I didn't get to the update that I had planned for this week like I had hoped, so I decided to at least update this story again before the week ended, and at the same time I'm glad to be moving forward in this arc.
#68
Recuperation
…
…
Everything was dizzy for him when he fell to the hard ground. He lifted his armored head up, and he could hear almost from a mile the ongoing sounds of guns being unloaded, the nearby vibrations of the enemy missiles imploding around him.
He lay on his stomach flat on the ground, and yet, he barely felt able to lift himself up. He glanced around him, and he paused when he lifted his shins…
What… how did…
He noticed the noticeable cracks circling over a circular hold made through the flesh of his Titan's leg.
How did… it managed… to crack through the armor?
…
He turned his head, and barely a mile away, as the dust cleared, being flanked by two more EU Landships, came the source…
A large silver turret cannon, already turning and set towards…
…
He realized with panic…
That never mind his armor.
Never mind his Titan's powers.
He was vulnerable.
They were vulnerable.
That included…
He gasped from inside, as he glanced to see his comrade still pouncing about and ripping through more EU Juggernauts with his jaws and claws.
"PORCO!"
…
He lifted the Armored Titan up when…
…
Then came a faint whistle that shot across the sound barrier…
And it became louder when he jumped up with his one good leg…
…
…
He dared to turn to get a glance of the weapon… before he saw a faint missile spewing towards him.
…
The missile… or rather the rocket… was very thin like a needle… and smaller than he thought…
…
It looked very familiar…
Too familiar…
…
…
He noticed the missile flying alone… as it was connected to the wrist of a green-caped individual, who was flying at a speed to catch up with it.
Reiner's eyes widened to see the green hood flap back to reveal the face of the figure accompanying the missile.
He felt himself scream when he saw the black short haired woman glaring back at him with hardened-grey eyes… before she swung the thunder spear right into the inside of his open mouth and…
"NO!" Reiner yelled as sat up and extended hand to reach for…
…
Only then then did he realize he was no longer…
"Sounded like you were having an extra sweet dream."
…
…
Reiner turned… to see Porco Galliard sitting at the desk next to his bed.
"So, I thought I would let you enjoy it." The man took a bite out of his sandwich.
"Porco…"
…
"You know… it was a real pain getting you out of your Titan in the middle of that chaos…" He turned away. "But considering… that you jumped your ass to take that shell for me… I guess we can call it even." He took another bite from his meal.
…
"Uh…" Reiner looked on, now remembering what happened right before he passed out. "Right. Thanks, Galliard."
…
"I don't want your thanks…" Porco rebuffed, still not looking. "If I had inherited the Armor eight years ago… we wouldn't be in this mess. I might have been stronger to hold longer. And we wouldn't have turned and ran with our tails behind us."
…
"Uh…" Reiner realized the extent of those words. "So…" He glanced down at his blankets. "So, the battle was lost."
"Sure, it did…" Porco scoffed. "The moment your Titan in shiny armor fell over when those bastards hit you at your shins… that caused the whole garrison to start falling apart. Hell… when you didn't get up after taking that next shot to save my ass… it made us look vulnerable.
"But wait… what about the second army?" Reiner asked. "I thought…"
"Whoever was in charge of those idiots should have been demoted on the spot," Porco slung his arm over his chair. "Not only they did they fail to follow orders to arrive… but they too ran with their tails between their legs when they got word of our screw up."
"I see…"
He glanced around the tent they we're and it looked different…
"Wait… where are we now?" Reiner asked.
"We're back near St. Petersburg…" Porco answered. "Everyone's been waiting for you to get up, especially with what received."
"Received?" Reiner questioned.
"Shortly after the mission's failure," Porco set down his breakfast sandwich to glance at Reiner. "Commander Magath got word from that Augustus guy that we are needed back at St. Petersburg. At the Duke's palace."
"Wh…" Reiner was now confused. "The Palace? But… I thought…"
"The warrior unit has been requested to attend." Porco said. "Commander Magath said the new military advisor has finally arrived, along with the Knight of Seven."
