Morning everyone!
So our quarantine got extended. *long sigh* I'm actually an introvert by nature, so I've somewhat enjoyed being able to enjoy the downtime with my little family unit, and yet at the same time….
Ugh. One day at a time guys. At least I still look forward to updates, and as a surprise to yall (and myself as I don't know when I'll finish it) but I had some nagging inspiration this week, so for those who follow me, expect to see a little email this coming week about a new little piece I'm working on, called Vetitian. It's just a small little thing, a one or two shot at best, but I'll that up sometime during the week when it's ready and I think yall will enjoy something maybe a little different :)
As always guys, I'm so thrilled that you're enjoying the story. As said, last chapter was also one of my favorites, so to see such overwhelming support for our main girl – yeah, that made my week. Thanks guys!
…
…
"No husband today?" the doctor asked, looking up from his seated position and holding Petra's now bare ankle in his hand, giving her a single nod expectantly, "Go ahead and give that a roll. Feeling alright?"
Petra nodded in return, and carefully rolled her ankle in a clockwise motion a few times, giving a slight grimace at the odd and tight sensation that ran up her leg, feeling surprisingly bare without her bulky cast that she had grown accustomed to, "A little stiff, but it doesn't hurt. And as for Levi, I think that Captain had other schedule conflicts. With all the recent changes, his schedule's been overloaded and he isn't always able to step away from his duties. I know it bothers him that he has been a little unavailable throughout this whole process – I think he mentally envisioned my recovery looking a little different - but at least for these checkups, he's usually been able to make it work. Still though, I'm aware that he has important duties that can't be sidestepped, so it's okay."
The doctor gave an amicable chuckle at her response, then nodded back to her foot, "Well it happens, and to some extent I'm surprised he was able to be here as often as he has been. Alright now go ahead and point your toe? That looks good. Now flex your foot upward; let's make sure there's no ligament or tissue damage remaining – excellent." The doctor set his clipboard on the bed and stood up, offering her an arm, "Alright Mrs. Ackerman, let's try out a bit of walking, shall we?"
She made a nervous, animated expression and gently slid off the examination table, grabbing the older man's arm as she habitually stood primarily on her opposite leg that hadn't been injured, and with a breath of preparation, she shifted her weight into both of her feet, feeling a sudden wave of nervousness, but then overwhelming relief when…nothing happened.
She blinked, then looked toward the doctor and shrugged, "Alright I've got to admit, I kinda felt it would be a little bit more weird standing up like this. That was pretty anticlimactic."
The man gave another chuckle at her honesty, "Well the mere standing isn't that big of a deal, but you'll feel it here in a moment." As he spoke, he gave a light pull of his arm to encourage her to move with him, and the doctor took one single slowed step at a time, watching the girl for any signs of pain or discomfort, "While your bones appear to have set and healed properly, your muscles have been laying relatively dormant for some time, and so you'll find that you feel fatigued quite easily. Tenderness, sensitivity, perhaps a dull ache that comes and goes at random – all normal and will start to fade after a week or so."
Petra nodded in understanding, and the doctor exhaled and pulled his arm away from her as they reached the edge of the room without issue, "Alright Mrs. Ackerman, you seem to be doing well enough where I don't think you'll need my help further. How about you walk to the opposite end of the room and back on your own?"
She gave a nod and completed his task, answering basic questions along the way, like how sure is your footing, not feeling off balanced, any concerning discomfort or high levels of tenderness, to which she replied with a mere shake of her head. She understood now what the doctor had meant earlier. Her ankle was fine for the most part; it could support her weight and she could walk on it without the fear of falling over or that it would buckle out beneath her, but it was notably stubborn and tense. True to the doctor's word, after six weeks of being protected by a cast that took the bulk of any impact and weight off her foot, even with the mere few minutes of being up on her feet, she was admittedly ready to sit down for a moment because her leg was already feeling the strain.
Luckily the doctor was well aware of what to expect, having seen more than his fair share of injuries in his day, and eventually gave her a nod, "And that will do. Go ahead and take a seat, I've got just a few more questions and after that, you'll be all set."
