Ablutophobia: The fear of washing or bathing

I sighed heavily as I sauntered down the halls of the HQ, dragging my feet along the stone floors. It was a long day of training and I had decided to skip dinner just like all the other days. The excuse I told everyone was that I wanted to get into the showers before it got too crowded, but that was a lie for everyone who knew that was my worst fear. As disgusting as it sounds, I feared taking showers and baths. The reason: I witnessed people literally scrub their skin off and scald the flesh and muscle underneath. Of course, I'm not stupid enough to go and do that, but the image always haunts me every time I go to take one.

I opened the door to my room and grabbed some clean clothes, brushing my hair as much as possible to rid of any dirt and tangles that had been in it from through out the day. What I had failed to notice was that a certain Lance Corporal had seen my shower-evasion.

*~Levi's P.O.V~*

I walked behind cadet L/N as she claimed to be taking a shower earlier than the others. Of course, it would seem weird for me to do so, but I had been getting suspicious. It's great and all to take a shower early, but every day? There had to be something up.

I followed her as she shuffled down the hall, drawing nearer and nearer to the showers. I waited her for her to take the turn to enter the female stalls, but she never did. Rather, she walked right past it and straight into her room. I furrowed my brows and began to question what she could possibly be doing in her room, for she hadn't proceeded to leave until a good 20 minutes later in a fresh nightgown.

"Wait, so the brat didn't even take a shower?!" I scrunched my nose up in disgust and tsked, which ultimately gave my position away.

*~Y/N's P.O.V ~*

I heard a familiar tsk from around the corner, my heart stopping for a split second as I turned to see the last person I wanted to find out.

Lance Corporal Levi.

I swallowed, tears threatening to show themselves. Of course I was ashamed, my crush, who also happens to be the biggest OCD germaphobe in the history of humanity and titans alike, witnessed me skipping out on a shower purposely. It became apparent to him that his cover had been blown and he walked swiftly over to me, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me down the hall.

"C-capt-"

"Shut up, you filthy brat."

Ouch. My heart stung at his words and I lowered my head, allowing him to drag me to an unknown area as I pondered upon my fear of bathing. I heard a door creak open as he forced me in and closed the door, locking it behind him. I stood in place, my head lowered in shame as he stood behind me.

"Now, cadet L/N, why is it I found you purposely skipping your shower?" His voice was stern, making my mood worsen as my cheeks began to heat up in pure humiliation. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Corporal..." I mumbled, the tears already streaking down my face. "Believe you or not, I want to hear it." He tapped his foot impatiently, and I swallowed dryly, gripping the front of my gown tightly in my hands.

"I... I have a fear of bathing, sir..." I muttered lowly, embarrassed about what I had just admitted. I heard him tsk from behind me. "And why is that, cadet L/N?" He questioned me, walking around to stand in front of me. "W-when I was young, I witnessed something horrible... and I can't bring myself to take one without the images flashing through my head..." I physically cringed as the images darted through, holding the urge to cough up any acid I held within my stomach. He seemed to ponder upon what I said.

"What exactly was it you witnessed, Y/N?" His voice softened quite a bit, catching me by surprise. I bit my lip for a second, then opened my mouth and explain the reason behind it. I heard him breathe in deeply, holding it for a second, then releasing it in a long, exhausted sigh. He grabbed my hand, which had released my gown in surprise and led me to his own personal bathroom. He closed the door behind us and locked it, taking the key and preventing my escape.

Wordlessly, he began to fill the tub with water as I slowly came to understand what he was going to do. I panicked, forcing my body into the corner as far away as possible from the claw-footed abomination. Flashes of the scene replayed through my mind and I noticed Levi standing up, removing his shirt in the process. A large blush stuck itself to my face as my jaw dropped.

"Oi, are you gonna come here or do I have to drop you in myself?" His voice broke through my trance, bringing me back to the situation at hand. "Y-you're kidding right, Corporal??" I swallowed as he shot me a glare. "Does it look like I'm kidding, brat?" I bit my lip, but remained pressed in my corner, glancing in between the tub of water and his face. As I began registering the situation and trying to avoid it all together, I failed to notice that I had been picked up and was steadily moving towards the one place I did not want to go. Before I could let out so much as a cry, I was dunked in and surrounded by the warmth of the water. I shrieked in surprise, waiting for the burning sensation, but got a pleasant tingle of heat instead.

