Levi's PoV

Spreading my chosen tools of torture neatly out onto the table, I considered which one would be the most effective for ripping fingernails off. Donned in a white apron, I hoped that one of the two men we'd kidnapped would confess quickly. I still didn't really want to make a mess.

Forced in a corner by the government, we'd decided the only way to get ahead of our enemies would be to force one to spill the beans. We needed to know what secrets we were approaching that made them start hunting us down. The plan went off without a hitch thanks to the Reeves Company working with us. With their help, it'd been easy to kidnap some Military Police goons.

"Levi?" Saph called out, her head peeking around the corner. "Did you guys want my help in torturing Sannes?" she asked Hange and I. Her big light brown eyes blinking innocently even with her question being anything but.

Hange wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her further into the room. "Thank you for the support, but I think we have it handled!"

"Any advice?" I asked in a deadpan voice. If anyone would know the ins and out of inflicting pain onto the human body, it'd be her. Countless years of hunting for the safe return and then revenge of her brother led to Saph acquiring skills almost nobody else in the Survey Corps had. Besides me. But even I paled in comparison when it came to the amount of human lives ripped away. In the beginning, I believed she'd one day drown in her own bloodthirst. I lost count of how many times I found her in the stables, drenched in sweat and guts. Saph's own face rendered almost unrecognizable because of the gore sticking to her body.

She tilted her head slightly as she considered me. A tight smile graced her lips. "I've never actually physically tortured an individual for an extended period of time. Threats and psychological torture are usually enough for me to get what I want."

"What do you mean?" Hanged inquired, curiosity threaded throughout her tone. Saph never really talked about her activities Underground with anyone other than me. Erwin and Hange both knew of her travels, but they'd never discussed them with her. When I brought it up with him, Erwin said that as long as her business didn't interfere with Survey Corps matters, she would be left to do as she pleased. It seemed preposterous to me at the time, but now, with the current situation, I could see how Erwin might've known she'd be of use because of her exploits. No one else in the Survey Corps could massacre the same amount of people as her without hesitation. Saph might be one soldier, but she could take on an army herself. I wouldn't be surprised if she beat the entire Military Police on her own if not for Kenny.

Her eyes flicked towards me before returning to Hange. Her deposition became more tense with discomfort. Biting my lip, I remembered how I'd chastised her not too long ago for earning her grim nickname. I still disliked her careless disregard for others' lives. However, I'd initially seen her as someone who thrived on having power over others. Like Kenny. Being with her for all these years exposed me to the fact that Saph didn't kill for her pleasure, but because of her pain. I wish she'd understand that I wanted her to stop tracking people down not for moral reasons, but because of how dangerous and destructive the path of revenge is, especially with Kenny at the end of it.

"I tricked a guy named Brutus into eating his own son. Who I'd partially cooked into a meal."

Shit. Staring in astonishment, I struggled to pick my jaw up to the floor. "That's disgusting." Grossed out, but not surprised, I realized that Brutus was the one who'd given her up to Kenny in the first place. The informant that turned on her. No wonder he got a sweet surprise of his own. I couldn't imagine what she planned for Kenny. I didn't want to.

"Geez Saph! Remind me to never get on your bad side."

She shifted away so that Hange's arm dropped to her side. Heading to the door, Saph waved at the two of us. "Well, I'm off to Wall Sina then. I should be back tonight. I'm sure you guys are going to do great."

I nodded. Not wanting to see her go, I turned to keep my back towards her thin frame. Watching her leave would just cause anxiety to accumulate. She'd been to Wall Sina many times, same with the Underground, but knowing that the Military Police now hunted us, it changed everything. At least she knew about her Titan powers now.

