Hello you lovely people. New chapter up an running. I tried to make this one a little more fluffy. Enjoy!
Diego strolled over to the people on the ground, twirling a metal rod in his hand. He looked at Petra then to Levi, " How sweet," he mocked.
He looked back to Petra, " Its time for you to leave," Diego then called in the guards.
Petra began to panic. She pulled Levi tighter to herself, " No! Please! Allow me to stay with my captain!" Petra pleaded.
"Petra... No," Levi whispered. He knew something nefarious was about to happen again and he didn't want Petra to witness it.
Diego narrowed his green eyes at Petra, "Very well then, I'm sorry you have to see this," he turned to one of the guards, " Bring it in," he waved.
The guard left and a few moments later he returned with a small stove with a fire burning on the inside.
Diego stuck the metal rod he was holding in the flames. He then nodded at the two guards and they rushed forward, grabbing Petra and dragging her away from her wounded captain.
Levi tensed up when they grabbed Petra. He tried to shield her from their roughness, but in his weakened state, he couldn't keep her safe.
The guards took Petra to the back wall, their grip was tight, but not painful. She looked up and saw Diego circling a crumpled Levi.
Diego got close to Levi's face and grabbed his chained left wrist bringing it to where both of them could see it.
Diego spoke, "Do you know why I slackened your chains Levi? Hmmm?"
Levi just glared at him.
Diego smiled, " It's because there is nothing more tragic to do to someone than to give them a false sense of freedom, that no matter how far they are able to move, something will always hold them back. Especially you, oh mighty soldier who ventures beyond the walls in the fight to save humanity. The definition of freedom itself."
Diego looked over at the guards holding Petra, "Get someone to raise the chains again."
One guard let go of Petra carefully as the other maneuvered to take his old on her. Then the other guard left.
Petra couldn't hear what Diego was saying to Levi. She was scared for her captain, the man she had devoted herself to. Petra began to try to wiggle free, but the guard tightened his grip on her, "Stop your moving!" He said roughly. Petra new that she couldn't be of any use to Levi if she also was manhandled into oblivion.
A thunderous noise rumbled beyond the walls and the chains that enslaved Levi's wrists began to retract, taking Levi with them.
Levi fought to stand so the chains wouldn't drag him around on the blood soaked floor. He eventually made it to a standing position, though he was still hunched over, all remaining strength he had was all about gone.
Diego then punched Levi in the gut. Levi doubled over and crashed on the ground.
"Levi!" Petra yelled with worry.
Diego walked over and pulled Levi by his hair onto his knees. The chains started to become taught, stretching Levi's arms on either side of him again.
"Stop the chains!" Diego ordered. He then walked over to the metal rod he had placed in the fire. He pulled it out, it's tip glowing a bright cherry red, causing a baleful red glow to be cast in the dank cell.
Petra's eyes widened, she couldn't just do nothing, "Please!" She begged, "Please don't do this!"
"Petra," Levi warned
Diego looked up at her, his lips twisting wickedly ," Sorry, Deary." He then crashed the glowing metal down on Levi's back. It's impact making Levi jolt forward. Diego held it there after it made contact with Levi's skin, burning an impression on his tender flesh.
Levi twisted his face up in pain, but not once did he release a sound. Diego gripped his hair again, making him look directly into Diego's malicious eyes,
"Humanity's Strongest Soldier no longer has wings to fly." He said. He began to hit Levi again, holding to burning hot rod against his skin for about five seconds each time.
Petra began to cry, but she shook her head trying to deny the offending tears their power. If Levi could be strong enough to handle this torture, she could be strong too.
Petra could barely watch as Diego beat Levi with the fiery rod. Every contact the rod made with Levi's skin made him recoil.
But almost as soon as it But almost as soon as it started, Diego stopped. His golden hair was frazzled and he swept it back with his unused hand.
" That's enough for tonight, I'll be back," Diego then turned waving the man that held Petra captive, to him.
The man that held Petra turned and slammed her into the wall, causing her to lose her footing and fall onto the ground.
The two men exited the door and Levi's chains began to slacken again with thunderous applause. She rushed back over to him.
She took his face in her hands again, meeting his tired, grey eyes. There was still light in them, but Petra could tell they were beginning to dim.
Finally the chains stopped lowering, allowing Levi to finally move his arms. They ached from being in such a strained position and his wrists were chafing against the biting metal that encased them.
Petra looked at Levi's face, his sharp, but strong features standing out against the dim light. His hair was sticking to his head and his entire body was feverish.
She brushed back the sticking hair from his face then returning her eyes back to his eyes, which seemed to have never left hers.
" I'm so sorry, Levi, I'm so, so sorry." Petra said, beginning to cry again. This time she couldn't stop herself and a traitorous tear began to make its pilgrimage down her round face only to be suddenly captured by Levi's thumb.
