Happy Easter everyone!

Hope you've had a wonderful week and have thus far had a great holiday. I don't have too much to say this week – I'm just happy to have a new chapter up :) Enjoy the read!

…

…

Petra walked out of the meeting and the second the door had closed completely, she let out a dramatic groan, rubbing her forehead in small circles.

From behind her, Erwin merely stood against the wall and watched her curiously. Seeing her obvious unease and the way she shamelessly took a dramatic, long inhale, followed by an equally dramatic exhale as she paced back and forth for a few moments, he couldn't help the chuckle that left his throat because it was clear that she truly was that uneasy about the entire spectacle. In all fairness it had been a long, rather tiring meeting, and as unorthodox as it was, even still he was admittedly grateful for the sudden change of pace. It was clear Petra's mind was still running rampant, and Erwin almost felt a twinge of pity for the young ginger, because the pressure she was feeling from all sides was no doubt substantial.

He allowed her a few moments to collect herself, and eventually he cleared his throat, "Not to rush you Petra, but I'll admit this is unexpected, for you to specifically call me out of the room for private council like this – going so far as to request that Captain Levi stay behind no less. Is everything okay? I'm not going to complain if you're looking to the Scouts for advice, but you must know how this looks to the other factions. Your bias towards the Scouts has been brought up more than once as it is, so whatever route you choose, I'd recommend at least attempting to make it look like you're weighing your options."

The ginger shook her head and took a breath, debating where she should even start and she looked up toward the Commander with a serious, determined stare, "No, I am. I just…Commander, I'm in love with Levi."

While there was an amused twinkle in his eye at her passionate words that hardly seemed related to the subject at hand, Erwin merely held her gaze and nodded, "A love confession? Well I'm certainly honored to be your confidant Petra, but you really should be telling Captain Levi these things directly. Certainly hard to do when you requested an audience with me alone, or is there something I'm missing here? Surely you didn't pull me aside just to tell me that."

Petra almost sighed at his words, and she shook her head, "No, no – he already knows its just…I need someone else to understand my motives – someone that's not Captain. Foolish or not, I trust you to be my advocate in all of this and in order for you to do that properly, you need to know my priorities. I brought you out here so I could tell you here and now what I'm looking for – just you, and for the record, I trust that this won't be getting back to Levi."

At Erwin's suspicious, curious glance, Petra sighed and explained, "It's not that I'm trying to be secretive or go behind his back but…somethings get muddied and I think he's having a hard enough time balancing the fact that he's kind of my boss, but kind of not, all while still being my husband. That's a lot for anyone to balance, let alone someone like Levi, and in this case I can't really depend on his input not being overly biased. He and I share different values about my future in the military, and so I need someone else's perspective here."

Erwin nodded thoughtfully and crossed his arms, "Very well - I feel its important to mention that I am also biased, but I promised you that I would still be your advocate during this process and I meant that. If I truly believe you'll be happier in a different faction, to where I can't better accommodate you or offer you a similar role here in the Scouts, you have my word that I'll be honest with you and give you my true thoughts. On that note, you've already heard a few options and have a rough idea of what sort of role you'd be walking into. Your task now is to start weighing out the pros and cons, and start figuring out what, or who you want to work for. In terms of narrowing down the selection, what are your priorities and what is your end goal? You've done a lot of work this year, and that has opened up a lot of doors. What type of situation would you like to see yourself in going forward?"

Petra thought his question over and she nodded seriously, "I've been asking myself that question all morning. At the end of the day, I know that I want to make a difference, but to clarify, I don't need the fame or recognition so badly that it overshadows my own personal life. When I'm at work, I want to be needed and I want to work hard. I want to know that my job is making a difference and that my skills aren't being wasted on petty or unimportant matters that is more someone's passion project more than an actual, relevant issue."

Erwin nodded, and Petra continued with a click of her tongue, "That being said however, these past few months have really taught me that I want a life outside of just the military alone. I want to work hard of course, but I don't want a role where I am expected to give and give and never clock off. I want to have time to enjoy my life and maybe build a home or a foundation; something to actually fall back on come that time that I'm truly ready to disarm."

