Chapter Text
“Help!” Sally coughed hard as the smoke filled her lungs at her cry for help stopping her from getting precious air. She gasped, but only inhaled more of the deadly smoke leading her to cough again. “Help me!” She fell to the floor and kept low, the heat from the apartment below warmed her body, but it was better to be sweating from the fire then inhaling all the black smoke in the air. She winced in pain, her body fighting as much as possible. “Help!” She closed her eyes slowly. “Anyone…”
“Fire department! Call out!”
Sally lifted her head at a strong voice shouting out. “Here! In here!”
Boots stomped down the hall. “Fire department! Call out!”
Sally gritted her teeth. “IN HERE!” She gasped as her door burst open to reveal a firefighter. “Help me!”
The firefighter ran over and knelt by her. “Is there anyone else in here with you?”
She shook her head. “No! It’s just me.”
He nodded, then pressed his walkie on his shoulder. “I’ve got the last resident, bringing her down now.” He picked her up into his arms like a bride. “What’s your name?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and saw into this gas mask, the mask itself and a clear outside, so they could see what they were doing and people could see a face for once. Sally was met with a handsome face with a scar over the one eye that went down over his lip. His eyes were a steel blue. Her breath and voice left her at how stunning his man was as he ran with her down the hall through the smoke and flames.
He looked down at her again. “Name?”
Sally coughed. “Umm. Sally.”
He sighed. “Tch, names Levi and I’m going to get you out of here.” He backed up as the stairs collapsed in front of him. “Tch, shit.” He steadied himself. “Hold on tight Sally.”
“Okay!”
He growled, then leapt from one side to below and ran with the momentum. He kept running as the rest of the apartment creaked and threatened to fall. “Tch, come on, come on!” He ran out into the street and panted. He looked around, then ran over to the paramedics. “Hange! Moblit! I’ve got the last one here.”
Sally reluctantly let go of Levi, then looked to a woman with glasses. “I’m fine.”
Levi pulled his hat off, then his mask and breathed in the fresh air. “You inhaled a lot of smoke. So, relax and let us take care of you. This woman is Hange and she’ll take care of you.”
Hange smiled and put an oxygen mask on Sally. “We’ll take care of you.”
Moblit looked Levi over. “Lieutenant? Your coat has a burn hole.”
Levi looked down at his coat. “Tch, shit.” He pulled his gloves off and toss them and his hat on the floor. He yanked his coat off to show he hand a tank top on under that clung tightly to him and showing his muscle and scars under. He showed his arm to Modlit where the burn hole had been. “Doesn’t look like it went through.”
Moblit checked his arm. “Yeah, you’re good. You should go to the chief and let him know everything.”
Levi pulled all his things on. “Thanks.”
Sally watched Levi walked over to a tall blonde man staring at the building with big blue eyes. “I think I’m in love.”
Hange hummed a laugh. “It’s called the hero affect. You think you’re in love because he saved you, but you’re not. This happens all the time.”
Sally welled up. “But!”
“Give it a week and you’ll be over him.” Hange wheeled her into the ambulance. “Besides, he’s a grumpy asshole.”
Levi stood next to Erwin and put his helmet back on. “Staircase collapsed on me.”
Erwin raised a brow. “It did? You know, to this day I still don’t understand how you are alive.”
Levi let out a long sigh. “Tch, dumb luck.” He looked to Mike and his team. “Was search and rescue really needed?”
“Yes, but you and your team did everything as always. Let other’s help, okay?”
Levi sighed and nodded. “Sure.” Levi looked to his team tackling the fire with hoses. “Everyone accounted for?”
Erwin looked at his papers. “Yeah, thankfully. No residents or team members lost. We had one resident with substantial burns, but they will recover. They were close to the source of the fire.”
Levi hummed, then saw Erwin was a bit on edge. “Something wrong?”
Erwin looked down at his phone. “My sister is supposed to call me today, but she didn’t say when.”
Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “The one adopted into your family?”
Erwin nodded. “Yeah.” He let out a long sigh. “I worry about her a lot. She’s an adult I know, but she’s been through some shit and I just can’t help wanting to protect her.”
