Hey guys!

So I've been getting some amazing reviews – seriously guys, thank you so much, and if you don't mind, I wanted to take some time to respond to a few that I maybe wanted to highlight? Not up here of course, but maybe at the bottom. As always, yall can disregard my ramblings or whatever – it's just for those who are curious.

Either way, enjoy this chapter because it actually is one of my personal author's picks!

…

...

Not even a minute later, Petra and Levi were standing out on the property. It had escaped the Captain's notice before, but it was actually a rather nice night out. The moon was bright and full, its light silver and beautiful, there was a soft summer breeze that rustled the leaves in the wind – and before him, Petra, who's green eyes were already ablaze with anticipation.

Levi reached into his pocket, pulling out two blades – one for himself and one for Petra – and Petra's mouth dropped open as she realized that meant that he had been carrying multiple blades the entire night.

He nodded toward his hands, "What do you want – the switchblade, or the butterfly?"

Petra was still gaping at the weaponry in his hands in sheer disbelief, and she looked back up at him in clear concern, "Uh Captain why…why do you even have multiple knives to begin with?!"

He shrugged, "Different knives for different purposes. Come on, which one?"

Petra merely continued in alarm, "What exactly did you think was going to be happening tonight? This is a gentle city – the only problems we have are the mangy wolves that keep running off with the chickens! Captain, tell me that's all you have on you, just the two knives, right?"

Levi smirked and intentionally avoided the question, because a gentleman never revealed such secrets, and he nodded toward her flatly, "Well if you don't care about first pick, then I'll take the butterfly. Here."

He presented the switchblade to her – one of Levi's personal knifes that he apparently treasured enough to bring with him from home – and Petra warily grabbed it out of his hand, her eyes narrowed as she thought aloud, "That's fine. And I'm curious Captain, any particular reason you prefer one over the other? Can't really say I'm all that familiar with knives."

He shrugged, "Nothing serious. I just like the handle on this one is all. Switchblades are good to a point considering they can be engaged for combat with just a single hand - so good in a pinch if I've got a hand already tied up - but in terms of control and sheer versatility, I lean towards the butterfly every time. It's quick, it's lightweight, and intimidating as fuck if you know what you're doing."

Petra gave a nod, amused by his simple explanation because it was clear he had put a lot of thought into his choice of weaponry – something that didn't come as a shock to her - and she moved away from him in preparation for their sparring.

"Alright, begin." Levi eventually stated, not surprised when Petra immediately went for the first move and lunged toward him outright. He had allowed her a few matches without so much as a word between them, merely giving her toying smirks and baiting, teasing slaps across her skin with the flat side of his knife to pull out her fiery side, and though the first few matches had naturally ended in his victory – they always did – even still, he was enjoying perhaps…just getting to unwind with her. This was different than rigid and structured training, and they both knew it; they both knew that what they were doing now had no benefit or value to Petra's rehabilitation or Levi's skill, they were simply doing it for fun.

It was a strange concept for the Captain, who rarely found time to himself and wasn't exactly the type who could indulge in hobbies. The truth was, Levi couldn't even remember the last time he had intentionally done something like this, and he found that as Petra moved recklessly, laughing and pulling stunts that would traditionally end a match then and there due to her lack of focus and largely presented openings that would be all but effortless to exploit, Levi had found himself little by little, doing the same thing.

He would create an opening, stall in place a little too long and bait her to attack, and he'd pull her in. At a time where he could pull his blade up to her neck – an automatic victory – he would rather slap her wrist with the flat of his blade, pinch her skin, and he'd hold her against him in a strong grip. She'd be panting for air, and he'd run his nose up her neck, allowing his lips to crest her earlobe and she'd almost whimper at his touch, and then with a low voice, he took a breath, smirking when he felt her breath hitch from apparent anticipation, and softly…

He told her that she was years away from besting him.

Petra had given an enraged cry that had him biting back laughter, and the match pressed on just the same.

They were currently circling each other and on their fifth match, and Petra knew full well that he was holding back immensely, because there was her ankle to consider, her dress, and the fact that she had previously been wearing heels so now she was reduced to fighting with bare feet. It tipped the already off balanced scale of probabilities even further into Levi's favor, but even still, the smile never left her lips.

Their blades clashed again and again, and as Petra turned to one side, swiping the blade downward in a sweep toward his legs, Levi rolled to the ground, taking a crouching stance and sweeping his own blade outward to force distance between them. Though Petra had seen his move coming and had moved out of the way quick enough to not get cut, his blade still tore into the bottom of her dress, and Levi could feel the fabric slice open with a clean hiss of the shredded fibers.

