Levi Ackerman Lemon - Behind the Rain - Request

*Hides in shame* Hi everyone… I know it’s been forever….

I have reasons thought! Classes and vacations and internet and moving and working… it’s been a busy few months.

However, here is a request that I thoroughly enjoyed working on! Hope I did it justice, and enjoy!

                Levi was known for demanding the very best of his soldiers. He was always watching, evaluating, deeming who could be relied on in a time of need. As a result, he was good at reading those around him. Eren Jager was dedicated to the point of stupidity. Hanji was curious to the point of recklessness. Armin was cautious to the point of inaction. But Reina Leon… he had yet to fully understand her.

                At first, he deemed her a fool, leaving her dark hair so long that he would consider it a hazard during battle. Then he noticed the dark circles under her eyes, dark enough to be seen through her tanned skin, and wondered if maybe she feared this war enough to lose sleep over it. She was taller than he was, long legs that would be well matched to 3DMG. But somehow, he could never picture her in battle, despite how many times he had seen her. To him, she looked out of place. Her eyes were wide and innocent, not looking angry even if they were narrowed and focused. Her lips were plump and turned down in the corners, but even this frown was softened by those doe like eyes.

                He had interacted with her on occasion, harshly, seriously, even politely, but her exterior had not cracked, as she responded with the bare minimal required before going back to her task. Seeing as he could not break her this way, he resorted to watching her on the battlefield, keeping her in the very corner of his vision. He even admitted to himself that he enjoyed watching her fight, stressful though it may be. Her movements were odd, like the bending limbs of a willow tree in a storm. Her feet landed where he would never have placed them, her arms reaching where he never would have gambled, but she always managed to pull it off. Her long lean limbs making her fast, and agile, but lacking in strength potential. She was tactical, her mind moving at the speed of her swords, but in a way that Levi could never quite understand.
                She'd stood up to him the first time he’d ever ordered her around. He’d not even thought about it, expecting her to respond like any other soldier, but she hadn’t, not in the slightest. And it hadn’t been with an angry fury either, it had been distanced, calm and collected. Like she'd already had every weapon in her arsenal ready to fire at him, every word on her tongue that would infuriate him. And to do it in such a dignified manner, like she was right for arguing with him, it had only confounded him more. That she believed with such conviction that her place was on equal standing with his, he hadn’t even had the forethought to dissuade her. With her skill and her fierce independence, and the way she claimed and earned her place, Levi had no reason to ever doubt that she belonged there. 

                She confused him. A chess piece in his army that he could never plan for, a wild card. And thus, she put him on edge.

                Reina was not entirely ignorant of Levi’s perceptions of her, but she was rather indifferent to it. Or at least, she always endeavoured to be. Almost from birth she had been taught to guard herself, her thoughts, and her emotions. Concealing her true thoughts behind her carefully constructed wall, watching when others would act rashly, planning when others would lose.

                Around her, people were training. Captain Mike was sparring with a recruit, holding back his throws to avoid beating the poor boy senseless. Olou was slouching nearby, casting his haughty glances over his surroundings. Reina avoided her eyes, she wanted to avoid contact with him, holding grudges back from the time he had attempted to flirt with her when she first arrived. He had no thought for her, no respect for her strength or her dignity, and that was not something she forgave lightly. Although, he was not alone in this regard. For many years in her childhood she had seen the women around her bow to the abuse of men. Although she had long since learned to master her aversions, there was always an underlying reluctance to engage with one.

                Which led to her avoidance of Levi. Although, if she had to think about it, she would have to admit that she was more at ease with him than any other man. Something in his gaze told her of the words he did not say, an underserved age within them that reflected only that of her own. There was also an honesty in his being, whether it was his brash words or his unwavering leadership, he refused to betray who he was and Reina sometimes found herself thinking it admirable.

                Still, she was not one to admit the weakness of the distraction he caused her. She blamed it on his pestering, the way his analytical eyes followed her on the battlefield, and her responding actions were simply to put herself as far from his line of sight as possible.

