything more than the sound of your footsteps on the floorboards.

In the evenings, you'd sit by the fire, the crackling of the flames a soothing background to the quiet conversations that continued. The world outside might have been chaotic, unpredictable, but in here, with Levi beside you, it felt like everything had found its place.

"Do you ever just sit and think?" you asked one evening, watching the flames dance.

Levi's gaze didn't leave the fire, but you could feel his attention shift toward you. "No point in thinking too much. The world won't change just because you think about it."

You chuckled, shaking your head. "Maybe. But sometimes it helps."

He didn't respond to that. Instead, he simply leaned back in his chair, his eyes half-lidded as he relaxed. The quietness stretched between you again, comfortable and easy. The evening was already beginning to fall, and it felt like you could stay in that moment forever.

The warmth of the fire, the quiet of the cabin, and the simple presence of Levi beside you were all you needed. Nothing had to be complicated. There was no need for grand declarations. Just this. Just the two of you, quietly finding your place in each other's lives.

The evenings had become a quiet routine, one you didn't realize you were already settling into. Tea in the morning, little tasks shared throughout the day, and the evenings spent curled up together, the fire crackling softly in the background. It was easy, comfortable-like nothing had changed between the two of you, and yet, everything had.

Levi still spent his nights with you, often in that same silence that had first drawn you together. The difference now was the way his hand would occasionally brush against yours, the subtle shifts in how close he would sit beside you, the way his shoulder seemed to find yours in the quiet moments.

Tonight, as you sat on the couch, your legs tucked beneath you, Levi was sitting just beside you, his knee brushing against yours. Neither of you said much, but there was a certain closeness that felt like it had been there forever. His presence was just... comforting now.

You both stared into the fire for a moment, the room warm and soft around you. It was peaceful, and yet, you couldn't help but notice the small ways you two had changed, without ever needing to say it. The way he casually leaned into you as the night wore on, how you would curl up against his side without a second thought.

Levi glanced at you, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He reached over, his fingers brushing against yours as he took a sip from his cup.

"Cold tonight," he murmured, his voice quieter than usual. But there was something in the way he said it that made you feel like the words meant more than just the weather.

You nodded, leaning a little closer, your shoulder brushing against his. "Mmm. I don't mind though." You smiled, eyes still on the fire. The steady rhythm of the night was comforting, almost as if this small routine had become its own language between the two of you.

The silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Levi's hand found its way to your knee, resting there casually, fingers lightly tapping as he watched the flames flicker. You didn't pull away, instead leaning just a little more into him, feeling his warmth press into yours.

It was simple. Easy. The way you liked it. No words, no expectations-just the steady presence of someone who meant more than they could say.

When you finally spoke, your voice was softer than before. "You're always here when I wake up."

Levi's eyes flickered to yours briefly, and though he didn't say anything, there was a slight shift in the air. His hand, which had been resting on your knee, slowly slid to your side, his fingers grazing over your waist, the touch almost absentminded, but steady.

"Where else would I be?" he replied, voice low but with that dry edge of his usual nonchalance.

You smiled, that familiar flutter in your chest settling in. There was nothing else to say. Instead, you reached up, brushing your fingers over his hand, a simple gesture of affection that said it all.

His gaze softened, the usual gruffness melting away as he watched you. And before you knew it, you found yourself leaning in, closing the small space between you. His lips met yours in a soft kiss, slow, without urgency. It was comfortable, almost like an exhale.

Pulling back just slightly, Levi didn't go far. His forehead rested against yours, and you could feel the gentle rise and fall of his breath.

"You're gonna be the death of me," he muttered under his breath, a quiet chuckle escaping as he shook his head. But there was no bite behind the words, just a touch of affection hidden under that usual gruff exterior.

You laughed softly, a warmth spreading through you that had nothing to do with the fire. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Levi didn't respond, only kissed you again, and this time it was a little deeper, a little longer, but still easy, like it was simply a part of the rhythm that had come to define the space between you two.

As you pulled away, Levi gave you that half-smirk of his, the one you'd come to adore. "This is what you get for being so... damn distracting," he muttered.

You chuckled, leaning back into him. "It's not my fault you like it."

And just like that, everything felt perfectly right, like the world had finally slowed down just enough for you both to simply enjoy each other's presence, the closeness that had grown into something even more comfortable than before. It wasn't about the words anymore-it was just about being together.

And you both had long since stopped needing more than that.

***

- teur <3