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body div#devskin0 hr { }

Clouds of fog wavered through the air with every breath the ebony horse released. The snow crunched under the hooves as it slowly stepped further into the scene.
White little and big dots of snow danced down from the sky making it hard to look far into the distance. A forest was nearby, the trees fully covered with the white powder. But even in the fur of the horse the snowflakes got caught and slowly melted away with the heat. Before that they showed their full beauty as a star. A star of ice.

Winter hadn´t many colors to share. The dominating one was white with different shades of grey and black. Although it hadn´t the beauty of summer it still was pretty in its own way. It was calming, reassuring. Silence was wrapped around everything as if it was lulled in sleep.
Even the snowfall itself made no noise compared to the rain in summer.

Many people couldn´t stand the silence. So winter was always a depressing time for most of them. Although it was also the time where love would be celebrated in different ways. The coldness was the other thing nobody liked at winter.

You didn´t mind neither the silence nor the cold. For you, winter was the best time of the year. It was a sad time, you admitted. But still. You never felt as alive as being outside in the snow. Feeling the snowflakes melting on your warm skin. The breath being released in visible fogs.

A content sigh escaped your lips as you pushed your legs slightly in the sides of your horse. Following your unspoken command it soon changed into a slow trot. The forest was only a few more miles away.

Despite the snowfall it was not as cold as in the last days. Still you were wearing several layers of clothes and you had wrapped your emerald green cloak firmly around your small form. A warm scarf and a hat protected you from the cold breeze. You also wore gloves so that your hands wouldn´t freeze.

The snow in this untouched part of the land was way deeper than near the HQ. Mainly because a certain clean freak always made sure that at least some of the cadets cleared the snow around the base. Luckily you were helping commander Erwin for quite a while now and didn´t need to do those chores anymore. You had asked him to get a few hours off this afternoon. Surprised he approved your request in the end. It was the first time that you had ever done this.

But it was important and the reason why you were here now.

Eventually you reached the edge of the forest. You rode a few more miles deeper into it before you stopped. Slowly you got off of your horse´s back. Looking to the unseen path in front of you, you went with your hand through the fur of your friend. The snowfall hadn´t stopped yet and an end could not be seen either. Supposedly it would go on like this for several days.

Your hand wandered all the way up the neck of your horse to its face. Along with this motion you stepped in front of your old companion. Looking deep into his dark eyes you felt yourself relaxing even more. You were ready.

Pressing your forehead against your horse you closed your eyes for a while. You listened to the unheard sounds of the winter, felt the breeze and the snow on your skin. The warm breath of your horse. You took everything in and held on the feeling filling up your heart.

Sadness slowly engulfed your heart, but not in a depressing way. It was just a sadness everyone felt at least once in his life. A sadness of being all alone in the world.
Tears sprung to your eyes and one lonely tear escaped rolling down your cold cheek.

Eventually you let go of your horse and wrapped the reins around a near branch, securing it there. Then you went back to the side of your horse never taking away the hand on its fur. In one of the saddle bags was a little bouquet of flowers. Blue forget-me-nots.

Holding them in your right hand you went on through the forest alone. The snow was not so deep that it made it difficult to walk through it. It was comfortable as if walking on feathers. At least in your opinion. The crunch of every step you took echoed in the air. There was nothing more than you, the trees and the snow. And the silence.

As you reached a little glade you stopped. Another sigh escaped your lips, not as content as before. Closing your eyes for a second you prepared yourself. Then you slowly went to the middle of the glade and kneeled down. You placed the flowers on the white blanket. With a finger you caressed the petals of the forget-me-nots admiring the beauty of them. Another tear was spilled falling down on the snow leaving a little whole behind.

You stood up again. One last look towards the flowers and you eventually turned around to go back. On the edge of the glade grey blue eyes pierced into your (e/c) ones.

Surprised you saluted only sloppy to your superior.

“At ease.” Levi said after he had clicked with his tongue making a slight ‘Tch’-sound.

Your arms fell limply to your sides again. Slowly Levi approached you. Coming to a halt right next to you he looked back to the place where you had laid down the flowers.

“You shouldn´t be that far away from HQ at this unkindly weather.”

“It´s not unkindly.” You objected.

He shot you a glare.

“Considering that your nose glows as bright as the one of that certain reindeer, it is.”

Blushing slightly you cupped your nose with a gloved hand. His gaze went back to the flowers.
Examining him intently you started to ask yourself why he had been here. No one knew that place apart from you. You were the only human being that had touched this place before.

“Were you following me, Corporal?”

