"Hey! We're busy here." The first soldier grumbled, clearly not happy with the person that appeared before them and stopped them from their plans that Levi knew were wicked. Not that he would let them get to him without a fight of course.

"Oh really? It sure looked like the two of you were just leaving." The person spoke smoothly before pointing a finger at both of the soldiers in front of them and forcing them to stand at attention, causing the men to gasp from being thrown off guard. The mystery person then had the soldiers turn to the side and march off around him and the mystery person with just a flick of the finger and a wiggle hand motion. Levi couldn't help but watch the soldiers march off cautiously, making sure they were out of sight before turning his attention to the mystery person that still had their hand on him as they spoke.

"Oh, I wouldn't hold it against them. Not all soldiers are that bad. However, just like everything else in life, there will always be a few bad apples."

This was the first time Levi really got a good look at the person more closely at them. They were taller than him with a lanky yet slender body from what he could tell by what they were wearing. They wore a yellow, button-down shirt with tan colored dress slacks. They also sported a bolo with a green gem wrapped around their neck and a green cloak draped over their shoulders. Then, he saw their face. Their brown hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. Their eyes were a unique shade of light brown, they almost looked hazel. They didn't look muddy, there was too much of a sparkle in them. He never saw eyes like theirs, they were mesmerizing. His eyes were then drawn to their hooked nose then to their bright smile. Even with spectacles adorning their facial frame, they looked beautiful.

"Now, where are we going? I'll be your escort this evening," Their voice dropping low while maintaining its soothingness.

Levi couldn't help but gawk at them once more. Were they insane? Him needing an escort. Even if he appeared smaller than the average man, he could have handled both of those soldiers just fine on his own. The only reason he allowed this person to intervene was so that he didn't look disheveled when he met with his family. He was then more aware of how close this person was as they maintained physical contact with him. He didn't need their help but at the same time, he wanted to get to the bakery without any more incidents. He thought for a moment before letting out an irritated sigh.

"I'm… I'm just going to the bakery," he said finally.

The person gave their shoulder a final squeeze before moving their hand to the smaller part of his back and bringing their face closer to his, causing a shiver to run down his spine. Levi instinctively reached down to his waist to grasp the handle of his knife. The mystery person must've picked up on this because that's when they finally spoke and gave an explanation to physical contact.

"Don't get alarmed," They spoke in a warm, hushed tone. They moved their hand, grabbing hold of his and intertwining their fingers together. "I'm being followed. Act normal."

They lead them away from the alley, going towards the busier street ahead of them. Their steps sync together. Levi took the hand that was previously reaching for the knife and moved it to the waist of his pants, his thumb hooking around the waist with the remainder of the hand relaxed against him. An uneasiness began to fill inside of him. His body tensed when he heard the sound of heavy footsteps and groaning behind him.

"He he, woops. Sorry, looks like you're involved now," the person spoke calmly, remaining unphased as more of the tall, human-like figures appeared in front of the both of them. Levi moved his free hand and grabbed hold of his knife, preparing himself to protect the both of them only for him to be yanked into a different direction.

"This way," they spoke hurriedly, their pace going from a stroll to a sprint the moment they both turned the corner. Levi gripped onto the person instinctively without realizing it until he felt them squeeze their hand in his. His brain couldn't even process this act because he was too busy searching for an alternative escape route for them. It seemed like no matter where they turned, more of these..these.. things appeared. Before he knew it, it seemed as if they were surrounded.

"Fuck!" He exasperated before being cut off from saying any more profanities with the touch of a hand on the lower part of his back.

"Come on," They looked down at him for a moment with a smirk on their face before kicking the both of them up off from the ground, shooting upwards. He brought his knees into his chest, in fear the monsters would grab hold of his legs and try to pull him back down. Levi started to panic, looking down and saw the monsters running into each other.

"Alright, I'm going to need you to straighten your legs and start walking, okay?"

He knew nothing should have surprised him at this point. After all, they did send the soldiers away with just a few flicks of their wrist. But he still couldn't help but think the person holding onto him was on another level of insanity. He didn't question them any further though considering they did get him out of a tight spot and are still trying to help him. Maybe, he thought, I'm just as insane as them. With that, he started to move his legs as if he were walking on the road except there was no road. The person moved their hands and grabbed hold of the back of Levi's hands, their fingers moving between the webs of his fingers. They brought their head close to Levi's, their mouth centimeters away from his ear.

"See," they began thoughtfully, "not so hard, is it?"

Levi wanted to kick them in the shin but refrained from doing so in fear that they would drop him down to the street below. Instead, he chuffed at them and earned a soft chuckle from them. He couldn't help but sense the rush of adrenaline as they continued to walk on air. A small and rare smile started to form on his face. A sound of wonder and amusement escaped his lips as they moved forward, closer and closer to the bakery.

"You are a natural," they stated confidently as if he were the one that was guiding them across the sky. His face began to soften up. He enjoyed this feeling that was beginning to form inside him, this sense of freedom. It felt so natural, just as the person said. It was amazing that no one below them seemed to have noticed two people walking in the sky.

Before he realized it, they touched down onto the railing of the balcony above the bakery. They moved him so his feet were touching the balcony floor before gently letting go of his hands.

"I'll make sure to draw them off. Make sure you wait a bit before heading back outside. I know you can very well handle yourself, but please, let me handle this. Okay?" Their face soften before him, twinkling their eyes at him. Levi felt as if he was under their spell, but he wasn't going to complain. He felt a sense of gratitude towards them. The least he could do was trust their judgment.

