A/N: Hello, internet. In case this is the first time we're meeting, my name is Lumi. It's a pleasure to have you here. And if I've done my job, it'll be you and me for the foreseeable future every Tuesday. I've also done one other AoT story and on that one, I got a message from someone a while ago asking to do something special with Eren. Although, I don't think I'm going to do something with Eren, but I do have a little something, something with a certain other precious member of the survey corps., though. And in a way, this is kind of a spiritual successor to it. But nevertheless. I'll let you get to it, K?

The barracks were cold and quiet at night. All of the cute cadets were tucked into bed with visions of titan killing dancing in their heads. However, one member of the survey corps wasn't having the restful sleep some of the others were getting. That was Levi's nightly routine, though. If he got twelve hours of sleep in a week, he was doing well. Even some of Hanji's experimental treatments didn't work. Then again, Levi figured she was just giving him placebos anyway.

During nights like these, Levi would take a walk around the barracks and get lost in overactive thought. What a mess. Is this it? Is this all I have to look forward to? Wake up, kill titans, attempt to go to sleep, repeat? There has to be more than this damn war. I don't see it ever ending. All of these bright-eyed recruits…They have no idea. They still have hope in their eyes. Little do they know, they signed themselves up for slaughter. In a way, I envy them. I wish I remembered what hope felt like.

If it hadn't been so late, Levi would've gone to Erwin's room to vent. Or if he was feeling particularly brave (and felt like going through the long, drawn out lecture), Hanji's. Levi knew better. They didn't need to deal with him. They had their own problems to deal with. Piling Levi's on theirs would just be a selfish move on his part. So he thought. Even a couple laps around the barracks weren't enough to put Levi's heavy mind at ease. Yet, he headed back to his room anyway to stare aimlessly at the dark oak beams on his ceiling.

As the sun rose over the barracks, Levi was still wide awake. Yet another morning where he'd have to use caffeine as a crutch. Not that he'd mind. It wouldn't be the first time, nor would it be the last. Levi filled his flask with bootleg vodka he had gotten on his last trip to the inner wall and got out of bed. The mess hall called his name. Especially the coffee pot. When it came to his breakfast, Levi was a simple creature. A drink of coffee, a drink of vodka, and if there's time, maybe toast.

"Good morning, Corporal!" Hanji sang, bouncing over to Levi, "How are we this beautiful day?"

"It's another day," Levi droned, immune to her bright and joyous disposition.

"So?" she wondered, "What kind of inspiring speech can the cadets expect from you today?"

"Hanji," he nonchalantly sipped on his coffee, "I haven't gotten through my coffee yet. Could you back the fuck off?"

"What's the matter, Levi?" Hanji awed, genuinely concerned, "You sound like you got a wicked case of the Mondays."

"It's Thursday."

"Come on, Levi," she groaned, "Talk to me. Please? What's eating you?"

"Hanji…" Levi was fully prepared to rip her throat out. Instead, he took a quick hit from the vodka flask, "I had a rough night last night. If you'd like to live to see another day, I suggest getting out of arm's reach or I might punch you."

"You wouldn't do that to little old me," Hanji put an arm around him, "You want me stir something up in the lab?"

"Nothing else you've given me has worked," he pointed out, "What makes you think round four million and twelve is going to work?"

"Can't say I'm not trying," she backed off, "Something on your mind?"

"Same shit, different day," Levi grumbled under his breath, "Don't worry about it, Hanji. I'll sleep eventually. Isn't that what death is for?"

"If you want to be that morbid about it," Hanji filled her own coffee cup, "You know what might help?"

"What?"

"Laying with a warm body," she suggested, "It'd probably do you wonders, being the little spoon for a night."

"Hanji…"

"Yes, Levi?"

"I'm not sleeping with you," Levi growled, "How many times do I have to tell you this?"

"I mean," Hanji shrugged, "If you wanted to, I wouldn't stop you. You know where my bed is."

"I'm. Not. Sleeping with you."

"Alright!" she let it go, "I love how sleeping with me is the part you focus on and not the fact that you're admitting to being the little spoon."

"I'm not the little spoon," Levi shot an angry glare into Hanji's heart, "It's been so long since I've been that close with someone, I don't even know which spoon I prefer to be anymore."

"Someone needs to love you, Levi," Hanji gave him a little hug, "Seriously. Maybe that'll help you sleep at night."

"No," he shook her off, "What will help me sleep at night is driving my sword through a titan's neck today. Or maybe a few titans' necks. We'll see where the day goes."

