Author'sNote: A little short I know. Don't get used to it. I know how I am; updates will be sporadic...eventually. I've been getting pms about Zoe's character, and I can assure you that this is not LevixHange fanfiction, but a LevixOC fanfiction. it was just coincidence that my OC's name is Zoe by first name basis.

Reviews will be very much appreciated.

Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin is Tetsurō Araki's toy. I'm just playing with it. The only thing I own here is Zoe Anwen

Petra knocked timidly on the door with the Survey corps uniform in hand that Levi had dug out of an unknown dressing room. The boots and other underclothing had been pulled from the same place that Petra had never found. The orders had been explicit, he was not to allow the bitch as he called the woman in front of her until she's properly attired.

"Who's that?"

Petra opened the door to see the girl from yesterday standing in front of the windows still dressed in the revealing clothing from yesterday. Petra smiled, as she had reminded herself when he gave her the uniform, and stepped into the room.

"Need any help?"

I laughed as I looked at the uniform in front of me. A light brown jacket with the badge of the squad on both shoulders. On the front left pocket and on the center of the back. A light colored shirt, a dark brown sash around the waist covering the hips, white pants and dark brown knee-high leather boots.

"Yeah, there are so many straps here. Got me confused."

Petra waved that right off. "Well, you'll learn."

"I'm Zoe, anyway. Nice to meet you." I smiled.

"My name's Petra. Nice to meet you too."

I scowled, suddenly irritated by that cheerful smile that spread across her face. I glanced behind me, finding that Levi was standing there, his eyes narrowing at me.

"Why are you doing this?"

Petra's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"This...being so nice to me, making up excuses to make sure you're around me." I knew that she was making it up, because Levi never, ever gave orders to anyone concerning me or anyone else.

"Because...I want to have a female friend here in the Special Recon corps."

I blinked and I stared at her. She wasn't...like the others? She actually wanted to be my friend; she wanted someone to talk to as much as I did?

There were three possible words to describe Petra: I FUCKING LOVE HER! Okay that was four but whatever. I mean, she wanted to be my friend for goodness sake's! I would have been ordinarily nervous, but the prospect of getting a friend had me excited.

"Are you sure? You'll have to know that I'm an asshole of some sort. I've always been a loner in my life, and you're kinda like my first female friend here. I don't want to make the wrong impression."

Her grin widened. "Oh, don't be silly. Of course you won't."

Once the last detail were done with, shoes were the only thing left. It was fun hanging with Petra. I knew that her ideals were practically those of a modern woman's but it was still refreshing to talk with her about it. In no time, Petra had me ready.

I couldn't believe the mirror when I saw my reflection and my stupid grin wouldn't go away. I twirled in the uniform, happy that I don't have to wear layers. My hair had been pulled up in a tight bun with stray strands dancing around my face. I was later guided by Petra through the halls, and I've never been these ready to kick ass and take names.

As morning came around, everyone had already prepared their horses to go to the old Special Corps' base. They are very much amused and surprised to find me and Petra walking there towards them. But until I spotted a table full of tea and morning treats, I've never been happier.

"Food!" I exclaimed happily.

Eren chuckled quietly, receiving my embarrassed anger. "Morning! Well, I wasn't aware that you're that hungry."

I squealed in excitement when I received my scone from Eren. "Thanks dude! You're the best! I didn't know that a simple scone could be so good!" I said as I happily munched on the baked goods.

Honestly, I never thought that the food here would taste so good! After I had introduced myself yesterday, Eren and Shorty seemed convinced that this kind of discussion would be better suited in the Study. And I was moved into another room where I waited. Someone later came with another cart full of food, which I happily indulge myself in.

I smiled as I sat back against the wooden chair, feeling content now that my stomach was full. Like seriously, this stuff was better than anything I could try to cook up and that's saying something because my dad can't cook for his own good—he actually seasoned steaks with cinnamon and baking powder once— so it's been my given task to be the chef of the house and so far, I've been pretty successful.

I got up and stretched my muscles, feeling a little sore from the fall. I gazed around the room curiously. What a place I landed myself in! Eren is such a cutie! Michael would have been all over him like glue.

"Zoe, it's almost time to go." Eren looked up from staring out the window. Outside, the horses are prepared and ready to go. I'm guessing that this is the scene where they all go to that old base and where Uluo make a complete utter fool of himself by bleeding his mouth till dry.

I have always adored these kind of creatures and mine was an absolute beauty. It's black coat shining under the shimmering sunshine, it has white feet and a little white on his long nose, it was whinnying happily.

"What's his name?" I asked, completely mystified. I know I have always been an animal type of girl, but these ones wre setting my heart on fire.

"Noir, If I'm not mistaken." Eren said coming to be beside me again.

"He's beautiful." I breathed softly, and in no time, I followed them and riding on Noir's back.

I vibrated in my seat as Noir starts to walk, following Uluo's lead on the front line while my horse was walking beside Eren's.

