#tensions

Eventually, we all shuffled through our morning rituals. I took a hot shower, letting the steam wake me up properly, and pulled on a pair of beige baggy pants and a white button up. Practical, comfortable—ready to face whatever Erwin or Levi threw my way or not. I threw my hair up in a loose ponytail, barely bothering to do anything fancy.

Mikasa came out dressed in clean, dark jeans and a fitted long-sleeve button up shirt, with her jacket draped over her arm. Her hair was clamped back. Efficient, as always.

Sasha went for a white hoodie with a strawberry design on it, jeans, and sneakers—the kind of outfit that said “I will definitely nap in the library later.”

Once ready, we sat together for a quick breakfast—instant noodles, apples, and whatever snacks were left from yesterday’s stash. Mikasa quietly sipped coffee. Sasha double-fisted a juice box and a granola bar.

“Alright,” I said, grabbing my bag. “Erwin first, Levi second.”

“Hange first,” Mikasa said, nodding.

“Pudding machine first,” Sasha added with a salute.

We left the dorm together, the morning sun peeking through the windows as we stepped into the flow of students heading to their classes.

Another day, another mental battle

The morning air was cool and a little crisp. The courtyard between buildings buzzed faintly with other students heading off in every direction. As we reached the walkway, Connie and Jean came jogging over, both looking half-awake.

“Morning brochacho's,” Connie greeted jokingly

Jean rubbed his eyes with the sleeves of his hoodie. “Someone tell me why I’m awake before nine again?”

“Because, you chose humanities and regret it now,” Mikasa answered flatly.

We all turned the corner together just as Eren and Armin joined from the path that led around the main quad.

“You guys are slow,” Eren said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“You’re early,” I countered. “Trying to impress Levi already?”

Eren groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

Armin offered a small wave. “Hey… everyone ready for day two?”

“Barely,” Jean muttered.

As our group moved along the path together, I glanced across the lawn at the dormitory building next door that says 'Eldia-Marley Annex Bldg. 1'. That was where Reiner, Annie, and Bertolt stayed Different wing, different routines. But we did all ended up circling the same mess eventually.

We started splitting off toward our respective halls and waved goodbye—Sasha with a resigned sigh toward the far building, Mikasa toward the science wing with her usual quiet focus, and the rest of us toward the main lecture hall.

Day two. Round two. Great

Two hours later…

Erwin had broken my brain.

I shuffled out of the lecture hall, mentally exhausted and wondering if I’d ever understand how leadership theory could feel like a personal existential crisis. By the time I reached the building for Levi’s class, I had just enough time to settle in beside Eren and Armin before the devil man himself walked in.

Levi’s entrance was quiet but somehow made the entire room snap to attention. He set his folders down, glanced once around the room, and began without preamble.

“Reflection assignments were due at midnight,” he said, tone clipped. “That wasn’t a suggestion. That was your first deadline in this course. If you failed that, I question how you plan to handle anything more complex.”

Several students shifted awkwardly in their seats.

“Jaeger,” Levi continued, eyes cutting sharply toward our row, “would you care to explain why your submission came in at 2:37a.m.?"

Eren blinked. “Uh… I was working on it, but then I thought I submitted it, and—”

“Stop.” Levi raised a hand, gaze flat. “If you’re going to lie, at least make it convincing.”

Eren sat back, mouth half-open, completely silenced.

He began calling out the other late-passers aswell

“It’s the first week,” Levi said, walking slowly across the front of the class. “So I will let it slide. But next time, extremely late work gets zero credit. Understood?”

Eren and other students nodded stiffly. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.”

Levi’s eyes flicked across the room—and landed on me.

It lasted no more than a few seconds, but the moment froze. There was nothing soft in his expression, but something in the intensity made it hard to breathe. I quickly looked down at my notebook, but the heat in my face betrayed me.

Beside me, Eren glanced sideways, then smirked.

“Ohhh,” he whispered, just low enough. “Somebody’s got Professor Levi’s attention.” and started humming the song careless whisper silently but loud enough for me and armin to hear

I shot him a glare. “Shut the fuck up eren”

Armin leaned slightly forward, eyes darting between me and Levi. “Don’t provoke him, Eren. You already got called out once.”

