Ch.10 SmallMoments
Levi moves through the hallways quickly, and in Rhea's still exhausted state she can barely keep up. The wound in her side is still healing, and she sucks in a quiet pained breath as she feels her torn flesh protest her pace. Levi stops suddenly, turning to face her, and Rhea nearly crashes into him. He fixes her with a critical stare that makes her cheeks flush, reminded of their moment in the bath.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just a little tired."
She doesn't know what possessed her to lie. Levi knows she is injured, why didn't she just say she hasn't healed yet? Levi isn't fooled. He raises a brow and steps toward her.
"It sounded more like pain to me."
His eyes robe over her body, and she feels ridiculously self-conscious, considering everything they've already done. Recognition lights his eyes as they land on her side. He steps forward again, and Rhea tries to sidestep him and continue down the stairs. She really doesn't want to be alone with him right now. Her emotions are all jumbled, and she reacts to him in a way she's never done with anyone. He's too quick for her, caging his arms on either side of her and pushing her back against the wall.
"I forgot about your injury, must be that crazy healing ability. It's still hurting? Let me look at it."
He doesn't give her a chance to respond, closing in to just a hair's breadth away and lifting the hem of her blouse. She is overwhelmed with his pine and soap scent. A shock floods her veins as his calloused fingers trace gently over the wound in her side, from her ribs, down to the swell of her hip. Rhea gasps at the sensation, clutching his shirt in her fist and biting her lip to quell any other traitorous noises. What the hell is wrong with her? He hadn't even been trying to touch her in an intimate way, so why the hell is she reacting like an animal in heat at the slightest graze? She dares to look Levi in the eyes, and squirms at the predatory look that is back in his gaze. His touch is feather light as he traces the tooth shaped scar just above her hip. It follows the hem of her pants and stretches all the way to the middle of her abdomen. Rhea grits her teeth and represses a shudder.
"Does this hurt?"
Levi whispers next to her ear, and the subtle edge to his low timbre causes an odd, but not unpleasant warmth to blossom between her thighs. She struggles to keep her reply from coming out as nothing more than a breathy sigh.
"No."
His fingers trail back up her side and trace the scar at the top of her ribs.
"What about here?"
This one reaches all the way to her breast, and she can't stifle her reaction in time.
"Ah!"
The corners of Levi's perfect lips turn up just slightly, she can only tell because he's so close. His silver blue eyes darken.
"So sensitive. Are you coming undone, just from this?"
His words send another shock, straight to her core. Her slight flush turns rose red, and she squeezes her eyes shut to rid herself of the sight of him, not that it works. The image of his smug smirk is burned into her eyelids. Walls, what had possessed her to provoke him earlier? She isn't ready for this. It's too much, too soon. She barely knows him, no matter how inexplicably drawn to him she is.
"Levi…"
"Yes?"
"Please, stop."
Instantly his warmth leaves her as he drops his hands from her body and steps away. Rhea opens her eyes and studies him closely. His expression is closed off, and posture stiff. He's angry. She wraps her arms around her chest and looks away in shame.
"I'm sorry."
Levi frowns at her gesture.
"For what?"
"Leading you on. I didn't mean to—"
"Look at me, Rhea."
Rhea slowly lifts her head to meet his gaze, which is bright with that familiar intensity that is so rare for the people of the walls.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You don't owe me anything. Don't ever apologize for telling someone to stop. I won't force myself on someone who doesn't want it."
Rhea is surprised. Even the most respectable of men within the walls tend to view woman as something that belongs to them. She wonders what makes Levi feel the opposite so strongly. She bows her head and smiles.
"If you're okay to keep moving, let's go."
Levi turns back down the stairs, but Rhea instinctively reaches out to grab his arm by the sleeve. He turns his head back to her.
"What? Do you need to take a shit or something?"
Rhea shakes her head with a laugh and meets his eyes again. A deep blush covers her cheeks, but she doesn't break eye contact.
"It's not that I don't want it. But, I've…never been attracted like this to someone before…and I barely know you. It was just a bit too much, too soon is all."
Levi's eyes widen, just slightly.
"Not even Emmett?"
Rhea just shakes her head. Levi contemplates her admission for a moment, and then a familiar devilish smirk appears.
"You sure know how to inflate a man's ago, brat."
Rhea laughs and lets go of his arm, striding past him and down the stairs.
