I do not own Shingeki no kyojin

Bruises.

Chapter 10

People died every day. Every single one. People got ill and died, people got old and died, maybe they had an accident. Maybe they were devoured by a titan. Perhaps they died trying to save someone, their last will could have been to protect their friend. Some died together, others died all by themselves. Some died in the arms of a loved one, others died wishing they had a beloved one, someone who they could share their last breathe with, someone who would never forget them.

It was all part of living as a prey, knowing that at any second a single titan could break the walls, letting all kinds of titans in. Everyone felt that way after the armored and colossal titan attacked, it had scarred the human race for ever. Though, there was a group of people who always carried that with them; the scouting legion.

No one forced them to join the division, every soldier joined hoping they'd make a change in humanity's future. At a certain point, certain soldiers lost their conviction on such belief, but, there were always the ones who never lost hope.

Sasha believed to be one of those.

She thought about that at night, not always, just when she couldn't sleep. Those thoughts were what kept her awake. It was both a good and a bad thing, it motivated her, but it also terrified her, it made some tears slip out of her eyes.

The sleepless nights started to slowly cease since she had welcomed Levi into her life; since they had welcomed each other into their lives. They had started to cease even before they became a couple; when they started to talk. She simply felt safe next to him, safe and overjoyed, he felt at ease and lively. Somehow the problems they had seemed to vanish when they were together.

Levi didn't like admitting that he had already got used to Sasha's presence in such a short time. They both had. Even if they weren't together all the time, they knew they had each other's back.

Sasha felt like a child. She understood that Levi was highly important for the female titan capture, it was reasonable that he spent so much time locked in Erwin's office along with Hanji, Armin and Eren, but she didn't like it. It was despiteful that after they had been so close, they couldn't spent some time together. Training was as demanding as ever, and whenever she had free time, Levi would be with Hanji trying some things out. The burning desire to spent time with him made her feel childish, it wasn't like they had been together for a long time, still, that didn't mean she didn´t have the right to burst into his office to at least say hello.

Sasha wasn't the only one burning with desire; Levi was, too. He wanted to see her. As much as he disliked to think this way, he really didn't know how the capture would end, what the results would be. Levi was perfectly aware of Erwin´s way of thinking: it didn't matter how many lives were lost in order to save humanity.

He wanted to be with her before anything undesirable happened.

...

"Why did we come all the way here?" She asked as she read the sign in the small tea house.

"Because I like it here" He opened the door for her, she replied with a smile. An old woman welcomed them with warm eyes, and directed them to a table next to a fire. Sasha had an affable feeling when she entered the place. Starting by the woman's amiable face, the dim light that made them feel closer, the smell of home and tenderness.

It was a small, cozy place. It was obvious that only the ones that knew the woman went there, it wasn't attractive on the outside, it just seemed like a lifeless house. The only thing that indicated that there was life inside of that place, was a small, old sign that said nothing but tea house.

"But it is quite far away"

"It doesn't matter"

"But you know, we do have to wake up early every single morning, and, it is kind of tough"

"Fine" He crossed his arms and pierced with his cold gray eyes. The result was the same as usual, her violently blushing "I'll take that as a you not wanting to spend time with me"

"N-no" She started to shake her hands in front of him vigorously "I didn't mean that" She lowered her gaze "Of course I want to spend time with you" She breathed out.

She wasn't sure how she felt whenever this happened, she felt foolish, something that she didn't appreciate. She had come across lots of people who thought she was rather simple-minded, sometimes she didn't care, sometimes she proved them wrong. She didn't feel like Levi thought she was a fool, but sometimes she did feel like she made a fool out of herself in front of him.

"Oi, brat, what are you looking at?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

She didn't reply, she simply shrugged off her thoughts and grinned at him.

"How did you find out about this place?" Sasha asked, her eyes wandering around the place.

"Who do you think buys the tea that some of you pretty much steal and drink?" He scoffed.

Sasha remembered one time that she and Connie had found black tea and drank some.

"I thought the government gave it to us, you really shouldn't put it in the kitchen if you don't want anyone to drink it" She threw him a smug look.

"Now, that was a good joke, the government wouldn't give us something as expensive as black tea. And even if they did, it would be the leftovers of both the military police and the stationary guards" His eyes were the only ones that moved, although he sounded rather offended when he said that, he didn't let his face show it.

"You still haven't answered my question"

He frowned, his emblematic frown, the kind of frown he used with her. The one that meant "fine, you were able, somehow, to get what you wanted"

"Well, Braus" He exhaled, and just by that, she knew that whatever he was going to say, would mean a lot "Sometimes work gets to consuming, and you need to clear your head, leave it whit out a single fucking thought. You have to wander around"

"To let your body decide without the help of your mind" She completed for him.

Sasha reached for Levi's hand, he responded immediately to her touch and started to draw circles on her hand with his thumb.

They were interrupted by the old lady; Sasha didn't even remember she was actually there, that there was someone besides her and Levi. She placed two white cups in front of them, the only thing she said was enjoy.

By the smell of it, Sasha knew it was jasmine tea, her favorite. What a strange old lady, she thought. She took a peek at Levi's cup and guessed it was mint tea. She added two spoons of sugar, Levi, on the other hand, didn't add anything.

She took a sip of tea. She truly had never tasted a tea like this, not even in Dauper, there was something about it. She looked at Levi, by the look of his eyes she knew that the night was going to be long.

