A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you for your kind comments. I heart them all.
Levi. Who doesn't love that moody Captain? Easily the most popular character in Attack on Titan, and worth every bit of attention from his past, present and future.
For the Levi here on, I'm going to slowly push Freya and Levi into their budding romance. Hopefully, it doesn't look too rushed, or I'd have to take it down and push it back a few more chapters.
So for now, this will be posted up :)
Can't wait for the comments on this chapter. Hopefully, it will bring a smile to you as it does to me.
A toast to everyone who loves Levi Ackerman.
Love,
A.615.
Trivia
Freya was the girl who made the first cup of tea with milk for Levi in hopes to soothe him after the death of his comrades and being ostracized by the Regiment due to him originating from the Underground. Her having forgotten about him afterwards explains her sincerity in helping others without asking for anything in return be it friendship, attention, or favour.
Kapitel 9 – Memories Under the Rain
10 Years Ago…
The 23rd Expedition ended. The heavy downpour that comes with the mist jeopardized the survival rate of the soldiers in the Expedition. Many died that day, and many didn't get to go home to their loved ones.
Levi, too, came home alone that day.
He was quiet the whole route back to the Wall. His green Wings of Freedom cloak stained with mud and blood of the dead when he fell down from his horse earlier, and yet he pays no attention to his usual aversion on dirt and filth. By then, the rain had stopped, and the mist had started to lift, allowing the rays of sunshine to light up the land once again with its warmth.
For Levi, he felt as cold as ever. He can no longer feel the warmth of the sun or the soft wind of the after rain. Not with the realization that Isabel and Furlan will never again come back to him.
Levi is now alone in the world once again.
The rest of the soldiers rushed to their drill – distribute the bodies to the dead's family members, burn the remaining ones without family members, and clean themselves off blood and gore from the remnant of the Expedition earlier that day. To be able to come home and sleep is to enjoy another piece of heaven, liberated from tension and fear from being in Titan Territory. It was a sort of accomplishment for them, to be able to come back alive you see. To come back once again to their room, to their beds, to their loved ones for those who have a family. To breath and live in this wretched world.
He stayed in the stable for a long while, now long empty after everyone scrambled to get themselves cleaned and a good night's rest. His horse, Nacht, meaning Night, has not suffered any injury when it slipped on a dead corpse out there in Titan Territory. He finds cleaning his horse off dirt a pleasant distraction. At least, to distract him from wanting to go back out there and kill every Titan he encounters. At least, it distracts him from going into shock, into anxiety, into losing his nerves.
Knowing that he has no one left in the world anymore.
The Titans. The giant man-eating Titans. Even if he exterminated every last one of them, none of them will be able to pay back the life that is lost today.
He will make sure this life debt for Isabel and Furlan be paid in full.
"Are you alright?" a soft voice asked him, jolting him out of his trance. He had sunk himself so deep in his thoughts he did not hear any sound of movements behind him.
Nacht stomped on its hoof a few times upon seeing the girl. Levi didn't want anyone to see him like this, and remains with his back to the girl, keeping quiet and pay no heed to her concern.
She's a nobody. Maybe a horse groomer or something. But they can sure as hell leave him the fuck alone after he came back from the Expedition. That would be good enough.
The girl seemed to not mind his silence and indifference towards her presence. Instead, she took up a brush and handed it to him over his shoulder. Levi absentmindedly took it and stares at it.
"Horses likes brushes. It removes dirt and debris that causes irritation to the horse and promotes blood circulation to release tight muscles, like a massage. Try it," she said to him, brushing the other side of the horse. She is so short she completely disappeared behind the horse's massive height. Only a few wisps of hair were visible above the horse's back, and of course, her short puny legs underneath the horse's body.
"I'm the horse groomer here for now. You must be the new guy from the Underground."
Words had circled around that the midget who came from the Underground had decimated a Titan in such a way that leaves many with a nightmarish imprint, proving just how much one man can go through when they lost someone they treasure.
Levi had lost the last two people he treasures like family the most in the whole world. They have been together for so long, and he just suddenly lost them. Just like that. After a final goodbye.
