*

Staring at an old mirror, medical supplies were sprawled across the bench. My jacket was hanging on the chair, leaving me in my black shirt. My reflection was completely different, while trying my best not to look away. My hands shakily reach towards the old gauze, with dried blood staining the white dirty material. A deep sigh draws from my lips, trying to gather the courage to take the gauze off without being disgusted. 

"You can do this," murmuring to myself, licking my bottom lip with the weight upon my shoulders. 

My fingertips slightly lift the material only to hesitate, drawing my hands away before leaning forward. Shaking my head I stare back into the mirror, only to see another person from behind. Turning around stood Levi, which kind of startled me before he walks up to me quietly. 

"Levi........thought you would be busy in your office," I assume, before he shook his head.

"Tch, it's boring,"

Getting kind of the message I turn back around when a warm hand drifts to my waist, turning me around. My eyes met with steel eyes, that gazed into my own with something different. He ushers me quietly to sit up on the bench, guiding me without question. Knowing how pissed he would get if i protested over something stupid, I gave up in defeat. I'm mentally exhausted already.

Propping myself upon the bench, I adjust myself before seeing him dampen a cloth.

The quietness wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, but his actions were more filled with comfort and warmth. He soon walks back to me and stood between my knees, meeting eye to eye before passing me the cloth.

"Hold this," 

Taking it he soon reaches up, but I flinch slightly earning a small hum of confusion, "I'm taking this off, to clean your wound......dumbass," he mutters, moving closer. His face was rather closer, as his warmth breath coaxes my lips. The sensation left me feeling rather flushed, with how easy I'm allowing him to get so close. Why can't I push him away? 

Reluctantly he peels the gauze off, before feeling fresh air hit my eye.

He then lifts his hand up using his fingers to usher me to pass the damp cloth, before he begins cleaning around my wound carefully. His calloused fingers carefully cup my cheek, while focusing on not wanting to press deeply around it.

"It's slightly bruised around," he breaks the silence, still focused on my wound. "Leaving it with fresh air shall help heal more properly, so I recommend not to wrap your eye aga--"

"It's ghastly......isn't it?"

He shrugs his shoulders, "Well of course it is, it's not fully healed," he tenderly touches around my wound, when I notice a slight change in his eyes. They grew more enmity, mixing with concern and frustration.

"I'm fine.....just thankful I'm not blind," my voice lowers, trying to slowly open my left eye. It was rather hard having it closed for so long, so it would be dark and uncomfortable to see through. Seething through my teeth, my eye was soon full open seeing one side blurry and darker. Blinking a few times, I finally able to see Levi more clearly on my left side.

"How does that feel?" his voice was more softer, which made me almost lose the air in my lungs.

"Sore, but a lot better,"

He breathes out with relief, "Good, you really scared me when I had to save everyone's sorry asses," he began cleaning up the supplies, while I sat there in a daze. 

Why wasn't Peter on the expedition with the Commander? Did he slip out? Managed an excuse? How did he even know I would be in Trost at that time? 

Too many questions started to cloud my head when I hear clicking, causing me blink a few times seeing Levi standing rather closer. This time he seemed to have something on his mind, but my heart was beating rather heavily against my chest. We were both alone at night, no one around but us two. 

Massaging my own hand nervously, I chew my bottom lip.

"Is something wrong Levi? Did I do anything wrong?" I ask out of curiosity, to ease the tension that I could feel. His eyes were raking my figure, feeling my cheeks burning more profusely.

His eyebrows furrowed with slight frustration, as his breath drew rather heavily.

His eyes meet my turquoise ones, "Shit........you don't know......"

Those few words left me feeling rather scared for a moment, seeing his face growing rather flustered. Usually when he was like this, the tips of his ears would go red first. However looking at him now, running his fingers through his tousled locks, he was definitely either frustrated or something new I haven't witnessed.

His hands were pinned either side of me, while his head lowers trying to avoid my eyes.

".............how everyday I wanted to see you so badly," cursing himself, making it clear for me to hear. "It tortured me.......I couldn't understand why......and that shitty four eyes seriously nagged me about it."

"Levi?"

