"What happened to your hand?" Eren asked curiously when Alex stepped out of her room. After Alex's breakdown in the wooded area, she had found her way out back. Alex looked down at her wrapped hand. "It's nothing," Alex insisted pushing past Eren. Eren blinked then turned around and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. Alex stopped walking and hung her head.
"I'm sorry.. about your sister," Eren said with sympathy. Alex turned her head and her black hair covered her face. She blinked away the forming tears. "It's fine," she said quickly and shook his hand off then vanished from his sight. Eren sighed. He actually felt bad for her, he probably would've rage quit if they had pulled out his mother's body. He couldn't understand why Alex was so calm about the situation. But that's all she ever was really, calm, relaxed, and every other word that doesn't mean out of control. To him, Alex was a mystery.
After Alex had walked away from the Titan-Shifter, she unwrapped her injured hand. The cut wasn't bleeding anymore - but it still stung a little bit. Not enough for her to show it though. She let out a small sigh and picked up a clean white bandage. She threw her bloodied one away and wrapped the new one around her cut.
She felt better after her night in the woods. All the feelings she kept inside over the last five years were let out. It felt like over a hundred pounds were lifted from her shoulders. Although she was still majorly upset about what happened at the event the other night, she continued with her calm, relaxed, and bored attitude.
"It was just one slip," she thought, "it won't ever happen again."
Alex shook her head and walked out of the old building, only to bump into someone's chest. Alex growled and lifted her hands to shove the person out of the way, but when they noticed what she was planning to do they gripped onto her wrists with force.
"I think you should take some days off," Levi said tightening his grip on the young girl's wrists. Alex slowly rose her head up to look at the slightly taller man. "I'm fine. It's fine," Alex assured and tried to free her wrists. Levi's eyes traveled to her wrapped hand.
"If so, then why is your hand wrapped up?" Levi asked looking at her with soulless eyes. Alex looked away from his eyes, "I fell. That's all. Now let me go."
Levi stared at her for a few seconds before loosening his grip. "You are taking some time off. It's obvious you're emotionally unstable after what happened last night, and I don't need any of that on my squad at the moment. So take some time off and get better. You're no use on the battlefield if you're not thinking right," Levi said then turned around to watch the soldiers train. Alex glared at the dark haired male before turning around without a word.
He was right - she wasn't thinking straight. At that very moment she didn't have her mind set straight. Instead, she had filled it with her selfish thoughts and problems.
Alex slammed her bedroom door close and laid down on her twin bed. Why was she suddenly falling apart? Even Levi noticed that she wasn't completely fine. She needed to stop it - stop being weak. That was weak to her. Letting emotions get the better of you. It was weak in her blue eyes. She need to go back to training, to where the only thing that was on her mind was getting stronger and better.
She needed to stop her emotions.
And for good this time.
"I assume our orders to remain on standby will last for a few more days, but I hear they're planning a major expedition beyond the wall thirty days from now. And that fresh graduates are going to participate right off the bat too," explained the blonde. Alex sat there looking down on her tea. It had lost it's warmth and was now cold and bitter. The sweetness didn't taste as good as it did when it was warm. At the moment, Squad Levi were gathered around a wooden table. Each member had a cup of tea, and they talked about the upcoming events.
"Is that true? It seems pretty sudden to me, especially since the rookies already had to endure this latest Titan attack," another voice said. But Alex wasn't paying attention - she was lost in her thoughts. She was tired, too.
"I bet those brats were scared out of their wits."
Alex looked up to see the man from earlier, Auruo. The same idiot who bit his tongue on the way to the old headquarters. "Most were. Most died. But tell me, were you scared on your first mission?" Alex asked tilting her head while looking at him with a hard glare.
"Is that true, sir?" Petra asked breaking the uncomfortable silence within the group.
"I'm not in charge of comping up missions. But, knowing Erwin, he's put far more thought into this than we have," Levi explained calmly. Alex's eyes slower moved over to Levi - which made Auruo let out a relieved sigh - when he spoke.
