You made it back before the sun turned the sky the color of leaves. The leg hurt every turn caused by the straps. The chickens greeted you. You picked one up to cuddle briefly. "Mommy's back."

You slipped off the muddy boots per ritual. The familiarity of your home was a quiet reassuring quotidian farm life. Hanging the coat on the rack, you also unbuckled the leg strap portion. Levi was sitting on the sofa the whole time. You tensed. "I got a taste of how your animals feel when you're away. Now I feel sorry for cattle. Guess that makes sense why there wasn't immediate help from the green-clad-titan-badass-slayer."

"Was there any food in the fridge?"

"I ate canned apples and an egg."

Your heart settled. Levi had eaten and suddenly everything was right in the world. But he wasn't yours. You wondered if Levi would shout at you for being drenched in mud in your own house. "I need to take a shower. Mind staying out of the room till then?"

The captain leaned his head on his backhand. "Whatever were you up to?"

"Eren, Jean, and Armin ambushed me after two of Nero's special titans also ambushed me. Fun times."

"They think you are holding me hostage."

"Did or something. Quite bothersome for the day. Anyways, you are to be taken back a week from now. It was sorted out."

"You got hurt."

The headache had faded and the leg didn't hurt as much as the love unable to translate. "Like that, or something."

You escaped the painful situation by closing the bedroom door. Levi observed the ranger. To his observation, she was saddened. He wondered what went on in her head. Then he gripped a throw pillow. Once again, someone was getting hurt for his sake.

The hot water ran down your head, shoulders, knees. The droplets made an artificial rain noise. The echoey bathroom walls resonated with the recording of Winter Wind set to a low volume. You were sitting to preserve energy. The whole situation weighed heavily. In a week, Levi would reunite with the brilliant and cheery scientist. They would go back to the walls and never leave. You envied their relationship. Entertaining the possibility of it being platonic was a helpless fantasy.

You put on a loose white shirt, simple grey wool shorts, with socks. You entered the kitchen to make a late dinner. Levi was sleeping soundly on the couch facing the window. You used the time to clear the dreary thoughts and replace them with chicken memories. The sofa creaked. "Oi, ranger, give me your name."

"Does it really matter?"

"I was thinking…" Levi looked at you upside down, "Do you have a name?"

You smiled at the thought of Levi being Hamlet and you Ophelia. "Call me Ranger."

"Whyyy," Levi whined. The whine was playful but stressed. He acted out of usual character. Your cheeks went instantly red. He proceeded, "Ranger the Savior rhymes, but rhyming doesn't mean anything without a good backer. And my hero is denying me the name. How crude."

The deer meat sizzled in the pan. "Promise you won't laugh?"

Levi winked. Your heart had taken too much that day. There should be a limit to how much a person could make you feel, or a limit on emotions felt in a day. "T-titania."

Levi sighed, "Say it louder. The deer is louder than you, and it's dead."

"I am Titania Milkah."

Levi sat up, his eyes peeking above the couch. "Ti-tan-ia Mil-kah." He sounded it out slowly, breaking down the sounds. Unlike his usual nature, he could have fooled you for a winsome person. "Titan a Milkah?"

"Please no. Before Bruce was Nero he would do that."

Despite you bringing it up, you felt no actual dislike to the memory. Levi apologized, burying his face in the couch.

"Food is done." You set the food on the low table. A salad, deer steak, and tea. The Akerman watched you intensely. It was uncomfortable to feel as though he were a hunter watching a deer in the field. "Thank you for the food, Milkah-San."

You nodded and began cutting the steak.

"Oi, you were bleeding earlier."

The point startled you, "Well, I did not bring proper battle equipment. It was my fault."

Levi swore to himself to chew out the three scouts for harming his Ranger. "Where did you get cut?"

"The thigh almost down to my knees. No big deal just stings now. I sowed the deepest part. Four stitches are nothing."

Levi was hungry. He tore into the steak and finished off the rest of the fresh salad. "What a shame for your skin. I hope it heals up nicely."

