Loud screams echoed through the house.
The blood curdling shrieks came from the room beneath the staircase. Wracking sobs followed after gasping breaths, a man's concerned voice slipping in with hushed words of encouragement every few minutes. There was a brief pause, a quick inhale of breath before another scream tore through the air again.
She sat atop the highest stair, her shoulder pressed against the wall. Her spine was snapped straight as she listened to the woman sobbing again, howling words that morphed into one another because of sheer pain.
"You sit here,"the nurse had told her strictly. "We don't want you getting in our way."
Like a good girl, she had listened.
The ear wrenching screams gradually subsided, quiet sobs slowly fading away until there was nothing but silence.
A thin cry rang in the air then.
She blinked, sitting startled against the wall when the loud wail echoed through the house once body jerked at the sound, and she peered down the staircase, watching as the door creaked open downstairs. A woman poked her head out.
The nurse's white apron was stained and her face looked damp with sweat. Loose strands of brown hair clung to her forehead as her tired eyes finally drifted to the top of the stairs.
"You can come down now, kid."
She immediately lifted herself on her feet and staggered down the steps. Her small hands clutched the fabric of her dress, blue eyes peering cautiously into the open bedroom door.
The room smelled of blood.
Her mother lay flat on her back, motionless. The mattress beneath her was stained deep red, the color gradually bleeding into the sheets. Someone had thrown one of the old bedsheets over plain cotton draped from the top of her head to the end of her ankles. Long strands of blonde hair stuck to the pillow beneath her, her face hidden beneath the thin fabric.
Her once round stomach looked strangely flatter at the moment.
The doctor stood near the old sofa in the corner. He looked in his late forties, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he sighed wearily, wiping off the sweat dripping down his forehead.
"We're extremely sorry."He apologized, anxiously wringing his gloved hands together."There wasn't much we could do."
Her father's shoulders were hunched forward as he sat on the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees. His head was buried in his hands as he vacantly stared down at the floor, fingers loosely gripping his hair.
"We've…"the doctor's voice wavered before he grimaced."We've never experienced such complications before."
A faint shudder ran through her father's body, and his fingers tightened over his face.
She padded deeper into the room, staring at the bare feet poking out from under the thin sheet draped over the still body. Her mother's toenails were losing color, fading to an eerie blue and she found the motionless figure on the bed odd for someone who was always moving about in the house.
"Mama?"She muttered, inching near the head of the bed. Her fingers curled around the warm edge of the headboard, her eyes rounding in disbelief.
"Are you sleeping—"
A firm hand landed on her shoulder, tugging her back with a jolt.
She stumbled momentarily, turning around to meet the flat stare of the nurse. The woman cradled a bundle of fabric in her other arm, frowning down at her.
"You don't need to see that, kid."
The fingers on her shoulder tightened, guiding her away from the bed and back towards the ajar door.
She allowed herself to be forcibly tugged to the side, hands fisting nervously into the folds of her skirt when the nurse shifted before her. The woman adjusted the cloth in her arms, a soft pale blanket her mother sometimes wrapped around her shoulders during winter evenings.
The nurse's scrutinizing gaze fell onto her again."Wanna look at what I've got here, eh?"
The woman leaned forward slightly, lowering her arms and blue eyes took in the sight before her.
A tiny infant was swaddled snugly within the nurse's pudgy arms. Its eyes were squeezed shut, tiny hands curled into tight little fists over the folds of the blanket. The baby's pink face scrunched against the dim candlelight in the room.
She stared, her eyes rounding in sheer surprise.
"You wanna hold him?"The nurse asked.
Her arms stretched out instinctively. The nurse carefully rested the baby into her grasp, her own hands cradling the child in case the weight was too much.
She peered down at the baby in her hold, blinking slowly.
The nurse leaned back on her feet, glancing over to the bed before sighing heavily."That's your baby brother."
Her short arms tightened around the tiny bundle, pressing him against her chest as she gazed down at him, awestruck.
He's so small.
"Miss?"
Amelia blinked once, faintly realizing she had been staring at the same page for what must have been the past hour. Her gaze snapped to the hourglass set over the edge of her desk, the sand already settled at the bottom of it.
A hesitant voice tugged her fully from her reverie.
"We're finished."
The classroom was littered with only a few Scouts. One of them shifted nervously in his seat, fiddling with the parchment on his desk. Her gaze drifted towards the empty desk near the window before she stood from her chair, nodding her head.
"Put your tests on my desk," she said, clamping the book shut in her hands. "You're all dismissed."
Chairs scraped against the stone floor as her students rose from their seats. A few of them offered quiet goodbyes, and Amelia nodded back absently, stacking the freshly written tests atop her desk. She cradled the parchments to her chest as she stepped through the doorway, her thoughts already straying back once more.
She hadn't seen him since.
A frown marred Amelia's face, and she considered that perhaps her teaching style wasn't suited for someone like him. There was too much structure in her method and he would prefer something more disarray.
She pictured Hange in her place instead— all wild gestures and flailing hands, words falling from her lips faster than anyone could make sense while he would sit there with furrowed brows, biting back a frustrated groan.
An amused smirk curled her lips.
"—shouldn't take long. I'll report back once I'm done."
She turned the corner and slowed her steps when she spotted two figures standing near the hallway's end.
Amelia smiled amiably, shifting the stack in her arms.
"Nifa!"
The woman turned, strands of scarlet hair sliding against her nape as she shifted. Beside her, Moblit promptly looked up from the notepad in his hands, blinking in mild surprise.
"Amelia?" Nifa's stunned look melted into a warm smile. She set her hands on her hips, tilting her head slightly. "You're still here?"
"The Commander extended her contract," Moblit supplied, lowering the notepad in his hands. "She'll be here for some time."
Amelia hummed, stepping fully into their circle as Nifa offered her a thoughtful smile. "Wonder if he'll make your position here permanent someday."
"Doubt it," Amelia shrugged. "I can't work for free all the time."
"Forfree?"Nifa raised a brow, and Moblit looked at her curiously, eyes widening in disbelief. "So you really are doing it for free—"
"Have either of you seen Levi?" Amelia interrupted, cradling the notes to her chest. "He wasn't in class today."
A fleeting look of concern flickered across Moblit's face, and Nifa blinked, processing the question.
"Are you sure he wasn't there?" Moblit asked worriedly. "I saw him at the barracks this morning."
"Either he skipped class on purpose or he ran off," she bounced her shoulders reluctantly. "But he wasn't there, that's for sure."
"Ran off?He wouldn't have just—"
"I saw him a while ago."
Nifa commented causally, blinking when both pairs of eyes immediately snapped her way.
Amelia arched a brow. "You did?"
"Yeah," Nifa cupped a hand around her chin, looking thoughtful. "I saw him dragging one of the stable boys outside the West wing."
"Stable boys?" Moblit echoed, perplexed. "Why would he be with the stable boys—"
Thump.
Moblit promptly looked down at the scattered papers now littering the floor. Nifa blinked from beside him, confusion flickering across her face when Amelia bolted towards the end of the hallway. The two exchanged startled glances, a mess of notes and books lying near their boots.
