Lying comes second nature to him. All his life he's been telling them. "No, I didn't see anything, pleasure to meet you, her death was not in vain." Sometimes he couldn't even tell what was even truth or fiction anymore.

He always thought Petra was the opposite. No matter what, she would could never force her mouth to sprout a lie. "Captain, we need to go, Auruo your coffee tastes like shit, Ma'am I'm sorry for your loss." That was just her nature. She couldn't hide who she was.

Eventually she got better. It came with the consequences of having a secret relationship. "Sorry I'm late, overslept, I got to deliver papers for the Captain, like I would do that." It amazed him how she was able to keep a straight face. The girl who had come to him unable to hide a thing could now look him dead in the eye and sprout utter bullshit. He supposed it's his fault. But he's too greedy to consider giving Petra up now.

At least that's how she was before the 57th expedition. The loss of the squad took every trace of the Petra he once knew. "I'm sorry, I'm fine, it's ok." She's a hollow shell of the person she once was, barely speaking, barely eating. Nothing but an empty doll in her likeness.

One night she comes to his bed again. It seems strange, she hasn't forgiven him for the deaths of the squad yet. But he's not one to complain. With vigor, he kisses her, trying to forget everything but the taste of her lips.

Once they break apart, Petra laughs for the first time since the expedition. It's not the carefree one he's longed to hear, but desperate and almost insane.

"What the fuck's so hilarious?" It comes out harsher than expected, but he's just so sick of everything,

"I don't love you, Levi," Petra laughs. "At least not anymore." For a second, he hopes she's lying, just as she has before. But he finds no trace of deceit in her empty smile. The only thing that hasn't changed is she's a terrible liar.

But then he realizes something. He doesn't love her either. He could never love this thing she's become. Instead of saying anything, he cuts her laughter off with a kiss and grips her tighter than before. They may not love each other anymore, but he doesn't know what else to do.