Lara (Long-Fic Levihan | Armin Arlert X OC)

Chapter 8 - Affection

Hange looked back, also watching Levi's efforts against the Titan, and felt a heaviness in her chest. Over the past few months, Hange had begun to feel a strange concern when she saw Levi fighting a Titan, as if a kind of fear took hold of her body. That didn't happen before.

"He's..." replied Hange, panting, "He's Levi." She smiled at Lara, gently, "He'll protect us. He always does."

Then, Hange poked Lara, getting her attention.

"Look!" she exclaimed. "I think he'll finish it now!"

Hange was right. With fascination, Lara watched Levi make such incredible and precise spinning moves, that the Titan didn't even have time to think. He fought with bravery and determination. All of his movements seemed pre-calculated and he looked to dance in the air, using his ODM gear. Turning her head to Hange, Lara noticed that even the Squad Leader was watching Levi with a gleam in her eyes and a little smile.

Secretly, Lara smiled upon seeing Hange's reaction to Levi. Even facing terrible circumstances right now, she felt a bit of happiness in her heart.

With a final blow, Levi spun on his own axis, slicing a sharp cut into the nape of the Abnormal Titan's head, making it fall to the ground.

Hange had to stop the horses for a moment so Levi could climb into his. Instinctively, as if they had arranged it before, Levi stretched out his arms, as if asking Hange to give Lara back, grabbing her under the armpits and putting her back in his saddle. Nodding, Hange signaled for the three of them to get back on track.

Picking up the pace with the others, and with Hange still riding close to them, Lara noticed that Titan's blood was evaporating from Levi's cloak and did something that was a thing of her own when she got too excited about something. Lara clenched both fists, just like the babies do, and waved her little arms in the air, shaking.

"AHHHHHH!" she exclaimed, making Hange and Levi widen their eyes, surprised by the sudden scream. "THAT WAS AMAZING! LEVI, YOU WERE AMAZING!"

Hange laughed heartily. The girl got a rather maniac look, due to her excitement, and took Levi's hands, who was holding his horse's reins, shaking them with euphoria.

"Pleeeeeeease," begged Lara, squeezing Levi's hands and kicking her legs against the sides of the black horse. "Teach me how to do it! I really wanna learn!"

Hange thought that was really cute, because Lara looked like her at that moment, at times when she got excited about something concerning the Titans.

Although he was initially startled by Lara's reaction, Levi felt a quick moment of joy at watching that child feeling so joyful. While Lara was still squeezing his hands enthusiastically, Levi noticed that Hange was calmly gazing at him. He couldn't avoid that look and smiled back at her.

Hange blushed a little, but Levi didn't notice, for he was answering Lara. Hange used that opportunity to return to her position in the formation of the group.

"Let's see," said Levi. "Two years from now, we'll talk about this again."

"Noooooo!" replied Lara, visibly disappointed. "Oh, well..."

Although looking sad at his answer, Levi noticed that Lara didn't let go of his hands. She continued to hold them as he rode the horse. Lara closed her little fingers around Levi's thumbs and, without even realizing it, she was stroking the Captain's hands.

Levi tensed up. He had no idea when was the last time someone showed him some affection like that. With heaviness in his heart, he thought that the last person who did it was probably his mother...

Despite the melancholy, a very strong feeling grew within him, through that child's act of affection. He felt like his chest had swollen a little and his heart had inflated. When he noticed, he had closed his hands around Lara's little hands, and the two of them held the reins of the black horse, together.

Now they were very close to Wall Maria's access to the inner gates of Shiganshina and some stars were already appearing in the sky.