I slowly relaxed and took deep breaths, tensing up again when I felt a hand push me back into the water slightly. "Calm down, Y/N." Levi pushed me down with a bit more force. "but Cor-" "Levi" he interrupted me, his gaze going from my shoulder to my eyes and back again. I swallowed. "Levi..." His name rolled off my tongue smoothly, almost as if I had unintentionally purred it instead. His breath hitched a bit, but I brushed it off as my imagination. I trusted him as he submerged my head under the water, leaving my face above the surface so I could breathe. He sat me back up and reached over for the shampoo bottle, his muscles rippling right in front of me as he grasped the bottle. I blushed and looked at my hands again, not noticing Levi's smirk as he opened the bottle.

He lathered the peppermint tea-scented substance into my hair, massaging my scalp pleasantly and working out the remaining knots and dirt from my hair. I let out a quiet, yet content sigh as he continued, leaning against the edge of the tub and relaxing quite peacefully.

*~Levi's P.O.V~*

I watched as Y/N relaxed against the tub, finding it hard to believe that she would have clawed her way out just a few minutes ago if she had the chance. Now that I had heard her reasoning, I found it quite easy to understand how that could possibly scar someone for a long while, especially at a young age. Her face was smudged in dirt here and there, making me scowl slightly and I poked her in the cheek. She opened her eyes and glanced at me, unsure if she should turn to look at me or not.

"At least wash your face while you're in here." She blinked at me before realizing her situation. She blushed and stuttered out an "okay" before grabbing the sponge I had retrieved and handed to her. She began washing her face hesitantly, the images she described before still haunted her, no doubt. Yet, as I watched her, I began to realize how cute she really could be. It seemed as though she was getting over her fear, so I don't think there would be much to worry about. She rinsed her face as she finished, the dirt gone from it. I finished washing her hair and tapped on her shoulder, signalling her to rinse her hair. She did as I ordered and I ran my hand through her now silky and probably tea-scented hair.

I pushed her up again and she rose up, water dripping down her hair and her neck before slipping through her nightgown that I had noticed became see-through, for it was white. I suppressed my blush and cleared my throat, turning away in the process. "You might want to finish yourself up in here..." I stated as I stood and turned away. I moved to walk out the door, but she called out to me.

*~ Y/N's P.O.V~*

"L-Levi..." I called his name, blushing slightly. He grunted in reply, but refused to face me. "I don't have a towel... or clothing..." I looked down from the edge of the tub, admiring the barely-visible feet of the porcelain claw-foot. He grunted and left, only returning to bring in a towel, one of his shirts, and a pair of his boxers. He left soon after and I peeled my now soaked gown from my body.

**Time skip brought to you by a very out-of-character Levi >^<**

I finished washing up and dried off, slipping on the clothing Levi had brought in for me. I wrapped the towel around my head and stepped out of the bathroom and into his bedroom. Through the door, I had noticed Levi taking a glance at me before returning to his paperwork, his expression as stern as ever. I walked out soundlessly, sitting on the couch of his office and continued to dry my hair.

*~Levi's P.O.V~*

I watched as Y/N emerged from the bathroom in the clothes I had given to her for the time being, a faint blush appearing on my cheeks from how cute she looked in my shirt and boxers. I quickly refocused myself to the paperwork in front of me as she walked out of my bedroom and into my office, sitting on the couch quietly. She took the towel and dried her hair, wrapping the towel around her neck when she finished. I leaned back in my chair, unable to get her out of my head as she sat in front of me. She glanced at me in curiosity, her eyes sparkling innocently. I clenched my jaw, no longer able to resist. I stood up and walked in front of my desk.

"Cadet L/N, come here." I called her over, a little harsher than intended, but she complied nonetheless. She stood in front of me, her h/c hair still slightly damp from her bath. I eyed her closely, causing her to fidget slightly. "Do you have anything to say?" I questioned, hoping to hear her cute stutter again. She blushed and pushed her index fingers together to form a little mountain.

"Th-thank you, sir. I'm r-really grateful f-for what you've done..." her ears grew red as I watched her. My eyes narrowed as she used the title again. "Levi. My name is Levi, not sir." I narrowed my eyes slightly. "R-right. S-sorry about that Levi." She looked up at me adorably. It was at that moment I couldn't take it.

In one swift motion, I pulled her closer to me by the waist and smashed my lips to hers, moaning quietly at the sensation of her soft lips against mine. She squeaked in surprise, but slowly eased into the kiss. After a while, she began pushing on my chest, signaling the need for air. I pulled away slowly, allowing her to gasp for breath. I growled lowly and picked her up, carrying her bridal-style into my bedroom and dropping her on the bed.

I crawled over her, her face bright red and lips lightly swollen from the kiss. I smirked as her eyes widened in surprise. 

"From now on, Y/N, you'll be coming here for your baths."