His foot knocked into the stable door.
The wood splintered slightly, hinges rattling as the door slammed against the wall. A few of the horses jerked their heads up at the abrupt commotion, ears twitching as they regarded the intruder at their stepped in further, boots crunching over scattered straw as his searching gaze swept over the stalls.
A head of tangled brown hair bobbed into his view.
Theodore emerged from one of the stalls, wiping the sweat off his brow. His vest was stained with grime, hanging loosely over his thin frame as he stood barefoot on the hardened hay. The boy blinked a few times before he stiffened, recognizing the intruder immediately.
"Oi," Levi frowned, kicking some of the muck off his boot. "Where's the other bra—"
A panicked shriek filled the stable.
"S-Simon!" Theodore's voice cracked as he stumbled backwards, nearly tripping over his own feet. "He's here, Simon! He's here to kill us!"
Levi's brows furrowed and he stepped closer, annoyance clear on his face.
"The hell are you on about? I'm not—"
"Help!"Theodore shrieked, scrambling further into the stall. "Someone, please! Help us!"
The horses stirred, shifting uneasily in their stalls. Hooves clopped nervously against the stable floor, and a heavy frown marred Levi's face.
"Oi, brat. Cut it out—"
He felt the air shift, his instincts kicking in the moment someone lunged at him from behind. Levi instantly stepped to the side, glancing at the brat lunging past him and skidding to a halt beside the one near the stalls.
Silver eyes regarded the wooden stake in the boy's clenched fist.
The filthy brat planted his bare feet in the dirt, his face smeared with soot and grime. He snarled like a rabid dog, stray pieces of hay sticking out from between his wild black hair.
"Fuckin' sewer rat," Simon spat, raising the stake like he fully intended to drive it through Levi's chest. "I knew ya were gonna try and kill us!"
Levi's gaze flitted between the boy's furious snarl and the lousy weapon. He tucked his hands into his pockets, a look of clear boredom on his face.
"Tell you what," he deadpanned. "I'll give you ten seconds to try and hit me. If you even manage totouchme, I'll leave you both alone."
He watched in faint amusement when Simon faltered slightly, his brows creasing in confusion. Theodore peeked out from behind him, eyes wide and wary.
"But if you don't," Levi pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes briefly. "Then both of you brats gotta come with me. Got it?"
Theodore's breath hitched.
He clutched Simon's sleeve with both hands, yanking incessantly as he frantically whispered something into the other boy's ear. Simon's grip tightened around the stake, knuckles turning kept his hands in his pockets, frowning at them both.
Simon ripped his elbow away with a sharp jerk, and Theodore flinched visibly, staggering back.
"I'll fuckin' end ya," Simon snarled.
He tightened both hands around the wooden stake and lunged forward.
Levi watched with barely concealed amusement as the brat screamed at the top of his lungs, propelling himself off the ground. The stake shot forward in a wild thrust, and Levi easily sidestepped, glancing as the boy nearly stumbled over his own momentum.What a damn hassle.
Simon skidded to a halt. He whirled around, spitting curses through gritted teeth.
"Fucker—"
Levi craned his leg back, hands deep in his pockets.
"Time's up, brat."
The kick knocked hard into his stomach, and Simon let out a strangled gasp. The stake slipped from his fingers, falling uselessly to the stable floor as his knees buckled beneath him. He dropped to the hay covered ground, arms curling around his splattered out from between his gasping mouth as Simon curled further into himself, whimpering.
Theodore stood frozen near the stalls.
His hands clenched near his chest, his wide eyes darting between Levi's amused face to Simon's curled form on the dirty floor. Levi crouched, reaching down to grab the back of Simon's ragged vest.
"Tch."His fingers curled around the filthy fabric, and he scowled. "Smells like shit."
Simon groaned weakly as he was unceremoniously hoisted up and dragged across the stable floor like a sack of wheat.
Theodore swallowed thickly.
He took a hesitant step backwards, his feet crunching against the hay strewn floor."Si-Si—"
"Come on."Levi spared Theodore a short glance as he straightened, gripping Simon's shirt in a firm fist. He moved for the stable door. "I don't have all day."
He walked forward, Theodore stumbling slightly before he followed out the door as well.
"Ya damn sewer rat," Simon hissed through clenched teeth, one arm clutching his bruised abdomen as Levi dragged him out of the stables and into the harsh daylight. "Stay the hell away from Theo!"
"Simon…" Theodore sucked in his bottom lip, trailing behind them cautiously. "A-Are we gonna die today?"
Levi shot him an annoyed look.
Theodore nearly tripped over his own feet, quickly shifting closer to Simon.
"Get my stake, Theo!" Simon yelled, his behind dragging across the grass as he attempted to thrash free. "Stab 'em in the back—"
The firm hand gripping his vest rattled him roughly.
"Would you both shut the hell up?" Levi snapped, continuing to drag Simon near the looming fortress walls. "And no one's stabbing anyone unless I say so. Got it?"
Theodore clamped his mouth shut, trailing after them as Simon flailed against the iron grip dragging him across the ground. He thrashed violently, spitting out a string of expletives between gasping breaths.
"Lemme go, you bastard!"
Levi ignored him, yanking the boy along.
A strange itch flared in the back of Levi's throat.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance, swallowing down saliva when Theodore piped up behind him. "M-Mister—"
They halted near an old metal crate filled with water. Steam curled above the surface, a small fire crackling beneath the thick iron. Theodore stared at the steaming water, his brows creasing further when he noticed the water buckets set nearby the crate.
A crow cawed loudly from somewhere afar.
Levi rolled his shoulders, glancing down at the boy hanging from his grip. Simon had gone oddly still for once as he warily took in the sight of the crate and buckets.
"Oi." Theodore stiffened under the pressing look Levi set him with. "Strip and get in there."
Steely eyes snapped to the side when Simon trashed against his grip.
"The hell do ya mean—"
A strong arm curled around the boy's middle, startling him as he was lifted clean off the ground. Simon yelled in surprise when the collars of his vest were grabbed and the thin fabric was tugged off him in one sweep.
"Oi!" He barked, flailing his arms. "What the hell are ya—"
His hands scrambled helplessly in the air when Levi hoisted him higher before unceremoniously dumping him into the crate.
Water sloshed over the edges, spilling onto the dirt and sizzling when it met the embers beneath the crate. Simon emerged with a loud gasp, sputtering as his drenched hair clung to his face, sending water flying everywhere. He tried to scramble out.
Levi frowned when the spray splattered over his boots.
Rough hands clasped around Simon's bony shoulders, pinning him down in the crate.
"Damn it, brat." Levi cursed, his brows scrunching in frustration as Simon squirmed beneath his grip. "Stay still."
"Just what—" Simon choked, spluttering once his head resurfaced from the water."Wait—!"
Levi yanked the boy's head back, his fingers digging into the thick tangles of Simon's black hair. He grimaced at the bits of twigs and leaves stuck between the unkempt locks, his hand roughly tugging at them despite the boy yelping in sudden pain.