“Well, that’s normal for a big brother to want to protect their little sister.” He sighed. “Tch, her parents gave her up after all.”
Erwin looked down. “They didn’t give her up. They died in a fire.”
Levi gulped hard. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken out.”
Erwin smiled. “It’s nothing.” He felt his phone go off, so he pulled it out and saw your name. “Speak of the devil.” He pressed the answer. “Hey, you okay?”
You hurried about unpacking a bag in your hotel room. “Yeah, I’ve just arrived at my hotel room.”
Erwin leaned against his car. “I thought you were going to stay with me?”
“Erwin, you don’t want your adult fucked up sister living with you.”
Erwin looked at his watch, then at his team. “I’m out on a call right now, but if you tell me where you are I’ll pick you up and bring you to the firehouse, then you’ll live with me.”
You groaned. “Erwin…”
“Don’t Erwin me. You need support right now.” He looked to Levi and blushed a little, then looked away. “Besides, I need to introduce you to everyone at the station.”
You sighed and knew it was impossible to argue against Erwin. “Fine. I’ll pack up my stuff now. I paid for the room though.”
“I’ll get your money back, don’t worry. Just meet me in the lobby.”
You hummed. “Sure.”
“See you soon.” He ended the call and looked to Levi. “Let’s finish up here so I can go get her before she changes her mind.”
Levi nodded. “Tch, sure.” Levi was imagining you to be this young teen who was just old enough to work, but you were far from that and you were going to give everyone, especially Lev a massive shock. Levi sighed and walked over to his team. “Chief wants a status report. How are you in tackling the fire?”
Mikasa rubbed the sweat from her brow. “Just ash now Lieutenant.”
Levi looked at the building. “Good. I’m glad it’s under control. We won’t be able to do a sweep due to the lack of stairs. Let’s corner off the building and then hand this over.”
She nodded. “Yes sir.”
Levi walked over to Eren, who was under his watch after some issues. “Eren? Good work today. Stick to the rules and you’ll have your reins taken off.”
Eren smiled. “Thank you, sir.”
Levi checked everything, then went back over to Erwin. “You’re good to go, we’ll finish this up.”
Erwin smiled. “Good. Eren behave?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He opened his car door. “Few more call outs and we should green light him. He’s been with us long enough to know he shouldn’t have acted the way he did.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I’ll see you a bit later.” He climbed in and sat behind the wheel. “Wish me luck.”
Levi slammed the door closed, then leaned his arm on the roof. “If she’s such a problem, then let her do what she wants.”
Erwin smiled as Levi leaned through the open window. Erwin thought about you and shook his head. “The thing is Levi, she’s not a problem. She deserves the world.” He started the car up. “I know you’ll want everyone to clean up when they get back, but priority is making sure the equipment is checked.”
Levi nodded. “Yes sir.”
Erwin smiled, then drove off and glanced at his phone at the hotel address. Erwin had worked in this city for the fire department for years and worked his way up the ranks, that he knew it like the back of his hand. He knew the place so well, that his team were people he pulled into it. Levi, he found in the shady part of the city starting committing crimes. Levi showed strength and leadership with his little crime group, so Erwin brought him in. However, his two friends had died on one of the call outs as they tried to save what they thought was a person in need, but it was a trap made by an arsonist.
Erwin pulled up to the hotel, then sighed as he felt exhausted. He slipped out the car and took off his fire jacket and helmet. He walked inside the hotel lobby and spotted you right away sat on your suitcase. All his exhaustion and stress washed away. He called your name and jogged over. “Hey.” He gave you a big hug and kissed your cheek. “It’s great seeing you!”
You smiled and laughed. “You too. I know I was grumpy on the phone, but seeing you in person after so long…I’m glad you told me I’m staying with you.”
Erwin smiled. “I’m glad too.” He walked with you to reception. “If your ex-boyfriend was here, I’d rip his fucking spine out.” He leaned on the desk. “Erwin Smith, my sister here paid for a room, but she changed her mind and is staying with me.”
