Chapter 3
For a moment Levi couldn't see anything beyond the baffling rage that suddenly coursed through his whole being. Not that the lack of vision mattered; that image of Eren laying there so broken that he had walked into was permanently etched into his mind. Levi grabbed the doorway for support trying to clear his raging mind. Eren was struggling to untangle himself from his chains- they had tied him down?! He was going to fucking murder whoever had done this- and try to cover the damage as best as he could.
Well it was a bit late for that.
"Eren, who did this?" repeated Levi advancing a step but stopping himself as the boy before him flinched fearfully. Levi took a deep breath trying to calm himself. He hated that terrified look in Eren's eyes, hated even more that Eren might think there was a reason to be afraid of him. Levi could be angry all he wanted but it would do nothing to help the boy in front of him. He would work on getting the name of Eren's attacker out of him later. For now there was more practical needs he could attend to.
"Where are your cloths?" asked Levi in a much softer tone, Eren blinked at him like that wasn't the response he was waiting for, "Or you might want to clean up I suppose… would you like me to leave the room for that part? I image you won't want me touching you."
"What are you doing?" mumbled Eren hugging his sheets more tightly around his shoulders looking lost as Levi set the wash basin next to him with a cloth and some bandages and then brought him his cloths.
"What does it look like I am doing brat? I am helping you." Growled Levi, he supposed he should be a little gentler in the way he handled the titan shifter, but that had never really been his forte. Plus, he doubted Eren would have appreciated being coddled even if he needed it.
"Why?" asked Eren in bewilderment. Levi turned away so that Eren would see how his hands shook with rage… The things he could do to the bastards who had the audacity to make Eren believe that he wasn't important.
"Because I am your Corporal dim-witted brat and it's my job to look after you and protect you. I wish you had come to me about this, I would have put a stop to this. This has been going on for a couple months now hasn't it? Damn it, I knew someone was hurting you but I assumed that it was just some idiot bully and that you would be able to handle yourself if it really got too bad... Regardless, I should have intervened sooner." Said Levi looking Eren in the eye as he knelt in front of him. Green eyes darted away from his gaze in shame as Levi saw Eren's partially covered hands ball into fists.
"You didn't know- it's not you're job to-" began Eren his voice choking up.
"No, don't do that. Look at me Eren Jegar." Growled Levi reaching forward and gripping Eren's chip and turning him back to face him. Eren flinched so hard Levi almost let go out of guilt knowing the turmoil the physical touch must be causing, but he hung on knowing he couldn't let Eren just run away and hurt himself with such self destructive thoughts, "It is my job to protect you and I failed this time around, but now I know and I won't let this go on. Whatever lies you believe or have been told to you this was not your fault."
"Corporal…" whispered Eren fresh tears starting to form in his already red eyes.
"Now let's get you cleaned up so we can get you out of here." Said Levi letting go of him and standing up.
"I am- Erwin said I was not to leave this room for the rest of the day." Eren managed to get out.
"I'll deal with Erwin," Levi growled out, "You are not going to be forced to stay in the room where you were raped."
"Levi…"
"Now hurry up and clean up, be thorough because we both know you're not going to want to do it again later. I'll turn around so you don't have to be embarrassed or whatever." Said Levi turning away as he did so not bothering not correct Eren. So long as Eren remembered himself in front of the other soldiers, Levi found he didn't mind the brat speaking to him so informally.
"…Thank you." Whispered Eren and Levi could hear the soft shush of sheets as he started to clean himself.
"Don't thank me yet." Said Levi so soft Eren couldn't hear him. Right now he was barely holding himself together for Eren's sake. His movements felt jerky and his mind clipped as it sorted out all the necessary details and obstacles he would need to take care of, but underneath that same helpless rage still boiled directionlessly. It was taking all his control to keep it in check, especially when he could hear the muffled sound of Eren's pained whimpers as he attended to his wounds. Instead Levi focused on what he was going to do next. What he had planned would surly piss off a good many people in the capital- not that he was planning to inform them of his decision- and probably alarm many of the other soldiers here but Levi frankly didn't give a shit. In Erwin's absence he held the top level of authority within the Survey Coups and he would use it for the benefit of his soldiers, most specifically the soldier that was dressing behind him.
"You can turn around now." Said Eren quietly.
"Don't you want to bandage your hands?" asked Levi turning and surveying Eren's still bleeding wrists.
"No point. Everything will be healed in a hour or so." Said Eren dismissively glancing at his wrists and adjusting his sleeves. Levi gritted his teeth at the way the brat seemed to think his injuries were unimportant just because they healed faster then other peoples. However, Levi realized that he really had to pick his battles in this situation. One day he would make Eren see his own worth, but the boy wasn't in a state where he would even be able to see it right now so there wasn't much of a point trying to force the issue right now.
"Can you walk?" asked Levi with concern.
"I'll manage." Said Eren pursing his lips in determination. Levi balled his fists and instead focused on that hint of fiery determination in Eren's eyes that he hadn't seen in so long. One day, Levi promised himself, he would bring that light back to Eren's eyes permanently. Till then…
"Right, well then follow me." Said Levi tensely leading the way out of the dark cell.
"Where are we going?" asked Eren limping after him.
"This place is no longer safe for you." Said Levi simply, "So we will make a place that will be safe for you."
I don't normally comment on my stories or profile or whatever. It's normally my policy to let my stories stand by themselves and not try and influence people's experiences of that story with my own agenda.
That being said I was reading though some comments on this story and decided that I really would like to say something given the delicate nature of this genre of writing.
There is nothing beautiful about rape, if you feel sick or horrified by reading about it then that is a fairly healthy response. I suppose the reason that I choose to sometimes write stories where it occurs is that;
1)rape happens far more commonly- among both genders and in every type of system- then we'd like to acknowledge. It is an issue that I care a lot about and so rather then just writing stories that are comfortable I hope to accurately convey just how horrible and real these situations can be(even in the fictional/fantasy world)
2)And then the other, perhaps bigger reason, is that I like to try and show that there is still hope and happiness that can be possible for those who experience such things.
You are not required to share my opnions, like my writing, or even read my writing. I am not offended by such things.
That is all.
