He was used to early mornings. Much to his surprise, so was she. She pressed a tender kiss to his lips, which he happily returned. A morning tryst was the best possible way to wake up, and he had a little bit of time before he needed to get back to his squad, and Jaeger. Just as she swung her leg over his hips there was someone pounding on her door.

She groaned and Levi cursed under his breath.

"Who is awake and knocking on doors at the crack of dawn?" She climbed over him and grabbed a robe.

"MPs probably," Levi got up and started looking for his clothes.

"Why would they be knocking on my door?"

"Probably trying to find me, Erwin wants to bite my head off, I'm sure."

She reluctantly answered the door, sure enough two MPs walked in despite her protests.

"We're just here looking for Captain-" the MP's ended abruptly. "Levi!"

Levi's back was to the MPs, the good news was he'd found his clothes. He pulled his pants on, but it was clear he wasn't in a huge rush.

"If you didn't want to see my ass, you shouldn't have been here this early. And you interrupted the lady's beauty sleep. Poor form all around."

"Erwin sent word that he wanted you in his office immediately."

"Of course he does." He looked over at Lora. She'd moved to her desk and was scribbling something down. He tried to buy her more time to write her message, slowly buttoning up and tucking in his shirt.

"Could you move any slower?"

"That a challenge?" Levi looked over at one of the officers. He slid his boots on. Lora put her quill down, he finished tying his ascot, and she walked everyone to the door. She slipped whatever she had been writing into his hand before seeing them all out.

Once her door was shut one of the MPs looked at Levi.

"You fucked Lora Fayne?"

"If I did?" Levi tucked his hands, including the note into his pockets. He'd have to read it later.

"You're a lucky son of a bitch if you did," the taller of the two officers stared down at Levi, waiting for him to take the bait. He clicked his tongue and started walking down the hall. Men of integrity didn't brag about their partners, and he prided himself on being a man of integrity.

"What's special about her?" The shorter of the two MPs asked. They caught up to Levi and each took a side, probably in an effort to "properly" escort him to Erwin's office.

"Comes from a whole family full of money. Merchants mostly. I bet anyone who married her wouldn't have to work again. Not to mention…" the taller MP held his hands in front of his chest and mimed squeezing a woman's breasts.

"Well, I think we know why you're single." Levi said deadpan. The MP bent down to Levi's eye level.

"What makes you think I'm single?" The MP's eyes narrowed.

"No self-respecting woman would be with a man who thought of them as something to play with and nothing more." Levi narrowed his eyes.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue. "I think humanity's greatest soldier is trying to find a way out of the war and into a warm-"

In a flash Levi landed a punch on the MP's jaw. Not hard enough to break it. Probably. He kept walking, he knew where Erwin's temporary office was. He hadn't moved back to Trost yet. He could borrow a horse or ride in with a merchant.

What Levi couldn't see was Lora, her ear pressed to the door, and the smirk she wore at his response to the MPs' attitudes.

Outside of Lora's apartment building was a horse-drawn wagon. Levi internally groaned, as if those two morons weren't insufferable enough as it was; they really were going to "make sure" he was delivered to Erwin's doorstep.

Erwin was seething.

"What in the HELL were you thinking?"

"I was thinking you'd be happy I remembered how to waltz. And she was bored." Levi was still standing at attention in front of Erwin's desk.

"She was bored?" Erwin pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to regret asking this. What was the thought process? 'Hm, I'll spin an heiress around a few times on the dance floor to piss off her military contractor father. Oh, no she's just told me she's bored, the only cure for that is obviously my cock.'"

"The last part was her idea and what a lady wants, a lady gets."

Erwin's face sank into his hand, "I've been chewed out by no less than four messages this morning. Plus, I had to deal with her father, in person, last night."

"She's not her father's property. She's an adult with her own mind," Levi had been perturbed since the MPs dragged him out of bed. This just added a new layer to his dour mood. He went to say something else but Erwin interrupted.

"If the next words out of your mouth have anything to do with love or marriage I'm throwing you over the wall myself."

"Actually, I was going to ask if I could go back to my squad yet."

"That's the first sane thing you've done or said in the last 12 hours, Captain." Erwin motioned to the door. "Your horse is in the stable out back. Dismissed."

Erwin paused. "One more thing…"

"What happened to you?" Hange greeted him at the front gate of their hideout. "We expected you back last night."

"Something came up," Levi kept walking as Hange fell in step beside him.

"Something or someone," they gave him a knowing smirk. Levi glared. "Ohhhh… which daughter of which commander did you fuck this time?"

"None of them," Levi smirked.

"Uh-huh, well enjoy breakfast. I'm off," they started walking towards the makeshift lab.

