Two weeks later

"To the future," Eld said, clinking his mug against hers. Petra smiled as Gunther and Oruo echoed their second in command. More clinks, and then everyone drank. Petra coughed when she was done, and wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. If Levi could see this now, he'd be absolutely shocked. Disgusted, even. Tch, he'd say. He'd call her an undisciplined brat. And she would only shrug and smile slyly, waiting to be alone with him to tease him, to watch him fumble with his emotions as he took her into his arms.

"We'll miss you, Pet," Gunther said. His voice, as usual, was soft and reassuring. He spoke plainly where Oruo put on airs, or where Eld tried to play the part of a commander. Petra leant her head against Gunther's shoulder for a second.

"I'll miss you," she said softly. "But I'm not going anywhere."

"No. Of course not," he replied, though they all knew it wasn't the truth. Not really.

Around them, the tavern was prepping for its evening clientele. The four of them had come here a couple of hours ago, taking advantage of Petra's last day of medical leave. Levi had permitted the boys to have the time. He'd made some surly faces about it, been gruff, but he'd understood.

It was the last time they'd raise glasses to one another as squad mates.

If she were honest, Petra had half-hoped that fate would intervene and find some way for her to have it all, to be Levi's lover and his subordinate at the same time. But even if she'd wanted to do that—and she knew in her gut it wasn't the right call—Commander Erwin had explicitly stated he would never allow it. He wasn't a man for convention, the commander, but he was one for common sense. And Petra was truly proud to be serving him now on a more personal basis.

Still. She cherished these last minutes at the tavern with the three boys. Her boys. Petra stared into the dregs of her ale, and tried to hide the tears welling in her eyes.

"Tch. No need to get sentimental," Oruo said. He stretched his arms over his head and thrust out his chest. "Give me a few more months, and all the titans'll be gone. The Survey Corps will disband. We can all spend as much time down here as we want, as heroes."

"Heroes? Plural? That's generous of you," Gunther said flatly. Eld grinned, flashing his canines, and Petra hid her laugh behind her hand.

Oruo scowled. "Tch. I am generous. Women always say that—"

"How're the new trainees looking?" Eld asked Petra, desperate to get away from Oruo's generosity as a lover. Petra silently thanked him.

"The trainees look incredibly promising this year." Petra smiled to recall the two days she'd spent with Keith Shadis overlooking the 104th. They were graduating in only a few months, and Erwin had wanted her to cast her eye upon them, looking for any potential assets for the Corps. Petra had a teacher's eye, he said. He trusted her judgment. It'd been work, but not physically demanding. Petra had been happy to do it. "A couple of them really stand out. One girl in particular, Ackerman." Petra whistled. The girl had been tall, dark, and with the most remote expression in her eyes. But with a blade in her hand… "She's only fifteen, but you couldn't believe how strong she was. She might even be a match for Levi one day."

"Ah yes. Levi." Eld grinned as Petra whacked his arm. "Sorry. I'll never get over you using his name like that. Levi." Eld looked at Gunther, hooded his eyes, and lowered his voice. "Levi," he said seductively.

"Eld!" Petra snapped.

"Llllllevi," Gunther said, almost swirling the name around in his mouth like he were tasting it. He shook his dark head. "Nope. It's too strange."

"Don't call the captain by his first name, you pigs!" Oruo shrieked. He glared at Eld, who was now laughing hard, his face turned to the ceiling. Even Petra couldn't help but join in.

"The point is, there are a lot of good potential recruits." Petra sighed. "But it's hopeless to even think about Ackerman. She'll be first in her class for sure, and she'd have to be a maniac to choose the Survey Corps over the Military Police."

"A maniac like you and me?" Oruo pouted. "Now I know what you really think about me, Petra."

"Maniacs like us." Eld nodded at Gunther. "We all were in the top ten. We all could've lounged around in the MPs all day. But here we all are." He shrugged. "You never know."

No. You never knew where life would take you. Petra was living proof of that.

Outside, the bells tolled four o clock. It was the middle of February, and the sun was already nearly down. Petra shivered, thinking how it would be dark in an hour when she and Levi would meet for the first time in their room. She thought of the candles she would light, the fresh sheets on the bed…she thought of her now perfectly healed abdomen, and she thought of the trajectory of his fingers across her bare skin, and she sighed.

"I don't want to know what you're thinking about," Eld said, raising an eyebrow. "That was a big sigh."

"Er. Shut up, Eld." Oruo turned beet red, and Eld stopped teasing Petra on the instant. They all understood, on an unspoken level, what Oruo might be feeling just now. He wasn't a monk—he was already chasing Lynne around whenever he got the chance—but sensitivity was required.