                She lowered her gaze as the man himself stepped to the training grounds. “Reina.” His voice echoed moments later, only a step away from her.

                “Captain.” She replied, still surveying the others.

                “Are you so weak that you must stand back and watch?” Reina couldn’t stop her eyes from angrily moving to his, chastising herself for falling for his trick to get a reaction from her.

                “Taking a step back to observe is often the best way to take one forward.” She replied flatly, enjoying the flicker of annoyance in his eyes at the lack of emotion in her words.

                “I disagree.” He unsheathed one of the swords at his waist. Reina barely had time to unsheathe her own as his swung to her throat. He kept the pressure on his blade, and she felt a strange surge of pride that he was not underestimating her. “I believe,” he continued, quietly, “that sometimes a new challenge can test you in ways you never imagined.”

                There was a double meaning in his words, Reina was sure, but she had no time to ponder it as his other sword came slashing at her side.

                Levi was focused, focused enough that he didn’t notice the others stopping to watch the fight, backing off to avoid the powerful swing of steel. Just as she couldn’t let up for a second lest his strong swings break past her own, his own mind had to stay intent to prepare for her unconventional moves. He saw her heel twist to the left, but let his swords hang in the air for a moment longer than usual, a bold decision but a good one, as somehow she managed to throw her body to the right, her second sword coming down on him from above. He tried to unbalance her, but her feet somehow remained stable, one only balanced on the edge of a pinky toe. He attacked again and again, searching for her centre of gravity, for the part of her body that indicated her movements, the parts that would give him advanced knowledge of her plan.

                For Reina, she was analysing him as well. But she had seen him many times, she knew how he would both act and react. But this meant that she also knew she was overpowered. Levi was not the named the strongest because of his temper, he was stronger than she was and they both knew it. Her only chance was to continue fighting the way she knew how, and keep the trust in herself that it would be enough.

                Their fight never came to a proper end, as Levi stepped back in the middle of a swing. “You fight well.” He said, sheathing his swords, “But there are always ways to improve.” Reina barely managed to hold her tongue, biting back the retort that threatened to fly out. It was always difficult with Levi, much more so than with someone like Erwin.

                And Levi almost smiled, because there was finally a fire in her eyes, which were now piercing in a way he had never seen them before. There was that fearlessness that he had only rarely observed, and only from afar. The sun peaked through the clouds overhead, just for a moment, but it lit her hair and exposed reddish gold strands that had before remained hidden, and Levi felt that he had never seen her more exposed, and this glimpse at her raw being was probably the most vulnerable he had ever seen her. He had finally broken the surface, and now he was only emboldened to keep digging.

                Reina saw the change in his eyes, and automatically brought her mask back, calming herself back to a neutral state. She excused herself from his presence, and deftly manoeuvered around the crowd of people who had gathered to watch the spar. Levi watched her go.

                Reina avoided crowds after that, desiring to blend into the background like the way she once had. Levi and his fight with her had brought her to the front of many people’s attentions, but she knew that eventually it would die down. Assuming, of course, that Levi did not pull a stunt like that again. Thinking of him brought back an image of his curious eyes as they watched her, closer than she had ever seen them. The flint grey had seemed somehow warmer than usual, as if he recognised her attempts and knew what she was doing. It reminded her of that strange similarity they shared. The façade they both put up, her to protect herself, and him to hold the mantel that the world had placed on him. It was as if he saw a unity between them, and frankly, it made her uncomfortable.

                It was something she had never considered, she had made her peace with her self-induced isolation. She was raised to be resilient, unfaltering, unfailing, and not what Levi was turning her into. There were times during their spar that his skin had brushed against her own, and even the memory of it made her stomach roll with revulsion. There had been sweat forming at his hairline, a fact Reina was sure that only she, with her complete avoidance of physical contact, would notice. But there had been a moment where she had seen the strong set of his shoulders, the sharpness of his jaw, and had been curious to see what it would be like to run her hand along it.

