The opera house in Mitras paled in comparison. The scale alone in the Valle Opera House almost had him gawking like a tourist. The carpeting was all red velvet, and rich oil paintings of previous productions and scenery caught his eye. There was the fiery chariot's descent at the end of Prometheus Unbound; here, the lovers' secret meeting in Love's Lament, while the jilted count schemed and fumed out of sight. Erwin felt Petra tighten her grip on his arm. He allowed her to gape and gasp as she looked around. They all had their roles to perform, and she filled hers beautifully.

She filled everything beautifully. He couldn't help how his glance slid down her slight frame. She wore a gown of pink satin with a skirt of frosted tulle. The bodice had a delicate pattern of rosebuds that dripped to her waist, the sleeves were sheer gauze. The maid had curled her hair again and woven in silken primroses. A less delicate woman would have appeared childish, but she was ethereal. A princess from one of the faerie stories Marie had gifted Kuchel. Petra looked innocent, and that only enflamed Erwin.

He thought of Marie. He wanted her, if only to take the edge off the lust. Erwin had slept badly; he'd dreamed of being in bed with Marie, and as he'd neared his climax she changed to Petra. The red-haired woman had writhed beneath him, crying out in ecstasy as he took her, and then Levi had been on his back. The man had sunk his teeth into Erwin's shoulder.

He'd woken in a cold sweat, and then taken a cold shower. Sleep evaded him after. Which was unfortunate, because he needed to be alert tonight.

"Remind me what the goal is?" Petra asked while they collected their programs. Erwin led her across the lobby, Levi the ever-present shadow at their backs. The ushers directed them up the main staircase; the box was in the mezzanine.

"The goal is to deepen the relationship. Inspire trust."

She frowned. "But why? What do we want him to do for us?"

Petra was bright and quick to pick up on things, but he sometimes wished she were a little more intuitive. That was why she and her husband worked so well together; they were both focused on the physical here and now. Petra did have some imagination—more than he'd given her credit for—but she couldn't know in her gut that Willy Tybur was the key to a lock Erwin had not yet located. The answer to a question he had not asked. Erwin did not know why he needed to strengthen his relationship with Willy Tybur. He only knew, in the center of his gut, that it was the right move.

"Do you trust me?" he whispered as they came upon the red velvet curtain to box seven.

"Yes." She said it with absolute assurance. He was, if nothing else, the man whose hunches and intuitions had led them this far. He knew she trusted him to take them all the way.

"Then help me tonight."

She nodded, a look of resolution on her sweet face. Erwin opened the curtain. There were six velvet chairs in the box, and only two occupied. Willy and Giulia turned around. He was dressed in sleek black, while she wore a high-necked, puffed sleeve gown of gold. From the sharp light in her eyes and sly smile, she was not drunk now.

"Oh, look at you. Willy, didn't I tell you she was a vision?" She got up and kissed Petra on both cheeks, then ushered her in to sit. Willy and Erwin shook. Both smiled.

"I hope you're ready for something tragic," Willy said as Erwin settled in.

"It's just what I was hoping for tonight." He laughed. Levi kept to the very back, unnoticed. In his slick black suit, he blended into the shadows. The man was good at his job. An usher arrived carrying a tray of champagne, compliments of the management. Erwin handed a glass to Petra, whose eyes widened when she sipped. Giulia laughed to see it.

"You are truly the sweetest little thing I ever did see." She beamed at Petra.

"Have you been married long?" Willy asked.

"Two months," Petra answered at once. She sipped again, clearly enjoying it. The sight was so charming Erwin almost forgot himself and kissed her. But he felt Levi staring right at his back, and recalled the man's teeth tearing into him in the dream. "We met when Karl was in Hizuru. Well, on an island off the coast. I was in a convent there, the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart." She flushed, perhaps with the champagne, but it lent truth to her story. "I hadn't taken vows or anything. I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay any longer, and then he appeared. Two weeks later, we were married. It was like magic."

Erwin put his hands on her shoulders. He leaned forward, and laid a kiss upon her neck.

It was instinct. After a pretty confession like that, not kissing her would appear cold. He wouldn't try her lips, or Levi might kill him. Petra gasped at his kiss, then looked to the Tyburs, probably afraid she'd given them all away. But Willy only beamed, as did Giulia.

