Rowan stretched her limbs out, sinking deeper into the tub. The soapy bubbles brushed her chin as she soaked. Levi decided to use their time locked away to discuss different attack formations. He was insistent that she learned two-person attack strategies if they were both going to escape the village. He even had her act them out, which was a pain without ODM gear or blades. She had used butter knives instead. The whole thing was ridiculous and it just left Rowan exhausted. Her limbs were sore and her brain seemed to dissolve into putty. After the fifth day of training, she decided she was done with it. She was going to take a bath and then head into the village. She was done being a prisoner.
Not only that, but she wanted to see Rylan. She needed to make sure he was okay. He sacrificed a lot for her and Levi. She needed to make it up to him. A sigh escaped her as she sank further into the tub, her eyes shutting as the water level rose above her nose. It was warm and soothing. The lavender suds Emery gave her helped to calm her and she spent the first few moments just deep-breathing in the tub. The rest of the soap block resided next to Rowan's head and she was tempted to throw the whole block in. She would probably overfill the tub with bubbles, but she didn't entirely care. Her plan was interrupted though when the bathroom door swung open. Levi had slid into the room, shutting and locking the door.
"Levi?!" Rowan screamed, snatching the block of soap and chucking it at his head. It was a direct hit to the back of his head and he spun to yell something at her. She covered her chest with her arm before using her other hand to extend her life force and slam him to the ground. His hands braced his fall, his body cringing as it smacked against the tile floor.
"Damn it Rowan. Knock it off." He growled, his jaw clenched.
"No, you creep! Get out of here!" She shouted, trying to move the bubbles to cover her exposed body.
"There's someone breaking into the house. Would you be quiet?" He grumbled, trying to use his strength to fight against her life force. He managed to lift himself slightly and Rowan retracted her energy in shock. He turned from her the moment she let up and he pressed his ear against the door. He paid no mind to her whatsoever. With him somewhat distracted, she rolled her eyes and climbed out of the tub. She secured a towel around her body and shoved him away from the door. She unlocked it and kicked it open, lifting her arms and forcing her energy at the intruder. It was a man and he was holding one of Levi's blades from his ODM gear. The man grunted as he smacked against the wall, the blade shattering against the wood from the impact.
"Dang, you've gotten stronger Sis. It's good to see you so lively!" The man's wide grin, chipped front tooth, freckled nose, and pale green eyes caught her attention. The features were so familiar, though aged, she would still recognize them.
"MATTIE? What are you doing in this village?" Rowan dropped her arms and sprinted forward, nearly tackling him to the ground. He had dropped the blade handle, wrapping his arms around her and swinging her in a circle.
"I was visiting Emery. I tend to visit often. I would have stopped by sooner, but I was in treatment for a while. She just told me that you were here with some big, scary Captain guy." He knocked her shoulder with his knuckles before turning to face Levi who stumbled out of the bathroom. "Is that him?" Mattie's brow furrowed and he stepped around Rowan to get a better look at him.
"Yeah…yes. This is Captain Levi of the special operations squad in the Survey Corps. Levi, this is my little brother, Mattie." Rowan introduced the two, gaze bouncing nervously between them. Levi was busy sizing Mattie up while Mattie was busy contemplating something.
"Are you sure that's him? I thought he'd be…taller." Rowan couldn't help it, laughter escaping her lips before she could stifle it. Levi fixed a glare on him, the atmosphere in the room darkening. "Hmm…neat trick. Regardless, it's an honor to meet you. I know you're supposed to be laying low, so don't worry. I won't blow your cover." Mattie extended his hand with an innocent grin. Levi relaxed and extended his own hand, but Rowan launched herself in between them. She swung her hand down on the bend of Mattie's arm, dropping to the ground and kicking his legs out from under him before stepping in front of Levi. Levi's brow arched as he studied her and the man on the ground. Mattie was sprawled out, his face scrunched in annoyance. "You still got it Sis. What gave me away?"
"You're not polite. You're a jester and you thrive on chaos. Levi isn't lying to me and his past is none of my business. Keep your truth serum to yourself." Rowan extended her arms, using her body to shield Levi from Mattie. Her brother shoved himself up, hopping onto his feet.