"Doesn't matter. I would say bedtime. You have been sleeping all day."

"Untrue," Levi interjected. "I hopped to the fridge and even hand-fed the chickens. Little fuckers are vicious. The expression of chicken should be corrected."

You laughed a little. "My dad called them mini velociraptors."

"What are velociraptors?"

"A type of dinosaur."

"The large lizards that once roamed the earth?"

Levi had very limited knowledge of fairy tales, boyish science, and kid stuff. He had not the privilege of a proper childhood. He blushed at his lacking knowledge of the subject. He had taken to books and occasional study time with Hanji.

You acknowledged his embarrassment. "Yeah, something like that."

Levi blinked and leaned forward. He saw the cut on the thigh, exposed by the short shorts. "It looks pretty red."

You look down. "Not too red. I think it will be alright."

"Ana, you can sleep in your bed tonight. The sofa doesn't accommodate sick people too well. I got a crick in my neck from this couch."

"Where would you sleep?"

"I never said I would move. The bed is huge. It can accommodate both of us."

You shrugged. It was not likely to cause any problems. After dinner, you helped Levi get on the bed. "Ana, look here."

You looked at him, and he had taken his shirt off. His abs shined in the pale Grey light. You cup your face in hand. "That's not funny," His body was perfectly ratioed with muscle and hight. The Greeks would have worshiped him as a mathematical and biologically perfect specimen.

Levi moves down into the covers, "I get hot at night. When you cut the lights, you won't be able to see me anyway."

You pull the switch thinking: Bet Levi is hot every night.

The shadows flood the room. You climb into the bed. The relaxing feeling of a soft mattress and fluffy pillows was welcomed. Levi had lightened his tone in a playful smile, "Ti-tan-a, scooch over here. Cuddle with me."

The blunt request had you baffled, "Captain-" You didn't have a correct reply. On one hand, cuddling with the Akerman would be cute and wholesome. On the other hand, Levi was joking around and probably not serious. He could have been teasing you. Levi wrestled the covers and set his face on the pillow next to you, "Don't call me Captain, Captain Akerman, or Captain Levi."

"What should I call you then?"

"Just Levi. You aren't one of my scouts and are not in the military force."

This much was true. It did come in handy when they had a plan to stick to while you had no problem altering tasks. "If not military force, what am I?"

"You are my forest Ranger, Titania."

"I am not this forest exclusive. I have been to the ocean before. There were also times when I snuck into the walls once."

A strong arm caressed the back of your head, "All-terrain, hm. The forest must get jealous a lot. Knowing his ranger can't be faithful. But, I am good at training disobedient people."

Levi got closer, closer, closer-

His lips met yours. The breath caught in your throat. Thoughts flooded your mind to explain what was done right. Your hand reached to his bare chest, only a forearm away. His lips parted and he sighed. "First kiss?"

Your head spun. The heat of your cheeks could glow at any time and not be a surprise. "Y-yes," It wasn't as if you saved the kiss for any particular reason. You were isolated without legitimate partners. Your wish was only that the person cared. "But Capt- Levi, wh-what about Hajji?"

"We are professional co-workers. She has become close to me. I consider her my most trusted friend. But, what about Hanji? I kiss you in bed and you ask about the rock enthusiast."

You lay your head down. His tone gets a little deeper, "Ehhhh," The realization sinks in, "Well, the usually collected Ranger is jealous, is she? Worried that her heart will get played with."

His tone was playful, but the matter was of no laughing one. This was a legitimate concern. Levi pulled you closer, his bare chest against your thin shirt. His mouth close enough to kiss you again. "Poor Ranger. Can fell titans single-handedly, get humanity in debt, and steal my heart, jealous. Be careful, jealousy is a dry well."

"I am concerned for Hanji, she… she always acts really close. And you reciprocate the affection most of the time."