"Well, we can't have that. Yours is big enough as it is 'Humanities Strongest'. I'll just have to knock you down a peg."
Levi takes the lead again, turning right at the bottom of the stairs and making his way toward the exit. She notices he is moving much slower than before and smiles at his unspoken thoughtfulness.
"Tch. Go ahead and try then."
Rhea and Levi leave the building, and she glances around curiously as he leads her through what appears to be a training yard. Several scouts stop to stare at her as they pass.
"So, what are you going to tell your squad?"
"The truth. You're going to be a member of the squad, and you'll be using your powers on expeditions. It makes no sense to keep it a secret from them."
"Fair enough. Am I going to get a uniform? You know it will just be destroyed when I transform."
"We'll figure that out tomorrow when we meet with Erwin and the others."
She follows Levi into the trees and begins to hear the familiar sound of ODM gear being used. They step into a large clearing, and Rhea stares up in amazement. Four scouts, presumably Levi's squad, practice a perfectly coordinated attack on a group of titan dummies. They flip through the air and around each other with perfect grace, downing the "titans" with expert skill, all while not speaking a single word to each other.
"They're amazing."
Levi is silent for a moment as he watches his squad train. His reply is so quiet, even her sensitive ears have trouble hearing it.
"They are. But don't you dare tell them I said that. It will only go to their heads."
Rhea giggles as Levi steps further into the clearing and waves his squad down. They land in unison and greet their captain with earnest salutes. Rhea steps up beside Levi and they falter, dropping their fists and staring at her curiously and casting their captain questioning looks.
"This is Rhea. She's going to be the newest member of our squad. She's the reason I made it back." Rhea, this is Eld, Gunther, Olou, and Petra."
The squad's expressions are full of disbelief. She doesn't blame them. No normal human, even one as strong as Levi, could have survived four days in titan territory, let alone get all the way back to the wall with no gear or horse. Petra is the first to break the stunned silence.
"She was outside the walls? Captain, how is that possible? We…thought you were dead."
The guilt rolling off the poor girl is palpable. They had left him behind, no doubt because it would have been too dangerous to call a thorough search. Levi turns to her.
"It will be easier if you show them. Can you transform right now?"
Rhea stares at him uncertainly. Aside from Emmett, and that garrison soldier, Levi is the only one to witness her transformation. He may trust his squad, but they are armed and extremely dangerous, and she is still wounded. What if they react poorly? Should she really trust four complete strangers with her secret? Levi doesn't push her, and she remembers his promise that no scout will hurt her. Levi trusts his squad completely. She had agreed to come back with him. She had told herself that she would fight. Rhea sighs and nods. Levi turns back to his squad.
"Take off your blades, and remember, she saved my life, twice."
His squad hesitates but follows his orders, removing their blade boxes and setting them aside. Rhea slowly removes her borrowed blows and hands them to Levi. The other three boys turn beet red and immediately look away. She concentrates, allowing the familiar thrumming power to take over, and shifts, becoming the wolf once more. Levi's squad gasps, and sure enough reaches for their missing blades. Rhea shifts back immediately and grabs the clothes from Levi, dressing quickly. The squad stares silently, mouths agape. Eld is the first to come to his senses this time.
"How? Is...she some kind of titan?"
"She isn't a titan. We don't know how it's possible, only that it has to do with her bloodline somehow. She killed over ten titans easily when we got back to the wall, and they have no interest in her. She's under the scout's protection, and after we train with her, she will be joining us on expeditions."
The squad continues to stare at her with no small amount of apprehension, some with blatant mistrust. But they trust their captain and will follow his orders, to the death if need be. Petra steps toward them. She is a pretty girl with strawberry blonde hair and a soft face. She stands in front of Rhea, considering her.
"You used this power to save Captain Levi, and bring him back to us?"
Rhea nods. Petra thrusts her hand out with a wide smile, and Rhea notices her eyes. They are the color of honey. Just like her sister, like her mother. Rhea can't help but smile as she takes Petra's hand.
"Then you have my trust. Thank you, and welcome to the squad."
The rest of the squad follows Petra's lead, coming forward to exchange greetings, albeit more reserved than Petra's. Levi addresses the honey eyed girl.
"Petra, go change into plain clothes and meet us at the stables. We're going into town to get Rhea some necessities. Bring an extra cloak. All of you are to keep quiet about this. It's on a need to know basis. The rest of you can go back to training."
"Yes Sir!"
