A/N: Hi and hello~! It's time to start holiday season! o(*o*)o I'll try to entertain you during vacation, and I hope my creativity will cooperate with me… :p (I need it so much 'cuz I must try to fix one story of mine which sucks xD)

So, let's begin the summer's folly with…


SAY YOU LOVE ME

[LxA — Lime (T) — SPOILER FROM MANGA! (small but significant – beware! xD) — Oneshot*]

Keep calm. Inhale. Keep calm. Exhale. It's not like I care about this. It's just a stupid, little brat to whom I got some sympathy, and we're in kind of relationship for some time (somehow it happened). It's totally okay he's got friends – all in all he's just a cadet and I am Corporal. He needs to keep some relations with his squad-mates. It's absolutely normal and IT IS okay.

Despite autosuggestion like that Levi couldn't believe himself. His eyes said that reality was a bit different.
It's normal for smiling and gentle blond one have some friends. But is it normal for friends to talk like THAT, look at each other like THAT or put hands on the other's waists?!

Levi was standing not far from the blond boy and tall, nut-eyed hunk, staring at the two. They were close, really close. Not only in friendly way, their bodies were close to each other. Of course, friends can stand like that if they're talking about some confidential stuff, but there's no explanation why they have sparkling stars in eyes or flirty-seductive (horse)face!

He's… cheating on me?

The male felt kind of pain with pound of his heart.

In fact, about two weeks ago Levi noted that his Darling (he'd never allowed himself to call the blond like that aloud) had backed away. Usually while helping in his office the boy was subtly provocative whenever they were alone. Kittenish leaning with documents, cute smile while putting tea on the desk, flirty blink of sky-blue eye, or even (in extremely cases) sitting on Corporal's lap demanding more attention – all of these (more or less) subtle acts were usually finishing with extra-hot make out, blowing action under the desk, or something more indecent ON the desk, or even with 'It's late, today we're done – let's go to my chamber'.
Levi was delighted with this behavior of the blond, that made their relationship good-working. But since two weeks all of these things just gone. As if there was always something more important, more urgent… or as if it was a play from which child had grown out.

And now he sees his Sweetheart flirting with that idiotically grinned jerk in the center of the corps' square in a daylight! That moron wants to deprive Levi Ackerman his cute blond thing. Nobody can deprive Levi Ackerman his cute blond thing!

The man rushed forward. He wanted to smash the tall cadet on the ground. This guy is really close to envy Jaeger he's been treated so gently during the trial. And the puppy-eyed will regret interactions with that dude and betrayal, when I'll go there and…!
Levi stopped for a while.

No, it's ridiculous. Levi is a decent man. Maybe a bit abnormal, but he got his position, respect and he's a grow-up male with established emotions, so he would never ever do something like approach there and release his anger by a…

SLAP

Armin put hand on his burning cheek, and looked with teary eyes at Levi who was standing between the two, as he appeared from nowhere. But the man turned already toward Jean and yelled. "You brats got too much time to spare? Good. Then you Kirstein go immediately to the toilet – it desperately needs cleaning and I was just looking for a volunteer."
"But–"
"Now!" howled the short man, and grabbed Jean's shoulder leading him away. He didn't turned back to glance at Armin even once.

Ackerman knew that the fragile boy was truly terrified. 'Quiet rage' was undeniably Levi's strongest point. The blond should prepare himself for bigger hell in his live than war with titans.


3 p.m.
The blond was punctual as a clock. When he entered to the office Corporal was sitting busy with his work, and he seemed not to notice Armin's arrival. He made a cup of tea and placed at Levi . The superior didn't react. Outright of course. The short male saw with corner of his eye that the boy's cheek was still a bit red, and felt kind of guilty. Maybe slap was too potent?
No. There's no need to feel guilty – if the brat had acted properly then there would be no need to do this.

The blond got to assort some papers. He was working quietly as usual, as if nothing had happened. But Levi felt overwhelmed his company and scolded himself for that. For goodness sake! He's 30, he shouldn't allow any kid to make him feel like that. The best soldier of Scouting Legion gets dump in the downs 'cuz of brat whom he likes is hitting to someone other? – what a shame!

"There's not much work today. You're dismissed."
Armin looked at 3 towers of files around Levi. "Umm… are you sure, Sir?"
"Do I look as if I weren't? I said you to go." responded without looking at the boy.
"Ano, Levi…" Armin's eyes met deadly-cold sight. "I-I mean Corporal Levi! Is it possible that Jean… emm, cadet Kirstein and I, while we were talking today–"
"Brat, tell me please, what is incomprehensible in 'You're dismissed'?"

Silence.

"Dismissed for today or you mean–"
"Just move your ass out of here."
"I beg your pardon, Sir." The blond bowed and went out.


At the evening Levi met the blond standing at his chamber's entrance. Hard pumping came to his chest.

"Not today." cut before Armin opened his mouth. The man approached to the door trying to move the boy away.
"But Corporal, couldn't we–"
"No."

