CHAPTER V
As soon as her home district was recovered, Elia continued to support the search for survivors and assist the few ones still alive, leaving the identification and removal of the deceased to the soldiers. Nonetheless, the hardest task, for both volunteered civilians and officers, was the finding of several ownerless body parts.
There was no sign of her sister, but she wouldn't give up. Just shook her head trying to clear the gloomy thoughts and instead, recalled the exact moment when they heard the news about the successful closure of the breach a few hours earlier. Time had seemed to stop; everyone went completely silent and there was some sort of collective bewilderment all around. It was humanity's first victory, but at such high cost. And even though the Jaeger boy accomplished his mission, Elia overheard way too many comments still full of fear and distrust, only wanting to see him dead. But in her case, perhaps due to the constant theories her sister used to speak about, and the fact her division worked in a different, unorthodox way, she was certain that this event, for better or for worse, would become a milestone in the world they knew.
"At last, I find you!" she heard a familiar voice approaching from above. A man was descending with the equipment a few meters away and stood right in front of her, worry was all over his face "Miss Elia, you should stop and rest" he said, inspecting her closely, a bit shocked to see those huge bags under her eyes and her clothes covered in dirt and blood stains.
Elia looked up and confronted him, recognizing a face she hadn't seen in years, and realizing his adolescence was gone. The shape of his green eyes and the blonde hair were the only familiar things, as well as the squared shape of his chin. She remembered seeing those big green eyes countless times, especially every time he and Ilva joined her to get wild herbs outside Trost, or when they used to pretend being soldiers when she was looking after both.
She couldn't help but look at the scar he got as a boy while trying to forge a sword for her sister, when he was around thirteen; the mark was the size of her fist, located in his throat, just below his right ear. She had treated it herself, though under her father's supervision, and fortunately, it healed but the mark would always be there, no matter how different and older he got, all burly and around twenty-seven centimeters taller than her. Plus, the short and thick beard he wore made him look even older than the twenty-four he was now, but the strangest thing was the absence of that cheerful expression she knew. Indeed, much has changed since then, she said to herself.
"I'm helping with the search" she replied a little cranky "What are you doing here, Garrett?" Elia said, changing the subject. She was exhausted but couldn't stop until she knew her sister whereabouts. Then she could rest "I didn't know that the Military Police Brigade finally deigned to leave Sina. It's a pity there are no more Titans in here to kill" she blurted out; a bit sharp.
He looked dejected and ashamed, unable to hold her gaze.
"Even when I haven't seen her in a long time, I'm sure Ilva forgave me. Why can't you?" he asked quietly, eyes fixed on the ground.
"I wasn't talking about that" she answered, walking past him "And I have no right to forgive you or anyone else".
"We were sent here to support the search" he explained, still unable to move and evidently mortified "There are too many wounded from the Garrison".
Elia stopped for a second, looked to her left, and although he wasn't staring at her, he'd still imagine quite well the bitter smile hidden underneath the security mask. She knew he was aware of the truth.
"If you really want to believe that lie, it's up to you" the irony in her tone was more than enough to express what her face couldn't show.
Elia said no more, just kept walking away from there and him. She didn't hold a grudge against him for choosing that military division; he had his reasons. What she couldn't forget was him having her sister believing for so long that they'd fight together in the Corps, and never once said otherwise. They weren't the same age, but he promised her he'd wait, wearing proudly those Wings of Freedom in his back.
Ilva wasn't the kind of person who'd be mad if he changed his mind, but she got quite depressed when her best friend chose another path and worse, he distanced from her without a word. That hurt her deeply.
She rested the tip of her forefingers against her temples and stopped to breathe in, noticing she urgently needed to eat something and change her clothing. Elia knew people weren't allowed to go back to their homes yet, but to just grab a few things and then leave was no crime. Especially since her area was already declared safe.
As soon as she set foot inside, the weight of loneliness hit her. What was left of the sunlight illuminated the corners enough to show how unrecognizable the place was after the chaos outside. There was no one there but her, and nobody had been inside since she abandoned the place. She felt like crying but suppressed it. Not until at least I know where Ilva is, she said to herself. So, she focused on doing what she came here for.
