Archive of Our Own

“I’m so fucking over this.”
You groaned, leaning your head back into the couch behind you and breaking the silence that had previously only been filled with the sound of clicking keys and occasional sips off long cold cups of coffee. Furlan looked over his laptop at you from his spot on the couch above you, eyebrow raised.
You had been working on this piece for your fiction writing class for days now and still hadn’t managed a single paragraph that didn’t make you want to throw your computer out of a window. You knew you could be over critical of yourself at the best of times but still you were certain every single word you’d put down so far was objectively garbage.
“It’s just one assignment Y/N, it doesn’t have to be your magnum opus.” Furlan chuckled at you.
You sighed deeply. You knew that. But still, there was a part of you that refused to submit anything that was less than your best. You knew you could write something passable, you just had to try harder. “I don’t need it to be a masterpiece, it just has to be better than this crap.”
“I’m sure it's not as bad as you’re making it out to be. Let me see.” Furlan reached toward where your laptop sat propped up on the coffee table.
You swatted his hand away quickly, shutting the laptop with a solid click. “Absolutely not. You know how I feel about sharing unfinished work.”
He raised his hands in surrender, shaking his head. “It was worth a shot,” he said. “You really are a better writer than you give yourself credit for though. I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.”
You stood up from your place on the floor, stretching as you felt every bone in your back click from the last two hours spent hunched over your screen. “Fuck this. I’m taking a break.”
Furlan only nodded at you as you made your way towards the kitchen, turning back to his own work.
You immediately went for one of the cabinets, surveying the meager options within. An almost empty and probably stale bag of cheetos sat next to a loaf of bread and a box of fruit loops. On the shelf above sat an unopened box of oatmeal raisin granola bars which you scoffed at. “Don’t you have anything good to eat here?” you called back at Furlan.
“Hey, who said you could raid my kitchen?” he yelled back with feigned indignation.
You opened the fridge with a sigh and plucked a red bull from its place in the door. “There’s nothing worth raiding in here anyways.” you scowled, popping open the can as you returned to the living room. “Who the fuck eats oatmeal raisin granola bars?”
“Those are Levi’s.” Furlan said without looking up from his computer.
Of fucking course they were. Levi was one of Furlan’s roommates. He was also one of the worst people you’d ever met in your life. You had half a mind to back there and scarf one down just to spite him.
“Isabel should be back soon. She went to the store to get stuff for the party tonight so she should have some decent snacks.” Furlan finally looked up from his work and scowled at the can in your hand. “Hey! That’s mine!”
You took a long sip of the drink, making direct eye contact with him. “You know I need it more than you do. Consider it your friendship tax and payment for making me deal with that shitty roommate of yours.” You plopped down on the couch next to him. “Will his moodiness be joining us tonight?” You silently prayed to every god you could think of that Levi would be working late at the bookstore tonight. You weren’t sure you could handle a whole evening with him. You were stressed out enough as it was.
Furlan chuckled. “Yeah, he gets off at eight and Isabel will throw a fit if he hides in his room this time.”
Of course. You never understood why your friends tolerated that man, let alone actually
enjoyed his company. His disposition was sour at the best of times and downright mean at the worst. From what you’d gathered, the three of them have been basically family since childhood, having grown up in the same neighborhood. Turns out Furlan and Isabel had actually followed him to college.
“Oh wonderful.” you sighed, opening up your phone to give your mind a break.
“Oh come on, Y/N. I know you two can get along for just one night.”
You rolled your eyes. “That all depends on him and his shitty attitude.”
Furlan shook his head with a laugh. “You two really are more alike than you realize.”
Your jaw dropped open. Furlan might as well have compared you to a puddle of scummy pond water as far you were concerned. That man was an arrogant, self important asshole with the personality of sour milk. You two were nothing alike. “Take that back.”
“You see! You both get that same terrifying look on your face when you’re angry.” Furlan was really pissing you off now. “Plus, you’re both writers. Isn’t there a whole thing about solidarity among artists?”
He wasn’t wrong about the second part. For all his faults Levi was an incredible writer and it infuriated you. He’d had a few of his works published in local journals and the school newspaper which you’d read out of pure curiosity. You had been majorly disappointed by how good they actually were. How a man as frustrating as him could find such beautiful words was beyond you. Worse than that, Levi was the TA for your fiction writing class this semester which meant everything you wrote suffered under his scrutiny once you turned it in. You’d be lying if you said that particular fact had nothing to do with your obsession with perfecting your current project. You couldn’t bear to give him another reason to criticize you.
You thought back to the first time you’d met the man. Some of the first words out of his mouth were a scathing review of a piece you’d agonized over for weeks before finally getting the nerve to submit it to the school’s poetry newsletter. Furlan had been the one to introduce you relatively early on in your first year. He was one of the first friends you’d made in college and he had been eager to introduce you to the rest of his friend group.
You’d smiled cheerily and taken Levi’s outstretched hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you!” you chirped. “I’m Y/N.”
Levi’s face remained expressionless as he made a sound of recognition. “Yes, I read your piece in the newsletter the other day.”
You felt your face go hot under his scrutiny. You had to admit it, the man was gorgeous. The thought that he’d read your poem had you a bit giddy and nervous. “Oh yeah? What did you think?”
Your stomach fluttered as his piercing eyes met yours. “I have to say I wasn’t impressed.”
The butterflies turned to rocks in your stomach. “Excuse me?”
“No offense, but are you absolutely sure writing is your calling?” His voice remained completely monotone as he tore into you.
“I spent weeks on that!” you protested. You could feel the white hot rage begin to boil inside of you. You watched him cross his arms over his chest, his handsome features completely unbothered. Despite his small stature, something about the way he carried himself made you feel as though he were towering above you. He had an authoritative presence and it made your blood boil. Levi Ackerman may have the face of an angel but he was anything but.
“Just some advice from a fellow writer,” he started nonchalantly. “Next time you’re thinking of publishing something, make sure it’s the best you have to offer. Try harder or no one will take you seriously.”

“I highly doubt that man knows the meaning of solidarity.” You grumbled, taking another sip off your stolen beverage.
