Ok, this Levi X Petra story started off as a fluff piece, but then a story plot came to me, so I couldn't say no to the little story makers living in my head! They work so hard, bless their cotton socks. :/

...Yes, back to reality!

Ok, so the first chapter is fluff, sticking to my original one shot, just a little relationship builder between them.

The next few chapters are where the story kicks in.

It's not the best structured story, hence the after thought of a story plot, but try just roll with it! ;) (And also, as usual, Levi has turned slightly too emotional I think! :/ Ah but cuteness overtook me and it couldn't be helped! ;) )

Its here for one simple reason; there is not, nor will ever be, enough Rivetra in the world!

...Disclaimer same as always... Don't own any of the wonderful characters... :(

The heavy fingers of sleep delicately withdrew from his mind, being slowly curled back by the happy, heat filled, memories of last night. He remembered lips and hands and intertwined limbs, content sighs and whispered words.

Those golden eyes as they looked right into his soul and stoked alive the long cold fires of his heart with one look.

Smiling to himself, he curled his arm around her waist where she'd been asleep, tucked against his side.

He frowned as he realised however, that he only held an armful of blankets. He cracked open his sleep deprived eyes and took in his empty bed.

Movement caught his eye and he looked up to find Petra zipping up the back of the dress she'd been wearing last night.

Dragging a hand across his face to clear his bleary vision, he sat up slightly, his frown deepening.

"Hey," he said softly, his throat thick and heavy.

"Oh crap! You gave me a heart attack!" Petra placed a hand on her forehead after leaping. Golden eyes turned up to look at him, a sheepish, awkward expression filling them.

A contrast to the lustful, alluring look they'd been full of last night.

"Where are you going?" He asked slowly, feeling hollow at her absence from his side.

"Ah, I am so, so late! I've to fly home and get a shower and change for work - where is my other shoe?"

She pushed her short hair back, caramel locks falling into her face as she looked under the bed. Levi would have found it amusing except for one thing.

"I thought you said you worked nights?"

"There it is! Ah...yeah and morning shifts at the restaurant when I've no college," she said, strapping her shoe on hastily.

"Hmm, ok."

Levi couldn't believe it. She was blowing him off. He hadn't expected that from her.

A pang of hurt and rejection were not a welcome thing, especially after a night like last night.

Looking up, finished dressing, she smiled that heart achingly beautiful smile, the one that had nearly cracked him the first time he saw it.

"Last night was amazing. I had such a good time," she said softly and, for a second he forget his wounded pride, her dreamy expression pulling him right back in.

Until her phone alarm went off, shattering the moment.

"Oh crap! Now I'm reeeeally late! Can I call you sometime? Organise meeting up?" She smiled, shouldering her bag and clasping the door handle.

Levi didn't know what to say.

Of course he wanted to see her again, he'd imagined this happening since he met her, but this...this was just a tragedy.

"Yeah, sure," he offered weakly, not having it in him right now for what would have been a more 'him' style snappy response.

"Great! Ok. Well, I'd better fly! See you, Levi," she smiled at him before shutting the door behind her, her heels clicking on the wooden floor as she flew down the stairs and out his front door.

He was left lying there, still propped on one elbow. He stayed like that for a few more seconds before collapsing back on his bed, his hands covering his face.

"Well, that was a fiasco of a disaster!" He muttered to himself.

How could he have been so stupid? There was a reason he didn't do this, didn't take girls home on a whim... But she was no ordinary girl and it sure as hell wasn't a whim. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about Petra since his friend Günter had introduced them.

His fellow firefighter (Günter was a candidate, so not full time yet) knew her from his college course; physiotherapy or sports injury rehabilitation or something like that. Levi could never remember.

She was unlike any girl he'd ever met before, caring and sweet as sugar dipped sugar, yet with a sarcastic humour and a fiery demeanour when needed.

They had hit it off straight away. She just got him, understood how to gently pry away those defensive walls and leave him open without it hurting - for once.

Günter had introduced them at the bar they all usually went to, Petra and another guy from his course, Eld, having tagged along.

He'd flicked a glance up at her when she approached him at the edge of the little group, wanting to be left alone to drink his scotch, but he'd found himself doing a double take as a girl spun from old gold, it seemed, captured his attention.

"Hey. Petra," she smiled, extending a slender hand. She was small, shorter than him even. He paused for a brief second before reaching forward himself and taking her hand in his.

