Part 26
Talk
To see someone like Levi appear genuinely effected by the loss of comrades almost shook Fury as she watched the male stare at his squad's lifeless bodies. His gaze seemed to be particularly focused on Petra Ral; who was the only female within his own squad. His expression was grim and yet distant, like he had just lost a part of himself. Fury definitely hasn't seen Levi in this type of state for a very long time.
"… why are you back?" Levi asked quietly, his voice muttered under his grief as his grey orbs stared at Petra's broken body upside a tree in which the Female Titan had slammed her into, killing the girl on impact. Her blood stained the moss and wood.
Fury's stoic gaze peered over to the raven haired man, blinking slowly as she absorbed his question. "I told you I would be." She reminded, soon glancing around her to see the dishevelled bodies of both Eld and Olou. They fought as best they could, this Fury knew. But she couldn't help but feel they were reckless for fighting against something they did not understand.
"Tch." Levi hissed, frowning aggressively as he tried to tear his own gaze away from Petra and yet he could not. "4 years… You were gone for 4 years. You were grieved for!"
Fury sighed. She could somewhat understand his anger. "I can't predict how long it will take to make me see sense, Levi. I can't dictate what I don't know. But I'm still here. Be thankful for that."
"Thankful? Huh…" Levi could still only see the cold-hearted emotion pour from Fury still. Had she changed at all? "They weren't just my comrades… They were… friends."
"And what of Petra?" Fury asked without giving it a second thought on how Levi would react. "She was more than a friend to you, wasn't she? … talk to me."
It was an evidently difficult question for Levi to respond to. He wasn't the type to have things labelled in his life. But was Petra more to him than a comrade? The male couldn't deny that he spent more time with her than the men of his squad, and he found it somewhat relaxing to be around her. Now seeing her body like this, limp and shattered, weighed heavy on Levi's chest. Petra often spoke to the Captain of her goals, her ambitions. Though she fought primarily for humanity, he remembered the subtle hints she sometimes gave to him of one day starting a family and settling down. The prospect of commitment was something Levi couldn't agree on, but it also brought a sense of the unknown to him as he has yet to experience what the definition of love can be and feel like. However, in Levi's mind, for as long as Titans walked the earth, he couldn't find himself to be willing to commit to another as he found it to be cruel due to how he himself, no matter his strength and wits, could die at any moment when beyond the wall.
"If that's how you want to put it…" He somewhat admitted, though did so as quietly as he could, feeling his fists clench as he uttered the words. Almost ignoring the fact that Fury was with him, Levi took a knee beside the body of Petra, and he traced his fingers through her blood stained hair. He was saying goodbye as he gently used those fingers to then close her eyes as her hazel orbs seemed to still be staring at him; almost asking him where he was when his squad needed their Captain the most.
Fury couldn't find the right words to say. Levi may have not directly admitted to it, but she knew Petra was dear to him in some way. It felt bizarre to think of Levi opening himself up that much to a woman of all things, but Fury caused herself to remember that it has indeed been 4 years. Therefore, she remembered that there's probably a lot of things she's missed seeing happen.
"The best thing you can do for her now… For all of them… Is to bring them back to their families so that they too can say goodbye."
Levi moved Petra's body so that she was laid comfortably on the ground, taking her away from the blood soaked bark upon the tree. Why did he want to hold her? His frown deepened more as her laugh echoed through his thoughts. Seeing her smiling face. Something Levi would never see again. When Petra smiled, even in the shittiest of situations, it calmed him. It was like he needed it almost.
Sighing, Levi managed to look up at Fury, who herself stood with an uncomfortable posture. He knew he was being out of character and yet Levi couldn't help it. The emotions were almost unbearable.
"Her father… He'll not forgive me for not being able to protect her."
"That will be the grief preventing him from doing so." Fury took a knee next to Levi, risking whatever bond the two had left by placing her hand atop his shoulder, gripping it slightly. "A child dying before their parents should never happen. All you can do is let the man know that she was a loyal and dedicated soldier who fought bravely for humanity."
Levi inched his shoulder away from Fury's grip. Not because he didn't want to be touched, but because he had already appeared vulnerable enough that he wanted to pull himself back. "Is humanity something you still don't care for?"
Standing back up, Fury looked away for a moment. "Like you said, its been 4 years. Therefore, people can change. Maybe even opinions cha-"
"Captain!" Came the call of a young recruit, directing an empty cart pulled by two horses towards both Levi and Fury. "By orders of Commander Erwin, Sir!"
Levi nodded. Mikasa must've made Erwin aware of the loss of his squad. He'd noticed Fury freeze slightly at hearing Erwin's name called out in the open and yet he chose not to question it.
"Leave me to carry them onto the cart myself." He ordered, pushing up his sleeves. "It's all I can do now, as their Captain."
The recruit nodded, soon looking at Fury and wondering who she was for he had not seen her within the walkthrough of the Formation plans. Yet he knew she was a Scout for she still wore the regiment jacket she had on the day she left the walls.
In time, Levi had placed the bodies of his squad as gently as he could upon the cart, each of them being covered by the green Scout capes in which they wore. Lastly, he brought over Petra's body. Levi cradled her almost as she was brought over to the cart, which had Fury and the recruit waiting patiently for the Captain to take his time. Fury knew him well enough that he was doing this as a way to say goodbye to them individually. Why did it hurt her so much seeing him this way?
Caressing her cheek one final time, Levi then placed Petra's green cloak over her face. He grimaced as a shooting pain suddenly travelled up his leg and thigh and he knew it was from his ankle.
Giving a whistle for his nearby horse, the man became subdue and began to find a way to revert back to the way he usually was to most around him. Climbing onto his horse, rubbing his thigh after he was comfortably sat within the mounted saddle, he gave a delicate nod to Fury to which she then gave the recruit the clear to begin taking them out of the forest.
What a fine mess for Fury to come back to. Yet she felt selfish for only really caring that Levi was still alive. She still had so much to reveal to both him and Erwin but now truly wasn't the time. The female dared to wonder how she would've reacted if this was her squad. With her opinion slowly changing about protecting humanity, would Fury have shown care to the loss of a handful of soldiers? She knew in herself that if this was 4 years ago, she may have just been cruel enough to suggest leaving the bodies behind to rot among the dirt and remains. Yet now… Now Fury could feel the grief herself. She kept her deepened blue eyes over on Levi now and then, watching as he was solely focused on the direction ahead of him as he rode upon his horse. It was truly good to see his face again. To be alone was something Fury truly feared in this world. She refused to become that vulnerable little girl again that she was back down in the Underground. If she had to be strong for Levi himself, Fury already knew she would set aside everything.
"We'll be returning to the Commander who waits for us, Captain!" Called the recruit.
"Idiot." Levi called back. That was definitely a reply only Levi would give. "Where else do you think we'd charge off too with a cart full of bodies?"
"Y-Yes, Sir! My apologies!"
Though it was only his façade that caused the recruit to fluster, Fury smirked ever so slightly. That was definitely the Levi she remembered.
