Name

It is with great pleasure that His Majesty, the King himself—

She read on—

Invite you to his palace on the evening of—

What a dumb thing to even consider doing, especially at a time like this. What does he have planned? She crumpled the thin paper the invitation was printed on, but not before admiring the calligraphy. It had only been a few months since the Recon Corps had made their first embark into Wall Sina, and already His Majesty was inviting them to stay in his palace for a night of distraction, he had put it.

Even if we were to go, does His Majesty really plan to house thousands of soldiers? Something must be up, something with his royal army? Or perhaps-

A knock. Alongside being granted the first opportunity to see the King himself, living conditions improved greatly for the soldiers. Roommates were no longer a requirement, and each soldier had the ability to live in their own barrack. Many decided to stay with their previous rooming orders, but she chose to be one of the few to move. It was closer to headquarters, and well, she chose it for notable reasons…

"You're not really planning on going to something like that, are you?"

"It's the King," Mikasa rolled her eyes, "it matters. Anyway, Armin was ordered to collect the RSVP notes, I figured I'd relay it to him since he may not make it to your barrack in time for the event tomorrow evening. Commander Erwin expects to deliver them to the king by midday today."

"I see. I don't plan on going, but do I still need to fill it out?"

"I can only assume so," Mikasa turned away, "I'll come back."

She looked at the half-wrinkled piece of paper once more, flattening it out and fumbling for a nearby pen in the open drawer. There was nothing to sign or check, only a dashed line at the bottom. She signed her name neatly there in cursive: Eve Cirlia.

Mikasa returned and knocked once more at the ajar door, carrying slips with her.

"Done?" she held out her hand and Eve handed her the signed slip.

The day went by slowly; with nothing to do, she often caught herself writing to someone, anyone. Maybe she liked her handwriting, or maybe she just wrote to write the thoughts she never had time to think about. After midday, she heard the chime of the bells ringing 15 times. She went to the headquarters, per what it signified, and found most of her peers had gathered around a poster. Names were listed on there with no title. She humored to check what it was to ensure that her name wasn't on there.

Unfortunately for her, it was. Was it the list of people that weren't attending? One of the squad leaders stood upon a makeshift podium in the middle of the crowd and announced the list of soldiers handpicked by the King to attend his dinner party. Subtly, he also noted that these were the soldiers of the past graduating classes that were ranked 10 and higher. She could hear the murmur of her classmates either in excitement or disappointment. The King sure liked to have his way in misleading even the people who saluted to him, she grumbled to herself. She hoped that formal wear would be provided…

The following evening, Eve rummaged through her belongings that she had sustained over the course of the year and a half since she'd joined the military for any sort of sign that she tried to look her best. Makeup wasn't available, and she wasn't one for such things even before joining. Her only hope was Mikasa, but unfortunately, she didn't have anything either. No one was prepared for this dinner.

Ah, fuck. Nothing to wear except for my uniform, what to do…

Historia knocked on Eve's door.

"Did you need some help getting ready?"

"Just one thing- how do they expect soldiers to have something nice to wear?"

"I could only be prepared, in my part of town we were raised in a military setting very young, but they prepped us to be wary of possible formal events," she trailed off.

"I can see why though, you have the lineage for that kind of stuff," Eve smiled a bit.

Historia smiled back, "I can help you. I can't guarantee that it'll fit though. And surprisingly, a lot of girls actually have quite a few outfits tucked away even whilst being in the military, Eve."

Eve followed Historia to her room, and nodded when Ymir answered the door. She noted that she wasn't preparing for the dinner.

"Historia, you're willing to go even without Ymir?"

"I was one of the few who didn't submit the RSVP, there wasn't anything for me to check so they technically couldn't blame me. Alas, it appears that the King only used that to mislead us and still asked for the selected few," Historia rummaged through the barred closet.

"Heh, maybe I can sneak in disguised as your date, they can't turn me down!" Ymir crossed a leg over the other as she tucked her arms under her head.

"Check the list," she trailed off, "Aha, found it. It'll be a little tight on you, like I said. But I hope it works."

Historia was beautiful but small for a soldier, and yet Eve was shorter than the Corporal. It was a plain black dress, not too revealing, much to her relief and fit for the cold of the night. The collar went all around her neck and concealed most of it, but left her back completely bare down to her hips. Eve flushed when she tried it on in front of her peers and noted that she might have to bind for that evening. She quickly thanked Historia and walked back to her room. Gathering her belongings, she packed to spend the night at the palace.