The woman blushed and smiled. “Of course, Chief Smith.” She tapped away. “Yes, I see the booking for Detective Smith here. I’ll reimburse her.”
“Thank you.”
She blushed more, then printed off a receipt. “Here is your receipt of that and your money should be back in your bank account within the next few days.”
You cleared your throat and snatched the receipt. “Thank you. Come on Erwin, we have to head home.” You grabbed his upper arm and suitcase, then pulled him along. “I should buy you a paper bag.”
Erwin turned, then frowned at your comment. “Why?”
You looked up at him. “Oh, well because every damn woman wants to shag you and I get ignored by the people around you. I become a ghost. She didn’t even see me there.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
You sighed. “It’s annoying that you don’t know how attractive you are.” You opened the back door of his car, then threw your suitcase in. You slammed the door and glared at him. “You have this good boy aura that people are attracted to.”
Erwin laughed and opened the door for you to get in, then he got in behind the wheel. “So, I have a good boy aura, what do you have?”
“The does not exist aura.”
Erwin drove off. “And you say I’m annoying with not knowing how attractive I am.”
You stretched, then linked your arms around the back of the headrest. “I’m calling bullshit on that.”
Erwin smirked. “Just you wait. When I walk you through the station, my team will be all over you. A lot of them are single. I’ll introduce you to the three most important members there, my two lieutenants and my head paramedic. I also need to go through your role, contract and show you your office space as well. When we get call outs, you ride with me, understood?”
You hummed. “You really want me as your arson investigator, huh?”
He glanced at you. “Look, you are a fine firefighter, one of the best. You worked your way up to lieutenant in a separate station while I made chief. You then worked your ass off to be an arson investigator. It’s hard to be an arson investigator, but you’re amazing at it. I need you to help me and be my detective.”
You smiled and folded your arms. “Look at you asking your sister so sweetly. Look, I’ve been thinking about it, but I believe that what will sell me is meeting your team.”
Erwin hummed. “What if I promise you ice cream?”
You laughed hard. “I’m not a kid you know.”
“It’s really good ice cream.”
You shook your head and sighed. “Let me meet the team and look around, okay?”
“Sure, you win, but honestly I think you’d be great here.” He pulled up at the station and sighed. “This is a chance for you to start fresh and get away from that son of a bitch. You know, it kills me every day that I didn’t see what was going on or help you.”
“Wasn’t your job to. It was my job and responsibility to see who he really was and I didn’t. Can we not talk about him?” You pointed at the station. “Can we pull in now?”
“Sorry.” He drove into the station and parked in his spot. “Try and be nice, okay?”
You smiled. “I’m always nice.”
He hummed and got out, then went around to your side and helped you out his truck. “Sure you are.” He slammed the door and pointed. “Main truck for the fire, second one there for search and rescue and that’s our ambulance.” He put his hand on your back and pushed you along to the ambulance. “I’ll introduce you.” He banged on the side. “Come on out.”
Hange jumped out the back and smiled. “Hey chief.” She looked you over. “Who’s this cute thing?”
You offered your hand and said your name. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, you’re a wonderful cutie.”
Erwin smiled. “She’s, my sister.”
Hange’s mouth dropped open, then she stared back and forth between you and Erwin. “Sister?”
You laughed. “I’m adopted. His parents took this poor little orphan in.”
Hange flapped her arms. “Oh, I want to squeeze you!”
“Thank you?”
Erwin put his hand on your shoulder. “She might be our arson investigator, if she says yes after the tour.”
Hange whined. “Please say yes! I want to be friends with you and work with you.”
You blushed. “Oh, well that’s really nice of you to say.” You pointed to the other paramedic walking around the side of the ambulance. “Who’s your partner.”
“This is Mobilt.”
You shook his hand and said your name. “Nice to meet you.”
Erwin pointed at Hange and Mobilt. “These two are the best damn paramedics I’ve ever seen. They’ll back you up and save lives that others will say cannot be saved.”
You nodded. “Impressive.”
