p class="Standard" style="line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It didn't take long for Reiner to drift off while I did the dishes./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hey kid!", my call remained unanswered and eventually, I walked over to check on him. "Reiner, hey, wake up."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He shifted to the other side with a grunt at first but after gently shaking him, he rolled over, rubbing his eyes./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm? What's the matter, mam?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Nothing. You'll hurt your back if you sleep here. Go to bed, I'll finish up."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Really? Thanks...", he mumbled, getting up very slowly and stumbling toward one of the bedrooms./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The task he left unfinished was that of checking his 3-D gear and thoroughly cleaning it, which I finished rather quickly, leaning back against the couch and closing my eyes. A headache was creeping its way into existence so my fingers lightly pressed my temples and moved in slow circles. The captain hadn't eaten much at dinner but so far he hadn't felt sick so maybe he was getting better. The thought of seeing him hunched over near the wall... it gave me shivers and I sat up straight thinking about what else could be done before I went to bed as well./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Could I even go to bed? Was it safe? With Reiner feeling so tired and Levi sick, could I afford to relax as well? A small creak startled me at this point, and every muscle in my body froze, trying to hear what it was./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"No further sound came and a deep breath of relief left my chest. After this, I checked every window and door, to make sure everything was locked down tightly. I was feeling on edge, afraid that at any given moment, a threat too great for me to repel would appear out of nowhere and I'd be unable to do anything to stop it. How I wanted to go for a walk outside, just disappear for a moment in the darkness that filled the streets at this hour, but leaving Reiner and Levi unattended was impossible. Maybe a smoke would help relieve the stress so I searched for the pack but couldn't find it anywhere./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Defeated, I slumped down on the couch again before deciding to check on the captain since I hadn't been in his room much ever since the afternoon./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He was sleeping soundly, something very rare for anyone to see, as it was rumored that Levi hardly ever slept. His face had a stiff expression to it, a dip between the brows hardening his features. The closer I got to his bed, the faster I could feel my heart thumping its way out of my chest, every fiber of my being wanting to move back but there wasn't really a choice this time. With a hand, I took my temperature and with the other his and was glad to feel that his fever had gone down./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Shouldn't you be sleeping, lieutenant?...", a low and raspy voice questioned, startling me./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir? Levi? I'm just checking to see if your fever has gone down.", despite him not complaining about it, my hand darted off him immediately./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You shouldn't stand so close... this could be contagious."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""It's not.", I managed to answer, feeling my hand burning and struggling to suppress the urge to wash it while he was talking. "If it was, Reiner and I would have symptoms by now."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm.. fine.", his eyes turned to me, blinking tiredly. The bandages that wrapped around his forehead were beginning to turn dark, from the sweat of the fever mixed with the cold water from the towels used to lower the captain's fever. Seeing him like this, I couldn't help but want to keep an eye on him, no matter if I had to sit on the farthest corner of the room. But he'd probably order me to leave anyway. I returned from my thoughts to find the captain's eyes closed again and his chest rising and falling calmly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Goodnight, Levi.", I whispered before leaving the door half open, in case he needed to call out for us during the night. I washed my hands in the kitchen, unable to shake the feeling of a disease film over them./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"No matter how much I tried to persuade my mind to rest easy, there was this nagging feeling, a thorn pricking the back of my neck that made it impossible to even try and go sleep. At least not that night yet. Therefore, the only reasonable solution was to keep guard while both of them slept./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I sat near the only entrance to the house with the lights off and holding the largest knife the kitchen had. If anyone tried to take us by surprise, they'd have to go through me first./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Mam?... Mam...", a male voice grew increasingly louder as my senses came back to me. Reiner was pressing my shoulder lightly, trying to wake me up./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, Reiner... What?", I asked, rubbing my eyes and realizing I was still sitting on the chair of the previous night, minus the knife and for some reason my neck hurt horribly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Did you sleep here? Oh, by the way, I made breakfast for us already, it's on the table."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Thank you, Braun. Yes, I slept here. Did you check on the captain this morning?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, he insisted on taking a bath. He should be done with the food I brought him by now."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Good, it's great that he's feeling better. You can rest for a while now, Sheila and Amy will probably come see us today again. I'm going to check how the captain is now.", he nodded and as I stood up and passed through the table, the knife from the night before was placed there, near a plate with some bread. I entered the captain's room while eating the small piece of loaf./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Levi had clean bandages on and was finishing some fruit when he turned his gaze to me. He looked so much better already than the previous day, but still had his complexion a bit too pale and the dark circles under his eyes were much more noticeable than usual./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Braun told me you slept in front of the door. That true?", he asked, turning to the plate again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, sir. I... couldn't rest, thinking someone could come in while we slept."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I see... Next time have the kid do rounds with you, if you're that worried. You fell asleep anyway didn't you?", he had a point.../span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I understand. How are you feeling today?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm good. We should leave soon."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We can't. Not until you're well."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I said I'm fine, lieutenant. I'm thinking about leaving tomorrow. Think your friends can help us out with our things?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir, we won't leave until I'm sure that you're well enough to travel. It would be reckless to go out on a two day ride with someone half sick."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Do I need to remind you of who's in charge here?", he sighed. But he wasn't right. He said he was fine that time before and he wasn't, what if we encountered some thugs again? What would we do, with an under performing Levi?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir, I don't mean to question the chain of command. All I want is to make sure we return safely. Just two or three more days is enough."