~ Under Pressure ~ The Score
*
"Ian! You can't be serious!" Rico yells, anger bubbling in her voice.
He grits his teeth, "What other hope against the titans do we have?!" He snaps back. "You know something I don't? This is it. This is all we've got, and you damn-well know it! I am making a judgement call here! If you have a better plan, speak up! How else are we ever going to get out from under their feet? I'm all ears here!"
Her eyes grew dull, "If you're asking me how else we'll defeat the titans, obviously I have no idea," She replies bluntly, while I sigh deeply.
"See? That's why we can't afford to beat a retreat," Ian reasons with her, but more calmly like it was close to the conclusion of their argument. "Not just yet, we may not know what else is in there, but there's hope....and as long as that's the case. We're gonna fight to the bitter end."
Finally after sometime Rico left to take down the twelve metre titan, while Mitabi and Ian went to take down the other two from the front.
Mikasa waited for Eren to have any sign of waking up, or to come to his own senses. His injuries was taking a fair damn amount of time to heal, maybe there is a limit to how much he can transform? He did look rather pale earlier before, but who am I kidding? I'm not an expert on titans, but a soldier killing titans.
*
The heavy footsteps echo down the streets, while I flick the blood from my blades after a heavy line of carnage, that fell before me. Seeing Ian ordering his group was good to see, to know they're making a decision. Slowly Eren came back to his senses just in good time, knowing with this many titans, this plan will collapse at any rate.
The large boulder that towers over Eren, made his feet sink to the ground.
Countless titans roamed around Eren, all targeting him. Screams of terror pierce through the air, as my head flicks to the direction to the source. A woman being silenced, slowly is mauled to death. Her blood dripping down, coating the beasts chin enjoying it's meal.
"Shit,"
Flying through the air towards more screams, I hoist my body up changing my grip on my blades. Adjusting them I twist my body, before pulling my body down towards the nape. The soldier continues to scream, before I take down the titan in one swift motion. I exhale deeply, while my attention focuses on Eren.
He's so close to the hole, but too many titans were surrounding him.
"Hurry, and take those titans down now!" I yell, as all the soldier's cheer with me. "Defend Eren at all costs!!!!!!!"
"Yeah!!!!!" All soldiers cheer in usion.
Slowly after a few minutes of taking titan after titan, the steam was clouding around me. Blood coating my body, while my eye rests upon the dying Garrison soldiers before me.
Ian and Mitabi and his men, fought valiantly in this battle.......I'm sorry......
My body was soon moving on it's own, exhaustion hitting me like a truck just like it was in Shiganshina. My blood was boiling, heart pounding, ears ringing and my body growing numb. Building's being crushed, and the stench of rotten corpses filled my lungs.
The sound of Eren's titan roar fills the air, as the boulder was soon placed against the hole. The thunderous sound made the ground tremble, as we all stood there in shock and realisation that we finally made this a success.
"Those soldiers.............their sacrifices, weren't in vain," my voice grew hoarse, before a yellow smoke signal was fired as a success.
Eren's titan form soon collapses after the heavy exhaustion, seeing Mikasa charging on ahead to help recover Eren.
Ejecting the blunt blades that were shattered, I place fresh ones before doing my job of cleaning up around the area. While doing so my eye was throbbing in pain, that it was making it harder to focus. Landing upon the plated surface, my knees buckle beneath me as my knee hits the roof tiles hard.
"Dammit, not now,"
My hand shakingly touches my wounded eye, feeling overwhelmed with the intense pain.
"Akira?"
Pushing myself back up reluctantly, there stood him. How long has it been since we've stood face to face. My eye slowly widening, feeling all the pain washing away by just seeing his handsome face. I will only admit to myself.
"Levi......." I breath out, before he storms towards me.
He went to give me a lecture before pausing mid-sentence, forgetting or ignoring his next words. The heavy silence between us drew longer, before hearing the roaring sound of the scouts soon following pursuit of the titans. Relief soon washes over me, not realising his fingers were gently grazing my gauzed eye. Flinching slightly he grunts in response, while I advert my eye from his own steel grey ones.
"We better figure out our next move now, we can talk once everything cools down," I spoke up, as he nods clearing his throat.
"Agreed,"
All I wanted was to talk to him for hours, and hold him close. Those three years were too long for me, but I just couldn't understand my own damn feelings with him. Without another word, we both head back to discuss the matters of the situation.
