I woke up from my chilling nightmare and sighed. I shivered and looked up at the window to see small white particles fall from the sky. I gasped silently and crawl out of the bed I was laying in. My feet touched the floor and I was thankful to have installed carpet instead of wooden floors. I put my hand on the window, savoring the cool vibe it gave. My breath created fog against the window and I drew a small smiley face. My eyes softened at the face and I turned around as I heard someone come in with a light knock. Eren smiled brightly when he saw me and held up a tray of hot chocolate with cookies. I walked up to him and gave him a nod of thanks.

"The team and I wanted to do something for Christmas...can we?" Eren spoke up after I sighed in delight of the warm chocolate.

"I am feeling a bit festive...I don't see the harm in it. What are you planning to do?" I said after a little bit of thinking. Eren's eyes brightened up and he smiled even more.

"Just a little Christmas party between our group." He said vaguely. I shrugged and nodded.

"I'll get ready," I concluded and pushed him out of my room. I shut the door and could hear a cheer from behind it from Eren. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I got some clothes and entered the bathroom. After showering and stuff I got dressed in an (f/c) sweater and slipped on some black leggings that go all the way to my ankles. I slipped on socks, an (f/c) scarf, and a black beanie. After that, I went back to my room and stuffed all my necessities into my bag. I decided to get everyone a present - Hanji and Erwin included. I had a nagging feeling that if I didn't get something for all of them I wouldn't feel as festive as I was today. Though it was just little things, I couldn't find big stuff for them all. It was a week after our previous mission with the terrorists so I didn't have much time. I put the small gifts into my bag and walked down the stairs. When I reached the bottom step I was greeted with Levi and Eren dressed warmly and holding bags - filled with presents I assume.

"Morning." I greeted Levi and he nodded.

"Ready? Then let's go!" Eren said excitedly. We entered the car and drove to HQ. I sped through the streets again to avoid the oncoming traffic that would fill the streets later. When we arrived, Eren led us to the cafeteria. When we entered, everything was decorated beautifully with green and red lights. A big tree was decorated and lit in the corner as well as a lot of presents under it. Every table had paper snowflakes hanging from the corners and red poinsettias in the middle. Gingerbread houses lined up against one side of the cafeteria while the other side had the fireplace with couches. Stockings hung from the fireplace with Christmas decorated throw pillows on the couches. I gazed at the decoration when I realized a mistletoe was being hung from the door we entered through. I looked beside me and sighed in relief when no one was beside me. I stepping out from under the doorway and looked at the people present.

The whole group was here, Eren was talking with Mikasa and Armin who got released from the hospital yesterday. Sasha was drooling over the gingerbread houses with Connie voting on a house for the Gingerbread House Competition. Ymir and Krista were eating cookies at a table. At another table, Reiner, Bertolt, Marco, and Annie sat listening to Jean's obviously fake story about the Titans. Hanji and Erwin were talking beside the fireplace. Levi was leaning against the wall and I was about to approach him when a girl - Petra if I recall - went up to him. I walked up to him and heard a part of their conversation.

"S-so what do you say? Oh, aren't you Rose? One of the Elite Double A's in the Survey Corps?" She looked at me. I nodded my head.

"Please, call me (y/n) when we're not out in the field," I said. She nodded and looked back at Levi.

"Oh! Isn't today your birthday as well Levi?" Petra tilted her head and asked. He looked away from us and nodded a little.

"Can we...not speak of it?" He said quietly. Petra looked confused and was about to say something when I butted in.

"Of course Levi," I said and Petra looked at me.

"Hey, guys! Let's go open presents!!!" Connie shouted from across the room. I nodded and walked over to the fireplace, Petra and Levi followed me. Ymir and Krista passed around the presents under the tree. I was surprised to get presents from each person same with Levi.

"Y-you didn't have to get me a present..." I said to everyone.

"Nonsense! You are a part of this group! You deserve those presents." Armin countered.

"He's right. You are just important to us as we are to each other." Eren supported. I nodded my head in thanks but I could feel my mouth twitch a little upwards.

"Oh...here...I know it's not big but..." I said and passed the gifts to everyone. I sat back down with a poker face as they all stared at me in shock.

"THANK YOU!!!!" They all chorused. I shrugged and looked to the side. I gave Levi his gift and watched as everyone ripped open their presents in anticipation. I look down at a gift and picked it up. I untied the ribbon after reading that it was from Armin. They had all opened the gifts I gave first.

(All the stuff they got you can imagine. That is wayyyyy too many people to list all their gifts :P)

After cleaning up the wrapping paper and getting a couple mugs of hot chocolate, the group decided that we would play the classic game of Truth or Dare.

"Okie dokie! I am going to spin this bottle, whoever it lands on will have to pick truth or dare and if they cannot carry out the deed then they must do the alternative choice!" Hanji explained. Everyone nodded and braced themselves as she spun the bottle.

"Erwin! Truth or dare?" Hanji asked. He sighed.

"Why did I join this? Dare." He muttered. Hanji then smiled creepily like the Grinch.

"I dare you to dress like Rudolph for the rest of the game." Erwin sighed and rubbed his face.