My back felt hot as I felt Levi glaring daggers at us. My brain gave a vicious push against my skull which made me close my eyes. I felt the warmness of the sun just below the thick layers of canopy, even if I was covered with the cape that belongs to the Recon Corps.

The combination of both can be lethal I tell you.

Endure it, I told myself desperately. Zoe, you can do this. All of my curiosity silently raged, and before I know it my eyes shifted towards the short Captain.

I was met with intense black eyes that had already been watching my reactions. I felt my heart flutter in surprise, but I couldn't tell. His dark, searing gaze rested on my own eyes and I couldn't look away, it was as if I did that I would be eaten by whatever was roaming around my stomach.

I cut my gaze from Levi when Eren started talking.

"The good point in this is that we won't have to worry about Mikasa sticking her nose into this case."

"Oh, I've been downgraded to a case now?"

He glared at me.

"I guess there's no helping it, with all the strangeness you're bound to see, my appearance looked as one of the mysteries to be solved. I guess that's okay." I went away from his gaze, looking out at the scenery. The village was giving way to a small clearing. Factories to farms, traditions to progress, paved street and crowded buildings to paved streets.

"We're almost there. It should be only a few minutes away." Both of us lapses into silence, watching the life of the village as a show we have no part to play in.

We all can see the old castle just at the edge of the forest. The paint faded from being exposed to rough weather for such a long time, but it still stands in all its glory.

"So...where are we?" I asked Eren.

"You mean you don't know?" Uluo snapped, a hint of annoyance was translucent on his part. "This is the former Recon Corps headquarters; it's nothing more than a renovated old castle. While it definitely looks impressive, it's so far from the walls and all the rivers that it's completely useless to the Recon Corps. But who would've have thought we'd end up using it again to serve for your friend's hideout?"

It was when I noticed Eren turned back to see that the Captain has focused his gaze on him, and Eren briefly looked away. As if sensing that Eren needed some help, I met his gaze. I simply smiled and mouthed 'I know, scary right?'.

Truly; if looks could murder we'd be buried six feet under.

"Don't get cocky, new blood." Uluo continued and brought his horse closer to Eren. "I don't know the deal with this crap about you being a Titan, but we can't have Captain Levi babysit—"

Wait, is this the part when he bled his lips to death?

Now...I could either just tell him what he was missing, but then I'd missed out on all this. And really, why spoil it now? In the end, I remained silent.

In a matter of seconds, his horse's feet meet a slight bump on the road and Uluo bit on his lips.

All that could be heard was the agonizing scream from Uluo and a booming laugh. I bet he didn't see that one coming, but I couldn't help that because I was laughing too hard.

He was screaming war chants at me with his bleeding mouth. The way the natural air of letting me laugh my ass off made me really happy.

"Stop laughing you prick!"

"Of course, whatever you say, honey."

"I'd cut you too ribbons if Captain Levi wasn't here."

Dude, I lived for these kind of threats. I grinned. "Really? How noble. I'm quite touched, but honestly, you wouldn't be able to land a hit on me if you tried."

He arched an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

I smirked. "Well, if the shoe fits."

"Your saying confuses me, but I kinda get the gist of it."

"Glad it took you long enough—"

"Stop it," came a familiar rich voice from behind me. I turned around and found Levi approaching us. "We are almost there, so stop causing a scene."

"Oh, oh right," I laughed good-naturedly. "My bad, I got a little distracted." I patted Uluo on his back roughly. "Well, good luck Uluo. The pathway to become Levi is a tedious task, but rewarding in the end. That's if you can handle it."

"Why you!"

"That little brat! How dare she insult me! Does he not know who I bloody hell am?" ranted enraged Uluo as he sat on the stairs just outside the castle grounds. The rest of the corps are placing their horses on the stables, so no one would hear him if he yelled like a banshee.

"Man, you never used to talk like that." Petra explained calmly. "If by any chance you're trying to imitate Captain Levi like Zoe told us, you should really stop it. You two are nothing alike, but still..."

He scoffed. "Trying to chain me down, Petra? You're still ways to go to be fitting for my wife."

"If only you'd bled to death from biting your tongue. You keep on boasting about how many Titans you've killed too."

"So what? I've boasted about you guys too."

"My God, you're pathetic!"

"But she challenged me. Challenged me! She doubted my skills. When I see her next time I shall bring her down from her arrogant American cloud. Utterly a disgrace."

Petra was silent for a few minutes, enough that Uluo turned towards her n question. "Well," stated Petra stoically. "I thought she was right. I don't think you can handle it, imitating Captain Levi and all."

Uluo stared at her in horror. "Have you gone mad? I do not want to have to face her again. If I do, she shall kiss the tip of my blade as she surrenders to me." Uluo walked away. Petra shook her head but followed her irate partner as they lost themselves in the castle.

"You really shouldn't provoke him," Eren chided as we put Noir in his stables. "He had killed so much Titans, it could be scary."

I smiled. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. He was just too cute and easy to mess with."

Eren sighed. "These...girlish tendencies can be bothersome."

"Oh yes." I agreed, humoring him. "They can be very evil sometimes."