HQ
Paris, France, Europia United
Late September, a.t.b. 2018, r.y. 229
"HOW DARE YOU!"
A fist slammed on the General's table.
"How dare you allow this, Smilas! How dare you allow this to happen to Leila! You idiot!"
General Gene Smilas sat at the seat of his chair, his elbows to his desk while his hands were folded beneath his chin, looking his best to look unmoved and unsurprised. The exact opposite to the tantrum Phillipe Malcal was displayed while sitting across from him.
"We had an arrangement, Smilas, with a condition. One condition!" Phillipe held a sharp finger up; the man was fuming even more with every second. "I would allow Leila to attend the academy, begin her career in the military under you, as long as… as long as she would never be permitted to go out on the field!"
"And I have made sure that she would only take in commanding the squadrons and garrisons from afar, where…"
"But you broke it!" The Malcal patriarch growled. "Why is that Christine and I heard that our daughter… was no longer in Germany… but in Belarus?! In enemy territory!"
"Well, if it gives you and Christine some relief… Leila contacted HQ the other day," Gene said. "Good news you may have overlooked, Phillipe. I feared the worst as you had, but fortunately, she is alive and well, along with every one of her squad mates…"
"That's not the point!" Phillipe slammed his closed fist again on the surface of the desk.
The General's imported Italian maple desk.
Gene could only lower his eyes in annoyance. That spot on his desk will be left with a mark by the time Phillipe would be finished with his rant.
"The point is that you allowed her to go there in the first place!"
"Unfortunately, that is not the case."
"What?" Phillipe balked, dumbfounded.
"I ashamed to admit it…" Gene glanced away. "But by the time I found out… I was informed… that Leila had already departed with her squadron to Belarus… without informing me."
"She what?!"
"Naturally, I was both… outraged… and concerned for Leila's well-being… that tied on how the front lines would succeed in breaking through the enemy. It was even more difficult when…"
"So, she went behind your back, then?"
…
"I wouldn't prefer to think that she would. At least not intentionally…"
"Oh, good grief!" Phillipe leaned back in his chair, while facepalming. "This is what you have allowed, Gene! You have given her too much freedom, and that has influenced her to make these reckless decisions! The kind that could endanger her! That could kill her! Or worse!"
"You think I don't know that?" Gene accused.
"I think you don't know what's best for Leila's future!" Phillipe exclaimed. "This… This is… career is not for her."
"Then tell me, Phillipe…" Gene questioned. "What do you think would be best for Leila's future?"
He dared to question it.
"To take time to get ready for her planned engagement?"
…
Then came a great screech from a chair backing up.
"That is none of your concern!" Phillipe exclaimed. "I want my daughter to returned at once!" He stamped his finger on the desk.
"And I am doing what I can to bring her back as soon as possible."
"Are you?" Phillipe questioned. "If that is so… then she should be already here by now."
"The Warsaw Base has many transports and lines going back 24/7," Gene explained. "I'm making sure to settle affairs with the restructuring of the frontlines and arranging a suitable transport for her escort back."
"So, for now you're going to leave her stranded in Warsaw?! Swarmed by all the rabble crisscrossing through there?! With strangers?!"
"At least she has company with her," Gene clarified. "If you should know… every one of her squad mates have been accounted for. All of them alive and well. And…"
"You mean Elevens?! Is that supposed to comfort me?!"
Gene narrowed his eyes again.
…
Phillipe bristled again, before he rose up. "I want my daughter back… right this moment."
"And I guarantee I will arrange that as soon as possible," Gene kept his stare. "If you would please allow us to do our work."
The aristocrat scoffed before he finally turned to the door, but then he stopped.
"Her 18th birthday is upon us," He turned his head to make eye contact once more with the General. "You know on what we agreed upon."
"I don't have to be reminded, Phillipe."
…
…
At last, Phillipe Malcal left the General's office, leaving the man in the desk to lean his head into his hands and sighed.
Leila slowly opened her eyes.
She felt exhausted, feeling her body lying flat and her head feeling weary.
When she was able to clear her vision, she looked up… to see the ceiling of a tent above her.
