Guys – it's really happening.

Today is the day that the Chiefs will play the Titans – and if we win, this will mean we actually go to the Superbowl. Yall gotta understand something - this is the first time I have personally been able to witness this, because the last time the Chiefs went to the Superbowl, I wasn't even born yet so…yeah, yall I'm like insanely excited! For any of my readers that may be Titan's fans…yeah, I understand it's rare for yall as well, and Tannehill's showing some real promise but…

The Titan's are going down :)

As for this chapter, I can't spend too long talking about football, because this update here is a good one – I really like this chapter, and hope yall enjoy it! Thanks for being super awesome!

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Amidst their very important conversation, one that perhaps made a certain Captain just as nervous as he was excited to hear such thrilling words from Petra, a knock on the door had interrupted them, and Levi groaned in instant frustration. Of course someone would come knocking now of all times. Now. When they were finally having that conversation – the conversation that they had been dancing around for months on end – now someone had come knocking on her door.

Damn, he had always had rather poor luck. Some part of him wasn't even all that surprised.

Aside from the annoyance that was their rather important conversation being cut off, what was more, it had taken him the latter half of the day to get Petra out of his office, had taken an even longer time for Hanji to get all the residual dirt and blood and sticks out of her hair and wash her body while the two women exchanged whatever hushed secrets and theories between each other, and now that Petra was finally back and settled in her bed, the last thing Levi wanted was for someone else to come in and steal her attentions away when she could actually settle down and get some much needed rest.

It was perhaps a bit of a wonder to him, but it seemed that somehow Petra had managed to plan a full day of work that would keep her just as busy as him, regardless her very injured state. Had it been anyone else, under any other circumstances, the fact they were on leave would have instantly put a halt to any further military activities like this, and yet, like always, Petra had seemingly found a way to skirt past the rules once again. Even if it bothered him to know that Petra wasn't going to be resting the way she obviously needed to, now that Erwin was involved he was outranked to some extent, so at the very least, he wanted to make sure that if only for this one evening, she got some true, uninterrupted rest.

It was ironic – when he had been sick all those months ago, he had made a big deal about her hovering and suffocating him with her overwhelming presence and worry, but he found that her 'hovering' was nothing when compared to his actions. As it stood now, he had pulled out her desk chair and was facing her directly, watching her like a hawk. He had very much taken on the roll as her protector and parole officer in one, and she couldn't so much as cough without him being instantly aware and alert of her condition.

He had already told her that he was staying with her that night – all night. She had watched him with wide eyes, a blush coming to her face as she mumbled a 'Captain is that really necessary?' because she was obviously still very afraid of what her medicated self might do or say, but Levi merely gave her a firm nod and said it wasn't up for discussion. Considering that in the event she needed anything during the night, she wouldn't even be able to do anything other than call out to the guys and hope that her calls woke one of them up, Levi found it just made more sense that he remain by her side until she could at least get up and walk around again.

He had figured they'd stay up just long enough to get her next dose of medicine in, after that he'd leave her room for a bit so he could change into night clothes, brush his teeth, and give Eld the heads up regarding the change in plans for tomorrow's training, and then he'd come back to her room. He'd turn out the lights and just sleep in her chair as he silently oversaw her through the night hours and that would be that – and so some random person paying them a sudden and unexpected visit like this, put him in a foul mood rather quickly because did no one understand or respect the fact the Petra needed some actual, proper rest?

"Who the fuck is it?" Levi responded irritably to their unwelcome guest – his voice low and challenging, not so much asking who it was, so much as demanding to know who had the audacity to come and bother them at such a time.

At his harsh demand, finally a voice came from the other side of the door, "It's Oluo, can I come in?"

Petra watched as Levi visibly stiffened, his eyes widening in obvious anger from just hearing his voice alone. Just like that, his seemingly calm, pensive mood deteriorated into obvious displeasure.

Before Petra could even respond, Levi pulled one of his arms around the back of his chair, looking toward the door and responding with unrestrained anger, "No. You can fuck off, you've done enough as it is, fucking dumbass."