Once she sat down, the doctor began flipping through his charts and he handed her a small handful of papers, "If you're interested, here's some material about what to expect, some basic exercises you can do to help loosen up those ligaments – that sort of thing. Now if I understand, you're planning on taking some time off and going back to your hometown?"
Petra nodded, "That's right. Assuming everything goes well here, I plan to leave tomorrow morning. I'll be gone for a while, a full four weeks actually. Is that okay? I had assumed there won't be any further check in's needed, but…"
The doctor shook his head at her question, "No, you're fine on that aspect, but I'll warn you now, your ankle is going to protest while you travel because riding for so long is going to tire you out considerably and you may be limping for a few days as a result. I'll go ahead and get you an ankle brace before you leave, and while I suppose you don't have to wear it, trust me when I say that you'll want to. It might not hurt to wear it overnight as well, just to give some additional support while you heal up a little more from the daily wear and tear you're going to experience on your journey."
Petra nodded again, and the doctor shifted in his chair, giving her a casual glance as he looked into his clipboard, "And if you don't mind Mrs. Ackerman, I've got just a few more questions that I'd like to address. With you being in here so much I figured we might just save some time and fill out your annual physical so we can take that off the list. Most of it I've already completed through your prior visits, but there's a few sections left to fill out. All I need now-"
There was a sudden light knock at the door, and both the doctor and Petra looked toward the sound curiously, a feminine voice coming from the other side, "Sorry to interrupt, but Captain Levi is here. May I let him in?"
Petra blinked in surprise and found herself stuttering to find a response, eventually clearing her throat as she forced herself to answer because it was obvious the question was directed to her specifically, "Yeah, that's fine. Please."
The door opened and Levi stepped in, giving the doctor and Petra a single nod as he moved into the room and lounged himself against the back wall as though silently overseeing the appointment.
As Levi walked past her, Petra was still coming to terms with the fact he was there at all, because while her previous words hadn't been a lie – she was certain that Levi had legitimate schedule conflicts that would have kept him otherwise occupied, it had been just yesterday afternoon that she had verbally given him a true mouthful regarding the dialogue between what she thought had been herself and her father, and in the aftermath of it all, some part of her thought she wouldn't truly see him, not really see him anyway, until after she got back from her trip.
She assumed there would be a brief exchange between them; perhaps he'd walk her to the stables, nag her the whole way about taking care of herself or not doing anything stupid, but in terms of a real interaction with him, she was certain she had all but scared him away where he was only present in the role as her Captain. As for Levi, the man that was hesitantly opening his heart to her bit by bit, when she had been caught off guard and her own heart was exposed and left bleeding, she was certain she had said far too much to him and hurt him in the process.
Not that she thought he'd make a point of avoiding her per say, but considering it would have been an easy and truthful thing for him to conveniently be elsewhere while she sorted through her complicated emotions on her own, she was admittedly surprised he had proactively worked something out in the end and made a point to be there just the same.
"Looks like you made it after all Captain." the doctor greeted with a nod, then looked back into his chart and flipped through a few pages, "In truth you didn't miss too much. As you can see, we have successfully removed the cast. I had her do some basic exercises and take a few steps, and I'm pleased to say that everything is looking good to go where I can officially mark in her file that she's made a full recovery. I confirmed with her that some tenderness and overall fatigue is perfectly normal, and that she should plan to wear a brace over these next few days, especially while she's traveling. The only thing we have left now is some basic questions here for her annual physical, and after that, we'll be all squared away and won't need to see her until next year!"
With Levi standing behind her and out of her immediate line of sight, she could only imagine that he gave the doctor a nod, and the man picked right back up where he had left off, asking her basic questions, a basic overview of 'On a scale of 1-10, how do you feel about your day to day energy level' - questions that tested her mental stability, how satisfied she felt with her life as a whole, any thoughts of suicide or depression, and eventually the man nodded.
