"Is it just me or you look like a baby deer who just got pushed out of their mother's womb?"

I stop walking. Despite how heavy the crate I carried was, I couldn't help but turn around. Hanji stares back at me with an innocent expression with true curiosity in her eyes.

Nifa was trotting behind her, stopping to inspect us both. I narrow my eyes at my unusual friend as I attention to understand her absurd question.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I ask.

"You!" Hanji exclaims. "Why are your legs shaking?"

Gesturing a finger at my legs, I follow her direction and stare down at myself. But don't see what she claims. If anything they looked normal.

I release a deflated sigh, "Is this another joke you're trying to pull?" I turn back around and head towards the mess hall.

"It's not a joke! I'm actually serious! Back me up on this Nifa!"

I listen to both of their hasty footsteps as they try to catch up with me. Pushing the doors open I drop the crate full of potatoes onto a table. I resist an urge to groan when I hear Nifa agree.

"Yeah! Ever since we've been unloading the wagon you've been acting weird."

I turn around swiftly while crossing my arms. I wasn't sure what they were getting at but right now, I was trying my best to ignore this stupid ache between my legs. It was truly annoying.

"Weird how? You mean that I did actual work unlike you two dummies?"

Both Hanji and Nifa cringe and laugh sheepishly. It was only me and few other officers unloading the damn wagon while they blabbered about Hanji's invention coming together. I wonder if it ever occurred to them that they could talk and work at the same time.

"You guys seemed like you got it," Nifa mutters. "We didn't want to ruin the system—"

"We're getting off subject!" Hanji suddenly shouts. She shoots her gaze to me and I was surprise to see fire in her eyes. "You've been waddling like a duck the entire morning. Why?"

She was talking to me like an interrogator. I could see Nifa nodding along with her eyes so let glued to me. I suddenly had the urge to scratch my cheek.

"Like a duck?" I ask dumbly.

"Yeah! You've been walking like this!" It didn't Nifa a second to reenact my walking. She forcefully shook her legs and stumbled about the mess hall, trying to convey her actions.

I, for one, wasn't happy by her acting. It was ridiculous. There's no way in hell I looked incredibly stupid. However, glancing at Hanji I knew she thought different.

"Exactly like that!" Hanji confirms. "What did you do to your legs last night?"

"Why does it have to be last night?" I fume.

"Because you were fine yesterday during dinner." Nifa points out. She skips towards us and stands beside me. She cocks her head and blinks curiously. "Did you do a leg workout?"

"No."

"Did you go for a run?"

"No."

"Then what the hell did you do?"

My mouth opens for the intent to fire back but, I held back my voice. Only I knew why my legs ached and it was because of that damn Captain. If he wasn't so damn rough and was gentle like he was at first then I wouldn't feel like shit.

But that asshole always has to think I was in dire need of punishment. God, just thinking about it had my stomach do flips. But if I were to tell these idiots why then I wouldn't hear the end of it. After all, I did lie about Edward and I being a thing.

"Wait—what is that?"

I blink twice, allowing my thoughts to disappear. I stare blankly at Nifa. She wasn't looking into my eyes but I could see the puzzlement in them.

"What is what?" I groan.

"That!" She points at my neck with a raised brow. "Hey, Hanji come look at this."

On instinct I cover up the love marks Levi gave me. I curse to myself when I realize how damn noticeable they are. I forgot to cover them with some sort of band-aid.

Hanji stalks towards me like a cat and I instinctively walk backwards. Sweat gleamed over my forehead, my heart thundering anxiously. I bump into a table and curse.

"Hanji, stay back!" I order. "You're making this weird!"

"What's weird is that your covering your neck!" She observes. "Now let me see what you're oh so trying to hide."

In one swift motion she grips my wrist and yanks it away. I attempt to cover my neck with my other hand by Nifa had grabbed that as well.

"You guys, let go!" I protest. "This isn't funny!"

I attempted to shrug them off but it was quite difficult since my body was being pressed against the table. They swarmed around me like flies and smiled like a bunch of lunatics. I struggle under their grip but for some reason, they were possessed with some unusual monster strength.

