Furlan sputtered and laughed, even going so far as to bend over and place his hands on his knees as he underwent his fit.

Aubrey simply stared at him, waiting for him to calm down and face her. She was not amused by his blatant disbelief of her words. All of them needed to be more careful around Erwin or they would end up regretting it.

Eventually, Furlan looked up from his hunched stance, small, unrestrained laughs still escaping his lips.

"That bumbling buffoon? The scariest man inside the walls?" Furlan turned his head down and smacked his knee as his fit of laughter resumed.

"Oi! Sort yourself out and listen to what she has to say." A shred of anger and annoyance could still be heard in Levi's voice but he seemed to be controlling himself.

Aubrey crossed her arms over her chest as Flagon reined in his laughter, obviously too scared of Levi to disobey him.

Flagon pounded his chest a few times and cleared his throat, trying to appear calm.

Aubrey raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he was finally ready to let her speak.

"Um, please… proceed."

Isabel snickered behind him at his awkward situation but Flagon's hand quickly flew back to cover her mouth.

Aubrey sighed but began to explain herself. "First things first, you're all going to be in very big trouble. You skipped training and that is a very serious offense in the Survey Corps."

Flagon rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak but one look from Levi was enough to force him back into his shell of compliance. Patiently, all of them waited for Aubrey to continue.

"However, lucky for you, I happen to have a certain sway with the Commander and I believe that I can get you out of punishment if you follow my instructions, which are very simple."

Aubrey scanned their faces, looking for any sign of protest. When she found none, she continued. "Stay out of my way and don't speak. Don't say a word to Erwin or to anyone else until I give you the okay to do so. This is not a matter of making Erwin believe some story about how you all got sick, even if that is what we tell him. Erwin will see right through that charade. This is a matter of me convincing Erwin to let you off easy."

Furlan and Isabel held flabbergasted expressions and Levi's features were covered in his usual, cool look.

Since no one added anything, Aubrey went on.

"Again, keep your mouths shut. Avoid conversing with anyone unless it is absolutely necessary. Keep to yourselves and put your heads down at training. I will go to find Erwin and make my case."

Aubrey released a long breath and kicked the dirt with her boot. She was really dreading her imminent conversation with Erwin. He really was scary when he wanted to be.

"Well then, let's go." Levi's voice broke the silence. "You two, go get your gear and grab mine. And put this away." Levi flung his book at Furlan and he caught it easily. The instructions flowed effortlessly out of his mouth and Aubrey watched carefully as Isabel and Furlan stumbled back into the barracks.

As soon as their backs had disappeared into the building, Levi turned to Aubrey and opened his mouth.

"Thank you."

Aubrey's eyes widened in surprise. She had never expected such brazen gratitude from Levi. She'd taken him for the type that found it hard to accept help.

She smiled, happy that he felt comfortable enough with her to be vulnerable.

"Don't worry about it. I believe that I once told you 'I owed you one'. Consider us even."

Levi nodded, thinking back to the time that he had raced Aubrey in the woods. Back then, he hadn't really thought that such a 'favor' would really amount to anything. Now, he was grateful that he'd accepted, even if it only meant he wouldn't have to shovel horse shit.

"Right."

Levi turned his gaze to the ground and examined the grass as it swayed in the breeze. He still wasn't used to it. The outside, that is. His years in the Underground had made him grow accustomed to dark and lifeless surroundings. So much so that, when he was brought above ground, it had nearly been too much. The sun was so bright, the breeze was so gentle, the leaves were so colorful. Everything had been blinding and distracting. But that had only made Levi solidify his goal even further. Now that he had seen what lay above, there was no way that he could go back to the Underground… no matter what it took.

"They're good friends."

Levi was broken from his trance when Aubrey spoke quietly next to him.

"They respect and care about you. I can tell by the way Furlan cradled that book like it was a baby when he took it inside." Aubrey chuckled at her own words but her smile quickly morphed to a frown as memories of her own life pooled within her mind.

"Keep them close, Levi. Don't let them slip away."

