A stabbing pain in Elsie's abdomen had her flying forward, a heaving gasp of air her only salvation to the white hot burning sensation. Fearing her dream had come true, she pulled the white dress over her legs and stared at her milky stomach, smooth and moving rapidly to match her hysteric pants. Elsie pushed her hair back, swallowing dryly, and looking around.

Hange was hunched over the desk, cheek melted into the wood as she slept deeply, having only twitched from Elsie's wheezes. The sun was rising, probably breakfast time if she had to guess, and Hange had no doubt worked all night, succumbing to sleep at a late hour. Elsie had torn an IV line from her bruised right hand and she absently rubbed the bleeding pinhole as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. It was her room but a table and IV stand had been added during her recovery.

She assumed she had at least slept the night away, if the sun was in indicator, and the IV had been used to hydrate her after her bloody spew. Elsie's face screwed up at the painful memory of her exorcist moment, spine curled uncomfortably, too much blood in her throat for her to breathe. For a moment she had regretted answering the questions.

Elsie rubbed her eyes and yawned, feeling like she had ran a hundred laps. She didn't want to stay in here, though, not with Hange a potential annoyance. Her head ached, the light was making her eyes water, and her legs charlie-horsed when she tried to stand. No, she didn't want to wake Hange up and have the fanatic freaking out on her.

She wanted Levi. Elsie shuffled into the hallway, hearing the chatter below, and headed to the end. She froze, door mid swing, and poked her head further in before entering. Had she gotten the room wrong? Mugs were left stained on the coffee table scattered around letters in a messy stack that precariously hung off the edge. The blankets had been kicked to the end of the bed and the pillows tossed carelessly. She only knew it was his room because underneath the untouched left pillow was a dagger.

Elsie wanted to find Levi but she was too tired to do much more than sit on the bed and wait. Eventually she laid on her side, bringing the blanket over her head, and falling into a peaceful sleep.

"...have to accept the possibility that she went back-"

"You fuckers better find her or it'll be your asses on the fucking line! Search the God damn building, I want every room ripped top to fucking bottom! How the fuck do you lose a girl?"

It was Hange's high shout that had stirred Elsie, drowsily rubbing her eyes and looking out the window, but it was Levi's defining bellow that had her rolling out of bed. The once empty hall was now full of panicked soldiers, Eren grabbing Jean as they raced down the stairs, smartly ignoring the fighting squad leaders. Levi was insulting Hange in the worst way, using names with the intent to hurt. Hange was trying to placate him, using her hands to soothe him, and he smacked every advance, lips curled in disdain, brows furrowed with anger.

"Levi?"

Elsie's voice ceased fire. The raven haired man spun on his heels, stormy eyes widening at the view of Elsie, in her white gown and bedhead, peeking out of his room. His shoulders sagged from a weight lifted, a sway to his stand that made it appear like he would fall, hands limp at his side. Hange gasped, taking her glasses off to rub her eyes.

Elsie didn't have warning, Levi closing the space between them in three long strides and gathering her into his arms. He held her tight, squishing her nose between his shoulder and neck, twisting her hair in his fist to keep her there. It was shocking, this display of affection, but Elsie knew to take what she wanted. She clutched his back, holding him just as secure as he was her.

"What are you doing in there?" Levi's leathery whisper was reserved for Elsie's ears only, tickling her ear when he spoke.

"I was tired so I went to lay down."

Levi's laugh shook them, "You were tired?"

Elsie pulled back so he could see her widened eyes, secretly telling him, "And I didn't want to deal with Hange."

She could see him now. He had dark, rough stubble growing and the purple circles had returned under his eyes. Levi wasn't the clean cut man she'd seen last, her hand falling from his shoulder to his right arm, squeezing the muscle. As sleep deprived as he looked, relief was making his eyes shimmer, a small grin on cracked lips for her to see.

"Where's your cast?"

"Levi, we need to get her to bed." Hange timidly called, forgotten at Elsie's bedroom.

