There was something therapeutic about the cool air, stars twinkling their last light before the sun began to rise, silence enveloping the dueling pair. There was no distraction as they circled each other, quick steps as they shuffled backwards to avoid being touched.

"Come on, hit me!" Levi was trying to be encouraging, she knew him well enough to understand, but he missed the mark by a mile and landed on a strict corporal boom. "Harder! Put some strength behind it!"

Elsie had stopped dodging his advances. She raised her forearms, grunting as she was pushed back. It saved her time and energy to take the hit, striking as Levi withdrew. Neither pulled back, toes brushing as she took his hits, turning her body to the side to avoid a punch on the shoulder. Fluidly she returned to her original position, her own swipe directed at him. He blocked, twisted her arm, and Elsie fell to her knees.

"Fuck." She huffed, shaking it off and standing.

"You're doing better," Levi raised his fists. "You could take on a mouse now."

"Fuck off," Elsie punched his forearm, annoyed that she didn't get his face. "I only hold back so I don't hurt your ego."

It was a lie that Levi didn't call her out on, "How sweet of you, I'm flattered."

Elsie said, "You should be. I'm still mad you betted against me to Miche."

"Petty ass," She turned, avoiding the jab directed at her stomach. "Did you want me to lose five coins betting on you?"

"There's a thing called positive teaching, you should try it- ow, dick." She shook her hand out, Levi having caught her fist and squeezing until her knuckles cracked.

"If you weren't talking you would've hit me. Way to go!" He was sarcastic, rolling his eyes.

"Ha ha, very funny. Did you ever consider being a comedian? You'd be great."

"Tsk, I make more money betting against you."

Elsie switched things up, raising her leg as if to kick, Levi dropping his hands to shove it back, but only helping her strength as she slammed her boot to his shin. He kneeled at the force, Elsie punching him in the head. She snickered, backing up to let him get his bearings.

"If you weren't talking you would've seen that coming." She mocked bravely.

A shadow crossed his face, eyes darkening, and Elsie could only squeal as he shoved to his feet, wrapping his arms around her, and tried to topple her. She was so used to this that she kept one leg on the ground, awkwardly hopping in his hold. Elsie gave him a noogie, to his utmost dismay, and she ran to preserve herself. He was on her, once more holding her at the waist, lifting her.

She laughed, kicking her legs, "Levi!"

The soldier wasn't bothered, in fact he was playing naughty as well by tickling her. She bent over, trying to pluck his fingers away from her stomach, his breath hot on her neck. Elsie tried pushing back but her feet couldn't find friction and she was at his mercy, uncontrollable laughter at the moment.

"I thought you were going easy on me." Levi taunted, lips brushing her ear, nose pressing into her hairline.

Elsie grinned, "I was." She elbowed him between the legs.

Levi let her go, holding his knees as he regained himself. Elsie laughed, squatting so that she was at his level, cocking her head and raising an eyebrow at his pinched face.

"You shithead." He snapped, not finding it funny anymore.

"You're fine, shake it off."

Levi cuffed her over the head, "Shut the fuck up."

"Come on, old man, don't stop now. We're just warming up." She coaxed the fire.

All Levi had to do was grab her by the shoulder, push with all his might, and she was falling on her ass. It was his turn to laugh, that sweet sound she didn't hear enough of, and she couldn't find it in her to be upset. Elsie smiled up at him, crossing her legs on the grass, creating a break without his approval. He didn't have a problem with it, probably because his balls still hurt, and lowered beside her.

"How do you feel?" Levi asked.

Elsie glanced at him, "My ass is sore."

"You'll be fine," His eyes dropped to said area for the briefest of moment before he was looking back at her. "No… In your head. We haven't talked about the coma."

She cringed at the mention of it, "I don't feel any different, I feel like we've been here two days. I remember leaving Stohess like it was yesterday."

Levi didn't say anything, staring at the looming trees. Elsie considered telling him about the hill, her resolve to stay, but she had barely thought of what had happened after she'd picked her side. She picked at the grass, biting her lip, scared that she would say something that would come after her.

"I was in a pretty green field. It was like time had stopped there but at the same moment it felt like only a second. I-I went down the hill and it was warm, and it was comforting and safe, and I knew I was coming back to you," She dared a glimpse of him, but he was still turned away, merely listening. "And suddenly I was in the middle of a war. There were two sides, us and them, and I was running between the guns and knives. I was a ghost, they didn't see me, they were focused on each other. And I heard you shout, I don't know what, I just knew it was your voice, and suddenly everyone was moving and I was in the middle and I got shot. And then I woke up."