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Two. No more. Here, I'm done.", he passed the plate and I took it to take it to the kitchen./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""How is your temperature?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""It's fine. Now leave me alone.", his voice had a slight tone that was unusual in the captain. Maybe he wasn't as well as he wanted us to believe./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Very well. If you need something, just call out for Reiner. I'll be stepping out to run some errands.", he didn't answer and so, I closed the door behind me. After doing the dishes and helping prepare lunch, I left for the Military Police's main building to find Sheila and Amy./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Martha!", Sheila yelled in the middle of the courtyard, nearly running for a hug. "We went there yesterday but Reiner told us you were out."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yeah, I had some things to take care of."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Like what?", Amy raised an eyebrow. "It's not like you know a ton of people here..."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm helping a lady with her bookshop, ok?", the response was a long 'ohhh' from both of them./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You always had a soft spot for books.", Sheila nodded. "And how is Mr. Ackerman?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So, Reiner told you about him?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Not much, he said he was sick. What happened?", Amy questioned. "Do you want to sit down? We can chat in a more private place."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""No need for that, I can't take too long here. Basically, the captain is sick with a fever and some stomach problems but he's doing fine. In fact, it's because of that that I'm here. He wants to leave in two days."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Already?", Shei was surprised. "How can he be fully recovered in such a short amount of time?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Captain Levi is a strong man. But yes, I also think it's rather suspicious that he's doing so well so quickly. Anyway, I came to ask if you girls can get us set for leaving in that short amount of time."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Of course, don't worry about anything, dear.", Amy smiled. "I'm sorry to see you go so soon, you really should come visit us more often."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know, I know... I'm sorry. Things are just complicated out there. But I'm glad to see you doing so well here. Nearly top tier officials!", I chuckled, remembering Sheila announcing this exact fact a few years back./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""It wasn't even that hard, to be completely honest.", Shei stated. "You could still switch to the Police, if the outdoors life becomes too much for you, you know?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""And request another branch change? No thanks. Besides, your commander Dok hates my guts. He keeps insulting me whenever I attend meetings with the commanders. I mean, it's been five years, can't he give it a rest already...?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yeah, Nile's pretty much a bully around here. Rumor has it that him and your commander Erwin competed years for the same girl and Erwin ended up getting her.", Sheila whispered with a slight smile./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""That's a petty reason to hate a whole branch, Shei..."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hey, I'm just telling you what I heard..."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Well, the old lady is probably waiting for me at the shop so, better not leave her hanging. Thank you so much for all your help girls." I pulled them in for a tight hug./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You're welcome, Martha. But hey, don't just come here when you need something. Next time, let's catch up for real, okay?", Amy requested as the hug faded./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I promise I'll come here when I have some time off.", as I was leaving, Sheila nearly yelled./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So, we'll see you in five years again, right?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""As if!", I yelled back, smiling. These girls never failed to cheer me up./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"As expected, the old lady was waiting for me to continue the task of helping her rebuild the shop. The work went smoothly and after a couple of hours, it looked completely different./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Thank you so much, deary.", she smiled./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Oh, it wasn't a big deal...", it really wasn't, there wasn't anything too difficult to do in there, aside from setting up the shelves again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Well, I'll honor my end of the agreement then...", she walked slowly toward one of the shelves and pulled out a book. "This is the one you wanted, right?" It was a copy of the book the captain had in his room, 'Icarus'./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, it was. Thank you so much."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Thank you. The shop was a mess before you came in and now look at it. It's dazzling."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm glad I could help. If there is anything else I could help you with...-"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Oh, no. You already did enough."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Then, I'll be going. It was a pleasure to meet you."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You too, have a lovely evening."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Entering the house, I stored the book inside one of the bags so that neither the captain nor Reiner asked questions about it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Martha, you're finally back. Where have you been?", a calm voice inquired from behind me./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Oh, sir, you're up!", his voice nearly made me jump, and I turned to face him. "How are you feeling?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Fine. Where were you?", he isn't going to let this slide, is he.../span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I went to meet Sheila and Amy to discuss our departure, sir."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sure took you a long time to discuss that."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I apologize, captain. I lost track of time while talking to them."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Eh, whatever. Go help Braun cook dinner."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Certainly.", well, at least, I got off lightly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The evening went quietly, and the hour grew late. Reiner was released from kitchen duty and I cleared the table and did the dishes, while the captain brewed some tea for himself./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You should go rest, sir. It's getting late."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I've rested enough.", the tone suggested that he really wasn't in the mood for nagging. I waited a while before speaking again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I apologize... I didn't mean to try and order you, sir. I'm just finishing up here. If you need anything, I'll be in my room, if you'll excuse me.", the captain didn't reply, instead just taking another sip of tea as I left./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It was time to change the old bandages and use some of the ointment there was left to treat the still mildly purple bruises that covered my body. While I was still sore and moving hurt a bit, I'd almost perfected the quantity of Hange's medicine needed to make the pain manageable for most of the day, so I wasn't bound to the bed, writhing with it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Eren's bite was healing nicely, considering the circumstances, along with the other accumulated injuries from the last month. Upon closer inspection, even the slight indentations of the captain's teeth in my neck and shoulders were already fading out, which was a relief. I certainly didn't want to have to explain that to the commander./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It wasn't exactly early at this point, but I also wasn't feeling tired enough to try to sleep so, sitting on the bed, I started flipping the pages of 'Icarus'. The story was clearly for children, with colorful illustrations on every page as the heroes of the story Icarus and Daedalus tried to work their way to freedom. Maybe he used to read the story as a kid... or maybe someone read it to him... The captain didn't really seem like the type to have emotional attachments to things but maybe this was the exception?