The morning light gently entered through his eyelids. Levi kept his eyes closed. They had been through hell the past few days. If they deserved something now, it'd be a good rest. He couldn't feel her body clinging against his own. He could only assume she had escaped his grasp during their sleep, and her body must've been resting by her own side of the bed. Still, he wanted to bring her close. A hand blindly reached for the other side of the bed only to find out that it was blank.

Eyes shot open and this time he looked to make sure. She wasn't there. Where is she?! Could she have been abducted?! No, if she had been, he would've known. He was beside her all night, there was no way her abductors could have slipped beneath his nose. Still, if she hadn't been abducted, then where is she?! He never thought her mere absence would make him panic so much.

He stood on sitting position and he buried his face in his hands. It was true. He was already overwhelmed with trying to protect her and his squad. There was no way he could add to that. Not yet, at least. He tried to pull the sheets off his body and dress up. He didn't have clean, proper clothes to put on -especially after that shower- but he could deal with whatever he had, and most importantly, he had to find her.

But he never got to do anything when the door opened and Nathalie walked in. "Good morning, sleepy head,"

Levi's shoulders relaxed right away upon seeing she was unharmed. Maybe he was just being paranoid. She looked good actually. No. Good wasn't even close to describe how she looked like. She looked gorgeous. She was in a light grey skirt that reached her ankles. A white buttoned shirt on top and a cloth wrapped around her hair just like every time they'd set off to clean a room, or when she'd set off to cook something. She would gather her hair back, but there was always a messy strand of hair that would remain on her forehead.

Bright blue eyes met his own, and only when she talked, he realised he had been staring. "Levi?" She let the tray -that she had been carrying- on the bedside table and she approached him to cup his face. "Are you oka- AH!"

She let out a yelp of surprise when his hands slipped around her and urged her to stumble down and crush on his lap. His lips met her own before she had the chance to say anything and she giggled in his mouth. Her hands slipped around his neck and she finally granted him access in her mouth. Tongues gently danced in a delicious swirl that had her moaning. Fingers clutched around her skirt on her hips as he brought her a little closer and kissed her a little harder.

Her own hands slipped on his bare chest, brushing gently across his scars and the pale skin. There was no way he could hold back when she looked like this. She had brought him breakfast, hadn't she? He had barely paid any attention to the contents of whatever she had put on that tray. There was no way he could focus on anything else but her.

He pulled back, just to let her breathe. Her soft thumb brushed across his cheek and he found himself sighing and pressing his forehead against her own. Her taste lingered on his lips and he had no idea how to deal with how needy she made him. Levi buried his face in her neck and he started kissing. He spotted the swollen soft skin. The marks that he had given her last night. He pressed kisses on them as if apologising for bruising her.

Nathalie only giggled once more and it made his heart flutter. Her soft fingers found his hair, caressing soothingly. Fingers slipped down on his nape and he hummed against her neck. She grinned. Sensitive there, aren't we?

"Levi…" She spoke against his ear. "…I brought you breakfast,"

He hummed, before pressing another kiss down on her soft skin. "I am aware of that," His hands only tightened around her as he bit down on her skin. Nathalie moaned. He licked gently down on the bitemark and Nathalie squirmed.

"Fuck… Levi!" She scolded and she smacked his shoulder trying to make him stop turning her on. But he didn't even budge.

A bright blush spread across her face, but he paid no attention at how flustered he was making her feel or what they had to do for today. They should probably be out of bed now and they should probably be heading for Trost to fill reports and take care of paperwork. Levi groaned. No, no, no, no. He wasn't giving a single fuck. He wanted to spend the entire day with her. He wanted to keep her trapped right there on his lap, on the bed for the next few hours.

She could very well feel his erection growing beneath her, and the very idea got her wet and bothered. But she groaned. There was no way he was letting go of her. "You'll do as I say and I won't take no for an answer, is that clear?" He was really living up to his words, wasn't he?

He hummed in her neck. "I wonder… whether you're wearing any panties beneath that skirt," Calloused fingers slipped beneath her skirt, tracing across the soft skin of her legs. Much to his surprise, she was indeed wearing her knickers beneath, reminding him just how different from all other women she was. "Oh, you do,"

Nathalie laughed. "Why wouldn't I? I'm not a slut-" She let out another yelp. She gasped when her back landed against the mattress and he was on top of her. Hands and knees planted all around her. His hair almost touched her forehead. His body, shamelessly naked and on top of her. His breath brushed across her lips as he settled his body between her legs. The tip of his nose touched her own.

"I'll make you one," Levi's eyes met her own. Grey pupils, sharp and dark with need as he leaned closer. His lips ghosted above her own. "My slut,"

Nathalie bit her tongue. She could already feel the wet heat gathering between her legs and the only thing she could do was stare at the attractive man who now had her trapped beneath him. He leaned close and tried to catch her lips between his own, but then a sudden knock came on their door and Levi almost got the need to gut whoever that was.

