Year 850
After an eventful year of the Colossus titan breaking Wall Maria and capturing Marley warrior Annie Leonhart, also known as the Female Titan, the Scout Regiment have been taking a much needed sabbatical at Levi's castle near Karanes district.
Elsie worries of the Beast titan's looming titan attack against Connie's home village, Ragaku, and their upcoming mission to Shiganshina. Commander Erwin begins night patrols in fear the Military Police are trying to thwart the Scout Regiment and steal Eren Jeager for the crown.
- Having avoided Annie and Eren destroying Trost, Elsie believes she had halted the fast paced events of season two; preventing Erwin's arm loss and Hannes' sad death. Now with the rest of the squad aware of Historia's identity Elsie believes they are near the middle of season three. If she remembers right, it has been a year since she was in 2018. -
Elsie's body wasn't made for the cold. She shivered and trembled as she paced her position, focused on the slightest change in a tree branch or the crack of wood from the thick woods that swallowed her. The fact that no one was closer than five miles scared her, worries of being the one to be attacked, to be alone when something happened in the middle of the night, and another snap came from behind. She glanced, stared, narrow eyed as she tried to see into the pitch black of midnight before facing forward.
How much longer? She lost track after her second hour. Damn, she missed watches. Technology in general. It'd be nice to return to electric heating and a light switch to flick. Netflix to fall asleep to, even the familiar static glow that a television provided would be comfort enough. A flashlight when she heard another sound come from ahead.
She wanted better ODM gear. The thick machine brushed against the low bushes as she slowly walked forward, cocking her head and pausing to hear if another sound came. Silence. No reason to move forward then.
It's too dark to tell if there were clouds in the sky. Elsie spent a moment to focus, sort of wishing that she'd wake up to snow, instantly regretting it when she realized that she'd have to still train on snowy floor.
Snap.
Elsie gripped her swords, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. She couldn't stand here and expect someone else to investigate. With a dry swallow Elsie walked forward, pausing every four steps to listen before changing position.
"Fuck." Elsie exhaled when she saw the owl loudly making a nest in the tree above.
She could see the moon through the shattered visage the tree branches allowed, having to cock her head and raise her hand to guess the time. Did she even have to raise her hand? Or was that for star reading? God, she's a useless Scout. With a huff and no further suggestion on the time, Elsie turned back and circled where her patrol spot was located.
Another hour and nothing changed. Four o'clock was the time Elsie should start heading back and she felt solid enough in her body's inner clock to know when the sun should start rising. The sweet relief of being able to sleep the rest of the day away while everyone else trained kept her standing and blinking slowly into the darkness. Still can't see shit. If anyone came running out of the thick woods she'd only have time to block herself.
Keep your blades drawn.
Not good thoughts. Time to change. Where's Levi? Somewhere West with no one to bug him. He'd made it inanely clear that he'd rather not deal with the kids and to only shoot a flare on worst case scenarios, looking at Eren and Jean and stating, "Meaning death. Only when you feel your last breath leave your dull chests can you pull that trigger." Elsie found herself impressed that so far into patrol she hadn't heard screams of boyish hatred echoing in the lonely night.
Elsie, Connie, and Ymir were closest North and pacing the growth beneath the lookout of Eren's transforming part. Levi, Sasha, and Armin stayed further left and close to the trail in case someone came by or any clues that had been missed (it was the path they had bickered up). Given the job of peace keeper, Historia joined Jean, Eren, and inseparable Mikasa to the East. There they'll watch the front of the cliff and back area of the woods, a lengthy trip that no one considered until Erwin's suggestion. Dedication and talent would make it a a choice for the more steel hearted.
She found herself humming a song, not recognizing the tune, half remembering the lyrics and snapping her fingers with satisfaction as the lyrics of I Miss You by Blink-182 returned. A easy and deep beat, Elsie thought of Halloween on Christmas and all the cute words they'd sang, the pure sweet ease of turning on the radio to listen to it. Hell, Bluetooth. When would that exist?
"And I'm so sorry..." Elsie sang softly, kicking her foot and walking further into the woods.
The temperature dropped the further she walked. Coldest before dawn, she reminded herself, and with vigor that the sun kept bad guys away she delved deeper than she'd dared before. Nothing scary or big jumped out, no tigers, lions, or bears. Oh my! Elsie remained alone in the woods, clanking ODM gear her only friend in the still perimeter.
