Nina P.O.V.

Levi really asked you to kiss him! Your heart speeds up so fast, that you fear it will burst out of your chest any moment. You're scared, but at the same time, you want it, you want him! You want him so much. Levi's hands still linger on your burning cheeks as you put your own hands above them, scooting closer to close the gap between your bodies. He takes that as a yes to move on and leans in, reducing the space between your faces slowly to zero. You close your eyes in sweet expectation. The first thing you feel is warm air. Levi is breathing through his mouth against yours to let you know that he's just inches away, to allow the anticipation to grow. Opening your mouth a little, you finally feel your lips melting together, moving in unison at a slow and careful speed to test the waters. After a few minutes of gentle brushing and pecking, Levi initiated a more greedy and passionate kiss as he pushes himself into your direction, your lips moving against each other in perfect sync, breathing and gasping into each others mouth. His lips are so warm, so soft, so gentle. And he tastes so good...

Levi moves his hand from your face slowly down to your jaw, tracing along the jawline with his thumb, taking your chin between his fingers to pull your mouth open. He licks with his tongue along your lower lip, begging for entrance. This is all you wanted for so long. For too damn long. You eagerly, but nervously, open your mouth to let him in. After all, the last time you did this was 10 years ago and you aren't sure what to do. The tip of his tongue playfully flicks your bottom lip before he enters your mouth, exploring every inch of your wet cavern. You rub your own tongue against him and soon, both of you start a fight for dominance. It was clear that Levi won it easily. Damn, this feels so fucking good! His hand reaches behind your nape, pressing you even closer to him. Too bad you run out of breath too fast so that you need to part from him, panting for air as he moves his mouth to your ear.

"Nina, sit in my lap". Again, he called you by your name. To hear your name coming out of this mouth in his delicate and seductive voice sends a shiver down your spine. You lick your lips clean from his saliva, eager not to waste a single drop before you crawl slowly on his lap to face him. His hand remained on your thigh the whole time, a gentle and careful guide and for your support. It seems you wear your insecurity on your sleeves. To be so close to him, his body to tight against yours, your stomach starts to complain again, pretending that you have to vomit but you won't allow your body to ruin this moment. Not this time! You put up all the bravery you could, fighting against yourself in a fierce battle as you try to hold on to Levi's collar. It seems he senses your inner battle. How could he not? You are a trembling and shivering mess right now, every single muscle inside your body is tensed to its limits and flutters from adrenaline and excitement.

Levi gently removes your hands from his collar to place them around his neck, bringing your face even closer to him. Still breathing heavily from the kiss, his hand nestles in your neck to pull you into him until your lips meet again in a passionate french kiss. You lean in completely, closing the last bit of space between your bodies until both of your chests are just separated by the clothes you're wearing. As Levi feels your soft breast against his chest, he allows a deep and low groan to escape his throat, right into your mouth.

"There you go...That's the spirit." He encouraged you in a short moment for a breather. His hands wander further south, to your ass, groping your cheeks as he strokes your thighs up and down. It feels as if Levi sends electric shocks through your body. You're not just shivering from your panic, but also from arousal and fierce excitement about what comes next. You never felt this way before. It's amazing, exciting and frightening at the same time. Levi's grip on your butt tightens, spreading your cheeks through the jeans you wear to press you closer to his crotch. You couldn't hold back a slight moan from rolling out of your mouth as you part from him again, panting for air, a string of saliva connecting your tongues as you put your hands on his chest for support. As much as you want this, as much as you want to go further now, your fear is holding you back. You gulp as you two look in each other's half-lidded eyes. He tries again to pull you back to continue, but you hesitate. Confused by your sudden change of mind, he cups your face with his hands, eager for an explanation.

"What's wrong, Nina? You're shivering. And your heart's beating so fast. Do I scare you?" You shake your head to assure him it's not his fault. You have to make things clear before he thinks otherwise. You have to tell him. Tell him what else happened in your past beside the harassment at school.

"No Levi. It's not because of you. It's just..." you struggled to find the right words. How should you explain that you're an emotional wreck to the man you desire?

What if he hasn't the patience you need? What if he will be too annoyed by your personality and just leave? After all this effort to come closer to him, the great fear of losing him because of this kicks in mercilessly but you'll only find out if you tell him. Now or never. You inhale deeply to give it a try.

