Pairing: Levi/Petra & Eren/Mikasa

Setting: Sometime when they are all in the Scouting Legion together

Words: 2638

Rating: K+

Notes: An anon asked for Levi and Petra giving advice to Eren and Mikasa. They specifically asked for Levi/Petra in the story and I had no problem writing them ^^ In fact, after I wrote this I finally started to ship them. Good on you, anon! haha The title is from "We Are Young" by Fun.

We Can Burn Brighter Than the Sun

Petra prized herself on being an observant person; you had to be in her line of work or you would get yourself and your comrades killed. That wasn't the type of observation she was speaking about though. Yeah, she knew military strategy and she knew battlefield tactics when it came fighting Titans but she knew how to read people, she knew how to read her comrades; no matter how new they were.

She could barely bite back her smile as she sat in one of the meeting rooms, sitting by the window and reading a book, well, pretending to read a book. Really, Petra was watching two of the new recruits curled up on a ratted couch in the corner of the room. She wasn't sure if they just didn't know she was there since their backs were to her, but Petra saw them easily. Eren she recognized right away since she already knew him but the girl sitting next to him Petra didn't know. Not until someone else told her it was Mikasa Ackerman whom Petra had heard of due to the girl's scores in training. She wasn't focused on Mikasa's training and abilities today though, no, Petra was watching the very distinct way Mikasa was looking at Eren.

The two were sitting pretty close together; not close enough to raise any alarms but Petra saw something they clearly didn't know they were giving off. Eren had his eyes down while Mikasa watched him carefully and that was pretty normal Petra would assume; nothing to draw attention. What had gotten her attention in the first place was when Eren did look up to Mikasa, meeting her eyes; a smile would pull at her lips and it would light up her face. It wasn't just her though; no, when Eren watched Mikasa's face, a smile was on his own lips, his eyes bright.

It was possibly the cutest thing Petra saw in a long time. Eren looked at her like she was the only one in the room and Mikasa looked at him like there was no one she could possibly love more. As far as Petra was aware they weren't in any type of relationship; a childhood friend is what Eren mentioned when both Mikasa and Armin joined the Scouting Legion with him. Petra had been watching them for the better part of an hour and she'd easily say they were not just childhood friends. You didn't look at your best friend the way Eren looked at her. Oh no, they were in love with each other even if they didn't quite know it yet; though Petra thought the way Eren would lean into Mikasa every now and then, close enough for lips to brush skin Petra was pretty sure they were aware of it and she knew love when she saw it. There was no bashfulness between them, no embarrassment; like it was just perfectly natural for them to behave this way when it was the two of them. Petra had to hold back an amused giggle as she thought at least that was how it was when they were in public.

"What're you grinning about?"

Petra looked up to see the one person who could sneak up on her leaning up against the window she was sitting next to. She put a finger in her book as she looked up towards Levi, though he wasn't looking at her. "Watching over the new recruits," she answered.

Levi glanced down towards her, his arms against his chest. "There's no one in here."

She nodded towards the couch where Eren and Mikasa were speaking lowly to each other, their faces close.

Levi grunted in response.

"Oh, stop that, Sir," Petra rolled her eyes. "It's cute, how can't you think it's cute?"

"Because I've been trying to ignore the fact one of them breaks curfew almost every night to find the other so I don't murder the both of them."

"You can't blame them; let them have it while they still can besides they're just kids. They need some happiness in this world."

Levi's gaze never left hers. "And what good does it do you when you're left alone without the other."

"It doesn't always end that way." She felt her face softening, her tone lightening as she spoke to him. She knew he wasn't talking about Eren and Mikasa anymore. To most people, Petra assumed, it might seem like Levi's face was unchanging regardless of the situation, but she knew his tells and she saw the way his eyes became just a bit more gentle.

"C'mon, I'll show you." She stood up to her feet and started to walk towards the door making sure to take note that Eren and Mikasa saw them leave. She closed the door behind both her and Levi but didn't move from there. She just kept her hand on the handle and waited a few minutes.

Levi arched an eyebrow at her. "Are we really spying on two fifteen year olds?"

