AoT: How Old Are You? (Levi x Reader)

There are a lot of mysteries in the universe. Where did the titans come from? What's hidden in Eren’s basement? How did the titan shifters get their powers?

But there was one question that stood above all others. Something that has haunted the soldiers of the Recon Corps for years now. Many have tried, but none have ever discovered the truth.

Exactly how old is Captain Levi?

                             

“I think he’s 40.” Connie insists, pounding the table.  

“No way, that’s much too old!” Reiner protested. “He’s got to be younger…maybe mid 20s?”

“Let’s think about this logically.” Jean chimes in. “Recruitment begins at 12 years old, and training lasts for 3 years. And Captain Levi’s been in the Recon Corps for at least 5 years, so he’s got to be at least 20. And factor in his experience and rank, he’s probably 25 years old, minimum. So I’m with Reiner.”

“Yes, but I heard that Captain Levi used to be a thug.” Eren argued. “So he probably didn’t join the military through the standard way. He could be older, or even younger than 25.”  

“Yes, and don’t forget how-" Bertholdt cuts off, looking furtively around the room before continuing, “short he is too. I think he’s younger than 20.”

“He’s not that young! Eren objected, and the arguing continues, growing louder and louder.  

“Look, the solution is simple!” Armin stands up, projecting his voice above the din. Everyone dies down, eyes swiveling towards him expectantly.

Armin pauses, and then turns to you, a sly smile on his face. “___, why don’t you go find out?”

You edge away from the table, trying to distance yourself from him and the rest of the guys. “No way.” You say sharply. “Leave me out of your suicidal ideas. Get Eren to do it; he is a member of Captain Levi's squad, after all."

“Are you kidding?!” Eren gives you an incredulous look. “He’d probably kick me in the face or something! You do it; out of all of us here, he’s least likely to get angry at you, since you’re a girl.”

“Humph, sexist prick.” You mutter under your breath before letting out a loud, exasperated sigh. “Fine, I’ll do it.” A mischievous smile spreads across your face. “Besides, it’d be nice to find out; I’ve always wanted to know how old the Captain is.”

“Great!” Armin says joyfully. “How are you going to do it? Are you going to just walk up and ask him?”

“Ha! Of course not!” You snort derisively. “This kind of mission calls for stealth and careful planning. But leave it to me; I’ll have the answer by tomorrow…”  

                         

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. You stood before the record room door. This is strictly off-limit...I'm so screwed if I get caught...

You whip your head left and right, cautiously checking to see if there was anyone in the halls before twisting the doorknob, opening the door, and quickly slipping in and shutting it behind you.

The room- no, it was more like a closet, really- was dark, small, and gloomy, with only a single candle lit. On the wall across from you, you can see a bookcase filled with bundles of papers and folders.

“G…H…I…” You murmur, completely engrossed in your task. You skim through the various folders and pages, searching for the correct letter. “J…K…”

“Looking for something?”

You jump violently into the air, colliding painfully against the shelf behind you.  

“Captain Levi!” You gasp, trying to salute him while rubbing your bruised arm. How did he...I didn’t even hear him!

“Hello _____.” He says, leaning against the doorway. “What brings you here?”

“Um…I was just…” You stall, mind racing to find a good excuse. I was running an errand for Hanji? But he might ask Hanji later and find out it’s a lie. I was given permission by Erwin? Even worse. C’mon ____, think harder!

“___.” Levi walks into the room, closing the door behind him with a menacing snap. “This is an order: what are you doing here?”

Your knees start quivering and shaking, and you back against the bookcase, holding onto it for support. “I…” You take a shaky breath, trying to steady your voice. “I was looking for your records, Sir.”

“Why do you want my records?” He asks, his voice flat and emotionless, giving nothing away.

You shuffle your feet, anxious to escape the cramped room. “I…we…my friends and I wanted to know how old you are.” You gaze downwards, too scared to look him in the eye.

A low chuckle fills the room. You whip your head up, eyes widening at the sight before you.

Levi was laughing.

“This…This is priceless.” He chokes, wiping tears from his eyes. “I can’t believe you actually came in here just to find out how old I am…” He bursts out into fresh laughter, holding onto the side of the wall for support.

“Um…thank you?” Is this a dream? Since when does Levi laugh?

“Alright, I’m curious.” Levi says, finally regaining control of himself, although the corners of his mouth were still twitching with amusement. “How old do you think I am?”

You scrunch up your eyes, trying to recall. “Well, Connie thought you were 40, and Reiner was leaning more towards the mid-20s. Then Bertholdt said you were younger than 20-"

“You cadets really are hopeless.” Levi cuts you off, laughing again. “And especially you, ____. You’re asking the wrong questions.”

He takes a step closer to you, trapping you between the shelf and him. You shrink backwards, heart pounding frantically.

“It’s not about how old I am.” Levi’s grey eyes pierce into yours, pinning you in place as he leans closer and closer. You involuntarily jump as his lips graze the shell of your ear.

“It’s how old you are. Are you legal, ____?”

“I…I’m…” Your brain officially shuts down, and you can’t think anymore. Hell, you didn’t even know your own name anymore. All you could focus on was Levi, his warm breath tickling your checks and ears, his arms braced against the shelf, trapping you in his embrace, his body pressed against yours. You could feel his abs against your body (good lord is he jacked), and it takes every scrap of willpower to keep from touching him...

And then it occurs to you. Why the hell am I NOT touching him?

Levi reaches to you, his fingers cold against your heated face, gently caressing your cheeks with his thumb, and sending electric pulses through your entire body. Should I kiss him? Should I hug him? Just as you’re sure you’re about to either start hyperventilating or flat out faint (and would that be awkward), he takes a step back and reaches above you, pulling a sealed envelope from the bookcase.

“Here.” He says, handing it to you.

You numbly accept it. “What is it?” You ask, staring dumbly at it.

“It’s my file, idiot.” He says, nudging you affectionately. “Go ahead, take it.”

You nod vacantly, stumbling out of the room and nearly colliding into Commander Erwin in the hall.

“Sorry Sir.” You mutter, walking down the halls, clutching the file to your chest. What…just…happened?

Erwin watches you, eyebrows knitted together in concern. Then he turns around to see Levi leaning against the wall, looking completely calm and unruffled, as per usual.

“What the hell were you-?” Erwin asks, and then cuts himself off. “Actually, never mind, I don’t even want to know.”

“I gave her my file.” Levi smoothed down his shirt and jacket before walking away.
 
“What? I thought you didn’t like people reading your file!” Erwin called after him, his voice laced with confusion.

Levi stopped at the end of the hall and turned around, smirking at Erwin’s dumb-folded expression. “I don’t, but I can make a small exception for ___. Only thing is, I gave her a special copy..."

                   

“That unimaginable sneaky little…” Eren trails off, staring at paper in his hands.

“What language is this even in?” Jean snatches a sheet off the table and glared at it, as if by sheer willpower he could somehow translate it.  

“I don’t know.” Armin shakes his head hopelessly, skimming through the other pages. “It must be in his native language, but I've never even seen anything like this before."

“Hey ___.” Reiner looks over at the corner of the room, where you were sprawled on the couch, gazing at the ceiling. “I thought you wanted to know how old the captain is! Aren’t you even a little upset?”

You burst into uncontrollable laughter, swinging yourself off the couch and sauntering towards the door.

“Well, to be honest Reiner, I guess I don’t really care. I’m fine with whatever age he is.”

The boys exchanged glances, their expressions puzzled and confused.

“And besides.” You toss over your shoulder, grinning broadly. “It was totally worth it.”