Chapter 9
That evening, everyone was tired. They had cleaned every last inch of the castle up to Levi's standards, meaning they didn't finish until after it was time for dinner. Even then, Levi inspected every surface, dusting where he saw fit and scrubbing the windows until they sparkled.
They all sat around a table, snacking on the bread and mashed potatoes that Gunther had made. They did their best to keep everything clean, dreading tomorrow when Levi would most likely make them clean again. The only one who didn't care was little Isabel, who seemed to drop crumbs and mashed potatoes all over herself and the table with every bite.
"Oi, eat properly. You're getting food everywhere." Levi commanded, and Isabel cocked her head in response.
"Sir, she's only three," Petra muttered.
"Which is why I need to teach her while she's young," Levi said, handing her a napkin. "Clean off your face. I'm going to get a wet cloth so you can clean up this table." He got up from his seat and went to the kitchen, returning with a slightly damp cloth. He handed it to the little girl, only for her to sweep all of the crumbs onto the floor. Levi groaned in aggravation.
"All clean!" Isabel smiled, giving the cloth back to Levi.
"I'll clean it up, sir." Eld chuckled, grabbing a broom from the corner and sweeping the mess into a dustpan. Levi gave a thorough scrub to the table.
All of a sudden, a giant thud could be heard from the door. Petra rolled her eyes and went to open it. In crashed Hange, who quickly straightened her glasses before speaking. "Hello everyone! Having a nice dinner?"
"Hi, Auntie Hange!" Isabel exclaimed.
"Hello, sweetheart! Have you been helping Captain Eyebags clean today?" She ruffled her hair and Isabel let out a giggle.
"Call me that again and I'll kick your a… your rear, Four Eyes." Levi scowled, almost letting a cuss escape his lips.
"Levi! We have little ears present!" Hange gasped, smiling smugly before placing her hands over Isabel's ears. Isabel let out another burst of giggles.
"Shaddup Hange," Levi said.
Hange cupped Isabel's face in her hands and looked directly into her eyes. "We don't listen to Papa, okay? He says mean words."
"Stop telling her things like that, you titan crazed she-demon," Levi growled, rushing over and taking Isabel out of Hange's grasp. Hange cackled.
"What are you doing here, Ms. Hange?" Eren asked as she sat down beside him.
"I'm here for you, obviously! You don't think I'm going to pass up the chance to learn about a kid who can turn into a giant titan, do you?"
"You...really like titans, don't you Ms. Hange," Eren said.
"Oh, I LOVE them! Sonny and Bean are my current babies, and they're the sweetest little things." She cooed. "They've given me so much information, and they're very good listeners. I wonder...would you be able to talk to them? Oh, I would love to know what they're saying!"
"Squad Leader, remember not to overwhelm him." Petra reminded with a gentle smile.
"Right. Sorry."
"I would love to hear more about your experiments Ms. Hange. How did you even manage to like titans in the first place?" Eren asked.
Hange's eyes lit up and everyone else groaned.
"That's it. You're on your own, kid." Gunther said before leaving the room. The others followed him out.
"Isabel, it's time to get ready for bed," Levi said, and Isabel reluctantly went with him, leaving Eren alone with the mad scientist.
They made their way through the old castle and entered what was now Isabel's room. She would be right down the hallway from Levi if she needed anything at all. Levi made her brush her teeth quick and then she climbed into bed, a slight yawn escaping her lips.
"Okay, Isabel. You need to go to sleep." Levi said.
"Don't want to." Isabel huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I don't care. It's time for bed." Levi narrowed his eyes.
"Nope," Isabel said. She widened her eyes to show her determination to stay awake.
"Do you want me to read you a stupid story? Will that make you go to sleep?" Levi asked.
"Sing."
"What?"
"Sing. Petra sings." Isabel said, her eyes shining in the candlelit room.
Levi cursed Petra under his breath. There was no way in all the walls that he would sing to her. Not in a million years.
"I don't sing, Isabel," Levi said.
"Please?" Isabel pleaded.
"Go to sleep," Levi said in a sing-song voice. "There, now do what you're told."
"No!" Isabel yelped. "Sing."
"I don't know any songs, Isabel." Levi rolled his eyes.
Isabel huffed again.
"Fine. I'll go get Petra. Stay in bed." Levi commanded before leaving her room, setting out to find the girl who had gotten him into this mess in the first place. He finally found her sitting at a table doing paperwork. He quickly tugged her to her feet and guided her to Isabel's room.
"She wants you to sing," Levi said before quickly leaving the bedroom once again.
Petra giggled and knelt down beside the little girl's bed. "Alright. One song. Then you need to go to bed or you'll get us both in trouble." She smiled.
"Okay," Isabel said, settling down in her bed.
Petra started to sing, and her soft voice drifted through the empty halls. An old lullaby seemed to weave into a symphony. Isabel's eyes started to grow heavy, and Petra continued to sing, slowly getting quieter as time went on. Finally, Isabel nodded off, and Petra gave her a quick peck on the forehead before leaving the room.
"All set." She smiled at Levi.
"She really thought I could do that?" Levi asked.
"She thinks the world of you, sir. To her, you could probably do anything. She probably thinks you're the reason the sun rises and sets every day." Petra let out a small laugh.
"Whatever. Get back to your work, cadet."
