Petra and I walked over to my office in silence. Eren's thrashing and yelling was stil ringing in my ears and in hers too, probably, although to ask her that wouldn't do any good. As we entered the messing room, and apologetic smile ran across my lips.
"Sorry for all the mess, I really need to get this cleaned up eventually.", a hand scratched my neck awkwardly, and oh how I wished to know how to deal with situations like this, but still, nothing could be done about it. After an invitation to sit on the chair in front of the desk, Petra sat quietly.
After a few seconds of arranging notes and papers, finally our eyes met and her deeply concerned expression made me sigh. And, although I didn't really want to make her tell me what had happened down in the well in detail, it was a necessity, in order to study the effects of titan shifting in the mind, Eren's more specifically.
"So... Petra, I'll need you to tell me exactly what happened down there."
"Okay.", she replied, inhaling deeply and then closing her eyes for a second.
"Please, don't let any details out. This has to be as thorough as possible."
"Yes, I understand. So.. it was like, I got down there, with water up to my chest and I couldn't see him."
"Was he underwater?"
"Yes, at first he was, but I pulled him out of the water and check for a pulse. It was weak but at least he was alive.", she stopped for a few seconds, collecting her thoughts. While she was talking, my pen quickly took note of the report, since Hange would want to analyze it with me in the near future.
"What then? Was he breathing?"
"No, he wasn't. When I checked for that and didn't hear his breath, I gave him mouth to mouth for a few seconds and he eventually came to his senses. And then... he was just.. insane."
"Insane how?"
"I'm not sure, like a lunatic, a maniac, whatever you want to call it. He attacked me, hands around my throat and trying to choke me, those kinds of things."
"I'm sorry I'm putting you through this. Petra, I really am.", her face was just like nothing I'd seen before. She cared so much for the kid and he'd tried to kill her just like that; I'd like to say I couldn't imagine and give her the sympathetic look of someone who tries to feel what is being describe but.. I'd felt on my own skin how it was; to be faced with the insanity of someone you cared about and being unable to help them. I could imagine and more; I could remember it.
"It's part of the job.. don't worry about me. Anyways, the captain got down there just in time and restrained him. He still tried to bite me and-"
"Did he try to turn?"
"Yes, he almost managed to bite his hand but the captain knocked him out before he could do it."
"Hm... I see..", after she stopped talking, there was only silence for a few moments, while I finished writing all that had been said. "So... how are you feeling, Petra?", my eyes looked up at her, sorrowful, wanting to comfort her.
Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad; she was still alive and had no physiological injuries. It could've been worse, that's for sure. But still, when we were out there, fighting the titans, it was different. Titans don't talk to you, they don't share their dreams and hopes for the future, they don't even smile or greet you when you walk by. Because they're not people. And Petra didn't have an encounter with a titan; it was Eren down there. A very disturbed Eren for that matter but a person nonetheless.
"I'm... I don't know...", she leaned in and rested her forehead on the table, sighing deeply. "He's just a kid... but how can a kid have so easily overpowered me like that...? I could've died..."
"Maybe it's best if you don't dwell too much on it right now.. Why don't you go and sleep? It's late.", extending my hand, I gently caressed her soft hair, her back raising with each deep breath.
"Eh.. maybe I will... I still want to check up on Eren before I go..", after all that she still wanted to see if he was okay? I guess being almost killed was indeed part of the job, no matter what happened.
"Very well. Sorry for having put you through all that. Your help was greatly appreciated.", with a faint smile, she left the office. It was time to write the camp report.
The past few days with the cadets didn't have a lot to write about, they didn't do anything particularly stupid or dangerous and didn't cause any trouble. Except Eren that time but it'd been something minor. The real descriptive part of the report, where the actual important material began started with the captain's arrival at the camp.
About an hour later, a full report of four sheets of paper written front and back had been produced. It was still pitch black outside and it appeared that there were still a lot of hours of darkness left before dawn so, grabbing the report, I left, head towards Erwin's office.
Knocking on his door several times left me wondering whether or not he'd gone to bed already and, if so, it would be best to not disturb his sleep and give him the report the following day.
"If you're looking for the commander, he's out.", a deep voice informed, behind me. Startled, my head turned to meet Zackarias' gaze.
"Where to?"
"He had 'business' to attend to.", was the answer. Well, I'd have to turn in the report the following day after all. Thanking Mike, my feet led me back to the office, where I took the opportunity of having some spare time to organize the piles of books and papers on the floor.
Erwin usually had this 'business' he had to attend, meaning that he went to meet a woman he was rather fond of. In all honesty, no one who knew about her knew exactly what she was to him or if he actually loved her but the fact was that he'd go meet her and things usually ended up sour because of work.
Although Erwin was rather cheerful when a bit tipsy, heavier drinking led his mind to wander and he'd talk about wanting to have a stable life, a loving wife and kids, away from the dangers of the outside. Of course, this usually happened when very few people were around; all in all, I'd say that maybe Zacharias, Levi and I knew about this 'wish' of his from the whole Corps.
