Next chapter for you guys. Thanks so much for reading!


"Arlert."

"Sir!" Armin salutes when he turns around to find captain Levi approaching him.

"As you were.." Levi says before continuing. "What's the status on the girl?"

"She's... Better than before, Sir. Her injuries have not yet healed and they had become quite aggravated. But she's resting now." Armin explains.

"Have you told the other brats?"

"Yes, sir. I'm actually going back to the infirmary now. She wants me to stay with her."

The captain doesn't say anything. Armin can tell he has more on his mind. "Is… Is that all sir?"

Levi just starts to walk away.

"Captain!" Armin calls out before his brain can catch up to his mouth. "Um… Why don't you come too?"

"And why would I do that, Arlert?"

"Because you seem worried. I mean… We all are. Maybe Hange can explain her treatment going forward. I'm sure you'll be able to make more sense of it than I can." Armin knows he's grasping at straws. They both know Armin will be able to make perfect sense of what is going on. But it's clear to anyone with eyes that Levi is concerned.

"The girl wouldn't want me there." Levi remarks.

"Why wouldn't she?" Armin is surprised Levi hasn't smacked him already. He rarely answers questions, let alone tolerate people asking this many.

"They said you were the one to pull her from the rubble. Her injuries could have been a lot worse had it not been for you. You saved her life, captain."

Levi still thinks about this day every night before going to sleep. He knows that Ina has forgotten about the day she was rescued. Arlert must not have realized that. He finally turns to face the cadet- the only one near his height. "This girl-."

"Ina, sir."

"I know what her name is, brat." Levi bites back.

"Armin! I've been looking all over for you!" A soldier runs down the hall toward him. "Squad leader Hange said that you should come back. The girl will be awake soon." He salutes when he notices who Armin is speaking with. "I'm on my way now. Captain?"

"Let's go." Levi starts walking.


"Captain?" A tiny voice calls out, timid and afraid.

"Ina, is everything alright?" Hange didn't even realize it was Ina talking at first. Her eyes are still closed and her breathing still deep. Maybe she isn't awake after all.

"Captain Levi…. where are you?"

"Ina?" Hange says just slightly louder. No response. The girl is still asleep.

"I'm scared." Ina starts to cry. Armin and Levi enter the room.

"Levi, come here." Hange waves him over, urgency clear in her tone. "I think she's dreaming about that day. I thought she'd passed out, did she talk to you at all?" She says after Levi joins her at Ina's bedside.

"Actually, we talked most of the ride back to base. Keeping her talking helped distract her from the pain."

"Levi?" Ina calls out. She's still asleep, but she can definitely hear him. "Captain?" She sounds terrified. "Please don't let them hurt me."

"Talk to her." Armin suggests. "I think she'll feel better if you answer her." He looks from the confused Levi to the crying girl below them.

"I think he's right." Hange remarks. "Just think about some of the ways you distracted her on the ride back." She suggests.

Levi sighs. What even… "Move." He says to Hange. She quickly takes the hint and vacates her chair. It's in the perfect position next to the head of Ina's bed.

"Come on Armin, let's take a short walk. I want to run some ideas by you." Hange looks over at the young teen. Armin catches on quickly and nods. Levi waits till he knows they're out of hearing range to even really look at the girl. She's broken a sweat and even with her eyes closed there's so much fear and worry etched into her expression.

"Captain Levi?"

"Just Levi." He responds to her, not sure what she can and can't hear.

"I'm scared."

"Don't be. You're safe now. My squad and I are here to help you." He remembers every word of this exchange.

"Soldiers are scary." He remembers her trembling in his arms as she thought of her previous encounters. "I'm okay now, please let me go."

"You're hurt, we can't let you go yet."

"They'll find me." She whimpers.

"Have you seen other soldiers?"

"Yes. Don't make me go back to them."

"What did they do?"

"They brought me here. I can't go back. If they find me, they'll kill me. I don't want to die." Her words still send chills down his spine.

"Please don't." Ina begs. This is not part of the conversation they had that day. She's awake. She looks right at him, her wet eyes wide with fear. "Please, Captain. My body hurts. I can't, not today. Not today. Please." She sounds downright exhausted.

"No one here is going to hurt you." Levi tells her.

"I'm sorry. Next time. I'll be ready."

"Ready?"

"For you… For whatever…. Whatever you… Want." Her chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath. "I swear." She sighs. "I'll be ready."

"That's enough. Just rest." He feels like he did last night. Sick to his stomach.

"I'm sorry." She looks at him with fresh tears in her eyes. She still sounds afraid. "Please don't be angry." Ina begs.

"No more apologies. You need to rest."

"Please…" She shakes her head.

"You need to calm down." He's in way over head. He has no idea how to comfort a child. And this one just so happens to be the most damaged person he's ever met, child or adult. Levi is way beyond his depth here, but he still wants to try to calm her. Why? He has no fucking idea.

"You don't have to do anything besides get well."

Ina looks away and tries to settle her erratic breathing. It's not working. So for the second time, he's shut her down. Maybe he really doesn't want her that way. Maybe she should just be upfront and ask him. He has to want something. If not her body, then something else. He won't take nothing. That's just not how a soldier operates.

Levi can tell her mind still isn't slowing down. Her thoughts seem to keep pace with her breathing. Right now she sounds like she's been running for hours. Running from her abusers. He has to keep talking to get her rooted back in reality.

