Levi found it difficult to sleep, the feeling of being full a stranger to his body. Still, he managed to get some shut-eye on his chair in the wee hours of the morning, and when he'd woken up, the sun was already peeking through his windows, basking him in its light.

His nap was the welcome, dreamless kind. For the longest time, his sleep was either little or too sparse in between, or riddled with nightmares intertwining with daydreams. He found it pointless to go to his room to sleep, nor to change into sleeping clothes. That didn't mean he wouldn't take a shower before settling down in his chair for a nap if he would try, and when he did, he would still wear his regular uniform out of habit, always ready should anything happens.

Standing up from his seat, he took a quick stretch before taking his essentials with him towards the officers' bathroom in the corridor.

The shower was hot, steam building up around his sides. He placed his hands against the wall as he let the warm water course through his hair.

He remembered that most of the scouts would be gone for the day, as it was one of the monthly scheduled day-offs they had. Despite that, he knew that Erwin and the rest of the veterans would mostly be at camp should anything happens. Besides, it's not like they have anywhere else to go.

Ah, he corrected himself. He shouldn't lump the others like him who didn't have anyone in their lives. Erwin doesn't talk about it too much, but his mother is still alive and well, and is a very proud mother of the Scout Regiment's most charismatic commander.

He didn't know too much about Hange's family, but he was sure Mike and Moblit have hometown people they care about, Nanaba too.

He closed his eyes as he let the water soak him up a bit more. The thought that each of them have homes and family to actually return to didn't bother him at all really. Not that the veterans went home a lot anyway; duty had more or less obliged to them to keep base at camp. But that's just one thing they all have in common, thought Levi. The rest of them have other things going on their lives, maybe hopes and dreams and reasons for living.

For the longest time, Levi didn't feel the need to identify what his reason for living was. Back then from the underground, when he came to his senses and age, he wondered why he was the one who lived, and his mother didn't. When Isabel and Furlan and the rest of his companions came to him, he felt it was his responsibility to keep them fed, safe and alive. So when they'd finally stepped foot on sun-kissed soil, and his friends had all bid him goodbye, lost in the permanence of death, that reason for living diminished until it was totally gone.

The scouts and those who've heard of him thought that his reason for living was to help save humanity, and although he is dedicated in the cause, he knows he's isn't as selfless as people made him out of. It was more on making sure the choice he made brought him the least regret, he fathomed. He'd brought Isabel and Furlan up from the bellies of the underground, to join the Survey Corps alongside him for a nefarious mission at that, for them to die just feet away from him. What a cruel world it is indeed.

But choosing to stay in the Survey Corps even after that, and making sure that the decision he made to go up above the ground, to venture outside the walls, to rid humanity of the fear and death caused by titans, shall be the choices that he won't ever regret.

He felt that with what happened, he should make the most of what he can do. Erwin saw it in him, and saw how he could use his skill for others instead of just for himself, or for Isabel and Furlan, which is why he was so adamant that a thug from the underground join the regiment despite the other scouts' chagrin.

This sense of mission, once ignited in him, continued to burn steadily throughout his years in the Survey Corps. But recently, he felt this spirit further reignite from within, now that he'd started to form relationships with his first subordinate squad.

He remembered how they all looked last night, sharing a table and a meal. How his team looked at peace, and how he felt the same after being in their presence. He didn't know what to think of it or what he should do next, fearing a repeat of the past could happen, the future hazy and unknown after all.

Levi lathered up, his eyes still closed and his head thumping. So early in the morning and his thoughts were already eating him up, he mused. He tried to think of more mundane things to occupy his mind as he sudsed up thoroughly.

He would need to clean his office today, and maybe even check the barracks if the team cleaned up well before leaving. Maybe he could go into town and replenish his tea supply? And then at night, have a cup of tea if the veterans' meeting were to be postponed.

He exhaled, feeling himself calm down. He continued to wash before drying up, the thoughts in his head now dictating where exactly in his office he would start to clean first.

.

.

Petra broke the soft, warm bread in her hand, grabbing a small breadknife to lather on margarine. It tasted plain, the margarine not doing anything spectacular. It filled her up though, and she was thankful for food and company as Vanz sat alongside her, drinking his coffee. She'd taken to eat breakfast at the mess hall today, and she was starting to miss the daily morning banter she had with her new team.

The mess hall was unusually empty, with just a handful of tables occupied. During their days off, the scouts had a rule that at least one person from each squad stay behind the camp so as not to leave the base devoid of soldiers, unprepared. They called it the left-over, and for the Special Ops Squad, it was Petra who was the designated left-over for the month.

Eld had gone off to visit his girlfriend who lived at Ehrmich District, on the southern edge of wall Sina. Gunther went to a neighboring town to do some personal errands, and Oruo returned to their hometown to meet with his family who were still worried sick after hearing he got injured in an expedition a few weeks back. She had him bring all her letters for home, with promise that she'll be the next one to make the visit back on their next off-day.