Levi turned to her, simultaneously intrigued and concerned. Aubrey's tone had switched from playful and teasing to mournful and forlorn in the blink of an eye. Her gaze was cast downward but Levi could still see the sadness that lay on her features.

He found himself at a loss when he tried to respond. He didn't know what kind of images were swirling behind Aubrey's eyes, but he didn't want her seeing them anymore. Tears were building at the corners of her eyes and threatening to trail down her cheeks.

Upon seeing her so visibly in pain, Levi felt an overwhelming urge to touch her, to hug her, to tell her everything was alright. But he couldn't. Aubrey was not his to touch. That would definitely cross their 'friends' boundary and those rules had been put in place for a reason.

"I won't." Those two words were all that Levi could manage to push past his tight lips. He truly was helpless in sensitive situations.

To his surprise, Aubrey flashed him her signature grin and her eyes instantly lifted. She brought a hand to her face, delicately wiping away the impending tears.

"Good."

Right then, Furlan and Isabel reappeared in the doorway of the barracks.

"We're back! Here, Big Bro!"

Isabel raced past a still frazzled Furlan and dumped Levi's set of 3DMG and straps in his arms.

Aubrey giggled at Isabel's use of her pet name and placed a hand over her mouth to hide her smile.

Levi shot Aubrey an annoyed and knowing glance but took extra care to examine her features. She'd returned to normal, all traces of her recent break erased from her face. She looked as sprightly as ever, if not even more so.

Levi furrowed his brows, worried. Just seconds ago, she'd been on the verge of tears and now she had put on a mask of pleasantness. Levi knew that beneath her smile, she was still hurting. And yet, there was nothing he could do.

"Good. Suit up." Levi returned his attention to his two friends, joining them in donning their gear.

Levi's fingers worked seamlessly as he did up each of the buckles on his straps. He'd done this process hundreds if not thousands of times over and every movement of his hands was second nature.

Aubrey watched intently as Levi finished putting on his gear. His gracefulness was astounding and she'd been absolutely mesmerized by how smoothly he had worked the straps up his body, finally slipping his arms through the openings at the top.

She was barely able to tear her eyes away from his figure before he caught her gaping. But, just as Levi looked to her, she averted her gaze to Isabel and Furlan, who were nearly finished assembling their gear.

Aubrey could feel Levi's stare burning into the side of her head as she watched the two finish their last buckles. They, too, were obviously familiar with the gear, but their movements were not quite as smooth as Levi's had been.

"Okay, we're ready." Furlan finished attaching the last of his 3DMG and looked over to see Isabel at the same stage.

"Good. Come on, then."

Aubrey turned on her heel and began a brisk walk toward the training field. She kept her eyes straight ahead but she didn't fail to notice that Levi situated himself beside her, his stride matching hers.

Aubrey fought the urge to shoot him a side glance and clenched her hands into fists in order to avoid a situation similar to the one from before. Aubrey fought a blush as she remembered the way she had so easily laced her finger with his. Levi was like a magnet to her. When she was around him, her body naturally gravitated toward him, mirroring his movements. There was a pull between them, one that she had to consciously resist in order to maintain their boundaries.

Aubrey trudged along the worn dirt path and squinted as the training field came into view. It appeared that everyone was still engaging in their regular training. A couple of groups were scattered across the open grassland while others made their presence in the woods known through the recognizable clanking and crackling of the 3DMG.

Aubrey quickly scanned the field, looking for any sign of Erwin. And, while she had been looking for him, Aubrey found herself a bit surprised when her eyes landed on him. He was staring straight at her.

Aubrey swallowed and felt sweat cover her palms. It had been a long time since she had seen Erwin look so intimidating.

Suddenly, her step faltered and her pace slowed. Aubrey no longer felt quite so confident in her abilities. She hadn't been joking when she'd said that Erwin was scary. Not only was he physically threatening, but Aubrey knew that his mind could outwork hers. That was the thing that made him truly terrifying. Aubrey knew that she was intelligent, likely more intelligent than most. But Erwin… he was on another level. The two of them had played games of chess together at the beginning of their nightly tea times but their matches had quickly become redundant. Erwin beat her every time. When it came to tactic and method, Erwin was unmatched.