"Okay, okay. Fineeee. Trust the oddly small human over your own brother. I see how it is." He raised his hands and stepped back, head bowed. Rowan relaxed slightly, her eyes still trained on him.
"I mean it, Mattie. If you touch him, I'll make sure you never see the ground again." She growled, her shoulders tensed. Anything that Levi kept from her was none of her business. She already made the decision to give him all of her trust.
"You're no fun. Don't you want to know what deep dark secrets your beloved Captain is hiding?" Mattie smirked, his brow raised. He extended his hand and wiggled his fingers in the air.
"No, I don't. I trust Levi. His secrets are none of my business unless he wants them to be, but that's his decision to make." She fixed a glare on him and he backed away. Aside from healing, she refused to let magic from other witches be used on Levi or any other human in her life. Despite being her brother, she lost trust in most members of her own kind during her time in this village and she refused to take any more chances.
"You're no fun anymore Ro. What happened to you?" Rowan flinched slightly. If he was trying to break her resolve by using that nickname, he was foolish. It was a dirty trick, one that Thomas had used on her already. It didn't have the same effect anymore, now that Rylan called her that.
"I grew up. I've learned that there's more to life than playing tricks on others. Plus, I care about Levi. I'm not going to subject him to your mind games." She glanced over her shoulder and gave the man in question a soft smile. His gaze was calculating and focused on Mattie.
"Mattie. The village elder would like to speak with you." The door clicked open and Emery poked her head in.
"Of course he does. We will catch up later Ro. I have some questions for the Captain there."
"Keep your magic to yourself." She snapped and he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. I promise to keep my magic to myself." With that, he pushed by Emery and disappeared from the house.
"I do apologize for Mattie's behavior. He doesn't trust Captain Levi and thinks he has been deceiving you." Emery smiled apologetically.
"Deception was never even a thought. I trusted Rowan from the beginning and I'm honored to have earned her trust as well." Levi chimed in from behind Rowan and she turned to meet his gaze, an honest smile on her lips. Her trust faltered once when she was thrown into that dungeon, but it wouldn't ever falter again.
"Oh, I know. I can see the care and trust you have for each other. Mattie just needs to get to know you better. Trusting humans is quite difficult for most witches, so please bear with him. And Rowan? Please put on proper attire before coming to dinner. You both are free to return to the village. There are some other guests in the village who would like to see you." She smiled before slipping out of the room. Rowan felt the heat rush to her cheeks and down her neck. She had completely forgotten about her bath and she was grateful the towel had stayed secure around her.
"I'm going to put some clothes on." Rowan huffed, turning to disappear into the bathroom. Levi grabbed her wrist and tugged, stopping her pursuit.
"What was your brother trying to do to me?" It was a fair question. She couldn't blame him for asking.
"Uh, well…my entire family is part of the healing lineage, but we all have special quirks and tricks. I trained to use my energy and life force as attack magic. Mattie… he became a well-practiced healer like our mother. Except, he had an interest in the brain. He learned how to apply energy to different parts of the brain to trigger specific responses. He can do so with just a touch of his hand. He was going to make you tell the truth and spill all your secrets, everything that has been locked away. I only knew because Mattie was never one to be polite. He would never shake someone's hand unless he had an ulterior motive." Rowan did her best to explain the situation, unsure how Levi would receive it.
"Are you the only trustworthy witch in existence?"
"One of the few, unfortunately. Don't worry though. I'll protect you, I promise." She smiled reassuringly and he huffed, pulling her closer to him. He pressed his forehead against her forehead and sighed.
"You're a strange one. I'm grateful that you're the first witch I met. Things might have ended differently if I encountered one sooner." He whispered gently. Her heart warmed at the sentiment.
"I know. I don't know what I did to earn your trust, but I'm grateful." She shut her eyes, enjoying the closeness.
"I don't know either." He mused before stepping away from her.
"Wait, what?" There had to be some reason, right?
"Don't worry about it. Just hurry up and put proper clothes on. I'd like to spill some secrets by choice before we go eat." A slight smirk touched his lips before he stepped into the kitchen area. Rowan rolled her eyes, returning to the bathroom and dropping her towel. She drained the tub and pulled on the navy dress she had laid out prior to her bath. She tied it at the waist with an opal ribbon before braiding her hair down her back. She slipped into the sandals that were tucked under the bed and hurried back into the living room. Levi was residing on the floor, one knee bent while the other leg was extended in front of him. He gestured for her to sit on the couch and she nodded, eyeing him in confusion. "There's a few things I haven't been completely honest about." Levi sighed, turning his head to glance at the door.
