*
The thick steam soon starts to clear all around, before revealing all of Levi's squad surround us, but why do they look enraged? Their swords are out too? Finally remembering what just happened, my head snaps in the direction where Eren was. With a large titan hand and half a ribcage out, only with bare muscle and no flesh.
Just sitting here, the hand was emitting heat against me making me lightly sweat.
"The situation is complicated," Levi spoke up with his hand up in defense, towards his squad. "Now, calm down."
His voice was stern, and more demanding than normal.
My eyes search the eyes of his comrades, only to see eyes of betrayal. Faces contorted to anger, and fear even. They stood their ground firmly, while I grip my head feeling the pounding headache growing worse by the second. Groaning softly, I found my ears ringing continuously.
Pushing myself up to my own feet, I roll my shoulders back to ease the discomfort.
"Eren! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Eld snaps at the young boy, while all I could search through Eren's eyes were confusion and panic.
"Sir, please?" Eren stammers, trying to find the words.
"No one gave you permission to transform, did they?!" Eld asks him, his voice rumbles with rage.
"Calm down Eld--," I warn him, trying to aid Levi with the best I could give.
"Answer the damn question Eren!" Oluo yells, cutting me off. "What got into you?!"
"Leave it! Explanations can come later!" Gunther snaps. "First things first, you need to persuade us you're not hostile like your life depends on it!"
The boy was in absolute shock and confusion.
"Prove it or we kill you!" Gunther cuts Eren off, who was about to say something. "The burden of proof is yours, kid!"
"So much as twitch an arm, and I'll lob your head off!!!" Oluo adds, causing more noise to make my head pound heavily. "This is the first and only warning you'll receive! I can end you in a heartbeat! Do you understand me, boy?!"
"Enough Oluo! How many times does the Captain have to say--" Levi shouts, only for Petra to interject him again.
"Captain! I need you to step away!" She warns him, ordering her own captain. She has some audacity to even raise her voice towards him, especially when he's trying to order them to stay down. "You're too close! Take Akira, she's injure--"
My eyes narrow dangerously, "Right now, I believe you're the ones who need to step away, and listen to Captain Levi," my voice deepens, to see her eyes widen with slight fear. That's it, just listen.
"But why--"
"Because I just fixed his hands just now, and I was right there beside him!" I yell angrily, every word that drew from my mouth allowed the pain to worsen. "You all stop jumping to damn assumptions an--"
"Eren better say something!" Eld snaps, cutting me off completely.
"I-I don't--"
"Don't try anything cute!" Oluo remarks, while everyone continued to ignore me and Levi. I share a concerned glance Levi's way, while he held his usual stoic expression trying to constrain his anger.
"Prove your not hostile!" Gunther yells.
"Now!"
"This is serious! We will kill you!" Eld warns, their voices growing more louder and dangerous. Their threats weren't helping, and my mind was rather getting overwhelmed with everything.
"I'll do it! I swear to god!"
"Are you with us or not?!" Eld yells.
"Can you not hear me?!"
"That's it! He's dead!"
Without warning Eren finally snaps, "Be quiet! All of you just be quiet!!!!!" He screams out, causing the squad to suddenly fall dead silent. My eyes flew open for a moment, seeing the distressed child panting heavily. Just before things could get any uglier, a cheery scientist came bounding their way over. She must've heard the explosion, judging by their tone.
I breath out in relief, rubbing my aching head.
"Eren!!!!" Hanji yells, before shoving Gunther to the side with Moblit just behind her. "I wanna touch the arm! I wanna touch the arm! Pretty please with sugar on top! Let me touch this glorious thing!"
Eren's eyes widen in alarm, "I don't think that's such a good-- Wait, no--!"
Hanji ignores him and touches the hand, only to hear a burning sizzle from just a single touch. "Argh!" She jumps up and down, before collapsing to her knees. "Son of a bitch! That mother is hot when there's no skin! This is the best day in the history of science!"
Moblit rushes to her, "You're a maniac! You hear me? A maniac!!!"
Hanji jumps back up with eyes filled with wonder, "Are you not burning up? What's it like?" She threw so many questions, while all the noises were making me feel dizzy. "How is it connected to your hand? Oh you have to show me! I really, really wanna see!"
My eyes drift to see Eren trying to pull on his arm, "Come on," his voice strains, trying with all his mind.
"Are you ignoring me? Don't try anything stupid!" Oluo fires at him, and just at that moment Eren was disconnected from the titan arm after straining with his might. He falls back onto the ground at Levi's feet clumsily, doing a backflip with a heavy thud.
