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Side Note: So, Levi is sixteen in this book. Erwin would have forced him to join up at fifteen meaning Furlan and Isabel would have died just a month after he joint up the Survey Corps. He's still mad at Erwin but calmed down around the commander. Levi was made a captain just one month ago, his humanity strongest rumour only now starting to grow. I just want to make it clear that it's slightly followed the ordinal aot storyline, he's just younger..  

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"Hopefully the next time we'll ever meet, you'll be able to tell me your name with confidence and a blessed happiness in your eyes" 

Was the parting words of the blacksmith as he looked to the little girl held in Levi arms. Carried to his chest with her arms lose around his neck and arms wrapped around his waste as he carefully hooped his arms under her legs, keeping the jacket pressed down to stop it from raising.

The small girl just nodded her head weakly as Levi walked out of the doorway, the blacksmith holding the door open for them before giving a friendly smile and waving at them as they walked away. 

He never asked for a single coin from Levi either, Levi told him to bill him at the survey corps but even till his last breath, he never charged them for that night. 

Levi stayed silent, keeping an eye out for any trouble why he walked. Wondering if anymore goons would be sent towards him since he did steal the prized girl under the boss he was sent to take down. In a way he has, they had all the evidence they needed and with them trying to attack him tonight just proved the evidence would bring them down. 

But for now, he'll leave his report for when they return to the camp tomorrow. For tonight, he'll get back to his hotel room and try to settle the girl down until they find her family or someone who'll know her enough to take her in. 

He reached the hotel that was mostly booked by the Survey Corps, soldiers left in the open entrance, some turning to him why others just blankly saluted, tired enough to fall asleep where they stood on watch.

"Send word to Commander Erwin to be at my room first thing in the morning. Someone also send word to doctor Yeager to come tomorrow morning as well. He should be staying at one of these hotels as well due to other business in wall Rose. And someone get this damn brat some clothing for her, I expect it in my room by morning as well ... and shoes" Levi ordered as he walked past, his voice stern and cold as always why his face was completely unreadable. Somehow still filling the soldiers with slight fear even as he held a little girl in his arms in nothing but his jacket. But than again, the girl was glaring at all the soldiers she passed as well. 

"Secret love child?" 

Filled so many soldiers mind that night before they quick rushed off to pass on word and orders to those who needed it. Giving the morning shift the orders for the clothing so it was done as soon as the shops were open. 

Levi just walked to his room on the second floor, not giving much care over half awake soldiers staring at him, saluting as they should before entering their own rooms. He knew he could most likely knock on the commander room door and speak tonight but he wasn't in the mood. He also wanted to try and get the girl washed at least a little and settle her down so he could sleep without the awful smell coming from her. 

"You have my room key" Levi commented as he stood outside his door, looking at the girl since his room key was in his coat pocket. 

She just gave a small nod, removing one of her arms from his neck before awkwardly patting the pockets and sliding the small metal key out. Levi lent on the door a little, trying to not drop the girl as she leaned back unlocking the door and pushing it open before leaning up again. 

"You're having a bath, I'm not a pervert but I won't let you touch anything else in this room unless you take a bath. You smell worse than titan blood, seriously .. how can someone smell so bad" Levi mumbled as he kicked the door closed with his feet, the girl still holding the key in her hand.

He earned a snarl as her response, clearly not enjoying being told she smelled as bad as she did and he didn't blame her. She didn't really have much of a choice in the way she smelled but he had to let it be know. He just carried her, sacrificed his jacket by letting her wear it and stain it in forever lasting smells. She could at least be a decent human and take his grumbles over her smell why he helped her. 

Awkwardly placing her down on the floor outside of the bathroom, taking his room key back with a bit of struggle since she was clinging to it a little. A mini slappy war starting up between them before she finally released the key and he slipped it into his trousers pocket for now. 

Heading inside the bathroom and running her a warmish bath, most of the hot water would be cooled down by now but hopefully it won't be freezing water just yet. He added some flower petals that the hotel left in a small dish, leaving the bar of soap on the side where she'll be able to reach and throwing in a flannel for her to use. Placing a small bottle of shampoo down that came with the hotel for her to use in her hair as well.

