Sorry this chapter took so long, guys, I was having a bit of writer's block such. Also sorry if this chapter is a little choppy, but hey, it's something, right? It's more fluff than angst, as the group gets back to the castle and gets back into the old routine. Please review! :)
The carriage jolted slightly as it hit a rather rough bump, and Levi winced slightly, shifting into a slightly more comfortable position. On the bench across from him, his travel companion showed no sign of moving. Eren was sprawled out on the bench, eyes still closed, dead to the world.
Levi frowned slightly- while he knew it was normal for Eren to sleep for long period of time after transforming, it still bothered him. It was maddening to see the normally fiery boy being so still.
Sue to fresh horses being supplied by the government every couple hours and amiable weather conditions, they were near the castle. It'd been nearly 24 hours of straight riding, but Levi didn't mind, resting his chin in his hand and re-crossing his leg over his knee.
"Eren?" he spoke quietly, not expecting to be heard over the jumping of the carriage wheels.
Eren's eyes moved beneath his eyelids, his face twitched- before he was still again.
Levi smirked slightly at the response, amused the boy was even cognizant enough to recognize he was being spoken to- before he turned, peering out the window idly. It was dark- they were well past dusk, now, it was probably edging into the wee hours of the morning.
On the horizon, he could see the grey light of dawn beginning to break, the slight hue of pink bleeding into the veins of the sky, the orange sparks, the whole grey sky a powder keg waiting to ignite.
A new day was beginning.
The carriage came to a halt just outside the castle, and Levi jumped down into the dirt. Though his expression never changed, he was relieved to be back- it was far nicer to be in familiar surroundings where he could stretch his legs than inside the rattling box that was a carriage.
Erwin nodded to Levi quietly, stepping down from his own carriage behind them. Hanji fairly burst out of the door behind him, eyes wide beneath her glasses.
"Is he still sleeping!? Is he responding to stimuli!?"
"He's still out cold." Levi replied simply, nodding to some cadets who'd been selected to ride along with them. He opened his mouth, about to order then to carry Eren upstairs, but promptly shut it when he had the mental image of the clumsy brutes dropping him on the stone floor. He sighed- while Eren didn't know it, he really was quite high maintenance. Levi didn't trust just anyone with the brat's safety, and he climbed back into the carriage, messily slinging the boy's body over his shoulder before he was jumping back down, careful not to fall over, since he was now top-heavy.
He ignored Erwin's amused expression- he'd just gotten Eren back, and he wasn't going to let any rookies manhandle him. Not after what he'd been through these past few days.
"I'm taking him upstairs." he supplied simply, daring anyone to question him. Erwin simply nodded, eyes twinkling, before Levi was shuffling off, Eren's limp body still draped over his shoulder.
Erwin watched him do under the pink light of the dawning sky, grinning.
"Do you think he'd let me conduct some small tests on him while he's unconscious?" Hanji asked hopefully, holding a small imaginary space between two fingers to indicate just how tiny the tests would be.
Erwin chuckled, shaking his head at the scientist. "Not a chance."
Levi had continued upstairs with Eren- annoyed by the fact that Eren was still limp with every motion. He paused at the top of the stairs, considering. He wanted to take Eren to his room- the boy was accustomed to it, anyways- but that might cause people to ask questions. In addition, Eren had looked awful in the courtroom, and he wanted him to undergo an extensive physical to make sure they hadn't missed any injuries.
With that in mind he turned, ducking into the infirmary and depositing the lanky body on the bed.
He'd let Eren rest in his room later if he desired it- after all, the boy did sleep there.
He sighed, moving to wipe some filth from the boy's face.
It was finally over- they wouldn't be able to try and take him from the Legion again. Sunlight edged cautiously through the window, illuminating the room and a few idle specks of dust lingering in the air. Levi frowned out of habit.
"You'll be cleaning this infirmary from top to bottom once you can stand on your own, you brat." he spoke to no one in particular. Still, his mouth twitched slightly as he tried to hide a smile.
The wagon containing the other troops hadn't been furnished with fresh horses like the officer's, and it was a full day later when they arrived.
Most jumped down from the wagons enthusiastically, stretching and working out the kinks and knots from their joints that were caused by the bumpy ride.
There was one, however, who hit the ground running, ignoring all the pleasantries and explanations.
"Mikasa, wait!" Armin called out, but she was already gone, having disappeared into the castle, a flash of red fabric Armin's last glimpse of her.
She could only hear the pounding of her own heart as she raced up the stairway. Eren had been in bad shape in the courtroom, and the last time she'd seen him had been when he was being carried away. She just needed to see him- to make sure he was alright- then she'd go back to help the other cadets with unhitching the horses and tending them.
