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I woke up just in time for my face to collide with the floor.
"Why weren't you locked up last night?" Levi asked kicking my side. I pushed up with my arms and glared at me.
"Did you really just pull me off the couch?" I asked. I moved to sitting cross legged.
"No, I pulled the blanket out from under you and you fell on the floor." He said straight faced, he then went to washing the spot on the couch were my head had just been.
"Why would you do that?!" I yelled and stood up, glaring holes into the side of his head. He pushed my face away and I fell to the floor again.
"You drooled on the couch." He then began cleaning his hand as well. "Now answer my question." He pointed a scrub brush at me. I stood up and swatted the brush away. I then walked past him towards the bathroom.
"You had fallen asleep and I had nowhere else to stay. Besides, it was already like one in the morning." I then walked into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. I changed out of the clothes I had been given yesterday into a pair that were on a stand next to a water basin. I splashed water onto my face, brushed my hair, and straightened out the outfit. It didn't suit me much. It was a grey, blue, that had tight sleeves and was a button up. The pants were the same color and just as tight. Strange thing was it fit me perfectly, that and a strange cloth thing that I guess could be used as a scarf maybe. I'd have to buy another outfit when I had time. Now that I thought about it I also needed a new set of gear. I'd have to do that before we left for our mission later today. As well as a uniform. I placed the scarf thing loosely around my neck. I then wandered out of the room. I wandered right past Levi when he suddenly grabbed the collar of the shirt. I choked and was pulled back. Levi glared at me.
"Why are you wearing my clothes?" He asked, his glare sent a chill down my spine. I looked down at my outfit and the outfit Levi was wearing. They were nearly identical, aside from any bagginess in mine. I started laughing, I soon stopped and stared at him.
"Did you expect me to go out in the outfit I had been wearing?" I placed a hand on my hip. "It's amusing that I even fit into it." He then placed a hand on my head and shoved down.
"Look who's talking, you are tiny compared to me." He retorted. I glared up at him from my position on the floor.
"What's with you and pushing me to the floor?" I growled. He then pulled up on my collar again.
"If your gonna be wearing my clothes at lest wear them right." He declared sternly, getting to work on my outfit. He pulled the shirt tight and tucked it into my pants along with straightening out any wrinkles in the sleeves. He pulled my pants up so they weren't hanging as loosely. He then flipped up the collar and started putting it in the same position as he had his. I think the way it was styled was called 'cravat' or something. He then stepped back and admired his work.
"Good, let's go." He grabbed my upper arm and dragged me out of the apartment. I struggled and tripped over everything along the way. Soon I had been able to just start walking next to him. He tightened his grip around my arm as I passed him. I grumbled and glared back at him.
"Let go of my arm." I growled.
"Not on your life. You need to stay next to me." He retorted. I gave up and slowed to walk next to him. His grip loosened just a tiny bit. I grumbled under my breathe as we walked into another building. It wasn't long before we were noticed. Levi letting go of my arm, left to go do whatever. Someone came over and gave me a uniform along with a new set of gear. After I was in all my gear I was given a horse named Echo. He was a copper color with green eyes and a white mane. He had small white spots on his rump as well. He was positively adorable. Before I got onto the horse I took the cravat and untied it from my neck. I then tied it around my head to help keep my bangs out of my eyes. I then unbuttoned the top few buttons, so it wasn't like Levi had wanted it.
I hopped up onto the horse and made my out after Levi and his group. A girl had been watching me and following me the entire time. I slowed to her pace when I noticed her get on a horse as well.
"Who are you and why are you watching me?" I asked, my voice happy and perky in an attempt to seem inconspicuous.
"I'm Petra, it's nice to meet you. I'm part of Levi's squad." She smiled and looked over at me.
