Two days after Thomas's big reveal and Hange's revelation, the Scouts had left the moment the sun poked through the cloudy sky. Rowan was at Levi's side, Petra, Oluo, Eld, Gunther, and Eren all positioned around them. Commander Erwin was directly behind the Levi squad, the Hange squad to the left of him and the group Levi had chosen to the right. Rowan had appreciated Levi's decision. The group on the right consisted of Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Sasha, Connie, Christa, and Ymir. Of course, that meant that Christa and Ymir had to learn the truth about Rowan. Neither even hesitated to join the cause though, not even questioning the mission. They all rode together, camped together, and survived together, functioning as one large unit rather than individuals. It was the first mission Rowan had experienced and it didn't disappoint. It was everything she imagined it would be and more. Most nights, she would spend time at Levi's side by the fire. Even when they slept, he never let her leave his side. When Titans attacked, Levi had her back or she had his. If they were both occupied with different Titans, Petra was there to back Rowan up. If not Petra, then it was Eld or Jean. Even Ymir and Rowan tag-teamed a Titan together.
A few days had passed since they left their headquarters. Rowan was able to show Commander Erwin that she was strong enough to bring them to their knees, allowing her comrades to take them out. Once Rowan recovered from her use of magic, they had moved on with the goal of reaching the abandoned library. Rowan was thrilled, wanting to see the library with her own eyes. When the town came into view, Rowan halted. Levi had fallen back to see what was wrong and Rowan gestured to the meadow. It was the meadow she shared with her father, the meadow that haunted her childhood memories. It was still beautiful, shades of purple, orange, pink, and blue stretching across the open field. The hundreds of flowers swayed in the breeze and Rowan gulped. She explained that the town must be near her old village and she asked if she could remain outside of the town. Levi didn't even have a chance to answer before hordes of Titans came sprinting out of the cluster of buildings. The Scouts scattered, doing their best to avoid engaging with them. While they were trying to keep their distance, Rowan noticed two figures stood on top of the buildings closest to them. They moved their hands, chanting in a foreign tongue that Rowan unfortunately recognized. The horses reacted to the chanting and flailed, throwing the soldiers off their backs. Eld, Levi, Commander Erwin, and Rowan all managed to keep control of their horses, spreading out to offer support if their comrades needed a quick getaway. Levi launched himself from his horse, not even hesitating to cut down the approaching Titans. They all ended up divided by groups of Titans. It was as if that was the plan all along, but Titans couldn't think of a strategy like that, could they? Commander Erwin ordered for all of them to attack in pairs. Rowan was too far out to connect with anyone though, so she redirected Dahlia towards Armin and Christa. They were the closest and she could lend her support. She never made it there though. A lanky figure had launched themself from the forest, spooking Dahlia, which in turn, sent Rowan flying. She rolled backwards from the impact, slightly dazed by the motion. Strong arms wrapped around her, restricting her from moving as quick fingers worked to remove her belt. Her ODM gear was yanked off of her and before she could even process what happened, Bertolt had the reins of her horse and Reiner was holding her ODM gear. Her body tumbled backwards before sprawling out on the ground. She spit clumps of dirt from her mouth before shoving herself up.
"Wait! Hold on! Why are you doing this?" She growled, her heart thundering in her chest. She could hear it throbbing in her ears and she did her best to calm it. She had to stay calm or she was screwed.
"It's nothing personal Rowan, sorry." Reiner sighed, attaching her ODM gear around his waist. That was her gear. How dare he take it from her. Anger replaced her shock and she snarled at them.
"Right. Just like it wasn't personal for Marco either? You're all monsters." Both of them paused, locking eyes with one another before glancing back at the fuming Rowan. "Yeah, I know the truth and I'm not the only one who does. I know you're the colossal and armored Titans. I know that Annie is also harboring a Titan form and that the three of you killed Marco because he overheard you all talking. I know you all have something to do with a witch village and I know that you're all pathetic. I hope you assholes burn in hell." She knew she was probably done for. Might as well let them have it before she became a Titan snack. There were already multiple Titans circling them and her true comrades were nowhere in sight. She growled, extending her power and using her energy to force both men back. She sent Reiner flying into the trees and then sent Bertolt flying back into the approaching horde of Titans. Then she redirected her energy and shoved all of her power at the legs of the approaching Titans. She did her best to keep her distance from the horde and bring any that got close to their knees. Without her blades, she couldn't kill them though. Her magic was already dwindling as she continuously extended her life force to keep the Titans away. She could only think of one thing to do. It was stupid and he probably wouldn't even hear her, but she always had faith in him. "LEVI!" She screamed, using the last of her energy to send a 4-meter Titan flying. She needed to rest, unable to use her life force any more as a weapon. "LEVI!" She screamed once more before a hand slammed into her. The flesh didn't close around her quick enough though and her body was sent flying into the forest. Her body slid across the forest floor, slowing her momentum until her back hit the trunk of a tree. She gasped, the air knocked out of her. Everything hurt and her brain couldn't even process how dire her situation was. She just managed to crawl under some overgrown brush before losing consciousness. When she came to, the first thing she noticed was that blood was tendriling down her leg. Her blood had pooled under her and she struggled to shove herself up. She must have sliced her leg open when she was sliding across the forest floor. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, the trees all blending together. She cursed softly, unsure of her comrades' status, if any of them knew where she ended up, or if Bertolt and Reiner hurt anyone else. She pulled her life energy into her hands, feeling the power swirl around her fingers. She had recovered enough to be able to protect herself. Much good it would do if a horde of Titans came barreling through the forest. Despite that, she knew she couldn't give up without a fight. Someone could still find her and she clung onto that hope.
