Are we dating? Are we fucking? Are we best friends? Are we something in between that?I wish we never fucked, and I mean that; but not really.

You say the nastiest shit in bed and it's fucking awesome.

Zoe lead her horse forward, yawning widely, turning to the well, cranking the water up. She checked the temperature bringing some to her mouth before she offered it to her horse. While the mare was distracted, she brushed over its coat, the effort taking an hour or less, and she returned with her horse to the stables, finding her gear already prepped by her troops.

She jerked on gloves, nodding as the medic told her what to do, Sjeh tipping her face up to hers, and Zoe watched Sjeh for the duration of her speech. When the woman was finished, Zoe ducked around her horse, jostling the saddle there, making sure everything was on properly. Zoe checked her uniform, the 3D movement gear barely shifting as she lifted her knees, satisfied everything was in place.

Zoe swung up on her horse, stabbing her booted feet into the stirrups, and urging the horse forward. Erwin and Levi stood by the gate, along with Eren, the blonde man looking up first. She swung her horse around as soon as she was close to the two men, casting a look to Yeager, avoiding Levi's eyes for the moment, unsure as to what their actions were to be around each other despite his actions the other day.

The kid didn't seem to know what to do as she looked at him, her horse prancing nervously. She jerked on the reins, and the horse halted, tail giving a flick. Yeager went with a salute, stammering over his words, and Zoe made a noise, turning her back to him, focusing her gaze on Erwin.

"The rest of your troop?"

"Will join up with up. Levi's hand-picked squad will accompany you there directly."

"Hmm," she considered the leather reins, shaking her hair out slightly before pushing it back again from her face, the buzzcut similar to others, though she'd lopped off one side, mostly. "right."

Levi kept beside her as they traveled along a trail, the castle just visible. He wasn't particularly chatty, but the people he was with were talkative enough. She recognized Erd, and stationed herself near him for another good chunk of the ride, the silence beside him less...tense, she supposed. Auruo bit his tongue along the way, and his head jerked away from Eren, chortles trickling down his squad mates.

"Zoe," Levi said, voice managing to reach her ears. "Come here." he jerked his chin up.

She caught them looking her way as she paused, waiting for Levi to come level with her. He looked disinterested, even as she asked him why he'd asked her back, waiting for his squad to turn around. Levi shifted a bit closer to her, eyes flickering up the length of her horse, then to her injured leg.

"Have you got that looked at?" he asked.

"Sounding like that isn't going to get you an answer."

He rolled his eyes off to the side, almost pouting, bristling when Erd turned slightly. The man snapped his focus back on the path ahead, and Levi brought his gaze back to her, pushing his hair from his forehead, the effort futile. Zoe waited for Levi to restate his question, giving him a smile, knowing that her smugness was almost palpable. Levi straightened, called out to his squad, directing them forward into the courtyard.

Zoe started that was as well, but Levi's hand flew out, stopping her. "You'd better not die, Zoe," he muttered. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," she gave a quick nod. "same to you."

He gave her a dead pan look, swinging off his horse as he walked into the clearing, weed covered tile muffling the horse's footsteps. She guided hers to a stand as well, patting her hand on it's cheek in an awkward way that didn't make her unnamed horse happy, watching Levi's hands make quick work, securing his mount to the post next to hers. His hand smoothed slow over the horse's flank, brought his eyes to hers. Zoe had been looking around, frowning before she crossed her arms over her chest, wondering where his two friends were, the ones who'd been around him during Training.

"What?" he asked.

"I mean," she said. "I don't see Isabel or Farlan."

Levi's hands fisted at his side. "Dead."

"Oh." Zoe stepped a bit closer, reaching to one of his fists, easing it open. She didn't move any more, didn't try to speak, touch anywhere besides his hand, open in one of hers, a finger skimming along his tough palm. If he was going to tell her anything, he'd do it when he wanted to, but she wished he'd have told her sooner, told her the first time he visited the Capital.

She knew not to try to coddle him. That hugging him tight wasn't going to do anything, because Levi wasn't a physical kind of person when it came to PDA in general. The slight things he'd done yesterday had been with people he had been near for a wide stretch of times. And he'd hardly done too much.