He never should have left them. There never should be any regret, for that is his choice, and theirs as well. Their sacrifice will be the burning torch for him to go on with the quest to vanquish the Titans and reclaim humanity's freedom.
He should not regret. He really should not.
If he starts, he will never stop. Just like what Erwin had said.
But still…it really hurts.
There is only so much hurt a man can take after all. And though he can hide his pain well, he couldn't hide them all.
Not that the girl had purposefully sought out Levi, but it was a total pure coincidence that she happened to chance upon the poor soldier. He is still wet from the rain, mud-caked his boots and pants, blood stained his face and green Scout Regiment hood.
Levi wordlessly thought to himself, she really is a chatterbox, but with how quiet the stable is, her voice is a strange, welcoming disturbance to the cold wet stable's silence. Until she mentioned about who he is and where he came from.
Was she another one of those who wanted to ask him how he had survived Underground? Or perhaps she would say something akin to 'You should just stay down there. It's much safer from going into Titan Territory'. No matter, whatever she is about to say, he'll be sure to retort back with as much venom as he can sum up to shut her busybody, gossiping nosiness-
"I've heard the others saying your friends didn't make it back. I'm sorry."
The rhythmic brushing on his horse halted, his breath hitched painfully in his chest, like someone tearing at his heart. He didn't exactly prepare for this reply. What is this? Pity? No. Doesn't sound like it. Then what is it?
He couldn't reply. He doesn't have an answer for that or anything to say about it.
"But I'd tell you what," she piped up in seconds, picking up speed with brushing the horse. "I'll make you tea if we can finish brushing Nacht. Not to say that the weather is a perfect time for tea or what – wait, that sounds awful. I'm sorry. But you'll like it. It's good. Really."
Levi kept quiet, but he muttered out an 'Ah' as a reply. Soon, the girl finishes her side of the brushing and throw the brush into the wooden basin outside the horse's stall. There is a bucket of clean water, and she dipped her hand into it to wash off the hair and dirt from the horse brushing.
It was then Levi noticed, there is a basket with a flask and small metal teapot set aside in front of the stable. Sitting down on a straw block, she scooped some tea leaves into the metal pot and poured a flask of hot water into it.
Almost instantly, he smelled the tea.
It is a pleasing sort of smell. Very nice. Smooth and delicate, a little creamy tint to it as well. Tea leaves with a creamy scent? This is something he has never encountered before in his whole life Underground.
Enticed by the smell, Levi quickly finished with brushing Nacht and dropped the brush into the wooden basin outside the stall. The girl smiled at him and pointed to the wooden stool in front of her.
There is only a rare few times Levi can be stunned to speechlessness. He was stunned when he found out Isabel had risked her life just to return that injured bird to the skies. He was stunned still when Squad Leader Mike and Erwin had managed to defeat him in his own turf Underground.
But this time, a simple act of offering to him a seat had stunned him right where he stood.
The girl herself sat on a straw block. It doesn't look comfortable, but she made do with it. And for him, she has saved a wooden stool seat for him. This will be considered the best seat in the 'house' already.
"Here you go. Try it. You must be cold. It'll warm you up in a jiffy," she said to him with a smile, holding out a mug of steaming golden liquid. Wait, she made the tea with milk? "I've heated up milk and put it in this flask. And since I got some tea leaves, might as well make something out of it. Have you had this before?"
Levi sat down and took the mug from her. Staring curiously into the mug, Levi smelled it and finds that this is the source of the creamy smell he smelt earlier. Milk. Impossible to get Underground. It's almost as expensive as tea leaves. "Only tea with water. It's hard to get milk Underground."
"I see," she replied simply, sipping on her own mug of tea with milk.
Levi takes a deep whiff of the creamy scent of the tea. It is a lovely smell. With that, he sipped onto the golden liquid sceptically. As the hot liquid trickled down his throat, he was bombarded with a malty flavour in his mouth.
This mug of tea is black tea. His favourite.
Black tea has a distinctly dark and malty flavour, a bit like a very light beer without the alcohol or acidity. It is a very oxidized tea, so it will produce a dark red/orange looking brew. After adding milk, it takes on a slight golden hue. The deep, slightly nutty aroma brings about a bold flavour that nobody could ever forget.