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"After another hour of rereading the book and staring at the ceiling, I realized I hadn't checked to see if everything was properly sealed, so I sprung up and left the room./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What are you still doing up?", the captain's dragged voice came from the sofa./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I was going to make sure everything was locked down properly. I didn't mean to bother you.", he was laying down, feet up on the armrest, while his eyes were closed. The windows in the kitchen were all closed and firmly locked. The captain remained silent while I paced around back and forth, checking even the ones in his room and Reiner's. After all was done, I sat at the table, picking up a small piece of bread and began eating it slowly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You want something?", the captain asked./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""No, sir."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Then go sleep. It's late and you've been out all day."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm not tired, sir. I think I'll stay here a bit longer, if you don't mind me.", he groaned, not moving and for a while there was only silence in the room./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""When did your fear of sickness start?", he suddenly asked./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir?", not only did the captain's voice startled me at first, but the question itself was rather... personal./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Does Erwin know?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hum... I don't think so... but it's really nothing serious, sir. It doesn't stop me from performing my duties properly."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So, if one of ours started coughing up blood during a mission, you'd help?", those words created a knot in my throat. Of course, I would want to help... but, I'm certain I wouldn't be able to./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""As much as possible."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What a load of shit. You couldn't even be in the same room as me and all I had was food poisoning."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Why are you asking this now, captain? It was the first time something like this happened to me, it won't happen again."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm trying to decide whether or not you're a nuisance in my team or not.", fuck, that stung. After these past couple of weeks, where I had done nothing emother/em than help the captain and put my life on the line for him... he was considering me a nuisance for this?!/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm... I see.", it was hard trying to contain the bubbling anger that welled up in me as soon as he said that. "I'm going outside for a bit, it's rather stuffy in here."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where are you going to?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Just the outside of the house, sir. No need to worry.", before he could say anything else, I'd already stormed off but not before picking the last cigarette there was inside my bag and a match without him noticing. Hell, let him notice it, maybe then he can decide how much of a nuisance I am./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Sitting on the step just outside the door, I struck the match and was mesmerized for a second by the swaying fire. The first puff of smoke brought a sense of relief, maybe I wasn't over this habit as I thought I was, and my head fell to my hand, resting over the knees. Would I ever be able to overcome that extreme repulsion...? In five years, there was never a situation where I had to be confronted with it but feeling it again now... It was just... maybe Hange had something for it. Should I even ask her about it? The captain's words were still there and if he thought I wasn't suited for his team for it... what would Erwin say?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Leaning back against the door, my eyes closed and the muted conversations of people on the street were the only sounds I could hear./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Reiner's POV/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"After the lieutenant came to my room to check the windows, I heard a quiet thudding against the glass./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Reiner...", someone called from the outside. From the voice I knew who it was. Getting up slowly to not make any sound, I walked toward the pane./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Annie? What are you doing here?", she looked breathless./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""The plan-", she panted, "it's a no go. The other one isn't ready. How bad are they?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Levi is pretty beaten up but getting better. Martha acts like she's fine but I think I could take her on if needed."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Ah shit, that's not good enough. We don't have the upper hand here. Plus, her friends know me and know that I know you so... Too risky."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""If that man hadn't showed up down there...-"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yeah, I know. But he did and now we're here. Did you see her?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""The woman? Yeah. She did quite a number on a prisoner we caught. They know who she is already."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So soon? I thought I told her to be careful...", Annie's jaw locked and she looked around, alert. "Either way, when are you going back?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I heard talk about it. I think it's in a couple of days. What then?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We'll have to wait. Until Ray gets out of the Underground, our hands are tied."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Understood. Good to see you finally decided to meet me. Do you know how many hours of punishment I'm going to be subjected to when I get back?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Don't complain, I can't just leave my post whenever I want. The people there are already suspicious of each other as is."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Still, you owe me. Big time. I can't believe that Ray lady missed such an opportunity like this. Wasn't she supposed to be one of the best assassins down there?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Allegedly.", Annie stated. "I'll tell you more about this when you get back to the Corps' headquarters. I have to leave now."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Fine. I'll see you there."