Vanz was the designated left-over for Squad Mirane's team, the rest of their teammates out and Allyne visiting her parents in farther Karanes.

"Has she told you yet?" Vanz suddenly spoke, asking her a question with a small smile forming at the corner of his lips.

"Told me what?" Petra asked, a mouthful of bread in her mouth.

Vanz started to turn a deep red before scratching the back of his nape, like a teenage boy caught in mischief. "I thought she would've been the one to tell you," he said sheepishly.

"Tell me what?" Petra repeated, confusion marred in her voice.

"Well, let's just say you're gonna be needing a formal dress soon." Vanz' eyes were smiling so wide, they almost closed. He was still a bit red, his shoulders starting to shake from soft laughter.

Petra's eyes were narrow as she let the gears in her mind turn. She heard herself audibly gasp as she took his words in, understanding coming to her.

"No way!" She felt her eyes bulge in shock, happiness and confusion at the same time. "You're kidding me! If you are, I'm gonna sock you again like last time!"

"No, I'm not! But tell me first what you're thinking!"

She looked around her as if trying to hide their conversation, before speaking in a hushed, excited voice, almost like a whisper. "You and Allyne are getting married!"

Vanz let out a roar of laughter, his voice sauntering through the near empty hall. Eyes started to turn to them and Petra smacked him lightly to keep his voice down.

"What are you laughing about? Am I right or what?"

"Well, you skipped a step, I think," Vanz replied, his voice eager and excited. "We're just engaged."

Petra had let herself smile freely now, taking in the features of her friend in front of her, eyes and soul full of love and admiration for his now fiancée. She was taken back to all those times Allyne huddled with her in her bunk, swapping stories about trainings and missions and titans, until eventually conversation arose about this man, a stranger then, who now is not just their friend, but now, a possible husband for Allyne.

She lingered on the word in her mind, amused and in awe. She didn't expect happy news like this to come to soldiers like them, especially in their regiment where each expedition could mean someone's last. She was happy that it was her friends experiencing this, and that she got the chance to be a part of it in some way. She felt giddy to think that even in this cruel world, love can triumph in the most unexpected places.

"I- I'm so happy for you Vanz," Petra felt tears welling up in her eyes as she held her friend's hand in hers. His hand was calloused and warm, and Vanz gripped hers tighter in gratitude.

"Thank you. I hope Allyne doesn't kill me for telling you before she did, but I just really wanted to talk to someone about this."

"I'm very happy you told me. I just – I really am. I can't believe this!"

"Me too. I didn't expect for everything to happen this fast as well. Well, maybe with our line of work, it could be expected," he rambled on excitedly. "Allyne's actually at her parents to tell them the news personally instead of just sending them a letter about it."

"That's good thinking too. Will you be writing to your parents about it or will you be visiting them too next time?"

"Hopefully Squad Leader Mirane will let the both of us take the days-off in the following months or so. I'll be bringing Allyne back home for her to meet my Mom and Dad, and maybe do the short ceremony right then and there at home. If you don't mind, we'd appreciate if you could come but we understand if you'd want to visit your family too. It's still a ways away, but it'd be nice if we could – "

Petra smiled fondly at his words, her thoughts flooding her as he droned on excitedly. Never did it cross her mind to come home from an expedition and bring a boy home to her parents, similar to how her brothers never lived other lives aside from those lived outside the walls and in the cloaks of duty. To think that in a couple of months in the future, Vanz' parents would see their boy come home with his love.

"I'm still reeling from this. I'm just really happy for you guys!" Petra chimed again, genuine happiness running through her. She was confused, however, when Vanz' excited expression softened at the sight of her.

"Hey Petra," Vanz smiled at her lightly as he returned to his breakfast, his gaze away. "I know you're pretty much content with your life right now, save for a few things." He chewed on his food as if in thought, before continuing, "But I really hope you feel something like this too in your lifetime. That when you feel something like this happening to you, you'll grab the opportunity as it goes and won't push it away. You deserve happiness too."

His words took her aback. What gave him the impression that she was the type who pushed her happiness away? She doesn't remember telling them too much about her childhood, nor the young boy who had a crush on her that she rejected. It seemed too simple as well to generalize that of her.

"What made you think that?" She curiously asked.

"I know it's been just shy of a year since we've been friends, but you know within the scouts, that's already such a long time. I know you as someone who prioritizes the happiness of others more than yourself."

"That's not really a bad thing though, is it?"

"Not really," Vanz shrugged as he conceded, his body still turned away from her and focused on his meal. "But if it means you're doing all that at the expense of your happiness, then I think everyone of us has a right to be selfish too, sometimes."

Petra mulled his words over, thinking that he painted her too much in good light. She isn't particularly selfless, she just felt that each time she did things for others was that it was what's supposed to be done. In fact, she never thought anything of it all – sending all of her money back home for her parents, or taking over being the left-over for the day so Oruo can ride home. These were just simple things she'd thought of doing, no questions asked.