Sticking his hand and nodding at  the temperature, it was rather warm but not enough to burn a human. A nice warm, a temperature that one would enjoy to relax and soak in without a care. Perfect for the little girl who had an infected wound and was still snarling at people like she was a cat.  Plus, a good soak and wash might just help her feel a little safer, safe enough not to attack anyone in the middle of the night or in the morning when the doctor tries to help. 

He really didn't want to hold her back from biting a doctor, not when he was hoping the doctor can pass her back to her family or a family friend or just someone. 

"You can use one of my shirts to sleep in, it might be a bit big but it will at least cover your body fully. Just go take a bath and wash yourself .. I mean it, a deep wash to make every bit of grossness disappear or I'll throw you in the river .. I'm mean enough to do it" Levi muttered as he walked out, heading towards the nice looking wardrobe, pulling out a white shirt and being thankful he always pack an extra shirt with his normal list of packed clothing.

Levi walked back towards her, noticing her just sitting still and staring blankly at the unbutton shirt. Frowning a little and almost glaring a hole right through the fabric like it insulted her mother or something.  

"You do know how to do buttons .. right?" Levi asked with a raised eyebrow, not believing that a twelve year old girl who was able to lock up her heart before it shattered, killed a man with her hands, lived the life she lived and he even tried biting him couldn't do buttons. It was almost sad enough to laugh over it because out of all her weakness .. buttons was not the one thing that popped into his mind. 

The girl reply came a snarl and crossing her arms in a sulking manner. She turned her head away and tied curling her legs a little but stopping to wince in pain from her ankle. 

"That's actually rather cute, it's almost like your an actually child again" Levi commented amused, doing the buttons up with ease but leaving the collar one undone and hoping she could just pop it on like a dress once she came out of the bath. 

The girl finally pushed herself up, using the wall to help her stand and keep any weight of her bad ankle before she shuffled towards the bathroom door. Reaching her hand out for the shirt and snatching it before quickly hopping into the bathroom more and slamming the door close. 

Levi just nodded his head, trying his best not to laugh over her way of showing embarrassment. The girl who tried attacking him and a blacksmith was defeated by buttons .. it was humorous. 

Shaking his head as a chuckle actually left his lips before he sat on one of the arm chairs by the window. The curtains already closed and he poured the jug of water into the two cups on the tray. He wasn't sure when she last ate or drank something and he didn't fancy her dying in the middle of the night either. He knew food would have to wait until the morning but at least some water might help her throat .. she might not be mute by choice. If she hasn't chosen to talk for years or her mouth was too dry, maybe the glass of water might help. 

He leaned his head back, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the silence. Letting his body relax and just taking this moment of peace to rest his body. His hand was stinging a little, seemed when he smashed the bottle before a bit of it ended up cutting his hand. He didn't really notice until now, amazing what a distraction can do. 

His breathing getting softer and more calmer as he started to drift asleep without even noticing it. Not noticing that over an hour had passed why he was in the land of dreams, unaware of the girl still sitting in the bathtub freezing away as she was unsure over getting out.

After all, the only nice men she's ever met was her father who treated her like his princess and the doctor that came once a year. Since then, no man was truly kind and she wondered if Levi was nice or just playing her. He was giving her a second chance but a second chance for once .. would he suddenly turn out like all the other men she's been trapped in a room with. She didn't want to take the risk, she would rather freeze in the bath than climb out and be trapped in a new room all over again. 

The world was cruel, her luck was long gone and she would only have to face the worse if she left the bathroom. She'll only be chained to a new master instead of being free .. she couldn't live like that again. 

A whole two hours passed since the girl jumped into the bath and Levi eyes fluttered awake as his bad feeling finally woke him up. He quickly glanced around, not seeing anything out of the normal apart from the room before a little more dark and the single candle struggling to give much light now. 