Eren gave me a slight smile. "You are quite weird for a girl."

"Well, thank you. I do try. Where's Shorty by the way?"

By the time we went out of the stables, I face palmed when I realized that Shorty's germophobic is kicking in. I went over the castle assuming that the members of the Recon Corps are cleaning this castle right now.

"Petra?" I called loud enough to be heard. "Are you here?"

I opened random doors and peered inside curiously, hoping to find Petra.

"Petra?" I called again. "Where are you?"

It seemed like an awfully long time. I turned a corner and found to my shock to see Captain Shorty. He seemed equally shocked to see me here.

"Oi, you brats?"

Who? Oh, me and Eren! I hastily recovered and offered him a smile. "Yes?"

"Eren, you clean the upper floor with the other. Brat, come with me."

"Certainly sir." Eren replied dutifully before ditching me with Shorty.

I watched Eren's retreating back with a mixture of despair and humiliation. At least he wasn't going to witness me as I attempted to clean a room and I followed Levi to a very, very dusty room.

In the old castle, Eren stopped outside a wooden door. He'd successfully managed to clean the upper room with the relentlessly onslaught of dust for the moment. He exhaled, looking at the room door silently. He knew Zoe had been taken here by Levi earlier. Apparently she too had a cleaning to do.

"This is a lot harder than it seems," he heard her say.

"Yes, but it is to be expected. Now move like this."

"Like this?"

"Yes that's it."

I scoffed. "Right. Well what's next?"

Eren pressed his ear to the door. "Here. Now keep it steady—"

"Argh it got into my eye! It stings! I thought you said you wouldn't move it!"

"I didn't you picky brat! You unintentionally moved it." Captain Levi sighed. "Here let me see. It's not so bad."

"It stings!"

"Just open your damn eye." Nothing, then. "There, that should do it."

I sighed, and then my voice came out all shaky. "W-Wait, what are you doing?"

"I'm merely cleaning it up."

"Sure, it only makes sense." Eren flushed and grabbed the knob, his fingers tense. What was they doing in there?

"Of course it does. Now once more."

"Again? But we already did it twice!"

"And it shall be thrice. Now from the top."

Eren couldn't take it anymore. He burst into the room. "Zoe!" he called. He stopped short, blinking in surprise. I stood on a wooden table, her arms reaching on the ceiling with a duster. My hair was slightly damp, but that could be from the water bucket that was slightly spilled on the floor.

"W-What's going on?" Eren asked, confused.

"Eren!" I greeted. "Shorty's trying to teach me how to properly clean the room. One of his strict lesson includes cleaning the ceiling and wiping the window, and squeeze the water out of a loincloth. Except when the dirty water got into my eye because I suck so bad. And you know what?! We already clean this room twice! Twice!"

"...?"

"Oi," Captain Levi said, eying him. "Shouldn't you be cleaning the upper floor?"

"Uh, W-We already finished cleaning the upper floor, sir."

"I'll take a look at the upper floor. You do this room, Eren."

"Yes, sir."

"Hello? Don't I get a say in this?" I told them. "And we already did this room twice!" Shorty gave me a look.

"Then make sure you did it right this time." he said, looking impatient. "If you insist upon this again, I will double your work."

I smiled sarcastically at his demanding tone. "Well, if you insist...my Lord."

Shorty left the room with a scowl. I held a hand on my head, looking like I'd love to push Levi into a lake.

"Well, that's quite something." He said at last. "I thought you and C-Captain Levi are..."

"What?"

"Well...I thought you guys are..."

"What?! Spill it already."

"You know what, I just want to end this now. We need to clean this room. And don't get hurt."

Eren soon regained his breath and started inhaling deeply, and stared at the direction in which Levi left while I took the loincloth and squeeze the water out of it before proceeding to wipe the window leaf. He tilted his head in thought. "I say, I know you'll think I'm crazy but...are you shorter than Captain Levi?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, when I see you standing next to him you seems smaller. I get the impression that you are shorter than Captain Levi."

I turned around sharply. "What?"

"It's just an impression," Eren explained calmly. "How tall are you?"

"Are you serious right now? What in the world you trying to do? Because if you are trying to hurt my pride, it's definitely working."

Eren shrugged in response. "Just answer the question, Zoe."

I stood silent staring at him with wide eyes. "You bully." I said in despair. "It's not my fault you are too tall!"

"Zoe..."

"A little over five foot." I confessed.

"It's official; you are the shortest on this corp." He said, grinning at me.

I crossed my arms over my chest. OMFG! I still can't believe we are discussing about this right now. "Well, if you don't have anything to say at least let me change the loincloth with some rag, because I don't think that this can be used anymore."

I sighed again. It would appear that my femininity was non-existent.

And because I was too annoyed, I decided to rush outside the door without even looking to where I walked. But it was at that exact opportune moment that Levi and I crash into each other; and behold, our lips met.

We both froze in shock, looking at one another, not moving an inch, lips still connected as we stared into each others wide eyes.