"I've got to stop by the Commander's office anyway. He might have some papers he wants me to take for tomorrow." Petra tilted her glass this way and that. One more swallow of beer, and that would be that. Their last drink on the squad. Petra had spent the last couple of weeks mainly hanging around with the squad, cheering on Nifa and laughing at the boys' antics. With her nearby, they hadn't felt the separation. Now they would. Now it was real.

One last sip, and her old life would be gone.

"Well. Better be on your way, then," Eld said gruffly. Petra was surprised to find the young man staring into his own mug. His handsome face was tight with some remote expression. He jutted out his chin.

"Well. I don't have to go just yet," she said. She grinned. "Don't be sad, Eld."

"I'm not."

"When you were in the hospital, he said you were like his little sister." Gunther laughed as Eld shot him a vengeful glare. "He got a little teary after practice yesterday."

"Shut up, man!"

Petra laughed and lightly punched Eld's shoulder. He scowled and rubbed where she'd whacked him, but his smile returned a little. Hugging him would've been the wrong move, made him more emotional. Petra lifted her glass one last time.

"To the four of us," she said. Even Oruo's lip wobbled as he knocked mugs with her, and Gunther, and Eld.

"The four of us," the guys repeated, and drank. And with that, it was over. Petra slid off the barstool, and they did the same. Everyone lingered by the table, dodging glances at one another. Waiting to see who'd break the spell first and leave. Well. Petra knew she had to be at Erwin's quarters, so…

"I'll see you," she said to Oruo. He nodded stiffly, wouldn't look at her.

"Yeah. See you."

Then he hugged her, and she hugged him back. Gunther's arms were around them, and she felt him drag Eld in for the hug as well. The four squad mates stayed locked like that for thirty seconds, maybe more. Petra could feel multiple heartbeats, cocooned in the safety of her friends. Then they pulled apart. She had to go.

"Say hi to Leeeeviiiii for us," Eld sang as she headed for the tavern door. Oruo blustered at the heresy of saying the captain's name like that, and Gunther and Petra laughed. She laughed all the way into the snow, and brushed the last tear from her cheek as she did.

It was a brisk walk back through the fading afternoon to the barracks, but by the time she reached Erwin's quarters her hands were numb and her cheeks tingling. Petra was grateful for the snugness of the Commander's room. Starting tomorrow, they'd be meeting without fail in his office, and while it was grand it was also much colder than this.

"Petra. Come in," the Commander said, opening the door when she knocked. Petra smiled as she entered and unwound her scarf, blowing on her fingers to warm them.

"Anything for me to take, sir?"

"Not just yet. I've almost finished the plans for the coming formation." They both gazed at his table, with several papers scattered across it. The Commander had a steel trap of a mind, but could be untidy in his habits. Petra found half a cup of tea standing precariously at the table's edge. Tsking unconsciously, she began to neaten the area while also casting an eye across the plans…though she quickly stopped herself and looked up almost apologetically.

"Sorry. Should I not see these?"

Erwin smiled gently. "I do like to have my plans in order before I dole out information; a lifelong habit of mine. Thank you, Petra. You intuit what I require very nicely." He gave a soft laugh as he rolled up the plans and shelved them. "The hallmark of a good executive officer."

Petra all but melted in relief. This position was far greater than she could've dreamed of or hoped for, but taking it had been a bit of a high wire act. It was walking out to the center of a weaker branch very high off the ground. If it didn't work out, where would she go?

Then again, if she had Levi, she would always have a place to call home. That was enough.

The door opened, no knock.

"Erwin. Are you going to keep me waiting all day or what?" Levi entered in unmistakably grumpy fashion. When he saw Petra his eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but that was the sole emotion he expressed. "Oi. Why're you working, Ral? I thought you were off with the guys."

"We just wrapped up. I wanted to check for anything last minute," she said easily. Neither of them blushed or stammered or kissed when in Erwin's presence, or anyone else's when on duty. Affection was for stolen moments, for private, for precious hours on the streets of Trost with nothing to do. Most of the time, Petra and Levi did not act like lovers. It was the simple nature of their reality, and one she had accepted.

"Well, off you go. I need to discuss strategy with Erwin." Levi made himself comfortable in a chair. Petra tried not to react to the news, but she was sure she looked a bit disappointed. After all, this had been her and Levi, well, their night. Their first night of private life. She'd…she'd made a few special arrangements.

"I'm sorry, Petra." Erwin sounded genuine. "I have to bring the new plans to Zackley directly tomorrow. Levi's approval can't wait."

"I understand." She also knew Levi would not sign off on anything just in order to rush away and get laid. He'd be painstaking with this. He'd sit here as long as was required in order to do his duty by his comrades. He was brutally conscientious, as always. "I'll be on my way home. Thank you, sir. Good night."