"Do you remember when we found you?"

"No." Ina finally looks at him.

"We heard a noise while coming through an abandoned district. It was you. You must have been inside the house when it collapsed. We found you trapped beneath large pieces of the walls and ceiling."

Ina gasps. She's beginning to remember. "I saw you… And Ms. Hange."

"Hange and I found you first. We then ordered the others to start working on the debris."

"But…"

"But the pile of debris was unstable. It started to crush you. I had to get you out before it collapsed any further. You were scared, but I reminded you over and over again that we were there to help."

"You saved me?" But he's a soldier. "Why?"

"Because you were in trouble. You were hurt and needed help. Our job is to protect and defend humanity. That means you too."

"I thought soldiers… I thought you helped the king?" Not trash like me.

"Only some." Those who are too cowardly to risk their lives for something more, Levi scoffs. "Not us. We're here to protect you." Only half true. Collecting intelligence and destroying Titans are more important, but without that, no one is safe.

What happened to Ina was technically under the jurisdiction of the Garrison. But those lazy shits have never done their job properly. If they had been the ones to find her, they'd have probably sent the poor girl right back to her abusers without a second thought.

"Ina, are those the soldiers that you met before? The ones that helped the king?"

The little girl looks away.

"They always found me no matter where I hid." She's very quiet. "They…. They would take turns hurting me. They let me go after a few days, but then other soldiers would find me and hurt me the same. I could never hide from them."

Levi is already furious. Even as a lowlife criminal, there were still some things Levi would never do. Abusing a child is at the very top of that list of unforgivable acts. These fucking cowards. He no longer sees them as human beings. He won't treat them like humans when they cross paths. And they will cross paths.

"They're mean and scary. And they only want to hurt people."

"Ina, you are surrounded by the best soldiers in the world. We will lay down our lives to protect you. I will protect you."

She turns back to look at him. She doesn't believe him.

"As long as I'm around, no one can hurt you."

By now Ina can tell when someone is lying. Levi's expression doesn't change much, but eyes always give a person away. She doesn't see a lie. She doesn't see want or desire. No threats of abuse or pain. Did he mean it when he said he'd protect her? Will he keep his word? How can this be?

It can't be. Ina will not let her guard down. She won't be fooled.

"What do you want?" Ina tries to sound determined as she tries to figure out his endgame. She must know what he wants in return for his favor. Knowing now will lessen the anxiety later.

"Excuse me?"

"What. Do. You. Want." She's so tired of him beating around the bush.

Levi is confused. Want with what?

"If you're going to help me, what do I have to do?"

Levi is glad he can remain composed in her presence. Is she asking what he thinks she's asking? Does she really think he'll have conditions just so he will ensure her safety?

"Heal."

"No, for you! What should I do for you!?" Ina is frustrated. "Just tell me, please. It doesn't matter what, I just need to know." She sounds desperate and impatient. "Just tell me."

She's serious! It doesn't even feel like he's talking to a child anymore. Levi just takes a deep breath. "Absolutely nothing." He states.

"But-"

"Nothing!" He slightly raises his voice. She flinches at his response. "We don't work like that here. You don't do things for others expecting a reward. We do it because it's right."

"You don't want… " Ina stops short. Her confidence is fading.

Levi sighs, the cap on his anger is falling off.

"No." What the fuck… what the fuck… What the fuck.

Ina tries to ask him again. "You don't-" Levi is having none of it.

"No! Whatever it is that they did to you is not something that'll ever happen here." He wants to be angry, but knows he can't. This is anything but her fault. Those bastards are to blame. The ones that promised her safety and security at the price of her innocence. Her trust. Her childhood. It's their fault. He's seen gang members treat their prisoners better than this girl has been treated.

"If anyone here makes you feel unsafe just come find me." Levi continues.

"Why?"

"Because I will make sure it never happens again." More like make sure they never do anything again, because he will make them wish they'd been swallowed by a Titan instead of daring to commit such atrocities.

"No one here will hurt you." Levi promises. And he means this with every fiber of his being.

The young girl looks up at the ceiling and takes a deep breath. What does this mean?

"It's over." Levi says quietly. "They're done hurting you."

She notices for the first time that his glare holds more than just general disdain. There is a fire in those eyes. A look of determination. Ina has seen it before. Seen it in the eyes of those who were much braver than she was and ran when they saw the opportunity. It's a look she's grown to admire and respect. The captain is telling the truth.

"It's really over?" Her voice cracks. Ina can tell the captain doesn't care for tears, so she tries to hold them back.

"I've told you twice already."

Ina tries to dry her eyes. "Um… Thank you, Captain."

"Just Levi."

"Levi. Thank you, Levi."

"No more thanks. No more apologies. Just heal."

"Okay." Ina whispers. More tears falling to her pillow. She wants to thank him again and again, and again. Until her face is blue she's thanked him so many times. But it seems to bother him. She'll wait until his temper cools down again. Unlike with the bad soldiers, Levi's anger doesn't seem to frighten Ina. Somehow, she realizes that none of it is directed at her. That makes her feel more comfortable with him, even though it makes no sense to her.

Thank you.

Ina won't feel guilty for thinking it.

"Get some rest." The captain breathes a deep sigh and stands. He walks away without another word and leaves the infirmary. Hange notices and follows after him.

"Thank you." Ina mumbles once again.