Petra had gasped, surprised herself and already looking down at the fabric in alarm as though not certain if she had been cut or not, and Levi lunged toward her in the next moment, because he knew she was fine, and it was her own damn fault for getting distracted so easily.

He pushed her to the ground with a press of force, smirking when her own blade was knocked out of her hands from the rough impact, and Petra fell across the ground, holding her arms over her head in self-defense as Levi moved after her, crouching over her and pressing his blade to her throat with a pleased, smug grin.

Petra swallowed and lengthened her neck instinctively, and Levi found a chuckle building in his throat from the way she watched him in obvious dismay. He tsked with his tongue and dared to press the metal into her soft skin just a little more, "Well Mrs. Ackerman, I believe that makes five for me, and zero for you. Unless of course you're counting all the other sparring matches over the years, because in that case-"

Petra's expression contorted to irritation, and Levi snorted and moved off her, pulling her up from the ground and smirking at the waspish glare she shot at him as she dusted herself off.

Eventually she retrieved her knife from off the ground and gave him a serious nod, "Alright, Captain, get your laughs in now. Again. I want a rematch!"

Levi could only smirk all the more, give an accepting sigh, and curl a few fingers as though silently telling her to come and get it herself. Another few matches, more cuts in her dress, and Levi's expression finally sobered as they continued sparring, because yes, he had brought her out to simply unwind – he knew that she loved sparring with him, she always had – but he had larger matters to deal with and it was high time they address what was really going on with her.

As he dodged a single baiting attack, already twisting to avoid her punch that he knew was coming next, he spoke seriously, "Tell me Petra, about your mother. You never really talk about her."

Petra paused in step, only a single step outside of her usual attacking pattern, though it had been enough to speak of her abject surprise, and Levi knew it was time to put that pressure on her because she needed to let it out. He lunged forward, putting her on the defensive as she backed up and parried his blade with a quick swing of her wrist.

"What's there to say?" she merely responded with a quipped voice, "I don't have a lot of memories with her, and everything you hear from Dad is the same shit I hear every time I come back home."

She took another step back and Levi continued on the offensive, sparks flying into the air at the ferocity behind their blades, and Levi spoke again, "Well your dad seems to think an awful lot about her. I'm guessing he thought you'd follow after her footsteps, so the fact that you are carving out a path of your own-"

"Makes me a huge fucking disappointment. I know!" she bit out with a sudden ferocity as she moved to further defend herself from his variety of assaults, her defenses sloppy and unfocused as her wrist wavered. Levi took advantage of her lacking focus, again making another cut at the bottom of her dress and being careful to not do anything that would intentionally compromise her modesty outright, but finding that some part of him…well, he had known it all along, but he had wanted to ruin her dress completely.

She had asked him earlier if he wanted them to change, and he had simply stated no, because he didn't want her getting more of his clothes dirty, but that….was a lie. Clothes could be washed. Even if they were stained, who cared. They could be replaced and bought anew so easily, but Petra…she was being broken down from all sides and he knew he had to intervene in a way that only he himself, her Captain and husband, could.

Who else would? Her father? Timmy – who seemed to be so aware of the tension, but wouldn't make the move to come to her defense and risk putting himself at odds with her father? The blonde was a coward, and Petra kept taking the fall time and time again.

No, it had to be him.

Seeing Petra forced into such a state, seeing her walking around day after day in her quaint little sundresses, with perfectly placed and pinned hair with matching shoes and simple cleaning duties as she waited around for some man – for him, or her father to get back after a days' worth of 'real' work – fuck, some part of him just couldn't help but be furious. It just wasn't fitting. Petra was wild – a fucking fire of passion and determination and purpose – and to see her be forcibly tempered and contained, fuck, he'd rip down those barriers bit by bit if he needed – and he supposed in this case, he was doing it literally.

He was baiting her, allowing her arms to shake against him as she tested her strength against his, because Petra needed it. She needed to allow herself to feel her own strength, needed to be reminded of her boundless willpower and the fact that he, yes, truly supported her, believed in her- to such an extent that he allowed his very life to fall into her hands – into the hands of his team – time and time again.

He continued to circle and send stifled attacks her way, because for every time he pushed her to the ground or pinned her in a way she could only get out of if she really fought against him, her pinned hair got a little more unkempt, her dress got a little more dirty, the fabric was becoming warped and stretched as her moving body warred against the seams, and a few cut and frayed ends were now hanging over her legs because it seemed that the edges were coming unraveled bit by bit.

