Celine walked through the bustling halls of Headquarters, coming across Levi in his office a few minutes after she parted ways with Eren. The quant, sunlit room with its small sitting area and meticulously polished furniture never failed to evoke a level of calm. She took note of the short table in the middle of the room having already been set up with a teapot and two cups. The small green couch across from Levi let out a soft squeak as she sat. Celine crossed one leg over the other as tea was poured into her cup.

"Your arm's out of a sling," Celine said, accepting the offered cup and saucer. "Did the doctor say you could do that, or is this you being stubborn?"

"Both," Levi said. He blew over his tea before taking a sip. "I don't foresee the injury impairing me from going on the excursion. Let Hange know if you see her before I do."

"Of course."

"Did the brats pass inspection?" Levi asked, regarding her over the rim of his cup.

"With flying colors," Celine said with a satisfied nod. "We don't expect there to be any issues with their abilities concerning patching Wall Maria. As for outside factors … we're still working on that, as you know."

Celine hummed into her cup. They drank in silence for a moment before she spoke again.

"What exactly is going on here?"

Levi's brows coming together indicated he didn't find her question amusing. "You're being too vague."

"I was expecting something to change between us over the past two weeks," Celine said. She set down her tea and crossed her arms. "But our conversations, our interactions … things still look the same to me."

"I figured it was obvious," Levi said. He poured himself more tea in a casual manner. "There's only one direction to go from here."

Celine tilted her head, feeling entirely lost. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"What else? We'll be getting married."

Levi being regarded as if his skin had suddenly turned orange didn't appear to faze him in the slightest. He reached over the table to add more tea to Celine's cup.

"… What?" Celine said.

"We'll be getting married," Levi repeated. He sat back in his seat, propping his elbow on the armrest. "That's what people do in this situation, isn't it? Congratulations – you were successful in wearing me down."

Celine's shock morphed into something unpleasant. "When you put it that way, it sounds sort of awful."

Levi seemed lost in thought. His gaze remained fixed on his tea for a beat before he spoke.

"I want every morning to be like this. With you sitting across from me; not just on the days we have the time to spare."

Celine found the comment humorous. "Of all the reasons to marry a person …" She leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm. "Even if I was your wife, I might not have tea with you still, you know. I could take off before dawn if you were to put me in a sour enough mood."

"And as your husband, I'd be there when you'd return home," Levi said. "Whatever we do to put one another in a sour mood will always have a chance to be corrected."

"Such an optimist," Celine said. She tilted her head to better study Levi's expression. "That must be why you have no reservations asking someone to marry you after knowing them for such a short time."

The assessment didn't bother Levi as he only shrugged. "Am I breaking some sort of rule? You told me before I should do what I want – so I am. The length of time I've known you doesn't affect my decision."

A memory caused a grin to break across Celine's face. "Only a few months ago I threatened to cut out your tongue and shove it up your ass. Do you remember that?"

"That was when we met," Levi said. He lifted his tea, and for the first time Celine noticed he was holding the cup by the small handle instead of around the rim. No … this hadn't been the first time. She'd caught him adjusting his grip before; he'd done it back in the captain's cabin when he'd brought in the broken down loom. It'd been a sign of something Celine was only beginning to read now.

"In all honesty," Levi said. "I'd viewed you back then as nothing more than another Military Police shithead who would've been a better use to humanity as Titan fodder more than anything else."

Celine's eyelids drooped. "Yes, I'd gotten that impression."

"You also didn't back down."

Levi's eyes narrowed. "That annoyed the shit out of me. What made it worse was that I respected you for it. I studied every move you made that night, every word you said to Erwin, and your conviction didn't falter. You were still an entitled asshole, but I was able to understand why Hange trusted you."

Celine leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "Goodness, Levi – you seem absolutely smitten." She couldn't fight back the shit-eating grin as her companion scowled. "You're doing a very good job making me hard pressed to reject your proposal. Although … I can't say I wouldn't have preferred one with more flowery words and dramatics."

Levi slowly swirled the tea in his cup. "You should look elsewhere if you want a man with more eloquence."

"A bold statement," Celine said, flipping her braid over her shoulder. "Do you think I'm making a poor choice?"

Levi's teacup returned to his saucer. He leaned back, mirroring Celine's lax position. "You may expect something from me I can't give. I'm not the type who will blindly do as you say, or agree with you if you're wrong. I can foresee us having our share of arguments in the future."

The words were absorbed with a level expression. Celine tilted her head. "I feel like that's not all."

Levi paused for a moment in thought. "I don't know what it is you want from me. In that regard, I'll anticipate you telling me your expectations. You'll always have my ear; your opinion is one I respect. I'm not fool enough to believe I'm without shortcomings or lapses in judgment. However, I would prefer that when we struggle, it will be together and not against one another."

"Those terms sound reasonable enough," Celine said. The smile on her lips slowly ebbed away. The hardened expression now on Levi's face left her sitting up in apprehension as he spoke.

"I also want you to know if someday I don't come back from a scouting mission, be aware I did everything I could to return to you."

Celine's lips parted. She looked away as her heart fluttered in her chest.

"It isn't fair," Celine said, a pout touching her lips as she gazed across the room. "I have a hard time knowing what to do with you when you throw me off guard." She brought her attention back to Levi's level expression. She studied his face, wondering when he'd suddenly gone from the dickhead of a captain who she couldn't stand to someone who's presence she couldn't live to be without.

"You really do have lovely eyes," Celine said. She felt her cheeks grow warm. "It's one of the many things I've found myself loving about you."

Celine offered a nervous smile. "I think I've loved you for some time, if my relentless pursuit hasn't made that obvious enough."

Levi reacted with a slow blink. "I don't know if I can respond in kind."

By all accounts the comment should've left Celine devastated. The way Levi regarded her, however …

"I've heard that phrase countless times from the mouths of those whose actions conveyed otherwise," Levi said. He leaned his elbows on his knees, lacing his fingers. "None of the men who visited my mother ever meant it. The words were just as hollow when she would turn around and direct them at me. What I feel for you isn't anything like that."

"Ah," Celine said. She dropped her gaze to her lap with a nod. "I see. Then I suppose I need to make something clear: for me, love is fleeting. I never know how long I'll have it, so I grab on with all my might. I'm selfish, and stubborn, so I hate to give things up. I'm not the sort of altruistic person who will wish you well if your affections for me change. If I had your love, I would want to keep it for myself, and do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way. Love is … fighting against the world to keep what I've found for as long as I can."

A steady expression met Celine when she raised her head. "Do you remember when you told me to hate you for who you are?" Levi asked.

Celine's eyes widened.

"That was the first time I had a real sense of who Celine Bodt was," Levi said. "After that parting, the image I had of you in my mind began to shift. I found you to be the sort of person who could make hard decisions for the good of humanity even if it was at a detriment to yourself. You're resourceful, hardworking, and intelligent. You became my ally; the person I always want to have fighting at my side. If I'm allowed to give this feeling my own meaning … then I suppose I'll call it love."

Levi's eyes narrowed at the unexpected laugh escaping Celine. A moment passed as she composed herself.

"You really do challenge me at every turn," Celine said. She wiped her eyes with her wrist. "I told you to hate me, and you've aimed for the opposite. You're going to drive me insane." Celine's smile grew sly. "At least I'll never be bored with you around."

The gentle smile on Celine's face was returned in kind. "You should recall what I said a moment ago," Levi said. "You have to tell me your expectations. If that's what you want, I'll be sure you never will."

"How obedient; I could get used to that," Celine said. She leaned forward with an eager expression. "What are you doing in three days?"