Twigs snapped behind her and she turned quickly, lifting her hands to force her pooled energy outward. A grunt caught her attention and she opened her eyes to see Levi's body slam against a tree. The pair stared at each other for a moment before Rowan yanked her hands back, tears forming in her eyes.
"You've gotten stronger." Levi dropped to the ground, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms out. He flinched, his right arm badly mangled. What had happened to him?
"Yeah, well, this guy that I am sort of seeing is a hard ass. I had to get stronger to keep up with him." She huffed, relaxing her arms at her side. Levi gave her a slight smirk, stepping towards her.
"Sort of seeing?"
"Yeah, we haven't actually confirmed anything about our relationship."
"What a fool."
"Definitely." She laughed and he narrowed his gaze at her. "You said it, not me." She raised her hands, flinching from the movement.
"Are you alright?" He immediately noticed her flinching.
"I'm fine. Are the others with you?" She lied through her teeth and could tell he knew she was doing so.
"No. Mikasa and I took down a line of Titans before Jaeger decided his Titan form was required. I decided to go after you when I heard you scream." He stated simply and Rowan frowned. Though, she supposed that was the whole purpose of screaming for him.
"Why didn't you stay with them? There's strength in numbers."
"I wasn't going to just abandon you. Don't be stupid." He quipped and she couldn't help the smile forming on her lips. "That's a lot of blood. Let me fix that." He placed his blades in their sheaths and scooped her up into his arms. He trekked through the forest with her tightly in his arms, following the sounds of running water until they reached a creek. He set her down on a rock, using the water to rinse out her wound. He took his cloak off and wrapped it around her wound, using it as makeshift bandage and tourniquet.
"That's going to ruin your cloak." She frowned, flinching from the pain as he tightened it.
"Well we can't have you bleeding everywhere. It can't be helped." He washed his hands in the creek, watching the red diffuse into the water. That's when she noticed how bad his arm truly was. It was already bruising, the bones completely out of place.
"Levi...your arm. It's broken." She reached her hand out to brush the injured limb. He flinched back, holding it against his body.
"It's nothing. I'll be fine."
"You won't even be able to use a blade like that. What happened?" She inched forward and gently moved his arm so she could see it better.
"A Titan grabbed it. It's nothing I can't handle." He brushed her off, but she scowled at him.
"Stop acting tough. It's broken in at least three places and I'm sure it hurts like hell. Just...do you trust me?"
"My trust has yet to waiver. You know this." He stated simply, she smiled softly before placing her hands over the break. She took a deep breath and snapped the bones back into place, forcing warm energy from her palms to heal the area. She did this for each break before focusing on repairing the muscle, tissue, and skin. When her life force pooled on his arm, she fell back on her butt. She looked up to see that Levi was just as sweaty as she was, but his eyes were wide. He stretched his arm out, bending it and moving it around.
"Better?" She huffed, her heart racing. Just that simple fix took a lot out of her and she felt her head spinning, her vision cloudy. She must not have recovered as much as she originally thought. She didn't really have a choice though. Levi needed to be able to fight at full power or neither of them would make it out of there.
"You shouldn't have wasted your energy."
"You know, just a thank-you would be nice." She quipped, trying to steady herself so she could stand. It was useless though, her body exhausted. She would have to rest here for a little while to recover.
"Thank-you Rowan." Levi reached forward and brushed her hair from her eyes. His hand gently cupped her cheek and he sighed."Shut your eyes for a bit. I'll keep watch." He leaned up against a rock, eyes scanning the forest.
"I won't be a burden. We can go." She mumbled and he blocked her from moving with his arm.
