Promise me [Levi Ackerman x OC]

XXXI: Strong

"What the hell?" Hazel freeze a bit puzzled and shocked, she recovered opening the door to her office.

Rose was over Levi's shoulders with the duster in hand. He was having trouble with carrying her because she doesn't balanced herself adequately. Levi had his face blushed and sweated for the attempt of not let her fall down to the floor. She was in a bliss, not taking care if he was having difficulties. "Let's go for the other one." She ordered him to walk toward the last shelf without getting down.

Hazel contained the laugher and covered her mouth, they haven't noticed her yet, she just watched them waiting for them to reach the shelf. "You're doing it great, soldiers." She said in a serious tone, trying not to laugh.

She startled them making both turned their heads, that move almost made Rose fell but she held on from the shelf, Levi growled for the weight and rolled his eyes.

"Careful up there. Close the door when you finish." She ordered them before leaving her office. Levi almost made Rose fall again following Hazel with the sight.

Once outside she freely laughed. The jealous she felt a couple days ago were no longer there, now she felt a little pity for Levi that he has to endure her.

The shower gave her time to calm, she wasn't upset with him anymore. The Levi she used to knew was a person who bottled up his emotions. He always has cared for others, but life has took them from him. His mom, his mentor, Declan, Hazel, Furlan, Isabel. He was afraid of showing emotions because, sooner or later he has to let go of people.

Opening the door of Erwin's office, she took a seat in front of him. "What are the news?" He was drawing over a map and let the pencil aside to pay attention to her.

"The same as always." She sighed and look to the window at the back of him. "I'm dying, but I still have time, the Dr. increased my medication to stabilize my heart and I need to return in a month for a checkup."

"Maybe I should lower your load of work..."

"Don't be stupid, Erwin, I can do it. The meds will work for now. Let me help you with that."

Erwin was grateful for all she do, he was absolutely concerned for her but with the years, he get to know her and her stubbornness, she would never give up and let him tossed her apart from their mission to free humanity, they were in this together.

Both were perfectionating Erwin's last formation, a little modifications and backup line ups in case something happen like the last expedition. They invested a lot of time until dinner time and both went to the mess hall which was oddly quiet. All the cadets were there but it seemed they were tired for cleaning.

"Maybe you went too far this time." Erwin was making fun but still with serious face.

"In my defense, I was just arriving and didn't had a clue of what was happening." She rise up her hands in defensive mode.

Erwin couldn't resist anymore and a laugh scaped him and putted his and over her nape. "Miche told me about it, but he told me it would be a training thing. The fight drew a lot of attention, I was watching from my office window."

After getting their tray they went to the table where Miche was with Nanaba trying to calm him. He was down for losing the match, not even want to eat. "Well, at least you will always be the humanity's best smeller." That made him laugh a bit. "Accept it, you can't have it all."

They tried to cheered him up the whole evening until the night curfew, all the cadets had gone leaving only the higher ups. Hange was so into her investigations that she had forget about dinner, but Moblit took care of her. Hazel got to her office more relax than when she left.

"Are you still mad?" She didn't startled hearing his serious voice.

"Are you still a brat?"

He was sitting in the couch reading a book and leave it in the coffee table when she entered. Rolling his eyes he sat crossing one leg over the other. She closed the door and went to sit beside him taking the book about plants he was reading.

"I will forgive you, but make the tea this time."

"You keep giving me orders."

"I think I like to have power over you." She said it with a flirty tone poking his cheek with a finger.

"Me too."

He stood up to fetch the things to make the tea that were over the desk while she waited patiently in the couch reading the book. When he finally came back, she left the book where he had and took her teacup.

"And how does it feel like to be the humanity's strongest soldier?" She noticed his confused face. "You won against Miche, who was the strongest and people at the district are talking about a soldier who killed an abnormal by himself. I think you earned the nickname."

"Well, I hate it. I'm not strong as they think." He turned his head in other direction to cover his face a bit ashamed.

With a soft voice, taking one of his hands and stroking his hair with the other, she got closer. "I know, Levi. You've been through a lot, and I'm sorry you carry all this sorrow by your own. If I could, I would take all your pain away."

"You do... by only existing." He turned to face her again. "I hate your bullshit distance thing. I feel anxious all the time, sometimes I think that my life has no sense." His voice broke a little, he placed his hands over her shoulders and rest his forehead against hers closing his eyes. "But then, you enter the mess hall so blissful, so graceful and lighten the atmosphere. Over your fucking bench out in the field teaching all the brats with enigmatic vibes. Flying between the branches so swiftly." He waited a few seconds to compose his voice. "And I'm sorry for being an ass before, I've never being in this kind of situations, I don't know how to act."

She felt flattered to have that high impact in his life, but also very concerned about he feel his life was meaningless, and sad because no one knew how much she has left and with the time she will be gone too. She managed to put his head on the crook of her neck and kept stroking his hair easing him.

"My distance bullshit will end with the leader tests, I don't want any inner dispute nor that the others think I'm giving you privileges." He growled and before he could reply, she interrupted him. "EVEN THOUGH I know you don't care about what other says, is an order. Now go to bed."

He looked up to her with a scowl in his way of 'pleading' to stay, but she only giggle and push him away gently. "I will take back what I said, I hate you giving me orders." He stood and went to the door hesitating. "Are you sure?" He look at her after took out one foot.

"Good night, Levi." She said from the couch and he finally left.