Grey blue eyes met yours once more. His gaze was rather apologetic than his usual stoic one.

“The commander was concerned. Not many soldiers are asking for a few hours free time and spend them outside in the snow. Only to…” he trailed off.

You had heard those stories before. In this time of the year the mourning was the most dreadful. Winter depression spread among the soldiers like wildfire. Some couldn´t bear it anymore and went away to kill themselves. To end their suffering.

“Don´t worry. I am not here to ruin the pure white with the ugly red of blood.”

“Good.” he said already turning around. “Let´s go back then.”

“Don´t you like the snow?”

He looked back at you. “No.”

A slight smile crossed your face. You nodded and started to follow him as suddenly a cracking sound reached your ears.

Levi immediately spun around and laid an arm protectively around your waist pulling you close to his chest. Before he could make any sound you pressed your index finger against his lips. Your gazes were directed to the side the sound was coming from. Neither of you dared to breath.
You could feel Levi´s rapid heartbeat against you, but your heart didn´t drum less angrily.

Soon the cracking could be heard once more followed by some crunching sounds. Closer this time.
The arm around your waist pulled you even closer to the warmth.
And then the origin of the noise appeared next to a tree a few feet away from you.

It was a little rabbit.

Relief took over you and you inhaled the much needed air desperately. You put the finger away from Levi´s lips but instead of letting your arm fall to your side you rested your hand on his broad chest. Although the both of you noticeably relaxed your heartbeats didn´t slow down too aware of the closeness of the other´s body.

The rabbit sniffled by lifting up his head one ear cocked to the side. And then he disappeared behind the next tree.

Now that it was gone your gazes met and locked. Levi´s warm breath tickled your cold cheeks making them blush slightly. His other arm wrapped itself around your waist as well. Your heartbeat increased even. Then he slowly leaned closer to you until your nose touched his, your eyes never leaving each other. Levi blinked and backed away a few inches.

“You´re cold.” And then he let go off you and grabbed you by the arm. “Let´s get back to the horses before you get sick.”

Nodding you followed him; well you were most likely dragged behind him.
Soon you reached the place where your horse was supposed to be. But it was not there anymore.
The branch was parted from the tree.

He signified you to stay where you were. Slowly he approached the tree and kneeled beside it. After examining the ground he stood up again.

“Lucky for you, this branch was a thin one. Your horse wouldn´t have been able to run away if this wouldn´t been the case. It is probably already back at the HQ.”

“A wolf was here.” he added as he saw your questioning gaze. “Guess you´ll need to ride with me then.”

His horse was at the edge of the forest. You were walking beside him all the way there the cold of the winter slowly slipping through your clothes. You started to freeze with every new step you took, teeth slightly chattering against each other.

He got on his horse and stretched a hand out to you as the two of you eventually reached the edge of the forest. You were visibly shivering right now, but the feeling of content never vanished. Maybe it was not just due to the fact that snow always calmed you down.
Taking his hand you settled yourself behind him on the horse. His grey eyes looked at you intently.

“Hang on tight.” he commanded.

Wrapping your arms around his torso you held on as firm as you cold without hurting Levi. He spurred his horse and soon it broke into a gallop. It was a fast ride to the HQ and Levi´s heart raced as rapid as his horse ran through the snow.

The wind blew heavily through your clothes making you shiver even more. You pressed your teeth together so that they wouldn´t chatter too badly. Tears sprung to your eyes and you closed them tightly. Pressing yourself more against Levi´s back and resting your head in the fabric of his cloak you tried to hide yourself from the wind a bit more. The warmth of his body made you sleepy but you were still freezing like mad.
But you knew that you wouldn´t need to take much longer, the HQ wouldn´t be that far away anymore.

--

Darkness had settled itself over the snowy world as you arrived at the HQ. As Levi had predicted it your horse was already there. He helped you off of the horse because your whole body felt stiff from the cold. Dragging you through the floors he soon reached his office.
Wrapping a blanket over your shivering form he left the room once more to get you a hot drink.

But even as you held the warm cup in your hands your body didn´t stop shaking, teeth chattering heavily against each other. You tried to take a few sips of the hot liquid but to no avail. You were afraid to spill something of it over the floor.

A sigh escaped his lips as he settled himself next to you on the couch. Before you realized it you were pulled to him until you were sitting on his lap. He wrapped his arms around you and brought you even closer to his chest. Closing your eyes you rested your head on his shoulder.