"Alright..." He left and came back with a Rudolph onesie. Everyone was holding in their laughter - Mikasa, Levi, and me not included - and their faces became red. I had to admit, it was a rare sight to see the administrator of a deadly organization in a Rudolph onesie with a red clown nose. Erwin spun the bottle once again and it landed on Eren.

"Truth or dare, Eren?" Erwin asked. Eren smirked.

"Dare."

"Hmm...I dare you to chug the rest of this soda." Erwin held up a bottle 3/4 filled with soda. Eren nodded and put on a face of determination. He chugged it down but ran to the bathroom right after. Mikasa gave a death glare to Erwin and helped him. Jean was dying on the floor in laughter. Eren came back and spun the bottle. It landed on me.

"Truth or Dare, (y/n)?" Eren asked nervously.

"Hmm...dare, I guess," I said, feeling a bit risky today.

"I dare you to spend two hours in a room with Levi!" Hanji spoke up.

"Hey it's my dare - " Hanji smiled widely at Levi and me. I glanced at him and shrugged.

"Let me spin the bottle before I go," I said. They nodded and I spun the bottle. It landed on Mikasa. With narrowed, mischievous eyes I asked.

"Mikasa, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to kiss Eren on the cheek for a full minute," I said to get back at Eren. I would get my revenge on Hanji later. Levi and I were dragged from the room by Hanji and was stuffed into the pantry. I accidentally tripped and landed on Levi, who caught me.

"Have fun~" Hanji smirked evilly. I got up from Levi, feeling my face heat up.

"S-sorry." I stuttered.

"It's fine..." Levi muttered. We felt around for the switch and I found it. I clicked it and was face to face with Levi. His eyes widen a little and I felt my face heat up even more at how close we were.

"S-sorry, a-again." This annoying stutter...He nodded and looked at our surroundings. I scooted back and looked around as well.

"Two hours in here, huh?" I muttered. I sat down on the floor and sighed. I closed my eyes but they shot open when I looked to the side. There, under the shelves, sat a panda bear.

"What the...Why is there a panda bear in the pantry?" I mumbled in confusion and held up the bear. My eyes widen in shock when I got a closer look.

"No way...."

"What?" Levi asked.

"This...this is the same panda bear that I lost 14 years ago when I first arrived at Headquarters," I whispered. He motioned for me to continue and explain in more detail. I gulped and contemplated if I should tell him or not.

"Well, I used to live on the streets. Close to the entrance of the Underground. Only 10 when Erwin found me and took me in and practically raised me to who I am now. This was the only belonging I had besides the clothes on me. I was so amazed at the size of everything and how many people treated me with kindness. I was so caught up in everything I had unknowingly left my panda somewhere. For 2 years, Erwin and I searched for this because it was the only thing I had left of..." I trailed off.

"You don't have to continue if you don't want to," Levi said. I breathed out.

"Well, we are partners. I think it's best to open up and...explain myself. I realized that we didn't know much of each other's past. I barely know much about you, Levi." I said. He nodded.

"Then let's explain ourselves. I think...it's best to say something than nothing. You don't have to tell me everything." Levi added. I nodded and breathed in.

"The panda was the only thing left of my family. They had left me due to...problems...and I was left to fend off everything myself. For two years, I lived on the street because I had lost everything. But a bit of me still hoped and fought through those months of emptiness and loneliness. I had lost my emotions through it all...but I am realizing that this group is bringing them to the surface." I explained the rest. He nodded and looked away.

"I guess I could say a couple things myself..." Levi muttered. He told me his life. How he was brought to work for Erwin forcefully and how he lived in the Underground. He had used our gear, our 3DMG to steal and survive. After he explained his past - though vague - I saw him in a whole new perspective.

"I guess we are somehow similar. Must explain why we work so well with each other." He concluded. I nodded in agreement. The door opened and Hanji looked at us.

"It's been two hours guys! You can come out now!!!" She giggled and ran out of the kitchen. Levi got up and held his hand out to me. I grabbed it and he helped me up.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"I mean for telling me most of your past. I know how uncomfortable it must be to say all that."

"Yeah...thanks for listening." He mumbled. We walked towards the entrance of the cafeteria, seeing the party was over.

"Yeah..." We stopped and looked at each other. I could see something different in his eyes. I think...light. Something in those dull, gray eyes had sparked.

"OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Hanji squealed. We looked at her and she was pointing above us. We looked up and I felt my face heat up even more. I could see a tint of pink in his cheeks as well.

Above us hung the damned mistletoe I was trying to avoid.

I looked at him and kissed his cheek.

"Merry Christmas and H-happy Birthday, Levi."

"M-merry Christmas, (y/n)."

-----

A/n: HAHA! Finally, the Christmas special is out! It took me forever to get this out! I know you guys have been waiting for this chapter so I did my best to type this up quickly. Been busy with family and stuff so I tried my best to work on this through it all.

Levi and (y/n) huh? Opening up to each other after awhile. I didn't go much into Levi's past but scraped the surface of it. I am too afraid to type his past up and it is wrong. I don't want to get too deep into it until I can fully understand it. I may have rushed this chapter a bit and may have a few errors I have overlooked. I put a little sprinkle of fluff between (y/n) and Levi. If Levi is a little out of character, I apologize! Can't say much from a guy's point of view when you're a girl.

Anywho, hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Published: December 26, 2016
Edited ✔️