She looked to her left… and she noticed with widened eyes…
…
The look exchanged with that of Eren Kruger.
…
She first glimpsed the man crossing his arms, while sitting right next to her. When he opened his eyes to meet her gaze, he turned his full attention to her.
…
"Where…" She glanced up. "Monsieur Kruger…?"
"Hey…" He glanced down at her, looking with some concern. "Are… Are you okay."
…
"I…" She raised a hand to her head. "I… Yes… I… I suppose I am." She glanced around with her eyes taking in the new surroundings around them. "Wait… where… where are we?"
"Your personal tent."
…
"Oh…" She lifted her head. "What hap…"
"Wait…" Eren said. "Don't get up…"
"Wh…?" Leila glanced at him. "Why?" She glanced down… "I should…"
…
She froze.
She was lying on the cot, but then she noticed her arms and shoulders were bare, with the long dark blanket that was stretched to cover her feet right to the top of her chest.
…
What…?
…
She felt goosebumps along her skin, as she put a hand to hold the blanket to her chest, and slowly rose to look about herself, realizing…
…
Her pilot suit? What happened to it? And without it… and only this blanket covering her… she was…
…
"You shouldn't…" Kruger said, before glancing away, almost… embarrassed? "I know this is…"
She glanced away mortified, while she pressed the blanket to chest while she couldn't deny the heat suddenly swelling on her cheeks.
"Wh… What… What's going on?" She stuttered. "Wh… Where are my clothes?"
"You…" Eren glanced away… looking almost… embarrassed. "You had to be changed out of them. They got dirty and…"
…
The heat on her cheeks rose up, as Leila started to think with realization and horror.
"You… What?!" She exclaimed. "My… Monsieur Kruger… did you…?"
Her mind was unfolding with all levels of embarrassment and indignation flooding at the thought that…
"NO!" Kruger quickly stated. "I… Ayano… she was the one who changed you of your… suit… I…" He glanced away. "I couldn't do it myself… and neither would ask the others for that matter."
…
Leila felt some sort of relief coming down on her… but that didn't stop the flustering feeling coming up her stomach. She was still undressed, and only wearing a blanket to cover herself… she glanced at Eren…
How long had he been there? How long he had been sitting next to her cot, while she was laying undressed with only a single sheet covering her?
Was there a chance… that he may have…?
No!
…
No…
Leila shook herself mentally. He couldn't… well… she thought he wouldn't… but…
…
But still…
She was still dressed… like this… and so close… and in view… of another man…
…
She couldn't stop the feeling in her stomach and rising temperature in her cheeks.
…
"I want my uniform back."
Kruger glanced at her.
"Monsieur Kruger…" She stuttered. "Can you please… bring back my uniform… so that I may…"
"I can't," He shook his head. "Ayano said she will bring back when it's cleaned and dry…"
Meanwhile…
"Ugh!" Ayano recoiled when she brought up the fabric of the skintight pilot to her nose, before pulling a sponge full of soap and water from the bucket next to her. "Why is it hard to get this stench out?"
…
She continued to scrub while groaning with annoyance.
"Why the hell did I agree to do this?"
"I thought because you were okay with it, Ayano…"
She growled to glance at Yukiya leaning back and being a lazy idiot at the moment.
"Yeah, and what are you doing to be so productive, Yukiya? Could you at least offer to help?"
"I would still like it back!" Leila nearly exclaimed, before glancing down. "If not then… if there are any clothes to spare…"
"I'm sorry, but… the army still won't give us a reissue for clothes."
Leila felt her hope dwindle at that reminder. The skin-tight pilot suit… no matter how improper they were… were the only pieces of clothing they had besides their knightmares and their I.D.'s…
…
"Here…" She glanced and looked in surprise to see Kruger offering her another folded blanket. "I know it's… it's not…" He glanced away.
…
She took hold of the extra blanket and used it to cover her bare shoulders and back in the way she would wear a shawl.
…
…
"I…" Eren still glanced away. "Your suit… Ayano insisted to have you change out of it and wash it… and that's because how it started reeking of… whiskey."