"Alright, that all looks good, and just a few more questions Mrs. Ackerman. Can you go ahead and confirm the date of your last menstrual period?"
Oh goody. They were at that part of the physical.
Petra made a thoughtful expression, thinking back over her past few weeks and giving a guess, "Uh, I think the 16th or 17th? That sounds right."
"Thank you. Any chance you are pregnant or that you may become pregnant?"
Petra felt her eyebrows raise, and tried not to allow the question to make her uncomfortable. Under any other circumstance it actually wouldn't have, as this was a routine question that she and every other female was asked every year, but considering that in the years previous, her Captain hadn't been in the same room, considering that she wasn't previously married to him; considering that with their marriage, Levi was now the man in question that would be theoretically responsible for such a thing, Petra was instantly embarrassed and immensely so; suddenly grateful that Levi was standing directly behind her so she didn't have to see his reaction, or visa versa, as she responded to the doctor's routine questions.
"No." she said simply, hoping that her voice sounded relatively confident and didn't give away her obvious and building unease.
At her response, she watched the doctor's expression shift into a sort of concerned frown and he looked up from his paper with a serious expression, "Mrs. Ackerman, I want to be respectful of my patients and their privacy, but I feel the need to mention that between this year and last, you've had a change in marital status. Considering I am the one who writes all applicable prescriptions for the Scouts, I also happen to know full well you aren't on any form of birth control at this present time. I'm aware there are other methods of contraception that can help avoid the risk of an unplanned pregnancy, but as your doctor I'd highly recommend you take something proven to be more reliable and effective, because those alternative methods really shouldn't be relied upon as anything more than a mere backup. It's been six months now? Perhaps longer if you were engaged in a physical relationship before the wedding? I don't mean to judge or speak out of place, but I can't help but state my concern, because error is often times a mere eventuality when more intentional steps aren't taken regarding family planning."
At the girl's uneasy shifting in her chair, the doctor took a breath and watched her purposefully, "Unless of course, you are presently trying to conceive a child? Because in that case, there are other products I can recommend that may assist; probiotics and vitamins, ways to track your upcoming fertility window, that sort of thing. Either way though, it stands to reason that some form of update needs to be made here, and this is the time to do it after all."
When the doctor looked up from the clipboard in question, not in judgement but simple curiosity regarding how they could best prepare and assist the young couple, Petra reminded herself to breathe and she eventually shook her head in admitted discomfort because the room seemed suddenly small and she was very aware of the Captain that stood just a few feet behind her, "Uh, no I…that won't be necessary. We're not..." she looked toward the doctor sheepishly, not sure how to find the words to explain without being too direct, silently begging him to understand and change the topic because grown woman or not, this conversation being held in such a setting when she and Levi hadn't so much as whispered a word of dialogue surrounding this topic…
It was all a bit…much.
Sensing the clear tension in the room, the doctor looked toward the Captain, then toward the blushing woman, and he set his pen down on the clipboard in attempts to better understand her muddied expression because presently, he wasn't able to get a concise read on either of them and their sudden discomfort regarding the subject matter was palpable, "Perhaps I should just ask directly to make sure I have a proper understanding - are you sexually active right now, Mrs. Ackerman?"
Somewhat resigned to her miserable fate, knowing this discussion was apparently inevitable, Petra merely shook her head, not ashamed of her answer so much as just mortified that she had to have this questionnaire with a certain Captain, right at the back of the room and overseeing the whole thing.
A look of sudden understanding and clarity fell across the doctor's face, as though silently saying to himself that actually made a lot of sense and certainly accounted for some of the strange moments he had witnessed between them over their various visits. Knowing that he had unintentionally stumbled upon an uncomfortable topic between the couple, he gave a simple nod and continued as though nothing out of the usual had been said, "That's perfectly fine Mrs. Ackerman. Of course, family planning is a very important topic, so even if you aren't in a place right now where you have to worry about an unexpected pregnancy, as your doctor I'd still greatly encourage that you both-" He made a point to look at the Captain directly as he said that, then nodded after catching the man's eye and looked back toward Petra as he continued, "have that intentional dialogue when you feel ready for it, because not doing anything or being improperly prepared may lead down a path you aren't ready for, but by then it's too late."