“I’m just saying,” Eren muttered, still grinning. “He didn’t even blink at anyone else.”

“Can we focus?” I hissed, flipping a page just to look busy.

Armin leaned closer to me, voice quiet. “You okay? That was… gut wrenching.”

I nodded quickly, not trusting myself to speak.

At the front of the room, Levi continued the lecture as though nothing had happened, voice steady and authoritative. But every time he looked in my direction, I felt it again—that sharp, electric pull.

And I wasn’t the only one who noticed it anymore, Great. Just great

Levi dismissed the class with his usual sharp finality, voice clipped and precise. Chairs scraped back as students filed out, the usual low buzz of complaints trailing behind them. Armin and eren offered a quick wave as they left, but I stayed behind, gathering my things slowly.

I didn’t have to stay—but something about the way Levi had handled the topic today stuck with me. I hesitated a second longer, then walked up to the front of the room.

He didn’t look up from his notes when he spoke. “Yes?”

“I have a question,” I said, shifting the strap on my shoulder. “About the section you mentioned on structural imbalance in hierarchical systems. You said it creates internal collapse—but how do you know when it’s already started? When it’s too late to fix?”

Levi glanced up and met mine OH LORD HE'S FINE. His expression didn’t change, but his attention sharpened.

“That’s not in the reading,” he said.

“I know.”

He paused, then closed the folder he was holding. “Most people don’t ask questions like that in the first week.”

“Most people don’t lecture like that in the first week,” I said before I could stop myself.

For a split second, something flickered in his eyes. Amusement? Maybe. It was gone too fast.

He stepped around the desk, arms crossed. “You’ll know it’s too late when those at the top stop listening. Or when those at the bottom stop caring.”

I nodded slowly, absorbing it. “That’s… kind of bleak?"

“Realistic,” he said. “Which is what this course is. If you want easy answers, you’re in the wrong room.”

There was a pause. His eyes stayed on me—not exactly warm, but not cold either. Just... assessing.

“You understood more than I expected,” he said. “Keep going.”

I gave a small, surprised laugh. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to anyone so far.”

“Don’t get used to it,” he replied, already heading for the door. But just before he stepped out, he added without turning around, “If you have more questions—ask. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”

The door clicked softly behind him.

I stood alone in the room, heart a little louder than it had been a minute ago.

He wasn’t warm. He wasn’t friendly. But he noticed.

And that was enough to keep me thinking long after he was gone.

By the time I got back to the dorm, the sun was starting to dip behind the campus buildings, casting everything in a soft golden haze. The hallway smelled faintly of old carpet and instant noodles.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside to find Sasha upside down on her bed, legs up the wall, a bag of chips balanced on her stomach and scrolling through her phone. Mikasa sat at her desk, flipping through notes, the lamplight catching the edge of her hair.

Sasha looked up—technically down—and grinned. “Did you survive Levi Round Two?”

I tossed my bag onto my chair and sank onto the bed. “Barely.”

Mikasa glanced over. “He called on you?”

“No,” I said, pulling a pillow over my face. “I stayed after class.”

That made both of them pause. “You what?!” Sasha sat up, chips forgotten. “You talked to Levi? Voluntarily?”

I peeked out from under the pillow. “I had a question.”

Mikasa was watching me now, brow slightly raised. “And?”

“And he answered it,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Kinda. In his usual terrifying way.”

Sasha leaned forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Was it scary? Did he glare? Did he say something cryptic and then disappear into the shadows?”

“He said I understood more than he expected.”

Sasha froze. “Wait, what?!”

Even Mikasa blinked. “That’s... oddly nice. For him.”

I shrugged, trying to act like it wasn’t replaying in my head every five seconds. “I think it was a compliment. Maybe. Sort of. i dont know”

Sasha threw a chip in the air and caught it in her mouth. “You have a crush on your professor "

“I do not.”

“You totally — definitely do.”

Mikasa didn’t say anything, but she didn’t deny it either.

