Hey guys. Welcome to another chapter of HSF. I hope you're all good because I managed to prepare another chapter for you guys. Like I said, school so I won't upload frequently. Shout out to all those that follow and favourite the story as well as you guys for the views. Its inspiring to write Anyways, let's get back into the story.
"Okay, Mr. Ackerman I'm going to have to ask you to take off your shirt," a doctor said as she patiently stood in front of Junior, medical instruments in hand. They had gotten to a hospital as soon as all the soldiers were given time to breathe after they had arrived at Fort Rose. Now here he was being examined by a Doctor.
"Uh… okay," Junior responded as he proceeded to unbutton his shirt, leaving his torso exposed after he discarded his shirt onto the bed. His face slightly went pink has the doctor examined him, checking his heart rate while tending to the bruises on his now slightly muscular torso. A year's worth of training gave him something to be grateful for.
The doctor finally stepped back and sighed, "well, from what I've seen, he's fine," she said before looking over his shoulder, "Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman, your son will heal up just fine. He's just got a few bruises on his torso and I've managed to clean the wound on his forehead."
"Thank you, Doctor," Mikasa responded from where she sat on the bedside chair, Levi leaning against the wall next to her. Her expression showing a bit of relief at the news.
"No problem," the doctor flashed a smile as she gathered up her stuff, "you can leave whenever you're ready," she said before walking out of the room.
Junior then proceeded to grab his shirt and put it back on. He then looked at his parents who were there staring at him, giving him a bit of nerves. He disliked whenever they'd stare at him like that. With facial expressions like theirs, no one would feel the slightest comfort. He then spoke, "so what's next?"
"You rest," Levi responded plainly.
"Oh, that sounds good," Junior responded. He could definitely use the rest after a trip like that, but just before he could recline back onto the bed, thoughts of the events that occurred earlier on filled his mind. Cowering before the titan, watching as Irene got slammed by the giant while he stood there shaking in his boots, bawling his eyes out like a little boy. He couldn't save her because he was just a coward.
A fucking coward.
All he could think about was how to repay Irene, how he could probably save her one day. Well those were simply fantasies, nothing but fantasies.
But then, nothing was stopping him from making it a reality. All he needed was to get back onto the training grounds and work even harder to improve his physical stats. Maybe then, he would be able to repay her.
"How long till I can get back to training with the others?" Junior asked, new goal in mind. He needed to get to work as soon as possible.
"You won't," Mikasa responded, deadpan as usual.
"What?" Junior asked, surprised—not really, by the words that escaped the woman's mouth.
"I said, you're not going back to training when you heal up," She explained, sporting a serious face, "once you're out, your father and I will find you somewhere to lay low with your siblings."
"B-But, why?" he asked, disappointed that his goals were already being threatened.
"Junior, you can't fight any more," his mother said.
"Why?" he asked again before realising, "I know that I really fucked up on our first expedition but that can change," he tried, hoping his mother would trust him, "just give me a chance."
The woman shook her head.
Junior knew that his mother could be as adamant as his father when it came to this sort of thing. When she said no to something, she meant it. Changing her mind was something he had witnessed only his uncle Eren and, on occasion, his father do. Whatever it was they had, he didn't. He had to try a different strategy. One that he had never imagined himself doing.
Junior then gulped before gaining a more confident facial expression, "well, if you won't trust me then, too bad. I'm still going to go train like everyone else and I-I don't care whether you like it or not."
He couldn't help but feel his arms tremble after talking back at his mother like that. It felt both terrifying and thrilling at the same time.
"Junior, you are done. I'm not going to let you get hurt again," Mikasa said, crossing her arms and visibly not unaffected by her son's challenge.
"B-But mom, I can do this," he said, taking a hold of his mother's hand, throwing her pleading look, hoping he could warm her up like he always did, "I just need a bit more time—and your support. Please mom, I really want to do this."
He watched as his mother kept her cold face on, not showing any signs of changing her mind. He still had keep his hopes up. She loved him and practically almost always on his side of an argument. He just had to be a bit patient with her. He then noticed the corner of her lip twitched. He was doing it. He was finally breaking down her wall 'hell yeah'.
