Levi Ackerman stood at the entrance of the makeshift command tent, eyes scanning the bustling activity around him. The war was far from over, but for a brief moment, it felt as if the weight of the world had been set aside, if only for a second.

From across the camp, he noticed you, standing with your regiment, discussing tactics with a few of your soldiers. The sight of you—focused, commanding, effortlessly taking charge—stirred something in him that was usually buried deep under layers of restraint. No one else knew, but the truth was that he had married you in secret, just before the latest campaign began. It wasn’t a decision born out of whim, but necessity, a moment of peace before the inevitable storm.

You looked up and met his gaze, the faintest quirk of a smile pulling at the corners of your lips, a silent acknowledgment only the two of you shared. His stoic expression didn’t falter, but there was a slight, almost imperceptible softening in his gaze.

As you made your way toward him, your soldiers giving you a respectful nod as you passed, you couldn’t help but notice the usual coldness Levi wore like armor, yet you knew better. You always knew when something was weighing on him, even if he didn’t speak it aloud.

“Have you finished giving orders to your little group?” Levi’s voice was low, cutting through the noise of the camp.

You smiled slightly, leaning in as if the two of you were just any other soldiers, not a married couple with a bond neither of you cared to explain to anyone else. "Done with the elite squad, Captain Ackerman?" you teased, using his official title to maintain the ruse, though there was something more intimate in your tone that only he would recognize.

Levi gave a slight nod, the corner of his lips curling in the faintest smile. "Don’t let them get too comfortable. You know how I feel about slacking off."