Chapter 8

The few days that followed seemed like an eternity to the little three-year-old. Every morning she would wake up, expecting to see Levi sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea like he always did. Alas, the table was only occupied with the other members of the squad, who she didn't mind. Petra was her favorite (although she would never tell), and Oluo always managed to come up with fun things to do. Gunther and Eld always played with her too, so she found ways to keep herself busy.

Finally, after days of waiting, she heard the rumble of footsteps outside of her bedroom window. She sprang out of Eld's lap (he had been reading her a book) and bolted out of her room. She flew past the other cadets and whipped open the door just in time to see Levi get off of his horse.

"PAPA!" She squealed, running into his arms and giving him a tight hug.

"Isabel, where's my hug?" Hange pouted as she dismounted.

"Auntie Hange!" Isabel jumped into Hange's arms, giving her one of the biggest hugs she could. Hange laughed with delight.

"Did ya miss us?" Hange asked.

"She wouldn't stop asking where you were." Petra chuckled, coming out to meet those who had returned.

"I missed...you," Isabel said, caught off guard by a new arrival. He had brown hair and blue-green eyes. He looked timidly at everyone, unaware of what to do. He gave her a slight smile.

"Oh, Isabel, we need to introduce you. This is Eren, the boy that we helped. He's going to stay with the squad now." Hange explained.

"Eren," Isabel repeated, trying to make sense of this new person. After a few moments, she must have deemed him worthy enough to be her friend, because she quickly skipped over and hugged him. He didn't return it but instead looked to Levi.

"Hug her back, you brat." Levi rolled his eyes.

Eren returned her hug, and she gave him a big smile. "You gonna stay?"

"Um...yes," Eren said.

Isabel smiled wider, and Eren's demeanor softened a tad.

"Cadets, I have something to tell you," Levi announced. "I've been assigned to keep an eye on this shifter brat. That means everyone must be on high alert to make sure there isn't any funny business. If he tries anything, be ready to kill." He said.

His squad nodded.

"Also, we have to move positions. It's better for experiments and the upcoming expedition. So pack up your things and be ready to go by first light tomorrow."

"Sir!" Their voices boomed, saluting their captain with their fists to their hearts.

"We're...leaving?" Isabel asked, coming up beside Levi.

"Yes, Isabel. Which means that we have to get you packed up." Levi replied.

Isabel nodded and followed the other cadets inside. Eren was about to go in as well when Levi stopped him.

"You need to be very careful around her. She's gone through more than you'd think. Make her scared or upset and I won't hesitate to beat you like I did in the courthouse." His slate-colored eyes glared at the new scout.

Eren gulped. "Y-yes, sir. May I ask...what happened?"

"She was in Trost when the titans invaded," Levi stated and walked into the barracks.

"Oh," Eren said. The titans took away her home. That would be enough to make any child crazy with panic. He knew from experience.

"Eren! Would you mind helping us pack up some food for the road?" Petra called from inside. Eren quickly skittered through and closed the door behind him, ready to do anything to make the Scouts trust him.

…

They woke up early the next morning to begin their journey. Since Levi had to keep an eye on Eren, Petra was given the task to take care of Isabel. She held the young girl tightly as she guided her horse through the woods, hoping not to disturb her slumber.

"How long has she been here?" Eren asked.

"Not that long. A week or so." Petra said.

"Really? You seem so much closer with her." Eren said.

"She grew on us." Petra smiled, shrugging her shoulders.

"Stop asking such stupid questions. Why are you so curious about the girl anyway?" Oluo asked. He had made it his new goal to scare the new cadet into respecting him. In reality, it was making him look like a fool.

"I just find it strange that a little girl is living with the most elite team in the Scouting Regiment," Eren said.

"Well, you'll see a lot of surprises. Better get used to them. It'll be embarrassing if you get astounded over every little...UGH!" Oluo bit down his tongue, and blood spewed from his mouth. He spat out a slew of curse words, causing his captain to whip his head around.

"Bozado, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Levi asked.

Petra stifled a laugh, and Oluo went pale.

"S-sorry, sir. I didn't know it would be an issue."