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Reader – POV –/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"How long had I been outside? The moon had shifted position, and the cigarette had gone out a while ago. No doubt my thoughts were less agitated, and the tiredness of the day was starting to settle in. Entering the house, the sofa was empty. The captain had probably gone to bed already and had left me to myself outside./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I locked the door behind me and sat on the sofa, the scent of Levi still present. I wanted to say it didn't make any difference, that I didn't care much for it. But I couldn't, it smelled good and my mind wandered for a moment before I stopped it. Knowing the captain wasn't as defenseless as yesterday was such a relief./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Now, if anyone tried to enter the house, it wouldn't just be me to try and fend them off. I just wanted to go back to HQ and forget about this trip. Erwin was probably wondering where we were by now, since we were behind schedule by a day or two. Eventually, I fell asleep./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The following day had no events of significant importance and so, after Sheila and Amy payed us a visit to talk about the day of our departure, we arranged our things neatly on the main room where the sofa was and went to sleep early. The captain and I barely spoke after what he said about the team so after dinner, I merely asked if he needed help with anything and excused myself, leaving for my bedroom./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Did he really want to quick me out for that? When had it started…? He asked me that the day before, but I couldn't really remember when... it felt like it was always there. Would he report it to Erwin? Should I report it when we return? I could imagine what Levi would say in his crude handwriting 'Unable to care for ill superior; left said superior alone with a cadet, etc etc'. I did leave him with Reiner... How come the captain didn't mention that fact? It could've been dangerous... Ugh, I'm so done when we get back, but I can't stand another day in this place./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I spent a blank night and finally it was morning and time to go back. Amy and Sheila came to see us off, the captain thanking them for the help, but they shrugged it off, joking that I owed them instead. After a tight hug, we parted ways and our trio was on the move through the main road and back to headquarters./span /p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"We galloped in silence, eager to return and leave that place behind. The captain appeared to be well even while carrying a grave expression and Reiner lightly hummed some foreign tune. On the outskirts of the castle, we could already hear the hissing of 3-D gear cables above us, probably the guards checking to see who it was./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Petra and Eld greeted us as soon as the horses set foot on the courtyard, nearly running to question Levi about our whereabouts. I wanted nothing more than to crawl into my bed and sleep for a long while but knew it to be impossible. There were many matters that needed to be addressed regarding the trip and Erwin certainly would want to talk to us./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"We unsaddled the horses and headed straight to the commander's office, us higher officials taking a seat at his desk./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So?", he simply asked, hands crossed over a pile of opened letters. He seemed drained, with his eyes a bit more sunken in than last we'd seen him./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We got this.", Levi placed a bag with all the money we'd been able to gather, from the amount stolen to the outlaws to the amount we robbed from his uncle. Slowly, the commander opened the bag and looked at it for a few seconds before closing it again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I want a full written report of the mission on my desk by tomorrow. I hope you also have a good reason to explain why you're late. I also don't think I need to remind you that it is a classified mission which you are not to discuss with anyone aside from me and inside this room. Are we clear?", I wasn't sure whether or not to answer right away but the air around us felt so tense that I thought it best to keep quiet. We merely nodded in agreement and Erwin dismissed us immediately after. As the door closed behind us, a loud sigh came from within. What happened?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I knew the money wasn't too much, but it was a fair amount... How bad were the Corps' finances at the moment?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So Martha, did you try out the things I gave you?", Hange questioned as we met in the hallway./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Actually yes, I did. You really need to start giving instructions, though."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What happened? Ohhh were there any side effects? Come on! Tell me everything!", I wanted to have a chat with Petra first but was nearly dragged into Hange's office to give a full account of the effects of her new inventions./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"This supposed 'quick chat' turned into a full body examination, after which I felt like I needed a shower from all her touching and probing. I suggested she dragged in Reiner and Levi as well, since they had also sustained injuries that weren't treated seriously due to the circumstances. Something I wished she hadn't noticed however, were the bite marks still lingering in my neck area and she told me she didn't take me for a type of mixing busyness with pleasure, adding after that she really had no such interest in things of the sort. Of course, she lives only for the titans./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"About four hours later, I finally managed to flee her office and crawl into my own room, heating up some water for a well-deserved bath. Afterwards, I'd have to completely focus on writing the report for Erwin if I had any hope for a quiet night of sleep. But somehow it seemed like everyone suddenly wanted something so, as someone knocked on the room door for the third time, there was no choice but to wrap myself in a towel and hurry to answer it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What is it?", I asked, leaning in to it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Lieutenant it's me, I believe you have some of my belongings mixed in your bag.", it was the captain's voice./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Wait a minute please.", not like I could open the door in that predicament. Well, I could but I chose not to; he's the captain after all. After throwing on some clean clothes, I opened the door for him, to see his head patched minimally with some weird bandage sticky looking thing. "Hange got you too, sir?", I tried to lighten his expression a bit, but he didn't seem to enjoy the joke very much./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""She told me you asked her to see me.", he darted, turning his back to me. "But at least she is a competent doctor."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm... what did you misplace, sir?", I questioned, before he touched the bag./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""A small pocket knife.", weird. I don't remember even seeing any such item down there. Before he could extend his hand to reach it, I interrupted again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Let me search for you."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I can do it, don't worry.", he was never pushy, something was up. That bag... it had the 'Icarus' book... Oh no, had he seen it? What would he say? He absolutely must not see it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir, I'm pretty sure I didn't pack a pocket knife. Are you certain it's in my bag? Have you checked Reiner's?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I believe so. Is there anything I can't see in there? Let's just get this over with-", before he could open it, Oluo came to the door to ask him to go check something. This was the perfect opportunity to shove my hand inside the bag and search for the clearly made up pocket knife./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""There's nothing here, sir. But you're free to come look for it after you're done. I'll let you know if I find anything.", I assured him and almost sighed of relief as he was leaving before he stopped and stared at me./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know you lied a couple of days ago. You best not do it again, Martha.", his words sent a chill down my spine and he closed the door behind himself, leaving me to my thoughts./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hey kid!", my call remained unanswered and eventually, I walked over to check on him. "Reiner, hey, wake up."