"Captain!" Petra reprimanded him with equal ferocity, and Levi turned toward her with wide eyes as she glared at him in obvious distaste, "That is not your place to decide! This is my room and if Oluo wants to come in and talk to me he's more than welcome to!" she took a deep breath and watched him narrowly, "And furthermore Captain, you owe him an apology!"

"Me?" he repeated in obvious offense, "I'm not apologizing for shit!"

The way he was watching her, there was a strange look in his eye – a ferocity and fire to his anger - but there was something else in his posture, the stiffness in his jaw and the way he gripped the chair so tightly that his knuckles were white, that made her question if there was more to the story and an unresolved tension between Levi and her squad mate that she was unaware of.

Petra looked toward the door with a tense exhale, "Oluo give me a minute. Just hang on for a second and I'll call you in."

"You sure?"

"If you so much as step through the fucking door I'll-" Levi stated viciously, and Petra cleared her throat sternly.

"I'm sure, Oluo. Give me a minute."

"O..okay. I'll just…wait here then."

Her gaze settled on Levi and she scowled as he watched her with an equally frustrated glower, "Levi. This isn't like you. What's. Wrong."

He blinked at her question – though with that tone of voice it was more of a threat really – looked back toward the door, then finally back toward Petra again who was still watching him with murderous intent. He dropped his head toward the floor after giving a sigh, not wanting to admit the truth but finding the words pouring out of him just the same.

"I can't…I can't be around him right now Petra. I'm..." he brought a hand to his face and raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, "I'm far too angry to let it go. I'm sorry, but no. He's not coming in here. Not today. I'll fucking kill him."

When Petra gave him a skeptical stare, clearly stating that she wasn't buying his dramatic threat, he rolled his eyes, "Okay. I wouldn't murder him, but…" he looked up at her in remorse, "Petra, there would be blood. That's a promise."

Petra gave a sigh and allowed the silence to extend as she attempted to pick her words. She adjusted her position across the bed and looked up toward the ceiling in thought, "Levi, you've got to understand that it really was an accident. I truly have no anger towards him because I think it was more than just a 'stupid mistake' – we were all kind of flying blind out there. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that I could barely hear you, and Oluo was even further away from you than I was. The only reason I knew where to go was because I was watching Eld and Gunther in front of me, so to be honest, I was reacting off them more than I was actually following your orders."

Levi stood up from off the chair, kneeling near the edge of her bed so he could speak quiet enough where Oluo wouldn't be able to hear his hushed words.

"Petra, it's not that. I know it was an accident but…you're my wife-"

"Only on-" she found herself refuting, a sheer force of habit, and Levi rolled his eyes.

"Yes, only on paper, but if anything were to happen to you I…" he shook his head as he struggled to find the right words, and he gave another frustrated sigh as the unnamable emotions continued to swarm within him and make him ineloquent and tongue tied, "I know you're a soldier and that means anything can happen at any time; I've accepted that, but something like this – I mean, who the fuck would have ever expected-" He groaned, "I mean, I was watching you fall through the trees but no matter how fast I moved it wasn't fast enough. Watching you hit the ground and then you were just lying there and you didn't respond for the longest time-"

"You were scared…" Petra filled in his silence with a questioning glance, and he scoffed.

"No shit, Sherlock."

He leaned even closer to her, running a hand over the expanse of her cheek and continuing, somehow even more quietly than before. Though his previous sarcasm had irritated her, his soft and hesitant touch made her mind blank. "When Erwin married us, I vowed to protect you, to support you and watch over you and that - that fucking Oluo almost sent it all to hell! I mean, shit, Oluo of all people."

Petra felt her eyebrows pull together because Levi had just been pensive, more resolved, but at the mere mention of Oluo, again he was livid, and yet his words just…

She cut him off with a wave of her hand, "Levi, I'm really sorry but… is there something I don't understand that makes it such a big deal it was Oluo versus like…Gunther or Eld, or, anyone? I'm trying to be understanding and not jump to conclusions, but I am really struggling to keep up with you on that point, because you really seem to dwell on the fact it was Oluo specifically."