"Tough shit."
"Wha…" he asked, taken aback by the response he got. The fact that she said it so coldly really made him feel uneasy. She always gave in to his pleas but today was different. She never spoke coldly to him at all. It seemed like there was no changing her mind and he was getting desperate. He then shifted his gaze to where his father had been standing quietly. For once, he was really depending on the dwarf.
"Tch."
Of course the old man wouldn't stick up for him. Asking him for help was as hopeless as explaining clickbait to Doug. There was no changing her mind now.
"Junior," Levi's deep voice called out to him, snapping his gaze back at his father who sported his usual bored look, "Wil you survive to the end of things?"
"Eh…" Junior started. What kind of question was that? It's not like he wanted to die but then… judging by past experiences, death wasn't something he felt was too far off from him. He even started to reconsider showing interest in continuing the fight anyway.
"You gonna fucking talk or what?"
"I'll try…" Junior said, doubt evident in his tone.
"You'll try?" Levi asked, eyebrow slightly cocked. He then straightened himself and took a step towards the bed, leaning in to the point that their similar faces were only inches apart, "you don't try to live, Junior. In the world we're in, it's either you live, or you fucking die," the man's intimidating expression made him uncomfortable, "so… which is it, Ackerman. Will you live… or die?"
The question was straight forward but Junior still put in a lot of thought into his decision. Was he going to survive or was he going to die? His father once again put him in a tight spot but then. Maybe this was his way of supporting him and he knew he shouldn't blow it.
"I-I'll live," Junior finally brought out, sighing when his father retracted. He then watched as he looked at his mother.
"Mikasa, he needs to continue."
"No, Levi," she shook her head before looking up at him, "We already talked about this. He's done."
"Come on, the boy says he can do it, then let him do it," Levi persisted, "don't wanna hold him back, do you?"
"Levi, I'm not holding him back," Mikasa started, "I'm protecting him."
"Protecting him from what, proving something to himself?" Levi asked, "this is what I always say, babying our kids does not help them at all."
"Levi, are you, serious right now?" She asked, rising from her seat, the look of disappointment on her face, "we talked about this. We agreed that he was done."
"Well maybe I don't agree with you anymore," he said as though whatever they had agreed on meant nothing. His mother was visibly offended by his words.
"Levi as his mother, I say he is done," Mikasa started, pulling out the authority she had over his well-being.
"And as his father, I say he is not done," he responded, doing the same. He then stepped closer to her, keeping his gaze locked with her glare, "and as your captain, I say that my word is final. You shall not challenge me, Ackerman."
Junior watched as the two stood in silence, neither backing down from the other. He had occasionally seen them argue but seeing this was completely different. For once, his dad was on his side and was... winning. He still had yet to make it up to him and this was adding up.
After a moment of silence, Mikasa backed down, "you know, what? I'm tired," she said before stepping away from her husband, avoiding his gaze completely. She then proceeded to walk towards the door.
"M-Mom?" Junior called out, surprised by her sudden decision to leave.
"Do what you want. I don't care," she waved him off before leaving the room, leaving both Levis on their own.
"Shit," the older man cursed. It was probably because he knew he would possibly receive an earful later on in the day.
"Thanks dad," Junior started, "for sticking up for me, thanks," he clarified before placing his hand on the back of his neck, "It really means a lot." Perhaps this was a sign that there was hope for their relationship.
Levi then proceeded to walk towards the door, offering nor response, much to his son's dismay. He then stopped to stand under the arch. Without looking back, he spoke, "I'm on the verge of fucking up my marriage because of you. Don't screw this up." With that, the captain left.
"I won't," he said to himself before finally reclining onto the bed. He definitely had a lot of work to do, now. He then started to let his mind wander. A thought then hit him.
"I better check on Irene."
"She's waking up."
Irene's eye's fluttered open, allowing her back into the world of the living. The first thing she caught sight of were a pair of icy blue eyes looking back down at her. They belonged to her father, the person she was relieved to see at that moment.
"D-Dad," she spoke, her voice shaky.