"Levi," he'd choked out.

"Oh. You work with Günter, right? He said you're the best on the squad," she said it so casually, no mocking or fake interest. Merely a genuine observation. That was odd for him.

"Well...it's a tough job... Got to be on your best game..."

Why was he finding it so hard to get words out? Who was this girl and what had she done to him?

She had smiled and asked about being a firefighter, smiling and encouraging him to talk. He didn't know why he did, but she somehow kept him going. Before he knew it, they were sitting at a booth, laughing at something she had said.

He felt like a stranger to himself, putty for her to mould and he oddly didn't care. She was captivating and he felt like it was only them the way she was now looking at him. They talked for a solid two and a half hours before they all headed home, work, college etc beckoning everyone to their own beds.

He hadn't stopped thinking about her, so next time he saw her, randomly bumping into each other at a cafe one morning, his heart seized up, hardly believing his eyes.

"Levi! It's great to see you!" She'd beamed, clutching a steaming cup in her hand.

"Hey," he'd stood staring like a creep before mentally kicking himself, hard.

"Well, this is an unexpected treat," she said, briefly placing a hand on his wrist. Damn her eyes! They were so hypnotising, he couldn't think to make a coherent sentence.

"You headed to class?" He managed to get out. She nodded and hummed an affirmative, taking a sip of her sweet smelling coffee.

"What about you? Are you on duty today?"

"No, not till later tonight," he shook his head.

Come on man, get up the courage.

Just. Ask. Her!

"Are you.." He cleared his throat before making himself continue, her face expectant."Are you in a rush? Or.. Could you stay for a coffee?"

She smiled at him shyly this time, and peeked at her watch, biting her lower lip.

Damn, he just wanted to grab her and bite it for her...he really needed help.

"I've got time," she said softly, warmth dancing in her eyes.

So they'd sat for twenty minutes, talking away again.

Cold coffee dregs sat in the bottom of their cups, his porcelain, hers styrofoam, rendered pointless for his sake. She was telling him about her upcoming thesis, how she was struggling to make up her final portion due to her loud room mates.

"Well, you could always come work at mine," he'd offered serenely, before realising how flirtatious that must have come off. He felt heat tinge his cheeks.

Petra was turning him into a mass of bumbling emotions he'd never realised existed in him before.

Of course, being her, she just chuckled softly, pink gracing her cheeks, too, much to his delight.

"That's a really nice offer. I might have to take you up on that."

She'd had to get to class then, but as she walked out, waving at him through the glass, he'd realised something.

He was falling hard for this girl.

That's why it had hurt so much when she'd blasted out of his place that morning.

In all the time they'd talked, she'd never once mentioned a morning job.

It was just an excuse and it had Levi wondering one thing.

Why had she suddenly found herself needing an excuse?

"You must be awful in bed."

"Thanks Erwin. You're such a good friend," Levi muttered darkly, continuing his boxing exercises.

The two men were doing their usual off-day morning workout.

Usually Levi enjoyed it, feeling his muscles ache and burn, pushing himself past his limit.

Today, he just felt like kicking everything to pieces.

"So she blew you off? You still got to sleep with her, didn't you? Isn't that what you wanted?" His tall blonde friend challenged him. He knew that Levi wasn't the kind of man to just sleep around. He didn't open up easily and he definitely wouldn't want some stranger sharing his bed.

Levi gave a sharp volley of hits to the punching bag, his bandage clad fists chaffing and slamming again and again against the leather.

Erwin raised an extremely generous eyebrow at this, watching with amusement as his short friend nearly knocked him backwards as he held the bag for him, Levi's ferocity and obvious frustration fuelling this flurry of fists.

"Yes, but not like that. I thought..." He panted and gave the bag one final blow, an 'ooph' noise emanating from Erwin as he took the brunt of the blow.

"I just thought that when -If! IF... I slept with her..." He corrected, unwrapping his hands, "That it would end a bit differently."

"And you're sure she wasn't telling the truth? Maybe you just forgot she'd told you," Erwin suggested, picking up some sparring gloves.

"No way. I'd have remembered or she would have mentioned it, surely, about having to leave early?"

"Not if she was being happily distracted! ...Oh yeah. Which we've established she wasn't, actually."

He had to duck to avoid the glove flying at his head.