"Was it good?" the girls said, her eyes peering above her mug. Levi looked over at her and back to his mug of tea. He nodded silently.
And she smiled softly at him.
For a nobody, for a person born and lived Underground, for a person scorned by society just for the fact of his origin, she had reached out kindly to him. The Underground people are branded as Rats, a very degrading label for a person who has done nothing wrong but born at the wrong place in the wrong era. Tea is almost a currency, something that is considered valuable and hard to come by. Not that it is rare, just that not many people plant tea leaves as it takes a while to grow and harder to sell with its expensive price in the market. For her to share with him without prejudice of where he came from… that was just too kind of her.
"Isabel Magnolia and Furlan Church," he said quietly, looking down at the steaming mug of tea with milk. Might as well spill it to someone. At least he won't be the only one to remember them by.
"Who?" the girl asked, not quite getting it.
"Their names," he explained, his thoughts swimming with the image of their happy faces. "My friends. The ones that I have lost. They're gone."
"Oh," she said in a small voice, a look befell her face when she realized what he had just shared with her. "I see. I'm sorry."
Silence. The sound of horses snorting and thumping their hoofs broke the silence in the stable.
Then suddenly, the girl puts down her mug and extended both of her hands to him. "Do you need a hug?"
Levi balked, frowning and moving away from her extended arms. "Whatever the fuck for?"
"I heard hugs makes one better. Maybe you'll be better after one. Do you want to try?"
"No."
"Maybe it'll make you feel good. Some liked it so much they do it every night."
"That's a different sort of hug, and I don't need it."
"It's just arms over another person's body. How bad could it be?"
"No, get those hands away from me."
CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME
Morning in the castle feels cold. Much of the reason is due to it made entirely out of stone and wood. If it were to rain, the cold will soak through the stone and cools down the castle to another degree.
Literally, it will never feel hot in the castle.
The heavy rain the night before had just ended in the twilight hours, just before dawn. The pleasant sound of rain lulled Levi to a night of dreamless sleep, watching over the Teacup as she recuperates in her slumber.
Freya woke up to the chirping sound of happy birdies right outside of Captain Levi's bedroom window. There was a strange heaviness on her. A strange yet comforting feeling that weighed down the area around her throat. Clavicle area to be precise. As if there is a warm hand resting on top of her neck.
Like a baby in need of a mother's hand on its back to sleep soundly. It is a pleasant feeling though, and very comforting. Like someone is constantly there for her even while she sleeps, assuring her that she is not alone in the darkness of closed eyelids.
Oh, yeah. If she didn't have someone there for her while she sleeps, she might just accidentally stop breathing or something. That was according to Levi who according to the medic that visited the day before anyway. Now that was some scary thoughts. Imagine dying in sleep. Who knows, maybe she'll find out ghost existed that way – by becoming a ghost herself if she happened to die in sleep.
Maybe dying in sleep wasn't so bad after all. There is no pain anyway. Just peacefully stopped breathing.
Eh…wait…something doesn't seem quite right here though.
Wait.
Hand?
Her eyes jolted open and gasped in surprise.
A large hand on her upper chest area. Her gaze followed the hand on her chest to the arm, and from the arm, she traces it to the lean body of a sleeping figure resting on a hand propped up on their elbow.
It was Captain Levi's hand.
He opened his eyes at the sound of her gasp and change of breathing on her upper chest, and nonchalantly slides his hand to the back of her neck and gently grasped.
Freya thought he wanted to snap her neck and gulped in a bit of anticipated fear, her scream seemingly got stuck in her throat in such an untimely manner.
She gulped in fear. Surely Levi could feel her swallowing with his hands grasping her neck?
Dear Maria, Freya prayed in her heart. Please, I don't want to die just yet. I haven't even confessed my love! My feelings!
Levi pressed his hand behind her neck and contemplated for a moment. "No fever, good," the Captain muttered in a low voice after a while. "And you're awake. Good thing you didn't decide to quit on the living yet."
Levi poured Freya a glass of water and sat it beside the bedside table. "How do you feel?"
