Chapter 7:

Still in My Heart This Moment or It Might Burst

-x-

It had been a few months after what had happened and Levi was happy to see that Hanji has been better. He had tried his best to try to avoid her so he could give her some space that she needed since he knew that it is unforgivable to violate your comrade that way and yet she had given him a chance. She would still wave and smile at him everytime she's going to see him and would give his shoulder a squeeze but if there would be even fewer people around, she would give his hand a squeeze instead of his shoulder.

She was incredibly nice and exceptionally great from the way she had captured the hearts and will of the higher ups the previous day about arm conference regarding the 'inner and personal conflicts' that the Recon Corps and the Military Police are having together and has not yet been solved up until now. She had proposed ways and projects that could lead two great groups of soldiers to serve the human race as they work together with their differences. Her speech and proposals earned a thunderous applause and agreement from the supreme commander and she couldn't be even grateful, Erwin especially. He was so proud of her being smart and having her in the Corps.

Levi watched her with great enthusiasm and had held solid gazes in between her speeches since she feel like she can focused more knowing that he is paying attention. Secretly, she had wanted to try practicing her speech in front of him naked but he refused to even have sex with her for four nights before. She had also observed how he had avoided her completely and she didn't like it.

After the speech and the other meetings that she had with the supreme commander and the head leaders of the Military Police, she finally had the chance to talk to Levi but of course, she had him by surprise so he wouldn't be able to say 'no' to her. She immediately went to his room one night, a day after her meetings and conferences with the Military Police and with Erwin.

When she opened his bedroom door, he was lying on top of his bed and looked shaken up. His eyes were closed and he is taking slow average breathing, his hair disheveled. If she could only say it, she would have told him that he looked really cute. Instead, she jumped on top of him and strangled him.

"What the fuck!?" he yelled and fought back cautiously.

She roared and took a hold of his wrist down but he managed to exchanged positions with her so he ended up being on top of her. Both of them catches their breath as they stared at each other's eyes not until Levi realizes the position that they were having and removed himself on top of her and sat beside her instead.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, voice low and not looking at her.

Hanji was laughing and sat on her place. "I came here to see you, since you were avoiding me."

Levi didn't said anything nor even moved. Hanji crawled to him and places her arms around him. He didn't moved as she do so, so it is alright to hug him then she thought.

"Be careful Levi, you might really won't be able to talk me again like before if you kept doing that you know?" she warned and Levi glares at her hard. First, he thought that she might think that that he will violate her again but he bit the inside of his mouth and held his breath. He never wanted that to happen since they were the only ones who listens to each other the most but her words to him placed a harsh pang of pain on his chest.

"What the fuck are you saying now shitty four eyes?"

"You don't know, I might be gone soon and you might never get to talk to me again and you'll regret avoiding me for nothing." It was like she was testing him again whether he will violate her again forcefully or not, but he didn't show any sign of wanting to violate her anyway.

"Stop saying such shit."

"Stop avoiding me. I know it's because of what had happened but come on! Get over it already!" she whined and hugged his arm tightly. "It was actually really nothing Levi! And I kind of, really miss you already." She shyly murmured.

"It wasn't just nothing Four Eyes! It wasn't!" he insisted and let that out a bit in a surprisingly higher note. He what he had done to her a lot. Just seeing even a tiny glimpse of blood makes him shiver and even in his sleep, he is still being haunted by what he had done to her. Nevertheless, he had realized a couple of things with what he had did to her; first is that it is better if both of them would enjoy sex together, not just having only one of them enjoy it alone and second is that with her open and forgiving heart, he can't ignore the feeling and erase the thought that she would make a very nice and loving mate if she ever she is to become a lover to someone.

Whoever that bastard is, that person if fucking fortunate.

He had already accepted the fact that he is not the one for her since they share a lot of differences. Just from their backgrounds and personalities, people will frown onto them if they are to be together. That thought made him dizzy and shot a pang of pain thru his chest. But then he also saw the image of Georges getting cozy and locking his lips with Hanji and he instantly tightened his grip onto the bed sheet.