"I know how physically draining magic is for you, especially healing magic. Rest. You're of no use to either of us if you get dizzy just standing." He made a valid point and she sighed, shutting her eyes and putting her trust in him. Her head gently rested against his shoulder, her mind finally relaxing. They were silent for a while until she opened her eyes again to look at him. He looked down and met her gaze. "Do you know those witches who were assisting the Titans?"
"No." She shook her head, her frown returning. She pushed herself up so she was sitting straighter, her back leaning against a boulder. "I've never even seen magic like that before. They did something to our horses and it's almost like they could control the Titans. I have this sickening feeling that they might be after Eren." The one was staring Eren down before he even shifted into his Titan form. If they could extend their control to him, it was all over for them.
"Perhaps. They may have been after you as well." He noted and she startled, shifting away from him to get a better look.
"Me?"
"Yes. It can't be a coincidence that the meadow you spent time in as a child is outside the town we found texts on your kind's history in. It also can't be a coincidence that witches never interacted with us before you accompanied us out here." He made a logical point. She thought it over and sighed.
"But how would they even know me or know that I would be out here?"
"Unfortunately Commander Erwin is unaware of the situation with Reiner and Bertolt. They still receive reports and could have communicated it to an outside source." Well that explains how they jumped her like that. They weren't even supposed to be on the mission.
"Heh...yeah...those two." She muttered, her fists clenching.
"I know you said they aren't witches, but I am sure they could still find a way to communicate with a village. Perhaps they were taken in when they were young? Every village could have their own teachings." Levi was logical and she knew that his words most likely held truth.
"There were a set of similarities across all villages, but yes, some had differences. I suppose it's possible. There's clearly a lot I don't know about my own kind." She grumbled before struggling to push herself up. She was ready to start moving and figuring a way out of this mess. Levi helped her to her feet, steadying her as she tried to maintain weight on her injured leg. His hands were placed securely on her hips and his whole body tensed.
"Where's your ODM gear?" He spoke, his tone flat. Rowan frowned, glancing away from him.
"Funny story…" She spoke nervously, chewing at the inside of her cheek.
"Rowan." His tone was firm and she knew he wouldn't let it go. It was pointless keeping it from him anyway.
"Okay, so it's not a funny story. Uh, Bertolt and Reiner jumped me."
"Excuse me?" Levi's eyes darkened and he gripped Rowan's chin, angling her face so she would meet his glare.
"I got separated from everyone when the Titans attacked. Bertolt and Reiner found me. Bertolt spooked Dahlia and when I fell off her, Reiner grabbed me and removed my ODM gear before I could even process what was going on. I told them that I knew the truth about them and Annie before sending them flying into the woods. Then I had to hold off Titans with my magic before one swatted me into the forest…" She trailed off, noting Levi's anger deepening on his features.
"I'm done playing Hange's game. When we get back, both of them will pay."
"We can't Levi. Hange's plan is the best we have for now until we know more."
"No. I'm not risking losing you. They are targeting you now and I'm not going to stand by so they can work on some fucked up hit list." He growled and Rowan sighed, knowing she wouldn't win an argument with him anyway.
"How about we talk to Commander Erwin about it first?" No matter how angry he was, he would respect Commander Erwin's opinion.
"Erwin will just agree with Hange."
"So don't you think we should also agree with Hange? For now. Levi, they didn't succeed and I will be more on guard now. I'm okay, I promise. They just spooked me."
"Don't equate fearing for your life and almost dying to being spooked, you fool." He placed his hand on her head, his eyes shutting as he thought over her words. "Come on. We need to keep moving if you're up for it." She nodded, falling behind him silently. He ended the conversation and there was no sense in pushing forward with it. Together, they climbed over fallen trees and walked through paths covered in crunchy leaves until Rowan felt electricity shoot through her body. It was a feeling she knew all too well and she tensed. They walked too far in. They just trapped themselves in a dangerous and foreign environment and she didn't even know how to tell Levi. They crossed through a barrier, she was sure of it. They continued walking and her eyes scanned their surroundings. What confirmed it even more for her was the presence of men standing at the village's edge. One gestured to the cloak on her shoulders and they raised their weapons. Levi halted to a stop, putting his arm up to keep Rowan from walking farther.
"Outsiders! What is your business in our village?" One of the guards shouted, the pair approaching her and Levi.
"They're human soldiers. They must be dealt with at once." One guard raised his spear and charged towards them. Rowan threw her hands up, sending the guardian flying backwards. She had to do something before Levi raised his blades. They both could have Titan forms and she didn't want to risk it.
"My name is Rowan Mixerton. I'm a witch from the lineage of healers. This my friend, he is human, but we both come in peace. We were attacked by Titans and ran into the forest for cover. If you lay a hand on him or I, my clan will avenge us." Though she didn't believe it herself, she hoped she could convince them. Both soldiers relaxed as a calming aura settled over them. Even Levi seemed to relax and she waited for the approaching witch to show themselves. She emerged behind Levi and he was quick to turn and raise his blades in defense. Rowan caught sight of the new presence and threw herself in front of Levi.
