Months had passed since Rowan's accident and her injuries healed nicely. She was back to training within a few days after her fall and she started to learn to trust herself more. Somehow, her ODM gear managed to get back to the storage room. It was shiny and in pristine condition. Based on the cleanliness of it, she could only assume that Captain Levi retrieved it for her. That had made her smile when she returned to camp the next day and she made every effort to show her appreciation. Not only had he saved her from dying and from getting screamed at for misplacing her gear, but he also saved her from herself. That night with Captain Levi seemed to change something within her. She tried to acknowledge her fear and just let it be. It wasn't as easy as Captain Levi made it seem, but she did manage to keep up with the other recruits in the trees. Every now and then, she would catch the gaze of Captain Levi, observing her closely. She would stick her tongue out at him as she swung by, laughing gleefully at his scowl. She was also able to find Petra in the trees often too. They would share a smile and she knew Petra was silently cheering her on. As much as Captain Levi would probably deny it, she was grateful she was able to find a friend in him and in Petra.
On this particular day, the Scouts had set up an obstacle course within the trees. There were even dummy Titans for the recruits to practice taking down in teams. Rowan was buzzing with excitement, ready to put her blades to good use. She excelled in this area and she wanted to show everyone what she was made of. She stood at the front of her team, Conny and Sasha behind her. She trusted them one hundred percent and she hoped they felt the same.
"Do you guys remember the plan?" Rowan called over her shoulder. They had to spend the morning coming up with a tactical plan. Both of teammates agreed that she had the best aim and would go in for the kill. They would run on the sides, playing distraction and keeping watch for any other threats.
"Yep. We got this, easy." Conny jumped up to join her, confident and laid back. Sasha frowned though, studying the forest.
"I don't get how this is anything like taking down a Titan though."
"It's not really. It's more like...a warm-up? It would be too dangerous to give us live Titans to practice on." Rowan acknowledged. She knew this exercise would be easy, but it would be the first time she tried to hit the nape of its neck. Dummy or not, she knew they all needed that practice.
"Blue squad! Move out!" That was them. Conny and Sasha nodded and shot up into the trees. They were leading, scanning for any threats and shouting cues to Rowan. She followed behind them, weaving through the trees. She trusted her instincts and followed the pull of her grappling hooks. As long as she didn't look down, she could stay fully focused on the task at hand.
"It's a four meter Titan! Drop lower and attack from behind on your left!" Conny shouted and Rowan listened, dropping to the lower level of trees. She swung around as the dummy came into view. She smirked and flew forward, her blades raised. The dummy turned its head, its wide eyes trained on her. Eyes? The dummies weren't supposed to have eyes.
"TITAN! LIVE TITAN!" Rowan shouted, praying her teammates would scatter. She was already on her way there. If she switched her momentum now, she would end up spiraling out. "Shit shit shit shit. GET HELP!" She screamed as she raised her blades higher. She swung her body around to dodge the Titan's extended hand, following what Captain Levi said. Dodge the hands and teeth, focus on the kill to survive. She whipped around and slid her blades through the skin, hitting the target. The Titan didn't fall though and she cursed herself, realizing she didn't cut deep enough. "Aw, hell." She muttered as the Titan reached out and snatched her from the sky. The tough skin curled around her and her blades shattered from the force. Well, this is how she dies. Captain Levi was right. It wasn't her fear of heights that was going to be her demise after all. Her body was squeezed more than she thought was possible, the handles of her broken blades being the only thing keeping the Titan from liquifying her. They cut into the flesh, holding the sides of the palm steady for the was an odd experience, human-like skin wrapping around her, trying to crush her. It's as if she was nothing more than a fly, buzzing around the Titan's head. She refused to be thought of as such. She dug her broken blades in deeper, using all her strength to keep the hand from closing.
"Stay alive Rowan!" A deep voice growled in frustration. Rowan's eyes snapped open in time to see Captain Levi himself spin out of the trees. She dug her broken blades even deeper in the palms of the Titan, following his order. He spun his blades effortlessly around the Titan's wrist, blood coating him as he swung by. His eyes held fury, his jaw clenched. "Now Petra!" Rowan felt the grip loosen around her and she was free-falling as the fingers released her and she released her blades. Her body was knocked back as someone swung through, saving her from her demise. Her back smacked into the trunk of a tree, her body slipping down to crumple on a branch. Petra stood before her, shielding her from any threats.
"Rowan. Are you okay? Can you stand?" She knelt down, searching Rowan's eyes.
"I didn't cut deep enough. I almost had it and I didn't cut it deep enough." She whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Rowan. You never should have been put in this situation." Petra pulled the shaking girl towards her and Rowan collapsed in her arms. Over Petra's shoulder, she was able to see Captain Levi in action, slicing through the exact spot Rowan had cut before. He nearly decapitated the Titan and he swung around, landing behind Petra on the branch.
"What in the hell were you thinking you fool?" He growled, anger directed towards Rowan. Rowan blinked as Petra released her.
"Captain...I don't think now is the time for…" Petra started, but Captain Levi cut her off.
"Go help the others. Get everyone back to camp. Now." He ordered and Petra nodded, squeezing Rowan's shoulder before disappearing into the trees. Levi strode right towards Rowan and dropped his face so it was level with Rowan's. He flicked her forehead and she lost her balance on her feet and fell back on her butt. "You are an absolute idiot. Do you have a death wish?"
"No sir." She shook her head furiously. Tears were flowing freely now and he kept going.
"Then you must have lost your mind. You can't take a Titan on by yourself. You're not ready. You're lucky your teammates had some brain cells to come grab Petra and I or you would have been that Titan's snack."
"No Sir. I just thought I could do it. I almost did."