But still. This was enough. For him, she thought.

Levi's brow relaxed, and he moved his hand to clasp hers for a second. A little nod followed, before he tipped his head away, dismissing the matter for the time being. He pulled his hand out of hers, and headed towards the castle, scowl back in place. Zoe glanced to Petra and Auruo, arguing about the event on the trail, the man's tongue hanging out as he attempted to display his injury.

Levi walked forward, looking increasingly more bothered and twitchy as his gaze swept over the messy state of the castle. In the short time he'd trained with her, Levi had taken the cleaning days with a large degree of seriousness, so this had to be high up on his annoyance scale. Zoe laughed, and he glared, coming up behind Erd and Gunther, expressing his views on the state of the castle.

They split up, mostly two to a large room, Levi walking along next to her, picking room after room to clean. He tugged a white cloth over his mouth, snapping a window open, looking back at her, watching her work. Zoe gave him a tiny smile as he passed close, expanding on this movement as he stopped, fingers gliding over the curve of her neck, humming her appreciation.

"So, what, do I have to call you Captain Levi here?" she murmured, practically purring as he continued his ministrations, tucking her hair over her ear. "Or would that be too hot?"

He shook his head, arms wrapping around her very briefly, head ducked to press in the crook of her neck. "You know you're sleeping in my room tonight. Thought I should make that very clear, Zoe Roth."

"No lieutenant commander?"

"For the most part, you're under my command now."

Zoe sighed, accompanying the noise with a nod. His hands briefly crept up, kneading at her breasts, and she elbowed him, hearing the amused huff he gave in place of a laugh. Levi set a hand on his hip, eyes flicking to hers. She bounced close for an instant, pressing a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth, watching him jerk forward, expecting her to prolong it, looking almost injured when she didn't.

He caught her, and kissed her properly, catching the bucket as it tipped from a shelf. Zoe was fairly impressed, though she didn't have time to dwell on it, as Levi had taken to correcting her cleaning mistakes. She had experience dealing with his neurotic tendencies on her side, along with the sex card, but the latter wasn't working on him. His eyes swept over everyroom before they left it, handkerchief down around his neck, Zoe almost tugging him away from it before he tried to find a way to 'clean the air'

Levi found a rather barricaded door, the wood rotting in certain places, and after giving it a couple shoves, he stepped back, motioning that she do the same as he pulled up his handkerchief, striding the two steps needed to get him in perfect place before kicking out, door cracking in half. He shoved the debris away from the broken door, and she brought the soap and bucket into the room behind him. Zoe didn't usually do that part of the cleaning job, or cleaning in general, because she was a high up in the Military Police; thus she had people to do it for her.

"I can't-" Levi started, cut himself off, stepping forward. "Get a bag and the new recruit, or something, we're taking all this shit out into the woods, then get someone to take it to the sawmill, make some use of it; the good wood, at least, not this rotten shit."

As long as she didn't have to do this part, she was okay with being near the cleaning monster. Eren didn't look happy as he was loaded down with a bag, then another bag when he came back, a bed frame strapped to him next. Levi had the drawers and a moldering chest out in the hallway for the kid, arms crossed over his chest as Eren staggered down the small flight of stairs, snapping at him when it tipped dangerously.

"Keep it together, brat."

A croaked, "yessir," was managed before Eren wobbled his way out the doors of the castle.

"He was in the top ten of his class," she said, looking up from her cleaning spot,

"Well he can't clean worth a shit."

"Levi, that's not apart of the curriculum."

"I think it could be; you should talk to the higher ups for me. I might punch one of them in the throat."

"Nile?"

"I can't believe he's allowed to command the Military Police, let alone breath the same air I do," Levi said, making a small 'tch' noise, and his sweeping became fevered for a beat before he found something else to add. "You were a better Commander, I heard Erwin say."

"You can't seem to compliment me without adding in Erwin or some other entity."

"I didn't really mean to do so, Zoe, I just think Erwin is a better source."

"Well, I suppose you have that point."

"Not saying that eyebrows is amazing."

