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One more session of Eren creating crystal and the structure was finished. It was done. Hanji's Titan killing machine was complete. And whilst we still couldn't fully absolve ourselves of the fact we might be killing people, we still had to deal with the threat of the Titans. So if they came sniffing for a soldier sized snack, they got taken out. An element of choice was there, however much choice they had access to. And if it wasn't much, then we were perhaps doing them a favour. If they did have a choice, then they were choosing to kill people, and so it was little different to what we were doing. It didn't make us in the right, but it at least evened the playing field enough to not make our stomachs churn.

I turned to Eren, about to congratulate him on a successful project, when he suddenly wavered and went onto one knee. Beyond that he was pale as hell and blood had begun to trickle from his nose. That couldn't be good. Levi handed him a handkerchief and I ran my hand up and down the boy's back while he took some deep breaths.

Hanji bit her lip. "Sorry Eren, did we push too far?"

"No, no I can handle it, it's fine."

I kept my hand moving. "Well the project is complete, perhaps a rest until the next one? You've made good progress with the ability, no need to keep pushing for now."

At least he conceded to that, nodding his head and leaning into my hold a bit more. It was easy to forget due to his determination and the amount of responsibility he was dealing with, but at the end of the day Eren was just a kid. Not only was he still growing in terms of his body, but his mind as well. We couldn't let him feel used.

I helped him back down to the ground, his complexion looking a little pale by the time we reached the bottom. It was hardly my place to scold someone for being a bad patient, but as Eren continued to try and avoid resting, my temper flared. With as little space for him to argue as possible, I dragged him towards his room. Usually he'd have likely wriggled free. As it was, he was too weak to do so. I think once he realised that, he accepted that rest was the right thing to do. Tucked up in bed, already dozing, I left him and carefully closed the door behind myself.

Levi waited in the corridor, leaning back against a wall, one leg crossed over the other. He looked effortless. Dark hair falling just shy of his piercing eyes, powerful body an elegant line as he crossed his arms and watched the outside world through the slightly warped windows. I was absolutely staring, with no means of defending myself, but screw it. We loved each other – I was allowed to ogle a little.

Once he realised I was there though, my fun came to an end and he wandered over to me. "How's Jaeger?"

"Resting. He was hardly happy about it, but he couldn't fight it once his head hit that pillow."

"He's lucky to have you looking out for him." Levi tucked my hair back. "Despite your own feelings on the subject, you've quite the maternal side to you."

I smirked. "Or is my Captain just feeling a little jealous?"

"Of a scrawny brat like Jaeger? Mm. No."

We started walking down the corridor. "So what's on the agenda for the rest of the day? Patrols?"

"We're off duty, according to Hanji. Seems she's a bit worried she's overworked everyone, not just Jaeger. So I wondered if you wanted to uh… Well to just come for a wander round the town, really." He kept looking down, nervousness radiating off him. Was he getting shifty about a date?

Then again, I guess every other time we had been together it had been due to duty, or a mission, or a set goal. Just being with each other was a couple of hours at most, not a whole day. But it didn't worry me. There weren't many people I felt at ease with, but Levi was definitely one of them. Time with him was safe, content, and that didn't have to be spent pressed into a mattress either. That wasn't a bad way to spend it, but it wasn't required.

"How about we have a look for one of those tea shops? See about a new blend?" I offered my hand and he took it without hesitation. "Should we change out of our uniforms?"

"Mm, sounds like a good idea."

He stared at our interwoven fingers. What was going on in his head? Perhaps it would find its way to his lips eventually, all I had to do was wait. That was the strange thing about Levi; people assumed he was cold and unfeeling, but he simply took a little longer than most to figure out how to convey feelings. And even then he rarely wanted to. But that didn't diminish the fact he did feel.

When I met him by the front gate he was staring at his hand again, though now dressed in civilian clothing. He gave a small twitch of his lips, which was his version of a beaming smile in all honesty. I fell into step with him and we headed for town, wandering the cobbles with the sun shining down. It was mad to consider that we were outlaws only a short time ago. Scurrying from street corner to corner was hardly a new concept for me, but it was refreshing to have it reversed. Free. Welcomed. Perhaps even a little respected now. How odd.