"Oh-ho-oh!" Hanji squeals. "Are those—hickeys?!"

"Oh my god, let me see!!"

They practically pressed their faces against my neck. I could feel myself blush immensely while spasming out.

"G-guys, it's nothing—"

"Look! One, two, three—What the fuck?! Six hickeys!?" Nifa gapes.

Could God grant me death right now? This was probably the most embarrassing thing I had to deal with. Especially since they both seemed shocked beyond words.

I could tell the gears in Hanji's head were rolling. But the squeals she released along with Nifa scared the crap out of me.

"Damn, Emma!" Hanji whistles. "Do you have more??"

Immediately I remember the other marks Levi left. On my chest, inner thighs, on my stomach. . .the list could go on. That damn man couldn't stop, no matter how much I protested.

My cheeks flare and my eyes widen. Averting my gaze to the side only gave them the answer they wanted.

"Shit! Let us see!" Nifa squeals.

"Hell no!" I yell. "This is private!"

"Oh, shush!" Hanji tuts. "We're your best friends!"

"B-but we're in the mess hall!"

"No one is here, Emma!" Nifa whines. "C'mon! You should at least give us the details!"

Hanji abruptly gets in my face with that evil glint in her eyes. I swallow thickly with sweat coating my temples. Nothing good comes out of the way her lips spread into a devious smile.

"Judging by your shaky legs and the absurd number of hickeys then that means—you did it, didn't you?"

"H-huh?!"

"Don't play dumb!" She giggles. "You had sex!"

The idea of crawling into a hole and dying sounded pleasing right now. I would rather do that than deal with this. The embarrassment was too overwhelming.

Especially since Hanji now connected the pieces together. I knew I shouldn't have come to work today and if I did, I should've just locked myself in my office.

"Was it good?" I send Nifa an exasperated look. She only looked back with an excited grin. My heart skips a beat but, in a way where I dreaded the sinking feeling in my gut.

"Who asks that!?" I shriek.

"Me, obviously!" She huffs. "See, I never thought Edward could pull off such a thing but, here you are! Bearing the evidence of a rough night!"

Edward? Why would she ponder about his skills in this department? Hell, why did they seem excited when she mentioned his name??

"Edward?" I repeat.

"Yeah! Was he good??" Nifa asks eagerly.

My god, she's not shameless whatsoever. A part of me awed her for being so bold but at the same time, I couldn't help but be bothered by her.

It was rare to see Nifa ask such things or even talk about sex considering the elegant and proper way she was raised up in the Stohess District. It just comes to show how she refuses to live in a lap of luxury unlike the majority of citizens in these walls.

"I—I'm not answering that!" I exclaim.

"Fine then!" Hanji fumes. "We'll just ask Edward. He'll tell us the juicy details."

Abruptly they let me go. Nudging Nifa's arm with her own both turn towards the doors. Panic suddenly shoots through me. I hastily run to them, grabbing both they're arms.

"Ah, why him?!"

"Because you did it with him obviously." Hanji states. "Right?" She sends me a skeptical look over her shoulder.

I found myself unable to look at her, I chew on my lower lip. I still won't tell her about Levi and I. It was a promise I made to him.

But, if she and Nifa were to go to Edward and he refuses then there's no doubt they'll find it suspicious. Especially Edward, considering how he despised the fact Levi knew where I lived.

"Umm, I—"

"You guys good?"

The mere voice sends a cold shudder down my spine. I visibly cringe while both Nifa and Hanji smirk. I mouthed, don't say anything.

But I only got a mischievous wink from Hanji. As the turn around, I peek between them. Edward stands at the doorway wearing just a simple white shirt with many dirt stains on them.

His hair was disheveled while his face was covered in sweat. He carried a sack of flour over his shoulder. I had to admit, he held no more boyish charm but an aura of a man and his sexiness.

Seeing how his shirt cling to his pecks and abs, I couldn't take my eyes off him. Nor could Nifa, considering how she was drooling like an idiot. His eyes were suddenly set on me, I quickly look away.

