Darkness.

Petra Ral could see nothing but darkness. She tried taking a step forward but she couldn't feel her feet or body.

-But she could hear. She could hear the screams of her teammates.

Petra, help us!

Save us, Petra!

Please!

She wanted to curl up into a ball and cover her ears as tight as she could. She wanted to scream as loud as she could. She wanted to cry and let the tears out. But she could do nothing but listen to the pleas of her fallen comrades. Suddenly, the darkness shifted into an image of the forest, where she found Gunther hanging from a tree like a loose puppet, his face stained with crimson. Eld and Oluo were both on the ground, their blood streaking the grass and pooling up at the tips, forming droplets. Petra wanted to run as far away as she could, to run away as fast as her legs could carry her. But her body remained a stationary pillar, unable to move. Suddenly, she heard the large footstep of a titan thudding her way, and could only watch in utter horror as the Female Titan ran towards her, preparing to kick, and Petra's mouth finally opened as she let out a scream.


She woke up with Levi's arms around her, pleading with her to calm down. Her face was wet with tears. He shushed her until she stopped screaming.

"Petra, what happened?" he asked.

The girl opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She then swallowed and began to talk. "I-I had another nightmare," she sobbed between sniffles. She wrapped her hands around her elbows. "It's cold."

Levi arranged the covers for her before crawling under himself. Petra didn't protest.

"Thank you, Heichou."

"You needn't address me so formally when it's just the two of us. Levi is fine."

Petra managed to form a weak smile, but it soon slipped away.

"What is it?"

The caramel-haired girl drifted closer to her captain.

"I'm afraid to fall asleep. The nightmares will just come back."

Levi wrapped an arm around her. "I'll be right here."

"Good night, then," Petra yawned quietly. "Levi.."


The next morning Levi woke up with Petra snuggled up against him, his arm still around her. Her face looked peaceful and even happy. He was careful not to wake her up, but at least she looked comfy in the bed. The minute he got up, though, Petra began muttering again and squirming. Levi sighed and tucked the covers back over both of them after getting back in. It was rare that Levi slept in, for he felt that sleep was simply a waste of time, but you had to do it for your body to replenish itself. Besides, the sheets looked particularly welcoming today...

He laid down on his back and stared up at the ceiling and then closed his eyes, recalling the events of yesterday...


"Petra," the therapist said, her red lips stretching, making her white teeth appear even pearlier. "Can you tell me what's been on your mind recently?"

Her voice sounded casual, like a teacher talking to a student.

Petra sat in a chair in front of her, Levi and Hanji leaning against the wall. Her hands were clasped together tightly, her knuckles pale.

"I can't think s-straight," Petra said. "Whenever I try to focus, I-"

Her fingers flew to her temples, and her palms pressed over her ears.

Suddenly, her hands fell to chest level, her hands loose and facing up, her eyes widened. She covered her ears again, and began to cry.

"No! Stop it!" she said angrily to no one in particular. "Leave them alone!"

"Petra," the therapist said. "Listen to me."

The girl let out a scream. "Heichou!"

Levi's expression was in between surprised and alarmed. Hanji watched on in concern.

"Petra, it's just a trance. It's not really happening," the therapist insisted firmly.

Petra gave no sign that she heard her. She continued to scream and cry horribly, and nothing the therapist said could ease her.

The corporal suddenly walked over, and simply removed her hands from her ears and held them in between his.

The therapist stood up. "Corporal, you'll only further agitate her condition! She-"

She was cut off by the reaction of Petra.

Her screams died down, though her eyes were still wide as saucers. They stared into Levi's.

Levi then embraced her in his arms, calming her. Her eyes drifted shut as she felt a warm sensation filling her up inside.

It's safe here, was what she thought at that moment.

The doctor's eyes softened at the sight of the two of them. She picked up her clipboard and fastened her coat on.

"The whole point of this," she said, buttoning up her coat, "is to make sure that Petra can control her visions."

She looked up. "But, it seems that although she herself can't do it, someone else can. I'll be back tomorrow by noon."

The therapist smiled and walked out of the room, Hanji tailing behind her.

Before leaving, Hanji grinned and said, "I'll keep this a little secret between the five of us."

"It better," was all he said.


After Petra woke up, they had breakfast the same as always. They didn't talk much, silently eating across from each other. Since they woke up late, it was about 11 and they only had an hour or two before the therapist came.

"Heichou," Petra said.

"Levi, I mean," she corrected herself.

"Yes?"

"The nightmares went away. I actually had a good dream for once."

"What was it about?"

Petra smiled. "We were all here. Eating and talking like normal. The five of us."

Levi's heart felt like a needle had been stabbed into it.

The five of us.

"Even if it was just for a moment," she said dreamily. "I was happy."

Wasn't that what he wanted? For her to be happy? To see her glowing, smiling face again?

He was about to respond when he heard knocking at the door. Petra ran over to get it.

Levi was sipping his coffee, his back to the door. He expected to hear Hanji's voice saying a good morning to Petra, but instead he heard Petra screaming.

He spun around in time to see two large men grabbing Petra's arms, shackling her wrists.

"Hey," he called out, rushing over to the door. "I wasn't informed of this visit."

Petra screamed and struggled against their grip, her wrists trying to free themselves.

"Levi-Heichou," one of the men said in a deep voice. "Petra Ral is to be brought back to the Survey Corps HQ for mental assessment."

Levi gritted his teeth. "Who issued that order?"

"She is to be determined of her mental stability," the other man said, dodging his question.

"Who issued that order," he repeated, his voice harsh and firm.

"The head of the mental therapedic team," the other one answered. "Now, we best be on our way"

They began to literally drag Petra out of the room, but she did everything in her power to keep herself rooted to the ground.

Petra turned back to Levi pleadingly. "Heichou! Don't let them take me away!"

Levi's body froze. What was he going to do?

Petra's wrists were blistered and bloody. She continued to struggle and fight against their iron grips. For her size and appearance Petra might not seem very strong, but she could take down men twice as large as her with no problem, let alone titans.

"As her captain, I'd like to oversee her appointment. I'd like to see if she's still fit to serve under me," he said in the most level-headed voice he could pull off.

The two men glanced at each other, then turned to him.

"Very well then, sir."


Author's Note: Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed and followed this story! It's a bit of a mess right now but I'll sew the gaps up later. Again, I'm having trouble keeping Levi in-character, since in most of the couples I write about, the boy is either overly caring or really energetic and happy. I'm working on it, lol. Well, feel free to leave a review, and follow/favorite if you're interested! Thanks!