"Maybe you could ask Erwin," she suggested, "Who knows? He could be down for a little casual spooning."

"Hanji!" Levi snapped, "Don't you have something better you could be doing?"

"Probably," Hanji ran off before Levi could do anything else. Someone still needs to show you some love, Levi. You need to know you're still human.

With that exchange already being suppressed in Levi's mind…heavily, Levi headed out to oversee the new wave of cadets. This is below my paygrade. I'm one of the garrison's top fighters. My kill count is through the roof. Yet what am I doing? Babysitting the new recruits on their first mission. I have better things to do today. Erwin owes me for this. Levi looked over the new lambs for the slaughter.

"You're…" one of the younger recruits ran up to Levi, his eyes full of the one thing Levi was sure he'd never have again, "You're…You're him. You're Levi Ackerman…"

"Corporal to you," Levi growled, "What do you want?"

"I'm a huge fan!" he could hardly contain himself, "You're so awesome!"

"Why the fuck would anyone be a fan of mine?" Levi snapped, "Because of how many bodies I've dropped? That's not something to be admired! I hope you know what you're in for, kid, because it's not glory. It's nothing to be admired for. It's killing. You've signed up to bring nothing but death in your pathetic attempts of prolonging the inevitable. It's not going to work. This isn't a glorious living. It's barely an existence."

"Corporal Levi!" a familiar voice boomed, hitting Levi right in the gut. He'd know that voice anywhere. Three miles away through a brick wall, Levi would know Erwin Smith's voice. And he'd know how to react. Immediately, Levi's back straightened up and his arm crossed his chest in salute.

"Commander," Levi greeted him, "What is it?"

"Could I speak with you privately?" Erwin demanded.

"Of course," Levi followed Erwin away from the newest cadet, who may or may not have been silently weeping. Perhaps joining the military wasn't the best choice for him, "What is it?"

"What the hell is wrong with you, Levi?" Erwin looked Levi over, "Are you feeling ok?"

"I'm fine," Levi brushed him off.

"No, you're not," Erwin knew better. He and Levi had known each other for what felt like an eternity. He knew every single one of Levi's tells, "I could see you occasionally being a dick. That's just part of your usual charm. But what the hell was that all about?"

"I…" Levi took in a sharp breath, his eyes shut tight, "Bad day, Erwin. I'm sorry I got out of line back there. I'll apologize to him as soon as I can."

"No," Erwin stopped him, "You will apologize. That goes without saying. Go to your bunk. Try to get some rest."

"I told you," Levi did his best to stay strong, "I'm fine. It's just a bad day."

"That's an order, Levi," Erwin stood his ground, "I need you in top condition. Before you go to your bunk, I want you to see Hanji for treatment."

"Erwin…"

"Is this insubordination?" Erwin hated to play the commander card with Levi. But when Levi was being stubborn, the friend hat had to come off.

"No, sir," Levi straightened up again.

"Repeat back to me," Erwin ordered, "What are you to do as soon as I dismiss you?"

"Go see Hanji for treatment," Levi repeated, "And to try and get some rest."

"Very good," Erwin gave him a nod, "You're dismissed."

"Thank you, sir," Levi extended the same courtesy and started walking off.

"Levi!" Erwin called after him. Levi stopped in his tracks, "If you need to come by my bunk sometime, you know where it is."

"Thank you." Levi always knew he could count on Erwin at the end of a long day. However, Hanji's words from this morning had pushed their way into his thoughts. And the possible revelation that Levi may be Erwin's little spoon. No. I'm no one's little spoon. Although, given our size difference, if I were hypothetically to share a bed with Erwin…No. It's not happening.

He shook off any thoughts of cuddling with anyone and Levi did as he was told. As much as he was dreading it, this was also a direct order from his commanding officer. It's not like he could deny it. No matter how close he was with Erwin. Somehow, Erwin would find out. Likely from Hanji herself. Nevertheless, Levi knocked gently on Hanji's lab's door.

"Who is it?" Hanji sang on the other side.

"Take a wild guess, Hanji…" Levi pouted, already bitchy and sleep deprived. He didn't want to have to deal with her twice in one day.

"Levi!" she threw the door open, "What brings you to my lab?"

"Erwin's orders," he explained, much to his chagrin, "It seems that I have the day off to get some proper rest. I need something to help me do that."