"Well...It's about a thing that happened to me a few years ago...", Not so bad for the beginning. "I came in contact with someone over the internet. We had a lot in common and we got along very well. We talked to each other every day, and over the weeks and months, it happened that I fell in love with him. He said he was flattered and that he felt the same way. I was so happy to hear that but he lived in another city over 500 kilometers away. That didn't matter to me. One day, we decided to meet over the weekend. I booked a hotel room and flew down to him. When we finally met, we shared our first kiss and as we arrived at my hotel...Well, I'm sure you can imagine what happened then." You took a little break to sort your thoughts and give Levi a moment to realize what you're about to tell him.

"That was the moment when I lost my virginity. It felt right with him, but....." you let out a long breath "...well...I didn't feel anything at all. He was all focused on his own satisfaction and he didn't make any effort to make sure I was feeling good too. I just lay there, waiting for him to finish. After that first disappointment, the second didn't take long. The next day, I slept with him again, in silent hope that it was just my big excitement that kept me from enjoying his touches but it was the same as the day before. When the weekend was over and I flew back home, I tried to contact him as soon as possible, but all I got from him was the statement, that we both didn't match and that he was going to end the relationship before it could really start." Levi listened to you very closely the whole time as his hands rested on your waist. He's waiting for you to go ahead as if he senses that the story isn't over yet. How right he is...

"Well...this happening was the trigger for my panic attacks I suffer. Whenever I try to get close to a man, my panic attacks kick in and my whole body wants to flee. Being just friends with men is fine, but when they suggest that they want more from me than just friendship...I panic. My own body is my biggest enemy when I'm trying to have a relationship. You have no idea how much it hurts when you feel so alone, so lonely, and you're not able to search for the One to ease this emptiness inside you, because you know very well that it won't work. That's the reason why I have been single for over 10 years now." With the last sentence spoken, you hear Levi gulp. He takes your face again in both of his hands as a few tears run down your cheeks.

"So, you're going to tell me that you had no other close contact with any man in the last 10 years? No kisses, no hugs, no sex? Except for this one first time with that idiot?" You nod. "Shit.....So I am the first one after those 10 years who was able to kiss you like that? I'm honored." A slight smile sneaks on your lips. His words are so subtle and tender, and not a hint of sarcasm or pretense. Just pure honesty.

"But I don't want to be hurt like that ever again, Levi. That's why I don't want to sleep with a man just because I "need" it. I want to know how it feels to be loved. Loved as a person."

Levi embraces you gently, rubbing your back with his palm. "Shhh. It's okay. I understand you so please don't cry. I can't stand seeing you cry."

You pull away from him and he wipes the tears from your face. His expression had changed. His piercing gray eyes, once filled with emptiness, annoyance, and coldness are now full of warmth, compassion, and understanding.

"Don't blame yourself for what others did to you. Your body tries to protect you from being hurt again. But don't surrender to your fears. Don't let them hold you back from living the life you want. Try to overcome them. Let me help you with that!"

He forces you to look him directly in the eyes and you aren't sure what he means with his words. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't that obvious, brat? I........I want you. I want you so bad! You. Have. No. Idea. How much I want you! Since the day Mikasa came to Erwin and showed us your photo. Your eyes attracted me so much and seeing you just in that towel, imagining the figure of your body underneath it, made me want you even more. According to your reactions in the near past and the passion you put in our kiss, I can say that you want me too, right?"

You can't believe what Levi is telling you right now. Without hesitation and restraint, he told you that he wants you. You don't know how to deal with this situation but he's right after all: You want him too! It seems this day is going to be a whole outing-thing, and it's not even noon...

"Y-Yes. You're right. I want you too but I beg you, Levi, please give me some time to get comfortable with the situation. This is all new for me and my stomach is going crazy right now."

Levi chuckles as he strokes your thighs up and down. "It's okay, sweetheart. I will give you all the time you need. I won't push you to do something you don't want. Trust me."

"I do." You replied before you hug him tightly, your arms caging his neck. "And thank you."

He returns the embrace as a sudden noise ruins the moment. Levi's phone rang. With the usual click of his tongue, he answers the call.

"What do you want, Erwin?....No I'm with Nina at her place. I was about to leave as your call interrupted me. What? Urgh...Don't be so fucking annoying. I'm on my way. Yeah, yeah. See you!" Levi put his phone back into his pocket and sighs. "Seems like we have to move this matter to another time. Erwin has something that he wants to tell me. He said it's important." He clicked his tongue again.

"It's okay. Actually, this is perfect timing. Don't get me wrong, Levi. I like you around me, but after what we told each other moments ago, I need some alone time to sort my thoughts." You move down from his lap as he gives you a gentle stroke through your hair, kissing your forehead.

"I understand. Just don't make me wait for too long. I don't know how long I can hold myself back." He smirked as you flush crimson instantly.

