Sierra briefly shielded her eyes at the rush of steam and energy whipped her hair and cloak in all directions. She caught Asia out of the corner of her eye mirroring her actions. That was close. Any lower and we'd be fried. The same couldn't be said for the poor Scouts and Guards unfortunate to get caught in the epicenter of the blast. They'd been vaporized instantly.
Quick and painless.
At least that's what Sierra hoped. Better than being eaten alive and feel every second of that agonizing nightmare of your limbs, head and torso getting ripped apart and feasted on by insatiable giants.
Her train of thought was interrupted by another ear shattering roar.
Eren and Reiner slammed into the ground with bone crushing force, cratering the earth and flattening trees at the point of impact. The scent of shattered timber and a sharp, earthy smell from the ploughed up grass assaulted Sierra's senses as the two Titans regained their feet.
So these are the monsters that destroyed Shiganshina. I can't believe this is happening. Sierra gripped her blades tighter, anger and disbelief swirling in her mind. This can't be real. I actually liked these guys.
See. I told you. Men are beasts.
Sierra shook her head, focusing on the task at hand. No time to entertain unwanted thoughts. Nearly 100 feet below her boots Eren and Reiner prepared to square off.
Her mind raced a hundred miles an hour trying desperately to come up with a plan of attack but she kept running into dead ends. Then she felt eyes on the side of her face and knew Asia was looking at her. The last thing she wanted was to give this difficult girl the satisfaction of seeing even the smallest trace of panic. So she drew on every ounce of mental steel she possessed. It worked. Her body unclenched and chin lifted, eyes reclaiming their cool indifference as she surveyed the heated battle below. Sierra heard rather than saw Asia grunt and the sense of being surveyed under a microscope lifted. The short woman felt like she passed some kind of test and that annoyed her to no end.
"Major! Squad Leader! What the hell are we gonna do?!" Jean Kirstein screamed from further up the wall.
"Everyone hold their positions!" Hange barked. "It's too dangerous right now!"
We can't wait too long. Sierra thought as she watched Reiner connect with a powerful right jab to Eren's jaw sending him flying through the air. Trees were torn up and flattened as Eren's titan form landed with an almighty thud into the middle of a small, wooded area. As she watched, Sierra realized Reiner was working his target away from the relative safety of the wall where they stood perched.
He's making it harder for us to get to him! If he gets into a bind we won't be able to help him unless-
Tense seconds ticked by. Eren lay supine on his back, his shattered jaw smoking from the hit. Reiner stood there waiting for his foe to rise.
C'mon Eren. Get up! Sierra silently urged the battered Titan. Don't you DARE let yourself get captured now! So focused was the short woman, that she wasn't aware how tightly she was gripping her blades. The twin razors trembled under her strong grip.
Suddenly, Mikasa pushed off the wall in a blur of motion. The twang of her ODM hooks was the only sound alerting the company she'd joined the battle below.
"What the-?!" Startled Sierra felt her eyes widen in shock as the young woman zoomed top speed and spun toward her opponent's nape. IS SHE STUPID OR IS THIS BITCH REALLY THAT BLINDLY STUPID?
The sickening, sharp ring of Mikasa's blade shattering made everyone watching gasp.
"Oh my God," Sierra whispered, disbelief coloring her voice. That did NOTHING! HOW are we supposed to help if our blades don't work against his armor?
"Eren!" Mikasa screamed. Her hair and cloak whipped in the wind generated by her own momentum. GET UP! PLEASE! She landed on Reiner's armored shoulder, desperately stabbing into the impenetrable plates over and over. Watched helplessly as her blade disappeared into sparkling slivers as she worked the blade down to the nub. I can't let this be the end! She thought, panic rapidly overtaking her senses. There's got to be a weakness somewhere!
"No! Back down!" Armin shouted at his friend, praying the soldier heard him before he lost himself to his rising bloodlust. "You can't win in a fist fight! Make a break for the wall!"
He's right. Sierra scanned the worsening situation, sharp eyes searching for the slightest opening as Armin pleaded with the Rogue Titan. "Eren, please! Don't be rash!"
But Eren continued to advance on his former friend. The whole time Sierra's eyes darted back and forth over Reiner's armored form. Asia's strategy of pounding on the thick plates did nothing but result in a mess of broken steel and wasted blades. Her lack of cool made the elite officer scoff at her reckless bullheaded attack. Focus, Sierra. Frontal attacks don't work. Armor's too thick, but everything's got a weak spot. I've just gotta find it.
She let the noise of battle fade into the background, centering her focus into an almost zen-like state.
Every fortress, every enemy, every suit of armor has a weakness, an entry point. You've just gotta-
Ting!
A tiny chunk of armor, barely bigger than the size of a long splinter, flew out from behind Reiner's left knee.
It gave him the freedom to bend his leg at a deeper angle, letting him absorb Eren's attempt to grapple him into submission.
Suddenly he roared in pain. Dropped heavily onto his knee with a harsh thud. Blood gushed from a severed tendon, letting Eren press his advantage.
Startled, Mikasa gasped at the sudden shift in the battle. What the-?!
Sierra skidded to a dusty stop among the trees, arms trembling with exertion. Blood smoked from her blade, her breath coming in short pants. Shit! That was too close! I almost didn't thread the damn needle!
But the risky move simply proved her hunch was correct. Precise, strategic strikes, not brute force appeared to be the only way this battle would end in their favor.
Now, all I gotta do is avoid being crushed by these two big ass monsters. The short woman swiped her shirt sleeve over her face to clear the sweat from her eyes. Better get back to the wall. Gotta tell the hag I found the secret to beating this armored bastard.