Whatever response Furlan had to that was cut short by the sound of keys jingling in the lock as his second roommate bounded into the living room, swinging a couple grocery bags in one hand and a case of beer in the other. Her eyes lit up when they landed on you. “Y/N! You’re here!”
“Hey Isabel!” you greeted cheerily from your spot on the couch. “You need any help with those bags?”
“No, I’ve got it. But there are a couple other things left in the car if one of you wants to go grab them.”
Furlan stood up. “I’ve got it.”
Isabel thanked him as she dragged the bags into the kitchen to begin putting their contents away.
“You’re staying for the party tonight, yeah?” she called back to you.
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it.”
Isabel popped her head out the kitchen with a bag of potato chips in hand. “Perfect. You hungry?”

You gave yourself a once over in Isabel’s mirror and sighed. You had changed out of your sweats for slightly more party appropriate attire you’d brought with you and swiped on a bit of makeup while you were at it. Furlan had described the party as a “small get together” but you knew from experience that meant far more people than you were comfortable with seeing you with your frazzled hair and day-old sweats.
Isabel let out a slow whistle from the bed, looking you over. “You look good.” she cooed. “Who are you trying to impress?”
You rolled your eyes, pulling down the bottom of your mini skirt. “This was just the first thing I pulled out of my closet. Is it too much?” You said, eyeing the deep plunge of the neckline. Truth be told, the outfit didn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination but you truly hadn’t given it the most thought as you rushed out the door this morning.
“Not at all. You look great. You’re definitely going to catch some attention in that though.”
You smiled a little at that. At least if you had to put up with Levi’s incessant presence you would look good while doing it.
“Hey, Y/N?” Isabel asked tentatively from the bed, her voice sounding softer than usual.
“Yeah?”
She took a deep breath. “So, you know Levi is going to be hanging out tonight.”
You gave her a bit of side eye through the mirror. “Yeah..?”
“Well, I just kinda thought maybe the two of you could try and patch things up tonight maybe?” Her words sounded more like a question, a plea even. “He’s really not all that bad once you give him a chance.”
Isabel, for some god forsaken reason, really looked up to the guy. She saw him as a big brother. It almost made you feel bad for how much you hated him but you couldn’t see how he’d become so special to her. Sure, Isabel could be a lot sometimes but she was nothing like Levi. She was fun, and kind, and so easy to be around.
You sighed, turning to face her. “Isabel, I’ve tried. The man is impossible.”
That wasn’t a lie. You had tried on many occasions to be friendly with Levi. You even tried to buy him his favorite tea last Christmas as a peace offering. Of course, it was entirely the wrong tea and he did not hesitate to tell you how god awful your taste must be for picking it out. Ungrateful bastard. Every single effort you had made to extend an olive branch to the man was met by either complete indifference or downright hostility. It was exhausting. And infuriating. And once he became the person grading your fiction papers he got even more unbearable.
“I know, I know.” she said. “You just have to learn to look past all the surliness. Really, he’s a good person underneath that. He just doesn’t know how to get along with others.”
“That’s the understatement of the century.” you scoffed. “Maybe he’s nice to you sometimes but he’s never been anything but a perfect asshole to me.”
“I would just really love it if all of my friends could get along.” she sighed.
Her words sent a pang through your chest. The truth was pretty much everyone in your friend group got along fine with Levi. Sure, he was still always a bit blunt and temperamental with the rest of them too. You’d seen him nearly brawl with every one of your friends at one point or another. But everyone else seemed to have this ability to let his rudeness roll off their backs and still find things to enjoy about his company. You often wondered if it was just you. Maybe you were the one with the problem. Or maybe he was just a little more awful to you than the rest. You always sort of leaned toward the latter possibility.
“I can try to be civil.” you conceded. “But only if he is. And I’m not making any promises.”
Isabel’s face lit up. “Yes! Thank you!” she exclaimed. “I really don’t get how you too don’t get along better. You guys are actually a lot alike.”
You groaned.
Why the fuck do people keep saying that?

You laughed, cracking open your first drink of the night and watching as Furlan intently and dramatically lined up his shot in the game of beer pong he was playing against an entirely too excited and competitive Isabel. It hit its mark with ease earning a groan from Isabel and she lifted the cup to her mouth while the people around you hollered.
People had only just started arriving and already the small apartment felt cramped. Among the first of the guests were some of the other members of your group, though the space was quickly filling up with faces that you barely knew.
“I’ve got next game!” Hange exclaimed from their spot next to you on the couch.
Moblit scoffed from your other side, “Good luck, it looks like Furlan is the one to beat.”
“Hey!” Isabel protested. “I’ve still got a shot.”
“You wish.” Furlan countered, landing another cup.
You laughed and glanced down at the phone in your hand. It was nearly nine o'clock and still no sign of Levi. You were pretty sure Furlan said he’d be off at eight which was odd because Levi was nothing if not punctual.
“Not that I’m complaining,” you started. “But isn’t Levi supposed to be here by now?”
Furlan looked over at you with a raised eyebrow and smirk playing on his somehow already intoxicated lips. “Aw, are you missing our moody little killjoy that much?”
“Honestly, I hope his stupid little car broke down.” You clipped back at him, earning a laugh from the rest of your friends.
“He just stopped to grab Erwin on his way home. He should be here soon.” Isabel interjected. “He promised he’d be here.”
You sighed, remembering your conversation with Isabel earlier. You said you’d try to play nice. But you did only say you’d try.
Your neck snapped up as you heard the door click open. Almost as if he was summoned, Levi appeared. Frustratingly, he was every bit as beautiful as he always had been, with his perfectly chiseled and sharp features framed by raven locks that fell across his cheek bones. Even after a full shift, he looked perfect and put together, if a bit tired. You absolutely hated that about him.
Everyone called out to him in greeting as he walked in. You even attempted a small smile with a half wave. He locked eyes with you, cocking an eyebrow in your direction, smirk playing on his stupid perfect lips. You could have sworn you saw his eyes linger on you for a split second, before quickly switching focus to the other members of the group.
“Hey! About time!” Isabel called out with a huff.