"You look like shit," Levi muttered, reaching into his pocket. "When was the last time you brats took a damn bath?"
Simon splashed upright, coughing out water between loud gasps.
"I'll kill ya!" He hissed, another wave spilling over the crate's sides. Levi frowned when the water drenched the front of his uniform shirt while Simon jerked in his spot. "I'll fuckin' kill ya, ya hear me—"
A hand clasped onto his head again, forcing him back into the water. Fingers dug into his hair, grabbing a fistful of his black locks before his head was roughly yanked back again.
Steely gray eyes peered down at him, and Levi glowered menacingly.
"One more move and I'll break your legs."
Simon scowled, the corners of his lips curling back into a snarl when a soapy hand promptly smacked onto his face. He stiffened in absolute shock, foamysuds clinging to his skin when Levi started scrubbing his face harshly.
Simon reeled, sputtering soap and curses as he tried to jerk away. The fist in his hair kept him fixed in place as he slapped around the water uselessly, eyes squeezing shut.
"Quit it." Levi muttered, lathering up his hand again. "You're getting water all over me."
Simon snarled something back, his expletives muffled beneath the rush of water. Levi rubbed at the dirt and grime stuck to the boy's face before shoving him into the water once more. The brat surfaced with an audible gasp, blinking furiously as water dripped down his chin.
Water splashed violently in the crate, spilling over the edges and soaking the front of Levi's shirt and sleeves.
Levi cursed loudly, squinting because of the droplets trickling down his wet hair.
"Keep your eyes closed," he ordered, fingers digging into Simon's jaw as he scrubbed away the grime caked behind the boy's ears. Simon squirmed but Levi forcibly kept him in place. "Unless you want soap and water stinging like hell."
Simon gritted his teeth. He squeezed his eyes shut when Levi's fingers worked through his tangled hair once again.
Theodore stood frozen on the other side, watching the scene unfold in stunned silence.
Levi fixed him with a pointed look.
Theodore stiffened before nodding quickly. He hurriedly yanked the dirty vest over his head, his fingers moving for the waistband of his overly stitched trousers.
"Keep those on," Levi jerked his chin toward the crate. "Just get in before the fire dies down."
Theodore hesitated slightly. He stepped closer, the metal rim warm under his palms as he hoisted himself up and carefully sank into the water beside his friend. Warmth curled around him, settling comfortably against his hands tentatively rose to his head, thin fingers clumsily knotting into his matted brown hair. He gently tugged at the rough strands, trying to card his fingers through them.
Something nudged against his shoulder.
Theodore turned his head, staring owlishly at the bar of soap presented before him. His wide eyes snapped up, meeting Levi's impatient look before he gingerly reached forward and took the soap into his small hands.
The bar slipped from his grasp, and he awkwardly fumbled to catch it.
"Use it on your body and hair," Levi instructed, his foamy hands digging back into wet, black locks. Simon winced as rough fingers harshly tugged at the knots in his hair, and Levi clicked his tongue. "And make sure you scrub behind the ears too."
Theodore nodded.
He slowly slid the soap between his hands. Thick foam gathered between his palms, and he gingerly rubbed it over his face, smoothing the lather over his cheeks. His eyelids fell shut, his nose wrinkling because of the sharp medicinal scent coming off the soapy lather.
They had taken away her mother's body an hour ago.
Her father had locked himself into his study soon after. The door had remained shut, but his muffled sobs still slipped through the thick wood. She had never heard her father cry before. He was always smiling, scooping her into his lap when he came home from work. They would choose a book together, and he would trace her small fingers over the charcoal words, reading aloud with her.
Across from them, her mother would sit with one arm curled around her round stomach. She would stir honey into her warm milk, cutting up slices of fresh pie while her father sipped his evening tea.
For a moment, she nearly turned her head in hopes of seeing them sitting there again.
"You got more family?"
She peered up at the nurse.
The woman was seated at the edge of the bed, cradling the tiny bundle in her arms. Her brother hardly made a sound, nestled comfortably against the nurse's chest as she rocked him back and forth."A grandma or aunt maybe?"
"No,"she answered simply, folding her legs under herself as they sat atop the bed."There's just me and papa."
The nurse adjusted the baby in her arms."So you're the only girl now?"
"Well,"she inclined her head, watching curiously."I guess."
The nurse grunted, her thick arms shifting as she rocked the baby slightly."Guess you're gonna have to put in extra effort now, missy."
She blinked."…effort?"
"Unless,"the nurse pressed,"you want your father to marry again."
"Marry?"She echoed, her eyes rounding in surprise."But he's married to mama already,"
"Not anymore, he ain't."The nurse tipped the baby slightly, adjusting his tiny form against the thick fabric of her apron."He'll have to marry again if he wants someone to take care of you and the baby."
She seemed to consider the nurse's words, turning them over in her head before her eyes widened in realization.
"Does that mean," she stared at the woman in quiet contemplation,"I'll be getting a new mama?"
"You don't want that, kid."The nurse frowned. She shifted the baby in her arms, rocking him slightly."My father married again too. The new woman threw me and my sisters out the door the first chance she got."
"But,"she scrunched her brows in confusion,"this is my house."
"It's not your house once your father brings in a new woman."The nurse shrugged."It'sherhouse then."
She stared at the nurse, brows creasing at this new piece of information."But—"
"That's why it's your job now,"the nurse cut in, gently lowering the baby onto the bed. He barely stirred, his tiny lips parting in a small yawn."If you take care of your family, your father won't need to marry again."
Her gaze fell to the small bundle beside her.
He was impossibly small, wrapped snugly in warm blankets. His skin was still faintly pink, a tuft of soft blond hair resting atop his head, and she quietly considered if it would darken with time, matching her father's darker locks or remain light like her own.
The nurse straightened with a grunt, brushing off her apron.
"I'll feed him in an hour or so."She stretched her back, walking for the door.
She slid off the bed as well, her small feet landing softly on the carpet. She stood there for a moment, watching the nurse glance over her shoulder.
"Come on."The woman beckoned with a hand."We'll leave the door open in case he wakes up."
She trailed after the nurse. Her father's study remained quiet as they passed the closed door, her ears intently listening for the muffled sounds of her father's sobs. There was nothing but silence.
Maybe he had cried himself to sleep.
The kitchen was dimly lit, a single oil lamp hanging from the watched the nurse open a few cabinets, rummaging through them searchingly. She teetered ahead on her toes, propping her chin on the counter as her eyes peered up at the woman curiously.
"Are you staying with us now?"
"I'll only be coming over to feed the baby,"the nurse snorted, tugging out a jar of sugar and setting it on the counter. She reached for a sack of flour next."You'll have to take care of the rest on your own."
She hummed absently, driving her chin harder into the countertop.
The nurse glanced at her briefly."You know how to cook?"
She pushed away from the counter, rolling back on the balls of her heels and bounced her shoulders.
"Mama said I might burn myself."
"Well, you're old enough to learn now."The nurse clicked her tongue."Who's gonna make dinner when your father comes home from work? Certainly not your brother."