The healer took some matches from her mother's drawer to light the candles that hadn't fallen off the walls, started lifting some minor things, went straight to the loo, cleaned herself as best she could, knowing she had no time to take a proper bath, and then went to her room and grabbed some clean underwear and one change of clothes to place them inside her bag. Elia took off the dirty garments and replaced them with dark pants, a blouse, and a brown woolen sweater, anticipating the cold night ahead.
She saved the money she knew they had and threw off the mask she had worn to pull on one of her mother's. The only thing left to do was to have a small bite of whatever but the instant she went into the kitchen, she heard an unmistakable knock on the entrance door.
"Come in?" was all she could say, with no clue to who might be on the other side. Garrett following her home was very unlikely anyways.
She never pictured the one coming inside was going to be her old best friend, wearing the military attire but without all the gear on top. This made her look more like the Petra she remembered from the school years. Still, Elia did like the change in her attitude as a soldier hours before; so brave and strong but never losing her kind essence.
"Oh! There you are!" cried out the redhead, moving towards her with relief and urgency in her expression.
"What is it?" she intuited the answer but needed to make sure. A part of her was scared at what she might hear.
"Ilva was hospitalized at the ICU building in Crest Avenue" she said, not daring to give further information "I just came back from there. I told the doctor I'd bring a relative of hers with me".
The knot in the pit of her stomach had finally loosened. She was sure she heard Petra say "hospital", not morgue. So, in a matter of seconds, she was holding her bag, blew out the candles and was ready to leave.
"Take me to her, please" she begged "If she is there, I imagine she mustn't be well, but this is the best thing I've heard after understanding what happened to our parents".
"I'm very sorry, Elia" the redhead replied, empathizing with her pain.
Elia looked at her carefully, knowing she honestly meant it.
Once outside and on their way, she dared asking about the boys, whom she truly cared for. Although Garrett suddenly disappeared from her life, Ilva gained two marvelous friends with whom she shared her dreams and ideals: they were her brothers in arms, Luther and William Möser.
"They died" confessed her friend, afflicted "I don't know the details, but they found the three of them in the same area, near the main facilities".
"It grieves me to hear that" she remembered hearing from several men that, that place is where most Titans had gathered, until Eren Jaeger's Titan decimated most of them. Elia let out a sad sigh "They probably died protecting my sister. I could bet on that".
"It's not her fault, Elia" emphasized her friend, placing a hand on her shoulder "They were a team, and for us, that's like being family. I can assure you that Ilva saved them more than once, so they probably did the same".
"It's kind of strange to think you knew them but had no notion whatsoever that she was my family" the healer said, nostalgic "But it is understandable. My sister and I are quite different, I know that".
"You may be different, but your nature is the same" the redhead stated, as warm as ever "And from what I saw today, both talented in their own field".
"Today was not much" she said, somewhat embarrassed "The most serious injuries were not under my responsibilities".
"You're wrong" the soldier contradicted, and her eyes showed how much she meant what she was saying "Working under pressure is never easy. Besides, you're meticulous and efficient, not to mention what the doctor who assisted Eld said this afternoon; the stitches were perfect, and he only needed some rest, a wound care in two days and wait a couple of days to remove the stitches" as soon as she noticed her friend was going to reply, she cut her off "Today was the first time you've seen Titans, Elia. I assure you, even the most experienced and capable doctors could succumb to fear, regardless of a diploma. That's why I tell you that Ilva and you share that same inner strength" she emphasized, then looked at her a bit cautious "That and the deadly glare when you've ran out of patience" she added, trying to lighten the mood.
Petra was so grateful to have successfully found her so quickly. Otherwise, they'd have had to wait until next morning and there was no certainty that the girl would make it through the night, a horrifying scene but not unlikely.
As they approached the building, she figured Elia probably didn't have a place to spend the night since the shelters were already full, so she decided to take her to her room if the doctor refused on letting her stay besides her sister. If her roommate was there, then she had no trouble sharing her cot with her. Elia might resist the idea, but she'd insist no matter what; the redhead refused the idea to abandon her.
When they arrived at the doctor's office, she bowed respectfully and so did her friend.
"This is Elia Stoltz" she introduced her, noticing the change in her countenance, from worry and grieve for the boys to the professional gaze she saw that morning on top of the wall "She's your patient's older sister. We still have no news about their parents, and we've found nothing about them so far".
