Towel

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Summary: "Can you get me a towel please?"

Levi yawned, opening his eyes and sitting up, stretching. He felt infinitely better after his nap. It was rare for him to be able to nap and whenever he did, it always left him feeling better.

Being dragged to Mitras last minute for a meeting—his presence wasn't even important—and spending the ride to and from the capitol with Hange talking his ears off the entire time had been mentally exhausting. That paired with the physical exhaustion from not having had a good night's sleep the previous night had left him feeling worn out.

Sliding his legs off the bed, he walked toward the bathroom, yawning. He'd wash his face and check in with his squad. Levi opened the door and froze.

Petra turned her head towards him. "Oh, Captain Levi." She tilted her head to the side. "Can I help you?"

Confused, he stared at her wordlessly, brows furrowed.

"Don't you remember, sir? The pipes in my bathroom need to be fixed. I didn't want to use the guys' cause it's dirty and disgusting." She wrinkled her nose.

"Right," he said, recalling her asking for permission after he returned and him agreeing, too tired to care.

"I didn't shower this morning, and after training, I was feeling pretty disgusting. Someone's coming tomorrow afternoon to fix it."

"So you'll need to use it again in the morning, yes, I remember."

"Did you just wake up?" Petra asked just as he was about to take his leave.

Did she not care she was sitting in the bathtub, obviously naked? Even if the bubbles only left her face and arms visible.

"One side of your hair is completely flattened and the other is messed up," she said in amusement, having never seen him so un-put together before. "Your clothes are crumpled up, too."

He had slept in his uniform. "You came in while I was sleeping?"

"I was very quiet."

"Right, well, I'll leave you to it then."

"Wait." She turned her body to him. "Can you get me a towel, please? I forgot mine," she said sheepishly.

Levi sighed. "Fine." Grabbing an extra from one of the drawers, he returned. "Here." He entered, holding a folded white towel, placing it on the edge of the sink.

"Thanks!"

Levi waited patiently on his bed while she dried and changed into fresh clothes.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, she was clad in her pajamas. "Thank you again."

"Petra," Levi called out, stopping her at his door. "Don't tell anyone about this. It'll cause a headache."

"Of course!" Petra nodded. He was her superior, he'd get in more trouble than her.

Levi nodded at Petra when she came in to use his shower. He started pulling on his socks, cravat, and then his jacket. Sitting on his bed, he had just slipped on his left boot when the door to his room banged open.

"Levi!" Hange greeted.

"Learn to knock, Four-Eyes," Levi scolded. Mentally, he focused on the bathroom. He relaxed when he realized he couldn't hear the shower running. Fortunately, it seemed his subordinate had finished before the crazy-eyed woman had invaded. "Why the hell did you barge in here?"

"Erwin called for a meeting to discuss yesterday's in Mitras."

"What the fuck's there to discuss?" He muttered. "We begged for funds and they politely called us a waste of recourses and a drain on the people."

"He cooked up some scheme to get them to cough it over," Hange said and shrugged.

"Why couldn't you just send Moblit over? He probably knows how to respect people's privacy."

"Oh please." She waved her hand. "It's not like you're hiding a woman in here."

"Yes, that's right," he replied sarcastically. "She's in the bathroom. Why don't you go take a peek?"

"C'mon on now, Levi," Hange said. "Let's not keep Erwin waiting."

"You go. I'll follow in a minute."

"You gotta go take care of your girlfriend in the bathroom?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Hange laughed and left. Levi quickly went to lock the door and listened to her footsteps disappear. When he was sure she had left, he threw open the bathroom door. Levi opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

Petra was standing before him, completely naked. The clothes in her hands covered up most of her private bits. He turned around, heart racing. "Sorry."

"It's fine." Petra put away her clothes. "I heard Squad Leader Hange come in and what you said, so I grabbed my clothes and hid behind the curtain in case she did come in." She pulled on her uniform.

"It didn't occur to you to lock the door?"

"It didn't occur to you to knock before entering?" Petra shot back, a teasing lilt to her tone.

Levi grumbled incoherently under his breath, unable to say anything after he'd just complained at Hange about not doing the same.

"You can turn around now." Petra was smiling. "Thank you."

He hummed and stepped aside.

The following morning, Levi paused before the door. She won't be here again. He didn't have to stop and think about knocking on his own bathroom door because if he didn't, he might end up walking in and finding his subordinate practically naked again.

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