"Indeed, there's never been a situation like this before. So many lives were lost establishing a route to reclaim Wall Maria. Just when it seemed like it went up in smoke, suddenly a completely different hope has presented themselves," the blonde soldier, Eld, said looking over at Eren and Alex.
"It's still hard to believe, but how does this 'changing into a Titan" and force field stuff work anyways?" Eld asked staring at Alex and Eren. Everyone at the table was at this point.
"My memories aren't very clear, but it's like being in a trance. I set it off by inflicting self-harm, though," Eren explained looking up. Then the soldier's eyes traveled to Alex, waiting for her explanation. Alex slowly raised her eyes from her cold tea and stared tiredly at the group.
"My ring," she said simply. That's all there really was to it - her family ring with the black rose on it.
"You guys know you can't get any more information out of them than what's in the reports. Not that she won't try, of course. Better hope you guys don't end up dead when she tinkers with you two," Levi said taking a drink from his tea.
"Huh? Who is 'she'?" Eren asked sitting up. Just as he said that, someone started pounding on the wooden door behind Levi. Petra got up from her seat and took the board that held the two doors together out.
"Good evening, members of Squad Levi! How's castle life treating you?" Hanji said with a wave. Alex already knew her, but Eren hadn't officially met her other than in Sina.
"You're early," Levi said without looking at the crazy-haired woman.
"I just couldn't help myself!" Hanji said excitedly.
"Section Commander Hanji.." Eren mumbled remembering her name. Alex's eyes shot unnoticed glares at the Titan lover.
"Sorry for the wait! I'm actually in charge of examining the three Titans we caught in town, you know. I'd like you two to help me out with some more of my experiments tomorrow, so I came to get your permissions," Hanji explained.
"Experiments? Like the one last night? Why would I-" Eren started to ask.
"Why.. the most exhilarating thing of all, of course!" Hanji said, interrupting Eren.
"Well I'm - we - aren't in a position to give permission to ourselves. We don't have authority over ourselves, you see.." Eren explained. Alex rolled her fiery blue eyes. She didn't want anything more to do with those Titans - that Titan.
"Levi! What are their plans tomorrow?" Hanji asked turning her head to look at the bored man.
"Cleaning the garden and horse stable," Levi answered.
"Great! It's decided! I look forward to tomorrow!" Hanji said looking at the two teenagers.
"Uh.. right," Eren said awkwardly.
"I'd rather clean the garden," Alex spoke up. The happiness from Hanji's eyes vanished when Alex spoke. Her eyes moved to look at the girl.
"W-what?! Why?" Hanji whined. Alex slowly blinked then glared at the higher-up.
"What kind of Titan experiments are we talking about here?" Eren asked grabbing Hanji's attention.
"Hm?" Hanji asked looking at Eren.
"Er, I said, what kind of experiments are we-" Eren started.
"Hey, stop! Don't ask that!" Auruo warned. Hanji smiled, "Ah.. I knew it.. I thought you might be curious enough to ask.."
After those words left her mouth, all the members of Squad Levi got up and exited the room except Eren. Alex got up without a word, not wanting to hear about the crazy woman's experiments. She didn't care, because she wasn't going to help with anything. As she walked down the dark lit hallway, she suddenly felt a presence beside her.
She side glanced at the person and saw it was her squad leader. She said nothing, but looked forward and continued walking towards her room. Alex pretended Levi wasn't there, until he spoke.
"You will resume training in two days, that's how long you have off," Levi said. Alex nodded without a word. She was tired and wanted sleep. They arrived at her door, and Alex stuck her hand out to turn the silver knob. Levi opened his mouth to say something, but Alex walked in and shut the door in his face.
"I'm tired, leave me alone and go clean."
Alex stood silently next to Eren and Levi as she watched Hanji scream-ramble about the dead test subjects. Someone had sneaked in and killed all three of them, but when the guards noticed them they had already used their gear to get away. Even though she didn't like the idea of the Titans being alive, it had prevented them from learning anything knew about the Titans. She separated herself from the two men and started walking to the other side of the area.
"What do you see here? What do you think the enemy is?"
"Human's themselves," Alex answered. Erwin smiled as Alex turned to look at him.
"You catch on quickly, Alex Bellerose."