Red lines traversed between the fading clouds that slept among the blushing horizon, sunset fast approaching. The gaping sky peered over the silhouettes of distant pine trees, the land below overrun in darkness.

I ran my fingertips along a circular table pushed up against a window in the room I had chosen within the cabin. The weak light from outside poured between the thread in the white laced curtains that fell over the frame, casting decorative shadows on the back wall of the room. This particular wall was pasted with a fine wallpaper, with light lines streaking down the middle in a pattern, numerous pink flowers scattered between the sections. I wasn't sure if the other rooms were given the same wallpaper- But regardless, I was glad it had such a fine touch.

I mapped out the homey room, taking it all in. It was a lot nicer than the barracks back at the Headquarters, that's for sure.

...

There was a knock at the door that pried me away from my careless dazing, the sound traveling through my ears. I instinctively fixed the collar of my shirt and stood up straight, a habit I'd picked up from developing the etiquette of a proper soldier over the years.

After ensuring I didn't look like a poorly mannered slob, I made my way to the door, clasping the golden handle - Another thing I noticed was different from the silver handles back at HeadQuarters - and twisted it open.

The door swung.

"Wh- Oh! Levi, hi-" I was slightly taken aback by the unanticipated visitor, the words jumbling out of my mouth sloppily. I mentally cursed myself for the way I spoke the greeting, wishing I'd sounded less skittish.

"What brings you here...?"

He rose an accusing brow. "Hange sent me to retrieve you for dinner," He explained in a short, vexated sigh, his strong demeanor looming over me, crushing my frail stature from before. "Nothing else. Don't get your panties in a bunch."

"Nothing else, right," I repeated under my breath, mainly to myself. I ignored his other joke. "Sorry." I apologized for my jumpy reaction.
Levi turned away, already walking down the hall and toward the stairs. I was quick to fall in as a question stirred in my mind.

"You said Hange sent you?"

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, but not necessarily at my question. I was guessing he was annoyed with Hange.

"Yeah. Shitty four-eyes thinks I'm their damn errand boy or something." He responded dryly.

Though his vocabulary was vulgar, his expression remained stiff and otherwise voidless.

Levi would never loose that aspect of him; his broad, blunt personality.
However, the way his face remained blatantly posed when he spoke told me everything I needed to know. A saddening truth that I had to accept.

He still had qualms about conversing with me.

He was shutting himself off, a walking shell of a man when paired with me- The very person whom stripped him of his ability to speak the way he used to.

Around me, at least...

He spoke to everyone else just fine.

I was the only person he didn't look at when speaking.

...

"Why?"

A quizzical look plastered itself onto my face.

"Sorry?"

"Why'd you ask?"

Oh. Right.
I was asking sheerly because I was curious about Hange's intentions. Hange brought up the fact I needed to apologize to him sooner or later, and it's been a few weeks since then. They must've noticed that the thick air that surfaced between us hasn't yet dispersed. I wanted to know if they were bringing it upon themselves to solve the problem, since I wasn't very urgent to do so myself.
Hange might be interfering by doing small things like sending Levi up to my room to give us a chance to talk.

No, actually, I was certain this was true.

I heaved a troubled sigh.

Levi took note of this, turning his bored eyes to face me curiously as we began stepping down the creaking staircase.

"... No reason." I finally replied, quick to deflect any questions that arose in his head. I didn't want him to realize what I thought, because if he were to discover that Hange was trying oh so eagerly to fix the frayed bond between us, then he'd start to wonder why. I didn't want to tell him yet. I couldn't.

Not now.

Soon.

The words reappeared, snuffing out my good mood.

Thankfully, Levi didn't press any further, both of us basking in the silence that clung to our backs as we entered the dining room. Only Jean, Connie, and Hange occupied the space around the table. The dining room was connected to a small kitchen with only a few counters providedly attached, Hange vigorously whisking a bowl of batter on them, a few drops splaying up onto her face.

"Hange, you're going to make the pancakes rock solid if you keep that up!" I rushed over, taking the bowl from her hands, desperate to have a nice dinner.

Yes, breakfast for dinner.

We were still storing the venison from the hunt, rationing it, and eating whatever else was present in the meantime.

Hange let out an embarrassed laugh.

"Haha... Sorry, guess I'm just a little too excited to play house," She joked, wiping a droplet of batter off her wired glasses.

I shook my head as I began whisking the batter in more precise strokes in Hange's stead. They gave their hands a good clean on the apron they'd likely found somewhere in storage. I hoped she washed it, but for the sake of my mental well-being, I didn't ask if any dirt got in the batter.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

"Well, I'll get-"

I extended the foot of my shoe speedily, kicking Hange's calf with it to prevent them from wandering off.

"Not so fast," I whispered, still whisking the batter. "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do." I spat in a low voice, a warning glare morphing my brows.
Hange's eyes flashed with understanding, but she still denied what I was implying.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Yeah, sure. 'Don't know what you mean' my ass," I quoted her words bitterly, gazing back down into the bowl as I grumbled. "Listen, Hange," My voice was a little gentler now, but still riddled with agitation.

"I appreciate the effort, but honestly, I don't think either of us are ready to even hold a stable conversation yet," I proclaimed the fact aloud, placing the batter on the counter as I spoke, twisting the knob of the gas stove. To my surprise, it worked. But I hadn't said anything about it, continuing the conversation.

"Especially him."

Hange tilted her head like a cat, curiosity bubbling behind her irises.

"How so? Did something happen?"

