Chapter 17: Shadow
Levi's fingers traced the outline of the fading bruise on her right shoulder as she wiggled deeper under the blanket, pushing it over her head. He chuckled and gently pulled the blanket back down, and she mumbled obscenities under her breath. Levi propped himself up, leaning over her shoulder and pushing her hair back he kissed her gently on her neck, just below her ear. Amelia's lips tugged back with a smile while her eyes remained closed, but she turned over and snuggled into his chest with a happy sigh. Levi slept very little, and though Amelia wasn't a person to sleep for very long either, he had kept her up much later than usual the night before. Based on the noises his actions had prompted her to make, she had enjoyed herself thoroughly.
"We were going to train today," he mumbled into her hair, twirling his fingers around it. Amelia cracked one of her eyes open, and sighed at him, letting her arms wrap around his neck, pressing her body against his.
"Is there nothing I could do to persuade you to stay in bed a little longer?" She murmured suggestively, trailing one of her hands down his torso until it disappeared beneath the blanket.
They didn't make it to the training ground for another hour and when they did Amelia was much more awake. She was so grateful for the amazing night she'd spent with Levi after his birthday celebration. Spending the days before that apart from him had left them both eager for one another's presence. When he'd seen her fading bruise still present from her shoulder injury, he'd immediately suggested that she try using a reverse grip with her knives, rather than holding them out to the side or swiping them down from overhead which would jar her shoulders more.
Amelia had been beginning to imitate some of Levi's techniques before their last expedition, but she hadn't had a chance to attempt his reverse grip hold. Leaving her blades sheathed, she gingerly twisted the hilts around in her hands. Her pinky and ring fingers gripped the controls of the hilt experimentally, knowing that they were now the opposite of what she was used to. It would not be enough to retrain her hands to use the controls upside down, she would have to become able to flip the hilts at will and adeptly control them regardless. There were times when she would need to use them with the regular grip as well.
Shooting into the trees. she cautiously moved from tree to tree, trying to get used to merely maneuvering with this hold on her weapons. She followed Levi around the forest attempting to match his speed and turns. Amelia had a couple of close calls as she needed to gain dexterity in her fingers, but she was able to recover with some ease due to her skill and experience with the 3DMG. She attempted some vertical flips in her gear so that she would not have to activate her double belt, unsure that she'd be ready to handle it yet.
Accidentally hitting the wrong control, Amelia went into freefall between trees, saving herself at the last moment by flipping her hand controls and swinging from a branch that overhung a meadow of bright grass and wildflowers. Amelia let herself hang there for a moment to let her heartbeat return to normal and smiled when she felt a tug on her line and saw Levi lazily spinning around her, his line becoming hopelessly tangled with hers. He had swung around her without much speed so when they met in the middle they fell gently into each other's arms. Amelia stared into his dark eyes and her heart was filled to bursting as they began to slowly unwind, spinning in lazy circles. Levi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and placed his palm against her cheek with unrivaled tenderness.
"Amelia," he began seriously, caressing her face. "I love you."
Her breath caught in her throat at his words, and she leaned in to kiss him, but just as their lips brushed their lines slid free of each other and they were falling away. Amelia let herself drop to the ground and Levi followed her where she promptly tackled him to the ground in a passionate kiss and they rolled through the flowers. Amelia came up on top of him when they stopped rolling and she kissed him once again, her hair veiling them in their own world, having come loose.
"I love you, Levi," she told him and felt his fingers grip her waist tighter at her response, a look of relief passing across his usually expressionless eyes. They were interrupted by footsteps approaching the clearing, and Amelia rolled off Levi to see her Senior Team Leader Moblit enter the clearing.
"Amelia, I've been looking for you all morning," he said, rather crossly, and Amelia blushed in embarrassment, tucking her hair behind her ear apologetically.
"I'm sorry Lieutenant," she told him sincerely, pulling herself to her feet and saluting him. Moblit waved dismissively, he was a good-natured person and not one to remain upset for long. "What can I do for you sir?"
"Hange and I have been looking for a replacement for Team Leader Hassid and you were the first choice for both of us," he told her, and Amelia started in surprise. She knew Hassid had been gravely injured on their last expedition but was surprised to learn that he would not be returning as his injury had appeared to be healing well. His infection must have spread. "If you'll come with me, we'll need to begin your training with his team immediately to have you all ready for the next mission."
"Of course," Amelia answered promptly. And with a squeeze of Levi's hand, she chased after her Senior Team Leader.