Levi held her stare, and Petra continued attacking just the same, where he doubted that she had even noticed the sad, (much improved) state of her dress. Her attacks were vicious, but sloppy from her emotions, and Levi held his blade up in defense as Petra lunged toward him, her blade slamming against his as she spoke in a bitter hiss, "I get that Dad loved mom, and I love that, truly but…" She took a breath as their blades were scraping against each other, their faces a mere few inches apart as a fruitless battle of strength played out between them, "Just…why was I never enough, just being me? I mean…Mom's not even fucking here anymore and instead of even giving me a chance he just…"

Her voice cracked and she gave a growl, "And he's like that with everything! I don't cook well enough, I'm not fucking pretty enough, he always talks over me because I'm just such a child and-"

She winced when Levi grabbed her wrist, pressing firmly into her pressure point until she gave a pained cry and the blade fell out of her hand completely. Petra looked up toward him, her eyes a deep green as she stared at him with a pained expression. Levi had been expecting her to distance herself outright, perhaps to roll to one side and try to reclaim her weapon so the battle would continue, but when she merely stood in place, Levi's eyes widened because Petra wasn't even trying to finish the match.

"Why, Captain? What…what's wrong with me?"

She looked into the ground then, giving a feverish shake of her head as she spoke in sheer confusion, "I'm on your Squad, I'm a fucking elite for Maria's sake! I've…I've killed Titans by myself, I've saved my comrades, I, well, I had help of course, but I was able to solve the gas shortage and assist in the facilitation for the entire Scout Regiment. I was strong enough to marry; strong enough to make sacrifices and make my own choices and even still…"

She hung her head as a sudden sob wracked her body, "Every time my Dad looks at me, I see nothing but disappointment in his eyes! How is it…how is that even possible? I know it shouldn't matter; I know I shouldn't care but I do! I don't know how to not care and so…"

Levi sighed and closed his knife, allowing it to fall back into his pocket as he watched her in newly gained clarity and understanding. It wasn't just about her father now, and he knew that.

It was everything.

It was the pain she had been carrying for years, the insecurities that plagued her on the daily, and there was a heaviness in his chest as he watched her stand rigidly in place, her fists clenched and shaking as her voice lost its strength due to her sudden tears, "Levi I just…I just can't do anything right. It's just never enough and I feel like a failure no matter what I do. Even now, all I can do is just cry about it, like a useless girl, and I'm so, so tired of feeling this way."

Levi brought his arms around her, rubbing her back in slight circular motions as his mind churned with sudden inner tempest.

It had puzzled him for years, to the extent that he had admittedly lost sleep over it a few times. He could never understand for the life of him, why Petra discounted herself the way she always did because even if he encouraged her or coached her or complimented her, it always seemed to brush right off her as though he hadn't even noticed her accomplishments in the first place. It seemed that no matter what she achieved, no matter what the numbers validated and confirmed, the fact that she was perhaps the most talented on his squad, she seemed to always fear that she was hardly doing anything more than just scraping by in her role as a Scout.

Now, after coming to her house, after meeting her Father – seeing his passive aggressive comments, hearing how she was raised, seeing a closet of nothing but sundresses and lace, not a scrap of dirt or stains or anything to show that she had actually lived in her youth because a proper lady wouldn't ever live so boisterously…

He finally understood it.

Her need to impress him, the fact she always worked harder than everyone else around her, that she so clearly had something to prove and the fact that even when she was succeeding, she couldn't even see it or defaulted to discounting her accomplishments as failures because she should have accomplished it more completely or faster than when she had – this was why.

She had lived her entire life being confirmed and reaffirmed that she simply wasn't enough - wasn't strong enough to help out with her father's work, wasn't feminine enough or graceful enough to be like her mother, wasn't smart enough to make her own decisions or think wisely for herself - while at the same time, being told that she was too much. Too outspoken, too bullheaded, too innocent – and always, always a disappointment in one way or another.

It made him fucking livid, to know the scars she bore from her harsh upbringing; to know that she would likely doubt herself and discredit her accomplishments until the very day she died, because that feeling of inferiority was that ingrained into the very fabric of her identity.

His upbringing – sure it was hell and more than a little fucked up – but at least he knew it was fucked up. He knew full well that his situation was broken and hopeless and that if he had ever wanted to make something of his life, it would have to come from him because he had no one else to turn to or fall back on. He simply couldn't doubt himself in the ways the Petra did, because he, himself, was all he had ever had. He had to implicitly trust in himself, believe in his strength, instinct and judgement, because there was no one else to show him the way and no one else that cared if he made it or not.