Petra gave a nod, grateful the man didn't seem to be lingering on the subject, and he wrote a few notes on the page as he spoke, "So. If things ever change and you become interested in more effective precautions or other ways we can assist with your family planning needs, please give us a visit in the future and we'll ensure that you have applicable resources at the ready."
"Thanks." Petra whispered softly, and the doctor's questionnaire continued without further lingering on the subject.
It wasn't but ten minutes later that the man was standing, handing a stack of yet more discharge papers to Levi and giving the man a firm handshake before turning his attention toward the shorter woman, "Well Mrs. Ackerman, it's certainly been fun having you here and I know the nursing staff will miss your constant cheer, but maybe do me a favor and try not to have any more accidents for a while, okay?"
Petra gave a bright smile and laughed at his words, also exchanging a handshake with him before carefully following the doctor out of the room cautiously, moving step for step as she watched her feet to ensure she didn't miss a step or trip by mistake.
As she moved out the room, just past the doorway, she felt a hand move to the small of her back and a presence right behind her – Levi – and when she looked up at him in overwhelming uncertainty, not sure what to respond to because there was just so much to choose from; their heated interactions from yesterday, her upcoming trip, the misery that was the doctor's sudden questionnaire, any last minute items of business that would certainly come up while she was still here - but before she could so much as open her mouth to speak, she found Levi's eyes were shining with a hint of something perhaps on the verge of…playful, but more notably, an undeniable note of pride as he watched her walk on her own for the first time, without her cast.
All at once, under the obvious approval and delight of her Captain, Petra found herself blushing outright, overwhelmed by his warm expression and unable to stop the flight of nervousness and contentment she felt in knowing that he was greatly pleased with her. His hand slowly wrapped around her side as he came up more fully beside her, and Petra marveled how such a simple action could make her feel so…giddy.
It was strange, but even if Levi didn't share the depths of her feelings, even if yesterday had been hard and she was hurt by his actions that were still unaddressed and unresolved between them, even still…Petra couldn't help but note that there was something perhaps, beautiful, in the fact that Levi knew of her feelings, knew her heart and her fondness for him, and even if he was still undecided or not ready for such a commitment, even still he accepted her just the same.
Just like that, after watching her expression change and a blush paint her cheeks a warm and pink hue as she bit her lip nervously, Levi gave a light, undeniably pleased chuckle, using his free hand to muss her hair as he walked with her step for step; not a word spoken between them.
…
It was as they were walking out of the medical ward, down the dirt path at a light and gentle pace, that Petra looked toward him with a smile, and she nudged him with her shoulder as they walked, "You know, I really didn't think you'd make it today, Captain. I know that you're really busy."
He looked over toward her, watching her with a side glance and he eventually shrugged, "Well I would have come sooner, but I had some important business with Erwin to see to that I couldn't really delay anymore."
Petra gave a light nod, and as a silence fell between them, a more serious, pensive atmosphere starting to grow as the silence prolonged, Petra eventually gave a long sigh and looked toward Levi, "Captain, about yesterday. Can I just…look, I was thinking. I know you feel bad and that you want to make it up to me – which isn't necessary, for one, but I know that's just how you are so there's no fighting it. So on that note, I was thinking about what you could do or whatever, or things that might actually mean something to me and…"
She shook her head as though losing her nerve, not sure if it was even right for her to proactively ask him for anything, and Levi watched her for a mere moment before looking toward the path ahead, giving a single nod of approval because it seemed she needed the encouragement, "I wouldn't mind hearing your ideas Petra; it's fine. I know that yesterday admittedly looked bad, and it's not my intention to cause hurt or to…"
He wore a conflicted expression then, as though uncertain of how to put his thoughts into actual words, and Levi merely shook his head as the silence prolonged all the more, "…What were you thinking?"
