Petra woke from a good dream into an even better reality. By the time she'd fallen asleep in her captain's arms, exhausted, the sun had barely entered the room. That had been a few hours before. The chamber was now bright, and the commotion outside meant that the rest of the inn had been awake for some time. The Survey Corps would be heading home today, leaving the capital of Mitras and going south to Wall Rose. Petra had good sense, and knew getting out of this bed and somehow back into her own room was essential. But she couldn't move, not while he was still asleep beside her.

They were both still naked, and Petra watched the rise and fall of Levi's chest. She nestled closer against him, their foreheads touching, and felt the steady puff of his breath against her neck. When she slid her arm around his waist, he gave a grunt. He didn't wake, though. Normally, the captain was as easy to rouse as a jumpy cat.

But after the ball the previous evening, and the exertions between them during the early morning, he was lodged deep in a satisfied slumber. Petra's body tingled at the thought that she'd given him such a good rest. She opened one eye, and gazed at him. Many girls in her training year had thought Captain Levi unattractive. "His features aren't manly" one had scoffed. "His nose and chin are too thin. His eyebrows are delicate. He's like…like an ugly woman." Well, Petra couldn't help that some people had no taste. She kissed the tip of his nose. Levi's mouth twitched, but he still didn't wake. Everything about him was perfect.

She'd slept with the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. The space between her legs was pleasantly sore. It'd been his first time, yes, and he hadn't been technically masterful. But every inch of her skin seemed to thrum, remembering the path his lips and hands had taken over her body. The way his cock had filled her. They had so much time to teach each other what they liked.

Petra had woken beside men before. She would look at them, still asleep, and her mind would fill with questions. Should she get up? Pretend to still sleep? Hope they'd leave without waking her? Would they want to have sex again before getting dressed? Whenever the bells would chime, ordering the soldiers up and out of the barracks, she'd be secretly relieved. Nothing had made her feel more awkward than the shy small talk the morning after sex, allowing the men to fumble with her breasts and touch her between her legs. Letting them murmur how sexy she was into her ear, wondering if she should lie and say she thought the same of them. Petra was naturally agreeable, and ordering men out of her room had never been easy for her. She'd felt guilty for not enjoying making love to them. She'd been a freak.

Now, all she wanted was to stay in bed with the man opposite her. If anyone walked in, they'd be mortified. But Levi had locked the door.

Petra sighed as she felt herself grow heavy between her legs. She throbbed, her body desperate for him. Leaning over, she kissed his temple, her lips covering part of his eyebrow as well. He murmured again, and moved. Petra's hand glided up and down his side. She loved the feel of him in the morning, his skin, his well-muscled physique. Her hand trailed along the hard, perfect line of his stomach, and her breath caught in her throat when her fingers touched the hair at his sex.

"Wha?" Levi's eyes opened. Pale gray, they found hers. Petra's heart sped up as he watched her, blinking awake. He propped himself up on an elbow.

"Um. Good morning, L—sir." Petra's breath faltered. His black hair was rumpled up on the side of his head. His look was as flat and affectless as ever. One would've thought he'd woken from a short nap, a deep sleep after losing his virginity. Petra quailed a little, rolling onto her back. He'd said he loved her this morning, but in the rush of sex and hormones…

"Petra." His brow furrowed. "What'd I tell you?"

"About what, sir?"

He leaned over, took her face in his hand. His eyes were flinty. "Call me Levi. Especially now, makes me feel awkward as shit if you call me "sir" in bed."

Secretly, she liked calling him sir in bed, but that didn't matter right now. Petra giggled, and Levi's expression softened.

"Thought you might've changed your mind," he grumbled, then kissed her cheek. Her temple. Her neck. Petra slid hands through his fine black hair and closed her eyes.

"Never. I thought…well, the same as you."

"Hmm. Guess we need to practice more. Get used to it." He lay down on top of her, and Petra felt his cock stirring against her thigh. She kissed his face, the line of his jaw, relishing in the faint rasp of stubble. He was always so clean-faced, she'd half-believed he didn't need to shave. He was meticulous about his appearance, of course. As expected. She bit down on his earlobe, and her thighs clenched to hear him groan.

