Hearing his deep, firm voice brought my heart to a stop. I wasn't expecting to see him or anyone for that matter. I jump out of my chair gaining a head rush in the process.

"Shit."

I look around frantically suddenly unsure of what to do with his cloak in my arms. I felt like an idiot. If he sees it I know I'll be cleaning the bathrooms for a month. I did lie to him after all.

"Oi, are you going to let me in?" I hear him demand impatiently.

"J-just a second!" I had to hide this before he opens the damn door. Glancing down at my desk I immediately pull open a drawer.

Shoving the cloak roughly inside I began to hear the click of the door opening. I slam it shut just in time before Levi walks into the room.

"Got a death wish or something?" He snaps. "You made me wait for two whole minutes."

"And I still never gave you permission to enter," I retort while crossing my arms awkwardly.

"Whatever. I got tired of waiting." Levi mutters while shutting the door behind him. While his back faced me I made sure the drawer was securely closed before kicking my pack under the desk.

"Well, what is it that you want?" I question. My nerves went haywire inside me. I could feel the back of my neck coat in sweat.

I do my best to push away my nervousness and take in a assuring breath.

It's not like he knows I have his cloak still, I assured myself. When I gain no immediate response and was greeted with silence instead, I decided to look up.

I meet Levi's gaze and the sight baffled me. He stood before me clutching a pile of papers with his stature seemingly frozen. He does not move from the spot in front of the door.

It was his gaze that startled me even more. Wide as they were I took notice to his dilated pupils. I tried to read whatever was fogging his gaze.

It was difficult as I became unsure as to what he's thinking. That bothered me but what was more bothersome was his eyes were on me. I watch the way he swallows thickly while roving his eyes up and down my body.

Something flips in my stomach and could've swore my heart leaped out of my chest. Like a deer in a predator's sight I was still as ever. A nervous sensation blossoms in my veins.

I felt helpless under his strong gaze. I try to swallow down the huge lump in my throat as I find it difficult to tear my eyes away from him.

"What's with the stupid look?" I demand. However my voice didn't come as authoritative as I wished it to be. It was timid like I was a shy schoolgirl.

That seemed to bring Levi out of his daze. He blinks twice destroying whatever that was fogging his eyes. A scowl makes it to his face as he stomps towards my desk.

"The only one looking stupid here is you," he seethes. His papers were none of my concern as he drops them on my desk.

I found it all the more intriguing eyeing what was in front of me. It was like Levi avoided eye contact at all cost. His eyes were focused to his right like the wall was interesting as ever.

"Why the hell are you wearing a dress?" His voice sounded tight, throaty even. It was like speaking was suddenly a difficult task for him.

I take notice to how his hand begins to rub the back of his nape aimlessly. Something was coating his cheeks and struck me curious at the sight. I squinted in hopes of seeing it better but did little to no help.

It seemed bright atop his light complexion. Yet, I was unsure of what I saw. It could just be the moonlight bouncing off of him in some weird way. I've realized I waited too long to reply to his dumb question.

"Does it bother you?" I ask hotly.

He bristles with an obvious scoff. "Tch, no."

Somehow his reply seemed transparent to me. But I don't linger over it and release a small sigh. I glance to the stacked papers and picked up one to skim over.

"Why are you wearing that anyway?" Levi demands after awhile. I could sense his strong gaze upon me, it brought a tingling sensation over my skin. I keep my eyes firmly on the paper when I replied.

"I was out with Edward today."

I refuse to remember today's events and force myself to read each word carefully. I don't even steal glance to the irritated Captain before me. I could sense his anger, the air in here suddenly becoming hot and tense. And it all came from him.

"With that, idiot?" He snaps abruptly. "Didn't you have anything better to do than entertain that kid?"

I shoot him a questionable gaze. He glared angrily at me like I was a child who broke a vase. I wasn't sure why he was upset or why there was fire in his eyes.

"What's wrong with Edward?" I demand.

"Everything!" Levi explodes. "Clearly, he's distracting you from your work."

"Distracting me? It's only been a day since we've been released, Levi. Understand that I wanted some fresh air."

"Then do it without that idiot! Why do you need to dress up for something so simple?"

"Because I felt like it, how about that?!"

"Don't tell me that shit! I know you just want to impress him! You could be doing something better with your life than trying to flirt with a Cadet."

"I don't get why you're so damn mad! I can do whatever I want! Don't treat me like a child!"

"You're missing the point, brat!" Levi exasperates.

"Fine, then tell me! What point am I missing that you're so hung up on?" I hold his angry glare with my blood pressure rising.

His eyes was riddled in raw anger yet he was getting upset for nothing. So what if I hung out with Edward? And so what that I decided to dress up?

I don't see why he's making it his problem. If anything he's just trying to pick a fight with me. His fists shook down at his sides as he chews the inside of his cheek.

He was trying to think of something to say but with a moment or two passing it was a lost cause. A defeated sigh flows passed his lips.

"Just forget it," he mutters. Clearly, he was disappointed. And that left me to feel bewildered than ever.

What I thought would be a simple drop off of papers became a shouting match between him and I. It all escalated all so quickly that fatigue greeted my core. Angry as he was I couldn't detect anything as to what I said to set him off.

His sudden shouting and burning hatred for Edward stunned me. I knew he couldn't stand Cadets like most officers but it truly didn't give him a right to scold me like that.

"Alright. . ." I awkwardly look away from Levi and refocus on my work. Well, I tried to.

