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Levi’s hand lingered on the door after he had shut it behind (l/n). Then he skulked to the reading couch and flung himself down on his back, one arm covering his eyes, boots propped on the arm of the sofa. “Gaahh!” he shouted to the empty air. “Idiot,” he murmured to himself.

When the young cadet first entered his office that night, he was taken aback by how stunning she looked. Her (h/c) hair was flowing loose instead of its usual ponytail. She was wearing casual pants that, he couldn’t help but notice, fit in all the right places; a simple form hugging tank top in her favorite shade of (f/c). It couldn’t have been more casual, but Levi found it irresistibly sexy. She even smelled sweeter than usual. Then he noticed she had added mascara, accentuating her (e/c) eyes, and a lip color, drawing even more attention to her absurdly distracting lips. He wondered why the change in appearance and secretly hoped it was because of the something he felt between them and the fact that he would be leaving tomorrow.

After Levi learned that she had plans other than him for the evening, things took a turn for the ugly. He scolded himself again and again for the uncalled for statements he was directing at (l/n). He could see all over her face that he was confusing and hurting her, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He had carelessly called her an idiot and meant it, instead of his usual jest. The word hung in the air, even after she had yelled at him in return. He wanted to apologize but his pride held him back.
Didn’t she know there was no one else he wanted to be with, nowhere else he wanted to be on the night before this mission, than with her? Hadn’t he made that clear enough yet? He didn't think he had been so casual with anyone in all of his life, but then, he supposed, she had no way of knowing that.

The captain was relieved when she tried to clear the air by inviting him along, but at the same time, he cringed knowing how uncomfortable he would be in a crowded bar. After that, it hadn’t mattered that she was trying to lighten the mood. Her words felt like daggers in his mind. “Captain Clean Freak?” “Mr. Uptight?” She couldn’t see him having a few drinks with fellow soldiers? He had really been trying to lower his guard and be more open around her. He knew it still looked different from most people's version of "open" but she had truly seemed to accept that about him. So, it felt to him as if (f/n) had just said that she could never be with someone like him. He could not stand to hear anymore, and instead of putting them both through the discomfort, he dismissed her.

Nothing prepared him for hearing only his given name fly off her pink lips. It had been something he had wanted to hear for months, something he had imagined her calling in multiple scenarios, but he would never dare to ask. He appreciated order in his world and he couldn’t start by making an exception with (l/n). He was disappointed that she had used the casual name while they argued, but he was almost certain there was pleading in her voice as well. Terrified he would not be able to conceal his elation, he hastily ordered her out.

Now, laying on the couch, all he could focus on was her calling his given name. Uninvited carnal settings played in his mind. ‘Levi,’ he heard again, lust stirring.

He sat up, frustrated that he had not finished any of his paperwork yet. When he sunk in his desk chair, he picked up his pen and placed it to the paper once again. Looking down he realized that in all the time he had spent with his pen to this same file that evening, he had yet to make a single mark on the page. Loudly shoving his chair away from the desk, Levi tossed his pen on its top and walked to the door. He opened it, but quickly slammed it shut again.

“Damn it!” he exclaimed. Taking a deep breath, he flung the door open again and headed to change out of his uniform.

***

As Levi walked into the pub, noise and smoke smacked him in the face. He grimaced and plunged his hands into the pockets of his hooded jacket, a little concerned at what his fingers might touch. He scanned the crowd, noting some townsfolk but mostly soldiers he recognized. Their eyes fixed on him in shocked expressions. Some of the older members looked like children who’d been caught with a hand in the cookie jar, while the younger recruits seemed to gawk like he was an idol. It made him terribly uneasy.

The first soldier to actually welcome him was, of course, Hange.

“Shorty! What are you doing?! Get over here and join us, fool! I can’t believe you actually came to a real pub. This must be a special event! Hurry and get us more drinks,” she exclaimed in her annoyingly high-strung manner.

