The sun was up the next day and Hange had presented her new 'baby.'

"It's used to anchor the titan to the wall," she said proudly. Lyla nodded and went to check on the explosives. She saw Krista helping her squad and tilted her head and said with a sly smile.

"I thought Commander Erwin wouldn't approve?"

"He doesn't. But he has only one arm," said Krista.

"Oh, so he couldn't stop you because he had only one arm?" said Lyla in a teasing tone.

"Besides, isn't it a good story? The true Queen kills the threatening titan and takes back her throne," said Krista cheerily.

"Frontpage material," agreed Lyla with a laugh.

"Hurry up brats, there's no time to be laughing around like that," Levi snapped at them. Krista and Lyla looked out and indeed the titan was close to the walls. The whole squads' face paled and they went back to work. A certain tension filled the air. Lyla looked at the titan, then the squad. She rolled her eyes and walked towards Levi. She gently pulled him over.

"I was only trying to ease some tension."

Levi raised his eyebrow.

"They're already terrified as it is. A small joke here and there won't hurt. They're only teenagers you know," Lyla elaborated.

"They're soldiers," Levi corrected.

"Well, yes. They are soldiers who happen to be only 15 years old. The pressure of having to stop the titan is already weighing them down and on top of that they are afraid that they might fail, that the titan might crush their home into pieces."

"It won't be only their homes it would be crushing if the titan gets in," said Levi dryly. Lyla rolled her eyes. She placed both of her hands on Levi's shoulders.

"What I'm saying is that we need to relax just a little. Just enough so we don't do some stupid rookie mistake out of pressure or fear."

Lyla started massaging Levi's shoulders and his muscles slightly relaxed under Lyla's touch.

"Why don't you hand out free cookies anymore?" Levi suddenly asked. Lyla made a questioning sound.

"I heard from Eren that you always had a stash of cookies."

Lyla let out a small laugh, "Is it really the right timing to ask that?"

"I thought it was you who said we should relax a little," said Levi with a frown. Lyla again laughed and said, "I didn't really have time to bake cookies. And nicking some when we were in the training camps and nicking when I am officially a soldier is very different I guess."

Levi turned around.

"You nicked cookies?"

"Is that really surprising to know?" asked Lyla.

Levi never thought that Lyla would do such a thing. But then again, Lyla did have her naughty side.

"Eren said that your cookies taste quite good."

"They are the best!" somebody shouted out. And the next moment Eren pounced on Lyla as he wrapped his arms around her. Levi's eyes narrowed.

"Go work Jaeger," he said as he peeled off each arm from Lyla. Eren pouted.

"But you two are lazing around. Why, are you too busy flirting with my older sister?" Eren said as he wiggled his brows. Lyla's cheeks turned pink as she turned away. Levi gritted his teeth. Really, this brat was getting on his edge since yesterday.

"Jeager, I'm warning you—" Levi started in a warning tone but Eren didn't care and shouted out.

"Well I approve!"

"And I don't," Mikasa said darkly with a scowl.

Levi crossed his arms and said, "I didn't ask for any of your approval as there is nothing to approve of. Now if you understood go away."

Levi literally pushed them away. He turned back to Lyla only to find her trying to hold back laughter. He quirked an eyebrow.

"What?"

Lyla shook her head. "Nothing sir,"

She took a deep breath and looked out. She saw the titan crawling towards them. Lyla faced Levi again and said, "Well, I better get going and help them."

"Wait," Levi took hold of Lyla's wrist. She raised her eyebrows in question.

"Take it easy. Don't go overboard and outright exert yourself."

Levi knew that it was not possible for Lyla to sit out even though he rather wanted her to rest and not take part in this operation. There were short in men and needed every soldier they could get.

Lyla smiled and nodded her head.

"Don't worry captain. I won't pass out or suddenly fall asleep again."

She gave a short peck on the cheeks and walked off. Levi froze in place. He slowly placed a hand on his cheek where Lyla pressed her lips. It was the first time anything close to a 'kiss' after their first kiss that day Lyla woke up.

"You better mean it, you brat," he mumbled. Levi walked towards Hange. She glanced at Levi and her eyes went wide.

"Did something good happen?"

"Ha? What are you saying Shitty Glasses? A titan is threatening to break the walls and end the human race. How do you see that as 'something good?'"

"I didn't mean that part. But I guess I have something close to an answer now," said Hange gleefully as she saw Levi's eyes fixed on Lyla.

Meanwhile, Lyla was trying to focus on the task before her and not the totally inappropriate thing she just did.

'What were you thinking Lyla! Kissing your commanding officer like that!'

Well, technically it wasn't a kiss, but it felt weird all the same.

'So, what are we?' Lyla wondered. They were still superior and subordinate but somehow that line seemed much less prominent now. Clearly she has relaxed too much.

...


...

"Steady!" Erwin shouted as the titan approached. "Fire!"

Large hooks shot out and embedded themselves into the titan's hands. As the titan loomed over the wall people started screaming and fled away. Lyla patted Eren on the shoulders.

"Okay, now be careful."

Eren gave one determined nod. He ran off and soon his roar echoed through the air followed by a series of explosions. Lyla looked at the sky as several bits of the titan rained down. She took off and sliced through the first target she encountered with. Without hesitation she flew to the next slice of flesh. It was then she saw a giant chunk of the titan fall and Krista fly past her from the corner of her eye. She watched as Krista cut the chunk and Lyla knew that the titan was dead.