"Silly boys. Rowan is family. Go return to your posts. I'll handle this." An olive-skinned woman stood tall at the forest edge. Her black hair was braided down her left shoulder, her green eyes kind. Emery. She was holding two steaming mugs, a dress draped over her arm. She waited for the guardians to cautiously retreat back towards the village before stepping towards Levi and Rowan.
"Emery. It's been so long." Rowan sprinted forward and wrapped her arms around her cousin, who was trying not to spill hot liquid down her back.
"Rowan. It's so wonderful to see you. I thought you ran off to join the humans and be a soldier. I never expected to see you here." She handed her a mug before lifting the other one for Levi to take. He eyed it cautiously, grabbing it and sniffing its contents.
"I did. We're on a mission outside the walls and we were attacked by Titans." She explained, studying the reddish liquid. It was apple spiced tea and Rowan nearly squealed in joy. It was her favorite from when she lived in the village.
"What is this? It's horrifying." Levi held the mug away from him, his nose scrunched. Emery giggled, taking the mug from him.
"It's actual, decent tea, you heathen." Rowan snapped, savoring the flavor on her tongue.
"What do you consider good quality tea?" Emery directed her question to Levi and he was going to respond, but Rowan beat him to it.
"Black tea. He only drinks black tea and makes everyone else drink it too."
"Oh, that's atrocious. I'm afraid you won't find any of that in this village. You actually drank that Rowan?" Emery was appalled and Rowan smiled sheepishly.
"I mean, yeah….with honey. It's not so bad. It grows on you." She admitted, hiding her face behind her mug. Levi was watching her, his lips just shy of a smirk,
"I highly doubt that." Emery mused before frowning slightly. "Rowan, what are you doing in this village? Are there others with you?" She inquired and Rowan sighed.
"I got ambushed and hit by one of the Titans. Levi came after me, but he was badly injured. I healed his arm and we walked through the forest, but I guess we went too deep and ended up crossing the barrier. Actually, do you mind looking at his arm? You were always more talented than I was." Rowan explained before gesturing to Levi's left arm. She wanted to make sure it healed properly.
"Absolutely. This man is Levi Ackerman?" Emery studied him, eyes running up and down his frame. Levi seemed so out of place in that moment, though his expression was blank. Rowan could see it in his eyes. He was keeping an eye out for danger, mapping their escape if anything went wrong.
"Yep, this is Captain Levi. We were out looking for resources when we got separated from our comrades. Levi took down Titans by himself but broke his arm when he was distracted by my stupid ass getting smacked down by a Titan." Rowan smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head.
"Hello Sir. My name is Emery Mixerton. I'm Rowan's cousin. I followed the path of a healer, so I've had some extra training. May I look at your arm?" Emery bowed respectfully and Levi frowned.
"It feels alright to me. There's no need."
"Levi, just let her look. She doesn't bite." Rowan was grateful for the faith he had in her, but she needed to make sure his arm would be okay for the long term. She didn't want it to just be a temporary fix. Levi glared at Rowan but lamented, letting his guard down so Emery could feel along his arm. She pressed into the bone gently, applying pressure at the brake. She dropped her hands to the side and looked at Rowan with wide eyes.
"It is nearly perfect." She turned back to Levi. "You may have some pain every now and then but it should be minor. Your flexibility and strength shouldn't be impacted at all. I don't even think you'll need any physical therapy or healing treatments to strengthen it." She smiled at Levi and he nodded.
"I had every faith in Rowan." Rowan's chest tightened as he spoke. Her cheeks flushed and she turned her head away to hide it under her hair.
"Well, I hope you learn to trust us in the same manner. I'm not sure how much Rowan has told you about how our villages work. Unfortunately, I think it's best to keep your identity a secret for now. The others are quite terrified of your legacy thus far." She glanced at Rowan who was still hiding her face behind her mug. Levi also slipped his gaze to her and she sighed.
"You can call me Reveille." Rowan glanced at him curiously.
"Very well. Nice to meet you Reveille. Rowan, you should put this on. Our village doesn't know that you betrayed your village to join the human military." She handed Rowan a cloth dress and she bit her lip.
"How do you know about my betrayal?"
"Mattie told me. He comes by every now and then. Don't worry, I ensured that he didn't blab to anyone else. It's for the best that no one else knows." Emery explained as Rowan ducked behind some trees to change. She buried her Scouts uniform before handing Levi her cloak. He could at least wear it since his was being used as a bandage.