What a miracle it'd been for the both of us for her to shift then back at the village. I'd been so defenseless when the Flame Titan hurt her. Its burn still disfigured her cheek with a web of raised skin. Titan powers be damned, the wound still stood. Without my gear, all I could do was uselessly cling to her hair as she fought for both of our lives. The waves of heated air singed my exposed skin when it landed a blow. Her cries of pain still echoed in my ears at night sometimes. That's why I swore I'd protect her. She'd become an even more valuable member of the Survey Corps, but I also didn't want to see her hurt anymore. Her life has been filled with almost nothing else but pain. Our occupation led to very few people retiring, but this couldn't end in one of our deaths.

Another reason I still struggled to meet her gaze was that I still hadn't wrapped my mind around the fact that we'd slept together that night. It'd been impulsive of me. I didn't think about the consequences or what might happen afterwards. The whole affair might have meant nothing to Saph, which would make me feel ridiculous for worrying about it. She enjoyed having sex. Keeping multiple partners, I'd never seen her attached to anyone specifically. Saph only preferred and paid particular attention to Bells because of the luxury she could experience and the secrets hidden away at the lord's castle. A total departure of how her life looks here in the Military or did in the Underground. Unlike her, I didn't sleep with many people. I'm particular about my partners because of how dirty sex can be. I couldn't lie to myself and say I didn't enjoy it though, and that I was tempted to do it again. She'd been right about needing to find a way to release.

"Levi?" Hange jolted me out of my thoughts.

Jerking back slightly, I turned to look at her. "Hmmm?"

A recurring expression of worry pulled at her features. "I've said your name four times! Are you ready for me to bring Sannes in?"

"Oh. Yeah."

Hange didn't move from her spot. Concern remained. "Are you worried about Saph?"

With no clue how she could tell that's exactly where my thoughts lied, I maintained my composure. "We don't have time for this."

"Hold on!" Hange stepped closer, peering at me with her bespectacled eyes. "Is the reason you're acting so moody because of her?"

Red hot anger washed over me. A turmoil of guilt, concern, and confusion fueled my irrational reaction. Growling, I grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. "Stay out of my damn business."

"I'm bringing it up because you're not just a comrade of mine Levi, but a friend too."

"I don't have any friends." I knew I sounded childish even as I said it.

Hange chuckled, "Then what's Saph?"

I didn't have a word to describe what Saph meant to me. I didn't allow my mind to simmer over her for long. A strange cacophony of feelings always resulted in doing so. Putting it in the back of my brain and never glancing at it seemed to be the smartest thing to do. However, that plan seemed to be becoming much more difficult to accomplish as the sounds of her breathing and the smell of her skin haunted me. To think that I'd slept with someone so near to Petra's death made me feel as if I'd done her a disservice. As if I hadn't cared for her. It wasn't like that though. Petra knew about the strange bond between Saph and I, yet I never imagined it'd lead us to this. "My second-in-command."

"I don't mean to involve myself in either of you guy's business. Everyone knows how close you are. I just don't think either of you are being honest with yourselves or with each other. None of us live long enough for that bullshit."

"I'm getting Sannes myself." I didn't want to talk to her. I didn't want to contemplate what she's implying. Honest with myself? I knew exactly where I stood. Grieving Petra and doing everything I could to protect one of the few remaining people I gave a shit about.

Hange looked as if she might say more things to aggravate before she paused. Deciding to move on, a smile once again tugged her lips upwards from their original frown. "I think you have to call me a friend after this bonding experience."

"...You mean torturing a guy?"

"You know what they say! Friends who torture together, stay together!"

Letting the water wash away all the blood, I enjoyed the coolness it offered. I'd been feeling unusually hot and bothered recently. Ever since Petra and the rest of the Survey Corps got killed, anger and irritation have been swirling inside my head. I took it out on Saph in the beginning, but she didn't contribute to their deaths. It'd been easy to point the finger at her. Blame her for my choices because yet again I'd made the wrong ones. I should've just let Eren transform to fight the Female Titan. So many regrets now weigh down and clutter up my heart. I could only keep moving forward, but I didn't want to forget about the people in my past.

