"I don't know what the hell you're doing," Levi said, doing little to hide his irritation. "But you're taking that junk out of here."
"You have two eyes," Celine said. She lined up a series of small planks, using a screwdriver to tighten the wooden screws. "You should be able to see I'm securing the treadles on this antique floor loom. I'll move everything into a corner when I'm done."
Eren and Ymir undergoing combat training together earlier that morning meant the two were spent by noon. An opportunity for Levi to catch up on his correspondences to Hange and Erwin was seized during the unexpected window of free time. His room being the one most detached at the back of the cabin helped to keep the noise level to a minimum he could tolerate. Unfortunately, this seemed to have the shortcoming of allowing Celine to drag a pile of twisted planks into the lounging area without catching his attention.
"You drug the literal trash my squad pulled from their cellar into the center of the captains' cabin," Levi said. "Take it outside."
"It's not even in the way," Celine said. She circled the contraption and squatted to turn the handle of one of the rollers. Her palms were caked with dust, gray streaks lining her slacks from where she'd presumably wiped her hands while she worked. Looking at them made Levi's skin crawl.
"I've already fixed the cabin's broken door hinges," Celine continued, seemingly indifferent to the scowl being thrown her way. "I also patched the missing shingles, tightened the cabinets, and adjusted the table legs to the same height – I need something else to work on while I think."
Levi stepped up to Celine, crossing his arms to look down on her in contempt. "You want busywork? Fine:
"First, you'll remove this shit. Then, you'll sweep up the dirt you drug onto the floor and wipe down every surface you covered in dust. Finally, you can get the hell out of this cabin while you do whatever it is you do to 'think.'"
A puff of air escaped Celine's nose. "You remind me of my grandma," she said, lids drooping. "She used to lecture me for coming into the house wet anytime it rained."
"I fail to see how that relates to carrying this trash out the door," Levi said.
Celine got to her feet with a sigh. "It's pretty obvious you don't live with other people. Not everything always has to be your way, you know. There are three of us here – sometimes you have to compromise."
"And sometimes you have to shut your mouth and do what your superior officer says when they tell you to clean this mess up."
The corner of Celine's lip twitched. "Is that so?" she said, the civil nature to her tone draining away. "If you want it gone so badly, why don't you do it yourself?"
Levi stepped forward, staring Celine down. "I see enough of the others doing your tasks for you. I have no intention of playing that game."
It was clear the insult struck deep. The anger radiating from Celine was almost tangible.
"What … do you mean by that?" Celine whispered.
"You have your subordinates run errands for you that you could easily do yourself," Levi said. "Moblit scurries behind you like he's your wetnurse; carting you around because of your inaptitude at piloting ODM gear. If you need a side project resulting in something actually useful, learn how to stop being a burden to everyone around you."
Levi didn't expect to make his case without consequences. There'd been enough observation of Celine to know she poured everything she had into a strong emotion until it couldn't be contained. The resulting overflow would be cast out in some form of a shameless display. This instance called for a repeat of the time Levi confronted her after her tribunal. Without Marco Bodt available to hold his sister at bay, Levi analyzed every subtle movement in anticipation to dodge a blow.
What happened instead was words seeming to fail her as Celine opened her mouth. The light behind her eyes snuffed out like a candle. All the tension in her shoulders fell away and she slowly turned her head to regard the broken loom.
"I apologize, Captain," Celine said, voice hollow. "Let me find someone to help me carry this out."
If Celine was putting on an act, it was a good one. She looked every bit like she had when Levi had come across her in the cemetery. The sudden change was alarming. No attempt was made to hide his confusion as Levi watched Celine turn her back.
"I got it," a voice said.
Moblit appeared from the hall. The look on his face made it clear he'd overheard at least a part of the exchange.
"Alright," Moblit said, crouching on one side of the loom while Celine took the other. "One … two … up!"
Moblit gave Levi a passing glance as the loom was carried through the front door. He returned a moment later without Celine.
"I know this will only solidify your picture of me as her 'wetnurse,'" Moblit said as he opened a small closet. "But I don't want you to give her a hard time about me being the one to sweep up the dirt."
Levi eyed Moblit up and down for a moment before turning his head toward the door. "I didn't expect that reaction."
"If you want an explanation from me, I don't have one," Moblit said. He kept his attention on his task as he began to sweep. "I can understand your grievances, Captain, but I don't think provoking a fight is a way to solve an issue."
"I was never going to fight her," Levi said. "I planned on letting her wear herself out."
"My statement still stands."
Levi turned to glance at Moblit. His companion ignored him entirely as Moblit continued to sweep. An internal debate eventually led to Levi turning and walking out the door.