"Okay, well, now you are scaring me. What is it?" She was sweating and she just wanted him to spit it out. Did he have some secret life? Was he engaged to someone already? Did he change his mind about being with her? Did something happen to her comrades when she was ambushed by Reiner and Bertolt?
"It's just about meetings that I had with Erwin...about you." Oh. A meeting with Erwin?
"Wait." Rowan paused, processing his statement for a moment. "Meetings with Erwin about me? I know about that already! I'm not dense." She giggled, relief washing over her as she leaned back into the couch. She gestured for him to join her on the couch and he obliged, dropping down beside her. She turned towards him and smiled.
"You know…?" Levi's voice trailed off and she nodded. She told him everything she knew, letting her mind pull her back into the memory.
It was a few days after Rowan's drunken adventures. She was laying in her bed, staring up at the bunk above her. She could hear Sasha's snores, vibrating the posts of their shared bunk bed. She groaned, shoving her face in her pillow. Even with the added cushion, she could still hear the snoring. Though it usually didn't bother her, it did tonight. She shoved herself up, changing into her uniform before venturing out of the dorms and into the brisk night. It had to have been one or two in the morning, the cadets not even getting ready for bed until eleven. Rowan decided to try and find the research lab. If anyone was awake at this hour and willing to entertain her late-night questions, it would be Hange. She headed off to the elite building and pushed open the doors to the lab. It was eerily quiet, no sign of the scientist anywhere. A frown touched her lips and she sighed. If Hange wasn't here, where else could they be? Perhaps there was a library in this building. It's not like Rowan had been here before other than to use the bathroom. She decided to explore a bit. It would be pointless to go back and just listen to snoring all night. She'd rather use her free time to learn more about the Scouts or about Titans. Since Hange was missing, she figured she could learn about the Scouts. She climbed up the stairs and ended up in a dark hallway. At the end of the hallway, she could just make out dim candle light shining through the bottom of double doors. Her curiosity got the better of her and she cautiously maneuvered towards the light. She could hear male voices talking and she eased her body against the door, pressing her ear to the wood.
"Erwin. Enough with the pleasantries. Why am I here?" That was Captain Levi's voice. She was sure of it. If Commander Erwin and Captain Levi were having a meeting at this late hour, it had to be important. She knew she should just go back to the dorms, but she couldn't shake her curiosity.
"There's a recruit that I need you to keep an eye on." That was Commander Erwin. One of the recruits? Perhaps he was referring to Mikasa. She was easily going to be at the top of their class and he probably wants her to join Captain Levi's squad.
"A recruit? Tch. Get Hange to do it. I have no interest in spying on children." The Captain huffed and based on the two voices, she assumed they were alone in the room.
"Yes, well, you and I both know Hange isn't the best at keeping secrets. I need this to stay between us. I don't want to create any panic." Panic? So...not Mikasa. Where was Commander Erwin going with this? Was there a recruit who was dangerous?
"Panic?" That also seemed to catch Captain Levi's attention.
"Yes. Call it a hunch if you will, but I think there's something off about one of our recruits." Commander Erwin spoke simply. Rowan leaned even closer, not wanting to miss any piece of the conversation. If something was off, her and her friends could all be in danger. If Commander Erwin was concerned about it, it could be something worse than the Titans.
"Something off? Which recruit are you referring to?" Captain Levi seemed more interested now. Rowan wasn't surprised. The commander seemed to know what to say to catch his attention.
"Mixerton. Rowan Mixerton." Ah, hell. Rowan's whole body tensed and she pulled away from the door. Did he know? How could the commander possibly know? She was careful. She hadn't even used her powers in months. Was it something she wrote on her recruitment form? Did Commander Erwin know witches existed? She hadn't planned for that. She swiftly placed her ear back against the door, not wanting to miss any of the conversation.
"Mixerton? Erwin, I'm not following." At least the Captain didn't seem to think anything was off about her. He had walked her home when she was drunk. She even told him about the meadow and yet, he still didn't think anything was off. So, how did Commander Erwin?
