The northern skies stretched gray and endless over the Combat Core's fortified stronghold—a city of steel and stone wrapped in permanent frost. Snow drifted in slow spirals through the training yard, where Levi stood motionless, his breath curling in the morning air. Before him, his new officers that he would need to whip into shape, his company stood stiff as boards, sweat freezing to their brows as they tried and failed to keep up with his relentless pace.
"Again," Levi barked.
No protest followed. They knew better. The Combat Core insignia—two sabers crossing over a blazing field—was stitched proudly onto Levi's coat. He didn't need to prove himself. His presence alone was weight enough.
Off to the side, arms folded neatly across her chest, Lily observed with a sharp gaze that missed nothing. Her white hair was pinned back in a high ponytail, strands fluttering like silk in the breeze. The officers feared Levi's brute force, but Lily's chilling silence unnerved them more. If Levi was the sword, Lily was the sheath that kept him from cutting too deep.
"Officer Gorran, if I see your elbow slip again, I'll personally make you repeat drills until your bones memorize the form," Lily said coolly, barely raising her voice.
The Officer straightened up with a panicked grunt.
Levi smirked faintly and glanced sideways at her. "You sure you're not the real commander here?"
"I just make sure the dog doesn't bite the hand that feeds him," Lily replied, her voice dry but not without warmth.
They fell into step together as training wound down, walking through the polished steel corridors of their outpost. Since moving into the Combat Core, they had found a rhythm—Levi, the fire of the company, and Lily the frost. A contradiction that somehow kept balance.
The room that had been assigned to Lily was quietly reassigned to Silvia weeks ago, on Lily's suggestion. She never explained why and Silvia never asked. Silvia, nearly finished with her medical training, had become the soft presence that rounded their trio. She worked late hours in the field clinics, returning home exhausted but determined, eyes set on her future role as the company's frontline medic.
Later that day, a sealed envelope arrived, stamped with the official mark of the Council's Central Division. Levi opened it under Lily's watchful eye.
TOP PRIORITY REPORTBlack Market Activity — Prototype Collar Compound X-9Suspected trafficking in the Northern SectorInvestigation requested at the Commander's discretion
Levi's jaw tightened as he read. "I guess they are finally making a move. Or something like it."
Lily nodded slowly. "You want to follow up."
"Damn right I do."
That evening, their investigation led them to a dead end—an informant flaked, and a warehouse marked in the report turned out to be nothing more than abandoned storage. With the trail cold, they stopped at a quiet restaurant tucked between frozen alleys. It was there, by sheer chance, that the chase began.
"Someone stop that man, he stole my purse!"
Levi moved before the cry ended, boots slamming against ice. Lily followed at his flank. They cornered the thief behind the restaurant—young, wild-eyed, reeking of desperation. And beneath his frayed clothes, tattoo like markings they both recognized.
"Stay back, i just need more...." the man groaned in pain before tendrils shot from his body.
"Looks like he's going through withdrawals, we need to detain him with minimum casualties, Lily freeze him."
lily shot forth ice attempting to restrain the man but the tendrils moved him out of the way latching to the buildings.
"he's moving too frantically i cant hit him"
levi zipped past lily
"lightning javelin"
levi threw multiple lightning spears teleporting between them in bolts of lighting before striking him down with a strong lightning cloaked right hook knocking him out. levi tossed the man over his shoulder while lily returned the woman purse, on his way out the alley levi and lily were approach by a group of officers from the Apprehension Core.
"Thanks for wrapping that up for us," their leader said with a casual shrug. "Didn't want to get caught in the crossfire—none of us are star-bearers but we'll take it from here."
"what kind of an officer just stands by while a captain and lieutenant do all the work,so much for the apprehension core."
"the smart kind we were fully prepared to take him down if and when you falterd."
"As if id ever be taken out by some street thug." levi's lighting flared around him.
"Temper temper, we're all friends here, no need to get all charged up on me."
His tone was as thin as the ice beneath their boots. Levi said nothing more. Lily placed a hand gently on his arm, steering him away.
"Let it go," she whispered.
Levi's eye twitched. "Make sure I get a full report."
"Of course," the man replied with false cheer. "Wouldn't dream of keeping you in the dark."
"Let's just go home Levi."
Later at the barracks
The door shut behind them with a soft thud as Levi kicked off his boots. The room was dimly lit, their shared quarters modest but lived-in—evidence of the time they'd spent settling in. A pair of folded jackets rested on the single wall hook. Twin bunks. A desk. A shared sense of quiet.
