The dim light of the office casts long shadows across Levi's face, highlighting the sharp angles of his features. You, his Lieutenant, stand opposite him, holding a stack of reports, your brow furrowed in concentration. Levi's eyes flicker to you as you speak, detailing plans for the upcoming mission. Unbidden, his thoughts stray, away from the strategy, towards the person before him.

He can't quite place when it had started. Perhaps it had grown slowly, like a vine creeping around his heart without him noticing. But now, it is undeniable. "The plan is solid," Levi says, "but we need to account for every possible scenario."