She hushed him and put her ear to the door; it was a pretty heavy wooden door so she couldn't hear too much. Instead she decided to slowly crack open the door, angling herself so they couldn't see her from where they were sitting on the couch. Well, they hadn't moved and they sure weren't about to see her anytime soon. Petra had to bite back a laugh when she saw that probably the moment they left the room Eren had pulled Mikasa into his lap his arms holding her close to him as he kissed her.

"Jesus," Levi rolled his eyes, his breath warm on her ear. He moved so he was standing directly behind her, peering into the room as well. "Do they not know what public decency is? Are you at least gonna let me walk in so I can scare the hell outta them?"

Petra hit him in the stomach with the back of her hand. "Leave them alone," she whispered, glancing over to Levi. "I think it's adorable."

"I don't know what's adorable about two horny as hell teenagers making out in a meeting room."

Petra closed the door quietly as she turned to look at him. "It's adorable because they love each other, how can you not see that?"

"Oh I see it, and it's gonna get them both killed. They're too reckless when it comes to each other; they'd risk too much to keep the other safe."

She arched an eyebrow up at him. "Isn't that what you would do too?"

Levi groaned making him sound like he was angry but Petra knew better. He grabbed a hold of her waist and pushed her up against the wall next to the door, leaning in so his body was up against hers. "And I told you the same thing didn't I?" he murmured.

He did, he said it multiple times but she never cared. She reached up to put a hand to his cheek. "I'd rather die knowing you loved me than never knowing at all."

He tilted his head down to press his lips against hers. He was a hard man but Petra loved the way he kissed her; it was almost always gentle to start. She reached her arms up around his neck to pull him closer.

"I see," she murmured with a grin when he broke away, leaning his forehead against hers. "You were just jealous it was them in there and not us. Don't look at me like that, it's not like we've never behaved just like those two."

"We're adults."

"They will be too soon. Besides, they're old enough to join the Scouting Legion, they're old enough to make adult decisions to make them happy."

"I really don't care to think about that." Levi leaned in to kiss her again cutting off anything else she might've wanted to say.

Petra could stay like this forever; there wasn't much else she enjoyed as much as being with him. Most people might've thought she was insane but she wouldn't have him change for anything.

The door creaked open next to them. Even when it meant getting caught in the otherwise empty hallway.

Petra looked over to see both Eren and Mikasa staring at Petra and Levi. They looked surprised and breathless, their faces flushed but she wasn't sure if that was because they just got caught off guard or because they were caught doing the same thing in the room. Judging by the state of both their clothes and hair, Petra guess it was a bit of both.

Levi still hadn't moved from holding her against the wall as he looked over to Eren and Mikasa's wide eyes. "We already saw you two brats go at it. We're even, so get to where you're supposed to be."

"Yes, Sir," Eren choked out, Mikasa trying to look like she wasn't horribly embarrassed but it wasn't working.

"Wait!" Petra cried out before they could bolt. "On the top floor, all the way towards the back. No one ever goes in those rooms." She gave them a thumbs up and a grin but Mikasa was already as red as her scarf as she looked up to Eren helplessly.

He wasn't much better, just staring wide eyed. "Uhh, t-thanks," he managed.

"And you brats better use some kinda protection. That's all we need," Levi grunted but that seemed to do it.

Mikasa dropped her face into her hands and Eren made some kinda strangled noise. "I think we're g-gonna…go," Eren spurted, grabbing a hold of Mikasa's hand, and tugging her down the hall without looking back.

Petra sighed as she crossed her arms against her chest. "I think we made it worse. I just wanted to help."

"Teenagers don't want advice from their superiors. They want us to pretend we have no idea what's going on."

She bit her lip as she looked up at him. That really didn't make her feel any better but maybe…

"I know that look, what do you want?"

"Will you talk to Eren and I'll talk to Mikasa?"

"No."

"Levi, c'mon." She hit his shoulder. "We have to make this right or they'll never look at us again."

"We?" Levi arched an eyebrow at her. "I believe it was you who started this whole thing."

Well, that was true but Petra needed his help now. Eren probably wouldn't listen to her like Mikasa wouldn't listen to Levi. "Please?"