But Petra…He couldn't imagine what his life would have looked like if there had been someone in his ear, telling him that everything he had ever done, every step he took, every decision he ever made, was subpar and in some way, a complete failure.

No wonder she couldn't make a decision without feeling guilty about it, taking blame for failures that weren't hers, and jumping at any opportunity to prove herself to anyone that would listen.

"Petra…" Levi found a deep-set frown over his lips, and paused as he tried to mentally sort out exactly what he wanted to say and how he wanted to respond to the situation – knowing the he had to tread carefully because his words could build her up, or shatter her beyond repair. He gave her a serious, hard glare because fuck, there really was just no way around it.

"I know that you want me and your Dad to get along, but frankly, that's not going to happen. Ever." Levi ran a hand up her back and into her hair, and he began pulling out the pins one by one as he spoke, watching as her hair fell down bit by bit and framed her face with striking and wild amber locks. He licked his lips, "I know he's not all bad – and I mean that sincerely. I can tell he cares about you, and that he just wants to protect you, it's just…we're fundamentally different in that respect. He wants to hide you away and break your wings so that you can't fly away. He wants to keep you and contain you and I…"

As he pulled out the last pin, Levi ran his fingers through her hair, giving a serious shake of his head, "Petra, you deserve to fly, and my goal has always been to teach you how. You're not a disappointment to me, and you never have been."

Her green eyes had widened, and she had stared at him in wonder for the longest time. With a timid, barely audible whisper, she responded in a hesitant, guarded mumble, "Captain is that really the truth, or are you just pitying me? Why…why are you telling me this?"

Levi's expression darkened, "You know damn well I don't do pity. I'm saying it because you need to hear it. Because you yourself don't believe it. Frankly, I don't even know if you'll believe me, but it's true none the less."

Eventually, her expression fell and Petra almost cautiously reached toward him, but then recoiled at the last second and fell back into place, biting her lower lip and stealing one single, hesitant glance toward him as though unsure of her next move, because her emotions were too raw and exposed and she was...afraid. Afraid of her vulnerability.

Something about this position was all too familiar - Petra in a dress, flustered by the untrue things that had been said about her throughout the night, them laughing it off together and then Petra becoming so indecisive, shy, and nervously rocking in place when it was so obvious that she just wanted him. Levi almost smirked at the poetic irony, because after all this time, here they were again. Those same conflicted green eyes, that same spark of energy that seemed to electrify the air; hell, even that same nervous excitement he felt now – he had felt it then too, and just like last time, Levi found himself intentionally taking that step to bridge the gap between them.

Yes. Looking back, he supposed that he was the one to be held accountable, because he had taken that first step – always more brazen, more confident, and more possessive than his gentle, well-mannered and cautious subordinate, who above all was putting his own well being first, because even though she had wanted him, he was her Captain and she had more self-control than he could ever lay claim to.

He had kissed her, and through some miracle, she had kissed him back.

Just like that night, Levi pulled her into his arms then, and fuck did he make a point of kissing her. He had kissed her then too, but not like this. That night it had been of lust, of passion and curiosity and reckless abandon because their chemistry and been there and he had wanted a taste – perhaps just a small sample of maybe what it could be, and the answer had scared them both. He had recoiled completely, pushed her away and silently demanded space between them; space that had strained and suffocated them both to the point of breaking.

Now, he kissed her with a depth that could only come with knowing her, with trusting her and supporting her and growing alongside her step for step. Petra's tears wetted his face, the taste of salt on her cheeks and lips as she returned his kiss between building, pained sobs.

This time, gods, he wouldn't make the same mistakes twice. He wouldn't push her away or become flighty or aloof. He ran his fingers again through her hair, tousled and curled locks almost tickling his skin and when his fingers seemed to stall from getting somewhat stuck in a wild tangle, Petra groaned against his lips and hung her head into his shoulder with a long sigh, "Gods, I can't wait to cut my hair. It gets so tangly when it's long like this and I don't know what to do with all of it. But I've noticed you looking at it; a lot more than you used to before. Do you…like it long?"

He almost blinked at the sudden question, looking at her surrounding halo of wild amber hair in eventual contemplation. Admittedly, he did like it long like this, and he wasn't aware that she had ever caught him staring. Her hair was so vibrant and he couldn't deny that seeing her longer flowing locks, or even now just imagining the way her hair might look if it were cascading down her shoulders and back – it was a stunning picture and he was quite certain that the longer hair length would suit her so nicely. Levi allowed his hands to fall down her sides until he clasped his hands around her back as he indulged in the impulse to just have her in his arms, taking comfort in her presence and touch after such a long, miserable week.