"No! What are you doing? That's too soon!" Hanji cries out, with utter disappointment. She claws through her messy hair in a panic, while watching the hand slowly disappear. "I wanted to put it under the knife!"
Shaking my head, I could hear the hand slowly turning to steam. Slowly turning into thin air, as the warmth begins to fade with it.
"Sorry, Captain," the young cadet apologises.
I couldn't tell from behind but I could sense Levi was pissed off, not understanding why seen we kind of resolved the issue. For now at least.
"Tch, so you feelin' okay, or what?" he sharply questions, wanting to know if that was all Eren had going for him.
Eren pants rather heavily, "Not.....exactly....no,"
"Corporal!" Lena voice rings in my ears, causing me to wince slightly when she embraced me more tightly.
"Argh.....Lena.....too....tight," I lightly tap her, before she pulls away. She eyes my face, while frantically checking all around for any wounds.
"You blacked out for a moment, but I couldn't get in past the squad," She informs me, as I smile softly.
"I'm okay, really," assuring the young cadet, when her hand suddenly latches around my wrist. Her eyes widen causing me to glance down, as blood drips from a large scratch across my left palm. "How did--?"
Remembering I was holding my tea in hand, it must've shattered in the explosion.
"You sure you'r--"
"Everyone! We're done for today, head back to HQ!" Levi orders, noticing the time and tension building up within the squad. Lena wraps an arm around my back for comfort, while guiding me back to the infirmary. Glancing back I lock eyes with Levi, as he nods ushering me to go along with her. Returning with a small nod, I slowly turn back around heading to the castle.
*
HQ
Lena examines my head seeing if I hit my head harshly, if there were any blood or any wound to see. Judging by her face, she was relieved there wasn't any wound. She sighs deeply, "Well looks lik--"
A wave of nausea hits me, seeing her reaction panic.
"Hey....hey," She clicks her fingers together, while I held everything back only to flinch with her sharpness of clicking. "You must've gotten pretty banged up, but you seem fine outwardly."
Giving her a half smile, I sigh deeply trying to shake off the nausea.
"I'm a bit.....sensitive with noise right now," I reply, more softly causing her eyes to widen. "Their yelling and shouting kind of overwhelmed me abit.........seriously those idiots took it rather far. Especially towards the poor confused boy. Even Levi couldn't control them enough, to keep their mouths shut."
She hums with agreement.
"You looked rather pale for a moment, glad you're still awake,"
Shaking my head I try to focus on one object, to adjust my dizziness that settles for a few moments. Touching my wounded hand from the shattered teacup, I wince slightly trying to hold back a groan.
"I'm stronger than this, I couldn't dodged it like the others," I spoke up, my voice barely a whisper, staring intensely at my bandaged hand. "I looked rather pathetic back there, and I'm humanity's second strongest. Tch what a joke I am...."
"No...." her voice was firm. "...you're human, and that's what matters. You didn't know, the others didn't know. You're strong when you know your surroundings, and we were at a comfortable environment to not suspect anything. So please don't talk yourself down because of that, please?"
She was right with a few points, while I lift my eyes slowly.
"But do you blame the child?" She asks out of curiosity, which was the very question that made the rooms grow more tense.
Shaking my head with a gentle smile.
"No, nor did he do it on purpose," I reply softly, while she passes me a cold pack. Placing it against my temple, my mind wanders off again. I didn't want to speak anymore, as it was rather a big shock.
She softens her voice, "Well I will go do some of your signing for you, if you can't get any don--"
"No, I will do them later," I sternly spoke up, making herself hesitant for a moment. My hands carefully pushed myself to my feet, only to feel larger and firmer hands push me back down. My eyes lift up hazily to meet his, causing me to bite back a groan landing back on the bed.
"Lena, give us a moment?" his voice was firm, but I could tell he wasn't pleased.
Following his request she soon leaves the room quickly, before feeling the bed dip beside me. Soon my eyes meet with concerned steel eyes, feeling his warm hands cup my cheeks, rubbing his thumbs in circular motions.
"How are you feeling?" his voice lowers, while the ringing continuously aches.
Nodding, I give him a false smile.
"Alright," my voice was barely a whisper, before my concern rolls towards the boy. "Hey, did you scold him yet?"
He shook his head, "No, but I will after I go see Hanji--"
"Please don't........he never intended it to happen," I ask softly, as my hand shakingly grips his arm softly. "Just.....hear him out, and listen. I know we're foreigners to this new knowledge of shifters, but........we must trust the process if we want things to go forward for a better future."
