Tainted (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 16

You woke up in the back of a different wagon, one without a cover. It was dark outside, but you looked to be in Stohess. A mostly paved area fenced in by buildings, well lit by torches and still crawling with Scouts running about.

"Hey, you're awake." Eren sat on the bench beside your head, Mikasa and Armin across from the two of you. He was smiling faintly at you, but it did little to disguise the haunted look in his emerald eyes.

You grunted and gingerly stretched the stiffness from your limbs. As you sat up fully, the cloak lying over you fell to the ground. Eren swiftly picked it up and laid it over your shoulders, tying it at the front.

"Stohess still?" you asked him as he passed you a flask of water.

"Yeah. Just about to leave for Wall Rose. Titans were spotted in it." He suddenly lowered his voice as he said, "Armin told me a little about what happened yesterday; that must have been horrible. So how are you holding up?"

You tensed, grip tightening on the flask as your eyes flickered between Armin and Eren.

Eren immediately started to backtrack. "I shouldn't ask. It's too soon, I know that. But (Y/n)," he grabbed your hands, causing your eyes to widen as they stared dead into his. "I just care a lot about you. I want to keep you safe."

The soft tread of boots reached your ears as Levi approached the wagon with Hange, as well as a man you didn't recognize. A priest from the Order of the Walls, by the looks of him. Wow, we're one misfit away from a bingo here!

Levi boarded the wagon and stood before you and Eren, his eyes like twin chips of ice as they settled on Eren's hands still clasping yours. "Move, brat. You're over there." He jerked his head in the direction of the opposite side of the cart.

Eren instinctively got up and obeyed, shivering as he wondered at his captain's tone. Levi took up the seat Eren had left, with the wall priest on his other side. You were relieved that once more, Levi had shown up just in time. You felt warmth flood you as he sat close by your side. You met his darkened eyes with a look of gratitude, and he sent you a small nod.

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As you charged through to Wall Rose with Scouts on horseback on every side, you listened to Eren and Hange talk grimly about the wall cultist. The man himself sat there like a petrified rabbit, not uttering a word.

"He knew? There's titans inside the walls and he's known about it?!" Eren asked in shock. You leaned forward enough to watch the exchange, hands gripping the bench on either side of you.

"Yes, though he's kept his mouth shut this entire time. But now he's coming with us to witness the harsh reality." Hange sent the pastor a sidelong glance. "Will his beliefs be strong enough for him to remain silent? Or will seeing it with his own eyes make him question himself?"

Eren's cloak slid off of his shoulders as he stood up abruptly, slamming his hands down on the table that separated him from Pastor Nick. "No, no, no, no! This is all backwards!" the titan shifter growled. He leaned as far forward as the table would permit. "If there's something you know, tell us about it! Nothing's more important than keeping humans from going extinct!"

Mikasa pulled Eren back when he winced in pain from the exertion his fury cost him, trying to calm him down.

You felt Levi shift against you, your eyes catching the silver gleam of a pistol as he let it peek from under his coat. "There's more than one way to get answers," he said coolly as his lidded eyes were trained on the priest beside him. "I may be injured and useless right now, but it doesn't take much to watch one man. I'm hoping we can settle this without blasting a hole in anyone."