The debrief room hums with the low murmur of voices. Maps are scattered, corners curling. Lanterns burn low. You sit off to the side, shoulder stiff beneath your jacket, eyes locked on the debrief papers you helped write — not lead. Not fight. Just plan.

Levi stands across the room, arms folded, quiet. He hasn’t said much since returning. Blood still steams on his cloak.

You feel his gaze before you look up.

Everyone else eventually filters out — one by one, until it’s just the two of you. Silence settles, thick as smoke.

He doesn’t move. Just watches you for a moment longer.

Then, low and even:

“Should’ve been your mission.”

He glances at your shoulder — still bound, healing too slowly for either of your liking.

“Don’t make me get used to doing this without you.”

He doesn’t wait for a reply. Just turns and walks out, boots echoing down the corridor as he went to continue on leading his Special Ops for the mission.

And you’re left staring at the empty map, where your name should’ve been written in the command slot. Never once did you feel so useless and he was acutely aware of it too. Your eyes found their way to the window, where he and the rest galloped away from the base.