Lyla went downstairs when Hange left and Levi dismissed her. He said to rest but she insisted on working. She saw Jean coming in with groceries. She figured out that Levi must have organized a new squad.

"Oh, you're up! How are you?" Jean asked.

"I'm feeling quite well, um…" Lyla eyed Jean's muddy boots. The captain is not going to like that.

"Um… Jean, did you wipe your boots and dust off before coming in?" Lyla asked a question where the answer was obvious. She just asked anyway hoping that he might have done at least one of them.

"Huh? No. Why do I have to do that?" Jean asked in turn. Even after five days, Jean didn't understand the importance of cleaning for two reasons. First, Eren, who knew how to clean to the Captain's liking, kept saving his ass by cleaning after Jean. Second, Levi was less picky about the cleaning due to Lyla's poor state. He was too preoccupied with her. Lyla dropped her jaw. Just then Eren came down with the other members. Eren immediately noticed Jean's muddy boots.

"Jean, did you wipe your boots?" Eren exclaimed.

"Why is everyone so concerned with my boots?" Jean said in exasperation. "I didn't okay? Can't you see that I have a load here?"

"Do you think Captain Levi will accept that kind of excuse?" Eren asked right in Jean's face.

"Definitely not," Lyla quipped as she started sweeping the floor, trying to get rid of the dirt Jean pulled in.

"Man, if I didn't make your sheets this morning before checking on Lyla what do you think would've happened to you?"

"Oh yes, the sheets are important," Lyla chirped, never stopping her sweeping. Eren kept on nagging Jean while Lyla added in a few more comments. Finally Jean burst out.

"What are you guys? My mom?" Jean huffed, "Well, Shorty isn't my mom and Titan Boy certainly isn't,"

Both Lyla and Eren bolted up at the nicknames.

"I'm not short!"

"I'm not a Titan Boy!"

"Yeah sure," Jean snorted. Whereas Lyla just rolled her eyes and kept on sweeping, Eren and Jean broke into a full-fledged fight. The other members just stared at them, having quite gotten used to this kind of situation. But soon they got too loud and Lyla started to have a headache. She gave a sigh and said,

"Enough you guys!"

Just as she was about to pull them apart something shot out of her hands and blasted the front door and around it. Large, sharp crystal-like shards stuck out. Jean and Eren who quickly jumped aside not to get killed, eyed it in disbelief.

"What the hell Shorty! Are you trying to kill us?" Jean shouted out terrified.

"I-I…" Lyla stammered equally in shock. Just then Levi appeared.

"What the fuck is going on down here you shitty brats?" He then froze at the sight before him. Lyla stepped up.

"Sir, it was my fault. I don't know how but I accidentally-" Lyla then swayed as sudden dizziness hit her. Levi quickly wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a protective manner. He looked at the rest of the members.

"You brats, clean this mess up." He then picked Lyla up in bridal style. Lyla stammered but nothing came out as she just blushed furiously. As they disappeared upstairs Sasha said as if confirmed.

"They're a thing."

"Definitely a thing," Connie chimed in. "Well, it was bound to be. You remember the way Lyla ogled Captain Levi the day we graduated?"

"I CAN HEAR YOU SPRINGER!" Lyla shouted out. Connie flinched at the volume of her voice.

"Boy, she has good ears."


Levi smirked down at Lyla after she shouted out.

"So, you were 'ogling' me that day?" Somehow that didn't feel bad.

"I was not sir," Lyla replied in an annoyed tone, "I was just looking at you, besides, you were staring back sir."

"I wasn't staring. You just looked familiar."

"Speaking of which, have we met before sir? I mean, like before joining the military sir. You see, I saw you in my dream," Lyla asked. Levi halted for a moment, then proceeded to Lyla's room. He gently laid her in her bed and pulled up her covers. Lyla laid back a bit and said,

"By the way Captain, what was that for? I could've just walked to my room, sir. Now the soldiers will get the wrong idea," she gave a big sigh.

"Is that a bad thing?" Levi asked nonchalantly. Lyla stared at him wide-eyed. What did he mean?