"Your aim might have been perfect, but the attack was still poorly executed. You didn't apply enough pressure and you didn't cut deep enough. That comes from inexperience because you aren't ready to tag-team a Titan, let alone handle one by yourself." He continued and Rowan could hardly hear him over her sobs. Captain Levi's hand reached out and snatched her jaw. He angled her face towards his. "Quit crying. It's not worth your tears. You didn't kill anyone and you didn't get eaten."
"Only because you saved me." Rowan tried to wipe her tears away, but they continued on. "I'm sorry that I messed up."
"Don't let it happen again and all will be forgiven. Understood?" His eyes softened and he released her jaw.
"Yes sir. I understand." She sniffled, holding her head higher. He nodded, pushing himself to his feet. He extended his hand and she accepted it, being pulled to her own feet.
"Good. Think you can regroup with other recruits and make it back to camp?" She nodded in response. They stood for a moment, their gazes locked. The air jostled his cloak and her hair. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the leaves rustle with the breeze, but one area stuck out to her. "Get down!" Captain Levi shouted, shielding her body with his own. She sensed the Titan the same time that he did though and this time, she was ready. She leaned around him and threw her hands out, forcing all the energy she could muster from her palms. The Titan's hand caught in mid-air, its fingers struggling against the force of Rowan's power. Despite her legs shaking, she got to her feet. She refused to let herself or Captain Levi be Titan food. The first one caught her off guard, but she was done showing weakness. She was strong and she would prove it to everyone around her.
"Think you can uh, take care of this Sir?" She grunted through her clenched jaw. It had been a while since she used her power and it was dwindling at a steady rate. To Captain Levi's credit, he only hesitated a moment to glance at her with widened eyes. He sprung into action after that, taking down the Titan with one slash of his blades. As the Titan crumbled, Rowan fell back on her butt. Sweat beaded on her brow and she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Ackerman! Where's the rest of your team?" Captain Levi caught sight of Mikasa moving swiftly through the trees as he swung back around to land in front of Rowan. This caught her by surprise. Did Mikasa see what just happened too?
"We got separated, Sir. I'm trying to regroup back at the camp." She saluted him when she had her feet planted on the tree.
"Okay. Take Mixerton back with you. Keep an eye out for each other." He ordered, turning away from them.
"Wait! Captain…" Rowan reached a hand out and he glanced over his shoulder. Her eyes were pleading, praying he understood her unspoken communication. He had to keep it out of the reports. He just had to.
"Don't worry. The Scouts will handle the rest. Get back safely." He nodded before taking off into the trees. For some reason, Rowan knew her secret was safe with him. At least for the time being. He wasn't anything like she expected him to be. Every interaction left her surprised and she wanted to dive deeper until she found the true Levi. Perhaps her village was wrong. Maybe he could accept the true her. If he could, others would follow. She got to her feet, glancing at Mikasa to see if she was ready. The other girl took off and Rowan did her best to keep up with her.
"What you did was stupid." She spoke softly and Rowan thought of a way to defend herself. It wasn't necessary though because Mikasa continued. "But it was also brave. Conny and Sasha told me what happened. It's why I came back, to make sure you were okay too. You saved them."
"I didn't, Captain Levi saved us. I almost got myself eaten."
"Well, yes, but you didn't give the others time to hesitate. You gave them an order, something to follow. They found Captain Levi and Petra because you gave them a task to get help. What's foolish is trying to take the Titan down on your own. We haven't had enough training yet."
"Well, that makes me feel a little better I guess." Rowan sighed as the pair finally dropped to ground level outside the forest.
"Plus that trick you pulled on the second Titan was impressive." Mikasa glanced over her shoulder, giving Rowan a small smile.
"You saw that?" Well, they'll probably banish Rowan now. That or burn her alive. Maybe they'll stone her instead or throw her in a river.
"Yes, as did Captain Levi. Though I'm not quite sure how he will react, I will keep it a secret. It's really none of my business as long as you don't bring harm to Eren or Armin."
"I would never hurt them. I'm here to fight for humanity." Rowan assured her quickly. The thought of harming a human, let alone Eren or Armin, never crossed her mind. "As much as I appreciate it, I think it's time to share it with the group. You all are my most trusted comrades."
"If you wish to tell them, I will support you. I don't know how the others will react, but I am on your side." Mikasa placed a hand on Rowan's shoulder and relief washed over her. Two of the strongest soldiers knew of her secret now. She hoped her friends would respond in a similar manner. "Let's check in and see what's going on. There are others still out there that might need our help." They made their way through the shaken recruits. Though they could rest with the others, they knew they had the responsibility to help others that were still at the Titans' mercy. They found the commander giving orders to various groups of Scouts and recruits.
"Commander Erwin." Both girls saluted and the commander nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mixerton and Ackerman, right?" He addressed them both and they nodded in earnest. "Team up with Arlet and Jaeger. There are a few recruits missing, but the Scouts are busy with Titan control. Stick together and give it your all. I know you are all at the top of your class, so get out there."
"Yes sir!" They both saluted again and rushed to find Eren and Armin. That made Rowan smile and shake away her fear as confidence replaced it. If the Commander believed in them, then maybe they had what it took to be soldiers after all.
"Armin! Eren! Have you spoken to the Commander yet?" Rowan was grateful to see both her friends fine and in one piece.
"Yeah. We were waiting on you two. Let's go!" Eren didn't even bother to check in with either of them before speeding off towards the forest.
"He's just excited that the Commander recognized our potential. Are you both okay?" Armin fell into step beside Rowan and Mikasa. Mikasa didn't respond, quickening her step to keep pace with Eren. Rowan chuckled before glancing at Armin.
"Yeah, don't worry about us. We are okay. Sasha, Conny, and I had a run-in with a Titan, but Captain Levi and Petra helped us out. Then Mikasa found Captain Levi and I. We were able to get back here together." She assured Armin, a smile on her face.