Petra took a breath and looked at the path ahead with a sad smile, "Alright but before you say anything, I already know you can't, so don't take it to actually mean anything or that you should feel guilty about it when you have to say no, but I was just thinking yesterday how cool it would be if, maybe…you came back home with me."
Levi blinked at her words, watching her with suddenly wide eyes, though Petra was still looking ahead and so his curious expression was lost on her completely as she explained with a wistful sigh, "In truth Captain, I would really, really like it if my dad got to meet you, in person. And what's more, I'd like to spend that time with you, you know, traveling and not having so much work and business and demands to see to, but just…really be with you."
She gave a small laugh and shrugged, almost whispering to herself, "I mean, I know you can't and so I've got other ideas – mostly cleaning because maybe the vindictive side of me would enjoy assigning you tasks for a change - but all in all…I don't know. I think it would just be really cool to spend that time with you because it would certainly beat spending the next four weeks alone."
She gave a contented sigh, as though even thinking about it truly made her that happy, and Levi's expression softened. He shook his head in admitted surprise, "Really? After upsetting you and making you feel as though I broke your trust, you want to remedy that by spending more time with me? What would that even do for you?"
Petra looked toward him at his question, as though not seeing his point in the slightest, and Levi dismissed it with a sigh, almost speaking in a bitter pout because of course Petra wouldn't understand. "Sorry, never mind. It's just that I can't think of many people who would consider four weeks with me an actual vacation, and especially not a way to patch up a disagreement. To your point, I don't think I've ever taken that much time off before in a single go. Maybe at the most two weeks. That's…"
At his words that seemed to taper off, Petra waved her hands and laughed good naturedly, "No no, I know Captain. I'm aware it's not really plausible, but I-"
"I'll talk to Erwin." Levi stated simply with a nod, and at his simple response, Petra's mouth was hanging wide open in sheer disbelief.
"Wait, wait what? You, you really will?" she stammered with obvious shock on her face, and Levi looked at her in equal wonder.
"Well sure." He reasoned with a tilt of his head, "If it really means that much to you, then the absolute least I can do is ask Erwin about it before outright shutting it down. I mean, unless of course that wasn't a real invitation and you were just saying it to be-"
"No, no!" Petra corrected him instantly, her shock morphing into a pleased smile as Levi's gaze fell onto her with a quirked eyebrow, "I wasn't just saying it Levi, I really would like that; if you could come home with me, I mean. Even just you asking, it's more than enough. It really, really means a lot to me. Thank you so much. Really."
Levi watched her in disbelief for a long moment, seeing the sheer contentment of her expression, and he exhaled because perhaps some part of him was admittedly agitated that she was giving in so easily. She had always been like that, especially graceful toward him in particular, and after repetitively witnessing just how forgiving and gentle and fucking perfect she was – it was hard to understand what she saw in someone like him and he couldn't help but be frustrated and guilt-ridden all at once.
He looked back toward the path and spoke in bitter confession, "Listen woman, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, but of all the things you could ask for…fuck, I'm just going to have to say it. You really could stand to raise your standard's a bit. Or a lot. I feel like this is hardly enough because I've fucked up more than once and it's like you're so damn eager to brush it aside. Maybe I shouldn't say this but…you could stand to be mad for a while, you know? At the very least, your forgiveness shouldn't so easily be bought because after something like this…Petra, that's a cheap price."
There was a quiet sort of hum that had left her then; a shadowed look in her eye that spoke of twisted amusement, and after a long silence, Petra merely gave a dark sort of laugh, "Well now…I wouldn't quite say that, Captain."
Petra had stopped walking, something that had surprised Levi as he turned around toward her in question, and the expression she watched him with was one that was admittedly hard to place; a sort of smirk, as though she had some sort of secret, though her eyes spoke of guilt – an admittedly unsettling combination that left him at odds.
"Everyone seems to want you for something these days, and I'm no exception to that anymore. So considering the fact that you'd be willing to pull yourself out of the military for four weeks in attempts to just be with me in return – well, I consider that to be extremely valuable."