"The brats would've had the wrong idea the moment I started taking care of you. And for the dream, I heard about it from Hange. Don't try to think too hard on it," Levi said. Lyla propped herself up on the headboard and Levi tucked a pillow behind her. Lyla was a little bit surprised by this. Her Captain was being quite nice today.

"I'll go get your breakfast." He then walked out of the room.

Lyla just stared at the closed door. So was her dream a memory? The captain said not to think too hard about it but she can't help it. Why was he in her dream? Lyla then remembered the other part of the dream. Who was that woman? Maybe it was her mother. The tender way the woman spoke to her, the similar features they share. The woman said to live, to fight, to remember. But remember what? To remember who you are. She also mentioned something about the ancestors watching upon her.

"Who am I…?" Lyla whispered to herself. Does it have to do something with her ancestors? Maybe her sudden blasting off the door had to do with it. Lyla gave a heavy sigh as she remembered the incident. She should make sure to apologize to Eren and Jean. After all, she did almost behead them, even though it wasn't intentional.

There was a knock and Levi came in with a tray of breakfast. He set the tray in her lap. There was a bowl of steaming hot soup, a piece of bread and a cup of water. Lyla eagerly spooned the soup and shoved it in her mouth before even cooling it.

"Owe! Hot!" Lyla almost dropped her spoon as she swallowed the scalding hot liquid. She quickly gulped down water. There was a soft 'tsk'.

"Do I have to feed you?" Levi said in an even tone but Lyla could catch a hint of laughter in it.

"No Captain, I'm perfectly capable of eating sir."

"Good. Now I expect the tray to be empty by the time I come to retrieve it," Levi said as he left the room. Lyla stared at the door for a minute, then, started eating again, this time making sure to cool down the soup.


True to his words Levi did come to get the tray and Lyla was a good subordinate and obeyed her Captain's orders. There wasn't a mouthful of food left on the tray. Levi gave a satisfied smirk as he retrieved the tray. Finally, she was eating decently.

"For once in your life, you obeyed my orders," Levi said. Lyla gave a pout which Levi found quite cute.

"That sounds like as if I'm always disobeying your orders sir,"

"Oh, I think that's close to the truth."

Lyla just huffed and tried to get out of the bed but Levi pushed her back down.

"Take the day off. Hange said you need rest."

Lyla gave out another huff. Levi looked at her face with a certain softness that he didn't know he was showing. He could see a faint pink line on her cheek. The cut that day in Stohess had left a scar behind. Levi stretched out his hand and gently caressed the scar with his thumb. Lyla stared at her Captain with wide eyes. It didn't feel bad.

"Get some rest. Do you need anything else?" Levi asked as he withdrew his hand, much to Lyla's disappointment. Lyla shook his head.

"No, sir."

Levi gave a nod and left the room. Lyla sighed as she sunk back into the bed. Again she was left alone with her thoughts. For the hundredth time she thought about her dream but nothing came up. Soon she felt a headache coming so she just closed her eyes. Maybe a nap would clear things up.

...


...

Lyla was woken up by a gentle shake.

"Lyla,"

Lyla sleepily opened her eyes and met silver ones. They were boring into her with a tenderness she had never seen before. Did Captain know that? No, he was probably unintentionally showing it. Lyla thought.

"Captain," she sat up.

"How are you feeling?" Levi asked.

"Better than ever sir," Lyla answered with a smile. Levi gave a nod.

"Good. I brought you lunch." He placed a tray with a plate of sandwiches and a glass of water. Lyla murmured a thank you with a blush. Really he was spoiling her.

"Did you eat sir?" Lyla asked. Levi gave a slight nod.

"I ate with the other brats."

Levi watched as Lyla ate. Just until this morning Levi thought that he would never see her like this again. But now, here she is in front of him, all good and healthy.

Lyla took a bite of her sandwich and smiled.