Levi rolled his eyes. “Erwin insisted we stop by the liquor store on our way over.” his tone was clipped as usual. “And I don’t understand what you’re so worked up about. We live together. I see you every day.”
Levi was trailed by a much taller blonde man, carrying another twelve pack of beer under one arm and a handle of vodka dangling from the fingers of his other hand. Your face split into a genuine smile at the sight of Erwin. Though he and Levi were practically attached at the hip, you found him a lot easier to get along with. He was polite at least, if a bit pretentious at times. But he was a good friend. Which was more than you could say for Levi.
Erwin greeted everyone before shuffling awkwardly through the too cramped room of party goers towards the kitchen to throw the beers in the fridge. Levi split off from him and made his way over to where you and the rest of your friends were stationed. He plopped down in one of the last unoccupied seats before pulling his forest green hoodie over his head. You couldn’t help but notice the way his gray t-shirt rode up beneath it, revealing a little strip of skin on his perfectly toned abdomen. God, how is this man even real? He looked like a fucking statue.
You caught yourself staring a second too late. Levi’s head popped out of his sweater only to make direct eye contact with you. He raised an eyebrow at you with a small smirk. Your face grew hot and you hurriedly took a long pull off your drink to break eye contact. You cursed yourself silently.
Furlan let out a triumphant shout as he landed his last cup, ending both the game and your suffering. Isabel groaned as Hange stood up to take her place against Furlan. Isabel made her way over and stood next to Levi with her hands on her hips. “I was sitting there.”
Levi looked up at her, unphased. “Yes, and..?”
“Move.” she said. “You know that’s my chair.”
She wasn’t wrong. Every time you came over to study or have a movie night she always posted up in that recliner with a blanket and snack in hand.
“Just go sit over by Y/N.” he shot back at her. “Hange’s gonna be up for a while.”
She shook her head. “No. You go sit over there. Or I swear, Levi, I will sit on you.”
He shot her his signature glare. “I swear, Isabel, do that and I will drop kick you into next week.”
Isabel scowled, getting ready to say something but he was already getting up with an eye roll. He plopped down on the couch next to you, arms crossed dramatically over his chest. Isabel stuck out her tongue as she took her rightful spot and then grinned manically.
Erwin reappeared with two beers in hand, offering one to Levi before cracking open his own and sitting on the floor next to the couch. He surveyed the game in front of him.
“My money's on Hange.” he said.
“No way!” you replied. “Furlan is the reigning champion.”
Erwin grinned up at you. “How much do you want to bet?”
Of course. Erwin was many things. A good friend, a talented student, and definitely a gambler. He’d try and place bets on almost anything. You once lost fifty bucks to him over a snow storm.
“Twenty bucks?”
“Deal.” Erwin swiveled around to extend his hand to you. “Levi, you in?”
Levi rolled his eyes yet again. “No way.”
You fought back a scowl and muttered under your breath, “Party pooper.”
Levi’s eyebrows shot up as he looked over to you with a sneer. “You say something, Y/N?”
Your face heated up. “No. You must be hearing things. Going senile already?”
“I’m in!” Isabel chimed in before the conversation could escalate any further. “My money’s on Furlan too.”
Erwin laughed. “All I’m hearing is I’m about to have an extra forty bucks in my pocket. Moblit, how about you.”
Moblit looked over from his side of the couch. “I think Furlan’s got this in the bag, but I know better than to bet against Hange. I’m staying out of this.”
“Fair enough.” Erwin replied.
The conversation was interrupted by a gleeful shout from Hange as they made their first cup. Erwin gave you and Isabel a triumphant look.
“Hey, the game’s not over yet.” you snarked.

You ended up losing that twenty bucks. Erwin grinned as you forked the bill over reluctantly. You honestly should have known better; Erwin rarely lost a bet. You sighed, getting up to grab another drink from the fridge.
“Y/N, you’re up next!” Hange called after you.
You turned around to face them. “Oh no, you know I’m terrible at that game.”
“So what?” they said. “You’re up next.”
You sighed. There was really no arguing with Hange and you knew that. “Erwin, I swear to god if you bet against me, I will come for you.”
Levi took this moment to injertect. “He’d be an idiot not to.”
You shot him a glare and opened your mouth to shoot something back at him before glancing over at Isabel who was giving you an expectant look. He was making it so hard to follow through on your promise to her.
“Damn, Levi. Just because you’re right doesn’t mean you have to say it.” Moblit laughed.
You locked eyes with Levi. “If I’m so bad why don’t you take my place against Hange?” You said. “Show me how it’s done.”
Levi contemplated your offer for a moment, finishing off the drink in his hands. “Alright. And when I beat Hange, you play me.”
Playing a game against Levi was the absolute last thing that you wanted to do but you could see the challenge in his eyes and you’d be damned if you were going to back down now. You weren’t sure why he’d even suggested it in the first place though you had a sneaking suspicion it was for the sole purpose of humiliating you. That seemed to be his favorite pastime whenever you were involved anyways.
“Fine. You’re on.”
The group whistled in excitement for the standoff they knew was coming. It was common knowledge that you and Levi didn’t necessarily get along and, for some reason, most of your friends found great amusement in your rivalry.
You sucked in a breath in anticipation. Maybe Hange would come through and save you the embarrassment of losing spectacularly to your worst enemy. That might knock Levi’s ego down a few pegs as well but that might just be wishful thinking. It would take more than losing a drinking game to even put a dent in that man’s ego. It still would be fun to see though.
Levi insisted on using entirely new cups which earned him a bit of teasing from the others. Nothing he couldn’t shake off with an equally biting comment. Frustratingly, Levi had many talents, and among the top on that list was his affinity for sharp witted jabs that halted almost every argument in its tracks.
You watched Levi stride up to the table confidently and stand across from Hange and the game began. You sipped your drink nervously as you watched the two of them face off, shouting every time Hange landed a shot. You could see Erwin placing bets with the others in the corner of your eye. That man was relentless.
Your hopes of salvation were quickly dashed as the game almost immediately took a turn in Levi’s favor. Was there anything he wasn’t godly at? He didn’t even seem to be trying that hard. He made all his shots without even batting an eyelash, a bored look plastered on his face. You even caught him glancing back at you a few times with a smirk. You were doomed.