Whether he still thinks that part of him is crazy everytime he will think about it but he really doesn't want that to happen. As much as he wanted Hanji to have the free will to be happy and in love, he still can't accept it if he is to see her with somebody else's arms. He wanted to see her smile and laugh because of him, not because of someone else.

Hanji backed a bit when Levi raised his voice to her but the sudden shift of his eyes with torment to a more softer one melted her heart. She saw that he is still haunted by what he had done to her but she wanted to liberate him from such deadening state. She is not used seeing him act this way, awkward and wary and she desperately wanted back what they have before, a casual and strong bond between two comrades in arms.

Levi lifts a hand and places it on top of her head, his fingers rubbing her scalp and he sighed. She doesn't have any idea that he is haunted of her sobbing face whenever he sees her and reminds him of her trembling body when he comes near her.

"Promise to get over it?" she asks and playfully kisses his jaw, not removing her cheek to his.

He shrugged. "Fine." He snorted as she laughed.

They had talked a lot during the time at her speech (and she even teases him how he looked so tensed but cute while she talks), how they are doing since they feel like they missed a lot from one another and headed back to her room.

Hanji would never ever allow Levi to feel bad, most especially if she is the reason since she had long vowed that she will make his friend happy at all cost because he too deserves to smile, after experiencing growing up in a harsh way. He may have hurt her a lot but that was only one time and it'll be the last and she knows it. She found it easy to forgive him and move on because she knows he is very sorry and too was hurt of what he had done to her. He was a great friend and an ally who she can never really bear to go just easily out of her life.

Levi in turn fixed himself on his bed. Absently, he smiles to himself thinking how things will be better now, now that he feels better of being near her again. He doesn't feel bothered anymore and would think more of the friendship and bond that they have.

He lay by his bed and thought of how Hanji showed her interest with Georges throughout their entire previous mission. Instead of filling worried, he thought how she desperately wins him back even if she was the one who got hurt. He is convinced that she too is experiencing more than just friendship for him, he hoped. His hand went well together on top of his movement of his stomach as the other is at the back of his head, combing his own hair absently.

He knew he shouldn't feel worried sick and shit but he can't have it remove out his chest. First of all, she was his comrade. But not just any other comrade, his other mind reminded him and the pictures of her smiling absently as she sleep after their love making or the way she settles her head on his, the feeling of her hand hugging him by his waist and pulling him closer to her body suddenly came to his mind and he groaned in anger.

In his mind, they acted like more than comrades, more than just friends. At night they acted like mad lovers losing their minds over each other but at sun rise, they are nothing but professional comrades. It sounds and feel so wrong but he doesn't want it to end or to stop so suddenly.

His hand went to his chest, the part where his beating heart is and closed his eyes, feeling its every beat. He tried to feel if it's desire inside so it could help his mind to think but nothing came.

He rolled on the other side of the bed, facing the wall and grabbed a pillow to hug it. It was too soft, unlike Hanji who is perfectly balanced in all sort of ways. Not too soft nor hard, her framework making her a bit hard to hug but her skin and flesh balances her hard framework, but definitely really great to hug, to embrace and lock to his arms. How he wished it was her who he is embracing at the very moment.

He tried to think of the bitter reality, that it not just lust that he feels for her. Surely there is concern and protectiveness, a feeling of friendship and comradely but he sure is feeling that there is something more that is why he is feeling such a different and odd feeling right now and finds himself confused of the probable truth.

Somehow in the back of his head, as he tried to sleep, he hoped that she too, is experiencing and feeling the confusion that he is feeling.

-x-

Hanji had been recently an hour earlier than her usual wake up time and finds herself enjoying breakfast with Georges. He would be the one to get her her food and would indulge with such comfortable conversations afterwards, Hanji had been recently an hour earlier than her usual wake up time and finds herself enjoying breakfast with Georges. He would be the one to get her her food and would indulge with such comfortable conversations afterwards, they would go to her laboratory and study some plants and insects that they think were needed to be studied further. By the time Levi goes down to the hall and eat breakfast, she was nowhere to be found already.