"I wondered why you seemed so fresh. Like a little girl lost in the woods." Giulia kept smiling, a gleam in her eyes Erwin couldn't place. He believed he liked the woman better when she was drunk and easy to dominate.

"Well." Willy lifted his glass. "To the happy couple. Contentment in marriage is important." Given the way he and Giulia sat side by side as if they were polite strangers, Erwin got the feeling the man knew what he was talking about. Petra and Erwin clinked, and drank. In the back, Erwin caught Levi's eye. The man did not move, but his eyes remained fixed on Erwin.

"It's starting." Giulia got up and took a seat right next to Petra as the lights dimmed. Erwin heard her whisper, "I'll help you along with the story if you don't know the language."

"I wonder how our tortured lovers will fare this evening," Willy drawled. Erwin laughed quietly.

"Hopefully they'll suffer an appropriate amount. No one wants to watch a drama involving perfectly happy people."

The men fell silent as the opera began, a sea of violins singing in the orchestra pit. Erwin had to pretend to be an experienced man of this world, but he wanted to hang over the edge of the railing and gape at the grandeur. The painted screen rose, and act one began.

As the devious count schemed to marry a girl much, much too young for him, and as the heroic tenor serenaded her beneath a balcony, Erwin felt Levi's gaze burning a hole in the back of his head. In front, Giulia kept whispering to Petra, who nodded and sometimes giggled.

"I think she wants to make your wife her pet," Willy whispered.

"I take it that's a good thing?"

"When Giulia is occupied with a project, she doesn't drink so much." The bluntness was almost shocking, but then Erwin had seen Mrs. Tybur at her worst on their first meeting. The secret was out. "Are you staying in Valle long?"

"We'd planned ten days. I don't want to strain Kanada's hospitality."

"That's a pity." Willy rolled his eyes as the lovers began an impassioned duet with the sentiment 'never shall I leave your side' repeated about eighty different times. "She could use the company, and I could use someone with taste."

Erwin chuckled, but his mind spun. How to use this? How?

Act one ended with the lovers agreeing to meet and elope the next evening, and the count lurking in the bushes and swearing revenge. The audience applauded as the lights came up.

"How long's this show?" Levi asked bluntly.

"There are three acts," Erwin replied. He shot Levi a cool warning glance. The man returned it with an icy stare of his own. "This is a good time to stretch your legs."

"It's my job to keep an eye on you." And on Petra, clearly.

"I doubt Willy's going to shoot me the second you're out of sight."

"Exactly. I was planning to wait for the third act." Willy grinned.

"Go on. Take a breath."

Levi looked at Petra at a moment when she just so happened to be looking at him. Erwin flinched; the meeting of their gazes seemed to create an electric spark. He prayed the Tyburs hadn't noticed as Petra hurriedly turned away.

Levi cleared his throat. In that instant his pale, sharp features looked chiseled from stone, his eyes like chips of ice. He was every inch the imposing bodyguard. His glance told Erwin: don't touch my wife again.

"Fine," Levi said. "I'm gonna make a quick sweep of the place." He left, and Erwin shrugged at Willy.

"He's not a music fan."

Willy laughed.

People swarmed like ants in the lobby, waiting for the bathroom or ordering alcohol. Levi didn't like drinking, but he almost wanted to join in. Seeing Erwin kiss Petra's neck had been too much. He'd wanted to lay hands on the guy, throw him away. He could watch them touch, but not kiss. Not Erwin's lips where Levi's should have been.

You idiot. You'll ruin everything. Fuck. Levi knew he had to calm down about this. He walked up and down the long cushy hallway a couple of times, until the fancy jerks started filing into their fancy seats in the orchestra, or lower level, or whatever they called it. He hated false, fancy crap. Why anyone wanted to bother watching people in too much makeup boo hoo over relationships that weren't real and lovers that weren't actually dead he'd never understand. If you wanted to relax, enjoy something real. Go for a ride, have some tea, sleep with your gorgeous fucking wife. He shut his eyes. Couldn't do that last one.

If he had to see her in one more outfit that would look so much better on his bedroom floor, he might lose it. He couldn't remember when he'd last been this unspeakably horny for her. Not since Kuchel was born. This felt like the early days of their relationship all over again, with him obsessing over her and getting hard just thinking about her.