Ducking my head into the ongoing stream, I took some deep breaths. I missed Petra. Her soft voice. Warm eyes. Gentle hands. I always felt good when she was around because of her positive, sweet energy. She made me feel like the hero people spoke of when they talked about Humanity's Strongest Soldier. Strong. Brave.

Almost the complete opposite of Saph. Nobody could get under my skin like her. Fuck. She could rile me up so fast with all her teasing and taunts, begging for a reaction. It'd been so damn annoying and childish at first, but now I couldn't help but find amusement in our banter. My feelings of hate and disgust had dissipated a long time ago. Obviously, or I wouldn't have risked a rescue mission to come and save her from the clutches of Kenny. She'd killed her brother to protect me. The person she'd been searching for almost her whole life. The only person I thought she gave a damn about. Of course my perspective of her changed after that revelatory moment, I just didn't know to what yet.

Growing up in the Underground didn't allow for innocence. We both lost our childhoods to the need to survive and fight. Every brutally honest assessment of hers reminded me of that fact. Here I'd been trying to believe the outside world could be different. That we could leave that part of our past behind in order to become honorable members of the Survey Corps, battling for the future of humanity. Selflessly sacrificing our needs and bodies in this never ending war against the Titans. But once again, it's not mindless monsters who are the enemies, but humans. I'd been wrong to hope for otherwise. That we could leave that darkness and bloodshed behind. She'd been right all along, we need to kill to live.

"Levi?"

I jumped at the sound of a voice echoing in the bathroom. "Shit, Saph," I shouted as I turned the water off and grabbed a towel to wrap around my waist, "why are you in here?" I shoved the curtain to the side so I could glare at her. Freezing, I didn't expect to see her drenched in blood. It looked as if she'd been dipped into a pool of red. "What the hell happened?"

"Bells called for security when she saw me snooping through her father's things. A whole group of Military Police thugs came running, but I dispatched them. One of them stabbed me, so I hid in an alley until I healed and gathered enough strength to run back here. What's important is what I found."

Still shocked at the sight of her abysmal state, I could only blink in response.

"The Founder can control and wipe people's memories. That's what happened when humanity came into the Walls a century ago. The King did it to prevent conflict within and against the government. However, not everyone is influenced by this power. Ackermans can't be. That means you can't be."

Clutching the cloth tighter, I felt a pressure inside my brain. What did this mean?

"That's why they were persecuted for so long. The royals and government tried to wipe them out because of this. What did you find out from Sannes?"

Pressing a palm to my forehead, I tried to organize the information and thoughts running throughout. "The King sitting on the throne right now isn't of royal blood; the Reiss family are the true rulers."

"No shit," she whispered under her breath. "I heard from Agni that while reports state bandits massacred the family, it appeared to be a cover-up. Rumors are that a Titan appeared that night and killed everyone besides Rod. Do you think it was Annie or one of the other Titan Shifters?"

"I don't know. Did you tell Hange all of this?"

Saph nodded. "I reported to her right when I arrived. She ordered me to come here to clean up and said she'd tell me everything afterwards."

Watching the blood drip off of her and collect into a puddle on the floor, I could see why. Her state would terrify our younger comrades. "I'll let you get cleaned up then," I said as I began to step out.

"There's no need," she replied as she stripped her shirt off, "we could just shower together."

Rolling my eyes at her words, I moved out of her way. "You'd just get me all dirty again."

She giggled. A strange sound to hear from someone who reeked of death. "Fine. Fine. I'll see you in the room."

Walking back towards our shared space, I found myself relieved that she'd come back before I'd have to sleep alone. It would have made me uneasy to not hear her rustling in her sheets and lightly snoring throughout the night. She'd been by my side for so long that her absence bothered me more than I'd like to admit, especially in the quiet of the night.

I just don't think either of you are being honest with yourselves or with each other.

What did Hange know? She didn't know shit. I've always been honest with Saph. What could she possibly be lying to me about?