Before lunch and at afternoon, Hanji would be busy with her research on the titans as Moblit helps her around, as well as her squad, no more needing of Georges and his wit.

"I hope you could be a part of my team too Georges, you really are interested in find the answers almost into everything and your determination to help me was really nice." She told him one day when she was about to go and have her research on the titans.

"Me too Squad Leader, I really hope so too." He smiled warmly at her and she flushed.

An idea came to her head and she immediately got back to her usual self. "M-mmaybe I could talk to Erwin about it! Who knows, I might have you in my squad! Everyone will love you!" she giggles.

Georges' lips turned into a straight smile and crept up to her slowly. He took her into a surprise embrace and her eyes widened in surprise. She stiffened on his embrace and since he is taller than her, her face landed of his chest and heard how his heart beating. She listened carefully and closed her eyes in concentration and found her arms coming to lock in his neck. "I wish that could really happen, Squad Leader." Georges whispers to her ear as he pulled her tighter into his embrace. Luckily, no one is around her laboratory except them.

"Hey Four Eyes!" It was Levi's voice and he suddenly pushed opened her laboratory door and in a quick second, the both separated at each other's arms, face red and looked at Levi.

Levi couldn't believe what he had just saw. He had never saw Hanji hugged Moblit or anyone else in her squad, maybe Mike before and Erwin but that was really once and he sure knows that she only hugs him, and only him. His eye twitched in disbelief as his hands balled hard on his clothes and a lump forming his throat. He can't find his voice and didn't said a word.

It was Hanji who broke the eerie silence first. "H-hhey Levi!" Hanji smiled at him and waved a little then scratched her head.

"G-good afternoon, Heichou." Georges bowed politely and saluted at him.

"Nothing's good in the afternoon if you're here at the laboratory when I am supposed to have a fucking conversation with Hanji, Georges." He said coldly at the young man. The moment he heard it, his smiled turned down and excused himself out of the laboratory. His head was a bit down but he did gave Hanji a sad smile and a slight bow.

Hanji watched him go out of her laboratory in a worried face. Right after he closes the door, she went to glare at Levi. She approached him and slapped his face hard. Twice.

"That's for me and for Georges. What the hell is your problem?" she asked him, her voice a bit high and sure is frowning at him. "Doesn't mean that we can do a lot of things together means you are free to do anything you want with anyone close to me and especially him. I can see how much you despise him even if he had never done anything wrong to you even if I don't get it at all." She turned her back against him and continued on her work.

Levi was astonished. He was just slapped by Hanji on the face, twice. And she did that because of what he had done and because of that asshole? Had she even slapped anyone because she was protecting him of some sort? He can't believe that she just did that to him. He felt his cheek grew hot and he scrubbed his palm on his cheek. He didn't blink nor even moved from where he was standing.

After a couple of minutes of touching his burning cheek, shrugged and came to her side, watching her work. "He is my problem Hanji. The moment he came here, all he knew was just to flirt around and show how fucking chivalry is supposed to be and now he had the balls to hug a squad leader! Who the fuck does that?" he said mockingly. He doesn't really know if the slap hurts more than her words.

Hanji stiffened and looked at the floor, gathered her energy and said "he does."

Levi rolled his eyes in disgust. "So you're okay with that? How about you show him a bit of authority, to know that he can't just easily grab you all the time and shit Hanji." He didn't mean to sound offensive but fuck, he needs to make her stop cuddling with that guy.

"He still does respect me Levi and whatever it is that we have, it's none of your business." She retorted back. "Who do you even think you are to act like all boss and shit Levi? It doesn't mean that you're the Recon Corps mighty Captain and the World's Strongest Man you can act up all boss and shit with everyone around you! I'm telling you Levi, it's not a decent attitude. Through the years I've been with you, I have always respected and admired you in all angles but if you're going to keep this up with Georges, I fear that I might no longer talk to you again." Her words sure did sting him that much that his eyes soften but her point is that, who the fuck is he to get mad at her just like that? She understands that he might just be concerned about her but he still should back off between her and Georges issue, like how Georges doesn't give a crap about whatever it is that she and Levi has.