Ackerman was closing the door behind him when the blond put his hand in and grabbed Levi's sleeve. The male wondered why hadn't he just slammed his hand.
"Have I done something wrong?" tearful voice resounded in his ears. Levi spurned Armin's hand from his sleeve, and trying to avoid big watery eyes, he took a deep breath to respond with voice as freezing as only he could.
"You've been born."

SLAM


Levi was standing at entrance to one of the rooms in the Scout's Medical Point. As soon as his injured arm was bandaged, he rushed to find out what happened with the blond cadet. He found him unconscious with his friends – Mikasa and Eren, who was lying in the next bed already awaken after titan-shifting action and was regaining his energy. Still, he was fine enough to watch his knocked-out friend, so Levi decided to stay out.

The short man leaned against white the wall, sighing and brushed his hair with his fingertips.

Last week was horrible but last few days was totally disaster. Literally.
Levi was keeping on his silently-spiteful mission when one day some scouts arrived with report about bunch of Titans approaching to the South side of Maria, so whole legion was brought to full readiness.
After long day of journey, and seeing no single Titan it appears that small bunch of Titans found some friends, and their little group turned into substantial gang (#YOLO)**.
The Scouts were forced to fight in darkness.

During the fight exhausted Armin lost his orientation among grim woods and dark fields, he was acting like a blind. Screams, rushes, clings and other sounds of the battle ringing from everywhere didn't help him. Then Titan punched in the ground just next to him. The boy miraculously wasn't smashed but he flew away, and with somersaulting as a wooden puppet landed on sharp rocks. The Titan visibly disappointed his 'toy' flew away, decided to find it, and so he did.
When he was reaching to Arlert Levi dragged the boy away, getting Titan's slap. The man hit in a tree succeeding with right arm pierced by a branch.

After division of Titan's gang, but no defeating it at whole, the withdrew was commanded. The heavily injured were taken, and who had died… was dead**. Doubtful feeling of success was dominating survivors. There was almost no single one who could skip seeing with medic. But one of the most injured was the little blond one around whom Corporal Ackerman was oscillating to keep an eye on. The unconscientious face of the boy covered with streamlets of blood was like woodprint craved into Levi's memory – whenever he closed his eyelids he saw it.

The short man realized a sigh of tiredness once again. He put his eyes up and noted Jean passing by. The man didn't miss the cadet's sight – the tall boy slowed his steps at the room and glanced into as if he was looking for precious belonging. But when he saw that patient important for him is not alone, he backed on his trail and went away.

Levi gritted his teeth staring toward walking away boy and clenched his fists what made his arm hurt. He took deep breath deciding to give up for today letting the trio stay together.


The very next morning when Levi peered into the room the blond was sitting and staring at the sunrise. The man quietly went in. Actually there was no need to act quietly – Eren's snoring was making up most of noises.

"How are you ?" asked the man as he sat at Armin's bunk.
The boy turned his face to him. Scratches on his face and bandage all around his head were saying that it could be better, but his lucid eyes showed his thought that today would be good day. Although he didn't respond, but looked down at his hands covered with pieces of adhesive tape, and smiled.
"I was sure you lost your conscientious not your tongue." The pose of nagger must be kept.
"The doc told that when my injuries and soft-concussion will be healed, I'll be okay." said the blond with unfading smile. That suspicious smile concerned Levi.
"I see you've bumped in your head really hard."
"No, I'm just happy because… you Corporal have finally spoken to me." The blond looked at the man and gave him the cutest smile he ever seen.

Ackerman felt his heart exploding with spasm of happiness.

Of course only inside. Levi's face didn't let any muscle show his admiration.

"Ano, Corporal Levi…" Armin started and glanced at Eren to ensure his friend was still asleep. Jeager was sleeping like a log. "could you tell me, but honestly!, d-do you… not love me anymore?" at end of sentence the soft voice trembled. Armin was still staring down, not bothering Levi with his sight. Maybe that's better because the man couldn't help letting through his face the wave of astonishment and confusion.
His lips shivered until he spoke with deep and composed voice "Have I ever said I love you?"

Thick silence spread through the room, interrupted only with the sound of sleeping Eren shifting on his sheets.

"I see…" said Armin with the voice lighter than whisper. He still was dumbly looking down. Levi bit his lower lip, and stood up to leave the room as soon as possible 'till his Treacherous-Sweetheart notice his crushing nerves.
"Then why did you hit me?" this question stopped the brunet at the doorstep.
"I did what would do any superior who cares about his squad's numbe–"
"I mean that day when I was talking with Jean." Levi felt the boy's eyes were hollowing into his back. "Why didn't you like me talking with him?"
"Are you suggesting I'm jealous?" snarled looking through his shoulder.

Armin sighed softly turning his face toward the window and laid down. "No. To be jealous you need to love me. And you do not… I'm sorry, I won't disturb you anymore."
Levi felt his heart sank. "You totally need to be treated." said, and left the room.


