Both Levi and Erwin were silent.
"I request to withdraw Lyla from this mission for obvious reasons," said Levi.
"Absolutely not," Erwin downright declined. Levi's face contorted with anger.
"You saw how she is! She is fucking distressed and is clearly in no state to go outside the walls and fight!"
"You know that we need every soldier we can get to fight and that there's no room for those who can't."
Levi glared at Erwin. He understood the meaning implied in his words.
"Are you saying that you'll kick Lyla off my squad?" said Levi menacingly. Erwin didn't even bat an eye.
"It isn't impossible if Peltner becomes…incompetent," he simply said. Levi forcefully placed both his hands upon Erwin's desk, just as Lyla did mere minutes ago.
"She's in my squad and she's my subordinate! You don't fucking mess with my squad Erwin!"
"I think you're forgetting something Captain."
Levi's eyes slightly widened at the use of his title.
"As much as she is your subordinate, she is my subordinate as well."
Levi was at a loss of words. Technically, Erwin was right. He was the Commander after all. As if sensing the change in his state, Erwin continued in a calm voice.
"As far as now I see Peltner as a valuable soldier and if she manages to control that power of hers I believe she'll be a great asset in the future. But for now, I need her to do what she can do. Don't stop her because of your personal feelings Captain."
Levi left the office with a deep scowl drawn on his face. He went straight to Lyla's room. At this point, it was quite habitual to do so. After that first time Lyla almost ran into the woods in the middle of the night, something similar to that occurred a few times so Levi made a point in actually watching over Lyla throughout the night.
Lyla laughed upon his arrival and said, "Shouldn't you tie me to the bed instead, Captain?"
"I'll do no such thing," scoffed Levi. Lyla chuckled as she pulled the covers over her. At first, it was awkward to sleep while her Captain was watching her but she adapted surprisingly quickly.
"But you need to sleep too Captain," said Lyla in a worried tone.
"I don't sleep much anyway."
"That can't be good."
A heavy silence settled in the air. Lyla sighed deeply.
"I don't know what gotten into me back there in the Commander's office. I… I just didn't feel like myself. It was as if somebody else was inside me. Captain… Do you think…"
Lyla rolled over and whispered out.
"Captain. Do you think I might be really… going insane?"
Lyla knew she asked this question before but she couldn't help asking again. Levi stared at Lyla for a few moments and answered.
"No."
...
...
The next morning Erwin officially announced the plan to retake Wall Maria and also added that it's to be a secret mission from the public.
Training sessions were intense as ever. The fact that they were actually going to retake Wall Maria both fueled them to work harder and weighed them down with the heavy responsibility.
"Our main assignment is Eren to seal the hole in Shiganshina District and Wall Maria while we cover him when he shifts in and out of the titan. Don't get too close to Eren because he'll need room to shift."
They practiced different formations as Levi shouted different orders at them.
"Connie, shift to the right by 30 degrees, team up with Sasha!"
Connie adjusted his location as told. Levi again scanned the formation from above.
"Mikasa pull a little back! You're too close to Eren."
Mikasa reluctantly obeyed his orders.
All the squad members maneuvered themselves accordingly and Eren was successful in hardening his skin every time.
Everything went smoothly. Until one day there was an accident. Eren ran out of gas and went into a free fall right before he transformed. Mikasa dove in to catch him and Lyla, seeing Eren bite into his hand, shoved Mikasa far away. She saw the blast of light and before she knew it, she was shot into the ground by the mere force of the transformation.
"Lyla! Lyla!" Eren shouted in a terrible voice. He tried to shake her awake but Armin stopped him. Who knew what kind of injury that fall inflicted? For what he could see there wasn't much blood, which was surprising considering the height and speed Lyla fell.
Mikasa froze in her place, unable to do anything. Levi too, stood in his place with a pale face.
Lyla wasn't moving. Why isn't she moving? She isn't dead, is she? Levi slowly walked to where she was laying. The squad members noticed and stepped away at once, lingering around not too far away. Levi knelt down and checked Lyla's breathing. For a moment he feared that the impossible might've happened. That Lyla might've died all from a stupid accident during training. But then he felt it. A faint warmth on his hand confirmed that Lyla was indeed alive and breathing.
Levi let out a small sigh of relief. At least that was one thing less to worry about.
Lyla coughed up dirt as ringing filled her ears. Her sight was blurred as she lie there. Alarmed voices echoed but Lyla couldn't make out what they were saying. She tried to lift her body but noticed that it seemed impossible. She concentrated on lifting her arm and was irritated in how even the most simplest actions were difficult. Lyla let out a frustrated sigh, or rather tried to as even that seemed too much for her body right now.
"Lyla, are you awake?"
"Lyla! Show us a sign. Try lifting your arm, your finger, or even just a blink is fine!"
"Lyla! Lyla!"
The voice flooded Lyla's ears, overwhelming her senses, thus, annoying her furthermore.
"Will you all shut the fuck up…" Lyla shouted out which only really came out as a mumble. Everyone stopped talking at once.
With much effort, she managed to open her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Levi. A very worried looking Levi. Well, that was a face she hadn't seen in a while.
"For Wall's sake I didn't rise from the dead, did I?"
Levi stared at her with wide eyes.
"No… you didn't. How are you feeling?" said Levi as he quickly scanned Lyla. Nothing seemed broken, or even torn. There was no blood. Lyla just really looked battered up. Which was totally impossible. Levi stared at Lyla as if still trying to figure out what exactly happened.
