Levi nervously approached the Mess-Hall the next morning. The shade beneath his eyes seemed to grow the closer he got to the wooden doors. As he made his way to the veteran's table, Erwin managed to catch his attention.

"Levi. I have some important business to attend to in the Capital. Please ensure that the new recruits complete their tasks and if possible, demonstrate how to properly clean their 3DMG. I should be back by tomorrow afternoon."

Levi nodded, his eyes looking beside Erwin at you, laughing at Hanji's psychotic arm flailing as she excitedly described some new experiment she wanted to try on Bean. Erwin, seeing that the Captain wasn't paying attention, turned around to see where the raven-haired man was staring.

"LEVI! Are you listening?"

Erwin's voice cut through Levi's daydream, booming across the table. You looked up to find the two men apparently staring at you. "Uh…Erwin? Why are you shouting? It's too early!" Levi ignored Erwin and in a shocking act of insubordination, tried to brush past his Superior Officer without even acknowledging his order.

Erwin frowned at Levi, physically standing in front of you. "Levi. Attend to your duties. Stop daydreaming. That is an order."

The final word broke the spell, Levi jerked his head up and looked at Erwin. A faint blush of shame blossomed upon his face. "My…apologies...Sir. Something caught my eye. I will attend to the recruits at once."

Seeing Levi was about to leave, you stood to say goodbye. As you pushed your seat back, the small man's eyes widened and he rushed away, boots stepping sharply on the cold stone floor.

Tears quickly filled your eyes. You rubbed at them, mortified that you should feel upset. You were considered one of the guys, one of the tough ones. Weren't you known to be nearly as strong as Levi himself? A hand rubbed your shoulder- "Hey what's wrong? Are you ok?" Hanji's hair tickled as she wrapped her arms around you, squeezing comfort into you.

"I don't know what's wrong with him? He's acting fucking weird and I hate it, I hate how cold he's being and I'm starting to hate him! He cannot think he can treat people this way and still have them care about him, sad background or not!" Tears trailed down your cheeks. An anxious Erwin handed you a handkerchief to dry your cheeks. "Thanks Erwin. I apologise for my outburst."

The blonde man smiled at you, patted your arm lightly. "Don't worry. It's alright. We all have to have an outburst sometimes. Hanji maybe you should speak to Levi? I would, but as you know I have urgent matters to attend to." Hanji nodded.

"Of course Erwin. I'll find out what's bugging him." Nudging you, she continued. "In the meantime, I think you should get ready, remember, you have your quarterly meeting with the Military Police, remember."

Standing up, you went to follow Erwin out of the hall, when Hanji pulled you back. "I'll speak to Grumpy, see what's bugging him. Have fun ok?" With a wink, she practically kicked you out of the room.

Your breathing calmed down as you shut your bedroom door. Flopping onto your bed, you allowed a tiny smile to break upon your face. "Have fun? Jesus Hanji, hold it together." The sounds of the Commander's horse thudding across the ground soothed you. Such a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat.

Thuddump-thuddump-thuddump, fading into the distance. "Better get my stuff ready." Groaning at the thought of this horrendously long boring meeting about recruitment quotas and the usual arguments over jurisdiction, you heaved yourself up. "Ah well, it's gotta be done. Maybe Short-Arse will be in a better mood when I return."

Levi watched from his bedroom window as, a short while later, you climbed onto Calliope, your chestnut mare. Turning around, you fixed a large pack that was secured behind you. It caught Levi's eye, before your horse shimmied so her hindquarters were out of his line of sight.

He knew you loved to ride, loved letting the wind catch your hair, the smell of the horse's sweat, the special sound of the hooves drumming across the ground. He watched as you leaned forward, kissing Calliope between her ears, before laughing loudly and setting off at a gallop. He heard your voice on the wind- "Wohooooooo, come on girl!"

His voice was a whisper as he spoke to himself- "Why did she have a backpack with her? Her duties are with the MP, why would she bring a pack?"

Biting his lip, he frowned, deep in thought before burying his head into his hands. "Why didn't I say goodbye? I'm such a shit. I treat her like shit."

Suddenly a thought struck him, so powerful he physically gasped. "I've got it. No more bullshit. When she comes back…."

Showing rare excitement, Levi grabbed a pencil and a sheet of paper. He closed his eyes, gathered his thoughts…and let his pencil do the talking….