"You won't have long once you take it," Levi reminded me, "we'll have to go in together and wait until it wears off to leave."

"Right," I nodded, "my father's chambers span several rooms, you'll stay in the waiting room and I'll run back to you before the effect disappears."

that's the plan anyway

"Fifteen minutes."

that's enough time

"How do you know that?" I asked absentmindedly, flipping open the pocket watch that Levi had loaned me for the moment.

are you just guessing?

"I tested it."

"You did?"

"That's the only one I have left," he gestured toward the small vial, "I made two, tried one and turned into the person who I was thinking of at that time."

oh-

"You made this?" I held it up to the light, studying the ever shifting liquid.

"Before you get preachy about it I got the materials from Erwin- something the crown had- I didn't steal," Levi snapped back defensively.

hold on

"I wasn't going to 'get preachy about it,'" I rolled my eyes at him. "It's cool- I didn't know you made things, just thought you were a collector."

he's ambitious

i can't tell if i admire it or-

wish he would set his ambitions on something possible

"'It's cool'?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "no one taught you how to make it- you just did- because you wanted to- that's cool."

i can't think of a time i did something like that

"Thanks," he nodded stiffly, awkwardly accepting the compliment. "Well- you're cool too I guess."

OH ??

"THE LEVI ACKERMAN THINKS I'M COOL?" I gasped loudly, throwing my head back dramatically. "Do tell? What makes me cool?"

i mean i know i'm cool but-

"I'm not fucking doing this," Levi sighed loudly, "accept the compliment and move on."

"Wow- I'm beginning to think that you said something you didn't mean," I shook my head at him- "it's disappointing, I'm disappointed."

it's ok levi i keep my expectations for you VERY low

it's enough for me if you aren't attacking me outright

i mean- i'm going to find something to complain about but that's just who i am <3

"You're confident," he muttered, avoiding my eyes like the plague, "and- aside from all the times you decide to be a fucking idiot- you fight for the things you want. That's cool."

...

"You sound like you love me or something," I fought to hide my smile. "Thanks Levi, I was just joking- you didn't have to say all that. I mean- I appreciate it regardless- means a lot coming from you."

"Forget I said anything," Levi sighed. "Stop goading me into shit."

"Stop falling for it."

"Are we going to do this?"

"Yes, no point in stalling any longer," I nodded. "Hopefully Eren is ready for us."

"Hopefully," Levi echoed, falling into step with me as we walked.

"Finally! I've been waiting," Eren whisper-shouted to us from down the hall, gesturing towards his side.

i never doubted you (lie)

"Sorry, we're ready now," I steeled myself, glancing down the hall to make sure no one was listening.

"The rest of them went out on inspection," Eren chatted away, "staying here is supposed to be a punishment."

so mikasa is gone- that's good

"So the coast is clear?"

"Yeah- but don't take too long- I won't be able to stop the maids from going in for forever."

wasn't planning on it

"Let's go," Levi ushered me through the doors into my father's familiar chambers.

one door separates me and him

it hasn't been that long

but a lot has happened

"I'll take it now," I muttered, uncorking the vial.

here goes nothing

"I'll wait here for you," Levi nodded, "you have fifteen minutes but-"

but if it's too much you can leave

"Thank you," I hummed, swallowing the bitter liquid, "it's prettier than it tastes."

"If I had a lab I would- never mind," he shook his head, clearly avoiding any and all sensitive subjects.

it's nice of him

"Whoa-" I gasped, a strange chill running down my spine as the potion took effect.

at least i hope that's what's happening

"Weird as shit watching it happen."

"It worked?"

"Were you doubting me?"

"No I mean- a little- it just doesn't seem real," I ran over to a nearby mirror- taking in the familiar details of my face. "If only it lasted longer."

"You should go."

"I should."

"Good luck."

"It's just my father, not a monster."

"Good luck."

"Thank you," I pushed open the door, "I'll need it."

fifteen minutes

The bedroom was just as I had left it a few months ago. Same stale smell that never went away no matter how much you tried to air out the room or mask it with perfumes, same bed sheets, same vase filled with white flowers, and same father sitting in bed with his eyes half closed in exhaustion.

i'm home

"Who is it?" He called out, eyes remaining shut, voice softer than I remembered it.

weaker

"It's me," I called out, letting the door close behind me with a soft click. "I'm home."

"Who is 'me,'" he mustered the energy to joke, eyes fluttering open. "Come here."

"You really shouldn't be joking," I shook my head, forcing a grin, "your daughter is home, you should be weeping tears of joy."

"Who taught you to act like that?"

"I don't know, but they must be happy about it," I pulled a chair up to his bedside, taking a seat. "How are you?"

why do you ask questions you don't want the answer to?

"Fine," he let his eyes close again, pausing to take a shaky breath. "How was the capital?"

"Good," I nodded, "Historia and Ymir are doing well and uh-" I hesitated for a second, judging the weight of my words. "Levi Ackerman actually came back with me- back home- he's here."

don't freak out or anything

A quiet 'oh' escaped his lips.

sounds right

"Anyway-"

"Is that why you're here?"

"No-" I shook my head, "I just thought you should know- maybe it would make you happy to know that your daughter has matured enough to forgive her enemies."

"My daughter also knows that house L/N does not have enemies."

this again

"Ok fine," I sighed indignantly, "but Y/N L./N does have enemies- chief among them Levi Ackerman."

until recently anyway

"I'm proud of you," he nodded, voice tinged with sarcasm. "What else?"

"What do you mean?"

"What else have you done?"

where would you like me to start?

drowning? swapping bodies?

there's too much to cover in fifteen minutes

"A lot," I murmured, reaching for his hand- "I've done a lot."

"You seem sad about it," his hand shook in my grasp, unable to squeeze me back in the way that it had when I was younger.

"Not sad," I shook my head, "just tired."

"That makes two of us."

"What have you done?" I cursed myself for the question as soon as it left my lips.

"Nothing of note," which really translated to: stop asking.

alright

"Hey, do you remember when I was younger?"

at the end of the day i'm not here to catch up

there isn't enough time

only fifteen minutes

"I'm not that old," he chuckled, "and neither are you, of course I do."

"Tell me the truth- there really was a woman who saved me, wasn't there?"

____________________

dear old dad </3

- ami