Erwin watched her studiously, "This foundation you're wanting to build, I presume you mean with Captain Levi. Is he aware of this?"

Petra shrugged passively, "Somewhat, I think. It's taken me some time to put it into words, but in truth being in a relationship with Captain has made me realize that my priorities really have changed throughout this past year. I enjoy the military, and for the record I'm not ready to retire anytime soon, but frankly…it's just not enough on its own anymore. I understand and accept that both he and I will continue to have hefty responsibilities over the years to come, and I am truly looking forward to that, but I'm also looking forward to the off time that he and I will share together. Whatever role I end up in, I want that time to be respected. I don't want to have to fight for time with my husband, I don't want to be in a place where I'm expected to sacrifice my homelife for the 'greater good' because all due respect, I've sacrificed plenty for the military, and that goes double for the Captain."

Erwin smirked at the stubborn, flustered expression on her face and he almost smiled at her words, "Well, I must say…there's no denying that your time with Levi has benefited you. I mean this as a sincere compliment and not an insult, but you've grown up a lot in this past year. The woman you are now is not the same woman that I called into my office to discuss the gas shortage. Back then you were innocent, idealistic, and easily manipulated – and the woman I am speaking with now is concise and calculated; you aren't swayed by false claims and your critical nature has made you more cautious and apprehensive. I'll have you know that it takes many people years to learn that lesson – that their career can usurp their boundaries in the blink of an eye, and I know that many members of leadership regret not making that connection much sooner in their career path. The fact you can recognize the importance of this boundary at such a young age – that speaks volumes, Mrs. Ackerman."

Petra's expression fell into something more troubled, and she slowly shook her head, "Thank you, Commander. You and Levi told me so many times that I need to be prepared, and I need to be cautious before I make any hasty decisions, and that's what I'm trying to do because my blind trust, in many ways, is partially to blame for so many things that happened this year. I caused a lot of trouble, a lot of heartache, and I'm trying hard to learn from my mistakes because I don't want my ignorance to hurt those that I care about. I don't like being suspicious, I don't like assuming that these contracts are written in a way that has hidden strings attached, but I know that's a very real possibility and I don't want to do something stupid. And that…"

She took a breath and looked up towards Erwin with a firm, direct stare, "That leads me to the first and most prominent problem that I need your help with specifically. I don't always know how to word things, and I don't want to offend anyone by saying the wrong thing or speaking out of turn but…I'm no fool that they'll use me to get to Levi. Captain hasn't said anything about it; I think he's trying to make a point of being supportive and feels that saying such a thing would be belittling to my success, but fact of the matter is, Levi has remarkable skills that everyone is trying to lay claim to. Even if Captain wouldn't approve me making a judgment call based around how it's going to impact him…I just, I can't dismiss that possibility because its far too likely. I can't sell him out, or force him to build bonds he isn't ready for. I don't want the Garrison or Military Police to feel like they have access to him, simply because they control my payroll. Issue is, if he's around, or staying on the property, using their materials, it would be very easy for them to back him into a corner and…"

She sighed in a shaky manner, clearly upset at her own admission and struggling to best articulate her words, and Erwin gave a slow, pensive nod as he thought her words over, "Yes, I'm afraid you are correct. Levi making frequent rounds to their property; even if it's preapproved and just to visit his wife, that opens up a vast grey area that can easily turn into a diplomatic nightmare." Erwin thought her words over with a grim shake of his head, and he nodded down toward Petra in sudden understanding, "Now I can see why you didn't want Levi here."

She gave a deflated smirk at the Commander's mumble, and she almost sighed as she finished his trail of thought, "He'd be furious if he knew that he was a major factor in the decision making process but…Commander, I'm in love with him. I can't make a decision that will hurt him or force him into a bad situation, but Captain wouldn't support such a thing because he wouldn't want to feel like he was holding me back, so I can't go to him right now; I just can't. Problem is, I don't know how to navigate through these complicated offers and contracts on my own, but I know you don't want to lose Levi or have his services being bought out by the MPs or the Garrison. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I am out of my league and I need your help."

