What a Surprise - Levi x Reader

‘So, if you can see here-‘ The instructor demonstrated a wide slash with his blades in mid air, causing a few of the trainees in front to shrink back. ‘Much force is needed to cut through the flesh. If you don’t get it…’ He drew a threatening line across his throat, to which a few of the newbies gulped. A few fainted.

‘Fresh meat’s looking a little scared,’ sniggered Jean. ‘Look, that one pissed his pants.’

‘If I remember correctly, you had a not so conspicuous stain on your front that first day,’ remarked Marco innocently to which Jean spluttered.

‘Shots fired,’ you mock-whispered. Eren howled with laughter to your side.

‘Shut up,’ Jean muttered, his cheeks a flaming red before he stormed off, cursing under his breath. The three of you looked on in amusement before Mikasa ghosted to Eren’s side, whispering something in his ear to which he nodded, sent a not-so-furtive glance in your direction and disappeared with her.

‘Well that was odd,’ you commented, looking after the pair. Marco was watching as well before he shook his head.

‘That’s it, I forgot!’ He rubbed his forehead before jogging off after them. ‘Sorry to leave you (f/n). Bye!’ He vanished in a cloud of dust.

‘Do I smell, or something?’ you shouted after him but he had already gone. A few turned in your direction with confused looks but after you shot a glare at them, they hustled around.

‘Now then.’ The instructor’s voice increased in volume, floating around the courtyard. ‘I’m sure all of you know about Corporal (F/N) now.’ He gestured towards your direction. ‘If you haven’t, you’ve been living under a rock.’ Everyone muttered in agreement.

You strode to the front, nodding to the instructor who walked towards you.

‘Corporal Rivaille is not here yet,’ he said in a low tone.

‘Are you kidding me?’

‘He just hasn’t showed up yet.’ The instructor shrugged. ‘I guess you’ll just have to do it yourself.’

‘But-‘ He had already left, to which you rolled your eyes, mentally invoked a curse on the bastardly gnome who had abandoned you and plastered a fake smile on your face. Some of the trainees started whispering and you could hear some of the comments.

‘She’s like so cool.’

‘I know right? I hear she’s better than Corporal Rivaille.’

‘I think she is, to be honest.’

That’s right you vertically challenged dwarf, you thought viciously.

It wasn’t that great, in your honest opinion. Without Levi, you couldn’t do most of your usual tricks; instead contenting yourself with a few flips and whatnots. It seemed to impress the newbies though; they ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ with everything, so much that you felt like a circus act. When it was over, you executed a rather overdramatic bow, brushed off a few trainees who were firing off questions -one you recall proposing- and went off in search of the traitor.

~

‘Sorry (f/n), but you can’t go in there.’ Erwin’s voice was firm, and his hand was even firmer, planted against the door to Levi’s office whilst you whined, tugging at his arm.

‘I just have to ask him something,’ you pleaded.

‘Ask him later. Go away.’

‘So rude and it’s only 10 in the morning,’ you muttered as you left. ‘I was going to buy you a snazzy watch but considering your attitude, that’s definitely not going to happen!’

‘I already saw it in your office so your argument is invalid!’

‘Snarky prat.’ You flung an obscene hand gesture at his back.

‘Saw that,’ he called.

‘Bugger off.’ You grumbled all the way to the dining hall, earning a few stank-faces from pretty much everyone in the vicinity.

~

Later that night, you were in an even grouchier mood, yelling at everyone and causing poor Krista to run off and cry, to which you were delivered a rather hefty slap across the face by an enraged Ymir.

It wasn’t your fault that your mood was somewhere in the ninth circle of Hell. Just that fact that now there was a heavy brass lock on Levi’s door and -for heaven’s above, was this a maximum security prison?- a fucking Doberman posted in front, glaring disdainfully at you as you backed away, staring at its oh-so-massive maw.

It also, didn’t help that everyone seemed to be avoiding you; Eren found excuses to get away from you, Mikasa said she had to go train; even Marco acted shifty whenever you entered the room.

‘Look I used new soap!’ you yelled desperately after Armin backed out of his room. ‘Deodorant? Perfume? Seriously, Armin just tell me!’

But it was to no avail.