"Thank you for seeing us, doctor" she said.
"I'm glad you found her before my shift ended" he looked at her first, then Elia "Miss Stoltz, do you want to see her immediately or rather hearing about her condition?" the bald man asked, waiting for her response.
"The second option, please" she replied, preparing internally.
Clearly, Elia was acting the same as ever since childhood: cautious and mature. Petra was certain, her decision was based on listening to what was important while her brain was still making sense; for she feared what might see soon.
"Your sister came in here with multiple wounds and cuts all over her body, mainly on the left side" the doctor began "The leg on the left has three deep cuts that, we believe, she got after hitting a window and falling over broken glass, which we already removed and stitched. Fortunately, the blood-loss wasn't much because of a blockage with a piece of cloth, therefore we managed to control it quickly. Now, the complex part is that we believe she must have suffered a heavy blow to the head; it's the only thing that could have caused a trauma that led to a comatose state" the man explained, then held a document in his hand "But after what I read in her military record, I believe this state of hers might be connected to her brain's precondition. A concussion or even severe levels of stress could have induced her into this as a defense mechanism. I'm afraid to inform you that we've got no reaction at all from the patient. And that's why her prognosis is unfavorable" he finished and offered Elia, Ilva's updated file.
"I understand" it was the only thing Elia was able to say in a monotone voice. Because of her knowledge in the area, Petra saw in her eyes the perfect understanding of everything the man said "Can I see her now?" she heard her ask and stood up immediately.
"Yes, you can, but you're only allowed to stay until 9 PM" explained the doctor, pointing at the clock on the back shelf "Strictly speaking, visiting hours end at 6 PM but in view of what's going on and that you just found out about her whereabouts, I can authorize you to stay by her side until my shift is over".
"Alright" again, the monotone voice, but her friend's eyes showed part of the anguish and pain she felt "I'd like to know, when is it possible to take her home?" Petra knew that the operations inside Trost wouldn't take longer than another day.
"I couldn't say, miss" the man replied, doubtful "Your sister requires medical attention day and night. I understand you're her only relative, and that being the case, is not wise for you to take care of her. Here on the other hand, she'll be well treated. It's the best for her comfort and yours".
"I can assure you that, as soon as the restriction is lifted in the district, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of her" said healer with some desperation in that gaze, though her voice now was trying to remain neutral despite her annoyance "I'm no doctor, but I do have the knowledge to do it well. I know I can treat her at home".
"We'd better go see her" the doctor interrupted, changing the subject. He earned a furious look from Elia, but he said no more on the matter.
Right after saying that, he got up from his chair and led the way for both women, to the same room she was taken before. However, the first two beds were empty now and being disinfected by the same lad she saw earlier; the one who provided directions to the doctor's office. Petra then remembered this was an ICU facility, so by the patients' gravity, she doubted they had been discharged, but maybe they were transferred. To the morgue, said a subtle voice in her head.
The moment they reached the third and final bed inside the room, the redhead watched her friend getting stiffed and speechless due to the impression of seeing her little sister like that.
She had no idea for how long Elia stood still in front of the bed, maybe one or two minutes, just examining the girl's state. She didn't yell, nor ran to throw herself at her, just slowly walked towards the cot by the right side and delicately removed a strand of hair covering part of her forehead, where she kissed her. As if she was saying I'm here, sis.
"The twin brothers" Elia muttered, standing beside the girl and gently placing her palm over her shoulder, not looking at anything but her face "Luther and William Möser. What happened to them?"
The doctor stared at the woman, then at Petra, unsure to answer.
"Actually, it's what I came here to find out, sir" she explained "Those two and Private Stoltz were part of Survey Corps and they used to work together. The three were off duty when the attack began, but apparently, they answered the Garrison's call and tried to help no matter what" Petra tried to sound as stern as possible. She had no documents to back that up but was confident the doctor wouldn't ask.
