The castle is in sight about half a mile ahead in the midst of the mountains and trees. You've been enjoying the journey for the most part, but then Oluo has to start speaking when it's so close to being over.

"An architectural marvel, don't you agree? A proper royal residents once upon a time, and more recently, our former headquarters. Fancy, yes, but absurdly impractical once the Scouts got down to business. This was the early days for us, you understand, when hopes soared high. Now all this place is is a holding cell--the place where we store our newest toy," Oluo informs Eren.

You share a look with Levi at his words before Oluo decides it's a fantastic idea to start talking again.

"Do not be deceived. Don't be expecting the royal treatment, whether you're a titan or a human, don't imagine for a second we all share the good captain's--"

Oluo suddenly bites his tongue and howls in pain. You, without any regard for Oluo, reach over to your left to tap Levi on the shoulder to get his attention. You bring your horse closer so you're only a few inches apart before you whisper your words.

"He does you better than you do."

Levi makes a face of disbelief. "Don't insult me like that. He can't even tie a cravat the right way."

"Oh, so you noticed his impersonating you?"

"No shit, especially when he's trying so damn hard to copy my every move. It annoys the hell out of me," Levi grumbles under his breath.

"I bet he would clean the whole castle if you asked him to. He's like your number one fan, honestly," you say.

"I don't need more half-assed cleaners. We would be better off doing it ourselves."

You express a fake look of shock. "Thee Levi Ackerman thinks me worthy of his sanitary standards? I am honored."

"Shut up, you little brat. I'm not that fucking crazy," he claims.

"Have you met you? Because if you haven't, I think you should meet Oluo."

Levi scowls and you stifle a chuckle that had been bubbling in your throat. When you get to the castle, you dismount your horses and you get the food from one of the crates to pass around including sandwiches and water. You stand at the side of the castle with Levi and faintly hear Oluo and Petra discussing how Oluo is acting like Levi more everyday.

After eating, Levi assigns each member to a certain spot in the ccastle to clean, giving you the option to take whatever place you want as long as you get the work done.

Levi likes cleaning alone because it relaxes him, so you took it upon yourself to stay with Eren and help him clean the upstairs in the section where everyone will be sleeping with their own rooms. It's a big job, but you notice Eren's determination to impress the Corporal and find it commendable.

You take the first three rooms to clean while Eren does the other three. You're extremely thorough with every crevice, especially under the tables, beds and chairs because you know that's where Levi checks first during inspection and you have a little plan worked out.

You finish scrubbing the floor of the last room and walk into the hallway where you peer into the room Eren is currently working on and see him at least attemping to be rigorous in his methods. It's another ten minutes before he completes his own job and meets you in the dusty corridor.

You tug down your mask and put a hand on Eren's shoulder because he looks absolutely nervous.

"Don't worry about it, Eren. Levi is a clean-freak, but the worst he'll make you do is clean the rooms over. No need to look so damn petrified," you soothe.

"Captain Levi kind of scares me," Eren admits shyly.

You snicker at the confession. "Well, let's go tell him we're done. I promise he's not that bad."

You stride down the staircase and into the room Levi is disinfecting while wearing that hilarious rag on his head to keep his hair from his face along with bacteria particles. You let Eren approach him and take the lead to allow him some sort of starting comfort with his superior.

"We're done with the upstairs, Sir," Eren says. "If I may ask, Captain, where will I be expected to sleep?"

Levi rotates around from his duty of cleaning the windowsill and slides down his mask.

"Your sleeping quarters are in the cellar," Levi answers pointedly.

"The cellar? But, Sir, again?"

"It's our safest option. Your abilities are far from being under control. You might go titan in your sleep. One of the conditions of my having you in custody at all is that I keep you under strict security morning, noon and night. While we're in dreamland, you're in restraints. That's the rule." Levi starts walking toward the exit. "Take over here while I check your work. I want it spotless."

"Yes, Sir," Eren mumbles.

You follow Levi out of the room and catch Petra walking in out of the corner of your eye. You hear her engaging Eren in conversation and you grin at her persistent politeness. You get to the hallway of rooms you cleaned and answer Levi's question before he can ask it.

"Eren cleaned the first three rooms and I cleaned the last three," you lie smoothly.

"All right. Let's see how this twerp did," Levi replies, preparing himself to criticize every little thing.

You lean against the wall fighting back a smirk and you pick up small bits of the conversation Eren and Petra are having. Petra's statements of Levi makes you stifle a chuckle, especially when she makes fun of his height although he's taller than you.

"This is fucking pitiful," Levi says, pulling you from your eavesdropping.

"Which ones?" you ask, putting a hand on your hip as he approaches you.

"These first three. Eren can't clean for shit. He has to do it over again," Levi complains.

"Oh, really?" you question. "I guess you were wrong about my cleaning earlier because I cleaned the first three. I'll do them over to fit your standards."

"(Y/N)," Levi growls, "why do you have to do shit like this?"

"Because you're an asshole," you answer. "I knew you would say his cleaning isn't up to your satisfactory standards, but look at that, they are."

"I'm trying to teach the kid discipline. He can't go through all of this thinking everything will be perfect the first time he does it," he responds.

You sigh and nod your head in understanding. "I get it, but this is my way of showing you not to get so wrapped up in teaching him a lesson. Do what you must, but remember the truth."

"Fine," Levi agrees and strolls back to the last three bedrooms.

"What are you doing?"

"I barely checked Eren's because I thought they were the ones you cleaned," he replies, disappearing into the room.

You smirk and head back downstairs to see what Eren and Petra are talking about now, and when you finally hear it, you frown.

"He didn't strike me as the type to take orders," you hear Eren say as you descend the stairs.

"Rumor has it he would've lived up to your expectations--that's what I understand anyway, I don't have the details. Story goes he was quite the rogue before joining the Scouts--a high roller in the Capital's Black Market," Petra reveals.

"How the hell did he--I mean..." Eren trails.

"No clue. Folks talk, but who knows what really brought him here, right?" she replies. "The most popular version involves Erwin. They say he dragged him to the Scouts kicking and screaming."

You reach the bottom and poke your head in, trying to hold back your slight anger.

"Don't listen to the rumors, Eren. Both of those are completely wrong, I assure you," you interrupt, glancing between them both.

"What's going on here?" Levi demands, coming up behind you and looking into the room.

Petra and Eren jump in fright of his commanding voice. You detain a laugh at their reaction as Levi walks further into the room to address Eren directly.

"Your cleaning is lamentable. Back upstairs. Now," Levi orders.

Eren salutes, then scrambles from the room to stay, or rather get, on his Captain's good side. You waltz over to the window to stand next to Levi and look out to the sun setting and clouds turning pink, entirely disregarding Petra's presence as she pretends to sweep the floor.

"Hanji's coming tonight, right?" you ask.

"Yes, but it shouldn't be for a couple of hours. She's setting up the cellar for Eren to sleep in," Levi replies with eyes scanning the sky above.

"Sorry about earlier," you mumble.

"It's okay. I'm used to you annoying me," he says.

You scowl and reach up to pull the rag on his head down to cover his eyes. You laugh as he quickly takes it off and ties it back on his head while glaring at you. You casually look over to Petra who's frozen by the door with a look of shock and slight jealously.

But, honestly, who wouldn't be?