~

You didn’t talk to anyone for three days. Three days. You seriously considered stripping and singing ‘I Will Survive,’ in the courtyard if it meant someone would come up and talk to you.

Or slap you in chains and drag you off to the nearest mental hospital for being a complete nutter.

To be honest, you didn’t really care. You just needed someone to talk to. Desperately.

Which was why, when Krista came up to you asking for help, you nearly fell over in your eagerness.

‘(F/n), I know you’re kind of busy right now-‘ Yeah, busy rocking back and forth in the corner of my room.

‘-but can you help me stack some plates in the dining hall?’

‘Sure!’ You chirped, and instantly winced at how peppy you sounded. ‘Anything else you need help with? I can do it!’ You shot a winning smile at her. God, she was an angel.

‘That’s okay,’ said Krista, looking like you’d lost your marbles. ‘It’s just a small favour. I’ll let you go afterward.’

‘That’s fine with me,’ you said, just happy for the company and attention. The pair of you walked down the corridor leading to the dining hall. The silence was welcome, albeit awkward; you never really talked to Krista before. She was a good friend and lovely, but you found her a little too frail and fairy-like for your liking. Still, she was right about your favourite person at the moment.

‘Um, so…’ You started stiffly. ‘Why has everyone been avoiding me?’

‘Oh! Er…’ Krista was at a loss for words. ‘I don’t really know.’

‘Do I smell?’ you asked, just for the heck of it.

‘I don’t think so?’

‘Great,’ you muttered. Then what in the flying fuck was wrong with you?

As the pair of you neared the door, Krista suddenly ran forward and ducked around it.

‘Wait here,’ she squeaked, her blonde head disappearing around the oak as she closed it. From within, you could hear sounds of banging, muffled cursing and quiet ‘shhhhh’s before she emerged.

‘Sorry about that, it was a little messy; didn’t want you to injure yourself!’ she explained, a little too chipper.

‘That’s…nice of you,’ you said slowly, then stepped through the door to utter darkness.

‘Where’s the light…’ You fumbled around for the switch and flicked it on, hearing the sounds of the ugly fluorescent lights buzz to life, then-

‘SURPRISE!’ yelled about a hundred different voices as people sprung out from under tables, behind walls and even out of the crockery cupboards. There was a pile of haphazardly wrapped gifts piled on the table beside you and Marco was suddenly in front of you, a wide grin on his face as he held a cake out to you with clumsy well wishes scribbled on it in messy icing. Someone -Eren you think- had snapped a party hat onto your head and honestly, it wasn’t the best look for you; frozen with your mouth partially open and a ‘pom-pomed’ decoration festooning your head.

‘Happy Birthday (f/n),’ announced Mikasa to which everyone else echoed.

‘So is this why you guys have been avoiding me?’

‘Yeah, pretty much,’ confirmed Eren, leaping up to sit on the present table. ‘You scared poor Armin here.’ Armin waved weakly.

‘That’s why I left you before,’ said Marco. ‘I had to go bake the cake.’

‘And here’s to thinking that I thought I smelled bad.’

‘You kinda do,’ interjected Jean at the back of the room.

‘No cake for you!’ you called back and Marco punched him lightly on the shoulder.

After a rather dissonant, hair-raising, goose-bump inducing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday,’ you cut the cake and distributed pieces to everyone. Even though it wasn’t that aesthetically pleasing, the cake simply melted in your mouth; a rich chocolate full of layers of cream that just screamed ‘diabetes’ but at that moment, you just wanted to eat and eat and eat. And ask him how he got his hands on all those ingredients.

As you were talking to Mikasa, there was a tap on your shoulder. Turning around, you were met with a familiar face.

‘Erwin, what’s up?’ You high-fived him.

‘Happy Birthday (F/n),’ he said warmly. ‘I’ve added my present to the pile but I need you to come with me before you open them.’

‘Come where?’ You stuck your plate in the bin and wiped a hand across your crumby mouth aware you looked like a complete pig. Erwin looked on in amusement.

‘It’s just something I need to show you.’

‘Alright.’ You headed out the door with him following suit. ‘And what was with that bloody dog?’

‘Well considering I know how persistent you are…’

‘Good point.’