From the shadows, Kenny Ackerman lowered his spyglass, leaning against a tree and watching as Levi retreated back into their HQ. The runt hadn't gotten any bigger since the last time he'd seen him in the Underground, but it appeared that he was doing well for himself and had found him a nice piece of ass. Adjusting his bowler hat, Kenny crept around the HQ to get a view of his target again. He had been shadowing Sergeant Amelia since their first encounter at the library and was enjoying himself immensely. It reminded him of the years he had stalked the Underground as Kenny the Ripper, slitting the throats of many pretty women like the one he was now watching. Amelia's pale throat made his fingers twitch for his knife and he frequently fantasized about what it would feel like to draw a blade across her thin neck.
Smiling toothily at the thought, Kenny sighed internally knowing he was only to watch her for the time being and, if the time came to dispose of her, he would have to do it with the utmost care and discretion like the bullet he'd put through the brain of Colman and his fiancée a year ago. Guns were so impersonal and clean. Kenny much preferred the feeling of his victim's pulse against his hand and the smell of their fear, but since he'd been recruited into the Military Police's First Brigade anti-personnel control squad he'd had to play by their rules, though they didn't have many of those.
He itched to do away with the bitch he'd been watching and was waiting for her to betray any knowledge of Dr. Colman's flying device. She was making Levi weak and that runt was his pride. He'd raised him in the filth of the Underground after his mother, Kenny's whore of a sister had passed. Kenny had painstakingly turned Levi into a cold, calculating killer and had enjoyed watching him claw his way to the top of the Underground's hierarchy before Kenny'd been obliged to join the Military Police. He hadn't spent those years grooming a remorseless killer for the first girl who'd flip her skirt for him to undo everything he'd taught.
So he continued to watch them both, happy to see that Amelia's new role as a Team Leader was keeping her busy and keeping the two farther apart for much of the summer. But Kenny couldn't see their frequent and fervent kisses in the hallways of the HQ or the times they would sneak together into abandoned rooms to relieve their pent-up passions. But when they would go on moonlit strolls of the grounds, Kenny was their constant shadow and companion, his years of practice in remaining silent and unseen, never betraying himself to their confidences.
It wasn't until the summer had reached its zenith that Amelia at last revealed to him without a doubt that not only did she know of Dr. Colman's work on flight, but that she was close to achieving it herself. Kenny wrapped his fingers around his knife and grinned.
…..
Amelia was escaping the summer heat in Hange's laboratory, sketching out what she remembered of Dr. Colman's notes. She'd redrawn his diagram of the flying machine but still didn't understand it. Amelia had made sure to keep her interest in the machine secret from everyone. Though she was no conspirator against the King, she was worried that if Commander Erwin found out she hadn't been completely honest with him that he would turn against her. But if she could go to him and tell him that she had discovered how to create a machine that could fly, she was certain that the military advantage this would allow would far outweigh any frustrations he would have with her.
Keeping a secret from Levi was more difficult than anything she'd done before, but she could imagine his pride in her at her discovery when it came to light. How many lives could be saved by flight? They could reseal the wall in Shinganshina with less loss of life than would ever be believable and then begin the task of reclaiming Wall Maria at last. And beyond that, they could explore the outside world, perhaps finding other surviving populations of humans or locating scarce resources for those within the walls. It was possible they could even begin constructing other shelters to expand the territory of the walls and allow for population growth. If the Military Police had been behind the death of Dr. Colman, they had done a horrendous disservice to humanity. She knew that knowledge of the outside world and things that would lead to it were illegal, but surely even they had to see the advantages of flight?
Amelia's mind was alive with the possibilities, but she didn't have time to dwell on them often due to her new status as a Team Leader. Not only did she have to train with her team and construct training regimens for them and be sure they were adhering to them, but she now had to attend strategy meetings with the other Team Leaders where the Squad Leaders would communicate Erwin's new ideas or desires to them. She would also meet with Moblit and the six other Team Leaders in Hange's Squad who were in charge of between five and seven people on their Teams.
Amelia had a Team of five who she already deeply respected and appreciated. Three of the five were new recruits who had only been under Sergeant Hassid's leadership for a few months and had little trouble switching over to Amelia's leadership. Anderson had been in her own trainee squad and had ranked above her in their graduating class, making him more indignant while Donovan, a lithe pretty girl who had been serving in the Corps since the fall of Wall Maria hadn't taken her seriously until after their first expedition together.