"Mr. Luther Möser was found on a rooftop near the warehouse where his brother and Miss Stoltz were located" the doctor was looking at her, but she knew Elia was listening attentively "We determined he already died there, hours before. His brother William, on the other hand, was found unconscious next to your sister" he addressed her friend, who kept looking at Ilva's bruised face "We managed to revive him" this time, her eyes turned to his. No trace of the previous anger; only sadness remained "Unfortunately, he was feverish and delirious, as if he couldn't tell whether he was here or still there but from what little he kept saying, we deduced his brother tried to save her from an abnormal titan. The thing imprisoned him with its jaws and ate half of his body" although Petra was used to this kind of reports, perhaps it wasn't a good idea for Elia to hear it. She looked at her to make sure but the resolve in those eyes said she could handle it "It seems, when that happened, your sister had a sort of attack and fainted. Mr. Möser tried to find a safer place to hide because they ran out of gas. That's the last thing he told us" the doctor went back to her "We can only assume that he was attacked in the process and that's how, after hiding Miss Stoltz, his right leg was torn off by some creature. He must have crawled back there and passed out. Sadly, the trail of blood was key to find them, but he probably got and infection, and he died shortly after he got here".
He finished the story and Petra nodded in his direction, thanking him for the pieces of information with no need of words. He looked at both and probably determined they needed a minute, so he excused himself and quickly left the room.
The redhead dared looking at her friend, who was currently holding the hand of her sister, the one not covered in bandages, while she cried in silence. Despite she knew how strong and disciplined Elia was, and her sister's current state, she was feeling the loss of those boys. Probably thinking how right she was when she speculated, they saved Ilva; it was because of them that she got the opportunity to see her little sister now.
Quite downhearted, Petra sighed and looked outside, realizing the last rays of light were all gone and she still had orders to follow. If you find out anything about them, you let me know. I'll be having these "spectacular and lovely" meetings until late, so… the Captain had said, with irony and weariness in his voice.
She didn't want to leave Elia on her own but then checked the time and noticed her friend had one hour before having to leave, so she was sure she'd be able to go, report and come back in a bit less than that. She was not going to get a no from her about spending the night in her room.
"I'll be back in a few minutes" she said, approaching her slowly and holding her hand briefly "I'm taking your things to my room, okay?"
Elia didn't respond immediately, so the soldier just turned to leave to fulfill her obligations. Petra walked a few steps away and stopped when she heard her voice coming from behind.
"Thank you, Petra" Elia sounded tired and slightly coarse from the crying, but at the same time, calmer.
"Wait for me in here, okay?" she turned to see her and smiled, letting her know how sorry she was for everything, and Petra knew she understood the gesture perfectly.
Elia might be strong but losing almost everyone she cared about in the blink of an eye was never easy. No one had a perfect life or family, but she knew how much her parents and little sister meant to her, and facing their deaths as well as Ilva's current diagnosis, felt so wrong. The world was so cruel sometimes; she only hoped her old best friend could recover at some point and keep moving forward. She knew it might not happen soon, but hopefully, she'd find some happiness once the nightmare came to an end for all of them.
He continued to lean against the wall, the way he used to whenever he needed to think after having such a long day with those freaking meetings, one after the other. It wasn't so bad when there were only Corps involved, but the pesters from the Military Police Brigade always ruined everything with their bureaucracy and never-ending fear. If only they moved their asses to work once in a while… the Captain sighed. He looked at Hange, sitting right in front of the Commander, who kept writing like a maniac in his personal journal. Suddenly, he closed the object and stared at both, brimming with ideas.
"I still cannot believe what happened just hours ago... it's implausible to the point of madness and probably the best thing that has happened in years" he commented, and a tiny smile appeared in his face, but disappeared almost immediately when he surely remembered the number of casualties and collateral damage during the entire event, not only soldiers, but also families.
"Indeed" the brunette replied who, despite the muffled voice, Levi knew she was just as enthusiastic as Erwin "It has been a huge sacrifice, but thanks to that, now we can study them closely. I can run different tests with him, check if he's as human as we are, his diet..." and so, she continued her blah blah blah for at least ten minutes.
The Captain, on the other hand snorted, quite disgruntled by their attitude. Aside from the number of victims, the good-for-nothing members of the brigades practically kidnapped the cadet as soon as he got him and his friends back at the top of the recently sealed breach. Plus, the scene of a human, a kid, coming out of the Titan's neck was still hard to assimilate for him.
According to Erwin and Hange, that finally proved that the other two who attacked Shiganshina, the Colossus and the Armored Titan, were also this new kind of giants; they probably had the same ability and thus, they could be anyone. The strange part was the motive behind their actions; why would they be so eager to annihilate human race? To his point of view, these were no small issues to ignore.
