Sierra lapsed into a tense silence, noting how the man walking beside her was doing the same thing. What else was there to say? It's not like he denied what happened. This is embarrassing. Four of our best soldiers. Gone. Killed by a tiny slip of a shifter-girl. And it's not like he was in any position to do jack. So I don't get why he's being so-wait. I do. It's LEVI.

Lit torches bathed the underground passage with a homey glow. An effect that went unheeded by the two deadliest soldiers in the world. Sure, Asia might have inborn skill-the girl was nothing without it-but even she couldn't touch Sierra's insanely high kill count carved out by countless hours of hard work. As the pair descended a flight of stone stairs she heard faint scraping and rattling noises coming from the direction of the holding cells.

"Looks like four-eyes is almost done," Levi muttered, temporarily forgetting the short woman listening to his every word. "That blond bitch is gonna wish she was dead by the time I'm through wringing her out."

"Vengeful much?"

Levi bit his lip. Dammit. I can't say things like that around her.

"You weren't the one who lost people girl." His tone came out icier than it should've, but he wasn't in the mood to spare feelings. "So don't even go there."

She rolled her eyes, boots thumping over the disused stones. The air grew steadily cooler the lower they descended. Being remotely around Levi's birthplace was strange to say the least. But the dark, violent memories of her time spent here started clamoring for attention she didn't have the energy to give.

"I'm gonna say this once. Stop blaming yourself. Everyone made bad calls on that mission, not just you and Eren. Did ya hear me Levi? Everyone screwed up. So don't keep wallowing in the past. It'll dull yer edge and we need ya sharp. Throw a pity party on your own time."

Levi focused on tamping down his emotional dam along with his temper, but he couldn't cover his ears. If there was one thing he admired Sierra for-secretly of course-it was her bluntness. She shot straight and didn't care if she stepped on toes or ruffled feathers. She reminded him of the Kirstein brat with their shared raw, brutal honesty. But there was one glaring difference. Unlike Jean, she didn't sympathize with the weak-minded or hesitant.

Hell, he made an entire career out of rubbing people the wrong way so he wasn't about to rebuke her for it.

He straightened his cravat, just for the sake of doing something. Too many lives depended on the actions he took over the weeks and months ahead. He couldn't afford to break now.

Sierra studied the older man's face out of her peripheral vision as they walked. Permanent dark circles rimmed his eyes a subtle sign of his chronic insomnia. His gait was off thanks to some sprain or break. A thin sheen of sweat coated his pale face and she realized just how deep his exhaustion ran. The urge to ask why he'd put her on leave on the eve of the 57th died in her throat. Now wasn't the time but eventually she'd confront him over it.

"God sakes man. Don't ya sleep anymore?"

He paused several steps before the door leading to where Annie's cocoon was being held. Shadows played over his refined face.

"I've been awake over thirty years Sierra. I'll sleep when I'm dead." And then I'll be reunited with Petra and the others.

His smooth, deep voice held a note of weariness that stopped Sierra dead in her tracks. She turned and looked at him straight in the eye. A simple feat since they were the same height. Several intense seconds passed as she held him fast with those strange silvery orbs. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a big deal but he could never quite figure this girl out. For someone who took great pride in knowledge, this bothered him more than he cared to admit. In a few seconds he was about to study his most hated foe up close and Sierra's ability to cut through any pretense-namely his own-wasn't helping his fragile emotional state. Petra had been the only other person who possessed a keen eye of this caliber.

"Don't mind-read that too much Levi. The real battles begin now." She nodded toward the wooden door separating them from their quarry. Hange was waiting. "Practice time is over."

Levi grunted as he limped over to the door. Before he pushed it open to join Hange the girl spoke once more.

"Wipe yer face."

He stared at her, eyes unblinking. Then he pressed the sleeve of his borrowed coat to his forehead and rubbed it free of sweat. Tch. Disgusting. Face dry, he flicked his dead gaze over her dirt-free face.

"Wait here." To his surprise she shifted to lean against the wall and crossed her arms.

Without another word he shoved the door wide, revealing his crazy titan obsessed friend standing several paces from Leonhart's chained crystal with her chin clasped between her fingers. She didn't acknowledge his presence and he didn't bother to announce it. Hange was in full researcher mode and he knew from experience to stay out of the way.

...

Year 850 - 1 month before the 57th Recon Expedition

"HUH?! WHADDAYA MEAN I'M NOT GOIN' ON THE NEXT MISSION?!"

Sierra stood before Erwin's spartan desk, fists clenched and shaking with rage. Her boss didn't bat an eyelash as she vented her spleen at his latest executive decision.