"Good night, Petra." Erwin nodded as she left, Levi didn't even look at her. Petra shut the door behind her, walked a few paces forward, then stopped and waited. She smiled as she counted: five, four, three…

The door creaked open, and Levi slipped through.

"Oi," he whispered. She turned to find him searching the stairway, looking out hawkishly in case anyone were coming up. Satisfied they were alone, he slid an arm around her waist and kissed her lips. Petra folded into his embrace, her cheeks tingling again, though not from cold. "Sorry. I wanted to be right with you," he whispered, lips tracing hers as he spoke. Petra kissed him over and over.

"It's all right. It's what it is."

"I'll try to get away before eight."

"All right." Petra mentally scratched out a stop she'd been planning to the butcher's. As a reward, the king had given her three gold pieces, and she'd been ready to use one of them to purchase a pair of nice filets for a celebratory dinner. Well, now she'd have to wait on that. Oh well. At least the other surprise would keep. "But don't waste too much energy," she murmured, and nipped at his lower lip. "I want to exhaust you myself." Levi tensed in her arms.

"Don't get cute. I don't want to go in there with a hard on. Erwin'll get the wrong idea."

She giggled, nuzzled him, and headed down the stairs. "I'll see you at home," she said brightly.

Home. What an incredible word.

Petra lit a few candles as the last streaks of sunlight faded, and the window revealed a slate gray sky. The room's rosy glow was a beautiful contrast against the dark outside world, and Petra stood in the center of her new home and looked around approvingly. It was small, but it was very good.

First, the bed. Mike had built it without Levi even having to ask. In fact, Levi had been puzzled when Mike would leave directly after meetings between squad leaders. When he'd discovered Mike with Gelgar and a few of the others taking measurements in this room, and when they'd shown him their workshop out in the stables, it had been one of the few, nearly insane moments when Petra wondered if he might cry. Of course he hadn't, but she could've sworn he rubbed his eyes a few too many times.

Every member of the Corps, even Erwin, had a narrow bed. Just enough to fit one body; just what was functional. But Mike had built them a queen sized frame, and to top it off all of the squad leaders had pooled in their resources and gotten them a halfway decent mattress. The bed was riotously comfortable.

"Everyone must really like you," Levi said to her, arms around her waist, staring at the bed like it was some kind of beautiful monster. "Why else'd they go to trouble like this?"

"Because they love you," Petra replied. She kissed his cheek and felt the heat of his flushed skin.

Petra smoothed the quilt and fluffed the pillows. She sat down on the mattress, sank comfortably upon the lush expanse of down feathers. She looked to their little washing stand—which Levi had wanted in particular—and their table. Atop the table sat a little white vase, blue flowers painted upon it. Petra always loved seeing it. It always made her smile, even laugh.

"You want a vase?" Levi asked as they picked over the market, hand in hand on a rare Saturday off. They were using at least two of their gold coins on furnishings just for them. A little something to make their domestic life cozier, more personal. Petra had already found good curtains and a small rug. She looked at the jugs and vases on display in the merchant's stall and shrugged.

"Maybe. Flowers can be pretty." She continued looking at candlesticks, but Levi wouldn't take his eyes off the vases.

"Just want to make sure you have everything you like," he said. Petra forced herself not to giggle. He was like a horse nudging its rider, trying to force a carrot from his hand.

"You know, I think I'd love a vase." Petra plucked the one with blue flowers from the shelf. Levi didn't lose his grim expression, but he visibly perked up.

"Yeah. That's the one I thought you'd like."

Today there was a single red rose, probably cut from a hothouse. Could've cost a penny, maybe more. Petra smiled and sniffed it. She got the feeling that in the spring and summer, Levi would keep this little vase filled with flowers. Something about the underground had given him a love for things that bloomed in the sun.

Petra grinned as she knelt and slid a parcel out from under the bed. She untied the string and opened the brown paper, revealing her last little surprise. This had come from Nifa—well, Nifa's father more like. Petra could never have afforded something like this on her own.

Nifa had insisted. "You've both had a bad start," her friend had said matter of factly. "You need to enjoy yourselves."

Well. Petra certainly hoped Levi would enjoy this.

As she changed, slipping the garment over her head and adjusting it, her skin tingled as she thought of his hands and lips on every inch of her again. After their reunion two weeks ago, they could've resumed their…well, their fun right away. In fact, they'd tried to. But there had been an unforeseen complication…

"Don't stop," she whispered, groaning with him on top of her. He kissed her jawline, her throat. He murmured her name, but he also didn't take things as far as she wanted him to. Frustrating, because he'd been the one to suggest this, to hurry her to his room. What was the hold up? Petra wriggled under him, fumbling with his buttons. Levi grunted as she all but rolled him over onto his back. He gripped her waist but didn't move her, didn't stop her but didn't grow more animated. Petra had to take charge, it seemed. Her hands were unbuckling his pants, pulling them down. And she was…well, almost hurt when she found him less than ready. "It's okay. Let me help."

