And here we have it! It's friday and soooo it's update time! No April Fools here. Enjoy!

LEVI POV

She stood by his window, leaning back against the sill as she perched, one foot crossed over the other, hair down as she threaded her fingers through it. She whistled softly and braided her hair against one of her shoulders, fingers slowing as he closed the door and approached.

She dipped her head. "Sir."

"Sanshi."

Silence crept back into their space as someone laughed down in the courtyard. She glanced over her shoulder and smirked, before setting her eyes back onto him and making him feel every bit the fool.

"So… What did I do this time?" She tilted her head and he winced on the inside. "You've been scowling at me every time I glance at you, so is it me still being pathetic and oh-so-reckless? Or something else?"

"You've done nothing wrong. It's not like that." He sighed and closed his eyes, hating how she snorted with disbelief. He didn't need to open his eyes to see the crisp smile, the defensive arch to her brows, throwing up the walls, ready to duck and dive through another conversation. He was such an asshole. "Sanshi, I meant it when I said I wanted to clear the air."

"All right..." She folded her arms, frowning and looking down. Small. Cautious. Likely still assuming she was at fault.

He cleared his throat. "I apologise."

She jolted and looked up, genuine confusion in her bright eyes as they scanned him and her brows shot up, nearly disappearing under the swooping fringe he kept imagining tucking behind her ears. Her lips opened. Then they closed.

He kept going. "My conduct towards you has been inexcusable, and I'm sorry for making you think you had done wrong, or that anything to do with your own conduct was improp–"

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Permission to request you speak plainly?" She half-laughed, the brows lowering into that wry expression that made heat creep along the back of his neck.

He straightened his perfectly fine uniform. "I've been acting like an ass, and that has fuck all to do with you."

"Better." She unfolded her arms and stepped away from the sill. The smirk fell against her red lips, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. At least the ice had begun to thaw. "So, in that case, can I ask why you've been acting like an ass? Am I just a handy outlet for some kinda frustration elsewhere or what?"

Frustration. Interesting choice of words.

He shook his head. "It's not important anymore, it's being dealt with. You'll not be bothered by it again."

"It?" She tilted her head. "Sir, I realise we never had a particularly close bond, but I liked to think we had a little rapport before this weirdness started. And…"

"What?" If she had some foolish notion of what was going on, and had warped it into her own fault despite his refusals, he had to know, he had to quash it. Why? Because he was an idiot, that was why. And the idea of him causing her more foundless guilt stung deeper than his own weakness.

Her smirk was gone, and a similar look to Petra's concern came to light. Only this one was like a peace offering, like she was giving him permission to blame her if needed. How she could go from triumphantly domineering to meek in a split second, he had no idea. It would give him whiplash eventually.

She continued. "And... It seems like this had all kinda started after that crap with Vincent." Her nose wrinkled on his name, the same way it had on that day. "So if the weirdness is actually rooted in some kind of disgust or–"

"No." He shook his head. "I already said it had nothing to do with you."

She shrugged. "Sometimes people say one thing and think another. I had to check."

"Well don't. I'm saying what I think." He glared. "And you're right, we did have a rapport, before my foolishness got in the way."

"Again, vague." She frowned. She looked him over and then her eyes narrowed. Her lips pursed, her posture leaned back and she folded her arms again. His hands clenched. It was fine, she hadn't figured it out. "What 'foolishness'? I don't get it. If I supposedly haven't done anything wrong, what's made you act differently towards me?"

"Just… Something I'm getting under control."

"Under control?"

"That's right."

She rolled her eyes. "Sir, this is bullshit, just–"

"It's nothing for you to concern yourself with. I just wanted to assure you that it's being dealt with, and offer my apologies." If he told her, she'd feel pressured into something, potentially. Or it would ruin their comradeship forever. It would blur lines that were never meant to be blurred. No matter how much he wanted them to. Shit. He hadn't thought that. He hadn't.

She clicked her tongue. "Sounds like you're just dodging the issue."

"I'm not."

"No? Then why is it such a big secret?"

"It's personal."

"Personal? A personal reason you have acted like I'm a plague carrier?"

"Yes."

"And that's supposedly not anything to do with me or my fault?"

"Correct. Not supposedly." He breathed out his nose. This woman, this ridiculous, astonishing, beautiful, tempting, maddening woman, was going to drive him insane before the conversation ended. "Sanshi, you're just being difficult now."

"Difficult? I'm trying to have a straightforward conversation."

"As am I."

"In a fucking zig-zagging way maybe." She shook her head. "So while you get it, whatever it is, under control, what should I assume?"