Aubrey dug her nails into her palms and set her jaw. She was determined to do this. She would go down fighting if she had to. If Erwin was disappointed in her, that was a loss that she would have to take. His disapproval would be a severe blow to her conscience. Erwin was, at the moment, the most important person in the world to her and until very recently, he had been the only person in the world that was important to her. Of course, her comrades were always in her mind and she would sacrifice herself for any one of them, but they simply didn't hold the same sway as Erwin. He was her everything. He had been the only thing that held her together when she was being torn to pieces. He was her pillar, her stone, her rock. Aubrey's loyalty to him was undying and she knew that she would go to the ends of the earth to gain his approval.

Suddenly, Aubrey felt a trail of flames along her wrist. Glancing down, she deduced that Levi had run a finger along her forearm, trying to grab her attention. She raised her eyes to meet his steely ones. His expression was hardened, refusing to allow any crack of emotion or feeling slip through. For a moment, Aubrey admired his ability to hide behind his walls so effortlessly. It was one of her skills that she had let fade a bit too much.

Aubrey returned to the present when Levi gave her a small and yet somehow reassuring nod and allowed her to step ahead of him. Aubrey looked back as he, Isabel, and Furlan veered off to the left, going to find Squad Flagon and join in whatever exercise they were running.

Aubrey turned her gaze back forward and said a silent prayer for herself as she saw that Erwin's stare was still boring a hole into her head. She was doomed.

Taking a quivering breath, Aubrey continued on, her legs wobbling and shaking beneath her. She would do it for Levi.

"I think we have something that needs to be discussed." Erwin spoke before Aubrey had even come to a full stop before him.

Trying her best to keep a cool exterior, Aubrey responded. "Yes, I think we do."

Dread filled Aubrey's chest as she took in Erwin's face. His eyes were hard and stony, their usual warmth fading away to an icy blue. His normally soft smile had been replaced by a hard line and Aubrey shuddered. Without his gentle aura, Erwin became a frightening power.

Without warning, Erwin turned and started toward the castle, leaving Aubrey to trail behind him.

Their walk was silent. Neither spoke and Aubrey felt her anxiety growing with each quiet moment. It wasn't as if silence was uncommon around Erwin, but this silence was different. The air was filled with anticipation and apprehension and a bead of sweat dripped down Aubrey's neck.

The sound of their footsteps echoed off the castle walls and Aubrey gulped as Erwin came to a stop outside of his office door. Erwin cooly reached for the brass knob and pushed the door open, its hinges creaking as the old wood swung.

Erwin turned his gaze to Aubrey, the same steely expression on his face. He didn't speak but it was obvious that he was waiting for her to enter ahead of him.

Aubrey sighed. He was a gentleman even in anger.

Reluctantly, Aubrey stepped into the office that she knew so well. The familiar room didn't seem quite as homey and calming as it usually did. Now, its charm had disappeared and the atmosphere had Aubrey on edge.

"Have a seat." Erwin followed Aubrey in and locked the door behind him.

Aubrey followed his direction and shakily made her way to her usual spot on the couch. Its lightly worn, green fabric provided her some comfort and Aubrey gratefully took the opportunity to lower her quivering body onto its plush cushions.

Aubrey watched carefully as Erwin determinedly made his way across the room and took his seat behind his desk. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and folding his hands in front of him.

Aubrey intended to start the conversation but no matter how hard she wracked her brain, she couldn't seem to think of what to say or where to start. The look on Erwin's face was still sending shivers down her spine and it rendered her unable to speak.

"Where were you?"

Aubrey sighed, thankful that Erwin had spared her from unbearable silence, but also dreading the coming conversation.

Aubrey pulled herself together and forced her lips to move. "I was with Levi."

Sparks flew in Erwin's eyes and Aubrey could have sworn she saw his jaw clench. He continued his questioning but his tone held malice and bitterness.

"Doing what?"

It was Aubrey's turn to feel sparks of irritation. She internally flinched as she realized what kind of thoughts were probably going through Erwin's mind.