Eren roared as he performed a judo throw on Reiner, sending the brute flying away from her position. A heavy thud rattled the ground as the Armored Titan bounced and skidded across the field to land on his back. Sierra knew he wouldn't stay down for long.
Now's my chance!
She darted into the open, catching the Rogue Titan's attention almost instantly. Relief coursed through his gigantic frame.
There she is! Thank Maria!
"Eren!" She bellowed ignoring her body's protest to the strain she was putting on it. "Gimme a boost!"
Hardly had the command left her mouth than she found herself scooped up by the powerful Titan's massive hand. Within a second, she was eye level with the beast-soldier.
"Now, I want ya to throw me. Ready?" Eren's green orbs widened as the Major discarded her used blades, swapping in a fresh pair. She caught his look and rolled her eyes. "Not at him." The crazy woman pointed her new steel at Wall Rose. "Up there. Gotta tell the hag something. I'll send her down to ya soon. Hurry!"
Eren nodded his shaggy head, a determined growl bubbling through his fleshless lips. Next thing she knew, Sierra found herself shot through the air as if she'd been propelled from a cannon.
Near the height of her zenith, she fired her hooks, smiling tightly as they bit deep in to Wall Rose's smooth granite surface. An extra burst of gas brought her into a swing that nearly had her run almost slap bang into Hange's precarious perch.
"OH MY GOD! YOU ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK GIRLIE!"
Sierra glared at her frantic friend. "Shut up hag! No time for dicking around!" Instantly the older woman fell silent. Sierra took the chance to lean in and whisper in the taller woman's ear. "Blades don't work against the armored bastard. Asia's outburst proved that. But he's got a weak spot. Every time Reiner wants to increase mobility, he's gotta sacrifice a piece of armor. Go for the joints. Tell Eren to break off his limbs. Fight smarter, not harder."
Spotting Mikasa crouched beside Armin, whoa, when the hell did she get back? I didn't hear her at all! Sierra cleared her throat. "Asia." The girl stirred at her superior's words, dark eyes blank but she was listening. "You saw what happened. When Eren makes his move, that's when you strike. You're the only one that can thread the needle. Ya got that?"
Mikasa bowed her head, bangs hiding her eyes from view. "Understood," she said, voice quiet.
Eren meanwhile had backed up into the Wall. Hange rappelled straight down, calling the soldier's name. The Titan stood still as she alighted on his shoulder, blades drawn. Turned his head to acknowledge her presence.
"Eren! Stop a minute!" Thank the gods for Sierra's sharp eyes. This changes everything. "Think you can manage to break off his leg with another one of those joint holds?" As she spoke, Reiner slowly advanced, the ground shuddering under his monstrous tread. "Our blades don't do much good against him. He can't be outmuscled, but he can be outsmarted if you play it right." Eren nodded his head, blowing a huge, grumbly breath as he absorbed his commanding officer's words.
The intelligent action made the scientist blush. An excited squeal bubbled over Hange's lips.
Sierra rolled her eyes at the childish display. She pinched the bridge of her nose, willing the lava in her veins to remain at a simmer. Calm, Wolf. Become ice. You can kill her later. Focus on the damn battle!
"Mikasa. Take my blades!" Armin choosing to speak at that moment almost caused Sierra to knock her head against the granite. Seriously?! I totally forgot he was there! "I want you to use them." The blades rattled as he proffered them to the deadly female.
Down below, Hange snapped out of her mini fangirl moment and decided to beat it back to the safety of the Wall. "I'm counting on you!" She shouted to the Rogue Titan as she fired her hooks and shot up to rejoin the group anchored nearly 100 feet above the ground.
This is the one time where running away guarantees victory. Eren thought as he raised his fists, squaring himself against his former best friend. You guys are SCREWED for letting us see your true colors. You've backed yourselves into a corner-
He gasped as Reiner broke into an explosive charge, arms pumping as his legs ate up the ground. Sierra saw the stump of his right arm broken off at the wrist sway as he barreled like a runaway battering ram towards Eren, slamming him back first into the Wall.
Shit! Eren felt his eyes tremble as he hit the ground. Go for the leg! He quickly seized his opponent's leg in a joint hold.
"Don't let Reiner pin you! Get up!" Armin shouted as he and Mikasa flew to assist their friend.
"Throw him!" Mikasa bellowed. Eren barely managed to wrangle out of the hold he'd slapped on the Armored's leg before leaping to place his back against the base of the Wall.
Damn it! There's too much power behind his attack!
"Since when is he so light on his feet?!" A tall male Scout with a buzzed head snapped, blades at the ready as he zipped through the air.
Another man wearing glasses followed close behind him, agreeing with their predicament. "We're completely and utterly useless!" He rasped.
"No," Hange said causing Mikasa to snap her gaze over to her, where she saw Sierra on Hange's right side. "It's not feasible that his body is as hard as stone from head to toe. He couldn't move as fast if that was the case."
"Warriors used to sheathe themselves in armor," the woman continued with her history lesson. "Way back in the olden days."
The olden days, Sierra thought. Of course. Warriors always had to leave small parts of their bodies unguarded so they could move around freely.
"They had to leave certain sections uncovered for freedom of movement though. Like the armpit, or groin."
"And the back of the knee." Sierra interjected.
Mikasa gasped and turned her attention to the battle below. Open spots. Yes. That's it! Her mind flashed to Major Wolf's daring attack minutes earlier when she recalled Reiner buckling, a spurt of blood gushing from the back of his left knee. I'll make sure to thread that needle!
But she had to work fast. Reiner had just thrown himself in another explosive burst at Eren's torso.
I can't dodge this! He mentally rasped, then he growled a second later. Well if I'm gonna get slammed-!