"Hey, you two! Never count your chickens before they hatch" he said to both, uneasy and a bit angry "This is so huge that our incompetent authorities might ruin it. You already saw what Nile and the other officers think: for them, it's either destroying or dissecting the brat".
"We know, Levi" his friend replied, placing his elbows on the table, his hands right in front of his face, eyes focused "But I don't believe to be mistaken about Pixis helping us in some way. Right now, he's finding a way for us to talk to him" he explained "Although, last time we heard, the boy hasn't recovered consciousness yet, so we need to wait what's necessary until he's ready. Hopefully, he'll want to cooperate" the blonde added in a serious tone, considering the opposite, and knowing that'd be problematic.
"Fortunately, I'm the best persuading anyone or anything" the Captain offered, with those subtle yet threatening eyes, now fixed at the tip of his boots. Sometimes, violence was the only way with some people "If that old drunk makes it and arranges an interview, I'll join you" he said firmly. He wanted to see with his own eyes if the kid was worth all the trouble.
The Commander nodded in agreement. He then looked at Hange, awaiting her response.
"No matter how much I'd like to, I don't think it's wise" she lamented, thoughtful "The boy will be heavily guarded and if they see all of us there, it could be a disadvantage later. You're the Commander and you can take Levi as a bodyguard, but I don't have an alibi".
"I'm afraid you're right" Erwin agreed, getting up from his chair to stretch his legs a little. They've been sitting almost all day ever since they cleaned Trost. Levi saw him standing in front of his window, looking outside, lost in his own world for a moment.
"Do you think there's going to be a trial?" the Captain asked as he approached the desk. He knew Hange was looking at him, but he was looking at Erwin, who always seemed to know more than all of them. He often did, if he was completely honest "Or will they simply try to kill him again?"
"It's in our nature to destroy what we don't know or comprehend, Levi. Most people see that as a menace" said the brunette and took a sip of water, contemplating the glass later "I wouldn't be surprised if they take that path. Fear almost always clouds judgment".
"It's possible, but I doubt that outcome" concluded Erwin "Simply because, even though he lost control for a few minutes, the cadet accomplished the goal and there are many witnesses to that. A trial is required for this situation, whether they like it or not".
"I guess the silver lining here is knowing, whoever wants to kill him before the trial won't succeed" Levi shrugged his shoulder, full of sarcasm "Well, if they have a pinch of intelligence at least".
"You're probably right on that" Erwin finally turned and nodded at both, a gesture they were used to whenever he wanted to call it a day "But with everything that has happened, it'll take a couple days before we know what to do next. So far, they cannot silence this and that's the best way to start until we have our chance and meet him".
"What's the brat's name?" the Captain asked. He was entrusted to go talk to the officer who trained them in order to gather more information about the kid. His judgement would be a reliable source on his character and all that crap about his way of socializing, etc.
"Eren Yeager" Erwin and Hange spoke at the same time.
The strongest soldier took in the information and turned to leave the office. However, as soon as he walked through the door, he was surprised to find Petra waiting anxiously for him and, for what he could tell, she was in a hurry.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you this late Captain, but I have information for you" she clarified. Levi looked at her serious and silent, urging her to continue "It's about the three soldiers you mentioned earlier".
"Judging by that dreadful look, I assume the good news continue today" he couldn't help the sarcasm; he was already grumpy from fatigue and having to cope with many people's stupidity that evening. Why do I sense this day is far from being over? the man said to himself.
Meanwhile they walked down the stairs to the ground floor, he heard all the information his subordinate shared.
"Alright. I'd like to see the girl myself so, you're dismissed for today, soldier" he was determined to check the real condition of the young private after reading those files himself. The one thing he was hoping did not happen, at the end it did.
He was so self-absorbed for a second, that he didn't see Petra stiffing in that instant, visibly surprised at his decision.
"Hmm, sir?" she interrupted, before he started walking faster "I need to do something at the hospital too, so, if you don't mind, I'll go as well".
The Captain had no interest in Petra's business so he just nodded and headed that way, knowing she was walking one step behind him.
