literature

nightmare. | levi ackerman

Deviation Actions

Absolute-Emperor's avatar
By
Absolute-Emperor
Published:
21.4K Views

Literature Text

nightmare. | levi ackerman x fem!reader

When Levi’s eyes fluttered open, he’s standing in the open area beyond the walls — not on horseback, he’s just standing there alone, surrounded by heavy fog. The soldier turns his head side to side, straining his eyes to see what lies ahead of him, but he couldn’t see anything beyond the thick grey clouds that engulfed him.

He's confused. What’s he doing here?

His mouth open to call for someone, anyone, but he can’t speak; his voice just won’t come out.

That confuses him even more because he’s not mute, and Levi knows he’s not mute, so why can’t he make a sound?

The ravenette moves a foot forward, and then another, walking forward in slow and steady steps — if he can’t call for anyone, he’d search for someone. His hands automatically grip the handles of the 3D Maneuver Gear that’s strapped around his waist, on-guard and prepared for any titans.

The clouds in the sky hung low, giving out a grey and ominous feeling, draining the any positive feeling (if he had any to begin with) from his entire being as he moves slowly through the fog.

Then, his foot hit something. Bringing his head down, he realised how utterly filthy and ragged his uniform was; covered in dirt, and grim, and blood. Dear god, he was filthy—

Levi swallows thickly, his Adam apple bops slightly, and his stomach turned when he saw a bloodied head next to his foot. The head was detached from the rest of the body, eyes rolled back into the skull, and skin covered with blood that seeped through cuts and wounds. The lance corporal quickly pulls his foot back, inspecting the dead soldier closer. If he knew this person, he couldn't tell because their face is so horribly mutilate beyond recognition.

Out of the corner of his eyes, the fog suddenly lifts. It’s only when he brought his gaze back up did he see the bodies of fallen comrades and steeds that littered the field like garbage dumps near slums. Bloodied corpses as far as the eye could see, entrails falling out from torn bodies, dead and flat horses probably smothered by the titans’ weight, and flies hovering over the dead meat. Among the bodies were familiar faces; cadets that recently joined, and veteran soldiers that he has come to know.

His stomach shifts, and he pushes a hand against his mouth.

The corporal feels a strong urge to vomit; it’s too gruesome and horrific to his eyes. But it’s odd, Levi thinks, he should have been used to this; years and years of experience, and seeing a similar scene every time play out the Corps ventured out of the walls should have prepared him for this. Apparently, he’s not so used to it yet.

The urge to puke subsides when, out of the corner of his eyes, he sees a familiar sight just further ahead. Levi turns his head, and a flicker of surprise flits across his usually reticent face.

“[Name],” he mutters out, he finally found his voice but it's breathy and raspier than usual. The said soldier waves her when he notices her; a small, serene smile traces her lips. ‘You’re okay,’ he thinks, ‘you’re okay.’

Relief washes over him as he moves towards her. One step, and then another; right foot, and the left, and—

A sudden tug — a sudden pressure encircles his ankle that catches him off-guard, causing him to stumble and stop in his tracks. He snaps his gaze down, and there’s a bloody hand grabbing his ankle. ‘What the fuck,’ is his first thought as he tries to shake his foot from its grip. The hand is just an arm that’s been cut off, it’s not even connected to a body anymore, but he can’t seem to move nor can he pry his foot off.

When Levi looks up again, the fog’s back, but not as thick as before. [Name] is still standing a couple meters away, but terror seeps into his bone when he sees the silhouette of the monster humanity fears.

Thump. Thump.

He hears the slow, rhythmic footsteps of the titan, and even feels the ground reverberating with each step it takes, but it seems like [Name] didn’t. She’s still standing there, all smiles and sunshine despite the man-eater drawing closer.

“[Name], run!” is what he wanted to say, but he suddenly finds himself unable to speak once more. He tries to yell, he tries to run to her, he can’t. Nothing he does seem to get across to her.

When she finally did turn, it’s too late. The titan grabs her in its hand, crushing her body from torso down in its palm. She suppresses a cry to no avail.

“[Name]…” his voice returns just as the titan open its jaw. A foul stench comes from its mouth, one that reeks off stomach acid and blood so strong that even he was assaulted by the smell. Fear coursed through not only [Name], but also Levi’s body. “No, no! [Name]!”

He sees you struggling in its grip, desperately trying to free yourself. The raven reaches for his side, for his 3D Maneuver Gear, but all he feels is air. The corporal lowers his head — it’s not there, his 3DMG is gone. 'What?'

A piercing scream, and Levi snaps his gaze back to the titan who’s bringing her to his mouth.

“[Name]!” In a ditch attempt, he harshly pulls his leg up, but that only made him fall forwards onto the ground. ‘No…!’ He’s too late. [Name] turns her head to Levi, and her [e/c] eyes filled with terror met his. “[Name]!”

And the titan snaps his mouth shut.

* * *

“No!”

Levi’s eyes flickered open in panic, and he finds himself on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His heart thumps wildly in his chest, breathing laboured. He’s drenched in sweat, and obsidian black locks stuck to his forehead. The man pushes himself on his elbows as he gazes around, eyes landing on various objects that he could barely make out in his dark bedroom until his steel grey eyes land on his foot; apparently, he managed to tangle the blanket around his ankle in his sleep.

‘Am I crying…?’ he thinks as his vision blurs a little from the tears, but he brushes the thought aside, quickly wiping his eyes with his knuckles. He stands from his bed — his legs are shaky from the nightmare, but when he finally steadies, Levi wastes no time and walks over to the door, and exits his room.

