Poison Ivy

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Jojo: Levi walks through a poison ivy bush.

Petra hummed softly to herself, walking to the kitchen. With her father visiting an old friend she had decided to stay at the barrack for the weekend, passing the time relaxing, reading, and enjoying the peace. "Oh, hi, Captain," she said. He nodded in greeting. "Taking a break?"

"Yes." Levi scratched the side of his neck absent-mindedly. "I'm done with the paperwork. After I finish my tea, I was thinking about going into town before it gets too dark and pick up some things, so if you want anything, let me know."

"Thanks, but I'm good."

"I might just shower first." He scowled, scratching his side.

"Is the shirt uncomfortable?"

"My legs itch like crazy, too," Levi said. "Must've been something in the soap I used to wash them."

"But the rest of the squad used it, too," Petra said, confused. "How strange."

"I'm going to get out of these clothes."

"Alright, I'll be in my room if you need me." She grabbed a glass and a bottle of wine she had bought a while back, mentally debating which book she wanted to read. She picked up a novel and placed the three items near the bathtub. It was half filled when loud banging came from the door.

"Petra!"

"Just a minute!" She hastily yanked her robe on and tied it. "What's wrong?" Petra threw the door open. Were they being invaded by Titans? Levi was standing before her, shirt open, looking almost frantic. "Wha—?" She eyed the angry blisters on his chest.

"It's everywhere!" Levi was scratching everywhere.

"Stop that," she ordered and dragged him into her bathroom. Quickly, she turned off the hot water and let the cold water fill up the rest of the tub.

"Would you forget about your bath?" Levi snapped. "I need you to go get a doctor or something! The infirmary is empty and—"

"What're you talking—oh." Petra took his arms gently but firmly, preventing him from scratching. "Captain Levi, you're not sick. It's poison ivy."

"What?"

"It's alright, it'll go away in a week or two."

"Poison ivy?" Levi was less agitated now so she dropped her hands.

"Yes." She thoroughly washed her hands as she explained. "It's a plant that can cause rashes and itchiness when it comes in contact with human skin." Petra turned off the tap and tested the water temperature in the bathtub. "This should be good. Take off your clothes and get in. I'll be back." She didn't give him a chance to argue before she dashed out.

Thank goodness we're the only ones here. She ran to the other side of the barrack to his room. Petra snatched a pair of pants, a shirt, and—after a second of deliberation—a pair of boxers. When she returned, Levi was in the bathtub. She ignored his clothes on the floor. Specifically the article on the top that he had removed last.

"I brought you a change of clothes." She placed them near the sink. Pulling on a pair of gloves, she tossed his old ones into a bag, placing it on the side. "When did the itching start?"

"This morning, I think," Levi answered, visibly trying not to scratch like a madman.

"Wait, weren't you training in the western forest last evening?" Petra's mind raced. "Did you take the regular trail?"

"No, I took one of the shortcuts Erd told me about."

"Did you see an upturned tree on your left while you were walking by any chance?"

"Yeah."

Petra nodded. "That shortcut leads through a lot of poison ivy bushes. Why did you freak out so much?" She asked, rummaging through the cupboard under the sink.

He played around with the water before answering. "When, where I'm from, there was no poison ivy around. I've heard about it over the years but never encountered it before." Wall Maria had fallen soon after he had joined the Survey Corps. The expeditions had become about going into towns instead of forests. "I'd heard about it but never saw it firsthand."

"I see." Petra sniffed one of the bottles and stood. "I use it because it makes my skin look and feel nice, but it should also help with the rashes and itchiness."

"It could've been a disease," Levi continued. "I didn't know. In the Underground, it's the end of the line if you fall sick. There are no proper doctors and medicine is always in shortage."

She nodded in agreement. He was embarrassed for panicking and trying to explain himself. "I'll give you a cream, use that after you shower." She pulled up the sleeves and used her arm to swirl the water, very carefully keeping her eyes away from his body. She tried not to grin, hearing and sensing Levi draw his knees up, trying to cover himself, finding it adorable.

Levi tried not to think about his state of undress under the water and most likely hers under the robe.

"Just soak in here for half an hour."

"Sorry about ruining your evening."

"It's fine." She shrugged, standing. "Make sure to get your back, too." Petra leaned against the sink. "How did you even get it all over your body?"

Levi rubbed the lukewarm water on the red rashes on his arms. "No idea."

"Your arms look the worst, I guess you brushed against the plant there first. The scratching must have transferred it to the rest of your body and it spread everywhere."

He looked over his shoulder. Levi had wanted to ask her why she was still standing around, but the way her voice had pitched near the end of the sentence had piqued his interest. "What is it?"

Petra looked like she was struggling with herself. Finally, she blurted it out. "So, it didn't reach down there, did it? I thought at first maybe that was why you were freaking out." She looked like she was trying to hold back laughter. The brightness of her eyes and the twitching of her lips gave her away.

"No," he said, scowling, and she giggled. "Why are you still here?" Levi turned back. "I'm not a child, you don't need to watch me. I can bathe myself."

Petra grabbed a small towel and knelt by the bathtub, dipping her hand into the water and moving the cloth over his back.

Levi stiffened under her touch. "What're you doing?"

"You can't reach here."

"I'll just go under the water." He submerged, leaving only his head above the water.

He's clearly shy and embarrassed, you idiot, and you're making him uncomfortable. Petra dried her hand and snatched her book off the floor. "I've set the cream next to your clothes for when you're done."

Petra glanced up from her book when Levi emerged from the bathroom. She looked pointedly at his face. He was shirtless and she really didn't want to be caught staring. "Better?"

Levi nodded. Her eyes fell to the object in his hands. The lack of a shirt now made sense. She decided to make it easy on him. "Want some help with that?"

Another nod. He sat at the edge of the bed and she scooted over. Squeezing the paste into one hand, she began to apply it to his back. She made sure to gently rub the cream nicely and evenly, mindful of the way his muscles and body shifted under her touch. Petra was sure he had held in a sigh when her hand was just below the back of his neck.

It wasn't appropriate, but the thought of it was too amusing to resist. Rubbing the cream on both hands, she ran them over his back, fingers gently massaging the warm flesh. Petra grinned, seeing the way his shoulder muscles eased. She heard him exhale slowly. His shoulders rose when her hands moved down his sides. Okay, that's enough teasing Captain Levi for one day. Her hands fell away.

"All done."

"Thanks."

She waited patiently as he reemerged from the bathroom with a shirt on and the bag with his old clothes in one hand, the tube of cream in the other. A sweet, floral smell wafted from him. "You're going to smell very flowery for the rest of the night."

"It's fine," Levi replied. He wasn't going anywhere.

"Now remember, poison ivy has three big spoon-like leaves," Petra said and he nodded distractedly. "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"I know." He held up the cream. "Thanks, again. I don't feel like scratching my skin apart."

The following morning, the squad was eating breakfast together, exchanging stories about what they'd been up to over the weekend.

"What about you, Petra?"

"Just reading and relaxing," she said.

Her teammates nodded and continued talking while Levi sipped his tea calmly, contributing to the conversation here and there.

Petra tried not to wonder which pair of boxers he was wearing today.

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