The squad choruses in unison and breaks off to follow his orders. Levi takes Rhea by the arm and leads her back through the training field, down a hill, and into the stables. The smell of fresh hay and the joyful whinnies of the horses greets Rhea warmly.
"I know you've ridden before, but can you ride right now with your injury?"
Levi walks to the very last stall on the left, and Rhea follows.
"It might be a little uncomfortable. But I'll manage."
Levi shakes his had as she opens the stall door of a beautiful blue gray mare. The mare nips at him affectionately and nuzzles his face. Rhea is shocked when he doesn't rebuke her, and instead pats her neck lovingly before grabbing her bridle and leading her out of the stall.
"You'll just ride with me for now."
Rhea watches as Levi brushes, pets, and tackles the mare with utmost care and affection. His adoration for her is obvious, and he doesn't seem to care.
"What's her name?"
Levi looks up from his work.
"Blue."
Rhea snorts. Of course, he would have such a simple name for this beautiful creature. Levi ignores her laughter and leads Blue out of the stable. Petra comes down the hill at a light jog, smiles at them, then runs into the stables to get her horse ready. Levi turns to Rhea and gestures for her to come closer. She steps next to him, eyeing the mare nervously, who is staring right back at her with an expression that screams 'don't touch me'.
"Levi, I'm not sure this is a good idea. She doesn't seem to like me."
"It's fine. Blue doesn't like anyone. She's just a brat."
Without another word, Levi's hands are on her waist and he lifts her up onto the horse with ease. Rhea flinches just a little as he presses into her side, but the pain fades quickly. She'll be fully healed in another hour or so. Petra comes out of the stables with an enormous chestnut gelding. Rhea wonders how she even manages to get on the thing, but she lifts herself up with ease and trots forward, handing Rhea the spare cloak which she throws on.
Levi swings himself up and settles behind her. The sudden warmth of his chest pressed against her back causes another flutter in her stomach. She relaxes against him as they start forward, Petra taking the lead. After a few minutes Levi leans down to whisper in her ear, giving her goosebumps.
"Keep your hood up when we get into town. Don't wander off. If you think someone recognizes you, tell me immediately."
Rhea simply nods her head, pulling the hood over now so she doesn't forget. The city looms in the distance, and she can't help but feel like this isn't a good idea. They reach the edge of town within the hour and dismount and tie the horses. Petra comes to stand next to her and Levi as he fills the trough with water. When he is finished, he looks to Rhea.
"We need something else to call you while we're here. Rhea isn't a common name; someone might recognize it."
"My middle name is Elizabeth. We can use that, and that way it's something I'll recognize and respond to."
"Makes sense. Elizabeth it is then. Let's go. I don't want this to take all day. Petra, stay close to her and be on the lookout. There are people within the walls who might still be looking for her."
"Yes, Sir."
Petra walks next to her while Levi leads them toward the market. She gives Rhea a friendly smile.
"So, Elizabeth, you used to live within the walls? What made you leave?"
"It's a long story, one I'd rather not talk about right now."
"I understand. How does it work?"
"I just have to concentrate and will it to happen."
"So, you have complete control over it then?"
"For the most part, yes."
Petra is silent for a few moments. She is careful to whisper her next question.
"You stayed as a wolf the whole time you were outside the walls? What was it like? What did you eat?"
Rhea glances at Petra. She seems genuinely interested, and Rhea smiles shyly.
"It was…exhilarating; living each day out there, without expectations or limits, being able to explore without fear of being eaten. I ended up living with a pack, and we would run for miles and miles each day. I hunted with them, mostly deer. I took down a bear once though."
"That's amazing. Did you ever go beyond wall Maria? I joined the scouts after the wall fell, so I've never seen the outside."
"I have a couple times. It's the most beautiful thing you can imagine. Is that why you joined the scouts, to see the outside?"
Petra gives her a rueful smile.
"Actually, I wanted to be an MP when I first enlisted. I worked hard to be in the top ten. The wall fell just before I graduated. After that, I knew I couldn't waste all that hard work by heading into the interior. My father was so upset when I told him what branch I was joining, but I know I made the right choice."
"What about your mother?"
"Oh, she died when I was pretty little. But my dad always says I'm just like her, so I like to think she would be proud of me."
Rhea reaches out instinctively and lays a hand over Petra's arm.
"I'm sure she would be…My mother died when I was little too, but I can still remember the way she used to smile at me."