"You're too selfless for your own good Petra. You should try to be selfish sometimes." Vanz added, turning to look at her now. Petra was suddenly reminded of her plans on helping Captain Levi and recounted it to him, asking him if he thought if it was selfish enough of her.

"Not really, when you're actually doing it to help him."

"Well, I felt pretty selfish in thinking that."

"And why is that?"

Because I wanted him to be well, to live longer. To be with us, be with the squad, be with me longer, she thought.

"For the sake of humanity?" She offered lamely before Vanz let out a chuckle.

"I think you also need to be more honest to yourself."

"Fine, then maybe I wanted to do those things for him for my selfish reasons too." She felt herself going red this time. She knew it had been only just a few couple of months, but her resolve in pushing her feelings away dwindled each day. Her admiration for him only seemed to grow with each passing day, but she was still cautious enough not to reveal anything that could possibly distract him.

"Before you know it, you're gonna be the one needing your own very special dress soon," Vanz chuckled as he stared at Petra's steadily blushing face at the thought of Captain Levi. "Speaking of dresses, maybe we could go around town today and get a "something blue, something new" thing and – "

Vanz was caught off guard by Petra's change in expression. The thrill and wonder in her eyes were replaced by an abrupt shock, disbelief and timidness all in milliseconds time. He felt an unknown, heavy presence behind him, and upon turning around, he found himself face to face with the Captain himself, who for some reason looked visibly ticked off like the last time.

"Captain Levi sir!" Vanz formed a salute while seated, feeling the captain's dark eyes settle on him too long.

As Levi stared at the gangly, sandy-haired boy, he felt darkly grateful he was sitting so he could stare him down. He noted their food had gone cold from being untouched, mostly likely due to being engrossed with one another's conversation. He turned his eyes to Petra, who was staring at him, the red in her face still visible, making him feel unusually angrier.

"Ral, what are you doing here?" He asked a bit too harshly once the words came out of his mouth. His voice was low enough that the rest of the hall couldn't hear him though.

"I was the left-over," she muttered softly at him, and he saw she looked a bit timid than usual, her eyes now staring at the ground.

"Left-over?" His voice went softer, having been confused by his subordinate's response.

"The assigned person to be left at camp in this month's day-off sir."

Petra tried her best to make sure her blush had now dissipated before looking him in the eyes again. She didn't hear Vanz invitation of going into town to check for accessories for Allyne's wedding dress; she was stuck on her friend's words when he said she's going to be needing her own dress in the future if she kept up with her selfish reason in helping Captain Levi.

She was starting to doubt herself with her plan. She was sure that she actually wanted to help him in any way that she can, but if she were to be honest with herself, could it be that her plan all along was to get closer to the captain? She despised the thought of being so desperate to be thrown a look by her object of affection. Even worse than that is the thought of proving herself an unworthy distraction for the captain, possibly throwing him off his game and getting him killed.

She was still busy clouding her mind with her unusual skill of overthinking when she heard her captain respond to her.

"I didn't know you were the one to be left at camp. I'm always the one left at camp whenever the team goes on day-offs," Levi muttered flatly, a statement that sounded like he was saying to himself. He'd forgotten about the scouts' rule that each squad should have someone stay behind during their off days. His subordinates were all free to go wherever they pleased on their days off as he remained in the camp mostly, inadvertently being – what did she call it again? The left-over? He thought of Petra having to stay alone in the camp while the boys went off on their own.

"They left you as left-over and went on their own without telling me?"

"Um, Oruo offered to stay but I insisted he visit his family back home, captain. They're worried about him since he got injured. I just had to give him all my letters and stuff for back home. I'll go the next time," she added lastly. She could stare at him now, her mind empty as she took his features over. He had bags in his eyes, which probably meant he didn't sleep well again. He didn't have a plate in hand either and didn't look like he came down to eat.

She had caught herself in her overthinking from a while ago, her thoughts clearer now as she stared at him. She made it clear to herself that she wanted to help him, and looking at his state now, she felt the need to do so even more strongly. Whether for humanity's sake, or for her own selfish gains, she thought he didn't deserve to be deprived of help when he certainly needed one. He was always the one helping others, and it was only right that someone should look out for him too. It may just be the physical tasks of reminding him to eat or to sleep, or to take care of himself like how he has the squad's back all the time, but she could also be a friend if he needed one.

She recalled her conversation with Eld just yesterday when he'd told her that the man was guarded and scarred from all he'd experienced. Somehow, she had pictured the captain in a box he'd conjured for his own, sitting inside, surrounded by walls he and his experiences had built. She wasn't trying to get him out of his box at all, no, she thought. Perhaps it would be wiser to make the captain understand that they're content to sit outside the box alongside him, offering support and companionship. Besides, it's not like she'll be the only one doing it after all. She has Eld, Gunther and even Oruo to help her, and the care they have for the captain runs deep too.

She just needed to figure out a way to not get attached to him at all. Be lowkey. Be a friend.