He let Reiner plow into his belly with a full head of steam, falling backwards. As he did, Eren quickly wrapped his legs around his foe's waist, pinning him in a brutal submission hold. YOU'RE MINE YOU SON OF A BITCH! Roaring he snaked both arms around Reiner's maimed shoulder, locking him in a triangle choke.
Stunned, the Scouts gaped openly at Eren's battle smarts. Except Sierra and Hange who exchanged hard, knowing looks. Both women sensed the end was near. Heh! Gotcha ya Armored bastard! Sierra's smirk grew into a wolfish grin.
YEAH! Eren exulted, straining to keep his enemy pinned until the Scouts could move in for the capture. THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE! DIE! AND NOW IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO STRENGTH!
Mikasa whipped out a fresh pair of sharpened steel, twisting and running along the Wall as fast as her inhuman speed could carry her. Faster, faster and faster until-
There!
With a final spurt she zoomed straight down.
And dragged her blades across the back of Reiner's exposed knees, a shout ripping from her throat.
Hange, Sierra and the rest of the hunting party landed back on the Wall. Mikasa perched on a tree, blades at the ready as Eren tightened his hold on a faltering Reiner.
"Nice cut!" The tall woman shouted a big smile on her face.
Hell yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about! Sierra's blood sang with the sight of Reiner's knees smoking. She actually did it!
Suddenly, Reiner's knee slammed into the dirt, the cut tendon unable to hold his weight. Eren pressed his attack, sensing his foe's crippled state thanks to Mikasa's ungodly skills.
TRY FIGHTING BACK NOW, MINUS A LEG! Eren roared in his head before he reared back, locking his arms and legs as tight as they would go. If I can just choke him out, we win!
Armin gawped at the debris thrown up by his friend's efforts. "You got this!" He shouted at the Rogue Titan.
An older Scout with brown hair and a graying band around his head started shouting encouragement at the soldier.
"Go for it Eren! Rip the traitor's head off! Drag him out into the open!"
Sierra shook with unbridled glee at the vicious sight below, the Titan Ripper reveling in the violence. Yessss! Rip it! Tear it off! Show us the terror on his face! I look forward ta carving your flesh to ribbons when we get our hands on you, ya filthy rat BASTARD!
I can win! Eren dug the back of his head further into the grass, jaw shaking with the strain. I can beat Reiner! Inside the human pilot bared his teeth, a fell light in his green eyes. HE'S A GOING DOWN!
Reiner felt the killing power of his former friend's grip bearing down harder on his neck. He roared in pain, struggling to free himself but to no avail as the armor surrounding his jaw cracked.
Desperately he slammed his remaining hand into the dirt, fingers biting into the ground for purchase. I've gotta get out of this hold! Or I'm a dead man! He thought as he frantically dragged himself forward, taking Eren with him.
"Heh. Good luck pal," the solider with the brown and graying hair scoffed.
"You got it!" A small female with bright red hair shouted, her amber eyes focused on the battle she knew would be over soon. "Keep it up!"
But Sierra felt a nagging deep in her gut as she continued to watch Reiner desperately drag himself across the battlefield. Spurts of steam began shooting from the beleaguered Titan's neck. Wait. Something doesn't feel right. Wounded animals were at their most dangerous when cornered and about to be killed.
"Hey!" Startled the group turned their attention to the short Major. "Where the hell is he going?!" She pointed with her blade at Reiner's frantic crawling. Eren still clung to him like a leech, but her danger radar was going off like crazy.
Reiner gave a final push before collapsing next to the crater he'd made at the beginning of their fierce battle. Sierra narrowed her eyes. What the hell?
"What's he doing?" Armin murmured. "Why would he stop here?"
He glanced back up the wall at the same time Sierra did.
Suddenly Reiner opened his mouth and unleashed a series of pained roars.
In that spilt second, Sierra figured out the Titan's plan. Oh shit…he's calling for help-!
Mikasa heard it from her perch on her tree. No! Memories of the Female Titan-Annie-summoning a horde of Titans to escape the Scouts in the Forest of Giant Trees came rushing back. Don't tell me he's-!
"Hange!"
The scientist jerked at Sierra's shout. She knew exactly what her friend was saying.
"Be on your guard!" She shouted. "He's calling for backup!"
Backup. Sierra craned her neck to the parapet above. The steaming form of the Colossal Titan loomed, completely forgotten by the troop in the heat of combat. Oh my God-
Eren whooped inside his Titan as blood joined the steam spurting from Reiner's fractured neck. It's almost off!
Connie, Historia, and Jean stared stupidly at Bertolt's swaying, rumbling form.
"What the…oh no no no NO!" Connie shouted in horror as he realized too late what Bertolt was doing.
Everything seemed to happen in a whirl.
Ribs keeping the Colossal anchored to the Wall cracked in rapid secession.
Then Bertolt tipped over, a loud creaking noise marking his passage as he answered his friend's distress call. Gravity took over and he plummeted faster and faster.
Straight down on a prone and vulnerable Eren. And the Scouts were fully exposed.
"ABOVE YOU!" Jean shrieked at his friends. "LOOK OUT!"
But it was too late.
Bertolt's jaw yawned open. Steam whooshed. Sierra threw her cloak over her face. Felt her skin blister and start to burn at the killer heat.
Then everything exploded in a welter of stone, grass and rock. Screams rent the air as flesh bubbled and melted away from those unlucky enough to get caught in the blast radius.
Sierra felt herself being pushed upward by the massive shockwave.
Then she cracked her head against the Wall and everything went black.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The first thing Sierra became aware of when she came to was that her body felt like it got smashed through a brick wall by a Titan. And she was lying flat on her back in some kind of bed. She let her bleary eyes adjust to the task of getting her bearings. Weird. I swear I was helping Eren and Asia fight the Armored Titan and-
A soft sigh caught her attention. Gingerly-because damn, everything hurt-she searched for the source of the sound.
