The sound of the door screeching open caused Mikasa's train of thought to pause. She tried her best to assume a semi-relaxed position but her body seemed bent on ignoring her commands. She felt awkward, standing stiffly in the lance corporal's make-shift office. She watched in silence as the corporal took a seat, crossing one leg over the other, both arms folded on his chest. He was in casual clothes now. A simple button down shirt and dress pants. Mikasa blinked. He looked a lot like his younger self with those garments on.

Levi glanced towards Mikasa in scrutiny. He seemed almost aloof if it weren't for the veiled harshness in his eyes. "Is there anything you want to say in your defense?"

Mikasa directed her gaze to the floor before shaking her head in response.

Levi raised an eyebrow, trying hard to remain impassive. "So you admit to wasting food?"

Mikasa stayed silent in contemplation for a moment. "It was an accident, corporal."

"Yes. Because having a plate of spaghetti flung a good few meters away is usually just an accident." Levi's tone never changed, but the sarcasm was notable.

Mikasa released a silent sigh. Of course he wouldn't know how it happened. He was just passing by when the pasta hit him. Glancing at the corporal, Mikasa chose to be silent. Desperately defending herself against an authority figure was something she never really enjoyed. Besides, Levi seemed bent on punishing her already. There was no point in arguing her case.

"Do you have any idea how much food has become a scarcity?" Levi's tone was darker now, more punishing. "How many people die of hunger every single day?" His gaze on Mikasa was heavy, almost suffocating. "Would you know?"

Mikasa looked away from Levi's penetrating gaze as she shook her head slightly. Never in her life had she been reprimanded so intensely.

Levi released a sharp breath, as if knowing all along what Mikasa's answer would be. "And yet you stand there and you tell me wasting an entire plate of food was merely an accident?"

Mikasa subconsciously shifted in place, a strange anxiety building in her chest. She couldn't begin to fathom why the corporal's demeanor suddenly changed. Out of the many times she'd been on the receiving end of Levi's lectures, this was the most uncomfortable she'd been.

"Perhaps you thought a food fight would have been interesting? After all, it is boring waiting around here all day." He paused as he raised an eyebrow in mock inquiry. "What's the matter? Gossiping and idle chats aren't enough anymore?"

Mikasa gritted her teeth. He was belittling her on purpose. But she wouldn't rise to it. No. She wouldn't allow herself to snap in front of him. "I will take whatever punishment you deem fit, corporal." She stated just above a whisper, but her tone was firm.

Levi narrowed his eyes. There it was again. That haughty tone of hers. He was feeling a slow simmer of annoyance build on his chest. "For wasting a meal, you will be denied a full day's rations. You will be assigned on horse duty throughout our stay in this safe house. And you will be stationed for night watch every other day."

Mikasa nodded her acceptance much to Levi's irritation. She didn't even bat an eye. Levi narrowed his eyes threateningly, his tone carrying a hidden promise. "Don't let me catch you doing it again."

Mikasa nodded once again, remaining silent throughout the exchange.

Levi tilted his head towards the door. "You're dismissed."

"Mikasa! Hey, Mikasa!"

Mikasa turned around to see a frantic Armin making his way to where she stood. "Armin, is everything alright?"

Armin took a moment to catch his breath. "That should be my line! I've been looking all over for you! What did the corporal say?"

Mikasa shifted her gaze down in deep thought, trying hard to summarize everything the corporal told her in just one sentence.

Armin continued to stare at Mikasa's silent form in worry. "That bad?"

Mikasa shook her head as she smiled reassuringly at Armin. "No. He just said to not let it happen again."

Armin failed to hide his surprise. "He gave you no punishment?"

"He did." Mikasa stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Armin frowned at the false hope. "Then why didn't you say so in the first place?"

Mikasa shrugged in nonchalance. "I thought that much would have been obvious."

"So what did the corporal give you as punishment?" Armin furrowed his eyebrows, preparing himself for the worst.

