Imelda tossed and turn in her bed; damn her insomnia and brain. She could stop thinking about the past few days, so much had happened that hadn't meant to. She hadn't meant to hurt those people, she hadn't meant to get shot and she hadn't meant to get angry with herself. Of course it wouldn't work with Levi there; if anything it had made it harder to use the gear. Sitting up she looked up at the clear night sky, the moon was an elegant crescent in the sea of darkness; its beams gently lighting up the ground. Thanks to her titan blood, Imelda was sluggish during the night and struggled with keeping awake when the sun went down; but tonight she wide awake thanks to her whizzing brain.
"…stuff this" she grumbled swinging the covers off her body and standing up. She instantly regretted it as the cold room hit her skin and she shivered violently. Taking a breath she crept towards the door, neglecting her boots as she peeped through the door to the corridor. She decided to take the short root down to the gear room and headed down the backstairs; this was a risky move thanks to Erwin's office and quarters being right by it. Holding her breath Imelda darted past the closed door and down the stairs, not daring to look back until she got to the ground floor. "Phew" she muttered scuttling over to the gear room. Trying the handle the door refused to move, but the 12 year old had expected this; smirking she flicked the keyhole and she heard the springs inside it shatter. Making a mental note to fix it later, Imelda grabbed her gear and headed outside.
Levi sat at his desk, the candles long since burned out, and his hand still wrapped around a quill. Despite the hour, the dark haired man's eye lids failed to droop; old habits from the underground die hard, he supposed.
Looking back on the day he couldn't help but feel concerned for Imelda's wellbeing; of course she was still a child but she didn't seem to care how much danger she put herself in. Who in their right minds would look down the barrel of a flare gun whilst firing it? Imelda, that's who, his brain sarcastically replied.
"This brat is going to kill me" he murmured as a knock came from the door; who the hell would be up at this time? Taking his switchblade he went to the door, and opened it a crack. Bright blue, though rather sleepy, eyes looked back at him.
"Erwin" he sighed, "who else would be up at this hour." Levi fully opened the door and let the tall blonde in.
"I thought you'd be up" Erwin smiled as he wandered around the room, "that's why I'm here, to tell you to go to bed." Levi flushed at the bluntness of the order and he frowned, folding his arms,
"So you're acting like my mother now? I've always stayed up this late." His frown and slightly pouted lips made Erwin chuckle, before came up to his Levi and embraced him in a hug. Levi squirmed awkwardly trying to push away but he knew those arms had an iron grip.
"I don't want my captain to be sleep deprived you know; after all, how can you train if you're only half awake?"
Levi grumbled incoherently into Erwin's shirt and purposefully stepping on his foot. As Erwin released him, wincing, he heard birds squawk and a flock of them flew out of the trees in the nearby wood. Levi had heard it to as his eyes narrowed. Who would be out there at this time of night?
Imelda swore for the fifth time under her breath as she sat up from the ground. "Stupide fucking gear, why can't I get it fucking right huh? Argh…ACHOO" The birds, that had been sleeping in the trees around her squawked loudly, flapping upwards. Far too angry to care who heard Imelda got to her feet, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.
"Why can't I get it right?" Well maybe because you're doing it in the middle of the night? Her mind helped and she mentally slapped herself, why the hell was she out here? It was practically pitch black. Still beating her mind up, Imelda headed for the training ground again; but as her luck would have it, she tripped, landing in a stream. The cold water hit her chest and head making her gasp as her palm was sliced by a gagged rock.
"…Shit" she hissed as the blood mixed with the ice water. Suddenly everything flashed dark orange and all her surroundings became visible. Holding in a scream she stood shakily, examining her new, strange surroundings.
"Titans can see in the dark?" she whispered hoarsely.
"…Imelda…" Levi's voice mumbled around her head as she groaned rolling away from the noise, "Imelda…get your lazy arse up…late for training… IMELDA" The door crashed open with a peeved Levi standing at the door, "I sent Petra but you didn't answer her, what the hell is wrong with yo-" He stopped mid rant as he saw the 12 year old practically steaming in her bed. Her face was bright red and her whole body was shaking.
"I-Is it *cough* that time already? Sorry Papa…I'll get up now" Imelda made a move to get out of bed but was roughly pushed back with the covers tucked around her. "Stay" Levi ordered before leaving the room.
He headed down the corridor to Hanji who was busy scaring Moblit half to death with her experiments.
"Hanji, Imelda is sick" Levi stated and Hanji jumped to her feet screaming with joy and bouncing up and down, "So titans can get ill ooooo MOBLIT THIS IS AMAZING WOOOO- ouch ouch ouch, okay Levi I'm going."
Entering Imelda's room Hanji dived for her and began taking her temperature, asking questions and supressing squeals of delight. But she stopped once she read the thermometer, her body temperature was far higher than any human could survive at, even touching her skin was enough to cause a burn.
"hmm" Hanji murmured, getting up from the bed, "it seems you have pneumonia little one, this isn't good." Whilst tapping her chin Hanji heard gruff laughter from under the covers. Imelda was chuckling dizzily and looking up at Hanji with clouded eyes.
"Ehehe, did you know haha, Titans can see in the dark, and when I cut myself underwater, I don't go bat-shit crazy? Neither did I, until last night hahaha."
Hanji looked at the girl with concern and slight awe; how had she found that out? She hadn't gone outside had she? Leaving Imelda by the bed she examined her boots, no proof of being outdoors. But to be honest, when had this girl willing worn shoes when she was off duty? Hanji headed over to the bed again and pulled back the covers from Imelda's feet. They were filthy, grazed and bruised; Erwin and Levi wouldn't be pleased with this. It wasn't like she couldn't tell them, those two always found out everything.
"Imelda…Geez what are we going to do with you?" Hanji smiled tiredly shaking her head with exasperation. Imelda stopped laughing and shrugged, mumbling,
"I don't know, stick a few needles in me, and see how many dogs I can kill in three minutes? Take your pick, like I got a choice."
Hanji froze for about two seconds before shaking it off and laughing again, "Sorry Imelda, thanks to your dads I can only stick needles in titans, patents and enemies; now get some rest okay?" And with that she left the room.