"Look, I really understand your concern towards me but you really are getting too much now between me and Georges. It doesn't mean that we are able to fix a couple of problems between us means you are free to act like a total asshole again Levi." The way she pronounced his name with that statement of hers felt he is directly being degraded.

Levi no longer answered back, it's not his intention to suddenly go on with his raging self-tonight but when those words came out of Hanji's mouth, that he shouldn't give a fuck with what's going on between her and Georges and about him being an asshole, he suddenly felt a lightning struck him down. He knows it shouldn't pinch him and make him feel a bit of a pain but it was enough to make his heels turn back and go out.

"Don't mind about what I said." He lowered his head a bit, enough for his hair to cover his eyes for fully showing how he was saddened about her words to him. "I am sorry I disturb you." With no looking back at her to see of how she had reacted, he made his way towards his squad outside without even glancing back at her.

-x-

Hanji sighed as Levi made his way out of her laboratory, knowing that she said something that made Levi acted like that all of a sudden. In truth, he never showed some attitude like that like he was turned down or disapproved but it was enough to make her rethink of what she had said and done. When she think over it, she didn't found anything wrong with anything. She said the truth, that he doesn't care about her and Georges and that she is still being respected by that man and about him being an asshole, which she kind of regretted.

So what could possibly have gone wrong? It was also right for her to somehow defend the innocent man from being showered and being treated like some criminal where in fact, he never even laid a finger towards Levi and to remind him to at least stay humble as well.

Maybe, just maybe, that Levi was just a bit over protective towards her or was too concern for her, maybe those were the reasons why he was getting angry all of a sudden. But the way he spoke at her about Georges and his actions and the way he spoke, he couldn't… he couldn't be jealous is he?

Hanji shook her head hard and laughed a bit her sudden thought. Where did she get that from? She shouldn't be thinking of something that couldn't really happen and why would Levi be jealous in the first place? He doesn't love her, does he? She perfectly knew that he fancies Petra and even assured that to Nanaba so she would quit asking about her new scent from the previous one, which was a combination of hers and Levi now which before, she has her own different scent. She actually wonders how her own scent smelled like.

She was perfectly sure about that conclusion of hers, that Levi does fancy Petra a lot. The way he looked at her everytime they're together, how he admires her tea and how she slay titans like she doesn't look like one who could actually kill one, and how they actually looked cute together.

She suddenly stopped on her steps when she thought about that. She is sure about that, nothing more. She did doesn't know about Olou if he knows that but she too is aware that Olou really, really like Petra and was even very loud about it.

Just that. Period. He looked better with Petra, not with her, and she convinces herself about the truth of that.

But still, she suddenly lingered his touches and remembered how they make love during night time, how he leans in her kisses and how lose his self-inside of her. Despite the fact that they have agreed to keep it low and nothing serious regarding their sexual relationship, she felt suddenly that she can't actually… lose all of it. In fact, she trembled as she thought of Levi no longer wanting her, no longer seeing her as a useful comrade.

But why would he want to only make love with her and no one else? What did it mean during their day times together, just like the recent when he sneaked around the stables just to tell her be careful and tell her how valuable she is for the Recon Corps, even more valuable than him? Just like the time inside her room where he suddenly grabbed her by the wrist, cuddled with her and then tucked her to sleep, what did it mean to him exactly? And why would he do such a thing if he only sees her as a comrade who he can set his manly urges upon with?

She slapped her forehead with some papers and shut her eyes.

Damn it, she never wanted to ever think about that, again. Ever.

It's making her confused and didn't want their relationship to just easily be gone all of a sudden.

Levi is a great and important part of her in all aspects of her life, from the very moment that they have known each other. And she had always vowed not to disappoint him, even if it would mean to make her sad.