"Captain! We're ready to depart, sir!" That was Eren's voice and Levi only buried his face in her neck, groaning in utter frustration. There was no way he'd answer that, so Nathalie thought she'd do it instead. Besides, everybody knew she and Levi were sleeping together. It wouldn't be surprising.

"We'll be right there, sweetheart,"

"Oh! Alright, Nat!"

The kid's footsteps could be heard from outside as he walked away and Nathalie watched as Levi got off of her and started searching for his clothes. "I washed them for you!" Nathalie jumped off the bed and she rushed towards a basket that she had rested nearby. "The sun's been hot all day so they dried off pretty fast," She pulled the freshly washed clothes out of the basket and she handed them to him.

He couldn't believe she had actually washed them for him. Usually, even back then in the Underground, each one of them would wash their own clothes and take care of their own things. But this time, she had actually done it for him, and there was no reason for him to worry about putting on dirty clothes after a thorough shower. She wasn't just spoiling those brats in the squad. She was spoiling him as well and he didn't even know whether it was a good thing, or a bad thing.

Levi cupped her face and planted a peck on her lips. "Thanks, Nat,"

Nathalie only smiled up at her beloved. Her palms pressed flat on his bare chest. "Get dressed and have your breakfast. I'll go check on our brats,"

Levi could do nothing but stare at her as she walked out the door. Her words, ringing in his mind on repeat. I'll go check on our brats. They already had brats to look after, hadn't they? He smiled at himself before he set off to do as she had asked.

Yeah, we do.

●▬▬▬▬▬๑۩۞۩๑▬▬▬▬▬●

They parted their ways when they finally arrived the Survey Corps HQ in Trost. Levi and Nathalie dropped their squad by the Special Operation's Squad HQ that still laid abandoned and slightly ruined by the searching the MPs had done when they had come looking for them. Levi's orders were clear. Clean this mess up. He only wished they'd actually do it right this time.

Nathalie and Levi returned back to Trost where they finally had that talk with Erwin that he had promised them. Erwin was staring at his bookcase when the two of them entered his office. His hands, caught in each other, resting back. A pile of paperwork for him to fill and Nathalie was sure that Levi had an identical one delivered to his own office. He only frowned at the sight of it.

Erwin heard them as they walked right in. Nathalie was still in that grey skirt and her white shirt. The only thing missing was that cloth that she had put around her hair in the morning and that was only for the case of cooking Levi's breakfast in the morning back in Orvud. But for now, her hair were a gorgeous mess that barely reached just above he shoulders. Those beautiful strands of hair landed on her forehead, and her glasses that rested at the bridge of her nose, they did nothing but add to her breathtaking beauty. The moment Erwin turned and looked at her, the only thing he could see was her. Perfect. In every way. Perfect in brains, body, beauty, personality. Everything.

He was once again reminded and saddened that she wasn't his. Her words echoed in his mind ever since she had told him. I'm sorry. I'm engaged. By the looks of it, she had most possibly noticed his crush on her, although Erwin wouldn't call it just a mere crush. If it was a crush, then it had lasted long enough to worry him. He knew beyond doubt, that what he felt for her was more than a crush. Crushes were just newfound feelings for children. He was no child. He recognised a feeling when he felt one.

Erwin smiled at the couple, even though he knew there was no way Levi would ever return the smile. He had only seen Levi smile once, or -in a very unseen occasion- maybe twice and Nathalie would have to be there and be the source of that smile on the lips of the most stubborn, emotionless man, that Erwin had ever known. He shouldn't blame him. Erwin was emotionless enough himself. Or at least, he was passionate enough about his dreams only and nothing more.

"I want to congratulate you two for your engagement," Erwin said as he carried a book to his desk.

It was beyond doubt that Erwin too was a bookworm, much like Nathalie. He would read, and read, and read trying to devour all the knowledge that he could get his hands on, and he knew that Nathalie was the same. He found biology fascinating but she had studied it and they had had so many interesting conversations on titan biological facts.

Still, it wasn't just a surprise, it almost felt like an explosion blowing right in front of his face when she told him I'm sorry, I'm engaged. But he shouldn't be surprised. That night in that cell where he held her, no matter how much in pain he was that night, it almost felt like a dream.

"Just get to the point," Levi said before Nathalie had the chance to open her lips and form a thanks.

"I wish to apologise, about what happened," Erwin sat down on his chair, and the other two sat down on the other two chairs that rested in front of his desk. "Levi was right. It was my fault what happened to you, Nathalie. You were tortured because I was selfish enough to get you involved in all this. The loss of your child is one of the many guilts that I shall carry on my shoulders,"

Nathalie sighed deeply. Levi rested a hand on the back of the chair and he only tsk -ed in response. He looked away from the man and into some random spot on the floor. At least, he was admitting it.

