The Heart of Humanity

Chapter 19: Playing with Fire

"You absolute asshole, look at my face!" Levi turned, the crowd breaking as Eva pushed through and landed the punch she meant to last night. She caught the front of his shirt, and the crowd got loud. Levi was stunned for a moment, staring up at her now two black eyes. 

"And now everyone thinks it was some big forbidden affair because you decided my honour needed defending, and you haven't even come to apologize!" Eva shoved him, ducking under his arm, and kicking out his legs. Levi felt her weight on top of him a moment later.

"Get off-" Eva was pulled off him before Levi could finish. Erwin had to tighten his grip, struggling to pull her back as she tried to lunge at Levi.

"You want to fight someone, fight me! You don't think I can handle myself, try me!" She screamed at him. The anger bubbled inside her, overflowing in her words as she fought against Erwin's grasp.

"Alright, break it up, everyone back to work!" Erwin shouted. Eva's fighting slowed but he still didn't let her go. Her eyes burned into Levi as the crowd reluctantly dispersed.

"This isn't what I thought you meant when you said you were going to talk to Levi," Erwin scolded, but Eva's attention was focused on Levi who had finally got back to his feet.

"I'm sorry I hit you, you know I didn't mean to," Levi started, repressing the frustration as he eyed Erwin.

"You called me a whore!" She spat. Erwin heard the break in her voice and he cautiously released his hold, setting his hand to the small of her back in case he needed to step in again. Eva wiped her eyes as the tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"I already have to deal with that from the idiots in the regiment but from you?" Her voice cracked as she spoke, and it was enough for Levi to take his eyes off Erwin and focus on her. Levi winced at the sight of the bruising on her face, her eyes full of tears as she stared at him.

"I worked hard to become a Captain, I worked hard to make a life here. You're the one still stuck in the Underground and you keep trying to pull me back!" She accused.

"You don't have to like it. In fact, you can hate it for all I care but this is my life. This is the man I love. You're not going to change that," She emphasized, never breaking her gaze and Levi began to feel guilty. He could never handle when Eva cried and even less so when he was the cause of it.

"And until Erwin and I get a real apology, I want nothing to do with you." Erwin caught her arm to stop her. He thought to try and mediate or do something other than stand there.

"Eva wait-"

"No," She said shortly, interrupting Erwin.

"You don't get to come to his rescue; this is on him now." Eva pulled her arm from his grasp, her glare now on Erwin.

"I'm done." Erwin sighed, rubbing the back of his head. How could this have gotten so out of hand so quickly? He looked back at Levi, who looked just as pissed as he did the other night.

"She's on leave for the next two weeks. Hange said she has a minor concussion, but it doesn't seem to be stopping her," He explained, turning to follow Eva. With a head wound added to Eva's injuries, the commander saw fit to allow her leave until she was fully recovered. So, it was a surprise that she managed to slip out from under Erwin and Hange's noses the day her leave was meant to start.

"Eva doesn't stop," Levi said suddenly and Erwin paused midstep.

"If you can't even stand up to her, what good are you for her?" Erwin looked over his shoulder, but Levi was already leaving. Perhaps it was meant as an insult, but Erwin decided to take it as advice. Eva had been attracted to him because of his confidence, his intimidating personality as she called it. If he bent to her in every argument, the balance in their relationship would be thrown off. They wouldn't be able to be an equal team, and what good was he if he couldn't say no now and then? Even to the woman he loved.