*
NEXT DAY
Why is everything black all of a sudden?
Last I remember, I was busy taking the remaining titans down.....
Slowly fluttering my eyes hoping I was asleep, only one eye was opening in response seeing the ceiling. My steady breathing soon paces faster, allowing my eye to adjust to the brightness of the room. The sound of fire flickers nearby, before seeing a nurse in view.
"Corporal, you're finally awake," her voice was more softly spoken, allowing myself to habituate my surroundings and senses.
Parting my dry lips, I cough harshly before seeing a glass of water in view.
Her soft caramel brown eyes soften, "Take this, you were really overworking yourself out there," She passes me a glass, allowing me to slowly pushing myself up by my elbows. Finally leaning against the wall, I took the glass and drank slowly trying to process what had just happened. Feeling the water go down my dry throat, I clear it once more before sighing heavily. My eye darts around, before falling back to the nurse.
"Why am I here, I don't understand.....?"
She nods, "You brought in unconcious, you tend to have this habit when you overwork your body," She explains, but I shook my head. "I'm sorry my explanation isn't quite clear, you were just brought in......right now all soldiers are resting. All titans have been eliminated within Trost, with only two captured by squad leader Hanji."
So we actually won?
"What a relief....." I murmur, hearing a soft chuckle come from the nurse. Leaning my head back I close my eye, and inhaled slowly feeling my body finally relax.
~Knock~Knock~
"Let me get that," She softly said, before walking to the door. Within a few moments the door opens, then closes not hearing a single word. Opening my eye, I turn to see him walking over and sat himself down on my bed. I wasn't sure what to say after so long of being apart, but all I felt was this warmth settle in my chest by just seeing him looking well.
He takes my hand in his, giving a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
"You look a little better," He comments, before he clicks his teeth turning his attention upon the fresh gauze, I'm assuming, over my damaged eye. "What happened here......?"
Parting my lips I felt hesitation stuttering my words, shaking my head.
"Just a scratch,"
"Don't bullshit me," sternly scolding me, before slowly taking off the gauze to get a better look. Allowing him to do so, I couldn't open my left eye at the moment. It was painful enough, so opening it will only hurt more. The gauze falls from my left side, feeling the cold hit the freshly scarred wound.
Silence falls between us, while my eye rest emotionless at the ground avoiding eye contact.
To be honest I didn't even know what to say or how to react, but I knew the truth behind this scar. Self conscious under his gaze I was, but I couldn't hide it anyway. It was too obvious, and he knew it was done by someone. He never misses a single detail, I swear. Calloused fingers tenderly touch around my wound, making my eye slowly trail up to meet his grey ones.
The comfortable warm silence was enough to put me at ease, especially the way he would hold my face with care. My stomach was churning, like butterflies were filling that empty space inside. My breath hitches in my throat, when he touches an aching spot. He pauses meeting my eyes, before he sighs deeply.
Should I tell him who it was? Or.......No, no I won't. I can't. It's my own problem to deal with.
"Can you at least open your eye, or was it damaged?"
"Think so, and no......I don't think it was damaged,"
Slowly opening my eye I seethe through my teeth, before seeing light filling my left sides vision. Everything was very blurry and a little darker, but I was able to see. He checks my eye, and he sighs deeply, grabbing the gauze.
"At least......it's not damaged, that's all that matters," he begins to wrap my eye, knowing it wasn't fully healed. Shuffling closer his face was close to my own, making my cheeks burning in response. His breath fans against my lips and nose, while my heart increases. Finally he was finished and pulls away, before his eyes trace me up and down. Studying me.
My eye darts around, averting from his own with colour dusting my cheeks.
"Thanks, so..........what's our next move?" I question, wanting to do anything to help with our current situation with Eren.
"Well, we have that titan brat in the underground cell beneath the courthouse," he explains, folding his arms shuffling more onto the bed. "Four eyes captured two titans and named them, tch, typical that one is."
Chuckling softly a smile curls upon my lips.
Shrugging my shoulders, "She can't help it, besides we need all the information we need on them,"
He nods in agreement, "True, and tomorrow the Garrison and the Cadet Corps will be gathering the bodies of the fallen soldiers," he continues, as my head falls slightly forward with a solemn look. "We don't need another second-hand epidemic to spread, so they're burning the bodies."