"I'm really glad you're okay, Rowan." Armin gave her a warm smile before speeding up to match the others' pace. Rowan followed suit, her smile fading. She didn't really want to go back into that forest and potentially face another Titan, but she didn't really have a choice. She wasn't one to disobey orders or abandon her comrades in times of crisis. Eren and Mikasa disappeared into the trees first, Armin not far behind. Rowan was in the back of the group, happy to fall behind the golden trio. They were known to work the best together, functioning as one unit rather than three individuals. Rowan wouldn't get in the way of their teamwork. She would be there to lend support if they needed it.
"I think I see someone on the ground! Drop lower!" Armin called out, but Mikasa and Eren were too far ahead. Armin hesitated before dropping down anyway. Rowan followed, not wanting him to be alone.
"Armin! I'm right behind you! What did you see?" Rowan called out, hoping he could hear her over the wind that had picked up. It roared through the trees, shaking branches and leaves everywhere. It definitely made it more difficult to move through the forest.
"It's Jean! I'm going to the ground!" Armin dropped before Rowan could warn him. Shit. An abnormal had crawled its way through the trees. It was on all fours and heading straight for Jean and Armin.
"ARMIN! There's an Abnormal! Get Jean out of there!" Rowan screamed as loud as she could. Time seemed to freeze around her as Armin shoved Jean out of the way. Jean tumbled, rolling across the ground until his back hit a tree. His eyes were wide as he yelled something to Armin before his eyes slipped shut. He was out cold and no help to Armin. Armin didn't have time to react though, using his moment of opportunity to save Jean rather than himself. Rowan bent her knees to take the impact as her body hit the forest floor. She rolled on her shoulder, slowing the momentum of her body. She had dropped from higher than she had ever intentionally done before and her bones definitely ached in protest. Her body could deal with it though because there were more pressing matters. The Titan's jaw unhinged, opening to swallow Armin whole. Armin shut his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks. He wouldn't even have a chance to say goodbye to anyone. Armin deserved better. He didn't deserve to die like this. Nobody did. Rowan thrusted her arms forward, praying she hadn't used all her energy to protect herself and Captain Levi earlier. The Titan froze as if an invisible force was holding it back. Rowan angled her hands to push at the top and bottom of its jaw. It couldn't chow down on Armin if it couldn't close its mouth. "MOVE ARMIN! I GOT IT!" Rowan shouted, voice hoarse as she pushed harder. The Abnormal's appendages left tracks in the ground as Rowan forced it back. "ARMIN!" She clenched her jaw and did her best to hold her ground. Armin finally looked up, shaking away his daze. He stared at Rowan for a moment before glancing at the abnormal.
"Rowan?" He whispered softly. Rowan knew she had to hold on just a little longer so Armin could get his shit together, but it was taking much longer than she had anticipated. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Mikasa flying through the trees. She curved down and sliced her blades right through the Abnormal's nape. Her feet slid as she hit the ground, using her blade to stop the momentum of her body. Eren wasn't far behind and he landed right next to Armin.
"Armin! Are you okay?" His eyes were wide as he looked over his friend. Armin was shaking, tears flowing freely. He nodded before pushing himself off the ground. Rowan's arms felt like jello as they hung by her sides. She was coated in a layer of sweat and her head felt a bit fuzzy, but she was just grateful that everyone was okay.
"Rowan! You saved me!" Armin threw his arms around Rowan, nealy sending them both sprawling through the grass. Rowan held the boy tightly, realizing how close she was to losing one of her best friends.
"Mikasa killed the thing. I just held it back for a bit." Rowan chuckled, pushing his shoulders back so he could see her smile at him.
"How'd you do it though? I mean, I'm grateful, but I don't understand how it was possible." His eyes were distant as he thought it over. He was probably replaying the events, trying to figure out what she did. He'd probably come up with some wild theories, but he eventually would figure it out if she didn't tell him. Armin always surprised her like that.
"I'll tell you all later. Right now, we need to get Jean out of here." Rowan gestured to the guy who was still sprawled out in the grass. As she said his name, he twitched a bit before sitting up. His eyes fell on each recruit before landing on the smoking Titan.
"You guys took out a Titan...how?" His eyes were wild, confusion swirling in them. The group stayed quiet, all glancing at one another.
"We distracted it while Mikasa finished it off. Are you okay to use your ODM gear?"Armin quickly explained and Jean seemed to accept that answer. He looked over his gear and nodded.
"Yeah, everything seems okay." He mumbled.
"Okay, Armin. Head back with Jean to camp. Rowan, Mikasa, and I will keep looking for any other recruits that might be in trouble." Eren stretched his arms and Mikasa nodded, agreeing with his plan. Armin started to protest, but Rowan put a hand on his shoulder.
"Armin. You almost died. Make sure Jean gets back safely and take a moment to process everything, okay? We will be right behind you." She smiled reassuringly and Armin shut his mouth. He nodded, mumbling a thank-you, before gesturing for Jean to follow him. Once the pair was out of sight, the trio moved deeper into the forest. They didn't really see or hear any signs of other recruits. They traveled the full distance of the forest and just as they were about to head back, Eren spotted the head of a Titan. The trio all maneuvered to the same tree. They were able to see what was happening a lot clearer from their vantage point. Captain Levi was surrounded by three Titans. They weren't Abnormals and they were 4 meter Titans, but it was still a lot to handle for one soldier.
"Captain Levi! Shit, he needs help!" Rowan and Eren both raised their blades, but Mikasa put hands in front of both of them.