Sitting in a hard back wooden chair, arms crossed and head slumped was a sandy-haired teen wearing a blood-stained uniform and bandaged forehead. Sierra squinted, trying to place him. Her head throbbed at the action. Is that-?
When she tried to move, searing pain shot through her body, causing a muffled groan to escape her dry throat. Instantly the man roused, startled at the sound.
"Major?" His voice was raw and hoarse from all the screaming he'd done in the field earlier in the day. But the relief was palpable and Sierra felt like kicking herself for not recognizing him the moment she regained consciousness.
"Frei."
He sprang up and rushed over, chair in hand to place it at her bedside. "Oh thank God!" Evan Frei sank into the seat, not realizing his hands were shaking. "You came back. The doctors told us you might not make it but Captain Levi ordered them to give you the best care, cause you were badly injured and we weren't sure if you were gonna make it-"
"Whoa. Slow down kid." Sierra struggled to sit up, but fell back only now becoming aware she was covered neck to torso with bandages. Bracing on one elbow, she slowly pushed up only to be stopped by Frei's hand on her shoulder. "Ma'am I don't think-"
She glared at his action. "Help me up brat." Frei hesitated all of two seconds before shaking his head.
"Apologies Major, but the doctor's gonna kill me if I do that. He said and I quote "If the patient wakes up tell her no moving around as it will aggravate her injuries and break the stitches'". He glanced down at her bandaged frame, silently thanking God she was alive and stubborn enough to keep fighting the doctor's orders.
"I don't give a damn about what the doc said." Silver bored into his skull, the edges tinged white. "Sit me up. And get me some water."
Frei lowered his gaze, instantly bowing to the force of her will.
"Yes ma'am."
Sierra huffed as he plumped the pillow and helped prop her aching back against it. He rose and crossed to the pitcher of cold water sitting on the table and poured a cup.
The young Scout carried the ceramic cup over to the elite officer, careful not to spill a single drop and put it to Sierra's lips.
She gulped down half the cold liquid before Frei pulled it away.
"Easy, Major! Not so fast. You haven't eaten anything in four days."
Her brow furrowed. "What?" He's gotta be joking. She racked her brain trying to recall the events that led up to her waking up in a hospital bed swathed in bandages and feeling like her whole body was put through a collapsed masonry building. To her horror, she kept drawing a blank.
"Frei? What happened?"
He resumed his seat, placing the half-drunken cup onto the small, wooden nightstand next to Sierra's bed. "What's the last thing you can remember?"
What? She squinted against the pale fingers of the rising sun filtering through the muslin window curtains waving gently in a light breeze. " Last thing I remember was…"
Running.
People screaming.
Twin explosions of light.
Armored. Colossal.
Titan Eren fighting and subduing Reiner with Asia landing her strikes like a surgeon.
Braun roaring for help.
Then…
Then Hoover fell-
Sierra's head snapped up and before Frei could move, she seized his shirt front with her non-bandaged hand, squeezing so hard he thought the material would tear.
"Oi! Where is he? Where's Eren?!"
Frei wet his lips as the Major's silver orbs began to take on their legendary blizzard hue. He would never admit to her face how much those eyes unnerved him. They were like nothing else he'd seen. Not even Commander Smith's dead baby blues made him feel like he was prey. But deep down in the secret places of his psyche and heart, he was fascinated by her ever since their first meeting and he wanted to know more.
"It's okay ma'am. He's safe. We got him back so there's no need to-"
"What? What's that mean?" He cringed, mentally slapping himself for his careless words. Way to freak her out Evan. She needs to concentrate on getting better, not worry about Jager.
"He was taken by Braun and Hoover. After he subdued Braun, something happened. He screamed. No, that's not quite right. He roared. Next thing we know Hoover, fell straight down the side of the Wall…and landed on top of Eren and Braun. I arrived just in time for the explosion. It was huge, Major." Frei closed his eyes. "There were a lot of injured and dead. You were found dangling from your ODM hooks about halfway down the wall, unconscious." He swallowed sharply a sudden urge to cry overtaking his body. "Commander Zoe was badly injured but she continued to issue orders on her stomach while a medic worked on wrapping her torso."
Sierra chuffed in amusement, releasing her grip on Frei's shirt. "Heh. That's Hange for ya." Then she frowned. "You said I was out of it. How bad?"
"It was bad Major. Like, hovering on death's door bad. Armin was freaking out and Mikasa…well she looked stunned. Lost. She's so strong. And to see her just sitting there…" He shook his head to clear the disturbing image of the young Ackerman with her knees curled into her chest like a small child, her signature red scarf wrapped around her face, hiding from the world. "But I didn't have time to panic because Commander Smith ordered a whole group of us in pursuit of the traitors."
Sierra took a long sip of water, hating the twinge of pain that accompanied it. She was no medical expert, but damn it! I feel like someone chucked me into a giant ass pot of boiling water. She forced her lungs to breathe as normal as possible since the kid was watching her like a hawk.
Gingerly setting down the mug she leaned back against the pillow, eyes half shuttered, hands clasped loosely over her stomach.
Frei took that as a signal to continue so he laced his fingers together to prevent them from trembling.
"After the smoke cleared, there was nothing but chaos. So many soldiers lying there, dead and wounded…it was awful." He kept his head bowed and gaze fixed on the floorboards, voice tight as the traumatic images flooded his mind. "You and the Squad Leader got the worst of the steam. Any lower down the wall and the squad would've been vaporized. Everyone was knocked out, Eren was gone and…and we lost five hours to that bastard's attack." Sierra raised an eyebrow. Up till now, she never heard Frei curse. It made him sound more real and less like a damned textbook for a change.