"The usual." Again, Mikasa shrugged. "Where are Eren and the others?"

Armin sighed. She was dodging his question. "He's having a talk with Jean and Sasha."

Mikasa failed to hide her surprise. "What?"

"He says if they don't man up, he'd go to the corporal himself to tell the truth."

Mikasa sighed. "He didn't need to do that."

"You know how Eren is." Armin paused momentarily to scrutinize Mikasa's form. She seemed incredibly exhausted and strangely dejected. Just what exactly happened between her and the corporal? "Mikasa, are you alright?"

Mikasa looked at Armin strangely. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" She was slowly growing uncomfortable with the way the younger boy was gazing at her. It was as if he was trying desperately to read the contents of her mind.

"Why didn't you tell the corporal the truth?" Armin's eyebrows were scrunched. The initial look of contemplation morphed into one of confusion.

Mikasa simply sighed. "There was no point. He was determined to make me pay for it."

Armin shook his head, glaring at Mikasa in reprimand for such an answer. "You know the corporal isn't like that. He may be the devil incarnate more often than not but he is always fair. He never would have allowed you to shoulder the punishment if he knew the truth."

Mikasa shrugged as she stared at Armin blankly. "Maybe I just didn't like the idea of name dropping." With that, she gave Armin one more look before she bid her goodbyes and walked away.

Armin could only stare silently at Mikasa's retreating back. Lately, she always seemed so emotionless and cold that Armin couldn't believe he had forgotten just how loyal and caring she could be. He sighed. He doubted he could find anyone else in the scouting legion whose level of loyalty would surpass that of Mikasa's.

Levi heard a knock just as he was planning to head back to his room. He glared at the door in annoyance. "Who is it?"

"C-Corporal Levi, it's Jean."

"A-And S-Sasha, sir."

Levi raised an eyebrow in interest. "Come in."

Levi watched as the two scurried into the office with their head hung. "What is this about?"

"S-Sir, regarding the incident with the… s-spaghetti, sir." Jean began, his gazes shifting to Sasha every now and then but the brunette seemed bent on ignoring him.

Levi stared at the two expectantly. "Talk. I don't have all day."

"I-It was our fault sir." Jean raised his head to stare at the corporal. His eyes showed fear but his determination didn't allow it to deter him. "Mikasa offered her food to Sasha, and I tried to take it back because… s-she hasn't eaten yet."

Levi ignored the flustered form of Jean and turned his attention to Sasha. "Braus."

As if she was electrocuted, Sasha snapped her head towards Levi. "Sir!" She spoke louder than necessary.

Levi tilted his head towards Jean. "Confirm this."

Sasha looked away. "Y-Yes sir. We fought for the food and ended up spilling it on… y-you, sir!"

Levi was silent for a moment, staring at the two in deep thought. "Why didn't you admit to it earlier?"

Jean and Sasha remained silent, not meeting the corporal's gaze.

"If this had been an unforgivable crime with the punishment of death…" Levi paused to stare at the setting sun, calculating the hours that had already passed. "Ackerman would have been dead by now." He shifted his gaze back to the cadets. Two pairs of widened eyes finally met his.

"W-We…" Jean wanted to say something but his mind was blank.

"Braus." Levi stared at Sasha through narrowed eyes. "You ratted her out the first chance you got. Tell me, if you were captured by the enemy, would you rat out the entire scout legion just as easily?"

Sasha felt her mouth fall open. "B-But sir, that's an entirely different matter!"

"Yes." Levi nodded. "It's graver. You have more to lose. So wouldn't the desire for self-preservation be stronger?"

Sasha was silent now. The words of the corporal hit home. Working in a team was hard. The survival and the benefit of the majority always needed to be considered. She fisted her hands. It was difficult, having to care about people. She was always used to doing things her own that she never really had the opportunity to worry about anyone else. Living alone in the mountains may have taught her independence, but it also taught her solitude.

