Part 18
Speculations
A small amount of time has passed since the day Fury realised the possibility of Bloodborn's being real. It must've been nearly 2 weeks since she made it back to the walls. She's been keeping her distance from most people since her return. She wasn't ready to be questioned by the likes of Erwin and especially not by Hange, who had reacted the most out of hearing the events of Ilse back in the forest as Levi read out the Scout's dying words.
Fury still only had one clear goal upon her mind, which was to find her answers. But she was now more convinced that they did not lay within the walls. Was it possible for society's to exist outside? She always believed the Titans must've originated from somewhere. For how could they magically appear one day?
The girl sat at her desk within her room. A room she still does not share with anyone else as this was the room she shared with Isabel. The wonder of what a Bloodborn is continued circling her head. She couldn't stay here. Fury was burdening the others with her issues and they needed to be dealt with, but not here.
She pulled out a piece of paper and dipped the tip of her quill into the ink-pot next her and she begun to reluctantly write a letter.
"Dear Erwin,
The matter at hand: Resume attempts of using the Scouting Legion to capture a Titan alive.
I'm sure you've had time to read through the found notebook yourself. I am aware that two things will now be clear to you.
1. Humanity is still completely ignorant about the existence of Titans.
2. That Bloodborn's may have existed or that they may in fact still exist.
From what was revealed, the Titan that Ilse Langnar had encountered spoke a recognisable language. It also showed respect to her.
I have obtained a theory that this Titan recognised Ilse to be someone else. Perhaps a Bloodborn that it may once have known when it was still human, or perhaps Ymir, another word or name she recorded it saying.
Also, instead of eating her, the Titan stored her remains in a hole within a tree. It had created a burial shrine almost.
This is the first time something of these actions have been recorded within human history when it comes to Titan behaviour.
You, as our Commander, now has a responsibility to make use of this information given freely to you. You… We cannot let the effort she put in towards recording this encounter go to waste. You have to continue it! No matter how little Intel I will now gain from leaving, I promise you that it will not be in vain. I strongly believe that if I can find out more about these Bloodborn's; if I can find out more about… what I am… it will play an important part in humanity's fight against the Titans.
I encourage you to listen to Squad Leader, Hange Zoe. I encourage you to listen to her idea of being able to capture a Titan without the death of more men.
With this, I want to bid you farewell. I know that over the passing of time, we have… How shall I say this? Bonded? You are my Commander, and I have come to respect you. I would protect you with all I can. But… Until I resolve myself, I cannot stay here. I cannot stay by your side.
I ask you of one thing. I am aware of your fondness of me. If the world was a different place, maybe I could've reciprocated your feelings. But… I barely feel a thing myself and I cannot burden you. I ask that you speak to Captain Levi, privately, and apologise to him on my behalf.
It was my fault. He should've blamed me more. I deserved it. There are still things I cannot bring myself to tell him. He himself had always had some inkling that I wasn't average. If I had not ignored it, perhaps my friends would still be alive.
Yours truly,
Fury."
With this, Fury sealed her letter and made her way to Erwin's office. Could she truly walk away now? She'd be dubbed a coward from running from those who want their own answers. Could she just leave Levi? He was her Captain, yes, but always a friend at heart to her. And as for Erwin, it was true. He and Fury had somewhat become smitten over their time together. She had to decide now, with no doubt, whether or not to give this to her Commander.
Her mind was made. Fury couldn't stay. She knocked upon Erwin's office door and she was invited in by the Commander himself. As he'd noticed it was Fury, he'd placed the records of the recent expedition aside to give her his utmost attention. But Fury had no words she could utter to him. She already knew Erwin was aware of the details from Ilse's notebook, yet the man himself did not lean on her for his own answers.
She placed her letter for him on his desk which he sat at. This was painful. He had no idea that she would be leaving after she would exit his office. But all Fury could do was lower her head as she saluted him.
"Fury…" Erwin muttered, his expression soft and gentle. "You do not have to offer formality when it's just me."
Now she was just confused. Why wasn't he springing his questions onto her? Was the Commander easing her into her speculations over what she may be, or was he being genuine? Fury clutched to a small package that she held by her side. There was one more place she needed to be before she left the safety of the walls behind. "What is that you carry with you?" Erwin then asked.
"Ilse's uniform." Fury simply responded, though she could not look Erwin in the eye. "Her family need to know. They've been hanging onto hope all this time that she may still be alive. They shouldn't be given false ideals."
Erwin stood from his chair and ebbed his way closer to the insecure Fury. He knew that she knew of his findings. The Commander fought against his instincts now because other emotions for the man was at play. He gently pulled Fury towards him, embracing her. Her body stiffened as she had not received this before, nor has she felt this way with a man. She was used to being fearful of them. She was frowning, but it was not out of anger; it was because she was doing her best to hold back a flow of tears.
Erwin held the woman close to him, even going as far as to stroke her hair. The man placed a strand of her hair itself behind her ear. Fury would sometimes perform this action herself as a way of calming herself down.
"I want you to come back to me tonight." The Commander whispered to her and it was rather sensual. How could she let him believe she wasn't going anywhere? This wasn't helping her mental state of mind. "And we can talk. No interrogation, no hostile environment. Just me and you."
