Elsie fixed her thigh strap, hopping on one foot to tighten it, and hollering for Levi to wait for her. The man ignored her, taking the stairs by two, to meet Hange at the front door of the castle.
"Rude!" Elsie hissed once she caught up to them, none too gently shoving Levi aside so that she could take his spot.
Levi pulled the end of her braid, "Learn how to walk and I won't leave you behind."
"You literally cut my straps, I had to borrow Hange's!"
"I told you to stop screaming."
"It wasn't screaming, I was singing, you tone deaf bastard."
Hange held her arms out, letting her head fall back and smile serenely at the rising sun, "God, if this is what being in a relationship is, please spare me."
"Hange! We're not- Oi, watch out!" Elsie yanked the squad leader out of the doorway in time for a red streak to race out.
Himari made it to the end of the stairs, her small feet on the patchy grass, and spun in a circle. She pushed her frazzled hair out of her eyes, panicked, trying to look into the carriage that Miche was guarding. The older man had no time for the nosy bird and grabbed her when her eyes got too close to the bars on the carriage door.
"Himari!" Elsie left Hange and Levi to save the maid. She apologized to the stern Miche, pulling Himari to the safety of the stairs. "What are you doing?"
"Oh thank the heavens!" Himari hugged Elsie tight. "I thought I missed you!"
"Is everything okay?" Elsie awkwardly patted her back, trying to convey to Levi to help her out of the hold.
The bastard pretended not to see, turning his back to speak with Hange. Neither of them were in a rush to have Elsie back. Himari caught her breath and fixed her outfit, smiling wide at Elsie.
"Yes! I wanted to say good bye," She blushed, looking at the carriage. Elsie couldn't help it; she stepped over to prevent Himari from seeing something damaging. "I was scared of the Scouts, especially the Captain, but you were very nice. Thank you."
Elsie hadn't forgotten about Lord Mahil. She placed a comforting grip on her elbow, "If that jerk touches you again write to Captain Levi and I'll personally cut his hand off."
"Oh no, I could never..." Himari eye's widened.
Levi approached, emitting the aura of irritation that had Himari squeaking, curtsying to Elsie for the last time, and scurrying into the safety of the castle. Elsie watched the bird, knowing that she would miss her too.
"Did she admit to being obsessed with you?" Levi monotoned, peering into the bars.
"Yes, she doesn't think that anyone else can hold a torch to her love for me," Elsie played along, joining his side. "Where's Erwin? I need to speak to him before we leave."
"About what?"
Annie raised her sweaty head, hooded eyes teary as they met Elsie's hard hazel stare. She was kneeling in the carriage, her ankles tied thickly with chains and rope, her stumpy upper arms wrapped in dirty brown rags. The fight had left her, knowing that she had lost. Elsie wondered if a part of Annie was relieved that she didn't have to chase Eren anymore.
"We have one more of her friends to catch."
Annie jerked at Elsie's voice, eyes widening. Levi tutted, "She didn't think we knew about them."
"No," Elsie cocked her head, drawn by the blue pools of depression. "She thought they were still safe."
A collective thump sounded from behind them. Erwin was descending the stairs, clasping his cloak and examining the soldiers saluting him in the yard of the castle. The horses had been readied and lined, ten in the front, five on either side of the prisoner's carriage, and ten at the back.
"Are we ready?" Erwin asked when he reached his captain.
"Yes."
"Erwin," The cold brown eyes indicated that yes, Elsie was still on his bad side for bruising Van. He had heard the shouting but not the content, apparently. "The Interior Police are here."
"Yes, as it is their job to travel to districts."
"They're here for Krista," Elsie was relieved when no pain came, the knowledge free to divulge now that Krista had told someone. "Her name is Historia Reiss."
The horses drew attention. Their hooves shook the ground, the residents of Stohess coming out of their houses to bid the Scouts farewell happily - and not for the reason they would if the MPs were walking. They were eager to get rid of the disgraced regiment.
Elsie was at the back of the convey, reigns loosely wrapped in her right hand gripping the saddle. Her other hand hung limply at her hip, ready to pull her gear out at a seconds notice. The stress of being attacked by the Interior Squad made her repeatedly look at the top of buildings, birds flying tricking her into thinking it was an enemy. Erwin, with the information of Historia, had demanded she ride by him. Elsie could see her tiny back beside the bulky man and she hoped that the girl was faring well with the relentless questions. Elsie felt for her on that part.
"Why is Krista up front? She should be back here with the rest of us." Bierthodlt asked, falling short between Elsie and Ymir.
Ymir did not like his questioning, "Why do you care what she's doing? I thought you killed yourself, where have you been?"
"What- Why would you say that?"