Oh, what he would do to just see her smile. What he would pay, give up, just to make her happy. Levi shook his head to himself. He really had it hard. By his experience, Levi knew that this kind of attachment was dangerous, but for some reason he didn't want to cut it off. Yes, this feeling was something tender, sweet yet terrifying. But for some reason Levi wanted to keep this feeling. Call it care… or love, whatever this feeling is. Levi wasn't going to lose her ever again. He would do anything to protect her.

"Captain?"

Levi snapped from his thoughts as Lyla called him.

"Is something bothering you sir? You were making a serious face," Lyla said. Well, he did always have a serious face but this face seemed more than serious, almost determined.

"It's nothing. Done?" Levi asked looking at the now empty plate. Lyla nodded. Levi collected the plate and stood up. He seemed to think over something, then, he patted Lyla's head softly.

"Get some rest."

Lyla again stared at the door which the Captain just opened and left. He really is concerned about her getting rest. The problem was that she felt well-rested than ever and was now itching to move. She rolled around in her bed for an hour or two. Then, Lyla kicked off her covers and started tidying her room. After that, she marched downstairs. Eren greeted her immediately.

"Lyla! Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm feeling fabulous. By the way, sorry about this morning, I didn't mean to blast off you guys." Lyla also indicated Jean who just appeared next to Eren. Jean waved a hand.

"Nah, it's fine. I guess it couldn't be helped Shorty." Eren also said not to mind.

"So, what should I do now?"

"Uh, I thought Captain told you to take the day off?" Eren said in a concerned tone.

"He did, which means take a day off as Second in Command. He didn't say I have to do nothing all day."

"Are you two a thing?" Sasha quipped. Lyla immediately blushed and denied,

"No, we're just superior and subordinate, maybe friends at best."

"Is that so? Captain looked pretty worried for just being friends," Connie said, wiggling his eyebrow. "He even skipped meals. He probably only ate one meal the first three days and the last two he only ate when Squad Leader Hange brought it up to his office, and in no doubt, forced him to eat it."

"WHAT?" Lyla exclaimed. She quickly grabbed a tray and filled it with a pot of tea, two teacups and some things to eat with it. She then raced up the stairs to her Captain's office. Lyla knocked on the door and opened it.

"Lyla?" Levi said in surprise. Lyla placed the tray down and poured themselves tea.

"I thought I told you to take the day off," Levi said frowning.

"That doesn't mean I have to laze around in the bed all day. And you shouldn't skip meals, sir," Lyla scolded.

"Who told you?" Levi's frown deepened. He was guessing it would be Jean or Connie. Lyla didn't answer his question. Instead, she said in a playful tone, "I didn't think you would organize a new squad without my consideration, or move to a new headquarter."

"Well, I would have considered if you weren't passed out the three days and a living doll these last two." Levi mentally slapped himself. That was not what he planned to say. Lyla looked a little hurt and annoyed.

"I'm sorry sir but that wasn't my fault now is it?"

"No no, it's not. That wasn't what I meant," Levi hurriedly said, "I was just…" Levi tugged at his cravat for some air. Lyla all watched this curiously. Was that a blush?

"I was just… oh fuck," Levi took a deep breath. "I was just worried. These past few days without you were hell. I was afraid that I might not be able to see you again, have tea together or see you smile. I was-" Levi's words were cut off as he felt soft warm lips press against his. He closed his eyes as he savored the feeling. Lyla pulled away, a faint pink was dusting her cheeks. Levi looked half dazed. He placed his hand on the back of Lyla's head and pressed his lips against hers again. Levi tentatively swiped the bottom of her lips, asking for entrance which Lyla quickly granted.

Lyla moaned softly as she felt Levi's tongue enter her mouth. Her hand snaked up Levi's back and through his hair as their tongue danced together. She brushed her palm against the undercut and Levi slightly shivered at the touch.

Finally, Lyla broke away breathlessly. She brushed a few strands of hair out of Levi's eyes and said with a smile.

"Does this make us a thing?"

Levi smirked, "Maybe." He then pulled Lyla in again.


A/N Yesss! They finally kissed. Now, I know that Levi has been really sappy recently but I enjoy writing a caring Levi. As always, thanks for reading!