Chuckling, he slung it back, Levi catching it easily, an unamused expression darkening his features.

"Levi! This girl really has got you bad! I've never seen you quite so emotional before. You're practically hysterical," Erwin continued teasing. Probably unwise; Levi was oddly strong and swift for his size.

That last comment bothered Levi. While he knew his oldest friend was teasing, there was a dangerous truth behind it. He'd let her get under his skin and now he was suffering for it. She'd abused the thing he'd swore to keep locked away ever since that night...

Damn, her! With her big eyes and her soft lips and toned body and creamy skin...

His heart gave a little lurch, an unbidden flash from last night smashing through his mind.

Her hands wound in his hair and around his shoulders, his lips tasting across her neck, collar bone and down the hollow of the centre of her chest. Her skin left his feeling like he'd come in contact with silk covered pearl, smooth and glowing.

She'd whispered his name and he'd smiled into her stomach, hands caressing her hips.

"Levi!" He was snapped back to the present, Erwin waving a hand in front of his face. A frown was shadowing his features, genuine concern for his friends peace of mind finally getting the better of him.

"Are you sure you want to keep going?" Beckoning at the sparring gear left temporarily abandoned, Erwin was about to insist they forget it, hit the pool or just head home.

Instead, a more familiar look of blank boredom crashed down over Levi's features.

"No. You know what? You're right, I got to sleep with her. That's fine. I honestly don't care anymore."

With that lie, he raised his hands and taunted Erwin on, training being his main focus once more.

Half eleven? Petra was never going to see the back of this shift. It had been a bad start, being nearly twenty minutes late due to her delay at Levi's. She'd hated rushing out of there like a fleeing convict, but she'd had no choice.

It had only been as she'd been sitting on the bus, nothing else she could do now to speed up her mad dash, that it hit her how bad she must have come off back there. She also only realised what his tone and lack of words meant.

He thought she was blowing him off!

The poor guy, he had no reason to believe otherwise. She'd been so distracted and over tired that she hadn't even said a proper goodbye...although she wasn't sure what that would have been.

A kiss? A hug? A handshake? A fist bump?!

Anything would have been better than that 'See ya, I'm outta here!' routine she'd pulled. And she'd unknowingly fed him the oldest blow off lines of the century!

Groaning, she pressed her head against the glass of the bus.

She'd blown it. She really, really, liked Levi.

He was dark and brooding, but not in a bad boy kind of way. More in an 'approach me if you dare' kind of way that she'd seen through straight away.

He was a genuine down to earth, caring person, even if he seemed determined to hide it from the rest of world. She hadn't given up though, and he'd slowly come out his shell. She'd felt a connection there, one she hoped wasn't on her part alone.

When she'd met him at the coffee shop, her feelings were confirmed. It hadn't been a once off.

She was constantly thinking of him, too. His dark hair and chiselled features, that deep, rolling voice. Oh man, he was so sexy. And when she looked into his eyes, they were so deep and fathomless, an onyx colour that was like a lightning storm over a black ocean, light and dark mixing perfectly to create a dark that exuded its own glow.

She'd been so preoccupied by thoughts of him she decided to hell with it. She was going to make sure she saw him again. What had she to lose?

So when Eld and Günter were talking about going out, her pulse had leapt when Günter had mentioned his work colleagues were going to this ultra cool, dark, not quite nightclub, not quite bar and they should go. She'd tried to keep it cool when he asked if she wanted to go, too. Of course she was going.

A giddy excitement had swept over her that night as she donned on outfit after outfit. She wasn't one who usually cared what she wore or what others thought, but she'd realised she cared what Levi might possibly think of her. So she'd settled for a black zip jumper dress that still flattered her figure without making her look desperate. Add a thick waist belt and ankle high booted heels and she was ready to go.

Sighing and giving her hair a last back comb to try breath some life into it, she scrutinised her reflection in the mirror.

"Ok. You like this boy. He clearly likes you too; Günter said he'd never seen him talk so much to anyone. Good sign," she encouraged her reflection.

A horn cut through the night outside her apartment, signalling the arrival of her lift.

"Right. Here we go."

They'd arrived after Levi and his work friends, making her almost more nervous. Her palms were sweaty and she couldn't stop fidgeting. Eld had noticed, leaning over to call to her over the music as Günter went ahead to greet his work mates.