At her question, Levi allowed himself a smirk and a silence fell over the room.

Instead of answering, he merely moved up onto her bed, sitting on the edge near her side and placing one arm over her lightly, shifting again until he was leaning over her relaxed frame. His chest, his body, was hovering above her to some extent and Petra looked up at him in sudden question and nervous alarm as he purposefully loomed over her with a strange expression she couldn't place.

"Uh…L-Levi?" she squeaked out nervously, and he didn't leave her guessing for long. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers fiercely, the need to claim her running through him like an all-out fire in his veins, because yes it was a big fucking deal that it was Oluo, and he didn't want to validate the copy-cat fuck by giving him any sort of head nod as a rival or anything more than a mere blip on his radar.

Even if watching Oluo's silent desire for Petra – for his wife -had invoked a sort of possessive jealousy within him in the past; Levi had always found it tolerable – well…perhaps not tolerable, but more dismissible. Before it had all just been annoying. Watching Oluo's sad and lingering glances, watching his eyes light up each and every time Petra indulged him with conversation, watching the inevitable exchanges that occurred between them from being on the same team, even when Oluo touched her or held her to some extent during training exercises – all fucking annoying and admittedly got under his skin like nothing else could - but Levi had never acted on it because it hadn't mattered.

Levi felt that if after all these years Petra still didn't know about Oluo's feelings for her, that alone spoke for itself and he didn't need to strut about or rub it in his face. It wasn't like he had 'won' her after some competitive match for her affections, and he wasn't so petty as to pretend otherwise. No, if anything he had tried to push her away because at the time he in fact hadn't wanted her, but somewhere along the way Petra had chosen him and stubbornly stuck by his side through it all. It was only a few weeks ago that she had unknowingly confided to him that he was the only man she'd ever want, so he figured that even though Oluo's lingering and sometimes outright lusty glances irritated him, he knew he had nothing to worry about. There was nothing Oluo could ever do that would steal her away from him, except…he had been so, so wrong.

Oluo's actions today had almost stolen her away, out of his life – out of everyone's lives – for good.

As thoughts of how close he had come to losing her overwhelmed him, knowing that it wasn't by his power at all that she was there in his arms, there was a possessiveness to his actions and he kissed her until his lungs ached and burned within him. His desperation, his passion left Petra at a loss, the Captain's lips pushing and pulling against hers in a way that made her mind spin because she couldn't fathom his overwhelming intensity; couldn't keep up with the brutal storm of passion he was raining down on her. He weaved a hand through her hair, lightly pulling her hair back until she elongated her neck in eventual response to his gentle but persistent pull, being careful in his hold to steer clear of the gash on her head. He ran his other hand down the expanse of her neck, fingertips caressing down her pale skin until he leaned even closer still, placing an open-mouthed kiss over her strong, rapid pulse that confirmed she was still alive.

He sucked on her skin ever so slightly with a predatory stare, and it seemed that he found a sensitive spot as she gave a slight moan; with his lips pressed against her skin, he could feel the whimper in her throat just as strongly as he heard it. Having learned something rather interesting, he smirked against her, nipping at her flesh softly and drawing even more wanton sounds from her, allowing his breath to waft over her until he saw goosebumps crest over her skin from the different sensations he was subjecting her to.

"Levi," she mumbled out between pants, trying to turn her head the right way to actually return his kiss, but she knew full well she couldn't keep up with his passion, and as he brushed his thumb over her collarbone gently, she rolled her head back into her mattress as another whine left her unwittingly, "Dammit Captain, what are you doing? Oluo's…at-" Levi continued kissing her neck, pausing as he watched her roll her chest up against him sensually, the mere sight making his mouth run dry and the sensation of her soft curves pressing into him, pressing against his chest and rubbing against him, caused his blood to race within his veins, "At the door and you're…"

He kissed her with all the more intensity, tasting her lips with his tongue and she moaned directly into his mouth, a welcoming and warm 'Mmm' sound that vibrated against his lips and made him consider moving to the door then and there, telling Oluo to fuck off for a different reason completely, and return back to her side so he could keep testing and toying with her until she was fully, finally, his. While some part of him knew this wasn't the best of times to start testing those boundaries again, the temptation was there, the passion was there, and he was running out of excuses as to why he couldn't be with his wife in such a manner.

