"Fine, Petra. Am I allowed to change?" Levi said through his teeth. Now, as she'd screwed his plans, he wouldn't make it easier on her and the squad.

Her shit to deal with.

"Yeah, but hurry," she said with her shaky little voice.

Levi shrugged and fished out his car keys from his wetsuit's key pocket. He fixed both boards on the Explorer's roof rack, then threw on his hooded towel to change. Deliberately, he sat in the open hatch to put his clothes on, and watching Erwin change at his own car—shiny new Lincoln Navigator; could this dude be any more obnoxious?—he pulled up his jeans and slowly buttoned up his shirt.

Erwin was a bit lost, having trouble getting out of his wetsuit, and Levi wished he could just go over and help him. And finish what they'd started. He sighed, skimmed the last time over Erwin's muscular chest that finally emerged from the black neoprene, rose to his feet, and approached the food truck again.

"Petra," Levi said, and she walked over to his side as they headed towards the beach.

"You wanted to talk," he said, breaking the silence once they were out of eavesdropping range.

"Are you pissed at me, Levi, or something?" she asked and clutched the sleeve of his shirt with her palm.

"No, why?" He shrugged.

"We haven't talked in a while, no phone calls, no text. It used to be different."

"I am busy," Levi said. That was half a lie, and this lie wouldn't probably stand, anyway. He'd been avoiding her since she got all mushy and clingy.

Petra let go of his sleeve, and he shot her a side look. She lowered her chin, and her cheeks turned red.

"Not so terribly busy apparently as you can date Nifa," she said, her lips trembling and her words came out kind of weak.

Fuck. Of course, they'd talked.

"I am not 'dating' Nifa. I don't do romantic shit, and you know it."

"Not what she said." Petra's voice hitched with sadness, and the tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

"I don't care what she told you, Petra, you know I am not doing the 'dating' thing with anybody. What do you want from me?" He hissed through his clenched teeth, and she sniffled in response.

They walked by the point where the ridge of the dune cut into the sandy beach, sheltering them from the view of potential observers in the parking lot.

Petra crossed his path, then halted in front of him, getting in Levi's face.

"Damn it, Levi! You haven't called me for weeks, and now suddenly you date Nifa!" She pushed him with her entire strength, and he stumbled a couple of steps back.

"Cut that shit. You are stoned."

"So what? It's not like that bothered you before. You cold bastard!" Petra yelled at him, and her palms curled into fists.

Levi couldn't help but stare when Petra's rounded breasts heaved, and she glared at him with a mixture of fury and conflicted feelings, boiling in her golden, wide-opened eyes. Fierce.

"I told you I don't 'date' her, for fuck's sake," he spat back at her. The next words that came out of his mouth back at her were grazed with a frosty undertone. "I've always been honest with you. I never promised you anything I couldn't give you. If you want sex, we are good."

Although he hadn't planned it, he took a step in her direction and reached for her, tugging her closer to him. She punched his chest weakly with her fists.

"You are a dick!"

"I know," he agreed, his voice dropping to a low growl. "I like sex. Is that a crime?"

"No," she whispered as her hand sneaked coyly around his waist, settled at the small of his back, and stroked it gently, "but you are still a dick."

"But you like that," he said and kissed her. Petra's lips were soft, moistened with sun-blocking lip balm. He could feel her anger and her resistance fade with every caress of his mouth, and his tongue slipped in barely for a quick taste. His fingers tightened on her nape, breaking up the kiss. He nuzzled her nose.

"So, are we okay?"

"Hm, you wish," she said, the cadence of her voice playful, challenging. "You will have to work for it."

He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a last, quick, but passionate kiss.

"Text me tomorrow; we'll hang out."

"And you'll not ghost me anymore?"

Levi nodded and shrugged as a response. Her palm searched for his, and he froze for a moment but let her entangle her fingers with his. This wouldn't end well. They walked back to the parking lot together, Petra still holding to his hand.

Lincoln Navigator was long gone.


