Chapter Thirteen:
The mess hall was alive with the usual buzz of conversation and laughter as the scouts
gathered around one of the tables. Tonight, there was a special attraction—an old,
colorful Rubik's Cube that had been a source of endless frustration for the scouts since
Onyakapon and Yelena had brought it over two years ago. The cube had become
something of a running joke among them, a test of wit and patience that no one had yet
managed to solve.
Armin was holding the cube now, his brow furrowed in concentration as he turned it over
in his hands, trying to figure out the next move. Mikasa, Jean, and Connie leaned in
close, watching with a mix of curiosity and impatience.
"Come on, Armin," Jean urged, his voice tinged with frustration. "You're the smartest
one here. If you can't figure it out, none of us can."
Armin sighed, his face tense with concentration. "I'm trying," he muttered, twisting the
cube again. "It's just… there's no logical pattern. It's driving me crazy."
Mikasa watched him closely, her eyes narrowed in thought. "Maybe it's not about logic,"
she suggested. "Maybe it's just… luck."
Connie snorted, shaking his head. "Luck? If it's luck, then we're all screwed. I've tried it
a hundred times and never even gotten close."
Levi stood nearby, arms crossed over his chest, watching the whole scene with a raised
eyebrow. He'd seen the scouts attempt this puzzle countless times, always with the
same result: frustration, arguments, and eventually, someone giving up. He couldn't
understand why they kept bothering with it.
"Why do you all keep wasting your time with that thing?" he asked, his tone flat. "It's just
a toy."
Jean looked up, a frustrated grin on his face. "Easy for you to say, Captain," he replied.
"You haven't tried it. This thing's impossible."
Levi's eyebrow lifted slightly higher. "If it's impossible, then why keep at it?" he asked
dryly.
Eren, leaning back in his chair, chuckled. "Because we're stubborn," he said with a grin.
"And because none of us want to admit defeat."
Armin, still staring intently at the cube, suddenly paused and turned to Tiana, who was
sitting quietly next to Levi. "Tiana," he said, a hint of hope in his voice, "what about you?
Do you think you can solve it?"
Tiana blinked, caught off guard by the question. She glanced at the cube in Armin's
hand, then at the eager faces of the scouts around the table. She shrugged, a small
smile playing on her lips. "I can give it a try," she said casually, reaching out to take the
cube from Armin.
Levi watched her carefully, his gaze sharp. He knew Tiana was smart—smarter than
most—but he was curious to see how she would handle this particular challenge.
Tiana held the cube in her hands, turning it over and studying it from all angles. Her
eyes moved rapidly, her mind clearly working through the possibilities, analyzing the
colors, the patterns, the movements. The scouts watched her closely, their expressions
a mix of anticipation and skepticism.
Fifteen seconds passed, and then, without warning, Tiana's hands began to move. They
moved quickly—almost too quickly to follow—her fingers a blur of motion as she twisted
and turned the cube with a speed and precision that left everyone around her stunned.
The room fell silent, all eyes on Tiana as she worked, the cube turning in her hands like
a well-practiced dance.
And then, less than ten seconds later, she stopped. The cube was solved, each side a
perfect, solid color.
The scouts stared at her, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Armin's eyes were
wide with awe. "No way," he breathed, leaning closer to look at the now-solved cube.
"How did you…?"
Jean's jaw dropped, and he let out a low whistle. "Holy shit, Tiana," he said, his voice
filled with admiration. "You actually did it."
Connie was equally stunned. "That was insane!" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "How
did you even do that?"
Tiana smiled, setting the cube down on the table. "It's just a matter of understanding the
algorithms," she explained modestly. "Once you know the patterns, it's pretty simple."
Eren chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Simple," he repeated. "Right. I don't think
I could do that if I had a hundred years."
Mikasa nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the cube. "You're amazing, Tiana,"
she said quietly.
Levi, who had been watching the entire display with a raised eyebrow, finally spoke, his
voice calm but with a hint of amusement. "Impressive," he said simply. "You've got quite
the mind."
