(Instead of love at first sight, what if love began with friendship?)

There was a knock on Levi's door. His mind pictured a postman with a package and the wrong address. Would it be a faux pas to call that retard a retard?

Levi opened the door, looking up at his imaginary postman. Instead, he caught a forehead and ginger hair. "Petra?" He gazed at her face. She looked angry and on the verge of tears. Levi did not want to see her cry – he never had and he never wanted to – it was just that seeing anybody cry was annoying and pinned the responsibility to change that on him. "What's up?" Maybe if he kept everything normal, she would relax a little.

"I need to rant about the whole world." Petra said in a woefully uneven tone.

"As long as I get to comment every so often."

She smiled a little. "Sounds good."

Levi let her to his couch. It would be more comfortable, he thought. "Go for it." He said, as she sat down.

"Guys are jerks and dating is bad."

"Gee, thanks."

"The guys I date are jerks."

"And?"

"I just left some faggot who thought I was 'too smart for my own good!' See as I was with him, clearly, he was wrong! And before this – some idiot thought I'd look better blonde, or thinner, or that I was too bossy or some crap." Levi shuffled over and put at arm around her shoulder – it was what he was recommended to do after he messed up reassuring Hange about some lab mess up she caused. "You know, if I knew the guys I dated, then I would not have to meet this shit."

"Thus, dating is flawed."

"Or guys are."

"No, we guys face similar issues – gold-diggers, bitches, the works." Levi said, based on his experience.

"And the guys I'm friends with are so nice."

"So? Ask the nicest one out."

Petra smirked. Levi looked into her eyes hoping to see a joke or some form of lie.

"You mean… that's me?"

"Yes."

"Ask the second best out."

"No way." Petra giggled. "Not when I can ask the best."

"I'm not the best – I…"

"You are."

"No." He couldn't believe what he was saying. "Erwin's so much better."

"No, he gets too confident and annoying."

"Mike?"

"Too weird!"

"Erd?"

"Taken. And I find you funnier and more charming."

"Gunther?"

"He's too bossy and sometimes a bit arrogant."

"Auro?"

"You're kidding me, right?"

"What about the guys you tutor?"

"Gross. I'm not about that paedophilia."

"So… there's just me?"

"Yeah. If I ask any of my friends out, it'd be you."

"Great. Maybe stick to dating."

"But it's flawed! And the others just suck anyway!"

"But your alternative is me."

"And, it's nice that way – I like it."

"Well, don't ask – you know the answer." Levi leaned on her a little and couldn't help saying: "Your hair smells nice."

"What?"

"It does. It's the oddest thing – why let your hair smell nice? Who smells hair?"

"You, clearly." With that, the conversation drifted into the general, mock-fighting chats they regularly had.

After half an hour, feeling much more relieved, Petra realized a prospect: "You know Levi, if we're always like this, you would be the best boyfriend I'd ever had."

"Really?"

"Now that our earlier conversation got me thinking."

"You still know the answer." Levi impatiently said.

"Why? Is there somebody special?" Petra tried to keep a light, mocking tone, but she sounded a little worried – because she was beginning to be. She was beginning to feel something – some attachment, attraction and want that was more than merely friendly. Levi stayed quiet. "Hange?"

"No way!"

Petra sighed. "Nanaba?"

"Nope."

"Somebody I don't know?"

"You'll know the special person quite well, I think."

"So there is somebody?"

"Yes."

"Would you ask them?"

"They suggested that they'd ask me, actually."

"What?!" Petra was saddened – she realized her love too late. But then something occurred to her. "How did they suggest this?"

"They came to my apartment and told me."

"Firstly, she's a she – I know you that well. Second: when?"

"This evening."

"It's me, isn't it?"

"Yes, Petra."

"You love me?"

"Yes."

"Then go out with me!"

"Do you love me?"

"Yes."

"The answer's still no."

"Why? We love each other, isn't that enough?"

"In a week or so, I'll probably mess up and then you'd never go out with me and I'll lose you as a friend."

"I doubt it. But if that worries you, how about we agree to always be friends?"

"Come what may?"

"Come absolutely anything."

"Fine."

"Dinner, tomorrow at eight at the pizza place?"

"Great."

And so began the classical relationship.

(A/N: I hate the ending as much as I think you would (then again, that's how I judge 90% of my work.

I cannot make promises of updates...

Have a nice insert unit of time/ event!)