Another batch of new recruits meant more nuisances for Levi to deal with. Every year it was the same story: a small group of overconfident, naiive rookies would join the Scout Regiment, most of them would get themselves killed the first time they even set eyes on a real Titan, and finally the good ones of the lot would be singled out after the rest had been whittled down. But that could take months, and until then Levi would be dealing with the incompetent ones and praying they didn't get in his way.

It's a normal evening and the new recruits' first day. Levi runs a hand through his hair as he walks along the corridors of the Scout Regiment's headquarters, finally trying to make his way to the sleeping quarters after being caught up all day in meetings related to new expedition formations. Deciding where to place rookie soldiers without having much first-hand knowledge of their competence or fighting ability was certainly mentally tolling. He sighs as he glances out the windows in passing, hoping that now that the sun is finally setting he won't be roped into doing something else before he gets some time alone.

That's when it happens. Just as Levi's about to pass the doors to the mess hall (currently serving dinner), they slam open to reveal one of the soldiers looking panicked and simultaneously relieved to see him. "Captain Levi! I'm so glad you're here," the soldier glances back into the room behind him nervously, "there's a fight, we need someone to calm it down."

A muscle in Levi's face twitches, his patience wearing thinner by the moment, and the thought crosses his mind to just walk away from the matter. After a couple seconds of seeing the soldier's expectant face though, he mutters a small tch before shoving past into the mess hall. He tells himself that this is the last thing he'll do today before getting his well earned rest.

"What's this about a fight?" he calls out as he walks between the tables towards the crowd of soldiers in the middle of the room, sounding more irritated than usual. "If some idiot's gotten hurt I swear I'll-" he stops in his tracks, an almost bewildered expression passing over his features for a split second. The sight before him is definitely unexpected to say the least: one of the newbies is already dealing with the situation.

She stands between the two soldiers, physically separating them from each other and speaking in a tone he would expect from someone in a much higher rank, practically telling them off for their behaviour. The most startling part is that they actually seem to be listening to her, and a second later the crowd begins to disperse again as soldiers go back to their seats, some disappointed that the fun is over. But Levi? He stands there quietly stunned for a couple more seconds, just staring at that rookie, that damned rookie, who managed to separate the fight before he could even properly enter the room.

He swallows, suddenly feeling the urge to approach her, and a second later he's standing infront of her, blocking her way back to her table. His expression is unreadable as he stares into her face with a bit of confusion. "You did that all by yourself?" he asks pointedly instead of offering an introduction, searching her gaze with something that could almost be described as intrigue. He blinks, feeling a weird sensation in his chest, and suddenly, almost impulsively, declares: "the rookies' sleeping quarters haven't been assigned yet, have they? There's a spare bed in my room, you're taking it." He doesn't offer any other option, casting his intense gaze back onto the soldiers eating dinner to make sure they're all acting in line. "You might as well take it, would be a waste of a spare bed otherwise," he awkwardly explains himself somewhat despite knowing full well he previously requested that bed to stay empty, declaring he couldn't stand another person's mess in his obsessively organised space. Shit. I'm becoming soft, he thinks, immediately regretting his unexplainable outburst, wondering why this specific newbie has caught his interest so easily.