Tiana glanced at Levi, her heart skipping a beat at his words. "Thank you, Captain," she
said softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at his rare compliment.
Hange, who had been watching from across the room, grinned and called out, "And
that's why we keep her around, folks! Tiana, the genius of Paradis."
Tiana chuckled, feeling both flattered and slightly embarrassed. She glanced over at
Levi, who was still watching her with that inscrutable expression, and she couldn't help
but wonder what he was thinking. Was he impressed? Curious? Or was he just… doing
his job, like always?
Hange, sensing an opportunity for more teasing, winked at Tiana from across the table.
"Hey, Tiana," she said, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "maybe you could
use that brain of yours to figure out what makes Captain Levi tick, huh?"
Tiana's eyes widened, and she shot Hange a sharp look, her face flushing. "Hange,"
she said in a warning tone, her voice low. She could feel Levi's gaze shift slightly, as if
he were trying to read between the lines of Hange's playful comment.
The scouts laughed, enjoying the light-hearted moment, but Tiana's heart was
pounding. She desperately hoped Levi hadn't caught on to what Hange was implying.
The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was… interested. Or worse,
distracted.
Levi, sensing the shift in the room's energy, looked back at Tiana, his eyes narrowing
slightly. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying a subtle edge. "What
are you two whispering about?"
Tiana quickly shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nothing, Captain," she said, trying to
sound casual. "Just… girl talk."
Levi raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Right," he said, his tone even. "Just
stay focused. We've had enough surprises today."
Tiana nodded, relieved that he didn't push the issue. She could still feel the heat in her
cheeks, the flutter in her chest from being so close to him, from his praise, from the
teasing. She needed to get herself under control, needed to focus on
something—anything—else.
As the scouts continued to chatter about the solved Rubik's Cube and other topics,
Tiana stole a glance at Levi. His expression was back to its usual stoic calm, but she
thought she saw a hint of something else—a flicker of curiosity, maybe even a bit of
warmth.
For now, she was content with that small victory. And maybe she would find a way to let
him know how she felt. But until then, she would keep her secrets close, her feelings
guarded. After all, in a world like theirs, there was always more to worry about than just
matters of the heart.
…
The laughter and conversation continued to ripple through the mess hall, the scouts still
buzzing with excitement over Tiana's impressive display with the Rubik's Cube. As
Tiana settled back into her seat beside Levi, she felt a small wave of relief. The attention
had shifted away from her crush on Levi, and she could finally start to relax.
Sasha, who had been watching Tiana with a curious expression, leaned forward, her
eyes wide with admiration. "Tiana," she began, her voice filled with genuine warmth,
"you're not just smart—you're really beautiful too. I bet you had the hearts of so many
boys back home in Androsia."
Tiana's eyes widened at the unexpected compliment, her cheeks flushing a delicate
shade of pink. "Oh, um, thank you, Sasha," she stammered, trying to find the right
words. "But I don't think it's quite like that…"
Sasha grinned, clearly amused by Tiana's flustered reaction. "Come on," she said,
nudging Jean with her elbow. "I mean, look at her! She's gorgeous! You must've had a
lot of admirers, right?"
Tiana laughed nervously, waving her hand dismissively. "Well, maybe a few," she
admitted, feeling her face grow warmer. "But it's not like I… I mean, I wasn't really
focused on that sort of thing."
Jean, ever the instigator, leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a knowing
smirk. "Don't be so modest, Tiana," he said. "You're definitely turning heads here, too. I
mean, it's not every day we meet someone as smart and as beautiful as you."
Tiana's blush deepened, and she shook her head, trying to downplay the compliments.
"Really, it's nothing," she insisted, her voice a bit higher than usual. "I'm just… me."
Isaac, who had been sitting a few seats away with the other Androsian soldiers, saw his
chance to join the conversation. He leaned forward, his face lighting up with a proud
grin. "Don't listen to her," he said loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Tiana is the
beauty and pride of our hometown. Every guy in Androsia was after her, but none of
them could catch her."