She bent down to put her mouth to him, and…

"No." He said it like being kicked. Petra all but fell off the bed in surprise as he hoisted himself back up, as he pulled his pants back up. He looked down at the floor, face crimson with shame, eyes flinty and unyielding. "Sorry. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry." She nestled up to him, laid her cheek on his shoulder. "What is it?" She didn't want to say the woman's name, but she had to. "Sofia?"

"Yes. Not like… I'm not upset she's dead. It's what happened back in her… This is so fucking stupid." He snorted, annoyed with himself. "I'm a fucking man. This shit's not supposed to be a problem."

"Wait a minute. Slow down." Petra took his face into her hands. "What's not supposed to be a problem?"

And so he told her in fits and starts. He told her about not being able to get hard when Sofia wanted him to get hard, Sofia's mouth on him, him saying no, her not stopping. By the time Levi was done, Petra was practically in tears. She could only kiss his cheek over and over, whisper that it was all right, that it wasn't his fault, that he could feel any way he wanted about it. By the time Levi was done, they were lying casually on his bed, her leg hooked over his. It wasn't sexual, it was pure companionship. But already, she could feel the tension leaving his body.

"Why would you think you needed to be over it already?" Petra asked, nuzzling his ear.

"Tch. Men and women don't feel the same way about things like this."

She propped herself up on an elbow. "And who gave you that idea?" Silence. "Does his name start with a K?"

More silence.

"I see your point," Levi drawled, holding her close.

Since then, the rehabilitation had been slow, but wonderful. She'd fallen asleep in his arms that night, gently running her fingers through his hair, massaging the back of his neck. He'd gone boneless, all but purring in rapture. When Petra woke in the morning, the bed had been empty of him: she was never going to be the cure for his insomnia. But he looked more relaxed as he came to wish her good morning.

Over these last two weeks, they'd learned how it meant to anticipate. To go a little further each time they were together, savoring the build up. They had kissed, and touched, and slowly the fire had rekindled. Levi had said yesterday that since she had the all clear from the doctor, tonight would be something quite special.

Hence, the garment.

Even if it was a little chilly.

Petra perked up as she heard the clock in the courtyard chime eight. She heard footsteps in the hall outside, and tried to drape herself casually across the bed. Her new room was very large, located all the way at the eastern end of the barracks. The only other thing this way was a large broom closet, which Levi had much appreciated. Petra held her breath as the boots stopped outside her door…

And she heard the squeak of the broom closet's hinges. Apparently someone needed a mop. The door closed, and she heard them shuffle away. Wrestling disappointment, Petra still propped herself on an elbow and gazed at the door in come-hither anticipation. Any minute now, he would appear.

After five minutes, she sat up to give her elbow a rest.

After ten minutes, she started to get really cold, and burrowed under the covers. She wouldn't fall asleep. She was too keyed up.

After thirty minutes, her eyelids were starting to droop.

Petra snorted awake as the bells outside chimed ten o'clock. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes, and sighed. Oh, damn. Levi was probably going to end up coming back here at midnight to find the candles guttering and her tangled up in the blankets wearing…

Well, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore.

You'd think the commander could let us have one night, she grumbled in her own head. But of course, that was unfair. The Survey Corps wasn't the type of organization to ever slack off, and Commander Smith wasn't that type of man, either. Petra wasn't concerned that the commander was trying to steal Levi. After all, he'd brought the two of them back together. But this waiting was exhausting.

"I'll change and try again tomorrow," Petra said. Sighing, she got out from under the covers…and heard boots stop outside the door as she was standing in the center of the room.

Petra froze like a thief caught in the act as Levi opened the door and staggered in. He was rubbing his eyes, shaking his head as he shouldered the door closed and starting slipping off his coat.

"Sorry. Zackley sent a message about rejecting plans for an expansion east of Calaneth. Erwin's been trying to—"

He finally looked at her, and stopped speaking.

Petra hoped he liked it. The negligee was pink satin, only a slip of a thing that ended just at the center of her thighs. The thin straps were edged in lace, as was the sweetheart neckline. Petra shyly looked down at her body, noting that her nipples were visibly beading from the cold air. This wasn't how she'd wanted him to see her. She'd wanted romantic candlelight, and a coy smile on her lips. At the very least, she was certain her hair was mussed from sleep. Honestly, Levi might just wonder what kind of awkward girl he'd come home to.