The wind shushed her racing thoughts. Elsie let go of her grass, placing her hands on her knees. She's seen herself die in multiple ways, crushed on the forest floor, shot, drowning. She didn't want to spend time thinking about it. Would she die? No, she didn't think from something as humane as a gun shot. If anything was going to take Elsie, it would be a titan.

"What happened to you?" She asked, pulling her knees to her chest so she could rest her cheek.

Levi must have found a fascinating tree to stare at, "Me? Nothing."

"Why's your cast off? It hasn't been a month." She pushed, knowing from the kids that Levi had gone through his own mental turmoil.

Levi flexed his right arm, as if remembering that it had been broken, "There was a day that I thought I killed you too."

Elsie didn't know how to respond, having spent countless days assuring him that he hadn't killed the squad, and now having to calm him over her, "I wasn't dying, silly-"

"You don't get to say that," Levi snapped, finally looking at her, enraged at her blasé tone. "I fucking knew that another question would be too much. I should have taken control, I shouldn't have listened to Hange, because the next second you're throwing up fucking blood and crying that you wanted it to end, you begged me to make it stop, Elsie."

"I-I don't remember that."

"Tsk, of course you don't. You got to be knocked out and I had to carry you upstairs, I had to fucking think that you lost so much blood and we didn't know your blood type - and that was a fucking shit show," He laughed cruelly, lost in his memories and not seeing Elsie's pained expression. "You don't have a blood type, did you know that? You couldn't take my blood, which is fucking O, the universal donor of all things. And you didn't wake up and I was the one to ask the questions…" He lost the heat, finally seeing her. "It was better than hitting Hange when she told me that all we could do was make you comfortable."

All Elsie could do was scoot close to the stoic man and wrap her arms around his side, squeezing as hard and tight as she could to assure him that she was here. He tensed at the motion before relaxing, a heavy hand resting on her head.

"I don't think I'm ever going back to that world," Elsie admitted, finding a beauty in the sun slowly rising, kissing the droopy leaves that had sunk without its warmth. "I don't want to go back."

"You don't belong here," Levi grunted, his hand dropping. "What idiot would pick fighting for the rest of their lives instead of going home to their family?"

Elsie shrugged, slightly hurt, but knowing she'd made the right choice, "I'm not the same person I was when I showed up here. I'm not going back, not after everything. I don't want to."

Levi frowned, "This isn't a life that you should want."

Elsie matched the downturn of his lips, "Why?"

"Why? We're about to go to war, we're about to fucking travel the longest distance the Scouts have ever attempted and you're asking why?" Levi snapped, shaking her off.

Elsie sat back, "Do you want me to go back?" She was hurt, it was clear in her voice.

"I don't want this life for you, Elsie, and you shouldn't either."

Elsie opened her mouth to fight him on this, that it didn't matter if he didn't want this life for her. She wanted it, she wanted to be there when they reached Shiganshina, she wanted to be there when Kenny came, she wanted to be by Levi's side. How could he think that she would function in her own world? She was a soldier now, as shitty as it was on some days, but she would rather fight for their lives than walk into a classroom. She would rather be here with him and face the scary terrors of the world than be Miss Fraser again. Elsie had changed, she adapted to this life, and she had found her a new family.

"I'm staying-"

"Captain Levi! I finally found you," Eren's shadow loomed over their sitting figures, both frowning at their impasse. "Hange said it's time to question Annie!"

Levi stared at Elsie, unreadable. His dark eyes were not relieved like she'd thought they would be with this information. He was pissed, pissed that she wasn't agreeing, pissed over something that Elsie couldn't comprehend. He tutted and stood, shaking his head, and facing the grinning Eren. He couldn't hide his excitement, bouncing on his heels with his fists clenched. Elsie kept her back to them, pouting as she rested her chin on her folded arms.

"After breakfast I want everyone to clean the first floor," Levi ordered, tapping the base of her spine with his boot. "You know how it's done."

"Yes, sir."

She saw his shadow, knew he was debating on whether to snap at her for using the word he hated so much, but he let it go. He said something cranky to Eren that the boy spluttered over, their footsteps fading over the hill. Elsie sat for a while, upset that Levi didn't want her to stay. She understood, this wasn't a life anyone should pick over what she had left. But she wanted it, she was happy here, damnit.