"You're a distraction, brat." He spoke softly, and kissed her. Petra became lost in him, wrapping her legs around his waist. Just a few more inches, and he'd be inside of her. She was so slippery, he'd glide in with ease. Petra hitched her leg up higher, desperate for it. She grabbed his ass, and he grunted in reply. "You really are bold. Always thought you were the sweet one in the group."

"I am," she purred in his ear. "But I'm more than that."

"Yeah, I'm learning." He kissed her again, and again, and— "Wait. Shit. What time is it?"

It was like snuffing out a candle flame. One instant, her captain's naked body was flush with her own. The next, he was sitting up on his knees above her, looking stern. His erect cock was already wilting. Petra pushed herself up on her elbows, and swiped the hair from her eyes.

"I'm not sure. I'd guess almost noon?"

"Shit. Erwin wanted everyone on the road by quarter past. We're gonna hold everything up."

And that was that. He went to the wash basin, poured water, and started to clean himself. Levi ran hands through his hair and fished around in his pack for his uniform. Within minutes he was half-dressed, buttoning up his shirt, smoothing any telltale wrinkles, and tying his cravat while Petra still sat in a half stupor from the suddenness of it all. Levi glanced over his shoulder at her. The cold, imperious look was back on his face. He frowned, as if trying to work out how she'd gotten here.

"Petra. Get up, get dressed, and go pack. We're not delaying things so you can hang around."

"Sir." She didn't use his name. Her lover wasn't here anymore; her captain was. Petra smoothed back her hair, tried to think. She'd already known that he could compartmentalize his emotions with frightening efficiency. He could embrace her one moment, give orders the next. But it still made her feel off kilter.

"What, Petra?" He stood before her, slipping into his brown Survey Corps jacket. She sat up on her knees, and noticed that she unconsciously covered her breasts with the sheet.

"I know we're in a hurry, but when would you like to…talk to the Commander?" He continued to watch her through half-lidded eyes. "About…what's happened?"

Silence.

"Petra, what do you think I'm rushing for?" He looked her in the eyes. "I'm going to talk to Erwin now, before we leave."

"Oh." She dropped the sheet, and was naked before him. This time, he didn't seem to notice.

"You surprised?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"I. Maybe."

He narrowed his eyes. "I don't sneak around. That's for children. I want you. I want him to tell me how to make that possible. That's it."

He was, as always, conscientious to an extreme.

"Oh. I see. You don't waste time."

"I don't take half a shit. When I do something, I finish it." Petra shut her eyes and shook her head. As always, he had a colorful way with words. "Petra. If you're still not sure, then tell me now. But I know what I want," he growled. She looked up to see that tight wariness in his face again. He was afraid, she realized. Afraid that she'd be less enthusiastic, that she'd have any doubts. That she'd want time to think. Petra sat up high on her knees, and slipped her arms around his neck.

"Go tell him right now. I can't wait any longer."

His blank expression did not change, but his eyes widened slightly. With a short gasp, Levi kissed her, running his hands up and down her back. Petra broke the kiss, and he stepped away.

"Get ready. We leave soon." His voice was hoarse as he went to the door. He touched the handle, but looked back. "No regrets." He said it as if to assure himself. Petra beamed.

"Never."

His eyes tracked down her body once more, and this time the corner of his mouth lifted. A quick smile, but it was there.

"Fucking gorgeous," he muttered, as if to himself. Then he left, closing the door firmly behind him. Petra flung herself back onto the bed, and giggled at the ceiling.

Erwin Smith understood most things, but he did not understand the card in his hand. He'd been up since seven, sending letters to contacts at the ball last night, thanking them for the generous promise of funds, subtly reminding them to make those funds available to the Survey Corps sooner rather than later. He had had word from Nile Dok, Commander of the Military Police himself, who'd sniffily informed Erwin that they still had much to discuss about the events of the previous night. Erwin could handle all these things quickly, coolly, and with no concern.

