It was funny, the first time he saw you, you were just another soldier — another cadet willing to risk your life like so many others he'd crossed paths with. You had an optimistic outlook that reminded him of the fresh recruits, the ones who foolishly thought their spirit would be enough to survive. He figured you'd be gone in a matter of months.

But you didn’t.

In fact, you stuck around far longer than he ever imagined. And somewhere along the way, you started sticking by him. Levi couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it happened — maybe it was after one of those long nights when you'd find him on the rooftop, staring at the night sky because neither of you could sleep, or in the empty dining hall, where he’d notice you quietly lingering, always a step behind but never too close. He never considered that you’d make it a point to stay by his side.

Sure, he was known as the cold captain who seemed aloof, but he cared more deeply than he let on. He just wasn’t good at expressing it. Ever since he joined, he’d witnessed friends die and felt death's constant presence, he never thought he’d let anyone in again. And yet, somehow, you managed to wedge yourself into his life — and he let you.

Now, you sat across from Levi, quietly reading, your presence easing the weight of the world around him. His pen scratched against the paper, but his steel blue eyes kept drifting to you. They lingered for just a moment, and he felt it — an odd warmth unfurling in his chest, something that hadn’t had a place in his heart until you came along. He never expected this. Not with you. But every time he looked at you, it was there, stronger than ever — a steady, unshakable love.

You must’ve felt his eyes on you because you looked up, meeting his gaze with that soft smile that always managed to unravel him. Before you raised a questioning brow.

Levi let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head before continuing to write. “Nothing,” he murmured, his eyes softening. “Just… falling for you all over again.”