"You look deep in thought," Saph commented as she entered the bedroom. Walking towards me, she stood between my legs. A glint reflecting in her eyes with a smirk tugging at her lips. The sweet smell of clean wafted off of her skin, and I hated how much I enjoyed it. How much it pulled me in.

Tilting my chin up to look at her face, I scowled. "I'm worried about how our plan is going to go tomorrow. I have a bad feeling about it."

"You mean having the Reeves' company pretend they'd captured Historia and Eren by keeping them in coffins? We should be able to easily follow the carriage with our gear. I don't know how we could lose them."

I shrugged. "Neither of us are the thinkers of the Survey Corps, but I just have a bad feeling."

Leaning over me, Saph stretched both her hands out and rested them on my shoulders. Massaging them lightly, I could feel the stress be slowly released as tension flowed out of my body. "Want me to help you relax?" Knowing exactly what she meant, I considered my options. She didn't give me long to contemplate as she pushed me onto the bed, so my back rested on top of the covers. Straddling me, Saph gripped my shirt. "Lets have some fun and release that anxiety."

Electricity sparked through my veins as she ripped my garment off and began running her nails over my stomach. It felt too good to resist. All that heat that'd been building in my bones came to the forefront as I tugged off her top and quickly unbuttoned her bra. At least this would take my mind off my worries for a minute. Gripping her thighs, I switched our positions so she rested below me. I couldn't help but marvel at her muscles. Such a small skinny frame yet completely compacted with sheer strength. A certain hardiness imbued her body, without a shred of delicateness, without a hint of youthfulness. She'd never looked her age before and even now seemed to be much older than late teens or early 20's.

"I don't think you know how attractive you are," she murmured into my ear. Wisps of air tickled the inside of my ear, and I resisted the urge to groan in pleasure. I rarely ever indulged myself in physical satisfaction, but I couldn't help but enjoy this moment with her. Both the comfort and the gratification received during our intimate occasions. "Not everyone gets a taste of Humanity's Strongest Soldier."

Unzipping her pants, I smirked. "I'd say the same to you. I'm sure few walk away alive after an encounter with Saph the Slaughterer."

Gasping at my touch, Saph's back arched as I pulled off her underwear and pants. "You're such a tease." Tangling her hands into my hair, she drew my head closer. My lips grazed her shoulder and her hair tickled the tip of my nose.

Removing the last of my own clothes, I hovered over her. Both of us now naked and bare. Not yet ready to take the plunge. Warmth shot up my spine when she threaded our fingers together. Nibbling on my collarbone, I shivered at the feeling of her teeth on the protruding piece. Flicking her tongue out, she sucked and kissed at my sensitive neck. "Don't leave a mark," I warned her. I'd never hear the end of it if we got caught together, much less if she gave me a hickey. She certainly was toeing the line about my no kissing rule.

"Don't worry," she moaned as she used her other hand to grip my hardened cock. "Nobody will be able to tell that we fucked." Fire set her eyes alight and I recalled how much she enjoyed sex. With almost anybody and anywhere. A tinge of disappointment made me internally flinch as I realized this wasn't anything special for her. I'd never slept with anyone else besides Petra, and this felt nothing like her loving words and gestures. Her hand moved back and forth, distracting me from my thoughts and memories, yanking me back to the present moment.

"You better not tell anyone about this," I warned as I finally entered her.

She didn't respond, but instead wrapped her legs around my waist, hooking one ankle over the other. While I might've been the one on top, she certainly seemed to be in control. Angling her hips, she grunted as I penetrated as deeply as possible. Bawling up the blanket with one of my hands, I struggled to hold onto my wits.

Words fell to the wayside as we moved as one. Sweat gathered at my brow and I struggled to keep up the rapid pace set in the beginning. She raised herself to meet my every thrust with one of her own, and I couldn't help but marvel at how expertly she brought both of us to climax after only a couple of minutes.

I hope you guys enjoyed Levi's PoV! I'm going to try writing more chapters like this more often. Would love to hear any thoughts you guys have!