Year 845

Claire bubbled with excitement as the carriage rocked back and forth on its way to the Souting Regiment's headquarters. She was on her way to visit her best friend. It had been nearly ten years since she last saw him, and the idea of seeing him again made her stomach churn. "Would he still want to see her? Would he be mad of her coming here? Why had he hidden from her?" these were the thoughts that raced though her mind. He had simply up and left one day and she hadn't heard from him since.

Claire felt her heart skip a beat as the carriage came to a stop. Reaching over and pulling back the curtain just enough for her to be able to peer out, she took a deep breath, hoping to calm her nerves. The door to her right opened and she found herself being escorted out by a hand waiting for her on the other side.

"Miss Claire, you look astounding" Barrett told her, glancing at her stunning dress.

The pearly dress went to the floor with a Victorian blouse, that fit snugly to her short, petite figure, and lace ruffles that lined the edges. It's ivory color went nicely with her long ash brown hair that hung in loose curls at her shoulders. Her feet were covered by off-white flats and around her neck lay a copper with the letter L written in caligraphy.

"Barrett, you flatter me" she replied, taking his hand and stepping out of the carriage.

"No ma'am. I only say what is true" he stated, letting go of her hand as she strode down and closed the small door.

"Well, then thank you" she replied sincerely, lifting the corner of her dress to allow her to walk more freely.

Barrett followed closely behind her as she strode towards the large castle.

Three weeks ago she had received a note, telling her that the man she had been looking for, had been found. Ever since he had left without warning, she had been yearning for him. Nearly ten years had gone by and she had been certain he would either never be found or he had died by the hands of a Titan. But hope came in the form of a note! The note had spoken of a man who went by the name Levi Rivaille and was captain of his own squad in the Scout Regiment. Although the note had said that the possibility of it really being him was slim, she was filled with the hope of any naive girl.

"Come on, Barrett!" she shouted to the tall man as she promptly took off running. At Barrett's old age, he found it irresponsible to run along with her and therefore stayed back walking a steady pace. She was much younger than him, nearly half his age as she had recently turned twenty-eight. Although she always complained that she was aging too quickly, she was very spirited and had the heart and mind of a young girl.

As Claire approached the large establishment, a man stepped out the door, greeting her there.

"Ah, you must be Claire Durant. I received your letter" he stated. He was tall. At least a foot taller than the tiny girl who had only reached 150 centimeters. His blonde hair was neat and in the form of an undercut. His eyebrows, however, were the things that caught her attention. They were large and hid so much. It was like all of the struggles he'd been through had been kept secret by them. Like they couldn't show emotion.

"Y-yes, I am" she replied hesitantly.

"I am Commander Erwin Smith, but you may call me Erwin. If I'm correct, you're here to see Corporal Levi, am I right?"

"Yes, sir. I would very much like to see him" she replied, her hands folding together in front of her as her smiled brightened.

"As you wish, follow me" he said, stepping aside and allowing her to pass.

"Wait out here, Barrett, I shan't be long!" she called out to the elder, watching as he nodded and took a seat on a bench by a garden. She smiled lightly before turning around and following Erwin through the dark halls.

"If I may ask, how do you know the Corporal?" Erwin asked, trying to start conversation.

"I'm still not sure it's him, even if it is, that doesn't mean he'll remember me. It's been nearly ten years since we last spoke in person and I'm sure much has happened since we lost contact, however, that doesn't answer your question, now does it?" she replied with a small giggle, "To state it bluntly, he's an old friend, one I intend to get in touch with once again"

"I see" he replied, posture maintaining, "Although, Miss Durant, I must warn you that Levi has never been the most - what's the word - sentimental to people, strangers especially"

Claire giggled lightly, "He never was. I remember when we were young his favorite name to call me was kid or brat. He'd only call me by my name if I was in danger or if he was mad or surprised. It's so funny. He'd undermined me, yet he was barely older than me. Two or three years at most"

"Two or three years? But Levi is in nearly thirty, there's no way a small, petite, youthful girl like you could be already in your late twenties"

"It's true, though. I know I look young and usually I tend to act young for my age. My mother used to pester me for holding on to such fairy tales of meeting a prince charming or finding true love. 'It's not appropriate for a girl like you to be unmarried' she'd say when I told her I wouldn't marry simply anyone"

"So you're eligible, yet you refuse to marry" he said in an understanding tone, "It makes sense, I wouldn't marry simply anyone either"

Claire laughed lightly, "Thank you for understanding, Commander"

"You said you were from Sina, if I'm correct? How did you originally meet Levi?"

"Oh, I was an orphan, you see. Surprisingly enough, he was the one to approach me. It was right after I got there, I had been rather depressed and he decided to try to cheer me up. His efforts gave me knew purpose and him a new friend"

"I see"

"May I ask, how much farther?"

"Only a little" he replied, "There is one thing I should tell you, though"

"Oh?"

"I haven't yet told him that you're coming" he said, glancing over at her, "He probably would've disapproved in me allowing you to come here"

"I understand" she replied with a nod, stopping along Erwin as they stood in front of a tall door, "Thank you, Erwin, you are very kind" she expressed before pulling lightly on his shoulder, standing on the tip of her toes and placing a small kiss on his cheek.