Erwin pushed you along. “I’ll introduce you to the others.” He led you to a table with chairs around it and people playing cards. “This is search and rescue and their lieutenant Mike.”
Mike stood up and offered his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
You said your name. “You too. You are taller than Erwin, wow. My neck hurts.”
Mike laughed, then sat back down. “Better?”
“Much, thanks.”
Mike eyed you, then sniffed you. “You smell like the chief…”
You smiled at Erwin. “Well, that makes sense seeing as he is my brother.”
“You look nothing like each other.”
You laughed. “I’m adopted.”
One of his team members laughed. “Makes no sense you are adopted, because you are a fine one.”
Levi walked out of the staff room, then looked up and saw you with Erwin. He flushed red a little when he gazed at you. You were a cute looking thing with tight trousers tucked into biker boots. You had a tight shirt on with a jacket on top, he was sure under the jacket was probably a weapon. He felt tension in the air after a team member said what they said, he was sure something bad would happen.
You hummed and nodded. “You know, you are so right! How selfish of my parents for dying on me when I was a little baby in a horrible fire. You know, they should have fought that fire and be a parent to me.” You shrugged. “Guess they didn’t want me and my fine ass, huh?” You turned and smacked your bum hard. “Fuck me, right?”
Erwin pinched the bridge of his nose and said your name. “What did we talk about in the car?”
You pouted. “You said to be nice. I’m being nice.”
“Sure, sure.”
Mike laughed, then kicked his team member’s chair out from under them. “Show some damn respect. Even if she wasn’t the chief’s sister, you should still show anyone who could be working here some respect. Now say sorry.”
He got up from the floor and groaned. “Sorry.”
You hummed in thought. “Look, I don’t give a shit how you speak to me or act. What I do care about is if I join this team, you have my fucking back.”
He nodded and gulped. “You got it.”
You smiled. “Great.” You sighed and looked to Erwin. “Next?”
Erwin walked you to the staff room door, but stopped when Levi stood there. “Oh, Levi! Just the man.”
Levi looked at you and offered his hand. “Lieutenant Levi Ackerman. I’m in command of the main truck and team.”
You shook his hand and introduced yourself. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Erwin.”
Levi looked at Erwin. “What?”
You smiled and blushed a little as Erwin and Levi talked. You hadn’t felt a spark of attraction to someone in a long time, yet here you were feeling a little tingle in your body towards this man. You flinched when everyone looked at you. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
Erwin went to speak, then saw his assistant coming over. “Ah, looks like I’m needed. Levi? Could you finish the tour for me? I’d really appreciate it.” He jogged off. “Thanks!”
Levi clenched his jaw, then glanced at you and felt nervous. He cleared his throat. “Tch, you umm…follow me brat.” You walked with him and went into the staff room where his team were. He pointed to each one as he said names. “Eren, Mikasa, Jean, Armin, Connie and Sasha. Each one is just as annoying as the next. Team? This is detective Smith.”
You waved and said your first name. “Hey all.”
Levi growled at them. “Be nice and don’t ask her loads of questions about being related to the chief.” He looked to you. “This way to the offices.” He opened a side door and walked past all the beds to the end. He pointed to his left. “Mike’s room and mine.” He pointed to the right. “Yours, if you join us, is that one.” He walked to it and opened it up. “You have a desk and a bed.”
You looked around, then looked out the window and smiled. “Hey, we’d be able to wave at each other.”
Levi hummed and liked the thought. “Tch, sure.”
You nodded. “This is pretty good. Better than my old station.”
Levi walked with you back through the staff room and went left at the doors to the trucks. “You…you’re a firefighter?”
“I was. I trained up and had pretty good numbers. I had reached lieutenant and then I was given the option to move to investigation or chief. I chose investigation and it was hard. I had a lot of people standing in my way on account of who my brother is and well…you know.”
Levi frowned. “I don’t know…” He pointed to a door. “Showers. So, what do you mean?”
You peaked into the showers and toilets, then pulled back. “I’m a woman.”
Levi stared at you. “I can see that, but what does that have to do with anything?”