“Relax, Shitty Glasses. I don’t plan on making it a habit.” He glanced around awkwardly, looking at the extra unwelcome attention Hange had drawn. He noticed gratefully as Yaeger walked over and handed him a drink. Taking it by the rim, to keep his fingers off as much of the cup as possible, he took a huge gulp of the amber liquid.

“Get you anything else, Captain?” the boy Titan inquired.

The commander shook his head, lifting the drink to his lips once more, and scanned the room for the only person he cared to see. Hange rested her arm on top of Levi’s head, mocking his size and enjoying making him uncomfortable, as she launched into some topic that Ackerman cared nothing about at this particular moment. He continued looking over the crowded pub, as Hange’s voice became like white noise.

Suddenly, there came a great shout as glasses were slammed to the table and fists were thrust in the air. Through the cheering crowd, Levi spotted the familiar (h/c) hair. Seated at the table were a passed out Connie Springer, a nauseated Sasha Blaus, Ymir on the floor being helped to her feet by Krista, followed by Mikasa, Reiner, and (f/n), the only three still seated. Dozens of shot glasses littered the table.

“Who’s out?!” shouted Kirstein, who seemed to be taking bets as people stuffed money into his hands.

“Oh god! I’m out,” Sasha blanched. Boisterous laughter erupted as she rushed to find a bathroom.

“Mikasa?” Jean questioned. She just glared at him silently.

“So, no. How about you, Reiner? Done for?”

Reiner smoothly replied, “You wish, horse face, but I think I saw (l/n) looking kind of gray over there.”

(f/n) scoffed. “In your dreams, big man! You don’t know who you’re dealing with. I can do this all. night. long,” she emphasized to a crowd of “OHHHS!” The suggestive words made Levi choke on his drink, as he slowly made his way closer.

Fists pounded out a drumroll until Jean threw his hand in the air and shouted, “Drink!” Three glasses flew to mouths and slammed back down on the table to more applause. Levi’s eyes were fixed on (f/n). He felt bewitched. Her cool and confident attitude, her laugh that he lived to hear, and her eyes smiling brightly. He felt a pang of jealousy seeing the fun she was able to have away from his dispassionate manner. As they set the next round, Jean spotted his commander.

“Whoa-ho-ho, everyone! Looks like we have a surprise guest! Captain Levi, Sir!” he slurred, gesturing to the lance corporal with a half-ass salute. Eyes the size of dinner plates stared in Ackerman’s direction before the crowd erupted into drunken cheers again. “Do you want to play, Captain?” asked Jean, laughing as (f/n) kicked him under the table.

People cheered and urged Levi on, but he held up his hand and declined. “Pass. Those glasses are probably crawling in filth.” The crowd laughed again at the Captain’s anticipated response, and Levi heard (f/n) mumble, “Typical,” under her breath.

“Suit yourself! Now who’s out?” None of the remaining contenders made a sound, but (l/n)’s eyes were narrowed right at Levi. He swallowed uneasily at her soured expression, and his face returned to flat. As the drumroll of fists began, she suddenly held up her hand.

“Nope. Ya know what? I am out. I’m out,” she announced, clapping her hands together.

“What?! Come on, (f/n)! One more round! Come on! Boo! One more! I’ve got my money on you!” came shouts from every direction.

She smiled and shook her head definitively. “Sorry, fellas. I think I’m starting to feel a little too drained to keep playing this game,” she said as she narrowed her eyes at the captain further. She stood from the table, downed the last shot anyway, and slid the empty glass to Jean’s waiting hand. “See you punks later,” she said as she made her way to the door. Levi found the whole scene suggestive and felt for the first time that maybe he was way out of his league when it came to (l/n). She stopped on her way, hugging and wishing the leaving squad members luck on tomorrow's expeditions.

Levi tried to follow her out. He zigzagged through the madhouse, but kept getting sidetracked by people stopping him. He felt himself grimacing as they went in for drunken hugs or pats on the back or-- worst of all, handshakes, which he always pulled away from, hands back in the safety of his pockets. He had almost made it to the exit, when Hange blocked it and demanded he spend more time with his peers. “You’ve only been here for ten minutes, Short-stack!”