For all his resolve and discipline of 'not wanting a relationship with her' – his reasons were all but dust in the wind now because there was no way he didn't want all the good that Petra was to him, and yes, he definitely wanted all of it. If anything, today only solidified what he had been denying for so long – that he didn't crave her touch, didn't desire to be her husband in every way – after having almost lost her, he felt as though he had been given one hell of a wakeup call and he intended to make the most of it because Petra was his wife, no one else's, and she had admitted to wanting him, so the only thing stopping them now was his pride.

That, and her damned cast.

Petra shifted beneath him invitingly as though having forgotten all about her teammate just outside the door, and this time she gave a sharp gasp - one that wasn't caused by him, one not of pleasure, but of pain, because she had attempted to use her broken ankle to move her position on the bed without thinking. While the cast protected her from doing any actual harm to herself, the pressure alone caused an intense wave of pain to shoot up her spine and she whimpered from the fiery, overwhelming sensation that brought both their heated actions to an immediate halt.

Levi was still hovering over her, but now out of concern. He looked her over with critical eyes, and Petra gave a brave, pained laugh as she grimaced with a whimper, "Perhaps now isn't the best time for this, Levi."

He nodded in agreement, their intimate actions already put behind him in favor of her wellbeing, "Your ankle?"

He moved to rest back on the edge of the bed as she sat up just slightly and looked down at her cast with a bitter stare. "Well it hurts like a bitch right now, but it's already back to a throbbing sensation, so I imagine it'll be fine again after a bit."

She exhaled and fell back down across her bed, giving Levi a serious look while she ground her teeth together from the still rather unpleasant pain, "You distracted me on purpose, didn't you?"

He gave an innocent shrug that neither confirmed nor denied her claim, and she groaned, "Captain, he deserves to be able to come in here and see for himself that I'm fine. You know he's been freaking out all day and-"

Levi stood up from her bed and crossed his arms, "Oh, but you're not fine, Petra - Or did you forget that you're going on leave for months because of his actions? Look at you, you call this 'fine'? Not to be a dick, but you look like a fucking stitched up rag doll." Levi paused and gave a bitter stare to the door, "You ask me, he should sweat it out for a few more hours at least. The fact you're so quick to forgive just pisses me off even more."

Petra gave a long sigh, her voice soft but undeniably tired, "Captain, listen. I'm not interested in giving him a nervous ulcer because, again, I don't hold it against him. For your information, I am going to let him in here. This is my room, and what's more, I actually want to see him. He's my teammate, and I care about him, and I know he's worried so I want to do my part to make sure that he knows I'm okay. Do you understand that?"

At her words, Levi stiffened and she watched him grind his teeth together, and Petra dug her head back into her pillow in frustration, "Levi, okay I'm sorry to play this card, but can we not do this right now? I get you're mad but this just isn't the time for it! I broke two bones today, ripped off my skin, I have a miserable concussion, I can't dress or undress myself, and now I'm closer to Hanji in ways that Inever thought possible – can you please just let this go so I can talk to Oluo, let him know that things are alright between us, and get to sleep?" she gave him a pleading look, "Levi, I'm exhausted and in pain. Please."

After her long and rather guilt inducing explanation, Levi pressed his lips together and exhaled through his nose in defeat, "…Fine. But I'm not staying. I'll be back in thirty minutes and if he's not gone by then, I'm kicking him out myself. Literally."

Petra pinched her nose and waved a hand toward him dismissively, "Yeah, I got it Captain. Kicking him literally, as in physically assaulting him and not just turn of phrase – so clever. Look, just send him in, okay?"

