CHAPTER XXIV
As soon as she opened her eyes, Elia felt like she hadn't in days: absolutely well rested and in a very good mood. She stretched out and went straight to the bathroom to start her day and have the place ready for its new owners. She only needed to pack her toiletries and a couple kitchen utensils she'd been using the past week.
Knowing she still had half an hour before the marriage's arrival, the healer unconsciously wandered around the empty house, surveying every corner with the excuse of a final quick glance to ensure all was prepared, when in reality, she'd just wanted to take one last look at the home where her family lived for more than twenty years. But without them, it felt so cold and lifeless; and it'd turned into a constant reminder of exactly that, sometimes drowning her in pain and desperation, especially whenever Elia dreamt about them only to wake up and realize this was the nightmare.
It was hard to hold back the tears as she said goodbye to their former home, but she knew it was the right decision. The Captain's words the night before may have been hard to accept but they were so true; staying would not bring them back and she shouldn't torture herself trying. And people think you have no feelings, that you don't care, she said to him in her head, with a grateful, weak smile, drying her face with the back of her sleeve before answering the door.
The married couple arrived at the appointed time, and after letting them know that they could reach her at the hospital if needed, she walked them around and show all went according to what was previously discussed, so they could move in anytime they wanted. They'll probably come to love and care for it as much as we did, she thought to herself after seeing their excitement, and giving her peace.
Fifteen minutes later, she went out to verify that the transport had arrived but what got her spirits high was to sight him already there, waiting nearby, in civilian clothes: black trousers, a light gray shirt under a black jacket, and of course, his undoubtedly eye-catching white cravat around the neck. Elia approached him, now completely relaxed to know he was there.
"Morning, Captain" she greeted politely, not entirely sure if her eyes gave away her joy to seeing him.
"It's good to see you look nothing like yesterday" he replied, with his usual nod and calm face, not imagining why she had this appearance. He was just glad to see her better "How are you feeling today?"
"Great to know! I felt pretty crappy yesterday and I'm sure it was easy to see" she joked, and he snorted at her humor. But he continued to stare at her, trying to see something else and then it hit her; he surely noticed she'd been crying "I'm really better. I knew it'd be hard to let this place go, but I feel lighter now".
"Good. Take the memories with you and never give up" he advised, with his usual seriousness "That's how you honor them" this time, his gaze briefly moved to her hands.
She didn't know how but his words helped her recall some of the many gifts given by them; tangible skills she'd always have within her, to guide her throughout each day, like the healing from her parents, and Ilva's self-defense. So, there was much more than just precious memories to cherish, because they live on through her.
The healer nodded and the simple, purely happy smile she dedicated him got the man blushing and looking away; not really needing to hide it since she missed it due to the cart's arrival, walking towards it to tell the driver all was ready. As he contemplated everything, Levi couldn't help thinking how rare was to have someone smiling that warmly at him for no other reason than a piece of advise. A heartfelt one, but still, he wasn't doing anything special and she somehow made him feel as if he'd brought her family back.
They got the suitcases, trunks, a box, and her personal bag on the vehicle in no time, so once they climbed up, Elia gave the directions to the driver, to an address still inside Trost, a couple blocks away from the hospital.
The trip didn't last long so, by the time they got there, the three of them unloaded her belongings in front of an eight-story building.
"Where to?" the driver addressed to her, not having the slightest idea of who was the subject accompanying her. There was no way to tell since they barely spoke during the ride, but he didn't like him. Probably her overprotective older brother, he considered, discouraged until he imagined it could be her boyfriend; the distrustful glare of his felt like a clear warning to forget whatever went through his mind.
"Not necessary" Elia heard the Captain speak right before she did. She'd have demand an explanation but the way he stared at the other man prevented her from doing so "I'll take it from here".
The man looked at him, a little taken aback by the silent threat coming from his eyes. He turned to her, waiting for confirmation but already giving up on his intentions on her; his life was more valuable than some random woman he'd seen a couple times.
"That is all, sir. Thank you very much" the healer slightly bowed after paying for his service, unaware of his disappointment. She was still somewhat confused by the soldier's behavior.
The man didn't bother on faking a smile or reply so, Elia watched him return to his vehicle and leave immediately after yet not without glancing one last time at the soldier. She followed the same direction and was a bit astonished at his clear hostility, but Captain Levi didn't look back at her until the cart was finally gone.
"What was all that?" she asked, tilting her head and arms crossed, a little disconcerted.
"Do you know him?" it was a bit frustrating that he answered with another question, but since they were still outside the building, she let that go.
"Not quite. I merely hired him to bring me here" she replied, confused by his recent harshness "He delivers some goods to Mr. Lee, at the store where I work".
"How often is that?" Another question, his eyes never leaving her.
"I guess once or twice a month" Elia responded and noticed he got tense "Will you tell me what's going on, Captain?"
"Judging by the number of things he helped you transport, it's easy to guess you're alone" he began to say, and his gaze seemed angry, this time at her "I thought you'd never forget there are plenty pigs out there. But what you did was a reckless, stupid move" he was clearly reproaching her.
Elia stare at him with eyes wide and then looked down, ashamed. The driver might be harmless, but she didn't know him really, so the man was right: she'd been dreadfully careless. She hadn't worried about it before because the rest of things were sent there days before, to the reception and the managers had taken care of the rest.
Well, he's to blame too, girl. It's not entirely your fault when his presence around makes you feel so safe… the voice told her, although it was wrong. She hired the man days before, so she'd been terribly sloppy.
"Guess now I see the point" she muttered, looking down and then sighed "I'm so..."
"Don't apologize" he interrupted, scolding her, and Elia looked up. He was still angry but turned his face to the building because he was a little contrite at himself "Just don't forget to keep your guard up all the time".
"I won't forget" she promised and only then his shoulders relaxed. Elia looked around and chuckled a little nervous "I'm trying to find a way to get all these up there at once but I'm not being lucky. Do you have anything on mind, Captain? I don't dare to leave them out here meanwhile".
"What floor are you on?" Elia looked at him, who was now concentrated, looking from her things to the building and back, evaluating options.
"Well..." she gave an apologetic smile but imagined it was better to just tell him already "Does the roof count as one?" Of course, he'd turned to her abruptly. His brow was creased, unbelieving and worried.
"I suppose you're clear about the dangers to live there if we're under attack, right?"
"I know, Captain" she nodded repeatedly "But aside from the fact that the place is convenient, I still spend most of my time in the hospital or the store, so…" she could tell by that stern countenance, he was trying to understand her reasoning "On the other hand, it may not look the safest but it has an excellent view of most of the district, therefore, it'd be easier to see where's the danger coming from".
"I'm deciding whether to consider that bold or again, reckless but I'm kinda hopeless right now" he sighed, resigned. Like it or not, it was her new address, and he couldn't change it "We better get up there soon" he went back to the main subject.
"About that..." she scratched her temple, unsure of what to do.
"It's easier to use the emergency stairs; it'll take longer if we go inside the building" Levi said as he lifted the two trunks with the items he packed the night before, not noticing her incredulity "Wait here".
And without further ado, she saw him walk to the alley that was to their right, carrying those as if they were vacant. Five minutes later, the soldier returned and evaluated the weight of the couple things left.
"Let's go" he said after holding both suitcases and then tilted his head towards the box, that she knew was almost weightless, containing the few things she'd been using.
