Sounds of a pencil scratching paper as it drew lines on it filled Levi's room.

The sun had set and the owls are humming their nocturne that frighten young children that did not come home early from their play with their peers.

"Her eyes looks too mean." Erwin pointed out as Levi drew a curve to shape the eyes.

"Oh." He said as he took his eraser to correct the mistake he did. He dusted the paper with his hand and blew on it for extra 'cleanliness'. He drew another curve again to resemble Hange's eyes just as how Erwin describes it. "Is this good?" He asked and showed Erwin the paper that had new pair of eyes for Hange's portrait.

Erwin held his chin. "Too flat. Make it rounder."

Levi huffed in frustration but again, he could not complain since he insisted in doing so. He erased the eyes again and relaxed his hand as he sketched out a rounder and softer looking eyes. He shaded the irises to portray that color is present in her eyes.

"This?" He showed it again to Erwin.

Erwin clicked his tongue and exclaimed, "Exactly as it was!" He held the paper, admiring Hange's beauty. "You are the only artist that drew her well. Every portrait I asked for that depicted her made her look sickly or terrifying." He looked to Levi. "You have my gratitude, young man."

Levi crossed his arms and leaned on the wall. "You are welcome and stop with the formalities, alright? You can be who you are when you are with me and I would not care and I would not tell anyone as well."

Erwin returned the portrait to Levi. "Now, I want you to draw a pair of oval-shaped glasses on her."

Levi blinked and picked up the pencil and drew a pair oval-shaped glasses on top of the whole drawing, ruining it.

A gasp came from Erwin's mouth as he realized what Levi had done. It looked horrible now. Hange's face was still visible but the oval-shaped glasses were prominent with its thickly drawn lines. "Levi!" He cried. "Why would you do this?" He cried again as he waved the paper around.

This made Levi smile. Erwin was starting to show a fun side to himself and that made him happy since all he ever saw was the polite and stiff Erwin who was a great knight of Eldia.

The short man took the paper from Erwin's hands. "Alright, calm down. I will fix it and make her look prettier." He erased the humungous pair of glasses he drew across Hange's face and Erwin looked at it, with small tears at the corner of his eyes.

He does look childish, Levi admitted to himself. But at least he does not treat me like I am an acquaintance.

He drew back some lines that he erased as he fixed the mistake his joke had made. He drew the glasses over her eyes perfectly and he added a few faint lines to imitate reflection. He handed it back to Erwin who had his head on top of Levi's thigh which was something Levi did not expect.

"Pardon me, sir but why is your head resting upon my thigh?" Levi asked Erwin who was studying his sketch of Hange. He did not receive a reply for Erwin seemed to be mesmerized by the sketch Levi had made for him. His eyes glittered in happiness though Levi was sure Erwin's heart was throbbing in longing for her and yes, Levi admits that Hange is a beautiful woman and the way Erwin describes her led Levi to believe that she was a bubbly individual.

It is a shame she died.

She was a noblewoman from a noble family that had a really good image. It was not only their image that was good but they were naturally good hearted, privately or not.

She was good friends with Erwin until they realized their affections for each other and that was when they decided to marry.

They lived together happily, cherishing each other in every moment they had but she was murdered by the rebels to outrage and sadden Erwin.

She was innocent but Erwin's line of work affected her and even killed her and Erwin openly admitted to Levi that he blames himself for her death which he should not.

The man is too hard on himself.

Erwin looked at Levi. "I am on your thigh because it is as soft as the clouds that cover Olympus from mortal eyes." He smiled after he said that.

Levi rolled his eyes. "I reckon that you are just being pulled into Hypnos' spell. Please go to your bedroom now and rest."

The blue eyed man nodded and stood. "Thank you for your time, Levi." He held the sketch and pointed at it, "And I thank you for this as well. Have a good evening."

"I have the same regard as well."

And with that, he left and closed the door.

Levi sighed as he laid down his bed. He ran his thin, long fingers through his hair, thinking about the moments he spent with Erwin today. It seemed surreal.

He was awkwardly confessing his feelings to him then they talked about his wife and Levi sketched Hange.

His face became red as he remembered that Erwin rested his head on his lap. It was sweet and Levi loved that moment so much. It was as if they were really a couple.

He wanted to squeal so badly but he stopped himself because that does not seem to be like him so he was silently looking to the ceiling of his room, imagining all the things they could do...

"Stop!" He yelled out loud and slapped his palms to his cheeks. "You need to sleep! You have training tomorrow!"

•••

Levi sighed as he saw his reflection on the mirror. He looked like a peon that could not afford to have a decent bath for months-or at least that was what he saw.

He took a towel and pat it on his face to absorb the water that hydrates and refreshed his skin. He took it off and hung the towel on drying rack.

He could not sleep that night due to the number of thoughts he had as he struggled to keep his eyes shut but in the end, he was up the whole night and he sketched til the dawn just to keep himself occupied and to not dwell into his thoughts.