She paused for a moment and her previous sort of smirk fell as her volume reduced to a serious whisper, "I'm asking for Humanity's Strongest," she caught his eye for only a moment, and Petra shook her head seriously, "Fact of the matter is, I don't think my price could be any higher, Levi."
At her direct explanation, Levi wasn't sure what to say in response, and so he didn't.
…
…
Hours later, Petra was finally finishing up the last of her packing, presently organizing her duffle bags and rearranging the disarrayed items she was leaving behind back into her dresser in a more orderly fashion. As she moved about her room carefully, admittedly finding her ankle to be a little sore and grateful the doctor had provided her an ankle brace, there was a knock at her door and she smiled, calling out over her shoulder as she worked, "Door's unlocked."
A moment later, she gave a simple nod, not at all surprised to see Levi walk in and close the door behind himself, "Hey Captain, how'd it go?"
While she wished she could have perhaps played it cool, waited more than a single moment before asking him so directly how his chat with Erwin had gone, she couldn't help her curiosity when she saw a certain hard set expression in his eyes – he was displeased so it seemed – and she found she didn't really have the discipline needed to wait for him to eventually bring the topic up on his own. She looked toward him more directly as she put her riding boots near the front of her room with the rest of her luggage, "Based off your expression, I'm guessing not good?"
She tried to keep the disappointment out of her tone, because she knew it had never been up to Levi to decide, and she didn't want to make him feel guilty for what was out of his control. Of course, she had known from the start that the chances of him being permitted to leave while the Scouts were in such a pivotal time were slim to none, considering they'd be in a tight enough spot without her around, but even still, she couldn't deny the deflated sort of feeling that came over her.
At her question and subsequent assumption, Levi was admittedly caught off-guard by her words, because to his knowledge he wasn't making any particularly expressive response that would have hinted at the meeting going any particular way, but apparently he must have been doing something that had tipped her off, and he could only shrug passively, "It went fine. Nothing bad, it's just Erwin is such a fucking know it all and it pisses me off sometimes - even more than damned Four Eyes because yeah, she's annoying, but at least she's humble. That damned fucking Erwin though, his pompous attitude is insufferable sometimes because he's always fucking right somehow and just one damn time I'd like to see him be flat out wrong about something, but no. He's always fucking right and damn, it pisses me off!"
Petra stood up from the ground slowly, turning around toward Levi as she watched him directly for a more clear response because his sudden tirade didn't paint a clear picture for either outcome, "Wait, sorry I know you're mad or whatever but… it went fine as in, it went exactly as expected where you're needed here, or it went fine as in, you're actually coming back home with me?"
He exhaled at her redirected question and gave her an affirming nod, "That. The second one. I'll go back with you. If you want, I mean. Erwin said that I can take the time off, so it's up to you. I know you're upset still, and that's okay. If you don't, I mean. You know, want me around that whole time. It's your call."
He had wanted to say those words more casually, but admittedly due to his uncertainty of what Petra wanted or needed from him, he found himself somewhat stumbling over his words instead because regardless the Commander's approval, Levi felt the final decision should be left up to her.
Yes, he knew full well that Petra was still mad at him, even now. She was acting kind, professional; being more graceful toward him than he deserved, but he still knew she wasn't over it. She was distanced, still watched him with a look that begged the question 'why' and it was clear that she struggled with the fact that he had been reading her mail without once talking to her about it. He wasn't worried that the damage was irreversible; he had been in a similar position before and knew better than to believe that things were damaged beyond repair considering it was Petra he was dealing with – it was just…it would take time.
It stood to reason that if she wanted to address it by spending the time on her own; to sort out whatever her feelings were or weren't for him, perhaps enjoy some time without the stress of the military and try to straighten out whatever was going on between her and her father – that was certainly enough to shoulder without the added issues of their own relationship struggles – so he could be patient and allow her that freedom because perhaps the time apart would do her some good. She was always so accepting of him, thoughtful and cautious in her attempts to not push him to any extremes, and he found that above all, he wanted to be , or at the very least try to be, as gracious in return, and allow her the time to be angry with him, and to dislike his actions and actively disagree with him.