Levi kept his hand on her lower back, leading her back to the twin bed she'd left. Hange gathered materials from her desk, clearly still upset with Levi, but he didn't spare her a glance. His attention was purely on Elsie, who felt like she was in the spotlight with his grey stare. She could tell he was on nerve and it was beginning to effect her.

"Elsie, before we talk about what happened, do you have any pain?" Hange pulled her chair to the bed, tapping at Elsie's kneecaps.

"My whole body aches and I have a mean headache," Hange made her follow the flashlight. "Oh, and I'm starving. Levi, can I have some tea, too? My throat hurts."

"Yes, shithead." Levi grinned, standing behind Hange. He seemed too interested in her movements, critiquing her ministrations.

"I'm fine," Her words drew him back to Elsie. "It wasn't so bad. I mean, the blood is new, but it wasn't too bad. I'm just sore." She might be downplaying the excruciating pain she'd felt, and the silent plea that it wouldn't happen again, but it was worth the white lie if it soothed Levi.

It had the opposite affect. His jaw clenched and he couldn't look her in the eye, using his hair to cover his face as he focused on Hange.

"There was another new side effect, Elsie." Hange said with a tone of sympathy that wasn't fitting for the situation.

Elsie looked at her arms and felt her neck, "I don't have any rashes."

"No. It wasn't physical. Elsie," Hange took a prepping breath. "You've been in a coma for ten days."

Elsie laid on her back in the woods surrounding Levi's castle, eyes glazed from lack of blinking. She wasn't staring at anything in particular, the leaves gently swaying, the soft chirp of a bird nearby. A guilt had grown sickening strong in her stomach and she didn't know how to appease it.

She'd thought it was a dream.

Elsie palmed her eyes, a shaking breath, the need to scream and cry and hit something overwhelming. She sat up, felt like she wasn't doing enough, didn't want to waste another moment still while the world moved around her.

Did she regret her choice? Elsie didn't know. It had made sense, at the time, because it had been a fucking dream. She should've known... Fuck. Elsie bent, clasping her hands behind her neck and squeezing her eyes tight, as if that would bring them back.

She only allowed herself this small moment of agonizing what-ifs. What if she had said yes? Would she be home now? What if this was the best option and she knew it deep in her soul that things would never be the same if she left? Would she still be Elsie?

Elsie couldn't wallow in her dark thoughts for long. A commotion had risen outside the safety of her trees, spurring the girl to rise and trench through the foliage. Hange had brought reinforcement in the shape of Erwin, who was out pacing her down the hill in his eagerness to reach Elsie. Levi stood guard, back against a tree, having patiently waited while Elsie had her alone time. He was now threatening them with the loss of an appendage if they dared to step closer.

"I don't give a shit if it's to save humanity, Erwin. She's not answering another damn question."

"Levi, we've waited over a week for this moment! Hange says she's in good condition-"

"I said no."

"This is why she's here! Her duty is to supply us with this information, you can't stop us when we're so close to the truth!" Hange insisted, fixing the straps of her glasses and standing on tip-toe to peer excitedly into the trees.

"There's a worthless sack of shit for you to hassle in the basement. Both of you fuck off."

"Captain Ackerman, you've forgotten your place! I've ignored this bond you've formed with the girl but now it's clouding your judgement. Squad Hange will take over Elsie and finish what we initially planned-"

Levi didn't like a single word Erwin said, a shadow crossing his threatening stare. Elsie had stayed behind a tree, forehead pressed against the rough bark as Hange fought to continue questioning. She'd seen it in Hange's eyes, the hunger for more as soon as Elsie had been medically cleared. Elsie had asked Levi for a second alone, she'd felt it coming, and he couldn't say no to her. He'd helped her to the trees, he'd said he'd keep people away, but now they were trying to take Levi from her.

