-20-

Connection

'Where 's Hange? ' Levi asked as he stormed through the checkpoint 's main entrance, dripping mud and sweat.

'Upstairs with Nifa getting stitches, ' Moblit said.

Levi pushed past him and began to climb the stairs.

Sounds like your day went about as well as ours.

'

Sir, ' Moblit called, 'I don 't know if it 's a good idea for you to interrupt them. '

Levi ignored him. He owed Hange an awkward interruption.

The rooms upstairs were dark, save for one, cracks of light showing around a closed door. He turned the knob. Hange sat facing away from him, naked from the waist up. Nifa was tending to a nasty-looking gash on the Squad Leader 's mid-back.

Levi stepped into the room and cleared his throat. Nifa looked up at him and shrieked.

'Hm? ' Hange turned around, squinting, and then laughed. 'Calm down, Nifa. It 's just Levi. '