One Week Later

Headquarters was bustling with activity, with people preparing the last of the supplies, making sure everything was in order and where it should be. You had been taking care of your leg, and while it still wasn't fully healed, you were hoping that it'd be good enough to pass. The doctor instructed you to stay off of your leg, and while you were itching to get up and move around, you were set on going on the trip outside of the Walls. He told you that it would take almost two months before you were even allowed to put weight on it again.

You questioned the doctor several times about the possible use of a brace, and insisting that it was likely you wouldn't be spending much time standing anyway. He threw several "what if" questions back at you, none of which you had an answer for, and you realized that the only chance you had was if you had someone else on your side to help convince him.

Which brought you here.

You looked up to Corporal Levi, a pleading look on your face, and he looked down at you with his usual uninterested expression.

"Cadet, stand up."

He held out his hand for you to use for balance, and you accepted it gratefully, carefully swinging your legs over so they dangled off the bed, right knee encased in a brace that was meant to help you walk. Carefully, you slid down to the floor, keeping most of your weight on your wobbly left leg. You gently shifted your weight from foot to foot, a small twinge of pain as you put weight on your injured knee, but nothing too drastic. You looked over to the Corporal, and he nodded slowly. "Take a few steps," he instructed, and you took a deep breath. Bringing your right leg forward, you placed it in front of you and slowly began shifting your weight there. Good so far... As you lifted up your left leg, there was an unbearable shock of pain running down the limb and you gasped, knees buckling. The Corporal caught you before your knees could slam onto the ground, which you were thankful for, but at the same time you were angry at your body for not cooperating. You'd never be able to go at this rate, and the mission began in the morning. Staring down at the floor in shame, you waited for either of them to say something.

You glanced up at your superior, only to find his eyes locked on yours. There was a moment of silence until he broke eye contact to look at the doctor.

"I'm afraid she's not fit to join us. Make sure she stays in bed and heals properly."

Even though you knew he'd oppose you going, it still hurt to hear it said. Your face fell, and you looked down to the ground, rather disappointed. You felt the Corporal pull you back to your feet, and you complied silently, turning and hobbling back to the bed and sitting down. Levi motioned for the doctor to leave, and the two of you were then alone in the room. Your gaze was fixed on your interlaced fingers in your lap and you heard the short Corporal sigh from above you.

"There will be other times, you know," he said quietly. "Why make such a big deal over it? Are you in that much of a hurry to get eaten?"

"N-no," you stuttered out quickly, glancing up at him. You hadn't meant for your determination to go outside of the Walls once again to be mistaken as an eagerness to die. Though, you could understand how someone could think that. I have my reasons after all... you thought, wondering if you should spill to the Corporal. He seemed to be a rather trustworthy person, and held at least a small amount of respect for you.

You weighed the options in your head, finally deciding that you should tell him. No need to go into explicit detail, but just enough that he would understand.

"Both my parents were in the Scouting Legion," you murmured, knowing you couldn't stop now. "They died while on a trip outside the walls. My mother had always told me stories about the sights they seen while outside of the Walls, and how there was still so much more to see... I always wanted to see those things for myself, and while neither of them liked the fact that I was willingly putting myself in danger, they understood the feeling of wanting more. More than this cage that we live in." You only realized then the frown that had set itself on your face, and you tried to relax your face a bit. "So, once they died, I decided that I would see all the things they never got to. No matter how long it takes."

The black haired man leaned against the wall, arms crossed, before letting out a small hum. "Is that so?"

You nodded slowly, placing your hand lightly upon your injured knee. You knew how long it would take to heal, and this expedition would be a short one. Short enough for them to come back, and possible leave again before you've fully recovered.

"You're worried that you won't have healed before the next time we leave, right?" Your head snapped up, your eyes meeting his grey ones. Was it that apparent? What are you thinking, you scolded yourself internally. Of course it is.

"Yes," you answered.

There was a small moment of silence before he replied, "I suppose that means you'll have to get a lot of rest then."

Leaning back onto your pillows, you grunted softly in agreement. "I suppose it does."

All you could do was rest... and hope.

This chapter took too long! I'm so sorry, it's just that I've been stressed lately with all this schoolwork that's been piled on me, so I couldn't get enough time to write anything quality, but at least I got this somewhat boring part out of the way.

Also, Heichou probably seems a bit OOC, but, a lot of people portray him as this rude guy, which is fine, because he can be really rude but people also write him as violent and abusive and no one seems to capture the softer side of him that cares about people, so I thought I'd write more about that part of him rather than the blunt, unlikable part of his personality.