"I hope you both learned a valuable lesson." Levi paused to stare at both of them in reproach. "Ackerman never said a word about either of you. You would have been in the clear had you not confessed to me." Levi folded his arms on his chest, thinking of an apt punishment. "I will pass on Ackerman's punishment to both of you. You will miss a full day's rations. You will be on horse duty throughout our stay in this safe house, and the night watch every other day."

Jean assumed a salute, his eyes burning with resolve. "Sir!"

Sasha could already feel her stomach grumbling but she gave the corporal a salute nonetheless.

Levi tilted his head towards the door. "Now get out."

As the two headed out the door, Levi shifted his attention towards the open window in contemplation. He narrowed his eyes. Walking towards the window pane, he folded his arms on his chest. "Gossiping, wasting food and now eavesdropping?" Levi didn't need to turn his head to the side to see Mikasa Ackerman's form glued to the wall on his right.

Mikasa pushed herself off the wall and stepped into Levi's line of sight. "I didn't-" She blinked. It felt strange that she had to look up to stare at him. The rays of the setting sun hit the corporal's form in different angles defining his features even further – his piercing eyes, his aristocratic nose, and his scowling lips. It made her forget to breathe for a second.

"Ackerman?"

The annoyed tone make her snap out of her reverie. "C-Corporal?"

Levi raised an eyebrow in mixed surprise and confusion. Did Mikasa Ackerman just stutter?

"I mean, I apologize, sir." Mikasa collected herself, shifting her gaze onto the grass as she bowed her head slightly. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was heading towards the horses, sir."

"Of course you were." Levi narrowed his eyes skeptical. "Did you hear everything?"

Mikasa nodded, her gaze still lowered. "I swear didn't mean-"

"Good." Levi nodded.

Mikasa raised her head at the unexpected reply.

Levi tilted his head towards the toolbox Mikasa was carrying. "Then I don't have to explain it to you."

Mikasa nodded in understand. Giving a salute, she walked away to return the unused tools.

"Ackerman."

She stopped in her tracks at the commanding tone. He didn't even need to shout. His voice alone demanded attention.

Turning around, Mikasa released a breath at the sight of Levi bending slightly out the window, one hand grasping the side ledge for support. The breeze caressed his hair almost lovingly as he tilted his head towards her. She found herself unable to formulate a response.

Levi allowed a small smile to grace his features. It seems Ackerman wasn't just your typical snotty know-it-all brat. She could be a team player if she wanted to. And a damn loyal one at that.

"Good work."

Mikasa blinked. In that moment, Levi's form was gone. She blinked again, unsure of what exactly just happened. Was she imagining things, or did the lance corporal just smile at her?

"You seem strangely relaxed today."

Levi shifted his gaze towards the door only to see Hanji staring at him with a meaningful glance as she drank from a tall glass of water. She was leaning against the doorframe for support clad in a mismatched loose button down shirt and pajama pants. Her hair was in several messy knots that it almost made Levi cringe.

"What are you still doing up?" Levi replied as he shifted his attention back to his tea. He brought a hand against the porcelain cup. It was nearing the temperature he preferred.

"I could ask you the same question." Hanji seated herself on the chair adjacent to Levi's, taking note of the lone candle on the table. It did little to rid the room of the darkness of the night.

Levi sipped his tea without feeling the need to reply.

"I heard about the incident today." Hanji stated with poorly veiled mirth. "I have to hand it to Mikasa."

Levi shifted his attention to Hanji, his eyes were bored and uninterested. "What she did was bordering martyrdom. She didn't even take the opportunity to defend herself, or even explain the situation." He paused to take another sip of his tea before it turned stale. "Soldiers who do not demand justice for themselves are the ones who die the earliest."

Hanji shrugged. "In the end, it was an unintentional test of loyalty." She grinned at Levi. "And she seems to have passed with flying colors."

Levi raised an eyebrow at the strange fondness Hanji seemed to have for the oriental girl.

"If it were you then…" Hanji paused, placing her half empty glass on the table before folding both arms on her chest. "What would you have done?" She smiled, her gaze never left Levi. "Would you have chosen to save yourself, or your comrades?"