"Okay."

"He has constipation, and you don't."

"Levi, you don't have to-"

"I can tell you about how he was bedridden because of that. Funniest shit I've ever seen."

She looked to see a hint of amusement, but Levi's expression was it's flat, semi-irritated norm.

Zoe shook her head before she spoke around her smile, "I think that wasn't a good thing at all."

"He didn't listen to me when I told him to not eat the stew that Hanji made, because four-eyes can't cook worth a shit..."

She could hardly explain the feeling that was in her heart, and didn't look for the name, listening to him give cutting insults to people who weren't there. Zoe knew this was his version of telling her about his day, or days, and she liked that he was opening up to her here, like he did in the own space of his bed. Back in training, he'd never talked about his feelings, never mind his feelings towards other people. Usually, she was left in the dark about a myriad of Levi's interactions with the world.

He stopped talking abruptly, surprising her as he asked, "What is it?"

"What-what is what?"

"Why are you staring at me?"

"It's just...you make me feel good."

"What the hell does that mean, Zoe?" He asked, tipping his head to the side, eyebrows creasing his forehead. His expression shifted abruptly, a smirk crawling over his lips. "Do you mean sex? Fuckin' one track mind."

She felt her cheeks heat up, snapping, "look who's talking; it's not about sex, okay." Zoe breathed out, focusing on her work before repeating the phrase, "You make me feel good."

He scoffed, returning to cleaning the window, "You make me feel good, too."

They moved to another room, Levi using a stepping stool to reach higher, though it was fairly sad when she couldn't do the same. Levi stuck her with changing out the sheets, checking over his and her work, looking fairly satisfied. When he came to her folding job, he frowned, holding up the square chunk of cloth, gazing over at her.

"No."

She rolled her eyes started to walk out of the room, saying, "Fine. Captain Levi." heard the little noise he made, turned. "So, it's too hot?"

He held up two fingers, hardly an inch apart, deadpan expression making it a bit better. She smiled, stepping forward to continue out.

Eren moved past her, and Zoe halted, stalling her progress out of the room. Levi talked briefly to Eren, pressing the cloth now around his neck down. Zoe was amused to see he was shorter than Eren, then took in the fact that she was shorter than him, and rolled her eyes, wishing she lived up the the picture her achievements put forth. But still. She was underestimated, and it did give for more of a surprise.

Levi walked past her, going to check the rooms Eren had cleaned. Petra walked by her, giving her a little wave Zoe didn't refute, watching Levi, knowing that little spasm of annoyance. She covered her mouth, laughing to herself, pushing into the room occupied by the two people, knowing Levi would come back.

Petra had been saying something about Levi's history in the underground, and looked to Zoe to back up the information.

She shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest, "I don't know everything about him." She'd hardly spoken to any of these people, and wasn't looking to try this out. Actually, she did know about that time, almost better than Erwin, but Levi wasn't inclined to speak on it as well. He'd just come out of the underground when he and her met, and he'd been an absolute ass. Still annoyingly better than her at 3D movements, and good-looking. Apparently, the taboo around being near him was lessened when she was stuck with her being his partner.

Eren seemed to be finding something to say along those lines when Levi almost stalked back in, brow darkened, the cloth that served as a bonnet lessening the glare he fixed on him. "You call that clean?" Levi finished his progress into the room. "redo everything."

The boy did, and Levi checked again, looking fit to burst as it didn't measure up to his standards once more. Zoe was washing a window outside one of the rooms Eren was redoing, watching him police the kid. Briefly, she thought over the plans: 30 days here, then they were going to head outside the wall to build supply outposts, guessed they'd be kept here on stand by. She swung slightly as a breeze pushed her, noticing Levi waving her back in.

Zoe stationed her chair around the table, close to Levi with his position at the head of the table. She allowed Eren to ask questions of her throughout the course of dinner, as Levi shot down most of his queries, though hers were just as clipped. Auruo started in with the questions teetering on the level of her and Levi, which Levi blocked, revving up before he dived into the sex questions.

"Is the Captain kinky? I feel like he is, but I want to confirm it."