Levi stepped forward, prepared to solve this argument with fists, but Elsie beat him. She snatched a rock as she left the safety of the woods, a perfect aim for Erwin's head. The stone left a red circle between his eyes, the commander swaying and clutching his head, insulted at the audacity Elsie had.

"I'd like to see you try! I'll cut my tongue out before I answer another question for your ungrateful ass!"

He held the same contempt he had for Annie, suddenly, furious that she wouldn't curse herself to another week - if not more - of never ending sleep to answer another question.

"You are a soldier in the Scout Regiment and you will act accordingly! If I say you are to answer questions then you will and if I say that you are transferring to Hange's unit then you will! This is not an argument, I am your commander!"

Erwin's roar had stopped all movement in the yard. Elsie hadn't realized that a majority of the regiment had been practicing hand-to-hand or leading their horses for a ride. Hange's glasses couldn't contain how wide her eyes had grown, pale as she looked between the heaving pair, Elsie's small size doing nothing to intimidate Erwin - who was using his height to make her step back, a clear warning that he was on thin ice.

"Fine, I quit!"

Elsie shoved past them, heading to who knows where. She was blinded by the rage of Erwin trying to take her from Levi. He was the only person standing up for her! She'd thought that she'd at least have a day of peace before they were talking about it again, but it seemed that Erwin's greed couldn't hold out that long. Hadn't they reached a level of respect?

"You can't quit the army! I own you!" Erwin bellowed.

Elsie spun, "Good luck finding me! I know this world better than you people, I'm moving to fucking Germany! The fuck you own me, you piece of devil shit! Fuck you!"

Levi was the only one amused with the screaming. His hands had lost their threatening hold and found sanction in his pockets, grinning at Elsie's outburst. Hange twirled around Erwin, uselessly trying to calm him.

"You wouldn't last a day without us! You'll be titan food!"

Erwin punched the air, acting just as childish as Elsie. It seemed they had picked at each other just enough - Elsie with her taunt of going where Erwin most wanted, Erwin with the threat of taking Levi. They were at their most basic nature, two strong willed people wanting something that didn't have a plausible medium for them to agree on. She wouldn't do shit without Levi, they would have to torture her just like Annie to get Elsie to cooperate.

"I'll live longer than you!" Elsie spat and shoved through the circle of gawking onlookers.

"You walk away and I'll have your ass running laps until you die!"

"Watch me!" Elsie screeched, disappearing into the castle.

It had seemed like a truly brilliant idea to smash every dirty cup in Levi's room. They shattered beautifully on the warped floor, a lullaby to her ears that soothed the turmoil in her.

She hated herself for staying. She hated that she didn't want to leave. Hadn't she done enough for them? Elsie had lost a week of her life for them! Not once had she put up a fight with answering their questions, she had burned herself to write down names, she had lowered herself to becoming a murderer to save their lives. Was it all forgotten? Didn't she have enough respect with Erwin for him to understand that she needed a day to comprehend everything? How dare he try to take her from the only person she liked in this cursed world!

Elsie hurled the last brown mug at the wall over the couch, feeling a tad better as it tinkled to the floor. She took a deep breath, covering her face, left in the silence of the empty room. Alone, she thought somberly, like she'd be for the rest of her life here.

There was a knock on the door. Elsie scowled, knowing that it wasn't the one person who'd make her feel better.

"Fuck off!"

"Tch, it's my fucking room, shithead."

Elsie walked over the broken shards, opening the door for Levi to enter. He had no reaction to the mess, taking in the tossed papers and glittery floor, turning in the center of the room. His grey eyes landed on Elsie, hugging her stomach, forlornly examining her shoes in shame.

"It got quiet, thought you slit your wrists."

"Were you out there the entire time?"

"I didn't feel like getting stitches," He toed the glass. "I'm not cleaning this."

"Levi, he can't make me go with her! I won't, I refuse to do anything without you!" Elsie exploded, throwing her hands up and beginning to pace. "He wants to treat me like Annie! Aren't I worth more? I have never said no to helping!"