Levi moved her aside, exclaiming “Not now, Shitty Glasses!” When he grabbed the handle and pushed the door open, he felt something wet and slimy on his hand. “Fuck!” he shouted and kicked the door closed from the outside, staring at his disgusting feeling palm.

He could hear Hange on the other side shout, “What a weird little man you are, Levi!”

“Fuck!” he exclaimed again. He could focus on nothing but his crawling skin and searched his pockets frantically for something to wipe the hand. He always kept a cloth in his pocket. Where was it?

To his right, he noticed a handkerchief waving near his face-- his handkerchief. Snatching the god sent object, Levi looked to the thief, surprised to see (f/n). He sighed as realization hit him. “Did you do this?” he questioned, raising his hand to her.

“Yep,” she replied curtly.

“What the hell is it?” he asked, rubbing at his dirtied skin.

“I licked it,” she answered.

“I’m sorry, you what?” Levi frowned as (f/n) raised her eyebrows, pursed her lips and shrugged. “You licked it? As in, you stuck your tongue to a door handle thousands of people have touched? To annoy me?” Though he felt sick at the thought, he also felt mildly impressed at her inhibitions. He remembered how he had cut off men's fingers for less, and was again reminded of just how much he was willing to let this particular woman get away with.

“I saw you following and figured you’d be the next to touch it. Worth it, if you ask me,” she said sternly.

“Tch. I guess I deserved that,” Levi said, stuffing the cloth in his pocket.

“Guess you did.” The two of them stared at each other intensely for a few moments before she rolled her eyes, sighed, and shoved him playfully with her shoulder.

He had never been more relieved to see a grin in his life. Again, this woman had managed to put him at ease where so many others had failed. She began to walk back to base, and he gestured to her side, asking “May I?” When (f/n) nodded, Levi fell in line beside her and walked with her in a peaceful silence.

As the barracks grew closer the pair stopped beside a huge guard tower at the edge of the training fields and leaned against it for support. They talked about nothing and everything for a long while, until he looked into her beautiful eyes again, feeling hypnotized in the moonlight. “I’m sorry,” he admitted.

He was startled when (f/n) laughed and chided, “You sound ridiculous when you say that.”

For god’s sake, woman! What do you want from me?! he thought in frustration, as he watched her slide to the ground. Her shirt lifted just a touch as she skimmed her back against the post, showing a sliver of skin it was impossible for Levi to look away from.

“Whoa,” she exclaimed as she put her hands on either side of herself, head to her knees. “What made you decide to join the party, tonight, Captain?” He waited several minutes before Levi unexpectedly found himself admitting the truth.

“I wanted to find you. I just needed to tell you I knew that I’d been an idiot. I wanted to ask forgiveness and spend my last night before expedition inside the walls with you, even if that meant sharing the time with a crowd of other people." He took a deep breath, "Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you, (f/n)?”

“Mm,” she responded. Levi crouched in front his newest, yet dearest friend, swallowed and tilted her chin up to meet his face.

“I’m trying to say that to me, no one-“ he paused, “How many drinks did you have?” his admission derailed by a pair of swimming (e/c) eyes.

Drowsily blinking at him, (l/n) mumbled, “Uhh…” then looked down to count on her fingers. When she reached fingers on the second hand, Levi clasped them together, knowing there was no point counting further.

“Ok. Ok. Apparently, just enough,” Levi replied, raising an eyebrow in amusement. He shook his head as she nodded hers. He knew exactly what had happened. He had been there before. As soon as she sat down and stopped moving, all of the shots crashed into her like an unstoppable freight train.

Standing, he scooped (f/n) off the ground and began carrying her to her barracks. His breath stuck in his throat when she leaned into him further and smiled peacefully, hand resting against his chest. Once he had laid her in bed, shoes pulled off, covers raised, the usually detached fighter could not help but to linger a moment at the bedside. He tucked a soft (h/c) strand of hair behind her ear and whispered goodnight. Levi left for his own barracks still shaking his head, with a grin on his face, ready to face any Titan single-handedly.