He gave a lazy tilt of his head, giving away none of his previous thoughts, "You should cut it. When we get back to the base, we'll cut it then, okay?"

"Okay."

In time, he had led them back into the house because it had been a long day, it had been a long week, and it was high time both of them went to bed. As Petra had moved into the closet, changing into her pajamas and finally seeing the sad state of her dress and the way Levi had absolutely destroyed it, Petra had laughed and simply hung it back up with the rest – a single tattered and stained dress that stood out in contrast so greatly from the others.

Levi couldn't help but feel it was a drastic improvement.

…

…

The next morning was quiet – a certain tenseness in the air as Levi sat at the table with Petra's father, both men quietly awaiting for Petra to finish cooking breakfast so their day could officially begin. While the atmosphere between the two men wasn't as tense as it had been in the night previous, it certainly wasn't casual either.

Her father was busy reading the newspaper; a habit that Levi noticed the man did on the daily, and Levi had to wonder what the hell was even in the damned paper, because surely a town this small did not have nearly enough happenings to justify a daily paper like this, and yet, each morning there was a new paper delivered just the same, and each morning, her father seemed to read it faithfully.

Must be a small-town thing.

"Surprised you're still here, Ackerman. You've usually left for the Outpost by now" the older man said simply, not even bothering to glance up from the faded grey papers, and Levi looked toward Petra, watching as she searched through the cupboards and continued moving about the kitchen, and he eventually responded in an equally tense manner.

"Could say the same about you. I had expected that you would have packed up and started your trip by now. Apparently it's a long journey; few days or something, right? Could just pack a meal and get a jump on it, instead of waiting around like this."

James gave a snort, "I suppose, but I wanted to spend the morning with my daughter." The man paused and almost smirked, "Are you that anxious for me to get out of your hair, Ackerman?"

Levi shook his head, "Oh, I'm not the anxious one." Her father looked up from the paper and Levi gave a nod toward the kitchen, "It's Petra. Fact of the matter is I've seen her on the daily for almost six years now, and I can say with complete certainty that you know how to stress her out better than most." Levi paused and looked toward the kitchen with a blank expression, "If anything, I suppose I'm more anxious to see her relax a little. We left headquarters about a week and a half ago now, and regardless the fact that she's supposed to be relaxing and taking it easy; slowly building her strength back up and starting the process of rehabilitating her ankle, she's just as on edge as ever. Not that you have paid her training much mind, but frankly it's not going well, which is admittedly concerning, to some degree at least."

Levi's expression turned more pensive as he spoke softly in a sigh, "Some of the blame undoubtedly falls on my shoulders as I only recently cleared my hours with the Garrison, but that's not the real problem here. Reality is, her body's just not responding well - she's not sleeping, she's tense, and you know full well the emotional strain she's under. She's putting the work in and giving it a good effort when that time presents itself, but even still, it doesn't seem to do her any good, and that only discourages her all the more. Even though she wants it, it's almost like her body is refusing to repair itself, as though simply unwilling to do so because she's been under so much pressure for so long now that it's just too exhausted to even try."

Her father turned a page in the paper and spoke in a sarcastic grumble, "Gee, it's almost like she just needs to take a break from all that training and just rest or something. Imagine that."

Levi didn't spare the man a glance and folded his hands pensively, "That's just it though, Ral - her ankle should be fully healed by now, but it's not and I'm having to readjust my approach almost daily. I suppose in some ways, it's almost impressive, the effect you have on her with your obvious scorn. For a man who seems to sincerely desire a strong bond with his daughter, I have to say that your methods seem a little…counterproductive. Her confidence is shaken, to the extent that it's harming her, and you know it, yet you do it anyway and continue to tear her down from all sides. Either you'll succeed in breaking her, or she'll eventually grow bitter and come to resent you. Either way, you'd lose her just the same and I know you don't actually want that. Better still, I know you're aware of that already, so it seems that you yourself are undecided as to how you want to handle it all, as though you're waiting to see how it will all pan out – a stupid gamble, because the results are right in front of you."

Levi looked at him seriously then, a firm expression on his face as he stated flatly, "We're married, and legally speaking it's a binding contract that neither of us can escape, so I'm not sure what more you're needing to see at this point. She wants the military, and she wants to stand beside me specifically. What purpose does your dislike even serve now? All due respect, but I don't give a shit if you like me or not, but Petra does, and she's the one taking the brunt of it all."

