Chapter 6-Return home/New Squad/End of Squad Levi (Please see episode about 57th expedition! Spoiler Alert!)
After a week, I had to return home and teach the new trainees. I was so sad that I had to leave but also happy to finally find Levi again. I spent every waking moment next to him. I helped him organize his office, clean the stables, and "discipline" Eren. I accompanied him to every meal and reminisced on the past and I told him how Keith was holding up. He enjoyed my company and every now then joined my rather loud conversations. While in front of his squad he had to put on his mask to remain his appearance as a strong leader but in is office alone with me he often smiled. I knew either way he was happy to have you again but I was getting bored when he put on his cold-stoned face. I conversed about everything I could think of, trying to catch up with all of the time we had missed being as a family. I also told Levi how Keith joined the military and after a lot of years became a squad leader for the trainees. Levi was impressed when I told him story of when I joined the military, graduated a year early and soon became second in command for your brother. I, attempting to be humble, said it was more like being a secretary than having any real power. The week ended faster than I expected and I looked at Levi and his squad sadly. I ran up to hug Levi and he returned the warm embrace, much to Petra's dismay. I soon returned home and relayed my brother with the wondrous news. Keith was overjoyed and suggested to open a bottle of wine to celebrate my discovery of Levi. I suggested to visit again soon but that was briskly rejected by Keith. He said Levi would need to concentrate on Eren and I would need to focus on my own recruits. I looked up at the last part. My own squad! My promotion to squad leader! I hugged Keith in delight while he chuckled at my reaction. Tomorrow would be an interesting day.
The next day I awoke early, eager to meet my very own trainees. I wrote a letter to Levi last night containing the latest details of your life. As I joined my brother on a stroll to the nearby HQ, I made a quick stop at the postal office and dropped my letter off. Keith was giving me advice on how to discipline each cadet fairly and reasonably as the two of walked. I was so excited you only caught a few sentences.
1. Be stern and in control
2. Make them know whose the boss on their first day
3. Stick to a routine and a predictable schedule
4. Train them to become stronger but do not overwork them
5. Cleaning or no food is always a good punishment
6. Set a strict curfew and make sure they stick to it
7. Do not always believe excuses but if it sounds like an emergency, you may dismiss them
Before I realized it, I was now facing my squad. Keith put his hand on my shoulder and whispered good luck as he whisked away to his own. I sighed heavily, hoping I do not make a fool of myself. I pace back and forth in front the meek soldiers, eyeing each one with an intense stare. I could have sworn that one was about to pass out by my superiority. I make my way through each line and asked what everyone's name was. I asked a little louder if they thought that they had what it takes to join the military. Each one responded with appropriate answers and I grinned. I could tell that this was going to be an awesome day. I started of their first day with sparring. I evaluated each pair and took notes on the naturals. I now knew why there were always so much paperwork in each squad leader's office. I already filled ten pages by the time they were exhausted from sparring. I dismissed them for lunch, planning my next set of training. At lunch I chatted with my brother and ate a nice PB&J sandwich (or turkey, if allergic to peanuts). Before I could stand up and ready my schedule for the next part of training, two cadets casually walked over to our table. Keith was interested on how these two would comment on his sister's standards for the first day. The two cadets were John and Peter. It was only the first day but anyone could tell these two held potential for the military. Peter was only 3 years younger than me while John was 6 years younger. I always wondered why Peter would join the army at later age but never thought too hard about it. They both saluted me and I greeted them with a smile. I had no idea what I was getting yourself into.
"We were wondering what the next session of our first day was, ma'am." John politely stood up straight and met my gaze. His brown hair was as short as Erwin's but combed back and parted to the right. He had a cute smile and large brown eyes. He was extremely smart for his age but was still a year older than most trainees. His friend, I think, was Peter. A tall, muscular man who looked like he could easily crush a can of pop (soda). He wasn't overly built but just enough to tell that he was strong. From my recent evaluations I could tell he had slightly above average intelligence. He had deep sky blue eyes and brown hair. It looked soft and reached past ears and lengthened when it peered over his forehead.
"Ah yes, the next stage. Well, I was planning a core workout and then a run. Does this sound pleasant?" I asked but not for their opinion. I wouldn't change it because it took a while to plan.