Elsie mopped the hallway, glancing at the basement every five seconds as if expecting the door to suddenly transform. Eren and the squad leaders had gone down a while ago, a hushed conversation that the rest of the squad had tried to eavesdrop on. Miche, of course, had caught them and ushered them into the basement. It must've been at least an hour ago, and Elsie knew that Levi wouldn't be able to find a flaw in her section.

Jean, on the other hand, was not a fan of cleaning. He was cursing the captain left and right as he scrubbed the stair case, halfway up, and his knees aching from the stone.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Jean asked, poking his head through the side rail.

Elsie took a break, leaning on the mop handle, "Who knows. Probably using Eren to soften Annie up."

"Do you really think that's a good idea? Commander Erwin said that they had gotten information out of her, why let Eren in on it now?"

"You tell me. You trained with them, do you think Annie likes him?"

"I mean, she had a soft spot for him. They'd train together, Eren isn't the best fighter in the world. It pissed Mikasa off, which, don't even get me started on that confusing girl. Hey, has Mikasa ever said anything about me?"

"Why would she talk to me about it?" Elsie's nose crinkled, not pointing out that he hadn't wanted to talk about Mikasa. "Ask Armin."

"He said no."

"Then that's probably true."

Jean's rough scrubbing filled the hall, "What does she see in Eren? Honestly, that ding bat can barely stand without crying."

"I don't know, probably his eyes." Elsie said randomly, doing her three second check up on the door.

"Eyes, ha. I have better eyes, have you seen them? Hey, Elsie, look at me. Aren't my eyes good?"

Elsie looked, "They kind of look like amber. I'd say yeah."

"Exactly. Who else has these eyes? You need to tell Mikasa that."

"Sure. I'll just walk up and be like, hey, Mikasa, have you ever seen Jean's eyes? They're the most beautiful-"

"What are you two doing?"

Jean's head disappeared through the rails, the scrubbing mixing with Elsie's furious mopping. She shrugged at Levi, the first out of the door, with Eren and Hange coming up the stairs.

"Cleaning, like you told us to." Elsie said innocently, glancing at the mop so he could see.

"Cleaning doesn't require talking," Levi stated, examining the floor before focusing on Jean. "Oi, scarecrow, ask someone else to look at your eyes."

"Captain Levi," Jean's head appeared, opening his eyes. "What do you think of my eyes?"

"They're small and wrinkly."

Jean frowned, pulling his head back through the rails to clean the steps. Eren shuffled behind Levi, stricken at what he had seen in the basement. It had hurt him, she could tell, misty eyed and rubbing his nose, choosing to focus on the ground instead of Levi. Elsie hadn't the pleasure to see Annie since she's woken and could only imagine how her health had deteriorated over the past two weeks.

"Did she say anything?" Elsie asked, trying to catch the downtrodden boy's gaze.

"No, wouldn't even look. You said she would talk to him." Levi patronized, crossing his arms.

Elsie cocked her hip, "Wow, I wonder why! Not like the people who've been torturing her were standing behind him, probably cracking their knuckles and drooling." She pointedly stared at Hange, who bashfully scratched the back of her neck.

Levi scowled, "Take him down then."

"Gladly," She pushed the mop into his hands, patting his shoulder. "I need the dining hall mopped."

Levi swept the mop under her ankles when she went to turn, making her fall on all four. Eren picked her up, she could hear Jean laughing, and resisted the urge to flip Levi off. He would probably shove her down the stairs if she dared. Eren's head sagged, leaving Elsie to glance at Miche and Hange on either side of the door way.

Eren led the way down the steep staircase, invisible webs catching on Elsie's elbow, her nose curling at the rancid smell of feces and stale dungeon air. He fell onto his knees at the cell, pressing his forehead into the bars and staring silently at the still figure facing away from them. She resembled nothing of the woman at the Lord's ball. Her hair was grimy and matted, the shirt she was captured in having cuts from a sword, her rigid spine visible as she curled into herself. They hadn't let her arms grow, only one leg now, and Elsie could see where Hange had gotten her slab of skin to examine, the muscle bright red and steaming as it slowly healed.

"Annie? It's just me." Eren whispered, hoarse.