You stood in the hallway and laughed. “Levi, women get treated differently in some stations. I’ve been called weak, a nuisance, a burden.” You sighed. “The list goes on.”
Levi frowned. “Well, you seem to me like you can handle yourself.”
“I can.” You both stared at each other with small smiles, then you both blushed and looked away. “I better go see my brother.”
Levi followed you and felt an urge to keep you around. “Tch, oi? Do you want to check out the trucks?”
You stopped in the hall by the double doors to the trucks. “Really? I can do that?”
Levi nodded. “I’ll let you in the truck I’m in charge of.”
You pushed the double doors open. “Hell yes.” You ran to the main truck and climbed on part of the truck. “It’s been so long. I missed this.”
Levi looked up at you as your climbed about. “If you miss it, I could do with someone like you on my team.”
You jumped off and sighed. “Erwin wouldn’t allow it. Even though I’m a fully grown adult, he still sees me as this little orphan girl who needs protecting.”
“I guess that’s just family, but I don’t know much about family.”
You smiled. “Well, sometimes family isn’t by blood, you make your family.” You looked up when a siren went off, then an announcement for a call. “I better let you go.” You stepped back and watched everyone run about. You jumped at your name being shouted. You looked over to Erwin. “What?”
Erwin waved you over. “Come on! You’re coming with!”
You gasped, then ran over and jumped into his car. “It’s been too long!”
Erwin sped off after the trucks. “What do you think about the team?”
You smiled. “I like them. They’re nice and friendly, especially Levi. You know you told me he was a cold asshole of a guy, but he was really sweet.”
Erwin smiled. “You have a crush on my best firefighter? I warn you though, he has baggage and he fears affection even though he craves it.”
“I’m not going to do a thing, promise. I’ve had enough with relationships.” You looked down at your lap and sighed. “Think my last one proves that.” You leaned forwards and looked out the window at a house fire. “Fuck. I hope the family got out.”
Erwin pulled up. “Remember to stay back unless you’re needed. I know you’re not part of the team yet, but still.”
You nodded and got out the car. “I know!” You walked with Erwin to the trucks and watched everyone working hard. You eyed the home and the area around it, then noticed a little kid crying. You ran over to the little boy and knelt down. “Hey sweetheart. Were you in that fire?”
He nodded and rubbed his tears. “I was home with the babysitter and there was a fire.” He sniffed and shivered. “She protected me. Is she going to be okay?”
You smiled. “Yeah, because the best paramedics are with her. Are you cold?”
“Yes.”
You pulled your jacket off, then put it around him. “That’ll keep you warm.” You stood up and guided him to the ambulance. “His babysitter going to be okay?”
Hange turned to you to speak, but she was stunned by what she saw. She saw burn scars on the crook of your neck on your left side that went down your shoulder and wrap around your arm a little. She shook her head, then looked at you. “Ah, yes she’s alright now.”
The little boy peaked at his babysitter on the bed. “You’re okay?”
The babysitter smiled. “I’m okay, now wait for you mummy and daddy.”
“Okay.” He held your hand. “Can I wait with you?”
You smiled. “Of course. Tell you what, I’ll take you to the fire truck that saved you.”
“Yay!”
You walked with him over to Levi. “Hello Lieutenant. I have a brave little boy here wanting to thank you for saving him.”
Levi turned and looked at you. He thought you were pretty without your jacket with a lovely figure, but then he noticed your burns. He’d seen many with burns before, but you made them looked beautiful. He looked down at the little boy with your jacket over his shoulders. “So, you’re the brave little kid, huh?”
The boy giggled. “Yes!”
Levi crouched down and took his helmet off, then put it on the kid’s head. “Wanna sit in the truck?”
“Please!”
Levi picked up the little boy, then sat him in the truck. “Team? Say hello to our new friend.”
You smiled and folded your arms. “Hey.”
Levi walked away from his team gushing over the kid. “You haven’t even started working with us and you calmed down a blubbering child.”
You laughed. “It’s a talent. Thanks for letting have your helmet and sit in the truck.”
