i mean really what should we do

"Isn't the plan obvious?" Eren shrugged, "just go into the woods- I'm sure you'll find her."

"Just like that? I mean it's a really big place-" I protested.

listen im all for going with the flow but

it seems like we're just rushing into things

ISN'T THERE A BETTER WAY??

"Levi you'll talk some sense into him won't you?"

"He has a point," Levi rolled his eyes. "We don't know where she lives- only that your father was able to get there in a day or two- might as well explore."

"RANDOMLY?"

"Is there a better option?"

THERE MUST BE IM JUST NOT SMART ENOUGH TO THINK OF ONE RIGHT NOW

"I can't believe you're seriously suggesting this- it's dangerous."

"Good, maybe our witch will come and rescue us."

she probably won't

"I imagine she despises my family, I don't think she'll come help us 'just because.'"

i feel insane

"Clearly she liked you enough to bring you back to life."

"Well we don't know that," I muttered, "maybe she had a crush on my father and saved me out of love."

"Highly unlikely."

"But not the weirdest thing I've said."

"Low fucking bar."

"Can you two stop flirting and come up with a plan?" Eren cut in, impatient.

"It wasn't flirting."

"Fuck off brat."

"I was just trying to help," he sighed loudly.

"Thank you," I muttered, racking my brain for a better option. "I mean-"

"You mean?"

"He knows where she lives."

"Your father?"

"My father."

i still don't feel good about that

"But who knows if he even remembers- I mean- he hasn't been healthy since I was a child- I'm sure he's forgotten."

"It's worth a shot," Levi suggested, his tone cautious. "I thought you-"

yeah

"I'm not sure we're in the position to choose right now," I shook my head, "we don't have options."

"You have the knights- send them into the woods to search for her." Levi shook his head, "if you don't want to do it you have options, I'm sure of it."

do we?

"We shouldn't use them for something like that- it's dangerous and stupid."

i don't want to involve more people than we have to

"Well-" Eren trailed off. "Mikasa won't be super willing to let the guard wander into the woods with no direction."

so the choice is made for us

"That settles it then," I turned to Levi, "you'll have to go speak with my father tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

"Let's-" I glanced at Eren, "talk about it later."

"Are you telling me to leave?" Eren stared at me incredulously, "I'm involved in the plan now you can't just cut me out."

right right

"See if you can get assigned to watch my father tomorrow," I dismissed him, "and thank you."

"They're going to kill me if they find out."

"They'll never find out- I promise."

"Pinky?"

"Pinky-promise."

The door swung shut behind him with a soft click.

ok- this is happening

"i'm not sure involving him in this was the smartest idea," I sighed, "but desperate times call for desperate measures."

"We learned a lot," Levi murmured, neither agreeing or disagreeing, an odd look resting in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"I already told you, yes, I am- it's our only option."

"It isn't."

"You and your options," I shook my head. "It's endearing."

"Listen to yourself."

"Listen to yourself," I shook my head. "You wanted to do this from the beginning."

"But you don't want to," he pressed, "so don't."

"What other option do we have?"

"We can go ourselves."

really?

"Like this?" I frowned, dismissing the idea, "maybe if we were both in our original bodies but we aren't- we wouldn't even be here if that was the case."

levi isn't strong enough in my body and i haven't trained for anything close to what we would need

"Then- fuck-" Levi sighed loudly, "you don't want him to see you like this, that's what it is right?"

"Of course not, but we no longer have that option."

"There's a way."

"What?"

"I'm telling you, we have one option."

i mean yeah that's kinda what i've been saying- we have to go talk to him-

"It's temporary- you'll only have fifteen minutes," Levi rummaged for something in his bag. "One chance, that's all."

"What do you mean?"

"Here," he held out his hand, revealing a small vial of silver liquid. "You'll be yourself for fifteen minutes."

"We'll swap back?"

"No- it'll mask your appearance."

oh

"You only have one bottle?"

"Just the one," he nodded, placing it into my hand. "I told you there were other fucking options. Stop agreeing to do shit you don't want."

we rarely have the luxury of choice

"What about you? Will you be able to replace it?" I stared down at the glittery liquid.

"Who knows?" He shrugged, "are you going to open up the forest?"

"No- I can't," I whispered, fingers closing around the vial. "You know that."

"Then that's the last of it, be thankful."

"Why?" I questioned, eyes studying the strange emotion that swirled within his, "why give it to me? Why not use it on yourself?"

"You need it more."

"Why do you keep on doing this?"

"Helping you? Hell if I know."

"Admit it- you're obsessed with me," a small smile stretched across my features, the mood lightening.

"You-"

"It's ok- I like you too you know."

"You do?"

"Stop acting surprised-" heat rushed to my cheeks.

AND I SHOULD STOP FEELING FLUSTERED

"Thank you- I mean it."

"Don't worry about it," he murmured, his hand hovering next to mine. "You needed it."

"Other people wouldn't have done that," I shook my head, eyes lingering on the space between our hands. "You didn't have to- you don't have to."

"We're in this shit together."

"It's crazy isn't it?"

"A little."

"Hey, Levi?"

"Yes?"

"Can I hug you?" My gaze snapped back up to his, waiting for a response.

"Oh-" a beat of silence, "alright, you can," he nodded.

there's a lot of things that the tabloids get wrong about Levi Ackerman, he's annoying, a pain in my ass, cute when he smiles, childishly stubborn, and most importantly a bad hugger.

Levi felt stiff, awkwardly relaxing into my embrace. When I closed my eyes I could hear it, the rhythmic beating of his heart.

warm

"I would have laughed if someone told me two months ago that we would be hugging."

"Likewise."

"It's not bad though," I murmured, turning to get a look at his face.

"It's warm."

"You need practice."

"Shut the fuck up."

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sorry for the late update! hope yall r taking care of yourselves <3

- ami