He purses his lips in a thin line, while his eyes soften in response.
"Tch, you're such an idiot," he rests his temple against mine for a moment, closing our eyes together.
"It's not the end of the world," I breathlessly chuckle. "I didn't fall off a cliff, or I wasn't severely impaled......so I'm alright, Levi. You don't need to worry."
He sighs deeply pulling away, when I felt him pinch my right cheek.
"Let your Captain worry, dumbass," He seethes through his teeth, while I clench my jaw to bite back a small yelp. He soon releases my cheek, that would soon be all red and flushed. Rubbing my aching cheek, I shot him a playful harsh glare. "What?"
He soon lifts my wounded hand staring at it for a moment, when he brought it to his lips, kissing softly upon my palm.
My cheeks burn, "Luckily it was my left, and not my right,"
"True, you need it for working,"
Pushing myself up I try to at least stand, wanting to go do my paperwork that I have left on my desk, which he kind of reminded me just now. If I was gonna rest, I might as well rest in a chair and bypass the pain, and get my work finished and done. Planting my feet on the ground I stood up, feeling my head rushing too fast for a moment.
"Just sit down," he scolds lightly, while i shook my head.
"Come on, Hanji needs us right now," I mumble, slowly walking towards the door. It was rather hard to keep myself steady with everything spinning, and closing my eyes to ease it, wasn't helping much at all.
"Dammit woman, sit back on your ass now," he orders sternly, when I shook my head. "So Stubborn."
Hearing him standing up, I felt his hands grip my plush waist for support.
"Alright then," he sighs deeply, giving up on the idea holding me back down on the bed. He gently guides me towards the stairs, hearing the crickets buzzing their nightly tune outside. The day must've gone quite fast, with our testing all day. Didn't realise we did so much, and thinking the days were slowly most of the time.
//
We entered the room after Levi and Hanji spoke about uncouth things, before Hanji switches to the main reason why she called us in. Leaning against the table for support, Levi kept his distance closer resting only one hand on my waist for support.
"But enough about that.....feast your eyes on this," Hanji uncovers a spoon.
Eren furrowed his eyebrows, "That's the spoon, right?"
"The very one," she lifts it up. "Your spontaneous titan arm erupted into being while holding it. Like so. Resting between the thumb and the index finger. The world operates on chance, so coincidences are expected...but this begs something more. This utensil wasn't warped by the heat or by the pressure. Any thoughts on the matter?"
Eren tries to find his words, "Uh.....all I know is that i went to pick it up," he explains. "When I did, the arm came out of nowhere."
My eyes trail back to the curious Scientist, "Hmm, interesting," they hum, while intensely gazing at the spoon. "This might explain why you couldn't change in the well. I'm certain of it.......slayer titans. Blocking cannon fire. Lifting big rocks. In each instance before assuming titan form, seemingly at wll, there was a distinct goal in mind. I believe it's possible that self-harm isn't the only catalyst of transformation."
Folding my arms, my interest was suddenly peaked.
"It appears as though a clear objective is a crucial ingredient as well," Hanji continues on.
Eren stares at his hand, "I think you might be onto something," he spoke up. "This last time was a lot like the time with the cannon ball. But I--I transformed into a titan just to pick up a damn spoon?......That's insane."
The room soon falls silent, processing the new assumed information on his transformation. Closing my eyes to ease my head from pounding, I inhale slowly while listening in.
"So, uh.......what I'm getting out of this is what you pulled......" Gunther spoke up, in sudden realisation. ".....wasn't something you did on purpose?"
Eren shook his head, "No sir,"
Fluttering open my eyes I notice Levi's squad glances around to each other, before nodding quietly. With me confused as to what was going on, they all harshly bite into their hands causing me and Hanji to look at them
"What the--?" Eren breathes out, with slight hesitation. "What the hell you think you're doing?"
Gunther grimaces in response, "Ow,"
"'kay, that hurts like a son of a bitch, damn kid," Eld stares at the red teeth marks, that printed on the side of his thumb. "I'm impressed you can sink your teeth in that deep without shrieking."
Gunther faces the boy, "We made a judgement call today and it was wrong," He spoke up, explaining why they did what they did just now. "Consider this our way of apologising. That is....if you can find it in your heart to forgive us."
The young cadet was taken back, especially when it was all sudden.
"We have to make spur of the moment decisions, okay?" Oluo tries to explain, trying to display a tough facade. "Make the best call we can with what we know. It's our job to keep you in check!"