A light knock on the door interrupted their conversation. In bustled a slender woman, carrying an armful of fresh linens and a new roll of bandages. Her uniform was rumpled and a few strands of her flaxen hair-done up in a practical bun-had slipped free and trailed down her neck.
"Hello, Major Wolf. Welcome back. I'm your nurse, Layla Schultz." A gentle smile accompanied the woman's friendly greeting. "I need to change these sheets." She nodded to the chair Frei was currently occupying. "Do you think you can manage the chair while I strip the bed? I won't be long."
It was only then Sierra caught a whiff of a strong odor. She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Evan," she commanded, low voice brooking no argument. "Go get cleaned up. Grab a bite to eat while you're at it."
The young Scout was so startled at her use of his given name he stared at the short woman, mouth agape.
Sierra glared at the hapless youth. "Oi dumbass. Wake up." A sharp snap of her fingers jerked Frei out of his mini trance, a blush staining his cheeks.
"Right! Sorry ma'am. Shower. Clothes. Meal."
"Congratulations, brat. Now git gone and don't come back until you do all those things. In that order. You're lucky I'm not Levi. He'd have a damn stroke if he saw you like this."
Heat rose on his neck at the reminder of the ill-tempered Captain and his legendary clean freak tendencies. On instinct, he saluted and double timed it out of the room, throwing a hasty "excuse me ladies!" over his shoulder.
Once he was gone, Layla chuckled as she assisted her patient into the chair he'd vacated and went about removing the dirty sheets.
"Such a sweet boy. So polite. So attentive and eager to please." On went fresh linens and a new comforter. "He your aide or something, ma'am?"
"Hell no." Sierra scoffed crossing her arms. "Kid would drive me insane with all his fawning."
"He just wants to impress you Major. His heart's in the right place."
"Hmph," Sierra crossed her arms staring out the window as Layla bustled about the room. Her mind whirred as it absorbed what the young man had said. Five hours lost. Eren taken by the enemy. How in God's name did they get him back? A thousand questions assaulted her aching brain along with a spurt of anger. Once again, another exciting chase and no doubt an equally tense and harrowing battle eluded her grasp. Next time. She silently vowed. Next time I won't be left behind.
"You've had quite an entourage through here Major," Layla's light, sunny voice cut through her patient's simmering thoughts. "Brass and cadets came in to check your progress. But there was one in particular who stood out." Her eyes took on a dreamy cast. "Captain Levi wouldn't leave your side for a minute, even after you were admitted to the ward. He was quite insistent you receive priority treatment. We had to chase him out on the condition he'd be alerted the moment you woke up."
Sierra shuttered one eye, a vague memory trying to swim to the surface of her mind. Now she remembered. A deep male voice, arguing with the doctors and nurses. Damn it you worthless maggots, you'd better fix her, or I'll put your asses in a sling!
Levi never left. Strange warmth made her chest clench. Why? No one's EVER done that. No. Scratch that. Not since her father had she known such concern. She didn't know how to process what she was feeling. Was that the Levi so many admired? The one who put on a stern face but deep down still retained a sliver of humanity that hadn't been beaten out of his soul? That stubbornly held on in spite of the relentless battering ram of war and death?
Fortunately her nurse was completely oblivious. Thank God for small miracles.
"All right Major. Bed's done. Let's get you freshened up."
Lost in thought, Sierra barely acknowledged Layla's comment with a grunt. So much was happening. The landscape was changing so rapidly and those who she once thought as friends were now revealed to be foes of humanity. The road to the truth about the Titans and the truth about the world in general was becoming increasingly treacherous by the day, hell it seemed by the hour new information came flowing in, forcing everyone to rethink what they thought they knew.
She sighed. Ugh. Brain overload. But first things first.
"Hey," she rasped, trying not to wince at how raw her throat felt and sounded. "Status report on the others."
"You'll be briefed in detail once you're stronger Major." Layla responded, assisting her charge back to the bed where Sierra nearly collapsed due to the strain of holding her wounded body up longer than she was supposed to. "But I can give you this much. Commander Erwin is in stable condition. Squad Leader Hange is still critical but no longer life threatening. As for Jager, well you'll have to get the whole story from someone who went on that recovery team, but he's safe and sound. So's the rest of the trainees. Well, except for Captain Hannes everyone got back alive and mostly intact."
Mostly? What isn't she telling me and who the hell is this Hannes?
The sweet oblivion of sleep tugged at her consciousness. No! Not now! I wanna know more.
But Layla wasn't about to let her patient be stubborn.
"Sleep now Major. You're gonna need it." Arms full of dirty linens and clothes she made her way to the door. "With the path the Survey Corps are going down, you won't have many opportunities to rest." Nudging the door open with her boot, the young nurse swept out of the room before Sierra could object.
She sank into the pillow, grumbling about difficult nurses and their annoying habit of shielding patients when they clearly didn't need it-
A muffled Sir stop! No visitors! followed by a set of determined footsteps heading towards her room put Sierra on instant alert. She recognized Layla's semi distressed voice, then the door flew open.
It was Levi. Same suit and cravat she last saw him wearing, hair perfectly combed, but the worry in his steel grey eyes gave him away.
Layla bustled up behind him, trying to pull the short man away from her charge. "Captain, I said no visitors-oh! Ma'am, I'm so sorry if he woke you, I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't-"
Sierra put a finger to her lips, silencing the nurse's protests. Then making eye contact with Levi she pointed to the chair by the table. There was no avoiding the bastard on this one. But strangely she wasn't offended or repulsed by his intrusion.