-x-

The day had sucked because of what had happened inside Hanji's laboratory. Despite his sudden flare, he hoped that he didn't let himself gave a clue that he might actually be falling for her and that he is already being too possessive towards her. He didn't want to lose her in an unexpected day but he still can't find the truth within himself. He still feel confused if it's really that awful feeling of love is what he is feeling for her but no matter how much he denies it, he knew perfectly that he is indeed already falling for her, and he can't do anything to stop what he is feeling.

Whenever she's around, his heart beats fast within his rib cage, making him acquire tiny bits of sweat on his forehead sometimes, finding himself more speechless in most desperate times that she is talking to him just like the other day when Hanji was asking about his secrecy of his that it's too delicious and too hard to get over with and all he just did was to stare at her with dumbfounded eyes and she in return, looked at him with baffled eyes. He of course was not able to give her the answer that she's longing for since it seemed like she was talking with some crazed guy and when he realized that he already looked like some kid staring in pure awe at some mascot, he turned around and made a fussing sound, hands tightly gripping his shirt. Just why in the world would he feel so nervous around her when he hugs he naked, enters her and kissing her everywhere where most people cannot do to their comrades?

He didn't want to lose her for a wrong impression that he is already in pursuit of her affections but ironically, he can't still say that he isn't in a move of not pursuing her against Georges. He is fully aware of the guy's intentions through his actions and willingness to be around Hanji all the time that he is always asking from Mike and the rest of his squad about Hanji. Having his eye twitch involuntarily without forcing it to do so is one of the signals that he doesn't like it when some guy is around her, most especially Georges.

He tried to hide his feelings and thoughts about her away and if only he could bury it, he will do so but fuck it was just so hard. No matter how much he wanted not to think of her and focus on something else, he finds himself in a worse state of doubling his longing for her even more. Just by the moment he see her early in the morning, after taking breakfast with Georges and she would smile at him, his desire of forgetting her would already be blown away and get his old feelings back of what or how he should manage to keep his real feelings for her.

When she smiles at him, he would immediately walk away but he will smirk to himself, knowing that she was the first one who greets him and if she was the one to look at him for something she would need to ask, he would play hard to get so he can get to keep her company even longer and most of all, he will press his lips harder on hers if she sneaks a kiss and caress her skin when she hugs or touches him.

Unfortunately, recently, she hadn't done any sneaky kiss or hug at him and is usually mentally absent when he's around her, making him initiate some first moves on her which was one morning at the stables, waiting for her which was a success and cuddling and checking her reaction paper which greatly surprised her one evening before tucking her to sleep. In turn, he felt so happy that he almost got the horse that she used killed for throwing the poor creature too much food and was not able to sleep properly when he slept with her that night, finding himself busy caressing her from her shirt and the features of her face.

Then, things got a bit unexpected when she suddenly argued with him about Georges after seeing him hugging her which definitely made him shiver in anger and argue with her about being 'respected', as she tells him that he is not all high and mighty and shit and worse, that she threatened him that if he keeps his fucked up attitude to Georges, she will no longer talk to him. He first doubts that she can't do and stand for the words she just thrown at him but knowing her, she always does whatever it is that she said and vowed. But the fact that she had said those words about someone who she barely knows, telling it to him who she really knows for years was a fucking pierce in the ears and jab on the chest.

Afterwards, he finds himself lurking in his own dark bedroom, sitting at the edge of his bed, staring at the towel that he kept from Hanji that night, the very towel he used to wipe her from the blood she shed because of his selfishness.

Looking at it made him realized how he longed for the feel of her lips on his, her burning touches that cause electric pulses on his skin making him alert all in a sudden and just simply smile at him, all just for him, a smile that he knows that she does only to him. He was always too anticipating in all aspects of her and now he realized that maybe he has gone too much. He wanted to apologize but if he did, it's like he is already giving her up to Georges.

Dinner passed and he ate with his squad as he sat there physically present but mentally absent. He absently took a few spoonful of food, watch his squad talk and tease each other and calls it a night. He took a shower right immediately, staying there for more than his usual times of staying there.