The soldiers had been searched thoroughly for any concealed weapons, but Eve was lucky enough to smuggle a flick blade that she had found whilst patrolling one night. She secured it in her pocket and collected her belongings for the trip to the palace.

Once receiving her room assignment, Eve noticed that quite a bit of her peers had gone to sleep already. Many tired out from the march into Wall Sina, but mostly because they wanted to be prepared physically for what might be in store at the dinner. Restless as she was per usual, she zipped up her boots, pulled up her hood, and went for a walk.

Columns lined the exteriors, and unscratched marble led her down a long corridor. The sky was moonless tonight; it probably hid under the thick clouds they had now that the winters were nearing. Her hands were rough and callused thanks to the cold, and she stuffed them inside of her pant pockets. She walked for what seemed like ages before she reached some locked doors. She was surprised how unguarded the place was at night until she heard some footsteps. The sound of the protruding heels probably weren't from a soldier. The figure was masked in shadows and probably couldn't see her over the darkness at the end of the corridor. As they got closer and closer to her, she held her breath both in anxiety and partial fear. She felt in her pocket, her hand sweating from grasping her flick blade too tightly.

Some light shined through from the stars above and she recognized who it was immediately. The famous and often-copied undercut of Lance Corporal Levi. His face held no emotion as usual, but she could almost assume that he didn't want to be in the palace for the dinner party. Perhaps he was going for a night walk as well?

He reached the end of the corridor and made a try at opening one of the doors she had tried earlier. It was locked, then he reached for the other and after a loud shutting of the door, she let go of her blade and made to follow him. Waiting a few seconds before opening the door herself, she slipped in quietly and saw his figure off to the distance.

The interiors were just as marvelous as the exterior of the palace she briefly noted. By the look of the shelves that lined the walls, she assumed Levi was headed to the deeper parts of the library. But what for? Surely she could have turned around and made it back to her room safely without being nosy. Alas.

She walked naturally on the carpet until she reached another set of marble flooring. Levi's footsteps echoed in the distance, but not too far such that she couldn't see him. The library had luckily been lit with flickering candles. She trailed on in search of Levi almost instinctively, until she noted she was no longer following him anymore. She looked around frantically, now lost within the deep parts of the library and with no one to follow. Had she lost him-

"Lost?"

Fuc-

"I- Just- Levi!"

He had his arms crossed and brows furrowed. He probably didn't like that she was following him. She noticed that this was the first time she had ever seen him out of uniform, but then again, she wasn't wearing hers either. The usual cravat still graced his neck, and his dress shirt was still immaculate as always, aside for the sleeves being rolled up quite hastily. He wore black pants however and the heels she heard earlier were of dress shoes and not of the usual boots that she had adorned. He waited for her to respond to his question.

"I was taking a walk and yes, you could say I'm lost," she flushed.

"Lost without me?" he smirked.

The light from the candles marked his face in a nightmarish way –he stepped closer and closer to her until she backed into the staircase behind her. He placed both hands by her face before leaning in closer.

"Ah, so you are. You were following me weren't you?"

"Maybe," she murmured sheepishly.

He sighed and released her from his gaze to look elsewhere.

"I was merely on a walk myself until I heard footsteps behind me. To think it was you following me."

"My apologies, I should probably head to my chambers. I didn't mean to stalk you, Corporal."

"Whatever," he grumbled.

He didn't appear to be very pleased with her response. Did he want her to follow him? She couldn't tell as his gaze was deviated away from hers. The long pieces of his hair shielded his eyes from view. Her eyes traced his chin, and then his jawline thoroughly. She swallowed, as her eyes hungrily engulfed the view of the small view of his neck. She couldn't help but blush and think about their previous encounters. Would he have her his way again? I bet he doesn't even know my name.

And that was okay, she quickly agreed, that was okay.

"Say, Corporal Levi. Do you even know who I am?"

"We abandon who we are once we become soldiers."

"Yes, a mere soldier but, what about my name?"

"Name?" he looked at her, "of course I know your name. Give me your identification number and-"

"Nevermind, Corporal."

She turned her heel and marched off. Fucking her senseless and not even knowing her name? Perhaps it was because she was free, and Levi could have his wicked way with her without having to pay. The thought of it made her angry beyond belief. She clenched her knuckles and ran off at the speed of light though to no avail. Levi didn't bother following her.

