The sun hung hugely in the sky like a fat brass coin. Its radiating heat baked the ground into hard earth, whipped the air into a sticky mess, and left the poor people of the walls near stir crazy.
    Shops closed their doors and opened their windows. They weren't losing any business by taking the day off, no one wanted to go out anyway. It was far too hot for anyone to want to move from their points of comfort.
    Small clusters of children ventured to districts with rivers to cool off, promising mothers to stay safe and stay together. Ladies fanned themselves mechanically on balconies, pausing occasionally to sip drinks of various flavors. The men kept to the shade like the Lions of the savanna, sharing stories of how the heat waves of their boyhood were far worse, the actual temperatures of each story climbing with each retelling.
    Now, what was our glorious military up to?
    Training, of course.
     Levi easily blocked your high knee offensive with his forearms, keeping his face out of harms way. You grunted, backing up to evade a counter attack.
     "C'mon, old man, are you just going to stand there all day?" You taunted, raising your fists.
    "I'm only taking it easy on you because you're a girl." His gray eyes didn't show a lick of emotion.
    This training court was like a ghost town. Not a single cadet or leader could be seen outside the two of you. They knew better than to venture near during one of your spats. An onlooker sporting a black eye wasn't outside the realm of possibility.
    The corp was spread thinly over the camp, practicing various gear techniques, hand to hand combat, or at least pretending they were doing something. Much like the civilians, they didn't want to move very far from their quarters or the kitchens until dusk. But, as Erwin aptly put in his speech over breakfast this morning, they didn't sign up for military duty for leisure time.
    You swerved last second, avoiding a nasty rabbit punch.
    "It's a good thing you're Humanities Shortest Soldier, it's easy to avoid your stubby arms." You giggled evilly.
    "Save it." He warned. "Just because you're one of my brats doesn't mean I won't beat the shit out of you."
    "Come at me."
     He wound up his shoulder, delivering a right hook that could make a boxer cry with envy. It all seemed to happen in slow motion, a pale blur hurtling towards your chin. You weren't sure what animal instinct enabled your next actions, but you blessed it with all your heart.
    You palm thrust froward, catching his fist mid air. He starred at you, dumbfounded. You shared an identical expression, but broke out of your shock a hairsbreadth faster. You took Levi's pause as your chance to permeate his expert defenses.
    Your boot raised off the ground and connected to his chest in one fluid motion. His small frame was thrown back, hitting the dirt full force.
    There was a thud, a weak groan, and gasp. The latter was from you.
    "I did it. I beat Levi." You pressed a hand over your open mouth.
    The raven haired corporal struggled to catch his breath, and when he did, the wave of slurs couldn't be stopped. You caught a gaspy pronunciation of "Son of a Bitch" and the rest was garbled nonsense. You felt inclined to run, but your sympathetic side ruled to stay.
    You extended your hand to him, offering a warm grin.
    "No hard feelings, right?"
    His eyes finally fluttered open, overwhelmed by the immense blue of the sky. The cerulean was replaced by [eye color], swallowing him up.
    The eyes that became his whole world glimmered with a private excitement. Before his dreaded defeat, Levi had landed a mouth hit, and it left your lips swollen and pouty. They looked wonderful. Your pink tongue peaked out to lick  stray drop of blood, and for some reason, that made him warmer.
    A singular bead of sweat weaved its way down your neck and in between the valley of your breasts. Never before had he been envious of bodily fluid.
    The bloated sun was hanging just behind your head, its soft glow granting you a halo. She looks like an angel. Absolutely beautiful.
    "I'll show you hard feelings." He growled, a sudden anger flaring up.
    Even if there was no one here to see, the cool headed commander hated to look like a fool. Especially if it made him feel so oddly weak in the knees.
    He snatched up your hand, pulling you down with a rough yank. Levi wanted you down and out, too. You would be picking dirt out of your teeth for weeks. Obviously, plans arranged by the recently livid weren't the best. His miscalculation had not ended with you eating mud, but with you slammed on top of his chest.
    You sat up a bit, startled, and looking him dead in the eye. It was still up to debate on weather to berate him or thank him. His chest was sweaty and hot under your fingertips. Rough cut muscles pressed into your stomach, eliciting all sorts of dreamy thoughts.
    "I hope I haven't interrupted anything." Hange lifted an eyebrow with heavy insinuation.
    You were puzzled until it hit you. The young scientist thought you two had been, ah, making better use of your time alone.
    "Just came by to grab Levi. But I can tell them you're busy, ya know, if you two want to get back to business."
    "Get off, fat ass." Levi shoved you off him, letting you roll on the dusty ground. "I'm going to go cool off and see what the hell went wrong now. Go have fun with the other twerps."
    Hange watched inquisitively as he stomped away.
    "What was that all about?"
    "Sore loser, I guess."