The game ended quickly so at least your suffering wasn’t prolonged. The group called out, turning away from whatever conversations they’d been having. It was time for the main event. This was going to be absolute torture. You cursed yourself for opening your mouth and not just playing against Hange in the first place. Losing to them wouldn’t have been nearly as humiliating.
Levi quirked an eyebrow at you. “Ready?”
You swallowed dryly. You were about to have your ass handed to you on a silver platter but you were determined to accept your fate with grace. “Yeah, let’s go. Set them up.”
You stood across the table from Levi, staring him down. He nodded to you, indicating that you were up first. You took a deep breath as you lined up your shot, trying your best to imagine the trajectory the ball would take. It missed by a mile. Your eyes shot to the table to avoid his gaze.
“Nice try.” he quipped.
You rolled your eyes as you lined up your second shot. This one had to make it. You said a silent prayer as the ball left your fingertips. You almost jumped for joy as the ball bounced against the rim of one of the outer cups but your celebration was cut short as you watched it ricochet off and nearly hit Furlan in the forehead. You winced.
Fuck.
“Hey, watch where you’re throwing those things, Y/N!” Furlan said with a chuckle.
Levi looked way too pleased for your liking. You shot him the meanest glare you could muster, your promise to Isabel be damned. He only gave you an amused look in return before preparing for his own shot.
He was right on the mark. You locked eyes with him definitely as you picked up the cup and gulped down the contents. As you set the cup to the side you felt a bit of the liquid trickle down your chin. You watched his silver eyes trail down with it and your cheeks went hot. You wiped your arm across your mouth but you could already feel the beer dribble down the low neckline of your shirt. You didn’t miss the way Levi held his gaze there for just a moment before meeting your eyes again.
“Bit messy are we?” he drawled before tossing his second ball. It landed with a plop into one of the middle cups. “Try to get all of it in your mouth this time.”
Something about his tone of voice sent a shiver down your spine that you couldn’t quite explain. Maybe it was the alcohol that was running through your veins. That was the only explanation for the way your whole body tightened in response to his words. You glared back at him, plucking the ball from the cup and throwing it in his direction before knocking back the second cup without incident.
Since he’d made both cups it was his go again. His first throw dropped directly into the cup. You sighed deeply, drinking again. This was about as embarrassing as you thought it was going to be.
He went to throw his second ball but this time it went wide and missed the table entirely. Your eyes went wide in surprise. There was no way Levi would throw that poorly. It wasn’t even close.
Did he do that on purpose?
“Your turn.” He said, his face completely unreadable, breaking you from your thoughts.
“Oh, yeah.” you breathed, picking up your ball.
To no one’s surprise you somehow missed even worse than he did. Your ball rolled halfway toward the kitchen as Hange chased after it for you.
“Tch, that's the best you’ve got?” Levi snarked.
The scowl on your face had become permanent at this point. You ignored him and began lining up your next shot.
“Pull your elbows in,” he said. “That’s why you keep going wide.”
That stopped you. Was Levi actually…trying to help? That didn’t make any sense. He had no reason to, especially when it seemed like his primary goal was to make your life as difficult as possible
The suspicious look on your face must have been obvious because Levi said, “Just try it.”
Fuck it, what do I have to lose?
You did as he said, aiming the ball with your elbows straight against you. You flung it through the air and to your complete surprise, it landed. A chorus of cheers erupted from the group.
“Good girl.”
Wait. What?
You fought hard to keep your composure as you felt another bolt of electricity go through your body. You knew your face had gone bright red. What the fuck was that about?
Levi lifted his cup from the rim and gulped it down with his eyes on you the entire time. He set the cup down and raised an eyebrow at you. “Hey, don’t get all flustered just yet. You still have a game to lose.” He picked up his ball and made another shot.
You let out a shaky breath. That whole thing must have been intentional. Of course, it was all part of his master plan to ruin your life. You hated how well it was working. You hated the effect his words had on you, the way his voice melted through your body, making you feel weak in the knees. It made no sense. He shouldn’t have that kind of power over you.

What is going on?

Predictably, you lost the game in the end and the only person you caught slipping Erwin any cash was Isabel. Bless her for believing in you. You and Levi rejoined the group together because he had announced that two rounds was more than enough for him and refused to play anymore. The two spots where you had been sitting before were miraculously still empty but you couldn’t bear to sit next to Levi again. You excused yourself and headed for the bathroom.
You pushed past several groups of strangers on your way over there, all with drinks in hand. You wondered how this many people even fit in Furlan’s small apartment. You said a small prayer for his neighbors as well, as there was absolutely no chance they were getting any sleep tonight either.
As soon as the bathroom door clicked shut behind you, you let out a huge sigh, planting your hands on the counter and gazing into your reflection. You looked exactly as you had earlier in Isabel’s mirror, but something felt different. You couldn’t figure out what was going on with you.
Levi’s words kept playing over and over in your mind and they made you just as weak as the first time you heard them. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Sure, Levi was handsome and you’d maybe caught yourself staring at him a few times before, but you hated him. He wasn’t supposed to get you all flustered and weak in the knees. And you certainly shouldn’t be thinking about him the way you were now. But still, you kept imagining what it would feel like to be pinned underneath him as he whispered those same words to you, his sultry voice penetrating to your core.
You tried to shake those thoughts out of your head. It had simply been too long since the last time you’d had sex. You’d been so wrapped up in your work that you hadn’t had the time to entertain any sort of romantic attention and that was why you were locked in Furlan’s bathroom fantasizing about your worst enemy. You turned on the faucet and ran your hands beneath the cool water. You wished you could splash some on your face but you didn’t want your makeup to run so you flicked a little bit on your neck instead. You thought back to earlier, the beer trickling down your chest. Why had Levi stared at you like that back then? You were starting to regret your choice of top, taking a good look at just how much cleavage had been showing. You pulled it up with a huff.