"Not... Necessarily," I recalled the time he offered tea, and the short and rigid conversation that took place. I also thought back to the conversation we just had on the way down here.
I peeked past Hange, who stood diagonal to me and the dining room table, spotting Levi sitting at the very edge. I was pleased to know he was too far to eavesdrop, so I carried on with my whispering. Still, I beckoned Hange to close in just in case.

"It's just, every time I try to talk to him, he's very hesitant about responding. I'm not saying it bothers me... It's... Completely understandable. But seriously, Hange, I don't want to pressure him into talking to the person he hates the most in the world."

Hange's brows raised. "I think that's a bit of a stretch, don't you? If he truly hated you that much, I don't think he'd be so complaint to be here in this cabin with us."

"... And yet he sits as far away as possible." I disheartedly intoned, eyes drowning in the batter as I placed a pan on the flame heated stove. I hadn't meant to sound so downcast, but here I was frowning like a child at the idea of being disliked by my enemy.

Hange let out a soft breath, then inhaled as she pat my back. I wanted to swat their hand away, but was very unfortunately occupied with pouring portions of the batter into the pan.

"He'll open up. Just give him time."

I set the bowl of batter down, heart sinking into a pit of disbelief.

"Sure... We'll see."

●●●

《  Chapter 11 》• Dawn Of Eve

●●●

I watched Levi from across the table, much farther from him than last night. His eyes were glued to the pitch black window, and my eyes were glued to him. He didn't touch his plate, only sipping a dainty cup of black tea that he held in his hand ever so carefully. Hange had called down the others, everyone seated at the long table alongside us as I held my gaze.

Levi then became aware of my repetitive staring, ripping his eyes off the window and bringing them over to me, a glare settling between his thin brows.

Despite patching up my finger, offering me tea, and talking to me more than usual- That did not erase what he felt toward me for so long. That scowl spoke the words, 'We are not friends,' and ricocheted off every wall that enclosed us. I suppose I was too quick to assume things were getting better based off those simple interactions...

It's been a good few weeks since the last time I saw him direct that blistering glare straight through me.

It caught me off guard...

But Hange's words still gave me a small glimmer of hope, even if I was unable to fully believe it.

He'll open up. Just give him time.

Time... It's already been three years. How much longer can I withstand those burning eyes?

I wasn't sure, so I dipped my head down and burrowed my stare into the half-empty plate, praying that I didn't burst into flames from the heat of his glare.

It was quiet...

For a moment.

"Ms. [Y/n] and the Captain hunted down quite the catch today!" Sasha blurted out, using her hands to overexaggerate the size. "It was huge!"

Sasha, who was sitting next to me, nudged me with her elbow exuberantly. "Tell them!"

She was urging me to tell her friends the excitement of the adventure that took place today.

"Well, it wa-"

"Oh, by the way, which one of you took it down? I didn't get to see! It must've been exhilarating, yeah?" Her eyes darted between Levi and I, connecting us with an unwanted question. I was waiting for Levi to claim the title of hunter of the beast, but he didn't speak.

Did he want me to tell them?

Or did he want me to not say anything?

I remained silent.

Levi took a sip of his tea that was growing cold and more bitter by the second.

His lips parted.

"... [Y/n] took it down."

My mouth fell ajar, but I closed it the moment it opened, not wanting him to see my reaction to the flat lie. There was no point in lying. Why did he say I did it?

Did he do it to spite me for being unable to shoot the last arrow?

A million questions welled in my head.

"I really-"

And I was interrupted yet again, Connie crossing his arms. "I saw you all returning from my window this morning," He began. "Sasha, you really overdid yourself," He snickered sarcastically. "That tiny thing must've been a real nightmare to catch."

Sasha gasped, offended by his peeving words.

"Like you could do any better!" She shrieked, leaning over the table to confront him. Connie did the same, quick to encourage the behavior.

"I could!"

"Could not!"

"Could too, you just-"

Levi set his cup down hard enough for it to send tremors through the table, silverware rattling. They both closed their mouths and shut up immediately in response, color draining from their faces.

"You two shitheads pipe down. You're giving me one hell of a headache."

Connie sat back down, shame manipulating his face. Sasha, on the other hand, glared at Levi, yet kept quiet just as he ordered.

Levi soon slid his chair back to give him just enough room to stand, rising to his feet and taking his cup and plate with him. He stalked toward the sink, depositing the dishes before heading up the stairs that were illuminated only by the dim flicker of a candle positioned on a stand attached to the wall. He did not speak a single word as he did so, clearly irked. Normally, he did not get so overly irritated with their bickering, so I was assuming he was in a bad mood tonight...

I handed both Sasha and Connie a disappointed look, to which they shriveled under my sharp frown.

"You two, seriously...?" I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose in exhaustion. "The Captain's got better things to deal with than your arguing," I scolded, folding my arms as I spoke. "Make sure to apologize tomorrow."

Apologize.

The exact thing I was supposed to be doing.

Man, I'm a hypocrite.

Armin gave Mikasa an uncomfortable look, affected by the stuffy atmosphere that was just created. Mikasa just kept eating, currently uninterested in anything or anyone involved in the discussion.

Jean was gazing down at his feet under the table, trying to avoid getting dragged into the situation.

Hange sipped their glass of water.

I sighed.

Then Hange spoke.

"Maybe you should go check on him, [Y/n]. Make sure he doesn't go to sleep mad, or he'll wake up on the wrong side of the bed and take it out on us all."
She looked across the table at everyone, pointing out the explicit fact that if I denied the request, everyone would grow curious as to why I refused to speak to the surly Captain.

My blood ran cold.

Everyone looked at me with expectant eyes, each of them holding the desperate prayer that Levi did not get even angrier than he already was.

I felt lightheaded, but fixed my posture and took a deep breath.

"Alright," I said. "I will."