(AN: The lyrics, which take hold on a break further down, are modern to an extent, but, Oakland is the name of the song CG rapped over, so, the tied the location in as such. View the 'Oakland', as something of a, I dunno, metaphor? For another location (..?). But yea.)

She says she feels alone all the time, I'm similar, I meet her in my dreams on the moon, I visit her; Every night I tell her, "I wanna solve the world, I think I need your help.". She tells me "how you gon' trust somebody when you don't trust yourself?"

She was at the checkpoint desk, one of five, that large redhead close next to her, getting very handsy. Levi's hands fisted tight, tried to look away from her, but she smiled, sleep-ringed eyes not mimicking the expression in the terms of emotion. He set his identification in front of her, crossed his arms over his chest, gazed down at her, wished she'd look at him, so he could apologize without making the first move.

Zoe looked up, but didn't...she looked through him, something he'd never experienced with her. As she did this, she stamped his hand, hard enough to make his jaw clench, pain zipping through him. Levi glared at her, but she didn't twitch, just ground the stamp further into his skin. His glare dissolved, just happy she was interacting with him, though...it did hurt a lot at the moment, so. He yanked his hand back.

"oops," she said, and the people behind his line branched away, this new insight on Zoe's mannerisms with stamps traveling back, scuffles over new positions in the other lines.

Nathan relieved her, and the line returned, though Levi did see him kiss her on the cheek. Levi stared at the wall in front of him, tried to do a bit of math concerning this sudden upcrop of kisses. Rushing to commitment; that wasn't Zoe. Yea, he could see the red headed fuck doing that, but Zoe? No. She was too technically, and fairly high maintenance, mostly because she was picky. And that was all. But, her kind of picky, was a level above his, because while he was high maintenance in respects of cleaning, at least that shifted away for a time.

She had to have the specific type of vegetable, specific bread; a hell of a lot of food she didn't consume, essentially. Though, she made up for it because she usually procured her foods, and was very good at picking out the things she didn't like. No complaining, just smooth problem solving, though she was stalled when the cook asked her if his cooking wasn't good. Levi remembered her stammering close to a point of tears, looking mortified, tried to laugh it off, but sometimes her awkward manner was crippling. If she could get over it, find some confidence, and not a thin veil, then she'd just…

Levi stood on the edge of the crowd, though when the tables were brought out, he sat in a chair. Erwin appeared for one hour, sat with him, talked, though Levi was distracted by Zoe, foot shifting to and fro. His Commander gave that small little smile, shook his head as he looked down at the table, and Levi set his elbow on the table, raising his eyebrows.

"What?"

"Nothing. You're just...odd, when it comes to her, maybe because it really highlights your inability to operate under feelings."

"At least I don't have constipation, Erwin."

"You're talking like that now, Levi, but, for the most part, what goes around does come around."

"And I can operate under feelings," Levi said, eyebrows twisting up, stared at Erwin.

Erwin raised his hand in a gesture that hardly ended the little argument, especially when he continued, "well, yes, to a degree, Levi. I was translating that to situations of this type, and the large amount of time you spend with her. Have spent. I might be painting broad strokes, but, despite that, it's one of the smaller things to do. As you know, I've never been, or should I've say gotten in deep, with anyone to this extent, so, my romantic advice is severely lacking in this area."

Levi attempted a shrug, but didn't muster enough energy to do so, yawning wide, finger starting a beat against his cheek, music much better than yesterday. And he had a clear view of Zoe, though it was increasingly marred by Nathan. He woke himself up, at least, going through his options of winning her back, lingering, mostly for himself, on the idea of make up sex. Took a deeper breath as he let it play out, smirk tugging at his lips, but, he really didn't think that was going to work. Even if it historically had.

He frowned, unable to think of a way to make up that didn't involve sex. Didn't want to say sorry, or, just…. He'd really though he was protecting from her getting hurt in the way he was normally privy to, fuck emotions. Levi's finger stabbed at the table cloth, weighing his solutions, costs of him just walking away, realized he couldn't do that.

The band switched it up, replaced the instrumental with soft taps on a, what he assumed, a cymbal, and a lone man with a string instrument stepped up. He spoke into the microphone, stammered over his words, and apologized, laughing with the people, then invited everyone who was on the outside partake in this. Levi really didn't know who buffeted him enough to get him out of his seat, but he was herded along, shoved into the throng of people. Essentially, he'd finally met his tolerance of social behavior, as well as breaking the cap on the numer people he'd like to be around him during his life time.

They all seemed to kind of...get closer, though the singer was loud enough, as well as his instrument, so why? Was it the bouncy tone of the song? The way it dipped and swayed, maybe; because Levi was not into anyone singing for this duration of time. Though he got to the edge numerous times, someone moved, and jerked him back into the mess of people.