"Relax. You look great, he won't be able to take his eyes off you," he grinned cheekily. She feigned off this assumption, smacking him on the arm when he winked and nudged her towards Levi's direction.

Holy crap...he looked incredible. He was wearing dark jeans, a simple grey ribbed top and a leather jacket to top off the look.

Petra thought she'd melt right there and then.

Taking a deep breath, she headed over to him. He was chatting to the woman from their squad, Hanji, but his conversation stopped when he saw her. She hoped that was good and she hadn't just interrupted an important conversation.

"Hi guys," she waved, trying to keep her nerves at bay.

"Petra! Whoa, look at you! You look drop dead gorgeous!" Hanji grinned, grasping the girl in a hug. Hanji was lovely, Petra had instantly liked her, so this helped ease her, too.

"So do you! You look incredible," she exclaimed. The eccentric woman had abandoned her glasses in favour of contacts, making her brown eyes look even bigger. Her voluminous hair was cascading in big, loose curls down her shoulders. She only needed the slightest eyeliner and mascara to complete the dramatic look. She was stunning. Petra found herself so boring and plain in comparison, not that it bothered her.

Hanji waved her off with a chuckle and Petra then glanced at Levi.

"Hi," she repeated, smiling timidly at him. She hadn't seen him since their impromptu run in at the coffee shop, and clearly the time did nothing to lessen the chemistry.

She felt her nerves fade away as he smiled back, his eyes sucking her in with their monsoon of complex emotion.

"Excuse me, I need to get Erwin to buy me a drink," Hanji smiled, referring to her boyfriend (head of their particular fire squad she believed) before slipping away with a wave from Petra.

"How are you?" She asked, daring to take a step closer. She noticed him give her a quick once over before he downed the rest of his drink,

"Good, good," he nodded. The two shared a nervous little laugh before Levi offered her the chair where Hanji had been.

"Isn't she coming back?"

Levi really hoped not.

He turned to check on his friends progress with Erwin. The brunette was standing, arms around his waist as Erwin whispered into her ear, his hand caressing her back.

"No, she'll be a while," Levi replied confidently.

Petra willingly took a seat, turning to face Levi. She wasn't sure she was capable of being in this close proximity when he looked this amazing.

She cast around for a topic, but he saved her the trouble by asking about college.

That stared the ball rolling and in no time they were chatting away again.

She couldn't help herself, she kept touching his arm or knee when they were talking. She had no clue what had come over her. She just knew she needed to be closer to him.

As the night wore on and more drinks were consumed, the two ended up, once again in their own private booth, sitting so close she feel the warmth radiate of him.

She couldn't stop staring at his mouth, and his voice...amazing. She also noticed he had tenderly brushed hair of her face a few times now, arm resting lightly on her shoulders. She wanted to curl up against his chest and feel the closeness and strength of his body.

They were drawing ever closer, leaning towards each other as they talked, staring into each other's eyes, when Aurou and Mike, two more firefighters, came over and announced everyone was leaving, going to some other place.

"I actually better not. I'm so tired," Petra unwillingly told Levi.

A flash of disappointment crossed his features, but he nodded understandingly.

Petra and Levi reluctantly got up from the booth and, before she knew it, she felt his fingers intertwine with hers, guiding her across the floor. She grasped back, wishing he'd pull her into his arms and kiss her.

Erwin fell into step with them near the door, Levi telling him Petra had to go and that he'd see her off before meeting up with them.

The cold air hit her as they exited the building, the group clustered around the pavement waiting for a taxi. She shivered involuntarily and automatically hugged closer to Levi.

He looked down at her, opening his jacket and wrapping it and his arm around her. She smiled and pulled closer, her head basically resting on his chest now.

Distantly, she heard Erwin asking how they were getting home.

She'd felt Levi tense slightly at what could be have been misinterpreted, heard him hesitate and decided, because making these decisions drunk was always wise, that she'd step in.

"Actually, I don't live too far from here. I was thinking of taking a walk...if you want to join me, Levi?" She looked up into his dark eyes and saw a slightly softer look had taken up residence in them.

"Yeah, of course. It's too dangerous to walk alone at night," he'd offered.

Turning to smile at Erwin, who had an amused expression on his surprisingly sober face (seriously, Petra had seen them all doing several shots on top of a lot of drinks), she nodded her head.

