The crisp cool air filters through my nose. It greets my skin like an embrace of spring. I was glad to be out of that stuffy room, however, I had some business to attend to.
Quickly putting my hair into a ponytail I march across the grounds and towards the office building. Despite being discharged I was still under orders not to work. The idea simply drove me mad, how can I not continue working?
I'm fine as I'll ever be and I had tasks to fulfill as the Lieutenant. The day after Nifa, Edward, and Hanji visited me I was troubled with the idea of someone else being in that room.
I asked Petra for information but she only claims those three were the only ones who visited. Of course, she came into the room frequently too. I didn't bring up the flowers, however, as I wanted to avoid any misunderstandings until I was sure who it came from.
I was too busy crossing out any dead ends, I never realized I stood before Erwin's door. Blinking twice I put up a fist and knock firmly.
"Name and business," I hear Erwin command.
"Emma and I just have questions." Hearing a firm, enter, I push open the door and waltz into his office.
Erwin sits behind his desk, wearing his uniform as always. His arms rested on the desk with his lips were tugged into a small frown. Until, his eyes land on me. His frown turns into a small smile and he gestures his head in acknowledgement.
"Good to see you up and about, Emma," he greets.
"Yeah, even though you still have me under orders not to work." I mumble. I cast my gaze to my right seeing a short man with undercut hair. I knew fairly well who it was but, what caught me off guard was what he wore.
He wore a leather jacket as well as white pants. My eyebrows raise with my lips pressed together. Did he clean his own uniform? Wasn't I supposed to do it? I hear someone loudly clear their throat and I blink twice.
I realized Levi was glancing over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing at the sight of me staring. Immediately, I look away with a visible frown.
"Is there something you need, Emma?" Erwin asks, steering my attention to him. Nodding I take a step forward, ending up being on Levi's side.
"Yes, sir, I wanted to question you on a few things," I say formally. Erwin nods his head and gestures his hand to me.
"Proceed."
"Thank you, sir. I wanted to inquire you about an order laid out a few days ago while I was still in the Medical Center. Why did you make an order forbidding people to visit me? Why did you make it a big deal?"
It was silent at first, Erwin didn't seem to respond immediately to my questions. I watch him as he averts his gaze to Levi. They hold each other's stare, Levi being the first to look away.
I was puzzled by their exchanged glances but, push the thought aside when Erwin's releases a sigh.
"Your recovery was important," he answers lamely. "You've been pushing yourself too hard and I wish for you to recover without any distractions."
I frown deeply at his response. It was a lame answer, one I couldn't believe. My comrades weren't a distraction, I wasn't even working during my recovery.
But, I let it slide as he was my Commander and the dark aura I sensed on my right. I had a feeling Levi wanted me to quickly finish whatever I had in store so he could continue whatever he was doing. I only had one question left, one that had been bothering me for a while now.
"Alright, then I have one last question, sir. Do you know who came to visit me while I was unconscious?" Erwin raises a brow in confusion, his back straightening slightly.
"Why ask that?" He questions.
"Well, I've been having a feeling someone else had been in my room while I was resting," I reply. "A vase of daisies was on my nightstand. My comrades weren't the ones who placed it there. Someone has been in there without me knowing."
Erwin shifts in his chair uncomfortably. His eyebrow crinkle at the information with his lips firmly pressed together. I had a feeling he wasn't aware of who else visited me besides my comrades and Petra.
The idea of someone sneaking in troubled me more than him. I watch him open his mouth but no words came out. At least, not his words.
"Petra placed it there," Levi replies cooly. Erwin's eyes widen and he looks at Levi with raised brows. I also turn to him with my head tilted.
"She did?"
"When I brought you in," Levi continues. "She placed them there." He kept his eyes trained on the window in front of him. His body was stiff as statue with his voice monotone as ever.
To a stranger they would find his demeanor normal but to me, there was something off. Even Erwin noticed because he stared at Levi with a questionable gaze. Levi looks at him and holds it with eyes cold as ice.
I look back and forth, confused as ever by this staring contest. It made my neck sweat at the tension raised in here. Clearing my throat I nod awkwardly.
"Then, I guess I'll go thank her for the flowers."
"I'll do it instead," Levi volunteers abruptly.
Stunned by his offer, I quirk up a brow with a frown. Now this was the first Levi has offered to do something for me. I pondered as to why he would, maybe he's trying to seem nice in front of Erwin. I had to smirk, what a dumb a move.
"No thank you," I decline politely. "I rather do it myself."
"She's busy, you know," Levi says but in a sterner tone. Finally looking at me, he crosses his arms with a warning glinting in his eyes. "Don't distract her while she works."
"Then won't you distract her too?" I demand. I curl my lips while clenching my fists. I was trying my best to contain my irritation.
"I'm her Captain," Levi answers simply. "I won't be a distraction like you." I scoff loudly, my mind finally understanding why he's so pushy on this subject.
"Oh, I see now," I purr with a smirk. "You're interested in little Petra, aren't you?"
Levi scoffs with no expression upon his face. He looks away with the shake of his head.
"What are you talking about now?"
"Don't think I didn't notice the tension between you two," I smirk. "You two failed to hide it miserably. Staring at each other all lovey dovey."
