"Hey Auruo! Heeeey!" exclaimed Gunther and clicked his fingers in front of Auruo's face. Auruo jolted a little and came back to reality.

"Yes?"

"You were staring at one dot for five minutes. Are you ok?"

"Oh yes! I'm fine."

Gunther raised his eyebrow, not believing his friend.

"Hm, yesterday you were pale at our meeting and Commander Erwin asked you the same thing."

"Really Gunther, I'm fine! I'm not si-"

"I know you're not sick." answered Gunther.

Auruo and him were alone in the stables. They were feeding horses, but Auruo, just like Gunther said, didn't make any movements for past five minutes. At Gunther's words, Auruo looked at him carefully.

"Than... why are you asking me?"

"Because... I think the cause of your weird behavior is intolerance towards someone." Gunther answered.

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"Well, today you flirted with Petra after we saw Captain holding her when she slipped. And yesterday you was lost in thoughts after you saw Section Commander Hange, Captain Levi and Petra, again in some weird moment. It's not just a coincidence if you ask me."

Auruo couldn't believe his ears. He never thought Gunther can be this observing.

"W-whaat?! Y-you think I'm jealous over Petra?"

"Well..."

"I'm not in love with her! We're friends for a long time and that's our usual way of joking." he lied.

"As Eld said yesterday, we know you long enought to tell when you're lying. But Petra as it seems doesn't see throught you that much to realize you like her. That's because she loves Captain Levi."

I already know that you dumbass! thought Auruo.

"She loves Captain? Beautiful! I'm really happy because of them." he faked a smile.

Gunther was looking at him with suspicion. Auruo was now angry.

"How can you say that nonsence to me? I'm saying you truth, damn it! I'm lost in thoughts because I can't figure out why Captain was so rude to me today and yesterday I was tired. All of you know very well that I went sleeping first!"

Gunther seemed puzzled at this statement. He really didn't expect that. He pointed his finger towards his friend.

"So... you are not j-"

"No I'm not." he cut him off. Gunther fell silent for a moment.

"What a misunderstanding..." said Gunther. "I'm really sorry Auruo, I thought-"

"Nah! It's alright. But please don't throw things like that in someone's face before you're fully sure."

"Don't worry, it won't repeat." said Gunther and turned around to groom his horse's mane.

"I hope Captain Levi and Petra will be happy together..." Auruo shot him a glare even if he couldn't see it.

"With the way he looks at her, he loves her really much and it's for so long. It'll be great for his damaged heart to finally have someone in his life."

Auruo clenched his fists a little.

"I just can't wait for us to become uncles." Gunther laughted a little.

Auruo's gritted his teeth. If they didn't cleared the thing a minute ago, Auruo would believe that Gunther is provoking him. He forced a smile when Gunther turned to get a bucked of wather.

"Very nice."

When they finished, Auruo left to 'clean his room'. Gunther was looking after him while petting his horse.

"So I was right." he whispered to himself.

.

.

.

Levi was lying down on his bed staring at the ceiling. He just escaped from Petra like an idiot. He was cursing himself for being so shifty.

I really can't keep any of my promises!

He was dissapointed in himself. That was what was scaring him. If he couldn't keep one simple promise, than he couldn't keep bigger than those. That's one of the things that made him think Petra deserves better than him.

Or so he thought it was simple promise to stay away from the person he loved. He didn't know how it works with love and feelings similar to it. Than someone knocked on his door. Levi groaned and reluctantly stood up and walked to the door. When he opened them, he found himself face to face with his biggest problem.

"What is it now?" Levi asked more harshly than he planned.

"I just wanted... to see if you're ok."

Levi blinked. She came here just to see if I'm ok? Unbelivable...

"Why do you care about me that much?"

"Well, I- isn't it normal to care about my Captain?"

My Captain. Levi repeated to himself.

"I'm sencing you're not here just because of it." said Levi and eyed her.

"N-no. It's not-" Quit lying Petra, you see he doesn't take it. She sighed. "Alright. I have something to tell you."

Levi would lie if he said his heart didn't skip a beat. He feared she'll tell him her feelings and than he wouldn't have a heart to reject her.

Why am I even thinking about it when I know she doesn't love me?

"Come in then." he said and moved so Petra could step in. He than closed the door and crossed his arms.

"Well, what's it?"

Petra sighed.

"About today... when you asked me to tell you what I'm really feeling about all of this, well... I wanted to give you an answer."

