Chapter 6

Before he was so rudely interrupted by Erwin, Levi was trying to multitask. He held Isabel in his arms, comforting her traumatized soul, as his free hand continued paperwork.

"Um...Levi...what are you doing?" Erwin opened the office door, causing Isabel to awaken. She let out a big yawn, snuggling deeper into Levi's chest.

"Before you came in, I was doing paperwork," Levi said, completely ignoring the fact that he was still holding a child in his arms.

Erwin sighed "Isabel is coming with me."

"No," Levi said, gripping Isabel tighter.

"I don't think this is what's best for her." He said softly.

"She's not leaving."

"Captain, this is not up for debate."

Levi narrowed his eyes. "Isabel, go with Petra. Commander Erwin and I need to have a word in private."

Isabel sluggishly crawled out of his arms and stumbled past Erwin, collapsing straight into Petra's outstretched arms. The squad closed the door, leaving Erwin and Levi alone.

"She's not leaving Erwin. I won't let you take her away." Levi stated.

"This is exactly what I was afraid of. You're getting too attached to this girl, Levi. It's going to come back to haunt you eventually. She's not what's best for you, and this place is definitely not what's best for her. So many bad things could happen if she stays here. What if she ventures into the experimentation yard? She could get hurt, Levi. She's better off in an orphanage where she can have a better chance of living a normal life."

"SHE'LL NEVER HAVE A NORMAL LIFE, DON'T YOU SEE THAT?" Levi screamed, shutting Erwin up. A wild fire burned in his eyes. "That little girl saw both of her parents die in front of her. She's three-years-old. No orphanage is going to help her deal with trauma or night terrors, now are they?"

Erwin remained silent.

"I might be the best thing for her, Erwin. This squad might be the best thing for her. We've stared titans in the face. We've seen our comrades slaughtered right before our eyes. If anyone is going to understand what she's going through, it's us. She's happy here. We need to give her proper care, both physically and mentally."

Erwin sighed. "Is she going to take time away from your work?"

"Did you not see that I was multitasking?"

"Where will she go when we have expeditions?"

"I'll figure something out. Maybe Garrison can have her for a day."

"When will you send out an adoption request?"

Levi paused. He still hadn't put out any sort of notice that Isabel needed parents. Part of him didn't want to. "When she can find some ways to cope with her trauma. Or if I deem a couple worthy of taking her in."

"What makes you so sure you're the one who will get to decide?"

"I know Isabel best. She trusts me the most. If anyone is going to find her the right home, it'll be me." Levi replied.

Erwin sighed. "Fine. I'll let you keep her. But an adoption notice must be on my desk at the end of the day tomorrow. I'll be sending it out to make sure it gets done."

Levi nodded.

"I hope you understand why I'm doing this," Erwin muttered.

"You don't want her to distract Humanity's Strongest," Levi growled.

"For the walls' sake Levi, do you really think I'm that heartless?" Erwin scoffed. "I don't want a little girl getting too attached only to be torn away from a family she's grown to love. I don't want her dealing with grief if one day you don't come home. I want her to be with a family that will care for her and keeps her far away from danger. This isn't necessarily the safest place for a kid, especially with Hange and her experiments close by."

"I understand," Levi said reluctantly.

"Good. Now...I'm going to go talk to Isabel. I need to see just how much help she will need. I don't mind her staying, but the moment we find a suitable home for her, she needs to go. It's what's best for her, Levi. For all of us."

"Sure."

Erwin exited Levi's office, leaving the Captain to sit and wait. How was he going to be able to find the right home for her? Would anyone want her? It was all up in the air. But...Erwin was right (unfortunately). She needed to find a home away from trouble. She shouldn't be put in a situation where she would have to grieve anyone else. Levi had to find her a home to give her the best life possible...even if it wasn't with him.

…

"Isabel?" Erwin entered the living room. There, Isabel sat on the floor, while Oluo was twisting her hair into a braid. Upon seeing his commander, he quickly stopped, pounding his fist to his chest. The other cadets followed suit.