"Shut up," Levi held your lips captive. The sensitive skin on your lips sent tingles and fireworks to your brain. You could feel every subtle muscle twitch in Levi. He parted from your lips, to start kissing your neck. He planted butterflies in your stomach.

Levi was happy. He acknowledged that when he heard your personal concerns. He found the responsible side as to not break another woman's heart was admirable. He could feel you trembling as he kissed you and loved it. His hand ran through the back of his comfort's neck. You were exhausted. His teases only extracted the remains of strength. "Levi-" You breathed, pushing him gently away, "Your everything wonderful-"

"My hero," The black-haired elegant man cooed. "Selfish of me to take your energy after already demanding protection. Get some rest, mi amour. We have plenty of time together."

A thump in your chest gave way to a full-scale meltdown. Levi had spoken Spanish in an endearing and soft manor. All anyone could have wished for. He stopped the kisses and rolled over. When your heart calmed down, you drifted peacefully to sleep.

Historia held her hand to her stomach. "No one notified me of Captain Levi's disappearance!"

Hanji understood the indirect fault. "Now you know, Historia. Allow us to retrieve him. If he was injured, we should find him before-" Her voice caught in her throat. The worry had always filled until she drained it. Currently, it was brimming. Historia sat down, "Captain Levi has been the Rook for our nation."

"With all due respect, my queen, please refrain from making analogies between a game of strategy to real life. His life is no game."

The queen sorrowed overseeing Commander Zoe in such a helpless state. The usually cheery person had diminished into a lost dog whining for the return of a lost master. "Your plea is accepted. Use the minimum of resources in the recovery of our valuable Captain. During, I will weed out those who have blocked this information. You are nominated for the task you plea for. I have a feeling that us ignoring the Nero incident is bitting back since we know about the spinal fluid. Godspeed, Commander Hanji Zoe."

Hanji was filled with vigor, the allowance to retrieve her lost friend. Mikasa saw the scientist's eyes filled in determination and saw the emotions building pressure inside. Jean greeted the queen, to quickly catch up. The three left in a swift goodbye, promising return.

Nero searched around the base. "Penelope, where is Fergus?"

"He left with Tamberlee Gomez. Everyone knows why."

"Indeed," The leader motioned for a gathering. Tamberlee scrambled to spread the news. "Lee, I am going to retrieve their remains. Take your time."

Levi woke up without you. The second time he woke up without you. He was in a particular mood. The midget was feeling fresh. He got out of bed and searched the cottage for the cleaning supplies. He found the broom in the pantry, the mop with a bucket and soap below the sink, and washrags folded in a drawer. "Where's the duster? First thing we getting to town, I'm getting pine-sol and a duster."

He got to work in a delightful spin. "Never even saw her sleep."

Opening the windows, he let in the cold breeze and fresh air. The chickens clucked, roosters crowed. Roosters? "I thought she knew how to run a farm. Strange, have to ask her."

You had left the first time the rooster crowed at five o'clock. Levi looked peaceful sleeping and you had to pry him off you. His embrace was welcomed, but duty called. You walked out in the cozy green cloak. The grain shed was stalked to the brim. A bale of hay you collected sit by the door. The sun was barely up. It reminded you of the time your brother woke you up for the birth of a sheep. And that was nature.

Your father was an early scout who ran away from the walls. He made it to the ocean by shock and met your mom in a village built along the forest beach. The two ventured halfway to the walls and decided to make a house there. Your mom knew about nature and mechanics. Your father knew combat and had a full education within the walls. As time progressed, nature continued. Your parents taught their children all they knew. Reading, writing, combat, mechanics, and eventually slaying titans. Your father died by a titan, while your brother joined those who killed him. Bruce promised it was for you and mom. Your mother fell ill. Bruce had fallen ill too, in a different way. He lost his way. He became the very thing that was tearing his family apart. You adopted the title 'Ranger' counteracting Bruce's (then Nero's) mistakes.

Visiting the third chicken coop, you had at least twenty eggs in the bucket. You sat down next to the sheep pen, "Hey, Mari. At my house is Levi Akerman."