He stepped inside and started walking to his room, he couldn't stand the dress coat anymore. On his way up the steps he pulled out the note Lora had so hastily written earlier. It was on her personal letterhead.

"Permanent Pass for Captain Levi to and into the Medre Building, Wall Sinna."

There was a second note, "Come back whenever your schedule allows."

He tucked the note into a pocket in his trunk, no one would find it there and it wouldn't get lost either.

He also changed into clean clothes and went down to the kitchen. There wasn't much left but there was still some bread and an egg. He cracked the egg into the pan and let it start frying. Petra walked in with some dishes, clearly not all hers.

"Oh, Captain, you're back! Good morning," she smiled as she set the dishes down on the counter.

"Good morning," he looked over his shoulder. "Don't tell me they stuck you with all of the dishes."

"I don't mind, all we're doing is babysitting Eren. Hange is still planning out experiments," she shrugged. "It's something to fill the time."

He rolled his eyes to himself. She was being too nice for her own good. Again. He put the cooked egg on a chunk of bread. He'd help her wash everything once he was done with his breakfast.

"My dad sent me a letter," Petra kept her eyes on the dishes. "He told me he wished I'd switch to the Garrison."

Levi froze and looked at her. He wouldn't deny that it would be safer if she transferred out of the Scouts. They could still see each other when his squad was inside the walls. He didn't want to lose her from his squad though. She brought a certain… levity to their group.

"Have you written back yet?" He didn't want to pry, but he had to know if he needed to start looking for someone else.

"I have. I told him that I wanted to dedicate myself to my career in the Scouts and," she paused and studied a perfectly clean dish before clearing her throat. "I also told him I wanted to dedicate myself to you."

The air had been sucked out of the room. It was a good thing that he'd just swallowed the last of his food otherwise he might have choked. Hange had been giving him shit for a while about how Petra seemed to have a crush on him. He'd always scoffed. She was young, younger than him in any case. Even if she did like him, he expected her feelings would pass. Someone closer to her age and personality.

Apparently, he had been wrong.

He rolled up his sleeves and rinsed the dishes she'd washed already.

"Why?" He asked as he dried the first plate.

"Why what?" Petra paused in the middle of scrubbing a bowl.

"Why would you want to dedicate yourself to me?" Another dry plate into the cupboard. A blush spread across her cheeks and even onto her nose. Levi wasn't known to use the word adorable but that is how she looked.

"I… because… you're you. You're compassionate and empathetic. Those aren't characteristics everyone has."

Is the bar really that low? Levi thought about the MPs just a few hours earlier and he had to admit that it probably was. He still wasn't sure about how innocent she seemed. He didn't want to be the one to rob her of that. If that was possible. Was that possible? It wasn't a question he'd had to answer before.

He put the last dish away, draped the towel over a hook and then stood behind Petra, hands braced on either side of the counter.

"If you're serious about your offer," he rested his chin on her shoulder. "I have questions."

He really hoped no one walked into the kitchen for the next several minutes.

"Like what?" She sounded unfazed but Levi doubted if she actually was.

"How long have you felt like this?"

"Since I met you."

"Have you ever been kissed?" He moved her hair back from her neck. His breath ghosted over her skin.

"Y-yes." He swore he could feel her pulse quicken as she answered.

"Have you ever slept with a man?" His lips brushed the skin just below her ear. She nodded.

"Words, Petra." He murmured in her ear, "I need to hear you say it."

"Yes, Captain." Her voice was shaky, she kept clenching and unclenching her hands.

It was the best possible answer he could have hoped for. He didn't want to be anyone's first. He didn't care if he was anyone's last either. Levi heard footsteps approaching, he quickly bit her ear lobe.

"Later," he whispered before stepping away from her.

The day dragged on. Hange was still interviewing Eren and trying to figure things out. There was really nothing for them to do. When he wasn't being interviewed Eren was grating on Levi's nerves. Levi had to remind himself that he'd been Eren's age once, but he didn't remember being that stupid.

It was Levi's turn to do the dishes, which suited him just fine. He didn't like how most people cleaned. He was forever having to rewash things other people had "already cleaned." Petra sidled up to him and started drying and putting away plates.

"What did you mean by 'later'? Were you planning on fucking me here in the kitchen?" Her tone was a bit tense.

"Of course not," he was telling the truth. He would never have sex in a communal area, mostly because he didn't want to have anyone walk in on him. He stepped up to her, Levi let one hand cradle the back of her head while the other hand settled at the small of her back as he kissed her. He pulled away from her, not much, just enough to break the kiss. "That is what I meant. If you want to do more, you'll have to join me upstairs."