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He shifted to the other side with a grunt at first but after gently shaking him, he rolled over, rubbing his eyes./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm? What's the matter, mam?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Nothing. You'll hurt your back if you sleep here. Go to bed, I'll finish up."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Really? Thanks...", he mumbled, getting up very slowly and stumbling toward one of the bedrooms./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The task he left unfinished was that of checking his 3-D gear and thoroughly cleaning it, which I finished rather quickly, leaning back against the couch and closing my eyes. A headache was creeping its way into existence so my fingers lightly pressed my temples and moved in slow circles. The captain hadn't eaten much at dinner but so far he hadn't felt sick so maybe he was getting better. The thought of seeing him hunched over near the wall... it gave me shivers and I sat up straight thinking about what else could be done before I went to bed as well./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Could I even go to bed? Was it safe? With Reiner feeling so tired and Levi sick, could I afford to relax as well? A small creak startled me at this point, and every muscle in my body froze, trying to hear what it was./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"No further sound came and a deep breath of relief left my chest. After this, I checked every window and door, to make sure everything was locked down tightly. I was feeling on edge, afraid that at any given moment, a threat too great for me to repel would appear out of nowhere and I'd be unable to do anything to stop it. How I wanted to go for a walk outside, just disappear for a moment in the darkness that filled the streets at this hour, but leaving Reiner and Levi unattended was impossible. Maybe a smoke would help relieve the stress so I searched for the pack but couldn't find it anywhere./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Defeated, I slumped down on the couch again before deciding to check on the captain since I hadn't been in his room much ever since the afternoon./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He was sleeping soundly, something very rare for anyone to see, as it was rumored that Levi hardly ever slept. His face had a stiff expression to it, a dip between the brows hardening his features. The closer I got to his bed, the faster I could feel my heart thumping its way out of my chest, every fiber of my being wanting to move back but there wasn't really a choice this time. With a hand, I took my temperature and with the other his and was glad to feel that his fever had gone down./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Shouldn't you be sleeping, lieutenant?...", a low and raspy voice questioned, startling me./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir? Levi? I'm just checking to see if your fever has gone down.", despite him not complaining about it, my hand darted off him immediately./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You shouldn't stand so close... this could be contagious."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""It's not.", I managed to answer, feeling my hand burning and struggling to suppress the urge to wash it while he was talking. "If it was, Reiner and I would have symptoms by now."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm.. fine.", his eyes turned to me, blinking tiredly. The bandages that wrapped around his forehead were beginning to turn dark, from the sweat of the fever mixed with the cold water from the towels used to lower the captain's fever. Seeing him like this, I couldn't help but want to keep an eye on him, no matter if I had to sit on the farthest corner of the room. But he'd probably order me to leave anyway. I returned from my thoughts to find the captain's eyes closed again and his chest rising and falling calmly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Goodnight, Levi.", I whispered before leaving the door half open, in case he needed to call out for us during the night. I washed my hands in the kitchen, unable to shake the feeling of a disease film over them./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"No matter how much I tried to persuade my mind to rest easy, there was this nagging feeling, a thorn pricking the back of my neck that made it impossible to even try and go sleep. At least not that night yet. Therefore, the only reasonable solution was to keep guard while both of them slept./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I sat near the only entrance to the house with the lights off and holding the largest knife the kitchen had. If anyone tried to take us by surprise, they'd have to go through me first./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Mam?... Mam...", a male voice grew increasingly louder as my senses came back to me. Reiner was pressing my shoulder lightly, trying to wake me up./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, Reiner... What?", I asked, rubbing my eyes and realizing I was still sitting on the chair of the previous night, minus the knife and for some reason my neck hurt horribly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Did you sleep here? Oh, by the way, I made breakfast for us already, it's on the table."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Thank you, Braun. Yes, I slept here. Did you check on the captain this morning?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, he insisted on taking a bath. He should be done with the food I brought him by now."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Good, it's great that he's feeling better. You can rest for a while now, Sheila and Amy will probably come see us today again. I'm going to check how the captain is now.", he nodded and as I stood up and passed through the table, the knife from the night before was placed there, near a plate with some bread. I entered the captain's room while eating the small piece of loaf./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Levi had clean bandages on and was finishing some fruit when he turned his gaze to me. He looked so much better already than the previous day, but still had his complexion a bit too pale and the dark circles under his eyes were much more noticeable than usual./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Braun told me you slept in front of the door. That true?", he asked, turning to the plate again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, sir. I... couldn't rest, thinking someone could come in while we slept."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I see... Next time have the kid do rounds with you, if you're that worried. You fell asleep anyway didn't you?", he had a point.../span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I understand. How are you feeling today?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm good. We should leave soon."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We can't. Not until you're well."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I said I'm fine, lieutenant. I'm thinking about leaving tomorrow. Think your friends can help us out with our things?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir, we won't leave until I'm sure that you're well enough to travel. It would be reckless to go out on a two day ride with someone half sick."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Do I need to remind you of who's in charge here?", he sighed. But he wasn't right. He said he was fine that time before and he wasn't, what if we encountered some thugs again? What would we do, with an under performing Levi?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir, I don't mean to question the chain of command. All I want is to make sure we return safely. Just two or three more days is enough."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Two. No more. Here, I'm done.", he passed the plate and I took it to take it to the kitchen./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""How is your temperature?