Levi nailed him with a fork, ignoring his injured noise.

"I was just asking," the man attempted, pouting there in his chair.

"Well don't ask," Levi said, hooking his knee over the other one, taking a calm sip from his cup.

She raised her eyebrows, shaking her head, a leg tucked under her. Levi began discussing their plans, and the group added in comments, Zoe becoming almost deaf to them, assessing the possible nature of the plan she'd been privy to. The word titan was dropped, and she brought her head up, phasing back into the conversation.

"What's it like to "become a titan", Eren?" Erd asked.

She'd like to know that, having only seen the burst of light and steam that had brought forth the large Titan manifest. Which was an interesting conundrum she'd like to focus on, maybe. If she took the scientific direction, instead of staying along the slicing and dicing course.

"my memories from that time aren't clear," the boy muttered. "anyway, I lose track of myself. But self-mutilation is what sets it off. If I take my hand like this," he paused suddenly.

"You guys know the rules, don't you?" Levi asked, foot bumping up against hers under the table. "We can't ask about anything more than what's in the report. Thought I don't think she'll remain quiet. She might screw up while poking at you and you could end up dead. Heard that, Eren?"

Zoe dropped her head, smiling to herself as Levi took another sip of tea. When Levi talked about Hanji, she was either 'shitty four-eyes', or 'four-eyes'. Once or twice she was actually her name, but once she started talking, Levi veered into the four eyes territory.

"What?" Eren jolted slightly. "She?"

A banging came at the door, and Levi stared straight on, the level of emotion on his face dropping to an low level. Hanji popped in as soon as Petra removed the block, and Zoe smiled slightly, always amused by the woman, though her work in the field of Titan science was truly admirable. She was a bit off, not that Zoe minded, Hanji having been apart of her life for a while now, even if she rarely saw her.

"Good evening, people of Squad Levi!" her eyes flicked to Zoe. "And paramour."

Zoe blinked, face falling into a dead pan stare, the look rivaling Levi's at the moment. Paramour. Para-the briefest label of four-eyes crossed her mind.

Hanji continued, barely missing a beat, "How do you like your new castle home?"

"That didn't take long," Levi said, sipping from his cup, still not looking at her as Hanji walked close to the table.

"Wild horses couldn't keep me away!" Hanji exclaimed, rolling over Eren's words. "Thanks for waiting, Eren! At the moment, I'm in charge of the experiments on two Titans we captured alive. For tomorrow's experiment, I'd like your cooperation, Eren." The light of the candles was reflected somewhat in the woman's glasses, looking cheery, almost a polar opposite to Levi. "I came to get permission."

"Did you say… experiment?" Eren asked. "what would my role be?"

"Well now," Hanji raised her hand, looking far too excited. "The most exciting role, of course!"

Eren eased back from her, "About that…I can't give you permission by myself. I don't have authority over what I can do."

Hanji looked away from him. "Levi! What's Eren's schedule tomorrow?"

"Clearing the yard," Levi said, not meeting the woman's eyes still, hands together on the table.

"Good, then. It's set!" she bent, grabbed Eren's hand in both of hers. "Eren! see you tomorrow!"

"Uh, okay," Eren said, looking fairly distressed, "but what sort of experiments are you doing on the Titans?"

"Huh?"

Eren jolted with a slight noise, trying again, "You know, the Titan experiments."

"Hey," Auruo hissed, "stop it. Don't ask."

Zoe tilted back herself, Hanji's expression bordering on manic. Levi still wasn't looking at Hanji, taking Zoe's cup from her little plate, her attention elsewhere at the moment. He finished it off quickly, nudging her elbow, tilting his chin to indicate that they move.

"Yea, I knew it," Hanji said, "I thought I saw curiosity in your eyes."

Levi shifted, moving out of his chair without too much speed, walking out, Zoe and his squad trooping out after him. "I think it's time to turn in for the night," Levi decided, standing in front of them in the hallway, a safe ways away from Hanji. "Shitty four-eyes back there is going to be talking through the night,so I bet you she'll not bother us if we're quiet, and don't give away our position."