She saw the tension bleed out of his frame at her wordless invitation. Giving Layla a pointed glare he shrugged off her restraining hand and crossed the room to sit down in the chair.
The young nurse's gaze pinballed between the two, unsure of what to do. Protocol made it clear visitors were prohibited after regular business hours, but the pair before her were forces of nature. She was tired and just wanted to grab a few hours of sleep.
But still…
"Better get some rest, Layla," her patient chided her, sleep thick in her voice, but the edge of command rang through loud and clear. She tipped her throbbing head in Levi's direction before settling deeper into the bed. "He can stay."
"But protocol-"
"You heard the lady." Levi rumbled, a vein starting to form on his temple. "Or are you trying to be deaf on purpose?"
"No sir. I was just-"
"-following protocol. We know. Now get out." Tomato faced, Layla ducked out of the room, scooping up the dirty linens she'd dropped in her haste to stop the short Captain from entering the hospital wing and scurried off.
Levi snorted as he leaned back in the chair, feeling the wooden grain gently embrace him.
"Damn nurses," he grumbled. "Bunch of overbearing, clucking mother hens."
Sierra turned her face toward the wall, careful to conceal the smirk stealing over her mouth from the man sitting not three feet from her position. Listened as the short man mumbled under his breath, taking strange solace in the deep, rich tones that oddly enough, helped settle her aching head.
As long as he uses his damn indoor voice, I guess he can stay she thought body still and relaxed. Slowly, the fatigue long held at bay tugged her consciousness. Levi's gray eyes, partly hidden by his undercut watching her closely was the last image she saw before she was claimed by the sweet oblivion of sleep.
Levi-for his part-relished the silence broken only by Sierra's soft breathing. He hunched forward in his seat, steepling his fingers, his chin coming to rest on top of them.
Levi knew it was nothing short of miraculous that the young woman lying in front of him was still alive. He shoved back the nasty feeling of nearly losing yet another colleague to the war machine. It pissed him off. Sierra Wolf was a vicious, foul-mouthed bitch who seemed to get off on violence. Ditto her callous regard for those she deemed weak and unfit for field duty. It was no wonder no one expressed a desire to work too closely, lest they jeopardize their health and combat readiness. Like him and the Ackerman girl, she was a one-woman army. A deadly force to be reckoned with both on and off the battlefield.
And yet, there was the curious case of Private Evan Frei and his obvious crush on Wolf. He'd seen it before many times. Remembered Petra's laughing face and the way her eyes would light up every time he walked into her presence. How she spilled his favorite tea out of sheer nervousness when she first started serving him and the rest of the Levi Squad who were nothing more than broken bodies lying in a forest with giant trees-
Desperate to divert his mind from his dead team, Levi recalled the tall youth who'd been here prior to his barging in. How the kid sat vigil at the she-wolf's side, bloody clothes and bandaged head an afterthought as he kept a watchful eye. Kid's gonna make a good officer one day. If he lives. There was no guarantee any of them would make it to the end of whatever crazy, twist-filled path Erwin was leading them down.
For some odd reason, seeing the vicious woman in the throes of sleep swathed up to her neck in bandages left Levi with a strange urge to stroke her cheek. One of the relatively undamaged parts of her body, save for a nasty cut along her jawline. He scowled, shaking his head in disgust. This wasn't the first time he'd entertained such thoughts. If she knew just how long I've had these impulses she'd break my face.
And the fact he was sitting so close to her slumbering form wasn't helping his current state of mind. Even through the blanket and hospital clothes, he could see where her waist curved, the way the white gauze hugged her severely toned arms, the way-
He gripped the arms of the chair with a bit more force, the wood creaking under his unnatural strength. Images of an eighteen year old Sierra flashed through his mental reel, the first time he'd truly began to notice how beautiful she was.
It'd been almost impossible not to look. He prided himself on his iron control for many years. But when she entered the Corps at the tender age of thirteen that slowly but surely started to change. One salacious memory in particular chose at that moment to parade across his eyes, forcing him to squeeze them shut.
54th Recon Mission – Surface 847
It was a broiling hot day, typical of late summer. Horses and soldiers alike were soaked in sweat, blood and misery as they slogged their way back to Wall Maria. This particular expedition had been a brutal one. Erwin had taken close to 150 Scouts as he wanted to go further out into unknown territory. The plan was to spend a month out in the field to map out and hopefully establish an outpost to expand humanity's reach.
That decision proved to be disastrous.
They were barely a week into their mission when a large horde of Titans ambushed them ten miles north of leaving the relative safety of the Giant Trees. With the exception of the senior officers most of the troop was made up of fresh recruits on their first expedition beyond the walls.
It was roughly two hours before sunset when it happened. A shrill scream from the lookout was the only warning the group received before a pack of twenty Titans burst out of the trees only a mile or two from the ruined town the Scouts had made their makeshift camp in.
Levi-who along with the rest of the senior officers-sprang into action. He was out the door and halfway out into the shattered remains of the hallway of what used to be an old outpost, when he realized Sierra still hadn't returned from the woods where she told Hange and Erwin she'd be taking a bath.
That was almost twenty minutes ago.
"Erwin! Where's Sierra?! She was supposed to be back already!"
All Hange got in response was a helpless shrug before the blonde swung into action.
The panic in Four-Eyes' voice mirrored his own mounting dread. He silently prayed she was alive as they rushed to engage the Titans in battle. Ringing steel, heavy thuds and the frenzied shrieks of recruits being devoured assaulted his eardrums and right on cue, Humanity's Strongest set about the task of saving what remained of the troop.
