"Uh, (Y/N)? You good back there, buddy..?" Connie threw me a confused glance over his shoulder as I crouched behind him, trying to force him into a sideways walk.
"I'm fabulous, Con, thanks for asking, now haul ass!" I hissed back in a whisper, making myself as small as possible. The reason?

My mother and sister were at the barracks.

If I hadn't heard my sister's fake, pitchy giggle, I would have ran into them for sure, but I was always hyper aware. They were just across the square, giggling and flirting with some of the new recruits, and I didn't need anybody to tell me why they had come.
"I feel like a human shield..." My friend muttered as I continued to use him as such, trying to line myself up with his form the best I could to stay hidden.

"Quit complaining and keep moving! I'll explain later!" I snapped, making an immediate mental note to apologise for my hostility when I got the chance. If I ever got the chance, considering the next words I heard.
"Oh my, is that my dear daughter?!"

Oh, hell no.

I swore I surpassed the definition of speed as I leapt out from behind Connie, nearly shoving him into a stack of barrels as I took off in a sprint. The clacking of heeled shoes began to follow me, and it truly was more terrifying than the earth-shaking thud of titan feet.

Skidding, sliding, dodging and weaving, I barely took a breath as I tried to escape, their voices shouting out behind me.
"(Y/N), dear! Slow down!"
"You're too fast! I might tear my dress!"

Lungs burning, I burst into the center building, but not before slamming face first into the doors. Nearly tripping over my own feet as I raced down the halls, I crashed into someone, catching their shoulders.
"What the hell are you doing..?" Once I realised who it was, I gave them the most pathetically desperate look of my life.

"L..Levi..! Please...y..you...you gotta hide me..!" I pleaded between pants, tightening my grip on his jacket again when I heard my sister's voice.
"Oh, sister..?! Where did you go..?! How rude..!" It didn't take Levi long to register the urgency of my predicament, and I blindly allowed him to drag me to the side, basically throwing me into a room before following suit, slamming the door behind him.

Of course, it had to be the cramped cleaning supplies closet.

Uncaring at the time, I dropped down to a squat, trying to catch my breath before it fled too far away from me, but I only had to hold it again as I heard people pass by, obviously in chase.

Levi crouched down in front of me, placing a hand on my head, which seemed to ground me until they passed by. After a while, he sighed.
"I really didn't think they'd have the nerve to come here..." He mumbled, ruffling his palm further into my (H/C) hair. "Don't worry. I'm not above kicking their asses."

Oh, but I was worried. I knew exactly why they had sought me out, and they weren't going to back down easily. The relatives of ranked officers, of any regiment, were entitled to special perks. Pay outs, better food, better clothing and housing. Now that Nicholas was gone, I was going to be the tether, tying them to their status.

"Th..then you'll get arrested..." I whimpered, peering up into the shadows of his face.
"You think I haven't spent my fair share of time in a cell?" He scoffed, trying to coax me into standing, but I refused.
"Then I'll be acting captain! I..I'm not cut out for that kind of responsibility! You-"

I squeaked as Levi pressed against me, his hand moving to cover my mouth. The light through the crack of the door flickered as people walked past, their familiar voices muffled as they spoke lower. I hated that I was so scared. I wasn't a child anymore, so why did I feel like I had way back then?

"I disagree with that opinion of yours, but fine. I won't do anything to get me locked up. Still, we can't hide in here forever..." Levi murmured, slowly letting his hand drop from my mouth to rest over my shoulder, arm around my back. "...no matter how cosy it is..."

We certainly were close, but I didn't mind it. I felt safe with Levi, even with my past demons haunting the corridors outside. Leaning into his side, I felt small, even though our difference in height was slim.
"I don't know what to do...Legally, they can use me as a wallet..." I murmured, the mere thought causing my skin to crawl.

"Tch. If you can slay a titan, you can slay a pair of stuck up bitches." Levi clicked his tongue, contradicting his tone as he pulled me a little closer.
"You don't get it...My family-"
"My mother was a prostitute, and my uncle was a serial killer. It may not be the exact same, but I do understand, to a degree." He cut me off, using the hand over my shoulder to nudge my cheek lightly. "As far as I see it, they've never been your family. Only those that stand by you get that privilege."

Levi...

Trying my best to remain in control of my fear, I instinctively nuzzled into his side, still hyper aware of anything that made so much as a peep from beyond the door.
"So, that makes you part of my family, h..huh..?" I chuckled softly, the thought oddly calming.

"Well, not so much akin to biological...but I can't say I quite mind being considered a potential candidate for different kind of family member..." His voice was almost too quiet for me to hear, and our eyes met, the slight sheen of his eyes almost glowing in the dark.

Potential candidate..? Different kind of family..?

I was torn from my stupor when his lips pressed against the rise of my cheek bone, so soft that it felt like the brush of a feather. Before I had the chance to really register the action, he was on his feet, pulling me to a stand.
"How pathetic. I guess I'm getting fond of coming to your emotional rescue..."