He sighed and she knew she had him. "Fine but no promises he's making it out alive."

Petra threw her arms around his neck, pressing her lips against his. Levi was significantly quieter after that.

While Mikasa and Eren did a good job avoiding both Petra and Levi all day, they couldn't ignore a formal request from superior officers. Petra thought that was pretty smart but Levi just grunted like he always did. Whatever, it worked because Mikasa was peering into the meeting room.

"Come in," Petra gestured with what she hoped was a soothing smile. "Take a seat."

Mikasa stepped in slowly, shutting the door behind her and sat down across from Petra at the table. The young girl wasn't looking at her which didn't surprise Petra too much; they had nearly given the teens a heart attack.

"I'm really sorry about earlier, Mikasa," Petra said trying not to make things worse.

"No need to apologize, Sir," Mikasa said softly. "It was inappropriate of us."

She thought she was in trouble, and well, maybe it was anyone but Petra they would've been. "You aren't in trouble," she smiled. "I think it's a good thing. Live while you can and love while you can too."

Mikasa got a confused look on her face, like she didn't quite understand. "I thought it was against the rules?"

"Maybe if you wanted to cozy up to a superior officer but someone in your rank is perfectly fine, well, maybe frowned upon do to the high death rate but I disagree with that logic."

Mikasa's brow furrowed. "Why?"

"Because I think it's the opposite. It's because of the high death rate we should live our lives to the fullest while we can." Pretra cracked a grin. "You must agree or you wouldn't have been kissing when no one was looking."

There were those red cheeks on Mikasa's face again as she pulled up her scarf over her mouth. She seemed to want to be silent this time.

"Nothing to be embarrassed about," Petra said. "Eren's a good guy. I'm glad he has someone like you who obviously…" She wanted to say "loves" but she wasn't sure if they were quite there yet or not. "Cares for him like you do."

The younger girl actually gave a small smile this time. It was clear this was something that made Mikasa happy and that alone made Petra feel warmth in her chest. They were so young, so very young, they needed to feel happiness before it was too late or before it was lost from one another for good.

"Do, um, people know about you and…um…" Mikasa bit her lip like she wasn't too sure is she should be asking or not.

"Most do," Petra shrugged. "They just don't talk about it because they think Levi will kick their asses."

"Will he?"

"Probably, but he can actually be a bit of a softie."

Mikasa didn't look like she bought that at all and Petra couldn't quite blame her; Levi had that effect on people.

"I just wanted to talk to you," Petra said, getting back on her original topic. "To let you know you can always talk to me about anything you might not want to talk to others about or if you need advice from someone who understands, someone who…" Petra tried to think of the most delicate way to put this. "Has some experiences the other girls might not have."

The implication wasn't lost on Mikasa whose face had turned red again.

"I just mean I never want you to feel alone or scared. I'm here for you as a comrade but as a woman too, okay?"

Mikasa got this look on her face, one Petra couldn't quite read but she thought it was a good thing. "Thank you, Sir. I really appreciate it."

Petra knew Mikasa probably wouldn't want to talk right now; she seemed too shy for that but now she knew and that was good enough. "You're free to go."

Mikasa stood and gave a salute before scurrying out the door. Petra shook her head with a laugh and stood up to leave the room as well. Good talk, she hoped there were more like it down the road.

"How'd the girl talk go?"

She shut the door and looked over at Levi who was leaning up against the wall near her. "About as usual as expected. Mikasa nodded a few times and that was it." She leaned against the wall next to him. "Did you talk to Eren?"

Levi snorted. "I told him if he got her pregnant I'd make sure he'd never have kids again."

"Levi," Petra rolled her eyes. "Terrify him more why don't you?"

"I told him the people we love deserve to be cherished and taken care of because we never know when we'll never see them again."

She had her hands over her mouth. "That was so sweet of you."

"So he better get his head outta his ass and man up."

That was more expected. Petra went to slap him in the shoulder but Levi caught her hand with his and laced his fingers in between hers. She sighed but she had to smile. Those words he told Eren they were so true but Petra hoped none of them ever had to be left behind like that.