The pair of you made small talk, winding down corridors and different hallways until you were following him, completely unsure where you were heading. It was some part of the building you had never entered before; indeed it seemed like no one had recently stepped foot through it. The floor was dustier; there was a fresh layer of grime on the banisters and hand railings. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of maze-navigating, you stopped under a massive staircase, slowing coiling up a central column and snaking up to what appeared to be the roof.

You looked up once, calculated the number of steps and turned to stare in disbelief at Erwin’s impassive face.

‘You’re not serious-‘

‘He’s waiting for you.’

‘Well then…’ You squinted up. ‘Nope.’ You turned around to leave but Erwin planted a stern hand on your shoulder, pivoted you around and pushed you towards the staircase.

‘I will just say that he has gone to a lot of effort for this. Consider this a rare gesture from someone like him.’

‘No shit there,’ you muttered. ‘If he forces every girl he likes to walk up a giant-ass staircase then there’s gonna be issues.’

‘Just go,’ said Erwin exasperatedly, shooing you away. You took another glance and sighed.

‘Erwin can’t you just go up there for me? You have better legs than I do.’ But he had already gone, boots clomping down the deserted hallway.

‘Great.’

~


‘You are so giving me a piggy back down,’ you huffed, pulling on the railing. Your leg muscles burned, every step like dragging yourself through mud. ‘If there’s nothing up here and this is some elaborate prank I will throw myself off the damn roof.’

But when you trudged to the top step, the sight took your breath away. Amazingly, it was a clear night today; the clouds that normally concealed the sky had blissfully disappeared for the night. There was a symphony of stars thrown across the velveteen blanket of black, tiny glistening diamonds that gave life to the normally dull evening. Framed by it all, was the figure of a man leaning against the balcony, something concealed by a white cloth next to him. At your footsteps, he turned around.

Levi was wearing a loose, white dress shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. The top button was undone and his hair was mussed, like he had just rolled out of bed. Black slacks and shoes finished off the ensemble, and the stark contrast of his clothes made his pale skin stand out even more and gave him an ethereal glow.

You were taken aback. You knew, normally that Levi would never be caught dead in such messy clothing, but the casual feel of it gave him a mature, handsome aura that you had never seen before.

Honestly, it was pretty sexy.

‘Um…’ You coughed, looking anywhere but into his eyes. ‘Hi.’

‘Hey.’ His voice was soft.

‘I was going to yell at you for your no-show three days ago and for avoiding me and for making me walk up those bloody stairs but…’

He smirked. ‘I’m just too nice to you.’

‘Oh please. That was an intense calf work-out and you know it.’

Levi took a step towards you and you swallowed nervously.

‘Are you ready for your present?’ He sounded a little flush.

‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’

‘Whenever you’re ready.’ He motioned towards the cloth and stepped back. You walked towards it and threw off the cloth.

Your own face stared back at you. But she seemed to shine. Somehow, Levi had painted life into her and even managed to capture your infamous half-smile. She looked utterly happy and framed by a night sky similar to tonight, she glowed even more.  

‘Levi…’ you choked.

‘I know I didn’t get much time to do it because I was so busy so I’m really sorry if it looks rushed and the paints weren’t cooperative to begin with but-‘

Levi didn’t get to finish his rambling before you had turned around and launched yourself into his arms, burying your face into his neck. Shocked, he stood there for a second before he wrapped his arms around your back and rested his head on yours.

‘I gather you like it then,’ he chuckled.

‘I don’t like it you idiot,’ you mumbled into his collarbone. ‘I am in fucking awe of it.’

You sniffed and pulled back. ‘And is that paint on your shirt?’

‘Shut up,’ he said gruffly, rubbing away at the black splotch. ‘I didn’t have time to change.’

‘I like the new look though,’ you said, tugging on his collar. ‘It suits you. And where did you learn to paint?’

‘I’m French,’ he answered with airs. ‘Of course I know how to paint.’

‘Well Mr. Monet, you paint beautifully.’ You grinned. ‘But that Doberman was completely unnecessary.’

‘I had to do something to keep your sticky little nose out,’ Levi said, kissing you lightly on the top of your head.

‘Happy Birthday brat.’