She planted her feet firmly on the floor, her brow furrowing slightly before she slowly rounded the counter and stood beside the woman. Her height barely reached the nurse's hip.
The nurse sighed wearily. She leaned down to scoop the child into her arms and easily lifted her onto the counter. She set a knife and a handful of carrots beside her, the metal glinting under the lamp light.
"Let's start with some stew,"the woman nodded, rolling up her sleeves."And maybe some bread after. You'll need something warm after you get back from the funeral."
The stable door swung open with a resoundingcrash.
Amelia stumbled inside, eyes darting searchingly through the dimly lit place. Some of the horses shifted restlessly in their stalls, snuffing the air as their ears flicked back because of the sudden clutched her hands to her chest, scanning the area frantically. The dirty floor was scattered with hoof prints and strewn hay, a wooden stake lying in the middle of the space.
Amelia swiftly turned on her heel, sprinting through the door and took towards the West wing.
She remembered the bruises on Simon's neck and the thick bandages around Erwin's hand. The infirmary's nurse foreboding warning echoed through her mind again, how he killed twenty Titan all on his own. A single man havingthatmuch power. But if he'd actually hurt children—
Her feet screeched to a stumbling halt.
A metal crate stood in the grass, steam curling from the surface. Half empty buckets were scattered around it, and a small wooden box was placed nearby, a pile of clothes stacked neatly on top of it.
"Damn it, brat." A familiar voice snapped. "Will you quit moving?"
She saw his back first— the familiar taut line of his shoulders, his short stature and the back of his undercut as he stood with his arms shoved into the crate. Her heart sank when water splashed loudly and someone hissed out a string of angry expletives.
Amelia's breath hitched immediately.
Her fingers dug into the fabric of her skirt, heart thudding rapidly in her chest as she pushed forward, breaking into a panicked sprint.
Don't tell me.Her mind whirred, a chill running down her spine.Is he drowning them—
"I said stay still, damn it!"
Amelia skidded to a stop, breathing heavily as she stared ahead.
Wisps of steam curled into the air, rising from the surface of the water. A wet mop of brown hair emerged from the crate, water dripping down flushed skin, and she blinked a few times.
"Miss Amelia!"
Theodore chirped, standing upright. Water sloshed over the edges, and Levi tensed when the splash hit his boots. Theodore clasped the wet rim of the crate, teetering forward as he smiled toothily.
"Did ya bring the story books—"
"Sit the hell down." Levi snapped from the side, shooting him a withering glare. "You're getting water all over me."
Theodore flinched and instantly shrank back, lowering himself into the crate like a scolded puppy.
Amelia stood there, hands falling to her sides as she openly stared at them.
Within the crate, Simon cursed under his breath. Levi didn't bother looking at her, continuing to harshly scrub down the boy's back and snapping whenever Simon attempted to scramble away.
Amelia slowly stepped closer, her boots sinking into the damp grass around the crate.
Steel eyes reluctantly flickered back at her.
She blinked once, her thoughts stalling as she took him in properly.
Dark, wet hair was plastered to his forehead. Water dripped down his face, the front of his shirt fully soaked as the damp fabric clung uncomfortably to his chest. He had discarded his military jacket over the wooden box, his sleeves folded up to his elbows. Faint scars lined the pale skin of his arms.
Amelia stared incredulously.
"…what are you doing?"
Levi didn't pause, fingers still threading roughly through Simon's tousled hair.
"The hell does it look like?" He muttered, working through the stiff knots. "Bathing these brats. They smell like horseshit."
Amelia parted her lips, her brows furrowing further and he shot her a dull look. "Close your damn mouth."
She clamped her lips shut.
Her gaze dropped to the water. Theodore peeked up at her through his drenched bangs, smiling nervously. Simon sat stiffly at the side of the crate, grimacing as Levi yanked at his hair roughly, pulling out bits of hardened dirt. The boy hissed every time the knots were tugged free, sending splashes of water over the edge.
Amelia blinked at him, the furrow between her brows smoothing in stunned realization.
"You brought all of this out here?"
"Yeah." Levi continued scrubbing Simon's scalp, flicking away the dirt with a disgusted curl of his lip. "They're not allowed in the barracks so I can't throw them in the communal bath."
She looked down at the buckets near their feet, surprise evident in her voice. "Must've taken a while to fill these at the pump."
Levi grunted.
"And you lit a fire under the crate—"
"The water's too damn cold," he interrupted, irritation creeping into his tone. "They'd get sick otherwise."
Amelia stared at him for a heartbeat longer, her hands tightening into the fabric of her skirt.
Theodore fumbled with the bar of soap, glancing at her when she stepped forward, her boots sinking into the muddied grass until she stood behind him.
Levi casted her a wary glance. "You can come back later—"
"The three of you have a lesson after this," Amelia said, unbuttoning her cuffs and rolling up her sleeves. She plucked the soap from Theodore's grasp before working it between her palms, rubbing it into a thick lather. "The sooner you finish, the sooner I get to go home."
Theodore stilled as her hands settled onto his head.
Levi watched as she lowered her hands into Theodore's tangled brown locks. The boy shivered slightly before closing his eyes, his shoulders relaxing under the gentle press of her fingers as she massaged the lather into his scalp.
"Just lather it up and leave it for a while," she advised. "It'll soften the knots. That way you can ease them out without yanking his head off."
With a flick of soapy water, she held out the bar of soap between them.
Levi eyed the offered soap reluctantly.
He snatched it from her hand, muttering under his breath. She watched in amusement as he rubbed the bar between his hands, working up a foamy lather, and Simon winced when rough fingers dug into his damp hair again.
"Oi, watch it—"
"Shut up," Levi scoffed, brow furrowing slightly in concentration as he carefully eased his fingers into tangled, black locks. He worked the soap deeper into the boy's scalp before he muttered begrudgingly. "And hold still."
The hint of a smile touched Amelia's lips as she carded her fingers carding through Theodore's hair.
The tight buckled shoes bit into her feet.
She huffed and fumbled with the clasps before slipping them off. The black shoes hit the grass with a softthunk,finally allowing her to stretch her aching toes. She idly swung her sock clad feet, leaning back on the stone bench before peering ahead into the distance.
Down the hill, the mourning crowd was slowly scattering away from the freshly turned soil.
She continued watching them, squinting her eyes at the priest lingering near the grave. He was from the Walls' Church, a bald man threading his fingers through prayer beads as he murmured the final rites.
With a flick of his wrist, he scattered holy water over her mother's gravestone.
She frowned at the sight.
Her parents had never been religious. Her mother had never bowed her head in prayer and her father had never spoken of the Walls' divine entity as anything more than a silly tale. But here was a priest, murmuring sacred words over the cold stone as he called upon a god her mother had never believed in to grant her passage into heaven.
The absurdity of it settled uneasily in her chest.
She absently plucked at the fabric of the black dress the nurse had picked out for her. A creamy white ribbon cinched her waist, and there was an old hat perched awkwardly atop her head. Her golden hair was twisted into tight pigtails that tugged a dull ache from her scalp.