He stood stiffly in the center, glared at the darkening sky, pressed a hand to his temple, waited for the song to end. Levi saw Zoe, then, and he jolted towards her, hand outstretched, stole her away, back to his position. She looked at him, to the hand on her waist, pulled away, even as his heart soared, because he'd found her, wanted to keep her here. In an odd movement, he tipped forward, tried to go back at the same time; an exhibition of his conflict between clipping her wings again, and facing the idea that if he didn't, she'd go somewhere else.

Levi didn't know what to do, how to operate, afraid he'd do something that would catalyze this reaction. Thought about the multiple times he'd stolen her back in one way or the other, hoped she'd stay with him, so he didn't have to do that anymore, though he'd run after her, until she stopped him. He spoke her name, the breath that carried hardly an audible noise, depending on her ability to read his lips. His fingers touched over the necklace covered most times under her collar, the braided leather, heart dropping abruptly, opening his mouth, but the apologies stalled, caught despite their weight.

Love songs; the one the singer was crooning now, stories that hadn't held much place. He never understood why people liked the songs, kept them in their memories, thought it stupid, that more important things deserved to be sung about, remembered. Fancied, when the lights went out, and he was shifted to the side, someone might sing about him. Maybe. If something was of note.

Still; when had his life become a fucking love song?

That shit phrase that he'd heard preached was going around his head, 'if you love something let it go, and it'll come back to you'. Something along those lines. Except, he wasn't good at voluntary sitting on his ass, and letting things come to him. Stole them. Like he had her, only a second back. Couldn't be the last time he saw her, or had her mad at him for breaking her brush, argued with her, lied about her ability to cook. Ups and downs he could handle, but a clean break?

His breath shook from his lungs, reviewing his luck, historically, among letting things go that mattered to him, keeping them out of trouble. Very low success rates. He'd compile a list, put this blunder close top of it, nerves zipping through him as he continued to scroll through his options. Levi didn't want to get rebuffed, but he expected it, putting himself into the mindset that this was it; this was over, whatever this was. Thought back to how surprised people were when they recognized him and Zoe, especially if he was engaging in public displays of affection, or she was smiling up at him, like she was now. Wondered if they'd protest the relationship like Sjeh had, and still was, frankly, though Levi was incredibly good at dodging her.

But minus the smile. Just those big brown eyes, sleep ringed, shying away from him. He wanted her to do something, say something, hit him; kiss him. Erase the last look he had of her, if this was the last time he saw her.

"You can," Levi looked down at his shoes, nerves shuddering up again, but he was going to get this out, "come with us on the expedition. Yea? It's your decision. So, I just; there. Up to you. I need-" he needed her to tell him that he was blocking her light, see her walk through the door; whatever. "I need you back at the outpost by...tomorrow afternoon. I got Erwin to extend us a week more. So; final debreif over that time."

He didn't turn from her. When she walked away, he went after her a few steps, the music ending on a finally quavering note, silence enough for him to whisper a please. But it was her decision. Levi wasn't going to put extra weight on it, but he wanted the day of waiting gone. Day and a half.

With her...he'd gotten another side of it all. Gotten to act out his childhood fantasies of wife and home, the ones he'd thought he'd buried. And the stark contrast of those fantasies, the times where he didn't get that side, went instead with the familiar temperament of sex. But still; a blend enough to make his head spin, to fudge his decisions, not split them apart. Not that he could.

He hadn't even assumed for a happy ending in this life. Wondered if he was going to find that with her. Knew he was. When his career ended, if favorable, he'd...he'd want to live somewhere with her, far away from people in general; wanted her, so fucking badly, his hands shook as he let her walk away. Pictured it now, the house, them, though he'd never thought to explore the idea. Levi managed to conjure up a child's laugh as well, though when the image faded, he saw the source of the noise, and Zoe was gone.

I took off my nine to five, but you still don't have the time to kiss me (just hit me). And if I left you all alone, would you still pick up the phone? it's iffy; you miss me. I got furniture to move, and we'll both be thirty soon in Oakland, in Oakland. The only one I know is you, so the fuck I'm supposed to do? In Oakland, in Oakland

Jay stepped up next to her, looked at the clock, hands on his hips, squinting against the sunlight. Zoe squeezed her hands shut, hoped he hadn't alerted Nathan, watching the clock tick, nudging the 7. 8 o'clock was the end of the afternoon. And she'd been standing there for at least 30 minutes, knew she was coming off odd to every person who passed.

"Commander, uh; you thinking of moving, or standing here?"