"Hi, Irene," he responded, offering her that nice smile of his. "how are you feeling?"
Irene actually could have never felt better but a part of her held that back, "A-A bit better," she responded, feigning a strained smile. She then glanced around, noticing the new environment. "Where are we?"
"Oh, we're in Fort Rose now," he explained, "we arrived here a few hours ago." The Commander then sighed before letting the concern show in his eyes, "When we arrived, the first thing I was told is that you were unconscious and I actually got scared for the first time in a while. I'm glad you're alright."
Irene felt her insides warm up for a bit. The last time she saw him looking this worried was the time she came home with a black eye and she refused to tell him about her being attacked by some of the other students at her school.
"Of course I'm alright," she started, "I am a Smith after all." She then decided to sit up, looking out the window and seeing the city. it definitely looked better than the town in Fort Maria. Maybe it was because she spent so much time under the fort that she had forgotten what it was like to be in a nice city, "it feels good to see such a nice place after a while."
"Oh yes," Erwin agreed, "everyone looked so excited once we arrived. Who could blame them? They just went out and risked their lives for the first time."
Irene then remembered the reason they were at another fort. Concerns about her comrades came to mind, "where's everyone else?"
"Oh, they're all cleaning right now," he answered.
"Cleaning?" she raised an eyebrow, wondering what they were cleaning considering they just got there.
"The Garrisons offered us a one of their old bases to use as a temporary HQ," he started, "Uncle Levi found the place 'filthy' and made me order everyone to clean up the place until it was spotless. If he has already arrived back at HQ. They're probably cleaning all over again."
"Of course," she sighed. Levi had made it a priority to ensure that all places around him were clean. Even if it meant cutting out of the soldiers' resting and meal times. She then realised that they weren't the only authority figures anymore, "so… the Garrisons, what are they like?"
Erwin then gained an amused look before letting out a light chuckle, "they're a… rowdy bunch. That's for sure," he then gained a more serious expression, sort of like the one he had when in commander mode "Irene. You almost died on your first expedition and I know that you could possibly be scarred. Therefore, I'm going to ask you if you're still willing to fight on or maybe you would like to rest."
Hearing her father's tone and looking at his face made Irene begin to think. Her father was offering her a way out, something she had never expected to see. Was he starting to doubt her abilities? Was he starting to think she couldn't manage this? The blonde then shook her head. There was no way she was chickening out because of some accident—not that it had any long lasting effects on her anyway.
"No, Commander, I will fight. I will fight until humanity seizes the land once again," she started, gaining a determined expression, "Even if it means me getting hospitalised over and over again, even if it means me laying down my life. I will offer up my heart." She said, bringing her fist to her chest.
"heh…" Erwin chuckled, much to her surprise, "at ease soldier. This is just too much…"
"Dad…" Irene asked, bushy eyebrow cocked, wondering what had gotten into the serious man.
"You have spirit, Irene. I'll give you that," he said before taking a seat at the edge of the bed, regaining his composure. He then looked down at her, making her get a shrinking feeling. She sometimes forgot how large her father actually was.
"what was so funny just now?" she asked, feeling a bit embarrassed by the man.
"Irene, I thought Sadies told you to stop talking like that," Erwin said, allowing the girl to remember the training sessions she spent with the bald commandant.
"Yeah, well…" she then lowered her eyes, "but you talk like that all the time and I've noticed that whenever you see me with that same drive that you have, you always have this proud look on your face. I just love seeing you so happy."
"Irene, I act that way because it's who I am. Those are the goals I've set that allow me to speak, think and act the way I do. The fact that I am a leader means I have to be able to inspire and push people forward. To be the one to ignite hope in them where there seems to be no chance at all," he explained, "that leadership also comes with experience. Irene, I'm an adult man that has led Paradis' Armed forces for years and here I am leading the Survey Corps. I already knew what I was getting myself into when I moved to the Fort and I know that I have a lot on my shoulders right now."
He then placed a hand on her shoulder, "you are still a teenager with a lot of time to discover yourself. There are so many people here that can mentor you and give you all the guidance you need but in the end, I want you to be your own person, with your own goals and with your own conviction. And trust me, I will be the proudest dad ever."