"Just watch." She spoke softly and the pair both lowered their weapons. Within moments, Captain Levi sprung into action. He dodged every hand, circling around them in the trees. It looked like chaos to Rowan, the Titans all bumping into each other as they tried to get a hold of their meal. In a way though, it made sense. If they were in each other's way, none of them could actually get to Captain Levi. He swung out wide before flying directly towards two of the Titans. In a single cut, he slid by and took out two of the three. They fell to their knees before collapsing on the forest floor. The impact shook the ground below them and Rowan watched in awe as the man didn't even hesitate. He followed his body's momentum and took the third out.
"He's so fast. He doesn't even stop to think. How does he do it?" Rowan was at a loss for words after that and it seemed the other two were as well. Eren's jaw hung down as he watched and Mikasa was silent as usual, eyes trained on the Captain. The Captain flicked the steaming blood off his blades and frowned for a moment. The one blade was coated. He put the clean one away before pulling a rag from his pocket. He wiped at the blade and Rowan nearly lost it. "Is he seriously cleaning his blade off right now?"
"Well, rumors do say that he's a neat freak." Eren muttered, losing interest in the scene. Mikasa simply giggled, shrugging her shoulders. Rowan reflected on how he acted when she went through his cabinet on her quest for honey. She shivered just thinking about it. Neat freak was an understatement, honestly. Something caught her eye in the trees and she froze, her thoughts coming to a standstill. There were Titan eyes focused right on the Captain. It was quiet, hunting from the cover of trees. Captain Levi was just exposed, out in the open, distracted by his bloody blade.
"Levi!" Rowan shouted, but she was too far for him to hear her. "I'll be back." She told the others before aiming her grappling hook at the tree above Captain Levi. She didn't even wait for the others to answer before she took off.
"Wait! Rowan! He can handle it!" Mikasa shouted, but Rowan ignored her. She needed something to throw and she needed it quickly. The Titan leaned forward, getting ready to pounce.
"Perfect." Rowan muttered, her eyes focused on a fallen tree. It would be heavy, but it was rotted and she hoped she could muster up the energy to lift it. She landed on her target, right behind Captain Levi. The man spun, eyes wide as he studied Rowan. She paid him no mind, hands angled towards her weapon of choice. She grunted as the rotting tree creaked in protest. Come on. Come on. Come on. She chanted over and over until the tree finally lifted. "Eat bark!" She screamed as she threw the tree right into the open mouth of the Abnormal. The impact of the tree sent the Abnormal flying backwards, the bark splintering in its teeth as it closed its jaw. "Abnormal...hunting you...I got your back." She punched Captain Levi's shoulder before her vision clouded. Her breathing was heavy and she leaned forward to steady herself on her knees. "Ah hell." She huffed before the world went black and she sprawled out on her back.
"I'll stay with her. Get back to camp and tell Commander Erwin that Rowan was injured and is unconscious. Just tell him that I will return with her as soon as possible." Captain Levi?
"We can stay here though with you. There's strength in numbers." Eren?
"Come on Eren. She will be fine with Captain Levi." Mikasa?
Rowan's head was spinning. She didn't hear the rest of the conversation, but she assumed Captain Levi won. He was stubborn and the commanding officer. Her friends would have to listen. So she was alone...in a forest swarmed with Titans...with Captain Levi. While she trusted him fully, the hunting Abnormal really threw her for a loop. She never heard of a Titan hunting its prey before. Normally they spotted a human, they gave chase, and they munched. This Abnormal almost showed intelligence. It was waiting for the moment to strike, sizing Captain Levi up before making its move. The thought that Titans could actually stop, think, and wait to attack was terrifying.
Rowan eventually got feeling back in her limbs, the breeze chilling her exposed skin. Though she wore her recruit jacket, it was made of a fairly thin material and did nothing to save her from the wind. She flexed her fingers, wiggling her toes to make sure she had some sort of feeling through her whole body before she sat up. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that she was laying in front of a tree. She was close enough to rest her back against the trunk. The rough bark reassured her that she was alive still. In front of her was Captain Levi. He was standing, blades ready to strike at the first sign of danger. He didn't take his job lightly, that's for sure.
"Captain Levi?" Her voice was hoarse and she coughed, trying to clear her throat.
"You overdid it, you idiot. For someone with amazing power, you sure don't know how to use it properly." He huffed in annoyance and Rowan frowned. Not that she had the strength to argue with the man, she was going to at least defend herself.
"Look, I saved your ass twice today. Twice. And I saved Armin. I haven't used my magic in months since I'm afraid there will be a witch hunt if anyone else finds out. It's a lot harder than you think to sneak away and practice magic." She grumbled, shutting her eyes as she let the tree hold her up. Damn she was exhausted.
"I could have handled both situations. You didn't have to risk your life for mine. It isn't worth it." He responded, his voice distant.
"Your life is worth it. Would it kill you to just say thank-you? I know I am reckless, but I'm still learning." She retorted.
"Thank-you." His voice was a lot closer and Rowan opened her eyes to see Captain Levi squatting in front of her. He was looking over her body and her eyes widened. "You seem okay physically. Can you walk?"
"Not yet." She huffed and that's when she realized how dark it was. Shit. How long was she out for? "It's night. Titans aren't active now. You can head back to camp. I'll make sure I'm back before morning." She sighed, trying to push herself to sit up straighter. Even that simple movement left her winded.
"Don't be stupid. With the amount of abnormals we faced today, it would be idiotic to stay out here alone." He fixed a glare on her and she rolled her eyes.
"Okay, okay. I get it. I'm dumb."
"You're just inexperienced. You're also afraid of the dark." He quipped and her eyes widened.
"I'm not scared of the dark. I just don't like to be alone at night. You still remember that? That was almost a year ago." Rowan thought back to the night Captain Levi forced her to clean the stables by herself. She had seen him a few times after that, chatting his ear off in passing about the crazy training exercises they were forced to do. He typically just humored her with a nod or roll of his eyes. One time she did get him to smile though. She was carrying her roll with her from lunch so Sasha wouldn't eat it. She found the Captain under the tree reading. His stomach had growled and she poked fun at him before giving him half her roll. They ate together in silence, but he had a slight smile that day. Of course he told her to get lost after that because he was busy and she was annoying him, but she still remembered that day fondly. Then of course there was the time he found her drunk at the bar and the time she had a concussion a few months ago. He had watched over her. Maybe she had grown on him more than he let on.