"Could you heal Rowan's wound?" Levi spoke before either of the witches could. Emery's brow raised before her gaze slid from him to Rowan.
"I just cut my leg. It's not a big deal." Rowan spoke sheepishly, tucking her injured leg behind her other. Emery sighed before bending down to study her legs. She unwrapped her injured leg and gasped.
"Rowan. It looks like it's infected already. Why would you try to keep this from me? You know if the infection spreads to your blood it could kill you." Emery snapped, eyes wide as she chucked Levi's soaked cloak away from them. Levi took that moment to dispose of it. Emery placed her hands above the wound and shut her eyes. She whispered softly as a gentle warmth traveled up Rowan's leg. Rowan could feel her skin pulling together and it was quite an odd experience. It had been so long since she had actually been healed by anyone. She almost forgot how it felt. The warmth dissipated and Emery stood, a smile on her lips. "There. Now that's taken care of. Has Rowan explained your current situation?"
"He doesn't know." Rowan tensed, waiting to get scolded.
"Rowan!" Emery frowned, her eyes wide. The look of disappointment weighed heavily on her and she crumbled.
"I didn't know this was a village until I crossed the barrier. We were trying to stay hidden from man-eating giants thank-you very much! I was more focused on keeping us both alive and making sure Levi could still fight. I was not going to be the reason humanity's strongest soldier died! No thank-you!" She defended herself. It was a high-stress situation and it wasn't one she expected. It's not like they trained for hords of Titans summoned by witches or for being jumped and betrayed by their comrades.
"I know you were under a lot of pressure, I could sense it. It's how I knew you both were approaching. You still should know better. Your senses must have faded since you've been away." Emery was scolding her. Though she deserved it, it still pissed her off.
"Well, yeah. I didn't even sense the barrier until we passed through it. I must have opened it without realizing." Rowan frowned, disappointed with her own lack of awareness.
"You're much stronger than you give yourself credit for." Emery placed a hand on her shoulder before turning to Levi with a smile. "Well then, welcome to your new home, humanity's strongest soldier." Levi's brow arched in question and Emery giggled. "Good luck telling him. I'll leave you to it."
"But Emery!" Rowan didn't want to face his wrath alone.
"Nope, this is your mess Rowan. Strongest soldier or not, he's still a human. I'll get you guys a temporary home setup."
"Separate homes please!" Levi probably wouldn't even want to look at her after she admits the truth to him and how she royally screwed them over.
"Sorry Ro. We only have one home left open. I'll do my best though. It was nice meeting you Sir. I look forward to talking with you more." Emery bowed before slipping off towards the town center. Rowan felt Levi's stare and her shoulders slumped. She gestured for him to follow, but he stayed put.
"Can you not be stubborn and just follow me? My feet are killing me and I'd like to soak them." She could hear the river nearby and knew it wasn't outside the barrier. He maintained his stance, arms crossed. "I'll tell you everything. You know I will. Come on." With that, he gave in and followed her. She brought them to the river and kicked her boots off. She wasted no time ripping her socks off and sinking her feet into the flowing waters. A sigh of relief escaped her and she gestured for Levi to join her. He stood behind her, waiting. "We are stuck here for thirty days."
"What." His tone was flat and Rowan was waiting for him to push her right into the river. When he didn't move, she continued.
"So, our villages are hidden from humans and Titans by a barrier spell. Once cast, nobody can leave or enter the village unless a witch counters the spell. When we walked here, I must've countered the spell without realizing it. As soon as I opened the barrier, they cast a new spell to hide the village. Normally, they use it to gather resources, but I used it instead." She frowned, pausing to let him process all the new information.
"I am following. Please continue."
"So, you can only open the barrier from the outside once every 30 days. It's part of the spell and why most witches don't really leave the village. It's one of the flaws I suppose."
"And you knew we were inside the barrier before the guards saw us?"
"Well….Yes."
"Were you just not going to tell me and hope that I didn't notice thirty days passing?" He growled, his voice dark.
"Maybe? I hadn't thought that far ahead." With that, Rowan found herself under water. Levi had kicked her right in the butt, sending her sprawling into the river. When she finally came up for air, she scowled at him. "You have so much anger in such a tiny body! Is that why you suck at containing it?"
"Are you allowed to talk to your Captain like that?" Emery's voice startled her and she looked up to see her cousin standing beside Levi.
"She has since the day I met her." Levi huffed nonchalantly, turning his gaze to Emery.
"It doesn't bother you?"
"I find it rather amusing, actually. It's quite cute." He shrugged and a knowing smile touched Emery's lips.
"I'm right here you know! Would you help me please?" Levi extended his hand and Rowan grasped onto it. She almost had herself out of the water when Levi released his grasp on her hand. "Asshole!" Rowan managed to shout before dropping back under water. She shoved herself up, blowing wet tendrils out of her face with anger.