"I cannot say for sure. All I was told was that she came from beyond the walls. She was alone, without any survival gear. I can't figure out how she survived out there on her own. She claimed she was a traveler on her forms and she didn't list a village name. I just sense something off about her and I want to know more. I need you to keep an eye on her for me." Well, he wasn't wrong. Even if she had named her village, the humans would have no idea where or what it was.
"How do I fit into all of this? Do you want me to befriend her? I'm not here to be a babysitter." A babysitter? Well that was harsh. She wasn't a child.
"No, the opposite actually. I'd like you to keep your distance from her. Her motives are unknown." Unknown? Rowan was pretty damn certain her motives were crystal clear. She was here to train and kill Titans. She didn't even think she could make that more obvious. "I want you to keep a close eye on her. Watch who she interacts with and what she does in her free time. Don't get too close to her."
"Enough with the charade. Why does this sound like you're asking me? Just tell me what to do and I'll do it. We both know that I don't actually have a say in this." Captain Levi grumbled.
"I'm not asking as your Commander. I'm asking as your friend. This is not official Scouts business." Commander Erwin stated, his voice unwavering. The room was silent for a few minutes.
"Fine. I think you're mistaken, but I'll do it." Captain Levi sighed. The door knob below Rowan began to turn and she flung herself back. She sprinted down the hallway, throwing herself down the stairs and through the research lab. Her life here just got a lot more complicated.
"You...you heard all of that?" Levi's eyes were wide and she smirked.
"Well, yeah. And you royally screwed that one up." She giggled, sitting up and nudging his knee with her own.
"You aren't angry with me?" Is that what he was worried about? Rowan's gaze softened and she smiled sweetly at him.
"No, silly. Commander Erwin is our commander for a reason. I don't know how he knew there was something off about me but I'm sure he has vast resources. He asked you to watch me from afar, not pretend to be my friend. He actually explicitly told you to keep your distance and you still took care of me, talked with me, and became my friend anyway." She shrugged, but he still looked like he didn't believe her. "Listen, Petra told me that you didn't have to take me to the infirmary or watch over me all night when I fell from the trees during training. That's when I decided that I didn't care about your conversation with the Commander. Was it foolish to use my magic in front of you after that? Absolutely. I'm not a complete idiot. But, I also wasn't going to let you get hurt when I had the power to stop it."
"Tch." That was his only response and Rowan frowned.
"Do you want me to be mad at you? Levi, you didn't do anything wrong. Honestly, I was more worried about the other meeting I overheard." She immediately held her tongue, cursing at herself for letting that last part slip out. She didn't really want to have that conversation right now.
"What other meeting?" Levi seemed to focus on that and Rowan knew she wasn't getting out of it.
"Yeah...uh...Hange was chatting with you in the lab. I was on my way to visit Hange with Marco because he really wanted to talk to Hange about the afterlife and about his experience." She thought back to that day. Her and Marco were just chatting happily when they stumbled upon the conversation between Hange and Levi. Marco was so embarrassed that he hid himself back in the afterlife, not that she blamed him for it.
"In Hange's lab….?" Levi was slowly killing her. He was going to make her say it. Of course, she probably figured they had many meetings in Hange's lab so she shouldn't be surprised.
"They were telling you about my kind's mating ritual…" Rowan twiddled her fingers, her conjoined hands in her lap. She was looking at anything other than Levi at that moment.
"Oh. That conversation." She still couldn't look at him.
"I didn't listen to all of it. It was a complete accident. I ran back to my room, but I did hear some of it." She glanced down at her hands, shoulders slumping.
"Rowan…"
"It's okay, really. I heard you tell Hange that you would never want that with me. That's okay. I understand. I never had much interest in it anyway…" Which wasn't a total lie. When she fled her village, she knew marriage was out of the cards for her. Of course, that was before she fell head over heels for her Captain.
"Rowan, I have never had any interest in the physical intimacy that is required for your kind's...mating ceremony. Never. That's not something that is specific for us or this partnership." He spoke softly, his hands slipping over Rowan's. He squeezed gently and Rowan turned to look at him, her eyes widening.
