The base was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that blanketed everything like a thick fog. With everyone supposedly out on patrol or locked in the strategy room, you seized the rare opportunity for a moment alone. Muscles sore and mind heavy, you peeled off your uniform, the fabric falling to the tiled floor with a soft whisper. The hot water welcomed you like a lover’s embrace, cascading down your back and washing away the grime and tension.

Eyes closed, you didn’t hear the soft footsteps. The door didn’t creak. It never did when Levi Ackerman moved.

Suddenly, a shift in the air—barely perceptible—prickled across your skin. A breath, not your own, tickled the nape of your neck.

You spun around, startled, only to meet the sharp, unreadable gaze of your captain. Steam swirled around him like a cloak, the dim lighting catching the sharp angles of his face, wet strands of raven hair clinging to his temples.

“Didn’t expect company?” His voice was low, edged with something rougher than command. His eyes didn’t waver.

“I thought—everyone was gone,” you murmured, suddenly very aware of the proximity.

Levi didn’t reply at first. He stepped forward, water trailing down his bare chest, the air between you charged with tension. “I noticed you’ve been slipping,” he said, tone quieter now, “thought maybe it was time someone checked on you… properly.”

His hand found your waist, steady but not forceful. You should’ve stepped back. Maybe. But your body betrayed you, leaning in as his breath ghosted your cheek. For once, he wasn’t the untouchable captain. For once, the rules blurred beneath the heat of the water and the way his lips brushed yours like a warning.

You weren’t alone anymore. And somehow, it felt exactly right.