He let a sigh escape his rooms before lighting the wall candles making a bit more light in the room before he glanced around. The little girl should have been done by now, was she hiding up or trying hopping for it. 

He shook his head, the girl wasn't stupid enough to run away in her state. She's seen all the soldiers, she should feel a little trapped for now. Of course, In a way she was trapped anyway but he wasn't going to let her be fed to the wolves either. 

"Hey! You taking a shit or something?" Levi called out without a care for manners as he walked towards the bathroom door.

Levi stayed silent, waiting for a replying before remembering she's a mute and banging his head on the door. He wondered just how stupid he sounded trying to talk to her for a moment and expecting a reply. Reaching for the door handle he noticed it was twisting making him know the door was still unlocked at least.

"I'm coming in, try to cover up or something if you can. If you can't, we'll silently agree to never speak of this" Levi sighed, giving it a couple of seconds before he heard a splash and quickly entered the bathroom. 

A slosh sound echoed his ears as a frown filled his lips, the wet fennel he gave her before was now currently on his face and sliding down from where she knew it at him. He quickly grabbed it before it fell to his own shirt and threw it back in the bath uncaring over how childish it was. A pleased smirk on his lips as splash in it's landing also splashed the girl. 

Win-Win. 

Both were on equal grounds once more in his eyes. 

He smirk vanished as he notice she was still in the bath making him know she was freezing her ass off. No one enjoyed a two hour bath since the water would be stone cold. He quickly grabbed the towel before heading over, turning his head away as he held the towel open, ready to scope her out once she stood up. 

But she wasn't standing up, she was just staring at him while snarling once more. 

"Look brat, you can't just stay in bloody cold water forever or you'll grow sick. I already said that I won't do anything like those bastards did, you deserve respect and I'm willing to give it. But if you're going to keep poking at my nerves, I'll throw you out towards another soldier to care for you. So, are you going to stand and let me warm you up or do you want to be thrown out naked" Levi huffed back, his annoyance leaking into his voice as he kept his head turned away while keeping the towel opened for her. 

He was met with silence, no more snarls leaving her lips before her stare no longer lingered on him. He stayed silent and unmoving as he heard her struggle to stand but knowing she won't let help why she was still naked. Reaching her arms up in the air, showing she  was ready to be scooped and Levi waited no time in wrapping the towel around her like a big hug before lifting her out of the bath in one movement. 

Quickly placing her down and rubbing her back trying to dry and warm her a bit. She didn't try scratching or biting him for once making him feel a little better over helping her. She was starting to trust him, even just a tiny bit when it made sense to her. He could take that, he only needed a bit of trust why trying to warm her up. 

Once he was certain she was dry enough, he reached for the shirt and she lifted her arms once more. Sliding the shirt over her like a dress, watching her arms flap to try and find the end of the sleeves why he pulled the rest of the shirt down over the wrapped towel. Once she was covered, rolling the sleeves up herself, he pulled the towel free from her body before throwing it over her head. 

"I'm going to carry you to the room, I'll place you on the chair not the bed .. I need to dry your hair and look at your ankle ... all right. No biting me" Levi slowly spoke, talking like he was speaking towards a wild animal that got caught up in a trap. 

He noticed the towel move a little showing she was nodding before she held her hands out to him. He took that as a welcoming sign and lifted her up, placing one hand on her back and the other sliding her legs why he started moving out the bathroom. Taking care not to spook the girl resting her head on his shoulder since he feared she would actually bite his ear off if she thought he was going to do anything. 

Reaching the chairs and moving the towel a little to let her eyes be free from the towel, letting her see that the bed was behind them as he moved to the chairs by the window. He wanted a little more trust and the safety measure of her not going to bite his ear why she can reach it. 

Kneeling down with care before gently placing her down on the edge of the chair and taking the towel off to let her see him. Meeting her gaze and silently communicating, trying to prove that he won't let anything else happen to her. Trying to prove he wasn't like the rest and was just trying to help, even if it was uncommon for him to just help someone. 

He might need to ask the doctor to check his head for any concussion in the morning since this was really not his cup of tea. He would have normally passed the brat on to someone else by now and yet he was trying to gain her trust enough to keep her calm. He must have been mad.

