Jean passed Levi a paper cup with a brownish liquid, earning a glowering look.

"You don't think I will drink that cheap version of lame-ass tea from the machine."

"I just wanted to do… something nice," said Jean, his voice lingered low in his throat, "I'm sorry."

Levi shot a tired glance at the kid that settled next to him on the uncomfortable blue coach of the waiting area.

"It would help if the two of you actually stopped fighting."

Jean's eyes bored into the toes of his shoes, but he let out a soft snigger.

"Maybe… tell that to the suicidal m…" Jean paused when Levi raised his eyebrows, "well, tell that to Eren."

Levi sighed.

"I get that, Jean. Eren's temper is a big deal. But you are not completely guilt-free, right? What was it this time? The surf lessons? Or Mikasa again? Or just your usual bullshit beef with each other?"

Jean opened his mouth, but Levi didn't let him speak.

"'Why' doesn't really matter to me. Nobody else is fighting but the two of you. And that," Levi suspended his voice, considering his words, "needs to stop. I have an idea, but let's wait until that suicidal maniac is back with us."

Jean sniggered again. Letting out a sigh, Levi reached out for the cup Jean was still clutching and took a sip. The thin liquid was lukewarm and sweet. A disgusted grimace twisted his face, even though he tried to control it. He put the tea on a small coffee table, far away from them.

"And you added sugar into it? Disgusting. Listen, kid," he said, his palm dropped to Jean's shoulder, and squeezed it, "I know you are still angry about what happened to Marco. There was nothing you could have done. You have to let go at some point."

Startled by the subject Levi brought into their conversation, Jean took a deep breath. The creaking of the door to the doctor's office interrupted their further exchange on the matter. Eren appeared first, a row of meticulously applied staples shining over a long bloody cut on the left side of his scalp, followed by a silhouette wearing a white coat.

"Here. He is all yours again, Levi. I don't even want to know how they did that," said the doctor, shaking their head, and pushed Eren in Levi's direction, "keep it totally dry for the next 48 hours. After that you can gently clean it, maybe Historia can cut some of his hair. Always dry it after cleaning. Next visit in a week. No surfing, no ocean, at least until then."

"Well, aren't you a filthy sight? Thanks, Hange." Levi nodded towards the doctor. Then he grabbed Eren's arm and kneaded it.

"Thank you, doctor," Eren murmured under his nose, eyeing Levi.

"You are always welcome here, Eren. I have already opened you a frequent flyer account." Hange giggled, but Levi glowered at them immediately.

"Hange!"

"Fine, fine," Hange said, heading back inside of their office, "see you in a week."

They made it to the Explorer without speaking until Levi opened the door.

"Jean, seat in the front, Eren in the back," he ordered

Once they settled in the car, he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. They drove in heavy silence for a while, lights of the town center slowly dissolving into the darkness of the less inhabited area surrounding the Montauk Highway.

"Can I say something?" Eren was first to speak.

"If it's anything else than 'sorry', spare me, please," Levi answered, "you are two sixteen-year-old guys that had some shitty experiences, I get that, I was there. You want to fight, let's fight. Once Eren's staples are out, you will fight… with me. Jean, we can start earlier if you can't hold off until then."

Fuck, Historia. She wouldn't like that idea much. Shit. Now he had to talk her into it. She would think he was going to teach them how to fight and bring them into the crime when his intention was just to take the edge off. But all things considered, she was not likely to accept that plan easily.

The Explorer stopped in the parking lot in front of their house, and Levi huffed under his nose.

"Go straight to bed! No wandering around tonight."

Both kids left the car, and he sat there watching the lights of the condominium glistened in the dark. Then he pulled out his phone and texted Historia.

"Eren got staples. We're home. Enjoy your night."

The screen of Historia's phone blinked with an incoming message, and a twinkle of a grin danced on her lips when she read its content. If there was a one person on earth that had everything under control and she relied on completely, it was Levi.