Sitting up, Freya scooted to lean against the headboard. Levi didn't even have to carry her up anymore. Just adjusted the pillow for her and maybe pulled her up a bit. "I felt much better. Thank you Heichou."
The ointment provided by the medic proves to work beyond her imagination. It kept her broken skin part moisturized in a way that it won't crack or pull at her flesh if she so much as moves a muscle. Though still weak, she felt much better than yesterday.
Perhaps she can avoid her Captain from having to watch over her sleep again tonight. Or perhaps, she can return to her room-
"Good," Levi responded with a nod, handing her the glass of water. Freya took the glass of water absentmindedly. "Stay here for a few more days until I deem you good enough to walk back to your room. No, not that one," Levi retorted, pointing at Freya when she started to protest. "Save your breath. This is final."
Freya wanted to wring her hands together, but the bandages reminded her that she is still in the process of recovering from her unsupervised use of the Three-Dimensional Manoeuvre Gear. Shredded hands are not a good feeling. She'll have to think of something if she wanted to avoid that. Gloves perhaps? Or leather straps, just wrapping her palms area? That would be something to consider if she really starts to train. Plus, Levi promised her yesterday. He'll teach her.
A sudden thought struck her. Initially, when she woke up, she couldn't remember having dreamt of something the night before. But after drinking a glass of water to soothe her parched throat, she was suddenly reminded of what she had dreamt about.
10 years ago. Before Levi is a Captain. Before he is anyone. The girl with the Flower surname and a guy with a Church surname that Levi had shared with her. Shame, she couldn't really remember their name. Only what strikes her to remember was their surnames.
Before anything, Levi was just a poor soul who lost everyone he loves.
Looking up at her Captain, she compared the Levi now and the Levi 10 years back. He sure has come back strong after that incident. Was it the 23rd Expedition? Should be that one. She had a nagging familiar feeling with the gorgeous El – then turns out he was actually Levi himself – wearing casual shirts appearing out of the blue at the Washers Department, talking with her when everyone is not around. But she had chosen to ignore it because she had gotten used to not ever having the attention from a man, or any man in that matter and that he's just a random soldier who's going to die soon judging with a bias opinion on his height and basked a little happiness in the attention.
Oh fuck, Freya suddenly widens her eyes when she realizes what she had actually promised to Levi before she was made Secretary.
She promised him ten promises.
Ten.
Oh, damn fucking Maria. She wanted so much to slap her forehead to spank the stupidity out of her brain. What a grave she has dug herself into. A deep one at that. Hope to Sina, Rose and Maria Levi will never ever remember that ten fucking promises.
"What's the matter?" Levi uttered the three word that jolted the shit out of her. That was one hell of a question, and what a timely manner at that as well when she had just pondered on the ten stupid promises she had made to him. "You looked troubled."
Fuck. Nothing escapes Captain Levi.
"I-I had a long dream," she said simply, biting her lips and forcing down the stupid hot blush that threatens to burn their way up to her neck and face. She takes a deep breath before saying anything else, not wanting to stutter again. "A very long dream at that."
Swiftly, Levi sat down heavily on his bed with a bounce and leaned into Freya's face right after she finished her sentence.
Naturally, Freya froze.
"Of me?" Levi asked with a lopsided grin and stares deep into her eyes. A lopsided grin. This was the second time she has seen this grin on him. It made him looked almost boyishly good.
The evil boyishly good kind.
Damn. The first time she had seen this grin on him is when she promised that ten stupid promises to him.
When Levi stares at you, you need to look back into his eyes as a sort of common courtesy. Reason being if you happened to force yourself to look away, he might just snap your neck for fun.
Humanity's Strongest Soldier here. His one finger held more power than her flimsy wrist now.
"How do you know-" Freya opened her mouth to ask, but Levi stopped her in mid-sentence when he blurted out what had happened in her sleep.
"You sleep talked yesterday."
Freya gasped in high drama. "I did!?"
Levi's smirk grew wider. "And you've grabbed me onto the bed as well."
Incredulously, Freya exclaimed, "Whaaat?!"
Levi enjoyed Freya's reaction too much to stop right there. Next, he angled his head to look at her arrogantly and said, "Did you know that we've kissed as well?"