"It's all right," she said, looking up.

He was shedding clothes as quickly as possible, an almost fanatic light in his eyes. He'd thrown his coat to the floor. His cravat was crumpled atop it, and he all but ripped the buttons from his shirt in an attempt to get naked as quickly as possible. He'd never been untidy like this before. The sight of her had broken even that part of him, for one brief moment. Petra gave a choking, delighted laugh.

"Don't move," he snapped. Levi unbuckled his belt and tore off his pants, tossing them to the floor in a ball. His boots lay on the other side of the room, kicked off in a frenzy. "Don't do anything. Stay right there."

Petra bit her lip as she glanced down and saw that this time he was more than ready for her.

Fully nude, he strode over to her and embraced her. His mouth was demanding on hers, his hands running up and down her back, fingers digging into the satin expanse of her body. Petra moaned.

"Don't take this off," Levi whispered, kissing her again as he played with her breasts. Petra whimpered as he pinched her nipple through the fabric, twisting it.

"The bed," she said, knees trembling as he kissed her pulse point, as she gripped the back of his head. Almost seven weeks without him like this. How had she survived?

"Not yet."

He hustled her across the room. Petra gasped when her back met the wall, and Levi lifted her leg high, up to his hip level. They stood there, breathing together, gazing at one another. For a moment, she could see the ripple of anxiety go through him, through his eyes. That horrible bitch, Sofia. What she'd done to him…

Then his lips met hers again, and they were together. All the ghosts were gone.

Petra cried out as he entered her, sliding in slowly. He filled her, and she dug her fingernails into his shoulders as he grunted, thrusting in as far as he could go. He pressed his cheek against hers. His breath moved her hair.

"Hold on," he said. Petra obeyed, clinging to him as he thrust harder, faster, as she was pinned to the wall by his body and could hear their lovemaking echoing throughout the room. He rubbed her high, his cock just grazing the apex of her thighs. She kissed his neck, tasting the beginning of his sweat as he hissed. His hips pistoned harder, and she clenched as tight as she could around him. He cried out as she did it, and his pacing began to grow erratic. "Oh. Fuck me. Ah," he whispered, nipping at her shoulder.

Petra held him tight and looked at the room as they fucked. Their curtains were closed at this hour of the night. Their candles, five of them, were burning low in their brass holders. The single red rose in their little vase was a vibrant color in this otherwise tidy domestic corner. Her books were on a shelf; his teacups were on the top. A tiny shaving mirror rested on a tack above a chair, their wash basin and rags beneath it. Levi's shaving kit was neatly placed to the side.

It was their home. And their fucking, talking, fighting, laughing and working would take place within these walls. Tonight was just the beginning, and would last as long as she did.

Petra closed her eyes and gasped as that throbbing spot of pleasure began, as it formed a bright color in her mind's eye. Mmm. She kissed his forehead.

"Stop," she gasped, and he stopped at once. Levi looked at her with those flat gray eyes, a burning curiosity in them.

"You hurt?" he grunted.

"No. But I don't want Mike's present to go to waste." She pushed him off, shepherded him backwards. He sat down on the bed hard, and she straddled him. Levi kissed her breasts, licked and sucked at them through the satin. His hands could not stop roaming all over her body, caressing her ass and her hips. He moaned in satisfaction at the feel of her negligee, and Petra giggled. "Nifa said you'd like it. Men go crazy for soft things."

"Remind me to promote Nifa to my second in command," he whispered, kissing her between her breasts. Petra reached down, adjusted him, and then slid him back inside of her. While he busied himself with her breasts and thrust up, she rode him. Petra clasped the back of Levi's head, let him bury himself against her, and closed her eyes. She rode fast, the slap of their sex echoing in the room, mingling with Levi's escalating moans. Once again, she felt him rubbing her perfectly. Once again, the energy was building at her core, the concentration of ecstasy budding between her thighs. Petra gasped, clenched her teeth, felt her abdomen grow heavy, felt how wet she was.

Until her last day, this was all for her. And she would never take it for granted.

Petra called his name as she shook with her orgasm. She crashed against him and let him catch her, the world spinning around and around as he flipped her onto her back and laid her out on the bed. Petra watched him through half-lidded eyes as he gazed down upon her with predatory tenderness, a real contradiction. His hand caressed her face, cupped her cheek. His body was hard and ready, and Petra sighed as he filled her again. He wasn't done just yet.

"I could get used to this," he growled, rocking back and forth inside of her. Petra hooked her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck. Their noses brushed. She listened to the springs creak with his every thrust. "Finding you in nothing but this when I come home."