The warmth radiating from him slowly sipped through you. After a while your teeth stopped chattering but your body still shivered a bit. Smiling you inhaled Levi´s scent feeling better and better with each minute. The silence enveloping you was a pleasant one. There was no need to say anything.
Although you were so close to the Corporal your heart beat slowly, as if you were asleep. Your breath was long and deep.

“Why have you been out there?”

The question hang unspoken in the air but you weren´t sure how to tell him that. Taking in a deep breath you eventually started to explain.

“My parents died on this date a few years ago. They were members of the Survey Corps and died somewhere outside the walls. Nobody knows where and they couldn´t get their bodies back. So I decided to make that forest the place where I would go to pay tribute to their deaths.”

“Why that forest?”

“Well, let´s say it this way: The world outside beyond is as untouched from humanity as that forest. It´s more symbolic.” you admitted.

“I see.”

Silence enveloped you once more. Levi´s hand stroke along your arm. You could feel his breath tickling on your hair making it slightly sway with the breeze. After a while his hand went to yours which still held the cup enclosed.

“You should take a bath.” he suddenly whispered.

“I am already feeling warm.”

His hand wandered up to your cheek. You lifted your head a bit to look him in the eyes.

“Your skin is still cold.”

His thumb rubbed gently over your cheek making you close your eyes. Shivers ran up and down your spine but not because you felt cold. Feeling his warmth all around you and his breath on your skin it made you happy. Happier than ever before in your life.

And then you felt his lips on yours. It was a short kiss. Still it left you slightly lightheaded. As he pulled away you thought to have seen a smile on his lips. But it disappeared so fast that you considered it as a trick of your eyes.

Letting out a content sigh you leaned your head again against his shoulder. His hand on your cheek wandered down your arm.

“I think I know why you dislike winter.” A light chuckle escaped your lips.

“Really?”

“It gets through that icy skin of yours, doesn´t it?”

He shook his head. “It only makes me worrying, because you always get out in the snow. And I see the result of it now.”

“So you do care.”

“I care for every soldier.”

He slightly shifted making you look into his eyes once more.

“But I don´t care for you that way.” he whispered. “I love you.”

Smiling you leaned in closer to give him a peck on his lips. You rested your foreheads against each other afterwards.

“I love you too.” you eventually said.

“I still think you should take a bath though.”

Chuckling you locked your (e/c) eyes with his grey blue ones.

“Only if you´re bathing with me.”

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Clouds of fog wavered through the air with every breath the ebony horse released. The snow crunched under the hooves as it slowly stepped further into the scene.
White little and big dots of snow danced down from the sky making it hard to look far into the distance. A forest was nearby, the trees fully covered with the white powder. But even in the fur of the horse the snowflakes got caught and slowly melted away with the heat. Before that they showed their full beauty as a star. A star of ice.

Winter hadn´t many colors to share. The dominating one was white with different shades of grey and black. Although it hadn´t the beauty of summer it still was pretty in its own way. It was calming, reassuring. Silence was wrapped around everything as if it was lulled in sleep.
Even the snowfall itself made no noise compared to the rain in summer.

Many people couldn´t stand the silence. So winter was always a depressing time for most of them. Although it was also the time where love would be celebrated in different ways. The coldness was the other thing nobody liked at winter.

You didn´t mind neither the silence nor the cold. For you, winter was the best time of the year. It was a sad time, you admitted. But still. You never felt as alive as being outside in the snow. Feeling the snowflakes melting on your warm skin. The breath being released in visible fogs.

A content sigh escaped your lips as you pushed your legs slightly in the sides of your horse. Following your unspoken command it soon changed into a slow trot. The forest was only a few more miles away.

Despite the snowfall it was not as cold as in the last days. Still you were wearing several layers of clothes and you had wrapped your emerald green cloak firmly around your small form. A warm scarf and a hat protected you from the cold breeze. You also wore gloves so that your hands wouldn´t freeze.

The snow in this untouched part of the land was way deeper than near the HQ. Mainly because a certain clean freak always made sure that at least some of the cadets cleared the snow around the base. Luckily you were helping commander Erwin for quite a while now and didn´t need to do those chores anymore. You had asked him to get a few hours off this afternoon. Surprised he approved your request in the end. It was the first time that you had ever done this.

But it was important and the reason why you were here now.

Eventually you reached the edge of the forest. You rode a few more miles deeper into it before you stopped. Slowly you got off of your horse´s back. Looking to the unseen path in front of you, you went with your hand through the fur of your friend. The snowfall hadn´t stopped yet and an end could not be seen either. Supposedly it would go on like this for several days.