Shifting closer to the door, he laid his ear against the wood, fingers brushing the handle.
"Levi...I...what did you mean by-"
"It seems to be clear. We aren't far from Erwin's office, and with any luck he'll be there." Completely ignoring me, Levi turned the handle, cracking the door to peek outside. "Who am I kidding? He basically lives there. If we bump into the bitch and the harlet, you just run. I can at least slow them down without doing anything that would result in arrest."

I guess my question is gonna have to wait...

"O..okay..." I swallowed dry, still beyond scared. Just looking at them made my blood run cold. Too many memories wanted to come flooding back and drown my stability. I nervously followed the ravonet into the corridor, grasping onto the back of his jacket like a meek little child as we began to walk.

He was right. Most of the time, he was the one to help me get back on my feet, even if it hadn't always been in the gentlest of ways. He was a mentor, of course, but it was impossible to see him as some kind of father figure. He wasn't exactly my hero, either. The feeling I got when close to him was so similar to how it was with Jean - with Eld - but also completely different.

"Finally!" I froze mid-step when I heard that voice, very nearly ripping Levi's jacket. "We were getting tired of your little game of hide and seek, dearest!" I didn't dare look back. I knew if I did, I would never be able to move. Levi turned his head just a fraction, eyes still pointing straight ahead.
"Run."

I can do this.

Stumbling at first, I kicked off into a flat out sprint, tuning out the ruckus behind me, apart from Levi's stern, fearsome tone.
"I don't believe you witches have clearance to be here. Leave, before I am forced to make you."

The ruckus faded a little as I ran, almost crashing into each and every wall when I turned corners, eventually spying Erwin's door up ahead. Without even thinking to knock, I burst in, nearly knocking him flying before spinning to lock it tight.

"(Y/N)..? Is something the matter?" He was calm when he addressed me, and I turned and grabbed his shirt, catching my breath.
"They found me...and I ran...and Levi...and then we...and then they...now they're..!" Nothing wanted to come out right, and the commander began to pat my back with his hand.
"Take a deep breath and try again. No ru-"

When a loud pounding began against the opposite side of the door, I instinctively flinched into him, hiding my face.
"I know you're in here, (Y/N)! Stop playing these childish games and get out here!" My mother sounded furious, but I was petrified. I had received the pointed end of her wrath before, many times. I wasn't strong enough to go through it again.

Please, just go away...

"I see." Erwin sighed, giving my back a small rub before stepping around me to open the door. I wanted to stop him, but I was too slow. As it opened, my mother's vicious scowl shifted to panic, then politeness. "Good afternoon, Linnea. Felicitas. May I ask why you're trying to bust my door down?"

Levi quickly shoved past the woman and entered the room to stand by my side. His cheek was red, and it didn't take any time at all for me to notice it was in the shape of a hand. My sister moved to flank my mother, expression neutral, but eyes sharp.

"O..oh, Commander Erwin, Sir! I apologise for our rude behaviour!" My mother, Linnea, smiled nervously, flattening the skirt of her dress with her hands. "I was just trying to speak to my darling daughter about some urgent family matters, but she seemed to think a game of tag was in order!"

All I could do was stand there and quiver, but Levi shifted to stand in front of me, giving me enough room to see, but keeping me from the brunt of their glares.
"Then Captain Levi was incredibly nasty to us! He tried to touch me, and I had no choice but to defend myself!" Felicitas added, feigning innocence.

I hate you...both of you...but I can't move...

Nodding along, Erwin kept his back straight and chest out, polite in every way, yet he still didn't invite them to enter.
"So, that's what all of this mayhem is about..." He hummed, glancing over to us before returning his gaze to my mother and sister. "Let me ask you this. What makes you believe you have any right to contact (Y/N)?"

My mother looked incredibly taken aback, hand flying to her chest in shock.
"P..pardon? She is my daughter! I have every right to her, if I so desire!" She was beginning to get snappier, and I found myself again clinging to Levi's jacket.

"Is that so? After everything you, Clifford and your children have done to her? I beg to differ." Suddenly, Erwin seemed a whole lot larger. Stronger. Likely scarier, to the two women in the doorway. Linnea's face dropped again, and this time Felicitas' followed.

"I..I don't know what you-"
"I am well aware of what you have put her through. My biggest regret is not finding out sooner. It is painfully obvious why you have suddenly taken a fresh interest in her, and I must say, Linnea, if I had known the kind of person you truly were, I would have never associated myself with you or your late husband."

The woman was looking more frazzled by the second, desperately trying to think of some kind of defence.
"E..Erwin, you know me! Why would you believe that brat over me..?! This is a family affair, so you need to step aside and keep out of it..!" She was bold, that was for sure, speaking that way to the commander.

She made a move to push past him, but he threw his lone arm out, blocking her path and taking a heavy step forward. His face was dark, and his eyebrows furrowed, but what truly silenced the room was the intensity of his crystaline eyes as they cut her down where she stood.

"If it's a family affair, then I believe I have a say. Don't you think it's about time I took an active role in my daughter's life, Linnea..?"

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***Happy Birthday, Levi. Also Merry Christmas, I guess.

Big thank you, too! 9k followers! Best gift ever!

Next Time: Paternal***