Petra smiles a beautiful, heart warming smile, and it reminds her so strongly of her sister and mother, her heart clenches painfully.
"I can't believe we finally have another girl on the squad! This is going to be so great. You know, I'm an only child, but I always kind of wished I had a sister growing up."
"Oi, brats. We're here."
Levi's interruption is perfectly timed. If Petra had kept going, Rhea probably would have started crying. A sister? She doesn't know if she's ready for that kind of emotional connection, not sure if she even deserves it. After all, look at what had happened to the last sister she had? No. She should keep Petra at arm's length. Rhea knows it will be difficult though. She can tell already; Petra is the kind of girl you just want to hold onto and never let go, a genuinely kindhearted soul, just like Riley.
Levi leads them into the first shop, and Rhea raises a brow at his choice. A dress shop, really? Petra doesn't give her a chance to question him, dragging her further into the shop and excitedly throwing dress after dress into her arms. Levi stands at the entrance, like a bodyguard, and looking bored out of his mind. Rhea loses count of how many dresses Petra makes her try on, but finally emerges from the dressing room with a small selection in her arms. Petra calls the shop keep over and Rhea suddenly realizes a big problem. She looks at Levi, who has made his way over to them as the shop keep pulls the dresses from her hands and begins to wrap them up.
"Levi, how exactly am I meant to pay for all this?"
"Tch. Don't worry about it, brat"
Rhea stands there confused as Levi walks over to the shop keep, but gasps loudly when he pulls a pouch from his pocket and hands over several coins.
"Can you send this up to Scout HQ? Mark it for Captain Levi."
"Of course, Sir! No trouble at all."
"Thank you."
Levi drops a couple extra coins in her hand and turns back to Rhea, whose face is white as a sheet.
"What is it? You look constipated."
Petra laughs as they exit the shop and Rhea struggles for words.
"Levi, you can't just buy everything for me! That will be so much money. I'll be fine with just the couple dresses for now. We can come back later when I've gathered some coin."
"I told you not to worry about it. We're not making a second trip."
"But Levi—"
"Oi, if you're really that upset about it, you can pay me back once you start getting your military salary. Now quit bitching. You'll draw too much attention to us."
"…Ok. Where to next?"
Petra moves in front of them with a sheepish look.
"Actually, since we're in town anyway, there are some personal items I've been meaning to pick up. Is that alright Captain?"
"Fine. Be quick about it and meet us at the tea shop."
"Yes, sir."
Petra takes off down the street and Rhea follows Levi quietly as he turns left down a smaller side street and enters a tiny shop. The aroma inside is heavenly, and it immediately soothes Rhea's jumbled nerves. Levi heads straight for the black tea's, grunting a short response to the owner's cheerful greeting. Rhea follows at a meandering pace, taking deep breaths to admire all the wonderful fragrances. A particular aroma catches Rhea's interest, and she squeezes past Levi to a small section labeled herbal teas. She lifts a jar and inhales deeply, letting the wonderful scent of peppermint wash over her. She sighs in contentment. Completely wrapped up in the moment, she doesn't hear Levi approach.
"You like tea?"
She jumps and turns to face him, noticing the spark of curiosity in his eyes.
"I love tea, all kinds, but peppermint is my favorite."
She stares wistfully into the jar, bittersweet memories surfacing.
"We couldn't afford it when I was little, so I used to sneak into our wealthy neighbor's garden at night and pick just enough to last a few days."
Levi's lips turn up, in the beginnings of a smile. He looks down at the jar in her hand, plucks it from her grasp, and heads toward the counter. She notices he also carries two jars of black tea leaves. Rhea bites her lip as Levi pays for the tea, grabs the bag, and heads toward the exit. Tea is expensive. She shouldn't have let him buy it. But she also really missed being able to enjoy a hot cup of soothing peppermint tea. Levi had said she could pay him back right?
He stops at the entrance and looks back at her with an impatient stare. Rhea hurries to his side and lays her hand on his arm. He looks down at her.
"Thank you, Levi."
He nods his head and hands her the bag.
"You're welcome. Now, what else do you need?"
Rhea's stomach chooses that exact moment to grumble loudly, causing Levi to smirk and Rhea to shake her head in embarrassment.
"Guess that's my answer. Come on, let's go find Petra and get something to eat."
Rhea nods her head, too embarrassed to speak, and follows Levi back into the market square, where Petra awaits them with her heart wrenching smile.