*This is a continuation of the previous one-shot, "Ghouls", per request of @Rainbowfilly*

Also, I drew Petra:) She's such an awesome character, if you haven't realized that by now:))))

"Petra! I need more coffee beans from upstairs. Mind getting me some?" Levi called to one of the waitresses.

"No problem, Levi," the auburn haired girl replied, setting down the plate she was drying and hurrying up the steps.

"Petra's a good worker," Mikasa said to Levi. They were standing side by side at the coffee maker, brewing up the orders of their customers. "She's only been here for a few weeks, but she makes a good cup of coffee."

Levi nodded, focusing on his cup. "She's not bad. I'm glad she's come to work for us. We're still a bit short on staff. It's hard to start all over again in a new country."

Levi, Mikasa, Eren, and Armin had fled Germany and traveled to Japan after being discovered by the Doves. They'd received the help from a few other ghouls who made sure to dispose of all their flight records. Hopefully, the Doves wouldn't pick up on anything and they could live peacefully.

Levi had stuck with his idea of opening a coffee shop. They'd named it "Taiyo", or "Sun". Actually, the name had been Eren's idea, since they were starting over and 'looking out over another horizon', according to him.

Levi had put up quite a fight about it, but eventually the three younger ghouls had won, and the name had stuck. He would admit, grudgingly, that the name was starting to grow on him.

Petra had recently come to the ward they were staying in, the 22nd, and asked to be employed. Levi had been a bit reluctant at first, but after seeing her work ethic and passion, he changed his mind. One thing about her did bother him, though.

"Here you go." Petra reappeared at his side, holding out the can of beans.

Levi reached out to take it, his hands slightly brushing hers. A faint blush spread across her face, and she immediately scurried off to wait on another customer.

There it was. Why on earth did she always do that every time he even looked at her?

"Tch. So annoying," he muttered.

"Who?" Eren asked, joining him as Mikasa left with the coffee.

"New girl. Petra." Levi said. "Always acts so weird around me."

"Clearly, she likes you," Eren stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Levi scowled. "Idiot! Of course she doesn't!"

Eren turned to stare at him. "Captain. Are you really that dense?"

Levi glared fiercely. "What did you say, Jaeger?"

Eren snickered. "Why so defensive, Captain? I bet you like her too, don't you--waah!" He ducked, narrowly dodging the plate thrown at him.

Mikasa, returning to the counter, swiftly caught it before it hit the floor. "What's this all about?"

Eren leaned toward her. "Captain Levi has a crush," he whispered seriously. "On the new girl, Petra."

Mikasa glanced back at the auburn haired woman cheerily waiting on customers. "Well, she is cute. Not exactly your type though, Levi," she smirked.

Levi glared at them all one last time before stomping off to the back room, muttering about useless kids.

***********************************

Later that night, as Levi was closing up the shop, he felt the familiar twinge in his stomach that he experienced once every month; hunger. It had been a while since his last meal, he thought. They'd run out of reserve food they usually stored in the shop. The night was cool and cloudy. What better time than now to hunt?

Grabbing his hawk mask, he slipped outside and began hurrying towards one of his favorite back alleys. People almost always wandered through there. All that was left to do was lie in wait.

After half an hour, Levi finally spotted someone heading his way. Tensing, he prepared to leap out of the shadows onto his unsuspecting prey.

Something, however held him back. As the clouds slowly began to part away from the moon, Levi caught a glimpse of a large silver suitcase by the person's side. Its metallic surface caught the moonlight and send him one message loud and clear; ghoul investigator.

Levi hesitated. He couldn't kill an investigator. If he did, the Doves would latch onto his location and dispatch multiple investigators to the 22nd ward. That would mean trouble for the resident ghouls. He refused to allow them to ruin another safe haven he'd created for himself and his companions.

It was too risky to expose himself now. Levi decided to lie where he was and hope the man passed by without noticing his presence. He pressed himself against the wall, sliding silently behind a large dumpster.

Holding his breath, he noiselessly waited as the man drew closer and closer. Suddenly, he came to a stop right before him. "Good," he murmured.

Then he lunged, activating his ukaku quinque and swinging it full force towards Levi's hiding place. "But not good enough!"