"I can't afford to let you get eaten Sierra. Besides Levi, you're my best solo specialist. Ever since Wall Maria fell, you've been on a five year nonstop killing spree." He steepled his large, blunt fingers together and rested his square chin on top. "Levi was in here an hour before you arrived. He was...very insistent that you take leave so starting two days from now I'm putting you on a mandatory three week sabbatical."

Sierra could hardly believe her ears. Forced leave on the brink of what was shaping up to be one of the biggest expeditions to date was almost unheard of. This was unacceptable.

"What the hell iceman?" Anger churned in her gut. "Levi's got no right to barge in and run my life!"

"The paperwork's been finalized," Erwin said, unfazed by her outburst. "So you'd better start packing."

Incensed, she spun on her heel and stormed out of his office. Not bothering to salute. The man was an impenetrable steel wall when his mind was made up.

...

"Who does that shrimp bastard think he is?" Sierra muttered darkly as she stuffed the last of her winter clothing into her military pack. "I trained my ass off to NOT rely on men for ANYTHING, but noooo. He jest HAD to stick his nose where it doesn't belong. Again. Like seriously. He's banging Ral every chance he can get and yet he treats me like I'm made of glass-"

Her angry musings were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Go away!" She snapped, not in the mood to entertain guests.

"Um...Major?"

Screw my life.

"It's Petra Ral. Are...is everything okay in there?"

Silver eyes squeezed shut as Sierra struggled to control her breathing. Ral was the last person she wanted to see at the moment. Or anyone for that matter.

"I'm fine. Now leave."

Ral's booted feet scraped over the main barracks' worn wooden floor. It became clear she wasn't going to obey.

"If you say so, ma'am. Anyway, could you please open the door? I-I need to talk to you about something."

She rolled her eyes. Figures. Ral possessed a maternal touch that was all but lost in the hard, cruel world they inhabited. Surrounded by a sea of war-hardened veterans and wide-eyed newbies-most of them men-this made her extremely attractive. A ray of hope and light to warm their bleak, cynical existences. But the minute tremble in the older girl's voice caught her attention.

"Fine. But don't take too long."

The door creaked open and Ral slipped in closing the door softly behind her.

"It's about next month's expedition. I don't know if you've heard but the whole purpose of it is to make our way to Shiganshina and get to the cellar of Eren's old home. The brass is convinced the secret to annihilating the titans lies inside and Eren will play a key role in plugging the breach with his Titan form.."

Sierra crossed over to her dresser and opened one of the drawers. She needed another few pairs of socks anyway.

"Write and let me know how it goes."

Behind her, Ral cocked her head in confusion. "Write? What do you mean? You're coming with us!" Receiving no reply she tried again. "Aren't you?"

Having located two extra clean pairs-no holes thank God-the short woman walked over to where her pack lay on her neatly made bed. "Nope."

"But why?"

"Brass is sending me on forced leave." There was nothing to gain by revealing Levi's heavy hand in the matter. "I'll be gone for three weeks."

Ral gawked at her superior, shock written all over her face.

"Huh?! Seriously?! How're we gonna carve a route to Shiganshina without your help?"

She shrugged.

"Yer Squad Levi. Figure it out."

Petra dipped the crown of her ginger-gold head toward her chest, hands clasped together. Thumbs fiddling as if they had a mind of their own.

"Um, there's one more thing I have to tell you. Promise you'll keep it a secret until we get back from Shiganshina."

It's about Levi I bet. Sierra thought, as she crossed her arms, bracing her calves against the mattress. I mean it's the fastest growing elephant in the room. Even the guys suspect something's going on.

Petra bit her lip. This girl intimidated her unlike anyone else and she hoped she wasn't making a mistake entrusting her with perhaps the biggest secret to date.

"Levi and I got engaged last night. We plan to marry right after the 57th Expedition." A small blush dusted her porcelain cheeks. "I'd love for you to be my bridesmaid."

TBC...

So...yeah, had a hard time cutting this one off, esp on a flashback but don't worry. Sierra will be meeting Eren soon. Lots of love to all the follows and faves and to the anon (guest) review! Ur support makes this story go! :) I'll be time-hopping quite a bit for Sierra's past and start bringing more OCs in-one of her brothers perhaps. She hasn't had contact with them for 10 years so that would be an interesting reunion.

I'm glad everyone's enjoying Sierra and Levi's interaction so far. Something tells me her and Mikasa are gonna be butting heads again not because they hate each other...it's simply a natural reaction of two strong, alpha females in the same room. And I promised she wouldn't be dazzled by her combat skills. Like the other characters are prone to do. Quite often. Jean? Connie? I'm looking at you two.

Which character(s) are you looking forward to Sierra meeting the most/least?