We explored a market and then found one of the many tea-shops Levi had made a note of during his many trips through the towns of the walls. Places he always meant to visit but rarely got the chance to. Sitting outside in the sunshine, with a fresh pot brewing between us, I found Levi once again looking at our hands as they rested on the pale tablecloth. I twitched my fingers and let my hand drift, grazing his and bringing his eyes back to mine.

He raised a brow. "Everything all right?"

"I think that's my line." I smiled softly as his brow furrowed instead.

Of course he had no idea that he had been acting strangely, that he had given any sign of his mind churning. I guess I may have missed it a few months ago, but now? It seemed like I could read my Captain better and better by the day. No doubt he planned to work through whatever was causing him headaches and would talk to me when ready.

I took his hand for a moment and squeezed, before I began to pour the tea. "You've been very intrigued by our hands today, it seems."

"Mm." He laid his flat on the table. "Sorry, didn't mean to be weird."

"I'm used to it."

He smirked. "Suppose that's a good thing."

"Take your time, if it's important you'll tell me."

For a moment his smirk faded, his eyes watching me closely. I just smiled and sipped my tea. It was a delicate blend, but had a tang to it. Their personal blend I think–

He took my hand. And he didn't let go.

It wasn't a tight hold, but it wasn't loose either; he wasn't trapping me, but he wasn't afraid to show that he was with me either. I ran my thumb over his knuckles and knew the silly smile would be hard to shift from my face. Such a simple thing, but it was hitting deep. It felt like a new step. Out in the open, for anyone at all to see, he was happy to be with me. Me.

"Nothing's wrong at all, in fact…" He shook his head. "It's the fact that things are going right that has me a bit… confused."

"Confused?"

He took a moment and drew a deep breath. "We still have a fight ahead of us in Shiganshina, of course, but right now… While we plan and ensure we're ready… I'm not used to this… contentment."

Peace. He didn't know how to deal with it. That made sense; we'd all grown up in a world of ever present, if not constant, danger. In all honesty I didn't know that I'm sure how to live in peace for long either. It didn't feel like a reality per say, more like an interlude. I didn't fully trust it. I was happy of course, enjoying every moment, but I didn't expect it to stick. Not at all.

Then he frowned as he sipped his tea, placing the cup back so delicately it barely clinked against its saucer. "And I've just been getting ahead of myself."

"In what way?"

He closed his eyes and his hold on my hand tightened ever so slightly. "Been thinking about when… or if we retake Maria. If we managed to drive those Shifter bastards out of our lives. And I guess it has me…"

"Confused?" I offered and he shook his head, but his eyes opened and met mine with a strange kind of pain lingering there. One that made me hold his hand that bit tighter as well. "Levi?"

"It has me worried."

"About?"

"I don't know how to not be a soldier any more." He swallowed. "You fell in love with a soldier, so what if–"

"And you did any different?" I tilted my head.

He blinked. "I only meant–"

"I don't love you for your fucking military prowess, Levi." I laughed softly. "Just as much as I doubt you fell for me due to my decent gear run times."

A blush appeared on his cheeks. "I suppose not. I just don't know what that kind of life will look like, or how I'll fit into it."

"And I do?" I grinned and shuffled my seat closer to him. "We can learn together. If we get that chance. You're right though, you are getting ahead of yourself."

Nervous laughter escaped him and he brought my hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. "And just like that you pull my head out of my ass."

"Mm, you've done it for me enough times."

He pressed another kiss to my skin and lingered, looking up with the fear gone from his eyes. "Never change, Brat. Please?"

"Don't plan on it."

And we continued with our tea. How many people had been watching us or not, I couldn't be sure. But it didn't matter. It might have gone entirely unnoticed. After all, we were just two people living our lives. Sipping tea. Enjoying the sunshine. Holding hands. I looked up and watched a few small clouds skirting by, hoping that whatever amount my mother could see from wherever death took us, she could at least see some moments like that. I stumbled, I crawled, hell I tripped myself up plenty, but sometimes her Little Bird also got to soar.

