Carry

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Summary: Petra wanders out into the forest when Levi doesn't return for dinner.

Petra and Gunther set the table while Erd cooked, Oluo helping him.

"Where's Captain Levi?" Oluo asked.

"He's out working on a new maneuver he wants us to learn," Erd replied, stirring the pot of stew.

It didn't smell particularly appetizing to Petra nor didn't it smell bad. "He should be back by now," she said, looking out the window at the setting sun.

"Maybe he just lost track of time," Gunther said. "He does like to sit and enjoy the peace from time to time."

"Food's done," Erd told them ten minutes later.

"I'll go get the captain," Petra said, setting down the last plate. "Don't want him to eat a cold dinner." She enjoyed the cool evening breeze and glanced at the red, yellow, and orange sky. It would be dark soon. She entered the forest they used as a training ground and followed the Titan dummies whose napes had been slashed. She found Levi sitting against a tree. "Captain Levi, dinner's ready."

"Petra. Good, you're here."

"Is something wrong? Why're you holding your leg?" Petra knelt before him.

Levi exhaled in irritation. "I think I pulled a muscle."

"Can you stand?"

"No. I can feel the knot if I put any weight on my leg." He grimaced, rubbing his hand over his left leg. "Hurts like a bitch."

"It's probably for the best that you don't stand on it. You don't want to make it worse. I'll take you to the infirmary."

"Hmph. I'm rarely hurt on expeditions but I get hurt during training."

Petra gave him a hand and pulled him to his feet. "I'll come back for your gear," she said as he removed it. Then she got on one knee, her back to him, arms out.

"What the hell are you doing?" Levi asked incredulously.

"Wait for you to get on."

"Oh, hell no." Levi crossed his arms, a stubborn look on his face. "I thought you were going to hold my side and help me walk."

"That'll take longer," she said over her shoulder. "And you'll be hopping then, not walking. Besides, you might jostle your leg more that way and hurt yourself."

"Yes, but I won't suffer the embarrassment of being carried around piggyback-style by my subordinate."

"I could carry you in my arms, then," Petra offered, smiling in amusement. "Like you're my bride."

"Quit trying to be cute, Petra."

"Come on, Captain. I'll be quick. And I promise I'll avoid people seeing us." When he still didn't answer immediately, she added, "Or would you rather wait for one of the guys to come and find out what's taking us so long?"

"Fine," Levi gave in reluctantly, leaning down.

She clutched his legs, mindful of the injured one, and stood. He was heavier than she had thought he would be. He was only an inch taller than her and not that much wider, yet he easily had to be twenty pounds heavier. He also smelled faintly of soap and sweat.

"This is so embarrassing," Levi grumbled as they exited the forest, his breath hitting the right side of her head.

"It'll be fine. You should be more worried about your leg."

"It's not that bad," he said dismissively.

Petra imagined what they looked like, her smiling as she carried her grouchy captain on her back.

Levi moved his head close to her ear. "You're laughing, aren't you? I can feel you shaking."

She started giggling. "You're tickling me!"

"What? Oh."

Petra tried not to think about how warm and hard his muscles felt through their clothes. When they reached the main building of the HQ, she moved quickly inside.

"You can put me down now. It's not far to the infirmary."

"There's no one here, it's fine."

As they neared the end of the empty hallway, they could hear familiar voices coming from around the corner. "Petra, put me down right now," Levi said urgently. "If Four-Eyes sees me I'll die of humiliation."

She set him down quickly and straightened. Three seconds later, Hange and Moblit turned the corner.

"Levi, Petra, what're you doing here?" Hange asked.

"Erd just finished dinner. I came to get Captain Levi," Petra said, mostly truthful. "We'll be eating just with our squad today."

"Where are you headed?" Levi changed the topic.

"We just finished dinner," Moblit replied. "Squad Leader Hange has a theory and we're going to brainstorm some ideas."

"Then we'll let you go," Petra said quickly and stepped aside before Hange could launch into an explanation.

"I'll gather my thoughts and tell you all about it tomorrow," Hange promised.

"That was way too close," Levi said, watching them leave. "C'mon. Let's hurry." He threw his arm around her shoulders.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and studied him. "It hurts, didn't it?" Petra said as they passed the mess hall and left it behind.

"I can manage," he said, wincing slightly.

She was close enough to his face to see it. Petra stopped suddenly. Before he could react, she placed her arms behind his knees and swept him up.

Levi made a startled noise as she carried him in her arms. "Petra, what the fuck?!"

"This method is more efficient," she said firmly and hurried to the infirmary.

"Put me down right now!" Maybe it was her imagination but his voice sounded higher than his usual register.

"If you keep raising your voice like that someone might hear." Petra looked at his face. He was not happy. She could see faint redness crawling up his neck. Their faces were so close. She quickly averted her eyes, lest she start blushing. But the image of him as she carried him in her arms was forever burned into her mind.

"I'm going to punish you for this." It came out more of a pout than a threat.

"I'm sure you will." It was still worth it, though. She knew she would always look fondly back on this memory, carrying Levi on her back and then in her arms while he sulked. How it felt to hold him so close. "Here we are. See? No one noticed." She placed him on his feet before reaching for the knob.

"You're still being punished."

"I would have done it again."

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