I stood by the window in my room, drying my hair with the towel as I watched the dark sky outside. When I'd cleaned myself up the sun had already set and the darkness had taken over the sky. I sighed and turned my eyes from the darkness and looked down at the stone floor, wondering how much longer it would take until they returned. If the returned. The thought was so fast that I couldn't stop it and I moved the towel a little faster over my head, as trying to shake the thought out of my head. Instead my mind only wandered back to Levi's question. What if they didn't come back? At last a knock on the door brought me away from the thoughts for a moment and I looked at it.
"It's open." I called, knowing who it was. Levi entered; he'd cleaned up as well and was now dressed in a white shirt and black pants. He cast a glance at the towel resting over my head. I pulled it of but kept it in my hands, looking at it as I was fumbling with the fabric. "I was just going to dry my hair before I went to bed. It'll be a messy in the morning if I don't." Levis only response was a nod before he moved his hand to the side of my head, moving a bit of my slightly damped hair out of my face and behind my ear. "Shouldn't they be back by now?" It was silent and after a moment I looked up. Levi looked out through the window and I was surprised to see the worried and thoughtful expression on his face. I felt ashamed as I realized that I'd only focused on my own worries and fear of losing the people I loved and cared for. I hadn't thought about how it felt for Levi, being left behind here while people he cared for were out there risking their lives. Especially when I knew how much Levi hated to feel like he couldn't do anything to help them. "I'm sorry." Levi looked at me with a questioning look on his face.
"For what?" I lowered my eyes slightly.
"For only caring about my own worries. I didn't realize that there are people out there that you care for, like Erwin." I looked up at him again. He held my eyes for a moment and I could tell he hadn't expected this. He moved them to the window again.
"I suppose." There was silent for a moment but I could tell there was something on his mind and waited until he felt ready to say it. "He was the reason to why we came to the surface."
"The assignment?" I asked, even though I understood by the tone in his voice. He nodded.
"We were supposed to steal some documents from him and kill him. But…" He silenced for a moment. I understood what happened. "He'd known all the time. That's who he is, always one step ahead." He looked at me again and I could see the trust he held for the man in his face and I knew it was hard to gain Levis trust. I smiled slightly. Suddenly the sound of hooves against stone reached my ears and we both turned our heads towards the yard. My heart made a leap when I saw the horses riding in though the gates of the survey corps head quarters. The towel in my hands fell to the ground as I turned my eyes back to Levi who was looking down at the group as well. It wasn't long until he turned towards the door and I followed, not caring I was only dressed in my nightgown.
Down at the yard it was evidently that once again the survey corps had lost soldiers. I moved my eyes around the yard and soon spotted Eren as he helped Mikasa down from the horse.
"Eren." I called out and both he and Mikasa turned to look at me. Armin stood close to them as well and I ran the last bit, pulling Eren into a hug. I couldn't help the tears of relief leaving my eyes. I realized he didn't make any movement of wanting to get out of my embrace as he usually could do. I moved away a bit and looked at him; he looked exhausted in a way I never seen before and he couldn't fully focus his eyes. "Eren." I said carefully and at last his eyes landed on me, focusing. I stroked his cheek lightly.
"Get the medics. Hurry up!" Someone suddenly shouted and I turned my head to see people running in panic a bit away from us.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"The Commander…he got attacked." Armin spoke and my eyes widened, turning to Levi who stood behind me. He stood frozen, his eyes locked on the spot where the medics had showed up.
"Levi." I put my hand on his arm, breaking his trance like state and he started moving towards the place. I watched him go; even though he looked calm I knew he wasn't. "What happened?" I asked and turned back to the others. Armin explained that a titan had caught Erwin by the arm but even though he'd kept ordering the soldiers to get Eren. He'd lost his arm but he was still alive for the moment. I felt a lump in my throat, the words I told him before he left repeated in my head. We watched in silence as an unconscious Erwin was taken inside the head quarters. Levi followed the group with what looked like an emotionless expression on his face but the million thoughts that was speeding in his head was seen in his eyes and his speeded breathing was shown at the way his chest lifted back and forth. Erens sharp breathing made me turn back to him. His eyes were filled with intense disappointment in himself as well as blaming himself for the outcome of his rescue. I was about to say something reassuring, to comfort him but orders were loudly barked out in the same instant, telling to help wounded to get to the infirmity and others to get to the large dining room.
Gathered in the room, Hange took place at the slightly elevated space where usually the commander and the captains sat down to eat. She told everyone in the room about their Commanders state but that the retrieval of Eren was a success and that what was expected of everyone now was keeping on with their usual duties until further orders. And with that she left, surely leaving to go check on Erwin.
I turned to Eren and the others. They looked exhausted and worn and I couldn't help to sigh soundlessly. When would these poor children get some rest?
"I suggest all of you go get cleaned up and to bed." I looked at them with a soft stare. Even Eren nodded slight even though he still seemed lost in his own thoughts. I walked them to the part of the head quarters were their sleeping dorms were. The group was silent, not even Conny or Sasha made a noise and I couldn't help but to notice the absent of Ymir. I moved my eyes to Christa for a moment, it was all I needed to understand that Ymir wasn't dead but something else must have happened. The mixed look on her face of confusion, sadness and a feeling of abandonment was one I'd been bearing myself once. A sting of pain struck me, remembering how I first felt when I had to live without Levi. I turned my eyes away from her, decided not to ask about it knowing this only would cause the girl more pain than necessary. So we continued to walk in silence, many thoughts on everyone of their minds. I bid them good night, feeling like I couldn't do much more than just being a steady point for them right now. I lingered in the corridor for a moment; the only light was from the moonshine coming from the window. I sighed loudly, wondering what to do from here?