The next morning Imelda was the first to open her eyes, her body still sandwiched between her parents. Both had their eyes shut but knew better to think they were asleep. She fidgeted between them trying to wriggle out, not wanting to talk about the nightmare, but her Papa's arms held fast as grey eyes made contact with her own.
"Care to explain last night and the night before?" he asked, propping himself up on his elbow. Imelda shook her head, looking down in shame.
"Imelda" Levi's voice was dangerously level and Imelda knew if she didn't say something she'd be over his knee faster than she could run.
"Just let her be Levi," Erwin mumbled, "give her time, she'll tell us eventually, no need to threaten people so early in the morning."
A grunt from Levi gave Imelda the point that she was off the hook this time; but she felt upset that Levi rolled over, having his back face her like that.
"I dreamt about when I was little" she mumbled, not bothering to look up, "I was runnin around in a field, until a-a" she could feel the tears coming back already, "a man in a white coat appeared…and took me away." She bit down on her fingernails, trying to calm her breathing but it didn't help much.
"A-and then-n-n y-you b-b-b-oth where th-ere and t-t-urned a-way leaving m-m-e in the darkness and then-"
Erwin wrapped his arms around her gently shushing her as she covered her face, tears falling onto the mattress. Levi turned back, concern in his eyes as he pushed Imelda's bed hair from her face kissing her forehead.
"It was a dream Imelda, no more than that" he said calmly. Still sniffing rather violently Imelda nodded as Levi sat up. "I'm going into town, we need more supplies, I'll be taking my squad with me."
Erwin and Imelda stayed in bed for an hour or so after Levi left until Erwin managed to coax Imelda out of bed and get her to eat something. For the morning Erwin did paperwork whilst Imelda just sat on the leather sofa, staring at her feet. It would be a lie to say Erwin wasn't concerned about his daughter; she was distant, her pupils were still wide and her body shook ever so slightly.
At lunch time Erwin said nothing as he took Imelda by the hand and pulled her to the door; she didn't fight back.
"Imelda, are you hungry?" he asked as they reached the mess hall. She shook her head, "then go get your gear on, you need to take your mind off your nightmare." He ordered, walking towards the arms room.
Imelda felt her stomach jerk up to her throat; gear!? She was rubbish at it though, how the hell was he going to expect her to do it? She was about to run away to her room when Erwin turned back, his eyes flashing dangerously, and Imelda quickly went against her decision and ran to his side. This was going to be awful, she just knew it.
"Right Imelda, tell me how you keep balance when in 3DM Gear" Erwin said as they walked to the woods.
"By centring your balance to your stomach and hips." Imelda replied almost automatically. Erwin nodded in approval, "exactly; now when you're in the air you centre of balance is still in the same area; but what must you take into consideration?"
Imelda thought about this; she'd never really thought about that, whenever she'd been in the air she'd always been pushed backwards by the air.
"You need to keep streamlined?" she said, "Almost," Erwin smiled as they stopped by the trees, "you need to keep forward, leaning back will send you into the spin as it did last time. Anyway, start by just swinging at a steady pace from tree to tree down here."
Imelda nodded, not wanting to remember last time as she stationed herself, and let her hooks fly. As she was lifted into the air she focused centring her balance and with only a few wobbles, managed to get to the other side.
"Excellent Imelda, you did well; though your landing may need to be improved on. Do the same again but faster." Erwin called from the other side and obediently Imelda did; though it didn't go quite as well. One of the hooks didn't manage to imbed itself in the tree and Imelda crashed into the hedge. She pulled herself out, tears threatening another appearance, but Erwin simply nodded, "There is always the possibility that the hooks won't go in; it's isn't your fault. But" he said, now looking incredibly serious, "If that ever happens outside the wall, retract it and send t again as fast as you can; the slightest mistake could be the end of you."
Imelda nodded rubbing her face and looked back down the line of trees again before jumping into the air. With a spurt of gas she was in the air, gliding through the trees, keeping her body forward. She was doing it, slowly but she was still doing it. A smile began to crawl onto her limps as she sped up, embracing the adrenalin that was rushing through her as she sent one wire out and span around the tree to come back round again.
"Very good Imelda, you're doing it!" Erwin called and her heart filled with self-pride as she skidded to a halt. She grinned happily and did a small happy dance on the grass. Erwin smiled at his daughter; that's all she needed, praise and comfort, but he knew her power would be of great strategic use, and despite what Levi said, he would use it to their advantage.
That evening Levi entered the mess hall to see Imelda and Hanji having an animated conversation about titans and the outside world, whilst Erwin sat on a separate table looking at documents. Deciding not to disturb them Levi headed over the the blonde's side.
"I take it today was a success?" Levi asked as he sipped his tea, Erwin nodded, his large eyebrows low with concentration. "Indeed; she'll be ready soon."