Levi gave another low exhale and turned his head to the door bitterly, "Oi, Oluo, you get your ass in here. Not that I can see why, but Petra wants to see you, so you better be grateful and not keep her up too long. Door's unlocked."

There was a slight metallic sound that followed as Oluo came into the room, his eyes wide and uncertain as he cracked the door open just slightly, as though not certain what he would see inside, before opening the door more fully and stepping into her room.

As he moved to close the door behind him, Levi cleared his throat loudly, "That stays open. The whole time."

Oluo held both his hands up in wordless surrender, and Levi moved toward him darkly with a foreboding glare settled across his face. As angry as he was with the man, as much as he wanted to pull the man's face straight down into his knee and beat him until he was stumbling and bleeding and saying a slurred mess of apologies and whimpering with begging pleas for mercy, he had to admit that considering Levi knew full well how intimidating he could be while angry…Oluo was still looking him dead in the eye.

As much as the man got on his nerves, there was a reason that Oluo was also, just as intentionally, on his squad.

He rarely seemed to know the meaning of fear.

Levi came to stand right in front of his subordinate, his voice low enough that Petra wouldn't be able to make out what was being said between them. He looked up at the man firmly, taking a deep breath in attempts to calm his inner tempest that demanded Oluo's blood and suffering. Petra…she wouldn't like it if he hit Oluo now. She'd be furious with him if he got her room messy and coated with random specs of blood. What was more, she wouldn't rest at all because she'd be chewing him out for hours, and that, if only that single fact alone, stilled his hand.

Levi set his jaw and mumbled firmly through clenched teeth, "Petra is mine, Oluo. She is my wife."

"I know."

"Yeah? Just see that you don't forget it."

With that he stepped forward, intentionally hitting him firmly with his shoulder as he walked by, satisfied when Oluo stumbled a few steps back with a slight 'oof' and began coughing from the wind being knocked out of him.

He didn't like the idea of Petra intentionally making time for Oluo – that she was defending him or sympathizing with him. Even still, some part of him understood that….Petra was right, of course.

Anger and jealousy, frustrations and accidents and injuries aside - he couldn't allow this to set the squad back. He needed Oluo to remain just as focused, unplagued by guilt or indecision for when it mattered most. Like Erwin had pointed out, Petra was a relationship specialist, and as the Captain of a very broken and hurting squad, broken in ways that impacted him personally, he needed her to work her magic to ensure that Oluo, the other men, and even himself could still preform the way he needed to in the weeks to come.

He knew that, and he trusted Petra to find the right words to soothe everyone's frantic nerves, but even still…

Levi gave a terse exhale as he stormed down the hall, taking a glance over his shoulder to double check that the door remained open in his absence. He would be back alright, thirty minutes on the fucking dot.

...

...

Petra had pushed herself up so she was sitting on the edge of her bed, and as Oluo finally caught a glimpse of her, his eyes lingering over her bruised and stitched arm, the deep scratches that littered the expanse of her limbs, before finally settling on her cast, and his mouth fell open, "Oh my Go- Petra, that – you look…how do you…are you going to be…I can't believe that I-"

Petra found herself chuckling, "Are you going to be finishing any of those sentences, Oluo?"

He took a deep breath and stepped more fully into the room, hesitantly sitting down in the chair Levi had been using previously and giving a long, heavy sigh as he continued to look her over in obvious guilt, "I've been so worried. I am so sorry Petra, honest. You know that I would never-"

Petra gave him a serious look and cut him off, "Oluo, stop. We're soldiers, and yes, it was a mistake that ended up being rather costly, but the truth of it is…I'm okay. Bruised and beaten up, admittedly rather miserable and only functioning on a round the clock dosage of pain medicine," Petra gave him an intentional stare and nodded her head seriously for emphasis, "But I'm here. I'm okay."