But this time if he acted on it, it wouldn't mean her job. It would mean her life.

He shook his head. Had a job to do. Levi Ackerman didn't fall down on the job. Some guy at the doors hit a few notes on a xylophone. That meant everyone should get in their seats. Levi sighed, and headed for the stairs.

The doors pushed open, and three men entered the lobby. He glanced at them casually, then nearly did a double take.

One was a man in military dress who Levi had never seen before. The man looked to be in his mid to late forties, with large eyes and a thin little mustache. He scanned the area, looking bored.

But next to him also in military dress and with a fucking armband on his fucking arm marking him as a fucking Eldian was Zeke fucking Jaeger.

That was a shock. But the man standing next to Zeke, the man built like a solid ox with the scowl of a released convict, was Reiner Braun. That was a sledgehammer to the face.

If Reiner Braun saw Levi or Erwin, it was over.

He turned around fast, giving them his back as the men walked up the staircase while talking. Levi muttered curses under his breath.

"Zeke?" the older military guy said. "Something wrong?"

"Ah. Nothing. Thought about getting a program, but I can do without."

Levi glanced over his shoulder and saw Zeke Jaeger staring daggers at him. Levi glared right back. Before he turned to rejoin his friends, Zeke clenched his fist. The universal sign for 'I'd hit you if I could, what are you doing here?'

Levi would beat the monkey's ass later. Right now, they needed to get the fuck out of here. The second Reiner and Zeke were out of sight, he charged up the stairs. Two ushers stood on opposite sides of the doorway that led to the mezzanine boxes. Levi started to walk past them, but they stepped in his way.

"Move," he growled, way over being fucking polite. He tried shoving past, but they blocked him again. "You have a death wish?"

"S-Sir, the performance has started." One of the ushers, some kid with a dewy face, gulped in fear. "There's no late admittance."

Yeah, he heard it now, a big rush of violins and flutes and fucking music was playing. The sound bled through the walls. Levi fumed.

"I'm in a fucking box. How the fuck is that going to disrupt anything?"

"It's p-policy."

"Look. My employer's in there. It's my job to protect him. Don't make me not do my job."

"Do you have a ticket?" the other one asked. Oh, someone was going to lose a limb tonight.

"Listen, you little shit," he began, but felt someone approach him from behind. The hair on Levi's nape went rigid.

"Hey. Is everything all right here?" Reiner asked.

She was supposed to be working, but Petra had never been to the opera before. It was hypnotic. She leaned forward, staring into the orchestra pit as they played the introduction to the second act. The men and women wore elegant black and white attire. She saw one woman plucking at a harp.

"Wow," she whispered.

"Enjoying yourself, darlin'?" Giulia asked.

Petra blushed.

"We just…don't get a lot of opera in convents," she said.

Giulia and Willy smiled at her like she was the most adorable creature alive. Erwin leaned over again, one of his large hands clasping her small one.

"You're doing wonderfully," he whispered in her ear. His breath was hot on her neck. She shut her eyes. She had to restrain herself from slapping him. Erwin had said he wouldn't kiss her, but he'd done it right in front of Levi and now he…

Wait.

She turned around and noticed Levi's empty seat.

"Um. Dear." She dug her nails into Erwin's hand. "Where's Kenny?"

Erwin looked. Even in the near darkness, she could read the tightening of his features. Shit.

"Maybe he can't get back in without a ticket." Giulia shook her head. "They're such fascists about it."

"I'll be right back," Erwin said. He rose, and Willy frowned.

"The curtain's about to rise." Willy sounded bemused. Obviously running around after employees wasn't the mark of a true gentleman. Petra's heartbeat was so loud she could scarcely hear the music now. Levi didn't waste time. If he wasn't back yet, something must have happened. She wanted to volunteer to go looking for him, but that would definitely seem odd.

"You rely on that man a great deal, don't you?" Giulia smiled at Petra. She didn't know how to answer that.

"I'm sure he's been waylaid at the entrance. I'll be right back." Erwin swept through the curtains. Petra clutched at her program as the performance continued.

The yellow lightning told him that the best choice might be to kill all three of them. He had the element of surprise here. If he took out his knife and sliced Reiner through the back of the neck, he'd kill the young man in seconds. Titan shifters couldn't survive with their napes cut. The two dewy ushers would be child's play in comparison.