                It was raining. The patter was heavy on the roofs, and everyone was thanking the clouds that they had decided to unload at night when they would not be forced outside to train. They had taken refuge in their beds, lest a patrolling Levi find them and order them out for his own amusement. Levi was almost hoping for someone to be bending the curfew, just to break the boredom of his route around the base. Then he was thanking that he had not encountered anyone else, because then he may not have encountered Reina. She was in a hallway, but he leaned against the doorway leading to it, hearing a faint humming from inside.  

                She hadn’t seen him yet, her gaze was focused on the sky, where she could see the rain over the outline of the moon. She wasn’t sure where her love of rain had come from, but it always calmed her. Things seemed so clear when it was raining, so simple, as if the rain washed away any confounding factors that confused her.

                The faint clearing of a throat snapped her out of her revere and she was at a loss of what to say when she saw Levi leaning against the doorway behind her.

                “What are you doing here?” All rank and propriety was lost as she looked at him.

                “Doing rounds.” He answered simply, his tone honest and open, “you?”

                “Couldn’t sleep.” She said, intonation rising at the end, just enough to convey her confusion at his presence. If he noticed, he didn’t say anything, simply walking over to stand next to her, following where her gaze had been to look at the rain.

                “It’s nice.” He said, nodding at the view.

                “Yeah.” She agreed, turning her head to look. There was a rare comfortable silence between them, until eventually, he spoke again.

                “I always liked the smell of rain.”

                “Petrichor.” She said, almost without thinking, continuing on when he turned his confused gaze on her, “that’s the smell, it’s called petrichor.”   

                He hummed in acknowledgement, testing the word on his lips.

                And that was how they spent the rest of the night, parting ways when hints of the sun began to bleed over the horizon, nothing remaining of the night other than memories and a newfound comfort in the presence of the other.

               

                It was the smell in the air that stirred Levi from his desk. The murmur of petrichor on his lips that caused him to stand from his paperwork and make his way to a room he had never before entered. She was awake, despite the hour, just as he knew she would be.

                “It’s raining again.” He said as he entered.

                “Thanks for the astounding observation Captain.” She replied, this time having been aware of his presence, almost having expected it, as if he was something that came along with the rain in the same way that distinct smell did. She wasn’t looking at him, so she missed the fleeting expression that tugged at his lips. Halfway between surprise and laughter, the sarcastic comment so unexpected that it caught him off guard in a way that no titan ever had.

                He was stood next to her again, but his mind was on the wistful look in her eyes, and how he wanted to get rid of it, finding a way to bring back the fire he had seen before. Reina, too, was not truly watching the rain, but was too aware of the man beside her, of the way his breathing was in time with her own. His jaw was illuminated by moonlight, and she found corner of her eye focusing on it more than she should have. But her hands stayed firmly at her sides, closed in tight fists, years of conditioning and twisted teachings keeping them there.

                “Hey.” Levi’s voice broke the silence, and she saw he was looking at her hands. “you ok Reina?” His voice was low, and as rough as it always was, but she didn’t think he’d ever said her first name before. He stretched out a hand to touch hers, but she jerked it back before he could. Not to be beaten, Levi’s arm darted like a snake, his thin fingers wrapping around her wrist and pulling her hand to him. He could see her obvious discomfort at the contact, but he only kept his hand on hers and burned his gaze into her. “You’re fine.” He said, so full of conviction that Reina almost found herself believing him. But then he reached with his other hand and her stomach twisted again, but he only yanked her arm closer, tugging the rest of her with it. There was still distance between them, but less than before. Reina could smell mint coming from his breath. “You’re ok.” He repeated, his voice commanding and she found herself nodding as the twisting actually receded, meek as if it had misbehaved.

                His other hand reached forward again, carefully unfolding her fingers from the fist. Then the other hand. His touch was warm, his fingers nimble despite their calloused roughness. There was a tickle on her wrist as his fingers brushed the sensitive skin.

