Wings in the Dark

Chapter 26: Ghost

*Hange's POV*

"Erwin! Erwin, you won't believe–well, maybe you will, with the bet and all–but you won't believe–" Hange skidded to a stop, reports now a crumpled bundle in her hand as she stood in the open doorway of Erwin's office. Erwin looked up in surprise at her abrupt entrance, Miche standing behind his desk as they seemed to be discussing something about the formation and strategy. Both of them were staring at her, which was why she came up short mid-sentence. Plus...she was certain Miche was part of that pool, which meant he would know exactly what was happening. "Oh, hi...is this important?"

"What is it, Hange?" Erwin asked, used to having to adapt to random spouts of unbridled Hange energy.

"Ah...Paperwork. I got the paperwork for you," Hange said, rapidly backtracking in what she was going to say since Miche was right there. It was a good thing she'd doubled back during her flight from Levi's office to actually get what she came for, even if it meant enduring more swearing shouts from Levi in the process. As such, she was able to hurry forwards and offer Erwin the crumpled papers in her hands that Levi had finished earlier–he'd throw a fit if he saw the state she'd handed them over to Erwin in.

She was bursting to tell Erwin what she just saw, but she wasn't going to say it in front of Miche. Sure, Miche could probably keep a secret, but Erwin was the only one she wanted to tell. The one who had a complete image of what was going on between Levi and Y/N, and who she knew wouldn't tell anyone else. No offense to Miche, but she wasn't going to risk spilling a private matter to the whole Scouts. Just Erwin.

Levi would really kill her if she caused the spread of the news through the Scouts. So just Erwin and that was it. She liked living.

Erwin looked at her with raised eyebrows at her excuse, the state of the paperwork she was handing him, and her obvious attempt to hold something back, but he didn't make any moves to dismiss Miche, or to pry the other thing out of Hange.

"I'll just hand these over and...yeah, that's all, for now," Hange said, trying to play her entrance off and knowing damn well she wasn't that successful.

As she was backing away, both of the men in the room were staring at her, but Erwin, calm as ever, simply said, "Stop by later–I'll have something for you, then."

And then he went right back to what he'd been doing with Miche, indicating Hange had her out and was being dismissed.

She'd tell him later, when she came back. Which was a good thing, because she had to go back to her quarters and do a bit of searching.

She was going to owe him a wager when she came back.

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*Reader's POV*

"How are you feeling?"

Levi didn't look up from the report he was reading over, eyebrows furrowed slightly as his gaze scanned the page. You had just come in to deliver his lunch and tea, setting the tray on the side of his desk out of his way, but moving the teacup and saucer closer so he could drink from it whenever he wanted.

"You keep asking that, but the answer isn't going to change," he commented, doing just what you'd intended and reaching out to take the teacup while you put the plate of food on his desk, tucking the platter under your arm.

"It has a few times," you said pointedly, turning around to lean against the side of his desk, gaze wandering briefly out the window, able to see some of the diligent scouts still on the training grounds from Levi's office. He didn't answer, simply took a slightly absent-minded drink from the cup, then paused to glance down at the fine porcelain in his hands.