This was going to be hard. Aubrey knew it the second that her agreement came out of her mouth. After settling their disagreement, her first instinct had been to run to Levi and envelope him in a hug. But, that wasn't what friends did. So, reluctantly, she held herself back.

Levi was in a similar situation. He'd thought that putting some distance between himself and Aubrey would give him a sense of relief but instead, he only felt a sort of longing in the pit of his stomach. The boundaries that he'd put in place were now simply begging to be crossed. With an internal groan, Levi realized that his actions had created for him his own, personal, forbidden fruit.

Suddenly, Aubrey sprang up from the ground, a look of horror on her face. She'd forgotten the very important reason that she'd come for Levi in the first place. She had to get him back to the training field.

"Oh my God! Levi!"

Levi bolted up from his sitting position, worry plastered all over his face. Was something wrong with her? Was she hurt?

"What? What is it?!" Levi spoke loudly and with a manner of urgency.

"I have to get you back to the training field!"

Levi's concern instantly melted into annoyance. "Jesus, that's it? You were acting like the fucking sky was falling."

Aubrey rushed over to him and yanked on his arm, the familiar fire zinging through her fingertips. "It very well might be if Flagon reports that you skipped to Erwin! The penalty for skipping is almost always very severe!" Aubrey began tugging on him even harder and while he gave some resistance, she could tell that he was going along with her. His fight wasn't nearly as strong as it had been before.

Levi scoffed and scooped down to pick up the book that he'd dropped earlier. Gently, he used his free hand to bang its cover against his pant leg, removing the dirt that had gathered there. "Like I'd ever let that bastard punish me."

Aubrey continued to drag him but looked back to shoot him a glare of warning. "Do NOT underestimate Erwin. He is a force to be reckoned with when he wants to be."

As much as he hated to admit it, Levi already knew this. Erwin was a force to be reckoned with and he had learned it through first-hand experience.

"What does he care if I don't show up to training? I already know how to use my gear better than most of those other brats."

Aubrey gave him an exasperated look. His ability to really, truly, not care was astounding to her. "Levi, being in the Survey Corps is just like any other job. Not showing up to training is like not showing up to work. And just because you're good with the 3DMG doesn't mean that you know everything there is to know. A lot of the training that we do is team building, which is something that you could definitely improve upon."

Levi scoffed again. Team building was pointless to him. Why did he need a team if he could just take them all down himself?

"Tch. Whatever."

Aubrey shook her head at his vague response. "Whatever my ass. Flagon has been a real shitstick lately and if you don't show up soon he's sure to report you. Even if you do show up now, he'll definitely still be snitching that you missed the whole morning. But, I think that if it's just a morning, I should be able weasle you all out of anything that's too bad. I'll tell Erwin that you all had a bug."

Levi's mind flashed to his companions. He'd ordered Isabel and Furlan to clean the room for the sixth time since their arrival and had then made his way to the pond. His experience with Aubrey outside the Mess Hall had left him more rattled than he'd have liked to admit and he just hadn't wanted to see her. She confused him too much. Obviously, he couldn't let Isabel and Furlan go anywhere without him, so he left them behind and went somewhere quiet to think. Perhaps he should have sent them to training…

Levi's mind returned to Aubrey's earlier statement. One part of it had made him simultaneously interested and disgusted. "Erwin really trusts you that much?"

Aubrey unexpectedly slowed their pace and her brows scrunched together. It looked as though she was thinking intensely, making sure that she said the right thing.

"Yes, he does… Erwin trusts my judgement. So, if I judge you to be the kind of person that he should let off just this once, I think he will respect my decision."

Levi raised a brow at her emphasis. "Just this once?"

Aubrey nodded and gave him a serious look. "Yes, just this once. Erwin may trust me but he's no push over. If you get yourself in trouble again, I won't be able to help you." Aubrey came to a stop and placed her free hand on her hip, cocking an eyebrow at him. "This is me telling you as a friend that you should keep your butt in line."

Levi grimaced inwardly at the sound of the word 'friend' on her lips. It just sounded so wrong.

"Yeah, well this me telling you as a friend that friends don't hold hands like this."

Confusion flickered across Aubrey's face as she took in Levi's now smirking lips. Holding hands…? Suddenly Aubrey became very aware of the warm fingers interlaced with hers and the fire that was now scorching her palm. She sprang back, quickly releasing Levi's hand and shaking out her own, trying to rid herself of the lingering flames. She didn't even remember when her hand had mysteriously slid down Levi's forearm and into his palm. And not only had she been holding his hand, she had really been holding his hand. Like, fingers laced and everything.

Aubrey stared down at her palm in disbelief. It was like her muscles had a mind of their own.