A knock on the door woke me up from my musing, a brunette head peaking inside the office. It was Petra once again, peering in with a half smile.
"Martha, are you busy, right now? The captain requested our presence."
"At this hour? What does he want...?", a light huff escaped my lips. And there I was, thinking I'd get some time to get stuff cleaned.
"I don't know, but it sounded important, we better hurry."
"Fine, fine, I'm going.", before leaving, I took another of Hange's pills, since the pain was coming back and we went to meet the captain.
"So, sir, what's the matter?", was my first question, upon seeing him.
"I'm going to the bar, to gather intel on the shitbags that raided the camp."
"And you want us to check for other suspicious things.", Petra completed.
"Precisely.", he replied, turning his back to head to the stables. We followed right behind him, galloping to the town bar, full at those dark hours.
The loud noise heard outside made the captain scowl at the though of having to go in there, where all those drunks were screaming and singing. It didn't really bothered me that much but it would make our task of looking out for suspects significantly harder. As we stepped in the tavern, the keeper cheered loudly at us.
"Well, if it isn't 'Humanity's Strongest Soldier'!", he yelled. The other patrons lifted their mugs and gave the captain a rowdy welcome at which he rolled his eyes.
"Mingle and don't draw too much attention on yourselves.", the corporal told us. "Don't get shitfaced."
"Understood.", we answered, sitting on a table on the far corner and starting an empty conversation as we scoured the room for anything suspicious or out off place. Waitresses walking around with trays of beer mugs, sitting on the laps of patrons and pouring drinks on them while being groped.
"Well good night to 'ya misses, so what's it gonna be?", a rather busty waitress leaned over our table, shoving her breasts on my face.
"Uhm, well, we'd like some... beer.", I answered, leaning away from the almost exposed boobs squished against my cheek. Giving Petra a side stare, it was fairly obvious that she was also startled by the situation.
"Very well then", the thick accented woman smiled, circling the table and sitting on my lap before anyone could react. "And, how would'a fancy something extra, deary? It'll cost 'ya, but I'm more than worth the few coins...", she purred, finger caressing the underside of my chin, making me turn up those yellow eyes. Two braids fell on either side of her slender neck loose hair strands framing her devilish grin. Cat eyes glinted at me and she leaned in closer, a sweet scent of fresh pine leaves oozing from her olive toned skin and for a moment, my ears stopped listening to the crowd around us. "So...", she whispered even closer, "...how about that?"
It was only thanks to Petra that the spell I seemed to be under was broken, as she elbowed my side under the table, bringing up a sharp sting, although a bit muted by Hange's pills. Breaking eye contact, my eyes fell on the captain sitting at the bar, giving me the side eye. Inhaling deeply, the haze that had muddled my thoughts earlier disappeared and once more I found myself looking at the woman.
"Uhm... Sorry, I'm really not interested in that kind of thing...", why were my words sounding so apologetic? She smiled widely at my slightly confused and embarrassed state, finally leaving my lap.
"Well, if 'ya wanna have some fun, 'ya know where 'ta find me. The name's Becca, just so 'ya know who 'ta ask for.", with a wink she was off to the bar, swaying her hips ever so slightly as she walked.
"What... was that?", Petra asked slowly, her gaze burning the side of my face.
"No idea...", the words came out as a breathy whisper while the main focus of my attention was still the young woman talking on the other side of the tavern, vibrating with hearty laughter at the men who fawned over her.
"Oi, what's up with you?", the small brunette darted in a low voice, forcing me to break eye contact.
"Nothing, I just... why did she threw herself at me like that?...", in all the times we'd gone to this tavern, not once did any of the women approach us in such a way. Thinking further about the issue, no memories of this girl popped up in my head. Was she new there? But... she looked so in place... walking around confidently around the flailing drunk men seated closer to the bar as if she'd been there all her life.
"I don't know... maybe she thought you're into women...?", Petra shrugged, her voice lowering when another serving girl passed by us.
"Why would she think that...?", my eyebrows lifted and my lips pursed as a head movement of mine coaxed the brunette into revealing her opinion.
"I don't know... maybe because you look... manly? Lately you've been scowling a lot. And you're here with me so... well, I'm just guessing, I don't really know.."
"What? You think she thought we were together?", a chuckle rumbled in the back of my throat as I imagined that possibility. First of all, I wasn't very given to relationships ever since... well, that happened five years back. It seemed too much of a risk to love someone who's going to end up dying anyway...
"Well, there 'ya go, loves!", Becca smiled, placing our mugs on the table. "I hope you and the missus have a wonderful time here.", she grinned gesturing to Petra. Oh.. so she did think we were a couple.. well, it could be worse.
"Thanks.", we replied to her and she resumed her tasks around the tavern, leaving us alone.
"So... I scowl a lot... and that makes me look manly? Oh please, Petra.. come on.", the last words were drowned by the mug on my lips.
"It doesn't matter anyways. We're here on a mission.", she noted, taking a swig of her beer.