"It's alright," Nathalie said reassuringly. "Levi and I talked it through and we'll not blame you, Commander-"

"Say it," Levi cut her, but she could tell he wasn't addressing to her. His grey sharp eyes finally found Erwin's and the Commander knew right away what his comrade was talking about. "C'mon. It's obvious. Just admit it already,"

Erwin sighed. Tired eyes closed briefly. He was never a man to hide. He was never one to run away and leave problems unsolved. "I like you, Nathalie," he confessed and her eyes widened. She knew it, but hearing it coming from him was something else. "I really do, just because you're not giving me any reasons not to," Erwin's eyes met her own, and she drowned in their cerulean colour. "You're the most fascinating woman I've ever met, Nathalie Burgess, and I'm not talking about your mysterious origins, neither that brilliance of yours that never ceases to amaze me. It's just you,"

"C- Commander… I- I…" Nathalie could not find the words.

She honestly never thought she was that beautiful for two men to like her at once. Heck, she never thought anybody would ever like her. She hated her body. She hated her mind. She hated herself because she never was enough. But now this. Listening to that all it made her wonder. What the hell? Erwin didn't know her as much as Levi did, but he was smart enough to assume things, and assume them correctly.

"And what about you, Nathalie? How do you feel?" Erwin asked and the question caught her by surprise.

What do I feel? She never got to pay much thought into it, when Levi finally turned at the Commander. His fingers clenched around the wooden arms of his chair. Where was the bastard going with this?!

"How did you feel the night of our imprisonment, in our shared cell? How did you feel when I held you?" Erwin asked. Fingers now tightly clenched around each other as he rested his hands on his desk in front of him, impatiently anticipating her answer. When he told her of the possibilities of him dying, and she had immediately grasped his shirt and cried out No! Did she not feel anything at all?

Levi's eyes widened. He turned at Nathalie. She looked equally as shocked as he was. No. Levi was just scared but furious nonetheless. "What does he mean by that?!"

Nathalie could not form an answer. That night flashed back to her and she tried to remember how she had actually felt. Erwin's arms around her. Her body against his own. Both in pain, but together, and that helped them cope. Levi's hand caught her elbow and drew her back in reality. His fingers dug harshly into her skin even above her sleeve. It hurt. She winced, but she did not complain. He just needed her attention. He just needed her to explain what the fuck it was that Erwin was talking about. She couldn't have let this man hold her, could she? She couldn't have allowed this man to touch her, right? Right?!

She only had to deny it. Even if she was going to lie, Levi would still believe it. "Say something, dammit!" Levi growled.

Erwin's eyes widened. He raised a hand to stop him from hurting her. "Levi, please-"

"Nothing," Nathalie said and both fell quiet. Levi's hold around her elbow loosened slightly. She turned and looked at Erwin. "I felt nothing," She scoffed. "What did you want me to feel? Love? Compassion? Sympathy?" Nathalie turned at Levi and she nodded at him. "Yes, I let him hold me, but I was in pain, I was bleeding. I was pregnant to our child, and I was missing you, Levi, and I thought I was never going to see you again, I was terrified…" her voice trembled. She turned at Erwin with shiny eyes filled with tears that she wasn't allowing to drop. "…and you offered me your comfort when I needed it most and what did you expect me to do? Push you away? I was so weak and so much in pain, I couldn't even move," Nathalie snatched her hand away from Levi's and she stood up. "Don't use that weak, vulnerable moment I had so that you can break what Levi and I have now. I accepted your comfort. You're not making me fall for you by making me regret it,"

Nathalie rushed out of the room. She stormed out and shut the door behind her. She had nothing else to say. She never thought Erwin would use that moment that had transpired between them, just to break what she and Levi had. She could never believe that Erwin would use her helplessness and her pain, just to make her his own. She knew better than to fall for that. She wasn't a brainless little woman who needed a guy to help her stand on her feet and face this world. She'd never allow herself to be used. She had a personality. She had feelings. She wasn't blank. That was infuriating. It infuriated her and she had no way to take the anger out but cry.

Tears were finally allowed to stream down her cheeks when she pressed her back against the closed, wooden door of the Commander's office. How could he?! How was she going to explain to Levi that he was her one and only after what Erwin had just said? After what she had just said?

Oh God, it was all ruined, wasn't it? She was going to lose Levi and what they had. Nathalie ran down the hall. She ran downstairs stumbling over soldiers or secretaries, or employees that worked in the Survey Corps HQ. She didn't care. She had to get out of there. She never thought she was so good at running. She had work to do in the labs, but she didn't care.

Experiments could wait. They had at least a month -and maybe more- till the Expedition to retake Wall Maria was to come. Nathalie got on a horse and she rode away. She didn't even know whose horse that was. Was it Levi's? Was it some random soldier's? She didn't know, she didn't have her own horse anymore. She didn't care. She just needed to get out of there.

She needed to feel the wind as it brushed violently on her face and pushed her hair back. Her glasses were resting neatly on top of her nose, allowing her to see the greenery outside Trost in detail. Dusk was slowly arriving. The purple of the dying sun merged beautifully with the blue of the sky.

Another tear slipped down her cheek, but it was dried off by the wind around her as she rode away. She just wanted to get away from this and from everything.