He nodded and glanced at your scars while you watched the kid. He looked away to your impressive chest, then blushed and looked up at you. “What are you thinking?”
You looked to Levi. “Just curious about this fire.”
“Well, I can’t let you into the house to investigate.”
You smiled and nodded. “I know.”
Levi noticed people were eyeing your scars and whispering, so he pulled his jacket off and put it on you. “Here.”
You frowned. “What’s this for?”
He gulped. “People are staring and whispering.”
You lightly touched the scar tissue on the crook of your neck, then you pulled the jacket around you. “Thanks, but I think the kid might like this more. We should swap, even though this is warm and brings back memories.”
Levi smiled a little, then took his jacket back and swapped with the kid. He handed you your jacket back. “Here.”
You pulled it on and sighed. “Thank you.” You saw a car pull up and two people run out. “Think the parents are here. You should fill them in on what happened here.”
Levi nodded. “I will…you should join us.”
You stared at Levi. “Join? You mean talk to the parents?”
Levi shook his head. “No, I mean join the station. You’re good with kids, you notice when something isn’t right and you have a passion for this job. Don’t tease or fool around with the idea. Sign the damn contract and join us. We could do with someone like you.”
“I ah…” You watched him walk over to the parents, then talk to them. You gulped hard. “Wow.”
Erwin stood at your side and frowned. “Everything alright?”
You nodded. “Yeah, your lieutenant you said has emotional issues told me to join the station. He said that they could do with someone like me.”
Erwin smiled and felt proud of Levi. “He’s not wrong. When my most emotional distant member tells you to join and uses emotion, you know you are wanted.”
You hummed and pressed your lips together. “You know what? I think I might sign that contract.”
“Really!?”
You looked to Erwin and smiled. “Yeah. Levi is right. I have a passion for this job and I know I’m good at what I do. I’ll be close to you again and help people. I’m in.”
Erwin hugged you tightly. “Fantastic! When we get back, we’ll sign the contract!”
Connie walked with Sasha and Eren towards your office. Connie pulled a face and hummed. “I haven’t seen much of her since she joined us.”
Eren hummed. “Well, she’s had a lot of paperwork to do and we haven’t been to any suspicious fires yet.”
Sasha pressed herself against the window and looked around your office. “I wonder what she likes…do you think she likes meat?”
“She’s pretty.”
Connie nodded and hummed. “You’re right. Do you think she’s single?”
Eren glared at Connie. “Like she’d go for a guy like you.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
Sasha pulled from your window. “Yeah, what’s wrong with him?”
You hummed. “Too young.” They all jumped and made noises of shock. You smiled at them. “I mean, I like you all, but I like my men to be older than me.”
Eren blushed. “You like mature men?”
You nodded. “Older men seem to have their shit together and want to settle down, but younger guys just want to have fun and tell everyone they have an older girlfriend. Besides, if you did date me and upset me, you’d have the chief to deal with.” You looked at Sasha. “You mentioned food.”
Sasha nodded. “Do you like meat?”
“Love it, why?”
She gasped. “Great! Can you cook?”
You nodded. “I can. Do you want me to cook a meal for you guys?”
“YES!” Sasha walked with you. “Oh, but I think we’re out of food.”
You hummed and went into the staff room and looked around the cupboards. “Wow, you have almost nothing in here.”
One of Mike’s team walked in with Levi and took one look at you reached up and looking inside the cupboards. “Look at the lower ones.”
You looked back. “Oh! Thanks.”
He smirked as you bent over. “Not bad, right Lieutenant?”
Levi growled. “Tch, dirtbag.” He walked over to you and tried his best not to look at your bum, but it was hard when it was so nice. “Oi brat?”
You stood up and smiled. “Oh, hey Levi.”
“We’ve got no food.”
You hummed and pulled a face. “Guess I’ll go shopping then.”
Levi saw his opportunity. You’d been here for two weeks and he’d barely spent any time with you, but he wanted to. “I’ll take you.”