"Okay." He finally said, returning the soft expression on his face to them.

"That's my boy," they teased, looking at him with a playful smirk before dropping down to the street below, only for them to disappear without a trace when Levi rushed toward the railing to look below. He wanted to say something, but what? A goodbye? A thank you? Anything for just another moment with this mystery person. He looked further out into the street to see if they ran but the streets were far too crowded. Leaving his life the same way they came in, out of nowhere.

—-

An oriental girl was working the counter at the crowded bakery. She almost didn't hear her slightly older, adoptive cousin rushing from the back of the store where they kept baking supplies and shipping orders.

"Mikasa!" called out the redhead in short, loose pigtails.

Mikasa turned her attention towards her after finishing with her customer.

"What is it, Isabel?"

"It's Levi! He came floating onto the balcony with a strange person." Isabel let out in an excited but hushed tone to not scare away any customers and other employees.

Mikasa's eyes widened before grabbing hold of Isabel's arm before they rushed upstairs to meet Levi in the upstairs corridor.

"Brother!" Isabel let out worriedly.

"Isabel, Mikasa," Levi said calmly, his hands being grabbed by the both of them while they both checked his outward appearance. Checking to see if he had obtained any injuries. I guess it's a good thing I didn't get into a fight after all, he thought.

"What's going on? Isabel just told me you came in, floating down into the bakery's balcony." Mikasa said with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Huh," he began out loud, more for himself than for them, "so that did happen. It wasn't a dream."

"Mikasa! Isabel!" Their manager called out. "Would you like to use my office for your little reunion?"

"We should get back to work," Isabel began, "thank you, though," before waving him off.

"Wait downstairs in the storage room. We have our break in 45 minutes." Mikasa ordered.

(45 mins later)

"Wow!" Isabel's eyes widened after listening to Levi's tale of what happened. "They must've been a sorcerer then!" Isabel spoke excitedly. Even though she was older than Mikasa, she was far more adventurous and reckless. Mikasa, on the other hand, remained more reserved and apprehensive. She was someone that always kept her guard up.

"They were kind though," Levi said thoughtfully, recalling the events that unfolded between the two of them. "They.." he started, "they had my back…" He wasn't about to say they rescued them. He couldn't look weak to his little sister and cousin.

"Of course, they did," Mikasa uttered, unamused by the adventurous tale. "They were trying to steal your heart. You're lucky. If that sorcerer had been Hange, they would have eaten it."

Levi looked at Mikasa, giving her the side eye for implying that he couldn't handle himself if that were the case. Even if it were Hange, there was a key piece of information that she seemed to be forgetting for such a scenario to happen. He had to be an attractive, good looking man, he thought.

"No they wouldn't," He turned his head to face away from them. "Hange only does that to beautiful people." Levi finished, his brain going into deep thought as his insecurities began to take over his brain while his face remained as stoic as ever.

Isabel let out an irritated huff, "Don't give us that crap. We understand that you're older and stronger, but you need to be more careful."

"It's dangerous out there," Mikasa added, reminding him of what they've all been told growing up together. "Even the Witch of the Waste is back on the prowl."

Isabel, noticing her brother's lack of response and acknowledgement to the conversation, tried to pull him back in. "Hey! Are you listening to us?"

"Huh?" Levi raised an eyebrow towards the both of them. Causing both of the girls to let out an exasperated sigh.

One of the bakers moved a small box that was separating the kitchen from the storage room before peaking out from the makeshift window. "Isabel, Mikasa. The chocolate eclairs are done."

"Kay." They both responded, letting the baker know they acknowledged what he said to them. "We'll be right there."

"Thanks," the baker said before finally placing the box back where it previously was and going back to the kitchen.

Levi got up from where he was sitting and looked at the two young ladies before him. "Alright, I guess it's time I head back. Just wanted to check-in on the both of you and make sure you're both doing okay."

He walked towards the back entrance where employees entered with girls following behind him, seeing him out. Isabel grabbed hold of him, making him turn to face them again.

"Brother, are you sure you really want to spend the rest of your life in that hat shop?" She looked at him with pleading eyes. She hated that he had to leave because the two of them were so close when they were younger.

"The hat shop was so important to Mom and I'm the eldest so I don't mind. It's my duty as the eldest sibling to take over the business."

"I'm not asking what your mother would have wanted. I want to know what you want," Isabel continued.

"I…" Levi began before conveniently being interrupted by one of the workers that got Mikasa and Isabel's attention. Levi moved their hands so that he was free of their grasp and started to walk towards the station. "I better get going."

"It's your life!" Isabel called out to him. "Do something for yourself for once, will ya?"

"Bye Isabel. Later Mikasa," Levi waved off to them as he continued his path, not paying attention to his surroundings in the street like he normally would considering the events from earlier. If he had, he would have noticed the conspicuous carriage that was adjacent to the bakery with two small titans in half-ass disguises.

The person in the carriage set out a small, metal pitcher that looked like it could hold milk for tea before tapping on the lid with a metal rod. This seemed to signal the titans that were hiding nearby to shrink into substantially smaller in size, almost appearing as some sort of worm where they all came rushing as they shoved themselves into the pitcher. Once they were all inside, the person tapped on the lid once more to seal it before using the same rod with the hook on the end to pick it up and bring it inside of the carriage. They banged on the walls of the carriage, signaling the disguised titans outside the carriage to move.