My heart sank knowing those very soldiers, were only rookies who were about to graduate and begin their lives. Anger settles within me, but I couldn't express it just feeling exhausted and tired. Levi seems to notice the change in my eyes, before a heavy sigh draws from his lips.
He places a hand on my shoulder, eyes growing more firm.
"You just rest up, you don't have to do anything--"
Shaking my head, "No, we need to assess the issue that just now occurred," dejecting his offer, assuming it was. "It's just my eye, and I've rested for a day. Right now, all I want to do is find anyway to help."
He sends me a scowl, "Tch dumbass, you fainted in the midst of cleaning the titans," he flicks my nose, while sending him a small pout in response. "Like hell will I--"
"Levi........."
He pauses before taking a moment, seeing realisation flicker in his eyes. It was the first time I addressed him in three years, and it felt good saying his name again. My eye focused on his own for a brief moment, before glancing away not sure what to say.
"......I'm okay, stop worrying," pressing my lips in a thin line, with a heavy sigh leaving my lungs.
Feeling the blankets shuffle beside me he drew closer, before two hands cup my cheeks before seeing him slightly towering me. Within a few seconds warm lips press tenderly against my wound, lingering for a moment or two. My breath hitches in my throat, hearing a gentle hum in his throat.
Soon his eyes lower down, before resting his temple against my own.
"I'm glad you're back," he whispers deeply, lacing with a more gentle tone that I could melt for in a few seconds.
Closing my eye I softly smile, "It's good to be back,"
*
TWO DAYS LATER
My pencil grazes along the paper, placing small detail in the eyes of one of my students. Shading across the cheek bones, and chin I softly hum with my leg over my right knee at the desk. Dusting off with light freckles across the nose and cheeks, my stomach soon churns in response towards the portrait.
The pencil led snaps, as my fingers pause.
My eyebrows furrowed together, feeling something not quite right. Why am I feeling this unnerving sensation? My hands are slightly shaking, just like the last time a student of mine was killed in action three days ago.
Could it be? No......it couldn't......
~Knock~Knock~
"Come in!"
The door clicks open as close my book, turning to Lena only to find it wasn't her. He passes me a small file, exchanging his usual nonchalant expression. "Thought Lena would be coming," I assume, while taking the file still resting my eye on him.
Shaking his head, Levi grabs the chair beside me and swings it around sitting down.
"I'm watching over you for the time being, so....." he trails off, while my eyes lower down to the small file of reports of the cadet corps. Chewing the inside of my gum, I couldn't help wondering how many casualties we earned along with the carnage of young lives.
My voice slightly shakes, "Okay....."
Opening the file I flick through the profiles knowing that the first line of defense, gathered little information on the deceased soldiers I once trained. After giving them the file, they marked if they were deceased or still alive. My eye flickers across each profile quickly, seeing red marks continuously repeating itself across each soldier.
My chest tightens with frustration, knowing half of my soldiers were gone.
"Akira....." his voice broke me out of the anguish I felt, meeting his eyes. ".....I'm sorry.......for the loss of your soldiers."
Shaking my head, I chuckle through the light tears that threaten to fall.
"It's fine, I'm more frustrated how they were just about to part ways to their futures," I assure him, when my eyes slowly widen. That soldier, the portrait, it wasn't pure coincidence.
"What's wrong?"
"Marco Bodt.........." barely a whisper, my hand rests gently upon my sketch book clenching my teeth tightly.
He was a student that stood out, that showed leadership and was very respected among his comrades. Closing the files, I knew nothing could be done but accept it. Taking a huge deep breath in and out, my muscles soon relax trying to maintain my composure allowing my head to clear for a good moment.
"So......today, we interrogate with Eren," I assume, shifting the topic not wanting to discuss any further.
He nods with a soft hum, "More like a debate, see if he's really a threat,"
Lowering my head my hands tighten around the file, "I never knew Eren was like this, I knew him basically before he was even born," I comment, but I push myself to my feet. "No matter, we must see to it.........for the safety of humanity."
However I doubt Eren would even turn against us, after three years hearing his passion to slay every titan in his path. His boasting was soon to become reality, if he keeps it up.