She paused for a moment, looking toward him with a determined nod, "I trust that you'll have my back to make sure that everything plays out the way it needs to. I'm not opposed to partnering with the MP's or the Garrison, and I don't want to offend them by making it seem like they've wasted their time today because it's not like that at all. It's just…whatever choice is made, Levi is not a pawn, and is not going to get tangled up in the red tape or bureaucracy of such a change. That to me is critical and is my first priority. I don't care how good the job is, how perfect the work conditions are or if the paycheck is astronomical – my relationship with Levi is not ever to be weaponized against him, under any circumstances. And that goes for you too, by the way."

Again Erwin nodded at her concise words, and she continued factually, "Beyond that, I need a job that gives me important problems to tackle – I don't want to feel like a bookkeeper or someone's secretary. If I'm going to put down my weapons and stay inside the walls, I need to know my data is actually making a difference and allowing the military to be more effective as a whole, where my contributions are still meaningful and lasting. Of course I'm partial to the Scout Regiment, but I know full well that the military shares resources and data, so just because I am working for the Garrison per say, doesn't mean the Scouts won't be benefactors. Beyond that, yeah, I need my future employer to respect my downtime. If my hours are nine to five, then that is when I will work, and the rest of the time is mine and I won't be guilted into extra meetings or never-ending overtime. In the event that I need to travel to visit Captain or visa versa, I expect graciousness and flexibility. Everyone knows I'm married to Levi – this isn't a surprise for any faction - so I don't want people to treat me like they are doing me a favor just because I am getting the time off or whatever. They came to me, so if they aren't prepared to work with me and respect the bounds of my marriage, then that is also a complete deal breaker."

Erwin grinned at her words, a silence falling between them as the blonde thought, "I can definitely be your advocate here – I'd like to think I have a skill for keeping the Scouts in favorable relationships through thick and thin, and I appreciate your graciousness at not wanting to offend my colleagues. On that note, is there anything else I should be aware of? To make sure I understand, you want a position that in no way exploits Captain Levi – something I personally appreciate – and then beyond that, a job where you are given access to vital numbers and tasks that aren't merely traditional or routine maintenance; something that actually challenges you and furthers the war against the Titans, and then lastly, a role where you are given true downtime to further your relationship with Levi, where your time off the clock is truly spent off the clock. Is that a fair summary?"

Petra shrugged and gave a hesitant, breathless nod, "Yeah, I think so. Obviously things like pay, benefits, location in reference to how close I am and how long my travels would be to visit Levi or visa versa – those are also important, but are admittedly secondary to those three points. To be frank, it's not really about the money. I need a job that I can be proud of, that like you said actually challenges me and gives me a real chance to make some lasting impacts with how the military handles their business, but at this point I'm a married woman and I don't want my career to overshadow that. You know full well that I'm also biased for the Scout Regiment, but I'm not opposed to changing factions if it means that that's where I'm best used."

Erwin thought her words over for a few moments and eventually crossed his arms, "Alright, here's what I'm thinking - if you're comfortable with it, I'll go ahead and take things over when we get back in the room. As you're well aware, I haven't yet been able to give you an official offer from the Scout Regiment, and after hearing this, honestly I'm glad. It's not that our first offer was bad, but hearing what most matters to you and what you are looking to accomplish in the future – I think we can do a little better and my goal is to have the best fitting position that will keep you in house. Of course, at the end of the day we will support whatever you choose, and even if it's somewhere else, I'll do everything in my power to make sure you are set up for success. When we get back in there, I'll dismiss us for lunch and I'll start reworking some of the details on my end. I'll make sure to keep the other factions off your back, and by the time you get back I'd like to run our offer by you. If you want to have another meeting, with all of Scouts leadership, or just me, or a member of leadership from a different faction, just say the word and I'll make sure it happens. Is that okay with you?"