"I think you'd get tired of the same old thing after a while," she said coyly. They both smiled, because they both knew that was a goddamn lie. If Levi came home every night for the rest of his life to find her like this, he'd be only too happy. He kissed her, their tongues clashed. Petra hummed to feel him work inside of her. She felt him fully at home. She nuzzled his cheek, whispered his name over and over as Levi rushed towards his own climax. Sweat shone in his hair, and on his upper lip. His brow creased as though he were in agony, his eyes closed, his teeth were bared. For Levi, pleasure would always ape pain in appearance. But not in sensation, at least.

"I love you," Petra said as he thrust fully inside of her, spending in her body. Levi lifted his face to the ceiling and gave a long, satisfying wail. He didn't tend to make noise during sex—he was no exhibitionist—but it had been such a long time. And there had been so much to unburden himself of.

"Petra. Petra. I love you. Fuck." He breathed heavily as he lay on top of her. She kissed his sweat-slicked shoulder, felt the racing of his heart. She looked up at the ceiling and felt satisfied that he'd finished inside of her. Petra was now taking daily herbal remedies to prevent conception. It made clean up far less of a burden. She could simply enjoy the experience. Levi's cheek nestled against hers. His breath slowed. "I'm sorry I was so damn tired tonight," he grunted. She scoffed.

"What? You were wonderful."

"Sweet." He kissed her chin. "But I'm fucking exhausted. Goddamn Erwin. Next time, it'll be better."

That was always his way. Next time would be better, he wouldn't disappoint. Next time, he'd be so perfect no one would leave. Petra kissed the tip of his nose.

"This time, it couldn't be better."

Levi's expression did not soften, but his lips parted gently.

"You," he muttered, and kissed her.

"Do you think you have another round in you?" she whispered against his mouth. He grunted.

"Baby, I'm not that tired." Even though he stifled a yawn as he rolled off of her and laid on his back. Already he was growing flaccid, but with just a little stimulation…

Oh!

"Wait. I forgot the last surprise. Hold on."

"I'm holding." His mouth quirked. "What've you got?"

Petra hurried to her coat, slipping a parcel from its pocket. She'd found the perfect chain, and had wanted for the moment to be just right.

She slipped the topaz around her neck, pulled her hair out of the chain, adjusted it so that the fiery pendant hung right between her breasts. She'd wanted to make love to him wearing his present. She turned, knowing that the candlelight was winking in the jewel's facets.

"Well?" she asked demurely.

Levi was laid out on the bed dead asleep, his jaw hanging open. Petra stared, and then burst into a snorting, giggling fit. Levi made a noise, grunted, frowned, mumbled nonsense and then went back to sleep. His chest rose and fell evenly. The stoicism had dissolved. He looked downright peaceful.

Even happy.

Petra tsked as she blew out all the candles but one, then slipped out of the negligee and hung it over the back of a chair. Naked, she pulled down the blankets and slid into bed beside her lover. She kept the topaz on, though. Blowing out the last candle, she nestled down to face Levi, the jewel resting between their bare chests. He grumbled, sounding sleepily threatening as she kissed him.

"Good night. I love you," she said.

Levi reached out and snatched her around the waist, pulling her close. Petra gave a gasping laugh; he'd pulled her breasts against his face, and mumbled some much happier sounding nonsense as he nuzzled them. Petra eased his grip enough to slide down so that their faces were touching. She wrapped her arms around him in turn. Levi truly felt dead to the world. For a man of many nightmares, he was lodged in a pleasant slumber now.

"I bet you'll still be sleeping when I wake up," she said.

Levi did not respond. He only held her tighter as she closed her eyes.

When the pale gold of morning arrived, she was still in his arms.

It was a cave of light. Kenny had lived much of his life in caves, but they'd been full of shit and grime and darkness. Darkness most of all. He'd always felt more at home in the dark, preferred it to all this cleanness. All this light. You could see everything.

He wasn't a fan.

But the king wanted a meeting, and what the king wanted he got. Rod Reiss, the little shit. He wasn't half the king his brother had been. If Kenny'd had his way, he'd have left the Reiss shithead long ago. Heh, actually he'd have stuffed the man's skull full of shit, which was only what he deserved.

But Kenny had his dreams. And those dreams were worth a little ass kissing. A little biding his time.

"Oi, king. Yah called?"

Kenny had come out to the Reiss family chapel, walked through that trap door and down into a bright hell. The crystal pillars shimmered, their light hurting his eyes. Kenny had trailed the crystalline halls until he got to the, er, presentation room.

The room with the raised platform, and the chains. Where one Reiss family member passed the power of the titans to another.

Where Uri had died.

The sight of those manacles always sent Kenny into a momentary fit of dizziness. The urge to get his hands on Rod and wring his fat little neck would overtake Kenny.