"Ok, you lovebirds. Be good," he grinned, slapping Levi on the back.

Levi scowled back, but Erwin had already turned, snagging Hanji by the waist as she was laughing with Mike.

Levi and Petra had headed off then, the noise and hustle from the bar fading behind them. They walked with their arms still around each other, a nervous apprehension hanging in the air.

After walking for a while, snippets of conversation hanging in the air with their foggy breaths, Petra stopped, the drink having faded enough for her to realise.

"Um...I may have..lied slightly," she grimaced, feeling cold now she'd pulled away a bit to tell him.

"What?" He frowned, shoulders stiffening.

"Ah..well...I...huh, I don't live near here... I just wanted to walk alone with you for a while," she shrugged sheepishly.

Levi blinked, standing still for a second before dropping his head and chuckling softly. Extending a hand towards her, he'd drawn her closer again, smiling down at her.

"It's ok. I don't mind that, not one bit," he whispered, gazing down into her eyes.

Good grief, he was insanely attractive!

It kept hitting her every now and then, and she couldn't believe her luck that this guy was into her. He was so nice, so thoughtful and quiet... He was perfect.

She realised with renewed nervousness that they were centimetres apart, his fingers gently tracing her jaw, the other hand pulling the small of her back towards him.

Her hands came up to rest on his chest, her heart frantically drumming away in her ribcage.

Levi noticed and gave a slight smile, leaning down to brush his nose across her cheekbone. She let out an involuntary little breath: the feel of his skin on hers, his face so close was far more intoxicating than any alcohol.

Slowly, delicately, he skimmed his lips across her cheek, before turning to kiss her other cheek.

She rested her forehead against his temple and they stayed like that for a couple of seconds before he slid his nose across her face, his lips finally, tantalisingly, feathering across hers.

Petra's heart exploded, sensations and little fireworks going off in her body.

Deepening the kiss, Levi tenderly grasped the back of her neck, securing her closely to him.

Her fingers were clasping his top, standing slightly on her tip toes to bring herself even closer. His lips were warm, yet slightly rough, probably from constantly being around smoke and heat. He brushed up her lip, parting it from the bottom one slightly, allowing room for his tongue to skim hers. With a leap of her stomach, she complied, opening her mouth to allow him even more entry. His head tilted to get more purchase and her senses, her every pore, were joyfully overwhelmed by him. They kissed for a solid couple of minutes, her arms now draped around his neck, his hands holding her hips, keeping her close.

When they finally pulled back, foreheads touching, she felt her cheeks on fire, both their breaths hitched slightly. He glanced into her eyes, his lids heavy with lust and he clenched his jaw before speaking.

"You know, I actually do live near by. If...if you wanted..." He trailed off. She could see the hint of nervousness in his eyes and she thought he couldn't be more adorable.

"Ok," she whispered, kissing him again lightly.

He smiled, wrapping his arm around her once again and she fit against his chest, hand over his heart as they walked.

Petra smiled, storing this moment away.

It was definitely one she'd want to remember.

Jolted back to reality by a pothole, Petra glanced out the windows of the bus, making sure she hadn't spaced out and missed her stop. When she was satisfied she hadn't, she wiped the sleep from the corner of her eyes, avoiding the flick of mascara she'd applied rushing around.

She wanted to slap herself.

If she'd blown it with him because she was a headless chicken in the morning, then she'd kick herself!

She battled internally with herself on how to amend this problem. Her instincts left with her one decision.

She needed to see him.

Taking her phone out, she dialled, not sure she wanted him, or his voicemail.

It rang and rang, before a deep, bored voice clicked on.

"This is Levi. Leave a message if it's important. I'll get back to you."

Short and to the point, she frowned.

Hearing the beep signalling her to start bumbling like an idiot, she took a deep breath before hoping to goodness she was about to fix her mistake.

Right, so that's the end of chapter one! You've now seen what I meant about Levi being a bit too...lovey dovey! But he loves Petra, so that's my pathetic defence! :P

Ah, yeah, for people who decided to follow this (You may be the only one Sail or Nov!) the next chapter will probably be up in the next day or so.. This story is writing faster than I can type and am very busy at the minute! But nothing will keep my from fanfic for too long, so don't despair! :)

Again, I'd loooove to hear what you guys think! So drop a line, even just one of these guys - :) - and I'll be happy!

God bless, happy reading! :)