"So I won't be the only girl!" I laughed and pulled back on the reins of Echo. His front legs went up in the air. As soon as they touched the ground again he went off in a gallop. I laughed as I passed Levi and the people he had with him. I looked back and stuck my tongue at him. I then looked back forward and rounded the corner nearest to me. I came to a screeching halt and turned back around meeting up with Levi and his group, Petra now with him. Levi glared at me before continuing down the street. I joined the group and started to trot next to Eren who was with us as well.
We rode in what was nearly absolute silence for the longest time. We left the Trost district and entered Wall Rose. We continued to ride off to somewhere for several hours, at least it felt like hours. Soon we came in view of a building, after seeing trees for so long I brightened up and smiled a big wide grin. As we got closer I noticed that the building looked practically like a castle. It was beautiful!
I broke out of my amazement to see that I had slowed down quite a bit. That's when I got smacked in the back of the head. I looked over and glared at Levi who was riding beside me.
"Eyes front." He declared. I started growling at him as he went farther ahead.
"It's okay, Levi's rough on the newbie's. You'll get to know him better soon." Petra said. I looked over at her. She had a smile across her face.
"That might not happen." I said under my breathe. I suddenly came up with a marvelous idea. I leaned forward and whispered into Echo's hear. He whinnied and shook his head.
"That's what I thought." I laughed. I then sat up straight and held the reins tightly in my hands. I peered over at Petra. "See ya at the castle." I winked at her before making Echo start off in a full gallop. I moved to the outer rim of the group and we zoomed past everyone. I laughed and soon entered the clearing that the castle was in. I soon found a post in the ground I slowed to a stop and had Echo trot over to it. I then pulled him to a stop. I jumped off Echo and began tying him up to the post. I then stared up at the massive building before me. It was amazing. I walked up to it and placed a hand on it. The stone felt cool and had a slight earthy feel. I walked along the edge of it, gliding my hand along the side as I went. Soon I was at a full on run along the edge of the castle. I kept one hand on it as I followed the edge all the way around. I came to a stop after awhile next to a door. I walked up to it and yanked the doors open. I could see a layer of dust floating in the air.
"So this is what a castle is like on the inside." I walked inside, peering around at all the archways and halls.
"Here's a broom. Get to work." Levi said, scaring me out of my awe. I turned and took the broom. Levi then handed me a cloth and some gloves. I slipped the gloves on and tied the cloth around my nose and mouth. I then wandered off trying to find the rooms with window.
I had been to five rooms, all of which had windows. Only two of the rooms had windows that opened. I opened them and let them start to air out. Any door I came to I would open to help ventilate. It wasn't long before I found a room that was filled with a thick layer of dust. There were two windows as well. I walked over and opened the windows. After that I began to sweep the layer of dust off of everything. It took awhile, but soon I found that the room had been completely dusted off. I looked around the room to see that I was alone. I couldn't have swept all of it out myself in such a short time. I used the broom to help support me as I thought about what had really happened.
"Lily!" I broke out of my thought and turned to see Levi standing in the door. In a quick motion I turned and saluted. My broom falling to the floor with a large clatter. "Pick up the broom you half-wit. Your done in here. Come with me." He then left the doorway. I quickly picked up the broom and ran after him. I pulled down my mask and peered around the corner of the room that Levi had walked into. Levi stood in the doorway facing Eren who was father in the room. Petra stood off to the side sweeping.
"Lily stop watching and help Eren upstairs." Levi commanded.
"Yes sir." I then ran back down the hallway towards the stairs up to the next floor.
"What have you done to my cravat?" Levi growled as we walked down to dinner. I turned and faced him.
"Well you see-" He tore the cravat off my head and buttoned up my shirt. He then began retying it around my neck like it had been this morning. This time he tied it tighter. I choked and gagged a bit.
"Shut up and stop overreacting." He finished tying it and spun me around, shoving me down the last few steps. I grumbled and took a seat away from Levi next to Eren. Petra placed a cup of tea in front of me. I smiled up at her before she moved on. Soon everyone sat at the table and had a cup of tea.