Oluo gave a nervous, uncertain nod, and a silence fell over the room as Petra watched him in concern. When his attention fell to the floor, as though he were too ashamed to even look at her, Petra nudged his boot with her good leg until he looked back up toward her. She had meant to offer him a kind smile, a wordless confirmation that it really was okay, but when he slowly looked up and she saw the all-consuming guilt in his eyes - eyes that normally shone with pride and abounding confidence – Petra was surprised at herself when she felt a sort of anger wash over her.

Toward Levi, none the less.

She was certain that Oluo had already felt miserable enough – she could only imagine how she would feel if her mistake had hurt Eld or someone else - but in spite of that, the Captain had intentionally belittled and provoked him with his unneeded and petty behavior. His cruel actions had only made it worse for Oluo, and irritating or not…Oluo was her teammate, and she'd slug just about anyone who messed with her teammate's emotions like that.

Petra gave an aggravated sort of growl and shook her head bitterly, "Oluo, you can't let him get to you. Captain was…" she sighed impatiently as she tried to think of an answer, and she gave a sad frown as various thoughts overwhelmed her because even she didn't know what to make of it all, "Different today."

As though knowing exactly what Petra was saying, or perhaps knowing even better than Petra just how 'different' Levi was once the wellbeing of his 'wife' had been threatened, he gave a dark sort of smile as he recalled the Captain's words from only a moment ago, "You could say that." Oluo nodded back toward the door, "Petra, I gotta know. Just a little bit ago, was uh, I mean, were you guys…well, you know - busy? I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I mean, I was right at the door and..."

She gave a mortified sort of mumble, "So you heard that after all, huh? Shoot, I was afraid of that." She gave a shrug and looked into the ground as she spoke softly in admission, "Look we…we've never – I mean, we haven't…" Petra felt embarrassment overwhelm her and she sighed heavily as she struggled to respond, "I don't even know what to say, because there's a lot that he and I haven't talked about; a lot that maybe we aren't even ready to talk about, even now. I mean, he's kissed me a handful of times but…nothing serious, you know?"

Oluo listened to her frazzled explanation, frowning at her last sentence as he watched her skeptically, "Seriously Petra? A guy like the Captain is showing interest in you, and you don't think that's serious? I mean, considering the fact that Levi's never been interested in anyone, ever, don't you think that alone means it's getting serious? I know you guys are close, but I thought you both wanted the marriage as more of a farce than the real deal. Has that…changed?"

At his tone and wary glance, Petra shrugged, "Maybe. Yes?" Another sigh, and she shifted indecisively, "I honestly…just don't know. Some days seem normal, and that we have a good understanding about what's acceptable or not, but other days, admittedly like today, make me feel way over my head because it's too damn confusing. I'm sure you don't want to know this, but you asked so it is what it is, but Levi's actually never kissed me like that before. It was overwhelming, and demanding and fearful, and…almost desperate. I think he's really shaken up by this, more than you, and even more than me. He's a control freak by nature, and I think some part of him trains the way he does so he can protect all of us and keep us alive. He said something to that effect to me, but I think he is just beside himself that something like this happened during training."

Oluo watched her with an equally troubled expression, and he spoke to her almost grimly, "Petra, are you…Levi I mean – he is the Captain and I get that you respect him, I mean, we all do, but sometimes I just get the feeling that its more than that with you. When you watch him, or when you talk with him – that time back in his office where you and him were so in sync, like I wasn't even in the room at all…" Oluo gave a long sigh and shifted across the chair uncomfortably, pausing for a long moment as he struggled to find his words or ask what was bothering him in a somewhat tactful manner, "Like today, you were so adamant that he help you and so you were out with him all day. You've been out with him, alone with him, for what seems like every moment since the wedding, and I get that you're adamant that it's just for show but, but some days I just…"

Eventually he looked up toward her and gave her an apologetic sort of frown, "Petra, please tell me the truth. Are you – have you fallen in love with him? With Levi? Do you love him?"

Petra's eyes went wide and she found herself shaking her head instantly, a knee jerk reaction as the question took her by complete surprise.