Meanwhile, Lyla stood up with a groan. Levi's eyes widened.
"Wait, don't move. You don't know what injury—"
But Lyla waved a hand nonchalantly.
"I'm fine Captain." Then Lyla flinched. "Maybe not fine. I feel really sore all over. I feel like I've been run over by a carriage."
Levi narrowed his eyes.
"Be careful and stay still. And you," Levi turned towards Eren who visibly stiffened.
"What were you thinking!" Levi barked out. "You should tell somebody and go refill if you're out of gas you idiot!"
Eren gulped and explained nervously.
"I was going to shift into a titan anyway so I thought…"
Eren couldn't finish his sentence and Levi exhaled irritably while massaging his temples. He said with a final sigh.
"Lyla, you're coming with me to the Emergency Ward. The rest of you, carry on without us for a while. I'm putting Armin in charge."
Lyla tried to protest but just kept silent and followed Levi after seeing his expression which said 'do not mess with me right now'.
When they got to the Emergency Ward Lyla couldn't help but feel out of place. She was relatively unscathed and even looked healthy compared to the other patients. Even the receptionist looked confused to see them.
"How may I help you Mr. Levi?"
"Training accident. Lyla fell 13~15 meters."
The receptionist's eyes widened and the doctor looked completely confused after doing a check-up on Lyla.
"There're no broken or fractured bones, no tissue or muscle damage. In other words, she's fine."
Levi's jaw slightly dropped.
"That can't be."
"I must agree. But there's really nothing wrong with her," said the doctor. He also seemed to have a hard time believing what he was saying. "However she does have a few minor cuts. I'll treat it so it doesn't get infected."
Even when they started to leave the Emergency Ward Levi muttered to himself as if he can't believe it.
"I mean, how can you be unscathed. Are you a rock?"
"It seems as if you're disappointed that I'm not hurt. Perhaps you wanted me to break a bone or something?" said Lyla with a raise of an eyebrow.
"No! I'm happy that you're not hurt."
Lyla laughed at Levi's immediate denial.
"Then everything's fine. All's well that ends well," said Lyla briskly. Levi still seemed to be somewhat dissatisfied.
...
...
When they came back to the training grounds everybody seemed chipper.
"We're going to have a feast!" Connie burst out.
"MEAT!" Sasha seemed to have lost most of her senses at the pure fact that they're going to have meat for dinner. Everyone was cheering while Levi and Lyla looked totally confused.
"Oh, Captain. There's going to be a party tonight," said Eren, who noticed the two of them.
"What do you mean. I don't remember hearing anything about that shit," Levi said. Eren grinned widely.
"Commander Erwin just sent a messenger."
"Does Eyebrows even know that we're going on an Expedition tomorrow?" Levi muttered irritably.
"Oh yeah, thanks for worrying about me. I'm totally fine," Lyla said sarcastically.
"Sorry, how are you?" Eren asked, then added. "Since when were you so sarcastic?"
"I'm not," Lyla simply replied.
"Uh-huh."
Eren's face read 'like I'd believe that'.
"Anyways, are you really okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a few scratches, nothing serious."
Everybody dropped their jaws at Lyla's explanation. However, Lyla paid no attention and said,
"So, there's a party?"
"Yes! And there's going to be meat!" Sasha said with shining eyes.
"I already heard that from you about a thousand times Sasha. And," Lyla paused for a moment and gave all of them a good hard look. "No alcohol for any of you."
"WHAT!" Connie and Jean shouted out in unison.
"You're all too young," was Lyla's answer.
...
...
The party consisted of Sasha turning into a mindless monster and trying to eat Jean, the rest of the squad members tying her before she can hork down the whole chunk of meat, and Levi punching Jean and Eren so they would stop fighting (and yes, they threw up on the floor. Lyla seriously wished she stopped them before Levi did. At least then there wouldn't have been a mess to clean.).
After the party, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and Lyla went out and sat on the stairs.
"I can't believe we'll be retaking Wall Maria," Armin mumbled.
"We can go to Shiganshina District again. Our hometown," said Eren.
"It would be nice if we can live in our hometown once again and…" Armin lifted his head to look at the stars. "And we can go see the ocean together."
Eren stood up. "Yeah! Tomorrow we'll retake Wall Maria and go see the ocean!"
They all started walking back to the compound but Lyla sort of hung back. When she was sure that the rest of the three was far ahead, she turned into a narrow alley. There a man was sitting.
"Captain,"
Levi lifted his head. Lyla smiled down at him.
"I knew you were listening."
She sat down next to him.
"So," she said.
"So what?"
"Will you join us? To go see the ocean."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Hm…" Lyla pretended to think for a moment then said with a smile, "No. You have to come with us no matter what."
Levi rolled his eyes and Lyla chuckled. But soon her smile faded and was replaced with a sorrowful face.
"I still have a bad feeling about this mission. I know as a fact that most of us would die. Maybe none of us would make it. But…" she took hold of Levi's head with both hands and looked at him in the eyes.
"No matter what, I'll keep you alive. With everything I have. You can't die. I won't allow it."
Levi's eyes went wide. He could see the fierce fire burning within Lyla's eyes. Was it for him?
Lyla abruptly stood up and started to walk off. Levi was still dumbstruck from her previous words. He blankly stared into the wall when he heard Lyla calling him.
"Captain?"
Levi turned his head.
"Are you coming?"
Levi slowly stood up and followed Lyla.