"Did you talk to Nathan?"

"Sent him on a goose chase."

"Literally?"

"Yea, there were geese in the square, and the rich-geese there."

She opened her mouth to say something about how awkward he was, but then realized she'd have said the exact same thing and closed it. Zoe watched the minutes tick by, standing stiff. Her hands flexed slow at her side, and she crossed her arms, though it just left her fidgeting to her feet, rocking slow to and fro, replaying his please last night.

"What are you going to do, Commander?" Jay asked, and she relaxed, happy with his term, wanted erase the ones she'd heard from Nathan.

"What do you think?"

"What do I think?" Jay repeated, a beat carrying before he shrugged. "dunno. Not a lot of people have asked me that."

"Yes, I...understand that sentiment, at least."

"Anyways, if you're going to make the decision, then I don't think you need me to do anything."

Zoe heard his footsteps retreat, turned, called him back. "Jay, you think you can distract Nathan?"

"Yea. Can you tell Petra I said hi?"

"Okay."

"But-I mean; just-less awkwardly then I did, I just kinda; tell her hi. Like, you know; right?"

She understood the choppy sentence better than others could, gave him a nervous wave to match, and darted off to the stables. Her horse looked almost miffed, jostled to and fro without oats or water to be distracted with as Zoe tightened the girth, breaking away to drag her 3D gear out. Zoe pushed some oats in front of the mare, loading the gear on, across from her saddle bag, still less heavier than the movement gear.

The mare attempted to tipped its head away, not looking too happy when the bit was finally stationed in place, an obstacle now in place, interrupting the oat consumption. Zoe didn't waste any time, bouncing twice on her foot, swinging herself up into saddle, urged her horse forward, following the main path, past the apothecary, her nephew peering out the shop window. She twisted, though her hair interrupted her vision, hand up to wave, the small boy responding, even running out to shout her name and a farewell.

Maybe she'd come back before she went out on the expedition, hug him goodbye properly. Just in case; but now, she looked forward, caught sight of another clock tower, though it was less ornate. The gate rose, and she didn't wait another beat, finding her way back to the outpost. DEspite what Levi thought about her directorial abilities, she was fine at finding her way. So there.

Zoe didn't stop to hitch her horse to the post, knew it was stupid to just blithely throw the reigns in a direction, because it wasn't as if she had another mode of travel. She ran into the castle, saw Erd, who instantly redircted her, smiling for some odd reason. It was possible her face was red, and she was breathing harder than normal, sprinting down the hall. This wasn't a work out in the slightest, but she was still running forward.

Erwin was stepping out of a door at the end of it, though Zoe was stopping to shove every door down the long hallway open and didn't give him another glance.

He finally cleared his throat enough to attract her attention, stepping out of the door frame, exposing Levi, who sat in the room, head buried in the crook of his arm, the easy rise and fall of his back signifying that he was asleep. She stopped in the door, breathed deep, looked to Erwin, waving her hand around her face, flustered, sure her hair was out of order.

"He was up all night, cleaning. Terrified the recruits, and Ness, so. Well, less frightening to the latter, but usually, the seasoned men aren't scared by Levi."

"Oh. I just; was I in time?"

"Of course," Erwin shifted further out of the doorway, just held the door open for her as he spoke, "debrief starts tomorrow. I pushed it back."

She nodded, recalled that she was supposed to tell Petra hi from Jay, but Levi was shifting, eyes opening to her. The door shut behind her, and he moved, stumbled, sleep fading fast as he reached her, hands skirting down her frame. Zoe wasn't really used to seeing the exhausted Levi, maybe because he was painted in a larger than life way, but this. This was humanizing, dark rings around his eyes, exhaustion possibly leading to a lack concealed emotions.

"Fuck," he breathed, arms wrapped tight around her waist, pushed his face into the space of her neck, "Zoe, Zoe," over and over, even as he crumpled, caved for the first time, his head pressed to her lower stomach, hand gripping on her hip, the other around her upper thighs, holding on. "I'll give you all I've got, yea? Till there's no more."

She nodded, stunned at the display, though it dissolved, and she let her hand slide into his hair, felt the groan he muffled. His hands flexed, tightened their hold, and Zoe was shifted, almost off balance, accustomed to her being in the position he was. Metaphorically and otherwise, he was the one she commonly leaned on, didn't see how mutual it was, though this action was healthy. Trust, really.

From the first time he caught her waist, got them up the face of the wall, away from danger. Her ability to be a cohesive partner, working in tandem with him; same with him. The sex, too, even, was another piece to this. Maybe. She may just be thinking about it for herself, at the moment, and would leave that to think of later.