She strengthened her resolve as she felt the silence around them go on a bit too long. The captain wasn't speaking as well, he was just staring at her too. Levi noticed the timidness in her expression change to resolution. Was she being defiant in staying behind to hang out with this boy, blushing like a beet in his presence?

He reminded himself that he shouldn't care what his subordinates do, that Erwin himself didn't exactly prohibit scout relationships considering the luck they have with survival. That he grimly thought soldiers deserve to experience love in their short enough life spans.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that his now best soldier is getting distracted on her day-off with this lanky kid. It almost felt like… Jealousy? Levi blinked, the feeling foreign to him. He felt his thoughts get cut off as Vanz spoke up.

"Captain, excuse us, I was just going to ask Petra if she could accompany me in town today for an errand."

It took all of Levi to make sure he didn't stare at the soldier in front of him with the look he reserved for grime and muck. He managed to keep his expression to its regular state, blank and emotionless, before saying as plain as possible, "She's not available." His mouth was starting to form words on its own. "Ral, you're accompanying me in town for an errand."

.

.

Petra didn't know how she got herself in the situation. The last she remembered was that she was strengthening her resolve on making sure she didn't get too attached to the captain in her effort to help him out in taking care of himself (for humanity's sake, she's convinced). But how is she supposed to not get attached to him when they're walking around town, together all alone, for Ymir's sake?

It almost feels like a date, she shyly thought, the different establishments around town revealing themselves to her as they walked. She placed her attention on the rhythmic movements of her boots against cobbled road, fighting the redness creeping up to her face. The captain was walking in front of her again, similar to when they once walked across the moonlit camp a few weeks ago. Her reminiscing was halted as she softly thumped her head on his back, the captain having abruptly stopped his walk.

Levi turned around to look at Petra, whose forehead just made contact with his back. Though he wore the standard military outfit he usually wears at camp even when out at town, he'd remarked how Petra had chosen to wear civilian clothes today. She was wearing a light-yellow blouse whose sleeves went up to her elbows, a pleated rose skirt down to just above her ankles. She'd replaced her military boots with some brown, cheap-looking loafers, but Levi noticed that she kept them clean and well-maintained.

She looked oddly feminine when not in uniform, and he further affirmed in his thoughts that Petra was indeed someone easy on the eyes. Walking around just a few feet in town, he'd already noticed some men linger in their stares at their direction, most importantly to the woman walking clumsily behind him.

Still, she most likely wasn't paying attention to them in the same way she didn't pay attention to her walking, he thought, having this be the second time she'd bumped into him while walking behind. Levi took a step to his right, and stood to Petra's side, instructing her wordlessly to keep up to pace with him as he started to walk again.

Walking side by side like this, Levi was now made even more conscious that Petra was just inches from him, the familiar earthy floral scent exuding of off her. He didn't know where they were currently headed, and surely he didn't know in Maria's name what came over him when he talked off the sandy-haired boy back at the mess hall (what was his name again?) and by consequence invited Petra to his trip to town.

He was looking forward to taking his time to look over the tea shops and just walk around, but now he's resorted to babysitting a love-struck girl, preventing her poor boyfriend to take her on a date. He exhaled, frustrated at himself and promised he won't do that again – to use his position to meddle in the lives of his subordinates. He'd need to address this to Petra too, he concluded. He would need to remind her that he didn't mind she continue her relationship with the boy and what-not, but that he expects the same level of aptitude from her as normal, or even a higher expectation at that. Maybe he could tell her to take some tips from Eld, as he had been the epitome of being bridled and undistracted in trainings and missions, despite being such a bumbling fool when it comes to his girlfriend.

Still, it was too late now, as they're now venturing deeper into town. He might as well get what he needed but he felt off that Petra was accompanying him. He was feeling uneasy having her around too, but he chalked it up to his guilt in taking away her supposedly pleasant day-off town with that boy.

The silence between them seemed normal and calm, but Petra had now started to wonder what was the errand they were supposed to do.

"Um, captain, where are we going exactly?" She asked, continuing to pace her walk with the captain beside her. She remembered how it was pretty gentlemanly of him to place himself to her right, against the oncoming traffic, making sure she was on the safer side of the street. Her heart fluttered at the thought but she extinguished the thought immediately before continuing, "What was the errand we were supposed to run?"

And why did you have to bring me along? He was really making it frustratingly difficult not to get attached, she sighed internally.

He took some time in answering, biting the inside of his cheek. Buying tea didn't constitute too much of an errand, nor would it need two people to do, he mulled in his head. He was just too focused in getting her away from the boy earlier that morning, that he didn't come up with what's supposed to happen next.

"Cleaning supplies," he muttered at last. He could send her off to buy their stock of cleaning supplies while he checks out the tea he needs. Then they'd return to camp early and have enough time to clean the barracks too. "I suppose the squad had explained to you my standards in cleaning?"

Petra giggled at the captain's response. Of course it would be like him to treat cleaning like some sort of top expedition or mission. "Yes, they did sir. They gave me my own cleaning uniform too," she giggled some more as she recalled how the team showed her how she should wear their cleaning uniform – dainty towels perched on their heads and on their faces to prevent dust. What would the captain look like wearing that, she thought?