Levi sneaked in into their outdoor shower and slammed the door shut behind him. He usually showered off the salt and the ocean smell immediately after a session at the beach installments, but he hadn't this time, all things considered, and the dried-out salt felt uncomfortable. He stripped naked from his clothes, folding them neatly out of reach of the showerhead.

His eyes shut, and his forehead rested against the wooden wall. The mossy smell of the damp teak wood hit his nostrils. Shit, it needed sanding. He turned on the faucet, and a sun-heated stream trickled down his head, along his neck, and down his back, easing the tension from his shoulders with its warmth. He watched droplets hang on his chin and leak down to the ground in a small streak.

Levi let the water rain on him for several long minutes, enjoying the refreshing cleanness, basking in the sunlight. Once he was done, he pulled on his jeans but decided to remain shirtless until his hair dry out in the sun. Levi finished reapplying the sunscreen on his exposed skin and headed towards the sun deck, as he expected, the rest of their family had gathered there already preparing for the Sunday grill.


Following thorough instructions Hange'd sent her, Historia finished cleaning the cut on Eren's head and grabbed scissors to trim out some strands around the stapled gash.

"Just a moment longer. Stop fidgeting; it will be faster," she said. Right, tell that to a hyperactive sixteen-year-old whose friends were hanging around. She giggled. "You know, we could just shear that shock of hair of yours to a buzz cut, like Connie's. For the summer. It's more practical, hygienic, and it'll be easier to handle that cut on your head."

"What, no!" He shifted rapidly and turned back to her in a protest. "No cutting my hair!"

"I was just kidding, Eren, calm down and sit still," she said, smoothing his wildly tousled brown hair and kept trimming the split ends, "I am just taking off the ends, it's great as it is. You will still be very handsome when I am done with you, promise."

Eren calmed down.

"You… you think I am handsome?" He blushed in a cute, boyish way.

"Of course you are. Is there something that's bothering you about it?"

"No, I just…" He lifted his head and cast a quick look towards other kids gathered on the other side of the deck, his cheeks all flushed. Connie and Armin worked on starting the grill, Sasha and Isabel were preparing the table, and in the corner, Jean was talking quietly with Mikasa, who joined them for the afternoon.

She followed his gaze. Ah. There had to be 'someone.' Teens. Historia smiled under her nose, brushed off hair's remains from his neck, and passed him a hand mirror.

"So, what do you think?" she asked and lowered her voice, "you know you can always talk to both of us about anything, right? For some things… Levi will be more hm, qualified, but I am here for you if you need me."

"Looks good, Historia, thanks," Eren said, handing the mirror back to her, "for everything."

She leaned over him, wrapping her arms tight around his neck, and kissed the top of his head, careful not to irritate his wound. He wriggled out of her embrace.

"Hey! Too much!"

They shared a laugh, and Eren bolted to the other side of the deck. He stopped for a moment and hurried back towards her. He threw his arms around her waist, hugging her.

"Thank you… and I know," he muttered into her clothes.

Then he ran off to join the rest of the kids.


Levi entered the sun deck, half-naked and his hair all wet when she was about to pack all the hairdressing tools. He shot her a questioning look.

"Taking care of Eren's head," she said, "but since I have it all out here, and you just showered, why don't I have a go at your hair, too. It could use some trimming."

Levi hesitated but then shrugged.

"If you want to, why not?"

She pointed to the stool in front of her. Once he settled, she combed through the top layer of his undercut, brushing it aside. It was a mystery how his hair maintained its deep black color and silky touch with all the saltwater, sun, and bleaching surfer wax. Everybody's else hair got sprinkled with lighter, sun-kissed strands, especially during the summer months, but Levi's remained as black as ink. Now that she thought of it, it might have been the genes. Mikasa's hair was as immune to external factors as his.

Her fingers raked through the upper strands of the undercut, brushing them to a side as she reached for the clippers. Accidentally, her palm grazed his ear, and he shivered.

"Oh, I am sorry," she said.

"You don't need to be."