She planted her hands on the bench, the stone cold beneath her palms as she leaned sideways.
"Papa."
Her head rested against her father's elbow. She curled her fingers into the thick sleeve of his coat, clinging to the warmth of the fabric as she leaned into his side. "Papa?"
Her father's glazed eyes looked straight ahead, not at her mother's grave but at the towering height of Wall Rose far in the distance.
She clutched his sleeve tighter, pressing her cheek against his arm before her gaze shifted towards the woven basket set beside him.
Nestled within the folds of soft linen, the baby laid sleeping peacefully.
"Papa?"
Blue eyes finally dipped down to look at her, blinking behind round glasses. Her father's eyes were rimmed with red, puffy from hours of crying in his locked study room.
"Now that mama has passed away," she spoke easily, the words engraved into her mind from what everyone had told her during the funeral. Her fingers dug into his arm. "Are you going to marry again?"
A look of disbelief flickered across her father's face. The question seemingly snapped him out of his grief for a moment, his eyes widening in shock.
He shifted to face her fully, his brows knitting together.
"What—"
"I promise to take care of you!" She blurted out, clinging onto his arm tighter. Her heart hammered in her chest, desperation clinging to her voice as she peered up at him with wide, worried eyes. "I'll take care of you and the baby, papa. You won't have to marry again, I promise!"
"What on earth—"
His arm curled around her protectively and she shifted to press her cheek to his chest, the sound of his steady heartbeat soothing beneath her ear as he asked, shocked. "Where did you hear that, Amelia?"
"Everyone was saying it," she muttered, curling her fingers tighter into the fabric." I don't want to be kicked out, papa. I like staying at home and reading books with you."
"No one can ever kick you out of there," he said incredulously. "It's your home, Amelia. No one can ever take it away from you."
"But—"
"I'm not marrying again," he said firmly, concern softening the look on his rueful face.
A warm hand smoothed down her back, his palm gentle as he offered her a tired smile."It's just the three of us now."
Relief flooded her instantly. She ignored the tears stinging the corners of her eyes when she buried her face into her father's chest, her small arms barely circling him fully. He hugged her back, an exhausted smile tugging at his lips.
She shuffled back on the cold bench when he lifted the basket onto his lap.
The baby stirred slightly, wrapped in warm linen.
"You'll have to watch out for him now," her father smiled ruefully, patting her back. "That's what you do for the people you love."
She peered into the basket, watching as the baby stirred and his eyelids fluttered open. Bright blue eyes gazed back at her, reminding her of their mother.
Amelia clutched the towel in her hands, fluffing it around the messy head of brown locks before her. Her fingers worked absently, bunching the fabric around nearly dried hair as she continued staring into empty space, a faraway look in her eyes.
Behind her, someone cursed loudly before the sound of acrackhit her ears. She blinked when small hands reached up, gently clamping over her own.
Soft green eyes peered up at her nervously.
Theodore sat before her on an upturned bucket, his damp hair sticking up in unruly tufts beneath her constant toweling. His lips curled into an awkward smile.
"I think my hair's all dried now, miss." He smiled abashedly.
Amelia stilled, the towel bunching loosely between her hands as she stepped away with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Theodore."
"Ain't nothin' to apologize for," he chirped, shaking out his damp locks before he stood.
His gaze flickered behind her, a look of worry settling over his face. Amelia followed his line of sight, her brows raising in amusement.
Levi stood a few steps away, completely drenched. Water dripped from the tips of his black hair, trailing down his forehead and into his eyes. The white shirt clung to him, soaked completely through, and his folded sleeves hung limply, heavy with water.
He scowled down at the boy standing across from him.
Simon glared back challengingly, only clad in his shorts as he backed away with a towel in his hands.
Levi released a deep breath, eyes narrowing behind wet bangs. "Hurry up and dry yourselves off."
He grabbed a pile of clothes off the wooden box and tossed them over.
Simon snatched the fabric mid-air, stretching it out between his hands as he examined it skeptically. Theodore stumbled backwards when the cloth smacked him directly in the face, hanging off his head.
"Get changed before you get sick or some shit."
Theodore peeled the cloth off his face, gripping the soft cotton as he blinked down at the neatly folded shirt in his hands. His gaze turned to the pants draped over his arm, and he held them to his chest, staring at the fabric in surprised awe.
Amelia watched as Simon flicked his shirt in the air, shaking it loose. The sleeves dangled slightly longer than they should have, the fabric smooth and free of arched a brow, surprised.
Simon's hands clenched into fists around the material, his shoulders stiffening.
"I'm not takin' anything from ya!" He snapped.
Theodore flinched, his fingers curling protectively around his own shirt as his eyes darted worriedly between them. Levi's scowl deepened, pinning Simon with a cold look.
Simon tensed, holding back from stepping away while Theodore chewed his bottom lip nervously.
"You heard him."
All eyes swiveled towards her.
Amelia nodded her head tersely, the towel still hanging loosely in her hands. "Change into them before you catch a cold."
Levi casted her a sidelong glance as she shifted on her feet, turning her back to the boys before he eventually followed suit. His arms folded over his damp chest, the soaked fabric clinging to him as he faced away, offering them their privacy.
Amelia listened to the soft rustling of fabric behind them. She held the towel close to her chest, craning her head back to watch the sky. Pale clouds drifted lazily above them, stretching and thinning like fresh cotton. A crow cawed from somewhere in the distance.
Blue eyes shifted sideways.
Levi was watching the sky as well, his arms still crossed over his soaked shirt.
She lifted a brow. "Where did you get the clothes?"
His gaze lazily flicked towards her. "Found them in the lost and found storage."
"Really?" Her brows knitted together, skeptical. "I never knew we had Scoutsthatsmall serving in the Corps—"
"W-We're done!"
Amelia turned, a smile touching her face as Theodore fidgeted slightly, rolling up the oversized sleeves of his shirt into uneven cuffs.
Simon refused to meet anyone's gaze, focusing entirely on folding the long pant legs up to his ankles.
"You both look nice." She smiled kindly.
Theodore beamed up at her, his eyes shining. He puffed out his chest, standing proud while Simon scoffed under his breath, dragging a hand through his damp black hair. He frowned when the long strands stubbornly flopped back into his eyes. With an irritated huff, he shoved his hands into his pockets.
Levi watched them closely, silent.
"Why don't you both go ahead and light the fireplace in the staff room?" Amelia suggested, shifting the towel in her hands. "You'll warm up faster that way."
Theodore nodded eagerly. "Yes, miss."
He gathered the discarded clothes on the ground, pausing as his shy gaze flickered towards Levi for a brief moment.
Levi ignored him, merely grabbing the side of the crate and tipping it forward, dumping the murky water onto the grass where it soaked into the earth.
Simon wordlessly turned on his heel, stomping away. Theodore hesitated for a second before scurrying after him, the bundle of clothes clutched tightly to his chest.
Amelia watched their retreating backs until they disappeared into the building.