The night continued on, and Eve laid restlessly in bed. Her eyes stared outside of the window, the moon a crescent laughing in mockery. Her throat was dry and hurt from the words she spouted at the Corporal. Did she want acknowledgement? She knew she wouldn't be able to get it. She was a soldier, disposable and meant nothing aside from her ranking. But why did it hurt so?

Amidst her thoughts, she felt a tear trail down her face. She clenched her teeth in hate and anger, and she could only be angry with herself. Nothing hurt more than being used and not knowing it. But just the thought of Levi made her insides yearn in want and need, as much as she didn't want to admit it. But it was no use. No one would kiss her so fervently as Levi would. No one would lick away the fire burning so deep inside of her, want constantly growing with every move Levi would make. She felt her wetness growing, even whilst her hate for Levi grew. She covered her mouth in fear that someone would hear her as she let out a soft cry both in want of pleasure and recognition.

At the very least, he didn't have to make it so obvious that he didn't care. Perhaps he took any and every woman he wanted and among all of them, his Neanderthal memory could not serve him to remember her clearly. The thought of that made her sob even more so, all the while her face heated in anger and lust. She forced herself to stop crying and laid her head on the pillow beneath her. She looked up at the ceiling before slowly shutting her eyes to try and sleep. Her hands wandered further down her body, now properly dressed for sleep. She could feel the heat beneath her radiating and flushed pink, no doubt. She dared to place one finger to feel her wetness.

Eve touched her clitoris gingerly and let out a low moan. Just one touch and the wetness stuck to her finger. She dared to continue. Her brow twitched in pleasure and she clenched her eyes tighter as she entered one finger inside of her. She could feel her sex throbbing as she fingered herself warily. All the while, she could only imagine one person fingering her. The thought of Levi inevitably entered her mind -his fingers so expertly moving inside and out of her all the while massaging her clitoris, as if he knew how to do so all his life. Her breath hitched as if she could feel his breath along her skin, kissing and leaving bite marks along her body. He would murmur something dirty in her ear, and it would multiply her lust twofold.

"Levi…" she whispered, biting her lip as she felt her orgasm nearing.

Her body tossed and turned instinctively to Levi's touch. Her lips parted and she began to let out whimpers and moans. The feel of his touch was amazing, nothing she could ever reproduce on her own, but this would suffice.

Seulement me regarder…

She squinted her eyes; her imagination got the best of her and displayed what looked like Levi in front of her, finger fucking the senses out of her. She turned away, a tear trailing down the side of her face. She let out one more quiet moan before she felt her body spasm in sensitivity. Her insides clenched the finger she had inserted, throbbing and wanting something more. Her release was enough to tire Eve out. She proceeded to turn over and fall asleep.

Only look at me.

Dinner was dreadful. Soldiers raised without individuality suddenly birthed personalities of pretentious colors. Eve eyed them all cautiously in their pompous dresses and suits that matched their attitudes, laughing away like all that lived within Wall Sina. She took a sip of the champagne a servant in the palace had handed her earlier. She coughed and held onto her throat. Disgusting.

She looked at the clear liquid inside of the glass. Her gaze suddenly deviated and looked deeper within it when she noticed Levi across the room. He had been conversing with some of the girls she had glanced at earlier. A sudden twitch of jealousy entered her mind, and her heart. She was invisible to him, and she knew that.

Is that okay?

She turned only to hit the figure behind her. Eve looked up to see both Reiner and Berthold staring down at her.

"Something wrong, Eve?"

Even they knew her name.

"Everything's fine. Champagne sure does taste awful though, don't you think?"

"Uh well, it is an acquired taste, so they say," Berthold shrugged sheepishly as he took a sip out of his.

Even with heels, the inseparable pair towered over her. They made quiet chatter amongst the louder crowds. All the while, a pair of impatient eyes bore into her back, all the while unbeknownst to Eve.

The evening dragged on and over time Eve's taste buds became numb to the taste of the champagne in her mouth. She found herself carelessly carrying conversation with whoever she encountered until she caught herself drinking herself to oblivion against one of the walls of the palace. The air was suffocating, she could hardly breathe. Turning away, the door behind her opened abruptly and she stumbled out into the familiar corridor. Air quickly rushed into her lungs and she began to saunter down the marble path. Her heels made a familiar sound to the stranger that she followed the other night. Haziness took over her head and she tripped onto one of the marble cracks. She made it no ordeal to stay put much longer and began to run, empty glass still in hand.