Levi dropped his hand on her head, immediately silencing her, "Four eyes knows better than to try. Erwin was talking out of his ass, he isn't going to do shit."

"I hate him!"

"Tch, save it for someone worthwhile."

Elsie crossed her arms, "I'm still mad."

"Use that anger to clean this shit up. What a fucking waste," He headed to his dresser, ignoring the crunch under his boots and beginning to take his belt off. "Erwin plans to wait for you in the dining hall to start again, do us both a favor and stay here the rest of the night until he gets the stick out of his ass."

"He can damn well try, I swear Levi, I won't help them!"

"Really now." He put his brown straps in the top drawer and headed to the bed, falling face first.

"How can you think about sleeping? They're trying to murder me!" Elsie hissed, yanking the pillow from under his head and hitting him repeatedly. "I don't even get a fucking day before they're trying to put me back under!"

Levi grunted with each soft hit but didn't lift a hand to stop her, hiding his face under his bent arms, "You said you were running away, what does it matter?"

"I'm not actually- Ah, fuck it." Elsie deflated, sighing dejectedly as she sat the edge of the bed.

She took in her work, the floor a booby trap for the next person. It was the angriest she's been and it was all because Erwin had tried to take her from the lazy shit behind her. Levi's boot clad heel kicked repeatedly at her lower back, and she ignored it to sourly pout, wishing that someone would be as mad as her.

"They've been like dogs with a treat waiting for you to wake up. You broke their hearts by refusing to talk," Levi sighed from behind. "Come to bed."

Elsie held the mattress when she turned, her lips parting in shock. He was still face down, an unusual position for him, but his voice had gained the huskiness he only got when he was on the brink of sleep.

"I'm not tired! And fuck them!"

"Tch, lay down and tell me about it."

Elsie groaned and flung herself backwards. She placed her hands on her stomach, her head at Levi's waist with her legs hanging off. She knew better than to put her shoes on the bed, even if Levi had kept his on. Which, she glanced up at his closed eyes, he would kick his own ass if he wasn't so tired suddenly. She thought of the state of the room before she trashed it.

"Levi?"

"Hmph. What?" He grouched.

"Have you slept?"

It took a moment for a response, "No, you've made that impossible."

Elsie sat up and tapped his leg, a silent demand for him to roll over. Levi flipped onto his back, hooded eyes watching her intensely as she deftly pulled the laces loose enough to tug the boots off. They fell to the floor with heavy thuds, hers joining quickly, and she crawled into his arms. He sighed when she laid her head on his chest, no hesitation to lay her arm over his stomach and place a leg between his. It was natural, the most comfortable position, and it was made better when a lazy hand began to run through her hair.

"I won't do it again." Elsie whispered, her fingers itching to move so she began to trace the lines of his stomach through the shirt.

Levi squeezed her, "With that attitude I'm sure Erwin will agree."

"Levi?"

"What, shithead?"

"You look like shit."

It was a tired laugh, barely making it through his slacking lips, "That's priceless coming from you."

"I missed you."

She didn't know she'd been gone, but she'd made a choice in her dream, and it had everything to do with him. It may have felt like a small second to her but it'd been ten days for him, and even in that second she had wanted nothing more than to be in this exact spot.

"I missed you too."

Levi's snoring woke her up. She grimaced and rolled out of his tight embrace, his arms falling on his chest when she'd reached the right side. It showed how sleep deprived he was, the fact that she hadn't woken him with the movement, and his loud snores continued, gaining volume with each breath. She pondered suffocating him but figured she'd have pity on him; she did like him after all.

There was still glass on the floor and she quietly grabbed a shirt, crawling on the floor to gather her evidence of frustration. She knotted it and put it in the corner of the room to toss out later.

The sun would be rising soon, judging from the light hue coming from the wall line, and Elsie gathered black slacks and shirt before her trip to the shower. It was her first one since waking from her coma and she enjoyed it, head lolling back and letting the water untangle the curtain of blonde hair. She stepped out, wrapping the towel, using another one to pat at the tips of her hair. There was a vain moment as she examined her new body, pale and frail, obviously affected from her sabbatical.