Fury neither agreed or disagreed to Erwin's suggestion. She slowly pulled herself out of the man's embrace and gave him a simple nod. As for Erwin himself, he leaned over and kissed her head, now truly revealing of his intentions towards Fury. But she couldn't reciprocate this. Nor did she know how too. For now, all Fury could do was leave Erwin to himself as she left his office and she felt an unusual pain within her chest as she made her way out of the barracks and down into the streets to find Ilse's family home.
Along the way, she passed Levi along with Petra and Olou, who were window shopping for supplies and for a new broom for Levi himself. Both Petra and Olou gazed at Fury as she walked by them, not once even acknowledging that they were there.
In time, Fury knocked upon a door to have a man open it to her as she was soon welcomed in. Fury, though not revealing all the details, went on to explain to Ilse's parents that their daughter had died in battle against the Titans. Fury even went as far as to lie and told her parents that Ilse died for the betterment of humanity. Though it's not a true lie. Without the girl's notebook, Fury herself would still be as blind as ever to the world around her. Ilse's parent wept into their daughter's uniform jacket. An expected response. No child should die before their parents. Wishing them well, Fury departed their home.
The young woman looked up into the brightened sky. It was such a beautiful day for such saddened moments. As much as Fury now wanted to go and prepare her things to leave, she was confronted by the weary voice of Olou, who stood with Petra, Levi and Hange.
"Uhm… Fury." Olou confronted, carrying a sack of supplies upon his back.
Fury rolled her eyes. "Did you seriously follow me here? Can't say I appreciate being stalked."
Though the girl was attempting to lighten her encounter, as fake as it was from her side, Olou did not show amusement and he looked down, sighing. "I'm sorry… About what happened. If not for my intent on killing that Titan, we could've captured it like you and Hange had been suggesting. It… might have helped mankind. If I have to give my life just to find out what these damn Bloodborn's are supposed to be, it's not too high a price if-!"
Olou soon had his words cut off as once again, Fury pulled him to her by the scruff of his shirt collar. Though this time, the woman was not to verbally worry Olou, it was to offer her own apology. And it was rare for the likes of Fury to ever say sorry. "No, I am the one who should apologise. I… nearly got you killed… I'm… I'm sorry. But I ask that you never suggest that your life is cheap again." Fury looked up at Olou, soon letting go of him as her eyes widened from seeing she was holding onto his collar too tightly again. Olou fell to the floor, gasping for air as he laid upon the stone path, causing Hange to laugh at him. Petra couldn't help but smirk herself also, leaving Levi shaking his head at Olou's nonsense.
"By the way, it was not long announced that Erwin has reached a decision." Levi then revealed, folding his arms as he leaned against a wall. He moved his gaze towards Hange, who awaited upon his next words; hoping that Erwin had agreed to a mission which involved Titan hunting.
"Hange is going to be receiving the support of me and my squad in organising an expedition for capturing a Titan."
Hange, almost screeching her cheer, jumped into the air with excitement for what's to come and she marched off with pride alongside an ego broken Olou and a smiling Petra, leaving Levi behind with Fury, who was now aware that Erwin may have read her letter. There was now silence between the two. They'd not been left alone like this for quite some time.
"You'll be coming to." Levi then somewhat ordered. But could Fury tell him that she wouldn't be there? "Damned if I want any lectures off Erwin if one of his best isn't involved with keeping the cadets safe."
"Levi… I..." She couldn't. Fury just couldn't bring herself to tell him anything. Is that cruel? "Thank you." It may have been gratitude she was offering but her thanks to him was also her goodbye. It was a thank you for what he's done for her.
Levi sighed, however, as he broke away from his lean against the wall. "There's a few speculations about now." He muttered. "About these Bloodborn's. What are they? Sound like a fucked up cult of cannibals to me…" He looked over to Fury, realising she barely even reacted to those words. "I know… this isn't the life we wanted. But we're making the world better a day at a time with each Titan we kill." Levi emitted another sigh, as he looked uncomfortable. He was never any good at this. "Despite what we've been through… I am still somewhat glad there's someone I know well among the Survey Corps." The male decided to leave it at that as he turned on his heels to walk on after the other three.
Fury waited. She waited until Levi was out of sight before she fell to the floor and released her held back flow of held up tears. She felt weak and she felt conflicted. Every time she felt her life would halt in once place, she was always led elsewhere that brought along more questions for her.
Her first priority in life was keeping men happy.
After that, it was being fixed upon hunting down Kenny. The man may have trained her well, but the other exploits he put Fury through were out of his own needs.
Then that goal was put on hold as her life then focused around friends, in which she had never had before.
Not long after came the job which involved killing Erwin, which led to her friend's deaths and now… well, now her life seems to be heading towards solitary again.
But for Fury… She felt like if she could find her answers and bring those answers back to the Scouts, it would be enough for them to accept her. Maybe Fury herself was one of these Bloodborn's, she certainly showed traits of being one when compared to Erwin's bedtime story. If she can find a way to push back the Titans… well, maybe that was what she was meant to do after all this time.
However, how was she to know that beyond the walls, knowledge of the Bloodborn's was wide spread. How was she to know that a man called Willy Tybur has been trying to hunt her down all these years, even hired Kenny for assistance.
It was something, that in time, Fury would encounter. And she'd be given a choice that may impact the many.
