The place was a mess. The coffee table flipped onto its side like someone tripped over it. A dining chair laid on the floor.

Nothing was how I remembered it to be. But it didn't matter. As I stand in the entrance of Emma's apartment nothing drilled into my mind except the fact she was gone.

Gone before I knew it. I knew the moment I walked back into my office something was off. There wasn't a trace of her in my chambers or in the office.

I spent all night looking for her, demanding everyone I know about her presence. No one knew. Just as dawn broke Nile had stormed into Erwin's office as I was demanding him to send soldiers out to look for her, said there was a break-in.

I never realized he meant her apartment.

"Sir, there's a lot of evidence when need to take notes on. . ." An MP appeared beside me in the doorway. He clutched a notebook in hand while wearing that wary expression. Somehow that uncorked the bottled up anger inside me.

"Yeah, no shit," I spat. "Go to fucking work." I send him a glare that had him almost flinch out of his skin. I expected him to move quickly like most Scouts would when I snap.

But he doesn't. Him and a few other MPs stand behind him awkwardly as if they're lost children. It pissed me off even more when they didn't scurry into Emma's apartment. I clench my jaw tighter with burning rage filling my veins.

"What the hell are you guys waiting for? Me to shit my pants?! Get in there and do your damn job!!"

I shove the first MP inside allowing the rest to scurry after him like a bunch of puppies. In no time they do what they're supposed to do. From the doorway I watched as some took notes while others sketched the scene.

My glare was haughty and deadly, everything about this place made me want to kick anything in my radius. I began to the scan the apartment, taking in every sight of a squabble and blood staining both the floor and walls. Judging by the scatter blood splatter on the right wall someone had a knife and either got slashed with it or vice versa.

The spotty splatters on the floor said a different story. Someone was punched in the face—multiple times. Images of Emma being shoved against a wall or being stabbed sent me into a boiling rage.

My fists shook while I was so sure my teeth would crack from all the gritting I did. It took every ounce of my power to rip my gaze away from the blood spatters. I slowly scan my eyes for anything that may hint as to why she came here.

However, when I look around the place all I could think was her leaving. Her being kidnapped by Edward. The strange aching pain in my chest that somehow made breathing a struggle.

I swallow thickly, I can't do this. Not here, not in front of these people. Losing my head and giving into my emotions won't get me anywhere.

I needed to keep a cool head even though I felt like I was drowning. Something catches my eye. I notice some sort of green cloak littering the floor beside the couch.

I walk towards it realizing the cloak was ripped. Standing before it I inspect the ugly rip down the middle. The Wings of Freedom emblem was reared down right in the middle.

It was enough for my throat to clamp up. Emma's cloak, she came back for it last night. I pick up a piece with trembling fingers.

There was no blood on it which should've calmed me but, I was only devoured by my endless anger. She came back for this? Was she thinking straight?

Did she decide the danger placed on her meant little compared to this filthy piece of cloth?! Terrible curses and names plagued my mind. Unintentionally I cursed her for her stupidity and lack of placing her safety before anything else.

It was always this damn cloak. Always the one that she desired more than anything.

"Hey, how're you holding up?" Hanji stands besides me. I didn't have to look to know she frowned deeply at me. I clench my teeth, I don't need her damn pity.

"Oh, just splendid,"'I reply sarcastically. "It's not like we just found out our Lieutenant got kidnapped by a serial killer."

"I didn't ask for the sarcasm," she mutters.

"THEN DON'T FUCKING ASK DUMB QUESTIONS!"

The apartment suddenly became silent. I hadn't realize how loud I yelled or the fact I got in Hanji's face. She clears her throat once before eying the people around us.

I take notice. All the MPs stood with gawking faces, staring at me with wide eyes. I click my tongue, what a bunch of imbeciles.

"What is this? Some sort of play? Mind your damn business or I'll grab the nearest thing and shove it down all of your guy's throats!"

It wasn't long till they all quickly went back to their own thing. All murmured to one another attempting to regain that sense of normality. That awkward, hard tension still lingered in the air. I didn't give two shits.

"Levi—"

"What!?" I whirl back around teeth bared like a bear. I expected Hanji to be the one speaking to me. I was slightly surprised to see Erwin standing behind her, frowning down at me with furrowed brows.

"I think you need to leave the premises."

"Excuse me?" I shriek. "You want me to leave? When we're investigating a crime scene??"

"Yes," he answers curtly. "I think I you need some time to cool down." I release a loud scoff, a disbelieving smile taking shape over my lips. What more can piss me off in one day?

"You can't be serious." I say with the shake of my head. "Emma is missing right now and we need every person available to figure out where Edward took her."

"Exactly, but right now you're causing more trouble than helping." I watch him release a tired sigh. I wished nothing more than to slap him senseless. "You're just stepping out of the building and when Hanji thinks you got a cool head you can come back and help. But right now, I want you to sort out your feelings and try to understand you're not the only one devastated by her disappearance."