She had her back turned, immediately noticing that her ass had lost a few pounds, and screamed when the bathroom door was kicked open.

"Are you a fucking barbarian? I'm in here, you idiot!" Elsie flung the towel back around her, cheeks red at being caught.

Levi didn't care. He dragged her from the mirror, making her trip, and encasing her in a bone breaking hug. Levi didn't mind her hair wetting his shirt or that she was naked. All he cared was that Elsie was there, his hands shaking as he cradled her cheeks.

"I thought I lost you," He breathed, running his thumb down her jaw. "Don't do that shit."

"Stop snoring like a damn avalanche! Didn't you see the light? Shit, Levi, you scared me."

"Just fucking agree, you damn woman."

"Fine, I'll wake you up the next time I shower." She rolled her eyes.

Levi didn't let her go, closing his eyes as they swayed in the steaming bathroom. Elsie couldn't help herself, raising a hand to gently stroke the back of his head. His hair was silky, it slid perfectly between her fingers, and he hummed without realizing it, tightening his arms around her waist.

Elsie didn't want to make a big deal out of it. She didn't want to scare Levi, she didn't want to rush what they had growing between them. Elsie would take the pace as he deemed safe, taking what he gave and giving it back tenfold. He wasn't like Van, who said pretty words and had intentions to start something serious. Levi was careful, critical, he saw all possible outcomes and weighed if it was worth trying. She knew that in this life, with the uncertainty of coming home the next month, a new relationship wasn't taken lightly. And she was okay with that, because right now she was in his arms, fingers in his hair as he rubbed the small of her back.

"I promised that we would stick together," Elsie whispered. "I wouldn't go anywhere without you."

If only he knew how true to her word she was. The time would come for that later because for now she was being kicked out of the bathroom, Levi threatening to kill her if all the hot water was gone.

"She has risen!" Jean boomed, rousing a thunderous applause at Elsie's entrance into the dining hall. "All hail the Slumber Queen!"

Elsie flushed, overwhelmed that they had actually missed her, and thanking the shouts of welcome as she headed down the aisle. Things hadn't changed since she'd been here with Squad Levi, the two large tables on either side of the room to support the soldiers. Eren was sitting where Gunther usually had, waving a spoon to hail her over.

"And you started a ton of shit on your first day," Ymir cackled, piling a plate of eggs and potato for Elsie, even if she couldn't eat it all yet. "I have to say, you have some balls pulling that on the Commander. I'm shocked he didn't hunt you down."

"Everyone knows not to touch Elsie." Connie said off-hand, ripping his bread in half to get the salivating Sasha off his shoulder.

"Did you really quit the army? Is that even possible?" Mikasa grumbled, stirring her food, sitting across from Elsie with Eren.

"She's not in her uniform, must be true," Ymir couldn't stop laughing, making Historia frown when she looped her arm over Elsie's frail shoulders. "Man, you don't know how relieved we are that you're awake. Captain Levi was out of control."

Eren held his perfectly fine right hand, "He stabbed me, Elsie!"

"What'd you do?" Elsie had learned early on that Eren's stories always had another side. She had been with him since he's joined the regiment, after all.

"He was rushing and didn't use the one hundred percent bleach." Armin didn't have sympathy with his words.

"He stabbed me. That's illegal!"

"I heard he punched a wall in the basement and broke his cast." Historia whispered conspiringly, dropping her tone and leaning to the center of the table so they could all hear.

"He made Krista cry for not catching Eren, the short jerk." Sasha added, looking insulted when the others shushed her. Elsie assumed that no one else knew of Historia's true identity spar for Elsie and Ymir.

Levi had walked in, shaved and well rested. He looked like the man she'd left behind, meeting her gaze as he walked past the table and towards the back of the hall. He grabbed a bowl and left, no doubt to his office. Elsie raised to join him, multiple hands shooting out to stop her.

