C.2: Angel
To say that Regan is distracted was the understatement of the day. She had handed the thick file folder absentmindedly to Deus who had to catch it mid-air. They were all heading towards the mess hall, where the rest of her troop was waiting as Hange filled her up with the changes in the Survey Corps. Miche has taken his leave to check on his own subordinates.
"You're preoccupied." Hange finally commented when she was not receiving any response from her with all the interesting progress of titan research.
"Levi Ackerman, how long has he been in the Legion?" She asked suddenly, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
"Hmm, almost three years now. He got recruited after you left for the Capital." Hange answered without skipping a beat.
"Recruited?" She persisted, trying to keep the curiosity from her tone.
"Yeah. Levi's a thug from the Underground City where Erwin caught him using 3DM. He's been serving ever since. Why so interested?" Hange suddenly jabbed her on the side, knowing her friend. "Did Shortie catch your eye?"
"A little…" Regan smiled lightly. "He reminds me of someone I met long ago." She responded evenly, as her heart started pounding erratically in her ears.
"Huh. Can't imagine you meeting anyone like Levi." Hange commented offhandedly.
It was lunchtime, so it was not at all surprising to see a large part of the Legion cramped but managing to fool around when they came into the mess hall.
It was Oona Chaplin, one of her new recruits with brown bobbed hair, who spotted their group and waved energetically at them. Regan raised her hand half-heartedly when she saw the signal from the far end of the hall—her troop sticking out like a sore thumb from the boisterous laughter of the other soldiers.
As if caught in a spell, her feet carried her automatically to them. All she wanted to do now was to stop head straight for the barracks. Coming back for the Survey Corps was the only thing that has been on her mind for the last few months. This was an unexpected development.
The sudden silence filling the room and awed whispers missed her consciousness from every table that she passed. There was only one thing in her mind that kept playing.
"Hey, Captain! What's with your face?" Tyrell Twain greeted as they stopped in front of their table, earning a chuckle from the group.
Mentally shaking her head to clear off the unnecessary thoughts, she turned with a grin to Tyrell. Playfully tapping the back of his dark head.
"What's with your face, smartass?" She shot back with a grin and the group laughed, feeling more at ease with their Captain back with them.
"Okay, enough fooling around. This is Section Commander, Hange Zoe."
"Howdy do newcomers?" Hange greeted enthusiastically, running her eyes over them and catching one of the old-timers. "Yo Ajax! Old age suits you."
"Wow! It's awfully quiet here! Don't you think?" She shouted all over the hall.
Regan suddenly became aware of her surroundings. The Legion collectively flinched, as Hange laughed in her usual mania. The earlier hustle of the soldiers was replaced by more subdued conversations and curious peeks directed to their group. Most especially towards her. The unsolicited attention irritated her immensely.
"Well, I better get going. Nice to meet you all." Hange bid them. "I've left some reports unfinished and Erwin's gonna want them soon. Drop by the lab when you've got time." She said to Regan.
"I will." Regan nodded with a grin, taking Hange's hand and giving it a light squeeze.
They watched Hange catch sight of one of the soldiers and draping her arm across his shoulder to be dragged out of the mess hall. That seemed to bring back the earlier noise as the Legion laughed at the spectacle.
"I trust that you've already settled to your quarters?" Regan asked eyeing them. They all nodded in agreement.
"Good. I want everyone to report to the infirmary within two hours. You've seen its current state—it needs some thorough fixing." She instructed, taking the thick folder from Deus, who had obediently stood beside her the whole time.
"Use this time to be acquainted with your surroundings and the soldiers. I'll be in my room." Regan bid them with finality.
"What about you Captain? Are you going to eat?" Oona asked before she turns to leave.
"I'm good. And mind you, don't cause any trouble… yet." She said, eyeing the troublemakers in the group. They all gave her meaningful snickers—which she rolled her eyes at.
She strode out of the hall and headed straight for her assigned quarters where they earlier dumped her personal belongings- ignoring the loaded glances and outright stares.
Her room was on the top floor of an old converted castle, a little away from the commotion of the training grounds and common areas. The floor below was occupied by some of her soldiers and the Special Forces Squad, she was informed. The rest were in an adjoining barracks that was built as an extension. It had its own dining area and even a small courtyard. Everything was immaculately clean. Which made her frown. She was planning to make her troop, at least those who were currently residing there to scrub every inch of the place until they can eat off the floors.
There were only two rooms in this wing. She hasn't met the one who resided the room across hers. Most likely it's whoever the officer of the Special Forces Squad was.
The thought made her stop on her tracks. Was it not Levi Ackerman the Captain of the Special Forces Squad?
Fishing for the heavy metal key from her pocket, she pushed the door open with a sigh.
The revelations for this day just keep getting better and better.
Her room was just recently cleaned, she also noted. Standard furnishing—a work table, a bed near the window and a wooden chest, a closet and a fireplace. Not much change from her own quarters in the Capital although it was much smaller. Her bags were placed in the middle of the room in a small pile.
She dumped the folder on the table and proceeded to stand by the open window. It had a good view of the landscape and the fields for riding the horses. She had to hand it to Erwin—he really did transform the Legion. Hope and energy pervaded the air.
Regan knew that she didn't need to come back to active duty for the Corps. From where things stand, she was of better use staying in the Capital and supporting the Legion with her research and medical outreach program. The cadets who she was able to enthusiastically recruit, she could have just sent over to Erwin with members of her old team.
But she had wanted to come back. No, that was wrong—she needed to come back. Mitras, brushing elbows with the rich families there—solving their problems was not her place anymore. She did not belong there. This was her place. Serving the Legion actively. Helping Hange in her research. To hell with being unreasonable about it.
Meeting him- however, did not even occur within her universe of expectations.
Levi Ackerman.
So that was his name.
She massaged the back of her neck. Seeing him here, looking at those sharp grey eyes that scrutinized her—made it almost impossible to control the emotions that threatened to well-up earlier.
He did not remember.
Stupid. Of course, he wouldn't. Was it not that she herself—also filed that chapter far from the recesses of her mind? Sometimes she would think that she must have dreamed about it but then she'd see the cuts on her ankles. Cuts that will never fade away.
Memories that seem like a long, vivid dream.
Thinking about it was triggering a headache. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Levi's presence in the Survey Corps was surprising but that should not affect her that much. He doesn't remember her, there is no need to bring back unnecessary sentiments from the past if they're already long forgotten. Nothing changes.
So why was she affected so much—seeing him, looking him in the eye after all these years?
What a stupid question to ask.
She knew why.
To Levi Ackerman—she only owes him her life.