Irene couldn't help but wipe away a stray tear after her father's words. Perhaps he was right, she didn't have to mould herself into Erwin Smith, she had to grow into the best possible Irene Smith she could be, "thanks dad," she said before reaching out to hug him.
"No problem," he responded a phone buzz was heard, forcing them to pull away.
Irene watched as the man brought his phone to his ear and began to speak, his once calm face slowly morphed into his more stoic one. He pulled away his phone and looked at his daughter, "sorry Irene but I have to go. The captains and I are meeting up with the Garrison Commander Pixis. We have a lot to discuss."
"Oh, okay," she nodded as the man got up. He then gave her a wave before walking out.
"Well that was something," she sighed to herself after she remained alone. Her father was right, she did need to stop sounding so reckless all the time. she then looked at her bandaged hand, feeling tempted, she slowly unwrapped the covering to reveal her hand.
What was there was a large stitch with some steam rising from it, signalling the healing process. "At least I'm healing quickly."
"Irene?"
"Shit!" she gasped before covering her hand and looking back in the direction of the voice, "Levi?"
There he was, Levi Ackerman Jr. standing in her room wearing nothing but black slides, white breeches and unbuttoned shirt. Did he do it on purpose?
"Is it me or was there titan steam escaping your hand right now?" he asked, raising a finger and pointing it at where her hand lay buried in the beddings.
"No…" she responded, obviously defeated as the boy had a sceptical look on his face. He then proceeded to place is thumb and index finger under his chin while letting his jaw hang a bit open, his blue eyes not leaving her one bit.
"This reminds me," he started, "Irene, back when you saved me on that building. You talked to that titan and it listened to you. How come?"
Irene felt her heart skip as she remembered all of that. He was there when she spoke to it. How could she explain things now, "I-I don't know what you're talking about, Levi. You hit your head remember. Maybe you were seeing things.
"Though I may have felt a bit dizzy, I was not hallucinating when I saw that," he started.
"Levi, is this some sort of joke?" she asked, still avoiding the answer and now avoiding his gaze, "if it is, it isn't very funny."
"Come on Irene, stop bullshitting me. Whenever you do that, there's something you're hiding" he said, obviously aware that she wasn't being complete honest, "come on, you can tell me."
Irene mentally cursed herself for letting her face betray her. She still couldn't tell him, "Levi, look… what you're saying isn't making sense."
"Tch, come on Irene. Are you gonna hide this from me, too?" he asked, visibly irritated, "I've told you nearly everything about myself yet here you are revealing that you obviously have been keeping a lot from me. Do you really not trust me that much? What else are you hiding from me?"
Irene then felt herself get irritated as well, "well excuse me. I had no idea I had to tell you everything," she defended herself, "I appreciate that you trust me enough to tell me stuff and I admit that I trust you too. However, some things are just none of your business!"
"I know but still…"
"Still… what? Levi. When did we get married for you to act all nosy?"
She watched as the boy's face flushed a bit. He obviously took her statement out of context, "Levi, I'd appreciate if you would acknowledge that there are boundaries between us and that you do not have the right to get angry at me for choosing to keep things private."
She watched as the boy stared at her, his eyes showing all sorts of mixed emotions. Perhaps she was a bit harsh on him. he was still probably suffering from heart break.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, finally.
"Hey Irene, I heard you were in hospital and immediately came over," Doug panted as he stumbled into the room. He then quieted down as he had probably caught the tension, "is anything wrong?"
Irene briefly glanced at Junior before looking back at her boyfriend. Hm, Doug was her boyfriend. That still didn't sound right in her head but what could she do. Behind all the weirdness was a sweet and goofy guy, "there's nothing wrong, Doug just… please come sit."
"Oh, ok," he apologized before deciding to walk over a plop onto the bed next his girlfriend and pulled her into a hug, "I was worried about you."
"Yeah… I missed you too," she responded before her boyfriend pulled away.
"So, what we talking about?" he asked looking between the two.