They're dead, Levi thought, bitterly. Almost all dead, he mentally corrected himself while walking in silence. Since it was already nighttime, he noticed many windows of the building were illuminated but as soon as he stepped inside, he didn't see that many staff around to ask for the doctor Petra mentioned, so it was a fortune she was nearby, or it'd take longer to find the correct office. He turned to look at her and with no need to say a word, she knew what to do. The redhead led the way to the second floor and through those hallways. For some strange reason she seemed nervous, but Levi doubted that had anything to do with him, so he just ignored that. Maybe he was seeing things due to his own stress.
As soon as they reached the right door, his assistant knocked twice and waited.
"Come in" was all he heard from inside and both proceeded to enter.
Levi saw a man in his fifty, white apron, bald and his eyes were big. He was sitting behind a desk, where a pile of folders, a lamp and an empty mug were placed in no particular order. The man blinked a couple of times, then rubbed his eyes and stood up.
"Hello again, doctor Prince" as usual, Petra decided to take care of the courtesy that her boss usually didn't have "My apologies to interrupt you again but the Captain here would like to see the reports of the three Survey Corps soldiers, please".
"No problem, Miss Ral" the man looked at Levi with some reluctance, then opened the last drawer to his right and pulled out three folders. Each one had their name in the front page, and he received them quietly "I'll be back in twenty minutes. I must go make one last round before I leave, so, make yourself comfortable" he added trying to avoid looking at him.
"Understood" Petra thanked, with a smile. Something he was not good at all.
The Captain noticed that right before leaving, the man stopped near his subordinate and spoke only to her. But Levi seriously had a good hearing.
"Your friend is still in there. It'd be convenient for you to take her home Miss" Petra nodded and so the man left.
"I'll wait outside, Captain" he heard his subordinate say, seconds later.
Levi sighed as he sat down on one of the chairs and opened the first folder. He really wished he had a cup of tea at that moment.
The soldier couldn't help but frown harder within each line, until his expression was completely grim. All three found in the same area. Of Luther, only his torso was left and two considerable holes at a side of his stomach after the giant's teeth evaporated; everything indicated that the lad detached them from the titan's mouth using his blades before the thing cut him in half. At least he died seconds later from a cardiac failure instead of just bleeding out he thought. His twin on the other hand, tried to make it somewhere safe for his companion and himself but was attacked, and still died at the hospital from an infection where his leg was ripped apart. Stupid brats, an angry Levi clenched one of his fists on the table, annoyed and depressed right before opening the last file, the one that belonged to the girl who he knew, had a promising military career. It was true that the thing that got her like this wasn't his doing, but he still felt somewhat responsible for her fate after forcing her to stay. She probably would have been fine had she gone with the rest of the Survey Corps out, and those two idjits wouldn't have died. Alive, comatose and with multiple injuries, the document said. But everything pointed at the same direction, the one the Möser's went to.
Why the hell did I bother on leaving instructions? He wondered, feeling regret to a certain point. He knew there was no way to foresee the fateful events after they left, but that didn't help much. And he couldn't blame them for acting the way only real soldiers would do; the three stupid brats were exactly the kind of people who risked themselves for others, no matter the consequences. And they tried to defend the district as the team they always were but, being outnumbered and having no decent back up at all was too much.
By the time he finished, he controlled the impulse to tear apart the documents he held and just left them on the doctor's desk to quietly leave the room. The second he opened the door, Petra stood up and waited for orders.
"Petra, I need you to lead the way to the soldier's room" he asked, and she noticed he was in quite a bad mood "You may retire after that".
"Hmm, Captain" she got his attention after startling a little "I was going to go there to talk to the girl's family" the redhead just kept talking while both started heading there "Turns out, she's an acquaintance of mine, an old friend".
The way he didn't response told her she was free to do whatever she wanted, that was not his business. Levi had no way to know she was indeed nervous because Elia was there and, since her boss wasn't the kindest person in general, and her friend was prone to be somewhat impetuous to whom she might feel threatened by… Man, what do I do? She kept repeating in her head with a nervous smile.
Levi wanted to see by himself the soldier's condition. He never had any favoritism towards anyone, but leaving aside how skilled she was, he had to admit she reminded him of Isabel. The crazy, stubborn, and childish girl that was part of his old life in the underground city, whom he had considered as family but ended up losing years ago, alongside Furlan.