You thought about just heading home but that wasn’t really an option. You weren’t super drunk yet but you’d certainly had enough to drink to not feel safe driving home. Plus, your friends would ask questions about why you bailed so early when the party was still in full swing. You decided it was time to rejoin the party and try your best to put all of these thoughts behind you. You took a few deep breaths before turning to open the door.
You stepped out of the bathroom and nearly ran into someone who was making their way down the hall. “Woah, I’m so sorry!” You sputtered before actually getting a good look at who you’d run into. You were met with narrow, silver eyes and a scowl you knew well.
Fucking Levi.
“You should really watch where you’re going, you know.”
That was your breaking point. You’d had enough of his rudeness to last a lifetime; tonight was only the icing on the cake. “What the fuck is your problem?”
Levi gave you a curious look, completely unphased. “What do you mean? You’re the one who almost mowed me over just now.”
“What do I mean?” you spat, your voice shaky with rage. “You take every single opportunity to fuck with me. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You’re awful to me all the time no matter how many times I’ve tried to be civil.”
He gave you that stupid fucking eyebrow raise again. “I really-”
You cut him off. “Don’t you give me that look! I’m so tired of that look.”
Levi opened his mouth to speak but you interrupted once again. “Actually don’t even fucking talk. I’m so sick of your stupid voice. It’s like the only things that ever come out of your mouth are designed to piss me off.”
“I really don’t know where all this is coming from.” This man had the audacity to actually look bored as he spoke. “I think I’ve been rather pleasant to you tonight.”
“Pleasant?” you snapped. “Is that what you call whatever it was that you pulled just now?”
Somehow Levi remained expressionless while you were sure your face had already gone beet red at this point. “Do you mean when I tried to help you with that stupid game? It’s not my fault you can’t throw for shit.”
“That was your idea of helping me?” You could have laughed if you weren’t so angry.
Levi rolled his eyes. “Not that you’ve ever been grateful for my help before.”
You stared at him incredulously for a moment as if his words were spoken in another language. “When have you ever helped me? All you do is make my life miserable.”
Levi crossed his arms across his chest, leaning into the wall behind him. His nonchalance made you want to punch something. “That’s the thing. You never even listen when I try to help you. You just get all up in arms like this.” he said. “It’s like you don’t want to become a better writer.”
You gave him a dumbfounded look. For a second you seriously considered punching him. That couldn’t seriously be what he thought he was doing all this time while he was tearing apart every piece of writing you’d ever been proud of. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“You really are such a child sometimes, Y/N.” he said. “You won’t make it far in this field without the ability to take a little criticism.”
You let out a long breath, your pulse quickening rapidly. “I can take criticism.” you heaved. “What I can’t take is your unnecessary smug comments at every turn. I can’t take you telling me just how shitty of a writer that you think I am every single day. I pour my heart and soul into my work and you always have something negative to say. It’s exhausting, Levi.”
“It helps, doesn’t it?” he asked.
You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. “No it fucking doesn’t. It drives me crazy.” you fumed. “I don’t know what part of you being a complete asshole is supposed to be helpful.”
“Bullshit.”
“Excuse me?”
Levi uncrossed his arms and straightened from his place on the wall, his eyes boring into yours with an intensity you’d never seen before. His smug look had been replaced by something more serious, it was almost as if a fire had been lit behind those eyes. You felt your stomach drop and you wanted to look anywhere else but for some reason you found yourself transfixed by his gaze.
“You are such a brat sometimes.” he sighed, taking a step towards you. “I’ve seen it. I’ve seen you working like your life depends on it, spending hours in the library or on our couch, always with that defiant look on your face. You have become relentless. And every single piece you turn in is miles better than the last. Admit it. You needed me to light that fire under your ass or you were going to plateau and burn out.”
You were at a complete loss, your mouth hanging open like a fish out of water. His words almost sounded like a compliment and you were having trouble processing that fact. He wasn’t entirely wrong. You had been working harder than ever recently and you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t at least a little bit due to his constant judgment. But if your work had been improving for it this was the first you’d heard of it. You couldn’t think of a single nice thing Levi had ever said about your writing. Had he really been trying to help you this entire time and you were just too pissed off or defensive to see it?
You thought back to all of the times he’d basically told you that you were hopeless and that your best option was to give up. You thought about all the times you almost considered doing just that. But instead of giving up you chose to fight even harder just to prove him wrong. There was no way you were going to admit defeat now. “Yeah, well you don’t have to be such a dick all the time.” you mumbled weakly.
Levi continued to look at you in that intense way and for the first time you realized how close he was standing in that cramped hallway. “You don’t have to be such a pain in the ass all the time.” You could almost feel his breath on your cheek as he spoke.
“I wouldn’t have to be if you would just give me a fucking break.” you protested. Your voice sounded small, despite your attempt at being challenging. There was something about the way he was looking at you that was making your brain short circuit. You couldn’t think with the fresh, woodsy scent of his cologne filling your nose. You broke your eyes away from his only to land on his lips. You’d never noticed just how soft they looked.
“Tch, damn brat.” Levi planted one hand on the wall behind you, leaning in close. “You never know when to shut up.”
“You couldn’t make me shut up if you tried.”
You didn’t know where the words came from or what you were trying to achieve by saying them but the second they left your mouth Levi’s expression changed. It was the same look he got when he knew he was about to win an argument, that self satisfied tilt of his lips that drove you crazy.
“Is that a challenge?” Levi’s voice had gone low and breathy as he leaned in closer.
You merely set your jaw, holding his fiery gaze with a glare.
In an instant his lips were on yours, pressing into your mouth roughly. Before you could even think about what exactly you were doing, you were kissing him back. The feeling was more than electricity coursing through you. It was a thunderstorm or a forest fire. You knew it was insane but you couldn’t bring yourself to pull away. It felt as though a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. Your arms instinctively snaked around his neck to pull him deeper into the kiss. Levi brought his free hand up to your chest, pushing you so your back was flat against the wall, his palm splayed against your collar bone. He ran his tongue along your lips, parting them. Levi sucked at your bottom lip gently before taking it in his teeth and tugging slightly, eliciting a small gasp from you before pulling away.
Your breathing was labored as you stared at him blankly, trying to figure out just what was happening and why you were so disappointed it had stopped.
