Petra woke up with a dull headache. Her whole head was throbbing painly and she was grogy as well. Thinking back at previous night, Petra could only recall drinking with squad and Auruo's knocking out. After that, she stayed alone with Captain and he carried her here.

Captain seeing me in that state... I'll never drink that much EVER again!

She rubbed her temples and got off of her bed. She wobbled to her bathroom and splashed her face many times. She sighed as she saw her exhaused face. Thankfully, her bathroom was attached to her room, so she needn't to share it with anyone else. Some of the benefits for a highter ranked soldiers.

"Really?" she smiled awkwardly at how worned out she looked. She yawned and stretched out her muscles which caused her shoulder bones pop. Then she decided to fix herself and go to usual duties. There's no point in being lazy.

Petra really was expert in fixing your worn out look. She brushed her hair, got her uniform on, drank a glass of water and exited the room, brith and fresh as always.

***

"Eld... get...off...of...me!"

Auruo shouted in hope to wake up his friend who was, to his unfortune, still sound asleep over his stomach. If any wondered, Levi was right. They really ended up on the floor, too drunk to awake after that. Eld fell over Auruo and staied in that position while Gunther was just beside them.

"You've got to be kidding me."

He started shaking Eld and even lightly punching him, but nothing. He was still sleeping. Auruo decided that was it. He lifted Eld and started releasing his legs. When he suceeded in it, he stood up and made his way towards the kitchen. They need to be up no matter what. The smug grin grew on his face just as he thought what their faces will be when he wakes them up with a surprise. 

He went to sink and poured the water in a bowl. He walked slowly to not drop it. When he exited, Petra came in from the back door. She strenched her back miscles again and started making breakfast.

Just as she started, Levi strolled into the kitchen by the same door Auruo exited. When he spotted Petra, he stopped. What now? Does she remember? If she does, he'll need to have a conversation with her. He begged God that she doesn't remember anything.

Petra had a feeling thet someone's watching her. When she glanced at the person on the door, she smiled.

"Morning, Captain Levi."

"Morning Petra."

An awkward silence lasted for a few seconds untill Petra decided to break it. "Why don't you sit down? I'll make you a tea," she said nicely.

"Congrantulations by the way."

Petra raised her head from her work and gave a puzzled look to her superior who was already at the table.

"For what?"

"For you and Auruo."

Petra's eyes flew open. "W-what?"

"I saw you two yesterday on the banch," Levi answered. "You two looked so busy with eachother so I decided to leave you alone."

"Captain... are you... spying on us?" Petra said.

Levi gave her a glare. "Of course not. I was on my way to barracs from tea and coffie shop."

"Oh. Captain I-" the sound of water boiling in the cattle cut off their conversation. She poured the black tea into his favourite cup and brought it to him. As he took it and brought it to his lips, Petra sat down across him.

"We're not dating, Captain."

If circumstances were different, Levi would choke down on the liquid in a cup, but he held himself together. Barely. He raised an eyebrow and put down the cup.

"You're not?"

Petra shook her head. "No. We were just going out together."

"And like it's not a date," he muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Petra stared at Levi with a slight frown wich made him uncomfortable.

"Captain, why are you so interested in my private life?"

"I'm not. You're the first one who asked a question."

Petra kept her mouth shut from telling somethig she would say to other military memeber. With the excaption of Commander of course. She sighed, defeated. Then she remembered why she started this conversation in the first place.

"Captain, I'm sorry for last night."

This time, Levi choked on his tea and coughted. Petra stood up, but Levi gave her the gesture to sit back down. When he stopped coughting, he locked his eyes on her.

"For what?"

"Well... I... I made you carry me all the way to my room. Sorry," Petra said embarrassed.

"... Is that all?"

"Mhm."

"You shouldn't worry about it, but make it not repeat," Levi said.

"Ok."

Thanks God.  Levi thought.

Even if they wanted to say something to add, it was interrupted by a scream. They both shoot up from their seats. The scream was comig from their squad's rooms. Levi runned with Petra following him. Soon, many soldiers were up and saw them running by, receiving odd looks.

When they entered the room, Petra needed to contain her laught for good. It was so funny. Auruo was sitting on a bed, laughting and holding now empty bowl while Gunther and Eld were sitting on a floor, water dripping off their heads and uniform. They were still trying to understand what just happened.

Eld was first who came to his sences due to an amount of drink he drank yesterday.

"Auruo!!!"