"Wait a second." Rowan wanted to laugh. She was so foolish. "Hange told you... no. No, we don't do that anymore! Our ceremony is just similar to the weddings humans have! I actually don't have any interest in...you know...the clothes off, intimacy...that people do."
"Oh."
"That's what you were referring to, right?"
"Yes. I have no interest in that. I just thought…" His eyes were trained on hers and she smiled, relief washing over her.
"Well, that works out well for me. I don't either. When I overheard that conversation...I thought you just didn't want to be with me long term." Rowan bit her lip nervously and Levi gave her a soft smile. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, his arms wrapping around her tightly.
"You fool. I want to be with you for as long as you'll have me. I wasn't lying when I said you hold a claim over me." He whispered into her hair and Rowan's heart warmed. She pushed gently on his shoulders so she could meet his gaze.
"Does that mean I can tell my friends we are actually together?" She beamed and that got a chuckle out of him.
"Yes. I would hope you would." Rowan slipped her arms around his waist and squeezed him tighter. A gentle hand brushed her chin, angling her face up. She met Levi's gaze with wide eyes and he gave her a soft smile. They leaned in, their faces mere centimeters apart. This time, Rowan knew it wasn't a risk. They both wanted this and they cou-. A knock at the door startled them, shaking Rowan from her thoughts. She couldn't even blame Hange this time for the interruption. Rowan moved to separate from Levi, but he just held on tighter. "It's open." He called out and the door swung open. "Emery?" He seemed confused and Rowan slipped from his grasp to turn and look at her cousin. She seemed haggard, her body hunched as she leaned on the doorframe for support. Her usual glow was absent, her eyes hardly staying open.
"Sorry to interrupt. I just finished a healing session with your sister and Marcy would like to see you." Emery's voice was soft, her tone wavering.
"A healing session? Marcy's here?" Rowan jumped to her feet, intertwining her fingers with Levi's before pulling him off the couch as well. Why did Marcy need a healing session? Had she come with Mattie? Rowan needed to see her. She knew they could fully trust Marcy and it would be a great opportunity to ask any questions they may have. Marcy actually went through the full schooling offered at their village. She would know more about their kind.
"She's alright, don't fret. I'll show you where they are." Emery gestured for them to follow her and Rowan hurried after her cousin. As they walked through the village, her eyes fell on Rylan. He was badly bruised, but up and walking around. He met her gaze and smiled, waving. Rowan forced a smile, her heart aching for the child. She waved back as his eyes landed on Levi. The boy seemed to study him for a moment before turning away and hurrying over to their temporary home. Rowan couldn't dwell on it for too long because the trio had reached a small hut. "It's not much, but this is our infirmary. Mattie and Marcy are inside. I must rest now." With that, Emery turned away and wandered back towards the Elder's house. Rowan smiled softly. Though she was at odds with her cousin and this village, she still was grateful for her kindness. Rowan led Levi inside and she gasped, pausing in the entranceway. Marcy. Her hair was long, the curls reaching her thin waist. She had grown taller, the top of her head reaching Mattie's shoulder. It had been so long since Rowan had seen either of them, but what struck her the most was Marcy's eyes. They were pale and glassy, her gaze not focused on anything in particular.
"Marcy…" Rowan spoke softly and a smile touched Marcy's lips. Marcy raised her arms and Rowan released Levi's fingers to fall right into the hug. "I've missed you dearly. What happened?"
"Rowan. It's so good to hear your voice. The village hasn't been the same without you." Marcy held her tightly. "Sit, please. Both of you. We have a lot to discuss." Once she released her, Marcy gestured to the chairs scattered about. "At least, I assume the infamous Captain is with you. Hello Captain Levi. It's an honor. Unlike my brother, I don't hold any tricks up my sleeves." She extended her hand with a kind smile. Levi met Rowan's gaze and she nodded, trusting her sister fully. Marcy was never one for tricks. Levi stepped forward and shook her hand. As their skin touched, Marcy smirked.
"So, you are together. I knew it. Looks like you're carrying me the whole way home Mattie." She turned towards her brother and stuck her tongue out. Levi's hand slipped from her grasp and he narrowed his gaze at her.
"She can sense emotions, but only strong ones and only by touch." Rowan spoke softly, her cheeks warming. She definitely knew that before they shook hands, but she figured it wouldn't hurt anything.