Petra looked toward the door, taking a nervous inhale and finally giving an accepting nod, "Yeah, that sounds good. And thanks, Commander, for doing this. I know it puts you in a bad spot and it's not my intention to cause any strain between the faction leaders but-"

The blonde grinned and merely motioned toward the door with a tilt of his head, "Don't worry about it; it's all part of my job and considering my intention is to keep you as my direct subordinate, and after all, speaking as your future Commanding officer," he gave her an almost challenging, proud smirk, "I consider it a privilege to go up to bat for you like this. Now let's get back in there – I'm sure your husband's getting more than a little suspicious and I'd prefer to not have to sit through one of his jealousy induced interrogations."

Petra couldn't help the smirk that came to her lips, and she followed after Erwin step for step, walking back into the room and giving a few nods toward the various people watching her. After a few nods, she eventually met Levi's gaze and noted that, while yes at first glance he appeared as bored as ever, the lingering tightness to his lips and still set jaw confirmed that he was just as irritated, and she had to bite back a snort because it was clear the Commander knew Levi remarkably well.

When she moved back to their previous seats, Levi's gaze on her was heavy and his frown deepened ever so slightly, "You gonna tell me what that was about?" he mumbled under his breath, and Petra gave him a coy smile as she sat back in her seat.

She leaned toward him ever so slightly and whispered in a soft, teasing whisper, "If I wanted you to know, I would have asked you to join me. Mind your own business, Captain."

"Tch, fine. Suit your damn self."

"My apologies everyone." Erwin spoke up and looked around the room with a kind smile, "I'm sure you're all wondering what Petra was up to, and while I'm not at liberty to disclose all the details of our conversation – you can rest assured that you have all given her a lot to think about because she's a little intimidated with the big three all in one place like this."

There were a few chuckles from the various military leads, and Erwin looked toward her with a grin, "Petra, sorry to put you on the spot like this, but in some ways, I feel like you woke up this morning thinking you knew what you wanted, but after hearing their offers, it's not so simple anymore? The military certainly knows how to leverage its resources to make some exciting offers, don't you think?"

Petra gave a laugh at the truth of his words, looking up toward Erwin and then across the room. She nodded a few times and responded, "Yeah. Yeah, that's very fair actually. In truth, I don't think I'm really all that picky, and so I guess it's not all that hard to make an offer that catches my interest. Naturally I have my standards that I want respected, but all in all, I am really appreciative that you all have done your homework so well. It's making it really hard to choose and I know I've got my work cut out for me."

Erwin folded his hands across the table and his expression sobered, "Petra shared with me that she's feeling a little overwhelmed and that she needs time to herself to think her present offers over and weigh out her options. That being said, I know we're a little early, but I'd like to make the recommendation that at this time we break for lunch. We can reconvene in an hour, and during this time, I'm requesting that all members of leadership refrain from approaching Petra, with the exception of Captain Levi, for reasons I'm sure you can understand. Rest assured that I myself will be respecting this, and will not be making any further contact with her until after we gather here. Is this acceptable?"

There were a few head nods and shrugs, and after no complaints or suspicious glares, Erwin nodded, "Alright, I'll take that as a majority consensus. Thank you for your time this morning, and we'll see you all back here in an hour."

The gathered staff slowly filtered out of the room, discussing meal plans or if there would be enough time to get to town and back, and Erwin turned toward Levi with a half grin, "You know Captain, I think it's time you and Petra went on a little walk. The weather is beautiful and I'm sure there are some rather interesting things you might find yourself talking about."

Levi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he gave a single nod and pulled an arm around Petra with a sigh of acceptance, "Fine, sir. See you in an hour."

…

…

"Captain, don't be so suspicious." Petra stated warmly, walking beside him down the path that circled the Scout's property, admittedly amused by the still soured expression across his face, "It was just a few minutes with the Commander, who I've already been working with for months now."

