[Levi x Reader] Warmth

2 A.M.

Chilling December winds.

And here I am, walking through the frosted-over paths in nothing more than a button down shirt, a pair of dark slacks, and average shoes. Not really winter attire, I'd say.

But never mind that, Levi, you've got bigger things to worry about. How the hell does Erwin plan to launch our next expedition in this weather?! There's no way we can keep our troops warm and ready for battle through these fucking blizzards that seem to show up every damn day. Has he finally lost his mind? And he's such a vague person, there's no way he'll spill any information until he's sure he knows his plan will go through. Damn bastard...Damn expeditions...damn snow…

A groan escapes my throat, causing a puff of warm breath to mix with the freezing air surrounding me on every angle, forming a small cloud. I really wish that I'd put on a jacket before coming out tonight, but I was so suffocated in that castle, I needed some way to clear my head. It's not like I was planning on sleeping anyways; there's no point in trying. The nightmares come back every night, so I guess focusing on work is my best option. But there’s not really much I can do when I’m left out of the loop from all the important information.

Tch….What a pain in the ass.

“Levi? What are you doing out here this late? And in this weather, you’ll freeze!”

(f/n)...?

“I could ask you the same thing, idiot. Get back inside,” I remarked in response, my stoic expression unchanged.

You seemed to be a little disoriented by my tone, and nodded. “Well I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You've been a little down lately, and you’re much more sluggish.”

“I’m fine. Just out for a walk. Now get inside before you turn into an icicle. That’s an order.”

“Yes sir…”

You kept your distance from me, which made my shoulders drop almost unnoticeably; in this cold, all I want is to feel your warmth. But alas, I had ordered you inside and you followed like the good soldier you are. Damn, I wish they hadn’t trained you so well so maybe you would’ve been more compelled to stay. But whatever. There’s more important things to think about than some silly girl.

Right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Alright shitheads! Get up and move out! The expedition begins in exactly one hour, so you’d better stuff your faces while you have the chance!”

Sitting down in my usual spot in the dining hall with the other officers, I feel a presence beside me, the warmth of another person. Glancing up, I recognize the form of a young woman, one very familiar.

“Good morning, Captain. It’s chilly today, isn’t it?” You beam, pushing back a strand of your hair behind your ear. God damn, you’re so beautiful.

“Hn…” You’re definitely right about it being chilly; hell, that’s an understatement. It’s fucking freezing and I still have no idea what the hell Erwin is planning to do. Taking the last of my bread past my lips, I stand and thoroughly clean my area before making my way out of the room.

With a sigh, I scope my surroundings. Hanji at my right, you at my left and Eren behind. Everyone lined up in order to begin, leaving these walls that contained us, these walls that caged us, these walls that limited us. Erwin raises a hand as the gates open with a thunderous rumbling.

“The 59th Expedition of the Survey Corps has officially begun! Scouts, Move forward!”

With that, we picked up speed, riding outside those walls into God-forsaken territory. The tension heightened as everyone split into their separate groups, but there’s nothing we can do about that anymore. We’re on our own. Bursts of signal flares rang in my ears as colored smoke polluted the sky and suffocated my lungs. But still, we ride on through the frost, only thickening as the time passed. It began to snow about an hour in, and the flakes melted against my cloak almost as quickly as the evaporating blood of titans. My fingers are chilled to the bone and my brow is lined with cold sweat.

What the hell are we doing here? Is there even a damn point to this?! God damn it, Erwin!

A flash of white. I can no longer feel the leather of the reins in my palms.

I’m off my horse…? What the hell? And I feel colder…Am I on the ground? Did I fall?

Thoughts swarm in my head, clouding and buzzing in my mind as I try to figure out what exactly just happened. But I’m so damn freezing that I can’t feel anything. Everything is numb. My body refuses to move. And I don’t see anyone anywhere.

“Levi?”

I hear a voice. Where is it coming from? Who is calling me?

“Levi!”

(f/n)? Is that you?

The image of you blurs in my vision before everything transitions from white...

...to black.