"Captain's fiancée." Rosa couldn't help but to sneer at the thought— The gossip had spread like a wildfire, and she had already heard people referring to her as such. "That sounds so odd."

It had been a few days since she and Levi had agreed on their so-called arrangement, and despite the gossip, everything had gone fairly well so far— But, people were starting to ask questions, and Rosa struggled to come up with the answers. How did they meet? How long had they been dating? Why the heck someone so renowned as Captain Levi of the Survey Corps would even consider marrying someone like Rosa Walch? Well, maybe that third question was something she came up with herself, but she couldn't shake the feeling that it was what other people were thinking as well.

"I wonder what people think of us. It's definitely odd that someone like Captain Levi would marry someone so... ordinary." Rosa thought to herself, her gaze fixated on the night sky above. She was standing on the porch of the Scout HQ, and the fresh air of the autumn evening felt nice against her skin. As she thought about her presumed role as Levi's fiancée, her fingers grazed the fabric that concealed her eye, a tactile reminder of both her battles and the newfound complexities of her life. "And someone so… so…"

She was snapped out of her somber thoughts when the door creaked, and a moment later she felt a familiar presence beside her.

"What are you doing out here?" His inquiry held a quiet curiosity as he leaned against the wooden railing.

"Just… thinking." Rosa muttered, her gaze not leaving the sky. "You know, all the questions. People can be surprisingly nosy."

"I bet they can."

"It's not like you have to deal with it..!" Rosa frowned, a trace of annoyance tainting her expression. "They don't dare to come to you with their inquiries, so it's me who they're pestering..!"

Levi chuckled, and the sound sent shivers down Rosa's spine. His voice was always so calm and composed, and the sound of his soft laughter was pleasant, almost soothing. "It's not that bad. Just keep ignoring them." He advised. "Eventually, they'll give up."

"And what if they won't?" Rosa furrowed her brow, her eye flicking to the man next to her. "Besides, if we keep answering them with silence, they come up with their own conclusions..!"

"Would that be so bad?" Levi shrugged nonchalantly. As long as he didn't need to deal with petty gossip, he'd be fine with anything.

"Oh? You really have no idea what goes through peoples' heads when they ponder reasons for such an unexpected engagement, huh?" A devilish grin adorned Rosa's face as she turned to face him— What she was about to tell him would surely make him squirm for a change. "They'll think you're forced to marry me because you went and knocked me up!"

The reaction was almost immediate: All the color disappeared from Levi's already naturally pale face, leaving him momentarily speechless. . "T-That's-"

Rosa burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the quiet night. "Yeah, yeah. It's ridiculous. But, that's how people think, sometimes."

Levi, recovering from his initial surprise, rolled his eyes, a low groan escaping his lips. "I… I suppose... Well, I guess we'll have to make sure our stories match. You know, if we're supposed to be a couple, and all."

"We could just go along with it, tell them that you're the father of my unborn child." Rosa teased, a wicked smirk on her face.

"Hilarious." Levi said, his voice laced with sarcasm. Rosa could almost swear she saw him blush a little as he turned his gaze away.

"Well, I'm sure we can come up with some story." Rosa flashed him a smile. "I mean, I can't deny that people are a bit… confused, with us, being complete opposites and all."

"What do you mean?" Levi asked, genuinely curious about her statement.

"I mean, do you think people are going to buy the idea of you wanting to marry someone like me?" Rosa let out a short laugh, attempting to cloak her words in humor, but beneath the jest, there was a thread of genuine concern.

For a short moment, Levi said nothing. Rosa's comment had struck a chord; He had come to notice that Rosa had some issues with her changed appearance, but he hadn't quite understood how deep her insecurities ran. He had never been very good at dealing with other people's emotions, especially when it came to comforting… but seeing the look in Rosa's face that moment, something shattered within him. Despite the wound, she was still a very attractive young woman, but she herself couldn't see that.

"Don't put yourself down like that." Levi finally said, his voice quiet but soft. "It doesn't suit you."