"Oh my. Is that how all Captains treat their comrades?" Emery's eyes were wide.
"Just the ones that cause us the most trouble." Levi answered and Rowan grit her teeth.
"You've been an asshole since day one! I didn't even cause you trouble back then!" She snapped, all love for him leaving her body.
"You did though. You interrupted my evening stroll and tried to get underage trainees intoxicated." Levi countered and Rowan puffed her cheeks out. Well, yeah...
"Sounds like Rowan." Emery giggled and Rowan huffed. Levi extended his hand again and Rowan smacked it away,
"I can do it myself." She growled, using a branch as leverage to push herself up. She managed to get most of the way out, but her foot slipped, her leg giving out. She fell backwards and nearly landed underwater again, but Levi was quick, quicker than anyone else she knew. He gripped her arm down by her elbow, holding her steady.
"Come on. Now it's just pathetic." Levi pulled her up and she clenched her jaw, shivering from the chilled wind brushing against her damp skin. Levi turned the cloak inside out before wrapping it around Rowan's shoulders. At least she didn't totally ruin what they had between them. She held the cloak tightly around her.
"Come on. I'll show you both to your home. You have a few hours before we have our dinner. I'll come get you so you can introduce yourselves to everyone. They're very excited to meet you Levi...well, Reveille. They've never spoken to a human from within the walls before."
"Tch." That was Levi's only response and Rowan sighed, following her cousin to the last available home. It was cozy and warm inside. The front room was dimly lit by candles, decorated with a couch, table, and paintings. There were two rooms connected to it. To the left, a small kitchen resided. There was a stove, a few cabinets, and a counter space. Directly behind the living space, was the bedroom. There were two beds on opposite sides of the room. A door in the back led to the washroom and there was a dresser next to it.
"There's towels and clothes in there for both of you. Please make yourselves comfortable and Reveille?" He turned to face her after his eyes scanned over the home. "Don't wander too far from the village without a witch with you. I'm not sure how the barrier will react to a human. It may force you out if it views you as a threat. Also, if you could leave your weapons in here, it would be appreciated. We don't believe in weapons such as those and I assure you that there won't be any Titans in the village" With that, Emery shut the door. Levi lit a few more candles in the living space and studied the rooms. He unclasped his belt and placed his ODM gear next to the couch.
"Rowan." His voice stopped her from slamming the bathroom door. She had grabbed clothes and a towel while Emery was talking. "Do you trust this village?"
"I have no reason not to. We had the same rules in my village, though I suppose I never saw a human enter before. Now that we know the truth about guardians...I'm a bit unsettled." She thought it over for a moment. "Not that we really have a choice, but I think we will be safe here. I just hope everyone else is okay."
"Can we send a signal out?"
"Afraid not. We can't draw attention to the barrier or we will be treated as prisoners. The others wouldn't be able to find us anyway. They can't pass through without a witch." Levi nodded and dropped onto the couch, staring off. Rowan frowned before shutting the door of the washroom. She stripped out of her soaked clothing and nearly cried out in glee as the hot water soothed her skin. She took her time, lathering her hair and skin. Once she was done, she dried off and braided her hair. She pulled on the undergarments and soft dress she had grabbed. It hugged her frame a bit more than she liked, but the deep burgundy contrasted her skin nicely and it would have to do for the evening. She stepped out, letting the steam escape the tiny room. Levi glanced up and his eyes widened. He quickly turned his face away and she looked down at herself.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes. This place is dirty. Do you think you could find some cleaning supplies?"
"Uh..sure. Go ahead and wash up. I'll see what I can find." She mumbled, before stepping out of the house. He sure was acting weirder than usual. Rowan ventured out into the village, unsure of where she could even look for cleaning supplies. She assumed there would be some in the home, but she trusted that Levi had searched while she was otherwise occupied. She sighed, glancing around the village. She spotted a group of children, dancing around and singing together. Well, kids were less scary than adults. She could work with that.
"Hello friends. Could you help me with something?" She bent down to their level, smiling wide. They all paused and glanced at her, eyes wide.
"You're the new witch! You were travelling with the human guy!" The tallest boy shouted, pointing his finger at her. She nodded.
"Yes. You see, my friend is a bit of a clean freak. Do you know where I can find some cleaning supplies? If not, do you know where Emery is?"
"We can help, but it'll cost yah." The smallest girl shoved her way to the front of the group, arms crossed over her chest.
"What will it cost?" Rowan frowned. She didn't have anything and lacked any pull in the village to get them what they could want.
"Stories." She stated firmly and the children echoed her, laughing and dancing about.
"Stories?" That caught Rowan off guard.