Petra nods, "The fact is we were scared," she honestly states, her voice slightly breaks. "That's no excuse, I know. You've every right to be upset......but--all that aside, we're doomed if we can't trust one another. Just as you are if you can't trust us. Eren....I'm asking you to trust us."
The room soon falls silent for a moment, while I softly smile at the outcome of this issue.
Levi's hand was still against my lower back, as his shoulder brushes up against mine. The warmth finally settles within the room again, not feeling that chill that circled the squad. Eren soon nods, "I will, I will trust you all," He swore to us, when he swallows thickly for a moment. His eyes turn to me hesitantly, before avoiding my eyes.
I couldn't blame him to feel guilty when he wasn't at fault, or was he in control. He was in shock, and the group caused him to panic without a second thought. He fumbles with his healed hands, before taking a deep breath. Eyes soon meet mine, with courage building up he steps closer. His posture stood more with confidence, even though his hands were shaking.
"I-I....um......wanted to....apologise," his voice wavers, before clearing his throat. "I'm sorry for the sudden transformation, you took most of the force and brunt. I hope......I hope I can help in anyway--"
"It's fine,"
Everyone gasps in shock from my incisive reply, knowing I do have a temper at times.
"Huh? But--"
Walking over I place a gentle hand upon his head ruffling it abit, "I've known since you were little, you would never intend to harm me in anyway," ensuring him there was nothing to be sorry about. "Besides......just keep moving forward, it's in the past. I'm not hurt severely, alright?"
His eyes widen with light tears at the corner so his eyes, before blinking them away with a smile.
"Yes Ma'am,"
Pulling my hand away I dismiss myself as Levi does the same, wanting to get some paperwork done. With small assuring protests against Levi, he would not take 'no' as an answer. Seriously, he can be stubborn too himself. With finding some truth to Eren's transformation, and the squad's apologetic gesture towards Eren, my mind was put at ease. With everything going on, and finally placing some trust between the cadet and the squad, things were clarified.
//
Propping my head up resting against my palm, my other hand was scribbling my small signatures in cursive writing. My wrist was slightly aching, trying so hard to focus my eyes upon the fuzzy writing. Shaking my heading to adjust my eyes, the dimming light wasn't helping either.
"Why don't you just rest?" he suggests, his voice broke me out of my own thoughts. Peering through my bangs, his eyes were still lingering across his paperwork. With our knees touching from opposite sides, he was gently nudging my knee.
Shaking my head, I pinch the bridge of my nose with a sigh.
"I'm okay, I'll get these done....." resuming my signing, while he lifts his eyes feeling his gaze upon me. I knew he was rather hesitant with me working longer, but he didn't want to cause a fuss. It was pleasantly quiet tonight, while his presence kept me feeling more at peace and comfort.
Signing a few more papers my movements slowly began to grow more sluggish, that my fingers begin to pause a few moments before resuming, repeatedly. My head leans more forward, as my eyes lulled almost closing. Jerking my head slightly back, I fight back the urge to close my eyes. Levi was so heavy with his work, he wasn't realising. Not that I wanted him to know I was fighting back rest, besides, my problem is my own problem.
"I will go grab some tea," he pushes his chair out, as it drags against the tiles. He stood up and places a gentle hand upon my head, pressing a soft chaste kiss on my head before heading out of the room. Once the door closes I heavy sigh leaves my lips, sitting back trying to adjust my seating before repeating the same arm positions from before.
"Damn, my headache isn't wanting to leave," cursing under my breath, I flutter my eyes closed hoping to get a few minutes to rest before Levi gets back. Laying my ink pen down carefully in it's holder, I place my arm upon the desk and nestled my head on my left side. Taking a few deep breaths in, and a few out, my body soon starts to relax slowly. With so much chaos in one day, proves I'm just getting older.
I knew Levi wasn't impressed with Eren's actions towards me, but soon later finds out it wasn't intentional. Thanking him greatly for not lashing out at him, or punishing him even more, he would always remind he will punish him if pulls anything besides that. Seriously that man really does get pissed, and Eren almost got punished because of that. He is one lucky kid that I'm around. The constant throbbing in my skull, reminded me of a time when I was younger when I was abused. Hurts even thinking about it, but I'm proud I made it this far at least.
A gentle smile graces my lips, feeling content with what I have.
While resting my eyes only for a moment, I focus on my breathing patterns to ease the pain that kept nagging me. My body soon starts to slowly down more, allowing darkness to finally consume me hoping I will wake up in time.
-------------------------