Love you always (Levi x Reader x Erwin)

Twiddling the blue pendant between my fingers, I walked alongside Levi as we ascended a rugged hill, its stony path leading us to the summit where Hanji and a few others awaited. Below, Eren stood at the foot of the hill, his titan form at the ready for Hanji's experiments to begin, leaving Levi and me alone as we ventured upwards. The ascent unfolded silently, the distant murmur of wind and the crunch of gravel beneath our boots accompanying the shared anticipation of what awaited us today.

"Why is this hill so damn steep?" A groan escaped me as I awkwardly stretched my leg, grappling with discomfort, in an attempt to clamber atop a stubborn rock obstructing my path.

Levi shrugged. "It's a tall hill."

"No shit."

Levi smiled and let out a small exhale of air from his nose.

"You should really smile more" I said. A warmth crept up my cheeks, a subtle blush unfurling, as my gaze traced the contours of each of his sharply defined features.

"Why is that?" Levi came to an abrupt stop along the trail, boots crunching against the dirt. He turned sharply, facing me with a suddenness that stole my breath. "Is that what you would like?" he asked, his voice low and even, yet the weight of it struck like a hard fist. His silver eyes bore into mine, unflinching, as if demanding an answer I wasn't sure I was ready to give.

I smirked and shook my head. "Oh no. Never mind. Don't smile. You'll kill me. I stop breathing when you smile." I placed my hands over my heart, a gesture that accentuated the theatricality of my words.

Levi's eyes widened, and he averted his gaze, seemingly unable to meet my eyes. A soft laugh escaped my lips as I climbed a few more steps. When I turned around to check on him, I realized Levi hadn't followed. He stood still just below where I was, rooted to the path as though something held him back.

"Well, are you coming?" I extended my hand toward him.

Levi looked at it, then back up at me. His lips curved into the most perfect smile. Without a word, he reached out and placed his pale hand into mine.

"I'll always go where you go."

My heart stuttered, a pleasant rush of warmth blooming in my chest and curling into my stomach like something alive and fluttering. He held my hand the entire way up, fingers laced, as we neared the hilltop and stepped out from beneath the canopy of trees.

The sunlight poured down in a sudden burst of brightness, blinding in its intensity. I raised my free hand to shield my eyes, squinting against the radiant sky.

"I'm going to go talk to Hanji," I said, gently releasing Levi's hand and making my way toward the section commander.

Levi's POV:

I let go of y/n's hand with reluctance, watching her walk away with Hanji. That smile again, it's become something I wear without realizing, a permanent fixture every time she's near. She's captivating in ways I can't explain. She, without a doubt, has captured my heart. In my eyes, there's no flaw in her. Nothing but brilliance and strength wrapped in clumsy grace.

I was just about to follow her when my ears caught something, my name? No, hers. Murmured like gossip through a group of nearby cadets. The sound immediately soured my mood.

A man's voice rose among them, laced with juvenile curiosity. "Who do you think the hottest chick in the 104th is?"

"Definitely Captain l/n," another chimed in. "That Historia girl's cute, sure, but l/n? She's on another level. Absolute goddess."