Your hand wandered all the way up the neck of your horse to its face. Along with this motion you stepped in front of your old companion. Looking deep into his dark eyes you felt yourself relaxing even more. You were ready.

Pressing your forehead against your horse you closed your eyes for a while. You listened to the unheard sounds of the winter, felt the breeze and the snow on your skin. The warm breath of your horse. You took everything in and held on the feeling filling up your heart.

Sadness slowly engulfed your heart, but not in a depressing way. It was just a sadness everyone felt at least once in his life. A sadness of being all alone in the world.
Tears sprung to your eyes and one lonely tear escaped rolling down your cold cheek.

Eventually you let go of your horse and wrapped the reins around a near branch, securing it there. Then you went back to the side of your horse never taking away the hand on its fur. In one of the saddle bags was a little bouquet of flowers. Blue forget-me-nots.

Holding them in your right hand you went on through the forest alone. The snow was not so deep that it made it difficult to walk through it. It was comfortable as if walking on feathers. At least in your opinion. The crunch of every step you took echoed in the air. There was nothing more than you, the trees and the snow. And the silence.

As you reached a little glade you stopped. Another sigh escaped your lips, not as content as before. Closing your eyes for a second you prepared yourself. Then you slowly went to the middle of the glade and kneeled down. You placed the flowers on the white blanket. With a finger you caressed the petals of the forget-me-nots admiring the beauty of them. Another tear was spilled falling down on the snow leaving a little whole behind.

You stood up again. One last look towards the flowers and you eventually turned around to go back. On the edge of the glade grey blue eyes pierced into your (e/c) ones.

Surprised you saluted only sloppy to your superior.

“At ease.” Levi said after he had clicked with his tongue making a slight ‘Tch’-sound.

Your arms fell limply to your sides again. Slowly Levi approached you. Coming to a halt right next to you he looked back to the place where you had laid down the flowers.

“You shouldn´t be that far away from HQ at this unkindly weather.”

“It´s not unkindly.” You objected.

He shot you a glare.

“Considering that your nose glows as bright as the one of that certain reindeer, it is.”

Blushing slightly you cupped your nose with a gloved hand. His gaze went back to the flowers.
Examining him intently you started to ask yourself why he had been here. No one knew that place apart from you. You were the only human being that had touched this place before.

“Were you following me, Corporal?”

Grey blue eyes met yours once more. His gaze was rather apologetic than his usual stoic one.

“The commander was concerned. Not many soldiers are asking for a few hours free time and spend them outside in the snow. Only to…” he trailed off.

You had heard those stories before. In this time of the year the mourning was the most dreadful. Winter depression spread among the soldiers like wildfire. Some couldn´t bear it anymore and went away to kill themselves. To end their suffering.

“Don´t worry. I am not here to ruin the pure white with the ugly red of blood.”

“Good.” he said already turning around. “Let´s go back then.”

“Don´t you like the snow?”

He looked back at you. “No.”

A slight smile crossed your face. You nodded and started to follow him as suddenly a cracking sound reached your ears.

Levi immediately spun around and laid an arm protectively around your waist pulling you close to his chest. Before he could make any sound you pressed your index finger against his lips. Your gazes were directed to the side the sound was coming from. Neither of you dared to breath.
You could feel Levi´s rapid heartbeat against you, but your heart didn´t drum less angrily.

Soon the cracking could be heard once more followed by some crunching sounds. Closer this time.
The arm around your waist pulled you even closer to the warmth.
And then the origin of the noise appeared next to a tree a few feet away from you.

It was a little rabbit.

Relief took over you and you inhaled the much needed air desperately. You put the finger away from Levi´s lips but instead of letting your arm fall to your side you rested your hand on his broad chest. Although the both of you noticeably relaxed your heartbeats didn´t slow down too aware of the closeness of the other´s body.

The rabbit sniffled by lifting up his head one ear cocked to the side. And then he disappeared behind the next tree.

Now that it was gone your gazes met and locked. Levi´s warm breath tickled your cold cheeks making them blush slightly. His other arm wrapped itself around your waist as well. Your heartbeat increased even. Then he slowly leaned closer to you until your nose touched his, your eyes never leaving each other. Levi blinked and backed away a few inches.

“You´re cold.” And then he let go off you and grabbed you by the arm. “Let´s get back to the horses before you get sick.”

Nodding you followed him; well you were most likely dragged behind him.
Soon you reached the place where your horse was supposed to be. But it was not there anymore.
The branch was parted from the tree.

He signified you to stay where you were. Slowly he approached the tree and kneeled beside it. After examining the ground he stood up again.