To some extent, he supposed that even now some part of him was admittedly skeptical of her previous claims, feeling that she may have only invited him on her journey out of mere politeness' sake.
And yet, watching her eyes widen as an excited smile spread across her face, seeing her mentally review the fact that he could, and would accompany her; her immediate unguarded reaction confirmed the sincerity of her feelings, more than her words ever could, and Levi found himself giving a somewhat shy, hesitant smile as he watched her, not aware he had been so nervous until the feeling of relief came over him in resounding, clarifying waves.
She really did want him there.
"Yes Captain, yes, I'd love that so much!" her sudden energy and excitement was palpable, it seemed she was just short of jumping up and down and clapping her hands as she watched him in return with excited and pleading eyes, "Please come back with me, Captain - it will be so much fun! Please, say you will!"
Levi could only give a huff of an exhale, admittedly a little overwhelmed by her sheer excitement and uncertain how to respond in kind, because yes, he was undeniably looking forward to being with her for a full, uninterrupted month after so much time of being apart, but there was no way he could match her sudden intense level of energy and he sincerely hoped she wasn't expecting him to do so.
He swallowed thickly, and gave a hesitant nod as he tried to find his words, "Uh sure…no problem."
Watching his sudden awkward sort of nervousness, Petra bit her lower lip in attempts to contain her even larger smile, and she merely nodded in a more subdued fashion, "I'm glad, truly. Thank you, Levi. It really, really means a lot to me." She paused for a moment as her expression fell pensive, and she watched him more seriously, "You said something about Erwin though. Did something happen? Does he need me for anything or whatever? I planned on going to his office here in a bit, just to make sure there was no unsorted business I was leaving behind that needed to be cared for but…"
At her mention of Erwin, the Captain seemed just short of rolling his eyes, "No. The man thinks he's so goddamned clever. When I went in his office, I caught him at a bad time because he had a meeting with a handful of Officers that were on their way. I told him I'd just come back later because I had something to run by him, and the bastard just waved a hand, asked if it was about your vacation because he already had it all worked out so there was no need to bother him about it. Apparently he knew that you'd ask me, and had already taken the liberty to arrange the time off and clear my schedule. In the end he barely even looked up from his desk; just handed me a stack of papers and dismissed me before I even said why I was there, because he had other things to get done and I had packing to do."
Petra blinked.
Erwin had correctly wagered that she'd want Levi to go home with her? Had correctly wagered that Levi would actually be willing to do so, and had gone as far as to proactively clear the Captain's schedule to allow such a thing, before Levi had even asked the question?
"Are we…that predictable?" she finally asked, her mouth hanging open in sheer wonder at Levi's account for his 'meeting' with Erwin that had turned out to be nothing more than a confirmation of what Erwin had already accounted for.
The Captain rolled his eyes and crossed his arms with a pointed exhale, "Well to a normal person, no. But to Erwin, a man that moves people around like pieces on a damn chessboard - yes, apparently so." He paused and looked toward Petra more seriously and continued, "But he did want to relay the message that his work to allow my schedule to coincide with yours like this, he'd like you to see this as the Scout Regiment's way of also repaying you for your success in the gas shortage, with the collective understanding that this has absolutely nothing to do with your upcoming review."
Levi paused again and shot her a look that said 'Can you believe that', then shrugged in admission, "Granted, I'm not sure how I feel about being handed out like some damned consolation prize, but Erwin made me swear to tell you that he's allowing it strictly because of the hard work you've done and what you've accomplished for them. Under any other circumstances, he'd never allow such a thing because the military as a whole tries to keep a somewhat tight leash on me, but you've grabbed his interest and he doesn't want the other two regiments to completely outdo us in terms of their intentional bribery. So…lucky me."