Faint surprise at Levi's annoyed slur flashed across their faces, and Zoe knew how much he was bothered by Hanji, mostly because she wasn't really Levi's type of person. But he respected her skill, and desire for knowledge, so it all packed together to produce this effect.

"Ah, Captain, we were thinking of playing a game or something," Auruo said, hand rubbing through his hair.

"Whatever, make sure four-eyes doesn't find me, I'd rather read a report," Levi said, turning on his heel, glancing back to Zoe. "Come on."

She gave the others a brief nod, grabbing her arm at the elbow, following after Levi. Zoe grabbed his hand when they turned the corner, setting her head on his shoulder, his hand in both of hers. He glanced down at her once, then looked away, walking on side by side with her, the quiet intimacy they shared much more appealing than words.

Zoe stepped in front of him, almost tripping them up, and Levi's eyebrows rose.

He shook his head, "Smooth."

"Hush."

Levi yawned when the door shut behind them, working his boots off, arranging them next to the bed with hers. Zoe turned, easing off her jackets, rifling through the bag she'd brought, eyeing Levi. He stepped close, arms wrapping slowly around her slightly waist, observing her closely. She smiled, arms roving over his shoulders, dragging her nail over his skin, resting safe in his arms, if only for the time being.

"Don't you dare die," he murmured, quiet as he pressed small kisses where he could. Zoe wondered if he'd say 'not like them'.

She nodded, though they both knew the futility of saying something like that. Second time today he'd said it, and she rested, body going soft in the strong circle he created. He brought his eyes to hers, tugging her back with him on the bed, switching their positions in an instant. Zoe circled her arms around the back of his neck, playing with his hair as he kissed her, dropping it when he pushed her up the bed, grumbling quietly, caging her under him.

"What?"

He tipped slightly, looked at the light under the door. "Thought I heard something."

"That's nice, can we resume kissing?"

"So I can make you feel good?"

"Really? You let it go so easily this afternoon, and now you're going to make it a thing; you're the worst."

"Am I?" he asked, waiting for a response she didn't give.

Levi's short breath was warm, and he shifted himself back on top of her. His hands slid over her body, lips pressing down, and she gave a satisfied smile, arm crooking back, fisting in the white sheets, arching up for more contact, able to just see him. Felt his tongue trace a practiced route, eyes closing for the briefest second, before they opened, moonlight doing wonders for him.

He fisted her pants in his hands, pulled them down quickly, straining and tearing the tie, which was an attractive thing to do, but these were the only pajama bottoms she had. Zoe didn't complain, especially as he placed himself back between her legs, closer now. His name rolled off her tongue, along with his rank, Levi's eyebrows raising in response, before a smirk slid over his lips. Levi yanked her closer to him, as much as he could, pressing her into the mattress.

"Say that again," he said, hot breath tickling the shell of her ear.

Zoe felt woozy, moving her hips for some friction, eyes given view of the full expanse of his muscled back. Goddammit, he made everything unfair. "I-just-it was the spur-Levi-"

"Say it again."

She gave a hum, legs draping over his waist, undulating slow under him, "Captain Levi. That do?"

"Fuck, I wanna hear you shout it," he mumbled, voice rough. "Or something. Just want to-"

Levi halted his words for a second, sat back on his heels, glaring at the light in the hallway, shirt halfway off his frame. Zoe sat up on her elbows, severely disappointed he had to stop there, as Levi scooted off the bed, tossing her his shirt before he yanked the door open, catching his subordinates mid mad dash away from their eavesdropping position. He gazed down at them, being that they'd all fallen in their effort to run from the door, chin tilted up and away. She gave a little laugh, sitting up further, holding his shirt up around her chest.

"Levi, hurry up, no one has time for your death glare," she said, giving a small sigh, disliking that his people had decided to come in right then. "Come back to bed, please?" He twitched at the please, grumbling under his breath.

"Leave," he said shortly, slamming the door behind him.

I'm thinking it over. The way you make me feel all sexy but it's causing me shame. I wanna lean on your shoulder, I wish I was in love but I don't wanna cause any pain; and if I'm feeling like I'm evil, we've got nothing to gain