Her song from future days fell to a puff of frozen air, a rustle ahead breaking her concentration and making her freeze. She squinted and caught a figure walking twenty feet ahead, back facing her, but green cloak visible over broad shoulders. He turned his head to catch wind of something and she saw the shaved undercut, short height. Of course Levi wouldn't think she could handle this.
The dick came out of his perimeter to check hers. Asshole! With the intent to tell him off Elsie picked up her pace, not bothering to keep silent in her furious stomp towards him. She could handle herself, thank you very much, and this hero complex has gone too far. How could she prove she'd survive if he was up her ass all the time? She needed the chance to show how able she could be in this life and that wouldn't happen if he kept blocking every fight.
Obliviously Levi kept his steady pace West. Fifteen feet before meltdown. Elsie shoved a wrongly growing branch from her way, breaking contact to make sure the object got its revenge, and when she turned back Levi wasn't alone.
Another figure copied his steps, slow and steady, dedicated and patient, a darkly cloaked hump stalking. He paused at note and took advantage of the shadows, easily avoiding Levi's lazy sweep. Hero complex, she noted, and kept it saved for a future boast.
And just as fast as Elsie didn't see the problem (sure, Levi had a hero complex but he was Levi and if she called his name he'd see the guy and have it all under control - like always) the atmosphere darkened. Color drained from Elsie's vision, the once starry sky invisible, white moon and green cloak tinged in frayed black mist. The man stood vibrant against the setting, suddenly standing an alarming six feet, a pop up picture in a child's book. He held out his arm, the shape of the gun highlighted in his steady aim at the back of Levi's head.
Levi couldn't beat the speed of a bullet.
Bang!
She can't see.
Elsie tried to breathe but the air filled thickly with smoke from the flare gun. A drifting red fog trailed a line from Elsie to fifteen feet ahead of her and a sizzling sound of the metal container giving its last whistle echoed.
She can't see.
She followed the path of red, "Levi? Levi!" The man laid on the floor. He did not move and she did not stop to check his wound.
What did she hear? Think, Elsie, think! One gun shot or two? One or two? She couldn't hear over the flare gun. Did she shoot too late? She hadn't thought. The moment he pulled his gun she had no choice but to use the flare. There was nothing else she could've done.
One or two? She couldn't see.
"Levi!"
West. Head West. Back up? Sasha would smell the fog, no doubt Mikasa and Ymir had heard the flare. Someone else is coming but she needed Levi. Where was he? Why wasn't he replying?
Don't cry. Steady head. West. Can't see. One or two?
She broke the tree line that kept the fog at bay, hacking into her bent arm as she stumbled to a stop. The sun began to make her way up with chirping birds and a soft yellow too bright for Elsie's sorrowful search of the floor, her legs numb when no shout came back.
A rustle shook the canopy above and Elsie dropped her head back, cheeks covered in tears as she took in Connie and Ymir flying. They couldn't see through the red smoke and Elsie lost her voice with Levi but they drew their swords and braved the unknown to land.
"Elsie?" Ymir called from the left, hidden as the forest was moved by mist. "Elsie!"
"I'm here! Keep coming! Ymir!"
They collided with tight grips and wide eyes. Connie appeared with his swords drawn and attempting to protect them while they shakily clutched hands.
"What happened?"
"Levi- He was here and I don't know - I killed someone -"
Connie plugged one ear and without warning shot another flare above their heads. Very little did it phase Elsie, who didn't flinch at the ring and only saw the back of Levi's head before her vision failed her. Where was he? Why wasn't he answering? She prayed he was conscious.
"There could be more in the area. Which way was Captain Levi heading?" Connie, of all people, took command of the situation.
Elsie sniffled and pointed West. He needed no encouragement to pull his triggers and disappear above to follow direction. Having a plan made it easier for her tears to subside and her nose to clear, so Elsie shook out her shaky hands and hopelessly cried out Levi's name. Please don't let him be dead.
"We're useless down here. Can you keep up?" Ymir took two small steps forward and paused when Elsie didn't move.
What if he was hurt and still in the area?
She blinked and cleared her throat, "Yeah. Let's go."