"I am not devastated by her disappearance, Erwin!" I yell with a finger jabbed to his chest. "And I don't need to understand anything! Don't act like you know me inside-out."

"Alright then, tell me why you're so goddamned pissed off today?" Erwin challenges. "Why have you been acting like a total ass ever since we got here? Are you going to tell me because everyone here works slow because you and I both know that's bullshit."

He sends me a glare as if hoping to restate his authority. He tried to claim intimidation over me but, it won't work. Nothing will take away this balled of fury inside me. I turn away from him suddenly not in the mood for this.

"I don't have to answer your damn questions." With that, I stomp out the apartment and ultimately the building. I wonder if there was steam coming out of my ears because I was just so angry.

I clench the cloak in my hand wishing I could scream out my frustration. Erwin had no right to dismiss me like that. I got every right to be in there.

So what if I'm pissed off? At least I got everyone to do their job. By the time Hanji made it outside I was leaning against a wall fuming in anger.

I expected her to say something. Maybe fuss about how I overreacted inside. But she doesn't.

Instead she leans against the beside me and gives me that time to think silently. I was a little grateful for her consideration and attempt to sort of my thoughts. I look back down at the ripped cloak I clenched with all my strength allowing that sinking feeling fill my heart.

"She went back for this," I mumble finally. I gesture the cloak in my hands to Hanji.

A weird sort of pain started to ache my chest. Even my throat began to tighten while I thought my mind would break on me. Why the hell was this affecting me this much?

I don't see Hanji freaking out like I am. Before she could answer I drop my hand while releasing a sigh. "I don't get it. Why does this mean so much to her? The night in the cabin she held this thing like a lifeline. She didn't even tell me what sentimental value it had."

At the time I found it strange to see her hug her cloak like it was her safety blanket. Somehow she felt at peace while holding it. When she had said it's for comfort and kept insanity away I no longer felt weirded out by her practices.

But merely pity it. I never encountered a person who placed all their trust into an inanimate object to keep their dark thoughts at bay. I never did such a thing and did everything in my power to stay strong. I still couldn't understand why she still chooses to find comfort in this cloak instead of me.

What sort of attachment does she have on this thing? Hanji shrugs and looks before her. For a while she watches people walk by either going home or going to the market.

They all seemed at peace, content with their lives. I began to wonder how that felt.

"You know that's not hers, right?" She turns back to me bearing a small frown.

I blink twice, "What are you talking about? Of course this is hers, she always had it."

"Has she? If I remember correctly, she lost hers on that mission we went on months ago."

I racked my mind for that memory Hanji claimed to remember. I furrow my brows slightly and look back down at the ripped cloth. Then it hit me.

Emma had narrowly escaped the grasps of a Titan when she saved a Cadet. I was the one who saved her and was the one who wrapped my own cloak around her dirtied form. Could this be the very same cloak I wrapped around her?

I shake my head at the thought, impossible. "This isn't mine," I state firmly. "She told me she forgot it back at the ruined castle."

Hanji pushes off the wall and now faces me. Her arms were crossed and her brows creased into a fine line. By the way she was staring at me with a hard yet gentle gaze I knew there was something unspoken.

"Levi, she obviously lied to you. I seen her stuff it in her pack, before we left for the walls. That's yours and she kept it ever since."

It took me a moment to process her words. Emma kept my cloak? She had this whole time?

I was sure Hanji expected me to fume about how Emma lied to me or how stupid she was to keep something that was mine. But I didn't.

All I could think was that Emma needed that cloak. Needed me more than anything. And I wasn't there last night to comfort her.

I left her because my anger got the better of me. I thought what I did was right but really, the right thing to do was be there for Emma. And I left her.

A void was created in my heart making every normal task of a human being complicated and difficult. It was hard to breathe, hard to keep my senses in check. How selfish had I been?

"Levi—are you okay?" There was a layer of worry in Hanji's question. I listen to her feet against the gravel as she walk towards me.

My head was dropped, my eyes firmly on the cloak in my hand. I started to realize what I was doing right now. Realizing how pathetic I probably look in Hanji's eyes.

I was a man who doesn't show much emotion. A man who is strong-willed and strong-minded. A man who shouldn't be bothered so deeply by a woman or anyone for that matter.

I had watched many comrades die in the heat of battle and not once did I let that break me in that moment. No, I fought on and on to avenge their deaths. How can this be any different?

Sucking in a sharp breath I replace that lock upon my feelings. Erwin was wrong, I had nothing to sort out. I was fine.

I should only focus on getting Emma back and catching Edward. Nothing more, nothing less. I look up at Hanji taking notice to the sympathy in her eyes.

I hated it. I wasn't weak. I square my shoulders and shove past her. She doesn't say a word as I walk back towards the building.

"Hurry up, Hanji," I grumble. "We got a killer to catch."

/\/\/\/\/\/\

How do you think Levi feels right now?
Do you think he needs sort out his feelings towards Emma?

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