She followed quietly, unable to understand how he moved with that much weight.
"At least the view you spoke of is really an asset" she heard him say as soon as they set foot on that roof.
"Much safer than inside, see?" she said in a cheerful tone now that the entrance door was nearby. The two trunks were right next to it.
"I'll just grant you that, so don't get cocky. The place is unsafe either way" he glimpsed at her, looking over his shoulder "It's cheap, isn't it?".
"It is" she confirmed, staring at the marvelous bright blue sky above them, appreciating the refreshing breeze on her face "It's one of the reasons why I chose it. I'd like to save some money to buy a small house away from the city, where I could harvest different things" she hadn't shared that with anyone else before, but he was special to her "It's a little aspiration for the future" she added with a subtle, optimistic smile.
She hoped it could happen in the next three or four years. The sale of the house got her a good amount of money, so now it all depended on the savings she'd manage to get.
"I hope you succeed soon" that was all he said while she got her keys, knowing it was mostly for how risky he considered the place.
Elia opened the door and everything was exactly like she'd seen when she came to clean, four days ago. Except precisely for that tiny detail: it no longer remained clean.
Really? she grumbled, quite upset. The manic inside her suffered to see it like this, not to mention how embarrassing was as a first impression, especially for someone who already disapproved it for different reasons.
"I'm sure it shouldn't look like this" she was very mortified, earning a look of confusion from his part but Elia didn't see it. She'd just walked in, to look for the product responsible of this, which she brought back with her "I'm not trying to excuse myself, but I think I've been robbed" Elia shrugged, saddened at the prospect of having to say goodbye to him so soon, but she really had to clean everything before organizing her stuff.
As soon as Levi laid eyes on the product, he finally understood. It was the same he got at the market the day he encountered her; the liquid that supposedly repelled dust from any surface, for at least a week.
"I guarantee that you're not the only one fooled in town" he wasn't trying to make her feel better. He knew the thing was trash; he even tried to pay a visit to the seller, but the deceitful weasel surely left Trost after conning them and so many others "Where do you keep your cleaning supplies?" he asked, with a subtle but clear excitement in his eyes.
Right then, he started taking off his jacket and the cravat, to leave both neatly folded on top of her suitcases. Levi rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and looked at her, unaffected by her both surprised and troubled countenance, but then she finally relaxed and sighed in defeat.
"This is not how I was hoping to welcome you, Captain" she commented, this time not trying to dissuade him because he'd get cranky had she refused.
At least it's not too much, she thought while going back inside to get the supplies, relieved to see it was mostly dust. She soon returned with a pair of aprons, a white piece of cloth for him to wear as a mask, two buckets, a broom, gloves, a couple rags, soap, and the wax she'd always relied on in the past for polishing. The man nodded at all of them, approvingly. Actually, Elia wasn't entirely sure, but she could have sworn she saw a tiny, almost imperceptible, smile on his face before he covered it and looked at her, as though waiting for orders.
"Your house, your rules" was all he said, direct and solicitous.
"I think the best would be to split the work" she suggested, observing around, and determining the fairest course of action "I'll take the bathroom and the two bedrooms. You could work in this area" she offered, gesturing towards her living-dining room, that was small but not that small. However, the eyebrow he raised at her told her he knew what she was trying, so she gave up "OK. You may also take the kitchen if you want".
He agreed and got down straight to business. Elia finished adjusting her cleaning attires and headed to the bathroom; her top priority to always keep impeccable.
Hours passed in a calm working rhythm, where both were fully focused on their own tasks yet a part of her was still quite aware of his presence nearby, and how diligently he was doing his. Captain Levi didn't interrupt her not even once, but Elia still got to see him every now and then, whenever he passed through the corridor, and all felt so natural with him around.
She'd just finished cleaning and fully equipping the bathroom, and now, right before entering the room in the middle of the hall, the one she'd chosen as her new bedroom and finished cleaning some minutes ago, she looked to the living and got shocked; he was moving her father's old library so easily, only to sweep and clean before placing it back. Elia knew that piece of furniture was a relic, made of oak and incredibly heavy; so much that it took three men to get it up there. But the Captain didn't seem to mind.
Mask or no mask, Elia still smiled as she approached to the entrance door and grabbed one of her suitcases to move it to her bedroom. She came back for the second and took his clothes as well, to put them on a chair in the corner of her room, safe from dust. Once she did and out of mere inertia, the healer checked her father's pocket watch and then smacked her palm against her own forehead, in horror.
She quickly took off the apron and mask, left them on the mattress and walked out, carrying her small bag with her.
"Captain" she addressed him, with a clearly afflicted expression "Do you mind if I go out for a few minutes?" she saw him lowering his own mask, worried at her sudden distress "Just ten- or fifteen-minutes tops".
"What happened?" he blocked her way with the broom he was holding, confused "Why the tragedy face? Is there an emergency?" he asked, looking to the window, around, and at her as he tried to comprehend the unusual demeanor.
"I… I was so distracted that I totally forgot to cook something" she confessed, dejected as she looked to the side, incredibly embarrassed and irritated at herself "I've had you doing this for more than three hours and I completely neglected you. I'm sorry".
Levi breathed out, lowering the object between her and the door, to stand as relaxed as he was before this. However, he frowned at her and shook his head, exasperated.
"Never do that again" he demanded, quite seriously. He really thought something bad just happened and his whole body tensed, ready to strike. After all, it was a natural response for the soldier in him "I thought it was grave".
"Not end of the world grave, but still important" she muttered, unhappy but now facing him at least. Levi breathed out, knowing he wasn't even angry at her; she'd just caught him off-guard.
"You shouldn't worry about it, you know? I forgot too" The remorse in those eyes of hers was so honest that he suddenly felt like hugging her with one arm, to let her know that despite she'd scared him, he still appreciated how thoughtful she always was, but he put the thought aside immediately after. Levi lifted his mask and moved towards the couch to continue his task.
"Yeah well, that doesn't count because you're my guest. One I'm also taking advantage of so pardon for the exaggeration" she highlighted as she opened the door and stopped for an instant "I'll be back soon".
Had she stayed five seconds later, it's true that she wouldn't have seen the undeniably subtle smile on his face, but she may have seen how his eyes softened after upsetting her for taking this concern of hers so lightly. He still considered it a fuss over nothing, but a part inside him couldn't help the heartwarming feeling of her caring that much.
Elia went to the nearest food cart and managed to get some chicken stew and rice, hoping they'd at least taste good; being this new to the neighborhood left her without many options anyways.
When she got back and he opened the door, she noticed he'd removed what protected his clothes. She looked around, to how flawless everything was in there, so she just handed the bags with the food to him, startling the man.
"What are you doing?" he asked, lost to see her bending over after receiving the bags.
Only when she stood straight, he noted she'd untied her shoelaces and was now removing them at the entrance, to leave them there.
"I sometimes may be scatterbrained but I'm not that awful to walk in, wearing these" she glanced to her shoes and then tiptoed to her room to get another pair.
"I figured you'd have this at hand" the soldier said the instant she joined him next to the dining table, and he beckoned her to take a seat. Elia chose the one in front of him, smiling grateful for having everything ready.
"It looked good, but I'm counting it tastes the better" she said after dividing the food and urged him to start.
Although it wasn't great, she was still glad because it had a decent flavor. On another hand, and despite eating most of it in silence, they never felt uncomfortable.
