Jean was like hit by the hammer right into the brain. He whipped his head on instinct, a scowl greeting a furious Eren.

"What is it, suicidal brat?"

"What are you doing?" Eren said, slapping his hand away from Mikasa, glaring at him all the while.

"Ouch!" Jean let out, holding his aching hand. "What's your problem?!"

"I asked what are you doing!" Eren yelled and two of them engaged into a glaring contest, murdering each other with their eyes.

"Alright, enough," Mikasa said calmly, putting each hand on either of their chests and lightly pushing them, standing between.

"Eren, Jean and I were talking because he was upset about what he had heard from me and Petra," Mikasa explained, locking her dark, calming eyes on Eren's.

Frowning, Eren glanced at Jean before his rigidness melted into concern when he focused on Mikasa.

"Are you ok? I mean, with all of this?"

Mikasa blinked. "I am."

People don't usually ask me if I'm ok...

Sighing, Levi stepped in.

"Now, if you allow, we shall go," he said as he kept pushing Eren's back and urging him to resume walking.

"But-"

"No buts, move. It was your idea, wasn't it?"

Opening her mouth, then closing them, Mikasa hurried after them, Jean and Kenny following.

"What do you mean?" she asked. "Eren, what is he talking about?"

"Oh, well... You will hear."

A disapproving frown already forming on her vrow, Mikasa pursed her lips. Her gut telling her Eren had something stupid if not completely insane in mind. For if Levi was already so irritated yet eager to get over with it, then it meant two things. First - Eren had the only possible if not easiest solution and second - it was risky.

This has already gone too far, she thought.

.

.

.

Night had been peaceful in earlier days. Even a day before, it was calm and collected. Everyone would sleep with easiness or even tightness of sort on their hearts, but at least they had no much expectations of what would happen to them.

But today was different.

Now everyone packed, organised, talked and pondered. Everyone had at least one task in preparing for the journey, a mission to help their people and maybe the whole Continent.

Mikasa, Armin and Eren towed blankets into one cart. Auruo, Eld and Gunther gathered food supplies. Others were in wardrobes packing clothes for colder weather, preparing horses for tomorrow's hard path.

Petra patted a mare's head, gazing at the ground. Remembering how Eren proclaimed how he's going to infiltrate into the Marley Warriors group and inform them from the inside. Every plan, if he would be lucky, they will share with him. And then they will strike with the Commander where is needed and then the threat will be no more.

And even then, the job would not be finished completely. They would have to negotiate, attack, defend, to reveal truths to their own people and peoples of other nations. To make them believe it and not let any lies be made.

Not anymore.

But for the succession, many years will pass.

Will we even be alive when it happens? Petra pondered as she moved to the stable, heart clenching upon a cognition that they may never see it. To see the truth being accepted among masses and that they will stop suffering as a nation.

Sighing, she closed her eyes, drinking in the silence of the empty stable, lanterns hung above. She appreciated it so much after all the fuss today and never resting for more than a minute. In the end, everyone needed their own peace.

"Setting one's self in motion in pursuit of doing something works best in repelling negative thoughts. It worked every time for me."

Petra flinched in surprise then turned, a smile on her face when she saw Levi standing by the entrance of the stable, head leaned on the wooden frame, eyes tired, yet gentle.

Gentle like that only when he looked at her. Petra would be a fool if she said she hadn't noticed it, but yet a lot in their relationship is still unclear and so confusing. She didn't know how to react or how to act best.

So she did what she never thought she would - she calmed her rapid heart a bit, looked him straight in the eyes and asked the first question, voice calm yet shaky at the very edge.

"Can we talk about something?"

As if woken from a daze, Levi's eyes widened briefly and he detached from his spot, walking towards Petra.

Unconsciously, she gulped, feeling herself shudder. She didn't know how close he would come, but she refused to back away. So she straightened as best as she could, never breaking eye contact with him.

Seeing her steel resolve, the corner of Levi's mouth lifted upwards and he halted just at arms length from Petra.

"What do you wish to talk about?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Now Petra wasn't so sure anymore.

Should I call it back? To leave it for the second time? But when that second time would be... if it ever would be? No. I must know. It is due time.

Shutting her eyes and inhaling deeply, Petra clenched her hand into her skirt.

"When you..." she started, feeling her cheeks heat up. "When we... Has it all been... real? When I asked you that day when we had hung blankets, you eluded the answer."

As she spoke, she studied Levi's face closely and carefully. It held calmness and understanding. Guilt and shame she didn't expect, but it was present also, at the other half of her speech. Levi averted his gaze, biting the inside of his cheek.