"It usually wouldn't. However, we have a young lady in our presence." He nodded to Isabel, who was still asleep, cuddled up in Petra's cloak.

"Sir, I-"

"I don't want to hear your feeble attempt at an excuse. Just shut up and you won't bite your tongue. And if Isabel wakes up and curses, you're doing extra cleaning duty for a month."

"Yes sir." Oluo hung his head low, and the entire squad let out a small giggle.

They continued to walk silently through the forest. Birds started chirping as the sun rose higher into the sky and the wind rustled the leaves, creating a sense of calm. Isabel eventually stirred, her eyes fluttering open to look at Petra.

"Good morning." Petra beamed.

"Morning!" Isabel smiled back, petting the horse's mane in the process.

"Did you sleep well?"

Isabel nodded. "Go to Papa?"

"Not right now, Isabel. I have to keep an eye on Jaeger." Levi said over his shoulder. Isabel slumped down in response.

"Go to...Eren?" Isabel asked.

"Absolutely not," Levi replied. Isabel frowned and nuzzled closer to Petra, who smiled and hugged her. They continued mainly in silence for the rest of the trip, talking only when needed (a.k.a when Isabel got bored).

Finally, they got to their destination: an old castle that was once used by the Scouts. Levi tossed brooms to each of the cadets and told them to get to work. His squad knew what to do, each tying a cloth around their nose and mouth to keep from breathing in any dust. Eren, on the other hand, wandered around aimlessly, wondering where on Earth he should start first.

"Help?" Isabel asked, trying to take the broom from him.

"Um…the Captain seems to want me to stay away from you."

"Come." She waved her arm, gesturing for him to follow her. He hesitantly obliged, trying to keep up as Isabel skipped through the castle. She finally stopped in a room and pointed at the floor. "Sweep." She said.

Eren got to work, and Isabel sat in the corner, humming to herself.

"So...do you like it here?" Eren asked.

Isabel nodded. "Papa take care of me."

"But he isn't your real dad, right? Where are your real parents?" Eren asked.

Isabel immediately stopped humming, looking up at Eren with wide eyes. Her breaths got faster. "B-blood. S-screams." She whimpered. Tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"Oh crap. The Captain's gonna kill me!" Eren thought, quickly dropping his broom and rushing to her side. How could he have been so blind? Of course, her parents were dead! If they were still alive, she wouldn't have been with the Scouts. "Hey, it's okay."

"Mommy and Daddy screamed. House is gone. Blood. Lots of blood." Isabel wept, clutching her head in agony. She raked her small hands through her auburn hair.

Something clicked inside Eren. Of course! She was just like him. She saw her world crumble right in front of her. She lost her family...she saw her family die. And she was even younger than he was. Even after all these years, he still found himself caught in panic attacks and night terrors. Thankfully, he had Mikasa and Armin, but her...did anyone know quite what she had gone through?

"Isabel, I know it's hard, but you have to breathe. Can you do that for me?" Eren said, reciting what his friends would always say to him at times like this. "Follow me." He demonstrated steady, slow breathing.

Isabel tried to follow suit, and her ragged breaths slowly found some order. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks, and her fists were clenched together tightly.

"Good job. You're going great. Now...let the memories pass. Don't stay in the moment. Don't fight it. Just let them flow through and out." Eren instructed.

Isabel winced and closed her eyes tightly. But after a couple of minutes, she started to settle, unwinding from the small position she was in.

"Good job. Do you feel any better?"

"Miss them," Isabel said, a fresh tear running down her already dampened cheeks.

"I know," Eren said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I saw my mom die too. The pain never goes away, but...you'll find ways to deal with it. I promise you'll be okay."

Isabel collapsed into his arms, crying gently into his chest. Eren returned her hug, remembering he had to do this with Mikasa all those times before. He held her until her sobs turned to sniffles, and then continued sweeping the room.

Isabel stayed in the corner, watching her new friend with interest. "He knows. He understands," She thought.

Little did both of them know, Levi was just outside the door. He sighed and walked away, deciding he would not hurt the titan brat today. As long as his little girl was okay, that was all that mattered.