A hand was lifted to momentarily shield Levi's eyes from the burst of sunlight. It took only a moment scanning the cluster of cabins lining a large clearing for Levi to spot his target standing a short distance away.
Celine was at the woodpile. She had propped a foot up on a short log for leverage, yanking an ax free of the wood. The tool soon cut through the air in a few practice swings as Celine got a measure of the weight of the object. She grew still when her attention moved to the broken loom at her feet.
"Put that down," Levi said.
"Oh?" Celine said, looking over her shoulder. "Is it that you want to fight me bare-fisted? Or … don't tell me you suddenly think this loom isn't junk."
Levi crossed his arms. It was almost a surprise to feel a level of relief that Celine's mannerisms had returned to something more familiar.
"It's still junk," Levi said. "You just don't need the ax. Put it down; we're going."
Celine lowered the ax from where it had been resting over her shoulder. "Going where?"
"Somewhere you won't wreck anything learning to pilot ODM gear."
Celine froze. Her eyes narrowed as she seemed to size him up.
"Why would you offer to teach me?" Celine finally asked.
"You having to be carted around like a sack of field gear is an inconvenience for your peers," Levi said. "I also get the impression you want to learn. I wouldn't offer if I felt you were satisfied with the way things are now."
Celine's mouth drew into a fine line. She held Levi's gaze for a moment before her shoulders straightened. The ax she had in hand swung down until it lodged in the log with a loud thud.
"You sure do clear your conscience in interesting ways," Celine said as she stepped past. "I'll grab one of the spares. You'll have to give me a few minutes to modify it for my weight class."
"I'll be waiting here," Levi said. "Bring my gear with you on your way out."
"Understood, Captain."
Levi turned to watch Celine disappear into the cabin. He kept his eyes on the door for a moment before his gaze tracked back to the woodpile. A frown grew on his lips.
Levi didn't care for puzzles. He possessed no interest in wanting to learn how or why most things functioned the way they do. People and items alike were judged at face value; actions revealed volumes more than speculations ever could. Each of these actions would culminate in Levi's mind until they came together to paint a full picture. It was a skill that helped him survive on his own in the Underground for a number of years. Knowing who to trust was simple after following them for a week in the shadows and scrutinizing every action. Taking in the subtle gestures people made when they thought no one was paying attention became clear giveaways for when they tried to lie. The way their voice changed in pitch indicated who they truly valued.
It was easy to understand people through their actions. Usually.
First Celine had countered his assumption of growing combative during their argument earlier in the cabin. Now he was witnessing a series of actions which he couldn't understand no matter how hard he tried:
Celine possessed every individual skill needed to be an above-average ODM pilot.
The first exercise was the most basic – lodging the hooks of Celine's gear to a tall branch directly above so she could balance below. Most cadets first learning the exercise would have trouble remaining upright and not getting twisted up in the cables. The initial goal was to remain stationary for as long as possible, advancing into righting oneself after being shoved or having the cables agitated.
Celine's posture grew relaxed the second her feet hovered above the ground. There was only a slight waiver to her form as she looked ahead with an almost bored expression. She agreed without complaint to Levi giving her back a gentle shove from behind. The force of his push was leaned into, Celine spreading her arms and pointing her toes to create a counter-balance. She sat upright a second later with the ease of someone standing on solid ground. Small shoves escalated to her being flipped upside-down by the ankle or violent shakes to the cables. Celine would flip herself upright in an instant, keeping her arms wide and a determined expression on her face all the while.
"If I find out you've been fucking with us all this time …" Levi had said. "... I'm going to leave you at the top of the tallest tree without your gear."
"Just wait," Celine had said.
Controls came next. This was an area in which Levi already expected Celine to possess some skill even if her piloting turned out faulty. He based this assumption on his instance watching her perform basic maintenance on all the ODM gear within the captains' cabin. Her body language conveyed there was no doubt in her ability to identify and repair any issues she faced. Every piece of the intricate device was as familiar to her as the back of her hand.
The ODM controls were no exception to Celine's knowledge. Levi had removed the hooks and the wire connecting to the gas, keeping Celine's hands under close scrutiny as he issued directions for her to follow.
"Both hooks – release. Forward. Stop. Real in. Hook release right. Forward. Hook release left. Real in right. Stop."
Celine's fingers pressed the corresponding triggers based on Levi's direction with little delay. If she made a mistake, it was quickly corrected in the appropriate manner. In one instance she accidentally pressed the trigger for the left hook instead of the right. The adjustment not only meant correcting to the right trigger, but hitting the release to dislodge the left trigger as well. This would be the action a pilot would have to take in a real situation; Celine reacting as if she'd been doing so for years.
