Chapter 6

Hours seemed to pass as they made their way home, Hanji preparing a medal ceremony for Crystal to be recognized as a War Hero when they got back. Armin was logging her wounds into a folder, keeping her request of keeping track of her wounds true to himself.

"I'm surprised she is still alive." The pilot said, "She took on their entire battalion."

"That's why i chose her specifically to carry out this job. She was our best and only chance at succeeding." Hanji sighed, "Now I get to meet with the leader of these people and sign the armistice."

"Which means that we have at least formed a treaty with every country we can that was threatening our existence. Now we can go home and... retire." Armin said with a smile, "I can pass on the Colossal Titan in two years, by then i want to have kids."

"Yeah... We'll all be able to take a break." Hanji smiled, and they all watched as they started to reach Paradis.

Crystal stirred as they started to hover into Paradis's skies, and opened her eyes.

"Crystal." Levi said sternly, noticing her shifting, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I became a net." Crystal joked, "There's 9 new holes in my body."

"Yeah... you were practically dying..." Levi said softly, and Crystal sat up.

"I don't remember much of what happened..." Crystal muttered, "My head hurts."

"I bet it does..." Levi got up, "Let me get you something to drink."

"Thank you, Captain." Crystal smiled up at him, and he huffed before leaving. Coming back he noticed her looking at her wounds, "Could've died to the ones in my stomach."

"Yeah... They were luckily shallow." Levi put a cup of black tea into version, and she took it happily, "You idiot... you knew they would ambush you didn't you?"

"No. They took me completely by surprise." Crystal said as she sipped on the tea, "But I did send you guys away because you were distracting."

"Sheesh. Sorry for being annoying for caring about you." Levi said harshly and Crystal laughed.

"Yeah... I accept your Apology." Crystal said coyly, as Levi sat down and she looked at his face, for a moment neither of them made a move, "Ya know... I'm sorry too."

"For what?"

"Slapping you... the bruise is still there." Crystal said with a smirk, and Levi frowned at her.

"Don't apologize. It was my fault..." Levi looked away, "I know how much it means to you to follow orders... so it was foolish and hurtful for me to tell you not to."

Crystal slowly worked herself up into a standing position in front of him, and he looked up into her light blue orbs.

"I'm glad you don't hate me..." Crystal smiles sweetly and Levi feels his breath hitch.

"I could never hate you..." Levi looked away as he spoke, and he felt her eyes examining his face, "I wasn't able to give you an answer before... right?"

"Oh. I don't expect one." Crystal said quickly, dismissing his attempt to confess, "I am more than fine with loving you from where I stand... right here in front of you."

"Crystal..." Levi reached out to her and pulled her to him, making her eyes widen, "I wasn't able to give tou an answer because... I was trying to put the pieces together in my head."

"What... pieces?" Crystal cocked her head off to the left and Levi sighs before burying his face against her neck.

"Getting jealous of your relationship with Jean.. Spitefully thinking that because you didn't blush around him that you still had stronger feelings for me... Getting worried out of my mind whenever you spoke of hating yourself." Levi held her tightly against himself, rubbing his head against her stomach, "I hold being professional very high because i dont want you cadets to find me weak."

"Levi... what are you trying to say?" Crystal put her arms down, placing a hand on the back of his head, and he could start to hear her heart racing in her body.

"I... i dont know how to say it." Levi mumbled and Crystal chuckled. Suddenly her soft hand caressed his cheek before lifting his face to meet her eyes, and he felt like the world around him slowed down.

"Levi... If you can't say it with words, say it with action." Crystal's thumb weakly went over his cheek and he gulped. Was he really going to take advantage of her again?

"Crystal..." Levi lifted up and met her lips with his, when he felt how chapped her lips were but he could finally taste her. No alcohol, nothing but the light

earthy taste of Black Tea. Crystal shivered in his hold, and he cracked open one of his eyes to find two streams of tears going down her cheeks. Pulling away, he wiped away her tears, "Why do you cry...?"

"Because..." Crystal muttered, "Its time for you to wake up."

"What?" Levi's eyes widen and suddenly his vision shifted to seeing Hanji in front of him.

"I didn't mean to wake you up." Hanji said quietly, "Just checking on Crystal before we land."