Most of the time, your actions and expressions demonstrate a lot more than just words, honey… her mother told her once, and she'd been so right. The fact that this man was having lunch with her, on her first day there and the beginning of this new life, meant much more than he could ever imagine.
"Please, wait in here. I'll let the dishes soak and make some tea for us" Levi just crossed his arms and nodded twice, imagining she wouldn't let him do anything, so he simply obeyed. Besides, he was trying not to brood about that us, she said but he couldn't quiet how much he'd liked it.
Once in the kitchen, which by the way was as neat as the living-dining room, she got the kettle and put water to boil before looking for the tea leaves. They were inside one of the two trunks that the man already carried there, so she opened the one on top, but the thing was completely vacant, and the other only contained the medical supplies. She tilted her head to the side, disoriented, until she decided to open a cabinet and saw that her kitchen utensils were very well organized, similar to how they used to be in the other house. Seems nothing escapes your sight, Captain, she said to herself with a smile she wasn't aware of, a mix of pride and gratitude.
"Now, I expect you keep your word, Captain" she said, as she carried her own cup and his. He probably didn't understand or perhaps had been too lost in thought, because he was just as puzzled when she took a seat "The thing about your leg that you insist, I shouldn't worry about".
"Oh, that" he muttered and took a sip, then leaned slightly back "To tell the truth, I'm not sure. All I know is that it's some kind of blood heritage which, among many things, helps me healing faster".
"That being the case, then what I taught you… was unnecessary?" Elia inquired, analyzing what he'd just said. She wasn't mad or anything, just interested about this because, even if she didn't know how to explain it, it made sense; an average person shouldn't have moved that fast only a couple days after spraining his ankle. In fact, not even a completely healthy person could do that, the voice in her head said.
"I said it helps me heal faster" he stated, then gave another sip to his drink as he tried to subdue the heat slowly going up his face at the intensity of her curious gaze "Your help accelerated that process even more".
"I'm very happy to know that. And I hope you never forget you can always come in here if you need my help, you're injured or ill, although I doubt the last, considering what you just explained" she rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand, intrigued "What other things does it help you with?"
"A considerable increase of my strength, endurance and speed" he said as he drank what was left of his tea. He was going to say that it improved his instincts for survival and also fighting, however, those were just as good since he was a kid. All thanks to Kenny, but he wasn't ready to discuss that yet.
"I was thinking just that" she admitted, remembering how easily was for him to carry heavy things around "That one over there…" she was pointing to the huge library "I'm not sure but the administrator told me he needed help to get it here" Elia couldn't help but chuckled at his undaunted expression. But then she smiled with certain sadness, knowing that despite this unusual strength and all, he was surely tired.
"I feel somewhat guilty to having you cleaning my house" she muttered, discouraged to tell him to leave but determined to be considerate, especially after all what they coped with a couple days ago "Please, feel free to go home anytime you want. You deserve having some rest for what's left of your Sunday. It's still not that late and I think I can handle the rest".
Elia saw him looking away, pondering on what to do so she waited patiently.
"Why guilty? You haven't forced or asked me to do anything I don't want to do" he stated, staring at his cup of tea, now empty "I'll leave when we're done" he declared, gazing at her with defiance.
Levi rejoiced at the sadness in her eyes when she'd said he was free to go home. Only she didn't know he didn't really have one; no place to call entirely his. How can you tell her that this moments with her are the closest you recall to that feeling? his inner voice wondered, and he knew it was the truth. It wasn't like he didn't appreciate what he had inside the Corps, his two friends and the brats, but a proper home was very different.
He knew he was damn strong, resilient, and dangerous yet somehow, this woman always made him feel so humane, safe, at peace, and other things he didn't know how to describe. Her sole presence and normal but uncommon particularities were capable of doing all that.
"What's pending?" he enquired, kind of reminding her that he knew she'd given him less to do.
"The first room" she admitted after finishing her tea.
"The obvious, smartest option would be for me to take care of that while you arrange the rest of the house with your stuff".
"Very well then" Elia said in higher spirits "I'll do the dishes and then get to it".
Levi nodded and followed her through the hall until she got into the kitchen, and he just continued his way, to the bathroom.
It was a little past four o'clock when she finished unpacking and organizing her clothes, and she also found the clock that belonged to her parents, at the bottom of her suitcase. So, she walked to the living room and left it onto the dining table, to determine where to hang it later.
Elia returned to her bedroom and saw Ilva's jacket on the mattress, she folded it with the same care and love for her and decided to keep it in the last compartment of her closet, along with that letter.
She turned and now that all was settled, it was time to make her bed. She got the sheets and blankets from inside a smaller wardrobe, but when she'd just finished shaking them to begin with the task, a voice from behind startled her.
"The room is ready but there's something I wanted to ask you" the Captain said, and then disappeared in the hallway.
Elia left the things on the bed and followed him, having no idea that he'd been watching her for the last two minutes, leaning on the doorframe, quite hypnotized to just observe her doing those ordinary things.
"This place… Does it have a special purpose, or you haven't decided that yet?" he was standing next to a big shelf that came along with the place.
An incredibly heavy thing that anyone would see as soon as entering the room because it was located to the right, kind of blocking the rest of space next to it, where an open shelf was standing. The biggest trunk with all the books and some trinkets was by the wall opposing the entrance, and finally, her father's desk was also in there, at the bottom wall.
"Hopefully, an office and an examination room" she replied and understood why the question. The space was awfully distributed thanks to that giant piece of furniture.
"This is up to you, but if you keep it like this, you'll barely have space to move around" he pointed out "This monstrosity should go at the bottom, along with the shelf, so both are behind your desk while you have the front space to do whatever you want".
"Well, that was the goal, Captain" she replied just as serious, but then smiled nervously, and he didn't seem to understand her reaction "The problem was that this thing is heavier than my library, so none had been able to move it" she explained, a bit ashamed.
"I see" the soldier mumbled "What about that trunk?" he glanced in its direction.
"I was going to move that once I got all the books out of it" she shrugged, knowing it was the only way she'd found to be able to take it out of the room.
"Where do you want me to take it?" Levi asked as he walked towards the trunk, understanding now. It was physically impossible for her to do much there so, it made sense.
"Next to the library, if you please" she moved out of the entrance, to grant him space. Elia saw him grab the trunk's handles and then just lifted the thing and carried it outside, easy-peasy. After that, he came back and went straight to the heavy shelf.
"Humm… How can I help you?" she asked out of pure affliction, once again feeling bad for making him do all this.
Her question lost him for a second, but the worry in her gaze showed him exactly what was going through her head right now. She feels guilty… Again... he shook his head almost imperceptibly
"It's not necessary" he said. He could have go with something sharper, like how could you possibly help me? But no. She now knew about his unhuman skills and still offered what little she could do, because she continued to care about him. And that was one of the reasons why he never treated her like most people "Given this space, I don't think we'd be able to move and carry that at the same time. It might be why whoever lived here never waggled his ass to try".
And just like that, she watched him moving the desk to grant space and then, he stood with his back to the giant thing, and pretty much supported all its weight on his back, to move it where he'd suggested. He came back for the open shelf and did the same.
Elia was as astonished as well as worried. Even if it was normal for him, it was still hard to assimilate this; he could say he's bulletproofed, and she'd still fear for his safety, abilities or no abilities.
Of course, she wasn't going to bother him with it because he seemed fine so, she preferred a safer subject.
