It hadn't even gone a week when Hange and some of her squad members came to the castle. Hange exactingly told us it was time for Eren to start with his titan training. I'd lowered my eyes slightly, not finding it as exciting as Hange but at the same time I thought it would be good for Eren to get control over his powers. Hange, Levi and Eren had headed out during the afternoon after having talked about how the training would look like I supposed. The rest of the squad members had been left with me in the castle for this first time. Before they left Hange had turned to the soldiers remaining that I was in charge and that what ever I order would be carried out and then she was gone and I stood on the stairs up to the castle with a gapping mouth. I understood Hange only did it as a funny last minute thing but I didn't really see the fun in it. Fortunately for me Petra stepped in and helped me, pointing out things that could need to be fixed or cleaned in the castle.

It was close to dinner when they finally came back and I whom had sneaked out to get some air for the moment was sitting on the stairs watching as they ride to the stables and got off their horses. Erens head hang low and I guessed it hadn't gone as expected. When they came closer I smiled at them but it soon faded when I saw the bandage on Erens hands. Letting go of the broom in my hand I ran over to them.

"What happened?" I looked from Hange to Levi, demanding an answer.

"A failure." Hange simply said, sounding disappointed.

"Failure? His hands are bandaged!" I shouted. Levi tsked when he passed me as he continued towards the entrance where some of the squad members from both Levis and Hanges squad now stood.

"The brat's a soldier, he'll have to get used to far more injuries than those rat ass scratches." I turned to him, taking a grip on his arm.

"I asked what happened!" He stopped and turned around to face me. He glared down at me as I glared at him.

"You don't make the demands here, so stop with the whining or I'll have you sent back to the headquarters." His voice was cold and hard, I could tell he was angry at me but I didn't care. I was just about to answer him back when Eren spoke.

"It's alright, Valerie." I kept my eyes on Levi. "I did this to myself." With that I turned, looking at the boy with wide eyes.

"What?"

"I thought I needed to injury myself to turn into a titan." He lowered his head again, looking down at his heads and had a look of disappointment written on his face. "But it didn't work."

"Not this time anyways, well try again. It will work!" Hange chipped in with her usual intensive and hopeful voice. I looked at Erens bandaged hand, realizing he'd bitten his hand so much it started to bleed. Suddenly I felt a hand on mine and realized I still held a grip around Levis arm. He removed my grip, but kept took a grip around my wrist as I looked at him.

"You worry too much." He said with a low voice, all trace of anger gone from it.

"Can you blame me for it?" Regret and sadness filled his eyes as he let go of my wrist and turned to the entrance again, disappearing inside. I sighed; I hadn't meant it to sound so blaming towards him and regretted I'd even said it. A hand was put on my shoulder and I turned to look at Hange. She seemed to enjoy the scene she'd just witnessed as she smiled down at me, a hint of amusement in her face.

"It's refreshing seeing someone else than Erwin being able to put him in his place." She said her voice low as well so only I would hear it. "And you do it so much better!" Then she turned around to Eren. "Well, eat properly and then have a good nights sleep and then I'm sure we'll get better results tomorrow. Don't feel any pressure!" With that she continued into the castle as well. Since it wasn't me who'd prepared the dinner tonight it was already finished and for a change I could just sit down and eat. It was much livelier now in the castle than it had been the past couple of days with Hange's squad here as well. But even though all the people I didn't fail to note Levi didn't show up for the entire evening. I'd sighed, feeling like it was my fault.

"Mrs Evans, we'll take care of the washes." A man, maybe a couple of years younger than me came up to me when as I was walking towards the kitchen with a few plates and other things that needed to be washed up. Behind him two others stood; another man and a woman. I smiled gently at the three.

"It's quite alright." I told them. "I could need the time to relax for myself after this hectic day." The three looked at each other and then nodded.

"Understood ma'am. Then we'll retreat for the evening." I couldn't help but to smile wider at his politeness.

"That'll be alright Private…"
"Just call me Simon." I nodded.

"Simon then. Well good night and sleep well." The three nodded and was then on their way out of the room. I realized they were the last and suddenly it all became so quite. I took a deep breath, feeling myself relax immediately before I continued into the kitchen. Of course it took longer than usual getting all washed up and the kitchen cleaned. I somehow regretted letting someone else take care of the dinner making since it looked like a war had broken out between the ingredients in the kitchen. I don't know how long it took me to finish up but I was quite exhausted when I was done, sitting down by the table for a moment. I looked out the window, it was pitch black outside and I concluded that the evening must have turned into night by now. I turned my eyes to the kettle, reminding myself Levi hadn't come down to eat.

There was a knock on the door. Levi looked up from the papers on his desk and watched the door. Who would disturb him this late? He didn't need to wonder for long as a voice called out from outside the door.

"It's just me, please open up." Valerie's soft voice called out.
"It's open."

"I've got my hands full." He raised an eyebrow, for a moment watching the door before he stood and walked over to it. When he opened she was standing outside with a tray in her hands, a kettle and two cups as well as sandwiches. "All the food was eaten and I noted you didn't come down to eat, so…" She trailed off, looking slightly apologetic and uncertain about her decision.

A small amused smile hinted on his lips making me relax. He moved from the door allowing me to enter and I did without hesitation. Walking over to the desk I put down the tray on a paper free part of it. Not that it was hard seeing that he'd organized his papers neatly piles. I watched them for a moment before I turned to look at Levi. He'd closed the door and was now walking back to the desk. He stopped besides me, taking hold of the kettle and pouring up tea in the two cups. I smiled watching him do it with such elegance.

"Thank you." I said when he offered me a cup and sat down on the chair opposite his. He sat down in his chair, sipping on his tea in his usual unusual way of drinking. I let out a small laugh at it and he looked at me.

"What?" I leaned my head slightly.

"After all this time you still drink your tea like that. I never understood it." He looked at his hand holding the tea cup and then back at me.

"It might break." I raised an eyebrow.

"Break? How?"

"The handle." I blinked at the answer.

"It sounds like it's a history behind this but I'm unsure if I dare to ask." I answered at last sipping on my own tea with a smile. Again I could see the hint on a smile on his lips. "I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to sound so accusing." I continued when he'd put down his tea cup on the desk. He watched me for a moment before lowering his eyes.

"But you're right." I watched him with wide eyes.

"Levi." He looked up at me again, surely reacting on the despair in my voice.

"You should get some rest." Here we were again, him avoiding the whole subject.

"I'm not tired." I answered.

"You're going with us tomorrow so it's for the better." This made me blink again.
"I'm going with you?"

"The shitty four-eyes said that it might ease you're worry." I looked at him with my mouth slightly open in surprise.

"And you agreed to it?" Now he looked slightly offended.

"Do you think I had a choice?" He answered back and I couldn't help but to smile.

"You always have a choice." I told him with a smile. "Then I suppose I should get some rest." I stood was about to move towards the door to my room but stopped when I was standing just a small bit away from Levi. I looked at him again; he was leaning over the paper at his desk now. "You should get some rest to. I've seen the lights burning inside here through the door gap close to the early hours of the day." He looked up at me.

"You're really something." I couldn't help but to smile wide at that.

"So I've been told." I took a step closer, reached out my hand and brushed it light through his hair, moving it slightly to the side. I then leaned forward, lightly kissing his forehead. "Good night, Levi!" He watched me with the usual mixture of wonder and curiosity as I stood straight and turned towards the door. I closed it, leaning against it and starring out in the darkness of my bedroom. I didn't really know why I'd done it. Everything had just suddenly felt like before and I just went with it. I sighed, leaning my head against the door. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed this until now and it pained me knowing this probably wouldn't last.