It proved to be more difficult than he anticipated. Every two he cut down three more took its place. 'Where the hell are all these demons coming from?!' A rapid spin and swift slice ended the life of another ugly monster who'd been two seconds away from devouring a panicked recruit who recovered her wits long enough to babble her thanks before he ordered her to flee to the Forest of Giant Trees.
The sun drew down painting the sky an eerie blood red. Broken bodies and half eaten torsos lay strewn about the ruins where just moments ago had been filled with food and camaraderie. And still the Titans kept coming.
Levi had just drawn his last set of blades and prepared to go down fighting when a quick movement from the trees caught his eye. Before he could register what he was seeing, a 10 meter Titan crashed to the ground, smoke rising from its corpse.
Some of the surviving recruits galloping away on horseback swerved to avoid being crushed as another Titan-this one a whopping 20 meters-suddenly collapsed its nape cleanly severed.
"Omigod!" A young male recruit shrieked. "It's the Major!"
'What?' Levi's eyes darted around the field trying desperately to catch a glimpse.
Then another Titan went toppling right towards his position on the low hanging branch he stood perched on. Only his inhuman reflexes saved him from getting crushed. Seconds after he vacated his branch for another higher off the ground in another tree, it crashed full force into the tree he'd been standing on. Through the smoke he could barely make out the silhouette of a person straightening up.
"Oi bastard!" Levi sagged against the rough bark at the sound of that familiar scratchy alto, relief making his limbs quiver. "What the hell ya doing?! Move your ass, the troop's waiting for ya!"
A sharp wind blew the curtain of smoke away to reveal Sierra Wolf in her black workout bra, her torso wrapped in what appeared to be a pair of broad, black pieces of fabric, ends knotted and tucked in to prevent snags, boots, ODM gear and nothing else. Blood dripped down her blades as she stood facing his position, sweat trickling down her body, fiery hair mussed. For as long as he lived, Levi would never forget the fierce sight she made.
He couldn't take his eyes off her wrapped body, his sharp gaze taking in the long scar along the base of her throat. His mouth went dry at the sight. For as long as he'd known her, Sierra NEVER went unclothed in public. Especially when men were present. But she must've cut her bath short at the first sound of trouble and chose to abandon her shirt to fight. A recruit might've taken the time to dress but it would've cost them their life. Once again, Levi was secretly impressed at the teen's resourcefulness and survival instincts.
She never looked more beautiful than in this moment, standing on the back of a dead giant, suspended between life and certain death.
Then the spell was broken as she fired her hooks at the nearest tree and flew through the air away from his position. Not waiting if he was going to follow or stand there gaping like an idiot.
Levi shook his head, scolding himself for his brief lapse in focus. They weren't out of danger and here he was having lewd thoughts of the she-wolf. Gathering his strength he followed her lead, leaving the killing fields behind.
It took him less than a minute to catch up. The girl was damn fast on the hooks and Levi allowed a small smirk to cross his stony face before drawing alongside, matching her pace.
Sierra sensed the man's presence as he caught up and softly tsked under her breath. 'Quick little bastard ain't he?' But this was Humanity's Strongest, not a terrified recruit she was dealing with. She eased off on the gas since there were no immediate threats in the vicinity.
"How much longer till we see them?" She asked without taking her gaze off the path ahead.
"Not long. Let's stop and take our bearings. They can't be too far but it's getting dark and I sure as hell ain't gonna fly around the woods in the dark."
The suggestion made sense and soon the pair found a large tree with thick branches. Both soldiers alighted on a limb high enough they'd avoid anything less than a 15 meter class. Dusk was steadily draining what remained of the suns' light. If they were to locate the troop, it had to be now. Or they would risk getting left out in wild country with scant supplies and certain death.
Sierra leaned her head against the grainy bark, letting the gentle, steady breeze cool her flushed skin. Silver eyes drooped half shut as she allowed her body precious recovery time. Briefly forgetting the man standing on the outer edge of the branch as he quietly drank in as much of what little exposed flesh of hers as he could, before giving himself a shake, furiously digging the flare gun out of his belt. Fitted the yellow cartridge into the chamber and fired. 'Dirty old man,' he mentally growled. 'Stop staring at her. It's not like you haven't seen a woman's body before!'
Hah! His mind taunted. That's funny. You've been sleeping with a barely legal adult for MONTHS now.
Desperate, he conjured images of Petra, forcefully imposing her deceptively innocent face over his mental screen.
How her body felt next to his in bed when they stole precious moments together.
How her bright eyes and beautiful smile made his world a little less dark and him less of a broken mess.
How she saw the good in everyone and believed in their best qualities, even though the person in question wasn't always the nicest or the easiest to get along with.
But soon the ginger's smiling face and big amber eyes were replaced with piercing silver and a stern mouth with choppy red-gold hair. DAMN IT! This was bad! The last thing Levi needed was the she-wolf invading his thoughts. He was already attached to Petra for crying out loud! 'I can't be thinking like this, I can't be-
"Levi?" Her low alto snapped him out of the weird trance he'd fallen into. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said, stress making his voice crackle a bit. "Just wondering why anyone isn't answering the damn flare." Grey eyes wrenched away from her for, rapidly scanning the sky. 'I hope I didn't miss it ogling at the she-wolf,' he thought irritably. 'I'd never live it down.'
"Hn. Whatever bastard," she shrugged crossing her arms over her chest, goosebumps pebbling on her chilly skin. 'He's right though. Where IS the damn flare? We should've seen it by now-'
Soft fabric settled over her shoulders making her flinch in surprise. She felt Levi's strong hands still on her shoulders, his touch a bare whisper. But it was enough to send a lightning bolt to the center of her being. Strange warmth, one she thought long lost, buzzed in her gut. It kept the girl from bolting as she felt Levi smooth his slightly stained cloak over her small frame before nodding once and returning to his spot.