"Well?" she urged, stepping closer, boldness ignited by desperation to know the answer, irritation of all the times she had questioned herself and embarrassment of every time she gave in without expecting anything in return, anything to be confirmed and said other than their passion being consumed.

And their passion, what was that? She always wanted to wonder more, but she always thought, no, knew she would go crazy if she only contemplated it more. Because she knew it could not be explained simply.

Back in her town, if she would say that to her friends, they would probably laugh and tell her how much she had herself wrapped around it all. How much she had let her desire blind her that she didn't seek love in any of it. And how she must let go of it, because such things never end up well. For the woman at least.

But she knew it was not true, at least not completely. There was desire, yes, but besides it, she could feel something slowly blooming as time passed. Like back then when she willingly offered him her blood when he was in so much pain, when she was supposed to leave and how he gave her that locket she still treasures close to her heart.

Does he still keep her golden scarf? Does he treasure it close to his heart as much as she does with his gift?

As if he could read her sentiments, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. Never leaving her slowly widening eyes, he pulled out the golden scarf, the silky texture of it shining on the light of the lantern above.

And at that moment, it was all clear. A lump in her throat, she smiled shakily, touching the scarf and Levi's hand with it.

"So you really..." she said, not daring to go further. If she did, she was afraid she would crumble.

"Yes..." he said, leaning forward and pressing his forehead to hers. "I do. Madly, greatly... More than you would ever know."

An ache Petra couldn't shake relented briefly.

"I... I can't say it yet," she said, a sob leaving her lips. "I still can't wrap my head around it all. I hate myself for it sometimes..."

It had happened so abruptly, that fateful night in the Throne room. Before that it had been brief, hidden, denied. After that, confusion, shakiness, gentleness were combined so much with other so different sentiments that Petra sometimes didn't know what to think. For she felt so many things, all in a haze and all in a frenzy.

"I know," Levi said calmly, not a hint of disdain nor accusation in his voice. Nor in his heart, as she could feel somehow.

"And I don't blame you. It was me who was forceful, who couldn't control my urges, who never told you about-"

Halting words stuck his throat and he inhaled sharply. His tongue had slipped.

"About what?" Petra raised her head to look at him. "Is everything alright, Levi?"

Seeing her so concerned and finally relieved by his confession, Levi had no heart to hide it from her any longer. It would be unfair and it was not like he didn't hide so many things not only from her, but from everyone. With the exception of his uncle and sister.

Braving her gaze, he swallowed imperceptibly and braced himself for any reaction she might have after hearing it.

"Vampires, as well as half-vampires have a special connection to a loved one," he started, noting Petra's curiosity, as well as a small smile adorning her face.

Yes, she loved him, but she will need some more time.

"And... that connection, when the other responds, my kind can feel it. Somehow, the reciprocation of it all was unconscious from you, but I could feel it."

Petra's lips parted in shock. "Even before...?"

"Yes... Even before," Levi smiled.

Before what, it needn't be specified.

A look of deep thoughtfulness painted Petra's face before her features relaxed in a serene realisation.

"I... was thinking about such a possibility since I had so much opposed you or acted irrationally without any reason. Could it have been me unconsciously denying my own feelings for so long?"

"It could be," Levi said, a sparkle in his eyes.

Gaze drifting to the entrance of the empty stables, odd shivers run up her spine after she sees that spark. It reminded her so much of so many times he had come to her. But now he seemed to be completely in control.

"Uh... You drank blood when?"

Blinking, Levi stared at her oddly before realising what she meant. He chuckled, tucking a strand of Petra's hair behind her ear, making her blush.

"I had enough at the right time. Besides, the full moon is not yet close, so there's nothing to worry about."

Embarrassed by asking something like that, Petra avoided his gaze, a blush on her face.

A finger on her chin, Levi turned her gaze on him and smiled.

Biting her tongue to compose her thoughts, Petra spoke.

"Will we go separate ways?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on the strategy we make in the morning," he said, dropping his hand, making Petra feel somehow hollow in the absence of the touch.

Nodding, Petra looked into his eyes, taking a small step closer. "If we do... will we get to inform each other of something? A dove... a hawk maybe?"

Levi chuckled. "A hawk certainly, they are faster and more durable. But don't worry too much about it, Petra. It will be alright," he said and cupped her cheek in his right hand, brushing his thumb on her skin.