"Here." Levi had now stopped in his tracks and had started pulling some bills from the inside of his pants pocket. He counted more than enough to pay for two or three bottles of cleaning agents and a new broom, before handing it to Petra. "Go get at least two bottles of cleaning agents, the one with the purple on them. And get a broom too. I need to drop by somewhere else."

Petra looked at him, her expression confused before she started to speak. "I'm sorry captain, I know it'll be a lot quicker, but I don't know where to look to buy the supplies," she admitted. She wasn't sure if the captain would believe her or not, but it was actually her first time in this part of Karanes. She never got the opportunity to go into the market town as she mostly spent her days off back at her home. The squad didn't have a lot of days out together to go into bars and shops, and the most leisure events the scouts ever did were sponsored ale drinking nights at the mess hall.

Levi's brows twitched as he looked at her quizzically, not sure if she was making up some excuse to tag along to his tea expedition, or if she seriously did not know her way around town.

"Haven't you been here with your friend before?" He asked before thinking that his question could be a bit too prying. Haven't you been here on a date before?

"It's my first time being here today sir." She said matter-of-factly. Her amber eyes were doe-like as she responded to his question, and he knew right then and there that she wasn't lying. He felt ease with the way she responded for some reason, but now Levi started to rack his brains how he could get Petra off his tail.

The cleaning shop wasn't too far from where they were, and he thought he could show her the way to it by taking the next street. He'd meet her there after he'd gone for his stuff, was his plan. He was about to lead the way wordlessly when he saw the same set of gawking men from a while ago, trailing behind them. Their eyes were fixated on Petra, and one of them was goading on his partner to talk to the girl, before Levi stepped aside and revealed himself.

"Hey look, it's the Captain Levi." A sense of wonder and awe overtook the man's voice, as if his name was of that of an urban legend, only taking notice of him now.

"Humanity's strongest? That reminds me, the scout's base is pretty close by."

"Still, I almost couldn't recognize him without his signature cloak!"

"I heard he was short, but not this awfully short?" He felt his eyebrows twitch with the comment, and he glared at them as they approached, goading them to try and come any nearer.

The men went on with their steps though, hushed conversations between them as they passed Levi and Petra, their attention shifting from her. His eyes were still daggers on them, and he was certain he'd made his point across with his piercing glare when one of the men brought his down and bowed as if in respect or apology.

Levi glanced at Petra behind him, clueless and still busy counting the bills he handed a while ago.

Exhaling, he figured they'd just go about it quick. "Let's go then," he resigned, as he tugged at her sleeve leading her to their first order of the day.

.

The shop was sandwiched between similar-sized buildings in the market district of Karanes. The way it was set-up was almost like a variety household shop – people would come to buy things they needed for their home, either furniture fixers, home accessories such as plates, glasses and utensils, and of course, cleaning supplies.

The store wasn't too large, but it was spacious enough to go separate ways and get lost in the sea of products. Levi was about to make his way to the all-too familiar cleaning supply aisle when he'd lost track of where his subordinate went.

His patience growing weary, he scoured the next aisles for her, finding at her last by the home improvement section, surrounded by decorative glasses, vases, small paintings and some plants.

"Are you a child that I need to keep watch on for you not to wander off?"

"Oh, Captain, there you are." Petra's voice was light and happy, her eyes smiling as she pointed to something on the shelves, oblivious to how his demeanor was completely the opposite. "Look at this!"

Clasped in her hand was a small, prickly, green plant, housed in a plain clay plot, a thin blue ribbon tied around its base.

"It's a cactus sir!" She placed the pot on her right's hand opened palm, supporting it gently by touching the cactus' stem ever so lightly.

"I know what it is. What about it?"

"Remember what I said last time about how your office seemed lifeless? This is the perfect companion for you!" She was smiling openly now, and Levi felt his irritation ease up. How could someone continue being annoyed at her when she keeps being sunny like that? He couldn't find another word for it, but he felt like she was radiating happiness on how she found the plant so entertaining, the way she spoke of it was as if she'd just struck gold.

"I seem to remember we're here for cleaning supplies."

"Oh I know! But it'll look great at your office sir!"

"If you like it so much, just buy it for yourself."

"Well, about that," Petra grinned a little sheepishly. "I didn't really bring any money sir." Not that she didn't bring money, but more likely she already sent most if not all of it back home to her parents.

"So technically you want me to buy this plant for myself?"

"Oh, come on captain! Look at how adorable it is! It's just like you!"

Levi's eyes narrowed in confusion. Did she just liken him to a plant? More so, did she just indirectly say he was adorable?

"I don't see how I look like that."

"Well, it's pretty prickly like you are. But sturdy and strong too," Petra remarked, outstretching her hand and offering the plant to him.

"Prickly? You sure that's the right word you want to use to describe your captain?"