"Whiskey…?" Leila asked. "But… I never… how could that…"
…
…
"Uh…?" Leila stopped shivering and glanced at Eren.
"Do you remember…" He turned slowly, to look at her, his face depraved of the previous awkwardness… and now one of grim. "What happened the night before?"
…
…
"I…"
…
…
When she did… she felt skin turn cold and made her clench the blanket around her shoulders tighter.
"I remember… but…" She glanced at Eren. "Monsieur Kruger?"
…
"You lost yourself during the chaos…" He said, while glancing away from her. "Fortunately… you barely hurt at all. At least… not when they tried to…"
He paused… and before Leila could gasp… she saw his hand on his knee starting to shake.
"Do you realized what could have happened?" Eren stared at her. "What could have happened?"
…
"Monsieur Kruger…" She said. "Are you… are you alright…"
"No, I was careless…" He gritted his teeth, as he glanced down. "I shouldn't have been careless. When I let myself open…"
…
Leila was confused, but then recollected the moment when Kruger fell down… when the bottle came and…
Leila felt saddened at the look of guilt on Kruger's expression. "Monsieur Kruger…"
"I would feel a lot better if I had just gone back… and ripped their throats out…"
Leila balked back at the sudden tone of Eren's next words. The way he snarled like a rabid and frustrated animal… having missed its prey.
"No…" Leila shook her head. "No… you… shouldn't…"
"Shouldn't…?" He suddenly demanded, startling her. "Shouldn't what?!"
…
"Uh…" Leila wanted crawl back. "You shouldn't… You shouldn't speak of…"
"Speak of what?!" Eren leaned forward with his face close to Leila's. The girl froze at the closest distance, she felt his angry breath on her. "About what they were planning?! What they tried to do?"
His green eyes were nearly glowing and hardened as they somehow… glared towards her. Leila felt her eyes shaking, while feeling herself against the end of the cot.
…
"I do remember…" She glanced away. "But even so…"
Eren's face hardened at that.
"No…" He gritted his teeth. "You don't know what they were thinking of! Of the audacity of dared to do! The repulsive and disgusting things they were attempting to do!"
"I won't deny it!" The girl said, causing Eren to pause. She leaned back, glancing away. "I won't deny… what they had intended… and attempted to do… was unspeakable. And appalling. But…"
"But why not?!"
"They were still soldiers on our…"
"That's no excuse!" Eren gritted his teeth. "What they attempted to do… what they attempted to force on you…" He was breathing hard like an angry dog. "They were no different than animals! They should have died like animals!"
Leila stared at the conviction in Eren's eyes at that. She could tell how… angry he was. About what had nearly transpired the night before… it drove something within him.
"Maybe… but… would killing them solve it?"
Eren paused briefly, before glancing at her.
Leila started to sit up straight on the bed, while still holding the blanket around her.
"Even if deserved… killing won't necessarily solve anything. Only adding blood."
…
"And what would you have preferred?" Eren still looked irritated. "That we should just brush off what they tried pull off and ask to get along and whatever?"
Leila glanced at him. "There are other ways for punishment towards such actions. There was at least… one of them. One soldier… who they turned on when…"
Eren scoffed. "Don't bother… that guy froze and whimpered in the corner like a dirty mouse."
"Even still…" Leila spoke. "There was at least one… one person who realized it was going to far. He protested against his compatriots when harmed you. He even protested to get you to a doctor when you…"
Leila paused.
…
"What?" Eren said. "What's wrong?"
…
"I… just… remembered." She stuttered.
…
She then remembered… when one soldier came from behind… and shattered the bottle against Eren's cheek. Glass shards had embedded in his skin, before his face was repeatedly kicked in by the cruel boots of the attackers…
…
And yet… Eren's face before her… was perfectly unharmed. Devoid of any cuts from glass or any swelling from bruises…
"Your… your face."
Eren blinked when she lifted her hand… almost ready to move towards his cheek.
"I… it… it's…"
"It's what?" Eren asked, causing her to pause her hand. "Not looking like crap?"