Elsie felt for her, her heart breaking at the horrible conditions. She stayed back, pulling at her fingers, fighting the feeling of sick that was rising in her throat. Annie had done wrong, she had killed Elsie's only friends, but it felt wrong to see her like this. It was inhumane.

Annie didn't move. Eren bowed his head, shaking as the tears he'd been holding back released. Elsie held his shoulder, rubbing the tense muscle, wishing that Annie would help herself. Why would she choose this?

"I won't let them hurt her," Eren snapped, spinning and smacking Elsie's hand. "That jerk can't touch her, I won't let him. You have to stop them!"

"Eren, you know I can't-"

"He listens to you! Tell him to stop, Elsie, it's not right! She's-She's Annie." Eren faced the cell.

"The most we can do is sneak her some food and water." She offered helplessly, knowing that anything she said wasn't what Eren wanted to hear.

Eren shook his head, "I'm going to help her, with or without you. She doesn't deserve this. Do you hear me, Annie? I'm gonna' get you out, I promise."

Eren was made with a heart of gold. Elsie sighed, dejected, not knowing how she could make Annie talk. The girl was severely dehydrated and famished, bones and iridescent skin. How could she get Annie out of here without it back firing on them? Elsie had thought Eren's voice would call to her but she had been wrong.

"Eren," Elsie crouched at his side, softening her tone like she would with her students. "Annie has to make this choice for herself. We can make her comfortable, I'll help you bring food down, but she can't come out until we're sure that she won't take you again."

"She won't." He said resolutely.

Elsie wasn't so positive but thought hard, trying to come to a happy medium that would ensure Annie's survival and Eren's happiness. They had Ymir and Elsie knew Bierthodlt wasn't going to make a move in the wrong direction. If they had Annie she would be so helpful, she could continue to teach Eren how to fight and use his titan abilities. He had looked back at her movements when he'd been fighting Reiner at Wall Rose.

She licked her lips, glancing between the two, "Eren, if I tell you something you have to say that Annie said it."

Annie's body shuddered as she took a breath, a corpse of what she used to be. Eren was flush against the cell, holding an arm out as if the power of telekinesis would come to him.

"Like what? That's she's sorry?" Eren growled, knuckles white.

Elsie hesitated, "Do you remember what she could do with her skin? The way that no ones sword could penetrate her?"

"Yeah, she hardened it into crystal or something."

"Yes. It's a trick that titans can use. If we say that Annie is trying to help, it'll take some time, but they'll let you come down with food so she can have enough strength. If she talks, they'll stop hurting her."

"Do you hear that Annie?" Eren pressed his forehead into the steel. "Annie, please, you have to help me help you."

Annie hadn't been asleep, "It's called... hardening."

The squad leaders waited for them, the three bunched as they discussed something of importance. Eren, fearless, stomped right up to them and clearly stated, "I want Annie to train me."

It was met with laughter, Hange and Miche leaning on each other at the ludicrous idea, shaking heads and words of denial. Levi crossed his arms, not joining in the chuckles, instead focusing his hard gaze on Elsie. She hung back a few steps, palming her forehead at Eren's lack of finagling. Did he really think saying that would get him very far?

"The fuck that'll happen," Levi stated, ending the amusement and settling the problem. He studied Eren. "Have you forgotten that she tried to eat you? Your brain must be the size of a peanut."

"It's perfectly normal, I checked," Hange wiped her eyes, swallowing her giggles to pat Eren on the arm. "I don't think it's a good idea, kid. Did she say that?"

"Yeah," Eren's head twitched, fighting the urge to look at Elsie. This was not missed by Levi, who once more focused on her. "She said she could teach me how to harden titan skin like she had."

"That is interesting," Hange was hooked, tapping her chin in thought. "Imagine the possibilities."

Miche cleared his throat, "And what are her demands?"

"Food and water." Eren stated, refusing to whither under the men's steel stares.

"We could start with sending Eren down with food, it wouldn't hurt to have them talk through the cell. It could prove if she's willing to help." Hange justified.

Levi snapped, "No, the bitch isn't going to sit and hold court like she has something worth saying. She'll rot and suffer in that prison until she dies."

"How can you say that?" Eren's hands balled into fists, squaring his feet in defiance. "She's offering to help! It's called the hardening ability, she can show me, she was the best fighter in our class!"

