Levi felt himself sink deeper and deeper into his sleep. His head began to hang slightly as his muscles relaxed. He hadn't realized just how tired he was until that moment. He subconsciously shuddered from the cold and the arms around him tightened. He felt . . . safe in a way. The sensation was quite odd. He hadn't felt safe in years. He hadn't had felt the comfort the arms around him were giving. He hadn't felt it sense he was a child.
But whose arms were they? He couldn't quite remember who sat behind him. The sleep clogged his memory, making him sit in that awkward stage of being aware of his surroundings despite being asleep. As the arms pulled him closer he felt their chest push into his back, the warmth swallowing him whole. He had never felt so relaxed in his life. It had to have been a dream. He was back at home in his bed, alone and waiting to start another day.
He felt a head rest against his shoulder, the person's breathing hitting a place just at the end of his neck. Their breathing was a steady rhythm that echoed in his ears.
" I'll get you home Heichou."
Their voice was muffled as they talked into his shoulder.
" Believe me, I will."
Levi didn't doubt it. He couldn't find himself too. It bugged him, not knowing who this was. If he could just wake up, if he could just make his mind think straight.
Yet something told him to enjoy this feeling while he could. So he shifted and laid further back onto the chest behind him, letting his head rest there as well. He body felt like shit. It was as if he was cold and on fire all at the same time. His mouth felt dry, his muscles ached and all he wanted was to stay in this moment. He knew that once he opened his eyes it would all be gone. He'd be back in the base doing paperwork and training his squad. Then it seemed to snap together in his mind. Just who was holding him, who was reassuring him it was going to be okay.
Eren glanced down at Levi, making sure his eyes were shut. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. He was asleep, he wouldn't hear it. So it would be okay to say it.
" I love you."
It was soft. In fact Levi could barely hear it. But it was those three words that seemed to make everything click in his head.
Levi groaned and shifted to lay more comfortably. The feeling of sheets shift against him. Sheets? Last time he remembered he wasn't anywhere near sheets let alone have any.
He opened his eyes and sat up. He was back at base in his room. He glanced down and found himself in a new set a clothes. Ones that were dry and clean. He slowly made his way to his feet, grabbing his bed for support to keep his world from spinning. Then he made his way over to the curtains and pulled back.
Down below him he saw his squad running around doing laps, all of them looking like they are about ready to die. His eyes shifted to the front and he couldn't stop himself from smiling slightly. There Hanji ran, not an ounce of of tiredness present as she encouraged them to keep going. Finally she seemed to have mercy on them and let them stop for water and a break. She looked up at Levi's window and smiled in relief to find him peering down at them. She said something to the squad but they didn't seem to care. They were all too exhausted to understand what she had said.
He knew it wouldn't be long before he heard a knock on his door. He had started to turn when he noticed something. Eren wasn't there.
" Oh Captain! Open up!"
He twisted the knob only to have the door slammed open as soon as it was possible. Hanji came rushing in, happy as could be, and gave him a big hug.
" Get off me shitty glasses." He glared.
" We were all so worried about you two! We didn't know what happened!" She continued on, not particularly caring about his demand. She turned and placed one hand on her hip, the other still around his arms.
" We had been searching everywhere for you two. So when I saw Eren come wobbling up to the base in the middle of the night it was quite a relief."
" Where is he now?"
" I told him to shower and sleep. Although the kid wouldn't leave until he knew you were given some medicine."
" Did he now? And just what all did he tell you that happened?" He asked, a warning low in his voice.
" Don't worry Levi no one knows that your sick. We are trying to think of something to tell the others."
" That's all he told you?"
" Well he explained about the titan and him twisting his ankle. You know he took a big risk carrying you back here, he's got the heart of a true soldier."
Levi crossed his arms. There was no denying of that.
" I gave him cleaning duties for when he wakes up. Oh, and I checked his ankle before he went to bed, it's nearly healed." She gave him a pat on the back, earning a scowl which she yet again ignored. " Get as much rest as you can. You're going to need it if you want to get better soon. Now I'm off to go visit your little titan boy. See you later Levi!"
Levi stood, mixed between feeling agitated and relieved at the same time. Once the door shut he reached for his uniform which was neatly folded and placed on his desk. There was no time to rest. He had missed a day's work. Lord only knew what he had to do to catch up.
Once he was dressed he opened the curtains once more to let the light and and turned to the pile of papers on his desk. This was going to be a long day.