"Please don't leave us, we're only safe with you." Eren begged.

"He's the devil, don't do it." Jean hissed.

Elsie frowned, upset that he had been such an ass to them, but knowing he didn't have much of an emotional control. He had fought with Elsie the night the squad died, which had been better than cruelly punishing her. She had gotten off easy compared to their stories. She glanced at the doorway, slowly sitting back down with the comfort that she'd be with him again tonight.

Elsie crouched in the tree, one hand on the bark as she scanned the area. She knew these woods like the back of her hand, it was only Eren that she would have to worry about when it came to doing quick movements (and Mikasa, but the raven haired teen had made it clear she wasn't the least bit interested in Elsie).

There was a whistle in the air as a grapple hook hit its mark. She heard the pumps of gas, saw Historia twirling through the air, focused as she looked for someone. Elsie let herself fall back, catching a branch lower and pressing her back into the trunk. Historia continued ahead, unknown of Elsie's location.

Seconds later Historia came zipping back, cackling madly as someone screamed from where she'd left. Sasha came crashing through, bad luck for Elsie when her hook landed on her tree. Elsie didn't waste time, swinging out and flying to the right.

"I got you, Elsie!" Sasha hollered. "Get over here so I can tag you!"

"That's not how it works!" Elsie giggled, flipping in her wires and heading the opposite way.

She didn't get far, a wire shooting across so that she had to swing to the right to avoid getting them tangled. Connie flew past, "Sorry, Elsie!"

Sasha smacked her over the head, yeehawing as she disappeared into the canopy, "Tag, you're it!"

Elsie took off, swerving as fast as she dared. To her frustration, her body had remembered how to use the machine but it didn't have great reflex time. She was the slowest, surely, playing it safe, but that didn't keep her from suggesting tag to get a morale going. It was clear that the past week had been hard on everyone and they needed a moment to be kids again.

Eren distracted her, thinking he was smart by being on the highest branch. She saw his back from a hundred feet away, his head bowed as he listened for sound. He heard her gas and sprang away, his ODM style less finessed like Elsie's. She hugged her arms in, zooming to catch him, her hand out. She could see his panic, he kept looking back, and wasn't realizing how close they were coming to the end of the tree line.

Elsie wouldn't say she was vindictive. But, the chance was there, and she swung high before planting her feet on Eren's back, her wires going straight down into the dirt and pulling them faster. His scream was cut off by the soil in his mouth. Elsie leaped off as soon as they touched solid, smiling innocently when he looked up, only a red face and no broken bones.

"Tag, you're it." She giggled, swinging her hands.

"Fraser!"

Elsie's humor evaporated. She scowled, calling on all the anger from yesterday, and spun to threateningly stare at Erwin. He was alone, shockingly, and Eren was nosy enough to keep quit and on the floor, wiping the dirt smudges from his round cheeks.

"Smith." Elsie replied cooly, hoping that her face was keeping straight and unbothered.

"What do you think you're doing? ODM is only for military personal."

Oh. He wants to play this game? Elsie plucked the belt and let the expensive gear crash to the floor, poshly stepping out of its circle around her ankles.

"You can have it."

"Now that's dramatic!" Erwin snapped. "Since you're no longer of service you'll be transported back to Trost."

"Not without Levi."

"Unlike you, he's still enlisted and has a job. If you refuse to help us then I can no longer support you being here."

"That's fine, Levi will." Perhaps if she kept repeating his name Erwin would slip up.

Erwin pinched his nose, breathing fast, "Elsie, will you please have some sense? All I wanted was to speak to you about what was divulged and you have been nothing but difficult and tight lipped."

"Am I going to Hange's squad?" She quipped.

Erwin was flabbergasted, "Is that all you want? To be assured that you're staying with Levi Squad?"

"Yep."

He said nothing, pivoting and walking back to the castle. Elsie glanced at Eren, frowning, "Do you think he got the point?"

