"Would you mind if I took a look?" I asked Jonas. I stood beside the brunette man and looked down at the sketch that was drawn. Jonas, Stephan and Tom were three of the engineers behind some of the new technology we were building. After we were able to find multiple stacks of paperwork and ideas that were hidden from us we decided to go forward with the plans and bring these inventions to life.
The newest machine that we were building was going to go in front of the wall. There would be a large tree trunk that was held by a metal pulley system on the top. Once the Titan is lured into the trap we drop the trunk and it's supposed to crush the Titan's neck – rendering it dead. However, the past few times we have used it we have failed. At one point the trunk didn't come down with enough force or just missed it entirely. Another dilemma is that when we released the trunk it wouldn't be guided properly, so it wobbled in the air before hitting to Titan or just landing on the ground instead.
"What if we made another attachment?" I pondered. Jonas, Stephan and Tom came dangerously closed to me as they looked over my shoulder. Levi stood up against the wall beside the door because he refused to be a part of this conversation. He was only waiting for me because we were on our way to see Historia, but I wanted to stop in and try to help the three men who were working so hard.
"What do you mean?" The blonde haired man, Stephan, asked me.
"Like this." I began to draw a narrowed door that would be narrow enough that Titans wouldn't be able to through it, but big enough for them to try and reach their arms and head in. "This will allow the Titans to be lured in far enough that when we let go of the tree trunk it will have a better chance at crushing the nap of the neck. With this narrow door as a guide for the trunk then it won't accidentally fly somewhere else." I explained.
"How are the Titan's going to be lured into there?" Tom, the black haired man, asked me.
"We can have someone stand there. They'll be completely safe, but even if something goes wrong then we'll have other troops standing on the outside watching, so they can swoop in and kill the Titan themselves if necessary. Also, we should add a window of some sort inside because then the person who stands at the bottom can safely get out as well." I added.
"This seems a little far fetched." Jonas began.
"Huh?" I turned around and faced all three men. I leaned against the table that was behind, so I could look up at them since they were all taller than me by a few inches.
"How would we even build this? Where would we even get the tools to build this 'door'?" Jonas continued.
"Well…I don't know about that, but-"
"So you gave us an idea with no way on how to build it." Stephan threw his hands up in the air as he turned around. "What do you think we do Ryder? Magic? We can't just make this out of thin air." He said to me when he faced be again.
"I know, but if we take this to-"
"I don't think we'll be taking this anywhere. We're going to be asked the exact same questions we're asking you and we can't not have any answers for them." Tom said.
"Just listen to me-"
"We did listen and we're telling you that your idea is good, in theory, but it's not practical." Jonas looked me dead in the eye. His forest green eyes bore into my royal blue ones, but that's when I realized that the three men in front of me felt inferior. Inside their eyes I could see that their pride was hurt by the fact that I, a woman, had walked into their territory and came up with a better idea than the three of them combined.
"You're pathetic." Jonas, Stephan and Tom all looked past my head. I looked over and saw that Levi was the one speaking. "Just stop your complaining and do what Ryder says."
"Okay, but did you hear me wh-"
"Did I tell you to speak?" Levi made direct eye contact with Jonas. I could hear Jonas try to swallow the lump that had gathered in his throat. "The three of you need to stop your bitching and do as Ryder has just instructed you. She is on the council, so she has say in the matter." Levi took a step away from the wall and walked over to the table. The three men became stiff when he was dangerously close to them. Levi looked down at the paper that I had sketched on. "We could use Eren to seal the extra pieces onto the wall."
"That sounds about right! I don't think we should make the pieces the same height as the wall though because we don't have the resources to make something that big out of concrete." I added as I leaned off the table and turned around to the paper again.
"I agree. Also, we have to add the pulley system here. The door should be the same width as the trunk we use, give or take a few inches to give it room." Levi added his two cents onto the paper as he circled where the wanted the pulley system. Levi turned around to look at the three men and they instinctively took a step back away from me. Levi stood beside me as he said, "Make this happen. No excuses."
"Y-Yes, sir." Jonas nodded his head. Levi took a few steps closer before closing the gap between him and Jonas.
"And if I hear you speaking like that again – I'll cut out your tongue." Jonas nodded his head before Levi turned around on his heel and walked past me. "Let's get going, Ryder. I think these men have some work to do." I smiled and waved at the men before leaving the room with Levi.
"I was handling the situation, you know?" I told Levi as we walked down the hallway.
"Don't lie to yourself." He said.
"I am not! I could've easily taken those three guys on." I said as I pretended to punch the air with my fists.
"You're an idiot who's injured."
"Not anymore! I got the all clear from the doctor that I'm good to go back out there into the world!" I said as I ran past Levi and stopped to look at him. Levi stopped in his tracks. Maybe it was because I looked ridiculous with my arms outstretched like a bird.
"You didn't get the all clear from me, so you're not ready yet." Levi told me.
"You're not my father." I retorted as I crossed my arms against my chest.
"I never said I was."
"You're my…" I didn't know what to say. What was Levi to me? A friend? Of course! A lover? I wish. As I looked into his grey orbs I couldn't help, but wonder what he was to me now. We had been through so much together and our feelings have changed and grown, but I didn't want to push him away again. I yearned to understand his feelings for me, but until he decides to open up that vulnerable part of him – I'll never know.
"I'm not your anything." I looked at Levi with a hurt expression until he crossed his arms over his chest and said, "No one can own me." I laughed as I turned around and began to walk away again. After I noticed that he wasn't following me I stopped and turned around to face him once more.
"I'm pretty sure I own you, but I'll let you think you're a lone wolf." He looked at me with a confused expression. "Come on, Levi. We have things to do." I said as outstretched my hand to him for him to take. Levi looked towards the ground as he kissed his teeth because I knew he was just trying to hide his smile from me.
HELLO! HOW WAS YOUR DAY YESTERDAY? Did you do any boxing day shopping today?
I have an idea! Since yesterday was Levi's birthday...I was thinking about uploading a Levi Birthday special next week for the update instead of a new chapter? Almost like a filler? Leave me a comment or PM me with your thought! IF YOU WANT A LEVI BIRTHDAY SPECIAL NEXT WEEK THEN YOU MUST TELL ME! :)