Little Brat

Levi's POV:

Daybreak was only a couple hours away and there were still no signs of movement from behind the Wall. More than half my damn squad was still down there, following Uma on some bullshit rescue mission that was going to get them all killed.

Once the Commander and I had returned from rounding up the soldiers from the left flank, the gate had been closed. We were thought to be the last ones, until Petra came stumbling up to me, wide-eyed and looking like she was about to piss herself.

"Captain!"

"What?" I demanded.

"Uma took Oulo on a rescue mission to the east side of the village! Then, when Franc and I made it to the gate, he pushed me through and turned back to join them. There was nothing I could do!"

As she told me this, I began to grit my teeth so hard they felt like they were about to crack. Those goddamn bastards disobeyed my orders and, of course, Uma was their ringleader. Now they were all in danger or dead.

Uma was my soldier, my responsibility… why couldn't she get that through her damn head? She was not in command. If they all died it would be on my conscience, not hers. She was a selfish little shitty brat. Once I got them back, I was going to tell her that.

Petra, a small group of volunteers, and myself stayed back to see if my squad returned. The rest of the soldiers went home. After suffering such a crappy defeat, I couldn't blame them.

Our little group set up camp at the top of the Wall bordering the east side of the village. We placed a few lanterns at the edge to signal where we were. If they were still alive, they'd be able to follow the light to help. Commander Erwin gave us one night to search for them. After that, they'd be officially declared MIA- which was just another way to say Titan fodder.

I sat on the edge of the Wall with my back to the small campfire Petra had made, looking down into the dark village below. It was freezing, but at this point, I didn't give a shit. I was looking for any sign of movement. I thought about Uma. Hell, I thought about all of them, but in this moment, specifically Uma. What would it feel like to open her file, see the picture of her staring up at me, and stamp the letters MIA across her face? I began obsessing over the thought even though it wouldn't do me a damn bit of good. It gave me a sinking feeling I couldn't allow myself to fall into. There needed to be at least one asshole around who was still in their right mind.

I closed my eyes and listened to the fire crackle behind me. My head tipped forwards once, twice, and then I was out.

I stepped onto the training field, tightening my gear one last time before heading to the 3DMG obstacle course. The brats had just finished their training for today, leaving the field open for practice.

A girl, fresh out of the academy, had already begun the course before me. I didn't know her name then, but I recognized her from the graduation ceremony. She'd chosen to be a part of the Scout Regiment for some insane reason.

That long hair of hers made me want to march out there and cut it off. Idiot. If a Titan got a hold of that or it got stuck in her gear, she'd be finished. Yet somehow it never tripped her up. It was frustrating as hell but it was also mesmerizing.

At this point in the memory, I should have joined her but my feet wouldn't move. I tried pulling them from the ground but found myself fighting to even stand up. At this point I was sinking into the dirt, the trees, the sky, and Uma disappearing.

"Captain!"

I could hear Petra's voice and the dream went foggy. She called out to me again and the images faded to black. I opened my eyes to see her feet at the edge of the wall next to me. I didn't know what the hell she was yelling about, but my heart was already thundering in my chest.

"Captain! Look at the bell tower." She urged, pointing down into the town. My eyes traced the line of her finger to a church. "There's movement!"

As if on cue, two louvers in one of the arched windows popped off and a figure climbed out. They hung on the wall with what I guessed was a 3DMG for a moment, then repelled down to the roof below. Five more climbed out, joining the first figure.

"It's them!" cried Petra.

"Grab the lanterns," I ordered.

Gunther and Eld held up the lights, slowly passing their hands in front of them so they would appear to be blinking.

I could make out Uma and her long hair as she stopped the group and pointed up at us.

"Alright, they've seen us," I said, watching them make their way towards the Wall. "Grab your shit. We're going down to meet them."

I watched Uma and her merry band of idiots ran across the roofs of the ruined city, as we anchored our cables and began repelling down the Wall. Once our feet touched the rooftop below us, I ordered them to line up in formation and we continued on foot. Uma and her group finally came into view and I felt my rage rise up in my throat like vomit.

"Captain!" Franc cried, running up ahead of his group to meet us.

"You're not dead," I grumbled. "Good for you."

"Heicho, I know you're angry, but please go easy on the little missy for now," the big lug pleaded. "She's really bad off."