"Yeah. We want to hear stories about your human friend. Does he fight Titans?" The taller boy chimed in and Rowan nodded.
"He does fight Titans. He has gear that lets him fly. It is a belt that has a motor and hooks that function together to grab onto trees and buildings so he can fly through the sky and reach up to the weak spot of a Titan."
"WHOA!" She forgot how little children of witch villages truly knew.
"What's a Titan's weak spot?" The smaller girl was completely focused on Rowan.
"The nape of their neck. You can imagine just how high up that is!" Rowan gestured to the area on her own neck.
"What do you do to the weak spot?" Another child asked and Rowan was suddenly happy to oblige with their request.
"You have to cut through it! The gear that lets him fly also has swords he can use to cut the weak spot. He is a highly skilled swordsman and he has cut down many Titans."
"Tell us more!" Another shouted.
"More! More!" The group echoed and Rowan found herself seated on the ground, sharing stories of the many battles they faced against the Titans. Of course, she left out a few choice details, but told them as much as she could. She told them all about training and how Levi, well, Reveille, had saved her from her brush with death in the trees. She told them about the Titans that broke through the walls and how they had to work together to stop them.
"How'd the humans seal the hole in the wall?" The smallest girl cut Rowan's story off. It was a fair question, but she had purposefully omitted Eren and his Titan form. Rowan held her tongue, thinking over her options. As she thought, she felt a presence behind her. Before she even glanced over her shoulder, she could tell it was Levi.
"That, my friends, is a story for another time." She teased, ruffling each child's head of hair one at a time. They all groaned in unison as Rowan pushed herself to her feet. She hadn't even realized how much time had passed. She turned and faltered. Levi's hair was dripping, strands poking out in different directions. He wore a simple t-shirt over baggy pants. The pants were too large and the shirt was slightly small, but he looked so cozy. Rowan couldn't even form a sentence, completely entranced by him.
"Rowan? What's wrong?" His head tilted slightly before his gaze settled on the group of children.
"Nothing! Nothing. You just look really nice." Rowan really had to just shut her mouth. Seeing Levi in such a relaxed outfit with dripping, unruly hair...it was something she never expected.
"As do you…you look beautiful." A slight pink hue brushed his cheeks and Rowan could feel the heat rushing to her own.
"Thank-you." She conjoined her hands in front of her before clearing her throat.
"Reveille! You must tell us more stories!" One of the children popped out from behind Rowan and Levi tensed.
"Not now kids. Reveille and Rowan must be tired. They just came from a long journey. Hurry home and wash up for dinner. All of you." Emery approached from the center of the village, waving the children off.
"Whatever." The smaller girl huffed, hurrying off as the group dispersed. One boy remained. He was taller than the others, with dark brown hair and freckled skin. He grabbed at the fabric of Rowan's dress, tugging gently. She knelt down so her face was level with his.
"Thank-you for the stories Rowan. We all really appreciate it. We never get to hear about the outside world." He smiled widely, his two front teeth missing. "The cleaning supplies are in the shed, right over there." He pointed towards a rickety building with a tan door. "My name is Rylan and I know where to find the good snacks in the shared kitchen. Come find me if you're hungry." He beamed, before hurrying off through the village.
"It looks like you have made an impact on the children." Emery mused and Rowan shrugged.
"I asked them where I could find cleaning supplies and they told me that I had to trade stories for information. I guess I'm a good story-teller."
"Perhaps. The house was just cleaned yesterday. Is there a problem with it?" Emery inquired and Rowan shook her head.
"Y-" Levi went to speak, but Rowan cut him off.
"Nope. It's fine. It was just a question for future reference." She assured her cousin and her cousin nodded, handing them both a mug of steaming liquid.
"Here. Get some rest. Dinner is at sundown." She smiled before wandering off back into the village. Rowan turned and headed back towards the house, Levi on her heels.
"Rowan, it's filthy." He grumbled and she rolled her eyes.
"It is fine for now. I'm not going to offend the one person who is on our side." Rowan sighed, dropping onto the left bed. Levi sniffed at the mug Emery handed him, nose scrunching. Rowan had a similar reaction and she sipped at it hesitantly.
"What is this?"
"It kind of tastes like a healing tea we used to give to villagers who needed rest. She's probably trying to help us actually sleep." Rowan sipped her tea as she leaned against the wall. Levi sat cross-legged on the right bed, holding the tea in his lap.
"Those kids. None of them knew anything about humans or Titans. They didn't even know about the walls. You had never been inside the walls before you enlisted?" Levi spoke softly and Rowan smiled gently.
"No, my first time within the walls was right before Eren went all big and scary. Honestly, I'd rather never go back to that area." She explained, cringing at the memory.