"Uh…" Leila stuttered, taken aback a bit by the use of something… a bit crass. "I… it's not that I'm not relieved. But… how?"
Yes, how? With what had happened… Eren's face wouldn't look as flawless… at least not for months or at least a half-year. And even then… he would still have scars from the glass…
…
"Have you forgotten that part as well?" Eren said.
"Wh… What are you doing?" She looked confused when he pulled out a knife sitting near the cot and placed against his palm and…
"What…?" Leila looked with concern as Kruger cut open the palm of his skin, and blood leaked out. He barely reacted to the pain as it was only a small paper cut.
Leila would have called for him to cover up the wound as more blood was bleeding from the palm before…
Leila almost gasped.
A few moments after the wound was made… coming from the cut of the hand was… steam?
…
As if Eren's skin was made of a match, steam pulled out from the cut open skin. As the steam kept coming out, the skin… started to mend together.
Leila held her mouth as she witnessed the skin mended back together after a few more seconds… as if the cut wasn't there in the first place.
"Believe me… that glass hurt like hell. And the way they kicked in my face didn't help either. But…" Eren glanced at his hand. "With what I have…" He traced a finger over his cheek. "Wounds like that… they fade away… and are just a minor nuisance."
…
"Eh…" Leila said. "A… nuisance?"
…
"I've felt worse things than that…" He narrowed his eyes. "Far worse than that…"
…
…
A sudden grumble came about, almost startling the both of them.
The source was not too difficult to pinpoint… not when Leila glanced down at her covered stomach.
…
"Oh," Leila flustered, looking away. "Sorry, I…"
"Right…" Eren lowered his eyes, before he rose…
"Wait…" Leila tried calling out. "Where are you…"
"Just wait here…" He paused to turn back to her. "I won't be long."
Caslte Weisswolf
Germany, Europia United
"Eliza?"
Anna Clement opened the door to Leila's empty bedroom, holding bowl of Eliza's supper, and now scanned the place in search of the feline.
"Come out." She tried to appeal. "Come and get your yummies here."
...
She put bowl of cat yummies on the table when she heard something from under Leila's bed.
She bent down and pulled the covers, to see hunched under the center of the bed was the cat.
"Please..." She extended. "Please, come out and..."
HISSED!
Anna paused her hand as the kitty screeched at her accompanied by a glare.
A stubborn one.
She sighed as rose and flopped herself on top of the bed.
"She still doesn't like me at all," She admitted.
Eliza was adorable, although... the cat had her way around other people...
Anna couldn't get why she may have something against her, even she would spend enough time with her when Leila was with them.
Leila...
Leila was perhaps the only one... that cat showed no sign of vendetta or distrust towards.
With Leila... the cat was like a different person. Instead of being repelling from other like a magnet, the cat would act like the other end of the magnet and start following wherever Leila went.
Except... only this time... she couldn't.
And that got Anna thinking with dismay... and concern regarding Leila... and where she could be.
She tried pipe such worries down. For all that she had felt during the operation, she felt no greater relief when the report came in... that Leila and all her squad were accounted for. Never mind if most of their Alexander, including the drones were tarnished in battle... what mattered... was that Leila was alright.
Though, that didn't stop to think what she was doing now.
Anna glanced to the mantle of the room's fireplace, where several framed pictures were held. Her focus came upon one frame that displayed two young girls in their school outfits of white blouses and crimson skirts. A purple haired girl laughing with another girl leaning over shoulder, her long blonde hair tied in a long ponytail.
When times were simpler.
When times were good when they had met for the first time.
"Oh, Leila."
"Here."
Leila looked at the tray of soup and bread that Kruger handed to her, while she was still sitting on her cot, covered in blankets.
"Thank you," Leila smiled as he handed her the tray, and set it upon her lap.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"What?" She glanced at him.
"Is something wrong with the food?"
She glanced at it.
"Uh... no…" She shook her head. "It's nothing, it's just…"
"Well, go ahead then," Eren said. "It's going to cold."
Leila glanced back at it, before taking a spoonful and blew at a bit, before sipping it.