But Levi knew that if he killed three people on the opera's grand staircase, someone was bound to notice. They'd tie him to Erwin. It would be over for him…and for Petra.

If Reiner saw Levi's face, it was over for Erwin and Petra as well. Time slowed to a crawl as Levi tried to figure out what to do. It seemed he had all the time in the world, even though he had scarcely two seconds before—

"Get away from me!" The dewier of the ushers sneered at Reiner. Levi would bet money he was staring at the armband that marked the boy as Eldian. "Devil blooded…freak!"

Don't turn around. The usher was saving his ass, though Levi wanted to snap the bastard's neck. If he knew what blood ran in Levi's veins, he'd wear the same furious look. He'd call Petra a freak for being Eldian. Or Kuchel. The very thought of anyone sneering at his child made Levi want to commit murder.

"Just wondered if you needed any help," Reiner grumbled. Levi felt the boy back off. Hard to believe. The kid who'd helped massacre hundreds of thousands of people also tried to step in and help when he saw little fights break out. Levi'd never understand anyone.

"The day I need a devil's help will be the day I'm ready to die."

Levi couldn't believe that such a milquetoast kid could look so hateful so quickly. He stared at the kid in disbelief, almost wanting to defend Reiner. Levi had not seen Eldian hatred in the flesh before. They hate us. They really hate us.

What he saw wasn't logical. It was animal, ugly. For the first time, Levi saw just what they had to fight against. What Erwin had to save them from.

But if he didn't get out of here fast, all Erwin's plans were going to fall to shit.

While the two ushers kept snarling at Reiner, telling him to go back to his ghetto, wondering what a beast like him was even doing here (Levi thought that was a good fucking question), Levi took the opportunity and slipped between them. He heard one shout 'hey!' but they didn't come after him; they had a new target for their prissy vitriol. He hurried down the velvet hallway, blood thunder in his ears.

We have to get out of here now.

He was approaching box seven when Erwin emerged through the curtains. Thank fuck. He glared at Levi, about to say something, then clearly thought better of it once he saw the man's face.

"What happened?"

"Come here." Levi dragged Erwin further down the hall, into an alcove. He looked to either side, made sure they were alone, then hissed, "We need to leave. Reiner's here."

"What?" Erwin looked shocked. It was one of the few times Levi saw the man close to losing his composure. "How is that possible? He's Eldian. He's supposed to be in Liberio. Zeke said—"

"Zeke's here, too. Caught sight of me and looked pissed. I think they're with military brass. Maybe they're here to perform tricks for society folk, but they're here. If Reiner sees us, it's over."

"Yes." Erwin glanced at the velvet curtain. "But if we rush out of here now, it'll look strange."

"Erwin, if we get caught, they are going to kill you. They're going to kill my wife. I won't let that happen." Levi was ready to strongarm the man through the opera house if he had to. Erwin nodded, though he looked pained.

"We do need to handle this right. If we're too indelicate, Willy will shut us out. I can't have that."

"Then what do we do?"

"We'll stay for most of the act. You and I will keep to the shadows, in the back of the box. I'll tell Petra to feel faint about ten minutes out from the end. We'll make our apologies and leave before the next intermission. That way we maintain the relationship and avoid getting caught."

Levi nodded. He wanted to get out now, but he saw the reasoning. It was sound.

They walked back, pushed aside the curtain. Erwin made hushed apologies, and then leaned over Petra's chair. Levi's nostrils flared as he watched the man kiss his wife on the cheek. He knew Erwin was telling her they were in danger, but it still killed him. Petra laughed gently. He'd probably told her to laugh, make the Tyburs think everything was all right. Erwin sat back, and nodded to Levi.

Good. The plan was in place. Now he just had to suffer through some fruity singing and hope Reiner didn't spot them.

This time, Levi couldn't even sit. He stood at the back, scanning the crowds to see if he could spot Zeke again. As the music thundered below and the singers screamed, he felt the first real moment of fear in months. Maybe years. If Reiner saw them, he could very well lose Petra or Erwin or both. He could very well never see Kuchel again. Life or death, victory or defeat rested on one idiot teenage boy not seeing them. What a stupid fucking world.