"That nothing is the matter and you've done nothing wrong."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." He gritted his teeth. "Simple."

"Like hell." She sighed, moving around him, aiming for the door, about to leave with the air even worse than it was before. Noise would be in her head. He doubted it would directly distract her from the mission, she wasn't the type to let such silly things get in the way of her duty. But if there was a twist of fate, if they were needing to depend on each other in a vital moment, he had to know she could still trust him, or herself. He couldn't be the reason her flame burnt out.

"Sanshi, I mean it. This is on me."

She stopped, barely a pace away from him, and turned. "What is?"

"I told you, it's–"

She waved a hand. "Personal? Bullshit. Just spit it out!"

"And if I don't want to?"

"I guess deal with my assumptions, as that's all I'm left to make."

That couldn't happen. That could lead to the worst outcome of all.

He swallowed hard. "That's ridiculous."

"Yeah, you said that much at least."

"Dammit, brat, just–"

"I'm listening, you're just not saying anything."

"For fuck's sake it's because I can't get you out of my fucking head! And all it's going to accomplish is getting one or both of us killed." The words spilled, like a bottle of Hanji's home brew. And they kept coming. He couldn't stop. "That being if you even wanted it as well, which of course you wouldn't. But that's it, all right? That's the big secret. The big personal issue I'm dealing with, like a pathetic worm. Nothing you have done is wrong, in fact everything you do seems to be right according to my brain, to the point that you can't even braid your hair without my eyes being glued in fucking place." He panted, shoulders feeling lighter than they had in months, and yet head feeling fit to explode while his heart raced.

Had he really said that?

He had.

His mouth moved, his tongue danced and the damn words were out there invading her ears and settling into her brain. Lines weren't blurred. They were obliterated.

She stared. Hazel burned bright as the lantern beside his bed flickered, the bustle of activity below them in the courtyard and in the corridors masking any amount of volume he had accomplished during his tirade. She blinked. A blush appeared along her cheeks.

"Shit." He groaned and ran a hand through his hair, tugging on it. "Now I'm being ridiculous. Just… Just fucking forget it. Put it down to an idiot running his mouth."

"You can't… Wait… What?" She shook her head.

Did she have to say it like that? Like it was impossible to believe?

He closed his eyes, tempted to launch himself from the window, make for the wall and seek a Titan to do away with him as soon as possible. If Farlan wasn't already dead, he'd have died laughing.

Levi drew a long breath and said it simply. "I find you very attractive."

There was a pause.

And another.

Then she drew a long breath.

"So because of that, you've been a prize dick to me?" She scoffed, glaring. "What are you? Twelve? You like a girl so you pull on her hair and throw dirt at her?"

Well… That was one way to react.

He clenched his teeth. "No."

"Then what? Am I meant to be all allured by the standoffish nature? The bad boy shtick?"

He rolled his eyes. "Obviously not, brat. I just–"

"Oi!" She shoved him and pointed a finger. "You don't get to demean me when you're the one acting like a child."

"I… Fair enough."

"Right… Uh… Good…" She lowered her hand, seemingly surprised by his acceptance of her rebuttals. She considered him carefully, keen gaze travelling over him a few more times. What did she even see anymore? A Captain? A stupid man with a crush? A moronic toddler?

She took a few attempts to form the words, but eventually they made their way out, her eyes uncertain. "So what… You want… A relationship? A fuck buddy? What?"

Fuck buddy. He considered the words, as coarse as they were. Perhaps that would do it. Sate this weird fascination he had, but not let himself sink any further emotionally. Right? That could work. It might even be the extent of it. And then she could assume that was all it was as well, avoiding her being pressured. Just because he found her alluring didn't mean he had to actually be falling in lov–

"Yeah, something like that." He gave a curt nod, allowing the half-truth to run its course. Unless it was the truth, and his ridiculousness would in fact be dealt with via simple physical contact. "We have stressful enough lives, right? What's the harm in a little reprieve now and then?"

It was a lifeline, and he would cling to it.

She looked to the side, mind rumbling loudly as she considered his words. "And you were being so bloody odd about this because…?"

"To avoid complications."

"By making me assume I'd pissed you off?" She laughed and scuffed the floorboards. "And the next phase was what? Ignore it until it passed?"

"Pretty much."

"But you couldn't because–"

"Because for some reason my mask doesn't work against you." He clicked his tongue. "I kept slipping up and allowing it to get in the way."

"And this suggestion is such a bad thing because…?"

He turned to her properly. "Wait… You don't think it's ridiculous?"

"Well, yes."