"Um…" She almost curled her mouth.
"Well…?"
"Um…?" She made an uneasy smile at Eren. "It's… not what I initially expected."
She caught him rolling his eyes. "Well, it can't be beef on a bone or a fluffy omelet, not even the cafeteria back at the castle."
Leila was alarmed and she realized with shame what had been her regular cuisine in her rank in the military. This was practically… the first time she was having food… or regular and plain rations outside of Weisswolf and the old academy.
…
"Uh… wait." Leila realized something. "Monsieur Kruger?"
"Yeah?"
"Have the others managed to get something to eat as well?"
"Of course, they're back at their bunker chowing it out."
"What about you?" She asked. "Have you…"
"No…" He shook his head. "I'm not hungry."
"What?" She said. "Surely you can't… have you…"
"It's alright…" Eren insisted. "I'll have time to eat later. I only went to get you something."
Leila paused, and glanced at her meal, feeling both a bit of shame and appreciation for Kruger.
Before she put the next spoonful of the soup to her lips…
"Maybe next time… we can eat together?"
"Huh?"
"I would feel better if I knew you were keeping your sustenance as well, Monsieur," She made a light smile.
…
She looked to see Eren pausing at that.
…
"Uh… well, thank you…" He glanced away. "I appreciate that… though… you don't have to worry about that. I'm not going suffer as much over delaying one meal of the day."
"I still would mind for your sake."
"Yeah, sure…" He shrugged. "Maybe… another time."
"Of course, and… we can eat along with the others."
…
Eren glanced at her for a while, before turning. "Well… sure… yeah, that can work." He paused a bit. "I won't… mind."
That somehow brought a small smile to Leila's lips before she took in the next spoonful of the broth.
She would admit the broth wasn't as bad as it had looked.
Information Available for Public Disclosure:
European United Military Knightmare Frame Suit
The standard pilot suit is made of a skintight fabric and used for standard pilots taking control of Knightmare Frames on the battlefield. Sometimes, the outline of the fabric is made in order to help the pilot adjust with the Knightmare Frame's interface system, while it is supposed to accommodate for the conditions of remaining in the cockpit for a supposed overdue time.
"Here."
"Uh… my pilot suit." Leila said with surprise as Eren handed her the folded latex suit.
"Sorry you had to wait…" Eren said. "I know it's a pain… that this is still the only type of clothes we have to wear… and…" He glanced away a bit. "Because of that…"
"It's alright," Leila shook her head. "Thank you…"
"Tell that to Ayano…" Eren rolled his eyes. "She was growling at me for freeloading her for the chore of making sure it no longer smelled."
"I shall," Leila lightly smiled.
"Well…" Eren looked around, turning from her light smile… and knowing what this meant. "I guess I should leave you…"
"No…" Leila abruptly said, before pausing. "I…" she glanced down at her suit. "This won't take long… you can just…"
…
"Can you promise me…" Eren could barely see her face when she turned it away. "That you won't turn until… I'm done?"
…
Eren felt something on his face.
"Uh… I…" He almost stuttered, realizing what she meant. "Of course… no way I would…"
…
Eren turned his face entirely to the entrance of the tent. His back to his Wyvern Commander.
He would… and absolutely make sure… that no matter what… he would not look behind.
…
He heard the rustling of blankets.
Leila rising from the bed.
Then he heard the blankets falling.
That meant…
Eren gripped his hands together behind his back. He kept his chin straight ahead.
He heard the sound of the skin-tight suit being pulled up. He knew firsthand how that suit barely left any room for the skin to at least breathe.
"Uh…"
"Are you okay?" Eren asked, hearing Leila stutter.
"I… yes… but…"
…
Oh, no.
…
"Is… something wrong…?"
…
Please, no.
Please don't tell him there was something wrong with the suit.
He checked… and it looked alright.
He thought.
…
"Nothing… it's just…" He could hear Leila's voice… sounding hesitant. "I'm…"
…
"Monsieur Kruger…" She asked… sounding nervous.
…
"Yeah?"