The sheep bleated, sniffing at the grain sack, "I know, Marinera. Good point. I should take him there, a real treasure trove."

Two twin lambs pranced to Marinera. "Tortellini and Ricotta, you've inherited your father's spots. So cute. Well, I have to introduce you to the captain!"

The lambs only cared for the grain. You giggled. The sun had risen at this point, shedding light on the many-colored trees. The maples turned to gold and red. Oaks adopted their brownish fade while pine trees remained in their emerald immortality. A window opened from your cottage. You hurried to accommodate the guest. Or… boyfriend?

The three amigos arrived at the same time as the three off for official business. Hanji dismounted the horse in a fit, "Hey, what are you doing dressed for an expedition?" The question answered itself as their appearance disclosed the expedition to be over. "Get in the fucking robot, Shinji!"

The Commander didn't have to make sense to be understood. Eren nodded to Mikasa and she knew the mission was a success.

"Who else knew about this?"

Mikasa stepped up. Jean stood and raised his hand, "It was my idea, Commander. But we did not come back empty-handed. Levi was taken in by the Ranger. She promised to return the Captain when his injuries recovered, mam."

Zoe's enthusiasm was masked by slight doubt. "That doesn't explain the attack."

Armin raised his hand, "She requested that Humanity not let our guard down. Nero was behind the last attack and might do it again at any time."

"How does she know about Nero and why? We need to do an expedition again."

"Commander Zoe," Eren stressed, "I don't trust Ranger either, but us putting up guard is not bad advice, especially during winter when most military will go home for holidays. While there is still a threat, we cannot go soft from small pockets of peace."

The scouts in the room nodded in agreement. Hanji was overruled in the vote. "Fine, we can send suggestions to the police posted to the outermost walls and to the queen. Only suggestions."

Connie raised his hand. What, were they in school or something? "I can deliver those with Sasha. We have been idol since the whole situation went underway."

Sasha started hitting Connie for voting her away. Others ignored this. Hanji held a hand to her temples, "I have met the Ranger before as she has not posed a personal threat to the scouts, I demand we trust her. Do not let your guard go down. Any suspicious behavior needs to be reported."

The scouts nodded, agreed, and went back to drills. Hanji sat down in Levi's office doing paperwork. Sha passed a document with his text-like writing. "Better not leave me alone right now, dummy." She spoke as if Levi was there. Her eyes felt dry. "If you leave, who- who else will put up with my eccentric attitude?"

The pressure built, spilled. The commander had to trust a person she barely knew to care for her Sun. The situation pressured her to take up things alone. And she had to endure it just as the neat freak Akerman did. Stone cold.

"I hate surprises."

Levi had told you, shirtless, in your spotless home. Your blush was unsupressable. "Tell me when we get there.

Oh, and we need a feather duster.

I hate most surprises," He corrected himself at the end of the journey. You smirked, staring at the natural hot springs. The steam rose in the air, causing it to be warmer and humid among the dense forest. The dense surroundings prevented wind, creating a perfect environment. "My mother and father used this place to wash our clothes downstream whereas upstream we could swim and bath."

Levi had read about hot springs, but the walls (at least of what he's seen) never had them. The war was all that most people thought about.

"Color me impressed. Your family is something special, you know."

The compliment gave you a spirit of pride. Levi took his shirt off. You turned red. "C-captain, you don't have a bathing suit."

"What's a bathing suit?"

"Clothes for swimming." You held your face in-hand turned away from Levi. The Captain saw your reaction curious. "Describe bathing suits."

"They cover the… the part that needs to be covered and is useful for water activities," You squeaked.

"You have one on?"

You unbuttoned the white shirt and slipped it off. "Yes, it is a one-piece."

"I think I remember Hanji mentioning something about One Piece, Luffy?"

"She has read a lot, maybe. Come to think of it, I guess you must not have pools of water for swimming in. My mother is from a beach village, so that explains that."