"It's hard to not be suspicious. You're intentionally keeping it from me, when I'm going out of my way to be as neutral as possible. The fact you're seeking out Erwin's advice alone, when you know full well that he's just as liable to manipulate you to protect his own vested interests is frustrating and I'm not happy that you're going around me for something this important. You always pick the worst fucking times to go rogue and try to do everything on your own. What, you don't think I wanted to hear your thoughts in all of this? Let me tell you I felt really fucking stupid, sitting there in silence with everyone else while my wife had a private conversation with another man."

Regardless the fact that there was no amusement or light-heartedness to the Captain's tone, Petra couldn't help the snort that left her lips, "Another man? That man happens to be your best friend, and for the record, he's already happily involved with your other best friend, so I don't think you've got much to worry about on that front. I like him as the Commander but he's twice my size and intimidating as hell – not to mention the fact that he's somewhat my boss."

"Right. Now that makes me feel better. Not like you haven't fallen for your boss or anything before, right?"

Petra rolled her eyes and only shrugged, "Ha ha Captain. If he proposes then you have every right to officially get upset, but for now I think you're being a little ridiculous. Honestly, there's a very real chance that Erwin might wind up as my permanent boss here in a month or so, so you need to get used to the idea of us being alone together because it'll happen a lot more often than not."

When Levi's unamused, wary expression didn't soften in the slightest, Petra gave a small laugh and shook her head, "And what's more – sorry to say this Levi - but fact of the matter is you're not half as neutral as you think."

Levi clicked his tongue and watched her with a demanding, narrowed stare, "Oi, the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, frankly, this right here. If you support me making the best call for myself, then the methods I use to go about that should be of little concern to you. To me, it seems you only want to support my judgement call in the event that I handle it in the way you think is best – which isn't neutral at all. I had some questions for Erwin, some things I wanted to tell him specifically, and sometimes it's easier to have that dialogue with as few opinions as possible. If it makes you feel better, Erwin actually complimented me and said that I'm handling myself very maturely."

Levi gave a dramatic roll of his eyes, "Oh good. Erwin would never lie about something like that. It's not like he's trying to butter you up or anything."

While the Captain's bad attitude was notable, Petra found she was only amused by his childish outrage and backhanded statements. She gave an amused shake of her head, "You don't need to worry about that Levi. Factually speaking, the person who could most easily manipulate me is you, and you can see how well that's going for you right now. I'm going to make the best decision I can, because it impacts my future, but it also impacts yours as well and-"

"And there it is, Petra. Fuck. I fucking knew it." Petra groaned at Levi's waspish tone and the Captain continued in a frustrated tirade, "You shouldn't base it off that. That thought shouldn't even cross your mind because it's not about me, it's about you! Damn it all, you never think these things through in terms of how you'll walk away and you really fucking should because it's your life and your career. With all these offers, I think the best thing you can do is-"

"And there you are, being super neutral again." Petra pointed out with a faint smirk, something that only irritated the Captain even more because he was officially pissed off, and Petra was just grinning ear to ear like his words hadn't even phased her in the slightest.

"The fuck are you smiling for? I'm being serious here - you've worked hard, and if you allow my career to act as a factor, it's only going to become a stumbling block. I don't want you to hold yourself back from any good opportunities just because of me, or because of distance, or anything like that. We've talked about this, but if you're going to be moving into a roll where you aren't on the battlefield anymore, then for your own sanity, you should pick whatever position makes you feel the most accomplished." Levi paused, raking a hand through his hair and shaking his head in frustrated disbelief, "I don't know how else to say it so you get it through your stubborn head - I don't want you to throw it all away for me. You have me, so this isn't one or the other and it's frustrating as hell to see you acting like it is. You don't have to be so damned black and white about this, Petra."

Petra cleared her throat, "Hey Captain, let's talk about something else? Sorry, but I've got a lot of voices in my ear telling me what I should or shouldn't prioritize, and honestly it's a bit much. I know what you're saying, and I get that and I'll think about it – really I will – but grilling me on it isn't going to help me make a sound judgement call. You've said your peace and all due respect, the rest is up to me."