"It's safe to assume our standing orders will stretch into next week. But word to the grapevine is we're gearing up for a big mission a month from now." The man called Eld told us. I lifted my cup to my lip and took a sip of the delicious tea. Petra was really good at making the tea. I stared down into the brownish liquid in the cup. I wasn't actually sure what the liquid was. It may not have actually been tea... I wonder what it was. I would have to ask Petra about the recipe. Whatever it was it was good. I took another sip and set down the cup. Focusing back in on the conversation at hand.
"You have to wonder how many of those snivel-drop-runts peed themselves." Oluo, one of the other guys, commented. Dang it! I had spaced out. What had they been talking about?
"Surely this can't be the case." Petra also commented. I lifted the cup back up to my lip and drank again. At least I would try not to act like I didn't know what was going on.
"Mission planning isn't my responsibility, but it is Erwin's. And you can bet the man's obsessed over every angle." Levi finished.
"That's a truth."Eld replied. "Especially given the situation is. Consider how many people died on the path to taking Wall Maria. Then hope comes in a form no one suspected. One that we're not even entirely sure how to deal with." We all looked over at Eren, who sat innocently next to me. I also felt a few eyes boring into me as well. I set down my cup. Everything went silent, except for the minor flicker of the candles. Eren fidgeted under the attention, he then looked down, avoiding eye contact. I looked over at everyone, most also had their eyes on me. I smiled at all of them. "Most of us still find it hard to believe. So how does it work, the whole changing into a Titan trick? Really?" Eld finished. My smile vanished as I thought back to how it happened. I remember that I had figured it out while in the cell. I placed a hand to my chin and thought a bit longer. Couldn't quite remember it though. I do remember hitting a rock, as well as a pain on the nape of my neck. It couldn't just have been that could it. That was way to easy, it couldn't have all been a protective state, could it? I peered up to see Eren with the same look on his face.
"Wish I could tell you, but the fact is my memories not clear. Guess it's kinda like being in a trance. I do know the trigger seems to be hurting myself in someway. Like biting my hand." Eren stated after a moment. So he didn't know either.
"What about you?" Eld pointed out. I looked over at him. I rubbed the back of my head.
"Yeah, well..." I let out a stressed chuckle. "My memories are clearer than Eren's. From what I know I can control myself while in Titan form. To turn into a Titan I think I just need to get hit in the nape of the neck is all. Nothing as bad as how Eren has it." I laughed again. I moved my hand back to my side, grazing it against the nape of my neck. At the touch I felt myself freeze up for a moment. It was probably the most sensitive part of my body.
"Your not gonna get anything big out of them, a part from what the scribblers have laid out in the reports." Levi said, lifting his cup up and taking a drink. "Not that you know who won't take a go at it." He stated before actually taking a sip. He couldn't possibly mean HER! "You'll be lucky if you make it out alive if that one lays into you. Course it's only a matter of time." Levi stated. I felt sweat drip down my face. I know I'm related to her and all, but if she was here I would die! There was no way I would spend a night in this building with her. Who knows what she would do to me if I fell asleep near her!?
"Who are you talking about?" Eren asked, his voice revealing how scared he was. There was a giant bang on the door behind Levi. An 'OW!' could be heard from the other side of the door.
"Don't tell me she's actually here!" I screeched. Meanwhile Petra got up and let the woman in.
"I'm so sorry." Hange said once the door was open. "Good evening team Levi!" She greeted us. "How is castle life treating everyone?"
"Your too early." Levi grunted. I slowly pushed myself into my chair, as to hide from my dear aunt. We might be related, but she was kinda crazy. Especially since I was both related to her, and half Titan.