"Was it that long ago?" His brow furrowed, a frown on his lips. Maybe time flew by more when you were a Scout.
"Yeah. I mean, you were gone a lot through the year. Maybe you just lost track of time on missions?" She shrugged. His stare was distant and thoughtful now. She decided to take the time to rest, letting her eyes shut. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she was suddenly in motion and her body did not like it. She struggled against the force holding her, nearly punching the chin of whoever was carrying her.
"Knock it off before I toss you again." Captain Levi. Rowan opened her eyes, noticing they were almost to the edge of the forest and that the sun was rising. "We had to get out of there before the Titans became active again."
"I slept through the night? I'm so sorry. I can walk!" Captain Levi didn't even hesitate, dropping her to the ground. She was ready for it though, knowing how he worked. Her legs caught her and she used his shoulders to steady herself. If Captain Levi was impressed, he didn't show it.
"Great. Let's go." He switched his pace to a light jog, checking over his shoulder periodically to make sure Rowan was keeping pace with him. Though her body still ached, she felt more energetic and was able to keep up with him.
"Captain Levi?" Though he didn't respond, his head tilted in response. "Are you going to tell Commander Erwin about me?" That caught him by surprise and he halted to a stop. She nearly collided with him. The camp was in sight now and he turned to face her, separating her from camp.
"Are you a threat to humanity or to our mission?" He stared right into her eyes and she faltered.
"No Sir. I'm here to help humanity fight. My village, we are able to stay hidden from Titans and from humans. Though we cannot extend our barriers, I wanted to do something to help humanity fight. I abandoned my village to be a soldier and use my powers to make a difference." She saluted him, eyes trained on his gaze. She dropped her arms to the side and looked down at the ground. "I would never betray the friends I've made here. I expected to be the lone wolf, an outcast among all of you. Turns out, I fit in with some. Armin, Sasha, Conny, Eren, Mikasa...they took me into their group with open arms. They gave me a home among the humans. Then there's you. You and Petra." She added quickly, not wanting to get ahead of herself.
"Me?" His brow arched and she sighed.
"You. I never in my wildest dreams expected to befriend humanity's strongest soldier. I know you're my commanding officer, but I found a friend in you Levi. Even if I piss you off and annoy you...you're important to me." She glanced back up to see that his gaze softened, ever so slightly. "Captain Levi." She added with a slight smile.
"A friend." He paused, thinking over the term. "Fine, I will not report your secret to anyone. That'll only change if you pose a threat to humanity or the mission." With that, he turned back around and headed off towards camp. "Let's get you home."
"You're not curious about the village or where my powers come from?" She questioned, quickening her step to keep up with him.
"I don't particularly care about your race or the origin of your powers. Quite frankly, I'd rather be left in the dark for now. It'll be easier to keep your secret that way." Well, he wasn't wrong, but he didn't have to be so harsh about it. "I'm assuming you will tell your friends about everything. Be careful with who you trust. The less people who know, the safer you will be."
"I trust my friends, Sir." She stated and he nodded.
"Very well. The Scouts are leaving on a mission to see if there are more Abnormals hiding in the nearby forests. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." He stopped, the dorm in view now. He turned to walk away, but Rowan snatched his wrist.
"Captain Levi?" She let his wrist slip from her hand, knowing he was probably uncomfortable with the contact. He turned to glance at her. "I meant what I said before. You are my friend, so be careful out there, okay?"
"It's foolish to worry about me." He huffed, turning away.
"Foolish or not, I can't help it. You've grown on me." She glanced at the ground, her fingers fidgeting in her clasped hands.
"I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best. Goodnight Rowan." With that, Captain Levi vanished into what was remaining of the night. A small smile touched Rowan's lips as she whispered his goodnight into the early morning breeze. She turned and walked towards the sunrise, heading to her dorm to shower and find her friends. They were all waiting for her though and Armin nearly tackled her. Petra was also there, a smile on her face. Once they made eye contact, Petra nodded and slipped out of the room. Rowan hoped she could rest before they left for their mission. Both her and Captain Levi would need to be well-rested. Rowan quickly showered before asking her friends to follow her out to the willow tree. Besides Captain Levi, no one ever really went out there. She knew it would be the safest place to tell them the truth.
"Okay, so it's time to tell you all the truth. I'm not human." She started with a short statement that was meant to startle them so she could gauge their reactions. They all just blinked at her though. She was seated directly under the tree, the overgrown leaves shielding her from the harsh morning sun. Armin was closest to her on her left. Sasha and Conny sat directly across from her and Eren sat to the right with Mikasa. None of them seemed to react at all, so Rowan continued. "I'm a witch. I come from a lineage of healers, though I spent most of my time learning combat magic, rather than following in my ancestors footsteps." She tried to simplify it as much as possible.
"So, you have the power to heal people?" Sasha's eyes were wide and she leaned in.
"Uh, yeah. I've only done it a few times and it was always to close a tiny wound or relieve minor pain. My siblings and cousin are definitely more talented in that regard. They spent their time studying healing magic. I wanted to fight though and I was one of the few in my lineage who actually had power besides healing magic. My father embraced it and taught me what I know before he left the village. After he left, I continued training on my own." She shrugged and Sasha nodded.
"So, if I have leg pain. Could you heal that?" Sasha bounced, leaning forward.
"Well, I'd have to know where your pain is specifically and know what is wrong to be able to fix it. The magic is a lot more complicated than just being able to heal." Rowan gave her a sheepish smile and Sasha slumped her shoulders.