"You bought those clothes for them, didn't you?"
Levi grasped both of the bucket handles, lifting them up as he turned to her with a look of indifference.
"Like I'd waste money on a couple of dumb brats." He muttered dryly.
Amusement flickered across Amelia's face, and she smiled knowingly. "But you'd be willing to bathe them?"
"That's 'cause they smelled like horseshit," he scoffed, scrunching his nose in disgust.
Levi took a step past her, carrying the buckets before he paused. He turned towards her, an irritated scowl settling over his face. "And since you're so damn set on making us study in the same room, I don't want them stinking up the place."
Amelia inclined her head, half listening.
Her eyes strayed to the water still clinging to him, dripping down his face. His damp black hair was stuck in uneven strands to his forehead, stray droplets hanging from his brow before slipping down the curve of his cheek. His soaked shirt molded against him, folded sleeves drenched in water as he visibly frowned at her.
Her hands curled tighter into the towel.
She instinctively reached ahead, promptly draping the towel over his head.
Levi jolted.
His grip slackened around the wet handles, the buckets slipping from his grasp, and they hit the ground with aclang,metal ringing out against the damp earth.
"What the hell—"
Hands firmly clamped down on his scalp, securing the towel over his wet locks before pressing down harder on the crown of his head.
"You're going to catch a cold," Amelia murmured absently, already fluffing the towel over his head.
Levi stiffened when her fingers worked through his soaked hair briskly. He took an immediate step back, clearly caught off guard.
"Oi—"
She followed after him, her hands pressing down on either side of his head as she continued rubbing the towel through his damp hair. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she worked the fabric through his dripping stands.
"You need to dry off before you get sick—"
"Cut it out, dammit!"
His arms abruptly lifted in the air, and he smacked her invading hands away, the force of his hit sending a sting through her fingers. He stepped back fully this time, glaring at her from beneath the towel now half draped over his head.
Blue eyes flared in surprise, her hands instinctively curling back to her chest as Levi yanked the towel off his head.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" He barked, throwing the towel to the ground between them. "Don't fucking touch me."
Amelia lowered her arms, the sting of his blow lingering in her palms as she unfurled her fingers. She stared down at her hands, gently curling and uncurling her fingers, a dull ache blooming between them.
Why did I do that?
"I'm sorry," she apologized. Her brows scrunched together as she gazed down at her hands, eyes wide. "I didn't mean to do that to be honest."
Levi set her with a heated glare. He reached for the buckets, hoisting them up before he strode towards the main quarters with quick steps.
Amelia dropped her arms to her sides.
Her gaze fell to the towel lying abandoned in the dirt, its corners already damp from the ground. She crouched down, picking it up before carefully folding it, smoothing her hands over the muddied fabric. Her eyes drifted to the nearby wooden box where a familiar tan jacket had been left behind.
She draped the towel neatly over the side of the crate, sparing the jacket another glance before walking towards the building. She fiddled with the folded sleeves of her shirt, smoothing them down to her wrists again as she made her way forward.
A wet squelch hit her ears.
Amelia paused, frowning as she glanced fingers pinched the sides of her dress, lifting the fabric up slightly. Her steps had sunk into the damp grass, her soles pressing into churned mud. Water clung to the edges of her shoes, seeping into the fabric where it met the leather.
She dropped the dress back to her proper length and stared at the trail of messy footprints left behind in the mud.
The scent of burning wood lingered in the air when he pushed open the door, his fingers tightening on the latch as he stepped inside the staff room.
The fire crackled in the hearth. The two brats sat huddled beside it, books and notes muddled around them when Theodore peeked back at him through loose strands of brown hair. Simon refrained from moving, fully immersed in the book clasped between his hands.
Levi let the door swing shut behind him.
He found Amelia sitting cross legged on the floor near them. Her eyes flitted to him only briefly before she turned a page, attention returning to the book set between her and Theodore.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets, changed into fresh clothes. The folded newspaper tucked under his arm rustled faintly as he strode towards them, his expressions schooled into coolness. At least he had cleaned up the place early that morning. No way was he going to sit on a dirty floor—
"You can sit at the table."
He halted midway, staring down at her.
Amelia licked the pad of her finger and turned a page, not bothering to even glance at him.
"I'll be there in a minute," she murmured, flipping another page. "Until then, rewrite the sentences I wrote."
Levi stood still for a moment before he veered towards the table instead. He dragged out a chair, the wood creaking under his weight as he scanned the mess of parchments and old books spread across the wood.
He noted a familiar piece of parchment. His name littered the page in various scripts from their previous session, his own jagged handwriting clearly visible in between the neat font. His brow furrowed slightly. She hadn't thrown it away.
He had changed into fresh clothes before coming in, drying off the damp from earlier. The crate and buckets had been put away in case someone went looking for them again.
His quiet gaze drifted back towards the brats huddled by the fire.
For once, they were decently dressed. The two looked cleaner than usual, and thankfully weren't dragging the stench of horseshit in with them. But their bare feet stretched toward the heat, bits of grass and dried mud clinging stubbornly to their soles. Levi frowned at the sight.
He mentally calculated when his next paycheck would come in—
An abrupt scratch burned at the back of his throat.
He pressed his lips together, swallowing against the itch. A cough threatened to break loose from his mouth, and he touched the column of his throat, mildly irritated.
The itch persisted. He cleared his throat once, then twice, firmly thumping his chest in an attempt to push the sensation away.
Levi reached forward, plucking a quill from the ink pot. He held it there, letting the excess ink drip back into the inkwell before bringing the tip over to the parchment. He began tracing over the sentences.
Behind him, Simon flipped through another page and Theodore's voice wavered as he read aloud.
"There… is… a… ca-canary—"
"A canary's a bird," Amelia cut in patiently, "like the one drawn in the picture."
"S-singing on the… tree."
He heard the smile in her voice. "Good job."
Levi adjusted his grip on the quill, rolling it between his fingers before mimicking the hold he'd been taught.
He traced the words again, copying them carefully beneath the space over and over again in an attempt to mirror the style written in the original. The ink bled into the parchment in neat, dark lines as he wrote steadily, some words still wavering beneath his grip.
He was finishing the last stroke when he heard her move, the quiet shuffle of her feet before she rose from the floor.
Levi kept his gaze on the parchment, only glancing sideways as she lowered herself into the seat beside him.
"Let me see."
Amelia reached for the parchment, tugging it closer. Her eyes scanned over his work contemplatively before she nodded. "Looks better than what your past reports."
"So this is how it's gonna be?" Levi asked flatly, dropping his quill back into the inkwell. "I just keep writing over your shitty words?"
"I'll be quizzing you on basic grammar as well," Amelia said, reaching for a book on the table. She slid it toward him with a gentle push. "The more you read, the better your grammar and spelling will get."
Levi frowned at the dull cover before he tilted it slightly to read the title.Basic grammar and short stories."Is this the same crap the brats are reading?"
"They're reading material more fitting for their age," Amelia answered, arching a brow. "Unless you want to read about the itsy bitsy spider too."