I felt a rebel twitch in my neck at Franc's request. My first impulse was to tell him to fuck off, but then I looked beyond him at Uma staggering across the roof towards us and I couldn't. She looked like death- pale and weak. It was a miracle she was even alive. Her punishment would have to wait.

I saw a few new faces among the group, it seemed as though their rogue mission was successful. I couldn't feel pride for her success at the moment, but at least her rebellion hadn't been for nothing.

"You look like hell," I told her, before addressing the entire group. "Now, get your sorry asses behind me and lets get going."

Everyone responded in the affirmative and I began to lead everyone towards the Wall. Uma and Oulo served as my left and right flank as we rushed across the rooftops. Daybreak was coming and we had to be clear of the ruins before then. Otherwise, we would be faced with every ugly-ass Titan still in the area. This place was still a prime feeding ground.

Without warning, an ashen titan with a long, crooked face lunged up from the rubble where it had been sleeping and slammed its hand through the roof in front of us.

"Shit!" Uma cried as we scrambled backwards to avoid falling through the house.

"How's it awake?" yelled Oulo. "It's pitch black out here!"

"Just kill it!" Cried Petra, running forwards to defeat the bastard. She was joined by Oulo and Marc.

Faster than I could blink, the Titan pinched Uma's hair between its fingers and yanked her off her feet. My blood ran ice cold as I saw her wide, crystalline eyes lock with mine, a scream just on the tip of her tongue. But I didn't freeze- instead I immediately leapt after her. That bastard isn't going to get you, I thought as I wrapped my arm tightly around her waist and determinedly swung my sword. The blade sliced clean through her banner of yellow hair, freeing her from the Titan's grip. We fell back down on the red tiled roof right as Petra and Oulo cut the bastard down. The Titan let out one last choked breath as it flopped to the ground, causing everything around us to shake.

"Didn't I tell you to cut that shit off?" I snapped at Uma as I gripped the front of her blouse and hoisted her to her knees. She steadied herself by grabbing hold of my wrists, her gaze unfocused.

"It's not a problem now," She responded, fighting through her fear and fatigue.

"Come on," I sighed as I dragged her to her feet and forced her to race across the roof with me. She had so little energy left, but I knew I could push her just a little further. This is for your sake.

Nearing the edge of the final roof, I looped my arm around her and shot my grappling hook into the solid mortar of the Wall.

"Can you at least make this easy for me and hold on?" I demanded, before kicking off the roof.

Uma did as I asked and latched onto me tightly. I looked to make sure everyone was secure and repelling up the Wall before doing so myself. This was the second time I had to hoist Uma over the Wall. At least this time it felt less like an obligation. I honestly don't know how I would have felt if the Ashen Titan had taken her- if I would have had to return with empty arms.

Reaching the top of the Wall, we pulled ourselves up onto the battlements. Uma just lay at my side, struggling to breath. She looked like she was in so much pain that she was about to cry.

"Go get a medic," I ordered Oulo, who nodded and immediately headed off. "The rest of you report to Commander Erwin."

The group nodded before repelling down the other side of the Wall, leaving me alone with Uma. Adjusting myself so I was sitting cross-legged, I pulled her upright against my chest, resting her head on my shoulder so her airways would be clear.

"You need to breathe," I told her.

Pushing her hair out of her face, I paused a brief moment as my fingertips slid through the matted blood on her temple. It was then I realized that she almost didn't make it. It was a fucking miracle she was in my arms and still breathing.

"Levi…" she whimpered, trying to tell me something.

"Shut up you shitty little brat," I grumbled, readjusting my grip so she was cradled fully in my lap.

"But Levi…" she fought.

"Why do you always have to rush in and do stupid things?" I snapped. If someone were to come up and interrupt us then, I probably would have kicked them in the fucking teeth. Gripping her tightly, I slammed my lips against hers. As I did, I could feel her fingers ball into my shirt, a muffled sigh escaping her before she fell away. Her head lolled backwards as she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Idiot," I sighed.

I sat there with her on the battlements, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked out on the horizon beyond the ruins and the Titans and the shit storm that just occurred below. I didn't want to think about any of it. All I wanted was to hold her, breathe, and fall away.

AN: Hey everyone, it's been a long long time. I just want to say, thank you so much for those of you who've stuck with me and those who have just stumbled upon my fic. I am going to try my best to continue updating because I want to finish this story for everyone who is invested in it. That being said, I'm not sure when the next update will be. Keep your eyes out and have faith in me.