He had no need to chat with the soldier to notice how similar their spirits were; strong personalities, sometimes reckless but always tenacious, not to forget extremely brave and selfless. He was able to see all that from the shadows, after realizing she'd be a good asset to the team.
The Captain still remembered one night, as he circled the perimeter of the designated camp and saw them gathered around a small campfire. The energy and joyful spirit of the Stoltz girl was contagious to her friends and comrades, and she always managed to calm the tension around, anywhere they went. And people like that was not easy to find. Actually, they don't usually survive the voice in his head said.
"This is the place, sir" Petra said, standing next to an open light brown door. A thirty-four was engraved at the top.
He stepped inside and visualized three beds in a row, divided by white curtains. The first two he passed were empty, so there was just the last one ahead and he immediately caught sight of her feet. The instant he reached the foot of the bed, his eyes went wide open for two reasons. The first one was the impression of seeing her mostly covered in bandages, and several were stained with blood from the cuts she got. The few spaces where the skin was visible were severely mistreated, all bruised and swollen. Specially on her left side and the face. The second reason was someone else inside there.
Now it makes sense, the Captain finally understood why he thought he'd seen that expression before.
Sitting on a chair, and right next to the cot was the same woman he had seen on top of the wall, the one who assisted Eld. Half of her body was leaning forward and resting on one side of the bed, where she was fast asleep. He couldn't help but notice the way her hand was holding the girl's right one, as if she feared she might disappear or be taken away from her. Her hair was still braided, though some strands escaped the tie, making her look younger than what he remembered from earlier, but she was clearly older than the soldier.
"I believe their parents perished at the beginning of the attack" he heard Petra's voice on his side, watching the same scene as he "This must be the first time she finally closes her eyes since".
The Captain nodded once, no need to say anything. Levi's expression was as undaunted as ever, but there was a rage creeping inside him, quite similar to the one he felt that day in the rain, when he knew he made a bad call by separating from his friends to accomplish a stupid task.
He looked back at the soldier, who just laid there, unconscious. She seems to feel no pain, sarcasm all over those words… As if that was an improvement to her state, idiot.
The man saw his subordinate passing by, towards the woman. The redhead grabbed her by the shoulders trying not to alarm her and after a few seconds, she woke up, disoriented and red-eyed. That was probably a consequence of the physical exhaustion, but also because she may have cried before falling asleep. He watched her rubbing them hard after straightening herself from the chair to check on the girl, who by the disappointment in her face, seemed to have no changes. Still, the woman checked her temperature, pulse, and the rhythm of her breathing. It was then that she turned in his direction and saw him watching everything.
"I'm sorry, Elia" his subordinate said and got her attention. Petra looked down and seemed troubled "Unfortunately, the doctor insists that you cannot stay here".
"It's ok, I know. The administrator came to ask some information about Ilva and also took the opportunity to remind me the same thing an hour ago" she replied, staring back at her sister and took a brief moment to continue "I even tried explaining her I could help in here with her and other patients, but she refused".
"That's really stupid" Levi said, getting a surprised look by both women "You're a doctor" assumed the Captain. It was clear for what he witnessed that morning "What idiotic motive could they have for not allowing it? This place is in evident need of manpower to handle the current situation" the seriousness in his tone told, he was not joking.
After recovering from the shock of seeing Captain Levi inside her sister's room and in front of her, she tried not to show her bewilderment because that was rude. Still, Elia couldn't help but tilt her head a little, and just stare at him. He was being completely honest, and yet his statement slightly amused her; mostly because of the conviction with which he had said that.
"No, sir. I'm afraid I do not possess a degree as a doctor, and for that matter, not even as a nurse" Elia replied with a smile that had no joy at all "I'm only a healer and herbalist, like my parents, to what Commander Pixis had no qualms. But the guidelines in the hospital are different" she explained, controlling the anger underneath those words, and at the same time, there was a defiant glimmer in those prideful eyes, that only now he noticed, were as grey as his blades.
"Elia isn't military either, Captain" his assistant explained, and there again was a nervousness in her tone.
Levi had no idea she feared him being too rough to her friend. Petra knew her boss wasn't really mean, he was just way direct and didn't have much patience with stupidity in general, or impertinence. His manners to treat people he disliked, well, that was something else entirely.