Erwin nodded before opening the door and allowing her in. It was obvious that this was a meal hall. Wooden chairs and tables scattered around the room, most of them occupied by a body who sat eating. Claire took one final breath for confidence before walking in and scanning her eyes across the room. Some noticed her, turning their focus towards the eligant girl. This became a pattern, one noticing another peering then turning their own eyes to look at her. It was obvious she didn't belong here.

A loud screech from one corner of the room caused Claire to look that way. A chair had been abruptly pushed away from the table. There stood a short, yet still taller than her, man. His black undercut hair covered his gray eyes and his pale hands were laying across the table. They were tense and strained as if trying their hardest not to suffocate something. The man, hidden by his hair, seemed distressed as his dark, hallow eyes slowly scanned back up to confirm or deny what he thought he had seen.

"Claire..." was the quite word that came from his mouth, his eyes soft and confused, yet hurt and angry.

"Levi!" she shouted before racing over to him, embracing him in a hug, "I've missed you so much!"

He looked so similar to how she had last seen him. The differece was that he wore different clothes, seemed to have a more mature look, and his eyes had deep dark circles under them as if he hadn't slept sinse she last saw him ten years ago.

"Quiet down and stop yelling, Brat" he replied coldly, his usual look back on his face, "Why are you here? You better not have joined the scouts" he said, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her back slightly.

"Levi? Aren't you happy to see me?" she asked, looking up at him, her eyes glistening with unseen tears.

"I-" he stopped, looking away and at the people surrounding them, "As you were" he shouts before letting go of Claire's arms and grabbing her hand. Levi began walking, pulling her behind him.

"Where are we going?" she asked desperately, following closely behind as they passed other soldiers and representatives.

"Shut up and come on" he replied harshly as they walked though the halls.

Claire stared at the back of his head as they walked. He was just like before. The tears that had brimmed in her eyes began to fall. She was so happy!

Levi took her around the corner and pulled her into an room that looked like an office. He let go of her after the door was closed and slowly walked to the desk. He turned around and looked at her once he reached it. She was sniffling, her hands up to her face trying to hide the tears.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, voice stone hard and filled with boredom.

"I'm just - so happy to have - found you" she said through sobs, "It's been so long" she uttered, finally looking up at him.

Levi sighed, he was obviously annoyed, "How did you get here? You had better not have joined the Survey Corps"

She shook her head, "No, I didn't"

"Then how?"

"I received a note three weeks ago telling me where you were" she said, beginning to walk closer to him, "Then I contacted Mr. Smith and he allowed me to come visit, saying I was lucky because it didn't happen often. Then I got in my carrige and came here to see you. Of course, I didn't come alone. I've brought Barrett with me -although, you may not know him - he's my butler, very loyal and kind and such a hard worker. He's been with me since I moved out of my parents house. Oh, Levi! We have so much to catch up on! I can't wait-"

"Wait, back up, who sent the note?" he questioned, one hand raised to his forehead in irritation.

"I'm not sure, a Mike Zacharius, I believe"

Levi scoffed. Of course Mike would be willing to send his identity to anyone who claimed to know him, "How'd he find you?"

"I put an add in the paper, you see. 'Looking for Levi. Male, black hair, gray eyes, late-twenties, approximately five foot three, adolescent looking' it had said" she said, her eyes glancing upwards as if the paper were actually there.

"Claire, there's a reason I disappeared. There's a reason I didn't want you to follow me" Levi said, his hand lowering from his head as he sat down in his desk chair.

"But," she paused, completely changing her words to form a new question, "Levi, do you ever think of how I feel? I thought you were dead. I thought I would never get to see you again. Why? Why did you leave me? You knew I wanted to be with you. You knew I hated it there. Why would you leave me? I am beyond confused"

"I left to protect you"

"Really? Because it seems that right after you left is when my troubles began" she replied harshly, staring at him intently. She looked down after a moment.

"Levi, do you remember your promise? I still do. I knew you fancied me, despite your attempts to hide it. It was obvious. You were obvious"

"Quit putting words in my mouth. I've never once fancied you-"

"Liar!" she shouted, looking up at him, the tears streaming down her face made sparkling lines that looked like silver.

"How would you know? It's not like you can read my mind" he replied, hand once again returning to his forehead.

"I don't have to read your mind to know" she said, quieting down from her rampage, "After you disappeared the first time, I went to your house. I found the note" she said, remembering the crinkled note she had found in between his bed and night stand. She remembered how happy made her feel, yet sad at the same time.

He sighed, nodding slightly before turning his attention to the paper work that sat on his desk.

A/N

Hiya! Thank you so much for reading! If you liked it, make sure you click the like button, comment and give your opinion, and follow it for future chapters.

QOTD:

What's your favorite AOT/SNK character?

My Answer:

That's a toughy. I like Eren, Mikasa, and Armin a lot, although they're the main characters and it's hard not to like them. I'd say if I could only pick one it would have to be Levi, though. Most people see him as stoic and mean, but I'll try to show what I believe is his softer, sweeter side with in the next chapters.

Your Answer?