Hey guys! Actually pretty close to the end of the story here. Two more chapters ahead of this one. There's some action in here ( about 2 seconds of it though... ) Anyway I hope you enjoy!
Ch. 4 Acknowledgement Winter, Year 847
Hooves pounding on the ground were the only thing to be heard for a couple of miles, despite the snow all around that failed to deafen the sound. That and the numerous titans outside of the walls. Though because of the cold, the titans had slowed as usual.
For about two years, the Legion were making a route back to Shiganshina to hopefully take it back. These expeditions always resulted in heavy losses, but it was expected. This encouraged Levi to not waste a life meaninglessly, even more than before. The courage of these soldiers to knowingly go outside even when the odds are against them is more than anyone could ask for.
Earlier in the year Erwin promoted Levi to his long awaited position of Squad Leader. He quickly outshined all other squad leaders in a short amount of time, earning him the title of Captain. Though he has gone through a lot of subordinates, the one that stayed consistently alive was his second-in-command, Eld Jinn. He graduated from the 101st trainee group this summer and already showed he was capable of taking care of himself.
His squad was in the upper left flank of Erwin's formation when they stopped at an abandoned farm. Thankfully no one had expired on the way here, and it was a relatively smooth journey even with the titans that appeared. The Survey Corps were to rest here and think of strategies to continue making a route to Shiganshina.
Levi hopped of his horse and went to look for Calle. He wanted to make sure she was still okay despite earlier.
Hange was helping set up operations in the farmhouse when she was stopped by Levi's hand on her shoulder. As soon as she turned to see who it was, Hange made a huge cheeky grin on her face.
"Let me guess. Your lover?" Calle had told Hange about how Levi's increasing clinginess to her was a bit overwhelming, but honestly Hange thought it cute. Calle was one of the very few soldiers willing to hold conversation with the rude man, thus having Levi's unconditional trust and care.
"Just tell me where she's at shit-glasses." He wasn't in the mood for Hange's usual tease and banter about his crush on Calle.
"What? Are you hoping to kiss and make up with her now?" Her playful words fell on deaf ears as she didn't see his usual uneasiness result from her teasing. An incident happened earlier in the expedition and Calle was none too pleased about it either. Hange knew Levi was looking for her to apologize, but wasn't sure it was best idea to send Levi her way. Reluctantly she decided it can't hurt. "She's in the barn with Erwin right now."
Levi hurried inside the barn to talk with Calle. He rushed past the soldiers to find who he was looking for at back. They were among other senior soldiers trying to warm up and escape the cold. He saw Erwin covering her sitting form with a blanket, then sitting right in front of her. He could tell what they were talking about, because Calle had a heated expression. Determined, he continued to make his way, being able to make out their words after a while.
"… you're just not understanding, Erwin. He's being annoying and just getting on my nerves. What he did today just crossed the line for me." She sneezed soon after saying that. She was shivering and her teeth were chattering. She tried to wrap the blanket around her tighter. Her whole uniform had gotten wet, including her hair which had started to frost on the ends, making her understandably uncomfortable.
"Calle, I do understand. I remember a certain someone following me around like a lost puppy when they first came here." Erwin gently smiled at Calle, who blushed at the remark.
Looking away from him she scowled and mumbled not too quietly under her breath. "Oh shut up, I'm pretty sure I wasn't that annoying."
"Calledora… He just cares for you." Erwin looked at Calle to find her staring at something behind him. He turned to see Levi.
"Levi I'm not interested in talking with you right now." She got up and tried to limp around past him but was stopped by Levi grabbing her arm.
"Calle, I just wanted to help. I got ahead of myself and… I thought you were in trouble."
Calle was on her horse crouching on the saddle. A deviant had appeared and went straight to the center of the formation. The others tried to get its attention to lure it to a more suitable spot for the 3DMG's. But to no avail, it kept chasing after her. Calle was the target of the grimacing 7 meter giant. It ran on all fours and was within chomping distance of her. She was nervous but wasn't fearful of the titan.
"You're going to regret getting this close to me." She said, staring death itself straight into its eyes. She shot out the wires, attaching to its shoulders. She flew off her horse and the titan stopped to take a bite at her. It missed her by a few feet as she swung around to the back of its neck. Getting her blades ready to take out the nape, a certain rotating blur had rushed past taking out the titan.
And cutting one of her wires. Shocked by what occurred she didn't register that she should pull back her other wire, still attached to the deviant's shoulder. The falling titan brought her down with it, her swinging momentum slamming her into the snow.
"Well I had it under control. Probably would've been better off if you didn't do anything. I'm lucky I got away with just a bruised hip." The impact of the snow on the ground softened her fall, but it still pained Calle to walk on it.
"Calle, I was just worried about you." Levi kept his normal stoic face, which just pissed Calle off even more.
"Well don't worry about me! You don't need to do that!" Erwin was slowly stepping in to settle them down, but Levi stopped him.
"Calle… How could I not? I…" Levi stalled on his last word, surprisingly not knowing how to just come out and say whatever he wanted to this time.