There was a moment of silence as Levi considered her request, and he eventually sighed, "Fine. At least tell me this though, are you satisfied with your offers so far, where you feel you have opportunities you want to explore? I get it's not ideal, but for the record no one is kicking you off the squad because even though you're smart as hell, your physical talent with the 3DM gear is extraordinary. If you want to remain on the frontlines, I'm still the best man for the job and Erwin knows that. I know it's not as flashy in terms of title or paygrade, but at the very least you'd know what to expect and I won't make the same mistakes twice; that could get us all killed and I know that. The guys would be thrilled if you chose to stay, so there's always that. I know that's not the route you are most interested in, but at the very least its better than a job you aren't comfortable with, so just keep it in mind as a failsafe. If these positions don't work for you, we can hold off for another year and try again next fall. The right job will come, so don't force it if something doesn't feel right."

Petra looked toward Levi, noting the seriousness of his expression and she almost laughed at herself as she felt her face begin to heat up, hating how easily she blushed around him even after all this time. "Thanks, Levi. I'm not opposed to it, and I know we could find a balance that could work for us. Last expedition, there has just been so much that changed - from our relationship, to my injury and the gas shortage, how I relate to my position in the military, and in some ways I think it all bubbled over at once when we were outside of the Walls. Frankly, it's not ideal, but I also believe that we could make it work – if we had to, at least. Either way, it's a solid option that I'll keep in mind – it's better than picking a job I have no true interest in, that's for sure."

Petra looked around then, having been so distracted by their conversation that she hadn't paid much mind to where they had been walking. Her grin widened as she surveyed the section of property Levi had led them to, "Oh wow, this is a different change of scenery. You know Captain, I don't think I've come to this section of the campus in years."

Levi nodded, "Yeah, I figured as much. Thought this area would be pretty quiet. Everyone's already training for the day, and I doubt anybody would come looking for you over here."

The area they had walked to was on the very north side of campus – a small little section dedicated to long time members of the Scout Regiment that chose to live outside of the barracks and in a more traditional housing environment. The walk was considerable, but for those who had the rank and the finances, some chose to live out their free time in a more private sector of the Scout's headquarters.

While it wasn't off limits or considered private property, due to the area being entirely residential, for the most part the section was left alone and made for a peaceful, scenic stroll.

Petra looked around at the first few houses and then toward Levi with a curious expression, "Hey, doesn't Erwin live over here?"

Levi nodded, "Yeah, we'll pass it here in a bit. I can even point his house out for you, if you'd like. It's nothing too fancy, I've been there off and on over the years and all in all, he takes pretty good care of it. Little dusty though. Four eyes isn't much help when it comes to the cleaning – you've seen her office. Shit's gross."

Petra continued looking around, admittedly enjoying looking at the various houses and the cute displays of flower gardens or patterned curtains in the windows, and she eventually looked back toward Levi with a thoughtful exhale, "You know Levi, I'm actually a little surprised you never chose something more like this. I wouldn't consider you reclusive by any means, but you do have a healthy appreciation for your own space. One would think you would have jumped at the chance to have something more private, over a straightforward, open access room in the Compound."

Levi merely shrugged, "I have a squad to watch over. When my role changed and I got my team, I suppose I had given it some serious thought at first, because I knew I'd stay with the Scouts until the very end so it just made sense to have my own space. The more I looked into it though, it just seemed like a hassle. For starters, the compound is on the opposite end of campus, and while its not that the walk in and of itself is a deal breaker, the likelihood of me being able to walk all the way through campus twice a day without getting stopped or pulled into someone's business – I just decided to spare myself the hassle and live in the Compound instead. Honestly with all the shit you've all pulled over the years, it's a good thing I did. You may be elites on the battlefield, but here on campus you're all damned brats that need a babysitter."

Petra couldn't help the chuckle that left her lips, and as they walked down the path, Petra squinted in sudden confusion because some ways up ahead…

"Captain…is that Eld?"

Levi's eyes narrowed, and Petra was again looking back toward the path and she tugged his arm with sudden impatience, "Yeah, I think it is. Shouldn't they…shouldn't they be training?"

They walked toward where the blonde was stationed, somewhere in front of one of the houses along the pathway, and seeing them approach, Eld's face paled considerably.