He was finally able to move his arms when and where he wanted. He slowly brought both of his hands to her cheek, rubbing his thumbs gently across them. Both of them held each other's face in each other's hands.
Petra was surprised by his actions. She watched his stone cold face soften. She moved one hand to gently caress one of his shackled wrists.
Levi spoke softly , " I never wanted you to have to see that."
Petra lowered her eyes, " I know, I just didn't want to be separated from you, I didn't want you to have to be alone." Another tear escaped which was again caught by the man that was holding her face.
Levi caught her chin and brought her eyes back up to meet his. " You are really going to have to try and stop crying,Petra, I can't bear to see you cry." He continued softly.
Petra had never seen Levi act so softly before. She was mesmerised by the feeling of his hands on her face. Before she could stop herself she leaned forward gently, pressing her soft lips to meet her captain's hard ones.
'What am I doing! This is not the time for this, Levi was just beaten again horribly, now is not the time to snog him!' Petra thought to herself and quickly went to withdraw, but Levi kept her there, his lips slowly and softly beginning to meld with hers.
Petra couldn't believe it, the man she admired for so long was actually kissing her back.
Levi snaked his chained arms awkwardly around Petra, pulling her almost completely flush against him. She began to run her fingers through his hair, tracing the short hair of his undercut and gently twirling the longer pieces of hair that she caught.
She could feel every bit of his torso against her. She could feel the hard muscles that ran along his middle. She could also feel the extreme amount of heat his body was producing. Petra pulled away, looking him over and realising that he was beginning to sweat even worse than before.
Petra looked him in the eyes again, only this time he had more of a dazed expression.
"Levi," she called, bringing him out.
He groaned, his face marking out the pain he was feeling. Petra separated herself from him and looked at his back.
Huge burn marks stretched across sewn skin, some were bleeding again thanks to the new attack on Levi's back. The burned areas were bubbling up, creating vile looking welts.
Petra regathered the bucket and rag she was using earlier and dabbed the cool water on the new affliction. Levi gasped and tried to lean away from the sudden pressure.
"It's okay, Levi, I have to do this."
Levi just harrumphed and tried to keep from flinching away from her care.
Finally she was done and she circled back to look at him, his eyes slowly met hers. He looked utterly exhausted.
"Come, Levi, you need sleep."
"But there is only that tiny cot, and I'm not going to let you sleep on the disgusting ground, " he responded slowly.
Petra crossed her arms, "Well you're definitely not going to sleep on the ground and you also can't sleep on your back."
Levi narrowed his tired eyes, "it seems, then we are at an impasse."
Petra then said something he couldn't believe.
"Sleep on me then."
His eyes went from being narrow to wide, "Pardon?"
"Both of us insist the other isn't to sleep on the ground and that cot isn't big enough for both of us to lay side-by-side, so, "she paused, "Lay on me."
Levi was too tired to be stunned for long, so he agreed. Petra helped him rise to his feet, the chains dragging along the ground as they made their way over to the cot.
Levi stopped awkwardly, "You sure?"
Petra nodded then helped him to sit down on the cot. After he sat, she slipped in beside him and began to stretch out. Levi watched her nervously.
Petra looked at him, "Come on, Levi, you need sleep."
Levi closed his eyes slowly and then reopened them. He slowly began to settle over her, though he would sometimes have to stop to avoid causing anymore pain to himself. He was careful not to crush her and he gently lowered himself against her.
She seemed fine, but he couldn't believe he was about to go to sleep ON his subordinate. He looked around awkwardly trying to find a suitable place for his head, then gently lowered his head to rest in the crook of her neck. He moved his arms around her so the chains that were still attached wouldn't touch her.
One of her arms wrapped around his waist and he immediately began to relax. He shut his eyes and felt sleep swiftly approaching due to his extreme exhaustion.
As he began to drift, Levi began to get lost in the softness of the person he was laying on. He could feel every breath and every heartbeat that Petra produced. It was against his nature to admit to himself that he was glad she was there.
His mind went back to the kiss they shared earlier. He admits that he does hold affection for his copper headed subordinate and that she had devoted herself to him, but he was surprised when she kissed him, but even more surprised when he himself had kissed her back. Levi loved how soft she was and how soft the kiss was. He could almost just forget about every pain that wracked his body and live in that moment forever.
He suddenly broke the silence softly, "Thank you, Petra."
Petra blinked her eyes open groggily, "You're welcome, Levi." Then her body shut down and she slipped off to sleep.
Levi smiled briefly then followed after her.
That was a bit happier. I figured it up and it looks like maybe this story will continue on for about 6 or 7 more chapters. Maybe more maybe less. And I promise it will have a good ending. Thanks for reading!