"I'm pretty sure the captain could've come here alone. Not like anyone can jump him anyways..."
"Well, that's true but... maybe he wanted extra pairs of eyes to look out..?"
"What if... her wanted you to relax a bit?", as much as it sounded weird to say it, it wasn't completely impossible that the captain would want Petra so ease up a bit after the encounter with Eren. After all, she was always so loyal and a model soldier. Maybe he wanted to have her do something nice for herself for a change. "I don't think he'd ever admit it, though."
"Hm... I guess we'll never know for sure. But it would be extremely nice of him if he'd called us in for that...", she smiled fondly at his small frame sitting on a barstool, talking to the owner. We kept a watchful eye over the rest of the room, looking out for anything that seemed suspicious but, after about half an hour, nothing had happened still.
By that time, I was sure that me and Petra were at least half drunk. How unprofessional was it that we'd get intoxicated when on a mission but the mugs kept rolling and, without even noticing it, we'd downed more that three each. Looking over to the Levi, he was still sitting on the same stool, but now, he was facing the majority of the room, eyes raking over the crowd.
When his gaze met mine, inquisitive in a 'have-you-seen-anything' kind of fashion, it was hard to keep my lips from smiling stupidly at the man. Pulling myself together, I simply gave him a negative nod before he moved his head to look somewhere else.
Oh but I followed those cold eyes and saw what 'somewhere else' was. Or rather, who it was. A man in ragged clothes approached the captain slowly, sitting on the stool next to him.
"So... what's Humanity's Strongest doing all alone in a place like this...?", the shit smelling man purred to Levi in a hoarse voice, leaning in closer. "Oy, innkeeper, 'll be a pint for me and this gent here, will 'ya?"
"I hate beer.", the corporal spat, not bothering to look at the man next to him. His eyes roamed the tavern. Nothing stood out in that shithole. The whores were being thrown about by drunk scum as usual, the noise was deafening and the smell was unbearable. Just having passed through the doorway made Levi want to scrub his skin off.
At least Martha and Petra seemed to be having a good time. He'd seen them laughing and probably telling stories to each other. He did not condone slacking off like this but after what had happened, a couple of drinks wouldn't hurt. And, having told them to keep an eye out, he knew that, even in that state, they'd be watching the people, albeit less attentively.
"You got the money for it, Randall? We ain't giving no freebies here.", the other man scowled. The way they talked seemed like they'd known each other for a long time.
"Dun worry chief. I'm stocked this week.", he grinned. "Found me a rich patron."
"Real fancy...", the owner mumbled, with a look of disgust plastered on his face. "Don't scare away my customers tonight or I'll have my boys fuck you up.", he snarled.
"There a problem here?...", Levi turned to face the owner with his cold stare. As much as he hated the stench of the other man, hearing their conversation gave his stomach several more turns.
"No, sir. There 'ya go; too mugs."
"So... Mister Strongest...", Randall hissed softly, nearing the corporal's ear. "If you're feeling lonely... I could keep you company..."
"Back off, shitbag."
"There's no need to be that harsh... I'm sure you and I could have some fun..." he was now a few inches away from the raven haired man, lips on the verge of brushing his ear. He was pushing his luck, but, seeing as Levi wasn't reacting against it, he just kept going. His hand drew near the other man's leg as he spoke. "Just 'cause it's you I'll let you fuck me for fre-"
A firm hand quickly gripped Randall's neck, fingers tightening around the rough skin and starting to cut off air and blood circulation. While the man struggled, trying to claw away at Levi's arm, the captain turned his face to look at him.
"Do not touch me, or I will kill you.", he threw the other off the stool, not even giving him a second glance.
"Oy, Levi sir, we don't want any trouble here, leave that scum be, he can't harm a fly.", the innkeeper rushed to say, trying to avoid a bar fight from beginning. Levi didn't answer, and the noise muffled any other words the owner might have said after that.
He hadn't discovered any leads on the intruders and Petra and Martha had had enough time to relax; it was time they'd head back to the main building.
"So...", the man wheezed, crawling back up and grabbing on to the captain's knee for support. "I take it you like it a little rough, eh?"
His words fell short as the smaller man pulled him up by the collar until he was at eye level. "Outside." he muttered, cold eyes glinting. Throwing the man once, he directed his body near the back door, where he disappeared into the night as well.
"Oy... P-petraa...", I mumbled, feeling my skin burn under my clothes. "Isn't it too hot in here?"
"What...? Martha, shuddupp, you're drunk..", she slurred. But I was feeling hot and dizzy. "If you're hot, just go take a breather... *hic*"
"You're right... You're the best...", a wide grin flourished on my lips as I got up and walked towards the back door staggering slightly over a few tables. "Hey!", my voice called Petra but the alcohol had dulled my awareness so it felt like it wasn't me talking. "You seen the captain?"
"No... But.. I'm sure he's fiine...". With that reassurance, I walked over to the door and left the tavern, sitting on the porch, hands securing a heavily pounding head.