The sky was a nice, dark, colour and Levi sighed in complete and absolute happiness. It was the perfect weather to be outside and wander around. No one would be found around the area for another half hour or so away. Take or give, he really didn't venture out much so something as distance between him and civilization wasn't necessary to know. 

It was just perfect. Him alone in his little forest and the castle his family had for generations. It wasn’t a large castle per sé, just a small one but much larger than a mansion. His parents died when he was younger and he was an only child so it was him alone in the wilderness. He survived off of the money his family gathered over years and estimatedly, there was enough to live a luxurious life until death considering it was him alone anyway.

He walked along a little creek he had discovered on one of his evening strolls, lifting his dress as he walked in the shallow water. He held his shoes and dress in one hand and leaned over to run his fingers through the water with the other. It felt cool against his fingertips and he smiled lightly at the tiny fish that swam around his legs. Tiny drops suddenly started falling from the sky and he looked up towards the clouds to see it was darker than just five minutes prior. He let out a sigh and walked out of the water, a bit disappointed that his stroll was cut short.

“The rain just had to ruin my nice walk,” he muttered, letting his dress fall but still holding his shoes. “I mean, I like rain but I wanted a long walk through the forest.”

He ran his hand through his black hair that was in his decidedly signature undercut and absentmindedly hummed a song. He would take at least fifteen minutes to get back home which would result in him being drenched whether he walked or ran so, as an obvious choice, he stuck to walking at a slow pace.

“What a lovely voice, Ma’am.”

Levi spun around in shock and stared at a man sitting on a horse a little less than five meters away. How hadn’t he heard the crunching of twigs and leaves from the horse’s hooves? The rain wasn't that loud, was it?

“Uh, thanks?” Levi answered uncertainly. “But I’m actually a man not a woman”

“I must apologize. My bad.”

“It’s alright. It must’ve been the dress.,” Levi responded, taking his appearance into consideration. “By the way, what are you doing out here? This forest is quite far away from any town and also private property. Did you not see any fence?” Levi asked, scanning the man up and down suspiciously.

“Ahh, about that,” he started, scratching his head.  As a form of embarrassment or because it actually did itch from being out in the ratty forest for so long, Levi couldn't tell. “I was out hunting with some of my friends and I got separated from them by the rain. It’s raining much harder where I was compared to here so that’s how I lost them. I thought I was heading in the right direction but I guess not. As for the fence, there was a broken part so I went through there.” 

“I see. Well, you better find your way back,” Levi said, continuing his walk back home. “Have a good time.”

The man was a bit shocked at Levi’s sudden hostility but he brushed it aside. He remained seated on his horse a bit longer, contemplating whether he should try finding his way back or maybe ask the stranger for a little bit of help. 

Deciding to ask for help, he turned his horse and headed in the direction Levi walked in. Urging his horse into a trot, he caught up to Levi in virtually no time at all.

“Hello again, Ma’am,” he teased once he saw Levi.

“Oh, hello. I thought you were finding your way back like I told you to?”

“Well, about that, I was going to but then I realized it would be worse if I did that because I would probably end up even more lost than I already am.”

“I see. So what do you plan on doing?” Levi asked with an eyebrow raised, arms crossed, and possibly the most expressionless face ever.

He was fully capable of emotions like every human, he just didn't like using them to their full potential when confronted with humans, specifically ones riding on horses triple his size who so happened to be strangers. In the presence of people he was fully comfortable with, expressions came in all colours as if he had a built in colour wheel.

“I was hoping you could show me the way back to the road. I’m assuming you live somewhere around so you should know the way back to town. Right?”

Levi let out a sigh and looked into the man’s blue eyes, figuring if he should use his energy to actually be a decent human or send him on his way once again. 

“That’s right. But before I can consider helping you, I need to know your name. Did you think I’d help you without knowing the very basics?”

“Of course. My name is Erwin Smith. What’s yours?”

“Levi,” he responded simply before adding on as an afterthought, “Levi Ackerman.”

“Ackerman? Sounds familiar. Well, anyway, will you help me or not?” Erwin asked, noticing how Levi’s dress was getting extremely muddy by the continuous pitter patter of descending raindrops.

“I mean, I guess. Just follow me. It may take a few more minutes since I'm walking but we’ll soon be at my house.”

Erwin contemplated for a moment but decided it wouldn’t hurt to ask Levi if he wanted a ride.

“Hey, Levi?”

“Hmm?”

“Would you like a ride?”

Erwin noticed how one of his eyebrows raised in surprise but the rest of his face remained the same.

“On one condition,” Levi answered, stopping to glance behind him.

“And that is?” Erwin asked, stopping his horse.

“I get to control the horse.”