Chapter 4

"Isabel...Farlan…" Levi said, reaching out to his friends. They smiled back at him, unaware of the danger heading towards them. "You need to move. Come with me."

"We'll be fine, big bro. Don't worry about us." Isabel exclaimed, giving him a thumbs up.

"Yeah. Stop trying to boss us around so much. It's not like we're useless." Farlan chucked, whipping out one of his swords.

"We'll kill this titan no problem. Don't you worry your pretty little head." Isabel beamed, pulling out her own swords as well. They launched themselves into the air with their ODM gear, and Levi quickly chased after them. He couldn't let them get to the titan. They were in trouble. He had to stop them before it was too late!

His heart stopped as he saw them struggling in the titan's grasp. The eyes of the abnormal glowed blood red. Its blood-stained sneer turned into a wicked grin as it looked at its prey. Levi's head started to spin as he saw it bring Farlan up to its mouth, shoving his legs in its maw. He heard echoes of Farlan's shrieks as the titan bit down.

The titan then turned to Isabel. Levi tried to move, but the ground melted around him, making him unable to take another step towards his little sis. The titan shoved her down its throat.

"LEVI!" She screamed before the titan made her into a meal, her innocent blood dying its teeth red.

Levi woke up in a sweat, breathing heavily. The sun hung happily in the sky, and he hated it. He had slept in and suffered through that stupid dream yet again. He presumed his team would be up by now, Isabel as well. He crawled out of the cot in his office and made his way out into the kitchen. No one was there.

"Weird." He thought. "Maybe they took Isabel out to play?"

That's when he saw the note on the counter:

Hi Levi! Isabel is with me today! Don't worry, I'll keep her out of trouble.

~Hange

"No. No, no, no, stupid four-eyes!" Levi groaned, slipping on his cloak and rushing out to the stables. He mounted his horse with rapid speed and galloped off, hoping he wasn't too late. Didn't Hange realize the girl had trauma? Seeing a titan up close might send her into a full-blown panic attack. He had to get to Isabel before anything bad happened!

He entered the experimentation yard and dismounted, nearly breaking his leg by jumping off of his steed. He rushed past the gates, but he saw no sign of Hange or Isabel. Just two titans smiling back at him with a crazy hunger in their eyes. If not for the fact that they were furthering research, Levi would have killed them right then and there.

"Cadet! Where is Hange?" Levi asked, nearing one of the men on the research team.

"She...she's in her office, sir." He stuttered, hiding behind his notebook. Levi always seemed to have that effect on people. His demeanor was usually frightening.

He rushed past the titans and into the office area. He pounded on Hange's door. "Hange, open up right now!" He exclaimed.

Hange opened the door with a smile, and Levi scowled. "Morning, Levi! How'd you sleep?"

"Where is she?" Levi growled.

"Geez, she's fine." Hange pushed the door open to reveal Isabel sitting on the floor, coloring on a sheet of paper. "You didn't think I was going to show her Sonny and Bean, did you? I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid. I would never let her near them so soon after…"

Levi brushed past her and knelt on the floor next to Isabel. He saw her picture, but it was hard to make out with all of the three-year-old scribbles.

Isabel smiled up at him and pointed at a figure. "You." She said before pointing to the smaller one. "Me." She concluded.

With that clarification, Levi realized what the picture was. It was a picture of her holding his hand as they walked through...a meadow, maybe. Levi's heart dropped. She was getting too attached. What would happen when she had to go?

"Heyyy, where am I?" Hange pouted, sitting beside Isabel as well.

The little girl quickly drew out another figure and drew big glasses on the face. Its smile was huge and crazy, which fit Hange perfectly. Levi's brow furrowed after making a realization: Hange was way more taller than him. Isabel didn't do that on purpose...did she?

"I love it!" Hange exclaimed, hugging the little girl. Isabel laughed and continued her masterpiece.

"Why didn't you wake me up? I had no clue what had happened to her!" Levi hissed as he and Hange walked into the hallway.

"Levi, we all know you never wake up a soldier like you. Besides, for someone who's supposed to find parents for this girl, you sure are getting attached. You sure you don't want to keep her around?" Hange asked, raising an eyebrow.

Levi sighed. "I...I just want to make sure nothing happens to her."

"Well of course, but...are you sure it doesn't go deeper than that?" Hange continued.

"What do you mean?"

"Levi...you were an orphan too. You basically had to raise yourself considering your role model." Hange said. "Maybe...maybe you're just trying to make sure that Isabel doesn't turn into you?"

"That was uncalled for, Hange. You have no right." Levi snarled.

"I'm just saying…"

"It's none of your business. I found her, so it's my responsibility to take care of her, end of story. No sappy comments from any of you are going to change that. I'm not getting attached, so leave it alone." Levi growled, storming back into the office. "Isabel, Hange has work to do. Say goodbye."