"Sorry!" he laughted. "But it was the only way!"

"We're soaked now!" said Gunther.

Eld elbowed Gunther when he saw who was standing on a doorway. Gunther slapped Auruo's hand next. Auruo raised his head and saw the same. He automatically stopped laughting. Three of them were staring at their Captain who crossed his arms and wore the explain-what-the-hell-am-I-staring-at face.

"So... I see you'll need a good excercise today to get you back to normal as fast as possible."

.

.

.

"Why we need to do this?" complained Auruo, panting.

"You can thank Petra who made Captain change his mind," panted Gunther. "If she didn't jump in we would run 200 more circles."

All three of them were running for two hours without a break. Other soldiers were observing them and it only made the fear of Captain Levi bigger. Even if they kind of deserved it, it was still too much. They've already runned 167, only 33 remained.

"I'll tell you a story, Levi."

Levi raised his head from his paperwork. Erwin was sitting on the opposite side of the table with significant face expression. They were in Erwin's office, doing paperwork together.

"What is it?" Levi asked.

"I once... was in love."

Levi eyed him, then placed his pen aside to listen.

"Her name was Marie. She's now Nile Dok's wife."

"... What happened?" Levi asked. He noticed how it was hard for Erwin to speak about this, but he wanted to for some reason.

"I've never told her sincerely how much I loved her... The worst thing is - she loved me back," Erwin said.

Levi froze immediately, thinking back at drunk Petra confessing things to him.

"Then why didn't you end up together? If she knew you two are feeling the same then-"

"I've joined the Survey Corps and the chances to die were very high. So she went to the one who could give her a better life, without praying and sleepless nights, waiting to return from expedition."

Erwin felt pure saddness. Many nights passed thinking and thinking how things could have a different turn. How he let her slip through his fingers just like that. The feeling between them was mutual, but neither wanted to express it first. Nile was luckier than him in the end. He cursed himself for being a coward and proud. If only he told her... maybe she would marry him no matter what. But he can't know it. He missed his chance and he can't do anything about it. When he saw the way Levi was looking at Petra and vice versa, he actually saw him and Marie. He knew where that was leading and he'll do everything in his power to convise Levi.

"Oh..." said Levi. For the first time, he saw Erwin open himself to this kind of things. He didn't know he had such a tragic love story.

"I've spent many sleepless nights tinking about possiblity of me telling her my feelings. How much I actually loved her, even if it seemed like I don't care. I hated myself, but eventually, I realized it's in past and continued moving forward. But..." he paused, "I've always longed for her and the life I could live. I'll never be able to forgive myself..."

"... In the end, you made her life a better life," Levi said slowly.

Erwin widened his eyes. "What?"

"The meaning of my words is... she lives a better life now... all thanks to you. Even if story of you two ended like this, it's not always good for things to end up like we want," Levi answered, looking at blank space.

"Levi-"

"No, Erwin. It's true," he said and looked him straight in eyes. "As much as you try to deny it, it's true."

So he's thinking like that... He indeed has a bigger heart than I imagined.

"You say I'm better like this? Without family and love?" he said.

That took Levi off guard. He turned his head towards the window, just to avoid his friend's gaze.

"Look at me," Erwin demanded.

Levi didn't do so. "Say that in my face."

Levi gritted his teeth, not wanting to listen.

"It's not a problem to tell the truth when you believe in something, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"... If you don't understand yourself, than I can't help you."

That was it. When Erwin told his story, he clearly saw what he tried to imply. Levi stood up and slammed his hands on Commander's table. He didn't flinch. Levi glared at him.

"What is my choice and how I'm going to live my own life is not your business," he said in low voice.

Erwin always wore that frown. As Levi didn't get any response from him, he straightened himself and turned on his heels. He closed the door with a force that made them shake a few moments after he exited. Erwin sighed and rubbed the place between his eyes. He didn't want them to suffer. Even if romance was sort of forbidden, he knew very well that that is not always like that. Soldiers are in relationships, having lovers, sex and if both of them survive enought, end up being married. You simply can't ecsape from such things. Of course, those cases were rare. But many other things were added to list why it'll be difficult to make their relationship official. Subordinate and superior having a romantic relationship will awake suspicions among Military and they would think they're just having an affair. Superior using his highter rank in sick intentions or subordinate who is with superior just because of benefits. That would be scandal no just for Survey Corps, but whole Military as well.

"It will be more difficult than I thought."