Levi had to fight down the growing level of irritation in his gut.
Celine's gear was reassembled for the next step. She was to remain stationary in the center of a large clearing, simply aiming and lodging her hooks into the nearby trees before hitting the release and doing the process over again. Where she turned about to aim was based on Levi's direction. Her stance and the angle of her hips adjusted to accommodate the orders for varying heights and distances.
It was almost a relief to find Celine wasn't especially gifted in this department, although she was certainly satisfactory in aiming for a general direction. Against a Titan there'd be an issue. For the use of general travel, there wasn't.
"Alright," Levi said, glancing at a branch about ten meters up. "The large branch at your three. Get up there."
Celine turned her back to Levi as she stared at the branch. There was a pause before the hooks shot from her hips and lodged into the wood. A hiss of steam accompanied Celine launching from the spot.
Half a second was all the time Levi needed to know he had to jump into action. He watched as Celine overshot the distance, her hooks coming back to her hips as her foot caught the branch and she was sent spinning toward the ground. She released her right hook in a panic, lodging it into the trunk of a tree three meters to the right. The sudden yank to the side didn't leave her enough time to readjust her position as the trunk sped toward her.
The cord connecting Celine's gear to her hook was cut in a fluid motion. Levi grabbed her by the cuff of her jacket, pulling her back in time to bring the upper half of her body out of the trajectory of the tree. They swung about in a wide, slow circle like a pendulum on a string. Celine collapsed to the grass the second they gently touched down.
"That nearly took your head off," Levi said, his own hooks snapping back into place. He crossed his arms as he took in the violent tremble overtaking Celine. "What happened?"
"Hold … on …" Celine said. She retched, the contents of her breakfast pooling onto the grass. Her breaths came out in gasping coughs as her shoulders heaved.
Levi turned his back to her with a 'tsk.' "Give more warning when you're about to do that."
"Sorry."
Levi glanced over his shoulder. He watched as Celine wiped her lip and sat back on her knees. Her hands balled into fists in her lap but it did little to help against the tremor. She closed her eyes and dipped her head, muttering softly to herself as her breathing grew more regular.
"I want an explanation," Levi said. "You could've died. You made the sort of mistake a cadet with a fraction of your knowledge would be able to avoid."
Celine slowly opened her eyes. She stared at her lap. "Thank you for stepping in. I'm sorry."
"I don't want your apology," Levi said.
Celine cleared her throat and lifted her head. "I think … I'm done for today," she said, looking into the distance. "It'll be a minute until I can walk. Go ahead – I'll get back on my own."
Levi's eyes narrowed. A few quick steps led to him again grabbing Celine by the cuff of her jacket. He dragged her away from the vomit like a kitten being led by the scruff.
"What the hell are you doing?" Celine asked, looking up at Levi like he'd lost his mind.
"I refuse to waste our time," Levi said. "I agreed to teach you to pilot ODM gear and I haven't taught you a single goddamn thing yet. Get up."
Levi yanked Celine to her feet. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around the lower half of his face.
"What's that for?" Celine asked. She brought a hand to her own face, noticing the collection of sweat on her cheek and quickly wiping it away.
"You stink," Levi said. He grabbed Celine's left arm and lifted it around his shoulders while his own arm came around her back and under her armpit. Levi turned his head slightly to regard Celine's baffled expression.
"We're going to navigate back to the cabin," Levi said. "I'll control my left gear; you'll control your right. I'll adjust my gas output to accommodate for our weight. You only need to focus on where you're aiming the hook. Don't worry about making an error; I'll adjust."
A line formed between Celine's brows. "I don't think that'll work."
"Don't be a coward."
Celine's expression darkened. "It won't work because you sliced off my right hook, shithead."
"You should check your tone toward the person helping you," Levi said, switching to Celine's other side as he adjusted their arms' positions.
"You should check your memory before calling me a coward," Celine said. She tightened her grip on her left handle. "And I didn't ask you to help me; you're the one who offered."
Levi looked to the side. "Don't make me regret it." He held Celine's stare until she broke it by looking up into the trees.
"Don't blame me if we die," Celine said.
Levi crouched. He waited for Celine to mirror his position. "I won't let that happen. Slow your breathing and concentrate. You don't have to think about timing your hook shots with mine. Keep your eyes on your destination; where your hooks land should be registered in your peripheral. Once you know where you're going, aiming your hooks becomes second nature."
Levi could tell from the corner of his eye that Celine was looking at him again. He kept his attention forward. The chance of him properly masking his frustration if he looked her in the eyes again was low.
"Okay," Celine said.
Levi exhaled softly. "Alright; let's go."