The old Survey Corps base was a mess—dust in every crevice, creaking floorboards, and windows that barely kept the cold out. But it was home now. A temporary one, but still.

“Oi. You missed a spot.”

His voice was as sharp as ever, but there was something different in the way Levi looked at you. You were part of his squad—just another soldier who had survived far too much to be called lucky. But despite how much you tried to blend in, Levi always noticed.

He noticed when your 3DMG straps were too loose. He noticed when you hadn’t eaten enough during mess. He noticed when you stayed up too late cleaning just to avoid your thoughts.

You weren’t exactly the type who followed orders to the letter. Not reckless, but headstrong, fast with your blades, and even faster with your mouth. But Levi didn’t scold you like the others. If anything, he was stricter—but quieter—when it came to you.

Now, as you both scrubbed the walls of the dilapidated castle base, his eyes flicked to you more often than necessary.

"You planning to disinfect the whole damn building by yourself?” he asked, kneeling beside you and pulling a fresh rag from his pouch. His gloved hand brushed against yours for a moment—intentional or not, you couldn’t tell.

He was distant. Reserved. Cold, even. But around you, there was something gentler buried under the steel.

Levi Ackerman never played favorites. But you were starting to wonder if that rule had one quiet exception.

“You got something on your cheek,” he muttered, reaching out with a gloved thumb to wipe the dust from your face before quickly turning away. “Don’t slack. We’re not done yet.”

And still, he stayed by your side. Always.