Petra looked at him to search his expression, and she saw that even with the seemingly strict tone of voice he was using, a slight wrinkle in his eye indicated that he was teasing her yet again. She felt she was getting better in reading his ticks, and as his calm eyes encouraged her, she continued to outstretch her palm, handing him the plant. The cactus was indeed cute and small, and she thought how it would really bring life into his room.

At least I didn't tell him the cactus was small like him, she cringed at the thought.

"I'm not prickly at all. I can be pretty friendly." He said dryly, his expression still plain and flat. With that, Petra burst out laughing, clutching the cactus close to her as she doubled over in laughter. "Ow!" Wringing her hand, she'd wrapped some fingers on the plant's body and accidentally pricked herself.

"Give me that!" Levi took the plant from her, almost too gently, and placed it back on the shelf.

He then took her hand and brought her fingers up close to him, examining them thoroughly. Petra felt her breath catch in her throat. She peered at him through his parted hair as his eyes continued to inspect her injured hand, before letting go almost abruptly as he took it seconds ago.

"Stop wandering around like a child," he muttered as he turned his back on her.

Petra followed the captain wordlessly as he made his way into the cleaning aisle section. Her heart was still thumping from what transpired a while ago, and she remembered how the captain's calloused fingers on here were soft and warm. His words sounded harsh, chiding even, but it was from a place of concern. She felt stupid though, scolding herself for indeed acting like a kid and being so clumsy, her resolve on not getting attached to the man in front of her being sabotaged by her own inept self.

Levi had now stopped and gestured to Petra to look at the different plastic bottles on the shelves in the aisle. Most of them were colored white with the generic brand name of cleaning aid, but Levi took a bottle from the far right with some purple markings on the front.

"This is the cleaning aide we use at the barracks," he held the bottle to her face, letting her read the label and markings. "You take this in now so you'd know what to get for the next time you're out on this errand."

"Yes sir."

"Now take two to three bottles of this and bring it to the store-keeper while I take a look at some brooms."

.

Their second stop for the day was the tea shop just almost across the household store. Levi had given in and just let Petra tag along with him to buy tea, figuring he could use her help in the future when she'd run errands and he could entrust her to buy the right kind he liked.

Still, drinking tea was his personal past time, and he'd receive playful teasing from the other veterans how tea isn't as an intense drink as coffee, which made him uneasy in revealing to anyone an inkling of what his hobbies were.

But looking at how Petra's eyes lit up inside the shop, moving from shelf to shelf to take a look at the different colored tin-cans and smelling their contents, Levi felt the familiar sense of amusement he held for his subordinate each time her actions showed awe and intense fascination to things simple and mundane.

"Oi, didn't I tell you to stop wandering around?"

"Captain, I didn't know there were a lot of tea flavors!" Petra remarked, returning the silver tin she had just examined and picking up a dark blue, glossy tin, eyeing the label carefully.

"I forgot you had no idea about tea at all, especially with that horrendous brew you did last time." There was the teasing in his voice again, Petra thought. The blue tin smelled very earthy, while the leaves in the silver smelled almost like flowers.

"This is jasmine, I believe," he said as he gave the silver tin a whiff and a shake. "And this is black tea." He gestured to the blue one as he grabbed a taller version of it on a shelf above.

"You'll be taking that one then captain?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you try the other flavors?"

"I prefer black tea."

"Oh."

"Do you know what it tastes like?" Levi casually asked her, and he found it odd how he was the one initiating conversation with her. It wasn't hard at all, as she was someone pretty easy and comfortable to be with, especially with how she's showing interest in tea.

"I assume not very leafy," she smirked as they made their way to another aisle, earning her a small smile from him. He remembered how she brewed a cup of black tea once, but ended up leaving the leaves in the cup instead of draining them.

"You should really learn how to brew tea properly so you won't disregard it for coffee."

"Oh, so we're back with the coffee vs. tea debate again, huh?" Her hands were on her hips, her voice playful and teasing, and Levi felt himself sink into a deeper ease, wondering why he struggled hard to get her off his tail earlier. Admit it or not, he was enjoying her company in these instances outside of work and training.

"Look at this." Levi motioned for her to look at the small pouches in the aisle they just arrived in. He took the pouch in his hand, similar to how she took the cactus from a while ago, and extended his hand for her to examine.

Opening the small pouch, out she took a piece of see-through cloth, shaped and designed to be like a small bag.

"These are empty tea bags. You'd normally place the loose leaves from the tin to the bag, then let it steep in hot water in a cup. That way when you take the bag out, you won't drink a mouthful of leaves." He held another small cloth bag in his fingers too, showing her the movement of placing leaves in the bag.

Petra nodded intensely, taking into heart his impromptu tea making lesson. She noticed that this was probably the longest and the most he'd spoken to her that wasn't about training.

Levi moved through the aisle and brought her attention to another set of tin cans on a lower shelf, this time shaped in squares. He took a red colored tin and motioned for her to grab another.