The evening was clear and cool. Stars winked from the heavens and music began to burble from the mess-hall. I pulled my dress on and smoothed my hair back. It wasn't anything fancy, just something I got from the market when rumours started floating around about upcoming celebrations. And Keza. I can't deny she shoe-horned me into this thing and persuaded me I didn't look entirely ridiculous. And looking in the mirror now… I doubted every word. In my uniform I felt secure, like I was fulfilling my true role. In civilian clothing everything was more adrift. Now? Standing in a dark blue dress that skimmed an inch or so above my knee, the neckline scooping just below my collar bones and the sleeves scooping to slightly tapered halts at my elbows – I felt entirely weird.

Petra would have loved a night like tonight. I wrapped my red ribbon round my wrist and fastened it with the bird pendant Petra had given me, it having not seen the outside of my drawer for far too long. I traced the pendant gently. A part of me, I think, wanted to keep it hidden, because all it really did was highlight who wasn't here anymore. My throat pinched. But Petra wouldn't want it hidden away. She bought it because she thought I would love it, and I did, I do.

As I left my room there was already folks headed down the stairs, chatting amongst themselves, dressed in their finery. We almost looked like normal people, if you ignored the handful of scars almost everyone had. I joined them and made it down into the mess hall where Commander Erwin was stood at the head of the room, looking a little sombre, but I think it was mainly concentration. As Commander he rarely got a duty that involved other people's happiness, so to be leading two cadets into marriage was likely a little surreal for him. But I knew my own attempts at calming him down wouldn't be needed as soon as I saw Keza headed in that direction. He clocked it as well and a smile pulled onto his pursed lips. It had hardly been something I expected to occur, but they suited each other immensely. I just hoped he knew what he had gotten himself into.

Numbers were gathering, taking their seats, starting to quieten down as the ceremony approached. I scanned the room and found my Captain standing to the side, leaning against a wall, one foot propped back as he also looked about the room. He looked smart; dressed in a similar suit to the one had worn when unable to fight, but the lines were cleaner and it was more fitted to his lean frame. How the hell did he manage to do that? So little had changed and yet he looked flawless. Then again, didn't he always. I smoothed down my simple dress and drew a long breath. Why the hell was I nervous? I looked back up, readying myself to head over there, when I found myself locked in his gaze. Oh. He'd spotted me. And he looked dazzled. Heat rushed to my cheeks and I bit my lip as he made his way over to me, eyes not leaving mine for a second until he was standing right in front of me, a hand skimming onto my hip, eyes only then leaving mine to dip and slowly admire the rest of me. Never mind nerves. Don't need you anymore. For some reason this man is looking at me like the finest piece of art he's ever seen – I don't believe it, I can't see it myself, but I trust that it's what he sees and that'll do me fine. Yeah. Just fine.

"You look wonderful." He gave my hip a gentle squeeze and led me to a seat. "Clearly a good cup of tea agrees with you."

I chuckled. "Likewise."

And the ceremony began. Moblit played a simple melody on the old dusty piano in the corner, but clearly it had been tuned up for this because the notes were sweet and smooth. It was a simple proceeding, sweet and simple. As happy as the couple were, and of course everyone around them, I couldn't help but feel that twinge of worry. How soon would one of them be left alone to mourn the other? My hands clenched and I looked down at my feet as we all stood for the newly weds to walk down the aisle together. Don't think like that. They might both be long-term veterans. There was no telling how long they might live.

"Hey…" Levi brushed the back of my clenched had with his fingertips, and I took a long breath, loosening my jaw and fists as I breathed out again. "You all right?"

"Yeah just… Thinking bad thoughts."

"Mm, I get it." He nodded, eyes trained on the happy couple until people started to follow them out, eager to get to the dancing and drinking. "They're both decent soldiers. There's decent odds on them surviving a long while… In normal circumstances."

Which of course the fight in Shiganshina definitely wouldn't be.

I took his hand. "Let's enjoy tonight."

"Good idea, Brat." He squeezed my hand and led the way towards the laughter and music.

Cheers for reading cya soon!