"Levi~ why are you so withdrawn lately? I mean, you're always very taciturn, and you let the other's know your thoughts only when you want, and only that ones you want… but since few weeks you're totally freak! In fact, you was always abnormal, what you admitted yourself, but this abnormality is weird even for you and–"
"Hanji, shut the fuck up." the short man was brought to the border of his patience. But merry Hanji didn't seem to be bothered.
"Something's wrong with you since last skirmish. Ah!, these Titans gave us really hard times popping out from nowhere in darkness–"
"Could you assort it up?" Levi handed the woman a file, and kept on browsing reports, trying not to pay any attention to Hanji. But she was very skilled not only in fights. She could breathe, blink, talk and work in that same time, and still watching precisely everything around her. So she was going…
"It's so sad that Titans are so inaccessible – they are kind of nice… Ah!" she bended to pick up some sheets she dropped. "By the way, Corporal, what's with that kid who usually helps here? Armin, right? He's so nice and cute~! He got injured, didn't he? I hope he got better already – no one can make you good mood as he does! You're worried about him? Hey Levi, didn't he stop coming here some time before the battle? Oooh, I see! That's why you're in so weird mood – you miss him!"

Levi felt like punch this babbling scientist but her divagations hit him too strict to the point. He was too much focused on keeping his poker-face to make any riposte.
"Your eyebrow winced." Hanji didn't miss anything.
Fuck. How could this happen? "… So what?"
"You don't do this usually, so~ – you DO like him! And that's why you're so upset? Have you had an argue?"

Levi shoot her fierce sight. How could this woman see whole these things? She was so smart or so thoughtlessly lucky? Seeing Ackerman on the edge of self-control Hanji… approached to the Levi's desk, smirked and was keeping on.
"I'm not surprised you like him. Beside he's nice, he's also making so adorable pose when he serves your tea! Kind of this…" said making flirty bend like a maid and grinned.

The male was opening his mouth to yell when the doors opened, and Armin's blonde head popped out in the slit. He eyed kittenish pose of Hanji. Then he put his sight on Levi.
"Pardon!" threw and disappeared as soon as went in.

Levi went pale. Fortunately Hanji didn't notice it cause she dashed out from the room with scream: Sweety, it's NOT like thaaat~!

The brunet leaned heavily on the back of his chair. Knowing these days kids 'till the dinner everyone will know he's dating Hanji... No. Armin is not like gossiping teenager. But even if he is, there is nothing new to worry about; since few months there's a rumor that Levi hits Hanji, so–

Wait a minute…


The blond was busy with cleaning the dishes after dinner. He was washing the last plate when he heard behind him "Armin," the boy turned his head to see Levi. "can I ask you for a moment?" The boy dried his hands and without a word approached to his superior. He didn't even noticed when Ackerman drag him to his room and sat on his bed standing over him. (One of the scarce moments when the raven-haired could feel taller than his interlocutor.)

"You made that to take revenge?" shoot directly without any preface.
"… I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Don't fuck with me! You let that tall jerk hit to you 'cause you wanted to make revenge on me for 'dating with Hanji' which is only public piece of shit – admit it!"
Armin blinked blankly few times. "I did not flirt with Jea–…"
"Cut this shit! Everyone knows he got boner to you."
"He does what!?" the boy's face was so truly astonished that Levi couldn't not-trust him.
"Eh, anyway… you heard some gossips, and believed it, didn't you?"

Armin said nothing but looked down and nodded.

Levi sighed shaking his head.

"But I didn't flirt with Jean, I didn't know he… he's, um… I didn't want to take any revenge on you, but… I just stepped back."
"Keep on, babe."
Armin took deep breath but it didn't help with lump in his throat. "I got… jealous. Everybody around talks that you and Hanji are… that you likes each other very much. And I thought that in fact I always was provocative toward you, but you yourself did nothing, so you might just… just playing with me without any deeper relation, and… and I… I wanted to see if you care about me… if I mean something to you… or if I'm just intrusive brat and nothing more. That's why I got distanced."
"To achieve what?" snorted Levi.
"Any ground." whispered clenching his hands on Levi's bed. "It's true you haven't ever said you love me or feel anything. We were basically… doing a lot of things, but there were no confesses. I didn't even know do you like it or not, so I wanted to see… how the truth is. How possibly could I do it? You wouldn't answer me if I asked."

Kiddo's right.

"I didn't supposed you're such a moron."

PAT

The brunet sat next to the blond and looked in his eyes. "The fact I hit you didn't make you think?"
"So you were jealous?" asked with small smile.

Levi's lips apart. Armin couldn't wait he hear the answer, but Levi's mouths didn't let any sound just pressed to the boy's. He laid down on the bed, feeling push of Levi's body. After couple of minutes the male broke the kiss to catch breath, and looked into sapphire eyes.

"Listen. Armin, I…" started, but didn't say anything more. Instead he sighed, and nuzzled into crock of the blonde's neck. Armin felt hot wave dashing through his body. He understood. Levi can't say anything directly by words. But he can do it by his acts, and Armin was ready to take whole this confession tonight.


* after the Office jostling case I learnt that everything is possible and from now on I reserve to myself right to make one-shot into two-shot… or even a story! :D But it depends…

** sorry ;_; I know – those inserts totally ruins the dramatic atmosphere… I can't uphold too much tension and seriousness! (but I may promise that one day I'll write for you sth "more dark and angst" :p pls, remind me if U want)

Read&Review! :3