"All I'm hearing is what makes her more dangerous and untrustworthy," Levi glowered, a dark fire beginning to stir between the two. "Let's recall not even three weeks ago her killing your entire squad, eating you, and trying to run off. I highly doubt that her fucking agenda has changed, if anything she's been sitting in her shit and planning to kill us all."

"We'll never know if you keep cutting her up like meat! It's disgusting what you're doing, all Annie needs is support! Elsie said that she was forced into this life and I believe her! I know Annie, she wouldn't do this without a reason and if we can understand- Ugh, why even bother explaining? Me and Elsie will figure it out!"

Levi had been at a boiling temperature but the mention of her support he was burning, dangerously turning his narrowed eyes to her. She had offered to help Eren and wouldn't go back on her word, even if her stomach was churning as Levi's lip curled, no doubt ready to cut her head off and stomp on it. She refused to back down, she needed him to understand that she knew what she was doing and if she made a decision she was sticking to it.

"You expect me to believe that the bitch offered to train him? I know damn well that your shitty mouth was down there telling him what to do," Levi shook his head, frustration making him push his hair off his forehead. "You're all fucking idiots. You do a single thing to help that vile creature down there and I'll have you two wishing you weren't on my squad."

"Obviously torturing her isn't working! You've gotten all that you can from her skin, what's the harm in letting him feed her? She doesn't have her arms, she can't shift, there's no way that letting him talk to her will unleash a titan!" Elsie rebutted.

"No, hell to the fuck no." Levi stated, clear and decisive, a warning that he would kill them if they dared to help Annie.

Eren looked pathetically at Elsie, as if she could do anything. She'd rather not piss the man off who she shared a bed with. She shrugged helplessly, knowing that they could do more when he's had a while to think about the idea.

"Nice try, kids. That made my day." Miche snickered, clapping their backs before leaving them in the hallway.

Hange teetered on her toes, "Levi, imagine having a hardening ability! I'm going down to talk to her more."

Eren blocked her, "No. No one goes down there."

"Eren," Hange's glasses glinted in a way that had Elsie happily pressing into the wall. "Step aside or I'll break your arm. The captain made his decision, it's his prisoner."

"She's my friend!"

Elsie winced, Hange's voice steadily cold, "Your friend killed half the regiment. Would you like to join her down there?"

Eren vividly remembered his distaste for sleeping in the basement, slacking in defeat and joining Elsie on the wall. Hange gave him one last look of warning before disappearing down the stairs, leaving them with the ball of anger that wasn't relenting his glare.

"Eren, fuck off." Levi ordered, not taking his eyes off of Elsie.

Great, she was the one who would be getting in trouble. Eren huffed and without regard for her safety, he stormed out of the castle, slamming the wooden doors behind him. She faintly heard the swish of a mop in the dining hall, the soft patter of people walking upstairs, but they were alone in the hall, Levi's anger soaking into her bones and making her shoulders sag in acceptance.

"I know you're mad but it's all I can think of to teach Eren. He'll need it later on." She said plicately, not meeting his eyes in worry of spurring his fury.

"You taught him how to shift, you can teach him this."

"I don't know this one," She lifted her chin, peering at him. "We'll need it for Shiganshina."

"He'll learn another way. Just think harden or some shit," Levi stepped closer, grabbing her elbow, forcing her to meet him. "Elsie, you fucking help that bitch and I'll kill you in your sleep. She's the reason our squad is dead, there's not a smidge of remorse in her."

Elsie sighed, "I know, I know, but if we have her then things will be so much easier once we reach Shiganshina. It's horrible, Levi, that fight. We need all the help we can get."

"And yet you want to stay here?" His grip tightened, searching her eyes for an explanation.

She grinned, a small sad grin, "Of course. I can't leave you to do it alone."

"I can handle myself."

"Believe me, I know," She rolled her eyes, twisting her arm so that she grasped his forearm, their arms locked. "I'm staying, Levi. You can't change my mind."

"Why?" It was a soft whisper, the faintest of air that reached her ears.

She cocked her head, his grey eyes unreadable, "You know why."

Levi squeezed her arm, "Stupid girl."

"I'm staying." She reaffirmed.

He frowned, meeting her eyes, "I shouldn't be encouraging this." It was a whisper to himself, as if guilty for knowing he had a role in her leaving her family behind.

"You should," Elsie repeated slow and steady, slow and steady, in her head. "You wouldn't last a day without me."

He couldn't fight her on it, having already proven her right. His jaw clenched, his resolution crumbling, and she grinned. Just let me like you, fool, she thought, be selfish just this once.