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""It's fine. Now leave me alone.", his voice had a slight tone that was unusual in the captain. Maybe he wasn't as well as he wanted us to believe./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Very well. If you need something, just call out for Reiner. I'll be stepping out to run some errands.", he didn't answer and so, I closed the door behind me. After doing the dishes and helping prepare lunch, I left for the Military Police's main building to find Sheila and Amy./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Martha!", Sheila yelled in the middle of the courtyard, nearly running for a hug. "We went there yesterday but Reiner told us you were out."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yeah, I had some things to take care of."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Like what?", Amy raised an eyebrow. "It's not like you know a ton of people here..."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm helping a lady with her bookshop, ok?", the response was a long 'ohhh' from both of them./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You always had a soft spot for books.", Sheila nodded. "And how is Mr. Ackerman?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So, Reiner told you about him?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Not much, he said he was sick. What happened?", Amy questioned. "Do you want to sit down? We can chat in a more private place."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""No need for that, I can't take too long here. Basically, the captain is sick with a fever and some stomach problems but he's doing fine. In fact, it's because of that that I'm here. He wants to leave in two days."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Already?", Shei was surprised. "How can he be fully recovered in such a short amount of time?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Captain Levi is a strong man. But yes, I also think it's rather suspicious that he's doing so well so quickly. Anyway, I came to ask if you girls can get us set for leaving in that short amount of time."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Of course, don't worry about anything, dear.", Amy smiled. "I'm sorry to see you go so soon, you really should come visit us more often."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know, I know... I'm sorry. Things are just complicated out there. But I'm glad to see you doing so well here. Nearly top tier officials!", I chuckled, remembering Sheila announcing this exact fact a few years back./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""It wasn't even that hard, to be completely honest.", Shei stated. "You could still switch to the Police, if the outdoors life becomes too much for you, you know?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""And request another branch change? No thanks. Besides, your commander Dok hates my guts. He keeps insulting me whenever I attend meetings with the commanders. I mean, it's been five years, can't he give it a rest already...?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yeah, Nile's pretty much a bully around here. Rumor has it that him and your commander Erwin competed years for the same girl and Erwin ended up getting her.", Sheila whispered with a slight smile./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""That's a petty reason to hate a whole branch, Shei..."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hey, I'm just telling you what I heard..."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Well, the old lady is probably waiting for me at the shop so, better not leave her hanging. Thank you so much for all your help girls." I pulled them in for a tight hug./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You're welcome, Martha. But hey, don't just come here when you need something. Next time, let's catch up for real, okay?", Amy requested as the hug faded./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I promise I'll come here when I have some time off.", as I was leaving, Sheila nearly yelled./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So, we'll see you in five years again, right?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""As if!", I yelled back, smiling. These girls never failed to cheer me up./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"As expected, the old lady was waiting for me to continue the task of helping her rebuild the shop. The work went smoothly and after a couple of hours, it looked completely different./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Thank you so much, deary.", she smiled./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Oh, it wasn't a big deal...", it really wasn't, there wasn't anything too difficult to do in there, aside from setting up the shelves again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Well, I'll honor my end of the agreement then...", she walked slowly toward one of the shelves and pulled out a book. "This is the one you wanted, right?" It was a copy of the book the captain had in his room, 'Icarus'./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yes, it was. Thank you so much."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Thank you. The shop was a mess before you came in and now look at it. It's dazzling."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm glad I could help. If there is anything else I could help you with...-"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Oh, no. You already did enough."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Then, I'll be going. It was a pleasure to meet you."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You too, have a lovely evening."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Entering the house, I stored the book inside one of the bags so that neither the captain nor Reiner asked questions about it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Martha, you're finally back. Where have you been?", a calm voice inquired from behind me./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Oh, sir, you're up!", his voice nearly made me jump, and I turned to face him. "How are you feeling?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Fine. Where were you?", he isn't going to let this slide, is he.../span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I went to meet Sheila and Amy to discuss our departure, sir."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sure took you a long time to discuss that."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I apologize, captain. I lost track of time while talking to them."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Eh, whatever. Go help Braun cook dinner."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Certainly.", well, at least, I got off lightly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The evening went quietly, and the hour grew late. Reiner was released from kitchen duty and I cleared the table and did the dishes, while the captain brewed some tea for himself./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You should go rest, sir. It's getting late."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I've rested enough.", the tone suggested that he really wasn't in the mood for nagging. I waited a while before speaking again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I apologize... I didn't mean to try and order you, sir. I'm just finishing up here. If you need anything, I'll be in my room, if you'll excuse me.", the captain didn't reply, instead just taking another sip of tea as I left./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It was time to change the old bandages and use some of the ointment there was left to treat the still mildly purple bruises that covered my body. While I was still sore and moving hurt a bit, I'd almost perfected the quantity of Hange's medicine needed to make the pain manageable for most of the day, so I wasn't bound to the bed, writhing with it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Eren's bite was healing nicely, considering the circumstances, along with the other accumulated injuries from the last month. Upon closer inspection, even the slight indentations of the captain's teeth in my neck and shoulders were already fading out, which was a relief. I certainly didn't want to have to explain that to the commander./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It wasn't exactly early at this point, but I also wasn't feeling tired enough to try to sleep so, sitting on the bed, I started flipping the pages of 'Icarus'. The story was clearly for children, with colorful illustrations on every page as the heroes of the story Icarus and Daedalus tried to work their way to freedom. Maybe he used to read the story as a kid... or maybe someone read it to him... The captain didn't really seem like the type to have emotional attachments to things but maybe this was the exception?