The tension within room felt more warmer, still oblivious to what he's trying say.

Swiftly out of nowhere his left hand snakes around my plush waist, pulling me closer but not entirely off the bench. My breath hitches in my throat, with how assertive his actions were. My hands acted impulsively, being cushioned against his chest, while my head whips up in surprise to meet his intense gaze.

Cheeks were burning as he narrows his eyes, trying to pose himself indifferent.

His grip around my waist made me more insecure about my own body, but no words were spoken but only the quiet intensity of eye contact. Heart pounding so loud, feeling his warm skin flushed against mine.

His burning gaze left me self-conscious, "L-Levi......"

His calloused hands drift around the base of my neck, leaving the lingering touch trail up and around to my nape. His thumb grazing beneath my earlobe, gently caressing just behind my ear. Goosebumps run up my back and arms, seeing his eyes flickering between my eyes and lips.

He soon drew me in slowly while I allowed him, feeling my mind grow dizzy with anticipation.

 My eyes sleepily flutter shut, warm lips soon capture against mine tenderly and slowly. Tilting my head to the side, he shifts closer as my hands slowly drift from his chest to around his neck. Tangling my fingers through his raven locks, as our lips were unsynchronised.

Breathing heavily through his nose, it made me feel different things I was unfamiliar about. 

Not being used to be treated this way, I wasn't the romantic. Yet this man, seemed to not know his way around this. However he surprised me, feeling myself melt into his protective touch. The way his hands savoured my skin beneath his burning touch, my heart beating heavily against my fragile chest.

Dammit, what is this man doing to me?

Soft moans leave my lips when we soon finally synchronise, before I shly bit them back as he slowly pulls away breathlessly. Lungs burning, quietly gasping for air. My chest heaves a little from the built up anxiety, but glancing up, did I not see an ounce of regret in his eyes. They were heavily glazed over with love, cheeks flushed and burning. Myself was staring in shock, taken back and speechless, never being touched like this.

I was vulnerable to him, but I don't deserve this love and affection.

"I don't deserve you, Levi," my voice grew shaky, feeling my hands shaking in response. 

I'm in denial, and I'm being selfish now......

Telling I wouldn't allow myself to fall in love while fighting in the Scouts, here I am being a hypocrite to my sixteen year old self. Eleven years ago I swore to Nanaba I wouldn't, after losing too many friends and comrades. Painful enough, Peter also pulled me from what was real to fake. He used me for more, when all I wanted was comfort. Being assaulted for so long, I always flinched.

Yet, around Levi I never did......not once have I pulled from him.....

His hand takes my wrist firmly, "Stop lying to yourself,"

My eyes widen in response, while he stares into my eyes firmly but with tenderness.

"Your lies are bullshit, to me," he continues, while light tears stung at the corners of my eyes. "I know the world we live in is hell, and we lose people continuously.........but it doesn't give us the right to fall out of love."

He was right, but I was doing out of my own selfish gain.

"Don't you still hate me Levi?" I question, my voice raises a little. He was taken by my question, "I pulled you to the surface, not by your own will! I caused your life to suffer, enduring the pain I placed upon yo--!"

"You brought me here, giving me a second chance at life!" he interjects, as my eyes widen. "It wasn't your fault with anything, you only followed orders. I could never blame you for anything, but be grateful to you........"

He falls silent, seeing his face growing red out of frustration.

".......you don't understand how much you impacted me," his voice grew shaky, swallowing thickly. "Seeing you, is like a new light in my life, and I can't afford to allow that light to go out."

He buries his head against my shoulder, feeling his hot breath against my collarbone.

Tears subconsciously roll down my cheeks, taking in his words, realising how important I was to him. My hand slowly lifts up resting upon his head, threading my fingers through his raven hair. Is this what love feels like? Is this how it feels to have someone truly caring about you, whether you doubt it or not?

"My only desire is you....." he muffles against my skin, feeling myself bite back my happy tears.

My left arm wraps around his upper torso to his back, pulling him closer. Resting my chin on his shoulder; all I could feel was this warmth soon settling in my chest. Relief, a burden being lifted knowing the very man I'm in love with, truly loves me back. 