"Well? Out with it, if your reasoning for almost killing me was justified." The way Calle said this was rather harshly, and her body language wasn't making it any better.
Still trying to say what he wanted to earlier, he stalled again. Soldiers had turned to see what the two were spouting about. They had heard most of the conversation and were trying to eavesdrop in on what Humanity's Strongest was trying to say. *tch* "Just forget it…"
Levi hung his head down, embarrassed and hurt from the reaction that came from the tall ginger. Calle concerned looked over to Erwin, seeing he was giving her a look that could kill. She regretted what she had said, seeing the negative effect it just had. She hadn't meant to hurt the short captain, and most importantly she hadn't meant to hurt her friend. Calle placed her hands on Levi's shoulders, bringing her forehead down to his, speaking low enough only for Levi to hear.
"Levi I love you," His heart jumped for a sec, before crashing back down again, "as if you were my younger brother that just so happens to be older. I'll listen, what were you going to say?"
He took a deep breath and somehow it was easier for him to just say it now, "…I wanted us to be more… than just friends". Levi still avoided her eyes knowing what was about to come.
"Oh… Oh, I'm so sorry I can't return your feelings, because… My heart has already been taken." Levi ripped his eyes away from the ground to glare at the commander, the feeling of rejection making his blood boil. Knowing her choice of words were decidedly not the best, she immediately tried to lighten up the situation. "But don't dwell on it! I'm sure you'll find a pretty and nice girl that likes you. And is around your height." She chuckled, pulled him into a hug with other soldiers looking on in curiosity.
She pulled away and gave Levi a loving gaze, but he remained still and unrevealing. She sighed and limped off, probably to find Hange, leaving the two men beside each other.
"Levi." Erwin whispered for his attention. Once Levi acknowledged his call, Erwin lightly led him by the shoulder to the entrance.
"Look Levi, don't take this the wrong way, but… Please give up on her." Levi confused looked at the commander for clarification, but found sorrow in his now sullen gaze. "I don't want to see you go through a loss again."
"What do you mean?" Now curious, he didn't understand what Erwin's statement meant.
"… She often has a habit of… disappointing people." Erwin put his hand in his pockets and avoided putting more details into it saying, "You should get some rest, Captain." He returned to his previous formal commanding attitude and walked away from a confused Levi.
By the time everything was set up night had fallen, making everything significantly colder than it already was. A fire was made for everyone to sit around and escape the cold. It was almost a huddle since everyone there was sitting in a crude circle formation. Levi had been talking with Eld whenever his attention was captured by a certain eccentric woman.
"Levi over here!" Hange was sitting on the ground alone near the fire, waving her arm frantically to get him to come over. Levi slightly growled, annoyed because it should've been obvious to her he was talking to someone right now.
Eld than spoke up "It's okay Captain, I'll catch you later." The aforementioned captain nodded, getting up and heading towards the brunette wearing a smile that reached from ear to ear.
"Hah! You actually look tall from down here!" Hange as usual tried to elicit a reaction from him, as was common of her routine with him. Instead he just stared away her, not giving into her usual banter. He sat down next to her and just stayed silent waiting for her to say something. Hange for the first time didn't know what to say. He seemed more agitated of her than usual, and she didn't want to say anything that would set him off.
"Well? Why'd you call me over?" Tired of waiting for her answer he glared at her, prying at her with his very eyes.
Hange cleared her throat, "I'm guessing by your chipper attitude everything went well I suppose. Then again that can just be you." She smiled to let it be known she was being sarcastic, but still it ended up being a bad choice. Levi immediately sighed and stood up. He already guessed that would be what she wanted to talk about.
"I don't want to talk about it." However, Hange grabbed his arm and pulled him down. Levi looked towards her with surprise.
"Just sit still! We don't have to talk about it! That's the great thing about this world! There is so much to talk about, that we can talk about anything else, and not to talk about anything we don't want to talk about! So just stay here, don't worry, and I can do all of that talking." He was shocked. Not by her grabbing his arm and pulling him down, and not from her death grip she now had on his shoulders. It came from the realization he let himself get caught up in heartbreak thinking so much about it, when really it was miniscule compared to other things that deserve his concern.
She released his shoulders and getting right back into her gregarious ways, she excitedly talked away. "So I've come up with a plan to capture titans, with no casualties!" Levi sat there letting himself be indulged in Hange's plan. Normally he would refuse to sit through her tales, since she was infamous for taking large amounts of time explaining anything. But he laid down on his back and was able to just relax, allowing himself a change of company that he found in Hange.
The original draft for this chapter was actually a lot more different and shorter than this. Shorter, because I originally didn't have the scenes with Hange in there and I just thought she need to interact with Levi at least once this story (I'm not counting the first chapter), like geez I'm always having him hang out with Calle. And for the different part, it originally had a brutal accident planned, but I decided to use that later. I'm not too sure where I'll put it in, but I plan to use it. I'll have the next chapter out very soon within the next few days. It might even be tomorrow!
P.S Trying to write Levi having a crush AND keeping him in character is so hard for me! (IMHO I think he would be more aromantic than anything really)
A fav and review is always appreciated!