"Connie probably has the right idea. If you caught one guy," Ymir's tone hinted that she truly didn't believe her story. "Then maybe the Captain saw someone too. Either way he's supposed to be with Sasha and Armin by the trail."
Supposed to be. Why was he all the way out here? Had Elsie been sleep walking? There was no way she could've pulled the trigger to the flare gun without being awake. She'd seen that man point his gun at Levi so vividly.
Panic choked her. She couldn't think past his still body hunched over a root somewhere bellow. Had she been too late?
Elsie looked down while Ymir faithfully guided them behind Connie. In minutes Mikasa appeared with Jean, Historia, and Eren loosely at her heel. She couldn't look up besides to notice their involvement before focusing on the impossible ground. Was he on foot? Levi was good but he wasn't quiet. They hadn't heard another gun shut since Connie's.
"What's going on?" Historia cried worriedly.
Ymir moved them to the right, "We're looking for Captain Levi! Elsie shot a flare!"
She avoided the truth. Elsie looked up as their speed slowed to match Connie's, practically the entire squad darting through the trees over Elsie's hysterical pleas. It had been true, she knew it, but she felt Connie and Ymir loosing interest in blindly racing forward. By now they would've seen him.
Gods, she'd left him.
Elsie flipped in her chords, scaring Historia and Mikasa on either side, and darted back to the clearing. She didn't get more than two miles from the squad before a gun shot came from their immediate right. Elsie flew as fast as never before, her eyes watering from not blinking, and she came upon a tree branch burning in time to see Levi plunging his sword into a woman's stomach.
Her limp hand dropped the gun to the ground just as her body slacked against his long blade. Levi snarled at her dependence on him and yanked the weapon free so he could watch her fall face first. The sun kissed his skin good morning as he wiped the dripping blood off before returning his sword to his ODM. Never had he looked so confident and heart wrenchingly beautiful.
Elsie breathlessly fell beneath the burning tree. She could see two other bodies laying feet away. One laid face first with a torch slowly dying beyond his pale hand. The other faced towards the shining sky, unrecognizable, and not one for Elsie's attention. She felt no remorse for the life on the floor and only fulfillment as she met Levi's shocked gaze.
Levi! She sprinted to throw her arms around his neck. He stumbled from her sudden weight and caught her by the waist. Sweat and pine filled her senses, his breath hot on her neck, his arms tight against her sides. He locked his hands behind her back and Elsie pressed into him, pressing until he lifted his head and met her eyes. Pressing until she stood on her tip toes and had Levi's undivided attention with how close their lips were coming to brushing. She pressed her lips against his, even with her chapped lips from her ODM flight and with her cotton mouth from screaming.
It was the most glorious kiss in the world. He breathed and felt whole beneath her fingers tip. His skin, although sweaty, smelled of life and perfection. He was alive, he was fine. She found him.
She held him against her, gripping his forearm and digging her fingernails into the side of his neck. She became desperate, furiously trying to give him all of her while he did the same in return. He bruised her, she knew, with how hard he gripped her hips and he nipped at her bottom lip with such ferocity it would be swollen in seconds.
"Holy shit, Captain!"
Multiple thumps from behind broke Elsie and Levi apart. She panted for air, refusing to release him and holding his dark gaze to embrace the fact he was alive in front of her. She'd not been too late. She held his neck when he turned to greet them and whispered, "Please, just one more second."
"Are there more?" Mikasa called as the squad separated to sweep the scene.
Levi thumbed Elsie's cheek, "You're crying."
"Next time let me know you're alive before dashing off." Elsie said breathlessly, finding herself lost in his gaze.
"I'm sorry." He murmured honestly. Levi didn't shy from her touch, from her words. He met her gaze and smiled, a small sad one for worrying her.
"Clear over here!" Connie kicked the woman over. She spat and hacked on the blood forcing its way out of her throat. She moaned in pain and fruitlessly tried to crawl.
Jean and Sasha kept their blades drawn and slowly circled her. The thick grey cloak dragged against the ground. She appeared to be a witch from the mud, straggly blonde hair hanging from her forehead and blood oozing from a split lip when she met Elsie and Levi's blank looks.