Irene then thought about it. Maybe she should tell them about it. It would possibly clear the air between Junior and her. Though she knew she was right to have defended herself, a part of her felt guilty for hurting him even more than he probably was.
"Hey Levi, take a seat," she offered.
"Mmm," he hummed in a deeper voice, puffing out his chest and stuffing his hands in his pockets before walking to take a seat next to Doug. The idiot did do it on purpose after all.
It was time for her to let it out. To tell people a secret she had never shared with anyone and now she was sharing it with two of the guys in her life. Well, all things had to be let out some day right, "guys, don't think I'm crazy but I can talk to titans."
"What!" Douglas shouted, forcing Irene to cover his mouth.
"Too loud," she scolded, looking over his shoulder at Junior, who had given her his attention.
"This can't be real," Doug started before remembering, "like, explain how this shit works man?"
"It's like I'm able to hear their voices and I guess… they can hear mine," she explained, not failing to get a bit surprised by her own words. They sounded ridiculous out loud.
"So like… what do they say?" Doug asked, surprisingly paying attention.
Irene tried to remember everything she had heard them say. Those moans and groans always brought her sadness. She then frowned before speaking, "it's like they're crying."
"Crying?"
"Yeah, crying," she confirmed, "it's like they're crying for help. Like they want to be freed from their titan bodies," she explained, tensing up a bit.
Doug immediately noticed and took her hands in his, "don't worry, I gotcha."
Irene then smiled at him before continuing, "even that time when I broke down as Captain Hange experimented on Sonny Bean. He was pleading… no begging for the pain to end, begging to be set free from that body. He was tired, all he wanted was to be free and be who he once was," she said as a stray tear rolled down her cheek, "I felt his pain. I knew what it was like to be held back, to be treated like some sort of object."
"It's okay babe, calm down," Doug said before pulling her into a hug, forcing her to sniffle against his chest, unaware of the uncomfortable shifting behind them.
"Thanks Doug," she said after pulling away, "guys, all I'm going to ask of you is to not tell anyone about this. Let this stay with and only with us."
"Aw… look at us. We're like best friends now," Doug said as he threw his shoulders around both Irene and Junior, "I love you guys. Hey I think we should have like a group name, something like… the three musketeers."
"No way," the others said in unison.
"Wha… why?" he asked, shocked.
"It's too unoriginal," Junior commented.
"Not to mention cheesy," Irene added with a slight chuckle before glancing at Junior, who she found staring at her and they both looked away immediately.
"Say, Irene," Junior started.
"Yeah?" she asked, wondering what he could possibly want to say to her.
"Like, for how long have you been able to do this?"
"Oh…" Irene responded before thinking. It had been quite a while since she had gained her ability, "about 6 years."
When she said the last part, she couldn't help but notice the shocked look on Junior's face. Did she say something wrong?
"Irene," he finally spoke up, "the titan outbreak happened a year ago. How were you able to speak to titans 6 years ago?"
Irene's eyes widened in realisation, of course she didn't get to tell the whole truth. She then prepared to speak, "we…"
Boom! Doug had farted, interrupting her mid-speech and forcing both her and Junior to reprimand him.
"Commander Erwin of the Survey Corps," an old voice greeted, belonging to a bald man with a wide smile on his face. His eyes were barely open and no one knew if it was because of the alcohol flask he had on his desk or if it was just old age. Still, the man stood to give a salute filled with energy it almost betrayed his appearance.
"Commander Pixis of the Garrison Regiment," Erwin responded returning the salute, Levi and Hange mimicking him from a few centimetres behind him.
"Please, sit," he said, motioning for the chair, allowing him to sit while the Captains stood behind him.
Levi glanced around the room. It looked like a regular office except for the alcohol case on the wall. It wasn't pristine enough for him but it wasn't bad either.
"I heard, of the fall of Fort Maria," Pixis started, finally getting into conversation.
"It was unfortunate but we managed to secure all the lives of the civilians," Erwin responded, his game face on. He had just gotten there and he already looked ready for business. Well it was Erwin after all.
"That's good news," he responded, "as for the scouts?"
"We faced some casualties," Erwin responded, "their sacrifices have not gone in vain."