Petra took a tin with white and pink flowers on it, and the captain motioned to open them. Peering inside, she saw the same thin cloth bags, this time with compact leaves inside. Pulling one out, she observed that the cloth bags now had strings and tags attached to each one of them, dangling as she held them up in front of him.

"These are compound teas. This red one is most likely red rooibos tea, and that one you're holding is Sakura tea, with the pink and white design and all. They come pre-packaged like that, so you won't need to measure your own leaves and stuff them into bags. You just dip them into water and – oi!" Levi was cut off by Petra's soft giggling, a hand in her mouth, the tin in the other.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm sorry – captain!" Petra said in between giggles and smiles. "It's just that – the way you talk about tea is like – "

"Like what?"

"Like a training session." She held his eye now, having calmed herself, but her gaze was still intense and smiling at him, peering into his soul. "It's actually pretty endearing, and I think it's very nice that you have something you're passionate about. Aside from killing titans of course." She started to laugh again as she closed the lid on her tin.

"Tch." He returned the tin he had on the lower shelf and started to make his way towards the counter.

"You're not taking that sir?"

"I don't like compound teas."

"And why is that?"

He stopped in his tracks and stared at her intently, her face curious. "I'm not making fun of you captain. I'm genuinely curious."

"And why are you curious?"

I want to know more about what you like, she almost said, before managing to catch herself and say, "I want to start to understand tea too. You know, tea supremacy versus coffee and all that." She started giggling again, unable to stop herself, and Levi felt himself relax again with her melodious tune.

"That's a story for next time," he responded as he paid for his tea at the counter, making their way out of the shop with Petra following him.

He took the bag she was carrying as they made their way back to the way they came from, only their boots making noise from contact with the pavement. The silence was broken by a low rumble, and Petra felt her hands go up to her stomach.

"Captain, I'm so sorry, that was so embarrassing," she remarked sheepishly, internally wishing for the cobbled stones to gobble her up on the spot.

"I suppose you can find something to eat along the way."

"You should eat something too, you know. It's almost past lunch and I've never seen you eat anything today yet."

Now that she mentioned it, Levi did forget to grab an apple from when he went down to the mess hall, being distracted and all with Petra and her friend. He felt the familiar pang of hunger in his belly, but it wasn't something that bothered him anymore.

"What would you have?" They were now on a street with a make-shift flea market, and Petra took to walking in front of him, peering at the stalls.

"I don't know. I don't really eat a lot."

"And that's the problem, sir."

"And why is that a problem?"

Petra stopped midtrack, a blush creeping up to her cheeks. She was grateful she had her back to him as she took in the stall in front of her, which had an array of fresh, warm bread laid out on a display.

"Captain, I need your wallet!"

.

The plan was to eat along the way, but that was proving particularly difficult with the goods they made off in town. Petra had the broom tied onto her back like a really long fanny pack, her arms cradling a small parchment bag of warm bread, while the captain carried their bags from the household store and the tea shop.

They found a set of benches at the edge of the market district, in a small secluded park, almost close to the bend that led to the dirt road back to camp. The wooden benches each faced the opposite direction, their backs adjoined. It was nestled under a large tree that provided adequate shade from the sun, and sufficient seclusion from park-goers. The park was empty though, as the two of them made their way to sit.

Petra set the broom down to the bench facing front, the captain making his way to the opposite bench just behind hers, laying down his bags. He sat down as she did, on opposite sides of their benches, the wind rustling peacefully among them, providing cool from the light heat.

They savored some silence as the wind continued to breeze, some large, brown leaves swaying as they descended down from the tree. It was almost autumn, and the leaves were starting to change into their beautiful fall color.

She heard the captain fiddle the bags from behind her, and finding nothing to do, she started to open the parchment bag to busy herself.

"Here you go sir," Petra stretched back to hand the captain his bread, which he took after some time.

Levi examined the warm bread in his hand. It was a small bun, its surface smooth and golden. He felt eyes on him and sure enough, Petra was staring at him as he looked up, her amber eyes reflected in the afternoon light.

"I didn't know what you like sir, but you seemed to like the soup last time. That's a mushroom bun, or so the lady said. Here –" A tissue on her other hand, Petra reached over to take a part of the bread he wasn't holding and softly tore into it, revealing moist, steaming filling inside.

"Why'd you touch my bread?" he asked, his face its usual blank slate.

Petra felt herself going red for the nth time that day. "Captain – I – I didn't mean – I had a tissue on – my hand was –"

She was cut off from her rambling as she saw the captain took a small bite of the bread, before chewing thoughtfully and swallowing. "It's good."

"Oh," Petra was still flustered, but was content to see the captain finally eating. She turned to the bag now, fishing out her own bread, when she felt his hand reach over to her side of the bench, a small piece of bread in his tissued hand.

"Here." He was handing her a piece, and Petra was sure she blinked a hundred times before she took the bread from his hand. Thankfully, he had continued eating (why does he even look good while chewing?!) as he handed her the bread, having most likely enjoyed the taste of it.