"I-I'm sorry… I didn't even realize that I-" Aubrey cut herself off. She didn't even know what to say. She was dumbfounded by her own actions.

Levi sniggered at her. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates and she was staring at her hand like she was afraid it would disappear the instant she looked away. However, his smirk quickly faded as he felt the cold air against his palm and, for a brief moment, he regretted having told Aubrey at all.

Levi shook his head. He couldn't think like that anymore. He'd made a pact with himself to keep her at arm's length. It was the best solution for the both of them. If what Aubrey had said was true, and she was afraid of losing someone, then it was best for her to stay away. Levi's purpose wasn't exactly the most honorable and he knew that he would be gone the second his mission was complete. There was no other option.

"Stop stuttering like an idiot. You said we had to get back to the training field, so let's go."

Levi walked past Aubrey, repressing his urge to look back at her as he passed.

Soon enough, he heard the rustling and crunching of leaves underfoot and Aubrey appeared at his side. He couldn't help but notice that she had her arms crossed over her chest, squishing both of her hands to her sides as if she were attempting to restrain them. The sight made him surprisingly bitter but he once again reminded himself that her actions were his own doing.

"Um, right… We'll have to fill in Isabel and Furlan when we get them. Ya know, let them know to be on their best behavior and stuff."

Levi curled his lip. The idea of telling Isabel and Furlan to act like dutiful little soldiers was disgusting to him. However, it was the right move for now. Staying out of trouble was to their advantage. As much as Levi hated the blond bastard, he had a goal, and getting kicked out of the Scouts or being put on permanent stable duty wasn't going to help him reach it.

Levi internally came to terms with his predicament and decided to do something that was quite out of character for him. He decided to trust Aubrey. It was true that she was their best bet at getting out of trouble but, still, it felt like a big step for him. If it wasn't for her, he probably would have skipped all day and then tried to kill the Commander on the spot the second he tried to tell him that his punishment was shoveling horse shit for the next month. But something about Aubrey made Levi want to put aside his usually brash actions. For once, he would sideline his pride and place his trust in another.

"Fine. They'll do whatever you tell them."

Aubrey turned to him, a bit perplexed. "They will?"

Levi nodded and kept his gaze straight ahead. "Yes."

A small smile made its way to Aubrey's lips and she shifted her eyes to the ground. Levi was placing their fate in her hands. The idea pleased her beyond belief.

"Right. Good. I'll do my best." Aubrey donned a determined expression. She too knew that this was a telling moment for Levi and she was going to do her best to prove herself to him. Even though there were boundaries between them, Aubrey still wanted to help Levi. While she might be able to halt her feelings from going any further, she couldn't reverse how far her heart had already come. She would do everything she could to protect Levi because, as much as she hated it, she already cared too much.

Levi gave her an affirmative nod as the two of them stepped through the treeline. Aubrey glanced up at the sky, noticing that the sun was starting to pass its peak position in the sky. Lunchtime was certainly over and done with and everyone else would be back on the field. She sighed. Now she would have to cover her own ass as well.

Aubrey glanced at Levi, having a sudden shift in mood as an idea came to her mind. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief as she uncrossed her arms and readied herself.

Playfully poking Levi in the side, she hollered over her shoulder as she began to run in the direction of the dorms.

"Race you to the barracks! Loser is the biggest brat of all!"

Levi froze. He couldn't believe the ridiculous scene unfolding before him. Aubrey was sprinting away from him, giggling all the while. Her antics were childish and immature and yet, before he knew it, he was racing after her, his legs pumping and pushing as hard as they could. Levi had lost to her once before and, absurdly, his ego had been hurt, even if he tried not to show it.

Aubrey quit her chuckling when she looked over her shoulder to see that Levi was indeed participating in her little contest and he was closing in fast. She knew that he was likely quicker than her but she'd been banking on his momentary shock to give her a head start. And, while she had gotten the advantage, she'd underestimated his true ability. Levi was barreling forward at much faster pace than she'd predicted.

Putting her head down and focusing, Aubrey pushed her body to its limits as the barracks came into view. She was not going to lose her own challenge.

But she did.

Levi's hand smacked against the wooden planks of the barracks several seconds before her own and Aubrey fell to ground, both from disappointment and exhaustion. For a moment, she couldn't even express her frustration and had to simply lay on the dirt, catching her breath. Levi had seriously given her a run for her money.

"I… win…" Levi huffed out his words. He was hunched over with his hands on his knees as his chest heaved. It seemed that he, too, had given it his all.

Aubrey lifted her head to send him a death glare.

"You don't… have to… rub… it in…" Aubrey was still finding it difficult to speak as the oxygen slowly returned to her body. She dropped her head back down to the ground, staring up at the cloudless sky.