I groaned again and flopped back on the bed. “This is a disaster.”

“Sounds like the start of something,” Sasha said with a smirk.

Mikasa turned back to her notes, but I saw the small smile tug at the corner of her mouth.

Im done for.

It was a Friday afternoon and the weather was too nice to stay indoors, so we ended up sprawled across the grass near the east quad—an unofficial end-of-week ritual that had formed without anyone really planning it. Sasha had brought snacks, Jean dragged out a speaker, and somehow we had a full-blown mini picnic happening.

Connie was tossing grapes into Jean’s mouth (badly), Sasha was halfway through her third iced drink and getting a brainfreeze, and Mikasa had her earbuds in—one of them anyway—while Eren sat beside her, leaning close to show her something on his phone.

She didn’t lean away.

“I’m telling you, it’s not a real tournament unless someone breaks a chair,” Eren insisted, grinning.

Mikasa gave him a dry look but didn’t argue. “You’re just mad you lost last time.”

Armin was sitting nearby with Annie, the two of them deep in conversation about something that involved furrowed brows and small nods. She wasn’t smiling, but she hadn’t gotten up and walked away either—which, by Annie standards, was practically a confession of friendship.

Meanwhile, I sat on a folded blanket with my drink, trying not to look like my thoughts were still halfway stuck in Levi’s classroom.

Too late.

“You’re thinking about him,” Sasha whispered, flopping down beside me. “Don’t lie.”

“’m not,” I said.

“You so are,” she sing-songed.

From his spot near the speaker, Connie looked over. “Wait, are we talking about Levi again?”

“Shhh!!” Sasha hissed. “We’re being subtle.”

“You're not,” Mikasa said without looking up.

Before I could protest, Jean raised an eyebrow. “Okay, now I’m curious. Did something happen? Like... academically intense eye contact OR se—”

“Guys— Jean what the hell,” I groaned. “He’s just my professor.”

“That you stayed after class for,” Sasha added helpfully.

“Once!”

“And blushed about it later,” Mikasa added, scrolling on her phone.

I shot her a betrayed look. “I did not blush.”

“You definitely did,” Armin said softly without looking up from the notes he and Annie were now sharing.

Annie glanced up at me. “You could do worse.”

That shut everyone up for a second.

Jean let out a low whistle. “Okay, that’s approval from Annie. That’s practically a marriage agreement.”

She didn’t lean away.

Eren looked over briefly, then shrugged. “Whatever. As long as he doesn’t give us a pop quiz about it.” Sasha laughed so hard she spilled her drink.

I leaned back, trying not to smile, but my cheeks betrayed me. The teasing didn’t bother me as much as it probably should have. Maybe because under all the noise and chaos, there was a quiet comfort in how everyone was slowly finding their own people.

Even me.

Second week into the semester and it already feels like a kick on the ass, It's one of those mid week slumps where your brain felt like it had been wrung out.

After Erwin’s class and a half-hearted attempt to study in the dorm lounge, you decided a walk and caffeine were definitely a need. The quiet off-campus coffee shop was your go-to for moments like this—dim lighting, mellow playlists, and fewer people from campus buzzing about deadlines.

As you stepped inside, the bell over the door gave a soft jingle. The smell of roasted beans and vanilla syrup hit my nostiy immediately, soothing in its familiarity.

That’s when you saw him.

Levi sat in the far corner by the window, mostly hidden behind a potted plant and the curve of a hanging lamp. A few worn textbooks and a folder were spread out in front of him. He held the rim of the tea cup in one hand, turning a pen over with the other. His posture was relaxed but focused— back straight, eyes down.

You thought about backing out. He hadn’t seen you yet. But as you lingered near the counter, he looked up.

His gaze met yours, unreadable as ever. Then he gave a slight nod.

You ordered your drink—iced coffee and something sweet, because you deserved it—and tried to act casual as you waited near the pick-up counter.

“Sit down,” Levi said, not looking up from his notebook.

You blinked. “What?”

“You’re hovering. It’s distracting.”

You raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t planning to interrupt.”