"I didn't know you enjoyed cleaning as much as I do, but let me tell you that I'm really grateful for how scrupulous you are" she commented, looking around the place with a placid smile, making him happy; the somewhat tiny smug smile on his face said so "Now I understand what Petra meant when she said knowing how to clean was mandatory under your command" the joy he felt vanished just like the expression on his face, and Elia realized only too late, that he hadn't really gotten over his guilt. He was just too good burying it.
"The four of them became exceedingly good at that, not to disappoint me and in the end, it was I who failed them" he muttered in a dead tone, his eyes just as lifeless and his body tensed.
Elia was unable to feel his pain, but she still comprehended and imagined its magnitude. The loss, guilt, and responsibility over his shoulders; probably as heavy as the freaking furnishing or worse. She felt bad for him; not for addressing the subject but because he didn't deserve it. That man, whom almost everyone thought was cold, unapproachable, difficult, and frightening… he was one of the most considerate, selfless people she'd ever met. The kind who suffers in silence and forced himself to continue because there was no other way.
The healer approached him very slowly, his eyes fixed on hers and impossible as it seemed, Levi looked a little reticent, almost fearful. But then, he closed them.
"You weren't there, were you?" Elia asked, looking to his fists, that suddenly stopped clenching when he heard her. Her eyes returned to his, and he was visibly shocked.
How does she know? he wondered, absolutely dumbfounded because nobody outside the military knew about this; it was classified. He looked back at her, and she was now suddenly smiling at him, full of melancholy and empathy.
"The four thought very highly of their leader and respected you deeply, Captain" she said with no trace of doubt in her words "And not because they only admired your skills. They did it because they knew you always appreciated them, constantly looked after each one whenever you could. I even remember the day I met them, when I happened to reunite with Petra again, and how Mr. Gin was trying to explain the kind of admiration and regard they professed to you, that it wasn't out of fear or just pride in you as a soldier. To them, you were a man of principles, incorruptible and above all, humane. The four knew they could rely on you to watch their backs when the situation made it possible; not because you didn't trust in their capabilities or judgement, but because you're the kind of person who never values your own life over others" Levi listened in absolute silence, quite bewildered by what she was saying "It wasn't just words, I knew they meant it the instant I saw his clear frustration for being unable to help and go with you, and that kind of loyalty is earned, Captain. It was the same look I saw in my sister's eyes the times she spoke of you" he heard every word, and felt their power over him, just like he perceived her longing for the girl "Something I learnt by myself because I now too believe in what you fight for, what Commander Erwin tries to accomplish, and above all, I believe in you, Captain Levi".
With her, it was always like this. He couldn't tell if it was the way her honesty reflected in those eyes, or the eloquence with which she spoke, but the woman continuously reached the depths of him and managed to comfort his soul like nothing and nobody else did; lightening his spirit and reawaking his will to live. She was a little more than three feet away, and all he wanted was to enclose her in his arms.
The soldier felt his hand moving almost by own initiative, craving for contact but he repressed it, just like he'd been restraining himself since that night when he kissed her. Levi didn't even understand why; it was like an automatic response after so many years of never daring to really want anything for himself.
"Do you regret it?" was all he heard her ask, capturing certain pain in those eyes. He knew she referred exactly to the night he'd just thought about.
Elia saw the way his eyes averted hers and his fists and jaw clenched in what appeared to be a silent rage. He didn't respond directly but considering the way his cheeks turned a bit red, she guessed it wasn't that, but he was shutting her out, again. Why? She asked herself, trying to comprehend and somehow help him. But what can you possibly say to him that you haven't already? Nothing else really. Then do something! her inner voice exclaimed. So, resolved to stop with this uncertainty, she moved forward and took the initiative; she wasn't scared, not of him.
The healer moved to her left and blocked the way when she saw him trying to walk out of the room. It was then she grabbed him by the shirtfront and drew him nearer. Aware of his perplexed gaze and how rigid he got, Elia kissed him, hoping this might help him react but unfortunately, his lack of response deterred her from maintaining the contact.
"Why?" his question didn't seem to be addressed to her but rather himself; that's what the insecurity in his eyes told her.
"Why not?" Elia frowned and confronted him "Don't come at me saying you're a bad man, not now. You need to understand that no one is entirely good or bad, guilty, or innocent; there's a reason why nuances do exist" she wasn't yelling but she felt like she wanted to, though that'd make no difference "Even if you're this hermit-like, irritable, and sometimes surly, it's not enough to hide your compassionate, humane essence. That's what I admire most about you, Captain... You most of the time don't let it show under that grumpy behavior, but I'm positive you constantly think more about others than yourself".
"Someone as decent and well-educated as you shouldn't say that" he began to say, unable to look at her face because he was in the middle of a fight with himself at that precise moment. It was painful to hear the faith she had on him and not recall the reasons why he felt so undeserving of it "You shouldn't want to be closer to someone this tainted" he said through clenched teeth, furious at his own words, trying to get rid of those thoughts.
Levi couldn't yet understand what was stopping him when all he'd wanted ever since that morning at the hospital was to be with her. How could he still be so afraid?
"You're always looking for a reason, excuses more than anything, to give me the same argument over and over, hiding behind this invisible wall between us and I'm sick of it" he hadn't expected to make her mad, or for her to call him a coward. No one ever did, yet deep down he knew she was right about it "I'm an adult, I can make my own decisions and I have the right to choose what I want… Who I want" she muttered softly, and then stared to her feet, surely embarrassed for having to express herself like that.
Her honesty got him dumbstruck, so much that he was unable to move and speak; the woman was making herself vulnerable to him. Sadly, what he couldn't yet see was that, despite knowing he'd never dare hurting her in any possible way, he was doing so right now.
Elia was tired of this situation. She thought he'd wanted to spend time together, but he continued to back down at the last moment, after showing signs that now confused and frustrated her. The healer knew nothing could have happened before, because neither of them had been ready then, but too much had occurred since and the only thing she was sure of was that she wanted to live, not just exist. The problem was that, most of the instants she'd felt full of hope were the ones he'd been around; there was just something so natural and intense between them, but maybe she'd gone crazy and imagined those because he never once tried to approach like he did the night after Ilva's funeral. If that was the case and he didn't experience the same, did he kiss her out of pity? Elia's eyes widened at the enlightenment she'd just reached.
"I cannot tell what you are thinking right now but I believe I'm finally understanding your actions" she said, looking away with a tight-lipped smile, quite abashed "You shouldn't have kissed me because you felt sorry for my situation, my loneliness and what happened to my sister" she made a pause and breathed in, to collect herself and speak with resoluteness. She looked at the soldier with her chin a little up, her arms to her sides, and the smile was gone "I'm not the first nor the last to experience hardships and you have no obligation towards me of any kind so…" her eyes looked so fierce, but sad "I think it's best for us not to meet again, sir" the emphasis of that one sir felt like a slap to his face, despite the cold calmness with which she spoke.
Elia didn't wait for a response; all she wanted was to get out of there. She quickly turned around and walked out, needing some fresh air to calm herself. She rarely got this upset, and the worst part was that she wasn't that mad at him, who'd only wanted to help her but since he didn't have such great skills on social behavior, he'd made that big mistake. No, her rage was towards her own hopes, for deluding herself and now she also felt stupid, for leaving her house when she could have asked him just to leave. Don't you dare to cry, her inner voice hissed, and she obeyed, trying not to drown in this current emotional turmoil, especially the misery she felt when she concluded to never see him again. It hurt, but it'd be for the best.