"Am I? Suppose I couldn't help myself." Hange walked around the table and ruffled my hair. I let out a scared whimper as she stopped behind me and bent down. She placed her mouth near my ear. "We'll have to run a few tests on you as well as Eren on this trip. The difference between you too will be a great find." Hange whispered. I let out another cry as I jumped out of my seat and ran up the nearby stairs. I got to the top and tripped on the top step falling on my face. I then pushed up and started running down the hall, trying to get as far away from the woman. I came to a corner and crashed into it. I slipped down the wall and took a seat on the ground.
"Lily, you'll be staying in Petra's room." Levi told me, walking by to his room. I jumped up and saluted. Once he had passed I sent a glare at the back of his skull. Petra soon followed. She laughed as I stuck my tongue at the guy as well.
"Here's a blanket and a pillow." She handed me a blanket and a pillow. I then followed her to a room. We closed the door and she began setting up her bed. I dropped the pillow on the ground, setting the blanket down as well. I laid on the blanket and pulled part of it over me to help keep in some heat. I then tore off the cravat and threw it across the room, unbuttoning the top few buttons of the shirt as well.
"So why exactly are you wearing Levi's clothes?" Petra asked, turning over and facing me.
"I didn't have any of my own and I fell asleep at his place last night." I stated.
"Why were you at his place?" Petra continued to question.
"I had been staying at the court house and Levi had took me to his place to take a shower. Took five of them before he finally fell asleep. It was already past midnight so I fell asleep on his couch." I answered.
"Ha. Sounds just like something Levi would make you do." I laughed along with her before we both fell asleep.
I woke up to find the room dark, aside from several lit candles. I was pressed up against a corner. Petra pushed me against it along with a hand covering my mouth. Gunther, Eld, and Oluo stood around me, hands on their blades which were all aimed at me. I figured that Eren was probably with Hange in the room from earlier. Levi was also in the room, but he stood in the doorway, opposite of me and Petra. I blinked a few times and removed Petra's hand from my mouth.
"What's going on?" I asked, slightly scared.
"We would like to know that as well!" Oluo yelled, I cringed into the corner at the violent response.
"You've been screaming for the last hour. We couldn't seem to wake you." Petra commented. There was a long silence after that. Something felt off as the sun's first light shined through the window.
"I-I don't know, but we need to go back." I declared, standing up. I walked over and picked up my pillow, blanket, and the cravat that I had thrown across the room the previous night. I tied the cravat around my head like a headband. I then stomped out of the room and made my way out of the castle.
"Where do you think your going cadet!?" Levi scolded me. I spun on my heel and stared up at him from my lower position on the stairs.
"I'm going back to Trost. I have no idea what happened in that room only moments ago, but I know for a fact that whatever's going on has something to do with Titans. I just have a bad feeling alright!" That's when a man burst through the doors to my right. I looked over to see Hange and Eren still sitting at the table.
"Section Commander Hange! Come quickly!" The man exclaimed. Everyone focused on the man at the door. "The test subjects! They're dead! Both of them killed!" I quickly jumped off the side part of the stairs and ran past him. I ran out the doors to Echo. I untied his reins easily before jumping onto his back and riding off towards Trost before anyone else could make it out.
It wasn't long before I made it through the gate at the speed I had been going. I dropped Echo off at the stables before running up to the nearest official and finding out where the test subjects were. I burst through a door to see Hange screaming at a pair of Titan skeletons. I ran over to her.
"SONNY! BEAN!" Hange screamed. I walked over and she bent down and began crying into my shoulder. "How could this happen!" She cried into my shoulder. I rubbed her back.
"It's okay. They'll be fine. They're in a better place." I squeezed her to show that I was trying to comfort.
"Someone tell me this isn't real." She continued to sob. She grabbed my sleeves in her fists.
"Come one. We can get you more. There are plenty out there." I pushed her away and looked her straight in the eyes. "I'll be able to help you get them." She sniffled and hugged me tighter, blocking her face from me once more. She continued to sob, making a wet spot on my uniform. I rubbed her back again. She continued to scream. I pulled her into a tighter hug. "There, there." I repeated as she cried out.
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