“That seemed to do the trick,” he said smugly.
You struggled for a moment to put together a sentence, as if you’d forgotten how to speak. “What?” you managed.
“You said I couldn’t shut you up if I tried. Clearly you were mistaken.”
You tried desperately to think of something clever to say but it felt as though your brain was full of static. “Oh, yeah.” you said, your eyes still trained on his now slightly pink lips.
You stared at each other in silence for a moment while you tried desperately to get your bearings and work out what the hell was going on. You knew you should probably push him away and try to forget this has ever happened but you felt stuck in place.
Levi broke the silence first. “Would it be okay if I tried that again?” he asked, sounding almost nervous.
To your own surprise, you nodded furiously. “If you don’t, I swear to god I will never stop talking again.”
Levi chuckled at that, moving his hand from your chest to your chin, lifting it slightly so he could look into your eyes. “Then I suppose I have no choice. I’d go mad if I had to listen to you whine all the time.”
When Levi kissed you this time, you sunk into the feeling, eyes fluttering shut as his lips worked against yours. You placed your hands on his chest, gripping his shirt and trying to pull him closer. Levi’s tongue slipped into your mouth, licking at your lower lip before diving all the way in. His hands dropped from your face to find your hips. He held you firmly there and he pressed against you, lifting his knee to rest against the wall between your thighs and sending a shiver through your body. You let out a sharp intake of breath as he removed his mouth from yours and placed it against the underside of your jaw. He kissed down your neck nibbling and sucking at the tender skin there. You noticed how soft the hair was at the base of his neck as your arms snaked around to grab at it.
You thought for a second about how risky this was; it was only a matter of time before someone came searching for the bathroom and you could only hope it wasn’t one of your friends. That would take a lot of explaining. But you couldn’t bring yourself to care about that right now with Levi’s knee pressing in between your legs and his lips all over your neck and collar bone.
Levi reached up to cup one of your breasts in his hand, squeezing it firmly and causing you to gasp a little louder than you would have liked. You were all but panting now, the heat in your core growing unbearable. As you grew more and more desperate under his touch you began to grind against the knee he’d placed between your legs, pressing your head against his shoulder to muffle the small gasps.
“Tch, needy are we?” Levi teased, pulling away and taking a step back from you.
You could have cried at the sudden loss of contact, reaching out to pull him closer.
“Come with me.” Levi demanded, grabbing you by your wrist and turning down the hall.
You followed eagerly as he led you to the last door to the right, opening the door to his bedroom and ushering you in. The door clicked shut behind you and you heard him turn the lock. Despite the countless hours spent at their apartment you’d never actually been in Levi’s room. It was exactly as you’d expected it to be, tidy and spotless. It hardly looked like anyone lived there at all.
Levi spun around to face you, looking you up and down for a moment. You stood there awkwardly, adjusting the hem of your skirt as he stared at you. Levi’s always perfect hair was messy and his lips were slightly shiny with traces of your lipgloss. It was an odd sight to say the least, made even stranger by the hungry look that had replaced his usual scowl.
Levi let out a long breath, cocking an eyebrow at you. “You’re sure you want to do this?”
Something twisted in your stomach. You knew you should’ve said no right then and there and ended this whole ridiculous situation but the thought of straightening your clothes and returning to your friends sent a pang through your chest. You nodded. “Don’t think this changes anything. I still can’t stand you.”
The smirk that appeared on Levi’s face was insufferable as it sent a bolt of electricity straight through your core. He stepped towards you, eyes trained on yours as he placed his hands on your waist. “The feeling is mutual.”
With that, Levi pulled you close and kissed you hard on the mouth. Your hands bunched in his shirt, pulling him in deeper as you kissed him back desperately. You gasped as his mouth connected with your neck, kissing and sucking on the sensitive skin there. You moved your hands to his hair tugging lightly as you panted. “Levi, we’ve got to be quick or they’ll come looking for us.”
It was true. While you were sure no one would have expected to find the two of you together, they must have been wondering where you had gone by now.
Levi pulled away to look at you, an amused look playing across his sharp features. “Impatient, are we?” He tsked, placing a hand on your chest and nudging you back towards the bed. You took a step back, feeling the edge of his bed frame against the backs of your calves. “That’s okay. I know you’ve been thinking about this all night.”
That threw you. “What are you talking about?”
Levi scoffed, giving you a gentle push that sent you toppling back onto the bed. “Oh please, you think I don’t see the way you look at me sometimes?” He planted a knee on the mattress between your legs and reached down to grab your wrists, pinning them above your head. He was hovering over you now, face mere inches from yours. “You may hate me but I’m willing to bet tonight isn’t the first time you’ve imagined what it would be like to have me on top of you. Just. Like. This.” He dragged out those last words, speaking them against your cheek, his hot breath sending shivers through your body.
“You look at me too.” You managed to choke out weakly, although your brain felt like it was going to explode from the want building up inside you. Something about the condescending tone in his voice made you feel like every cell in your body was on fire.
Levi chuckled as he began placing kisses down your jawline. “Oh, I won’t deny that.” His mouth traveled further down your neck, nibbling and sucking as he went, causing you to squirm beneath him. His grip around your wrists tightened as if to hold you in place as his mouth found the edge of your low cut shirt. “I don’t know what you expected, showing up in this little outfit.”
He dropped your wrists to slide a hand under your back, lifting you to pull at the bottom on your shirt. You moved to help him, quickly pulling the top over your head. You cursed the plain looking black bra you wore beneath it but Levi didn’t seem to mind. He reached behind you and unclipped it with ease, sliding it off and tossing it behind him. He took a moment to take you in, greedy eyes flashing across your bare chest, before lowering you back down onto the bed and putting his mouth to your neck once again, a hand reaching up to cup your breast. He ran his thumb across your nipple and you felt goosebumps raise across your skin. You sighed deeply as he kneaded your breasts gently at first, his teeth grazing your collarbone. You ran your free hand through his silky dark hair, eyes fluttering shut as you drank in his touch. A high pitched gasp escaped your mouth as Levi pinched your hardened nipple between two fingers, forgoing his more delicate touches.