Why? he wanted to ask. Why'd you make him take on the burden? He was your younger brother.

Then again, maybe Kenny wasn't one to talk where younger siblings were concerned.

But enough drudging on about the past. He was here now, under the chapel, meeting with the king of the walls.

"Hello, Kenny," Rod Reiss said. He had his hands in his pockets, looked like any other mild-mannered middle aged man. Portly, jowly, short as fucking hell. But he had those incredible Reiss family eyes, same as Uri's had been. As Frieda's. Giant, wide, blue as the sky. As the crystals in this cavern. Something about the pure beauty of those eyes in Rod Reiss's smug face made Kenny extra murderous.

"Pretty sure I know why yah called. So. Brought yah the thing to see."

Kenny handed over the gear. ODM, sure, but modified. Guns attached. A piece of equipment designed to hunt people, not titans.

Rod Reiss looked over the modified ODM, fingering the switches and hooks, lingering over the barrels of the guns.

"I certainly hope it's been modeled correctly," the king said. "After the best specimens."

"Yeah." Kenny grinned crookedly, scratched his forehead. "Yeah, I had your engineers there when Levi showed up. They got a real good look at the midget in action."

Organic, that's how Kenny had wanted to stage Levi's attack. He'd wanted to get a glimpse of the kid in battle up close. The royal engineers had watched the exact degrees of the angles on his turns, his preferred heights, how fast and how low he went. They'd calculated his somersaults, turned those calculations into schematics, those schematics into modified ODM. Levi had taken the bait, come to get the gold—and the girl—and in the process he had unknowingly given Kenny and Rod Reiss the perfect means of knowing exactly how he moved. How to anticipate him. How to take him down.

Whenever the Survey Corps stepped out of line, Kenny's own first interior squad could demolish them with ease.

Kenny had never quite understood why Rod Reiss felt so threatened by Erwin Smith and his lackeys, but the man wasn't paranoid. Kenny'd give him that. What he feared was usually rooted in reality. Probably had something to do with the titan that slept in the Reiss family bloodline.

Kenny didn't much care about how the Reisses had come to have this power, or why the world was the way it was. He was focused on his own experience of the world, didn't have time for anyone else's.

"This is impressive work." Rod handed the equipment back. Kenny felt the weird impulse to wipe the metal where the king had touched it. "Far less impressive was that incident in Mitras."

Reiss's blue eyes turned icier than usual. Kenny was unfazed.

"Oi, yah know how it is. These things get outta control."

"You didn't inform us, Kenny."

"I was trapped in the quarantine zone. Couldn't have gotten a mouse's shit outta there with a message, much less my whole damn self."

"And when the quarantine ended?"

"Look, Leviathan's gone. The Red Hand's under my control, which means it's under our control. You rule the underground, king, s'well as the walls. Tch. Thought yah'd be pleased. Guess there's no time to celebrate when yer royalty."

"I didn't want Erwin Smith and that mangy little captain of his this close to the first interior squad. If they'd discovered I'd had you take the gold—"

"I don't squeal. You should know that." Kenny was deadly serious. Squealing was lower than shit in his eyes.

"—take that gold simply to observe strategies that would enable us to better kill them when the time came… And then there's the matter of getting that girl involved." Reiss's eyes gleamed with an avaricious light, even though sex wasn't on his mind at the moment. Whenever a pretty woman was around, Rod stiffened in more ways than one. Kenny curled his lip. Even he'd never wish such a fate on Petra Ral.

"The girl's the captain's pressure point. Like Erwin Smith. Yah can use it in future, if yah need it."

Rod pursed his lips, and nodded. "All right. I'll expect you to begin training with the new gear in short order. Thank you, Kenny." Reiss handed back the ODM.

"Oi, thanks, yet. Real nice show of gratitude, yer majesty." Gold would've been better. Kenny continued to scrutinize Rod Reiss. Maybe it was the lack of payment. Maybe it was the words mangy and little directed at Levi. Reiss might be a soft powderpuff of a man, but he sure as shit couldn't go flinging the word 'little' at someone. He didn't have the right.

Kenny thought of that four-year-old little boy slumped against the wall of a dark room in a brothel.

That made him think of another child, a little girl with blonde hair. She'd been clutching a book, watching when Kenny slit her whore mother's throat.

"Heard any news? 'Bout yer daughter?"

Kenny liked calling Historia—sorry, Christa—Reiss's daughter. It always made Rod flinch.

"To think I have another niece," Uri said, gazing out at the ducks on the lake. "And to think I can't even acknowledge her." He sighed. "Rod expects his wife to sit quietly while he takes off with that woman every night, and he doesn't even see his own child."