"That, we can agree upon," Pixis nodded before leaning back into his seat, "Well Commander Erwin, you and your team are welcome to stay in Fort Rose for as long as you wish. There are enough resources to sustain both your, and my soldiers."
"For that I am grateful," Erwin nodded before speaking, "however, we may not stay long. I feel we have more business to attend to."
Pixis raised his eyebrow, "really?" he asked, "and what do you suggest is the next course of action?"
"I believe we should work on repairing the wall back at Fort Rose," Erwin started, "I cannot just let the titans take what's ours once again. We need to reclaim our fort and ensure that we still have the upper hand. Therefore, by tomorrow I'm going to get my soldiers to prepare to go on another expedition soon. Perhaps your forces may have volunteers that would be willing to aid us."
"I see," Pixis nodded in acknowledgement before speaking, "unfortunately, I feel that would be unwise, Erwin."
"How so?" the blonde asked, slightly surprised by the bald man's words.
"You'll be acting too soon," he explained, "you aren't even prepared."
"Too soon?" Erwin asked, "how could it be too soon to take back our land. The refugees currently don't have homes. Besides, I intend to get the soldiers training by tomorrow morning. We'll definitely be prepared."
"We can easily set up camps," Pixis answered.
"How about the resources, then?" Erwin asked, "you've received an entire town today. Will your resources sustain everyone including the original inhabitants?"
"Of course, we're the food capital," Pixis responded, in a matter of fact tone
"Pixis, you have to understand that we cannot just sit and wait for the next giant titan to show up and kick a hole in the wall."
"Erwin, you have to understand that you are over working," Pixis defended, "you just arrived here, barely surviving and you're already considering throwing yourself back into that carnage. Honestly, where has your humanity gone. I mean, just look at how exhausted your soldiers are."
Levi watched as the man pointed and him and Hange, trying to emphasise a point. He had to admit that he was impressed by the guy's ability to take Erwin down, verbally. However, it could be because the Commander was exhausted himself.
Pixis then pointed at Hange, "Captain Hange, do you feel the need to relax and have some personal time?"
"Well, now that you mention it…" Hange started, "I actually do feel the need to take a breather and work on some of the glitches on our equipment. A lot of soldiers were left without bikes to ride during the ride."
Pixis then pointed at Levi, "Captain Levi?"
"What she said," was all he could come up with. Sure he was tired but he was ready to get to work if Erwin said so. Plus, he didn't feel like seeing Mikasa for a while.
"See, Commander Erwin," Pixis asked, "allow them time to relax and catch their breaths. Later we can then discuss your idea. And I insist that you rest as well, Commander."
"Of course," Erwin sighed in defeat. He then got up, "thank you for your time, Commander," he said before giving him a salute, his soldiers doing the same and the other commander doing likewise. "have a good day."
"So… what next?" Levi asked the Commander as they walked towards their bikes.
"We relax I suppose," Erwin said, running a hand through his blonde hair. He really was tired.
Levi stopped when he felt around his pocket, "shit, I don't have my keys," he said. He then remembered that they were in the room Junior was placed in. he had to go back, "you go ahead, I'll catch up with you."
"Alright," they responded before getting onto their bikes and driving off.
Levi then turned and began to walk. He let out a yawn. He must have really been tired too. Nothing a cup of tea couldn't fix. Ah, he forgot his tea set back at the other fort. Well, nothing's stopping him from buying a new one.
"Oh my Gosh, Levi!" a voice called out, forcing the Captain to freeze on the spot. That voice was all too familiar to him. He instantly followed the direction of the voice and felt his heart skip a beat.
Familiar ginger hair was the first thing that caught his mind, right after were a pair of amber eyes on a petite frame he knew too well—way too well. There she was, the person he hadn't seen in years.
"Petra?"
Hey guys, managed to sneak you a new chapter and I hope you liked it. This was a bit tiring to write but its done. Anyways, I enjoyed writing for you all and I still intend to write more of this. I hope you're all still with me and I hope you're satisfied with Irene's news as well as the return of a familiar character. Let's see how our story unfolds shall we?
Bye!