After taking a moment to collect herself, Aubrey responded cooly. "He and the other two were sick. They were missing from training this morning and I got worried. During lunch break I went to check on them. When I found them, they were all feeling better, so I rallied them and brought them back to training."

Erwin unfolded his hands and crossed them over his chest, leaning back in his chair. "Flagon reported that you ran off against his orders. And those three should have disclosed their illness if they were going to miss training."

Aubrey couldn't help the look of distaste that graced her features at the mention of Flagon. He really was a little shitstick. "Well, Flagon just wanted to be able to report that they'd been missing all day so that they'd get an even bigger punishment. And those three are new to the military. They don't know all of the rules and regulations yet."

"And you're sure that those three are fully recovered from their illness? It must have been very short-lived if they are now feeling well enough to train."

Aubrey swallowed. This was the point of no return. Erwin had seen through her excuse, as she had expected, and now she would have to call upon his trust in her. Although, he was likely feeling a bit deceived already, which meant that this may be a bit more difficult than usual.

"Perhaps they ate something off at dinner last night. But, that's beside the point. What I'm asking is that you trust me on this, Erwin. Flagon is not fond of his new recruits and he just wants to see them shoveling horse shit. Plus, I think both you and I know that it might be a good move to avoid angering Levi any further. You yourself said that he was dangerous."

Erwin hummed and turned his head to look out of the window behind him. The sunlight streamed in, forming a glowing aura around him.

For a moment, all was silent. Aubrey unconsciously held her breath, awaiting her friend's response. He seemed in no rush to reply, which only left Aubrey hanging in agony, though she did her best to hide it.

Finally, after an eternity, Erwin turned back to her. His eyes were distant and tired but Aubrey was relieved to see that the iciness from earlier had dissipated.

"Very well."

Aubrey felt the air rush from her lungs as she released a breath.

"Thank you, Erwin."

Erwin gave her a small smile and Aubrey melted at the sight. She was unbelievably happy to see her friend return to his usual state.

"But I have to add a few things."

Aubrey's breath hitched in her throat but she couldn't say she was surprised. She hadn't really expected Erwin to let her off that easily. Nodding, Aubrey signaled for him to continue.

"First, I want you to keep some distance between yourself and Levi. As I said before, he is a dangerous man and I don't want to see you getting hurt, physically or emotionally."

Aubrey felt a light blush rise to her cheeks. It was obvious that Erwin had picked up on whatever was between her and Levi and now he was concerned for her emotional well-being. Aubrey appreciated the sentiment but the idea of Erwin getting involved in her love-life was a bit embarrassing.

Nevertheless, Aubrey didn't see any reason to object to his request. She and Levi had already put boundaries in place themselves, so following Erwin's order wouldn't be all that hard.

Aubrey nodded, agreeing.

"Good. Second, I want you to keep your eyes open when you're around them. I won't ask you to be a spy, but please, watch for any red flags. I am not afraid to admit that I do not trust them in the slightest and I worry that their blatant dislike for this regiment may show itself in ways that I cannot predict."

A queasiness formed in the pit of Aubrey's stomach. She didn't feel quite right about 'reporting' anything to Erwin, but she figured if she truly saw any red-flags she would have told her friend regardless of whether or not he asked her to be on the lookout.

Aubrey nodded again, agreeing for the second time.

Erwin released a tired sigh and proceeded to word his third statement.

"Finally, I would like to remind you that you can always come to me, Aubrey. If Flagon was acting up, you could have come directly to me and this whole debacle could have been avoided. And if you were, for some reason, concerned about the recruits receiving punishment, you know that I will always listen to what you have to say."

Erwin flashed his gentle smile and Aubrey's heart melted. He was the best friend anyone could ever ask for.

Aubrey stood from her spot on the couch and made her way behind Erwin's desk, leaning down to envelope him in a hug.

Aubrey felt such overwhelming affection for her friend that tears pricked at the back of her eyes and her words came out breathy and shaky.

"I know. Thank you, Erwin."

A/N: Well, there it is. I hope everybody enjoyed :) PLEASE let me know what you think and leave a comment. Comments give me life. Thanks :)