Levi narrowed his eyes, unimpressed
She blinked back at him, surprised. "You've never heard of that poem?"
"No," he muttered, flipping the book open without interest. "Sounds like a shit poem anyway."
"My students love it."
He shot her a look of sheer amusement. "Grown ass men read that?"
"I'm a school teacher as well," Amelia said, glancing back at the hearth where the boys were still hunched over their work. "That's where I got the books for them too."
Levi followed her gaze.
Theodore pressed a finger down on the open book in Simon's hands. The taller boy squinted at the text, lips moving soundlessly as he tried to piece the words shifted slightly, and he looked back at her, catching the small smile curling her lips. "I'm sure they're very happy that you bought them new clothes."
His brow furrowed in irritation.
"They're not new," Levi groused, clamping the book shut. "I told you, I found them in the lost and found—"
The itch in his throat flared up again.
His jaw clenched, and he shut his mouth quickly, swallowing down saliva to wet his suddenly dry throat. Amelia watched him carefully from the side and he scowled.
"Just write the damn sentences." He shoved the parchment towards her. "I don't have all day."
Her silent stare remained on him, seemingly picking him apart with her calculating eyes. The weight of it made his fingers twitch against the table, his spine growing rigid as he met her watchful gaze with an annoyed scowl.
She finally looked away, taking the quill into her hand.
Her gaze flickered to the newspaper he had set aside as she deftly wrote a few more sentences in swift strokes.
"Was it easy reading the whole thing?" She asked.
Levi rolled his shoulders, draping his arm over the chairs' backrest.
He wasn't much for reading to begin with. Books, newspapers, and parchment in general had never really been part of his world. The Underground didn't have the luxury of print. Information passed through whatever crap was told by the MPs, always distorted by the time it reached the ears of those below.
Furlan had been the one with the patience for reading, picking apart whatever scraps of knowledge he could find and then hammering it into Isabel's thick skull despite her whinings. Levi had always been more about action and work.
"Yeah," he leaned back in his seat. "I underlined the crap I didn't get."
Amelia hummed in acknowledgment, taking the newspaper into her hands. The brass pen she'd brought today glinted in the firelight as she plucked it from behind her ear, blue eyes flickering down to the newspaper before her.
Levi resumed copying the words she'd written.
He ended up glancing at her from the corner of his eyes, silently gauging her reaction to the words he'd underlined in the articles. Were they actually difficult? Or was it just him who couldn't understand them?
His expressions flattened when he realized she wasn't reading.
Her gaze seemed stuck. The capped tip of her pen hovered over the page, unmoving. There was a distant look in her eyes as she stared down at the parchment, her gaze not following the lines of text at all.
Levi recognized the expression immediately.
It was the kind of vacant, unguarded look that left a person vulnerable, too lost in their own thoughts to notice the world around them. She sat still beside him, her eyes fixed on the parchment but never drifting along the brow creased.
He figured she was thinking about something. Her blank stare locked onto the parchment, but clearly lost somewhere entirely. She seemed lost in thought, reliving a shitty memory for all he cared.
That kind of thing would get her killed in the Underground.
Levi had seen it before. People drifting off mid thought, their minds wandering when they should've been watching their backs. They never lasted long. Getting stuck in their own heads was what got a knife stabbed in their gut.
This wasn't the first time he'd caught her like this.
Her eyes had held a similar distant look when she was drying Theodore's hair. Her face had been carefully blank, her eyes distant as she stared off into empty space, her hands incessantly rubbing the towel into the boy's hair despite his growing discomfort.
The corner of Levi's lip twitched slightly, amusement flickering across his face. He lifted his hand, fingers stretching lazily in the air.
His palm smacked against the wooden table with a loudcrack.
The wood rattled noisily, sending a tremor through the inkwell while the candle flame briefly jolted in her seat, the newspaper crumpling in her grip.
Levi watched boredly as her gaze snapped towards him, alert. He leaned an elbow on the table, languidly twirling the quill between his bony fingers.
"I've got better things to do." His eyes pointedly flicked to the newspaper clutched in her tight grip, the parchment wrinkling beneath her tense hold. "So hurry it up."
Amelia's fingers loosened around the paper.
A frown curled her lips, and she straightened the newspaper in her hands, quietly looking down at the printed charcoal words.
"Sorry," she muttered.
He watched as she lifted the brass pen to her lips, uncapping it with her teeth before her eyes scanned over the underlined words.
"If you're gonna doze off again," he said dryly, dipping the quill into the pot and flicking off the excess ink. "At least make it quick."
He focused on his own work, ignoring the huff of breath from her side as the tip of her pen scratched against the parchment.
The bed felt too big tonight.
Her father had asked if she wanted to sleep with them and she had nodded immediately. She always liked sleeping in her parents' bed more. The steady rise and fall of their breaths always lulled her to sleep faster than the lonely space of her own room ever could. But tonight something felt missing.
Her mother's absence was a hollow space at her back.
She had eaten the bread given to her by the nurse the moment they'd come home, chewing absentmindedly as the baby was taken to be fed in another room. Her father had only stood at their doorstep, grimly handing payment to the funeral holders outside.
She lay curled on her side, her father a distant shape on the other side of the mattress, his back to them. The baby rested between them, breathing softly.
"Such a good kid," the nurse had smiled at the child earlier, a hint of amusement in her voice as she tucked the blanket around him. "Most babies this young cry so loud you'd think they're trying to tear your ears off."
She wondered if she had been good like that when she was born. If she had stayed quiet, and made things easier for her parents, if they had loved her for it as well.
The room was silent except for the crackling of the dying fire in the hearth.
A soft sniffle reached her ears.
She blinked slowly, staring at the far wall where her father lay turned away. He shifted restlessly, the blankets rustling as he tried to steady his breaths.
He was crying again.
She stayed silent, listening to his faint sobs as she contemplated about saying something. Maybe she was supposed to reach for him, the way her mother might have.
The bed dipped as her father rose.
She remained still as his footsteps padded softly across the carpeted door creaked faintly once he reached it, trudging barefoot in the living room before she heard the lock of his study.
She inched closer to her brother, the baby's small body warm beneath their shared blanket. She tugged the pillow further under her head, staring down at sliver of moonlight spilling in through the window casted a pale glow over him, offering her a moment to fully take him in for once. She thoughtfully noted the tuft of blond hair on his head, the delicate curve of his long, golden lashes against his round cheeks.
He was so small.
She considered poking his face, wanting to see his familiar blue eyes flutter open— the shade of them reminding her of their mother.
We both look like her, she peered down at him, thoughtful. I bet that makes papa happy.
Warmth bloomed in her chest.
Her head dipped down slightly, and she pressed a soft kiss to his round cheek. His skin was warm and plush beneath her lips, untouched by the chill gradually creeping in the room. She curled around him, reaching out with her arm and tucking him under her chin, his small body snug against her chest.
Familiar warmth seeped into her, and her eyelids slid shut, the vacant cold at her back slowly fading into nothing.