Levi still stood in front of me making me more on edge than usual. My heart thumped rapidly between my spine and chest while my skin felt tingly. I bite my lower lip as I do my best to focus.

"Why do you have these?" Levi abruptly grabs the newspaper I was reading and I gasp in surprise.

"Hey, give that back!" I attempt to reach for it over my desk but he simply takes a step back.

I curse loudly and slam a hand atop the wooden surface in frustration. He ignores me and skims the paper while his eyebrows furrow together.

"This was from three weeks ago," he observes. "Why are you reading this?" He glances at me with a puzzled frown.

I don't respond immediately. With a small frown greeting my lips. I was slightly stunned, was he not aware of a murderer slowly taking over Trost?

Immediately I answer my own question. Of course Levi doesn't know. He was just released and was also drowned in work like me.

He has no time for this. It was all the more reason not to tell him. However, something gnawed at the back of my mind to at least inform him.

If the murders weren't a coincidence then it's beneficial that he knows. But if I were to tell him then he'll question me to how I know. It meant telling him about Booker and Arron.

A snicker escapes me unknowingly. I can just imagine his reaction.

"What's so funny?" Levi demands, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I shake my head, "It's nothing." Eyeing me a moment longer Levi finally rolls his eyes and gestures the paper fiercely in his hand.

"Well? Aren't you going to tell me?"

I make my way around my desk and take the paper out of his hand. He doesn't object and only glares at me with such intensity. I shrug with a small sigh before nodding my head.

"But first, I'm going to need a drink."

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

I told Levi what I knew and how it all came to be. From hanging out with Edward to slamming Booker on the table, I told him everything. I was set on only telling him the important parts but had found myself venting over today's events and even yelling at him as though he was there.

It was probably the brandy talking but I felt free as I spoke. It was like I didn't have to keep my guard up around him. Somehow it was easier to talk to Levi and not once did we bicker ever since we came to the mess hall.

It was like we were comrades almost. He silently sat beside as he drank his black tea, and listened to every word. He doesn't speak till he knew I was truly done.

"So those damn idiots are back, huh?" I nod before drinking the remaining brandy. Levi quickly fills my cup, I hum in thanks.

"Guess so," I mutter. "I thought they were transferred inside wall Sina two years ago."

"Yeah, same here." Levi takes a quick sip of tea before placing the cup down. "Plus, there's a murderer-in-the-making on the loose."

I made no reply. To think we were only locked up for three weeks and this much has happened. It was overwhelming almost.

I slunk in my chair and idly clasp my glass. I was still unsure of what to make of Booker and Arron's appearance. It was too sudden for my liking.

Something felt wrong about them being here. Yet, I wasn't sure what it could be.

"I'm just tired," I hear myself murmur. "Tired of thinking and tired of remembering."

"Then don't think," Levi suggests. I hear his chair shift beside me but don't bother looking. I flinch to a finger suddenly poking my cheek.

"Oi, was that necessary?" I whirl to my right and meet Levi's gaze. His was face blank as ever but his eyes conveyed calmness. Reassurance.

"You overthink, you know that?"

Noticing the close proximity of his face I found myself holding my breath. My skin tingles and my heart swells. I don't dare to look away.

"I don't overthink," I grumble.

"Emma, you're the only one I know that would turn today's events into countless days without sleep and pondering about what you could've done on that day." Levi shakes his head in disapproval. "Nightmares are one thing but dwelling on the past constantly won't let you move forward. Instead of wondering what you could've done you can think of ways of how to better the Survey Corps. Make it so, so no one has to go through what you went through."

I was at a loss for words. For a man who spoke so little, unless provoked, gave words that were wiser than the Commander could convey. He spoke truth and also encouragement to better myself.

To possibly redeem the horrors I've been through by doing something for the Survey Corps. In a way I felt lighter, almost as if the burdens of today was lifted off me. I found myself staring at the Captain in awe, was this really the Levi who I profoundly hate?

He pokes my cheek again but in a firmer matter. "Don't think anymore. At least for tonight."

I mutely watch him stand and grab his cup. I couldn't move from my seat or at least cast my gaze somewhere else. They were firmly glued to his back.

"We'll talk to Erwin about these killings tomorrow," he suggests. "But be ready, we got our first exercise in the morning."

With that he strides out of the mess hall leaving me under the dim light of a burning candle. I slowly shift my gaze from the door to my hands atop the table. I realized I had the answer to my question.

No. The Levi I despised always looked down on me and was always cold to a fault. But this one, this side of him was different.

Cold as his exterior was he was kind, genuinely kind on the inside. He doesn't see my problems as a terrible flaw. The way he spoke to me, it was like I was his equal.

And he'd done this before. He had spoken with such gentleness in our time in cell. It had brought my heart into a pile of mush.

I tried to dig deep for that unrelenting hate I saved for him. To my surprise I groped at nothing inside me. Hate didn't fill the pit but only warmth.

I jolted in my seat as if I touched something hot. No matter how much I wished or thought, hate was no longer what I desired towards Levi. It was something else.

I was too scared to finish that thought.

/\/\/\/\

Y'all I'm sorry I could only give you one update today. I'm honestly upset about it.

28 is going under last minute changes. I'll be sure to post it tomorrow.

I'm sorry for inconvenience (T^T)

Anyway, hopes this chapter was enjoyable for you guys.

Vote and Comment!♥️