He hates how his hands tremble. It is erratic, sometimes uncontrollable. Most of the time, it goes unnoticed by him, slightly shaking as he aims his blade at the nape of the titan but never disturbing his focus. Other times, he lets it get to him, violently clenching his fists until red crescents form on his palm, in hopes it would stop. Levi hates how his hands tremble, hates that it never stops.

It doesn't faze Petra though, always taking his hands–hands which the fear, the blood can't be washed away–in hers and bringing it to her lips. Placing gentle kisses against his calloused fingers, she tends to it like a mother to a child who's wounded. It always takes his breath away because she treats the slight but sometimes strong trembling with care and that she loves it.

He feels safe being with her, and later on, the trembling of his fingers, his hands stop.