"At ease, cadets. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to talk to Isabel alone." Erwin said, squatting down next to the little girl. The cadets nodded and left the room, leaving Isabel by her lonesome.

"Hello, Isabel. My name is Commander Erwin. Tell me, how old are you?"

Isabel thought for a second before putting up four fingers. "Three!" She proclaimed.

"Wow, that's pretty old." Erwin let out a soft smile, trying not to laugh at her mistake. "Did you remember that yourself?"

Isabel shook her head. "Levi said."

"Levi guessed you were three?" Erwin asked.

Isabel nodded.

"Do you remember anything about your old life, Isabel? Any friends? Family?" Erwin asked.

Isabel paused. "Mommy...Daddy...they had blood. Lots." Her eyes went blank.

"Hey, hey, hey, stay with me, Isabel. It's okay." Erwin said, gently putting a hand to her shoulder. Isabel shuddered before snapping out of her trance.

"There's no one else besides your mother and father?" Erwin continued.

Isabel paused for a second before confidently saying. "Levi and Hange!"

Erwin took that as a no. "Do you...like it here?"

Isabel smiled and nodded.

"Would you want to leave?" Erwin asked, trying to make the question as subtle as possible.

Isabel's smile morphed into a frown. "No." She replied.

"Oh no." Erwin thought. This is exactly what he feared. When they found a good home for her, she would have to go. They had to find a way to make her realize that.

"Isabel...do you want a new family? A new mommy and daddy?"

Isabel shook her head. "I want my Mommy and Daddy?"

"They're...gone. But what if you had a new family? They would take care of you and love you. Would you like that?"

"Take care of me?" Isabel cocked her head to the side.

"Yes! They would make sure you were safe. You wouldn't have to worry about anything! You would have a new mommy and daddy to love you."

"Like Levi?" Isabel asked.

Erwin's eyes went wide. "Levi...Levi isn't your father, Isabel. He's just a nice man who's going to take care of you until a new mommy and daddy come."

"Levi...care for me." Isabel pondered.

"Yes. All of the squad will. Just until a new mother and father come. They'll adopt you, and you'll have to go away to your new home."

"I don't want to go."

Erwin sighed. "Isabel, I'm glad that you're happy here, but don't you want to be safe?"

Isabel smiled. "Levi keep me safe!"

Erwin sighed. There was no getting through to this girl. He would have to try another time. Maybe when she would understand better. He ruffled her hair and gave a soft smile. "We'll all take care of you, Isabel. Just for a while. Until your new parents come."

Isabel wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Erwin patted her back in response. Then, Isabel ran off, most likely to go and find Levi.

Erwin shook his head. He didn't know how in the walls he did it, but Levi became a father, whether he liked it or not.

…

Levi was just finishing up his paperwork when Isabel entered his office once again. She was beaming as she sat down next to his desk, humming softly to herself while playing. She looked at him with pure joy.

"I can stay," Isabel stated.

Levi smirked. "Yes. You can stay."

"You gonna be my new daddy?" Isabel looked up expectantly at Humanity's Strongest.

Levi's heart dropped. What in the name of all the walls did Erwin tell her? This was definitely not what he was expecting.

"Um...no sweetie. I'm not going to be your new daddy. Someone else will." Levi managed, a lump forming in his throat.

Isabel frowned. "But...you take care of me."

"Yes, I'll take care of you."

"But...you aren't my daddy?"

"No, Isabel. Someone's going to come along and adopt you. Do you know what that means?"

Isabel shook her head.

"It means that someone is going to take you to their house and you'll live with them. They'll love you and make sure you're safe." Levi explained.

"You keep me safe." Isabel pointed out.

Levi sighed. "I'm not your father though, Isabel. Someone else will be."

Isabel pondered his words. "You're...not...my new daddy?"

"No sweetie."

"But...you care for me. You keep me safe. But...you aren't my daddy?"

"No."

Isabel's brow furrowed. For some odd reason, she just couldn't understand the concept.

Levi sighed. "I'll tell you what. You can call me Papa. I'll be a substitute parent until someone better comes along."

A smile pulled at Isabel's lips. "Papa?"

"Yes, Isabel. Papa."