Levi's arms were already crossed, and he gave a tense sigh as he stared at the blonde flatly.

"Uh, Captain!" Eld mumbled out in alarm, "We uh, didn't think we'd be running into you like this."

Petra looked between the two men and, even though it was Levi's business, Petra couldn't help but feel outraged on his behalf. She also crossed her arms and made a point of shaking her head in clear disapproval, "Eld, you – what the hell are you doing? You're supposed to be training! You know how important this day is for me and Captain, why are you just adding more trouble to his day like this?"

Eld looked over his shoulder, back toward the front door of the house he was standing in front of, and from within the building, there were a few more mumbles that could be heard from the open door and windows, "Hey is that Petra?"

The voice had been Oluo's, and Petra groaned in further disbelief, "Ugh, not you guys too. All of you are behind this? Guys, I know there isn't an expedition for a few months but-" she clicked her tongue and waved a hand irritably, "Who's house are you even vandalizing anyway? Is this a bet or something? The hell are you guys even up to?"

Gunther and Oluo walked out of the front door and nodded toward Captain in confusion, "Uh, did we do something wrong? We thought that-"

Petra opened her mouth to speak, about to confirm that yes they did something wrong – playing hooky and breaking into someone's house when they thought they could get away with it, was in fact 'something wrong' but before she could get out another word, there was a long sigh from Levi.

"Sorry, change of plans. We're just on lunch now; we'll have to go back in another forty minutes give or take."

"Gotcha," Eld stated simply, and he nodded towards the other two men, "We'll go ahead and take our own lunch break then, may as well. Come on guys." Eld gave a wave and the two men followed behind him without another word.

Petra's mouth was hanging open as she watched the trio walk down the path, and she looked over toward Levi in complete confusion, "Alright, what the hell was that all ab-"

Her words died on her tongue at the suddenly strange expression on the Captain's face, and he shook his head in clear irritation, "Fuck, sorry. I guess the surprise is ruined, huh?"

Petra blinked, "What…surprise?"

Levi's own expression fell into something that bordered on the confused and he motioned toward the house they were standing in front of with a tilt of his head, "This Petra, the house. It's…well, I had it built. For you – no, for us. Technically speaking it's ready to live in, as of just a few days ago. I know we've been pretty busy and it's not exactly the best time to try and move like this, but I figured that while you and I were away at the meeting today, the guys could at least start the process and get some essentials like tables, desks, basic furniture and a few spare uniforms hung up - that sort of thing. I had planned on giving them the day to get it done, but Erwin seems to think you'd be better off knowing now, apparently. We kind of caught them midmotion, to some extent."

Petra looked at Levi for a long moment, then back to the house they were standing in front of.

Their house, apparently.

"Captain…you…built this?"

"Well not personally, but I put the order in to have it built, if that's what you mean."

Another long silence passed, and Petra struggled to find her words because regardless the 'surprise being ruined' – she was taken completely off guard and her mind was struggling to keep up.

A house? Levi built them a house?

"I don't understand. Did you…buy this?"

There was a chuckle from Levi, because it was obvious that Petra was indeed that surprised and he watched her flatly, "Well of course; houses don't grow on trees after all. The Scouts already own the land, so that saved a lot of time, but even still it had to be built from the ground up. I looked at a few floor plans with Erwin, had a few meetings with the builders and contractors over the last few months and with a few exceptions, it's all but finished." He paused and watched her with faint, nervous curiosity, "You wanna take a look inside perhaps?"

Petra blinked at his question, and she gave a slow, quiet nod, cautiously walking down the cobblestone path and up towards the doorway.

…

End of Chapter

...

All is well, but I really just don't have much to say this week so it seems! I do like this chapter a lot of course – almost any chapter I get to write out Erwin is always a good time because he's such a straight shooter and yet at the same time, you'd be foolish to take him at face value. I will say, the manga is an absolute dumpster fire of problems, but I do love some of the characters the writer has created for us.

All in all guys, have an awesome week and I'll see you again next Sunday!