While Levi wasn't necessarily trying to antagonize the man, his words spoken out of sheer observation more than a jab to the older man's pride, Levi had to admit he was not expecting it when her father looked up at him with a soft, knowing smile. A few moments passed, the two males regarding each other in silence, and eventually, James shook his head and gave a long sigh.

"You know, you're actually a clever fella, aren't you boy? The quiet ones usually are, so I can't say I'm all that surprised." The older man said simply with that same distant expression, and Levi took a small drink of his morning tea - apparently Petra was feeling particularly generous after he had stayed up late to spar with her, and it seemed she had made him something special in return.

Her father took a breath and actually set the paper down, turning in his chair as his green orbs fell directly onto Levi with a focused and knowing stare, "I'll tell you what Ackerman, when you have a kid – hopefully a beautiful baby girl like Petra – and you spend years watching them grow, and watching them form their ideas and shaping their own personality; try as you may to live your life, you'll grow deeper in love with them than you ever thought possible. When she comes to you with those big eyes and tells you that she wants to live a life like yours, one full of pain and suffering and so much strife, wanting to delve into the very thing you yourself have been working your entire life to protect them from, when all you want is to see them smile and live in a world of happiness, when that's all you've ever wanted for them and you know they are marching straight into a path of pain…when that happens lad, you come back to me, and tell me how you feel then."

James' green eyes were boring into the Captain's with an unsettling intensity, and Levi actually found himself feeling suddenly uncomfortable at the older man's unwavering stare, "Tell me if a man as strong as 'Humanity's Strongest' actually has the strength of will to not outpower his own daughter. Will you have the strength of will to just sit on your hands and watch her suffer, knowing full well that you have the resources to intervene, at any time? Would you save her life, even if she hated you for it? I wonder Levi, what sort of man you'd be, if you were put in a position like mine. Would it make you strong to let her go, or would it make you weak to negate your own strength as her father and just watch her suffer? And if, god forbid, anything ever did happen, would you ever, ever be able to forgive yourself?"

Levi felt tongue tied, and he almost felt the sudden impulse to turn over his shoulder and check if Petra was almost done because he certainly hadn't expected to hear such words from her father after what seemed to be a casual conversation before breakfast, and after another silence, James hung his head ever so slightly and gave a remorseful frown, "I know I don't get it right all the time. I know I can be too harsh and that maybe I've never really learned how to loosen the reigns just right but…"

Her father looked up from the table and out toward the kitchen, watching Petra move about and he gave a sad smile, "That's my entire reason for living lad, right there in human form; walking and breathing, laughing and crying and doing everything else that she does. I know that you've been looking out for her, and all jabs aside, I know full well you've done a fine job to be sure. Perhaps this may not come as a surprise to you, but I have countless letters with your name on them where Petra has talked for years about what a good Captain you are. She says you picked her out, trained her, and that you've put a lot of stock in her ever since. I won't deny that lad. It's just…"

He sighed and his smile only grew all the more, "Your investment in Petra is notable, but frankly lad, it's nothing compared to mine. I'm her father, and it was me who endured the sleepless nights, I was the one who taught her how to care for people the way she does, who made her into the woman that you're trying to steal away even now. It's easy to criticize, and I won't even say its not well deserved, but-"

"Criticize what?" Petra's voice cut in, and she was carrying a few plates of food in from the kitchen, a curious and suspicious expression across her face because the way her father was watching Levi, the way the Captain's brows were pulled together in clear puzzlement, it was obvious they were in the middle of some serious conversation.

"Ow, hot hot hot!" Petra mumbled to herself as she all but dropped the hot plate onto the center of the table, already sticking her thumb into her mouth to try and draw out the heat, "Ith evr'thing okay?"

Her father looked toward her and gave an amused smile at her clumsy entrance, "Try using a hot pad, Princess. And it's nothing to worry about, Ackerman here was just being a little critical towards one of my projects. Just trying to set him straight is all."

Petra looked between the two men with a slightly surprised expression, unaware that Levi even had a critical eye regarding construction or woodworking, and with a smile, she shook her hand a little from the minor burn she had given herself and merely moved back into the kitchen for the next plate, "That so? Seems everyone is a critic, Dad." She came back to the table a moment later and continued arranging the prepared food so it was easily accessible, "Actually Captain, hate to tell you this but my Dad is one of the best. He has an eye for detail, and doesn't settle until the project is perfect. It has to have integrity, has to be able to stand the test of time; has to be something that someone else would actually be interested in having; something of value that's worth much more than it's cheap and easy counterparts, you know? For important things like that…it's got to be something really special, that's worth keeping around."