"You dumbass," I chuckle through my tears, combing through his hair. "I won't leave you, because I feel the same way...."

///

The early morning rise was rather warm and pleasant, recalling what had happened last night. Just thinking about it allowed to feel a weight being lifted, knowing that I didn't have to hide it no more. That being said, we decided to stay professional in front of the squad knowing full well we didn't want anything to get out quite yet.

Lugging some water over my shoulders, it was better that I could see in both eyes. Doing work was hard, but given with my wound, I still was self-conscious of the scar it left behind. Whether Peter was confined after telling Erwin, or he was released, I was away from him. From his disgusting touch, his lies, his deceit and manipulation.

"Alright, time to clean this moss," grimacing in disgust, while place the two buckets down with a heavy grunt. "I wonder when Lena will come here? It's been too long."

Before I could begin I hear something coming our way, causing my head to perk up in the direction it was coming from. It was about only one horse, which in view, was vice Captain Moblit. Hanji's right hand man.

He pulls the reins to a halt, and swings around landing on the earth with quick haste.

"Vice Captain, what's going on?" I question, in alarm judging by his frantic expressions and movements.

His eyes meets mine, "Something terrible has happened!" he exclaims, panicking rising in his voice. "Both the captive titans.....they were killed! Hanji is gonna be devastated!"

With that he excuses himself rushing inside the building, while I stood there stunned by the news. I'm not shocked titans should be killed, but who would dare kill captives that we were going to discover. I mean, capturing titans are the worst part, but someone killing them without orders is against the policy of the Scouts.

Glancing over my shoulder waiting for Hanji's reaction, soon follows with a loud devastating scream from inside. Wincing quietly news spread through all of us, before we call stopped our work and collected our horses to head back to Trost, at the experimenting Scouts Hall was. With the sudden news first thing in the morning, we wouldn't get cleaning properly done for today. Flicking the reins all I could see was Hanji picking the pace, moving further in front of the squad.

Who would do this? Only a person would slay the beasts, but why? Were they Scouts? 

My eyes harden for a moment not even feeling embarrassed, knowing titans were killed, which is what we normally did. Except, this made my skin crawl just thinking about it. 

Who are we really dealing with, and do we have enemies watching our every move?

////

TROST DISTRICT - SCOUTS BRANCH

"No!!!!! Sawney!!!! Bean!!!" Her voice was painful to hear, as the steam was still emitting from the rotting corpses, with only bone left. 

All Garrison soldiers, the military police and a few Scouts Soldiers were surrounding the crime scene, while everyone was questioning on who would do such a thing. I mean, how did they get past security?

"How could this have happened?!" She cries out, in despair while her second in command stood behind, devastated. She collapses to her knees, gripping her hair with anguish in her voice. "Someone tell me this isn't real!"

My eyebrows furrowed together, feeling sick to the stomach.

"They were such valuable specimens," Gunther comments, turning to Eld. "Is this a soldier's work?"

"Yeah, but they haven't pegged the one responsible yet," Eld replies. "They were killed just before dawn, apparently. By the time the guards got here, the bastard cleared out on ODM gear. 

"Whoever it was must've had a lookout to warn him about the guards," Gunther assumes.

"Sawney!!!!" Hanji cries out, still not calming down. 

"Oh dear, someone's gone stark raving mad, haven't they?" Oluo comments, smirking at the poor scientist. Petra elbows him rather harshly in response, earning a guttural cough.

Standing beside Levi and Eren, I could tell the boy was shocked too.

"How did this--" Eren whispers, eyes widen. "How'd it happen?"

Levi shook his head, "Let it go, this a matter for the Military Police," he brushes it off, as Eren stammers over his words.

"Y-Yes sir,"

Levi ushers me to follow knowing we had to discuss a few matters with the Commander, only to see him talking to Eren in a low tone. Heavily troubled with the situation, and feeling uneasy about this, I couldn't shake it off. It was like we could have enemies hiding, but it could only be my wandering thoughts. 

A hand brushes against mine, interlacing through my fingers, he squeezes my hand gently.

My eyes meet his steel untroubled gaze, "Don't let this small mishap trouble you," he spoke up, but I shook my head.