An astonished Levi followed every single move of her until he saw her disappear in the hallway and later heard the entrance door closing behind her.
He didn't expect a situation like this, even less to see her so hurt and angered. Did she really kiss me now? The way she'd caught him by surprise was quite an achievement, but the problem was he was still trying to process and recover; the soldier wasn't even sure if he hadn't hallucinated the whole thing. Knock your head on the wall and see if it works, idjit, the voice in his head was just so pissed at his reaction, or actually, the lack of it.
Face flushed, he slammed his fist on the wall to his right and then took the other hand to his face, covering half of it with it, so frustrated. His meager, or rather non-existent, romantic experience was no help and he felt terribly lost. She seriously had no idea what she did to him, always making him feel livelier, lighter, welcomed, safe... But pity? He repeated the word several times, getting offended and upset at her. How could she believe such thing? He sure felt bad for all what she'd lost, but never pitied her. Levi knew how strong the healer was, the way she persevered, although that didn't mean he didn't care for her in other ways. And how could she possible get it? Whose fault is that? The sarcasm wasn't necessary; he could see now what his instability did to both.
"This is embarrassing" he growled to the loneliness that kept him company, followed by an exasperated sigh, wishing to punch himself hard for being so stupid.
Levi, recently Ackerman, Captain of elite teams of the Survey Corps, humanity's strongest soldier, and absolute clean freak, possessed no knowledge of anything else aside war, hygiene, and survival. Why does she want to be with me? He wondered as he tried to find an answer, but his inner voice decided to respond to that.
"Why does that matter? Why do you need a reason? I don't know what you expect because it's clear she'd rather risk suffering beside you than away, just because she cares about you like nobody else does. But now she's done with this, with you...
No! his eyes opened wide, aghast at this. He couldn't just not see her anymore. Levi furiously refused it, despising the idea. It hurt just as much as watching those he cared for die, and at the same time it was a hundred times worse because she was walking away willingly yet obliged by his stupid behavior.
The soldier hurried out of the room and outside, giving a quick glance all around that roof but she was out of sight. He followed the same direction from where they'd come that morning and looked down the emergency ladder. She cannot be that far, he told himself, not noticing how tight his grip to the handrail was as he leaned over it, focused on picking up any movement.
He breathed out as soon as he did, by the fifth-story and so, determined to make her see how wrong she was about his motivations, he jumped down from outside the structure, fast and precise, to land squatting on the fourth floor's rail. He saw her froze in place, mouth opened in bafflement but once she got over the impression, her gray eyes narrowed in suspicion and were fixed upon him, defensively. She actually gave one step back when she saw him descending from the railing but something in his expression stopped her from leaving. Probably his resolve to let her know he was no indifferent, that he cared, and was ready to send his fucking demons straight to hell; the same place she could send him now if she wanted; he preferred that to the thought of letting her think he pitied her.
"I hate when you call me that" he declared without even raising his voice as he got closer and grabbed her by the hand. Elia glanced at the contact and then at him, skeptical, but his eyes urged her to follow him. He could see she was still a bit stunned, but he relaxed the instant she started walking slightly behind him, back upstairs "I'm just Levi. No damn sir, woman" he said without looking at her and without letting go.
When both entered her house, he turned to her and waited in silence until the door closed behind them. She then looked at him with obvious confusion, but her eyes widened in amazement at his sudden approach, and the little space between their faces. Levi placed his right palm on her back and drew her towards his body abruptly, making her hold her breath for a second. He stared at her lips, then straight into her eyes, and since he found no objection but a determination as clear as his, he kissed her the way he'd painfully wanted since that night he realized how much he liked her.
What the soldier hadn't foreseen was the kind of fascination he'd experience at the ferocity with which she responded to his contact. The way she wrapped her arms around his neck, telling him she needed to feel him closer, was driving him crazy. Did she crave for me as much as I did for her? he wondered as he continued to taste her mouth, its warmth, and its incredible softness despite their growing passion, not even realizing they spent the next twelve minutes enraptured in this crazy make out session, barely breathing.
"We need…some air" she half-broke the contact yet her mouth continued responding to his, gasping in between kisses.
"No… we don't" he replied, intensifying his grip, not wanting this to ever end "We can go outside later" he muttered, kissing her again. Until he opened his eyes and separated for a couple seconds to look at her, quite serious, willing to accept whatever she wanted "If you tell me to stop, just say so and I'll obey, even if I don't really want to" he meant that, although it was hard to control the beast inside him that lust for her.
Levi saw a playful smile at his words and then, she just touched a lock of his hair, both innocent and wickedly.
"Why would I? I'm enjoying every second" she said and embraced him again. But to his surprise and delight, she pressed her mouth to his neck, and her soft lips crept their way to the skin below his ear "I only meant that we literally need some small pauses to breathe but we can do other things in the meantime" she whispered there, sending a vibrant kind of energy all over his body.
The Captain closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her fascinating, tiny waist; an exciting discovery since it was hard to tell just by looking at her. The woman rarely used tight-fitting clothes, but to be able to feel this by touch was exhilarating; now, to imagine how it'd be without anything… Levi tried to put the thought aside, but it was hard given how she was exploring his neck with her mouth and fingertips. He couldn't help but groaned the instant he sensed her tongue, pleasantly burning his collarbone, driving him nuts.
"You shouldn't have done that" he growled, grabbing her wrists to corner her to the wall, keeping a steady eye contact. Her slightly parting lips turned into an enigmatic smile, almost triumphant when he lifted her hands to hold them together above her head.
Levi leaned forward and crushed her lips with his, greedy and insistent, so satisfied at how welcoming she was, echoing his fervor in every single kiss as he made her his prisoner. He began to slow down a bit, and instinctively went for her neck, to taste her there too, perceiving how much she'd liked that; the soft moan she gave away and the shiver of her body were proof enough. It was huge turn on for him, especially now that he got to smell her scent much closer.
He freed her from his grip and put her arms right back around his neck before surrounding her waist with his hands, holding her near to seek her mouth and appreciate it better. What he didn't expect was how heated things were going to get now that she'd entwined her skillful fingers in the back of his head, sliding them through his hair; it was so stimulating and demanding and sweet that Levi stopped thinking and sticked his tongue in her mouth in the middle of a kiss, seeking hers and experiencing a scorching sensation when they met. She used hers to caress it, deliberately inviting, and it was alluring to the point of madness.
Elia knew it made no sense, but she wanted him closer, even knowing it was physically impossible because there was no space left in between them. However, what was still possible, was to have him touch her, anywhere and everywhere. Reason why, this time it was her who grabbed his hands and guided them to her hips, where he held tight before kissing her again, to penetrate her mouth with his tongue once again. His demanding necessity of her was so intoxicating that she still wanted so much more.
"We should go" she whispered, quite out of breath and agitated. Their bodies trembled in anticipation, desperate to feel each other.
"Go?" Levi's head was so into her that it was a bit hard to think of anything except what was happening. And what his aching body desired, especially his groin.
"My room" he saw her biting her lower lip after saying that, with a saucy way of looking.
Right then, the healer noticed how his magnificent blue eyes darkened, full of lust and agony for her. Just as she was for him.
