I was dusting Hanji and I's room. Not like I had anything else better to do. Hanji was conducting some new experiments on her titan pets, so I was left alone. I'd already taken care of my horse duties and Levi had basically grounded me, so I couldn't go for a walk. I sighed just as someone knocked on the door and pushed it open.
It was Levi and I could tell he wasn't happy. I turned back to the window furiously scrubbing my reflection. He said nothing leaning up against the door with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hey, Corporal, what's up?" I tried to act casual and break the suffocating silence.
"What did you do to your hand?" I could feel the sneer in his voice. I frowned.
"Like you don't know, Sir."
"You're right, I do know, but why did I have to find out though Erwin?" somehow his clam, level voice was worse than yelling.
"I didn't deem it important, Sir. I had it taken care of. I couldn't go running to you or Commander Erwin when things got tough." I finally turned to him. His glare was deadly. "What exactly did you hear? I'm sure rumors have spread."
"Why do you think I'm here? I want to hear your side."
I crossed my own arms thinking. "Erwin assigned me as leader of the support squad when leaving and entering the wall, you know that." He nodded. "Well…some of them didn't like that. I refused Erwin, but he insisted. The report said I did a good job and everything, but, like I said, there were a few who didn't like me. One was very vocal about this. When we got here he picked a fight with me." I took off my uniform jacket so Levi could see the scabbed over nicks on either upper arm. I clutched the fabric in front of me.
"I told him I wouldn't fight him. He accused me of killing his uncle." Levi raised an eyebrow. "At first I denied, but after he said I killed his uncle and his uncle's friend I knew that I had killed who he was talking about." For a moment I seen my hands covered in blood.
"You've seen my criminal record, Corporal, it was self-defense. They attempted to rape my sisters and I. That was the first time they called me a killer." I whispered the last part feeling tears sting my eyes. I looked up at Levi. His eyes were wide with shock. I frowned confused.
"What?" he asked turning to a glare again.
"Yeah, we were on our way home from the market. It had been two months since my dad died." I gripped myself tighter. "They threw us into an alley. They grabbed my sisters first, two of them while one stood watch." I got lost in the memory. Reliving it.
"I told that soldier I don't kill people. That I kill monster. That his uncle and his friends just happened to fall under that category. It only made him angry. He said I lied. That those charges were lies. I got tired of his disrespectfulness so I kicked him in the temple. After that things just started going downhill."
"What do you mean?" I bit my lip thinking feeling my face get hot with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"He called me a whore. Asked me how many I'd…I'd uhh had intercourse with to get to my position or if I'd just done them for fun." I stared at the floor intently. "I beat him till he passed out and then some, but I was still angry and full of adrenaline so I punched the stable wall."
"Why would you do that, moron?"
"I don't know!" I flung my arms in the air. "It was the closest thing and I wasn't thinking."
"Do you ever think?"
"Apparently not." I grumbled. "It's taken care of. Nothing more can be done till we go back to the wall." Levi looked to be thinking. "I tried to ignore the comments, I really did, but they got the better of me. Now I've got this to deal with." I glared at my bandaged hand.
"No."
"W-What?"
"No, you did the right thing. It's what I would have down."
"But, I'm not you Levi. Despite what people say I don't like hurting people."
"Erwin trusts you as a leader and a leader must make moral sacrifices."
"I didn't want to be a leader. I'm not a leader."
"Quit complaining, brat. You are one whether you like it or not." With that he left. I rubbed my face groaning. Why did things have to be so complicated?
Sorry for the lack of update yesterday. I wasn't feeling good, so here's an extra chapter. Thanks for reading!