Now that the fucking day is about to end, he wanted to sleep immediately but can't find the feeling within him. Instead, he had her towel in his hands, the one that he used to wipe the blood she shed because of him. He had kept it and washed it, even if he couldn't understand why he did such weird thing but he felt like it so he did.

He lay at his bed and placed his arm on his forehead, looking for the feeling of sleepiness to find him and kiss him to sleep but he is not even too tired to even feel asleep at all. He's still attentive mind continued to be awaken when his door creaked open. He immediately stood by his elbows and placed Hanji's towel under his pillows.

"It's fucking late at nigh-" he started but stop midway when he saw who it was.

Her eyes fell down on the figure on top of the bed. She felt a sudden tremble on her feet and need to find her balance by the door to keep her standing still.

"I'm sorry about-" she started and gulped down a lump on her throat hard, eyes looking down in humiliation. "About a while ago. I had gotten too much with my emotions." She continued, searching for his face for an answer or even forgiveness from his eyes but found it a bit hard since he has always been too expressionless and shit.

Levi adjust himself on his bed, squirmed and untangled his legs from the blankets. He just stared at her for a couple of seconds and realizing that she hasn't been forgiven she decided to go and sleep on her own room. "That's all" she stated, turning around and held the door tightly open and placed her foot by the doorway, about to leave. "Sorry to bother you."

When she thought that she could already leave the very room of Levi that is giving her the creeps, she was halted by a tight grip on her wrist. She turned her head to see the familiar blank grey eyes of Levi and tried to give another shot of pulling her wrist towards his direction.

He was standing still, pulling her from the wrist and when he finally succeeds of making her place a few steps inside the room, eyes filled with worry, he closes the door gently and locks it. She watched in a bit of fear since it only means one thing, now especially that he might want a request in order for him to accept her apology.

"Sit and take off your shoes." He ordered and slightly pushed her on the bed and she sighed in disbelief. It's not that she didn't want to but she doesn't feel like doing it tonight at all, and that sex is not the answer for forgiving and or accepting an apology.

Once her butt made contact with their soft mattress of his bed, she quickly fixed herself and eyed him carefully, eyes following his move as he too, went up on top of his bed, hands grabbed a hold on her slender waist with caution and pulled her lightly, very carefully as though he might break her rib cage if he didn't. He didn't want to scare her or make her tremble, but he intended to make her feel comfortable around him not just for sex but let her know that she can actually do other things with him as well.

Her back was pressed on Levi's mighty chest and she could swear that she could feel his heart beating fast, but why? What is he up to anyway?

Slowly, his hands alternately massaged and rub her stomach lightly as he glued his face on her cheek. Hanji smiled, feeling the hot breath of Levi on her neck and cheek and she closed her eyes in contentment as he rubbed her stomach just the way she wanted him to do. She doesn't know why he is doing something like that tonight but it's making her feel a bit ticklish and warm at the bottom of her stomach, and she didn't want him to stop. It's not so often that Levi does a thing but just recently, he's been acting a bit strange, getting all too cuddly on her and not doing sex or leading her into one.

She let out a chuckle and Levi smirked and gave her a warm kiss on the cheek. She wanted to feel his ever glorious hair so she bend her neck a little so she could slightly see him, and had her hand caress his hair as he tucked his face deeper to her shoulder line below her neck. They stayed absently like that for a while, Levi embracing her, caressing her abdomen as she gave his hair a few stroke and had her thumb and index finger form circles on top of his head, giving him relief that she is not calmed down and is alright that he is doing something like that to her.

"Something you wanted to talk about, Levi?"

He didn't gave her an answer but he did tightened his hold onto her. He inhaled her scent and she only heard how his breathing deepened along her ear.

She sighed, he is really hopeless.

"You know," she started, hoping to stir out any emotions from him and say something so she could go back to her room and sleep. "If you want it, just say so." She finished but did not looked at him. She's not sure if what she had just said was right, since he doesn't seemed like even asking for a single round tonight but she just, just wanted to know and be sure that he really doesn't want.