She saw him nod, and felt his hands moving towards her waist, to lift her with absolutely no effort. And despite she'd never done anything like this or been with anyone this way, her legs knew exactly what to do: they automatically wrapped themselves around his hips. She looked down to his face, and the mischievous smirk there made her smile.
Elia cupped his face adoringly and lowered her head to kiss him with also tenderness, wanting to express how she felt about him, that this wasn't just a shag. In her twenty-eight years, she'd never once wanted to be like this with anyone; not until now, until him. And judging by the way he responded while carrying her, still fiery but gentler to this long, calmer kiss, led her to believe he understood. In fact, she loved the way both never ceased to get lost in each other's eyes during this time. Not to mention the intensity in them, making her feel already naked before him; it was so new, exciting, and unforgettable. Just like this new sensation in between her legs at the subtle brush of his length near her center, making her want him deep inside.
When they entered her room, she relished on how he cornered her against the wall again, rubbing his body against hers, as if he aspired to merge both within the fire consuming them amidst the steamy kisses to her lips and what was exposed of her skin.
She didn't know if he was going to try something but maybe wasn't sure if she'd agree, therefore, she decided to take advantage of the moment. Elia pulled the fabric of his shirt out of his pants and slid her hand underneath, longing to touch and explore. The effect it had on him was undeniably attractive; an exquisite spontaneous reaction to her touch, one that made him purr softly on her neck, where he'd been kissing her. So satisfying that, on pure impulse, she pulled the shirt over his head to remove it completely.
She wondered if she had thought about him this way before and wasn't so sure now. Elia certainly developed feelings for the man she'd come to know and admire, so his looks hadn't been that important except, of course, for those remarkable eyes of his. But now he was half naked and standing in front of her, and oh girl, it was such marvelous view! Not bulky but undeniably muscular and strikingly handsome. Just looking at him like this made her blood boil in desire.
Levi never saw that coming. He'd been thinking whether to do something or not, because he'd wanted her naked since he felt the arousal inside his pants while carrying her there, pulsating in the yearn for her body. But this was the second time in less than 24 hours that she'd taken him off-guard; the way she got rid of his clothes was so stimulating. Surprising at first though thrilling at the end, making him smile so predatory.
The healer smiled back at him as she held herself to his shoulders and made a subtle gesture for him to put her down; the soldier had been still holding her weight, something she only remembered now, awakened by her curiosity and the need to touch his torso, to probe him freely.
She encircled his neck with her arms and went for his mouth, careful not to deepen the kiss just yet but so delighted at his hands on her lower back and strong arms around, always pulling her closer. Elia smirked in the middle of the kiss and planted a couple quick kisses before going down, using her lips to please him, nuzzling all over his neck, and kissing one of his shoulders to slowly go down, to his chest as her hands mapped the lines on his skin. She saw him closing his eyes, breathing heavily to every new space she touched, where the skin burned and quivered out of pure pleasure.
"Elia" she didn't stop but her eyes opened wide when she heard him. It was the first time he'd called her by her name, in a barely audible sound, resembling both a whisper and a groan. One that showed how captive of her he was.
She slowly went back to his face, enjoying his reactions until she reached his mouth once again, to kiss him softly, knowing he wanted more but she thought better to save the best for last. Another smile escaped her lips in the middle of the act, and he separated abruptly yet not aggressively, making her turn to fully embrace her from behind, to kiss and lick the back of her neck lasciviously. He paused and pulled her sweater over her head fast but when his hands tried to unbutton the blouse she wore, she heard him curse at his clumsy hands and how long it was taking him. He may have been a bit embarrassed; she didn't know for sure. All Elia knew was that she thought he was adorable at this kind of frustration.
"I don't think I can manage to get you naked without ripping out your clothes right now" he warned in her ear and deliciously sucked her earlobe while still holding her from behind "I'm beginning to hate those damn buttons".
Elia turned her face to her side, kiss him lightly and gave him an irresistible smile, more than happy to comply with his petition.
"Then I suggest you tell your tongue to behave and grant me a couple seconds of sanity" she muttered, taking a peek at the smug smirk on his face before doing as told.
She noticed he moved two small steps back, to control his hands and keep his passion at bay until she was ready. Elia was still with her back towards him, so she quickly unbuttoned her blouse and simply let it fall, and then freed herself from her shoes and pants with erotic delay until she was almost completely exposed to him; her underwear was all that remained. She wanted him to take care of those, to see how he did it; she was dying for it and didn't mind of he tore them to pieces.
Now, extremely aware of his gaze on the naked skin of her back, bottom, and legs, she looked seductively at him over her left shoulder and in a matter of a second, he was there, breathing heatedly on the base of her neck, sliding slowly his calloused fingertips along her arms, going from her hands up to her neck, then down to her shoulder blades, the line of her spine, the curves of her waist, down to her hips until reaching the line of her panties.
She closed her eyes during every second, comprehending part of what he experienced when she did the same on his chest a couple minutes before. It was so amazingly perfect how alive he made her feel; just by drawing her body with his burning touch.
His mind was so full of her right now. Even happening, it was hard to believe he was having her this close, admiring her irresistible, almost naked body, where he'd just discovered a very esthetically sensuous mole below her right shoulder. He lowered the bra strap very slowly and kissed her right on it, perceiving the wondrous way in which she lightly moaned, and her body shuddered before she tilted her head to the left, providing a better angle to his lips while his hands stroked her bare stomach. But after two minutes, Levi made her turn because he could no longer take his longing for those plump lips of hers, her mouth, sweet and hot, in his. He claimed them, thirsty for more and more within every second, especially now that she'd trapped him to pull him closer with ardently desperation.
Levi didn't know what to think, because for the first time, he didn't have to. He just needed to get carried away by his instincts, only these were of a very different nature: not survival but absolutely primal. This was all about feeling and let go of himself in her; answer to her call and discover her, abandoning himself to her caresses and basically, just live this moment together.
It was hard not to take her right away, but the soldier rejected the idea of doing it too fast; this was the one situation he wished, could go slower, just because there was so much more he wanted to explore of her, not to mention he was utterly captivated at the way she imprisoned him. The soldier decided to place one of his hands in the back of her head, to hold her tight as his tongue assaulted her, impetuously, increasing the heat way faster so he slowed down, separating from her mouth to let her breathe without letting her go. And in the meantime, enjoyed the sensation of her smooth hair in his hand; he hadn't tried entangling his fingers because it was still braided.
Suddenly, the soldier recalled that morning when he'd seen her shortly after waking up and followed his impulse to run his fingertips down her long braid and untied it, just to satisfy his curiosity and hidden fantasy. He then stared into her eyes, imagining he might look like an idiot now that he was undoing what was left of the hairstyle, but her approving, encouraging smile said he could do as he pleased. By the time he made it, he didn't know how but she was such a sight to behold with that wavy, dark hair falling over her left shoulder; making her look both majestic and wild. Levi ran his fingers through her hair, delighted in how silky and smooth it was. He leaned closer, bringing his mouth to her ear, and felt himself going crazy because her floral scent was twice as concentrated in that area now thanks to his idea.
"I'm not sure if this is normal, but you're making me want to break you from all the things I wish to do to you" he muttered in a low, raspy voice, so full of desire "All I want now is to possess you completely".
"Perhaps" Elia murmured, seeing how unnecessary was to ask him if this really was his first time. He never lied, and it was one of the many qualities she liked about the man "I have nothing to compare it to, but I really like hearing you say that".
