Partners Against Crime

3

"What about your partner, uh... Berner?" Levi asked.

"Killed in action a month ago, due a reckless mistake on my part..." Hanji replied.

Her shoulders slumped and she looked down.

"Like I said, it's been rough and lonely..." she said.

Levi walked over to her and set a teacup in front of her.

"We have work to do, don't focus on that shit. It's in the past," Levi said.

"The only thing we are allowed to believe is that we won't regret the choices we make."

Hanji looked at him. He was right. Sulking over her police partner's death wouldn't help.

"Thanks Levi," Hanji said with a small smile.

"You were always the one who knew how to help me out or cheer me up."

Levi sat on the edge of her desk. He'd noticed that she had an eyepatch on over her left eye.

"You wanna explain that?" Levi asked, motioning to it.

"Heh well, we were on a chase, got the perp cornered," Hanji said.

"Turns out, he had a secret bomb in his car. He activated it. I was in the direct line of the explosion but a follow officer pushed me out of the way. Debris ricocheted off the surroundings and hit my glasses, shattering them on impact. The glass shattered inwards and damaged my eye and eyelid quite severely. Been blind in that eye ever since."

She pulled the eyepatch off to reveal the nasty looking scars and her dulled grey eye. Levi reached out and felt the slightly raised up scars.

"The good thing is you survived," he said.

Hanji blushed feeling his fingers linger on her skin. Levi quickly pulled his hand away and cleared his throat.

"Okay, what do you got for me on the case?" he asked.

Hanji's eyes lit up. There it was, the fire she'd always had, the joy of sharing her findings. Levi had to admit, he missed it. The pair had been in the Wings of Freedom training academy together and had become close friends. They drifted apart after being sent to different stations for work.

----------

It was the very early hours of morning. Hanji had rambled on late about all her findings and to be honest Levi was very surprised about what she found out. It would definitely be of great help for them. Hanji was now slumped over her desk, sound asleep. Levi pulled a spare blanket out of the cabinet and draped it over her, he folded up his jacket and placed it carefully under her head.

"Levi, what have you..." Erwin said walking in.

"Shhh!" Levi snapped pushing him out of the room.

"What are you doing?" Erwin asked.

"Hanji is asleep, don't be an ass and wake her up," Levi said.

Erwin smirked.

"Old flame coming back?" he asked.

"Shut it. We're just good friends is all," Levi replied, trying to hide the light blush on his cheeks.

"She was up very late explaining what she found out and all her research. Gotta say, this is very good."

"I figured she would be great help," Erwin said.

"So WHY in the hell did you not bring her in sooner?!" Levi replied.

"I guess I thought we could handle it," Erwin said.

Levi glared at him.

"Idiot," he grumbled.

"Go away, I have work to do."

"I want to hear about Hanji's findings," Erwin said.

"You will, in her briefing later today. She needs sleep and I will not let you wake her up," Levi replied.

He went back into his office, shut the door and closed the blinds. Several hours later, Hanji woke up to the smell of food.

"Hey sleepyhead," Levi said.

"Breakfast is here and there's tea or coffee, whichever you prefer."

Hanji sat up and yawned. She stretched and looked at the food. It was bacon and egg on a crisp croissant with a fresh fruit cup and a yogurt parfait. Levi had gone out to a bakery down the street to get her breakfast but he wasn't going to say that.

"Thanks Levi," Hanji said as she began to eat.

"You deserve it, after that long night," Levi said as he sipped his tea.

"Sorry if I kept you up way too late," Hanji replied.

"Nah, I don't sleep much these days," Levi said.

"Anyway, Erwin would like to know your findings later, can you make a brief report for this afternoon?"

"Sure thing!" Hanji replied.

Later that day-