"She... hasn't woken up yet?" Levi asked shakily and Hanji shook her head.

"Why? Did you have a dream?" Hanji smiles softly, "She'll be awake soon enough."

"Right..." Levi muttered and looked down at the girl as she sleeps, "Hanji..."

"Yes Levi?"

"Can... Captains fall in love with Cadets?"

"Professionally or Personal opinion?" Hanji asked, and Levi looked away, "Professionally it comes with issues. You have to make sure your higher ups are aware of the situation, but you also can't let it interfere with missions." Hanji explained, before smiling softly at Levi, "Personally I believe that this life is too short to worry about what rank the person you fall in love is."

"Right... thanks." Levi nodded, understanding that Hanji was telling him that it was his choice, and silently letting him know she was okay with it, "Do you think... she'd ever go for someone like me?"

"Are you kidding?" Hanji laughed, "Crystal was so madly in love with you she wrote a song about you."

"She what?" Levi snapped his head up in her direction, and Hanji started to laugh.

"It was a game of Truth or Dare, when she told everyone, except you, that she had a major crush on you. She expressed how real it was by singing a song about you in front of us."

"... Weird." Levi smiled slightly, but then he looked back at Hanji, "Wait you're telling me you knew this entire time and somehow didn't let it slip?"

"Well, a girl's crush is exciting but when its someone she's afraid of, you kind of learn to respect her wishes."

"But why tell me now?"

"You two obviously made love before." Hanji said, "I thought she would tell you herself."

"To be honest... i dont know if she did or not."

"Wow Levi. Never took you to be so blind..." Hanji chuckled before she retired to her cabin, and Levi stared down at Crystal.

She did confess her feelings to him, but whether the alcohol affected that or not isn't up to him to decide. He would just wait until she came to him again, and he would ask her right then and there.

He couldn't risk going back to sleep, he couldn't see her in his dreams anymore. He wanted her to be his.

The trip back to Paradis was long, since most of the scouts just wanted to sleep. But soon Paradis started to come into view and Levi thought for a moment he was dreaming again because Crystal started to stir.

"Ow..." She muttered, and Levi felt horrible, "Fuck that hurts."

"Don't try to move. Your gunshot wounds aren't healed." Levi said simply, and Crystal looked over at him.

"No wonder my arm hurts so damn much. If they had a blade I'd probably be without an arm."

"You'd be dead." Levi said sharply before getting up, "Would you like something to drink?"

"Yes please..." Crystal shifted, trying to push herself up but she accidentally used her right arm, the one with the gunshot wounds and she fell back to the floor with a harsh crash.

"Idiot." Levi walked over and helped her to sit up against one of the walls, "I'll be back." Levi walked towards the built in kitchen where a pitcher of Black tea was simmering to stay hot.

Pouring her a cup, he wondered if she really would like this, or if she'd tell him she hated black tea. Walking back out to where she was he found her dozing off.

"Oi. Crystal." Levi said softly, and her eyes opened to look up at him, "I... got you a cup of Black Tea." Putting it in front of her face, he watched her expression carefully.

But as she took the hot cup of tea, she didn't show anything, it was like she had retreated to the darkest corner of her mind. Lifting the cup to her lips, she blew on it gently, before taking a sip.

"Black tea isn't for everyone so if you don't like it, I'll get you coffee."

"No, this is fine..." Crystal muttered, before taking a proper drink of the liquid.

"So... tell me..." Levi looked away as he sat down next to her, "What makes you follow our orders?"

"I was alone..." Crystal mutters, "Ever since Wall Maria fell when I joined the scouts. I lived all by myself in a cottage. No one to talk to, for 5 years. I was training to kill Titans even after Wall Maria was reclaimed." Crystal reached up and rubbed the back of her neck, "We had moments of meeting Commander Pixus and Commander Nile. But neither of them seemed to really appreciate a new recruit. But there Hanji was... crying on stage as she admitted she was nervous. At that moment i determined that i would stay. Even as my fellow comrades tried to pull me with them."

"So... its a respect thing..." Levi muttered and Crystal nodded.

"I barely remembered how to talk... but I think I've gotten better at it." Crystal took another drink and Levi felt himself staring at her lips as they caressed the cup.

"Look... Crystal-"