                “How you feeling?” he asked, and this time she caught the double meaning, how could she not when his eyes had so obviously dipped to her lips?

                She could barely answer, feeling lightheaded in a way that had nothing to do with air and everything to do with nervous anticipation. “I’m ok.” She whispered back, two words that were so innocent and conversational is they were spoken any other way, in any other context. But here, with just the two of them in the dark, the silvery moonlight washing over them, the pattering of rain that prevented any silence from falling between them, there was something more than innocence remaining here.

                His hand raised and brushed through the hair by her ear, watching her response with careful eyes. When he saw the way she tilted, just a breath, to lean into his hand, he knew that there was no doubt left. Curling his hand to cup her neck, he brought her lips to his and sealed his mouth gently on hers. He didn’t move, not at first, letting her get used to the foreign feeling. Then he pressed gently, just sliding his lips along hers, caressing them like soft petals.

                Reina appreciated his slowness, the soft way he handled her like she was something to be cherished. It let her appreciated the warmth that was sparking from her lips down into her fingertips, fingertips that were still immobile at her sides, unsure what to do. Levi didn’t seem to mind her hesitance, taking his time, giving her the time she needed, waiting until she was ready to progress past the gentle kisses.

                His one hand was still cupping her throat, and it was when he felt the faint vibration of an inaudible moan that he progressed, sliding his tongue along her bottom lip. He pulled away, his lips lowering to her bare shoulder and placing the barest of kisses there, noting the goosebumps that rose at his touch. Gently grasping her hand, he led her backwards towards her bed. It had been looming ominously in her mind, but as she lay there on her side, face to face with Levi, his forehead touching hers, there was no fear left in her. His eyes were deep, a darker grey than she remembered. She realised that once again, he was waiting for her to show that she was ready to continue.

                Shyly, nervously, she nudged her nose against his. Within moments he had leaned up so he towered over her, rolling her onto her back as he recaptured her lips. His tongue was bolder this time, slipping inside her mouth to stroke against her own. The muscles of his arm were tense as he held himself above her, rolling slightly to slip one of his legs between hers, just gently brushing against her inner thigh. She noticed immediately, but was more involved with the mouth that was now burning hot against her own, the tongue that was moving in bold strokes. His hands came up to slip against the skin of her ribcage, and Reina found herself arching into his touch.

                Her own fingers came to rest at his shoulders, clutching at him gently, but firmly, like a life raft to tether her as she lost herself in this unexplored ocean. His mouth trailed to the corner of her lips, her jaw, the line of her collarbone, but no further as he met her gaze again. Something about it comforted her, wrapping her up in the darkness of his eyes, pulling her down to sink within them. The hand on her ribs was moving in small circles, rubbing warmth in her chilly skin. Gently, he slid his hand out and it joined the other, thumbing over her hipbones. They moved down, inch by inch, until her pyjama bottoms were crumpled at the bottom of the bed, neither of the reaching to retrieve them.

                Levi knew what he was doing. He’d been watching her enough in her fights to know just how deep her aversion to touch ran. And he knew her personality well enough to know that it was more than the issue of cleanliness that she claimed it was, because he was well practiced at recognising his own excuses. He was taking his time, taking only what she was willing to give him, he would not be the one to damage her beyond repair by going too far.                       

                Reina felt his body shift as he took off his uniform pants and shirt, leaving him in just his underwear, and found a strange longing forming within her, and she trusted him to show her what it was for. He resumed his place above her, his bare chest now able to feel the way her nipples were puckering beneath her thin nightshirt. It was desire that made him duck his head and capture one between his teeth, biting gently at the bud until he heard a shaky but breathy moan from her lips that went straight to his groin. He fastened his lips harder around it, breathing in through his mouth as he sucked. The feeling was probably muted, though the fabric was thin, but even so her back was arching beyond her control as a feeling like no other coursed through her veins. A feeling that was only bested by the hand that squeezed firmly at her inner thigh before moving to her core.