By the time she finished reviewing their lessons, the sun had dipped below the horizon and dinner was being served in the mess hall. Simon and Theodore gathered the books brought for them. They had promised to keep the covers clean since she needed to return them to the school later.
Levi had received another newspaper. He watched patiently as she carefully reviewed his fresh sentences.
He was learning faster than she had expected.
The strokes of his letters almost mirrored hers this time. There were a few smudges of ink where his hand had dragged, but it was still a surprising improvement.
"You can keep this," she had said, nudging the old parchment towards him, his name scattered across the page in different strokes of her quill. Levi glanced at her, one ankle propped over his knee as she added with an amiable smile. "You can look at it one day and see how far you've come."
He muttered something dismissively, not bothering to take the parchment. She left it there anyway.
Simon and Theodore had already begun putting out the fire. They stacked together their books and tucked away their notes, scrambling to pick up the discarded parchments on the floor.
Amelia stood from the table, flipping open the pocket watch in her hands and glanced down at the time.
It wouldn't be easy finding a carriage this late.
She gathered the remaining parchments in her arms, cradling them to her chest as she waited for the children to finish packing up. She followed them out, the door creaking softly when Simon pulled it shut with a firm tug, sealing away the reluctant gray eyes that had watched them leave.
"Thanks, miss!" Theodore chirped, a skip in his step.
His brown curls tumbled messily over his forehead, strands falling unevenly over his cheeks. His bare feet slapped softly against the floor as he grinned up at her. "I'll try 'ta read the whole book this time!"
"I can read it faster than ya," Simon frowned, clutching his own books tightly to his chest. His face looked cleaner, the usual smudges of dirt missing for once. "Ya can never read as fast as me, Theo."
Amelia walked between them, glancing down at the clothes they wore. The fabric hung a little loosely on them, the folded sleeves hanging past their wrists and the hem of their rolled pants brushing their ankles. They would grow into them soon enough.
She wondered how much of his paycheck had gone into them.
"I know," Theodore smiled warmly. "Yer good at everythin' ya do, Simon."
Simon huffed.
Amelia stifled her amused laughter, smiling knowingly when he shot her a quick glare.
"I'll see you both tomorrow."
Theodore waved enthusiastically, his small frame disappearing around the corner with a bounce in his step. Simon trailed after him, hands in his pockets as he glanced back at the hallway they had come from.
Amelia adjusted the parchments in her grip before turning towards the opposite hallway.
She took a few steps and stopped abruptly.
Her fingers pressed into the notes, her grip momentarily tightening as she mulled over a thought before she changed her hallway stretched ahead of her, brightly lit by lantern sconces flickering along the walls. Multiple office doors lined the corridor and she found herself standing before a familiar weighed the action in her head first, if it was fitting to visit him this late and unannounced. He hadn't called for her, after all.
She glanced around the hallway, finding no one there but her own shadow stretching across the stone floors.
Her mind churned with excuses.
He'd like to hear how the lessons are going,she reasoned as she pressed her back against the door, easily nudging it open with her elbow. I'll just be in and out—
Amelia caught herself seconds before stumbling over the threshold again.
This time there were no arms swooping her up, no hands snatching away her notes. She had half expected Hange to be there, grinning as she yanked her inside with Moblit hovering nearby, already sorting through whatever she had brought with her.
There was only silence.
She nudged the door open a little further with her boot, stepping inside completely.
"Er—"
Amelia paused, standing there as the door creaked open more.
The office was bathed in the soft glow of the hearth. Warm firelight flickered along the wood panelled walls, the room empty except for the lone figure slumped over the desk.
Amelia stepped forward silently, the carpet muffled beneath her careful steps. She nudged the door nearly shut behind her, moving deeper into the room.
His arm stretched along the surface of the desk, his cheek resting against the scattered mess of paperwork spread haphazardly over the wood. Loose pages shifted slightly with each quiet breath he took.
For a moment, she only watched him with startled eyes.
Her gaze dropped to his hand, the quill resting loosely between his fingers. It had been a while since she had last seen it up close, allowing her to notice the absence of the bandages once wounded tightly around his large palm.
His hand had finally healed.
She wanted to ease his fingers open, turn up his palm upward and see if the blade had left the scar there or not.
It reminded her of when he used to return home during the holidays, his body marked with fresh scars and bruises from training and expeditions. The fire in his eyes burned brighter each time, his features growing more resolute. The baby fat had faded before she'd even realized it was gone, replaced by the sharpness of his cheekbones and the tight clench of his jaw.
Amelia shifted the stack of parchments in her arms before placing them down onto one of the sofas. She neared his chair and leaned closer, her gaze tracing the relaxed slope of his posture as he breathed gently.
Her long, blonde braid nearly slipped over her shoulder, and she deftly tucked it over her back, gazing down at him thoughtfully.
She contemplated poking his cheek.
He would wake up startled, blinking at her with those familiar pale blue eyes.
Her heart nestled within her chest as she straightened up, noticing how his uniform jacket had been tossed carelessly over the head of his leather chair. Amelia took the jacket into her hands, her eyes straying over the carefully threaded insignia of wings stitched onto its breast pocket.
She touched it with her fingers.
Her mind quietly drifted back to the snapping pain of the earth colliding with her skull, the way her feet had swung helplessly off the ground, and how the air was abruptly knocked from her lungs—
She blinked quickly, catching herself toying with the small gold studs fixed in her earlobes.
Amelia tugged the jacket wide open and gently draped it over the curve of his back. The heavy fabric settled around his shoulders, covering him fully.
She reached for the quill next, plucking it from his relaxed fingers and dipping it back into the brass inkwell.
Her gaze flickered to the far corner of the room.
A stand loomed there, draped with maps. Points littered their surfaces in strategies, routes, and places marked with deft took one look at it before her eyes dipped down again, and she reached forward, the fingers of her right hand nearly grazing up his soft blond hair with frayed, splitting ends.
Amelia halted, fingers curling into a loose fist.
She shifted away and gathered the parchments from the sofa, tucking them back into her arms. Her silent steps moved for the door, nudging it open far enough to slip through before she quietly tugged the door shut behind her.
.
.
.
.
.
Click.
The soft latch of the door settled back into place.
He cracked his eyes open the moment it shut.
His gaze lingered briefly on the door as he straightened, pushing himself upright in the chair. His fingers brushed over the fabric draped around his shoulders before he slid his arms through the sleeves, smoothing the front down with his hands.
He pulled the quill from the inkpot once more.
Pale blue eyes flickered to the pinboard across the room. Maps stretched across its surface, pinned in careful order, marked with points and locations according to the strategies he had played out in his mind a hundred times over.
He turned the quill in his hand, the feathers rustling softly around his long fingers before he pressed it against the parchment.
The clean stroke of his signature sealed the page.
author's note: hope you enjoyed the chapter! There might be some typos that id be coming back to fix soon. this chapter got hella long idk how tbh but I hope you guys liked it tho! also thinking of adding a slow burn tag bc i personally think Levi would take some time to actually get used to the ppl around him, Amelia included but I'm not really sure if that count as slow burn or not ;w;