When Levi's eyes narrowed all the more, admittedly a little stupefied by Petra's unknowing summary of everything her father had just been saying to him, her father nodded and shot him a small, yet not overly smug, nod, "Well said, Baby. What's more Ackerman, I don't like to do business with just anyone. Should someone ever find themselves on the receiving end of something I've put that much time and care into, I expect them to show it that same proper care and devotion in return."

Levi looked toward Petra, knowing full well what her father was implying, and he looked back toward James with a subdued, simple nod of his own, because it wasn't the man's outright 'blessing' but it was the closest thing to acknowledgement that he had gotten during this entire trip. "I understand, Ral."

"Good. Now, seems as I'm going to be traveling today – thanks for making such a big breakfast by the way Baby, it looks great – let's go ahead and get started here."

Levi had expected that they'd start eating, but he found himself almost freezing in place outright from sudden alarm and instant, overwhelming discomfort. At her father's words, Petra had grabbed Levi's hand suddenly, something that wouldn't have alarmed him so much, if it weren't for the fact that Petra's father had also grabbed his opposite hand at the same time – something that had almost made him jolt because after an entire week of being in the man's house, Levi was quite certain he hadn't so much as brushed him, let alone had any real physical contact, and now suddenly they were all holding hands without so much as a trace of warning.

Levi was certain his eyes had gone wide as saucers because what the actual fucking hell?

Her father had looked toward the table and began speaking, "Oh Maria, we pray in your name-"

…Oh.

Levi suddenly felt very uncomfortable, certain he had never been a part of a public prayer even once in his entire life, and because of that, he had no damn clue what the hell he was supposed to be doing right now. After stealing a single, uncertain glance toward Petra in attempts to figure out how to respond, he almost frowned in concern because she had her head bowed and her eyes closed, a gravely serious expression on her face that almost seemed to border on the pained side with the way her brows were scrunched together, and Levi slowly, hesitantly bowed his head – but he refused to close his eyes – while her father prattled on about Maria's divine protection, her generous spirit, and her gentle heart and how they sought her graciousness on his journey.

When the unexpected, greatly uncomfortable 'prayer' came to an end, at least, when her father released his hand, Levi narrowly resisted the urge to burry his hand deep within his pocket, and he instead looked over toward Petra, who was already watching him with a growing and amused smile.

She brought a hand to her mouth, almost chuckling at the 'what the fuck' expression that was so clearly displayed on his face, and try as she may, she couldn't control the light laughter that left her lips. Levi felt all the more self-conscious, because after a moment even James had given a sort of chuckle at the odd expression he was donning; apparently his expression had been a bit of a giveaway that his 'religious' values were notably different, and that their unexpected ritual had undeniably caught him off guard.

Regardless the fact that her father was sitting a mere two feet away, Petra gave a pleased smile and leaned to one side, giving him a single kiss on the cheek. Levi gave her a perturbed side glance, almost voicing a 'What was that for?' but it seemed Petra had gotten the message without the need for his vocal clarification because she had blushed and mumbled in quiet confession, "You're cute, Levi."

Cute?

That was the second time Petra had told him, at the strangest of times no less, that she thought he was 'cute', and it seemed his 'what the fuck' expression would remain on his face for some time, because this morning had been full of unexpected conversations, new revelations, and unpleasant, cultish surprises. He found himself giving a long and uneasy sigh, looking toward the food Petra had prepared and taking the opportunity to busy himself with eating breakfast before either one of the Rals could pull some weird, unexpected bullshit meant to alienate him even further.

As the trio finished eating, her father had given a light slap to the table, "Alright, I think it's time I got to work and fixed to head out. Since I've got you here Ackerman, you mind giving me a hand with the table? I've got to load it up, but also lay down a few blankets to keep the finish from getting scratched or scuffed up along the way."

Petra had looked up at once, looking between her father and Levi with sudden interest, and Levi had missed her gaze, merely giving a nod and standing up from the table passively, "Sure." He nodded toward the older man's plate, "You finished here, then?"

James gave a nod and also stood up from the table, and he gave a muted thanks when Levi wordlessly grabbed the man's plate and began working to clear the table.

Petra couldn't keep the grin from spreading across her face as she watched the two men actually get along for a change, and she stood up with a pleased exhale, moving to the kitchen and coming to stand behind Levi as she placed a hand at the center of his back, "Hey, I'll take care of all this Captain. Thanks so much."