Levi turned you around and tugged at your pants, "Then let me see it. Do guys wear stuff like this too?"

"Uh- Usually th-they wear swim shorts. Boxers will do fine."

Levi undid the straps and pulled down his pants, you felt too embarrassed to look. Instead, you took the load of dirty laundry and started washing it. The captain sat down, dipping his legs in. He gazed into the blue sky. Steam rose upwards, dissipating into the blue. Fluffy clouds dotted the azure hue. Droplets sat on plants drooping. He breathed in the humid air. For once in his life, he felt relaxed. The world had calmed for this moment. The steam's heat blanketed his legs fading till it reached his face. A whisper of thanks left grateful lips lifting to the heavens.

Levi stared at his rippled reflection. You noticed a lack of splashing. "Hey, aren't you going to swim?"

Levi looked at his ranger, "I don't know how."

You felt stupid. Of course, he couldn't swim! Let alone have the luxury of floating. The walls have a strict rule on their waterways. He had never been around large enough bodies of jumped in. Levi jolted upwards. He held his breath. Air bubbles floated to the surface, the water rippled, but you didn't surface. The distorted coloration of you was all he could see. Levi debated jumping after. You resurface, flipping your hair back and gasp for air, "It is shallow enough to walk here. Plenty for you."

You saw Levi gazing in the opposite direction, clenching his teeth. "Fucking scare me again," He grumbled. "Are all girls like this towards water? Damn, go back under why don't 'cha."

"Sorry, Levi." You swam up to the edge, "Here, I won't do it again. Just slide down into the water. I am used to swimming. I helped mom with laundry when-"

Levi bit his lower lip as he lowered into the hot water. The warm sensation swarmed around him in a weightless state. It was as if he were in the air during a hot summer day without heavy equipment. "Eh-" His face was a mix of amazement and joy. You proudly smiled at the prospect. The Akerman blinked at you, "I love swimming."

You hated to break the news to him, "It isn't swimming till you get your feet off the ground."

Levi lifted his feet and sunk like a rock, he came up with hair weighed down by water, gasping. "Great, now teach me." You smiled contently, "Alright."

"Eren," Jean stopped his rival in the hallway. Jaeger bomb tilted his head. Jean hung his head low, "Mikasa really likes you. I have decided to not get in the way."

Eren had been meaning to talk to Mikasa, to free the Akerman from her blood bonds as a slave. Eren knew he had a few years left and had things to take care of. "Jean, no. Mikasa may be in love with me, but I don't deserve her. She deserves someone who can love her. Right now, she doesn't know it yet, but you are a better choice."

Jean was struck speechless. He saw a changed Eren through the emerald eyes lay a merged soul. No longer a child who threw fits. This was a different Eren from the original, more mature, quiet in a sorrowful sense. Jean had seen nearly the same instance in Armin. Eren bowed his head, "I am about to tell Mikasa this. You can comfort her after she… knows the truth, please."

Jean agreed to the plan with a newfound respect for his titan shifting comrade.

The day had proved fruitful. Levi had exercised his muscles that were wounded and learned how to swim. On the side, you had fresh laundry. Levi actually greeted the chickens as the chickens swarmed. He held a scornful attitude toward them, "Oi, red-eyed chicken! You're the one who pecked my hand!"

"That's Easter, she lays blue and green eggs," You inform him. Levi treads lightly, careful of his ankle and of the cluckers. He furrowed his brow, "Be serious, green eggs? I thought eggs were white."

You stifled a laugh and shook your head, "I have brown eggs, blue or green, white eggs, and red speckled eggs."

"How did someone ever come up with the phrase 'chicken' as a derogatory term? They're vicious and weird-"

"Yeah, especially for their height. It would be the same for a person calling another 'Levi'."

Levi cast an 'I can't believe you just said that' face, "I refuse to be verbed." You picked up Easter, "She is apart of the Crispy Empire, the closest coop to the cottage. The ones half-hidden in the orchard are The Bantam Kingdom and The Silk Republic."