"But it's true." Rosa muttered, a sad smile gracing her face. "Look at me. I'm not exactly a great catch, am I? My face is a mess, I'm poor as fuck, I can't cook. I'm a complete and utter disaster."

"What, you can't cook? Ouch." Levi grimaced jokingly.

Rosa turned her attention back to the night sky, the corners of her mouth turned upwards into a weak, but this time genuine, smile. The stars shone brightly above, and the moon was glowing, illuminating the world around them. She couldn't explain it, but she felt oddly safe around Levi— It was as if she had known him for years, and not days. He had a way to make her feel at ease, no matter what she was going through.

"The way you talk about yourself… Is it because of your eye?" Levi asked, his tone a bit more stern this time.

His question made her heart skip a beat. Rosa didn't answer, but her silence spoke volumes— Levi's suspicion had been correct.

"Don't you think you're exaggerating a bit?" He quirked his brow. "A simple scar like that shouldn't make you hate yourself so much."

"I've been told that it makes me look intimidating, you know?" Rosa muttered, her cheeks bright red in embarrassment— The fact that Levi could so easily see through her made her feel somewhat anxious. "It's not a pretty sight." She added quietly.

"And you believe that?"

"Well... yes. Why wouldn't I?"

"Because it's bullshit." Levi scoffed in annoyance. "I've seen countless ugly faces in my lifetime, and yours certainly isn't one of them."

Rosa fell silent, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. Levi's words sent a ripple through her, a mixture of surprise and a strange warmth settling within her chest— His words made her heart flutter, her face feeling hotter than ever. Was he being serious? Or was this a well-intentioned attempt to ease her insecurities?

"So, don't worry about what others think." Levi stated matter-of-factly. "You are you. And, you're not a complete disaster."

"C-captain..!" Rosa whimpered— She couldn't deny that his words had touched her, and she was unable to stop the small smile that was spreading onto her face. Nor she was able to prevent- "Ow-! Ow, ow, ow! Fucking hell!" She screeched in agony, burying her face into her hands as the throbbing pain hit her eye.

"Are you crying?"

"N-no…"

"Yes you are." Levi gave Rosa an unimpressed look. "Stop that— It makes your eye hurt."

"But... I can't control it..!" Rosa whimpered.

"Oh, please..."

"No, seriously..!" Rosa protested.

"I've seen people crying plenty of times, and it never looks like that." Levi scoffed, shaking his head. "You're the most ridiculous person I've ever met."

"Hey!"

"Come here." Levi said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, gently pulling her close.

"W-wait! What are you- You don't have to-" Rosa squeaked, her face burning in embarrassment. What on earth was he doing?! Her squirming only made Levi's grip tighten.

"Stop resisting." He muttered under his breath. "People are watching."

"Huh?" Cautiously scanning the area with her gaze, Rosa noticed a group of cadets making their way across the yard, curiously peering over at the two of them.

"How would it look like if I didn't comfort my crying fiancée?" Levi pointed out, and Rosa couldn't argue against his logic. "It would just look like I've upsetted you."

"Umm... I-I guess." She stuttered, her eye flicking up to meet his gaze. "But, isn't this a bit… uhm…"

"What, are you saying I'm not affectionate enough?"

"N-no, that's not what I-"

"Then stop complaining." Levi muttered, his cheeks even so slightly flushed. "And call me Levi— People think it's odd if you keep calling me Captain."

Levi had a point— If the two of them wanted people to believe their story, they needed to act like a proper couple. Rosa let out a defeated sigh and slumped against him. His arm around her shoulders was strong, and his body was warm. She couldn't deny that being in his embrace felt rather pleasant, and his scent was comforting.

As Levi held her in his arms, he couldn't stop the smile that was tugging the corners of his lips. It was a strange feeling, but it felt oddly good, holding her so close.

And so, there they stood, their shoulders pressed together, their bodies close. At that moment, the two of them were both sure of one thing: They had truly gotten themselves into quite a mess.