"Yes, sir," Petra said, clicking her heels before setting off and leaving Levi alone. He quietly peeked into Isabel's room. She didn't stir. In the moonlight, he could see a slight smile tug at her lips.
Levi sighed. He couldn't imagine her leaving. It was inevitable, of course, but he couldn't help but want to stop time. Anything in order to have her light in his life for a moment longer.
…
This time, Levi stood in the Underground, back in the old home that he shared with Isabel and Farlan. They had been cleaning like normal when a giant rumble was heard from outside.
"What in Maria is that?" Isabel asked. She opened up the blinds on the window to come face to face with...a titan.
"Isabel, get away from there!" Levi screeched, throwing himself in front of his friend. "Farlan, get the ODM gear!"
"Right." Farlan bolted towards the closet where they stored their thieving supplies. He attached his own gear to his waist and then passed the other two along, helping his friends get them on as fast as possible.
"Maybe we can get away with them. Everyone just follow my lead." Levi said, opening the door and flying off in the opposite direction of the titan. Isabel and Farlan flew close behind, their hearts racing.
"How did a titan get down here? Have all three walls been breached?" Farlan asked.
"I don't know. All I know is that we need to get out of here!" Levi said, whipping around a corner to try and lose the giant monster behind them.
All of the sudden, the titan appeared in front of him. He narrowly escaped its clutches, but his friends were not as lucky. Farlan was caught by the titan. The titan looked at him with an eerie grin before shoving him into its mouth. Blood poured out of its stained teeth, the echoes of Farlan's screams filling the Underground.
He felt a rumble below him and dodged right as a titan shot up from underneath. Its mouth closed right around Isabel, only her head exposed against the titan's maw. He saw blood emerge.
"ISABEL!" Levi screamed as he shot up in bed, his clothes completely drenched in sweat. He sighed, rubbing his eyes. It was 3 am. He'd only slept for two hours. I guess it would be another normal day.
His door creaked open and he jumped, the fear from his nightmare still fresh in his mind. In walked little Isabel, clutching a blanket and her stuffed horse.
"Papa?" She whimpered.
"She must have heard her name." Levi thought. "It's okay, Isabel. I just had a bad dream."
He heard a sniffle emerge from the little girl. He looked closely at her through the darkness and realized...she was crying.
"What's wrong? Did I scare you?" Levi asked, crawling out of bed and kneeling beside the three-year-old.
"N-n-nightmare." She looked up at him with fear-stricken eyes.
Levi's breath caught. Not her too. "It's okay, sweetheart. You're safe now." He brought Isabel into a hug. "Papa's here now."
She clung on tightly to his shirt, weeping into his chest. "Scary monster. Killed Mommy and Daddy."
Levi stroked her hair, pulling her closer. "It's okay now. It's gone. It won't hurt you anymore."
"I'm scared." She whimpered.
"I know. I know." Levi said.
"Daddy...pushed me," Isabel muttered.
"What?"
"Daddy pushed me towards door. House fell on Daddy. And me." Isabel said in between sobs.
Levi's eyes widened. Her father had tried to get her away from the titan. Maybe even hide her so she wouldn't be found. But he was crushed before he could.
"It's okay, Isabel. I know it hurts. Just cry it out. Papa's here." He cradled her head to his chest.
"Don't go." Isabel cried.
"I'm not going anywhere," Levi replied.
He held her while she sobbed, trying to push away his own grief. She needed him to be strong right now. He couldn't focus on himself. He had to be there for her, no matter what. He would always protect her.
He picked her up and rocked back and forth, trying to remember what parents were supposed to do to comfort a child. It's not like he knew the comfort of a mother or father, but he would try his best for her. Even though he barely knew what he was doing, Isabel eventually calmed down, her grip on him slowly loosening.
"Papa?"
"Yes, Isabel?"
"You won't leave like Daddy?" She asked, meeting his slate-eyes.
Levi's eyes widened. Was she seriously thinking like this? At three?
"I…" Levi thought. What was he supposed to say to that? "I...I don't want to leave you, Isabel. I'll do everything in my power to stay."
"Promise?"
Levi sighed. "I promise."
She hugged him tightly, and he returned the gesture.
"Do you want to stay here tonight?" Levi asked.
Isabel nodded.
Levi took her over to his bed and tucked her in, pulling the covers up to her chin. "Get some sleep. I'll be right here."
"Goodnight Papa," Isabel said.
"Goodnight Isabel," Levi replied, giving her a quick kiss on the head before sitting down at his desk. There was no way he would be able to sleep anymore, what with his insomnia being as serious as it was. He lit a candle and started on some paperwork. Isabel slept soundly for the rest of the night, and Levi seemed to stand guard, protecting her from any other monsters that might haunt her dreams.
…
The very next morning, the Levi Squad was back to work, sweeping the floors of the old castle once again. Isabel walked around with an apple in her hand, humming softly to herself. The squad made sure to take breaks in shifts, keeping the girl entertained to the best of their ability. They were only able to stop once their captain had summoned them all to the main hall.
"Cadets, I just received an update from Commander Erwin. In a couple of days, we will be going on an expedition to find the best route to get to Shiganshina now that the gate to Trost is no longer accessible. Get everything in order. We will be setting out at first light in two days."
The cadets nodded.
"Which brings me to my next order of business." Levi looked at Isabel, who stood at attention with the other cadets. "Who is going to be taking care of Isabel while we are gone?"