"Sounds great, ma'am!" Peter sounded ecstatic for something a little more challenging than a simple brawl. John looked at me, smiling nervously. I patted his hair and glanced at him encouragingly. I did not seem to realize that this action made my cadet blush a little. Peter smiled once more but soon dragged John away with waved at them and turned back to your brother. He gave me a look that said, what was that all about? I shrugged it off and stood up to head to the training field to start the next workout.
Keith ended up carrying me home because I decided to pass the time by joining my squad in their workouts. I was too tired after the run to even walk. My cadets seemed proud to have strong leader like me. A squad leader that actually participates in the workouts and not standing around and yelling at them all of the time. I crashed into my bed after a nice cool bath. I wrote a long, detailed letter about my first day as a leader addressing it to Levi and then I soon fell asleep.
A few days after 57th Expedition-The return home/Mourning
Levi hasn't replied to any of your letters after one specific day. I began to panic, thinking of the worst. I hoped for his return to Wall Rosa soon. I went to the gates the next day to see if the survey corps had returned yet. I saw a crowd of people awaiting at the gates and I was happy that they were finally returning home. I pushed through the people trying to find the people important to me. I searched the parade for Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Petra, and Levi. I found Mikasa riding in a wagon and Armin trailing behind it. I climbed atop a box to see Eren laying injured inside the wagon. I searched for Petra next but found Levi first but I wasn't disappointed. I smiled, glad that he survived. I continued looking for Petra but had no luck. I assumed she did not survive along with the rest of Levi's Squad. I felt terrible for his loss. He knew them better than anyone, they were probably like his family besides me and Keith. Once Levi reached HQ, he did not expect me to embrace him. You held onto him and cried into his shoulder. You could feel his burdens and his eyes told you he felt nothing but a mourning. He did not push me away and I only hugged him tighter. I led him to my home and quickly cooked a nice, warm meal. I made sure he ate every bite and soon enough Keith came home. He was about to question about why I did not show up and trained my cadets. Before he could he speak though, he saw Levi and his emotional state. He joined us for dinner and tried cheering him up by distracting him with funny stories of how some of his cadets would do the dumbest things. I smiled slightly at some of his funny stories but Levi's expression never faltered. Once it was time for bed, Levi excused himself and Keith suggested for him to stay in the guest room. While my brother escorted him, I cleared the table and did the dishes. After wishing my brother and Levi good night, I went to the bathroom to wash your face. I walked out afterwards and headed to my room but not before hearing a muffled noise. I look toward the guest room door and walked closer to it. The noise got louder as I stood in front of the door. I creak the door open slightly to see the bed empty. I open the door more to see Levi with his knees to his chest and his head in between them. I quietly close the door behind me as I approach the unfortunate corporal. I sit next to him and pull his head to my chest. He obliges, his tears never stopping, and his cries got louder. I gently rub his back and place your cheek onto his head. I hug him tightly and tell him that everything will be okay. I did not know what else to say and just petted his hair to soothe him. He broke from the embrace and looked into my eyes with his red, glossy eyes. I wiped away his tears and Levi began to mutter apologies. He kept saying it was his fault and that he wasn't fast enough. I roughly force him back into my hold and tell him it was not his fault. I waited patiently until his tears began to falter and helped him to his bed. Once covering him with the warm blanket, helping him take off his wet shirt, I turned off the lights. Before I could leave, I heard a whisper. I faced in his direction and waited for him to speak again.
"Wait," Levi's plea was still barely audible so I stepped closer to him after I closed the door. He began his request again, "Can you," he paused, his voice still choked up from his endless stream of tears, "Can you please stay with me?"
I smile at him gently, "Of course, Levi." I slowly walk toward the Levi and climb under the covers. I make myself comfortable and close my eyes. They reopen as soon as I felt Levi's arm pulling my waist closer to him. I smile as I hear his soft snore and his warmth on my back. I lace my fingers with his and drift off to sleep.
Keith found us the next morning, in a weird position. Apparently at some point in the night, I managed to kick Levi onto the floor with half of the blanket. I was sprawled out on the bed with the other half of the blanket covering my legs. My shirt was twisted up but still covered your torso. Levi was curled up into the blanket, hugging a pillow, and still sound asleep. Keith chuckled quietly as he closed the door and headed to the kitchen to make everyone breakfast.
It still took a while for Levi to recover from his loss of his team but each day I tried my best to make the days special. Levi got to meet my cadets and he helped me rate them each day. He cleaned my office when he was in a good mood and I made sure, that every day, he ate at least three meals. Keith helped out every now and then to cheer up Levi. I was glad that the three of us were finally together again.