"Pretty sweet deal," Kenny said, scratching his chin. "Yah get all the stability of a lovin' wife and the spice of a mistress. Plus a kid yah don't have to raise."

"Kenny." Uri said his name with patience, and sadness, and affection.

"No. I haven't heard anything of her," Rod said flatly.

"She's in the 104th, last I heard. Word is she might make top ten of the class." Kenny whistled through his teeth. "Who knows? That happens, she could choose to come to the capital. Maybe we'd meet up again." He gave a wicked chuckle. "I'm sure she'd remember me after all this time."

Kenny had watched the little girl's face as he slit her mother's throat. The girl had been more stunned than saddened. Kenny liked that, for some reason.

"You don't need to keep tabs on her," Reiss said bluntly.

"Eh. Feel the need, I suppose."

Kenny had taken the girl's mother, rat though the woman had been. In a way, he felt tied to the girl. Connected to her fate. Same way he'd connected himself to Levi's long ago.

Levi.

"Kenny. Don't. Is that understood?"

And in that moment Kenny wondered if it wouldn't be better simply to break Rod Reiss into pieces and walk out of this cave with the rest of his life ahead of him. No more grand plans or schemes, no more secret squads, no more titans. Just a life of…not knowing. Not trying. Not having to listen to this fucking loser talk.

What a great idea. But one he'd never act on. For better or worse, Kenny Ackerman had come too damn far down this path. He had to go all the way.

Finally found stability, Kuchel. You'd be proud.

"Understood, king." Kenny clicked his tongue. "Guess I'll head back to Mitras."

"Good. Let me know when training with the new equipment begins." Rod Reiss turned his back on Kenny and looked at his cavern of light. Where his family'd met their gruesome end.

Somehow the man could calmly walk the perimeter of a place where that had happened. Even Kenny thought that was a little fucked up.

He walked back through the light and emerged into darkness. The chapel had its shuttered windows and lightless candles. By the open doorway, Traute stood erect and waiting. She didn't react when Kenny appeared. She never did, one way or the other.

"Did it go well?"

"Yeah, no thanks to you." Kenny grumbled as they headed back out into the sunshine. The snow was already melting beneath his boots, but it was too damn cold. "He's givin' me shit about not stoppin' that Sofia brat from goin' so far. Tch. Couldn't be helped."

"Yes, sir."

Traute's delivery was always so bland he couldn't tell if she meant every word or was secretly rolling her eyes at him. Traute Carven was one of the few on this planet who could get away with that action. She'd earned the right to survive it.

Levi Ackerman had done the same.

Kenny hadn't been able to help it. He'd gone to Trost a few days earlier, hidden himself in shadow as was his nature. And he'd seen them together, Levi and Petra. They'd been walking down the street in civvies, a rare day off. She'd had her arm through his, her hand in his coat pocket for warmth. He'd stopped at a street corner looking to cross, and they'd kissed. It'd been a casual gesture, unthinking and seamless. The midget still had his cold gray eyes and unsmiling lips, but Kenny could read the boy's body language after all this time. His every movement had been ecstatic.

He was happy.

Fuck. Kenny looked up at the bright sky now and remembered that small boy trapped in the inky blackness of the underground. He thought then of the man who rode through cheering crowds and slew titans. The man who had a girl who walked arm in arm with him and loved him.

He's mine, Kenny thought. But in his gut he knew it was only half right. The man who walked through worshipful crowds? That was Kenny's.

The one who let his lover slide a hand into his pocket, and radiated contentment? That was Kuchel's.

Couldn't get you all the way outta him, Chel.

If his little sister were with him right now, Kenny knew she'd be laughing and telling him she'd won. Tch. Brat.

But Kenny had beat Levi, and scared him, hurt him and humiliated him. He'd whipped the little shithead into shape so he could survive.

And the first night he'd taken the kid home, after he'd scrubbed the dirt from his cheeks with a rag and given him a clean shirt to sleep in, he'd sat next to the mattress and watched the little boy doze. He'd watched his sister sleeping in the child's face.

And Kenny had loved the kid more than he had ever loved anything. More than Kuchel. More even than Uri.

That love, that had driven Kenny's fists and vile words.

Many wouldn't get it. Probably they'd be right not to. But it was Kenny's love, and only Levi Ackerman would ever know it.

He hates me now. Doesn't need me anymore.

Kenny grinned. Good. 'Bout fucking time. Next time they met, one of them would probably die. Kenny would be thrilled to discover who it would be.

"Captain? Should we head back?" Traute asked, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Oi, why not? Should start gettin' dark soon, and we've got a bunch of maggots to whip into proper shape."

Sounded good. Sounded just right.

Kenny Ackerman turned his face to the sun, and enjoyed his day.

The End