Hanji's POV

When we walked into the office together, I felt those familiar stares on me. Even Erwin and Moblit stared at me with those familiar eyes of judgment. Dragging my legs in the lagoon of quicksand to my desk, I was able to find safety there. Levi went back to his desk as if nothing had happened, but from time to time, he would look toward me with a smile on his face. I smiled back, thinking about our nights before going back to work.

His being there gives me this... this surge of confidence.

It wasn't long until he joined me in my office to work on the cause regarding his uncle. We worked for a few hours until Moblit walked into my office. Levi and I paused our talk when he walked in. Those eyes of his judged us before he mutters words for me to meet him outside.

"Hanji," he begins, looking at me before looking back inside, "what are you doing with him?"

"We're working the case-."

"That's not what I mean, Hanji. You came in with him this morning. And those looks in your eyes. I've seen it before. Hell, we exchanged those exact looks in our eyes. I know exactly what I'm talking about. I know you guys slept before, but I know you guys are a bit more active."

"Are you some sort of a cop that monitors who I sleep with and who I don't?"

"No. I'm a friend. A friend that looks out for you. Hanji, your co-workers-."

"The hell with my co-workers. I'm sick and tired of hearing those whispers. I'm not the kind of person that sleeps around with random people. I don't do anything like that. You know that, Moblit."

He nods his head, "I know, Hanji, I know. Just hearing those whispers, please be careful. And it's not like I don't trust Levi, but something's off about him. It's just that small feeling. Whatever you're doing, don't fall into the rabbit hole to the point where you can't do anything. That's the thing that I've learned about you."

"Levi has always been an oddball, Moblit," I say, sighing softly, "but the one thing I cannot do is leave him alone to handle this. I'll never leave his side."

"Who are you and what have you done with Hanji?"

My eyes widened as he said those words. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "You're telling me you're trusting an old friend and recently meeting again to this point? That's insane, Hanji." Moblit begins to walk inside the building after he muttered a few more words. "Please, be careful, and don't get carried away."

"I am being careful... I have Levi..." Assuming all he says is the truth...

Taking a deep breath, I gathered the courage to walk back into the office. I wanted to cry in Levi's arms because it seemed that he was the only one that doesn't give a damn about what others had to say. 

Levi had stepped out of my office and saw me walking with tears in my eyes. "Hanji, are you okay?" I shook my head as my head rested on the top of his shoulder. "What's wrong? What happened?" His voice changed to a calm and soothing tone. It makes my knees buckle as I clung to him. "Hanji, talk to me."

"They keep talking... and staring..." 

Levi helps me stand on my feet before kissing me on the lips. "It's okay. As long as I'm here, you'll be okay. I promise." He continues to kiss me on my lips before guiding me to my office. When he settles me in my chair, I saw my co-workers staring and whispering. 

Levi, you bastard... you kissed me in front of all those people...

"I'll be back, okay?"

"Where are you going?"

"Handle some things." Levi kisses my forehead. "I'll be back. Just stay in here."

"Levi-."

"Stay."

I watched him leave my office and shut it behind him. It wasn't long until I heard his voice. Muffled. I could tell he was angry, and it reminded me of the time when we were kids. Levi... that tone was something you always used to protect me. Defended me. I wonder if we loved each other at some point.

Levi walks back into the office with his ears red. He locks the door behind him and sits next to me. "What else are we looking for?"

"Huh?"

"The case. What else are we looking for?"

"Are we going to ignore what just happened, Levi?"

He sighs deeply, looking at me with his beautiful eyes. "Do you want to know? I feel like you shouldn't-."

"You were pissed. Levi, tell me what happened. Don't treat me like I'm some sensitive little girl back in elementary school. I can handle it." I always handle it. 

"I told them that they should be ashamed for judging and teasing you. I think it's stupid of them to harass you like this."

"Is that why you kissed me?"

"Yeah... to show that I love you." His eyes widened once he said those words. Those pale cheeks of his turned into a light shade of pink. "I mean, I guess... crap... I don't know what I'm talking about." He chuckles softly, shaking his head. "I'm screwing up. Anyways, I scolded them. If they ever give you any more weird looks, tell me."

"Levi, I'm your senior at this-."

"Shut up and let me handle things. Don't worry, okay? Now, let's get back to the case." He sighed softly, "Hanji, don't let your co-workers bother you. We're close to another step. I feel it." 

Levi...  I know you're trying to distract me from the cruelty of my co-workers, and I appreciate it. This is the you that I loved playing around with when we were little. This is the you that I always called my friend. But now, Levi, this is you I like being around.