Author's Note: Ahahahahcurrentlydyingfromexamsandessaysbutstillmanagingtoupdate

Chapter 6: The train to Rostock

Petra didn't know they would be taking a midnight train to Rostock.

Nor that they would be splitting into two groups, leaving her with Levi.

Out of all the possible worries that could plague her mind, she found this debacle overpowering. I suppose you don't realize a blessing until it's gone, she thought absently in regards to their larger traveling group, loathing what was to come of this long train ride with the male.

Hange exchanged a few words of courage with Petra although they came out sounding far too relaxed whilst also proving morbid for Petra to really attain any encouragement whatsoever.

Thereafter, the older woman approached Levi, who had seemed busy eyeing the few passerbys in the distance entering the train at the portal.

"Somehow, this night has the feel of that one", Hange sighed as she stopped beside him, earning herself a side glance from the male.

"Listen Hange." He turned towards her, tone urgent. "Everything's riding on you. You know what to do now."

"Huhh, will this will be okay? Do you really want to be on the run for the rest of your life...Levi?" She challenged, hands on her hips.

The specks of bright lights from the distant train reflected off his irises in the dark. "I'm already a fugitive for life. No amount of loyalty to anyone can change that."

Hange smiled at that, adjusting her glasses. "You're SO COOL when you challenge people of power Wow!"

"Just shut up already and take care of yourself once you're there." Levi picked up his backpack, flinging it over his shoulder as he began to walk away towards Petra and Shane.

Hange snickered.

Meanwhile, Shane watched Petra bid farewell to her horse and found himself sad they would be parting ways for a time, with no guarantee he would see her anytime soon. It gave him sufficient comfort, however, knowing that anyone in Levi's company was practically guaranteed safety.

"Pino is his name, yea?"

Petra peered up at the blonde that had spoken, worry transparent in her eyes. "Mmhmm."

"I'll take good care of em!" He pulled up his sleeves, flexing his muscles. "You can trust me."

Petra blinked then started laughing. "Okay, Shane. Thank you. Ah, it's freezing! You'll catch a cold." She stabbed her finger in the direction of his exposed arm.

"Psh my immune system can handle a lil cold, no sweat." Shane grinned. "Plus, I haven't gotten sick for as long as I can remember!" He puffed his chest out like he was fairly proud of the feat.

"You say that now but…", Petra shook her head, a hand on her forehead. He really was like her brother, after all.

A shadow had crept up beside the ginger haired girl and she almost immediately recognized it as Levi's. She quickly wrapped up and waved her silent goodbye to Shane who in turn, smiled back at her and nodded.

Petra then fell in step beside the quiet, dark haired male as he began to walk towards the train. She stole a sideways glance at him, finding his silence peculiar.

"You're not going to say..." she sucked in a breath to boldly prepare herself and crafted her face into a bored, stoic expression. "Hurry up, rich brat, we don't have all day."

Levi's strides slowed, his black hair falling over his eyes. "Is that what my voice sounds like?"

Oh crap. "Uh...Ah", Petra desperately looked around for an escape and pointed at an open hatch leading into the train, bright light pouring out. "Let's take that one."

"Hey.", Levi called out but she had already entered through the hatch, her ginger hair swaying from the breeze of the ground air vents beneath the entrance portal. He followed in after her. "Don't go running ahead, brat." He stopped abruptly, standing still. I do sound like that...

Petra quickly chose a solo seat beside a stanchion, placing her baggage beside her feet. There weren't a lot of folks on the train, if any at all, a few seeming like they practically lived there with the amount of shawls and blankets strewn about. She imagined German soldiers to be posted at every possible route and transportation ranges but found it oddly surprising there were no government personnel whatsoever around these perimeters. Especially with so many refugees and people seeking haven, wouldn't they be trying to get away by train? Or no...they would be avoiding the trains...

With a start, Petra stiffened as Levi sat down across from her, leaning back and crossing his legs. He considered her for a moment then started glancing around, drinking in his environment like she imagined a detective inspecting a murder scene.

This really is going to be a long ride.

/

Petra had no way to keep track of time but when it felt like close to two hours had passed, she cleared her throat, "So...Rostock. How far away until we get there?"

Levi glanced over at the girl. "We have about another half hour."

"Another? That means...only a half hour has gone by?" She slouched into her seat slightly, incredibly discouraged the next half hour would also feel like another two hours in her head.

Levi, she realized, however, had bid his time well. He had used a handkerchief to wipe down his boots, an absurd thing to be doing considering their circumstance but that hadn't been the first time Petra had noticed him being increasingly anal about small details. Often times, whenever they had stopped their horses, she would find him shining his weapons and at the lodge they had been at, dusting off the window ledges. He was well in sync with his hygiene; that much was brutally clear.

As if on cue to her thoughts, a clean napkin suddenly materialized in front of her. She looked up. And met at eye level with the dark haired male, his eyes slightly wide with a lit resolve.

"Use it."

It took the girl a passing second to realize he meant to wipe her own boots. She hesitated then retrieved the napkin from his hand, flabbergasted.

Petra began dusting at her boots. She gulped, feeling untrained in the art and felt eyes intently watching her but she dared not look up. Was she even cleaning her boots correctly? Was there a correct way?

Does he think he's doing me a favor by giving me this...Petra thought sourly, confused yet unamused at this unexpected task mandated upon her.

When she imagined she had in fact wiped off every flagellum of every speck of dust from her boots, she hesitantly lifted her head and found Levi sigh heavily with his eyes closed. He looked like someone after they swept their entire house clean to the brim. Or even someone exceedingly satisfied with life.

"Le...vi?"

"Hm."

"Why are we going to Rostock?"

"Looks like your patience finally bit the dust." The male opened his eyes. "Because there's no other option."

"What do you plan to do with me?"

"Didn't I tell you to trust us." He peered over towards other train riders. "I say that but truth is, even I don't know the extent to trust. Sometimes things don't always go the way people you put your faith in planned, either."

Petra bit her lip, feeling as if this man was speaking in riddles but also feeling like she understood every word. You're handing me over to the western Russian commander, Vlak Dristien, aren't you? She didn't realize her unspoken question showed in the lines on her forehead and the fear in her eyes.

"Oy. Stop acting like you're already dead."

"Huh?" Petra met his eyes. They seemed to stare into her soul but of course many things about him seemed far more ghastly to her than they actually were, his gaze included. What his eyes carried this time, however, was a solid assurance.

"You're not dying on my watch...brat."

Petra scrunched her face. "Bold of you to say, being my captor."

Levi leaned forward in his seat, head slightly raised, considering her words.

Petra froze at his movement, not knowing what to expect of the consequences of her speaking out once again.

She was saved a response when the train began to buckle to a stop and the intercom turned on, signaling their arrival to Rostock.