"He'd be deaf if he didn't." Eren said.

"The jerk."

Eren stood, brushing his knees, "Down for another round?"

"Sure. You're it."

Elsie was reading the end of the book she'd started at Lord Mahil's. She laid on her side of the bed, curled as she laid as close as she dared to the candle light. This book held all the information she needed.

It went into great detail of a woman named Ymir who had accidentally became a titan in her desperation to survive the cruel hunting game of the original King Fritz. He then proceeded to rape her and have three daughters, Rose, Sheena, and Maria. When his wife died, he forced their children to eat her body to continue the titan line, or Eldian as they called them in Marley. It was at this time the people revolted causing King Fritz to hide his people behind three walls created by titans.

Elsie was on the last page when the door opened. Levi glanced at her before heading to his dresser, tugging his cravat off.

"What'd you do to piss off Erwin?"

Elsie's gaze lifted over the edge of the book, lingering on his toned stomach as he took his shirt off, bending to get a sleep shirt.

"I did nothing."

"Elsie."

"I was practicing ODM with Eren and he said I couldn't because I wasn't military personal." She mocked his voice, trying to sound as serious and deep as Erwin.

"You did quit," Levi, sadly, pulled the grey shirt over his head, shaking his hair out of his eyes so he could look at her. "And you didn't wear your uniform."

Elsie lifted the book to cover her red cheeks, humming, "That never stopped you."

"Tsk, shithead. I never told you about that." She could hear his belt, her heart racing at the idea of him changing fully in front of her, debating if she should lower the blurry pages to get a peak.

"I know everything." She said primly, wishing she had the ability to see through solid at the sound of his pants dropping.

"So you know he's going to Trost to find you a house?"

Elsie shrugged, "No, he's not. You said it yourself, he's talking out of his ass."

The mattress dipped and he plucked the book out of her hands, fully dressed in sweats, rolling onto his back to examine the foreign words, "He doesn't do it for long, shithead. Stop being a cry baby and wear your damn uniform. You had your tantrum, now it's over."

"No, I want him to tell me that I don't have to go to Hange's squad."

The book rested on his chest, Levi looking exasperated, "Do you really think that I'd let you join that abnormal's team? She'd have you dead in a day."

"It's the principle of the matter! He can't just threaten me if I don't want to talk."

"He's the commander, show some damn respect," Levi punched her. Perhaps he thought it wasn't powerful enough to affect her - which normally it wasn't - but Elsie cried out in pain, curling into her side and clutching her aching stomach. "Oi, why you acting like that?"

"Because it hurt, you dick." Elsie groaned.

Levi leaned on his elbows, gauging her face, "Are you kidding me? You weak shit."

"Levi! Have some sympathy!"

"Shake it off."

"You dick."

"Pain in my ass," He mocked, falling back to his place, gently placing the book between them, her spot saved. "Blow out the light when you're done."

Levi got comfortable for sleep, Elsie finishing the book and sliding it on the pristine nightstand before blowing out the candle. They were engulfed in the safe darkness that her favorite Levi came out to play in. Elsie wiggled to his side, perhaps being a little extra to get back for the punch, and Levi pushed her away when she reached him.

"Stop playing mind games with Erwin. He wins every time." Levi was scolding her by keeping her at bay.

Elsie huffed, turning her back to him, "Not this time."

She counted the minutes in her head, smile hidden in the pillow. It only took five before she heard his long winded sigh, trying to make her turn. She didn't move. Seven minutes and then Levi was rolling over, his wrist slithering over her waist to pull her flush to his chest. He was properly cuddling her, their bodies - Elsie could swear on God to this - made for each other, fitting like a puzzle piece.

"Brat." He whispered in her ear, flattening her hair so that it didn't go into his nose.

Elsie giggled, "I think I can handle Erwin."

"Shut up."

Levi rubbed the spot he'd hurt until she fell asleep, not regretting the choice she'd made.