Lyla smoothly landed on the roof of a building, near Krista. She watched as people gathered around her.

"Is it you who killed the titan?"

One man asked in awe. Krista raised her fist.

"It is I, Historia Reiss, the true Queen. I have killed the titan and I am here to proclaim my rightful throne."

The people roared in joy, showing gratitude to the small blonde and Lyla knew that Krista had a good start to her new position.

"Tsk, I never thought she would actually kill the titan herself."

Lyla turned her head and saw Levi staring down beside her. Lyla slightly smiled.

"Well she did, and the people are loving their new Queen."

"For now," said Levi.

"Let's just hope that they keep supporting her."


The coronation took place not long after the defeat of the titan. Lyla felt pride as she watched Krista salute towards the crowd. She would be a good Queen, or she hoped she would.

"Lyla, where's captain Levi?"

At Eren's question, Lyla looked around. She hasn't seen him since the start of the coronation.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him. Why?"

"Krista's gonna punch him after she changes," said Eren with a big smug smile plastered on his face. Lyla's face paled a little after hearing his statement.

"I don't think Captain's going to like that Eren."

"What's he going to do? Krista's Queen now."

Indeed the whole squad started hunting Levi when Krista got out of her dress. Krista had her hair flailing about and was only wearing a white dress. Lyla followed them to stop the captain in case he decided to kill his own squad.

"You're the only one who could stop him without drawing blood," Eren had said.

Lyla sort of hoped that they would not meet the captain at this particular moment. After some searching she said,

"Maybe he's not in the compound?"

She draped her military coat over a shivering Krista.

"I think we should call it a day. It's getting cold and—"

"I found him!"

Connie's gleeful voice echoed through the hall. Lyla rolled her eyes.

'Way to go, Springer.'

But it seemed like the whole squad lost its zeal now that they found the captain. Krista was slightly trembling and Levi stared at them. He shifted his gaze to Lyla in a questioning manner but Lyla couldn't give an answer.

At last, Krista ran forward with a loud shout and punched Levi. Levi must've been expecting it the moment Krista started running for he slightly shifted his position so she would punch him in the arm rather than his stomach. Though it wouldn't have hurt either way.

"Ha! What are you going to do? I'm the Queen now!"

Tension filled the air and Eren gulped in anticipation.

But they never expected what came next: a smiling Levi. Captain Levi, Humanity's Strongest Soldier, was actually smiling.

"Thanks, you guys. I needed that."

The whole squad froze in horror. They expected a scowl, a glare, hell they were even ready to run if he decided to beat the crap out of them. But they never thought of him smiling, let alone say thank you. Even Lyla was surprised.

Connie slowly started inching away followed by Sasha. Soon all of the members were gone, leaving Levi and Lyla alone. Lyla gently took a step forward.

"Is everything all right Captain?"

"The titan's gone, we have a new Queen. What's not to be?"

"Captain," Lyla said in a soft, but stern voice. Levi took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Kenny died."

Lyla didn't understand at first, but then remembered that Levi once lived with Kenny in the Underground City. She took hold of Levi's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"He's my uncle," Levi suddenly said and he pulled out a rectangular box. He gave the box to Lyla. Lyla's eyes widened when she checked what was in the box.

"Isn't this…?"

"Yeah. It's the serum that will enable a human to turn into a titan. Kenny decided to give me this and tell me who he was on his deathbed."

Lyla really didn't know what to say to that. She thought that even though Levi didn't like Kenny, some part of him did have a soft part for him. Like a love-hate relationship.

"What do you plan to do with this?" Lyla asked as she held up the box.

"Report it to Erwin I guess."

Lyla nodded and shivered as a gust of wind blew right through her.

"Where's your coat?"

"I gave it to Krista sir,"

"Tsk."

Levi draped his coat over Lyla. But she shook her head.

"What if you catch a cold sir."

"That's the same I want to ask. What if you catch a cold. You already are tired as it is. Let's not take any risks."

But Lyla stubbornly refused.

"Better me than you sir. We can't risk having Humanity's Strongest Soldier sick. I can be replaced, you can't."

Levi huffed out in irritation.

"Fine."

He put his coat back on but instead of buttoning it up, he caged Lyla inside his arms and buried his head into the crook of her neck.

"Captain!?"

Lyla said in a clearly flustered voice.

"Just stay like this for a minute," said Levi in a muffled voice. Lyla looked down at him with wide eyes but soon smiled. She started to stroke Levi's head and hum a lullaby.

She liked these small moments. It was rare, probably almost the first time for Levi to show his weak side like this and Lyla cherished every moment.

"And don't say shit like that," said Levi in a muffled voice. Lyla stopped singing and looked at him but instead of looking up Levi just continued to talk in the muffled voice

"Don't say that you're replaceable, because you aren't."

Lyla smiled softly and patted his head.

Their little moment was interrupted by a small cough. Lyla turned around and her cheeks turned pink when she found Hange grinning widely at them.

"Sorry to break a moment here. Isn't it the second time I've done it? Anyway, Erwin wants to see Levi. Actually he wants to see both of you."

Levi detached himself from Lyla with a deep scowl.

"Shitty glasses and her shitty timing…" mumbled Levi. Lyla couldn't help but laugh at his words.