"Of course, I didn't unveil anything that Rowan didn't already know. I simply won a bet with my idiot brother. So, no harm done there. I also do want to apologize for my brother. Mattie is chaotic, but he means well. He acts as my guide and he is very protective of his siblings. I'm sure he was just trying to see what your intentions are with our sister." Marcy explained calmly as Mattie dropped down onto a chair next to her.
"Yeah, whatever." He puffed his cheeks out, crossing his arms over his chest. Rowan sat across from Marcy and gestured for Levi to take the seat next to her.
"I come here every few months to receive healing treatments from Emery. As you can probably tell, I am blind. My eyesight started failing me a few months after you left the village. Mom thought it was some disease I developed. She started weekly healing treatments on me to help postpone the inevitable, but it was draining her, so I refused to let her continue, then…" Marcy's words trailed off. Her brow furrowed and Rowan decided to finish her thought for her.
"Then Mom was killed. She left the village to come after me and was killed by Titans. I'm so-"
"Who in the hell told you that bullshit?" Mattie cut her off, his eyes wild. Rowan's heart faltered and she glanced at Levi before turning back to her siblings.
"Thomas..he joined the Scouts and tried to get me to come back with him. He told me that it was my fault that Mom is dead. Then, I found out guardians have Titan forms. Thomas changed into a Titan and killed some of our comrades. He was going to wipe out the Scouts, so Levi had to end his life." She didn't hold remorse for Thomas and she hoped Levi didn't either.
"Rowan, Thomas isn't dead. We just saw him in the village before we left to come here. He had asked Mattie or I to heal him, but we refused. We knew he did something reckless, but we had no idea. Are you okay?"
"What do you mean Thomas isn't dead? I killed him myself. He was reduced to smoldering bones." Levi growled, his eyes darkening.
"While that might kill a regular Titan, I assure you Thomas is alive and recovering. You certainly did a number on him, but he isn't dead. You have to kill the witch, not the Titan. When you kill the Titan, a witch just returns back to their regular form." Marcy explained, but Rowan was having a hard time processing everything.
"His body wasn't there. It was just bones. There's no possible way he could have escaped without anyone seeing him." Levi growled and Marcy smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry Captain. Our brother is alive." Marcy spoke softly, but Rowan didn't really care about Thomas right then.
"What about Mom? What happened? Is she still alive?" That's all she cared about.
"No. She's not on our plane of existence anymore." Marcy reached out, extending her hands for Rowan to grasp. Rowan held on, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "Mom died protecting you."
"Protecting me?"
"When the village Elders found out you fled to the humans, they wanted to hunt you down. They had no idea where you went, but they wanted to find you and punish you for treason. Mom burned the map you had in your room and she refused to tell them where you went. She spoke out against them and said that she would have fled with you if she could have. She was proud of you, Rowan. She didn't hide that, so they took her away from us." Mattie's eyes darkened as Rowan's vision became cloudy. The tears were flowing freely, but she wanted to know what happened.
"Please...what happened to Mom?"
"The village hung her for her crimes." Marcy spoke simply and time paused around Rowan. Her heart was ramming against her chest, the thumping overshadowing any other sound in the room. She stood, her body pacing of its own accord as she sobbed. "They did the same to our father. We only just found out about that from Thomas. He refused to use his Titan form to attack the humans because he didn't want to abandon us, so the village took his life as punishment."
"No…Mom said he was still alive. That he joined a group of scavenging humans. He had made it to the walls, just like I did." Rowan shook her head and Mattie frowned.
"Thomas told us otherwise. He said that guardians hunted him down and dragged him back to the village. I'm so sorry Rowan." Tears were running down Marcy's cheeks as well and Rowan nearly collapsed.
"I don't...I don't understand. Why would they do that? Why would they kill our parents?" Rowan was blabbering, not meeting anyone's gaze. Suddenly, her body stopped moving. Strong hands grasped her elbows and she leaned into whoever steadied her.
"Rowan...breathe. It's alright. I'm right here with you. It's okay." Levi. His gaze was soft and warped with concern. Rowan fell into his arms, letting his strength hold her up. She had finally accepted that Titans had killed her Mother, only to find out that it was her village who ended her life. They took her parents away from her and her siblings.