"Can you turn around?"
…
He didn't think he heard right…
…
Now? Right now?
…
"Uh…" Eren said… feeling confused. "You… Commander Malcal…"
…
"It's alright…"
…
Eren slowly… almost reluctantly… turned his gaze from the tent's entrance… till his gaze came upon Leila.
She was mostly dressed in the pilot suit…
…but an open slit on the backside of the suit… left her bare back exposed.
…
…
"Monsieur Kruger…" He barely saw her nervous look, before she turned, very shyly. "I… can you help me… close up this part up…?"
…
…
"You want me…?" Eren spat out, almost feeling the sense of how water would instantly splash on his face. "Are you asking me… to…?"
…
Was she… seriously asking him?
…
"Uh… I'm sorry!" She turned her head away, hiding her face. "I'm sorry… if I… you don't have to. There's no need!" She spoke… almost hastily. "I… I can handle it… it's just…"
"No," Eren said, causing her to pause. "It's just one small thing. I have a hard time as it is with it."
…
"Don't worry…"
…
Was he really complying with this?
He knew already this part of equipping this suit had to pull the zipper in the back… but…
…
But it was Leila…
…
A girl… asking him… to help her state of dress.
…
…
He walked forward… till he was just behind her.
He glanced down at her head… which was far below his level.
He extended his hands to gather and push her long mane of hair out of the way…
…
He realized as he pulled her flowing mane in both of his hands… of how it… felt. Almost like the way yellow wheat was tied for harvest, and yet…
Leila's hair was far more refined than that of hay or wheat. It felt soft and smooth as he held it between his palms and fingers. He realized he was taking too long holding her strands before he pushed them over shoulder.
Now… her neck all the way to the small of her back was exposed.
He paused, almost gulping… at the sight of her bare back. There was no sign of any scar or cut on her. Her skin was smooth… and looked like that of sand.
Sand… the same kind of ground… that rested before the beach of the island.
…
He quickly pulled the zipper up. Pulling it up as the fabric closed to cover the sight of her smooth back. He made sure until it stopped at the base of her neck.
He heard Leila made a breath of relief.
"Uh…" She finally turned to face him. "Thank you…"
"Well… yeah…" He glanced in one direction, before turning back. "You asked… and…"
They were now standing and facing one another. She was no longer on the cot and covering herself with a simple blanket, but fully dressed in the same… ridiculous suit as he and the others were.
He had to avert his gaze so that he would not stare at the way the suit outlined her form.
…
He fumed at that.
He could be anywhere but here…
…
He then noticed her hair was loose, and without the pair of gold pins that she always wore. Whether with them, she would wear a pair of blonde buns like ears at the crown of her head, or when she recently styled them in pigtails during the mission.
Honestly, Eren thought the latter style made her look silly.
…
It was different seeing her hair all loose like that. Even though… Eren was barely used to a girl having that long length of hair like she had. With the gold bangs over her forehead and nearly covering ears, while it flowed all the way down to the small of her waist.
…
She was supposed to be in the military, yet he didn't think they would allow anyone in the corps back home to let their hair grow like that.
Even if with how it flowed all out… it looked…
…
…
"We should get going now…" Eren finally said, before turning…
"Monsieur Kruger…"
He stopped, almost stifling a groan, before turning to the blonde commander.
…
"I like to say…" She was holding her hands together. "Thank you." She looked up at him with a sincere smile. "Thank you so much… for watching over me. And…"
"It's nothing…" He tried to shrug, almost averting his gaze from her smile. "Besides… you are the commander of our… squad."
…
"Yes…" She glanced down. "That's right."
Eren twitched an eyebrow to see what appeared to be a look of… bashfulness waving over as she stared down at her feet.
…
"We should make sure to know Ryo and the others are doing okay." Eren said. "And not getting into trouble."
…
"Uh… right!" Leila perked at that, the redness on her face, quickly dissipating. "We should. Lead the way."
And now the girl who was supposed to be the commander was looking up like a enthusiastic trainee would. Eren shook his head and went to open the flap for Leila to finally exit out of the tent.