Erwin was in the bathroom, and she took a sip of her white wine. She closed her eyes, enjoying its fruity taste and the peace of that moment, waiting for him.

"I thought you were supposed to tell the runt to talk to me."

A familiar, hoarse voice shook her out of her thoughts. She flinched and an icy shiver traveled along her spine. She despised that voice as much as she loathed the man it belonged to. Painful memories of the past resurfaced every time she had to talk to him.

She forced herself to a deep breath to control her voice before speaking. Her chest still felt like imploding when she did.

"I can't make him. I'm not his wife or anything, Kenny."

"Ah, no? Don't tell me playing this little house with kids and whatnot isn't coming with benefits." Kenny leaned over the table, looked over her with a leer, and let out a guttural bellow. Historia pulled out, repulsed by the stench of digested alcohol brought in by the closeness of his face. "Tell him to get his ass over here."

"Why don't you call him yourself?"

Kenny laughed.

"Damn it, Historia, like that little shit would—"

"What are you doing? Is this man harassing you, Historia?" Erwin said from behind. His tender voice carried the calmness, and she relaxed, eased by his presence.

Kenny turned back to face Erwin. They eyed each other in silence, and Historia held her breath. Kenny was taller than Erwin, but the latter seemed more muscular and even after a couple of glasses of wine, reasonably sober. Kenny definitely was not.

"No worries, mate!" Kenny suddenly backed down. "Family business. Didn't mean to drop in on your date." He turned to Historia. "Remind him, please." He dragged the last word, and she frowned at him.

"Are you all right?" Erwin asked her when Kenny finally left them alone, "you look startled."

"Thank you. I will be fine," she said. The adrenaline rush caused by the encounter with Kenny let go of its hold, and her voice sounded out weak and trembling.

"Why don't we get some air?" asked Erwin.

She nodded.

They walked along the small wooden pier spreading over the Fort Pond in silence. It rolled under their feet. The sweet smell of fresh fish and squid caught in the fishers' traps clung in the air. Lights on the other side of the pond reflected in the water.

The night was fresh, and Historia shivered. She was wearing only a thin white dress and a big linen shawl now wrapped tightly around her arms. She hadn't expected a long walk that night.

"Are you cold?" Erwin asked and not waiting for her response took off his jacket. He put it around her shoulders, pulling it tightly in the front.

"Thank you, won't you get cold? I can trade you my scarf if you want," she offered with a smile.

Erwin laughed.

"I will be good but thank you. Do you feel better now?"

"Yes, I appreciate you taking care of me like that," she said, her cheeks flushed with sudden warmth.

"Do you mind me asking about that man? It certainly didn't sound as light as a story behind your nickname, Miss Surfing Legend," he said. His arm brushed hers as he shortened the distance between them.

She hesitated. Their date was going well, and the conversation with Erwin was easy and seamless. She had fun with him so far; he seemed open and easygoing. She could have trusted him. It was not a secret, anyway. Yet she didn't feel like diving into some painful memories.

"Maybe some other time, Erwin. I don't feel like ruining the mood," she said, practically voiceless, and Erwin had to lean in to hear her.

"Oh, I'm sorry I asked."

The uncomfortable silence fell between them.

"Oh, no." Historia sighed and reached for Erwin's hand. "I had fun tonight. I have enjoyed your company very much."

They got until the end of the pier. Erwin turned and bent slightly to face her.

"I just mean, I would like to keep it careless tonight," she said, rising to her toes to look him in the eyes. She already loved how warm and patient they were studying her face. "I wish for another chance to tell you all about me some other time."

"You want to repeat our date?"

"Not 'repeat' repeat. But I already have an idea."

"You have?" Erwin lowered his face closer to hers. She could feel the warmth of his breath and his eyes burning, fixed on hers.

"Do you like horses?" She whispered.

Erwin's nose grazed the tip of hers, and Historia could have sworn he could hear the wild and loud thumping of her heart.

"I take it as a yes," she purred.