Several of the other Androsian soldiers nodded in agreement, chuckling. "It's true," one
of them added, grinning at Tiana. "She's been breaking hearts since she was a
teenager. And she never even seemed to notice."
Another soldier, a young woman with short hair, laughed and nodded. "I remember the
local boys would practically line up just to talk to her," she said. "But Tiana was always
too busy with her inventions to pay them any mind."
Tiana covered her face with her hands, mortified. "Okay, okay, that's enough!" she said,
her voice muffled by her hands. "You guys are making it sound like I was some kind of…
of heartbreaker."
Sasha giggled, clearly enjoying Tiana's embarrassment. "Sounds like you kind of were,"
she teased. "You were too busy being brilliant to notice all the guys swooning over you."
Connie laughed, shaking his head. "If I had known someone like you back home,
Tiana," he said, "I'd probably have been one of those guys in line."
Tiana groaned, her face still buried in her hands. "You're all impossible," she muttered,
though there was a hint of a smile in her voice.
Levi, who had been listening quietly, glanced at Tiana out of the corner of his eye. He
could see the color in her cheeks, the way she tried to hide her embarrassment behind
her hands. There was something endearing about it—something almost… innocent. He
hadn't realized how much attention she'd gotten back in her hometown. It made him
wonder about her life before coming to Paradis, about the world she came from. And it
made him curious about how she saw herself—modest, humble, despite the praise from
those who knew her best.
Hange, sensing an opportunity to stir the pot further, leaned forward with a grin. "Well,
it's no wonder," she said cheerfully. "A beautiful, brilliant mind like Tiana's? Who
wouldn't be captivated?"
Tiana shot Hange a look, half warning, half pleading. "Hange, please," she said, her
voice still flustered. "I'm really not… I mean, I just want to focus on my work here. That's
all."
Jean chuckled, nudging Connie. "Hey, if you don't want the attention, Tiana, you could
always pass some of it our way," he joked. "I wouldn't mind being the center of attention
for once."
Connie grinned. "Speak for yourself," he said. "I don't think I could handle that kind of
pressure. I'd probably just freeze up."
Sasha laughed, shaking her head. "Well, I think it's nice," she said. "You're like a breath
of fresh air around here, Tiana. It's good to have someone new, someone different.
Keeps things interesting."
Tiana finally lowered her hands, offering a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Sasha,"
she said softly. "That means a lot."
Isaac, still beaming with pride, leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a
satisfied grin. "See?" he said, glancing at the scouts. "That's our Tiana. One of a kind."
Levi watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. He could
see the way Tiana's face lit up, even through her embarrassment, the way she tried to
deflect the attention but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She was
modest, humble, despite the praise. He found himself admiring her for that—for her
ability to stay grounded, even when everyone around her was singing her praises.
He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to see her in her element, to see her
back in Androsia, where she was clearly so loved and admired. Would she be different?
Or was this brilliant woman the same no matter where she went?
As the conversation continued, Tiana stole a glance at Levi, her heart still fluttering in
her chest. She wasn't sure what he was thinking, what he saw when he looked at her.
Did he see her the way the others did? Or was she still just a mission to him, someone
he had to protect, nothing more?
She quickly looked away, focusing on her food, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She
needed to stay focused, needed to keep herself grounded. But as she sat there,
surrounded by laughter and friendly banter, she couldn't help but feel a small, warm
glow in her chest—a feeling she wasn't quite ready to name, but that filled her with a
quiet sense of happiness.
…
Tiana lay in her bed, the room dark and quiet save for the soft rustling of leaves outside
her window. The moonlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft, silvery glow
across the room, illuminating the small space with a gentle, calming light. She turned
onto her side, her head resting on her pillow, her mind still buzzing from the day's
events.
She had managed to keep up her composure in the mess hall, laughing along with the
scouts, enjoying the camaraderie, even managing to deflect Hange's teasing. But now,
in the quiet solitude of her room, with nothing but her thoughts for company, she found
herself drifting back to him. To Levi.
Captain Levi Ackerman, she thought, her heart fluttering at the mere thought of him.