Freya's eyes widened in alarm and cried scandalously, "No!"
"Correct," Levi said and flicked her forehead. "We didn't."
Taking the moment while she is confused, Levi stood up from the bed and got out of the room quickly. Erwin may never say she was a moron, but to him, she is a very entertaining moron to have around.
Mentally, Levi started to draft out a list of things he wanted to do to the Teacup.
Number 1: Kiss her. For real.
CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME-CALL MY NAME
Levi went out to get the kitchen to prepare a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Freya to speed up her recovery from the Battle of Trost. For his own meals, he ordered the normal meals the rest of the soldiers in Scout Regiment had and had the kitchen staffs send them up. That would suffice, seeing that he has to keep a watch on the Teacup lest some shitty fuckboys decided to disturb her.
"And no, Emma," Levi said to the kitchen counter lady, a somewhat stout and dumpy middle-aged woman wearing a scarf to cover her hair. "I don't want a young woman to send them up. Send someone who won't try to take off their clothes in front of me. I'm tired of kicking them down the stairs."
Emma nodded with a laugh. She had known the Captain since he joined the Squad. Like Freya, she was kind to him, and often tried to overfeed him in hopes he will grow another few inches taller. Not that he minds – he needed the food fuel to train with the Three-Dimensional Manoeuvre Gear.
Levi thanked the woman and went back up to his room.
"Oh hello, Heichou," Freya greeted him brightly with a smile right after he entered his office. "I'm hungry. Are they sending up the breakfast?"
Levi frowned and closed the door.
There she is, sitting at her usual seat at the side of his desk, writing a report awkwardly with two fingers gingerly holding her usual quill pen in a sort of weak, soft grasp. It was a gift from Erwin to her upon promotion, an iridescent raven-feathered quill pen with a carved silver nib. Exquisite little trinket. Apparently, it was Erwin's father's pen.
He walks towards her and read what she is writing. It was the report about her presence at the Wall of Trost and how she came to join the battle. Though the cuts and scratches on her fingers and palms have yet to heal, he sees that she manages just fine by writing slowly. The fine slim words appeared to be written with very light pressure, but it can be read just fine.
He then shifted his gaze and looked at her.
Before she becomes his Secretary, Levi had thought that Freya is quite a lovely woman. Not to be compared with the other Washers hoes – those are beautiful on the outside and rotten on the inside. Plus, they piled too many powders on their faces they looked unnatural. Freya is, perhaps, has her own sort of lovely, the kind that would unwittingly attract all sorts of people to her like a moth to a flame. Adorable at times, yes, though not all the time. But never had he thought that she could be this adorable.
She is sitting down at her usual Secretary seat, which is what Levi had named the chair next to his desk. Levi stands behind her to read over her shoulder on what she is writing closely, causing a shadow to loom above her like a dark cloak. She senses that shadow and tilted her head all the way back to look at him, swinging her legs happily when she saw him reading what she is writing and smiling widely.
"I'm writing a report for the Battle of Trost. I will submit it to you once I am done, Heichou. Sorry, it will take a while. I'm having a hard time holding my quill pen," she had said with a smile and continue to swing her legs on the highchair, not paying too much attention to the gradually deepening frown her Captain's brow now exhibit.
This stubborn little woman, Levi thought inwardly, scowling when she completely ignored him and continue to write and chatter about the Battle of Trost.
It seems that Freya had deemed herself well enough to get back to work.
Pity. Not to the Captain though.
He swiftly plucked the quill pen from her hand, dropped it on her report and scooped her up from the chair, earning her a yelp of surprise.
"L-Levi Heichou!" Freya cried, her face flaming up instantly at the sudden close contact with the Captain, her hands grabbed onto his arm and shoulder to hold herself steady in his arms. Freya even had the galls to subtly admire how good-looking her Captain is looking today. That pine smell accompanied by a scent that is entirely male sends her heart fluttering like a butterfly all the way to her stomach. "Put- Put me down! I can walk! Oh, my Maria, Heichou!"
Levi stopped walking and looked down at her, his upper body shadowing her from the light. "Did you just order your superior, Secretary Freya Walker?"