She gave a huff and almost laughed, "Love? I uh, wow. That's certainly a loaded question, Oluo, don't you think?" She tried to think of his question, give it actual thought, and her voice dropped to a mumble as she knew full well that to her squad, well…his question was admittedly justified.

Petra slowly looked up toward the ceiling, "To be honest Oluo, I'm not sure I can answer that question right now. My gut tells me no, that I couldn't ever be so stupid as to fall for my own Commanding Officer, let alone someone like the famed 'Humanity's Strongest' and yet…things have been changing so fast that I'm not sure what I think anymore. I know I care about him, more than I did before the wedding but…love?"

She sighed, almost speaking more to herself than her concerned teammate, "I couldn't possibly – I mean, it's only been five months, and it seems half of that time we've done nothing but fight. I couldn't – there's no way that I would ever…"

Petra frowned at her own words that had somehow muddied the question even more, and finally shook her head because there really was no way she would be able to come to a proper answer. Not when her brain was so clouded and medicated and pain made her reflexes dull and lax, "I can say with certainty that I hate seeing him like this; hovering and spooked and so unlike himself; not trusting his own comrades and treating them like foes because he's so on edge and guarded. Even if he won't say it, I will because someone should: You messed up Oluo, but how the Captain treated you today was wrong and he should apologize to you." She paused and looked at Oluo knowingly, "And on that note, I hate seeing you like this too. You're always so damn overconfident and smug, half the time I want to beat the shit out of you just to wipe that pompous look off your face, but you're so shaken up now that you can't even look me in the eye. I wish you would just accept the fact that accidents happen and move on. What can I do to help cheer you up?"

Oluo gave a sort of empty chuckle, "It's just…Petra I think there's a lot here you don't understand. It was an accident, and I know you aren't angry at me, but even still…Petra I almost killed you today and you shouldn't write that off so easily. Captain is right to be furious with me because it was stupid and what's more…" He sighed and looked up at her directly, "I care about you." he stated softly with a strangely serious and fierce expression, "So much."

Petra nodded at his words and gave him a kind, heart-breakingly beautiful smile, "Oluo, I know."

He blinked, all but gasping, "You- you know? Then-"

Petra grinned, "Of course I know. We're teammates, and for all of our petty arguments back and forth, you know I care about you too. I care about all my teammates. Oluo, you're like a brother to me."

At her words, Oluo gave a sad smile and nodded past the pain that her words had unknowingly brought to him. In truth, he wasn't sure what he had been expecting in attempting to confess to her, but he found that some part of him had to try, at least once, before it was too late. He had watched it day by day, their closeness, their familiarity, how easily the Captain talked or smiled around her. He had watched as Petra favored the Captain's company more and more, until he hardly ever saw his female teammate because she was always with Levi. He had heard it all the more this afternoon – in her moment of weakness and desperation, it wasn't her 'team' she wanted – hell, it wasn't even 'The Captain' she wanted – she had wanted Levi specifically.

No one else would do.

What was more, he couldn't deny Levi's all-consuming possessiveness of her, his anger and obvious jealousy, his wrath, and the fact that he had just heard the pair, much to his chagrin, moving and shifting intimately on her bed. He had heard Petra whisper his name with palpable desire, outright moaning because of who knows what they were doing, because of whatever Levi was doing to her, (because apparently the Captain actually wanted her now?) and as he stood there awkwardly on the other side of the door, wondering if he was supposed to wait or not….

He knew with certainty that he had missed his chance.

Oluo knew that his chances with Petra, if he had ever had a shot to begin with, would never measure up to the devotion they already held for each other, and even if they were hesitant or uncertain or whatever they were, he knew full well what the couple apparently refused to admit.

It really was only a matter of time until one or both of them gave in.

Oluo looked toward his long time, secret love, and gave a shake of his head. Petra had found love, even if she hadn't been looking for it, and even if she couldn't see it yet, and as much as it hurt…he supposed he was happy for her.