She placed her hand on his shoulder and leaned in to run the clippers over the one side of his head. His hot skin smelled of sunlight, sunscreen, and himself, and she became acutely aware of the proximity of his naked body. The buzzing of the clippers prevented them from talking, and she worked in silence, trying to ignore her racing heart until the lower part of his undercut was evenly trimmed.

Her palm brushed his neck when she finished, and the hair on his nape bristled under her touch.

"Good for Mikasa joining us this afternoon," he said once the clippers went off and Historia worked on the longer strands, "at least the kid gets some time off."

"I am glad too. I've seen her a couple of times in that restaurant. She looked miserable."

The muscles on Levi's back visibly tensed, and he let out a sigh. Historia stopped cutting his hair, and her palm kneaded his shoulder soothingly.

"I will try to talk to her today. Maybe we can actually do something," he said through his clenched teeth.

Historia rested her chin on the top of his head.

"Um. You know that 'he' keeps insisting on talking to you, Levi," her tone turned serious, and a small knot tied in her stomach, "I don't think he will give up until you do."

Levi turned, and his hand covered her palm on his shoulder. He squeezed it gently.

"I will, probably. It's just…" he grunted and shook his head, "It's a really shitty idea."


"Hey, Eren, Jean, go to the kitchen to help Historia and the girls," Levi said, approaching three kids that were lounging near the edge of the deck, "Mikasa, can we have a word?"

"Sure," she said, hiding her face in a thin scarf, and rose to her feet once Jean and Eren disappeared inside the house.

They strolled along a narrow path leading to the stairs to the beach.

"I wanted to check if you are all right, kid."

She inhaled sharply, her eyes glistened, and she shrugged.

"I know how it is. You don't have to pretend with me, I was there," said Levi.

"It's just… there is no alternative for me."

"I know we couldn't do much, Mikasa. He is technically your closest relative," Levi said through his gritted teeth and sighed. "But first, you can always count on both of us, remember that. You are always welcome here."

"Thanks," said Mikasa, her black hair spilled over her face, her voice barely audible.

"You are already seventeen. Have you ever considered emancipation? I know that it's not so easy, as there is no direct emancipation law in the state of New York, but it's not impossible."

"Right, like you emancipated."

"Yes, like I did. The circumstances were different, maybe easier. But we could consult a lawyer, and there are ways around it. We'll help you with that if you decide you want to try it. Think about it, kiddo." Levi squeezed her arm briefly.

"Thank you." She brightened suddenly and sniggered. "You know he is really, really pissed that you haven't talked to him yet."

"Oh, I can imagine." Levi nodded. "Do you know what this is about?"

"No, just that it's about a job."

"Right, that's painfully clear." Levi hissed, "And you, better stay out of this. Now come on, let's go back before Sasha eats our food."

Mikasa let a small laugh, and Levi smirked under his nose, cheered by this reaction.


Sunday afternoon slowly turned into an evening, and the murk lightened solar lamps along the deck. They were slowly winding up; the table had been cleaned, and the kids gathered around the grill, trying to roast some s'mores. Disgusting. Hopefully, they would clean that later. On the opposite side of the table, Historia was braiding Isabel's hair, and Levi took a sip of his tea.

Jean plopped down next to him, holding a s'more in his fingers.

"Levi, you want some?" he asked, swallowing the one he was chewing on.

"Nah, help yourself," Levi said, frowning at him, "not my taste."

Jean took a bite, and they sat in silence.

"I was wondering…" Jean said after a while, "I… there's something… would you mind if I ask you something?"

"Of course not. Come on, ask anything."

"Hmm… I know that… I know that we all already did the big Memorial Paddle Out ceremony for Marco, but…," he said, lowering his tone to a shaky whisper, "but I was not in my right head back then, and—"

Jean's voice broke, and Levi let him compose himself, his palm closing on Jean's forearm in a silent gesture of support. Jean continued after a long, tense moment.

"Since there would be Marco's birthday in a couple of weeks, I thought, I thought… I… I wondered, could you join me on a paddle out for him before, Levi?"

Levi didn't see Jean's face, but his tone betrayed he was trying to hold back the tears.

"Sure, kid. Of course, I will."