Slowly lifting his hands why keeping eye contact with her before wrapping the towel around her shoulders a little better. Taking care as he lifted her wet hair from out of his shirt and placing it over the towel to try and stop the shirt from being soaked.

"I'm going to grab a hair brush from a crazy monkey, I'll be right back .. no running off" Levi spoke with care, pushing himself to stand as he knew he needed to try and get some of those knots out and Captain Hanji room was just neck door. He could easily break into her room and grab her brush before returning to the girl like he didn't just commit a crime.  

She just stared at him, her hands holding the edge of the towel. He hovered a little, wondering if he needed to say anything else or if she wanted to say something .. well try and point out what she wanted to say at least. His eyes glancing around for something to distract her with but he didn't find much until he noticed the cups of water still on the table between the chairs.

"Why don't you drink some water why I'm gone, it's not poisoned or anything ... see" Levi awkwardly offered as he picked up one of the glasses, taking a sip and making sure to show he swallowed it before he placed the cup back down. Showing the water was safe and undrugged. 

He gave a slight nod as she reached for the glass of water, frowning when he picked up the one he just used. She clearly trusted him a tiny bit but not enough to use the other glass of water just the one he proved was safe to drink. Lowing his head in slight defeat knowing this was going to be a long night before he left the hotel room, glancing over his shoulder to make sure she wasn't trying to follow him out. Thankfully, she stayed on the chair and sipped the water .. giving a small nod as tasted safe to drink like she still wasn't sure if he was playing with her or not. 

It took him a whole five minutes to grab the hair brush, breaking into the room was easy but trying to find the simple object in the mess the captain had made was horrifying in a way. They only arrived yesterday and the place was almost as mess as her lab. She only had one packed bag and it was now all over the place. He moved quickly and silently, ignoring the loud snores coming from the crazy titan loving captain and just looked for the object he needed. 

Leaving as soon as he grabbed it and silently agreeing to never hold a meeting in her rooms EVER.

As he returned to the room, he was met with the girl placing back her empty glass. Her lips looked a bit better now she had something to drink but a single glass of water couldn't completely heal her. 

He walked over, grabbing the jug of water and refilling the empty glass and passing it back over for her. She eyed it before lifting it back to him, clearly wanting him to prove it was safe yet again. Rolling his eyes and taking a fake sip before faking a swallow and passing it back why she raised an eyebrow. Clearly not easily fooled with the fake drink he just did making him take a quick tiny sip before actually swallowing it. She gave a happy nod and drank away at the glass once more.

"I'm going to brush your hair, I won't lie to you over it going to hurt because I've seen bird nests less messy than your hair. I'll try and be quick and gentle, my skills are just a little rusty" Levi sighed as he stepped by the arm of the chair, waving the brush at her to turn side always for him.

She silently did as he asked, sitting sideways on the chair and leaving her back to him with her wet hair. Quickly placing the glass of water down before she held the other arm of the chair, clearly knowing he wasn't kidding over it hurting. 

He tried his best, taking out the knots why trying to be a bit kind over the pain. His mother hair use to knot easily and he use to help brush it for her, he always liked brushing her hair as a child since it felt relaxing and his mother would sing as he brushed for her. Even when she grew sicker, he stayed brushing her hair as much as it was needed and hummed to her as he did so. He's never brushed a girl hair since, Furlan was the one to help brush Isabel hair whenever she needed a hand. 

But he remembered the basics, he knew how to brush it right and how much knots could hurt. So, he tried to be kind by being proper and quick. Get rid of the knots as fast as he could without going slow like some would and leaving the girl in longer pain. 

"You're rather brave" Levi whispered as he got all the knots out and was just simply brushing the girl hair, smoothing it out and letting her relax a little. 

He stayed brushing her air as he noticed her shoulders tense, sniffles filling his ears and he just hummed an old tune why she cried. Pretending he couldn't notice she was finally crying even if it was mostly silent cries, she was letting all the pain out.