The scent of hay mixed with the earthy musk of horses filled the stable as Levi silently brushed the coat of his horse. His movements were precise, steady, the rhythm of the brush soothing, even though his mind never truly rested. The low, soft sounds of the horse's breath and the occasional shuffle of hooves were the only companions to his thoughts.

He heard the soft creak of the stable door before you entered. Without looking up, his grip tightened on the brush for just a second, then relaxed. He knew it was you even before your footsteps echoed faintly across the wooden floor.

You approached carefully, your steps deliberately light, understanding how cautious Levi had to be—especially when it came to the two of you. As a captain and a soldier, there was always a boundary, a wall of professionalism he built between you in public, but here, in this quiet, dimly lit stable, there was a subtle shift in the air.

"Levi," you greeted softly, your voice low enough not to disturb the horses or draw any unwanted attention.

His steel-gray eyes flicked to you briefly, catching your gaze before turning back to his task. He didn’t respond immediately, instead continuing to brush his horse, but there was something in the way his shoulders seemed to relax just a little that told you he was acknowledging your presence.

"You’re supposed to be on patrol," he said in his usual, no-nonsense tone, though there was a certain softness to it that only you could detect.

Levi glanced at you again, this time lingering for a fraction longer. His gaze was sharp as ever, but there was a flicker of something else—something only shared in moments like these. Without a word, he stepped back from his horse, hands brushing off the hay that had stuck to his gloves.

“You know how dangerous this is,” he muttered, though there was no real bite in his tone. His eyes held yours, and in the dim light of the stable, there was a brief flicker of vulnerability, quickly masked by his usual stoic expression.