"Can you pick up that bench and chuck it? How strong is your magic? Could you lift an entire Titan?" Eren's eyes were wild and Rowan shrunk back a bit. She felt more like a weapon than a person in that moment.
"Uh...well…" She didn't really know how to answer. She still felt drained from the day before and she never tried to lift a Titan, so how would she even know. How heavy are Titans? It probably differed on their height, so she might be able to lift a four meter, but not a ten meter. Just thinking about the logistics of it all hurt her head.
"She isn't here to do magic tricks for us guys. Let her breathe. She's showing us great trust here, so give her the space to explain herself." Armin spoke up, narrowing his eyes at his friends.
"Sorry." Sasha mumbled and Eren mumbled his apology as well.
"Thanks Armin." She smiled at him sweetly before facing the others. "I'm sorry that I don't have answers for everything. There's a lot that I still don't know. I haven't had the complete freedom to practice my magic so I don't know the extent of it. What I can tell you is that there are a lot others like me and they all have different styles of magic. Each style works differently, but my magic is physically draining. If I use too much, I pass out as some of you saw yesterday. I'm still learning my limits."
"That makes sense. What was your village like?" Conny was focused on the conversation, which slightly surprised Rowan. He was usually lost in his own thoughts.
"My village was secluded. No one really left or visited. There are witches skilled in barrier work. They can maintain barriers around our village that hide us from Titans and humans. It was a peaceful existence, but I only ever left once a month. That's when the barrier would open, so groups of us could retrieve resources. I spent most of my time with my siblings, learning our history and learning about humans and Titans. We were taught to fear humans in the same manner as you fear Titans." Rowan admitted, glancing away from her friends. She didn't want to hurt them or make them think she feared them, but she wanted to be open and honest about it.
"If you were taught to fear us and you lived in a safety net, why would you ever throw your life away to be a soldier?" Eren's fists were clenched, his eyes wide. "Do you even want to be a soldier or is this just a vacation for you?"
"A vacation? Are you serious? How could this ever be a vacation?" Conny, among others, were shocked by Eren's accusations, but Conny specifically spoke out against him.
"She can abandon us whenever she wants! She has a cozy home she can hide in with her family waiting for her!" Eren jumped to his feet. "We don't have any family left because ours were eaten by Titans. We have nowhere else to go. We had seen the dangers of Titans first hand before we joined. We have a reason to fight. What's your reason?" He was challenging her and she was ready. It was something she already explained to Captain Levi.
"I'm here to fight for humanity. Humans deserve to live in peace too. You shouldn't have to live in fear and sacrifice your lives to fight Titans. I cannot return back to my cozy life anyway. I am considered a traitor now." Rowan frowned.
"A traitor?" Armin's mouth hung open as Mikasa and Eren's eyes widened.
"What? At the same time, Sasha just stared in disbelief. That was more of the reaction Rowan expected when she said she wasn't human, but better late than never. At least her friends were somewhat sane.
"We aren't allowed to leave our villages. Every person is necessary in maintaining the functionality of our village. By leaving, I betrayed my family and my village. I left them to fight for the humans. It's the biggest slap in the face to our culture."
"How'd you get away?" Mikasa's voice startled everyone. Her eyes held honest curiosity and Rowan smiled at her friend.
"I volunteered to venture out for resources. We are accompanied by a village Elder who maintains a barrier for us. I just had this strong desire to get away and we were so close to the wall. I don't know what came over me, but I broke through the barrier. Once I realized I was out, I just kept running. I didn't look back. I never got to say goodbye to anyone. If I had, they would have stopped me. So now this is my home, with all of you." She concluded, content with her telling of her story. She covered all the basics and hoped her friends understood and supported her. They all nodded, though lost in their own thoughts. "I will ask that you keep this a secret though, please. I trust you all, but I don't know how others will react. I don't want to be treated like an outsider, a threat, or a science experiment."
"We won't tell anyone. You have our word." Armin assured her, Conny and Sasha nodding in earnest.
"You already know that I stand with you. I saw how you saved Armin and Captain Levi. It was commendable and you have my respect." Mikasa. It was always difficult to know what Mikasa was thinking and she was grateful for the transparency her friend offered her today.
"I still don't trust you. I'll keep your secret, but I don't know if I can pretend like everything's okay." Eren. Of all her friends, she anticipated resistance from Eren. He was passionate and ready to rip every Titan apart. Of course he would see a witch as a threat as well. She didn't blame him, but she did have an idea.
"That's fine, but you'll have to trust me or you'll never touch the ground again." She lifted her arms, weaving her power around Eren's wrists and lifting. As soon as Eren's feet pulled off the ground, he started flailing and kicking. He squirmed in her grasp, but she kept lifting him higher.
"Put me down, you psychopath!" He shouted, trying to fight against the force holding his wrists.
"Be careful or I'll drop you." Rowan giggled, slowly weaving his body through the air. She spun him around and he fought harder. He was strong, but her power was stronger. At least for the time being.
"Put him down." Mikasa stood, her gaze threatening. The atmosphere definitely got tense, but Rowan didn't falter… not yet.
"Mikasa, I'm not hurting him. I just wanted to show you all that if I wanted to hurt any of you or mess with you, I would have done so already. I don't pose a threat to you, especially because you could easily defeat me in hand-to-hand combat." She pointed out and Mikasa relaxed just a little bit.
"Fine, fine. We get it." Eren grumbled, finally giving in and keeping himself still.
"Plus, your power would be quite useful if someone's ODM gear malfunctioned or ran out of gas." Armin added and the others nodded, agreeing with his observation. Relief washed over Rowan and she gently lowered Eren to the ground. As soon as Eren touched the ground, he bounced forward and punched Rowan right in the face. She stumbled backwards, falling right on her butt. The world spun around her before settling. Eren was rubbing his fist, Conny and Sasha holding him back by his shoulders. Mikasa was standing between the two, prepared to defend if Rowan decided to strike back. Armin knelt down next to her, fingers gently brushing the hair from her face.