“Didn’t say you were. But you’re still hovering.”

There wasn’t a hint of invitation in his voice, but there wasn’t rejection either. Just… Levi.

You took your drink and sat across from him. The table was small, tucked against the window. Outside, campus traffic passed by in a slow trickle.

“I didn’t know you would be here,” you said after a few sips.

“I don’t live in the classroom,” he replied dryly. “Contrary to popular belief.”

You smirked. “That’s a strong image.”

He didn’t respond, but the corner of his mouth lifted just slightly.

A few quiet minutes passed. You stirred your drink. He scribbled a note in the margin of a paper. It wasn’t awkward—just quiet. Eventually, he spoke again.

“You handled the last class well. You weren’t overexplaining this time.”

You raised an eyebrow. “That was overexplaining?”

“You have the habit when you’re unsure.” His tone was matter-of-fact. “But you’re getting better.”

“Thanks,” you said after a beat. “I think.”

“It’s not a compliment. It’s a sign you’re paying attention.” You rolled your eyes, but not unkindly. “Noted.” He stood up first, gathering his things with practiced efficiency.

“Don’t get lazy next week,” he added as he passed you. "I’ll try not to hover either,” you called after him.

That earned you an actual glance over the shoulder—brief, unreadable, but definitely there. Then he was gone.

You stayed for a few more minutes, sipping your drink and watching the door. Weirdly, you felt more awake than you had all day. It was probably because of the caffeine...right?

You should’ve known the moment you walked into the dormitory lounge, someone was going to say something.

Sasha spotted you first. She was sprawled on the couch like a cat in a sunbeam, a half-eaten bag of chips on her lap.

“There she is,” she said, grinning. “café hopper”

“Hi,” you said cautiously, setting your drink down and peeling off your jacket.

Connie looked up from his phone. “Heard you had a very academic moment off-campus today.” You frowned. “From who?”

“Mikasaaa,” Sasha sing-songed. “She saw you leaving the coffee place. Said you looked like you’d seen a ghost. Or, ‘ya know, a strict hot professor.” Mikasa didn’t even glance up from her book. “He looked more surprised than she did.”

“I wasn’t surprised,” you said quickly. “I was… recovering.”

“From what?” Jean asked as he came in with a protein bar and a knowing smirk. “Levi giving you life advice over an iced coffee?”

“It wasn’t even like that,” you muttered.

“Oh?” Armin looked genuinely curious from where he was sketching something out beside Annie. “Then what was it like?”

You hesitated. “He told me I’m improving in class.”

There was a beat of silence before Sasha stage-whispered, “You’re telling me this man saw you at a coffee shop and gave you a performance review?”

“That’s… very on brand,” Mikasa admitted.

“Did he sit with you?” Eren asked, only half-listening while fiddling with a game on his phone. “He told me to sit.” you responded

That did it.

Jean leaned back and whistled. “Damn. He invited you to sit? thats probably the nicest thing he did to a student”

“Sounds romantic,” Connie added, wiggling his eyebrows.

“I will literally throw this drink at all of you.”

“You know what I think?” Sasha said dramatically, standing up like she was about to make a declaration. “I think if you two ever dated, your entire relationship would just be coffee and long pauses.”

“And uncomfortably intense eye contact,” Jean added—shuddering.

Armin coughed lightly, maybe trying not to laugh. Annie just rolled her eyes but didn’t deny anything.

You buried your face in your hands. “I hate all of you.”

“You love us!,” Sasha said sweetly, tossing you the rest of her chips. “But not as much as you love your stern, nonchalant tea man.”

“Goodnight!” you said, standing up.

“Tell him we said hi!” Connie called after you.

You escaped before they could launch into another round of dramatic reenactments, Eren miming Levi's scowl and Jean trying (and failing) to imitate your flustered reaction.

By the time you reached your shared dorm room, the sun was starting to set, casting soft golden streaks through the window. You dropped your bag by the door, kicked off your shoes, and flopped face-first onto your bed with a muffled groan.

The silence was a relief.