Oluo sighed and cleared his throat as he stood up from the chair, "You know, I really shouldn't stay too much longer. Captain said that he wanted me gone before he came back and I'm on thin ice as it is. You…you take care of yourself okay? I know you're hurting, so you make sure to get a lot of rest and heal up soon. I really am sorry Petra and…well, I wish that things could have worked out differently."

He was turning toward the door, and Petra waived an arm toward him, "Oluo, Oluo wait come back for a second. Come over here, will you?"

At her request, Oluo stood a little dumbfounded but merely nodded and moved closer toward where she was in question. It was as he neared the edge of her bed, looking at her curiously, that Petra shifted up, balancing on her good leg and suddenly embraced him tightly, her arms wrapping tightly around him in a crushing hug that took him by complete surprise.

He stiffened, almost wondering if it was worth it because if Levi saw this he was certain his life would come to an immediate and painful end right then and there, but as Petra held him against her tightly, half in a hug and half in attempts to keep herself balanced as she stood, Oluo wrapped his arms tightly around her back and allowed himself to relax against her, whispering against her as he spoke and resisting the urge to smell her hair, "You really had me worried today, Petra. I thought you were going to die. I was so scared you were gone."

She nodded against him, "But I'm not. I'll heal up and be as good as new in no time. Please don't lose yourself to guilt Oluo. You're one hell of a soldier and I don't want this to slow you down. Keep focused, and keep pissing everyone off with how much of a damned prick you can be, okay?"

She pulled back and laughed at the warm, goofy expression across his face. He gave a chuckle, "I'll do my best, Petra."

Without asking, Oluo helped her back onto her bed, giving her his arm as she carefully sank back into the mattress fearfully, clearly having difficulty staying balanced as she lowered herself onto the bed with a note of obvious concern and caution. He stayed just long enough to make sure she was settled, and after asking if she was sure there wasn't anything he could do for her before the Captain came back, Oluo took his leave, feeling only a slight and hollow sting of rejection, but admittedly…

It was okay.

Petra had made her choice and while it was some other man…

It was okay.

…

End of Chapter

…

Is anyone else just…crying? Or is that just me? This chapter really gets me every time. Like. Every freaking time. There's just something about unrequited, sincere love that just makes my heart hurt. Of course I am an obvious fan of Levi and Petra (hopefully you've figured that out by now lol) but that doesn't mean I am ANTI Oluo by any means. This chapter breaks my heart for him, because finding out the person you care about…has NO interest or even sheer awareness of your feelings is…wow. That's rough. Faking a smile because it's what's best for them, so then you're left to shoulder the pain of your true, ardent feelings alone? Yeah. My heart guys :C

So more information yall may or may not be interested in, but WAY back in the day, I never really thought that Oluo's feelings for Petra would ever make a REAL 'written out' appearance in this story. Oh sure it would be there in the background for my readers who squinted and were watching for it (as are other secrets, for my squinty readers!), but it was just when the story is narrated through Petra's perspective, who is unaware of Oluo's feelings so logically would not be providing any dialogue that would speak to it – and then Levi's perspective, where Levi is aware, but just doesn't care so very much like Petra, Levi wouldn't be taking the time to put in any mental dialogue regarding Oluo's feelings – it just didn't seem realistic to write such a thing in. However, when this arc began writing itself and Levi became insanely angry after the accident; suddenly over protective and jealous because he was aware of Oluo's feelings, it created a plot need where Oluo really needed to be spotlighted throughout previous chapters to help justify and explain Levi's sudden and intense jealousy here. So for those who have enjoyed Oluo's moments in the past, yeah. Intentional to be sure, and my heart is completely crushed as a result.

I was dreading writing this chapter back in the day – the day where Oluo officially has that realization moment where he asks in literal mid-heartbreak if Petra is actually in love with Levi, and she realizes that while she can't fully commit to a 'yes' because there's just so much left unsaid between them – she can't really give a solid 'No' either and Oluo knows full well that whatever IS between Petra and Levi – it painfully clarifies the fact that there is no place in her heart left for him, because she just wants Levi.

Gah. My heart :CC