It was funny, in a way, to watch the titans bicker. They had no idea about one another and Elsie felt like God, knowing their ends and reveals.
"I don't want to date her, Jesus, we all know you love her."
"Exactly, so fuck off. I'll worry about Krista for the both of us." Ymir finalized.
A kid threw a rock and Elsie's fingers twitched to her gear. She sighed, rolling her shoulders. No way would Kenny take on the whole regiment. She calmed herself, knowing that Rod Reiss wasn't actively trying to bring Historia home - yet. They had at least another few weeks of safety. Right? They were only watching for now.
All they had to do was fight the Beast titan now. That had given Elsie a rash in her throat, feebly trying to warn Erwin about the attack. He told her to take a break, that they would speak when they got to the castle. Levi didn't look at her when Erwin had said this, jaw clenched.
Elsie knew that she would be saying a few secrets tonight and pulled her cloak tighter, as if it could protect her from the pain inside.
"Finally! I can't believe that I'm happy to see this place." Jean leaped off of his horse, kicking up dirt in his rush to get inside the looming castle.
Elsie was much slower on the uptake. She squinted through the sunlight, taking in the castle that she had lived in for four months. It was the same although the windows were boarded and weeds had grown over the steps in the absence of Levi's chores. Sunni raised and lowered her head, excited to be home. Elsie absently patted her neck, not feeling the same.
It would be better with the others there. She wasn't too eager to get inside and kicked Sunni into a slow walk for the stables, turning away from Oulou's window. Elsie took her time to hang the saddle on its hook, soothingly brushing Sunni's matted hide. She kept her head down, ignoring the friendly chatter happening behind her. Ymir had called her name, nodding towards the tree line to talk. Knowing that she couldn't avoid the Jaw titan forever, Elsie gave one last rub on her mare's belly before leaving the stables.
"What's going to happen to K-Historia now?" Ymir asked once they were alone.
Elsie watched the scouts move in and out, ants on a mission. The steaming Annie was lifted between Jean and Bierthodlt into the castle, no doubt to take residence in Eren's old basement room.
"Nothing," Elsie shrugged. "We protect her."
"Did you come here just for her? Are you like me?"
Elsie smiled, "No, Ymir. I'm not, I'm just... a girl who got lost. I know some things, some freaky things. But not as special as you."
"What do you mean?" Ymir crossed her arms. It was new for her to speak about her shifting, she could tell it was making her uncomfortable. But this would make it easier when the time came for her to shift and save them all.
That, Elsie knew without a doubt. She had avoided Eren and Ymir being kidnapped - without Reiner there was no way that Bierthodlt would be so bold to take a stance against the Scouts. With the help of Ymir, so much more could be accomplished. She and Eren could work together. It was hard to imagine, but Elsie knew that Ymir would come in handy when the Beast titan came. Eren wouldn't be alone in the field.
"Have you ever thought that you could help like Eren? Historia and I will stand by you."
Ymir backpedaled, "Hell no. They're using him like a puppet, there's no way in hell that I'll be bossed around-"
"You won't be bossed around. You'll be next to Historia."
Ymir clamped her mouth and walked away. Elsie wasn't upset. It would take time but she knew the day would come. Historia was worth being 'bossed' around in Ymir's mind.
Elsie was stopped before she could enter the steep staircase leading to the basement. She raised an insulted eyebrow, sneering as she looked the stone faced Fumio up and down.
"Let me in." She snapped.
"No. Captain Levi said no one can go down there."
"He didn't mean me! Move, Fumio."
He held his stance with crossed arms, "No."
"I'll kick you in the balls, so help me."
"I'd like to see you- oh fuck." Fumio fell, groaning.
Elsie stepped over him without an apology. If the outside had been affected, it was nothing compared to the spiderwebs hanging from the low ceiling. Elsie had to duck her head at the last step to avoid hitting her head, following the torch light to the right. The basement was long and housed four cells, the one to the left with a bed and dresser for Eren.
Annie's cell was bare with a bucket to pee in. The once proud woman laid on her side, curled into herself. Erwin, Hange, and Miche stood outside the cell, dark faces as they watched Levi wipe blood off his sword, standing above Annie. White chunks of flesh piled in the corner of the cell, Hange snatching the steaming pieces to put in a napkin for later inspection. It seemed Annie's arms had regenerated enough to be trimmed again.
"What are you doing here?" Erwin snapped, leering over Elsie's small stature.
"I live here." Elsie was monotone, cocking her hip and daring him to tell her she couldn't attend their little torture session. If it wasn't for Elsie, Annie would be crystalized, Stohess would be destroyed, and they wouldn't be getting any answers from her.