Levi leapt out from behind the dumpster, immediately drawing out the first form of his bikaku kagune. He didn't have enough fuel to unleash his kakuja form, so this would have to be enough. He had no choice but to fight now. Even if he let the man live, he would report him back to the main office as a 'dangerous ghoul'. That might cause even more trouble than his death.

The man spun around to face Levi again, and Levi's eyes widened. He would recognize that blond hair and piercing blue eyes anywhere. How on earth had he managed to track them to Japan?!

Erwin Smith.

The blond investigator narrowed his eyes. "Wait...Hawkeye? Unbelievable!" He began to laugh. "What luck! I'd come to the 22nd ward in search of the ghoul called Monarch, but to find you, of all ghouls! I thought I'd lost track of you completely, and here you are, presenting yourself to me on a silver platter!"

So Erwin Smith had come to Japan, not in search of them, but a completely different ghoul! He made a mental note to track down whoever this Monarch ghoul was and give them a thrashing for attracting too much attention.

What rotten luck, Levi sighed inwardly. No matter, he would need to figure out how to deal with this. Not killing him was out of the question. Swarms of investigators would come to this ward after discovering Hawkeye, the renegade ghoul, was here.

Killing him, however, would also arouse suspicion. If they investigated the kagune secretions, they would trace it back to him.

Then, the only other option would be...

"I'll make you disappear!" Levi snarled, attacking Erwin. "They won't even find a trace of your body!"

"Nasty creature!" Erwin snarled right back, blocking with his quinque. "You ghouls disgust me! I swear I'll destroy every last one of you, and make you feel the same pain my wife did!"

His wife...?

Levi tried to ignore the guilt trickling through him. Ghouls were responsible for taking the lives of many innocent people. But that was something that couldn't often be helped. He'd committed that sin many times himself.

When he next spoke, it was barely audible. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "But everyone, even ghouls, want to live. And for that reason, we'll fight, tooth and claw, to survive in this messed up world."

"Scum," Erwin hissed. "Die quietly! You have no right to live! You may have escaped me the first time, Levi Ackerman, but this time, I'll wipe you off the face of this earth. And when I've finished with you, I'll track down your little allies who came to your rescue the first time we fought!" His usual composure was gone, replaced with a burning passion.

Levi adjusted his mask. "Like I'd let you lay a finger on any one of them." His bikaku curved into his signature deadly 'talons'. "Die, Erwin Smith!"

The fight dragged on for almost ten minutes. Erwin was beginning to tire, but so was Levi. His stamina was lower than usual due to lack of food.

How do I always find myself in these situations, Levi grumbled to himself. Fighting a powerful investigator on an empty stomach.

Suddenly, in a quick turn of the tables, Erwin managed to get the upper hand. He hit Levi hard in the chest, sending him smashing against the opposite wall. He was on top of him in an instant, thrusting his quinque towards his heart. Levi countered with his kagune, pushing back hard.

Erwin grunted from the exertion, desperately trying to finish him. "Why do you try to live!? Knowing you've committed such evil deeds, you cling to life only to bring grief and despair to good people! You ghouls...why don't all of you just DIE!?!"

"Because," Levi growled. "I have people...waiting for me too!" He could feel that he was winning, that Erwin's arms were slowly but surely giving out. "Don't you think...I wish I could change this world too!?"

"Lies!" Erwin roared, the veins in his forehead standing out.

At that moment, a fiery streak came shooting down from the rooftop, slamming into Erwin and sending him tumbling off to the ground. He cried out as his head hit the floor violently.

Levi leapt to his feet, intent on identifying the newcomer. It was another ghoul, that much was clear. An ukaku ghoul, by the looks of it. Female, with blazing auburn hair that fell just past her chin. A decorated, ornate mask covered her face. He blinked at first, but yes, that mask was definitely in the shape of a...

"Monarch," Erwin hissed, slowly rising from the ground. "What a surprise."

"Monarch?" Levi asked, raising an eyebrow behind his own mask. The name definitely fit. The mask was orange and black, in the shape of a monarch butterfly. The top two wings covered her eyes, while the bottom pair flared out on either side of her face. "Who are you?"

"No one special," the ghoul replied. "But you seemed to be in a tight spot there. I like to help out my fellow ghouls."

Why did her voice sound familiar...?