You rolled onto your back, staring at the ceiling. The teasing was funny—annoying, yes, but funny. Still, now that you were alone, the scene from earlier played back in your head more clearly.

The quiet hum of the coffee shop. The way Levi had looked up at you—surprised, but not unwelcoming. The fact that he'd told you to sit.

That part shouldn’t have made your stomach flip, but it did.

It lingered.

You turned your head into the pillow. “Goddamnit” you muttered.

Levi's POV

The long oak table at Erwin’s house had become our unofficial meeting spot—scattered with papers, open laptops, and untouched mugs of cooling tea. I sat with my eyes flicking over a stack of essays I've been grading for the past hour, though nothing was really sinking in.

Across from me, Hange sipped from a cracked mug with a poorly drawn Titan on the side. Their eyes kept darting to me, more amused with each glance.

Erwin, sitting at the head of the table, closed a folder with a quiet sigh. “You’ve been staring at that same page for fifteen minutes, Levi.”

“I’m reading,” I said flatly.

“You’re moping,” Hange cut in, grinning. “Which usually means one thing: something... or someone is stuck in your head.”

I didn’t respond.

Hange leaned forward with a glint in their eye. “So… wanna talk about your little coffee shop reunion?”

My pen froze over the margin. “It wasn’t a reunion.” i responded

“Mm, right. Just a professor and a student casually bumping into each other off-campus. Sharing a table. Having a cozy academic chat.”

I shot Hange a glare.

Erwin looked up from his notes, eyes narrowing slightly in concern. “Is this a student we should be aware of?”

Hange shrugged, too pleased. “Not in a bad way. She’s sharp. I’ve seen her in the halls. Good posture, actually listens when others are talking—which is rare for undergrads.”

“She asked about the material from class,” I said, “That’s it.”

Hange snorted. “Sure. But you didn’t answer when I asked what she asked, and you've been staring at your grading paper like it insulted your mother."

“I’m not discussing this,” I interrupted.

The room fell quiet for a beat.

Erwin studied me carefully, then spoke with quiet weight. “Levi. If something’s developing, even unintentionally, it’s best to stay aware of it.”

“There’s nothing developing,” I said defensively. “She’s just… curious. Focused.”

Hange nudged erwin "‘Ya hear that? thats basically levi's version of writing a sonnet" before grabbing their mug

Hange smiled over the rim of their mug. “And you also noticed that. Huh, and you're being deeefennnsiveee" hange said slowly and teasingly.

"Tch, im not." I responded, hange didnt respond and shrugged their shoulders. we just went back to reading.

But I couldn't bring myself to move my pen.

Your/Reader POV

The door clicked open and in came the soft buzz of laughter and voices from the dorm lounge down the hall. Mikasa stepped in first, followed by Sasha, both carrying half-finished drinks and snacks from whatever they’d scavenged during their hangout with the others.

Sasha kicked the door shut behind her. “Annie finally told a joke. Connie looked like he saw God.”

Mikasa dropped her jacket on the hook. “It was more of a threat disguised as humor.”

But they both stopped when they saw me still lying flat on my bed, socks still on, eyes glued to the ceiling like I’d just had a personal crisis. Which… I kind of had.

Sasha blinked. “You good?”

I bolted upright like I hadn’t just been replaying every second of the coffee shop run-in for the past twenty minutes. “Fine!”

Mikasa raised a single, unimpressed eyebrow and went to her desk without saying anything.

Sasha flopped onto her bed and peeled open a snack bar. “You sure? You’re giving ‘internal monologue’ energy.”

I sank back into my mattress with a groan, muffling my face into a pillow. “God. I need to get a grip.”

Mikasa opened her laptop, the quiet click of the keys somehow louder than my thoughts.

Sasha unwrapped her snack bar, watching me with interest. “If you're thinking about levi, blink twice.”

I didn't move.

She gasped way too dramatically. “You did!”

Okay. so he's just my professor, so what?

I let out a breath and rolled to the side, muttering, “This is fine. Totally fine.”

But the truth was… I could still hear his voice in my head like a line i keep rereading

And I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted it to stop.

uhhh the slowburn is slowburning🤞🏻