Author's note: Yes...yes....It's been a very long time since I've last updated this book, or written at all really. Life sorta just...happened. I apologize deeply for this. But please enjoy this super short little one shot (short by my standards anyways); it's to get me back into writing again. I know it's not very good. Shhhh. please no hate because I didn't edit this really at all either.

A reminder that I am unaware of anything that is going on in the manga. I've heard some news, but regardless, I haven't kept up with it so my knowledge of the characters only goes as far as the anime/OVA. Also, the SnK video game was super fun to play! A little repetitive but nonetheless awesome.

Word count: 1591

***

It had been five days since you set out from Karanes District to reestablish supply routes that had been devastated by the titans. If you were ever to make it back to Wall Rose, even with the recent efforts of Eren Jeager, it was a necessity to have routes and stations set up every so often.

This particular expedition had been the longest so far, having already created this route previously but now the regiment was furthering its advances. The soldiers were tired but fortunately, morale was still high.

Casualties have been maintained to a minimum; only two have been injured and there had been zero fatalities so far. You were grateful for this, as you were not keen on having to deal with another loss of a fellow Scout.

Presently, you had made your rounds with some of the newer members of the regiment. You had been asked by your superior to assign them varying tasks throughout the camp. Once you were finished, you decided to report back to your captain.

You searched the grounds for a few minutes, inquiring to as to where he could be. No one had much of an answer to give you, as none of them had seen Levi in the last hour, not even the commander. You had a solid guess as to where Levi could be; often the best place to find him if he was not in his usual places was to simply look up.

Your assumption had been correct.

At the edge of camp, standing on the roof of what looked to be a school judging by the bell on top of it, was Levi. From your spot on the ground, you smiled slightly, watching his visage stare out into the emptiness of rolling hills and trees. You had known this man for as long as he has been in the Survey Corp, and he did this often when beyond the safety of the walls. Those who have known him for those years knew not to interrupt this brooding moment.

Well, except you.

With a quick burst of your cables and gas, you joined him. Levi did not look aggravated by your presence but he did not say anything either at your approach. He continued to stare up at the clouds passing by, the crisp breeze casting his hair over his face somewhat and blowing his cape about.

You leaned up against the wall next to him, watching the afternoon sun shine across the grassy hills beyond. It was silent between you two for a few moments before you finally decided to say anything.

"Everyone is attending their tasks, Heichou," you said, eyes still fixed on the horizon.

"Tch." Levi had shifted as he made his signature tongue click but still watched the trees sway in the wind. "What did I say about calling me 'heichou' when no one else is around, (f/n)?"

A smile formed again at your lips, despite the bite in his tone, and you lowered your eyes for a moment. With a steady inhale, you glanced over at him.

"What do you think about when you're up here?" you asked. You turned to face him, but still kept your right shoulder leaning against the wall and crossed your arms. "You've never told me..."

Levi met your eyes for a moment, a fraction of a smile appearing. He did not answer you immediately and continued to gaze on the land.

"My entire childhood was spent dreaming about the outside world...to be beyond the walls of my confinement underground," he said finally. You knew this of course, but let him continue. "I wanted to know what the warmth of the sun felt like...what wind and rain felt like on my skin. I wanted the freedom to roam wherever I wanted to...to not be locked up in some damn cage."

Levi paused for a moment and his smile turned into that of a wry smirk. "The irony of it all is that even above ground, there were still fuckin' walls surrounding me..."

You chuckled lightly at this. "It was all a lie," you teased. "You escaped a cage only to be forced to fight for your life against flesh-eating monsters."

Your captain rolled his eyes.

"I'd say you got gipped."

Again it fell silent. Despite that he did not laugh at your joke, the air was not awkward. Then again, he rarely ever was amused with your humor. He folded his arms in front of him, though covered by his uniform cape, and continued to descend into his thoughts. Another gust of wind kicked up, filling your lungs with fresh air.

"When I'm up here," said Levi after some time, "I remind myself to count my blessings."

You snorted in amusement. "That seems unlike you, Levi."

He shrugged. "Just because I don't seem the type, does not mean that I'm not, brat," he said, but with little acidity. "There's more freedom here with those fucking titans and this damned military than I ever had down there...and I am thankful for that."

Waiting for him to continue, you let your head fall back to stare up at the clouds above.

"And I would rather fight those ugly ass monsters every fucking day for as long as I'm alive for the people I care for and for humanity's sake than have to fight for the selfish gain of seeing the surface like I had before," said Levi firmly. You returned your gaze to him, somehow not surprised to hear such conviction in his voice.

There was a vibrancy in his eyes, one that you rarely ever see unless it's out of anger.

You understood what he was getting at though without him having to explain it in detail. In his moments on the rooftops, he reminds himself where he came from. He had once been a caged bird, wanting so desperately to spread his wings...that he never knew what it was to see the light of day.

Levi continues to fight battles not just for the sake of humanity's future, but for the smallest of reasons for himself. He would rather be up here with a purpose, even if it is a grim one, than be below ground waiting to die.

You thought back to your own life prior to the military and you internally agreed with what Levi was saying. Though your childhood was a privileged one, having been raised in the Stohess District, it had been stifling and restricting. Against the wishes of your family, you ran off to join the military as soon you were able to.

You had wanted control of your own life, to feel what it meant to be alive instead of wasting it. As a child, you had been surrounded by rules of class and gender but their ignorance of life outside their district bothered you the most. You never turned back the moment you enlisted.

However, in the military, everyone was equal and the reality of the world was staring at you directly in the face.

You would rather be here than to ever be stuck in Stohess ever again.

"When I'm up here," said Levi, pulling you out of your thoughts, "I remind myself the reasons why I'm still fighting...that there are still good things left in this world to keep safe."

You felt his skin brush up against your hand. Without thinking, you laced your fingers in between his while trying to quell your flaring cheeks and glanced around below to see if any soldiers were around. There were none.

Levi did not look at you; he had returned his gaze out onto the hills once more. "I...I'd rather be up here...covered in fucking titan blood every day than to have to be down there...without you..."

At this, you turned your surprised expression to Levi, who refused to meet your gaze. The slightest tinge of pink was blooming in his cheeks; it was clear he was embarrassed for having to admit that. Biting back his pride was a difficult thing for him to do.

You grinned at this but remained quiet for his sake. Instead, you leaned your head onto his shoulder and placed your other hand at his arm as a sign of acknowledgement and thanks. You knew full well that Levi would prefer you to say nothing than to comment on his uncharacteristic comment but you were sure he was aware that the feeling was mutual.

The pair of you continued to take in the scenery before your eyes in easy silence. 

Whether he said it or not, he faced the danger of titans so that one day...maybe one day, you both could live on peacefully.

Together.