Author's Note: I still do not own Shingeki no Kyojin or its characters.

Some other notes: Letter in italicizes format are for thoughts and flashback of the characters. (ex. "Blah blah blah")

Chapter 20: Waltz

A soft lulling sound echoed in the room.

Her eyes were fixated on the ground, watching her feet shuffle in a certain pattern. For a second there Hallinor thought Levi knew her feelings for him. Turns out Erwin told him that in preparation for the festival, he should teach her the waltz.

"You could have just told me, I could have thought your actions meant something else." She mumbled lowly, still avoiding his gaze.

Swaying her gently to the slow beat of the music, he replied quietly. "If I did that you would have put up a fucking fight." Exhaling softly, he raised a brow. "What did you think I meant?"

"Ah." She paused. "Nothing."

"Oi." Irritated, Levi released his hold from her and placed his hand on the back of her head. Grabbing a clump of her hair, he pulled it down making her face snap up. Now facing his scowling face, she blinked rapidly in surprise.

"Do you expect to look at your fucking feet all the time while dancing with some person at the festival?" He squinted his eyes as he questioned her sarcastically.

"I-If I don't I might step on your feet." She answered back with a stutter as she felt like melting upon his gaze.

Grunting, Levi grabbed her hand again and swayed her once more. "Just learn fast." He muttered, clearly not enjoying this as he thought it was a waste of time. Levi wanted to question Erwin that why should he prepare for a festival when there was a lot of more important matters for him to take care of. Monsters were crawling everywhere and what did the humans do to deserve a day of celebration? He was never fond of festivities. Merriment to forget a problem for a while was a waste of time. Escaping for a day, it was a gentle soothing lie to distract them.

Snarling a low growl of pain, Levi glared at Hallinor. She accidentally stepped on his foot, which broke off his line of thoughts.

Looking to the side with pursed lips, Hallinor mumbled. "I told you so."

"I'm warning you Bismarch, I'll make you regret being incompetent." His voice whispered lowly against her ear.

A streak traveled through her face. "It's not like I'm doing it on purpose, Captain."

Unsatisfied, he stopped moving and let her hand go. "Enough, we'll just continue later." Levi turned around as he massaged his temples.

Hallinor watched him walk further from her. Her grey eyes looked at his back with sad eyes. She was very good; no she was excellent at annoying him. In her head, she felt tormented. How could he ever like her if she was far from anything he liked?

Then she paused her thought. What did Levi exactly like anyway?

"Um, Levi." She called out his name softly as she blushed. Recently she had tried more to call him with his name, not just referring him as 'Captain' or 'Humanity's Greatest', but it seemed she would always turn red whenever she did so.

Sitting down on a chair, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "What is it?" He groaned in an annoyed tone.

Her voice contemplated but when Levi glared at her, she instantly blurted her question. "Do you like anyone?"

The room grew silent. Levi looked at her with those piercing grey eyes. Hallinor felt uncomfortable as she wrangled the hem of her jacket. Resting his chin on his knuckles, his eyes looked bored as his lips were pressed into a thin line. Levi remained quiet.

Fanning her hand in front of her, she turned around. "Never mind." Walking towards the windowsill, she looked outside to the setting sun. Bowing her head as if scolding herself from her stupidity. Her head swirled, why was she being silly?

Hallinor felt a mild pain throbbing in her chest. She weighed down her feelings. Maybe it was best for her to remain naïve and push those conflicting feelings away. There was no room for such foolishness in times like this. She felt scoffing at herself. She, a girl who had seen the ugliness of humans in a world of chaos had found something peculiarly beautiful.

But, he was something out of her reach. He was a man who would not dwell on such frivolous things such as love or affection.

"One more run before dinner." Levi, with forced energy, spoke as he stood up from his seat.

Turning around to look at him, Hallinor nodded obediently. Walking towards him with eyes casted down she raised her hand for him to take as her other hand rested upon his shoulder.

She didn't bother to say anything anymore. She felt defeated. Hallinor made her mind up. She would no longer think of such things towards him. There was no room for anything like that. It was for the best.

Swaying her softly, Levi watched her carefully. Her face was filled with turmoil. "Oi brat." He called.

"Hm?" She quietly muttered a sound to acknowledge him.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked as he continued to move her around the room.

"Nothing." She simply replied.

