One Last Time

Ch.8: Lovers

One Last Time's Timeline
834-Maria and her brother escape from home
837-Maria's brother joins the cadet training program to join the Survey Corps
839- Maria's brother graduates from cadet training program/ Maria meets Nicholas
840-Maria's wedding day/ Nicholas is falsely accused of treason and thrown into jail.
844- Levi, Furlan, Isabell, join the Survey Corps. (Hange too, according to No regrets)/ On the 23rd expedition outside the walls (that same year) Furlan, Isabell and Maria's brother pass away.
845- Maria and Levi meet.

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Chapter 8: Lovers

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The next morning wasn't anything like Maria expected. She thought it would be more pleasant, but instead, she had stayed up all night waiting for Levi to come back home. Everyone was back but him, well except for Eld who was most likely still with Elena.

When she woke up, she saw that the only one who wasn't home was Levi. Seeing that waiting was futile, Maria decided to go to the river and shower. She made sure to do it fast and efficiently. It was already 8 a.m. but since everyone was tired from the night before, she doubts anyone would show up at the river. And it was true, no one was there.

Ten minutes later, she already bathed, with clean clothes, and was ready to go back home to do her duties. When she was back, she was surprised that the door was open. She thought she had locked it before leaving and even had her house key in her bathing basket.

Slowly, she opens the door and a screeching sound was created as the old door was a bit hard to open. The brunette enters the house and closes the door behind her. As she was going to step into the dining room, she found the man she was waiting for all night long.

Levi sat on a chair on the dining table, drinking a cup of black tea. It was quiet for a second until Maria began walking towards him. He feels different, he didn't greet her nor acknowledge her presence. He was staring at nothing, just drinking tea.

"Morning, how was your evening?" Maria said as she sat next to humanity's strongest soldier. Still, he seemed to be out of it.

"It was alright," he replied, a bit late.

"Did you miss the last carriage yesterday night?"

"Yes."

Levi didn't know if he could fuck up things even more. He didn't dare to look at her, not after yesterday. Even when he didn't do anything wrong at all. He wasn't dating Maria, he wasn't in a serious relationship with her ... So why does he feel like he betrayed her?

"What about you?" Levi asks, still not looking at her.

"About me?"

"Yes, how was the rest of your evening?"

"It was alright, I hope I helped the Survey Corps get a lot of money," Maria said she was a bit hesitant but it concerned her greatly the way Levi was acting.

"And did you ... Did you dance with anyone in particular?"

It was strange, to see Levi like this. He was scratching the back of his neck as he looks to the side to avoid eye contact. Almost as if he was avoiding the question or as if he was embarrassed to ask.

But still, Maria was a bit hesitant. She didn't know if Levi was asking out of pure curiosity or because he saw her dance with Nicholas. And if she had to admit, that the dancing could have been misinterpreted, but it does not matter, right?