Levi resumed his watch, trying his best to ignore the tingling in his fingertips where he'd touched Sierra. It'd been just a light brush, barely brushing her shoulders, but it felt like he'd wandered into a forbidden garden. It left him wanting more-
"LEEEEEVI! SIERRAAAA! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
Pinpricks of light flashed through the trees. Sierra blew out a relieved breath. Lanterns. Search party was finally here. For once, Hange's foghorn voice was welcome.
"OI, HAG! WE'RE OVER HERE! ON YOUR 3 'O CLOCK!"
"KEEP TALKING!" Hange bellowed. "WE CAN BARELY SEE WITH THESE LIGHTS!"
"OH THAT'S DAMN RICH!" Levi barked, inwardly cringing at how LOUD they were being. "YOU'VE GOT FOUR EYES, SHITTY GLASSES AND YOU'RE STILL BLIND? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH."
That did the trick. Less than a minute later, a band of six Scouts with Hange at the head alighted in the branches around them. The tall woman landed between Sierra and Levi, relief carved into her sweaty face. Before she could open her mouth to express her concern, a sharp pain exploded in her head. She swayed, clutching the top of her skull from the knife-edge chop, eyes watering behind her glasses.
A sub vocal growl clawed its way out of Sierra's throat. She stood with her fists clenched, lip curled and brows furrowed over her now blizzard white eyes. The Scouts were frozen, mouths agape as they bore witness to the short Major's vicious temper. Thanking their lucky stars they weren't in the lion den as Sierra vented her spleen on the Squad Leader.
"YOU CRAZY BITCH! I TOLD YOU A MILLION TIMES THIS PART OF THE FOREST WAS DANGEROUS! ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT!" Hange crouched on the branch, holding her head as her angry friend ranted, sounding like a possessed fiend. "DID YOU FAGGOTS REACH WALL ROSE BEFORE YOU NOTICED WE WERE MISSING OR WHAT?!"
"Ow, ow, ow," Hange moaned as Sierra's voice pounded through her. She knew there'd be a nasty lump on her head which she'd have to nurse on the way back to base.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED YOU, HAG-!"
"M-Major?" One of the Scouts timidly interjected. The deadly look she shot him nearly withered what tiny seed of courage he managed to pluck up. "Begging your pardon, b-but base is j-just eight kilometers fr-from here-"
"That so cadet?" Levi's calm, cooler tone made the young man nearly weep with relief.
"Y-yes sir." A shaking finger pointed beyond the Captain's dark head. "That way. If w-we hurry we can make supper."
"Well, let's get going. Hey, four-eyes." Hange blinked. Levi stooped over her bent frame, lowering his voice so the others couldn't hear. "Shake it off. It's dark and we need you to lead us to camp. We're starving and the she-wolf needs a clean shirt."
It was only then, chancing a quick peek through her arms that Hange noticed the short teen's predicament. Her eyes briefly bugged out before settling back into their legendary focused setting.
"Right." She slowly stood, ignoring the dull throb in her skull. "Let's roll."
Thanks to the young Scout's question and Levi's perfectly timed response, Sierra's rage had subsided allowing the group to make their way back to base in relative silence.
He wasn't quite sure when his curt, surreptitious glances morphed into watchful stares but it irritated him to no end. Why? Why her? You can have any woman you wanted, even Petra. But no. It had to be this tiny stick of dynamite. And from that fateful day forward, the desire to touch her grew more potent-
Levi glanced down at his lap and was startled to see a mini tent forming in his pants.
Really? He growled at his member. Collapse you bastard! But as usual, his body refused to obey.
"She's really something, isn't she Captain?"
Levi jerked his head toward the door, angry that he let his guard down so low he failed to hear Evan Frei re-enter the room.
"How'd you get past the nurse?"
Frei stepped into the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. Freshly showered and belly full, he leaned up against the wall, arms loosely crossed over his chest.
"Snuck in."
Levi raised an eyebrow, slightly impressed by the youth's action as he felt his member thankfully soften at the young man's intrusion.
"What?"
"I snuck in. It's after visiting hours sir, and I wasn't going to get kicked out." And I wanted to see the Major again. But he dared not say that out loud. The Captain's moods were unpredictable and he didn't want to push his luck.
"Why aren't you with Erwin?"
Frei froze a moment, completely caught off guard by the question.
"He dismissed me," came the whispered reply. "Said I could do what I wanted."
Levi chuffed as he resumed his watch over Sierra's slumbering form. "Fine. Just make sure you don't stay up late. You know Erwin hates it when people are tardy."
"Sir, I don't think you underst-"
"Boy, I've served under him a long time." Levi hissed trying to keep his voice down and temper in check. "I know him better than most."
"I'm not saying that," Frei retorted, his ingrained politeness broken by a rare spurt of impertinence. "You've seen his condition. He's parsing out staff to anyone willing to take them on." He glanced at Sierra's slumbering form. "So that's why I came back, sir." He dropped his voice forcing Levi to lean closer. "I start my new role as Major Wolf's aide, effective immediately."
A/N: First things first. I'm back everyone! Hope y'all are staying healthy with the virus and ready to resume normal life again! Speaking of which, the reason I haven't updated in a year (sorry!) was that work got busy, then Covid hit and I was deemed an essential worker. So little rest on my end. And no time to write ANYTHING, which sucked. But I'm back, since y'all are calling for more. Big shout out to the 319 faves and 411 likes for the story. I can't thank y'all enough for the continued support for this fic, it means so much and I hope to get back on a semi-regular updating schedule again.
As always, enjoy and don't forget to drop a line!