"Let's see," Hanji took a seat on a nearby rolling chair and pushed herself halfway across her lab. Locked away in a special cabinet, Hanji had several little bottles, all with their own labels and in their own special order. She has had experiments go awry because of a lack of organization before. Fortunately, she had her friend Levi to help her through it, "What are we trying to achieve here, Levi? Because I got something for hair growth that's in need of testing."

"No."

"Alright," Hanji kept looking, "How about some nice IBS meds?"

"No," Levi rolled his eyes, "I need…"

"Don't tell me!" she squeaked, "I can figure this one out! If it's not hair growth and it's not IBS, then…How about something for a sudden rash? That one may require a booster shot by the time it's all empty."

"I don't need anything for rashes, Hanji," he was done. After meeting his fan, Levi was done. And no one knew how to push his done button quite like Hanji Zoe, "I need something for sleep. What kind of strides have you been making in that department?"

"That's always a fun one to work on," Hanji smiled, getting a bottle from the back that only said 'Ackerman, Levi' on it, "And I think I may have a formula for you. Take two tablets, drop them in a water bottle, give it a shake, and drink the whole thing. That should have you sleeping like a baby."

"And you're sure this will work this time?" Levi hoped. I can't go through another sleepless night, Hanji…

"About eighty percent positive," she figured, "But side effects may include blurry vision when you wake up, dizziness, and a slight ringing in your ear."

"Already have a tinnitus problem, Hanji," he pointed out, "The ringing's nothing I've never dealt with before."

"Alright," Hanji gave him the bottle, "Sweet dreams, Corporal."

"I sure as hell hope so," Levi shoved the tablets in his pocket, "Thank you."

"Thank me when you wake up," she waved him off and Levi ran back to his bunk.

Two tablets in water, huh? Please let this one work. I don't ever ask for much, but a little bit of sleep would be absolutely fucking wonderful. If these work, I may owe Hanji a date in the inner wall. I'm sure some of my connections could pull something off for me. Levi did as he was instructed and dropped the tablets in his water. Granted, it tasted like sulfuric acid and burned like hell going down, but he had managed through worse.

Levi curled up in his bed and shut his eyes. Just for a moment. But that moment was all it took. Finally. Something Hanji threw together in the lab finally works. I don't think I've gotten better sleep in the last month than this. Maybe we don't give her enough credit. Sure, Hanji can be…Manic…to say the least. But that doesn't make her any less brilliant.

When he woke back up again, Levi looked out the window and noticed the darkness of night over the barracks. Back at square one. At least I'm well rested this time. For a brief moment, Levi considered asking Erwin to keep an eye on the night watch, but he had just woken up. His walk around camp would be much different tonight than it was last night. This time, Levi's thoughts wouldn't get the better of him. However, that didn't mean they disappeared. They still loomed overhead. Just a little quieter.

A soft cry near Hanji's research lab caught Levi's attention before the negative thoughts could. Levi's ear perked up. That's not a human. Although, Levi was still curious. He followed the gentle mew into a wild berry bush and found a small ball of dark fluff cold and shivering underneath it. The poor thing could hardly stand.

"Just a stray cat," Levi brushed it off. The kitten looked up at him, responding to his voice, "Get out of here. This is a military base, not a place for stray cats."

As the sun started rising, Levi ignored the cat and started walking back toward his bunk. It wouldn't hurt to try and get a little more sleep before everyone else wakes up. He shut his door behind him and crawled back into bed. However, that same, gentle meowing drifted in through his window. No. Fucking. Way. This isn't happening.

Levi got out of bed and opened up his front door. Sure enough, his new kitten friend limped inside, much to his dismay, "What did I tell you, you filthy creature? This is not, I repeat, NOT a place for stray cats. Especially not in MY bunk! Get out of here!"

Levi put on a pair of disposable gloves and picked the kitten up from the floor with all intentions of tossing it back outside. Little did Levi know, the kitten had other plans in the form of clawing up Levi's shoulder, purring softly in his neck. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Levi knew he had to make the hard choice. He pried the kitten off his shoulder and placed him on his front steps, "I said no. This isn't somewhere you should be. Go home."

The kitten laid at his feet, not wanting to leave his side. What the hell is this cat's problem? I don't want him here. Doesn't it get that or is it too stupid? What am I going to do? The kitten looked up at him with big, dark eyes, pleading him to stay. Levi pulled himself together, holding his head in his hands, "Fine, cat. You've won. I guess you can stay here. But ONLY FOR TONIGHT, GOT IT?"

The kitten climbed up Levi's sheets and made himself comfortable in the dead center of his bed. What the fuck did I get myself into…?