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"YOU'RE WHAT?!"

I rubbed the bridge of my nose and stopped as a flashback of Levi doing it over and over again struck me. I hastily dropped my hand but none of the friends noticed the sudden action. They were too busy freaking out about my job transfer.

"it's not for forever you guys." I sighed for the tenth time. "It. Is. Only. Temporary."

"If this thing between Levi and you-"

"Now stop right there." I held a hand up, halting Brian in his sentence.

"Levi and I may have a…" I struggled for the right word.

"Mutual hateful relationship?" quipped Sophie.

"A temporary break in your psychological war?" provided Steve.

"Silent lover's quarrel?" gave Brian and that earned him a smack on the head from me. "Ow!"

"…a lack of understanding between us but I don't want that to affect how you see the both of us. He is still your Captain and I am still your friend. However, us being around each other and giving off all this negative energy isn't healthy. This position of being a squad leader was going to be offered to me one way or another, but it also gives me time away from Levi to think things over."

"So, you start next week?" questioned Jack. I nodded.

"So next week, through the Expedition and for a couple of more weeks afterwards until the original Squad leader is able to come back onto duty."

"Have you told the Captain yet?"

I shot Jack an unimpressed look. "I haven't spoken to him since two weeks ago."

"I'll take that as a no."

"I'm leaving that task with the Commander."

"So now you're with me!" Hanji yelled enthusiastically, throwing an arm around my shoulder. "You are soon to be officially part of the Scouting Legions of Hanji Zoe!"

"Fantastic." I dryly replied, shrugging off her arm.

"Although, I remember that particular squad being part of the front quarters of the Expedition formation." She paused to look into her thoughts.

"Front quarters? So you're going to be the one that encounters Titans the most! Be careful." Steve murmured. I chuckled and moused his hair.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine and back in this squad before you even know it."

At that moment, Erwin entered the mess hall, followed by Levi. I avoided his gaze and focused on the blonde leader.

"I'd like a word with the other Squad Leaders about the formation tomorrow, thank you." And with that, he left as briefly as he arrived. Levi continued his way further into the mess hall and I lightly brushed him as I made my way out.

"What do you think you're doing, Hazura?"

I looked up and locked eyes with Hanji. She took the hint and left first. I kept my back to the Captain and looked straight ahead. The tension in the room grew.

"Going to have a word with Commander Erwin, sir."

"And why is that?"

"Well, he said to talk with the Squad Leaders and I'm being moved into a Squad leader position early next week sir. So I'm assuming that I should attend the briefing."

There was the sound of boots grinding against the stone floor and I pictured Levi spinning around to probably glare at my backside.

"You're becoming a squad leader next week?"

"Yes. I thought Commander Erwin would have told you. Excuse me now, I cant keep everyone waiting." And with that, I left the stuffy room, closing the door quietly behind me.

"You were a bitch." Sophie dead-panned at me. I groaned.

"Look, I didn't mean to, it just came out like that."

"How did it just come out like that?" she exclaimed throwing her hands up in the air. I buried my face in my hands.

"It just did. I was afraid to turn around and then there's the fact I was keeping Erwin waiting and…" I trailed off, sighing. "Anyway, I bet he hates me even more now, hey?"

"I wouldn't…say that." Linda joined us on the roof and sat down beside me. Now it was just us girls. I threw her a questioning look.

"How come?"

"Rina, you knew he turned around to look at you, right?"

I nodded slowly. "Yes, I could hear his boots on the floor."

"But did you know what he looked like?"

I scratched my head. "I pictured him glaring daggers into my back."

Sophie slapped the back of my head, causing me to exclaim in surprise.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"He didn't seem angry at you, Rina. He seemed…lost." Linda whispered.

"Lost?" I gave her an incredulous look before chuckling. "Linda, you have read one too many stories."

"Okay, maybe not lost more like confused. I don't think he thought that you would leave the Squad."

"But I'm coming back in a few weeks."

"But he doesn't know that, does he?" Sophie equipped. I ran over the conversation again in my head.

"Ah yeah, I guess I didn't mention that."

"He thinks you're leaving for good. You guys may be at odds but you were- no, you are partners. Friends. It looks like you're admitting defeat and running away."

"The hell I'm running away." I growled.

"Then what do you think you're doing?"

"I'm taking a step back and coming up with a new game plan that doesn't involve us getting into a bloody war or me wanting to slap some sense into his skull." I protested, crossing my arms across my chest.

"Give him a break, he was close to Petra and she was the second woman he lost to Titans."

We all turned to see Hanji crawling towards us on the roof.

"When did you-how did you-"

Hanji slapped a hand over Sophie's mouth. "You really don't want to know."

I whistled lowly. "Second?"

Hanji nodded and made herself comfortable. "The first was Isabel. She came with Levi into the Corps from the Underground City. He thought of her as the little sister he never had. When they were on their first Expedition, I heard that Levi slaughtered the Titan that killed her. After that, he tended to stay away from women even more than usual. So it was a bit of a surprise that he recruited Petra to join his ranks. I personally think that he took her death quite to heart."

"If that's the case, then why are they now three girls in his ranks?" Linda questioned. Hanji shrugged.

"You clean well?"

We all dropped our heads at the lame excuse.

"Yes."

"Of course."

"Makes sense."

"What I'm getting at is this." Hanji turned to me, now completely serious. "Rina, you're Levi's best friend. Everyone can see that. He was never as close to anyone as he is to you. I'm afraid if you die during this next Expedition, Levi will take ages if ever, to recover."

"So basically…don't die." I caught the main message. "But Hanji, you know that no one can make that promise."

"Well then, try to make amends as soon as possible." She grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "If something happens to you, Levi could take it the wrong way and blame himself."

"Knowing him that's a definite possibility." I muttered. I closed my eyes and sighed. "Fine, fine. I'll see what I can do."