"Scuse me," Giulia whispered. He'd been so lost in thought he hadn't even noticed her come up to him.

"Yeah? Uh, ma'am?"

"Got a light?" She smiled.

"Uh. I don't smoke."

"Neither do I."

He frowned, puzzled as hell. She slipped through the curtains and then actually tugged Levi by his sleeve to follow her.

"Your husband—" he began, but she waved her hand.

"So long as I'm not drunk and loud, Willy doesn't mind anything."

My wife…

Right. Shit. Right now, Levi was a single man. Giulia slid her arm through his.

"I need another glass of champagne, and it's a gentleman's job to accompany a woman." She smiled.

"I can get you a glass if you want to sit back down," he muttered. Giulia wrinkled her nose and laughed.

"You're so odd. I like it."

"My boss—"

"Is chatting with my husband, and wrapped up in his lovely young wife. He won't miss you." Levi's face must have twitched, because Giulia cocked her head. "Something wrong with my husband? Or your boss's wife?"

"No." Fuck, why the fuck were they in the fucking opera in the first fucking place? He wanted to tell her to fuck off. Instead, he said, "We gotta go back to the lobby?"

"There's always a refreshment area on the mezzanine. It's for exclusive patrons."

"Yeah. You seem pretty exclusive," he mumbled.

"No. I like to think of myself as a very inclusive type of person." She batted her lashes as they walked in case he missed what she was laying down. He didn't. Why the fuck was this happening to him? "There's always room for one more."

"Yeah. I don't like parties."

"You prefer one on one time? I can't argue with that."

He wanted to pull away from her, but Kenny Ral had no reason not to be interested in a beautiful woman. Maybe Kenny Ral didn't like women in general. He could try that. But before he could say 'man, I sure do love guys sexually', Giulia cut in.

"Let me give you a piece of advice, darlin'." She squeezed his arm, leaned her cheek on his shoulder. In heels she was only an inch or so taller than him. "Your employer's not going to appreciate the way you look at his pretty little wife. He'll like it less if he finds out you kissed her wrist."

Oh fuck the world.

"You. Uh."

"I was not that drunk, and I saw it all. She seems quite taken with you herself. Poor little thing. She's so delicate, and her husband is quite a large, strong-looking man. He must be a lot to handle in bed, especially for an inexperienced girl. It makes sense she'd appreciate someone more her size."

Maybe this was him paying for all his sins. Every bad thing Levi had ever done, he was paying for tonight. Reiner. Erwin kissing Petra. This heinous moment. Opera. It was a nightmare. But he was going to wake soon, just had to get this woman her drink and take her back to the box. Then Petra would swoon, and they'd leave. Levi put on his most stoic face.

"She's nice," he said. "Not really my taste, though."

"Oh? And what is your taste?" Giulia purred.

"Brunettes," he said, looking at the short woman's bright golden hair. "I like tall brunettes."

That at least shut her up. They got the champagne and Levi escorted Giulia back along the corridor. His eyes crossed at the thought of more stupid lovers kissing and screeching, but he was almost out. They were almost at the box…

And then he saw them. The military guy. Zeke. And Reiner. They were chatting and heading straight for Levi in a head on collision.

"Oh!" Giulia splashed half her drink on his chest when Levi backed her into an alcove. He was staring her right in the face, heart pounding. Her shock changed to half-lidded understanding. She wound an arm around his neck. "Thought you had a preference?"

"Uh," he said, very intelligent. The three men passed, and then he heard them move down the hallway. "I forgot. I do." He stepped away and neatened his jacket, then all but ran through the curtain and back into the box. He crouched next to Erwin and whispered. "Reiner just walked past. He's somewhere nearby, and he's moving. It's too risky to swoon now."

What a fucking sentence. Erwin nodded, then leaned in again to Petra. This time, he kissed her cheek, whispered, then kissed her cheek again. Levi saw blinding red. She giggled, and brushed her nose against his. She was a damn fine actress. Levi was going to have a heart attack. He sat back down.

When the curtain fell for the second intermission, Erwin pulled Levi aside.

"The lobby will be crowded. It'll be a good opportunity to slip out."

"Yeah."

"You feeling all right, sweetheart?" Giulia asked Petra. "You're not feeling light-headed now, are you?"

