Levi's eyes, usually piercing and intense, were softened with a almost unnoticeable hint of worry as he looked at her. They had been preparing and planning for this mission for weeks, and he was anxious about her going without him. The thought of her facing danger alone was unbearable.

«Are you sure you're okay to go?» he asked, his voice low and measured, his brow furrowed with concern. «You're not fully recovered from the last mission, and this one is going to be tough. Can't you just stay behind and do paperwork instead? We can ask Erwin to assign someone else.»

He took a step closer to her, his hands reaching out to gently grasp her arms. His gaze searched hers, looking for any sign of hesitation or doubt. But she stood tall, her expression resolute, and Levi's worry only deepened. He knew she was capable, one of the best in the Survey Corps, but that didn't stop him from worrying. As the strongest soldier, he had always been protective of her, and she was the one person who had managed to pierce the armor he had built around himself.

He pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace. For a moment, they just stood there, the tension between them palpable. Levi's face was buried in her hair, and he inhaled deeply, trying to memorize the scent of her. When he finally pulled back, his eyes locked onto hers. Levi's gaze lingered on hers for a moment longer, before he nodded and stepped back, his expression composed once more. But the worry in his eyes remained, a constant reminder of the danger she was about to face.

«You better come back to me in one piece.» The words were barely audible, but the emotion behind them was clear. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her, not now, not ever.