Full title with full name. Freya's bottom lips trembled. Her heart rate had picked up speed and beats so fast against her chest she has begun to feel a tad bit lightheaded. She gulped hard, nervous at their sudden proximity. She patted his shoulder to hopefully sway him into letting her down. "Nono. Heishichou…Levi Heishichou please, let me down. I can really walk, really. My legs are not affected at all. I can still walk, really."
"Why the rush?" Levi lifted one brow in question. "Eventually, I will put you down," he whispered, leaning forward to her face whilst his gaze bores into her eyes that she couldn't seem to look away from. The pools of blue-grey seemed to draw her in, trapping her in his gaze with little to no effort.
They were so mesmerizing, Freya thought to herself dreamily, almost losing herself staring into his eyes. Did he know that? He must know. He does this to me quite often lately. I…I couldn't stop staring. Oh, was that a smile on his lips?
True. What Freya had seen on Humanity's Strongest Soldier was that there is a hit of a smile, the slight curve that is so small you generally won't notice if you have not spent the last few days close with the Captain. But it is there nonetheless, and it appears to make him look devilishly handsome.
He leaned a little closer and breathed out what Freya thinks will make Oluo scream out scandalously.
"I will put you down on my bed."
Freya's eyes widened in utter disbelief and gasped, both her hands slapping over her mouth when she realized she had actually gasped out loud while her Captain smirked evilly, appearing to enjoy her reaction immensely.
"Because I seemed to have this moron here-" Levi said, his smirk instantly changes to a frown. With a 360-degree mood change from almost amorous to aloof, he bashes his head to hers hard on her forehead.
"Ow, that hurts, Heichou!"
"-thinks that she is well enough to come down from the bed and continue to work," Levi continued, chiding her whilst walking back towards his bedroom with her in his arms to lay her back down on his bed. Despite him appearing to be cross with her, he still helped her get back to bed gently.
Before he can give her another earful, a knock sounded at the door.
"Levi Heishichou?" someone called at the door. "Levi Heishichou, you've requested for meals to be brought up earlier. I'm here to bring you yours and Lady Nightingale's breakfast."
Levi's eyebrow twitched. Lady Nightingale? Just what exactly had gone on through the heads of the cadets and soldiers to dare nickname his Secretary with that bird title?
Levi snapped his head to look at the lady in question. Freya's eyes widened innocently. She didn't know either.
The Captain gave Freya a glare that says, 'I'll deal with you later'.
Freya gulped and started to pray.
Levi walked over to his door and wrenched it open crossly.
"That would be Madam Secretary to you as well, Emma, not some bird shit title there," Levi retorted crankily, taking over the tray of heavily laden breakfast from her hands. It seems that there is a lack of middle-aged woman working here with the Scout Regiment, hence Emma personally sends up the requested breakfast tray Levi had ordered earlier. "Where did that come from anyway?" Levi continued, digging around for more information on where this shit title came from.
He's not happy with it, and he made sure Emma knows about it.
And Emma, being the Kitchen Counter lady, would know all and tells all. She would sure to relay back this juicy gossip back to the kitchen, and the kitchen's gossip will be relayed to the soldiers and cadets.
That's how rumours spread.
Emma took the bait hard.
"Oh, you have no idea, Heishichou," Emma said, slapping her face happily with a wide grin. Emma is one of the few that addresses him by his full title. The rest of the soldiers and cadets would call him Heichou because his full title inclusive of his name is quite a mouthful. "The cadets and soldiers are all lovestruck with the lovely Secretary you have there, Heishichou. Everyone looks so happy talking about her and bestowed her that lovely title. Madam Secretary sounds so old anyway. Oh, I think that lovely title started with Hange Bun Taichou."
The Captain could feel a vein popped on his forehead. Levi wanted to crush the tray under his hands. Hange again, Levi clicked his tongue distastefully.
Emma bid Levi good day and closed the door for him. Sighing irritably, he walked back to his room and finds Freya with one foot out of bed, her toes almost successfully touching the ground.
He said almost successfully because his return to his room thwarted her attempt to get out of bed and sit on the chair.
Freya sulked unhappily and retracted her foot from the floor and back to bed when Levi glared warningly at her.