Amelia had saved Anderson from a 12-meter class titan, employing Levi's technique and shredding the titan mercilessly before going for the kill. After that she'd gained control of her team and they had become a formidable force, well trusted by Erwin in scouting out new towns and eradicating stray titans. They'd had their share of injuries but none so serious as to incapacitate anyone for long, and Amelia was incredibly proud of all of them and where they'd gotten to. Her new recruits were especially dear to her, they looked up to her and trusted her completely and were still full of laughter and excitement that had been crushed out of many veterans. Amelia would give anything to keep them safe.
"Lieutenant Amelia!" Hannah Reeves burst into the lab, she was one of Amelia's green recruits. Looking up, Amelia blinked back a wave of nausea. She'd been feeling under the weather on and off the past few weeks and was excited for whatever stomach bug she had to go away.
"What is it, Private Reeves?" Hannah's normally expressive and kind face was pale, and she looked even younger than she was.
"Intelligence has reported unusual titan activity beyond the wall, and Erwin has called an emergency expedition to investigate."
Amelia shot out of the room, her recruit following after her nervously. Were the titans finally beginning their attack against Wall Rose? But that didn't seem likely, she thought. When Wall Maria was attacked it had happened without warning and the titans had moved in only after the hole had appeared. She entered the debriefing room with the other Team Leaders on her Squad, and Hange explained the situation to them. They were not going to take the entire Regiment because if the titans did break through then they would need experienced members to defend Wall Rose. Squad Hange and Squad Levi would be going out of the walls with Erwin while Squad Zacharias and Squad Ness would be staying behind the walls.
Amelia battled another wave of nausea as she ran out to prepare her team. Dodging behind some bushes she fought the urge to throw up, clutching her stomach and squeezing her eyes shut. Steeling her will she took a deep shaky breath and went to find her team, informing them that they would be riding out and moved to get her own horse Pikale ready. She patted his neck affectionately before swinging into her saddle and heading to the column that was preparing to ride out. She saw Levi across the crowd, and they held each other's gaze for a moment before he gave her an encouraging nod and moved out with his squad. Amelia's heart jumped into her throat as she followed behind Hange, her own team huddling close together as the two Squad's followed Erwin. Hannah, Edwin, and Yumi, her new recruits shot nervous looks at her every few seconds. Amelia smiled reassuringly at them and tried to appear calm and unconcerned.
The Regiment was unusually quiet before the Expedition as they rode through Trost district as quickly as they dared. The general populace had not been informed to avoid any panic which might be over nothing. Erwin was riding next to Hange and Amelia was close enough to hear them arguing. Hange rarely argued with true anger with Erwin, so Amelia was surprised to see the look of sincere frustration on her Squad Leader's face.
"Erwin, this is the kind of problem I was talking about," Hange was saying in agitation, attempting to keep their voice down. "We don't know anything about them. If we had the opportunity to study these creatures, we could predict their movements, we might even be able to develop ways of fighting back or even communicating with them."
Amelia frowned as her Squad leader continued to rant to Erwin in evident anger. Amelia knew Hange had been trying to get Erwin to reinstitute capture programs for the titans in order that they might study them. Though Amelia agreed with her leader, she understood the difficulties and logistics that Erwin would face in allowing Hange to capture the titans. She could imagine the horror and panic of the general populace should they discover that the Survey Corps had brought a titan inside the walls. Erwin would be responsible for any tragedy that occurred by bringing a titan into the walls and most people believed titans were unthinking monsters with nothing that needed to be discovered. They simply needed to be eradicated.
"We are not going to talk about this now. You know my thoughts on the matter." Erwin silenced her with finality and Hange turned their horse to ride beside Levi instead, their frustrations boiling.
As they passed beneath the tunnel and moved out from Wall Rose, the mood was even tenser than usual. They rode hard towards the sighted conglomeration of titans who had begun to cluster by an area of forest a few miles beyond the wall. Erwin split half his troops to face away from the forest and guard their company from any outside titans and half to face inwards and draw the titans who had gathered there out of the forest. Erwin was leading a small elite team into the forest to discover why the titans were gathering there. He would be followed by Levi and his team. Amelia and her team were a part of the half that would be baiting the titans.
As they approached, Amelia could tell that there was one smaller titan surrounded by many larger ones and it was behaving in an agitated manner. She couldn't tell for sure at this distance, but it seemed as if the smaller one was attacking or menacing the larger ones. She didn't have much time to observe what was happening because the larger titans quickly noticed their presence and began to run towards them, the small deviant titan staying where it was.