There.
Now, I forgot to mention or put in that Leila herself, being a commander had a personal tent of her own, besides the rest of the squad needing one of the trailer bunkers at the stadium.
The Malcal patriarch is someone we didn't get much story into in canon, and was not elaborated besides his adoption of Leila and he and his family's plans for her. There will be more to discuss.
Caesar's Palace
St. Petersburg, Russia, Euro Britannia
They stood next to their commander, on the side of the crimson red carpet that led all the way to the Grand Duke's throne, where the man himself occupied, alongside Michael Augustus, and all the four Grandmasters present.
When they had arrived in St. Petersburg, they were not allowed to attend Shaing's knighting, but now they were asked to be present, and only several meters from where the Duke was sitting.
The big difference was the present atmosphere that the throne room now projected.
The day of Shaing's knighting as Grandmaster, the hall had been filled with nobles and soldiers attending to honor the new head of the Order of Michael. Their dresses were colorful and lively, and the windows were open to let the pleasant daylight in…
That was what it looked like from the broadcast they had to watch from… and it far different than they were experiencing.
There were very few present in the hall, except for Grand Duke, his aid, the Grandmasters, Commander Magath, the Warrior Unit, and several royal guards.
The windows were closed shut, and not letting hint of the sun outside penetrate inside. The hall held a dark and purple gloom around it.
…
It felt like there was a brewing tension in the air that could be cut quickly with a dagger.
…
And it was not because of the presence of Eldians.
…
The great door at the entrance of the hall opened.
STOMP! STOMP!
A guard stomped the end of his halberd to the floor before he spoke out.
"Announcing the arrival from the Homeland!"
The two newly caped figures walked across the carpet towards the throne.
"Lord Julius Kingsley, Military Advisor and subject of His Royal Majesty! And his escort, the Knight of Seven, Sir Suzaku Kururugi!"
Kururugi, garbed in his ocean-blue cape, followed behind his ebony-black caped superior, while carrying a metal case in his hand. His face held a silent frown and kept his eyes forward…
The opposite of that of his superior.
Kingsley walked forward, with an ever-present smile on his face, a diamond hanging below the marked eyepatch over his left eye. When he passed, Zeke could have sworn from behind his lens… that Kingsley's only remaining eye… which was a glowing orb of amethyst… turn to glance at him, almost curling his mouth which could have a flashing smile… or an obvious sneer.
…
Zeke almost raised his eyebrow.
…
The silent pair finally came upon the foot of the Grand Duke's throne, where he and his assembly observed them and waited for them.
The pair stopped.
Sir Suzaku Kururugi bent down and kneeled, lowering his head with a respectful nod towards Duke Velaines.
Lord Julius Kingsley… remained standing in place… curling his smile into a sneer.
…
…
Zeke raised his eyebrow.
…
"Why don't you kneel?!" Michael Augustus barked in outrage towards the black-garbed man. "Show some respect, Lord Kingsley."
"You should be kneeling…" Kingsley retorted without a hint of shame. "For I had been granted His Majesty's full authority." Suzaku Kururugi rose and pulled up the metal case. "But don't take my word for it."
The Knight of Seven opened the box to reveal an object lying in fine purple cushion. The military advisor grabbed hold of it and pulled it out.
And what appeared in his hand and pointed towards the throne was that of a decorated rode made out of the finest material. The top of it being a golden four-pointed crown, with the engraving of a lion's face below it.
Zeke could feel his fellow Warriors look at the object with some recognition.
…
Duke Velaines' eyes narrowed into a glare at the sight of the object pointed towards him.
"Ugh!" Michael Augustus gasped. "The… The Imperial Scepter!"
…
"Yes… you get it." Julius Kingsley's grinned as he continued to point the Emepror's scepter like a blade towards the Duke and his throne. Already, the Grandmasters were now glaring towards the young black-haired youth… though Shaing… did not look as disturbed as his colleagues.
"From now on… all of you will obey me as you do the Emperor…" Julius Kingsley declared with a widening smile. "My word is law."
To be continued…