Levi watched her as though it was the first time his eyes got to see her, noting how her cheeks turned red from what she'd just said, reawakening the beast that claimed her body, longing for the very core of hers, even more so now that he'd discovered no other person had ever touched her this way.
"Elia... if you want me to stop, say it now, while I still have some control of myself. It'll be too late otherwise" to be honest, he thought it was already late. Just saying her name this spontaneously made him freer than ever. But he'd always give her the choice; he respected her too much to not consider whatever she wanted. Besides, he'd never treat her like an object to please himself, not after what his mother endured to survive.
He sensed her thin, light arms over his shoulder and around his neck. One of her hands slithered from his middle back up to his hair, so gentle and enchantingly, playing here and there with his hair and his undercut, apparently basking in the sensation.
"I think it's too late" she got closer and whispered near his ear while he undid her bra "But even if it wasn't, I wouldn't ask because I want to be with you, Levi".
She was always this frank, so direct that it wasn't surprising but something inside him, that didn't seem to be physical, was absolutely euphoric to learn this, as well as hearing her say his name. It was at this moment Levi realized he'd happily let her do whatever she wanted; he was at her mercy, she was at his, and it was heavenly.
When the brassier fell to the ground, the soldier once again took a couple steps back, just to devote time to worship her breath-taking figure, unable to understand how it was possible to get even more turned on.
Leaving aside that final little piece he saved for later, the image of her shapely naked body, her long, dark hair falling over her left shoulder and half covering one of her breasts, created a beautiful contrast with the clarity of her complexion, making her so fragile looking but damn sensual and perfect that he thought he'd gone mental. He stared at the other in sight, and even though they weren't too large, he loved their perfect proportions, their firm roundness, lovely paleness, and inviting nipples. Don't you dare to drool, you idiot! his subconscious shouted as he gazed at her, dazzled and speechless.
She seemed to notice his catatonic state because, despite being watched like this made her incredibly aware of herself and blush, she smiled beautifully as she offered her hand to him, so similar to that morning he'd first shaken it and at the same time this was so different; back then it'd been a farewell, yet now it was the complete opposite.
As soon as he reached out and took it, Elia walked towards him and guided his hand to her hip while she reached the back of his head with the other, where his hair was shorter; she'd wanted to touch him there before and couldn't believe she was actually doing it. Him clutching her hip in response felt oh so sexy, especially at the way he nestled his face against her neck, savoring her skin. Was it too soon to wanting him to feast in every spot he could find of her body? She didn't know but she loved the idea. Just like he'd said… to possess her. And now that he'd started to follow the curves of her waist, going up to her chest… the growing tingle in between her legs was nearly an agony.
Levi separated his lips from her collarbone, his eyes dived into hers as he slowly moved his right hand towards the front of her torso, tracing part of her bare silhouette just with his fingertips in a cleverly butterfly-soft touch, delighted in the heat coming from her. Her lips were partly opened, and her body subtly shivered in his arms. Things turned spicier the instant he grabbed the breast that was half-hidden with his hand and stroke it all around before deliciously go for her nipple, noticing how immensely sensitive she was there. He saw and heard her gasped and he just knew his greedy mouth needed the honey of her kiss right then, and she responded so sweetly! With his arm around her tiny waist, he roughly pulled her closer and with the other, he squeezed her boob passionately, making her moan in his mouth as her body writhed with pleasure. She kissed him fiercely, tightening her embrace and rubbing her body against his, and the tension of his member automatically got worse at the sensation of her nipples, hard on his chest.
"Come on, Captain" she whispered in between their kisses, bewitched by him "Making me wait like this is not that courteous of you, you know?"
Levi smiled half-sided, amused by the use of his rank in a situation like this. He was discovering new things about her, and this demanding, maddening, lustful, mesmerizing facet of hers only made him regret the time he'd wasted running from her… and himself.
"I guess this is when I should tell you, I have no intention on being courteous" he said with that lascivious sparkle in his magnificent blue eyes. His raspy voice was a clear sign that he was ready after this foreplay.
Elia noticed him abandoning her breast, to place that hand in the back of her head, tangling his fingers in her hair, all while his other went straight to her thigh and under it, half-lifting her leg, making her knee bend in the air and settling it over his hip to hold it there, which allowed her to feel his erection pleasantly close. She gave a quick glance down, knowing he was still wearing clothes. Her eyes went back to his and this time, he was raising an eyebrow at her, expectantly. Yes, girl. He wants you to get him naked! her mind explained, exasperated.
She loved the way his eyes widened when she got a hold of the one button in his pants, and she knew it wasn't the kind of astonishment to see her doing that; his bewilderment was all about not still believing this was really happening. She kissed him hard this time, using both, lips and her tongue to distract him while her hands unzipped his pants, and she gently but firmly grabbed his manhood in her hand. It was so erected and hot and pulsating, but what Elia liked the most when she did, was the unforgettable moan escaping him.
"Of all the words I could use to describe you, dangerous was never on the list" he muttered, memorizing the color of her eyes at that exact moment, of a dark gray, desirous of him.
And since she was half-clung to him already, Levi tightened the grip of her thigh and she lightly leaped up, smiling proudly at how he immediately got a hold of her, so satisfied about their synchronization.
She imprisoned him in her arms and their kisses now were once again, desperate; Elia was completely sure and eager to receive him, and Levi was absolutely avid to penetrate her.
The bed was not ready, so he went for her dresser, the one piece of furnishing that seemed reliable and had the perfect height. He placed her there carefully, very conscious of her gaze observing every one of his movements, especially now that he stood between her legs. She bit her lower lip seductively, never taking her eyes off his. There was no shyness or shame between them, only this natural communion eclipsing all around them.
In this little space of the sick world they knew, there was no room for titans, battles, not even horror; this intimacy was the cure, it was theirs and theirs alone.
He commenced trailing the back of his hands up her legs very slowly, delighted at the rhythm of her breathing, how fast it became as they got closer to the junction of her thighs, where one last piece of clothes remained. Levi touched her center and skimmed his thumb over the fabric, tantalizing her. It was so curious and amazing to feel this incredibly pleased, just to see her closing her eyes and hearing the sonorous gasp that escaped her half-opened mouth at that simple touch; devastatingly mind blowing.
Levi wanted her badly, but he was really having the time of his life by inflaming her and himself like this. Until two minutes later, when his member hurt from how hard it felt.
"Levi…" he heard her whisper, begging "…please" right then, the man realized how terrifyingly addicted to her reactions he'd be. And you haven't tasted the main course yet, his mind pointed out.
He pulled down her panties and she immediately grabbed his hand to tug him towards her body. She leant slightly back to support her weight on one of her hands while the other clutched around his neck to kiss him passionately. Her mouth felt so hot, demanding yet still sweet that he knew it was the right moment. And in the middle of that kiss, he guided his sex inside hers, making her whimper out of pure satisfaction while their mouths were still connected. He shivered, both at her exhilarating response and the wonderful sensation of her warm and wet core surrounding his erection.
To watch her arching her back was a total bliss; it enhanced the movement of her delicate bosoms, so soft and tempting but he'd take delight of them later so, he placed one hand firmly on her waist and used the other to help her bend her leg so he could reach deeper; he had no clue how he knew, he just did. All this while one of her hands supported her weight and the other got a hold to his shoulder, holding tighter now that he began to push himself inside her, slow and steady, just like her soft moans.