Levi dropped into his chair with a grunt, arms folded, brooding.
Lily glanced at him over her shoulder as she loosened the tie around her collar. "Still stewing over that officer?"
"He watched the whole damn fight and only stepped in when he was sure id handled it." Levi muttered. "Then had the nerve to act like we should thank him."
"They weren't equipped to deal with someone like that." Lily replied, removing her gloves. "He wasn't wrong about that."
"He was smug about it."
She nodded once. "He was. But we're not back in your hometown, Levi. This is the capital. Things don't work the same way here. You can't just punch problems in the mouth and call it justice."
He turned to look at her, frustrated but listening.
She met his gaze, softer now. "We're new here. Best not to make enemies this early."
"…Still i don't trust them to file a proper report."
Lily smirked. "Neither do I. We'll probably need to file a formal request if we want to see it."
Levi sighed, leaning back. "I hate paperwork."
"Well," she said, walking toward the kitchenette, "I'll make us a drink. Maybe that'll take your mind off it."
He grunted in approval as she pulled a bottle from the back of the cabinet, A few moments later, she handed him a mug and sat across from him. They both took a sip.
Levi blinked. Something was off—warm, sweet, sharp. His tongue tingled slightly. He looked down at the cup.
"…This isn't tea."
Lily frowned. "What?"
"Where'd you get this bottle?"
She turned it around, squinting. "…Oh."
"Yeah," Levi muttered, raising a brow. "That's liquor."
"I didn't—" she stopped, then sniffed her drink again and groaned. "Ugh. No wonder it's burning a little."
Levi gave her a look. "That's half proof."
"whaa haf proof."
Levi chuckles "Your drunk"
"Am not"
"You're slurring."
"I am articulate," she replied, punctuating the word with her finger before almost knocking over her cup.
Levi laughed, deep and quiet. "Lightweight."
Lily's face flushed even deeper, whether from the drink or the teasing he couldn't tell. She stood up and moved closer, trying to prove a point, but only managed to teeter slightly, planting a hand on the table for balance.
"I'm. Fine."
"Sure you are."
She narrowed her eyes, then stepped back with surprising grace. "Turn around. I'm changing."
"Yes mam."
"Don't patronize me."
Levi rolled his eyes but complied, turning in his chair. Behind him, he heard the faint rustle of fabric, the quiet release of a braid coming undone.
He peeked.
"No peeking."
He flinched and faced forward again. "I didn't."
"You did."
"…A little."
A pause.
"You can turn around now."
He did.
Lily stood beside her bunk in a pale nightgown, silk-like and barely clinging to her frame. Her long white hair flowed freely, strands catching the faint lamp light like silver threads. Levi blinked—once, slowly—but said nothing.
She sat down on her bed, pulling the blanket halfway over her lap. Her voice came quieter now. "I didn't mean to make… whatever that was."
"Spiced rum and it's fine," he said. "Just maybe don't go pouring random bottles again."
She smiled faintly. "Noted."
He stood and walked over, offering a steady hand. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."
She let him help her, surprisingly docile. The bed creaked softly as she laid back, turning to face the wall, her hair spilling across the pillow. Levi stepped away, but her voice stopped him.
"Levi."
He looked back.
"…Thanks."
He didn't reply—just nodded, then returned to his own bunk, pulling off his shirt and lying back in just his black undershirt and uniform pants. Arms folded behind his head, he stared up at the ceiling.
(At what point did she get so comfortable around me?)
He'd been too focused before. Too caught up in the work, the mission, the training. But now that he thought about it—her laughter came easier these days, her eyes lingered longer, her presence less stiff and more natural.
She was straight-laced. Disciplined. Everything he wasn't.
(There's no way she'd fall for a guy like me,Besides… she's drunk. She probably won't remember any of this in the morning.)
The next morning
Lily emerged from her bunk looking surprisingly composed, her long hair neatly pulled into a soft braid. Levi was already dressed, fastening his gloves.
She hesitated. "…Hey. Last night. Did I… say anything weird?"
He glanced up at her, unreadable. "We were both tired. We talked a little. Then we went to bed."
She blinked. "…Oh."
A pause.
"You sure?"
Levi smirked faintly. "Positive."
Lily looked away, her lips pressing into a thin line. (So he didn't notice…? Or is he pretending not to?)
Before she could ask more, Levi opened the door , "We've got officers waiting. Time to get moving."
She sighed softly and followed him out.
Another day. Another mission. Another knot she couldn't untangle.