                His movements were direct, and Reina was thankful. Not only because it allowed her insight as to what his intentions were and she could prepare herself, but that it hinted that his desire was growing with hers, like he wanted her.

                His fingers stroked her through her underwear, feeling her wetness grow with every motion. Then his deft fingers were pushing the fabric aside and firmly pressing at his opening until one finger slipped inside her. She gasped at the foreign feeling, and Levi timed a bite at her breast that pulled a raw groan from her open lips. His hips bucked against her thigh, and he felt a twinge of relief at the pressure. As his index began pumping within her, the pad of his thumb was solid against her fleshy clitoris, and the following moan was louder than any of its predecessors. He soon pushed his middle finger to join his index, and he raised his lips to hers wanting to swallow every noise that escaped them.

                It was when he withdrew his fingers that Reina’s nervousness returned, because she knew what was next. But his forehead was pressing against hers and his eyes were all stormy and reassuring, and she found herself whispering “I’m ok” as his tip brushed against her. Her hands, which had drifted to his back, now found themselves brushing through his hair as their lips worked together, tongues tangling in prequel to how they would soon be joined below.

                He thrust inside in one smooth motion, as fluid here as he was on the battlefield. He didn’t let up kissing her, if anything he kissed her harder as he held his hips steady, though they were quivering to move. “Reina,” he murmured against her mouth, “Can I-”

                “I trust you.” She cut off his question, not sure how she had chosen her response. But she did, she trusted this man above her, who had treated her with nothing but respect. She trusted him to take care of her in a place where she had previously felt uncomfortable.

                His hips pulled out and then thrust back into hers, not hard, but not entirely gentle. With every thrust his speed and power picked up, and Reina found herself blushing. But it was not at the way his slim hips were almost pistoning into her, or the way that her own were angling up to him, it was at the way she felt the bed moving underneath them as the force of their passion was enough to move it. His hand came down and brought one of her legs up to wrap around his hip, and their resounding sighs tangled in the air as the new depth granted them both a greater satisfaction. The hand didn’t return to join the other in holding his weight above her. It almost made it, stopping to tweak at a nipple that was still peaking through the shirt, before darting back down and pinching her clit, rolling it between her fingers.

                Her head tilted back at this, and his lips found themselves latched to the hollow of her throat. He could feel the vibrations growing as her impending orgasm drew nearer, and knew that she was biting her lower lip to conceal the noise, the lower lip that was plump and wet with his attention. And she was so warm and wet and tight that he found himself groaning too, though quietly. His fingers were working fast against her, forcing her to rise faster than him, determined to make her finish before she squeezed his end out of him.

                And it was with these thoughts that he felt her inner walls twitching. He drew out quickly, not sure if he could have lasted within her as she orgasmed, but continuing with her clit to watch her climax unfurl, wave after wave as she clutched at the blankets around her, head thrown backwards and back arching off the bed. The image burned in his memory, the sight of her completely raw and bared for him, open to his eyes in a way he’d never even imagine she would be. It was enough to make him recapture her lips, biting at her deliciously plump lower lip as he pulled his hand away from her to work at finishing himself. It barely took any time at all, with the amount of lubrication he still had from her, and the way her body was still writhing underneath him.

                He wiped his hand delicately on the sheets, gripping her and pulling her to stand with him. She was shaky on post-orgasm legs, but she caught herself. “Where are we going?” She put on her pyjama bottoms again as Levi redressed himself as well.

                “To sleep somewhere clean.”

                The intention was obvious, and Reina found herself blushing even more at the idea that they were heading to Levi’s quarters.

                “What about in the morning?” She asked, as he tossed her clean clothes to sleep in from his dresser. People would see, rumours would spread, Hanji would be unbearable-

                “Hey.” He cut off her quickening thoughts, “you ok?”

                And that was all it took, she took a big breath, feeling her heart beat slow and her fingers unclench as she smiled open and honestly at the man before her.

                “Yeah, I’m ok.”