Elsie immediately recognized her as the blonde working with Kenny. She disappeared from view when Levi stepped forward. He crouched to her height and cocked his head to meet her wild steel blue eyes. Too fast for Elsie to catch she lifted her right hand and swiped a sharp dagger at Levi's neck. Fast as a viper, Levi caught her wrist and twisted until a loud crack filled the dawn air and she cried out in anguish.
It was done before Elsie's sudden cry of alarm could finish.
"There goes any chance of you getting food." Levi tutted. He dropped her hand and she curled into herself once more, resolute to remain silent now.
"What the hell happened?" Eren asked as he came to stop beside Jean.
Levi stood and took in the clearing. For the first time Elsie looked further than the living man she so desperately wanted to draw back into her hold. The man with the torch had been viciously sliced from neck to groin, his hand taken with the torch four feet away - she could see the advanced ODM gear tightly strapped to his thigh beneath his grey cloak. The second was a younger girl covered by her cloak who's head had been nearly sliced off by Levi's blade. He'd shown no mercy or hesitation with his kills. They had guns, they had the advantage anyway.
Elsie saw that now.
Levi's boot remained on the woman's sliced stomach. He spoke over her groans, "Sasha and Armin are following the last one towards Karanes. He got spooked and made a ruckus coming up the hill. If it wasn't for the wimp they probably would've made it past us."
"I saw the one West," Elsie spoke up, finding herself coming back to reality as the eyes turned to focus on her. "Did they separate?"
"He chose to go on foot so I lost him for a bit," Levi gave her a secret grin. "Good thing you were there."
Mikasa and Jean shared looks. Elsie became highly aware they had walked in on Elsie shoving her tongue down Levi's throat. A blush grew up her neck and red filled her cheeks, slightly ashamed that they'd been kissing over the people Levi just killed.
After she'd killed.
"I have to go back," Elsie said suddenly, interrupting Levi showing Sasha and Jean how to properly tie a prisoner for transport. He frowned at her suggestion, pausing with the rope between his fingers. "I didn't check to see if that guy was dead."
"You shot him with the flare gun?" Levi asked incredulously. He lost interest in the rope and faced her head on. "I thought you shot ahead to distract him."
"There wasn't time for that."
Ymir winced as she pushed the nearly beheaded girl over, "Gods, imagine being shot by a flare gun. The hole must be huge."
Levi's face tightened at the words. He checked his tanks before directing Sasha to take the prisoner to Erwin and having three others go with. The rest were sent to follow Armin and Sasha's trail. Elsie lifted her hood to block the sun while Levi had lost his through out the night, flying tensely beside her in just his white work shirt. The collar flapped against his neck alluringly and all Elsie wanted to do was press him against a branch and beg they start where they'd left off.
They could ignore the death they'd caused. She knew Levi accepted his hands being coated in blood. It was another thing concerning Elsie. She was innocent and shouldn't do anything so ugly. Already he hated that she had to kill Reiner.
By the time Elsie and Levi returned the red smoke had cleared. It was difficult to find his body but when she caught wind of burning flesh it wasn't too hard to find smoke coming from a stiff cloaked body. Elsie coughed and lifted her cloak to cover her nose. Levi shouldered past to stride to the man's side, kneeling and taking a pausing moment.
"Well?"
"He's alive."
Elsie couldn't believe it. Not a toe twitched beyond Levi's knee. She walked closer to see his breathing and Levi stood, holding his hands to keep her back.
"Elsie, don't."
Her aim had been low. The canister had hit his hip and flown straight through him, separating him waist down. She saw his entrails leaking onto the floor over Levi's shoulder. His legs laid not a foot away, crooked and awkwardly crossed. His eyes were wide open, purple lips parted to scream in horror.
She looked away with disgust for herself. She could've shot ahead but she couldn't think when she'd seen the gun. Now she's killed two people.
"It was you or him." She said to the air. If she closed her eyes she would only see the split man. She'd done it. When they sent his body home and his parents couldn't see his body, it would be because of Elsie. She felt as cruel and ruthless as a titan, wincing and keeping her head straight.
She might throw up if she moves too quickly.
Levi stroked her lower back as he pressed against her side, "I'm sorry, Elsie." She flinched at his words, not enjoying the fact he had to say it twice.
"I'm not."
She's sorry she'd killed him so cruelly but that was all. She wasn't apologetic for having Levi against her, breathing and well with despairing eyes.