    Ever since that training session three days ago, Levi had felt a little funny. He wasn't sick, or nervous, or even losing it. Everything just felt, off.
    Late that evening, before a night run to test new gear, Levi had asked you to help him adjust the taught straps of the uniform. Your hand had softly grasped his while you kept your balance. He jerked back, almost toppling both of you over. He gave a bullshit excuse of you pinching him.
    The following day, you had reached out to give him a hug goodbye, seeing as dinner was through and bed time was at hand. Levi just starred, not giving the usual half-hearted squeeze that had almost become formality between you two. He stormed off with only a "Tch."
    Just this morning, you had stolen a sip of his favorite tea. He had turned to scold you, only to receive an absolutely adorable look from you.
    "You can't stay mad at me, Levi." You batted your eyelashes flirtatiously.
    Needless to say, the new Levi had broken into a hazy blush.
    You had taken this personality change as an insult. Levi had always been a solid friend, but now he was damn near flighty. All because you had beaten him in a practice match. His ego was becoming a big problem.
    This is why when you two squared off in practice again, Levi was fueled over the edge to prove himself. Part of him was under the impression that if he could beat you, his mindset would return back to normal. That he wouldn't feel so...
    "There you go, just standing there again. If we're gonna fight, let's fight. I could be watching Sasha try to inhale an entire cauldron of soup right now. Well, she at least said she could do it." You shrugged, setting your feet right.
    The following fight couldn't be labeled as such. A better term would be battle or war. A one sided one. Levi wasn't just working out, he was honestly trying to attack you.
    "Hey, lay off!" You exclaimed, ducking a fist.
    "If you wanted a weak partner you should train with someone else."
    You were diving and turning, trying to escape the barrage of fists, knees, and boots. You were in the midst of avoiding his left hand when his right came back into play, knocking you right in the sternum.
    Mirroring your friend's defeat, you were flat on your back, struggling to get up again. Levi chuckled, standing over you.
    "Now who's the sore loser." He echoed your words with a simple smirk.
    The smiled faded when a trickle of warm crimson trickled down your forehead. A sharp rock had scraped your skin, leaving a decent sized wound on your forehead.
    "Ah, shit..." He crouched down. "I didn't mean to actually hurt you."
    "I beg to differ." You groaned. "You were an animal out there, Heichou."
    He swallowed the lump of guilt in his throat, gathering you up to walk.
    "Where are we going?"
    "The infirmary. We need to patch that before it gets infected."
    You winced, pulling back from his touch.
    "Sorry, told you it would sting." Levi blotted the cut with a soaked wad of cotton.
    He wasn't as brash or assertive as he usually was, his tone was quiet as could be. And his touch had been reduced to gentle, like a caring mother.
    "So, what was that?"
    "Peroxide."
    "Not the disinfectant. You, during the fight."
    "Just trying to prove a point."
    "Well, you proved it. You scared the shit out of me."
    "Not to you, brat. To myself."
    "What? That you're some sort of bad ass now?"
    "That...I don't have to be intimated by you."
    You tilted your  head, letting him apply a bandage to your injury. He had carried you all the way here with the utmost care, and was now going out of his way to make you comfortable. He really was a sweetheart, if the occasion called for it.
    "Why would you ever be intimidated by me?"
    "You make me feel so fucking strange. My head gets light, my fingers are tingling, and I can't keep form going red to save my life." He explained, a brooding look painting his features. "And you keep doing these little shitty things that get me all tongue tied."
    You smiled faintly, just now realizing how close you two were. You were sitting up on the counter Levi had placed you on, and Levi himself was pressed in close to examine your forehead. You would be lying if you said a kiss didn't cross your mind.
    "Have you ever thought that maybe that all isn't up there," You pointed at his head. "And maybe this is coming from here?" Your finger drifted to his heart, prodding his firm chest.
    "Maybe you hit your head a little too hard, [Last]." He slapped your hand away.
    He felt pissed, but that didn't stop him from leaning in closer. Even healed those lips were inviting. Tempting. You didn't seem bothered with his close proximity, maybe he could just try what he wanted, once.
    Levi knew he loved you the moment his lips touched yours. It was an odd sensation, like his heart slowed and sped up at the same time. His hands cupped your face, holding as if you would disappear if he didn't.
    You were the first to break the kiss, but only out of the human need for oxygen.
    "Any explanation, there?" You whispered, fearing a loud noise would wake you from what seemed like a dream.
    "I figured out what was wrong with me."
    "Besides the inferiority complex?"
    "Shut up. It just took be awhile to figure out I can really respect woman who can kick my ass."
    "If it makes this happen, I'll gladly fight you every day." You spoke through his peppered kisses to your lips.
    His hands were pressing divots into your hips, your soft gasps only scoring you more kissing. Levi moved you to the examination table with a swift bridle carry.
    "Now, angel, lean back. There's plenty more we can figure out about each other."