Their lips were impossibly close now, and she stretched on her toes a bit more to press her mouth to his. His arms circled around her waist and he pulled her up towards him. His upper lip gently caught hers and she sighed, then Erwin deepened the kiss. She hadn't been kissed like this, gently and softly, in a very long time, and she didn't want that moment to end. Erwin's lips were patient with hers, taking it slow, no tongue sliding in, no teeth scraping, just a thoughtful and tender kiss, with no hurry and pressure.

"We need to find a better position next time," he muttered, his palm tucking the thick strand of her hair behind her ear, when they came up for air, "it's getting uncomfortable."

"Will this count as the next time?" she cooed softly, her lips reaching for his again.

Erwin's arms wrapped around her tighter, and he effortlessly lifted her up. Historia slid her hands around his neck, entangling fingers in the hair at its nape. Her face descended on his. Their lips met, mild and sloppy, more comfortable with each other with every touch.

Armin was already wrapped in his sheets in the lower bed of their shared bunk when Eren climbed up into his. Conny was in the kitchen and Jean in the bathroom. That gave them a rare chance to share a private moment.

Eren was not in the mood for a conversation. He pulled his sheets up to his neck and turned towards the wall, hoping the sleep would come soon.

"Does it hurt?" Armin asked, his voice faint and shy.

"No, not really," Eren said, "not yet, at least. Local anesthesia, I guess. Maybe a bit itchy."

"Itchy? Ugh, that doesn't sound good. But don't scratch that, by any chance, imagine it gets open and bleeding," said Armin, and giggled, "imagine what Levi would say to the blood getting smeared all around."

"Clean freak would totally lose it," Eren said, and they both laughed, "it sucks though, I am not allowed to surf, at least for a week."

"Oh." Armin sighed. "You will not train with me then."

"Oh, no Armin. I will be there with you either way," Eren said, his voice broke, "I'm sorry, I haven't thought about that."

"You couldn't have known it'll end like this. But," Armin let out a low gasp, "you two could stop fighting for a change."

"Yeah, right," Eren said and hesitated, "like that is going to happen soon. Jean is a douche."

There was a long moment before Armin spoke again.

"To be honest, Eren, so are you. Sometimes."

"Gee, thanks." Eren grabbed the edge of his pillow and threw it down in Armin's direction. They played a tug-of-war for a moment, but Armin finally let go.

"You are right, though," Eren said and sighed.

"Hey, you are still my best friend. I like you exactly as you are," Armin said and yawned, "I think I need to sleep like now. Goodnight, Eren."

"Goodnight, Armin," said Eren, lowering his voice to a low whisper, "I like you, too."

Historia leaned against Levi's bedroom door and knocked lightly.

"Levi?"

"Come in."

She shut the door behind her with no sound.

"Thank you for handling the kids. May I?" she pointed her chin towards his bed.

"Yeah."

He moved to the edge of the bed, and she sneaked close to him, stretching over his sheets.

"I am glad it's not serious."

"The brats could finally stop fighting, it's getting exhausting," he hissed.

She giggled.

"You think they will ever stop? They are sixteen-year-old."

"I'm going to run a small fight club with them. Just to have an eye on it," Levi said, "if you don't mind."

"No, of course not, it might be what they need."

God, how did he become so amazing raising those kids? Where did he get all his ideas on how to handle them from?

"How was your evening?" he asked and shifted under his sheets.

She skimmed over the shape of his taut body, his muscled back flexing with this movement, and couldn't help a smirk. She knew he used to sleep naked.

"Good, I'm sorry yours with Nifa went to hell," she said with a suggestive gasp, reaching towards him and grazed his firm arm with her palm. She wasn't really sorry about that. "Do you want to…"

Levi turned, and his steel eyes fixed on hers.

"No fucking on your date then?"

"He's been a perfect gentleman…" she sighed.

"Oh, fucking gentleman, I see."

Her fingers drew small circles over the bare skin of his shoulder.

"So, do you want to…"