"Eren, why'd you do that?" Armin was baffled, but Rowan wasn't really. Eren had very little common sense and acted on impulse. It was his nature.
"I don't appreciate being made an example of. Next time pick someone else to use your creepy voodoo on." He grumbled, shaking off both Conny and Sasha before stomping off towards camp. Mikasa bowed slightly in apology before following after him.
"Next time, how about you use your words meathead!" Rowan shouted back, pissed off by his description of her magic. Mikasa grabbed Eren's arm and dragged him away, not letting him turn around to retort anything.
"You should get to the infirmary Rowan. It's really swollen." Sasha frowned, kneeling down on the other side of her.
"Yeah, I'm going. Stupid Jaeger." She growled, shoving herself to her feet.
"At least you're excused from training today. We should probably get going if we don't want to run laps again for being late." Conny shrugged, slowly turning away from them.
"Yeah, thanks for trusting us Rowan. It means a lot to us." Sasha added before grabbing Conny's arm and pulling him down the trail.
"Do you want me to go with you to the infirmary? I don't mind." Armin got to his feet, his eyes distant.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be okay. I don't want you getting into trouble. Go to training. I'll see you guys at lunch." Rowan brushed him off with a smile. She hurried off before he could convince her to let him tag along. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing him watching her under the tree. She shook the guilt away and focused on getting to the stables. From there, she could make it to the infirmary. She expected the hostile response. She even prepared for it, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Eren's response blindsided her friends, but besides Armin, no one actually disagreed with him. That's what hurt even more. It's not like she physically hurt Eren at all. She lifted him from the ground instead of the bench he so graciously requested. Maybe she made the wrong decision. Maybe she shouldn't have used her powers on Eren or maybe she should have kept everything a secret. She didn't owe anyone an explanation. Rowan smacked into something firm, distracting her from her thoughts. Hands gripped her upper arms tightly, steadying her.
"Rowan? What the hell happened to your face?" Of course it was none other than Captain Levi. She tucked her face down, not even able to look him in the eyes.
"I thought you were leaving on a mission." She huffed.
"And I thought you were spilling secrets to your friends." He had a point.
"Touche." She sighed and looked up to meet his eyes. They widened and his fingers stretched out to brush the swollen skin around her eye.
"That's going to be a nastyyyyy bruise. Who gave you that shiner?" Hange bounced over to the pair, popping up over Captain Levi's shoulder. Captain Levi sighed, letting his hand drop back down to his side.
"Which one?" Both Hange and Rowan glanced at Captain Levi, confused. "You were with your friends. I can only assume one of them did it. Which one hit you?" His eyes darkened and Hange stiffened.
"His voice got deep. Levi means business. I'll just be over there….with the horses." With that, Hange hurried away, busying themselves with prepping the horses for the mission. They were curious, but not enough to deal with Captain Levi's wrath.
"Sir...it doesn't matter. It was my fault. I used my powers to lift them and they weren't happy about it. They also don't trust me, so that didn't help the situation."
"It was Jaeger, wasn't it?"
"How the hell….?" Rowan was too shocked to even try and play it off. How'd he guess it?
"He's a punk. I'd actually be surprised if it was anyone else." Rowan couldn't help but laugh at that. She couldn't contain it, letting it flow freely. It was the deep laugh that could make someone's stomach hurt and it felt so good to laugh in that manner. She doubled over, hands on her knees as tears formed in her eyes.
"I think you broke her." Hange had returned at the sound of laughter and watched in awe as Rowan just kept going.
"Perhaps…?" Captain Levi spoke in a questioning tone and they both watched in confusion until Rowan got her shit together.
"Eren really is a punk! You're so right." She stood straight up and wiped the tears that escaped. "Damn, I feel better already. He might have decked me, but at least I'm not a punk."
"Facts." Hange nodded and Captain Levi glanced at her curiously. "What? It's factual! Isn't that what the kids are saying these days? I don't know. I'm going to find Oluo. He's more aware of the younger generation's language. Farewell." With that, Hange wandered off down the trail.
"I like Hange." Rowan smiled and Captain Levi sighed.
"Everyone usually does." He turned away from her and flicked his head. "Come on then."
"I was just going to the infirmary Captain Levi. I can find my way there. I know you're leaving soon." Rowan stepped away from him, heading to the infirmary. Her ear was snatched though and she felt herself being pulled backwards.
"I said come on. You need to clean your ears out." He grumbled, releasing her ear once she was in step with him. "They will just think you're a clumsy mess if you keep going to the infirmary." He wasn't wrong. With that, Rowan followed without another word. They ended up at the camp's elite dorms, climbing up the familiar stairs towards Captain Levi's office.
"Rowan! What happened?" Petra met them halfway down the hallway. She pushed by Captain Levi and moved Rowan's hair out of the way. "Come with me." She grabbed Rowan's wrist and dragged her down the hallway.
"But...I…" She looked back at Captain Levi, eyes wide. He just watched them go, that small smirk on his lips. His gray eyes held amusement and Rowan smiled back as he disappeared from sight.
"You can see the Captain later. I need to take care of this before we leave." Petra sat Rowan down on her bed. She pulled a bin out from under the mattress, digging through the boxes. She pulled a round container out and swiped a light green cream out. She gently patted the cream into the swollen skin. Though it was sore, the cream was cooling and felt nice against the angry skin. "This should help the swelling and stop it from bruising so badly. Keep it with you and put it on every morning and night. Make sure to ice your eye during the day too." She placed the container in Rowan's hands and smiled.