You smiled at him and leaned your hip against the counter as you folded your arms, which brought Levi’s focus to your chest, but he fought his gaze. “Really? Don’t you need to be here?”
Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “These lot can live without me for a bit. They can handle a call out.”
“Okay, sure.”
Levi walked with you and sighed. “Jean? You’re in charge of the team until I get back.”
Jean fumbled with his paper. “Uh, sure!”
You followed Levi outside the station to a nice classic car. “Oh, this is stunning!”
Levi blushed as he got his keys out. “It’s nothing special.”
You walked around it and admired it. “You put this together?”
He nodded and opened your side. “Yeah, I did. It was falling apart when I got it, so I fixed it up.”
You sat inside on the leather seats and sighed in happiness. “Now this is a car. A nice black impala.”
Levi closed your door, then got in the other side. “Glad you like it.” He frowned. “I mean umm…thanks.” He drove off as he blushed. “How are you settling in?”
You hummed. “Good, yeah. I know I haven’t been very social with everyone, but that’s because I have been swamped with paperwork.”
“You can’t help it you’ve been working, okay? Don’t make excuses for doing your job.” He glanced over at you. “You work hard for us.”
“Thanks.”
He pulled up into a parking spot, then got out with you. “I’ll get the trolly. Just to warn you, those lot eat a shit tone.”
You hummed a laugh. “That’s alright. I’ll feed them.” You grabbed a few things and put them into the trolly. “You know, you don’t seem the type to do domestic stuff like this with someone.”
Levi blushed. “What you trying to say?”
You smiled at Levi. “That you’re very single.”
“Tch, shut up. I’ve had…I mean…well…”
You patted his shoulder. “Flings.”
He sighed. “I can’t seem to stay with one. It’s not because I don’t want to, it’s because they just want me because of the hero complex. Once their rose-tinted glasses fade off, they don’t want me anymore or they become very ah…”
“Clingy?”
He hummed and nodded. “Yeah.”
You smiled and threw something into the trolly. “I know what you mean. I’ve had my fair share of guys thinking I’m amazing, but I’m not.” You walked up to a shelf and hummed. “I need to get to the top.”
Levi walked up behind you. “I’ve got you.” He held your waist, making you gasp, then lifted you up. “Got it?
You blushed, then grabbed what you needed and tried your best to ignore Levi’s warm hands on you. “Got it.”
Levi put you down and walked to the trolly. “Let’s keep going.”
“Lieutenant!” You both looked over to three women fixing their hair and outfits, then walking over.
You smiled and took the trolly from Levi. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Levi grabbed the back of your jacket and pulled you close. “Tch, you’re not leaving me.”
The middle girl smiled. “Hey Lieutenant, it’s Harper. You saved me in a fire last year.”
Levi frowned. “I don’t remember.”
Harper laughed. “Cute joke.”
Levi shrugged. “I sorry, I don’t.”
You leaned your arm on his shoulder. “Ladies, we go to a lot of fires, so it kind of becomes a blur to us. Why don’t you remind us of the actual fire?”
Harper narrowed her eyes at you, then looked to Levi. “The straighteners?”
Levi nodded as he remembered it was the stupid girl who thought she could pour water on her straighteners to clean them. “I remember now.”
“Thank you again.”
“I was just doing my job.”
She stepped closer. “Really, thank you.”
You slapped Levi on the back. “Well! We better get back to shopping, huh? We have some hungry people back at the station.”
Harper tilted her head as she looked you over. “I’m sorry, I don’t recognise you.”
You smiled. “I’m Detective Smith, arson investigator.”
She gulped. “Smith?”
You nodded. “Yup.”
“So, he’s married?”
You laughed at the thought. “Nooo, no. I am not married to him. I’m his sister.” You grabbed Levi’s upper arm and pulled him away. “Lovely meeting you!” You pushed Levi to the trolly. “Keep supporting us!”
Levi pushed the trolly and sighed as soon as you were away from the women. “Thank you. I sometimes get trapped in being around those people and I say something that upsets them.”