Petra took a bite, and felt the soft texture of the milky bread go perfectly well with the savory, creamy mushroom taste of the filling. "It is good!" She remarked, before noticing that the captain held a small smile. She took a look at the bread in her hand and noticed it was the bigger serving.

"Hey, you're passing your bread off of me!"

"I can't finish it all," he responded plainly. He didn't really eat a lot, that much was true, but part of the reason he gave her some of his was for her to also have a taste. He found himself smirking as she savored the bread, her eyes expressive in finding them delicious.

"But you should eat your own share," Petra chided, reaching back once more to shove in his lap another wrapped bread, this time oval shaped. It had nuts on it, and glistening from something most likely sugar.

"I bought a lot of these sir! They're sweet, but not too sweet. The guys should come home tonight, they could eat some before bed so they can also have a taste of town. Or, we can even have these for breakfast tomorrow!"

"So you bought them with my money then?" He twitched his eyebrows at her, his tone light. He saw her face turn a bit pink, before mustering her musical giggle.

"Ah, well, hehe."

.

They ate in silence after that, Levi confused with the sugary taste in his mouth and the relaxed air in the atmosphere. He wasn't pretty talkative, but he found himself talking, initiating conversation throughout the day with Petra, even gone to the point of teasing her.

He was sure it wasn't of himself, though. If anything, it was most likely Petra's open and welcoming aura that made it easy to be around her. No wonder she had no problem integrating at all with the guys and the squad. She made it easy to be open, with the way she approached everything with genuine interest and thoughtfulness.

"So why don't you like compound teas sir?" She cocked her head to his side, her face breaking into a smile, interrupting his train of thought.

"Why is my not eating a problem to you?" He countered, and he saw the familiar tinge of red creep up on her face. Did I do that to her? He thought. His question seemed innocent enough, but he was genuinely intrigued.

"Oh, it's just that I, no, the squad and I! The squad and I noticed you weren't eating too much."

"The others don't seem to have a problem with it."

Petra was fiddling at her fingers now, her face now looking straight ahead, avoiding his gaze. Why did he have to put her on the spot? Where was all the pep talk she had earlier in the morning about strengthening her resolve on not being attached? On being low-key?

The afternoon light basked Petra's profile in a golden hue, and Levi caught himself looking at her too intensely as she focused her gaze too far ahead.

"You should take care of yourself too captain. You can only do so much for humanity if you don't take care of yourself first."

Her voice was steady and calm, her eyes now holding his as her she faced him. Her tone almost reminded him of the calmness in his mother's voice when she used to patiently explain to him why he needed to eat, why he needed to get strong and survive. He was trying to search her eyes of the meaning in her words, but he noticed that she had already returned her gaze ahead, across the sun. The golden hue in her profile danced with some pink in her cheeks, and Levi noticed her hands were balled into fists, her neatly-trimmed fingernails immensely clean.

He felt a bit guilty at the moment, having been reminded by a subordinate of a basic responsibility. He'd heard the same reminders from Erwin before, from Hange even. And of course, years back from his mother. Having it repeated to him highlighted how it could be worrying for the others, and how it felt foreign to him to have someone worry for his wellbeing, and be able to articulate it to him directly, without fear of his rebuking or his superiority.

He glanced another look at Petra, her eyes now closed, head back, feeling the soft breeze around them. She looked and felt like a ball of light.

"They taste too processed."

Petra jerked back from enjoying the wind and looked at the captain, who was staring at her too, her expression confused. "Huh?"

"Compound teas from those teabags taste too processed. They're not made of loose leaves, but crunched up twigs and subpar, rejected leaves, or so what they say. Loose leaf is better." He shrugged and had stared ahead now, his posture relaxed, his gathered hands on his folded knee.

Petra stared at him, a soft smile forming in her lips. She was pleased to hear him speak his mind so freely, opening himself up little by little. Is this one of the many facets of him? She thought. Eld's words rang in her mind again, speaking about how the captain was a guarded man, a man in his lone box. She felt comfort having to sit next to him, in this bench or outside his box, perfectly content.

They spent some more minutes on the bench before they headed back, letting themselves bask in afternoon light and shared, comfortable silence. It was no wander that it was now almost sunset when they made it back to the barracks. The common room was slightly dark, illuminated only by the faint orange glow that remained of the afternoon setting sun. The captain had made a remark on how the barracks was dusty (Petra blamed the light from the windows emphasizing the miniscule particles of dust everywhere) and that they should put the supplies they bought to good use.

She was about to grab the cleaning supplies in the bag on the counter as the captain changed into his cleaning uniform, when Petra's heart skipped a beat.

Inside the bag were two small cacti, their small pots next together, adorned with a blue and a pink ribbon.

A/N: Hey everyone, thank you if you made it here! I just wanted to let you all know that the updated story is now at Chapter 8 at AO3 and I hope to catch up in posting the rest of the chapters here as well. :) If you like what you are reading, I really appreciate your favorites and if you can, leave a review. It really makes our day! Again thank you for reading.