After all, he knew men and how to handle them.

But this card that had been left on his desk, its envelope blank…this he did not understand. The card itself was so…

Odd. Unsettling, even. It wasn't a thank you note, not a letter. It didn't seem to have any message at all.

So why had it been left for him? Who had left it?

He started as someone knocked at his door.

"Come in." Erwin shook his head. He placed the card on the desk, tucking it under some papers as Levi entered. Erwin smiled. Honestly, he'd been surprised to be told that Levi was still asleep earlier this morning. Well, the man'd earned his rest. "Ah. Levi. Is everyone ready to leave?"

"Saw Hange in the hallway. She's nursing a bitch of a hangover, but Moblit's got her. Mike and Nanaba are downstairs. Marlene, too. The rest of the brats should be ready soon." Levi leaned his back against the door, as if assuring himself it was firmly closed. Then he crossed over to Erwin's desk, and started picking up papers and dropping them again. He didn't read them, merely rested his eyes on the contents and then tossed them away. As Erwin watched, Levi paced to the window, hands behind his back.

"So we should be ready for a speedy departure?"

"If anyone's late, they'll get their ass kicked." Levi left the window, moved over to Erwin's dresser. There, he touched two of the handles, then went to the bed. Levi placed his hand on one of the bed's posters, then returned to the desk to shuffle through more papers.

"Levi." Erwin blinked. "You're fidgeting."

"Huh?" He dropped an envelope and glared with accusatory gray eyes. "I don't fidget. Don't give me that shit."

"I agree, it's unlike you. Something must be troubling you." Erwin crossed his arms. "Is something the matter?"

"Nothing's wrong." That was blunt, and sounded honest. But the way he'd phrased it…

"So nothing's wrong, but something's the matter."

"Tch." The captain's eyes darted across the room. He unfolded his arms, shoved hands into his trench coat pockets. Levi's leg jiggled. His entire body seemed to vibrate with tension. "Trust you to get picky about words."

"I've never seen you like this. Tell me."

"I." Levi looked up, and Erwin could have fallen backwards with shock. There was the glint of fear in the captain's eyes.

"Is this about the ball?"

"No. Yes. I mean, about… Shit, Erwin, something happened when we came back to the inn."

Erwin pulled his shoulders straight. He had never seen his captain look so lost before. Whatever plagued the man, Erwin would lay his soul on the line to right it.

"What?"

"Well. It. I was in the stable, and then." Levi blinked, twisted his mouth up. "I had sex," he said.

"Oh." Erwin blinked slowly. The image of Levi doing anything as unsanitary as sex was…almost unsettling. "In…in the stables?" If this was headed in any sort of bestial direction…

"No, we came back from the stables and fucked." Levi ran a hand down his face. "Petra. It was Petra. I fucked her."

"I see." Erwin did not see, however, what reaction Levi wanted from him. Was this a confession of guilt? Perhaps Levi had heard that this was how men bonded with one another, by telling stories of their conquests. It would not surprise Erwin if this were an attempt on his captain's part to be normal. Levi and normality were so casually acquainted, after all. Erwin also couldn't quite put the image together: Levi, surly and snarling, and that wide-eyed little redhead of his. Really, sleeping with a direct subordinate was a bad idea, but Erwin imagined Levi already knew that. The captain's pained expression made Erwin realize that this was not about bragging—this had to be about penance. Levi felt guilty. He'd forsaken the hierarchy of command, his animal instincts getting the better of him. Levi was a slave to control, proud of it. To realize he was only a man with typical appetites must be something of a letdown. Erwin smiled.

"I needed to tell you about it." Levi looked up.

"You mustn't worry. You're not the first to do something like this. I've had suspicions regarding Mike and Nanaba for ages."

"Suspicions?" Levi tsked. "If that's what you wanna call it."