"Your room or mine?" She asked.

"Mine," he pressed a kiss just below her ear.

It was late enough they could get ready for bed and not raise any suspicions. Not that Levi slept much to begin with.

"One more thing, Levi," Erwin said when Levi's hand was on the door handle. "Stay away from Lora Fayne. If you have to keep your bed warm, find someone else. Anybody else."

He swore to himself that he wasn't using Petra. Yes, she was convenient. Yes, it was probably a bad idea to fuck her within the same day as Lora. He paused. He hadn't described what they would be doing tonight. Who said they had to have sex? They could just sleep. Having her tucked against him held more appeal than just about anything else. He finished pulling his sleep shirt over his head and laid back on his bed.

Petra walked into his room and quietly shut the door.

"You're still dressed?" Was that shock or disappointment in her voice? Levi couldn't quite tell.

"Did you expect me to lay here naked?"

Petra mumbled something Levi couldn't quite make out, he thought it was something along the lines of, "I can dream."

"Would you care if I just held you while you slept?" He shifted onto his side ensuring plenty of space for her.

"I… ok…?" She climbed into bed, her back to his chest. She made a point to wiggle her ass against his groin.

"Are you pouting, Petra?" He let a finger trace down her side. She shivered and looked back at him. "Are you really that desperate to have me?"

"I was hoping to get off, preferably not with my own hand." Gritting her teeth at him was almost comical.

"If that's all you want," he guided her leg back to rest on his thigh. "I can do that." Levi pressed his lips to her neck as he let his hand slowly move up her thigh. By the time his hand was sitting on her waistband she was squirming against him.

"Please, Captain," she whined.

"Since you asked so nicely," he slipped his hand under her waistband but paused when his hand cupped her. She turned her face towards him, he assumed to yell at him, but before she could say anything he caught her lips in a kiss. His tongue flicked against hers. He pushed his middle finger into her folds, mercifully her clit was easy to find. He traced around it, the underside must have been especially sensitive if how she bucked her hips was anything to go by. It was a delightful reaction, and he wanted to feel it again. The pad of his middle finger moved back and forth, her hips moving with a little more force every time. He imagined her on top of him, if she could roll her hips like this while straddling him, he'd have a great time and he'd make sure she did too when they got to that point. He found a rhythm that had her gasping.

"Pl-please, Sir."

"Begging so soon?" He moved his hand just enough to circle her entrance with his ring and middle fingers. "Tell me Petra," he whispered in her ear. "What do you think about when you touch yourself?"

She moaned but didn't answer. He had just pushed the tips of his fingers into her. "Do you think about this?" He thrust his hips against her. "Do you imagine what I'd feel like inside you?" He sucked her ear lobe into his mouth. He'd have to be careful not to leave any marks on her neck later. He pushed his fingers deeper, she was so wet already. Levi started drawing small circles as he pulled back. He crooked his fingers, it took a moment more but he finally found the small rough patch inside her and rubbed the pad of his fingers over it.

"Levi!" She cried out, her back arched beautifully. He realized it was also the first time she'd called him by his name alone, and not his rank. He didn't hate it. He kept letting his fingers work inside of her.

"Shhh," Levi kissed her lips lightly. "Are you going to come for me Petra?" He slid his thumb up to her clit and started circling it again. He could just start to feel her spasm around his fingers, and he ground himself against her hip. Any friction would be welcome. He kept a steady pace for her, it's what most women needed to get off and that's what he'd agreed to help her with. She gasped, he kissed her as deeply as he could in an effort to keep her quiet, no need to let everyone know what they were doing. Her walls tightened around his fingers, she finally wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her fingers into his hair. He was pretty sure she could come again on his fingers, he just kept a steady pace for her. It didn't take long, about a minute… maybe… before she arched her back and gasped. Levi took a moment to look at her. Petra was pretty with soft features. She was lean and strong from years using the ODM equipment. She wasn't Lora but he didn't expect her to be either.

Finally he withdrew his hand from her. She watched him as he put his fingers in his mouth and sucked them clean. His eyes closed and he hummed in the back of his throat. He felt her hand caress his side and move to the waistband of his sleep pants, just as she attempted to pull the waistband down he caught her wrist and pinned her hand above her head. He kissed her, letting his tongue flick into her mouth.

"Not tonight, you should sleep."

"But don't you want me to take care of that?" She rolled her hips against his groin.

"It's fine, Petra. It won't kill me if I don't finish once in a while."

She rolled her eyes at him but, ultimately, cuddled back against chest and fell asleep soon after. He'd doze for a couple of hours himself and enjoy this small taste of solace before the sun rose again.