The tawny colors that poured from the fireplace crept across the dining room floor and up the legs of the chairs, connecting everyone at the table in the oblong light. The tin silverware clanked as everyone situated themselves, the scent of meat filling my starving senses.
The storm knocked repetitvely on the front door, but nobody went to answer.

Hange was the last to sit down, taking a seat at the end of the waxed table. Surprisingly, the furniture in this cabin was quite luxurious. There were heads of deer and stag mounted on the framed walls, with cushioned chairs strewn around the living room that was connected to the dining room, with richly crafted knick-knacks propped up on the red-bricked fireplace that had been lit moments prior.

"Dig in everyone!" Hange picked up a fork that was previously resting on her plate, stabbing it into a hunk of meat that still slightly simmered, steam trailing up toward their face and fogging up the lenses of their glasses.

Sasha didn't waste a second after being given the okay, nearly inhaling the entire thing in one big, famished bite.

I was afraid she was going to choke, but Jean was quick to offer her a cup of water to wash it down. She took it eagerly, gulping down the food and drink with just a simple cough afterward. Jean gave her a discouraging look, unamused with her reckless habit of biting off more than she could chew.

"Slow down next time," Jean scolded. "If I ever find you dead from choking on something, I'm not going to feel bad for you," He warned, but still held a subtle warmth in his tone as he stared Sasha down.

Sasha didn't catch on, shooting him a daring glare. "That seems like a perfectly good way to go out to me-" She retorted. "And you would too feel bad!"

Jean shook his head. "No, I wouldn't! I'd laugh my ass off and tell them to write it on your grave!" He corrected, raising a brow in response to her words.

My finger twitched

Those words he just said were familiar to me.

The friendly bantering between them was a good punch to the gut from my perspective, my mind traveling back in time as I turned my eyes on Levi, who sat across from me with a fork in hand. I searched his eyes, studying the way they went from his plate up to me, desperate to see if he was thinking the same thing I was.

It was years ago... So I was sure he didn't recall-

But I still gazed into his eyes, curiosity pricking at my back...

...

●●●

《 Chapter 9 》• Peel The Nails

●●●

《 7 Years Ago; A random day in December 》

I was standing in the Library, eyes heavy, yet too tried to give in to sleep.
I flipped the book I was reading closed, the heavy pages sprinkling dust around the lifeless room. I stood, humming a soft melody that blanketed the place in a light tune. My fingers brushed the cover of the book, and I left it sitting on a table as I made way for the door.

My eyes mapped out the view of the halls, absorbing every sight and feeling it had to offer.
I licked my dry lips, suddenly feeling thirsty. After standing here motionless for so long, I hadn't realized how parched I was.

So I headed to the Mess Hall.

It was getting late, and I wanted a drink.

But as soon as I got there and reached for a bottle of alcohol, a hand flew up and caught my wrist. The cold sensation of their skin sent a shock through my body, stirring me with unease.

"Do you ever stop drinking?" It was Levi.
Of course, I groaned in my head.

"And do you ever stop nagging me?" I flicked his hand away, turning toward him, already exasperated. I rolled up my sleeves, then shifted back to the bottle and grabbed its neck, sitting down at a table. Levi stood by my side, watching me take a sip with eyes that imitated razor blades, piercing into me mercilessly. I felt chills crawl up my spine.

"Will you stop staring?" I wiped the alcohol off my lips. "It's creepy."

"We have an expedition tomorrow, [Y/n...]" He ignored me, changing the subject. "If you get yourself killed because of a hangover, I'll make sure they write it on your grave."

...

《 Present Time 》

"... [Y/n]."

...

"Hey... [Y/n]."

I blinked up, realizing I had been lost in thought.
Across from me, Levi had a puzzled expression, brows furrowed as he returned my spaced out gaze.

"What's with that shit-eating look on your face? You constipated or something?"

I glanced around the table, seeing that everyone was looking at me with matching confusion. My eyes landed back on Levi, and I finally grasped full conciousness, snapping out of it.
"Ah-" I breathed. "Sorry, I was just zoning out..."

Everybody sent eachother unsure looks, but brushed it off after awhile. I held in an annoyed groan, irritated gravely by the fact I had let something so silly distract me and show on my face. But I gave everyone a sloppy smile to reassure them, then picked up my fork to initiate the feast.

"Anyways..." Hange's voice rolled in. "We only brought a limited amount of food with us. We'll have to ration things out while we stay here."

Sasha quickly straightened in her chair, immediately raising her hand to propose an idea. "I know how'da hunt! We could go out and bring back meat- I can teach everyone if you'd like," She put her hand down, waiting eagerly for Hange's response. Hange nodded strongly, clearly interesred in Sasha's words.

"That would be most convenient. We'll leave it to you then, Sasha!" Hange grinned like a proud parent.

After the short discussion, everyone ate in silence, only a few words exchanged here and there. Gradually, everyone's plates emptied, the oil from the meal smeared on all the dishes spread out on the table as everyone began to clean up, rising from the table and putting their dishes in the sink- After Levi was done scolding them to do so, of course.

"Don't just toss it in, you idiot. you'll break the damn plate." Levi told Jean, grabbing a plate he'd tossed in and gently stacking it, a scowl on his face. "I'm sure we'd all like to avoid scrubbing each individual little shard, and unless you want to be eating off dishes the size of your pinky finger, then be more careful."

Levi. Nothing ever got passed him.

Hange and the kids did a good job with the cleaning, at least in my opinion. I wasn't sure if Levi found anything to complain about as of yet,aside from the dishes, but as I stood from the table and ventured up the stairs, everything looked spotless.

I couldn't pinpoint anything that I or even Levi would call a mess. I suppose everyone learned their lesson over the years; that Levi would only settle for the best condition of our surroundings.

I chuckled at the thought of the Captain's habit of cleaning.
Who would have thought that Humanities Strongest Soldier would have such an interesting quirk? I certainly didn't the first time I ever met him...

...

The first time I met him...

That was a very, very long time ago.