Petra couldn't help but roll her eyes, having suspected that Erwin would also find a strategic time to make his move, and she couldn't deny he had chosen a rather perfect opportunity, and a rather brilliant avenue to do so, "He's a clever man. It may not mean a lot to you, but it means a lot to me; certainly more than a mere paycheck, and he knows that. The time off though from the MP's, I'll admit that one's pretty nice. I do have business to sort out with my dad, and I'm grateful that my family drama isn't weighing down on the Scout's budget."
Levi nodded, "Oh about that - there's also a bit more from Erwin it seems. He doesn't know when we'll be traveling back of course, but as for the trip to your father's house over these next few days, he's also prepared some traveling accommodations for us. He gave me a map and some addresses, so I hope you didn't have any specific places or cities in mind for lodging, because Erwin's already cared for that as well. Smug, know it all bastard."
Petra felt yet another wave of surprise, and she shook her head dumbly, "Oh, well, no that's perfectly fine. Wow. I wasn't expecting that." She made a face at his words and frowned suspiciously, "Levi, I know it's not really my business, but I'm just curious. Where exactly is all this money coming from? I'm flattered that Erwin would go this far, but I don't want the Scout's to suffer in attempts to impress me because I don't need it. I mean, I know you make a significant amount more than me, so trying to cover your pay is bad enough on its own, and if he's booked hotel rooms on top of that – I don't know. I don't mind accepting things from the other factions, I mean, they actually get proper support from the government so they can afford those sorts of things, but I know Erwin has a hard enough time with the budget as it is and-"
Levi shook his head and watched her in attempts to clarify her valid concerns, "Oh, don't worry about that. As for me, it's unpaid time – and before you freak out, don't. Frankly, I don't really need the money. The job pays, well, actually rather terribly, but more than I need none the less, and when most of my expenses are already covered by the military, I'm not exactly hurting for the funds, so I'm not concerned about a measly paycheck or two. As for the hotel rooms, I suppose the Scout's may be paying out of pocket, but in truth, I highly doubt it. Erwin knows a lot of people, has a lot of connections, and if anything, he's probably just called a few favors in. It's fine. He wouldn't blow our budget for something like this, and frankly, this is a great example of how Erwin operates. He's found a way to grant you a personal favor that is tailored to you specifically, and, perhaps he wouldn't want me to say this to you directly, but the fact of the matter is, I doubt it's going to cost him a dime."
Petra accepted his explanation with a sigh of relief, "No, no I'm glad you did. I don't need a flashy price tag to impress me, and honestly I'm more relieved than insulted. I guess all that's left now is to finish packing and hit the road in the morning."
She looked toward her collected few duffle bags and motioned toward her things factually, "Actually, I'm pretty much done on my end. I presume you need to pack still? Would you mind if maybe, I kept you company?"
Levi looked toward her things, then back toward Petra, giving a gentle nod as he responded simply, "If you want, I wouldn't be opposed. I'd, perhaps, like that."
As Levi turned toward the door, he suddenly paused in place, as though having something further to say, and as Petra watched him for a long moment, her curious expression only growing all the more as he remained frozen in place, eventually, Levi gave a sigh and kept moving.
Whatever he had wanted to say, either he lost his nerve completely, or he simply didn't know how to.
…
End of Chapter
…
There you have it. The transition and set up for the new arc, which should be pretty obvious as we've been walking this direction since….what, some fifty chapters ago? Yall are so patient with me, and I'm grateful haha. As for my unneeded two cents, gosh. All three of these mini sections really could make their own chapter, but they still work so well together none the less.
I absolutely LOVE the moment in the Dr's office. If yall haven't guessed, I have very strong opinions about being smart, taking care of yourself, having intentional, 'grownup' conversations with your partners, and I don't' know – them getting that very professional, doesn't have to be awkward but we are going to talk about it, stare down from the Dr – yeah, chills yall. I could absolutely go off on this subject, but I won't. Scouts Honor :)
As for the section after, man, there's just really, really good moments and insight that make me smile. Anywho, yall take care this week, keep an eye out for that new story alert. Keep staying safe and being awesome!
~Mid