"They're an interesting group," Levi muttered absentmindedly- looking around as the two of us wandered the halls.

"That's one way to put it," I chuckled, "they're a bit overwhelming."

i imagine it's a bit much

"You must talk a lot of shit about me."

well-

"Only what you deserve," I shrugged, "Eren just hates you."

i take partial responsibility

"And who's fault is that?"

"Yours, obviously."

"Whatever."

"I'm sorry about it anyway-" I paused, "Eren came to an event with me several years ago and you were kinda a dick so-"

i think he hates you extra because of it

"Childish."

"What about this isn't childish? That's what makes it fun-"

if you think too hard about our entire rivalry it becomes incredibly stupid

"I have good reason to dislike you," Levi muttered sarcastically.

"As do I," I teased, nudging him a little bit. "So- should we get this over with?"

"What?"

"Our promise- I'll let you snoop around my father's office."

i thought he would want to go there immediately

"Actually?"

huh-

"DID YOU THINK I WAS LYING?"

"WELL YEAH- NO SHIT."

"YOU HAVE ZERO FAITH IN ME."

"WHO'S FUCKING FAULT IS THAT."

"YOURS???"

"You're awful."

"I can't believe you don't trust me," I gasped, clutching my chest. "You wound me."

"I can't believe you're actually going through with this-"

"Well-" I glanced over at him, "it's not like you're going to steal anything."

silence

"Well-"

"You're a horrible person," I shook my head at him, clicking my tongue in disappointment. "I can't believe you would do something like that to my poor father."

"You would do the same thing to me."

well you aren't wrong

"I'm scared of disappointing Isabel and Farlan."

"Stop plotting to take them dumbass."

stop nagging idiot

"You don't deserve them-"

i would treat them so much better its unreal

"It won't happen-"

"A couple months ago I would've agreed with you- but somehow we've swapped bodies so now anything is possible."

slowly but surely i am moving towards the acceptance stage of grief

"They won't leave and you know it," he rolled his eyes, scoffing at me.

"Sadly," I sighed loudly, "somehow you've surrounded yourself with hopelessly loyal people."

"The same can be said for you."

"Well- the most competent member of the guard is loyal to Eren first and foremost and he-" I hesitated, lowering my voice, "only 50% of his ideas make sense."

it's a dysfunctional situation

"One day you will find someone like Farlan."

"That feels like salt in the wound," I muttered, coming to a stop at the end of the hall. "If you steal I'll kill you."

"Is this it?"

well yeah-

"What else would it be?" I nodded, pushing open the door into my father's office.

its been a while

"30 seconds, you promised," Levi pushed past me, the most excited I had ever seen him.

wow- im almost jealous

"Just be quiet about it- we're both done for if Mikasa finds us," I glanced over my shoulder before stepping into the room, shutting the door behind me.

"30 seconds is way too little time," Levi grumbled, beelining for my father's desk.

well-

"I feel like you might do something dangerous if I give you anymore," I sat down on a plush armchair, looking around the room. "Everything is just as I left it." The landscape paintings on the wall that were enchanted to move, the countless magical tools strewn across the desk, everything looked like it had just been set down and was waiting for its owner to return.

i don't know if that's a comforting thought or not

"What the fuck is this?" Levi held up an emerald fountain pen.

oh that?

"Hand it over- I'll show you," I held out my hand, grabbing the pen.

if i remember correctly-

"What are you-"

"Watch," I began to write in the air, illusory script hovering where I moved the pen. "Read it out loud."

"It says- 'I'm a fucking asshole.'" He glanced up at me, "was that supposed to do something or are you just being a dick?"

"Shame- I was hoping saying it out loud would cause you to change," I sighed, passing the pen back to him. "It's cool isn't it?"

"Yeah- imagine if it wasn't locked up in this dark office."

THERE YOU GO AGAIN- RUINING THE MOMENT

"Whatever- you haven't even seen the coolest thing yet," I grinned.

"Where?"

he's really cute like this

"I command you to sit down," I looked towards a large suit of armor standing in the corner. The sound of metal on metal rang through the room as it promptly followed the command and sat down on the floor.

is that really the best command you could come up with ?????

"How the fuck did you do that?"

"Perks of being a L/N," I grinned, "don't even try to do it- it won't work."

"This monopoly is fucked."

"You're just jealous you don't have a voice activated suit of armor," I rolled my eyes at him, "it's one of a kind- they were going to make more and then everything got shut down."

it makes sense

you wouldn't want everyone running around with armor that only they can command

this is here for self defense after all

"I don't get it- why restrict all of this?" Levi muttered, his tone turning bitter, "it's bullshit."

"You know why," I grumbled, "it's too dangerous."

"So? How much good could it do? Yet your family is hoarding it- that's bullshit."

ouch

"You know that isn't true," I paused, "no one gets to touch it- not even us. Everything you see here is a remnant of the past- it's a reminder- we can't go back- it's too dangerous."

wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone had good intentions?

"That's so fucking stupid."

"Levi-"

"Stop."

ok

A tense silence clouded the room as Levi continued to look around, his gaze which had been filled with wonder and excitement was now clouded with a bitter barely contained rage.

i wish-

"When I was younger I used to dream about developing magical tools of my own-" I hesitated, waiting for him to cut me off again. "I wanted toys that could become my playmates and magical paints- and when I became older I wanted something that could fix my father."

i still do

"Why let go of that?"

"Because-"

because i'm the heir

because our house is sworn to neutrality

because, because, because

"-because the rest of the world doesn't have my good intentions- and I don't want to risk the peace of everyone else for my own selfish wishes."

"Are you calling me selfish."

no

"I'm saying that I get it- but sooner or later you'll come to realize just how much damage these things can cause- it isn't just about dolls and fancy pens-"

"So you're just going to fucking give up?"

"I'm not giving up Levi," I snapped at him, "I'm protecting everyone- that's my job as the heir- that's why I suck it up and pretend that I don't have opinions for the sake of neutrality, that's why my father and I both know that we can't save him. You didn't want to know that about me did you? You wanted me to agree that I was giving up and let you continue to feel superior-"

"There has to be another option-" Levi cut me off, "for your father and for you- there has to be."

"I wish there was- I really fucking wish you were right-"

"We'll find it."

do you think i haven't been looking?

"Am I supposed to admire you for giving up for everyone else? That's bullshit-"

"It's reality-"

"Bullshit- change it then," he scoffed loudly. "All of your shitty novels end in happy endings- are you just going to give up on yours?"

"I don't-"

"If you don't fucking want to then find a solution-"

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"I don't know-"

"Then why give me hope?"

"Because it fucking kills me to see you acting like this-" he yelled, an eerie quiet falling on the room as his voice subsided.

oh

"Then-"

"If you won't believe in yourself, believe in me."

i-

"That's a difficult thing to ask your enemy to do."

"Are we really?"

"No."

"So can you do it?"

"I'll try- I'll try to believe in you Levi Ackerman."

"Good."

_______________________

a bit of a longer chapter today! i hope you enjoyed <3

- amimi