"We wanted you to know the truth. Our villages...they're not safe for you. This one isn't either." Marcy wiped her tears away before speaking.
"Then come with us. We can take the Titans down and end this. We can win this war that our kind started." Rowan swallowed her sorrow and shoved herself up. Her parents lost their lives to protect her and stand up to the village. She would fight for them and she would keep her siblings safe.
"We can't. We must return to the village. In doing so, we can keep an eye on Thomas. Annabelle is still there and we can't abandon her there. Go and fight. Win this war. If it comes to it, we will stand with you, but we are needed in the village to try and fix our home." Marcy explained and Rowan nodded.
"Make them pay. Whoever took our parents away, you make them pay."
"I'm way ahead of yah Sis. We got this. Focus on fighting with the humans. We will handle our village." Mattie stood and placed a hand on Rowan's shoulder. "And you." He gestured towards Levi. "You better keep our sister safe and don't go getting yourself killed. She's been through enough already." Mattie fixed a glare on Levi and he nodded.
"I have every intention of keeping us both alive, don't worry." He stood next to Rowan and tangled their hands together. Marcy looked like she wanted to say more, but they were interrupted by screaming villagers. A loud crash sent the four scattering from the hut. "Rowan. There are Titans in this village." Levi's eyes widened.
"That...that's not possible." Rowan tucked herself behind him, staring up at the Titan munching on a villager. There were witches screaming everywhere and already so much blood soaking the plush grass and wooden homes.
"It is. We have to move. NOW." Levi ordered, a Titan hand swinging down right at them. Rowan stepped around him and threw her hands up, extending her energy outward. She caught the hand mid-air and swung. The force ripped the limb clean off and she tossed it away from the group. She swung her arms out again, her jaw clenched as she released a wave of energy. The Titan that once stood in front of them flew backwards, crashing into one of the homes.
"Go. I got this. Go get your ODM gear and keep yourself safe." Rowan shouted, her breathing unsteady. She was angry and tired of this shit. It seemed like everything she ever knew about her own kind was a freakin' lie. She was going to use that anger to fuel her attacks. Levi didn't even hesitate. He took off sprinting towards their temporary home.
"We won't be much help to the others, but we will try to extend our barrier to as many villagers as possible. Go. Keep yourself safe." Marcy spoke softly, pulling Rowan into a hug before she vanished from sight.
"It was good seeing you again Sis. Maybe one day, we can fight alongside one another. Just remember, you don't owe this village anything. Don't get yourself killed trying to save them." Mattie punched her arm before vanishing as well. Marcy's barrier was powerful and it would keep her siblings safe at least. As Rowan turned away, she caught sight of Levi dodging attacks from Titans. Where was his ODM gear?
"Rylan! Where are you, you brat?" Rylan's mother? Rowan could've sworn she had just seen Rylan heading towards their temporary home...shit.
"Wait! Mattie!" She yelled out, hoping her siblings were still nearby. Mattie's head popped out from the barrier and she sprinted over to him "Is there a weak spot in the barrier?"
"Not that I know of. Why would there be?" His head tilted. Marcy uncloaked herself and she nodded.
"Yes. It's behind the Elder's home. Go. I'll keep Mattie and I safe. Mattie can guide us along with any villagers we can rescue to our home. I'm sorry, I can't extend my barrier to everyone." Marcy frowned, weaving energy through her fingers.
"Go. Levi and I will handle this." Rowan turned away from her siblings and took off. She grabbed Levi's wrist and led both of them to the Elder's house. The Titans hadn't gotten that far into the village yet, so the home was untouched. Levi didn't even question Rowan, following her behind the home. Laying sprawled out on the ground was Rylan. Levi's ODM gear thrown to the side. One of the blades had shattered, but everything else looked intact still. Levi didn't hesitate, grabbing the gear and securing it on his waist. "Come on. We need to get out of here." Rowan scooped Rylan into her arms. If Levi had his gear, she was sure they could escape.
"We can't leave this village." Levi replaced his blades, the sharp metal glistening in the afternoon sun.
"They wanted to eat you, Levi. They kill humans. Come on."
"There's innocent children in this village. I'm not letting the Titans take anymore lives." He growled and Rowan knew there was no arguing with him. She shut her eyes, taking a deep breath before nodding.