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"After another hour of rereading the book and staring at the ceiling, I realized I hadn't checked to see if everything was properly sealed, so I sprung up and left the room./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What are you still doing up?", the captain's dragged voice came from the sofa./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I was going to make sure everything was locked down properly. I didn't mean to bother you.", he was laying down, feet up on the armrest, while his eyes were closed. The windows in the kitchen were all closed and firmly locked. The captain remained silent while I paced around back and forth, checking even the ones in his room and Reiner's. After all was done, I sat at the table, picking up a small piece of bread and began eating it slowly./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You want something?", the captain asked./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""No, sir."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Then go sleep. It's late and you've been out all day."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm not tired, sir. I think I'll stay here a bit longer, if you don't mind me.", he groaned, not moving and for a while there was only silence in the room./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""When did your fear of sickness start?", he suddenly asked./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir?", not only did the captain's voice startled me at first, but the question itself was rather... personal./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Does Erwin know?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hum... I don't think so... but it's really nothing serious, sir. It doesn't stop me from performing my duties properly."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So, if one of ours started coughing up blood during a mission, you'd help?", those words created a knot in my throat. Of course, I would want to help... but, I'm certain I wouldn't be able to./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""As much as possible."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What a load of shit. You couldn't even be in the same room as me and all I had was food poisoning."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Why are you asking this now, captain? It was the first time something like this happened to me, it won't happen again."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm trying to decide whether or not you're a nuisance in my team or not.", fuck, that stung. After these past couple of weeks, where I had done nothing emother/em than help the captain and put my life on the line for him... he was considering me a nuisance for this?!/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm... I see.", it was hard trying to contain the bubbling anger that welled up in me as soon as he said that. "I'm going outside for a bit, it's rather stuffy in here."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where are you going to?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Just the outside of the house, sir. No need to worry.", before he could say anything else, I'd already stormed off but not before picking the last cigarette there was inside my bag and a match without him noticing. Hell, let him notice it, maybe then he can decide how much of a nuisance I am./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Sitting on the step just outside the door, I struck the match and was mesmerized for a second by the swaying fire. The first puff of smoke brought a sense of relief, maybe I wasn't over this habit as I thought I was, and my head fell to my hand, resting over the knees. Would I ever be able to overcome that extreme repulsion...? In five years, there was never a situation where I had to be confronted with it but feeling it again now... It was just... maybe Hange had something for it. Should I even ask her about it? The captain's words were still there and if he thought I wasn't suited for his team for it... what would Erwin say?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Leaning back against the door, my eyes closed and the muted conversations of people on the street were the only sounds I could hear./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Reiner's POV/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"After the lieutenant came to my room to check the windows, I heard a quiet thudding against the glass./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Reiner...", someone called from the outside. From the voice I knew who it was. Getting up slowly to not make any sound, I walked toward the pane./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Annie? What are you doing here?", she looked breathless./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""The plan-", she panted, "it's a no go. The other one isn't ready. How bad are they?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Levi is pretty beaten up but getting better. Martha acts like she's fine but I think I could take her on if needed."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Ah shit, that's not good enough. We don't have the upper hand here. Plus, her friends know me and know that I know you so... Too risky."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""If that man hadn't showed up down there...-"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Yeah, I know. But he did and now we're here. Did you see her?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""The woman? Yeah. She did quite a number on a prisoner we caught. They know who she is already."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So soon? I thought I told her to be careful...", Annie's jaw locked and she looked around, alert. "Either way, when are you going back?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I heard talk about it. I think it's in a couple of days. What then?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We'll have to wait. Until Ray gets out of the Underground, our hands are tied."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Understood. Good to see you finally decided to meet me. Do you know how many hours of punishment I'm going to be subjected to when I get back?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Don't complain, I can't just leave my post whenever I want. The people there are already suspicious of each other as is."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Still, you owe me. Big time. I can't believe that Ray lady missed such an opportunity like this. Wasn't she supposed to be one of the best assassins down there?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Allegedly.", Annie stated. "I'll tell you more about this when you get back to the Corps' headquarters. I have to leave now."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Fine. I'll see you there."