You ruffled Levi’s hair. “You worry too much, but I understand it can be annoying. Erwin tells me all the time how annoying he finds it. He just wants to go about his day. I guess that’s what happens when you’re attractive.”
Levi flinched at your words, because you’d just called him attractive. “You…you think I’m attractive?”
You looked to Levi. “Well, yeah.” You frowned. “Don’t you find yourself attractive?”
“No…do you?”
You hummed a laugh. “With my burn scars?” You shook your head. “Nope.” You put the food on the conveyer belt for the checkout lady. “Could you start the packing?”
Levi sighed and nodded, then packed everything away for you and put them back in the trolly. “I’ll pay.”
You frowned. “But.”
Levi handed over a card. “It’s the stations card.”
“Oooh, right, right…”
Levi walked with you outside to his car, then packed the food in. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re incredibly attractive.”
You blushed red. “Huh?” You gulped hard. “Attractive…umm…thank you.” You got into the car as you blushed. “I’m not used to hearing that.”
Levi drove you and him back to the station. “Well, I’m not used to hearing someone tell me I am.”
You smiled. “I guess we’re even then, huh?”
Levi gripped the wheel. “I ah…I guess.” Levi just thought you were attractive, it wasn’t paying you back, but he wasn’t sure how to put his words. “You seeing anyone?”
You shook your head. “No. To be honest, I probably won’t for a while after what I went through.”
“Bad ex?”
You laughed a little. “You can say that.”
Levi pulled up. “Well, I’m terrible at talking to people, but I’m good at listening. So, if you want to mouth off to someone, I’m here.”
“I appreciate that actually. All I have is my brother and well, his reaction will be just to shout and get mad. It’s nice to have a neutral I guess.” You got out the car and grabbed some of the bags. “Same to you. If you want to practice how to talk like a human.”
“Tch, rude.”
You giggled. “Then, I’m right here for you.”
He sighed and grabbed the rest of the bags. “Wow, thanks.”
You hummed and frowned. “I’m detecting sarcasm, but that’s alright.”
You walked into the station and went to the kitchen in the staff room. You got to work right away making a nice meal for everyone. It was strange cooking for a large group of people, but you enjoyed it. Sasha was watching you closely and asking you about different things you were doing, so you let her cook with you. You served dinner to the team, then sat with them as they joked and passed stories. You felt very welcome by them, like you fitted in just perfectly. You felt bad that you’d kept your story a secret, but you weren’t ready to open up about yourself to just about anyone. You let the team clean up, as per their request, so you went to your office.
You walked into your office, then pulled your jacket off and hung it up. You pulled the blinds down, then flopped onto your bed and sighed. You closed your eyes for a moment and tried to tune out the world around you. You opened your eyes at someone knocking. “Come in.”
Levi walked in and said your name. “I need you to look at this case for me. I was told to let it go, but I suspect arson.” He looked over to you in bed. “Oh, sorry.”
You sat up with you knee upright, then rested your arm on it and reached out to him. “Let’s see.”
He handed the file over to you. “If you’re too tired…”
You shook your head. “No, I’m fine.” You opened the file and flicked through it. “Sit.”
“But.”
You looked up at him and smiled. “Please, because you look really awkward just stood there.”
He blushed and sat down. “Sorry.”
You smiled and looked back to the file. “Don’t be sorry for being you.” You hummed. “Yeah, this doesn’t look like a normal fire. I’ll investigate. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
Levi blushed. “Well, I’m thankful to you for taking it on.”
You nodded. “It’s possible they want you to be quiet because someone important was involved.”
Levi sighed and leaned his arms on his thighs. “I know who, but it could cause issues.”
You closed the file. “They linked to the higher ups in the fire department or the police?”
“Fire. She’s the daughter of the commanding officer, basically he’s our boss and even your brother’s.”
You smiled. “Not mine. Arson investigators are outside his power. I have to investigate no matter what.” You slid across your bed and got closer to Levi, then you placed your hand on his back. “I’ve got this, okay?”
He looked up and you and nodded. “Thank you, just…be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
You tapped the file on Levi’s heads. “I’ve got this.”