Rain
She hated the rain.
The way the skies opened up to pour their tears down on the earth. The way even the sun seemed to take shelter behind the angry grey clouds. Clouds as grey and somber as his eyes.
It was raining on that day.
"This will be our little secret."
A flash of light illuminates a long, slender finger pressed to his lips.
"Promise me, Ella."
Thunder. Crashing from the heavens like the wrath of a god, rattling the windows and her small bones.
"You have to promise me, Ella."
"Stop! Let me go!"
She hated thunder more.
Giving up on any hope of sleep that night, Ella abandoned the tousled sheets at the foot of her bunk, electing instead to walk off some of her uneasiness.
Flashes of light illuminated her way as the young woman roamed the halls of the soldier's barracks at her own leisurely pace. It should have been silent at this time of night, but the pounding rain and booming thunder disrupted the peace, even through the closed windows.
"Shh, Ella."
"Why..!?"
"This will be our little secret."
A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead, and Ella halted her steps in front of a door. Without realizing it, her feet had carried her to the stairwell leading up to the roof.
Fingers inches from the door handle, she hesitated.
Thunder crashed through the skies, sending a jolt of adrenaline shooting down her spine and through her veins.
Her hand shook.
"Brother... You're scaring me."
Slender finger pressed to his lips. A trail of crimson lining his wrist.
Thunder rattled the windows.
"Be a good girl, Ella."
Silver steel glinting with the brief flash of light.
Her face on the ground, wet and sticky.
"S-stop it!"
Thunder rattled the windows.
Ella wasn't sure when she had begun running. Her feet carried her up the flights of stairs it took to get her to the roof. Her lungs burned from her labored breathing, not caused by the physical exertion.
She reached for the door handle.
"Where do you think you're going?"
His voice was as calm and cool as ice itself. Like always.
Heart leaping to her throat, she spun around, though she didn't have to see him to know who it was. "C-Captain!"
Levi didn't miss the crack in her voice or the sweat beading on her brow.
"Well?"
She tried to swallow the tightness in her throat. "I-I was just-"
Thunder rattled the windows.
A whimper, and her legs buckled. Ella's back hit the door, her hands flying to her face as she slid to the ground.
Hands tucked casually in his pants pockets, Levi stepped forward, reducing the distance between them with the last few stair steps.
"Hey." He stopped with one foot on the top step, and leaned down to her level, elbow resting on his knee. "Is the thunder so terrible?"
Ella didn't reply, but brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. Another flash through the window, and the skies boomed. She squeezed her eyes shut with another whimper, shrinking into herself.
"Tch. Don't look so pathetic." Levi ran a hand through his silken black locks. "Idiot."
He crouched down in front of her.
Glassy olive green eyes shifted to look up at him just in time for his hand to make contact with the top of her head.
A flinch.
Then, a surprised gasp as he ruffled her auburn hair.
"You really are an idiot." he sighed. "This floor is filthy." Despite his disparaging words, Levi moved to sit beside her against the door.
"Captain?" She gave him a questioning stare.
He didn't look at her, but kept his steely gaze straight ahead. Ella didn't notice until this moment, but he had tired circles under his eyes, likely from lack of sleep. Levi sighed deeply, bringing one knee up to prop his elbow on as his head lulled back to rest against the metal door with a soft thud.
"If the rain keeps you awake," he began, the usual sharp edge to his tone gone, "then it can't be helped."
He moved his gaze up to look out the window, his expression somber.
"What do you mean?" She stared at him, and he was silent for several moments. "Captain?"
"I hate it, too."
He would never admit it, but Ella could have sworn she saw a flicker of sadness cross his icy gaze.
The thunder didn't bother her any more that night.