Both doors were open this time and she quietly slipped herself inside the library. This time, she walked up the staircase, twisting and turning along with her hazy vision, she could feel tears streaming down her face. The alcohol finally caught up to her and her lightweight tolerance. The stairs seemed to go forever on, but she followed it all the way to the top. A small room contained a flickering light, and she felt drawn to it. Candles no longer lighted the dark hallways.

There in the room, sat a single desk with a matching chair. Books lined the shelves, not ever missing a single slot, except for one. A ladder rested against that shelf and Eve went to go examine it.

I, II, III-

"Need the fourth one?"

She didn't dare to turn around when she heard his voice. Ah, fu-

He stood behind her and slotted the book back in its place. She didn't breathe, didn't move a single muscle.

"Any reason you're not answering me or facing me, Eve?"

She bit her lip in fury; no doubt he had looked into the files to find her name, and she wouldn't let him persuade her otherwise. She would not give him the chance to look at her, or talk to her. Another tear streamed down her face and she looked away when he tried to turn her face towards him. She didn't say anything, and swallowed her tears. Levi didn't make any movements, only folded his arms. He would play at her game. Her arms were placed next to one another, using the bookshelf as leverage. Levi took the opportunity to cuff one and swung the arm to cuff the other.

"W-What are you-"

"So now you talk?"

She bit her lip once again.

"If you're not going to talk, then I'll make you talk," was the last thing she heard before she found his lips kissing along the bare of her back.

Oh, right. She was in a dress, in thin silk. Malleable and very, very easy to tear. I'm sorry, Historia. She continued to stay quiet; this wasn't what she wanted. Eve breathed through her nose, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of making her moan, or whimper or-

"Nnn.."

"Hmm?"

"No.."

"Sentences, Eve."

His fingers traced the handcuffs on her wrists and then up her arms. Chills ran up her spine, and goose bumps graced both arms. Still, she did not speak. Levi found his way to the back of her neck where three buttons lined the back above the huge slit of her back. Grabbing one of her arms, he twisted her around to look at her face. Dried tears. He was gorgeous. With heels on, they were the same height, unfortunately, and she stared straight into his eyes, never changing. Instead of a cravat, he wore a plain black tie that complemented the black suit he wore. Any girl would have wanted him, and with good reason too.

"Names don't matter that much do they, Eve?"

He was using her name, and she knew it was on purpose. She looked down, only to have Levi grab her by her chin. He forced her to look into his eyes once more.

"You don't even call me my name, Eve."

"No, they don't matter. Especially when they're disposables," she muttered sarcastically.

"Oh, that's why you're angry, isn't it?"

His hands found their way to cave her in once more like their encounter the other night, one on each side of her head gripping the edges of the shelves on the bookshelf.

"Then, care to tell me more?" he murmured huskily.

He always knew how to steal her breath away. But this time, she wouldn't let him have his way with her.

"You don't care do you? At least say that you don't, or stop trying to do whatever it is you're doing! If I'm a disposable to you, then use me and get it over with already. You don't even know my name, you know nothing about me and yet, you think it's completely-"

"Fine."

"Fine?" she asked in bewilderment, "Corporal, you shouldn't do this to every girl who will let you have your way with her. It'll turn sour very quickly."

He turned to look at her once more, face inches from hers.

"Every girl? And what do you mean by that, Eve?"

"I mean nothing! Just let me go already."

"Is that literally or figuratively?"

"Why do you have to twist my words? Am I your plaything? To play with to your heart's content until you're pleased? And then when I'm no longer wanted, you'll just leave me out to rot? Then do it, do it quickly, please," she whispered, "I beg of you."

She couldn't take it anymore, the wants and needs she held back for so long, she no longer just wanted. If she were to want, then she equally needed to be loved by Levi. To be loved was out of the question, and she wouldn't dare to spit it out even if he would fuck it out of her.

"Please, it's only a selfish thought of mine, don't make me say it. If there's nothing more you want to do with me, then unlock me and let me go," she turned away, face flushed, "you'll give others the wrong idea, and get my hopes up."

"And what do you mean by that?"

"I don't have the will to say. "

He lifted both of her arms up, and she did so willingly as she was caught off guard.

"I'll ask you then," he leaned closer, wrapping an arm around her waist, "do you have the will to be taken by me, right here, right now?"

"I… I don't and I won't.. let you," Eve cried.

He kissed her brow, and then at her tears, then her forehead, and both her eyelids.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

She looked up in disbelief that he would apologize.

"If you won't willingly let me, then I'll have to take what's mine."