Levi straighted, seeming to have recovered enough to speak smoothly.

"Oi, brat, get up. We've got work to do."

Aubrey crinkled her nose at his choice of words. She'd said that the last one to reach the barracks was 'the biggest brat of all' and she was now regretting her challenge. She'd unintentionally given him permission to use the label for her whenever he pleased and she would have to accept it. She'd brought the situation upon herself.

Suddenly, a hand blocked Aubrey's view of the sky, extended in an offering. Aubrey took it and placed her palm against Levi's, feeling the recognizable blaze, and used their combined strength to pull herself from the ground.

Somewhat ungracefully, Aubrey made it to her feet. Hesitantly and somewhat reluctantly, Aubrey released Levi's hand and pressed her palm against her leg, trying to erase the left over tingling sensation.

An awkward and silent moment passed before Levi regained his composure and spoke up.

"Let's go get them, brat." Levi sneered the last word and felt a smirk come to his lips.

Aubrey felt a wave of lighthearted irritation run through her. Levi was teasing her.

She reached out and gently smacked his arm.

"Are you mocking me, Levi?!" A grin covered Aubrey's face and Levi's expression mirrored hers.

Aubrey felt her heart drop to her stomach. He was smiling. She'd seen Levi give her all kinds of smirks and sneers and she'd even seen him give her genuine small gestures where his lips turned up at the corners. But now, he was really, truly smiling. His teeth shined and glinted in the sun and Aubrey felt as though she would go blind if she stared too long. The way that his cheeks pulled up the entirety of his face and the way that his eyes creased ever so slightly at the corners… it was enough to leave Aubrey breathless. He looked so… youthful.

Pure bliss ran through Aubrey's veins and she felt excitement bubbling up in her throat.

"You're smiling!" Aubrey couldn't contain herself and she blurted out the obvious. She was just so thrilled to see Levi without his permanent frown.

However, as fast as the smile had come, it was gone.

"I am not." Levi returned his face to its usual stoic expression.

Aubrey began to panic, quickly placing both of her hands on Levi's cheeks and attempting to push them back into a haphazard smile.

"Oh, come on! Don't stop! You looked so happy!"

Levi swatted at her hands. "Oi! Stop that!"

"Hey, what's all the ruckus out here?"

Aubrey and Levi halted their squabble and turned to look at the familiar figures in the door of the barracks. Furlan stood with a look of amusement covering his features and Isabel peeked out from behind him, her eyes widened and her lips slightly parted in awe.

Levi and Aubrey quickly stepped away from each other, Levi turning his attention to straightening his ruffled clothing and Aubrey occupying herself with inspecting her nails.

"I don't know what you mean. We were just on our way to get you two." Levi finished picking a speck of dirt off his pants and raised his eyes to examine Isabel and Furlan.

Furlan seemed to be on the edge of breaking out into a fit of laughter but he must have decided to contain himself because he spoke with only a faint quiver in his voice.

"On your way to get us? Why?"

Levi deadpanned. "We have to go to training."

Furlan's features shifted from amusement to angered confusion but Isabel broke into the conversation before he could speak.

"Eh?! Training? I thought you told us we weren't going to training today! You even called it a 'pony playground full of useless brats'..."

Aubrey couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her mouth but she quickly covered it with a cough when she received a glare from Levi.

"Tch. Well, we're going now. And from here on out, you'll follow Aubrey's instructions, got it? I don't care how dumb things seem, just do what she tells you."

Finally, Furlan found his opportunity to protest. "Huh? Why are we following a little girl's orders?"

Levi took a step forward, his fists clenching and his eyebrows furrowing. His steely eyes shot holes through Furlan as he sent him a chilling glare. "You will do what she tells you, understand?"

The intensity in Levi's voice caused Furlan to take a step back, bumping into Isabel. It had been a long time since he'd seen Levi assert himself and the hostility in his tone took him by surprise.

"S-Sure, boss. Whatever you say."

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Aubrey approached and placed a comforting hand on Levi's shoulder. He was being a bit more overbearing than necessary. She didn't think the frigid stares and intimidating stance were needed in order to get Furlan and Isabel to cooperate.

Levi turned his eyes to Aubrey as he felt her touch and his gaze instantly softened. She was giving him a gentle smile and a slight squeeze was all the reason he needed to begin relaxing his tensed muscles and clenched fists.

As soon as Aubrey was satisfied with Levi's return to normality, she removed her tingling hand from his body and announced her intentions.

"Right, well, do your best to work with me and I'll do my best to save your asses from the scariest man inside the walls."

Furlan scrunched his face in confusion. "The scariest man inside the walls?"

Aubrey smirked. They underestimated her friend's true abilities.

"Yes. Commander Erwin."