"Are you jealous?" Levi questions. He looks me with a small smirk. "Sad there's no one to love you?"
"That's totally off subject, dumbass!" I shout angrily. I huff with a pout while giving him a pointed glare. "Tell me honestly, do you want to see her or are you hiding something from me?"
Levi becomes unresponsive. He looks away with a deep frown. I await his answer, I knew it was the latter and I want him to admit it. I had no particular reason why to put him on the spot right now but, he was pissing me off.
"My intentions are none of you business, Lieutenant." He finally says.
"It does if it concerns me!" I exclaim. "You can't stop me from doing what I want!"
"Yes, I can and it's called breaking your legs!"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!!"
I jump to Erwin's command. He had his palms firmly on his desk while he stood with a menacing stare. His eyes were narrowed, fueled with anger and disappointment. His shoulders shook as though to conceal every once of his frustration.
"For once in your God damned lives can you be civil with one another?!" He yells.
Levi and I look away from his eyes and stand like statues. I've realized we screwed up. Bickering in front of Erwin was the last thing on my mind.
"Forgive me, sir," I apologize. "But I only wish to give my thanks to Petra but, Captain Levi is forbidding my right to."
"I'm only refusing because she'll distract one of my Squad members," Levi mutters.
"I don't want to hear it!" Erwin seethes. He looks at us one at a time before pinching his nose with a sigh. "You both had one order to follow. One. And you completely disregarded it."
He falls back down on to his chair, his face looking more fatigued than seconds ago. Silence strains between us three, it made my body itch. I wished to know what he was thinking but judging by the dark look in his eyes I knew it wouldn't be good.
"You two need to learn to act human towards each other," Erwin mutters before a gesturing hand at us. "Get out. I'll have your punishment ready by the end of the day."
With a lowered head I turned and sauntered to the door. Humiliation strum through my core with my face reddening in embarrassment. I exit his office with Levi not far from my tail. I wish to not be by him any longer as it was his fault we got into this situation.
"Oi! Emma!" I hear Levi shout for me but I continue to stomp forward. Listening to his rushed footsteps only made my body shake in anger.
Making it out of the building I hurried my footsteps across the grounds with no place in mind. Luckily for me, I ended up behind the stables and Levi was nowhere to be seen.
\/\/\/\/\/
"Well, that's dumb," Edward mumbles while wiping a blade. "What's the big deal if you saw Petra?"
"Yeah, it makes no sense," Nifa pipes up with her body leaned against the wall. "So what if she's working, she's mostly on break when we're off duty."
I shrug mutely as I count the gas tanks in stock. Presently, we were in the armory. I needed a place to hide from Levi and something to do to get mind off the previous events.
I decided to help Edward and Nifa count the number of weapons and supplies we have. I vented over what had happened a couple hours ago. It wasn't a surprise to see them share the same irritation as me.
"It just doesn't make sense," I complain. "Why would he offer to help me and why was this flower thing a big deal to him? All I want is to know who else came into that room."
Nifa frowns thoughtfully, thinking over the information I just gave.
"Maybe he does like Petra," she suggests. "Why else would he get this annoying?" I scoff and sit on a wooden crate.
"Okay, he likes her. So what? He was acting like I was going to hit on her or something."
"Or maybe, he's hiding something."
Nifa and I blink to one another before looking at Edward. He was casually wiping a blade without noticing our questioning stares. He places one down and starts another. Edward doesn't respond like his comment meant nothing at all.
"Well?" I question impatiently. "Are you going to finish?"
He looks up, oblivious to our anxious stares. It takes his slow brain a moment to realize we were waiting for him to finish.
"Oh! Well, don't you think it's weird he was acting defensive earlier?"
I cock my head, "Defensive?"
"Yeah, you know, easily getting mad and what not." Edward replies casually. He glances up at Nifa with a thoughtful frown. "Didn't you also find it weird when you saw Levi watching over Em?" Nifa ponders before shaking her head hesitantly.
"No...?" She replies. "I mean, he did say he brought her in."
"Yeah, but that was the day before we came in," Edward pressed. "That means he was there for two days, right?"
I wasn't sure what he was getting at. What I knew for certain was they came to visit. Levi had also came to visit me during the three days I was unconscious. But what did have to do with someone putting unknown daisies on my nightstand?
"So, what are you saying?" I question. "That jerk was the one who gave me the flowers?"
Edward shrugs. His frown a thoughtful one. He picks up his blade once more.
"It's possible," he mutters. "It does sound like it though."
Unconsciously, I scoff with a huff while cross my arms over my chest. Levi showing something more than iciness and hate? I'll believe it when someone claims there's a world different from ours.
I couldn't stomach the idea of him doing something nice. Let alone to me. I glance at the young man who conversed with Nifa.
He's naïve, he doesn't know anything yet. I won't take his word for it but I'll let the matter drop for now. That became a smaller issue as to what I have to deal with later.
/\/\/\/\
Fun fact;
According to Isayama, Levi Ackerman is the one character to be quite emotional. But it's hard for him to express his feelings due to his upbringing.
Did that make ya soft? 😃
By the way, I was not ready for episode eight😭
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