Erwin laughed, the warmth of relief flooding him. "I was afraid you'd murdered someone. You looked that grim. Don't trouble yourself over it. I would prefer you sleep with women who aren't under your direct command, but I'm sure the pair of you will get past it. You wouldn't be the first, as I've said. If time passes and you still find it awkward, we can see about transferring her, but I'm sure it won't come to that. Don't look so horrified." Erwin placed a hand on Levi's shoulder, felt the tension in the smaller man's body. "In our line of work, Levi, everyone needs to release pressure. Scratch an itch. You've always had such monastic habits, I didn't even know if you had the urge to… Never mind." Going much further would be rude, after all. Erwin moved around the desk. "Just don't let it happen again."

"Erwin. You don't understand."

Erwin looked up to find Levi's face blank with amazement. It was disconcerting how young his captain looked without that surly expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Petra. I slept with her, but not because I was horny. I mean, I was horny, but it wasn't just that. Shit." Levi placed his hands on the desk, leaned forward. "I." And then, one of the most disconcerting things Erwin had ever seen occurred. Levi smiled. It was a full smile, not a smirk or a sardonic leer. It looked wrong, like the rictus grin of a titan. "I love her."

I love her.

Nile and Erwin had been down by the river after training one day, talking about Marie—about the woman Erwin loved, though he'd never show it. He could still recall the idiotic grin on Nile's face as he confessed. "I love her, Erwin," he'd said. That love, that drug, had rendered him useless. Soon, his dream had changed. The Survey Corps, the bold future, vanished before Nile's eyes. Marie's face blocked its path.

Everything changed when a man fell in love. His priorities changed.

Levi was in love.

The two of them, working late into the night, heads bent together in conference. Erwin's dream had bolstered Levi's; it was a shared dream, the bond of brotherhood deeper than anything Erwin had ever known. As the years passed, and as hope of a marriage and family slipped further away from him, Erwin had stood with Levi at his side and the pain had lessened. Sex could be bought and sold, same as a massage, with very similar physiological effects. Erwin had paid for sex, one way or another, when he needed it. Love did not have to be tied to lust. Erwin knew that well.

The love, the shared love of a dream, had bound him and Levi as closely as two people in a marriage. Love united them as one.

And now Levi was in love.

Erwin could see the shadow of that little redhead in his peripheral vision. She was a good girl, Petra Ral. He knew that well enough. He admired her. But she was still a woman, and a woman needed things from a man. Even if she were the sweetest, most understanding creature alive, she would siphon off Levi's focus in little sips. Would he still be fearless in battle? Would he charge ahead towards that dream, the light that Erwin saw over the lip of the horizon? Would he wish for humanity's salvation with that same utter selflessness? Or would he become lost in his lover's eyes, see the glimmer of a home and children?

I never thought, Levi, that you would tell me this.

I never thought, Levi, that you would triumph in love when I can't.

"Erwin, what do you think?" Levi appeared shocked. "You look like you're taking a shit."

"Hmm? I'm sorry. It's a lot to absorb." Erwin smoothed a hand through his hair. "It feels like it just happened, out of nowhere."

"Yeah. Last night, she found me in the stables. It just…happened. Like you said." Levi set his jaw. Something bold crackled in his eyes. "We talked. We're ready to do whatever you think we should. Petra will transfer, if that's what you want. Tell me what you think, Erwin. How should we act?"

The absolute trust in his voice. Levi would do what Erwin said, whatever he said. And some voice from the animal back of his brain, where Erwin kept memories of his father and the secret, selfish desires that no one else could even imagine, that voice gleefully hissed to tell Levi to toss this girl aside.

"Levi." Erwin tried to balance his thoughts. "Are you certain about this?"

"What do you mean?"

There was no delicate way to put it. "Was she your first experience?"

The twitch of Levi's mouth answered before he did. "Yeah."

That was not a surprise.

"I want you, both of you, to be sure."

Expressions warred for dominance on Levi's face. Finally, his body became less rigid. He leaned more weight on his hands.

"We are. I've known for a long time, but now…it's what you told me years ago, Erwin. No regrets. Well. This is the only way I can know, right now, I won't regret anything."