"Fuck yes! This floor is my bitch, look at that shit sparkle," A shout came from the dining hall. Jean came out, mop and bucket in hand. He froze when he saw Levi and Elsie, pressed into the wall, "Oh, Captain Levi. Uh, you didn't hear that, did you?"

Levi broke eye contact, looking over his shoulder, "Of course I did, dumbass."

Elsie pouted. She'll get him tonight, she promised herself. To lessen his annoying thoughts, she punched him in the arm, drawing his eyes back to her, "You dick, I told you to mop."

"You're not the captain, shithead." But he grinned, a caress of affection on her elbow before he released her.

Yes, she'll get him tonight.

Squad Levi huddled as Levi called out individuals to spar with him, namely Armin. The small boy looked between his friends, wide blue eyes at the horror he had to fight Humanities Strongest. Jean and Connie wished him luck, a bit vindictively to Elsie's ears, and Mikasa and Eren immediately stepped forward, focused and prepared to step in.

"Calm down," Elsie grabbed their over protective shoulders, keeping them from interrupting and probably sending Levi on a punishing spree. "He needs to learn and it's good that it's Levi and not some stranger with a gun."

"I'd rather it be a stranger, Captain Levi will demolish him!" Eren moaned, shaking his head. "He's still mad about what happened."

That was true, she couldn't deny, "Armin knows what he's doing, I think the captain will be shocked."

Mikasa smacked Elsie's hand off her shoulder, the sound of skin hitting making Elsie's eyes cut to her pinched face, "You don't know Armin, you shouldn't speak like you do."

"Mikasa, it's okay-"

"No, Eren. I don't know why you have this infatuation with everything this freak says, she has no right to talk about Armin like his friend." Mikasa stepped back, dark eyes holding the heat that Levi's did.

Elsie could sense danger, holding her hands up, "Right, sorry."

"Mikasa should be apologizing!" Eren snapped, her hand dropping from his shoulder when he pivoted to face the raven haired girl. "She was only trying to be nice, why do you have to act so rude when anyone cares about us? Shouldn't you be tired of having no friends?"

"She tells you to talk to Armin about Annie, she told you how to shift, she was the last one to see Reiner alive," Mikasa stressed, sneering at Elsie's befuddled expression. "It's not about friends, Eren."

"Now wait a second, I'm not a titan if you're accusing me of it!" Elsie snapped, enraged at the accusation. "I'm the only one trying to help him!"

"She wasn't saying that-" A rock hit the side of Eren's head, silencing him.

The three turned, realizing that Armin and Levi had stopped sparring to watch. Ymir whistled a tuneless beat, Historia elbowing her. All eyes were focused on the them, noting Mikasa and Elsie's defensive stances, Eren wide-eyed.

"Do you care to share with the rest of us what is so damn important?" Levi drawled, cold stare making Eren shake his head and Mikasa fix her scarf, looking the other way.

Elsie took a wide side step, joining Jean and Sasha, wearily glancing at Mikasa. She knew the girl hadn't cared for her to begin with, it seemed now she was barely passing squad member status and falling into suspected enemy. Levi threatened them with a single sweep of his eyes before motioning for Armin to come at him.

He definitely went easier on Armin than he had on Elsie. If Armin misstepped, Levi paused the fight and explained where he went wrong and how his attacker could get him. Knowing the boy was book smart, she could understand why Levi chose this way to teach. It wasn't a brutal beat down as it had been with Mikasa, it was a logical discussion with visual aids.

When the sun began to lower, Elsie bounced in her spot with anticipation of her nightly treat, glancing expectantly at the darkening sky and to Levi, who caught her eye but kept telling Armin something about reading a person's body language for another three minutes.

Mikasa pulled Armin from Eren before they had a chance to speak. Elsie felt bad, knowing she'd started it, and patted the forlorn boy's back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

Eren deflated, "She's been on edge lately, I don't know what to say to her half the time. I know you're not a titan, Elsie. It just looks that way, I guess."

"Trouble in lover's paradise?" Jean crowed, walking past them. Connie rolled his eyes, knowing where it was going, but staying for the show. "You know, I can- Oh fuck!"

Eren and Jean fell into a heap of bony elbows and flailing legs. Elsie sighed, looking at Mikasa's retreating back and to Levi heading towards the boys to tear them apart. What a fucking day.