"It's doesn't change the fact that is completely moronic to refuse help when its needed" as soon as he said that the man turned around and left the room.
He'd give them space. The familiarity they treated each other was undeniable and probably needed to talk without worrying about him.
The Captain passed the doorstep and leaned back on the wall to his left, his arms crossed and eyes closed. It wasn't the best place to think, but he'd wait for the doctor to ask some questions that were not specified in the files. His brooding was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming closer, but it wasn't the man. It was then that he inevitably heard the conversation the two women were having about the soldier. They probably moved near the first bed not to annoy the girl's rest.
(...)
"I know it's impossible to take her home right now" the woman was saying. Her voice showed a silent fury "But her chances of living lie in Ilva waking up. If she doesn't, her body will fail soon. And by the way I see it, though it pains me to say it, it's the likeliest scenario. That's why I want to get her out of here. Trost is starting to go back to normal, so I have our home to take her".
"What does the doctor say?" his subordinate inquired.
"The same as before" she scoffed "Just special care from qualified people, blah blah blah".
"And the treatment to follow?"
"That's the problem..." the woman paused "There's nothing to do about it" her tone seemed neutral, but Levi noticed the desolation in those words.
"Then why do they want to keep her here?" the redhead asked, horrified "What about your parents? Are they still missing?"
"They won't show up, Petra" she said, as if trying to convince herself so it hurt less "Last time I saw my sister, although she didn't say it, I know she saw them die. Ilva looked really upset, impatient and kind of deranged. In the rush to support the Garrison and get me away from there, she said nothing about it, but I know her, and the grief in her eyes confirmed my fear. Plus, time before you arrived, I checked the list of wounded and deceased, but their names were nowhere to be found. It's like they had vanished".
"Perhaps at the house of some acquaintance...?" the redhead offered, hopeful.
"I met one while we were looking for survivors. So, if that were the case, he'd have mentioned it" Levi heard her breathe in deep "It's just the two of us now, Petra. I don't even know how long she'll be like this. Maybe days or weeks but longer than that... impossible".
"Are they going to let you see her tomorrow?"
"Yes, but within visiting hours" no wonder why she was so restless and anxious but tried not to show it "I just wish I could take care of her for as long as... I know I can do it".
"I know, girl" There was no need to see the image; he could perfectly picture his subordinate placing her palm on her arm to demonstrate her support "I wish I could help".
"You've done more than just help me, Petra" Yeah. At least she was the kind of person sincerely warm and grateful "I'm sorry for sharing my frustration with you. I just found you after years and doing this seems so unfair".
His senses caught the sound of footsteps approaching from his right side and so, the moment was interrupted. Levi stood upright, looked that way and saw the bald man walking towards him. They looked at each other, and he'd have smirked at the way the doctor shivered to see him there and hurrying up inside the room, but that felt wrong. Instead, he decided to just follow from behind, remaining one or two meters away.
When both men got near the soldier's bed, the elder sister was probably saying goodbye to the girl, for she was leaning near her and gently placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Then she got close to her ear and said something none of them got to hear. Levi immediately tried to look away, for the scene in front of his eyes felt too personal to watch, but he just couldn't do it; this was a part of the pain his decision caused and so he needed to face it, just as it was.
"It's time, Miss" the doctor said, and so she stepped back.
The woman didn't say a word. She seemed determined to leave that room, silently looked daggers at the man, who pretended not to notice. She kept walking towards the exit and before she passed by his side, hostility was gone. Instead, helplessness took over while she was being forced to move away from the only family she apparently had left.
The healer didn't look nor say a word to him, which was not surprising considering they were complete strangers.
"Permission to leave, sir" his subordinate's voice interrupted the trail of his thoughts. He had no idea when she got to stand right in front of him, with the corresponding salutation and everything. Anyways, it was no surprise that she'd go after her friend.
"Granted" he replied in a monotonous voice, nodding once with no need to watch her run to catch her.
The conversation he overheard minutes ago gave him an idea on how to help the girl. He just hoped not needing Erwin's influence to get it.
"Hey you, a word" the Captain demanded. His tone warned the individual not to refuse and listen carefully. Though Levi's menacing eyes were more than capable to accomplish that on its own.
Thank you for reading!
Namárië