His mouth finally moved from your neck to find your other breast, flicking at it with his tongue before taking it fully in his mouth. You moaned softly as he captured your nipple between his teeth, nibbling gently at it. Levi looked up at you with a smirk before moving his head to kiss the underside of your breast as he began running his mouth along your ribcage, placing kisses all the way down your torso.
You squirmed beneath his touch, squeezing your legs together, desperate for any sort of friction. Levi hooked a finger under the waistband of your skirt, pulling it down and kneeling on the ground in front of you. You propped yourself up on your forearms so you could give him an expectant, needy look. His hands ran down your thighs, squeezing them lightly as he pulled them apart and positioning his face between them. He began kissing the insides of your thighs, pressing his soft lips everywhere but where you needed them the most. It was driving you crazy.
“Levi.” You choked out as his tongue flicked along the edge of your plain cotton panties.
He looked up at you, his silver eyes blazing. “Hey,” His voice was softer than you’d ever heard it. “You’re sure you want this?”
You were taken aback by the question. It seemed pretty obvious to you that you did, but something about the way he asked stirred something in you. In that moment, whatever rivalry or hatred you had for each other had dissolved and made way for something else entirely. Levi may be a self-absorbed asshole who made your life miserable but, even if just for a little while, you felt safe with him.
You nodded vigorously. “Yes. Levi, please.”
Levi gave you a sinister smile. “Good. Now sit still for me, won't you?”
Strong hands grasped your thighs as he lowered his face between them once again. You sighed deeply, your eyelids falling shut at the sensation of his hot breath against your core. “Look at you.” he murmured, bringing a thumb up to brush against the growing wet spot on your underwear. “You’re already soaking for me.”
You whined as he placed a kiss against it, teasing you further. He moved his mouth over the soft fabric, providing little release for the growing pressure inside you. You wiggled uncomfortably against him, desperate for more.
Levi dug his fingers into your thighs, prying them further apart. “I told you to sit still.” he growled. “You really are a pain in the ass, you know.”
Your breath hitched as he hooked a finger under your waist band and pulled your panties down your legs, discarding them before replacing his hands on your thighs.
“Fuck. You.” You managed shakily.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ll get to that part.” he smirked.
Levi dipped his head down, running his tongue along your slit. You shivered at the touch, a quiet moan escaping your mouth as you threw your head back. His tongue swirled against your already dripping entrance sending ripples of pleasure through your entire body. Your legs jerked under his firm grip as he zeroed in on your clit but he held them tight. He dragged his teeth gently against the sensitive area and you cried out in pleasure.
Levi swung your legs over his shoulders as he nibbled and sucked on your clit. You stared up at the ceiling, panting and completely undone under his touch. The wet sounds filling your ears from his ministrations made any thoughts that formed in your head turn to mush. You gasped as you felt a finger snake underneath your legs and brush against your entrance.
You could’ve cried when Levi paused for a second, his breathing became uneven as he said your name. “Look at me.”
You whined as he moved his finger up and down your soaking core. “Levi-”
“I said look at me. Unless, of course, you’d like me to stop.”
That got your attention. Your head snapped up and your eyes locked with his desperately. “No, please. Don’t stop.”
His eyes, dark with lust, remained trained on yours. “Good girl. Now don’t you stop looking at me. I want to see that pretty little face of yours.”
You nearly blacked out as you felt the finger that had been positioned at your entrance slide inside but you kept your eyes dutifully open. He kept eye contact with you as he moved his mouth back to your clit, curling his finger inside of you. You moaned loudly, feeling that pressure build inside your stomach already.
Levi picked up the pace as you writhed beneath him, adding a second finger. Your ears began to ring as he pumped his fingers inside you, massaging the sensitive nerves there with his fingertips. The heat in your core was growing unbearable as you tried to contain the noises bubbling up in your throat. You brought a hand up to your mouth and bit into it to muffle the sounds as you felt yourself approaching the edge of your orgasm. Your legs shook violently on Levi’s shoulders while he worked diligently pushing you further and further.
Then all at once, it stopped. You let out a long, piercing whine as he dropped your legs from his shoulders and stood up. “Levi, what the hell?”
He flashed you a wicked grin, his lips red and puffy, covered in your juices. “You didn’t think I’d let you finish just yet, did you?”
Levi walked over to the small table beside the bed, pulling a small foil packet from the drawer. He undid the button of his jeans, letting them fall down to his ankles. You could see his hardness tenting in his gray boxers and it sent a shiver through you. His infuriating superiority complex made all the more sense now, seeing how big it looked even contained in his underwear. He pulled those down as well, his shaft springing out and bouncing against his stomach. You watched with anticipation as he ripped through the foil with his teeth and slowly rolled the condom over his dick. Levi stepped closer to you, pushing you back onto the bed and hovering over you. He leaned down and kissed your lips roughly. You could taste your own juices on his lips and tongue as he brought a hand up to knead your breast. You felt the length of his cock against your throbbing wetness and you bucked against it, desperate to feel any sort of friction. He pulled his mouth away from yours and chuckled softly.
“Levi, please.” you moaned. “I can’t take any more teasing.” You were grasping at his hair now, pulling him closer to you.
Levi wrapped his arms behind your torso and lifted you further onto the bed and planted his knees between your legs. He lifted his shirt over his head to reveal his smooth and perfectly toned chest. He placed one hand on the bed near your head while the other lined up his shaft with your soaked entrance. He looked you dead in the eye, his face darkened and wanting.
“I like it when you beg for me.” he murmured close to your ear. “Do it again.”
Your face grew hot as he spoke, hairs rising on the back of your neck. The way he spoke to you filled you with need in a way you had never felt before. You could barely form a single thought anymore, your head feeling as though it was filled with cotton.
Levi rubbed the tip of his cock along your slit, causing your entire body to tense up as you whined. “Are you deaf?” he scowled. “Beg for me.”
You complied. “Levi, please.” Your voice was shaky.
“Please what?” he asked, that evil look on his face growing more sinister as he continued to tease you with his tip.
You sucked in a breath. “Please, I want-”
You gasped as he moved again, cutting you off.