Still; trust. She'd never attempted to lord over any group, going with the idea she wasn't cut out to be a leader . Nor did she think she could, as a principle theory in her mother's upbringing was the idea that ladies, such as herself, shouldn't be presenting herself in such a way. The third time Zoe had contested this had been the last, as the smacks that buffeted her head were painful. Another theory was that she should allow men to speak for her, this working with the other idea that she was to be quiet, and, possibly, supplicating herself emotionally to the male in a similar way Levi was.

He managed to flip all of these things on their heads, was one of the first people who saw her for who she was, and didn't shy away from all the nerves, general jittery nature that inhabited her. Levi stayed to help her. And even if his help came with a signature smirk, as he flopped next to her, and elbowed her out of the way, didn't block her light as he usually did. Helped sort her muddled thoughts, the twisted ideas preached to her either straightened or thrown away.

Now she was sure he trusted her decisions, regretted her behavior the past few days, and really, really wanted to punch Nathan, deciding to slap some of the blame for her pitch downwards. Maybe deal a blow to herself as well, to a good extent, though her hands were busy in Levi's hair at the moment. Zoe felt that it was a balance she achieved with him, because it wasn't bad, really, to have someone at the bottom holding the ladder stable if a gust came along, was it? Especially when he imparted a bit of wisdom on how to keep herself steady without him.

Zoe shifted alongside him, and Levi adjusted his arm to her new position, foot bouncing slow in the air, muffling a yawn in his hand. She glanced at him, focused back on the board, actually writing down notes, which was all very well aligned with her over-achieving, book worm attitude. When he tried to take the paper away, look at her notes, Zoe smacked his hand hard and loud enough to attract Hanji's attention.

Four-eyes shook her head, and focused back on the board, to which Levi now used the large lack of attention on the both of them to cozy up to her. Made sure his tilted position was very suggestive, though his pace was measured, as he hadn't yet ushered back sex into the common day activities. Though he had gotten the kisses back, the lingering looks, her telling him, at the moment, that he was blocking her light.

As the private debriefing was let out, he hung back, pulled her after him, though Zoe grumbled about her notes, that she couldn't see. Levi blinked once or twice, adjusting to the dark faster than she, her hand in his, looking up at the sky again, the full moon hanging there, bright enough now, in the field he brought her to. He looked around, gesturing to the little area he'd set up, lamp light glowing, and watched her, warmth flushing through him as she smiled, shoved him when he smirked, triumphant in the knowledge that he made her happy.

"What's this for?"

"You know.."

"I do, but I kind of want to hear you say it."

"Fine; to say I'm sorry for trying to steer you. What's that called?"

"Sidesaddle driving."

"Sure."

Eren attempted to make a covert b-line for the table, holding the food that was supposed to be there, but Levi coughed rather pointedly, stopped the boy's mad dash to safety. Levi turned, scowling, forming a number of questions in his mind, preparing to give him an interrogation that would rival Hanji's questions about his manifest form. Zoe tugged him back, hiding her smile as she pressed her forehead to his chest.

"It's fine, Levi."

"Yea?"

She nodded, and Levi waved Eren away, hoping he'd be on time for other things when it came down to it. But, Zoe had successfully redirected his attention, pulling her with him, squirreling out of his reach when he attempted to kiss her. A grape was put in his mouth instead, but he still shuffled closer, gazing up at the stars with her. Recalled that book she had, the stories about the stars, thought they brought comfort to the reader. There was a sky full of heroes, was what the book displayed, floating over all of them, sentient, strong.

Though he felt differently, as the host of stars above him seemed cold, aloof. Not heroes, slaying mythical bears, wolves; strong, grand heroes in theory. They didn't stoop to them, for all their strength, never answered questions, and no one else seemed to know the answers. Levi was alone, felt the sentiment all the more strongly as he stared at the dots of light, traveling alongside the rising moon, close, a few of them.

Wondered who'd made the decision to leave them all alone like this.

Zoe wrapped her arms around him, pulled his eyes back down to her, breathing easier. Erased the stranded and lonely stains, though he wondered if she'd continue to hold him close like this when they chose to travel on, as he would, just as tightly. Levi hoped she'd never listen to people who told her not to stay with him, pressed to his side.

He loved her, as well, maybe, she did. Unspoken, yes, but his words were coarse, and she stumbled over some of hers. So it might be better unspoken, a secret guarded between the two of them, trust enough to hold it safe. Zoe was here with him, and Levi knew she cared because of that.

Can we just roll with the feeling? Can we just roll for a minute? Wait a minute; (..) And I'm nervous, truth be told, I never saw me growing old in Oakland, in Oakland. And if I married you tonight, it would probably start a riot in Oakland