"Thank-you Petra. Are you sure I can have this?" She studied the container. It had a handwritten note on the top.
"Absolutely. You need it more than I do right now. I can grab it whenever I come back from the mission." Her smile was strained and Rowan knew she meant if she returned.
"I'll see you when you return then Petra. Thank-you for everything." Rowan made sure to emphasize the when.
"It's just nice to have another female friend. I hope you can join us once you join the Scouts. Well, as long as you haven't changed your mind. I know you'll be in the top ten, so you could always pick the military police. No one would blame you." She returned the items to the bin, sliding it back under. She got to her feet and Rowan followed her.
"Do you think Captain Levi would actually pick me? I still want to join the Scouts. That hasn't changed." Rowan twiddled her thumbs, following Petra out.
"He's had his eye on you during training. We all think you'll join the squad after you graduate. He hasn't said it officially, but I'd be surprised if he chose anyone else. He wanted to add at least two new members." Petra assured her with a smile. "He's probably in his office, if you'd like to say goodbye. His cloak had a rip in it so he was on his way to replace it when he bumped into you." She smiled knowingly, gently guiding Rowan towards his office with her hands on her shoulders.
"He postponed you all leaving to change his cloak?" Rowan should've been surprised, but she really wasn't,
"You know how he gets sometimes. I'm going to go see if the others need help. Bye Rowan. Good luck with your training." Petra squeezed her shoulder before turning down the hallway.
"Thank-you for being my friend Petra. Stay safe out there. I'll see you when you get back." Rowan smiled and Petra beamed at her before waving and disappearing down the hallway.
"Petra is rather fond of you." A low voice startled her and she turned to see Captain Levi leaning against his doorframe.
"I'm glad. I really like her." Rowan responded honestly and the Captain nodded. "I hope you both have a safe journey. I'm going to need you here to help keep Eren in line once we graduate."
"There's no hope for that punk."
"I know, but I also know you can put him in his place." She mused.
"So can you." He almost laughed at that and she was taken aback.
"No way." Eren might lack in skill, but he was strong and determined. She couldn't compete with that.
"You're a lot stronger than you think. I'd place you second in your class. Ackerman doesn't have any fear and she is ruthless. You're only a bit behind her." Rowan was shocked. She didn't even come close to Mikasa's skill.
"No way. Annie...Reiner...Bertoldt...Eren… Conny...Sasha...Jean." They were all ahead of her. Armin was the only one behind and that's because he chose to refrain from fighting as much as the others.
"They're all skilled and will easily be in the top ten." He agreed, nodding. "You're stronger though. Remember that." He was suddenly directly in front of her and he flicked her forehead.
"I have to disagree with you Sir, but I'll try." She scrunched her forehead in response to his flick.
"Don't disappoint me." He grabbed her chin, moving her head so their gazes were locked. "I have the best eye for talent and strength in the entire military. You just need to start believing in yourself and you'll surpass all of them."
"I...I'll do my best, Sir." Her eyes widened and he seemed satisfied with that answer, letting her chin slip from his fingers.
"Good." He shut his office door, turning to walk down the hallway.
"Captain Levi?" He paused at the sound of his name. She took a deep breath. "I know I already said this earlier, but keep yourself safe."
"You all would manage just fine without me."
"No...not for humanity. For me. Stay safe for me, okay? I know it's selfish...but I'm still asking you to." She had no idea what came over her, but it all spilled out into the open.
"That is selfish." He huffed. She thought he would leave it at that...she expected nothing more. He surprised both of them though. "I'll try my best though. If not for the mission, then for you." With that, he wandered down the hallway. Rowan was satisfied with that answer, her heart warming. She could only hope they all returned safely. With a soft smile on her lips, she made her way back to the dorms. Her friends were waiting for her, sitting scattered across the green in front of the dorms. They all jumped to their feet when they saw her,
"Rowan! Are you okay? What did the infirmary say?" Armin was by her side within moments. She smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"I didn't go. Captain Levi stopped me at the stables and brought me to Petra. She gave me this ointment to help with the swelling. I should be just fine." Rowan assured him, making sure the whole group could hear her. That's when she noticed someone new sitting in the group. Jean. He got to his feet and lifted his fist, holding it steady. Rowan was taken aback, but reached out and hit his knuckles with her own.
"Don't let Jaeger push you around. You're better than that." He stated before turning away from the group. "I know you chose not to fight back, but I did for you. If you can face your fears, so can I." He spoke over his shoulder before wandering into the dorms.
"Face my fears?" Rowan whispered, confused by the interaction.
"We told Jean about your fear of heights and the reason for why you fell a while ago. He was impressed and also felt guilty for indirectly causing your accident. He really does respect you." Sasha kept her head down, Conny at her side.
"Thanks guys. I'm glad you told him. Maybe he's not so bad after all." She smiled. The pair smiled back until Mikasa and Eren approached. Eren's jaw was swelling, dried blood on his cracked lips. "The hell happened to you?"
"Jean took it upon himself to get revenge for you. I wasn't expecting it." He grumbled and Rowan had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. Jean got him good, really messing the kid's mouth up. Jean always did say Eren talked too much. It was kind of poetic.
"I didn't ask him to do that." She didn't want any more bad blood between them. They needed to have each other's backs through the rest of training and when they graduate.
"I know. I actually wanted to apologize for punching you, you didn't deserve it. I still don't trust you much at all, but I'm outnumbered." Eren extended his hand and Rowan shook it.
"Apology accepted. Hit me again though and I will get my own revenge." She promised him, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Deal." He chuckled. "I'd like to see you try." With that, he retreated into the dorms with Mikasa. Sasha and Conny followed, leaving Armin and Rowan outside,
"Are you really okay?" He asked, leaning in to observe her swollen eye.
"Yeah, I really am." And she meant it.