"Go. I'm going to stay with Rylan. He had to have a reason for doing this. Please be safe." She spoke softly, studying the boy in her arms.
"Keep your guard up. Don't trust anyone and don't get yourself killed. I'll be back in a few." He snatched her jaw and forced her gaze to lock on his. She nodded and he released his grip, sprinting off towards the chaos. That was the first time Levi had said he would come back to her. Maybe he finally held faith in his own skill.
"Ro?" A soft, shaky voice pulled her attention and she gave Rylan her full focus. She lifted the boy up so he could see her better. "I did it." He smiled proudly, though his voice was faint.
"What did you do Rylan?" She whispered softly, hugging the boy to her chest. He did his best to hug her back, but his arms were weakened and shaking.
"I found the weak spot. I took Eld's blade and stabbed through it. I set you both free. I didn't want you to lose Eld." Rylan beamed. Rowan didn't think she had any tears left, but they were flowing freely down her cheeks.
"How'd you know to do that?"
"I told you. Adults talk around me and don't think I listen. You can be free now Ro. Go back to the Scouts and protect humanity." He coughed roughly, his body shaking. He lifted his arm and saluted her before slipping unconscious again. Rowan hugged the boy tightly before laying him gently on the ground. She sat there for what felt like hours, wishing she had her ODM gear so she could fight alongside Levi. She had no idea how many Titans made it into the village. She didn't even know if Levi was okay. Her whole body tensed, her mind going silent. Something was approaching. She could feel eyes on her. There was a Titan nearby, she just knew it. It was probably hunting her and she was screwed if she didn't see it before it struck.
"Rowan! What are you still doing here?" Emery. She had stumbled out of the Elder's house, looking more well-rested but still unsteady on her feet. She'd be the easier target. Rowan needed to move, now.
"Emery! Run!" She shouted, just in time to see an Abnormal launch itself from the trees. Its jaw unhinged as it locked on its target. Emery raised her arms, her body disappearing. Rowan blinked, not believing what she just saw as the Abnormal crashed into the Elder's house. It must have been a barrier, just like the one Marcy made to surround herself and Mattie. The Abnormal turned towards Rowan, his eyes locking on the unconscious boy behind her. Shit, shit, shit. She didn't have many options at that moment so she decided to stand her ground. She pooled her energy in her fingertips before throwing her arms out. The Abnormal launched itself upward, missing Rowan's outstretched energy. It dodged her attack? How was that even possible? She quickly shoved her energy upward, slamming into the underside of the Titan. The Abnormal flung backwards, its body landing on the Elder's house, the wood caving in under its weight. Rowan only had one option if that thing could dodge her attacks. She scooped Rylan up into her arms and kicked off running. Did she know where she was running? Nope, but she would run. She sprinted up the cliff and into the surrounding forest. Perhaps she could hide within the trees. As bark shattered around her, she realized how foolish her plan was. It wasn't possible to hide from Titans, especially Abnormals. Once they catch your scent and catch sight of you, they won't give up. Rowan placed Rylan down among the leaves before using her energy to collapse the trees around them. It was a makeshift barrier and wouldn't hold for long, but it would have to do until she could come up with a better plan.
The Abnormal slammed against the trees, splinters of bark raining down on her and Rylan. She did her best to shield Rylan from it, the bark cutting into her skin as it fell. Suddenly she was surrounded by skin, her body grasped tightly in the hand of the Abnormal. It had managed to claw through the pile of trees, shoving its arm through to reach its prey. She did her best to force her energy outward, keeping the hand from liquifying her. She was screwed. As she fought against the force of its hand, she thought of an idea. What if she could use her energy as a barrier? She angled her hands, forcing her energy to surround her body and push outward. She nearly shouted in delight as the hand went limp around her. Her body free-fell for a few seconds before slamming against the ground. Her energy ricocheted back into her and a wave of dizziness washed over her.
"Rowan?" That voice. Levi. She shoved herself up to see Levi standing on top of her makeshift shield of tree trunks. His entire body was soaked in blood and his blades were dulled. They locked eyes and she could just see him sigh in relief. She smiled for a moment, wanting to reach out to Levi, before the world went dark around her.