Amelia shouted quick instructions to her team, knowing that this would be one of their biggest trials together. The new recruits shifted nervously in their saddles as they watched the titans close in, Anderson and Donovan sitting with contained anxiety, awaiting their leader's orders. When the first of the titans got close, Amelia signaled to her team and they turned on their horses and they galloped away, drawing the titans out so the elite team could go in. When they'd drawn the titan on their tail a few hundred meters out they turned and began their counterattack. Amelia was able to see Hange ride after the elite team and didn't have time to worry about her Squad leader or her intentions before the first titan was upon them.
Amelia gasped in surprise at the pain of her harness tightening against her chest as she shot out of her saddle and circled the titan. Not having time to wonder why her chest was so tender, Amelia concentrated on the task at hand. One distraction, one false move in titan territory and you were dead. The squad spent the next three hours fighting against the titans who were coming against them from inside and also those that approached from outside. They could not avoid the titans as they usually would or risk the elite team's demise. Amelia didn't have time to fear for Levi or Hange as they had a nearly constant state of battle throughout their time surrounding the forest.
It was in the beginning of their fourth hour fighting amid the screams of their companions as more and more fell to the titans that tragedy finally befell their team. Amelia would never learn how Hannah ended up fighting a titan on her own, as Donovan was supposed to be looking after the new recruits, but in the chaos of war it was impossible to keep track of everything at once.
A 10m class titan spun suddenly as Hannah circled it and she slammed into its knee and was knocked out instantly. Amelia and Anderson who were working to dispose another titan, didn't realize what was happening until Hannah, rousing to consciousness at the last moment, screamed in terror. Turning in realization of her teammates doom, Amelia watched in horror as Hannah's head was crushed between the teeth of the titan. Screaming in agonized terror, Amelia mustered what little strength she had left and sliced through the nape of the 15m class she and Anderson had been dealing with. Knowing it was too late they both returned to their horses, moving to take down the titan that had killed Hannah.
To Amelia's horror Donovan, Edwin, and Yumi reached the titan first. Donovan had obviously lost control of the new recruits, tears were running down Yumi's face and Edwin had turned red in anger as they both leapt unthinkingly towards the titan. It took only a moment for the titan to catch Edwin in its large fist and Yumi screamed in terror, dropping to the ground and running away. Amelia knew she was too far away to make it and thought she was about to lose another member of her team when Donovan jumped between Edwin and the titan's mouth, smashing her blades into its eyes. Roaring wildly the titan gnashed blindly and caught Donovan's arm in his mouth.
Donovan screamed in pain as her arm was wrenched from her body and she fell backwards towards the ground. Amelia and Anderson were at last close enough to aid the rest of their team. Amelia swung low and caught Donovan before she hit the ground and ran a short distance away, knowing she had to bandage Donovan's arm, or she would bleed to death. Tearing off her cloak, she tried to keep an eye on her team while also stopping Donovan's arm from bleeding.
Anderson had sliced into the titan's arm and freed Edwin who appeared unable to use his gear. Anderson did his best to carry Edwin with him and they both hit the ground hard and awkwardly. Edwin was much larger and heavier than his savior and appeared to be injured, and Anderson stood protectively between him and the titan. Amelia finished wrapping Donovan's shoulder tightly and stood up to help the two men, knowing that if she left, Donovan could get picked off by a titan in an instant.
The titan closed in on the men in Amelia's moment of indecision, reaching towards them when it suddenly shuddered and fell to the ground dead. Yumi stood behind it, shaking badly, her blades red from titan blood. At the same moment a flare went up signaling their retreat, and Amelia bent and pulled Donovan over her shoulders in a fireman's carry, grunting under her weight. Yumi and Anderson helped Edwin limp painfully to his horse. Pikale galloped over to Amelia at her whistle and knelt so that she could situate Donovan on the saddle. Pulling herself up behind her, Amelia did her best to keep the unconscious Donovan steady in the saddle while they rode, her head lolling back on Amelia's shoulder.
As they rode back towards Wall Rose, Amelia saw that all the elite team was still alive, though Oluo appeared to be injured and Hange was clutching something close to their chest. There was a corpse which was partially decomposed on the wagon for the injured which Amelia didn't have time to examine when she deposited Donovan on it. All the elite team looked tense and confused as if they had discovered some secret, but Amelia's usual curiosity was tempered by grief over the death of Hannah and fear for the life of Donovan.
Late that night Amelia sobbed into Levi's arms, feeling the full weight of losing a person under her command who was so young and had so much life left to her. Levi held her tightly, regret in his eyes for her pain but his thoughts far away, wondering at their discovery. Hange stayed awake for hours pouring over the notebook of the late Squad leader Ilse Langnar whose corpse and possessions they had discovered being protected by the deviant titan. The notebook claimed the deviant had spoken to Ilse in her final moments of life.