"You need to go back upstairs and-"
"Let her stay, Erwin," Hange, shockingly, was the one to interrupt. She held the flesh for Elsie to see, her nose curling at the smell. It reminded her of when she'd coated herself in titan blood. "I didn't want to cut Eren up but now with sweet Annie here, I can do as much as I want! Oi, Levi, take her eye! I wonder how long that would take to heal."
Levi kept his back to the poles that separated them. Too fast for Elsie to see in the dark, he used the long blade to pierce Annie. Her scream raised goosebumps on Elsie's skin, desperate, painful, scared. She sounded like a child.
"Tch, disgusting. Here, four eyes," A squelchy white ball rolled on the grimy floor. Hange used her bare hands to lift it to the flame, the blue iris wide in horror. "You owe me more blades."
"Erwin, Levi needs more blades." Hange said distractedly.
There was a thump from Levi's kick, "Hey, titles bitch. You're not falling asleep on me, are you? Guess I'll have to be more creative."
Elsie wished that she could say it wasn't affecting her but her stomach twisted with each kick Levi gave. She reminded herself that Annie had stomped on Petra, closing her eyes briefly for a second. Once she steadied herself, Elsie joined Miche on the wall, her hands behind her back. Thank God Levi hadn't thought to torture Elsie in the beginning.
"Annie," Erwin clasped a pole in his hand, knuckles turning white, eyes flaming with newfound glory. "Where are you from?"
A weak voice rasped, "Fuck...You..."
"The commander has more taste than that," Levi's blade glinted in Annie's face. "I could give you something else to fuck."
Elsie didn't want to visualize what he meant. Hange slid the eyeball into her coat pocket, patting it for safe keeping and winking at Elsie's pale face. She never realized just how bad ass they were until then. Miche picking at his teeth as he couldn't care less for the girl chopped up. Erwin, hungrily watching Levi's movement. Hange, demanding another piece of body to examine.
Elsie could never.
"Okay, time is 6:23 pm. I'll come back at six in the morning to see if her eye grew back, or if anything else has changed. That should be enough time, Eren usually takes two days to heal," Hange's glasses glinted, hiding her eyes. "I'm sure Annie has more talent in that department."
Annie laid still. Erwin backed away, Levi looking over his shoulder for direction. Elsie hoped that they were done for the night. They should give her time to think, maybe she'll realize that whatever she was fighting for wasn't worth it.
"Dinner is being served," Miche yawned, kicking off the wall. "Man, I'm starving. Come on kid, let's leave the devils to work."
"No, I'm stay-"
"Elsie."
The fight left her at Levi's voice. She didn't have to turn to know his dark gaze was on her. A part of her didn't want to see what his eyes looked like when he was in this environment, torturing and mocking a person at their lowest. Wanting to leave on her own accord, Elsie shook Miche's hand off her arm, and stomped up the stairs. Fumio had regained his senses, trying to trip Elsie when she passed.
"The Captain specifically said to not let her in. Idiot." Miche snapped at Fumio, punching him in the shoulder.
The boy growled under his breath, knowing better than to talk back, and resuming his guard duty. Elsie was a storm of emotions, not liking that Levi had tried to keep her away, having mixed thoughts about the torture, Ymir, Bierthodlt. She had to stop, Miche side stepping so they didn't run in each other. She palmed her eyes, counting her breaths.
"You good? I know it's a lot to see something like that." Miche tried to sound nice but it was missed. He was gruff, clearing his throat, awkwardly looking anywhere but the near tearful girl.
"I-I just... I have everything figured out, I do. I know what I'm doing." Elsie kept walking.
"What? Uh, okay." Miche seemed happy enough to let the strange conversation go.
Elsie just realized that she hadn't seen the worst yet. She had survived the right wing, thankfully, but now a more dangerous and larger predator was coming. If she couldn't handle seeing Annie being tortured, how was she going to handle the Beast titan throwing rocks at them? The fight with Hanes in the prairie? Erwin loosing his arm? She needed to strengthen herself. So much shit was coming and she couldn't afford to be affected.
"Where is she?"
Elsie looked up from the potato and rice meal, not impressed with Eren, and turning back to stare at her bowl. She moved the mush, leaning on one hand.
"I'm right here."
"Not you. Annie. She has to be scared, I should talk to her."
Elsie sighed, "Yeah, I agree."
"I mean, I know her, we've trained together. If anyone can talk to her, I can. I didn't believe it at first but now that I know, there has to be a way for us to get her on our side."
"Mmm. I think she likes you."
"Listen, Elsie, I'm telling you! I really think if you let me talk to her that I can convince her to-" A spoon was thrown from across the table, cutting Eren's lip.
Ymir rolled her eyes, "She literally agreed with you. Shut up! Can we go one night without talking about titans?"
"No! I need to talk to her now."
