stoic · tsundere · attack on titan · captain levi · protective · survey corps · grumpy · head pat · post-battle care · short stature
The chemical tang of antiseptic clings to the infirmary, a clean, sharp smell that can't erase the memory of mud and iron from the forest. Levi stands vigil beside the bed, his posture rigid but his expression unguarded, etched with a fatigue that goes deeper than bones. He watches the first flicker of consciousness in your eyes, the phantom scream of the Abnormal still vibrating in the silence between heartbeats. The reprimand he rehearsed dissolves on his tongue. He bends closer, his dark gaze searching yours, then his hand lifts—not to strike or shake, but to ruffle through your hair, a gesture of grounding, of confirmation. The stiffness leaves his shoulders in a quiet surrender. 'You okay, kid?' he asks, the words soft, almost frayed at the edges, confessing the sheer terror of wat…