Everything was enormously pleasant, yet he needed more so he looked to her face, and by the devilish smile she gave him the instant she placed her palm behind his neck, Levi knew she wanted the same; it was so damn erotic that he automatically increased the intensity and rhythm of each thrust, drunk in the resulting sensations. Both were very agitated, but it wasn't the same kind of tiredness he experienced after a fight, training, or anything else really. To keep up with her energy only aroused him more and more, leading him to believe that he'd leave his own body at any time after these waves of pleasure, as if something inside him were to explode. Which happened little after he watched her lean her head back, her dark hair falling so free and attractively as she let out one last, delirious moan and her fingers clasped his skin with urgency.
Levi knew what that meant, and the sole image drove him nuts in a very good way. He embedded himself in her core just twice more and it suddenly hit him, certainly triggered by her final reaction: pure delicious, formidable raw pleasure coming from their union, spreading all over his body once he unleashed all of himself inside her wonderful being, tightening his grip on her skin as he squeeze his eyes shut and groaned just as loud as she did seconds ago, overwhelmed by a powerful shudder when he knew he'd finished.
The ecstasy of the act itself, combined to the fact of knowing she'd experienced this with him, because she wanted, was sublime.
Despite being tired and still catching her breath, Elia felt absolutely fulfilled. She opened her eyes, hoping at least something similar had happen to him, who after retiring from inside her and lowered her leg, continued to stand in the same place. His hands rested on her waist, his eyes were closed, and his face was facing the ceiling while his breathing was quite heavy. He seemed exhausted, reason why she sat up straight to provide her body as support until he went back to normal. When she placed her hands on his arms, his skin felt hot and a bit sweaty but it was nice, especially after he shuddered whenever she touched specific places, like the muscles in his back or torso; Levi was still so sensitive to her contact that it was quite appealing.
What she didn't foresee was how he'd react to her touch but the subtle smile of satisfaction and peace that appeared on his face turned out to be the best answer to her most recent wish so, now trying to be careful, she drew him closer, pleased at how naturally he buried his face at the base of her neck. It was then Elia knew the invisible wall between them no longer existed, and it made her happy.
The minutes passed and none of them said anything yet, surely fearing to ruin what had just happened there. But now that his breathing was fine, Elia turned her face to his and got surprised when she noticed he'd been gazing at her in silence. It was a very new kind of stare, one that seemed to tell her he was longing to touch her and feel her like that again. She blushed but didn't look away, trying to think of anything worth mentioning.
"I'm really glad you're finally calling me by my name" she commented, with a hint of mischief and joy in her eyes "I thought you never would, but it's good to know you just needed this… motivation" now she smiled, amused and teasingly.
"Tch" he snorted, deflecting his eyes for a few seconds, self-conscious about the detail she obviously noticed. Though he didn't truly mind; Levi felt so comfortable right now anyways "I may be slow in all this, but I remember well what you said before, so I thought... If you're letting me be this insanely close, I sure have your permission" he declared, apparently serious but he was teasing her too.
In all honesty, after this level of proximity, he continued to experience a special kind of freedom he never considered possible. The soldier dived in her eyes and then inevitably glanced to her lips, so tender, thick, and warm; the need to kiss them again came back as she contemplated him, smiling proudly at him, liking his reasoning.
"I wonder though" she muttered, gesturing to both and kind of blushing a little "You seemed so reluctant to get near me before… what changed?"
"You pissed at me" he confessed, "Although I'm not sure if I can call it that. You're always so unnervingly well-mannered that it's hard to tell. You could have slapped my face, punch me, kick me at least because I've been an asshole" she shook her head disapprovingly, and of course he knew she didn't like when he treated himself like this. Levi sighed and decided to be one hundred percent sincere about his answer "When I heard you say I'd never see you again… I know enough about you to understand you truly meant that, but I just couldn't accept it".
"I'm glad you didn't" she caressed the back of his head so soft and caringly "I didn't want that either but after your confusing behavior, I thought you only pitied me".
"Never" he cut her off as he stood up straight "I tried to make you understand things I'm still not fully ok with" he saw her pursed her lips, again no liking what he said so he tried another way "I merely gave up on pushing you away. I cannot do that anymore, and since I'm going to hell no matter what, might as well just have what I want, who I want, while I can".
Levi touched one of her cheeks, intoxicated in her eyes and a special spark inside them. Then he smiled mischievously and kissed her hard for a couple seconds; the echo of his orgasm returned to his head, yet his body wasn't completely ready for more right away.
"You should help me arrange this bed if you're spending the night here, Captain" she commented, slightly out of breath but smiling irresistibly.
He smirked in response, already in favor of the suggestion and their minds thinking alike. Not to mention Levi most certainly had begun to like the way she sometimes called him that because, even though it was the same word used by most people over and over, they sounded completely different when coming from that mouth that now filled his head with random images about the recent events. What he did and what he intended to do to her.
"And here you were hours before, complaining about giving me a proper kind of welcome" he pointed out, somewhat serious but sincerely in a great mood.
He'd always been good with sarcastic and derogatory comments, but Levi had no need of that around her. Especially not after one of the best experiences in his life.
Elia blushed, now full-aware of her nakedness and how his eyes continued to show desire. Had she been fully dressed, she'd still feel just as exposed at the way his eyes devoured her; it was new, exciting, and unique, just like the experience itself. She saw him approach and reclaimed her lips once more, surrounding her waist with both arms and lifting her from there. Her right arm got around his shoulders and the other held the right side of his face while they kissed with no urgency. It was a calm contact, incredibly soothing, and the soft purr coming from him made her smile.
Their mouths were still in each others when he finally put her down, and now that both were getting dressed, he'd come to realize that he could have defeated countless enemies, plough through the skies at incredible speed, or accomplished impossible deeds but nothing could equal this feeling of absolute glory with and within her.
Levi watched her out of the corner in his eye, so sure that from now on, there were two things he wanted for as long as he lived: fulfilling his promise and that woman.
He walked to her and stood in front, all while she continued to button her blouse. He waited until she was done and only then raised his hand to run his fingers through her magnificent long hair, and then he gently moved his hand to stroke her lips with his thumb; they were a bit swollen but still perfect. His gesture made her blush, but her eyes shone brighter when looking at his.
"I like your lips too, Levi" she gave away a wicked smile, winked at him and suddenly leaned forward to plant a peck on the corner of his lips. She ran out the door immediately after, heading to the bathroom.
"Oi, oi! That is a low blow!" he exclaimed with feigned indignation, but then snorted as he shook his head, so damn amused by this trickery of hers.
Now alone in her bathroom, Elia leaned against the door, taking her hand to her chest, still processing everything. She was absolutely dazzled at the memory of what they'd just done because not even in her wildest dreams, she imagined she'd be with that man this way. Him, who'd shaken every fiber of her being, claiming the corners of her body and mind, and not only with physical pleasure.
What are you going to do now, girl? You still must finish rearranging this place, the voice in her mind said with mockery. Her joy didn't go away but she still couldn't help but worry a little because having him to assist her was most likely going make things harder.
I'll just say that there are quite a few songs that inspired it, but "When the body speaks" by Depeche Mode is the one I'd chose to describe both of their feelings/thoughts during sex and after.
Hope you liked it!
Namárië