He huffed. "No need to be cruel–"

She laughed lightly, not in a mocking way though. Her smile was radiant. She shook her head at him and gestured all around. "You can have your pick of the regiment and you go for the local nutter?" Her smirk fell into place as she stepped forward. "Seems like pretty piss-poor judgement to me, sir."

"I didn't have much say in it." He stayed very still as her eyes studied him. She took another step closer, like someone gauging if their horse was going to bolt. He swallowed. "You don't have to do this."

She stopped barely a breath away from him. "Do what?"

It would be so simple to reach out, to pull her that last stitch of space closer and press his lips to hers. To just try it. To see what would happen. To cross those scattered lines and live for a moment. But it also had to clearly be what she wanted. For several reasons. Not just because of Sente's disgusting behaviour recently, but because it mattered to Levi that Robyn wasn't just bending to the will of a superior officer. It seemed unlikely to be her reasoning, but he had to check. The last thing he wanted to do was give her regrets.

He clung to composure. "There's no punishment for saying no, this isn't me as a Captain or anything like that."

"Mm. The clarification's appreciated, but have I ever been particularly wary of authority?" She grinned.

He narrowed his eyes. "Then why…"

"Now who's overthinking?"

"Damn brat."

She winked and pulled him close. As their lips met, he realised why he had been fighting against the impulse so damn hard. Now, he couldn't let go.

She tasted like the tea served after dinner. Her lips were warm, soft, inviting. Her hands threaded into his hair like he had imagined, and her skin was smooth as he cupped her jaw with one hand and slid the other arm round her waist, her shirt slightly rising with the touch. He knew he should stop. Every swipe of her tongue against his, every tug on his hair, caress of his throat and small sigh that left her silken mouth, he sunk further. Beautiful. Strong. Funny. Charming. Ridiculous. Astonishing. He just wanted more. Her hands ran over his chest, his stomach, his own exploring the curve of her spine, the swell of her hips and ass, the soft handfuls of her chest, like trying to make her out of clay. Just as wonderful as he had imagined, but somehow even more tantalising when made real.

Maybe this would work fine. Maybe they could take that leap and simply enjoy it, let themselves be human for once, instead of only soldiers. Sure it had obliterated the lines between Captain and Cadet, but only in that space. Between panted breaths, small hums of contentment and the rustle of rumpled uniforms. Why not let themselves live a bit? Between the bloodied battles, the losses and the training, why not have a space for lingering touches, heated kisses and oh-so-fucking good feelings. Those bastards in the interior got to have family's, wives, girlfriends, whatever, they swanned into pubs, flirted and took people home without a thought. So why couldn't he? Why couldn't any of the Scouts? Because of the fear of loss? He was already afraid of losing Robyn, now at least he knew what it felt like to actually have her. However briefly. It was a gift. One he intended to linger over unwrapping.

Eventually they came up for air, and as he put his forehead to hers, his hands gripping her hips, that light remained burning bright in her eyes.

"Well…" She bit her lip and he couldn't help leaning in a little. "Shit…"

"Eloquent as ever." He closed his eyes for a moment, heart hammering, head pounding, mouth tingling and mind the most peaceful it had been in far too long.

She hummed. "I figured this kind of thing was frowned on."

"Erwin doesn't mind as long as people aren't too obvious about it, or stupid. Scouts don't tend to live long, he hasn't quite got enough of a dead heart to forbid them occasionally enjoying themselves."

She chucked. "Wow, he truly is a humanitarian."

"Mm." Levi leaned back slightly and tucked her fringe back, her hair was so soft. Like silk. It had been wrong of him to tuck it back that day she had been sleeping, but he was gratified to know he hadn't imagined the way it felt. "So, you actually want to try this?"

"I've always known you were attractive, sir. I just didn't know–"

"Levi." He swallowed, eyes lingering on her lips, a strange desperation rearing inside his mind to watch those lips move around his name. "Please. Like I said, I'm not your Captain right now. "

"Fair enough." She bit her lip for a moment, the pressure paling the flushed pink, making him want to run his thumb along it. "Levi."

It looked amazing. It sounded even better.

He breathed deep through his nose. "Please say it again…"

"Levi." She grinned, kissing him again, loosening his cravat and biting his lower lip in a way that made his trousers very uncomfortable, more so than they already had been. "Levi."

Something new had entered her voice. A want, a need. As much as it thrilled him to hear his name from her lips at all, and to hear it laced with such heightened emotion, it gave him pause.

And he wasn't alone.

She completely froze.

Dun dun duuuuunn. Sorry to blue-balls ya but... lol no sorry. Cya next week! Thanks to everyone for reading, faving, following and leaving reviews when you can. Love to chat to folks! Cya!