Petra had been preparing to faint so it didn't look like it came out of nowhere. Smart girl.

"I'm fine. I just need some fresh air." She looked at Erwin, who nodded. He stood, and turned…right into Zeke Jaeger. And the military brass guy.

For a moment Levi thought Reiner was with them and his soul left his body, but by some miracle the boy was not there.

"Karl Smith?" the military guy asked.

Levi went numb. They were caught. It was over. He was going to do whatever he could to fight his way out of here, no matter how many bodies he needed to get through. He reached into his jacket and put a hand on his knife.

"Yes?"

"I'm Colonel Theo Magath. I'm here with Governor DeLuca and his wife." He pointed to a box on the other side of the house. "He said you were looking into military contracts. I run the Warrior program up in Liberio, but I have the ear of some well-connected people. I know it's rude to talk shop at the opera," Magath said, looking to Petra and Giulia apologetically. "But I wondered if you had a minute."

"Of course." Erwin smiled, cool as ice. The man was either a god or a psychopath. Maybe both. "I assume you've met—"

"Willy Tybur. An honor." The men shook hands. Zeke kept staring at Levi. Levi glared back at him.

"Magath, I'll be right back," Zeke said. "I need to find the restroom."

"Of course. Be careful, though. Reiner got chewed out by a couple of ushers earlier." Magath returned to his conversation with Erwin, while Zeke glared pointedly at Levi. Guess he had to pee, too.

"Stay calm," he muttered to Petra, and left. He saw Zeke disappear into a doorway up ahead, and followed at a fast pace. A man busted through the door looking indignant as he did up his fly. Yeah, probably got mad that a devil-blooded Eldian was sharing his space. Shit like this almost made Levi feel for someone like Zeke.

Almost.

He went inside and locked the door behind them; everyone else could use the ladies. Zeke was checking under all the stalls, and when he knew they were alone came over to Levi with his teeth bared.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" he hissed.

"Same question. You're supposed to be hundreds of miles up north," Levi snapped. "I didn't know they even let Eldians into nice fancy places like this."

"Warriors are a mild exception. Magath likes to parade us around right now to try to instill confidence in the program. Since we lost the colossal titan to Paradis and let the Coordinate slip away, we're not exactly popular."

"But hey. War's on, and you're necessary. So you kiss some ass." Levi shook his head. "Politics is everywhere."

"You need to leave."

"No shit, Beardy." Levi looked up into the hated man's face. Any other time he'd have broken Zeke Jaeger's jaw, but these were extraordinary circumstances. "You need to help us. Keep Reiner away from us until we can leave."

"I'm not his keeper."

"If we get caught, you're fucked, too."

Zeke smirked. His lazy looking eyes narrowed. "I know you from Shiganshina. You can't prove anything else. And if you out me, you destroy Eldia's hope on the continent. Are you really that petty, Levi?"

Yes. Yes he was. But he was also smart.

"You don't understand. If we get caught, I will fucking kill you."

The quiet certainty in his voice froze Zeke.

"Y-You wouldn't. You can't." He tried to sound tough. "You don't have ODM, and I have the power of the titans."

"It'd be tough, yeah. But I like a challenge. Keeps me fit." Levi gripped the man by his shirt and slammed him against the wall. Zeke whimpered as Levi brought their faces close. "Where's Reiner now?"

"He's still with the DeLucas. You can leave right now. You'd better do just that."

"Okay." Levi let go of the guy and smoothed back his hair. Adrenaline coursed through his body in a way he didn't think it ever had before. He couldn't imagine these pigs putting their hands on his wife and spitting on her, hitting her, torturing her for the crime of being born. He'd kill them all. Every last one. "You get that Magath guy out of here. I'll get my team and leave."

"Okay." Zeke neatened his clothes. "Let's go."

Levi unlocked the door, and opened it to find Reiner Braun.

The kid was looking off to the side, and the instant before his eyes met Levi's Levi shut the door and leaned against it. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

"This," Zeke said, "would be funny if it wasn't insanely bad."

"Zeke?" Reiner knocked on the door. "You okay in there?"

Levi thought fast. If Reiner had seen Erwin, he wouldn't be this casual. Levi looked around, saw a fancy porcelain soap dish next to one of the sinks. He snatched it and stood behind the door as Reiner opened it and entered the bathroom. He walked to Zeke.

