Sorry I'm a horrible person sorry! Just kidding this is free entertainment so I'm producing it as I can. My internet access is highly limited this summer but hey, here's another short chapter - enjoy!

"Fucking hell, Ackerman," came the voice from behind her.

Mikasa turned from her horse, a light brown, spirited filly to which she had become rather attached. The horse had been given to her recently, accompanying her appointment to Levi's squad. Every rider in his command cared for their own horse, as the horse and fighter became one unit during ranges outside the walls and during battles. Because she hadn't been permitted to see Armin or Eren lately, she had become close friends with the horse, who would remain nameless in her mind. But now she turned to face the rider who had jumped down at her side. Bringing her hand stiffly to her chest, she saluted the captain.

"Hai, Captain Levi," she said. "What seems to be the issue?"

Levi walked lightly toward her, his eyes calm despite his known hatred of Mikasa. She felt no differently. The entire command and garrison knew of their conflicts by this point. And after two weeks of subordinates and leadership alike walking on eggshells around them, Erwin had finally ordered Levi to depart for their new command post with Mikasa. Neither had been happy about the decision, but Erwin insisted, and now the pair found themselves saddling up for the long journey ahead.

"You damn well know what the issue is, Ackerman," he responded, reaching her horse and laying a hand on its flank. "Where's your fucking saddle?"

Mikasa did not humor him with a reaction. "I prefer to ride bareback," she stated simply. "Makes for a faster trip, don't you agree?"

Levi fumed silently but made no move, attempting to quell the anger that Mikasa was determined to incite. She was good at it, damn her. She knew exactly what buttons to push to get a reaction out of him – the famed calm of Captain Levi broken by a young recruit. It pained him, and she knew it. But she would not succeed this time.

"I would agree, save that our journey will likely take a week. You planning on carrying any provisions during that time?" He smirked slightly at her. "Or if you're planning on dying from dehydration, be my guest, Ackerman."

She returned his shade in voice and face, refusing to break eye contact or to back down from his stare.

"Erwin would kill you if you let me die."

Levi shrugged.

"What Erwin doesn't know won't hurt him. In case you've forgotten, we're fighting a war. Anything could have killed you. Titan attack, buried grenade – the list goes on. Now get a fucking saddle."

He smiled and turned to walk away when a small hand grabbed firmly at his wrist. While some part of Levi knew it was Mikasa Ackerman longing for a fight, the larger part of him could only think back to the days before it all. Before Levi could think, instinct took over, instinct from years on the streets before his time in the military. Immediately, he turned and grabbed Mikasa's other hand while wrenching his wrist from her grab in an upward movement. Her hands immobilized, Mikasa attempted to strike out against the captain with her feet, but found she was firmly pinned between her bored horse and her fuming commander.

Levi's eyes blazed with some past memory, and Mikasa realized with a startled jolt that he wasn't seeing her – not really. He was seeing some former attacker, some past opponent. She acted quickly.

"Captain Levi," she said firmly. "It's me, Mikasa Ackerman. We're at the military compound."

Levi's gaze remained strong and piercing for several more seconds, then his storm passed and the calm returned to his face. He did not move, but stood staring at Mikasa and pinning her wrists firmly behind her back. Mikasa could hold out no longer.

"Captain," she repeated. "Please release my hands."

Her words seemed to jolt Levi from his trance. He released her wrists as though they burned his palms, but he did not step away. Mikasa spoke again, this time more softly, but still with the firm reliance on her words.

"It's post traumatic – "

"Enough," he hissed, breaking completely out of his memory. He glared at Mikasa as she opened her mouth to speak again, but he cut her off. "You will not speak of this to anyone, understood?"

"Does Erwin know? Does Hange – "

A hand held loosely around her throat cut off her words entirely. Levi's eyes blazed underneath their hooded restraint. The hand tightened slightly as Mikasa brought up her nails to dig into Levi's skin. Even as she did, Levi refused to release his hold, and the two stood as statues in conflict.

"I said enough." The words came out as a deadly whisper. Levi stared at her for several more moments, then wrenched his hand away from her skin and stalked away, leaving Mikasa alone near the stables with a saddleless horse gently nudging her shoulder.