His room was now full of paper filled with sketches of different things such as the fields of lavender that seemed to swim in Erwin's land endlessly. A sketch of his uncle was on the floor too. Papers filled with sophisticated pencil drawings littered the floor of his room and he kept grumbling to himself about how untidy it was.

Reaching out for a sketch of Martha, he decided to gather them all up, pile them and place them on top of his wooden desk neatly. As he did, he saw that his room became tidier and this gave him the feeling of contentment that he always has every time he is done with cleaning.

The sun has risen but the day remained cool. It was still early in the morn but it was late enough for them see anything in broad daylight.

He went out his room in his squire uniform that consisted of a loose white shirt that had sleeves that ended on his wrists and its length stopped by his knees and he had a leather belt wrapped tightly around his waist. He also wore pants that were tight around his calves and in his own opinion, he looked shabby but since everyone else was wearing except Erwin, he seemed to be fine.

The closer he got to the dining hall, the more voices he heard coming from it. As he slipped through the small crack of the gigantic doors, he saw a bunch of enthusiastic squires that were chatting like women that talk to each other for hours when they come across a certain person they had not seen for years in the market.

Eren noticed him and waved to him, "Greetings, Levi! Did you enjoy your slumber?"

Levi rolled his eyes as he pulled a chair and sat on it. "Aye, I did and since when did you sound so formal, Jaeger?"

The boy with brown hair shrugged. "Just now. I really need to learn how to speak in a formal way since I will be a great knight so I am practicing it while conversing with other squires."

"He's just a show off, Levi!" Jean scoffed and leaned his elbow on Levi's head. "He thinks he's so damn smart!"

Levi felt ticked about Jean leaning on top of his head. It made him feel weak and vulnerable and worst, it reminded him of his short stature that he struggles with. He felt heat rush to his ears as he slapped the boy's elbow away with his hands.

Jean flinched and took away his elbow from Levi's head. His face was confused and Levi concluded that he was unaware that what he did was offensive to Levi.

"What is wrong with you?" Jean asked Levi as he rubbed his elbow. Levi could have swatted it harshly.

Levi turned to Jean, leaning on the back of the chair. "Do you not realize that what you had done is offensive to me?"

"Na-Nay..." Jean replied hesitantly.

Severino snorted in the background, noting how Jean the horse had said 'neigh' he he should.

"Who's the dumbass now, huh, Jean?" Eren chimed with a menacing and annoying smile on his face. It did not only anger Jean but it also made Levi want to reach out and just peel the boy's face until his smile is gone.

"Shut up, Eren!" Jean yelled as he walked over to Eren, obviously forgetting his conversation with Levi.

"How about you shut up first, Jean?" Eren snarled, frustrated with Jean's existence. Sometimes, Eren just wanders why an asshole like him would just exist.

"Oooh!" Connie said in excitement and he began to chant. "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" And everyone joined in as well.

Others pumped their fists to the air again and again. Some decided to gamble on who would win.

"I don't think this is necessary..." Armin whispered to himself.

Just as Eren lunged at Jean and tackled him, he yelled as someone pulled his brown hair harshly, pulling him away from Jean who was sprawled on the floor.

Eren screamed, trying to reach the one pulling his hair away from his scalp but he froze as he bent his body to see Mikasa doing it.

"Mi-Mikasa?" He stuttered.

Mikasa regarded him with cold and dark eyes. "I can't afford seeing you squires having a fistfight so early in the morning."

Jean staggered as he struggled to get up but his eyes widened when he saw Mikasa's beauty. "W-Wow..." He stood up, slouching as he gawked at the Oriental.

"Okay but can you please let me go?" Eren begged Mikasa as he felt her thin fingers tug a little bit on the strands of his hair.

Mikasa smiled in consideration as she lets go. "Alright and good morning, everyone."

Eren was rubbing his hair as he hissed in pain. As for the others, they greeted Mikasa back.

Levi stood behind Mikasa and he tried his best to not smile. He was glad in seeing the young girl. She seemed well and collected compared to the last time he saw her.

They all ate breakfast together. They had a small piece of omelette, stale bread, and some cold, bland soup. It was Martha's cooking but due to their numbers, Martha had to compromise and cook accordingly to their numbers even if it means that their meals will be terrible.

It's better than nothing, Levi would think.

As the crowd dispersed, carrying their bowls and eating utensils, Erwin arrived from his room.

"Greetings, my squires." He said in a clear voice and for one moment, his eyes met Levi's and the short man hoped that Erwin would smile or something near to what he hoped but the knight did not. He was simply stoic but his eyes held urgency of some kind.

"Greetings, my lord." The entirety of the squires replied, just like they were taught and programmed to do so.

His lips were a thin line as he inhaled to speak. "Training..." He paused as he looked to the crowd of squires that had terror starting to befall their faces. "Is now over. We are needed in the frontlines of the battlefield to assist the other troops.

"We will be leaving within an hour so please, gather your supplies and weapons."

As he finished his announcement, he turned his back to leave the room.

Hello! Thank you for reading this update! ♡