Despite the darkness of the night that shrouded him, he's familiar enough with the layout to know where he's going. The man strides quickly down the hall, turning a few corners until he reaches a particular door at the end of the corridor. Quietly, he turns the doorknob, and pushes it open — it’s not locked (because the lock’s broken from the last time he forced his way in).

Inside was a bedroom similar to his albeit a few personal touches. He walks towards the bed; there’s a familiar figure lying underneath the thin blanket, and relief flooded over him. ‘You’re okay…’

His knees give out, and he slowly sinks to the floor beside the bed. He rests his sweat-streaked forehead against the mattress, realizing that tears are streaming down his face now. He lets out a shaky sigh, “Thank god…thank god…”

“Levi…?” a groggy voice calls out his name, and a soft hand brushes against his hair. Lifting his head, he’s met with the sight of a sleep-induced [Name], struggling to keep her eyes open.

Levi brushes his hands over his eyes, drying the wetness before he whispers a breathy, “Yeah…”

[Name] rubs her eyes as she sits up, moving her head closer to Levi’s face. “Another nightmare?”

He bites his lips. “…Yeah.” Plagues me every night.

“Was it about me?”

There’s a slight hesitance before he answers, “…Yeah.” Levi looks away, turning around, and leans his back against the bedframe. She needn’t question further, she doesn't know the exact details, but his dreams all led to one thing, and [Name] knows the gist of it.

You died. You died in my dreams again.

“Oh, Levi…” a pair of limber arms slithers around his neck, and squeeze him gently. Her voice is soft and supple to his ears, but he’s reminded of her screams in his nightmares. “I’m here, Levi, I’m with you, and I’m alive and well.”

“I know…you’re here,” he repeats after you. He knows [Name]’s alive now, but she’s a soldier of the Survey Corps. How long does she have until he’ll lose her? Will she die the same way she did in his dreams? He’s seen her die so many times in so many different ways — eaten, mauled, slaughtered, executed; he’s seen them all. And while he knows it’s all a dream, he feels the terror nonetheless.

The man slowly turns his head to the [e/c] woman, resting his cold hand over her soft ones. “I…I don’t want you to go, [Name], and I’m…scared.”

[Name] gasps slightly. Levi Ackerman does not show fear in battle nor those he show any emotions in other situations. For him to admit such thing…[Name] is probably the first person to know.

She untangles her arms from Levi, and scoots towards the other end of her bed, “Come up here, Levi.”

Levi may not have the mouth of a gentleman, but he has manners enough to know not to climb into a maiden’s bed. (He shouldn’t even be in her room so late at night.) “I shouldn’t—”

[Name] shakes her head, silencing him. “Come on, Levi. You’ve been having these night terrors, I think you shouldn’t sleep alone tonight.”

He doesn’t want to, but she’s right though; he doesn’t want to be alone. With a defeated sigh, the raven climbs in under the blanket, and lies beside her. He’s lying as straight as a plank, [Name] notices, probably because he’s unsure what to do.

So she takes initiative. [Name] moves closer, and places her head on top of his chest. Levi stiffens at the touch at first, but he soon relaxes. “Your heart…it’s beating so fast…you must be so scared, Levi,” she murmurs after a while. “I’m sorry.”

What is she apologising for?

“I’m always causing you such trouble, even in your dreams,” she speaks in such a soft, lighthearted tone, but Levi doesn’t miss the sadness in her tone. “I’m the source of your nightmares, the cause of your distress…”

Now, it was his turn to embrace her. His arms encircle her smaller form, bringing her closer to his chest. Levi buries his nose in her hair, mumbling a small, “Shut up.”

“Don’t say that.” He inhales her scent slowly, the sweet fragrance seemed to calm his racing heart by a bit. “You may be a pain at times, but you’re my light. I don’t know where I’d be without you. I need you.”

Levi clicks his tongue. “You made me say something unbelievably mawkish.”

A soft giggle resonated from [Name]. “I didn’t do anything, Levi, it was all you.”

He grunts, and turns his gaze to the window. Thick, and grey, and gloomy is the weather this night. It’s just as cloudy tonight as it was in his dream. A thought crosses his mind; there’s an expedition next week. He’s going outside the walls…and so is [Name].

Levi shakes his head; no, he’s not going to think about it. Not now. Not tonight, because tonight he's going to hold her, and cherish the precious time he has with her. His arms tightened around her as he closes his eyes. “Let me stay here tonight…with you.”

“I’ll be damned if I ever let you leave,” he hears the small reply. As she shifts into a more comfortable position, Levi lets out a soft exhale as mind slowly slipping to unconsciousness. “Goodnight, Levi.”

And, for the first time in months, he falls into a dreamless and restful slumber.
xreadershingekinokyojinleviackermanleviackermanxreader
ahhh it's been a while since i wrote levi ;u; srsly tho levi is like the most fun character to torture. i like the idea of him having night terrors uwu
anyways this is for the lovely Katuccino OCD contest! I hope it's decent pffft i really hungry i'm late i know i'm sorry i kinda got stuck?? ;u;

gah i'm so not used to writing in present tense. my dad said i should practice bc it may come in handy in creative writing in school ;u;
thanks to the cutie patoot sleepyheroprince for beta-reading uwu ily <3
if there are any other grammar mistakes, please tell me so I may fix it right away!
    !! Comments are highly appreciated !! 
    ※ attack on titan and its character belongs to hajime isayama.
    ※ plot belongs me. do not copy or plagiarize my work.
    ※ art belongs to rightful owner. if you happen to know the source, please let me know!
    ※ word count: 2007
© 2015 - 2024 Absolute-Emperor
Comments63
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
DuckTube3's avatar
DuckTube3
AWWW