A couple of minutes passed but he refused to say even a single word and Hanji only breathed normally as she could, removing all the tense and pressure within her body while Levi continued to do his caressing towards her.

"I just... want you to stay, Hanji" he abruptly whispers onto her ear, causing her to widen her eyes in surprise and wonder. He never said that he wanted her to stay with him, not through words. He had always had a hard time expressing his thoughts, most especially his inner ones and even if she was the only person who he could talk with more personal and serious matter with, he still finds it hard to deliver his thoughts to her through words.

Usually, after they made out and they would pant so hard, he never leaves as quickly as her. If they are doing it on her room he won't leave easily but when they do it on his room, she'll get too anxious even if she's already too tired after their love making and what the day has brought her to feel extremely tired, she'll quickly stretch her arms and reach for her clothing on the floor. Levi would quickly drape an arm around her thin waist and hold at it as much as he can so she won't go anywhere. By that, both of them knew that he wanted more time with her.

"But I still have something to do Levi." Is what she would always say but he wouldn't let go of her and she won't be able to do anything about it. After the struggles and endless squirms under his locked arms on her waist, she would sigh in defeat and return back to bed with him and look at him questioningly. Sometimes, she would give him an annoyed look but if she is in the mood, she would tease him a lot until the both of them adjust themselves to where they are most comfortable with and sleep. He loved how she tickles him unaware when she combs his hair with her fingers when he lays on top of her or when she leans on his embraces and feel her head by his beating heart as he scrubs her back lightly and she would play her fingers on his chest.

But right now, the scene is different than they usually have and he is unsure to himself what he could be doing right now to her is enough to make her understand that he wants her to be with him tonight, regardless if there would be sex or not and about what had happened earlier the day between them.

He tightened his embrace on her and rubbed his cheek very slowly on her shoulder and shut his eyes tight. Even if he knew that she would refuse, he is still hoping that she would that she wanted to.

What he doesn't know was she smiled under his strong grasp and traced his forearm as light as a feather that made him open his eyes and search her face. She smiled at him and he melted, it was just astonishing. He can't help but smirk even if he is not sure of her possible answer for him.

"I will, if you tell me why first" she dared, eyes teasing him.

His eyes turned to her but soften when he didn't answered again. What should he tell her? That he wanted her for himself and makes him feel like he wanted to cut the head of Georges when she's around him and that she should only be extra cuddly with him and nobody else? Fuck with that. He would rather sex her up all night or just embrace her with his might and won't let go until the morning sun rises but he can't say that. If she finds out that he is feeling for her is starting to get worse and higher than a fuck buddy, he might lose her.

No, he will surely lose her. She looks like she's already having a liking with that Georges and if he blurts out his feelings for her, she might not like it and cut their 'relationship' all of a sudden, and he can't take that, not now. Not now that he longs for her even more, not now that he feels like he needs her every now and then, to touch her and feel her warmth, hear her laugh that will instantly remove all of his bad vibes away, not now that he thinks he is falling for her, hard.

He shivered. He never knew that he could feel such feeling of serenity and alien feeling that he never felt to anyone before was possible to happen at this very moment. Now that it is happening, he can't seem to let go of it.

He heard her sighed and he returned back to reality and he panicked in the inside. "You sure are impossible Levi" she whimpered and turned to look at him before crawling towards his pillows. He looked surprised but his eyes didn't wander anywhere else, only to her moving figure.

"I'll stay here alright, even if you won't tell me why. So come here." She stretched out her arms after making herself comfortable on his pillows and stared at him. She smiled lightly and even moved her fingers to come and join her there. She no longer cared of his reasons because remembering how she bust through his door when she needs him and just hug him there without telling what the reason was after asking her a few times what had happened, he would just caress her and make her feel welcome and comforted even without telling him the real reason why she is asking like shit. So this time around, she wanted to return the same feeling of comfort that he needs even if he doesn't tell her why, grateful for those times that she had done the same.