Squinting his eyes, he wasn't satisfied with her pathetic lie. But he wasn't the type who would pry on other's problems, why would she be an exception? Staying silent, he watched her vacant eyes staring blankly behind him. He noticed she had been avoiding his eyes. Levi felt irritation boil inside. He could never understand what was running through her head.

"Can we stop?" Her voice echoed softly, as if she was begging him. "I think I got it already."

Stopping his steps but remaining his hold on her, he looked down at her. "No."

Biting her lower lip, Hallinor nodded silently, letting him move her once more.

Who knew she was capable of feeling such things? Everything was so hazy to her that all her head was screaming was his name. She felt like cursing at herself.

"You are so weak." She mumbled to herself as she unconsciously bowed her head and made it rest on his chest. A while ago she had just decided to shun her feelings away, yet here she was, wondering if there could actually be something.

She didn't know what she wanted to happen in particular if she were to tell Levi about her feelings, in fact she was very frightened about it.

Love destroyed all the ones she had cared for.

Her mother paid the price for unfaithful love.

Her father drowned himself with pain from deceitful love.

Erwin continuously got hurt from stubborn love.

Would she get hurt too?

"How many times do I have to tell you, brat? Look at my eyes." He seethed with irritation.

There he was again, annoyed at her.

Looking up, to please him, Hallinor stared at him with large pleading eyes. Her mouth quivered as her lips parted to question him. "Do you hate me?"

Slightly taken a back, Levi looked at her with raised eyebrows. His eyes softened yet he remained that intense stare on her. "Yes."

Turning her head to the side, she muttered. "Oh."

"But I guess that's what makes you so amusing." He breathed out softly, not caring if she heard him or not.

She felt something inside jump as she looked back with a surprised look. "Oh, how so?" Looking at his eyes, she searched for any slightest emotions from him.

Closing his eyes as his eyebrows met in the middle, he spoke. "I don't exactly know Bismarch. Stop asking me fucking useless questions."

Clamping her mouth tight, she continued on to stare at his eyes. She felt like she was being pulled further into his spell. Oh how she wanted to question him some more, but she decided to remain quiet. Somehow, his answer made her feel better. At least she knew he didn't hate her as much she had thought so.

Leaning in closer, she secretly was enjoying his warmth. Smiling to herself, she promised to hold on to these feelings and not throw it away. Hallinor would silently enjoy this momentary happiness, till it would be taken away from her. Now she wished more than ever to time to stop for her. If only she could relish this happiness longer, but as usual, time would never stop.

Sighing softly in what seemed to be tired, Levi let her be as he felt her head resting on his chest. "Whatever that is bothering you, I hope it gets fixed soon. You sulking isn't much fun. So hurry up and get better Bismarch." He said in voice that almost sounded as if he was comforting her.

"Mmhmm," She replied silently with a nod.

Recently, Levi observed how peculiar she had become towards him. She wouldn't talk back to him and she would occasionally obey his orders. He wondered if he was doing something wrong towards her. Even though it didn't seem like him, Levi usually cared about his subordinates. He was never good at expressing himself.

"Maybe I should be easier on her." He thought in his head as he continued to sway her around. Growling inside his head, he wondered why he was being too overly concerned for her well-being. But right now, he felt weird. Levi was enjoying the closeness they had, despite his words to her a while ago. The sensation rippling through his body was foreign to him that he lost in his own thoughts.

Without realization, Levi leaned in, letting his lips softly touch her forehead in attempt to comfort her. Maybe he really did care for her, cared for her more than anyone else in the legion. A pity, Levi had no idea how much he affected her.

Hallinor stopped moving to his lead. She felt something warm touching her forehead. When it registered on her brain what he had just done, she immediately felt frozen on her spot.

"L-Levi?" She mumbled in a state of shock.

Pulling her away upon her words, Levi looked at her with a questioning look. She saw that his face seemed unfazed compared to hers. Lost for words, she wanted to ask him why he did that.

Cutting her chance to ask, Levi opened his mouth. "It's late, we're done for tonight. Go eat dinner then get some rest Bismarch." He said lowly as he completely let his hold on her go. Walking to the door, he opened it and stepped out, leaving her alone.

Hallinor stood there dumbfounded as she brushed her fingers upon her forehead. Her mouth clenched in embarrassment.

"What?"