"I can't handle those people on my own. They look at me like—"

Levi slammed the soap dish against the back of Reiner's head. The boy crumpled to the floor, unconscious on the instant. The dish shattered, pieces skittering across the floor. Zeke gaped at Levi.

"You could have hidden in a stall!" he hissed.

"What? It won't kill him." Levi checked over his shoulder. Any other time, he'd have killed Reiner for the good of Paradis, but the world had grown way bigger than this lunk-headed kid. "Listen. You found him like this. Those ushers earlier were cunts, one of them may have clocked him. Or a patron. He's a fucking Eldian, lots of people would do it. Okay?"

Zeke nodded, grim faced. "Just get the fuck out of here before I lose my mind."

"Better watch how you talk to me," Levi said icily. He relished seeing Zeke shrink, then made his way out.

Levi hustled to the box. They needed to get out before this powder keg exploded.

Petra was ready to scream. Erwin laughed with Magath and Willy, and all the while Reiner could show up in that doorway at any second and kill them all. She stood, and gripped the back of her chair. "Oh," she whispered.

"Petra? You okay?" Giulia frowned.

"Petra?" Erwin came and took her arm. He sighed. "I'm sorry, she's not been well. I think it's the climate. She's not used to it."

"Why am I so dizzy?" She sighed, then turned and clung to Erwin. "Get Levi and let's go," she whispered. Then she kissed his cheek. It would look odd otherwise.

She felt him tense when she kissed him.

"Willy, I hate to be rude, but I want to get her home." Erwin shook his head, and Willy waved his hand.

"Not at all. Tropical climate's murder, especially this time of year. Give her a salt pill if you have one on hand."

Levi appeared in the doorway, his jaw set. His eyes screamed 'let's go.'

"Tomorrow. Come over for lunch if you're both feeling well," Willy said. He and Erwin shook on it.

"Thank you for the evening. Thank you, colonel. A pleasure."

"We'll be in touch."

Erwin escorted Petra to the door. Levi backed up. Magath followed them, and Willy poked out his head to say a final goodbye.

They all turned straight into Zeke. And, leaning on his shoulder, was Reiner. He had a hand on the steaming back of his head, and groaned in pain. Zeke looked dead inside.

"Someone attacked Reiner in the bathroom," he said.

Petra rolled her eyes and swooned. Erwin caught her, turned, and hustled her off in his arms. Levi led the way, dropping little curses as he went. They hurried down the steps and all but sprinted out into the warm summer night. By some miracle, a taxi was waiting nearby. Erwin hailed it, and Levi practically threw her inside. They crammed in shoulder to shoulder, Petra in the middle.

She didn't exhale until they were two blocks away.

"That was too fucking much," Levi growled.

Erwin took a shaky breath. She noticed then how drained he looked.

The people in the opera house had missed the most spectacular performance of all.

"Maybe we should stop going out," Petra said weakly.

"At the very least, you'll be indisposed until Reiner leaves Valle. Probably be gone in the next day or so." They sat in silence a minute. Outside, thunder rumbled. A tropical summer rain began to pound the roof of the car.

Petra looked over at her real husband. He looked tense and ashen. Any other time she'd have kissed his troubles away, but…

Wait. The cab driver didn't know who they were, or what they were to one another. Petra slipped her hand into Levi's. He turned to her in surprise.

"Wha—"

She kissed him, savored him. Levi's breath hitched, and he kissed her back. For a blissful thirty seconds, she reacquainted herself with his lips. His tongue, too. Then, she pushed him away. He breathed heavily, staring at her with undisguised lust. Erwin was staring out the window like he'd die if he didn't.

"You can't just leave a man wound up like that," he growled. Petra fluffed her skirt primly.

"Consider it a reward for a job well done." She smirked. Levi's nostrils flared.

"Damn brat," he growled. He leaned back in his seat. For several minutes, they rode in silence. "Oi, Erwin," Levi said. "Sorry you missed the last act."

"Oh." Erwin shrugged. "It's nothing much. The count has the young man executed, but then finds out he was his long lost son and dies of grief. The girl drinks poison."

"See?" Levi crossed his arms. "Took five seconds instead of three hours. Opera is for idiots."