"So" She started "What are we doing to do for the rest of the night?" She laughed at the end of the sentence, if she had sounded flirty, she felt that she had ruined it.

"Unfortunately" He winced "We do have to go back"

Sasha already knew this, but, deep down, she wanted to spend the rest of the night with him, to make up for the time they hadn't spent together. Again, she felt childish to feel that way.It wasn't a long time, they were only days, besides, it's not like we've been in some long relationship. So she just nodded. Trying to hide what she was actually thinking.

"We still can make the best out of it"

...

"Now that I think about it, it's pretty messed up that we spend the entire day locked down, don't you think" She said as soon as the castle's main door came into view.

"Sure, let's forget about training, and let's just hang around in the suburbs. I mean, why not? It should be fun to watch all the titans eat everyone"

At first Sasha stared at him with an amused look. He was joking, but his face said otherwise, his jaw was clenched, and he was looking rather fiercely at the door, all of this made Sasha giggle.

"Oi, what are you laughing at?" He turned his face to her, this time with his frown.

"Nothing" She shrugged "I also thought it would be funny to watch all that"

It was late at night, they weren't sure how late it was, they just knew it was late. They walked together in the hallways, in complete silence. When they passed in front of some rooms, they were able to hear the heavy breathing from the ones inside. It felt like they were in complete intimacy. She didn't want to wake anyone up, so she didn't talk, she just took glances at Levi. He looked tired, dark circles were starting to form under his eyes, which only made his look heavier. Or maybe it was just the lack of light that made him look that way. She didn't want to break apart, nor did he. None of them said anything. They were walking towards Sasha's room, Sasha's empty room. She had already spent nights alone there. Tonight she didn't want that to happen.

He opened the door for her, darkness opening in front of them, the room seemed so somber in front of her eyes. Still, not a single word came out of her mouth. Right before she entered, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him, just one pull was enough to make her body fall into his. She placed her hands on his chest, her palms pressing his pectorals lightly. He didn't do nor said something. Her hands stayed there, going slightly up and down from his breathing, she moved her hands lower, carefully and slowly tracing him, feeling every single part of his torso. He placed his hands on her waist, he didn't start to touch her. He was enjoying Sasha's careful touch. The fabric of his shirt didn't allow her to feel him how she now wanted to. It was a miracle that she wasn't bright red, but, it was the first time she had him like this, the first time she was able to fully touch him, nothing else mattered.

He brought her face closer to his, pulling her gently by her chin, her hands still busy in his torso, he read her eyes with his, the desire inside of them, and as their eyes closed, he captured her bottom lip with his. It was the kind of warmth that only they could give to each other, they couldn't find that tenderness in someone else. It didn't last long. When they broke apart she smiled at him.

"Spend the night next to me" He breathed out in her ear.

She was speechless, replying only with a nod.

As soon as they entered to the commander's room, she pushed him into the wall and started to unbutton his shirt. Starting shyly, stopping only when he grabbed her hands, making her smile out of embarrassment. He brushed his lips against hers, making her moan. He let go of her hands, and she returned them to his half naked torso, she kissed him, this time their lips didn't just brush, the fully joined, they started to slide, to glide together perfectly, without any forced movement. He slid his hands under her shirt, making her gasp. With his thumb, he started to caress her hipbones. When his tongue touched Sasha's lips, she continued to unbutton his shirt, the shyness disappearing completely. She took off his shirt and threw to the floor. He was completely different from how she had expected him to be. He was soft, her hands moved smoothly against his skin. She could feel every muscle that his body had to offer. His face looked so tough, but her hands weren't tracing something harsh.

They broke apart panting. Their noses brushed, as if they didn't want to be away from the other. They hugged, tightly, she buried her face on his neck, she knew that his face was flushed when he did the same as her.

"We certainly made the best out of this night" Her voice was strained.

"We did" He scoffed.

He started to kiss her neck as his hands traveled to the bottom of her shirt. Playing a little with the first bottom, she moaned when he licked her neck. He unbuttoned the first one, his lips following the same path as his hands. Her heavy breathing was making her chest go up and down, when he unbuttoned the second one she started to feel a little uncomfortable. His hands went further, oblivious of how she was starting to feel.

"No" She hissed "W-wait"

He looked up to her, she was looking away, her eyes focused on the door knob. He took his hands away from her. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"What is it?" He already knew the answer, which only made a hint of annoyance appear on his face.

"I-I just don't want to" She bit her bottom lip.

He looked down at her unbuttoned shirt and sighed.

"Sasha" He cupped her cheek with his hand, she turned her eyes to his "You do know that this could be the last time we see each other"
He kissed her gently.

"Are you really saying this?" Her eyes started to get watery as she took his hand off her cheek "I already know that, trust me, I know, and that doesn't mean that we have to have sex in order to die in peace"
She took some steps back

"It sounds pretty shitty if you say it that way"

"Well" She sighed "That's how you're sounding" Looking directly at his eyes, she cracked a smile. He felt the tenderness in her eyes, the calmness.

His only answer was his hand passing trough his hair.

"These have been hectic days, I spend most of my day either with Erwin or Hanji, you have no idea of how annoying that is"

"You get more mean when you're tired"

"What?" He frowned

"Come" He reached her arm out to him "You're tired. You need to rest"

He took her hand, and she walked them to the bed.

I'm sorry I updated SO late, I was sorta blocked. Thank you for reading, and thank you if you continue to read this story after so so long. I really hope you like this chapter. Please review.