"Why'd you join the Scouts then? I get you want to help humanity, but if you don't wish to live within the walls, why join?"
"Because the other garrisons sounded boring." Rowan mused and Levi scowled.
"No. Why even join the military? Why leave your village?"
"We've talked about this before, silly."
"I know, but I still don't fully understand. If you don't want to live in the walls and you can't return to a village, why leave in the first place?" She glanced at him and his brow was furrowed.
"I know it seems foolish. Why leave a safe and cozy village to go risk my life for a species I had never interacted with before? I could have had a normal and happy life in my village, but it would have been pointless. I'm a witch and I come from a lineage of strong healers. I know my magic has potential to be strong. I know I can be strong and make a difference. I want to help rid the world of Titans so that every human can have the same life that was laid out for me. I want humanity to flourish and have a fighting chance." Rowan tried to include as much detail as possible. Levi would probably never understand, but she would try her best to help him.
"It is foolish." He huffed and she figured that would end the conversation. She shifted the direction a bit.
"Well why'd you join the Scouts?" She was always curious, wanting to know everything about him.
"I was living an even more pointless life within the walls underground. I hated myself back then. For some reason, Erwin saw potential in me and forced me to train. He encouraged me to be a fighter. I haven't stopped since. I've seen too much to stop." Rowan didn't expect the honesty soaking Levi's words. He actually opened up to her and she was grateful.
"To tell you the truth, I was terrified. I never wanted to leave the village. But it changed when I saw the Scouts a few years ago. Heck, you were probably the one I saw. A Titan was trying to snack on a group of scouts and I just saw this man fly right off his horse and maneuver around this giant man-eating monster. He cut the back of its neck and saved his comrades. I couldn't believe that humans had to live like that, but I wanted to help. I wanted to fight." She added, hoping to give him the insight he had given her.
"How'd you know where to go?"
"I volunteered to venture out for more resources. My village was a migrating one, so we moved every decade. We were close to the walls and I heard merchants talking about the Scouts. I ran and never looked back. I signed up that day and didn't return with the group." She hadn't even said goodbye to her family or friends. No one had any idea that she was going to abandon them that day.
"And your family?"
"Pissed probably. I'm surprised Thomas didn't try to drag me back when I was sleeping. Most witches adopted this ideology that when the Titans are gone, humans will turn their fear and anger towards us. I can't say I blame them and I'm sure some would, but you didn't kill me when I revealed what I was."
"They are probably right. Humanity has many faults." Levi acknowledged, a frown on his lips.
"Yes, but they still deserve a fighting chance. I also know that they learned to accept Eren, though many are still afraid. My friends, they all accepted me and they all learned to accept Eren. With some convincing, I think we could learn to live in harmony once the Titans are eliminated."
"It's a foolish dream, but I suppose it might be possible."
"Yeah yeah. Anyway, why did you accept me? You didn't even hesitate out in the forest when you saw my power." Rowan had always wanted to ask him that. Since he was already being open with her, she figured it wouldn't hurt to ask now.
"You don't really pose much of a threat. I could eliminate you quickly if the situation called for it." Well, that wasn't what she was expecting.
"Wow, thanks. I'm honored."
"You're also honest. You don't filter yourself, even when the situation calls for it. I can also tell how much you care about your friends. I don't sense a threat when I'm around you and now…well now things are even more complicated. I've become rather attached to you, I could never turn my back on you."
"I do really care about them. I care about you too. I could never betray you. You know that right?"
"Yes. You did give me that promise at the fire." He sighed, placing his mug on the floor.
"Well don't sound so glum about it." A big yawn escaped her, her tone lacking the sarcasm she intended. "Damn this tea really is magical."
"Get some rest. I'll keep watch."
"There's no need to keep watch, Levi. I locked the door. We're safe here." Levi continued to stare at the door and Rowan sighed. She climbed out of bed and sat right in front of Levi.
"What are you doing?"
"If you're not sleeping then neither am I. We are a team."
"We aren't anything right now. Go to sleep. You look miserable." He huffed and she scowled.
"You don't look like sunshine and rainbows either. Maybe if you actually sleep, you'll be less grouchy. And we are something. You can only deny it for so long." She poked at his nose and he fixed a glare on her.
"I'm not grouchy." Rowan busted out laughing and didn't stop until she noticed his blank stare.
"Oh you're serious? You're the grouchiest person I know, but I also know it's because you're always on edge. It's tough to reprogram yourself but we are safe here. Let yourself rest." He didn't budge though, so she continued keeping watch with him. They remained silent most of the night, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Though she was hungry, her body needed the rest more. She found her eyes slowly shutting, her body slouching over until her arms rested on Levi's legs, cushioning her head. It was there she slipped into a dreamless slumber.