"I-I will try. I guess I'll see you later then, alright?" Levi and you walk to your door as he abruptly turns around to grab your waist, pulling you close to him as he simultaneously presses his lips on yours. You gasp in surprise into his mouth and you feel him smirking against your lips. When you part, he takes your chin in his fingers.

"Just a little parting gift and yes, I'll see you later." With that, he opened the door to leave. When your apartment turned all quiet again, you feel a sudden emptiness in your guts, but your stomach feels as if fireworks are exploding in it.

"Shit. I think I'm falling in love..."

Levi's P.O.V.

This morning turned out better than I could ever imagine. I was finally able to make my move on the brat and to top it all, she confessed that she wants me too. The only drop of bitterness was her story she told me. I couldn't help it, but I feel compassion for her. She'd never learned how it feels to be loved physically and emotionally. She's a lot like me. Her beautiful smile she always wears is just a mask. She's hiding her true self from the world, playing all tough and funny towards others. But today, I ripped that mask off of her to to see her true self. She's so emotional, so vulnerable, so different from everything I've ever known. When I think back to the moment when our lips met, when our bodies ground against each other, I felt a pleasant heat rising up in my loins but I have to be patient. If I can't contain myself, I will just cause more damage to her. She is badly injured and she needs time to heal and I will give her what she needs.

I decide to take the long way back home to avoid unwanted contact with people, since the commotion I caused might not be over yet. I arrived home 30 minutes later than usual and Erwin was already waiting for me. When I came into the living room, Erwin sits at the dining table, his hands folded together before his face. When he hears me coming in, he opens his eyes to look at me.

"What took you so long? I was starting to worry." I run my fingers through my hair and let out my usual "Tsk" before I replied in a whole sentence. "Well, there's no need for that. So, what is it you wanted? Tell me, what's so important?"

Erwin stands up and pulls out his smartphone. With a few swipes with his finger across the display, he shows me the site of the local newspaper. The headline reads "Fight in the City! Dark haired man puts citizen up in the hospital!"

"Shit." I acknowledged, knowing that I am the one who this refers to.

"Judging by your reaction, it was you who did this. Can you explain this to me? You never wanted to do this again, remember? So tell me: What did this guy do to deserve this? Did he call you a midget?"

I ground my jaws together as I put my hands on the table to support my body weight. I know this could happen, and yet, I grabbed Nina and escaped from the crime scene. I just wanted to protect her and now, everything's turning into the opposite of what I planned.

"And? Don't you have something to say about that?" Erwin asked again. My patience was at its limit.

"Shut up! He deserved it! And I would do it again!" I bellowed at him. But Erwin just stands there, calm and stoic, his arms crossed before his chest.

"And why? There must be a reason for this behavior!"

"BECAUSE.....!" I scolded myself for getting loud at him. After all, he's just trying to help me. Even if it was fucking annoying.

"Because he was the one who abused and harassed Nina back in school. He just showed up before us in the city and then he tried to carry on where he stopped years ago. And Nina, ....Damn...If you could've seen her this moment. She was so terrified, so full of fear...She was hiding behind me, holding onto my arm so tight, all shivering and trembling from anxiety. I just...wanted to protect her." I explained, trying to come up with the only excuse that might justify this action.

Erwin's expression changes drastically when I mention Nina name. His eyes widened and his arms drop on the table. It seems he's also shocked to hear that. After a moment of silence, Erwin sighs. "So...That's why. I have to apologize Levi. I got the wrong intention. You did well. I'm proud of you."

What the fuck's that supposed to be?

"Tsk. Thanks, Dad. But there is also something I have to scold you for!" Now Erwin is the one who's confused. It seems he didn't realize what I'm referring to. Then I'm going to fresh up his mind.

"Remember earlier? You almost forced Nina into a kiss she didn't want! Without even thinking about how she might feel! Just because you weren't able to control your hormones, you risked the trust she has in you! It doesn't matter, how lewd and sexy she looked at that moment. You know very well that she likes you and that she finds you attractive and you used her feelings to your advantage without even knowing what you might cause with your stupid action!"

I finally can make Erwin realize the situation and to lose his composure. His gaze rests on the table before him. It seems I was able to affect him to overthink his actions, and he seems to regret what he did.

"You're right, Levi. I'm sorry. I will apologize to her later at the gym."

"Yes, you should do that. But first, I have to tell you a little story". Erwin looked at me in confusion. I take my seat at the table to tell him, what Nina told me earlier about her heart being broken and about her fears. Maybe then, Erwin will understand too. Just like me...