She could see his face so clearly in her mind—the sharp lines of his jaw, the way his
dark hair framed his intense, piercing eyes, the quiet strength in his expression. There
was something about him, something she couldn't quite put into words, that drew her in,
that made her feel… something she had never felt before.
Back in Androsia, most of the population was dark-skinned. She had grown up
surrounded by people who looked like her, people who shared her culture, her heritage.
She had always assumed that when the time came, she would settle down with a fellow
Androsian, someone who understood her, someone who shared her background. It was
just the way things were—the way things had always been.
But then she had come here, to Paradis. And she had met him.
Levi was different. So different from anyone she had ever known. A pale-skinned man
from a different world, a different life. He was mysterious, reserved, his stoicism
masking a depth she was only just beginning to glimpse. He was strong, fiercely
capable, a leader in every sense of the word. And he was…handsome. Devastatingly
so.
Tiana felt her cheeks warm as she thought about it. She had never imagined herself
being attracted to someone so different from her, so outside her experience. But Levi…
there was something about him, something that made her heart race, her breath catch
in her throat. His pale skin contrasted sharply with her own dark complexion, and she
found herself fascinated by the differences—the way his features were so defined, his
eyes a shade of gray that seemed to see right through her.
She bit her lip, her heart fluttering as she recalled the way he had looked at her earlier,
the intensity in his eyes as he watched her solve the Rubik's Cube, as he listened to the
scouts compliment her. There was a quiet strength in his gaze, a subtle protectiveness
that she found incredibly appealing. It made her feel seen, noticed in a way she wasn't
used to.
And then there was the age difference. Levi was older—much older than she was. But
there was something about that, too, that she found undeniably attractive. An older
man, experienced, seasoned by life's challenges and battles. There was a wisdom in
his eyes, a quiet understanding that came from years of living, of fighting, of surviving. It
was a strength that went beyond the physical, a strength of spirit, of character.
She had always thought she would end up with someone closer to her own age,
someone who shared her youthful enthusiasm, her energy. But Levi… he was different.
He was calm, steady, his presence a quiet anchor in a storm. She found herself drawn
to that calmness, to the way he seemed to carry the weight of the world on his
shoulders without complaint. It was… hot. There was no other way to put it.
She felt a small smile tug at her lips as she imagined what it might be like to be with
him, to share her life with someone like him. To learn from him, to grow with him. To feel
his strong arms around her, to feel his steady presence beside her, guiding her,
supporting her. It was a thought that made her heart race, that sent a shiver down her
spine.
Stop it, Tiana, she scolded herself silently, rolling onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.
You're being ridiculous. But even as she tried to push the thoughts away, they kept
coming back, lingering in the corners of her mind, making her heart beat a little faster,
her breath a little shallower.
She sighed, covering her face with her hands, feeling a mix of embarrassment and
excitement. She had always been so focused on her work, on her inventions, on her
studies. She rarely allowed herself to think about romance, about love. But now, here
she was, lying in bed, daydreaming about a man who probably didn't even see her as
anything more than a mission—a responsibility.
But what if he did? a small voice in the back of her mind whispered. What if he saw you,
really saw you?
Tiana bit her lip, her heart racing. She wasn't sure what Levi thought of her, wasn't sure
if he saw her as anything more than just another person he had to protect. But there
had been moments—brief, fleeting moments—when she thought she saw something
else in his eyes. A flicker of interest, a hint of curiosity. Maybe even… a spark?
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She was being foolish, letting her
imagination run wild. Levi was a soldier, a captain. He had more important things to
worry about than a crush, than whatever it was she was feeling.
But still… she couldn't help but wonder. Couldn't help but hope, just a little.
With a sigh, she turned onto her side again, pulling the blankets up around her
shoulders, trying to find some comfort in the warmth. She closed her eyes, willing
herself to sleep, to stop thinking about him. But even as she drifted off, her last thoughts
were of Levi—of his eyes, his strength, his quiet, commanding presence.
And as she finally began to drift into sleep, she thought that there was a chance—a
small, precious chance—that he might feel the same way. And that, more than anything,
was a thought worth dreaming about.