Levi snorted. "I was fine. It takes a lot more than that to do me in."

"Not when you're fighting on an empty stomach," Monarch pointed out.

"I was just about to overpower him...wait, how did you know that?" Levi frowned.

"There will be time for formal introductions later," the other ghoul waved him off, sounding a bit flustered. "Right now, we've got to finish dealing with this one."

Both turned to face Erwin, who was still struggling to his feet. He eyed them both with pure hatred. His neat combed hair had fallen over his face, the skin scratched and bleeding. Air escaped from his mouth in pants, and his blue eyes were filled with menace. "I...hate...you..."

Levi paused. "I'm sorry. But there's no way I can let you live."

Erwin fell to his knees again, unable to stand. He cursed, gritting his teeth. "My wife...I was never able...to avenge her..." Erwin's fists clenched in frustration. "I...can't die just like this!"

Monarch regarded him with pity. "It's a shame...that we live in such a twisted world."

"Don't talk about shame, trash!" Erwin yelled. His eyes were wild as he grabbed for his quinque. "Before I die, I'll take you with me!!!" He made one last desperate lunge for the orange-masked ghoul.

Inches before he pierced her chest, he was stopped short, frozen by something. His eyes widened and he tried to speak, only to gasp.

"Once again...I apologize," Levi murmured as he slid his kagune out from Erwin's body. The man dropped to the floor. "But there's no way I'd allow you to take away the place I belong. I take your life with the utmost respect."

The two ghouls sat in silence, staring at the man who was slowly relinquishing the last remnants of life from his body. They remained that way until his chest rose and fell for the last time. Finally, Levi tore his glance away to look at the other ghoul. "Who are you? Do I know you?"

Monarch lifted a hand to her mask and tugged it off. Her auburn hair fell in her face, and she pushed it way with her fingertips.

"...Petra?" Levi asked in astonishment.

"Hey, Levi," she said, looking a bit embarrassed now that he knew who she was. A blush slowly crept up her cheeks. "I...you know...saw you were in trouble, so I came..."

"You're this Monarch ghoul? You must be pretty strong to attract the attention of Erwin Smith." Levi frowned.

Petra looked a bit proud. "Y-yeah, I guess I am!"

"That's not a good thing."

"Wha...huh?"

"You attract too much attention. Makes us all targets."

"Well...at least I helped you just now!" Petra said, a little defiantly.

"I was perfectly fine. Also, why were you following me?"

"I...I wasn't! NO! It's not like that! This alleyway, it's one of my favorite hunting places too, so I..."

"You were following me."

"Maybe! No! Yes! A little! Arghhh, stop it! I really respect you! I've respected you ever since I came to know you...you know, taking care of those three younger orphaned ghouls! It's very...sweet..."

"Petra."

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"...I-I'm sorry..."

"No, I don't mean it like that. But really, we need to figure how we're going to get rid of Smith. We can't leave him here."

"Ah! Right! Well..."

"We'll bury him. I wouldn't feel right doing anything else." Levi sighed, picking up the man's body. He couldn't help but notice the ring on his left hand.

"I'll help!" Petra said. "And also...you still haven't eaten yet, have you?"

"No," Levi replied. He cleared his throat, suddenly avoiding her gaze. "Would you...like to go hunting with me tomorrow night?"

***********************************

"So, I heard you went hunting with Petra yesterday night," Eren remarked two days later. "Finally got the message, huh? I bet she had to say it to your face, didn't she?"

"Wha-Jaeger, how did you know where I was!?" Levi growled, holding up the steaming cup of coffee in his hand threateningly.

"Oh, so you really did meet with Petra!" Eren laughed. "Hah! I knew I'd get it out of you! Mikasa! Armin! I've confirmed the rumor!"

"Shut up, Jaeger!"

In the end, though, word got out that they were together.

He had no regrets.

The End.

Sort of experienced writers' block while doing this one...hope it turned out okay!

And yeah...I managed not to kill Levi or Petra...but I killed Erwin...XD

Also, I tried to make it a little more lighthearted at the end, but then I went back and read over how I killed Erwin, and...yeah...I don't know what I was thinking...but I'm too lazy to change anything:)

Last note, Erwin is sort of a mix between Kureo Mado and Amon Koutaru. That's why he's a little OOC.