Levi hadn't seen her expression, but at the warmth in her tone, he felt quite confident that he had done something right, and he couldn't stop the pleased sort of grin that lazily came to his face.

…

End Of Chapter

...

Yall, this to me, is one of the realest, most down to earth chapters I feel I have written yet, and I do hope beyond hope that I actually wrote it out well enough to articulate what needs to be said. It's a bit of a longer chapter, but this is also one of sections as a whole where the chapters just didn't have any majorly clean breaks so sorry if the pacing for these last few chapters has been strange. Either way, I'm afraid that for many people, this being told time and time again you're too much, not enough, and all that absolute rubbish – it hits home for many people and I hate that so much. It's important be able to recognize it as the lie that it is, and not let it define your identity, because it can really mess you up if you let it.

Now I've said it before and I'll say it again – my opinion as an author should NOT change your views on the story, because this is your experience just as much as it is mine, so if I say this is a 'good' or 'bad' character here in the A/N, that doesn't make it canon – that just makes it my opinion. (If it needs to be in the narrative, that's where I'll put it!) All that to say that I personally don't view Petra's father as this villain sort of character, but rather someone that is just SUPER bad about letting go of control and isn't gracefully handling the fact that his daughter is truly disregarding almost any and all input he has in her life, after virtually raising her as a single Dad. He's a total jerk that without a doubt has moments that are borderline mental abuse, and the fact that he feels it's all coming from a place of 'Dad knows best' makes it so he feels vindicated and that his daughter is just being immature and rebellious, so he couldn't possibly be in the wrong. Bad combination for sure.

Either way - and this is one of the comments I wanted to highlight – this arc is written largely from Levi's perspective, simply because there's no crazy development happening between Petra or James right now that needs to be focused on. As you can tell, this whole section seems to be a repeat of every argument they've already been having for eight years, but Levi, he is observant to his core and for the first time he's able to puzzle piece where Petra's insecurities have come from, why she's such a go-getter, and why she can't ever take a compliment at face value. Understanding the tender, fragility of his wife's heart is very important for him, as he's a logic based individual and her odd behavior was something that's irked him for years. I'm sure this trip for him has been filled with many 'Ah ha' moments and I've tried to convey that though small moments and bits and pieces of dialogue or observations he's made.

As for a few other comments that just made me smile: 'I know this arc is the basis of the whole story but personally I hope it ends soon haha' – this right here, is SUCH a mood. You have no idea. Obviously I can't give too much away, but as an honest heads up, nope, sorry this arc goes on for a bit longer, but I understand your pain because writing out NON STOP arguments for months on end got really old and I was very much tired of the drama at this point as well. Don't worry, changes are coming, and I think you'll like them :)

Another one regarding James' statements from last chapter – James was effectively stating that (Petra) shouldn't be proud of what she's achieved simply because she owes it up to her Captain for always stepping in for her whenever things get tough. He is refusing to acknowledge her capabilities and pinning all her achievements on her and the captain's relationship. - Also this, and thank you for wording it so eloquently. I really wanted to have someone/some character in this story say something to that effect, because to the outsider looking in, this perhaps would carry a lot of weight – that Petra's just a whiny crybaby that runs to her Captain every time to save her. Levi is of course an outstanding performer, he's a creative problem solver, and admittedly Petra has turned to him more than once when she's in a tight spot, simply because Levi comes through in a pinch!

It was very important to me that in that exact moment, Levi hold his tongue and allow Petra to stand on her own two feet and respond to those claims without his input. I loved that moment where her dad pretty much said, 'you're nothing without your Captain' and Petra looks to Levi in mortified embarrassment, and he just shrugs as though to say, 'You seriously gonna let him talk to you like that?'

There's something very powerful in that moment, because its empowering for Petra at the wordless confirmation that her Captain knows full well she can handle her own. Levi could have stepped in and told the man off, or he could have allowed Petra the opportunity to defend herself – and wouldn't you know, she did just fine. A strong woman doesn't need a partner, but a strong woman can be complimented by a partner (and visa versa!), and I tried to present that during the last chapter. Petra said her peace, she didn't need Levi to come to her rescue, never has, and then, and ONLY then, did Levi jump into the fray.

Man oh man, this is a long author's note, so I'll wrap it up here. Thank you guys for your recent thoughts, reactions, predictions, encouragements, and everything in between. Rest assured, I really do read all of your comments – ALL of them, and if you just give me a bit more time, your questions will be answered. Scouts Honor :)

Thanks guys!

~Mid