Levi's answer for plural rooster noises was answered in an instant. Pretty clever to keep from inbreeding, "You have almost conquered an entire planet. You walk backward, "If I went for world domination, conquering you would be first priority."

You laughed, "I think you will like the Bantam Kingdom, they are the smallest kind of chicken around."

Levi was starting to get irritated by the short jokes. "Is this what a titan feels like?"

He wondered out loud. You shrugged, "I would have no idea. I think if you were a Titan, you'd stay the same size."

"Oi, brat, say another size joke. We will see who starts laughing."

You snickered, "When Hanji taught you math, she was making the little things count."

Levi looked furious. It was difficult to feel afraid because of his handsome face just turning cute. His tone was intimidating, but the overall differences made everything humorous. Levi broke into a jog after you. You started running into the cottage. You halted, taking off the boots in a hurry. Levi, despite his limp, caught up. He practically fell on you, slamming you against the wall. He was eye-level. His eyes were narrowed while his hair brushed your forehead. "Who's short?"

"Y-"

His mouth met yours preventing the answer. He pulled back, his hand pushing you down. You kneeled while he sat down looming above you, "Who's short?"

"Me-"

You put your hands up to the back of his neck and returned the kiss, "I need to make lunch."

He kissed your cheek, "How 'bout some dessert?"

You pushed him back lightly. Standing, you brushed off your butt. "Only after Dinner. I can prep a pie during preparing lunch and it will be done at dinnertime."

Levi laughed. He smirked, slipping his shoes off at the door. "Tea?"

"Yes, we can have tea."

The Captain sighed. Even if his Ranger was smart, he still had a lot to teach her.

Historia had gotten news of the caution. She had yet to find the original news blocker. Her sense of priorities rose. She sent notices to slowly increase watch every week. Instead of being a lazy ruler, she had promised to do everything for her kingdom. This included sacrificing parts of the reputation to keep them safe. More than a few soldiers would have to stay on the walls for Christmas. There would be protests, complaints, but she would have to turn for the better of it. She felt her stomach, "The world is not perfect, yet you will have to exist here. Our job is to carry the burden of others. But never to be alone."

She smiled at the horizon. The golden sunlight reflected roof tiles into the royal garden. Light flooded over the city behind walls, her city.

"They died because the Ranger killed them!

"We should destroy her before any of us die before the attack."

Another board member added, "Fergus had a point and now he and Tamberlee are gone. How many should we loose before you take care of the problem?"

Nero had his hands clenched on the table. "They died because they attacked Ranger. She never assaults first without reason. The part of this team that doesn't listen will end up like these two, no matter what advantages your titan forms have."

"Ranger is a threat. For our plan to work, she needs to be out of the equation. How do you intend on doing that?"

Nero thought of his little sister crouched behind the sheep shed with cuts on her wrist. He was disturbed. She cried and begged him to not tell their parents. He agreed as long as she didn't cut again. And she didn't. Once he joined the Titan cause, he had cut ties to protect his sister and mother. "I will deal with her."

A sympathizer for Fergus sat up in their chair, "You may be the leader, but with family on the other side, you appear weak."

Nero had believed in the Titans. Unlike you, he thought without the tainted humans within the walls, he could build a better world. "I am a leader. You are my creation and I will do everything to destroy the humans who ruined our lives. Without me, none of you would have this power. Know your place as we all know mine. I will take care of the Ranger's first sign of snow."

His ferocity convinced the doubters. Everyone left. The confused titan shifter stared at his open hands. He wondered how it would feel. For him, to her. He imagined her crying for help from those she betrayed him for. How terrified her face would be, as the time behind the shed. A grin spread across his face as he slowly clenched a hand into a fist. He thought of how the Scouts would not mourn her, how they barely knew she existed, and how she would make no true mark in the world. His sister was a confused little girl who knew nothing of the world she protected. He thought of the game of chess she beat him at before he ran away. "The real loser has been you all along. We'll see who gets 'fork' ed this time."