"Of course!" Hanji suddenly laughs. "Nifa and I were just leaving."

"Hanji!" I hiss while grasping her sleeve. I look up at her with pleading eyes. "Don't you leave me here."

"Don't act like you don't want to be with him," she whispers back with a giggle. "Believe me, you'll thank us later. C'mon Nifa, I think there's some more stuff on the wagon."

The thing was, I didn't want to be alone with him. I wasn't thanking Hanji for this horrid nightmare she's putting me through, I only called her rotten names in my head. I watch her drag Nifa with her out the mess hall.

That woman was still eye-stripping Edward. When they left a tense silence soon follows. I had refused to look at my friend but listen to him grunt as he puts down the flour on the table.

He was staring at me, I could feel his intense gaze. I wonder if he was upset at me for yelling at him. I also wonder if he was hurt by the way I told him to leave. I decided I didn't care. After all, he was the one who pissed me off.

"I'll help them unload the wagon," I mutter. I make a bee-line towards the doors intending to get the fresh air I desired. But a hand pulls me back, keeping me two strides away from the exit.

"Emma, let's talk." Edward almost pleads. "I-I know I was being a douche yesterday."

"Oh, yeah? You've noticed?" I fire back sarcastically.

"At least let me explain myself."

"Why?"

"Because—I owe you that much. I really was crappy to you."

To that I actually found sincerity layering his words. Even guilt. When I glance over my shoulder I even saw the desperation in his eyes. I hated how it made me feel like I should at least listen to him.

"Is your head still up your ass?" I question firmly.

"N-no," he mumbles quickly.

"Then go ahead and explain yourself. It better be worth it."

He had let go of my arm, allowing me turn around. He shuffled his feet and even rubbed his arm. But he still kept his eyes on me. It was like his way of letting me know he's being sincere.

"What I said yesterday was completely out of line," he begins. "I'm sorry, Em. I was just stressed about everything."

"Like what?" I challenge.

"Like the fact you were almost killed by those two men!" He suggests. "And the fact, you were badly beaten every though I was there. Look, I didn't know what to do when you that guy with the knife cut you. It was like—I don't know! You became my top priority pretty much and I didn't care much for those guys because you got hurt."

He breathes out a heavy sigh. I stand before him taking his words in carefully. I found no flaw in them.

"I'm sorry for not capturing them. I know I should've but I just—couldn't. And for accusing the Captain for stupid stuff like that, I am sorry too."

"Why were you getting mad at him anyway? He really was there that night to ask about what happened," I repeat like I did before.

Edward nods helplessly. "I know, I know. I'm sorry for accusing him and you. I guess I got jealous."

"Jealous of what?"

Edward hesitates a moment. A hint of pink abruptly coats his cheek. He then averts his gaze.

"Jealous of you." He mutters bashfully. "Just seeing how you and Captain Levi being so close recently, made me angry. It was like you was pushed me away."

I was stunned. The idea of Edward jealous was a foreign thought. To me, I thought he was incapable of such a feeling.

But that didn't mean I felt flattered. Hell, I even thought it was cute.

"Damn it, Edward, is that why you've been a pain?" I ask with a tsk. He gave out an airy chuckle to my question. It didn't seem forced.

"Yeah—I'm sorry. But you know why I was jealous, right?"

I knew the answer but didn't want to say it. I didn't even want to breach this subject with him. God only knows if he'll flip or not if I were to tell him no.

"It's because I like you," he says before I could respond. But he shakes his head as if that answer wasn't right. "No, scratch that. I'm in love with you."

A stifled gasp escapes me, like I choked on air. My body froze as well as my mind. I couldn't even understand what I was feeling.

Despite already knowing his feelings it still brought me to a surprise. Especially since he said he loves me. That was a strong word. I couldn't find it in me to respond and became grateful to the sudden interruption of a young solider. He comes running through the doorway, panting as he do so.

"Lieu—Lieutenant Wolfram! You're needed right now!!"

/\/\/\/\

Sorry for the REALLY long chapter>.<

Couldn't stop writing lol

If you were Emma would you forgive Edward too?

Lemme know the comment!♥️

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