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Reader – POV –/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"How long had I been outside? The moon had shifted position, and the cigarette had gone out a while ago. No doubt my thoughts were less agitated, and the tiredness of the day was starting to settle in. Entering the house, the sofa was empty. The captain had probably gone to bed already and had left me to myself outside./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I locked the door behind me and sat on the sofa, the scent of Levi still present. I wanted to say it didn't make any difference, that I didn't care much for it. But I couldn't, it smelled good and my mind wandered for a moment before I stopped it. Knowing the captain wasn't as defenseless as yesterday was such a relief./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Now, if anyone tried to enter the house, it wouldn't just be me to try and fend them off. I just wanted to go back to HQ and forget about this trip. Erwin was probably wondering where we were by now, since we were behind schedule by a day or two. Eventually, I fell asleep./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The following day had no events of significant importance and so, after Sheila and Amy payed us a visit to talk about the day of our departure, we arranged our things neatly on the main room where the sofa was and went to sleep early. The captain and I barely spoke after what he said about the team so after dinner, I merely asked if he needed help with anything and excused myself, leaving for my bedroom./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Did he really want to quick me out for that? When had it started…? He asked me that the day before, but I couldn't really remember when... it felt like it was always there. Would he report it to Erwin? Should I report it when we return? I could imagine what Levi would say in his crude handwriting 'Unable to care for ill superior; left said superior alone with a cadet, etc etc'. I did leave him with Reiner... How come the captain didn't mention that fact? It could've been dangerous... Ugh, I'm so done when we get back, but I can't stand another day in this place./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I spent a blank night and finally it was morning and time to go back. Amy and Sheila came to see us off, the captain thanking them for the help, but they shrugged it off, joking that I owed them instead. After a tight hug, we parted ways and our trio was on the move through the main road and back to headquarters./span /p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"We galloped in silence, eager to return and leave that place behind. The captain appeared to be well even while carrying a grave expression and Reiner lightly hummed some foreign tune. On the outskirts of the castle, we could already hear the hissing of 3-D gear cables above us, probably the guards checking to see who it was./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Petra and Eld greeted us as soon as the horses set foot on the courtyard, nearly running to question Levi about our whereabouts. I wanted nothing more than to crawl into my bed and sleep for a long while but knew it to be impossible. There were many matters that needed to be addressed regarding the trip and Erwin certainly would want to talk to us./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"We unsaddled the horses and headed straight to the commander's office, us higher officials taking a seat at his desk./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So?", he simply asked, hands crossed over a pile of opened letters. He seemed drained, with his eyes a bit more sunken in than last we'd seen him./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We got this.", Levi placed a bag with all the money we'd been able to gather, from the amount stolen to the outlaws to the amount we robbed from his uncle. Slowly, the commander opened the bag and looked at it for a few seconds before closing it again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I want a full written report of the mission on my desk by tomorrow. I hope you also have a good reason to explain why you're late. I also don't think I need to remind you that it is a classified mission which you are not to discuss with anyone aside from me and inside this room. Are we clear?", I wasn't sure whether or not to answer right away but the air around us felt so tense that I thought it best to keep quiet. We merely nodded in agreement and Erwin dismissed us immediately after. As the door closed behind us, a loud sigh came from within. What happened?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"I knew the money wasn't too much, but it was a fair amount... How bad were the Corps' finances at the moment?/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So Martha, did you try out the things I gave you?", Hange questioned as we met in the hallway./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Actually yes, I did. You really need to start giving instructions, though."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What happened? Ohhh were there any side effects? Come on! Tell me everything!", I wanted to have a chat with Petra first but was nearly dragged into Hange's office to give a full account of the effects of her new inventions./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"This supposed 'quick chat' turned into a full body examination, after which I felt like I needed a shower from all her touching and probing. I suggested she dragged in Reiner and Levi as well, since they had also sustained injuries that weren't treated seriously due to the circumstances. Something I wished she hadn't noticed however, were the bite marks still lingering in my neck area and she told me she didn't take me for a type of mixing busyness with pleasure, adding after that she really had no such interest in things of the sort. Of course, she lives only for the titans./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"About four hours later, I finally managed to flee her office and crawl into my own room, heating up some water for a well-deserved bath. Afterwards, I'd have to completely focus on writing the report for Erwin if I had any hope for a quiet night of sleep. But somehow it seemed like everyone suddenly wanted something so, as someone knocked on the room door for the third time, there was no choice but to wrap myself in a towel and hurry to answer it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What is it?", I asked, leaning in to it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Lieutenant it's me, I believe you have some of my belongings mixed in your bag.", it was the captain's voice./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Wait a minute please.", not like I could open the door in that predicament. Well, I could but I chose not to; he's the captain after all. After throwing on some clean clothes, I opened the door for him, to see his head patched minimally with some weird bandage sticky looking thing. "Hange got you too, sir?", I tried to lighten his expression a bit, but he didn't seem to enjoy the joke very much./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""She told me you asked her to see me.", he darted, turning his back to me. "But at least she is a competent doctor."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hm... what did you misplace, sir?", I questioned, before he touched the bag./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""A small pocket knife.", weird. I don't remember even seeing any such item down there. Before he could extend his hand to reach it, I interrupted again./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Let me search for you."/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I can do it, don't worry.", he was never pushy, something was up. That bag... it had the 'Icarus' book... Oh no, had he seen it? What would he say? He absolutely must not see it./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Sir, I'm pretty sure I didn't pack a pocket knife. Are you certain it's in my bag? Have you checked Reiner's?"/span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I believe so. Is there anything I can't see in there? Let's just get this over with-", before he could open it, Oluo came to the door to ask him to go check something. This was the perfect opportunity to shove my hand inside the bag and search for the clearly made up pocket knife./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""There's nothing here, sir. But you're free to come look for it after you're done. I'll let you know if I find anything.", I assured him and almost sighed of relief as he was leaving before he stopped and stared at me./span/p
p class="Standard" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know you lied a couple of days ago. You best not do it again, Martha.", his words sent a chill down my spine and he closed the door behind himself, leaving me to my thoughts./span/p