Levi added another list of things he wanted to do to the Teacup.
Number 1: Kiss her. For real.
Number 2: Tie her up on his bed.
"Here," Levi placed the tray on the bedside table. Normally, he's not keen on eating in his room because he can't stand food crumbs or anything remotely similar to crumbs dropping onto the floor. But he will do a thorough cleaning after breakfast. That shouldn't take too much time from his paperwork. Lifting a fork, he handed it to Freya, no longer sulking at the sight of food. Apparently, food can easily pacify the little Teacup.
Just like how Erwin pacified his cousin with honey drops candies.
"Breakfast. Can you hold your fork?"
"Yes," Freya replied with a nod, proceeding to hold the fork with both hands clamping the handle. With the ample amount of bandage on both of her hands, she couldn't exert enough force to hold the fork in place, managing only an unsteady stab to a slice of bread. The fork skidded a little on the plate, causing a loud screech.
She froze.
Freya had long accustomed herself with her Captain's fiery gaze whenever he happened to glance or look at her despite just days being with him. She swallowed hard and glanced up quickly, hoping he won't see her but oh shit fuck fuck fuck-
Levi is glowering at her.
The bread almost skidded across the plate, hovering dangerously at the plate's edge. Any wrong move and it will tilt over the plate and land smack on the bed.
On Levi's bed.
Freya felt she has no rights to make a single sound of whimper at this moment and choose to keep quiet and bite her lips hard, praying this will all end well.
That bread just needs to slide back to the plate safely and then she can survive safely for another day.
Levi dropped his fork back to the plate noisily, the utensil clattered piercingly loud in the quiet room. The petrified Secretary recoiled her neck in like a turtle and closed her eyes tightly. At this moment, Freya just wanted to stop breathing and disappear from the world.
She felt a brush against her hand and opened one eye testily.
Her Captain cracked the hard-boiled egg and peeled it, placing it back to her bowl.
Then another.
Then another egg again.
All three eggs peeled and placed back onto her bowl.
"That's a dead target," Levi said to her flatly, indicating to the peeled hard-boiled eggs in her bowl with a tilt of his head. "You can stab that one."
Freya had never felt so challenged when eating a meal. Stabbing a bread, that bread will slide.
Stab a peeled hard-boiled egg, that egg will swiftly become a bird and fly.
She tried it under the watchful eyes of her Captain. Stab, stab, stab, and the eggs swirled around each other like a ceramic crystal ball, and in this case, eggs.
She has never hated hard-boiled eggs so much until now.
Asking her to write, yeah, she can do that. No problem. Don't need that much force to write. Just need to glide the quill pen across the parchment. But to stab an egg or bread with a fork? With that current situation, she has with her bandaged hands, which will be asking her to reopen all her cuts and scrapes with force.
With the force of using the fork.
Levi got tired of her egg-stabbing tragedy and snatched the fork from her bandaged hands.
Freya looked up at him with wobbling bottom lips. Her thoughts swimming with Levi not allowing her to eat breakfast anymore if she continues to 'play' with her food.
"Here, open your mouth," he said to her, having stabbed the egg for her and held it to her mouth. "Faster, I ain't got all day."
Freya flamed up like a ripe tomato instantly.
Her Captain? Levi Heichou? Feeding her breakfast?
Oh, holy Maria, Freya thought to herself. I have indeed died.
But when Levi's frown deepened, Freya got scared and thrown off the idea that she has died and gone up to heaven quickly. "B-But Heichou, I can hold the fork. I just can't stab it, is all."
Levi clicked his tongue. That sound alone is like a warning call for Death. "Open your mouth now, or I'm feeding it to you with my mouth."
Freya bites her lips in response to his words.
The Captain could feel his breath got hitched in his chest when he saw her bite her lips.
Fuckin' little temptress, Levi thought silently to himself, narrowing his eyes when she opens her mouth to scarf down the egg in whole. If this keeps up any longer…
Aaand, another addon to the list of things he wanted to do to the Teacup.
Number 1: Kiss her. For real.
Number 2: Tie her up on his bed.
Number 3: Force kiss her.
End of Kapitel 9: Memories Under The Rain
Updated on: 28th of May 2020