She could hear voices in the hallways, but she drown them out unintentionally- there was only one thing on her mind right now.
She burst through the doorway of the infirmary, cheeks red, panting slightly.
Eren looked over from where he'd been apparently focused on something, surprised, before he gave her a weary smile. "Oh hey, Mikasa."
They locked eyes for a brief second- she scanned every inch of his face. He looked pale and tired, but alright- he was awake and speaking, at least. She noted the yellowing bruises on his face, but he was conscious, and he was smiling.
Mikasa stepped into the room, about to race in and hug him, when she realized he wasn't alone in the room. She hadn't been able to see him from the doorway, but Levi was settled in a chair against the wall, various paperwork in his lap, pen in his hand. He looked surprised to see her here, but nodded to her neutrally, turning back to his paperwork, pen dancing across the page.
Mikasa stepped forward, returning her focus back to Eren. "How do you feel?"
Eren shrugged non-comitally, humming. "I'm feeling pretty good..."
Levi glanced up for his paperwork, and Eren knew the Captain was listening intently to his answer, as well.
She stepped forward, reaching out to trace a concerned hand over his jawbone, tilting his face up so she could see his face. She frowned. "You're still bruised..."
Eren batted her hand away. "I'm fine, Mikasa. Quit hovering already. I mean you just got here."
"Have you been resting?"
"I've got plenty of rest. I'm tired of sleeping, anyways, I was just talking to Captain Levi..."
Eren looked over at Captain Levi, smiling slightly. Mikasa realized that they'd been talking, they'd been the voices she'd heard out in the hallway. Levi didn't look up, and Mikasa glowered over at him slightly. Eren should've been resting, not being distracted by the Captain.
"You should be resting."
"You should be helping unhitch the horses with all the others." Eren retorted. He sighed at the hurt look that crossed Mikasa's face. "Sorry. I'll sleep when I'm tired, okay? I'm fine, really- Captain Levi has been watching over me." Eren nodded towards his superior, hoping to reassure his sister.
Mikasa nodded slowly, heading towards the door. She cast a worried glance over her shoulder at Eren- she'd come back again to check on him around dinnertime, she decided. As she strode down the hallway, she heard their voices again. Though she couldn't make out exactly what was being said, she stopped, surprised, when she recognized Eren's laughter...
Maybe Captain Levi wasn't so bad after all.
The next morning dawned early- a warm breeze rustled the grass in the yard.
"Armin! Mikasa!"
The blonde and raven loked up, surpried, to see Eren dressed in his usual brown slacks and green shirt, running over to them. Eren bent over, panting slightly, once he reached them.
"How're you feeling, Eren?" Armin asked, smiling.
Eren grinned, straightening up. "Great." a sweet-smelling breeze rustled the trees, and the three exchanged glances, Mikasa's hair whipping around slightly in the breeze.
"Captain Levi hasn't put you back on duty yet, has he? It's so soon after your transformation, you're still regaining your strength..."
Eren waved a hand, looking unconcerned. "Yeah yeah I know. I'm not back on duty yet- tomorrow, maybe. But they finally let me out of the infirmary. I couldn't stand to stay in that bed any longer." he grinned, looking outside. It was a beautiful day.
"Wanna sneak out and go for a ride? You guys don't have training until later, so..."
Armin frowned. "We need to have a pass written by an officer to take our horses..."
Eren laughed, rolling his eyes. "Not if we don't get caught, we don't." while he was still pale, he had that spark back in his green eyes.
Armin loked hesitant, but Mikasa nodded, stepping forward. "Where you go, I go."
"Great. You in, Armin? It'd be a crime to waste such a beautiful day. Besides, we aren't hurting anybody..." Eren looked so hopeful, Armin sighed.
"Alright But we'll have to sneak around the back of the stables, and if we get caught, it isn't me fault."
Les than twenty minutes later, three horses were stampeding through the yard towards the forest. The three had had to abandon their goal of stealth after they'd run into Jean just as they were leading their horses out of the stables, and Eren whooped triumphantly, kicking his horse into a faster gallop and grinning.
"C'mon, guys! We can totally make the forest without getting caught!"
"What the hell are you three doing!? You know you can't take your horses without a pass!" Jean yelled behind them, but his words fell on deaf ears as the three galloped off into the forest, intent on riding for as long as possible. "Idiots." Jean growled, frustrated.
Captain Levi watched from his office window, amused by the trio's antics. Everything was as it should be.
Please review! :)