"That's what I want to discuss with you....." I hear him stand, pushing the chair from behind. Turning to him raising an eyebrow, he folds his arms resting against the desk.
".......The Commander and I have decided to place him in my care, with my squad," He informs me, while my eye slightly widens. "Tch, it's a pain, but.....you and I are far capable in taking him down if he makes one wrong move. That's why.........the Commander wanted to make you a section Commander instead, or join my squad instead."
"Huh? What are you trying to say, I thought he didn't want me to lead anymore?"
He shook his head, "If there is any soldiers still wanting to pursue the Scouts, our squad will expand and grow......and I will need you beside me..."
"But what about Lena--?"
"She will still be by your side, like I have Eld has my second-in-Command," He replies sternly, but softly at the end. "Further details will be made once we've earned the custody of Eren, and will discuss further matters with how we will go from this."
Nodding in understanding, he walks over and pats my head gently meeting eye to eye.
"Don't worry, I won't allow you to leave me again," he assures me, noticing a small smile curl upon his lips, only faintly.
Smiling gently, I nod.
*
COURT-HOUSE
Standing outside the cell the flames flicker on either side of the entryway, hearing Levi and Erwin discussing matters with Eren. After the massive clean up operation, and the garrison and cadet corps collected the bodies of the fallen comrades. Only about two hundred and seven soldiers were either dead or missing, even eight hundred and ninety seven were among the injured.
Even so, too many soldiers perished for a celebration to be in order.
However their deaths weren't in vain, having the plan to be a successful mission in years. Deep in thought, I could sense someone waving in front of me. Lifting my eyes stood Hanji, seeing a wide grin on her face.
"Hey!" She beams, while shifting her glasses. "Look so deep in thought, what's going on in there?"
She knocks my temple gently, with a chuckle.
Smirking softly, "I'm fine Hanji, besides....." my eye shifts over to the door, to the cell. "....looks like you're escorting Eren, don't frighten him with your enthusiastic introductions....will you?"
She slams a hand on my shoulder, "Sure, won't be a problem,"
Remembering yesterday we discussed to the Survey Corps and the Commander, about what Eren had explained what little he had, on his power. This power is a threat, yes, but if we question his next move we can control his next intentions if so.
"Corporal....."
My head perks up to see Miche, which was more of a surprise. It's been a while since I saw him, but then again, I haven't seen everyone in a long time. He towers over me, with a small hint of a smile on his face.
"....been a while, hasn't it?"
Nodding with agreement, a smile laces my relief seeing familiar faces.
Clearing my throat, "Sure has, how is Nanaba in your squad?"
Quietly talking while catching up, soon I noticed Hanji was walking out of the cells with Eren following behind her. Eren's eyes soon meet mine, as they widen in surprise.
"Corporal, you're here?"
Nodding, we all soon follow along to the doors of the main courthouse, where everyone was waiting for Eren. Hanji's eyes light up, while striding beside him. Miche on the other hand was sniffing Eren, that the poor boy was looking rather uncomfortable.
"My name is Zoe Hanji, I'm a section Commander for the Scouts," They introduce themselves. "This is a fellow Commander in the Scouts, Miche Zacharius....."
She gestures to the tall man, when Eren grunts with discomfort.
"Oh, don't mind him Eren, he makes a habit of giving new people a thorough sniff," I assure him, hearing Miche smirk. "Also tends to laugh through his nose a bit too."
Hanji gasps, "Also quirks aside, he is a skilled section Commander," She exclaims, before gesturing to me. "Just like your Corporal here......."
Soon silence falls before hanji groans in response, covering her face for a moment like she forgot something.
"Oh damn, sorry, I've been prattling on with the small talk and now we're here!" She stands before the door, where Eren must walk through. "Well, I'm sure it's fine. It's probably better if I don't explain, anyway."
Soon two military soldiers that walked behind us, soon strides towards Eren and starts dragging him to the centre of the room.
"Hey! Hold on!" Eren calls out, before Hanji slowly closes the doors.
"It might seem callous, but remember......" their eyes harden. "....we've all put our faith in you, Eren. Best of luck."
Closing the doors after hearing him protesting, silence fills the room for a moment. My eyes rest upon the wooden doors, wondering why all of this was happening now? Have I gotten soft since training these kids? No matter, I must follow protocol, and trust in Erwin and Levi's judgement on their behalf with custody over the kid.
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