Elsie pulled Eren into the seat, shushing him with a spoonful of food. He chomped, angry, steam coming out of his ears as he glowered at his friends. Jean was happily patting his swelled stomach, burping to Historia's disgust. The blonde cringed, leaning into Ymir's side, who was all too happy to put an arm around her. Mikasa kept her head down.
"Eren, we'll talk to her tomorrow. I'm sure Captain Levi is doing his own questioning right now." Armin soothed the disgruntled boy.
"Like how he did to me in the court room? I can't just stand by and let that happen."
"Annie isn't for humanity, Eren. She's not going to change her views in one night. We'll talk to her in the morning, I promise." Elsie stood, pushing her serving to Eren.
He pouted, "Where are you going?"
"To bed. It's been a long day."
"Don't forget your promise!" Eren shouted after her retreating back.
Elsie drowned herself in the shower. The hot water burned her cheeks, slapping against her closed eyelids, but she didn't move. She stood, hands on her shoulders, until the water ran cold. She wrapped a worn towel around her, exposing the bottom of her ass and doing nothing to cover the swell of her breasts. For the first time, she missed the luxuries of castle life.
She brushed her dripping hair over her shoulder, cursing when she realized that she'd forgotten her clothes in her room. Another luxury - rooms with their own bathrooms. Now she was going to have to share with all of the Scout Regiment and not her own squad.
Elsie pried the door open, checking the hallway that it was clear before streaking to her room. She slammed the door shut, shivering from the change of air, and headed for her small side table that held only tan pants and white blouses.
"Fuck!" Elsie grabbed her chest, reeling back to hit the door.
"Tch. What are you doing walking around like that?" Levi snapped, sitting at the edge of her twin bed.
"I forgot my clothes, it wasn't on purpose." Elsie kept her dignity, yanking the drawer open and squatting low so that Levi wouldn't see anything, fist tightly wrapped around the towel.
"Brat."
Elsie stayed squatted, finally meeting Levi's blank gaze when she couldn't feign looking for pajamas, "How's Annie?"
"Alive," Levi reached for her, grabbing her forearm to tug her to where his legs were. Elsie lost her breath, twisting the top of the towel, the only thing hiding her naked bod from him. "Didn't the fucker tell you that no one could go down there?"
"Yes and I kicked him in the balls."
His lips twitched even though he wasn't pleased with her, "You weren't supposed to see that."
"Apparently since you specifically told him to not let me in," Elsie pulled her arm back, remembering that she was slightly miffed. "I deserve to be there just as much as the others."
"No, you don't."
"I do. I kept her alive to talk, if you had it your way she'd be crystal-" She breathed through the fire. "I do."
"I didn't want you there."
Elsie fell silent, "I'm sorry." She understood.
"Get dressed."
"You need to leave then."
There was a challenge to Levi's stare. Would he say something? Elsie prayed to her God, to the 850 God, and to Levi that he would tell her to dress in front of him. She would do it, no questions asked. She would drop the towel, let his dark eyes rake her bare body, would let him do anything he wanted.
"I'll be outside."
The door clicked shut. Elsie dressed, falling in step as they walked past their rooms and down the stairs, past the dining room, and to the medical room that Eren had been treated in so long ago. Hange was there, containers hidden with rags that Elsie was positive held parts of Annie.
"Lay down, kiddo. We don't want you to fall and hit your head." Hange patted the chair.
Elsie swallowed thickly, palms sweating suddenly. She laid her head back, the ceiling bland and not distracting enough. She chose to close her eyes, breathing heavy.
"Go ahead, Levi."
"Don't touch her, four eyes. She'll burn."
"I know, I know. You told me the whole ride here." There was a hint of annoyance in the woman's voice, frayed by the conversation.
Elsie felt Levi's body heat to her side. She unclenched her teeth, running her hands over the seat.
"Who's coming for us?" Levi's voice was soothing, easy to reply to. It was only her body that would make it hard.
"M-M," Elsie's brow furrowed, throat beginning to itch. "Marley."
Elsie shook, holding herself in a tight curl, the shakes beginning. Her tongue burned like she'd drank something too hot, the tastebuds raised and irritated.
"Is Annie from Marley?" Levi was close.
"Yes." Elsie thought she could speak it but the word was a painful scream, much like the titan's below.
"Are they coming?"
Elsie nodded, tears streaming from her closed eyes. The pain, it burned her, it stabbed her bones, it kept her frozen. Red flashed behind her eyelids, the pain traveling from her throat to the base of her skull.
"That's enough." Levi snapped, either at himself or Hange.
"She's fine, Levi. One more." Hange encouraged him.
"When will they come, Elsie?" The cushion dipped by her head, his breath hot on the side of her turned face.
Elsie gasped, "A year!"
She shot up, bent over the chair, and puked blood.