"Levi, that's not fair…" Hange started.

"Now, Isabel." Levi huffed, and the girl quickly collected her coloring supplies. She gave Hange a quick hug and then followed Levi out of the compound. He helped her onto his horse and started back towards his home, making the ride as gentle as possible for little Isabel.

"Me? Not wanting her to turn out like me? What's wrong with me? I'm absolutely fine." Levi thought to himself.

They got back to his squad's home and Levi helped Isabel off the horse. When he tried to make her go back inside, she planted her feet, pointing at the horse and saying, "Pet, please." Levi rolled his eyes and picked her up, allowing her to pet his horse's soft muzzle. She giggled when it sniffed her hand. Levi suppressed another smile.

After a moment of letting Isabel play with a real-life horse, he took the child back into the house. He got her a pear and she ate it happily, pretending to feed some to her stuffed animal as well. A few moments later, she started rubbing her eyes and yawned.

"I guess you need to rest, huh?" Levi said, looking down at the little girl. She yawned again in response. "Alright, finish your snack and hop into bed. You can rest while I do some paperwork."

The girl nodded, eating her pear slower than normal. Like most children, she wanted to stall the inevitable: taking a nap.

"Oi, if you procrastinate I won't let you finish your snack." Levi scolded, and Isabel pouted, resuming eating her pear at a normal rate.

A few minutes passed and Isabel finally got to the core, putting it gently in the trash. Then, she took Levi's hand and went to her room, scooching down under her covers.

"Read story?" Isabel asked, pointing at the children's books Levi got from the store. He sighed and opened one up. Then, he started to read:

"Once upon a time there was a sparrow. He would fly through the skies every day, seeing the buildings and walls below. But despite the beautiful view, he was sad. He was alone, with no friends to comfort him." Levi showed Isabel the picture, and she smiled, her eyes slowly starting to grow heavy. "He would watch as all the little children would walk to school together, playing games and talking amongst themselves. It only made his longing grow. But one day, while he was flying through the bustling city, his wing was hit against a moving carriage. He fluttered to the ground. His wing was broken." Levi noticed Isabel's blinks getting slower.

"Then, a little boy stood beside him. He picked the sparrow up gently and carried him home, giving him small pieces of bread and water. The boy cared for the sparrow for many days, and the sparrow found a friend in this boy. When his wing was finally healed, the sparrow would fly around while the boy was in school, taking in the sights and smells of the town. But at the end of the day, he would always come home to the little boy. He would stay by his side until the next morning. The little sparrow was no longer alone. He now had a best friend."

The story ended and Levi put the book down. Isabel's eyes fluttered shut and a smile pulled at her lips. Levi gently brushed the girl's bangs out of her eyes, a smile forming as well. As much as he hated to admit it, the brat was growing on him.

"Sweet dreams, Isabel," Levi whispered, quietly walking out of her room and shutting the door behind him. He waited a few seconds, but no movement was heard. She was fast asleep.

"Captain?"

Levi jumped, nearly shouting out a curse word if not for the little girl on the other side of the door.

"Petra, shut up. Do you want to wake her up?" Levi hissed.

"Sorry, sir. I just...has there been any word of a couple hoping to adopt her?" Petra asked.

Levi sighed. The girl was smart. She definitely knew he hadn't put out the word yet, but he wouldn't give her that satisfaction. "No couples yet. Guess they don't want to deal with a traumatized toddler."

"But...she's really sweet. Should we ask around and see if anyone wants her?"

"The right couple will come, Petra. We just need to be patient."

"I'm just...worried, sir. What if she feels happy here, only to be torn away from us. I...I don't want her to feel like we abandoned her. I want her to know I'll be here for her, no matter what. We all will. I just...I want her to be happy, sir. And safe." Petra sighed.

"I know. She is safe. And we'll find her a home soon enough." Levi said before quickly adding in, "and she knows we all care. She won't think anyone abandoned her. Everything will be just fine."

"Right. Sorry to bother you, Captain. I'll get back to work." Petra said.

"I want that paperwork on my desk by tonight, cadet," Levi said as she walked away.

"Yes sir," Petra answered before turning the corner and leaving Levi alone.

He looked at the door leading to Isabel's room. Was she happy here? Did she feel safe? What would happen when someone actually offered to adopt her? He...he couldn't think about it. Besides, why should he care? It's not like this girl is special or anything. This girl...didn't mean anything to him. She was only a responsibility. He would get her a home. She would finally be happy. And he would feel relieved. Right?

Levi sighed. He really needed to stop thinking.

AN: I just wanted to say I am so sorry for the tacky children's story! I obviously suck at coming up with children's books, and I don't know the first thing about writing a children's book in the AOT universe (oh well I guess lol). Feel free to comment with constructive criticism! I love hearing what you have to say and how I can make the story more enjoyable. Thanks for reading! :)