He raised an eyebrow. “You want what?”
The longing inside you was growing unbearable. You jerked your hips towards him but he caught them in his strong hands, lifting your bottom half and pulling your legs over his shoulders. He stared down at you expectantly.
“Please god, Levi, fuck me!”
Levi grinned. He slowly lowered himself into you with a hiss of breath. He took his time as he bottomed out inside you, letting you stretch around him with surprising gentleness. He was still for a moment, listening to the desperate sounds you made while you got used to the fullness of him inside you.
You bucked your hips against him, needing more. The feeling was already too much as he languished on top of you. “Levi, please move.” You gasped.
And he did. He gripped your thighs as he pulled out almost all of the way and slammed himself back down to the hilt, grinding into you for a moment before rearing back again. You nearly screamed at the sensation, clawing at the sheets behind your head. The sounds he made set your entire body on fire as he pumped in and out of you at that same steady pace. Low groans and heaving breaths filled your ears dizzyingly.
“You know what really pisses me off?” Levi choked out between moans.
It took you a moment to even register that he had spoken through the waves of pleasure he was sending through you. You shook your head dumbly.
He let out a small cry as he pushed himself into you again. “You look so fucking good underneath me.” His teeth grit as he picked up his pace a little bit, his words sending shivers through you. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to see you like this.”
His words reached you that time, cutting through your daze. Could he really mean that? It certainly never seemed like he ever thought of you as more than an annoyance. “Really?” you breathed out as he rammed into you again, turning the end of your word into a squeal.
“Yeah, but you were too busy pissing me off all the time.” he panted. “You’re fucking infuriating.”
You opened your mouth to shoot something back at him but instead a loud moan clawed its way out of your throat as he continued pumping into you, harder and faster now.
“I like you like this.” he heaved. “Look at you. You can barely speak with my dick inside you.”
Levi reached a hand down and placed his thumb on your sensitive bud while he bucked against you. With that, any annoyance you might have felt at his words faded from you as you felt that pressure inside you start to build again. With each thrust you felt it growing inside you as you were sent closer and closer to the edge. Your eyes squeezed shut as your vision started to blur. If it wasn’t for the bustling party outside the door you were sure the entire building would’ve been able to hear your cries.
“Levi, ‘m so close.” you mumbled weakly, struggling to get the words out.
He kept up his tempo, thrusting into you as his thumb worked your clit. He grabbed your chin with his free hand and growled. “Look at me. I want to see your pretty face when I make you cum.”
You opened your eyes and the sight of him sent ripples through your body. His dark hair was falling into those stormy eyes as he pushed into you over and over again, sweat beading on his heaving chest. He looked beautiful and completely undone in a way that made your head spin.
He stared into your eyes as he pounded into you until that pressure inside you overflowed. You clenched around him as your vision went blurry, moaning and crying with pleasure. He fucked you through your orgasm, the building heat in your core releasing as your entire body shook from the sensation.
“Good fucking girl!” Levi cooed as he followed you, his own orgasm racking his body. His moans were music to your ears as he slowly and deliberately thrust into you a few final times.
Levi collapsed on the bed next to you. For a while the only sounds were that of the party still in full swing outside the door and labored, shaky breathing.
Once you caught your breath, the weight of the situation hit you all at once.
You were in bed with Levi fucking Ackerman. You stared at the ceiling in disbelief, trying to figure out what to do next. You supposed the only thing left to do was get dressed and rejoin the party before anyone got suspicious.
You sat up, swinging your legs out of bed when Levi reached a hand out and caught your arm.
“What are you doing?” He sounded exasperated as always, with one arm resting over his eyes.
You shot him a puzzled look. “I’m getting dressed?”
Levi shook his head. “Just stay for a moment.” He tugged your arm, urging you back into the bed.
You slowly lowered yourself back onto the bed, laying next to him in awkward silence. You were unsure why he’d asked you to stay. Before tonight the two of you had never spent any time alone together and you couldn’t figure out why you’d start now. You thought that once you’d gotten this out of your system the two of you would go back to being mortal enemies. This didn’t make any sense.
Levi broke the silence. “You know I don’t actually think you’re a shitty writer, right?”
What was he saying? Of course he did. It was all he ever told you. “What are you talking about?”
“I don't,” he said. “You have to know you’re talented.”
Your brain must have short-circuited. “Am I dreaming or did Levi Ackerman actually say something nice to me?”
Levi actually laughed at that. “Well don’t get used to it. Half the shit you submit is steaming garbage.”
That sounded a lot more like the Levi you knew and hated.
“That’s why I’m so hard on you though.” he continued. “I can see your potential and I’d hate to see you squander it resting on the laurels of empty compliments.”
You thought about that for a moment, chewing over the possibility that Levi wasn’t always a complete asshole. “Is that why you’re always such a dick to me?”
“No, I’m a dick to you because you’re fucking annnoying.”
Levi Ackerman was definitely a complete and utter asshole. But you smiled anyway, finding a bit of comfort in your usual banter.
“Oh good.” you said. “Your whole being nice thing was starting to scare me a bit.”
Levi chuckled again and you realized that tonight might have been the first time you’d ever heard him laugh. It was surprisingly nice.
The two of you remained silent for a while, just staring at the ceiling together. It was oddly comfortable now.
When you were certain that you’d spent as much time away from the party as you possibly could without getting caught, the two of you got dressed and made your way to the door.
Levi stopped before he turned the handle. “By the way, Furlan mentioned you’ve been struggling with this week’s assignment.”
Of course he did. That traitor.
“If you need any help with it, don’t hesitate to ask.”
You rolled your eyes. “As if I’d let you tear it apart before it’s even finished!”
“Just thought I’d offer.” Levi shook his head, opening the door.
He took a startled step back. Someone was already standing at the door, poised to knock.
“I thought you’d have snuck back here. Isabel is gonna kill you if you don’t come hang out.” Your blood went icy in your veins. It was Furlan. “Have you seen-”
He trailed off as he caught sight of you standing behind Levi sheepishly, his mouth hanging open.
“Furlan, wait.” You said quickly. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“Yo, what the fuck?”