She was happy when he smirked and crawled on top of her and placed his head below her chin. She locked him in a soft embrace and rushed her hands over his back to caress it. She smiled, he is like a huge baby on top of her who wanted to be comforted tonight.

No matter, he is her friend and there will be no way for her to allow him to go to sleep with a troubled mind. If this is the only way he could relax, then fine she will give it to him. They have shared all sorts of things together and this light one is not an exception.

She had always cared for him, and wanted him to have the best in the world, no matter what it could be.

-x-

Hanji woke up not seeing Levi's face beside hers but felt something heavy on her stomach. When she reached down to touch what it was, she felt a familiar hair and soft skin.

It was Levi, head settled perfectly on her abdomen, one hand on her waist, gripping on her shirt. She smiled, the look and feeling was so cute and waking up having his head on her stomach was really a new feeling of contentment and giddy happiness for her. She hoped she could wake up like this again, it was just tantalizing. Most of the time, if they fall asleep on each other, they would find themselves in each other's embrace, not in the other's stomach. But it was too sweet to even ask him to move away.

All she could do was just look at how he settles his head on her stomach and feel the new odd feeling of serenity that she is getting from a simple thing that he is doing, in just simply resting his head there. When he moved and groaned and opened his eyes, he pulled his head away a bit but placed it there back again and embraced her from there. She gasped and then chuckled to herself.

"You look like you're awake, shitty glasses." He said without taking his head off her abdomen. He feels partly embarrassed that's why he can't meet her gaze. It was his first time to ask something like this from her and she abides so willingly.

"Hmm, yeah. But I still want to lay down a bit more." She mumbles and continued to grasp and play on his hair.

Levi smiled on his embrace. He has her now and hoped she won't be gone away from him for the rest of the day. It was raining outside and the coldness that it brought is too perfect for this scenario, perfect cuddle weather.

Levi was very pleased of having Hanji stayed extra long inside his room early in the morning, perfect for cuddle weather. He loved how her stomach goes up and down on his nose and would give it light kisses, appreciating her firm stomach. He wouldn't deny that he does memorize her body in every inch of it but he never gets tired of it, even to her mind and her presence. He loves being with her and he just wished the time could stop so she wouldn't worry about work but just the two of them, it would be pretty nice.

"No drills today or cleaning outside. No practices and other shit to be done." Levi says as Hanji listens. "So you better stay here." He cleared out.

"But I still have to finish something." She said softly and tucked a hair into her ear.

Levi gritted his teeth. He is always in against work for her attention. Somehow, he wished he is her duty to finish and focus with for the entire day. He smirked, he would like that. If only she doesn't have to work hard to eliminate the titans. Her research is always an important part of the Corps and they would do everything to help her out. If only there are no titans to focus with, maybe things would be a little better for them both.

"How about I just stay here for one more hour then I'll go?" she asked, finding a way to attend to his desires as well.

"No. Make it two and a half. There are less works for you today outside and you can surely adjust your time and work well for whatever it is that you need to finish inside your lab."

Hanji pouted. She did said that she liked what she is feeling right now and she can't just leave it all away, most especially that the weather is perfect for cuddling. The way he groggily nuzzle his nose unto the skin of her stomach made her hold her moan but had her fingers caress him for appreciation for his killing affectionate little actions.

"Two hours. Moblit will get worried once he finds out that I am not in my room and look for me everywhere."

"I don't give a fuck about that. It's his job to get worried all over you anyway."

"But I hav-"

She stopped when she felt the lips of Levi travelling along the skin of her stomach, tracing it, licking it and then kissing it again afterwards. He knew that it always drives her crazy when he kisses her in the middle of her stomach as he also wordlessly expressed to her what she's going to miss after leaving him in such great weather.

"Fine. Seems like I can't do anything about it. Two hours is okay." Better than nothing, he thought.

Hanji smiled and tucked his head deeper into her stomach. "Thank you, Levi" she whispers before shutting her eyes to sleep.

Thinking how funny it is, realizing that it was only Levi who she could feel happy and content with this kind of thing.

-x-