Levi didn't know should he be glad that she won't tell her feelings, if she had any that's it, or be scared of what'll be her answer. He nodded his head and Petra started.

"I... I've always admired you and I watched you. I saw how you're trying to hide your true feelings..." she stopped for a moment for Levi to give her a permission to speak further.

"Go on..." he said, touched by her words.

"And I wanted you to know that... you're not alone, that I see who you really are - a good and caring man."

For the first time in his life, Levi felt special. The title of Humanity's Strongest Soldier doesn't mean anything to him, but her words, that gentle words, made him feel like he wanted to fly. He wanted so bad to tell her something too, but couldn't.

"I'm..." Come on, split it out! "...glad you think of me like that. But believe me... you're wrong" said Levi.

Petra widened her eyes and tried to find the right words to say.

Little they knew, that someone was passing by Captain's doors and heard them. Now, that person is listening their dialogue.

"You... you think so lowly of yourself and always blame yourself for deaths of your friends and comrades. You don't see... with how much faith you fill hearts of soldiers. Not only in the Survey Corps... many civilians... many children look at you with respect and admiration..." she stopped there.

Did I say too much? I don't know! He just keeps staring at me without speaking. Will he get mad at me again?

Levi closed his eyes for a brief moment and opened them just to look at Petra again. This is going too far. He can't give up right now! But it was too tempting... He wanted so bad to approach her in one step and embrace her around her waist with his hands. He wanted to hold her and tell her what was on his heart for a long time.

Oh Petra... if you only you knew what you've done to me.

Petra was nervous as well. She was sweating and her throbbing heart wasn't helping at all. All this time, she was thinking what she should say to him. She wanted to be honest so bad and to menage to not tell him her feelings, but it was so hard. As much as she wanted to tell him, she wanted him to be free of the burden she'll cause him. And there she is, talking too much. She lowered her head to look at the floor. She wished it could open and swallow her. Oh, how much she loved him!

...I can't think like this... He'll never love someone like me. Why can't I simply let it go and forget about him. I'm a soldier, I must be able to get over this! He... is not supposed to know.

Petra raised her head again and saw Levi still staring at her.

Was he staring all this time?

"That was what I wanted to say, Captain. Excuse me... now."

She turned to leave and just reached the doors when she heard Levi's stern voice.

"Who told you that you can leave?"

Petra stood in place, not dared to grab a door handle. She heard her Captain's heavy footsteps and turned, but in wrong moment. As she turned to face him, she brushed her lips with his. She blushed and covered her mouth, her eyes widened. It was hard to see, but she sweared she saw his cheeks became a little pink.

"I-I'm so s-sorry Captain! I didn't m-mean... It wasn't my intention at all!" she shouted flustered.

Levi forgot that he was angry. The feeling of her lips, just for a brief moment, was amazing experience. He felt something incredibly warm around in his cheat. His only emotion in that moment was happiness, because he knew that'll be their only special contact he'll ever get. He noticed he was still close to her and momentally backed away. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"You shouldn't leave your superior like that until he dismisses you." he said with his usual expression.

"R-right, Captain! My appologies!" she said and saluted.

"You can go now." he said and sat down on his chair. Petra opened the door and left, leaving Levi thinking about what just happened.

He brought his hand to his lips. He wished it was a real kiss. Many things he wished that he knew will never become reallity. He looked throught the window, seeing it was night already. He tried to come back to his work, but the memory of Petra's lips brushing against his was always coming back to him. In frustration, he punched the wall behind him. His hand was hurting but he didn't seem to care. His heart was hurting more.

.

.

.

Five days passed and everything was as usual in HQ. Trainings, cleaning, filling paperworks, titan experimenting etc. Levi and Petra didn't have more embarrassing moments. They were talking when it needed, just like Captain and his squad member. It was the same towards others. Even Auruo calmed his jealousy down.

Levi and Erwin were now standing outside the building, watching soldiers practicing with wooden Titans. They were using their gear to slice their napes, working like it was the real battlefield. Levi took a look of every single soldier, until he spotted Petra. He couldn't help but to follow her every movement. She was soaring throught the air elegantly and always cutting the Titan's nape accurately.

"Levi."

Levi turned his head to the side to look at Erwin.

"What is it?"

"I think all of them done well in the past week. I decided to give them a day off. Inform your squad about it" he said, not breaking eye contact with Levi.

Odd. Levi thought.

"Alright." he simply said and continued watching the training. Erwin was still looking at him, then gave up and sighed.

My friend, you don't know what you're doing to yourself...