I gazed up into Captain Levi's murky, drooping eyes, completely and utterly starstruck as he sneered down at me with an incredulous look.
"Oi. Are you dumb? Are you sure you're supposed to be out here cadet?" He asked monotonously. I couldn't find the words, or breath to answer. This was Lieutenant Levi that just saved my life.
Meeting my hero and nearly dying at the hands of some grotesque creature jumbled my mind into a million scattered pieces, and I could barely form a coherent thought.
"It... it..." I stuttered repeatedly. I couldn't come to terms with what had just happened moments before The Captain rescued me. I couldn't decide whether my already stressed and traumatized mind conjured up the impossible, or if this incident had truly occurred. I mean, it could be possible, right? If there are giants that wander the earth eating us for seemingly no reason, then surely they can talk to us, right?
"What did it do brat, I don't have all damn day," Levi said with irritation clear as day in his voice. He stared down at me with anger flaring in his eyes, but what I saw unveiling in his eyes the most was pure curiosity. Maybe he'd listen to me. Maybe he'd believe me.
"It... talked to me. The titan... the one you just killed... it spoke. To me." I said slowly, still somewhat in a daze. Is this real?
"The titan spoke to you? Oi, I think you're just a little frazzled, shitty brains. Near-death can make a person hear and see things that just aren't there." Levi was immediately dismissive of my claims, but he didn't exactly sound like he truly thought what I was saying was out of the realm of possibility. Maybe he doesn't believe a titan can't talk, maybe he just thinks it's foolish to believe in me.
"I know... it sounds crazy... I sound crazy" I mumbled, bringing my hands up to clutch the sides of my head, rocking myself as hot tears cascaded down my cheeks uncontrollably. I've lost it, haven't I?
"I didn't say you sounded crazy. I said you sound frazzled. That's not your fault." he asserted, not meeting my eyes.
The sounds of bloodcurdling screams and terror rung out all around us, piercing my ears and embedding themselves into my brain and my entire being. The Captain should be helping his comrades, Ishould be helping his comrades. Yet here I am, already losing all my sense from already having two near-death experiences. And I'm the one that wanted to join the scouts?
"It spoke to me Heichou. It knew my name. It called me Empress" I cried out.
"I don't believe you" he immediately dismissed.
"You've got to believe me! I know what I heard, and you know what? I know what I sawtoo! How do you explain that rare black titan then, HUH? How do you explain that to meHeichou?" I screamed. I was so upset, so frustrated that he and I both almost succeeded in convincing me that I'd lost my mind.
Members of the rear guard peeked at us questioningly as they'd overheard what I said.
Levi began whispering under his breath, biting out each word as he glared back at every suspicious gaze that fell on us.
"I said... you're frazzled. I said... I don't believe you. Don't say anything more. I want to hear nothing else of it, not on this battlefield."
I suddenly became aware of the tense aura radiating off of Levi and sensed his apprehension to speak on the subject.
'Not on this battlefield'
So does that mean Levi and I will discuss this later when there isn't such a dire responsibility? Or maybe when we're away from the vicious viper eyes of our comrades that seemed to impale our souls when they heard what I'd said? Should I be getting excited? Whatever the case, Levi wanted me to drop the subject.
"You're right, of course, Heichou. Forgive my brainlessness."
I conceded peacefully. If even the Heichou was gazed upon with suspicion, then clearly the subject needed to be dropped.
"Heichou! A cadet by the name of Eren Yeager has transformed into a titan! The garrison tried to assassinate him, but Commander Pixis is going to allow him to transform again to close the hole in Trost!" a soldier yelled to Captain Levi.
Eren?
"What?" Levi said confusedly, almost like he was in a daze.
"All soldiers have been ordered to protect him when he transforms again until he can successfully close that wall!"
The confused haze in Levi's eyes dissipated and left behind shocked, beautiful blue eyes in its place.
"Go then. Thank you for the information" he said to the unnamed soldier.
His gaze locked onto me, onto my eyes, and he breathed out a heavy sigh.
"Let's go. But stay near me. I need you alive empress".
Captain Levi... needs me?
Authors Note: My chapters will now be shorter cause I can't write 2000 words for each chapter.