Levi had carried Erwin's words in his heart, sacred as a prayer. Erwin felt a pang, the happy buzz of affection and sting of jealousy in one. Erwin wanted to believe that duty and love could sit comfortably side by side in this good man's heart. In a way that they could not, not ever, in Erwin's.

Could he do it? Erwin's mind groped for a plan. Any plan.

"I see. In that case." Erwin looked down at the desk, and his eyes alighted upon a letter. The plan clicked into place. "I need you to stay on here in Mitras for a few days."

Levi blinked. "Huh?"

"Siegfried Morgenstern promised three thousand in gold. We need to resupply with horses, equipment, a total overhaul of gear… We need the gold urgently, before the expedition next month. He writes that we will have it, but it will take a few days to settle the account with his banker. He'll send the money to the inn."

"Why not just have them send it to Trost?"

"I don't trust a sum like this on the road, not without my own soldiers overseeing it. I need you, Levi, to wait for the money and then bring it back with you."

Levi frowned. "If it's an order, you just have to tell me. But I'm not sure why you need me when Hange could spare Moblit, or Nifa—"

"I was thinking that you could keep Petra with you, to help." Off Levi's blank look, Erwin elaborated. "Stay here, the pair of you, at the inn and wait. Your sole duty is to bring the money back. Think of it as a small holiday. And when you both return to the barracks, if you still want Petra transferred…" Erwin nodded. "We'll talk further."

Levi stood fully upright, hands relaxed by his sides. A look of sheer amazement stole over his face. Those moments of astonishment really were too rare.

Again, that titan grin stole over him. It vanished almost at once.

"I understand. Erwin, we'll get it done. You have my word."

"Good. Go give Petra her new orders, then oversee everyone's departure. I have a few more notes to write, so." Erwin sat down behind the desk again. Levi nodded, and marched for the door. He paused to look at Erwin once again.

"Thanks, Erwin. You beautiful bastard."

Erwin couldn't help but laugh as his captain left the room. He settled back in his chair, gazing out the window into the distance. The noon sun glinted on the snow-lined streets, and the city bells pealed the time.

I love her.

His jaw set, and he realized too late that he'd crushed a letter in his hand, crumpled it into a ball. Erwin shook his head, tossed the note, and started on another to replace it.

From the moment he'd cornered Levi in the underground all those years ago, he had known a man weighed down by ugliness. Levi had been raised in squalor and shit, hadn't believed there was anything outside of it until he was nearing thirty. Only a monster would look at a man who'd spent over three decades in some kind of emotional torment, and hope to deny him love. And there was no physical lust between he and Levi. Erwin did not want his captain, not in that way. But he wanted him always near, always fixated on that same spot in the horizon. He wanted Levi close in the way a spouse does. Occasionally, and Erwin could scarce understand it himself, let alone articulate it, but occasionally he felt that some kind of thread was tied between the pair of them, Levi and him. Some invisible twine that vibrated no matter how far apart the two were from one another.

What if this girl broke that almost magical connection?

Erwin studied Nile's note again. The distance in it. Their brotherhood had smashed to bits as soon as Marie fluttered her eyelashes.

I cannot go through that again.

So. He would wait, and see what three days together did for his captain and his soldier. Erwin imagined they would probably grow closer…or, perhaps, further apart. Levi was a difficult man, no matter how much one admired him.

Erwin prayed he was hoping for the happier situation, the former option. He prayed he did not want to see the downfall of Levi's joy. Erwin already loathed himself enough.

Erwin collected his papers, organized them on his desk. He picked up that card once more. It was small, nearly the size of a playing card. One side was blank, and the other… On the other side of the card, someone had painted a red handprint. That was all. The red was as scarlet and vivid as blood. Erwin stood, studied the card as he took it over to the crackling fireplace.

It had been waiting for him in a blank envelope. No name. Nothing.

Erwin tossed the card into the fire, watched the red handprint curl and turn to ash.

If someone was playing a joke on him, no harm done. And if someone was looking to cause him trouble… Well. They would not be the first.

Not remotely.