“Lucky for you, this branch was a thin one. Your horse wouldn´t have been able to run away if this wouldn´t been the case. It is probably already back at the HQ.”

“A wolf was here.” he added as he saw your questioning gaze. “Guess you´ll need to ride with me then.”

His horse was at the edge of the forest. You were walking beside him all the way there the cold of the winter slowly slipping through your clothes. You started to freeze with every new step you took, teeth slightly chattering against each other.

He got on his horse and stretched a hand out to you as the two of you eventually reached the edge of the forest. You were visibly shivering right now, but the feeling of content never vanished. Maybe it was not just due to the fact that snow always calmed you down.
Taking his hand you settled yourself behind him on the horse. His grey eyes looked at you intently.

“Hang on tight.” he commanded.

Wrapping your arms around his torso you held on as firm as you cold without hurting Levi. He spurred his horse and soon it broke into a gallop. It was a fast ride to the HQ and Levi´s heart raced as rapid as his horse ran through the snow.

The wind blew heavily through your clothes making you shiver even more. You pressed your teeth together so that they wouldn´t chatter too badly. Tears sprung to your eyes and you closed them tightly. Pressing yourself more against Levi´s back and resting your head in the fabric of his cloak you tried to hide yourself from the wind a bit more. The warmth of his body made you sleepy but you were still freezing like mad.
But you knew that you wouldn´t need to take much longer, the HQ wouldn´t be that far away anymore.

--

Darkness had settled itself over the snowy world as you arrived at the HQ. As Levi had predicted it your horse was already there. He helped you off of the horse because your whole body felt stiff from the cold. Dragging you through the floors he soon reached his office.
Wrapping a blanket over your shivering form he left the room once more to get you a hot drink.

But even as you held the warm cup in your hands your body didn´t stop shaking, teeth chattering heavily against each other. You tried to take a few sips of the hot liquid but to no avail. You were afraid to spill something of it over the floor.

A sigh escaped his lips as he settled himself next to you on the couch. Before you realized it you were pulled to him until you were sitting on his lap. He wrapped his arms around you and brought you even closer to his chest. Closing your eyes you rested your head on his shoulder.

The warmth radiating from him slowly sipped through you. After a while your teeth stopped chattering but your body still shivered a bit. Smiling you inhaled Levi´s scent feeling better and better with each minute. The silence enveloping you was a pleasant one. There was no need to say anything.
Although you were so close to the Corporal your heart beat slowly, as if you were asleep. Your breath was long and deep.

“Why have you been out there?”

The question hang unspoken in the air but you weren´t sure how to tell him that. Taking in a deep breath you eventually started to explain.

“My parents died on this date a few years ago. They were members of the Survey Corps and died somewhere outside the walls. Nobody knows where and they couldn´t get their bodies back. So I decided to make that forest the place where I would go to pay tribute to their deaths.”

“Why that forest?”

“Well, let´s say it this way: The world outside beyond is as untouched from humanity as that forest. It´s more symbolic.” you admitted.

“I see.”

Silence enveloped you once more. Levi´s hand stroke along your arm. You could feel his breath tickling on your hair making it slightly sway with the breeze. After a while his hand went to yours which still held the cup enclosed.

“You should take a bath.” he suddenly whispered.

“I am already feeling warm.”

His hand wandered up to your cheek. You lifted your head a bit to look him in the eyes.

“Your skin is still cold.”

His thumb rubbed gently over your cheek making you close your eyes. Shivers ran up and down your spine but not because you felt cold. Feeling his warmth all around you and his breath on your skin it made you happy. Happier than ever before in your life.

And then you felt his lips on yours. It was a short kiss. Still it left you slightly lightheaded. As he pulled away you thought to have seen a smile on his lips. But it disappeared so fast that you considered it as a trick of your eyes.

Letting out a content sigh you leaned your head again against his shoulder. His hand on your cheek wandered down your arm.

“I think I know why you dislike winter.” A light chuckle escaped your lips.

“Really?”

“It gets through that icy skin of yours, doesn´t it?”

He shook his head. “It only makes me worrying, because you always get out in the snow. And I see the result of it now.”

“So you do care.”

“I care for every soldier.”

He slightly shifted making you look into his eyes once more.

“But I don´t care for you that way.” he whispered. “I love you.”

Smiling you leaned in closer to give him a peck on his lips. You rested your foreheads against each other afterwards.

“I love you too.” you eventually said.

“I still think you should take a bath though.”

Chuckling you locked your (e/c) eyes with his grey blue ones.

“Only if you´re bathing with me.”