A shiver up her spine at the contact, Petra slowly lifted her hand, placing it on top of his. She stared at Levi and he stared back, eyes slightly widened at her action.

"That's what everyone says before it gets worse," she said and smiled sadly. "But I guess we should always hope. And... to not lose people we care about."

Levi inched a bit closer. "People we care about?"

"Yes..." Petra said, looking deeply and gently into Levi's eyes, lifting her face so it was so close to Levi's. "People we care about."

And she pressed her lips to Levi's, for the first time initiating the kiss. Levi seemed frozen for a second, shocked more than anything, before his lips stretched into a smile. Regaining his senses quickly, he ran one hand in Petra's hair, resting it on her nape and the other around her waist, pulling her into him.

Petra had wrapped her hands around his neck, letting out a small gasp when he brought her closer, allowing him to slide his tongue into her mouth. And she gave into him, still shy but willing to kiss him like this, like there was no tomorrow and there were only two of them in this world.

Parting their lips, Levi's mouth went down her neck, kissing and biting and Petra had to press a hand to her mouth to stifle her moans.

His lips skimmed over her collarbone and bare shoulder as her blouse slid from it. She gasped, heart drumming in her chest. Her mind was so hazy that she didn't realise they were moving backwards into the hay pile on the floor, covered by a large cloth so it would not scatter around.

When her back hit the surface and Levi's weight pressed on her, his mouth devouring her, she realised what she was actually doing.

This time however, she had started this. And she gave in when it progressed to the point where she was now - lying under Levi, both attempting to do much more than just kissing.

Was she ready for this? Was she willing to do this now, with a man she cared for deeply but still couldn't openly and fiercely say she loved? And in circumstances like this?

Her train of thoughts was cut short when Levi licked her throat and she moaned, throwing her head back, giving him more access. She breathed out as the heat overwhelmed her, Levi's tongue and lips sending sparks surging under her skin.

Levi then pressed himself into her even more, his hot breath on Petra's chest. He kissed and bit her skin as she ran her fingers through his hair, completely at his mercy and enjoying every single moment of it.

"Levi..." Petra moaned, gasping when something hard and big pressed between her legs.

"Fuck, Petra... Making me this hard," Levi hushed into her ear and she blushed crimson, at that moment realising what that something was.

Will this be it? Petra thought, pleasure twisting her lower stomach sweetly, shudders of thrill running up her spine. Will she give herself to Levi here, in an empty stable, on a pile of hay, just before the day they may separate for a long time?

Levi started grinding against her, rough hands clenching her hips, his hardness rubbing into her in every way she never imagined. Breath uneven and heart drumming in her chest, she desperately clung onto Levi, his hot breath on her ear, teeth bitting onto it in pleasurable haze.

Maybe, she thought further, heated moans leaving her lips, it wouldn't be so bad after all...

Her hands found Levi's face and she cupped it, pressing her parted lips to his mouth. A bit of shame and guilt on her mind, of what her parents and friends at her home would think of her, she pushed down, deciding to enjoy this feeling as much as it would last. The feeling of Levi all over her body from outside, soon to be inside. She blushed at the shameless thought.

Neither of them knew how long they've been in their own world. They might as well have done it had they not heard voices approaching.

Breaking another deep kiss immediately, they looked at each other in alarm. Levi stood up quickly, offering Petra a hand which she took frantically. They ran from the stables through the other doors into the cold night.

Both shuddered at the wind chilling the heat they had built up just recently. As the voices fainted in the background, they found themselves in a stunned silence, fidgeting and avoiding each other's gaze.

Face red and heart calming down, Petra stole a glance at Levi who chose that moment to look at her. They stared at each other before bursting into laughter.

"Oh God," Petra said, hiding her face in her palms. "I..."

When she felt arms wrapping around her, she pressed her palms to her face more, burying them into Levi's chest.

Levi chuckled, running his hand through her locks, his heartbeat unstill. He, as well as Petra, was so pulled in the urge that he wasn't thinking about anything other than finally getting to be intimate with her. In his head he cursed those vampire urges, but at least he knew she wanted the same thing.

And yet, fortunately or unfortunately, they were disturbed and now with a clear mind, both of them had come to the same conclusion - it was not a place nor a time for that.

Later, one day, it would be. But not now, especially because they were going to separate when the sun rises. They would meet soon, but still, the suspense was hanging heavily above their heads now and both were aware of the seriousness of it all.

So they hugged tightly, inhaling each other's presence, giving a quiet promise to each other that they would meet again, and they would take care of themselves for that reason alone.