Levi scoffed. "In that case, I would save myself."

Hanji raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?"

"Just as merit should be given to those who have earned it, punishment should be bestowed on those who deserve it." Levi stated monotonously, as if it was a mantra he told himself daily.

Hanji continued to stare at Levi, as if it would allow her some form of access to his thoughts. "So if I had done something that you would be wrongfully accused of, you wouldn't think twice of turning me in?"

This time, Levi returned the stare. "Depends on what you did."

Hanji couldn't hide her surprise. "I thought you said merits and punishments should be given accordingly?"

"Doesn't mean they always are." Levi's gaze on Hanji never left. "Rules are rules, the same way people are people. No matter how many laws are formed, humans will always find ways around them to protect what it is they deem important."

Levi almost flinched at the adoring way Hanji was looking at him.

"Did you just admit that I am someone worth breaking the rules for?"

Levi scoffed as he shifted his attention back to his tea. All the talk made him fail to finish it while it was at its best temperature. "I responded with the mindset of the general human populace. I wasn't thinking of anyone in particular."

Hanji brought her hands together in an attempt to quell the growing need to smother Levi. "I'll take that as a yes!"

Levi sighed. How Hanji always manages to twist his words in the most ridiculous ways possible never fails to baffle him.

Hanji chuckled silently to herself as she gazed at the burning candle in silent contemplation.

"What?"

She shifted her gaze to Levi, a kind smile graced her features. "I just think it's funny how you talk highly of upholding rules and order, but when it comes down to it, you would be willing to break them in a heartbeat. All you need is the right motive."

Levi allowed himself a small smirk as he swirled the porcelain cup in his fingers. The tea was cold now. "All my life I've been fighting against the rules. Or do you honestly think I agreed to join the scouting legion because of its loyal to the monarchy?"

Hanji gazed at the bitter smirk that graced Levi's features. The dimly lit room did nothing to soften the harshness of his gaze. If there was anyone in the legion who knew the extents of human suffering, it was Levi. Sensing that the conversation was steering towards something that would rob both of them of sleep, Hanji decided to change its direction.

"So is that how you want your soldiers to think?"

Levi shifted his gaze towards Hanji, his eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion.

"You want them to learn the importance of rules, but you also want them to be able to rationalize when they should break them."

Levi forced himself to drink what was left of his tea, scrunching his nose in disgust at the taste of the cool liquid. "Soldiers don't think. They follow orders. That's all."

Hanji turned her gaze to the flickering candle as Levi stood up to take his leave. Just as he was about reach the door, Hanji allowed herself a small smile.

"So is that why you reinforced Ackerman's behavior?"

Levi paused to give Hanji a look. "Excuse me?"

Hanji stood up slowly from her seat and walked steadily out of the room, pausing momentarily beside Levi. "Telling a soldier 'good work' is a positive reinforcement, is it not?" She allowed herself a triumphant smirk at the look she got in return. Levi was trying to be nonchalant but Hanji knew he was beginning to feel a tad bit uncomfortable. She couldn't help but laugh as she patted him on the shoulder. She didn't understand why Levi still tried to keep up appearances with her. He may be a lance corporal now, but she knew he was still a rebel at heart. There was not a rule in the world that could hold him in chains.

"Well then, good work- I mean, good night!" Hanji teased one last time before heading back to her room.

Levi simply stared at Hanji's retreating form. He had forgotten she had the ears of a dog and the eyes of a hawk. He sighed. He didn't understand why her incessant teasing always seemed to lean towards a certain black-haired recruit.

She was too young. Too naïve. Too idealistic.

He was too old. Too cognizant. Too realistic.

Like oil and water, they couldn't be more unsuitable.

Dark doe eyes flashed in his mind before he quickly shut them down. There was no point in musing over pointless things. She was his subordinate, and he was her superior. That's all there was to it. And that was all they ever will be.