"What the fuck is going on here?"
A shadow was thrown across the stableroom as Captain Levi marched in. His cold eagle eyes took in the scene. Your torn shirt. Your trembling body. Jean's bloody face. His expression changed from mildly irritated to fucking furious.
"Tch. Kirchstein you're in deep shit. Report to my office first thing tomorrow. I don't know exactly what happened but I have a pretty damn good idea. Don't make me come looking for you or I'll personally ensure you end up as Titan shit."
With an annoyed tut, the coal-haired man glided towards the door before barking back into the room- "The rest of you brats- seeing as you like the stables so much, you can all sleep here for the next month. No blankets. Straw only. It'll be perfect to accommodate your double stable duties."
The pale faces of the young recruits looked at him in despair. His gaze never faltered. "Get to bed. Now. And you- come with me." He pushed you ahead of him, his hand on your shoulder, steering you towards the barracks. His grip was surprisingly gentle.
Your footsteps echoed through the corridors as he walked straight past your room. Your heart stopped as he pushed the door open to his private quarters. Soft oil lamps lit up the small but comfortable room. A wooden desk and chair sat in one corner, papers neatly stacked in one corner of the table. A teapot and two cups were set out, the blue china reflecting the light from the lamps. A small couch was backed against the wall, the red velvet upholstery worn smooth with the bodies of previous owners. Glancing around, you spied a large bed in the far corner, and a small bathroom attached. A curtain was tied with a rope.
"Sit down! You're making the place look untidy, just standing there." You quickly settled yourself on the couch, hands folded neatly in your lap.
Noting you staring at his sleeping area, Levi pulled the rope that held the curtain. The heavy material fell, dividing the room, obscuring the view of the bedroom. "Nosy, aren't you? These are my private quarters. You have permission to be here now, but you are not permitted to intrude into my other private quarters. Do you understand?"
You gulped before whispering an answer. "Your bedroom, Captain. I apologise. I…know there are private quarters, like this room. And then there are…PRIVATE QUARTERS. Thank you for permitting me to be here."
Your hands began to tremble again. Spotting this, Levi sat beside you and, grabbing the back of your head, turned you to face him. His face was so close you could count every one of his jet black eyelashes. Funny, you always thought his eyes were grey. But now you could see how deep and rich they were, the very centres containing the faintest flecks of hazel. He smelled of…tea. And honey.
"Now. I want you to look me in the eye and tell me what happened. If I catch you lying to me, I won't fucking help. Understand me?"
"Yes Captain. We were just messing around. Things just got out of hand. Jean didn't mean to scare me or upset me. He's just crap at being around women. He tends to…show off a bit."
Levi relaxed his grip, but kept his eyes locked on yours. "Kirchstein...has feelings for you, correct?"
You flushed red. "Yes sir. But I…don't return the feelings. He's an idiot but still, he's a harmless idiot. He only tore my shirt because he wanted to see did I have a six pack like Mikasa…" you trailed off, realising how stupid that sounded.
Levi blinked hard, slowly and deliberately. "You were…comparing muscles? Is that what cadets do these days? You were a late-age recruit, aren't you a little old for childish games? I am in no way condoning Kirchstein's behaviour but why attack him?"
You drew a deep breath and calmed yourself before answering. "I think it's better if I answer in my own way Sir."
Lifting yourself from the couch, you stood before Levi. You slowly unbuttoned your shirt, never taking your eyes off him.
"What the fuck are you doing?!"
No doubt about it, Levi was out of his comfort zone. His eyes were the widest you'd ever seen them.
Your shirt fell to the floor with a soft rustling. His questions ceased as he looked upon your body.
Your breasts were restrained behind the standard cloth wrappings, the creamy tops of your rounded curves peeked out over the cloth.
His eyes trailed up and down, taking in every detail of your body. "Shit…"
"I'm sorry to have to do this to you Captain. I only wanted to show this to one person here in the barracks- and it isn't you."
Levi snapped out of his reverie, shaking his head, scowling fiercely. "Tch, I know that, presumptuous woman! I'm not blind! I know what you think of me. I know I am not the type of man any woman would want and frankly, I couldn't give two shits. The priority here is that we deal with this situation."
He stood up from the couch, handed you his jacket. "Cover up. I'll be back momentarily."
Settling yourself back down on the couch, his jacket wrapped around you, you had time enough to panic. The minutes passed in a haze of flurried thoughts and worried glimpses of your punishment. You had attacked a fellow cadet, stripped in front of your Captain.
Groaning, you bowed forward until your hair covered your face. You heard the door open and Levi's voice ordering you to turn around.
"Keep your eyes closed and turn around. Kirchstein is with me. His punishment is to sit here and listen to you. Show him your body and tell him."
You hear him muttering to Jean. "Let her explain in her own way. She has that right."
You stood up, obeying Levi's orders to keep your eyes closed. You knew protesting was futile when he was this riled up.
Slumping your shoulders in defeat, you dropped the jacket and revealed your secret.