"It's not that, just.....I feel really unfazed....that's all," assuring him I'm okay, he releases my hand before seeing Erwin walking up to us. Nodding, he ushers us both to follow along to discuss about the expedition in a month's time. I couldn't shake the feeling away, like my skin was crawling the more I stayed longer near the crime scene.

///

"Commander, is this really necessary?" I question, eyes folded with my hip and shoulder resting against the wall. Lifting my head I peer through the strands of hair, "Telling them forwardly about our plan on the next expedition, don't you think that will only make them run the opposite way?"

He closes his eyes, with a quiet nod.

"I know it's rather risky, and we're overextending oneself," He began, opening his eyes seeing a change in them. "We're even gambling at this point, but as I said before, this is imperative."

My jaw clenched tightly, being not afraid to speak up even when it was just us three in the room

"That being said......there is a reason, to which only you and Levi, I trust," He breaks the silence, making me lift my head. "Regardless of my hunch, you two may not leak any information, but the ones that know of my plan."

"Plan?"

He nods as Levi shifts closer, "Levi, you must take Eren on patrol.........or else he might be in danger," he spoke up, seeing the Captain's eyes harden. "He's not the only one, despite the current situation, my theory might be confirmed."

"Theory? Situation?"

"He's not the only shifter around here," his voice grew more deep, leaving a cold expression in his eyes.

A chill ran down my spine, realising I wasn't the only one getting this awful feeling. However, I never knew it could be shifters, but then again Eren just proved it is true. Willingly though, he has cooperated with us, and it's safe to say he was on humanity's side. These outsiders then, I must assume, they are after Eren if Erwin is trying to get Levi to take him from our HQ.

"My plan entirely is to lure the spy, by exposing our diversion of a plan," he concludes, realising he was risking a lot for this. "Therefore, they would be interested and join the Scouts....placing the few cadets as suspects."

His plan was rather thought out, especially with how we know there is a spy or spies within our ranks, he will narrow down upon the suspects.

"Levi, you will collect Eren......keep him with you at all times," He firmly instructs, while I stood there feeling bad to leave a bad impression on the innocent cadets. Point taken, I trained these cadets myself. My question was, who would be the spies amongst our people? Did they deceive me, whilst I trained them all with my absolute best?

"Akira, you will be with me for now," Erwin turns to me, as I straighten my posture. His blue eyes slightly darken, "With you being there, I was hoping it would put ease to the unsuspected cadets."

"Sir? Wouldn't you want me to--"

"No," he cuts me off, before standing up from his seat. "Anyway, we have gone through the plan. All we need to do was make our bluff, and lure the spy in."

He really is dead set on this prediction, but for me I felt uneasy.

Sighing deeply I relax my shoulders and saluted him respectfully, "I will trust your judgement," giving in to his risky plan, but then again who would do the same Erwin, as to go far beyond his predictions coming true. He was mad. My hand soon falls to my side, in deep thought trying to recall anything suspicious with my cadets.

"I will start heading off now," Levi went to leave the room, when Erwin stops him.

"Wait," heading to Levi, he places a hand on his shoulder. "Bring him to the ceremony, keep him hidden but so he could listen to our plan."

We knew we had to trust Erwin, especially when the enemy can use ODM gear. It was rather a high risk if they could transform, so either way Eren must be under Levi and his squad's protection with mine too. I slowly had some doubts about it, but grinning and bearing the idea, I wouldn't think of anything else but to comply.

Levi soon leaves the room, before Erwin turns to me.

"I have a question," he spoke up, as I lean against the desk behind me. Anxiety settles in my chest and stomach, putting on a tough facade allowing nothing to break me from our suspicions. 

"Ask away,"

He nods, "When you were training the cadets, did any of them seem......rather off to you?" He questions, while I tied my best to recall the days I spent with them individually. He pulls out something from his desk, seeing some reports of the 104th regiment. "We have promising cadets, thanks to you, but before you trained them only few were rather trained, or capable in becoming soldiers."

Nodding, "Yes, a few stood out to me," I spoke up, taking the papers he passed me. My eyes trail across the list, flicking paper to paper, eyes scanning the papers and