The Shift; Levi Ackerman X

VIII

Victor trudged through the snow that had fallen overnight, Mike, Nanaba, and Levi all making thier way to the front door of the citadel. They had to pull the icy door with two on each side, unable to close it once they made it inside. Hange came from the east wing, their jacket wet from coming in through the side door. The five of them made their way towards Erwin's office up the stairs, Mike and Nanaba splitting from the group on their own business leaving Hange finally back from the training of the 104th trainees, them having only 3 1/2 months left. Erwin had told Victor, once him and Levi got to his office, that he would go alone to help the 104th with their training from the base of the mountain, others already gone to the base with their closer range. Due to the severe weather they needed a few others to keep the base cabins secure while the teens had gone up the cliffs and the others were tracking time or with up the mountain as well.

"I don't like the idea of you going out there. It's already bad out here." Levi crossed his arms, leaning against the wall.

"She'll be fine, Levi. It's not like she didn't go through it herself." Hange pulled their hood up before looking out the front doors, sighing at the bottoms stuck in the snow. "Well Pixis and I left Christen and Tomas as many rations as we could just in case you get snowed in but you should probably bring more. The kids steal behind our backs more than you think."

Levi clicked his tongue as he headed out, the other two following him to their cabin. Victor went to his room, pulling out a large leather backpack. "I have so little clothing." He sighed looking to Hange. "I don't even have any other pants. I'm going to freeze to death out there." He stuffed the only clothes he had into his pack, walking out to the living room to open the cellar. Levi stepped out of the room while Victor and Hange gathered cans of small river minnows and vegetables, them coming up to Levi folding woolen clothing on the couch. "What's that?" Vic asked, him placing each can of food carefully into his backpack.

"They're leg warmers and a long sleeve, woolen ones." He handed Vic the clothes, kissing him on ths temple. "Try not to get them wet and hang them over a fire if you do." Levi looked back with a mug of tea in hand before closing himself in their room. Victor sighed, stuffing the clothes in his backpack.

"You'll be gone for a few months. Go give him a proper goodbye, dumbass." Hange left out the front door leaving Victor to walk towards the other door. He turned the handle meeting Levi on the other side with a hug, burying his face in his neck. Levi kissed the top of his head.

"I love you..." Levi whispered. Victor smiled as he moved back.

"I love you, too."

Alone in the middle of the woods, the sun begining to fade the clouds to orange, Victor trotted on his horse down a narrow path made by the trainees that had gone through it hours before him. He quickened as the sound of laughter was heard ahead, the light of a fire shadowing about 20 to 30 people in the near distance. Vic came upon them, Phocus rearing as he turned towards the other horses tied to several posts. He hopped off, tying him before heading to the others. "Hey, uh." All the cadets looked to him, Victor's eyes going strait for the same one's he's seen every few years. He swallowed his anxiety before glancing around the camp and the two cabins.

"I can take you to her!" A small blonde boy hopped up from the log he was sitting on, a girl wrapped in her coat and a scarf grabbed him by his arm. "Mikasa let me go." He tore his arm away, shivering as he bounced over to Victor. He held his hand out, Vic taking it with a chuckle. "I'm Armin Arlert, Christen is this way." Vic followed after him, looking back at the two sitting where Armin was before. The girl glared at her while the boy with the green eyes chatted with the others. He looked away, stopping behind the teen. "He's right through the doors.

"Thank you, Armin." The younger went to leave, Vic stopping him. "Wait, I- Who were your friends? The ones sitting next to you?" They both glanced back to the group.

"Mikasa and Eren..? They're alright. Why?" Armin shook his bangs out, Vic sighing.

"No reason. I thought I knew Eren for a moment but nevermind." Victor let him go back, himself pulling the door open to meet a comfortable warmth and several pairs of eyes. He could see Christens brown bob behind Tomas, the few others now ignoring him as he made his way further into the cabin. With a tap on her shoulder Christen turned, a smile spreading over her face.

"I'm so glad you made it! Erwin said you we're a fast rider, I didn't expect you to be here only an hour after everyone else." She turned to move them to a bench.

"Are we going to start tonight or tomorrow morning? I mean it doesn't matter that much since I'll be with them until they graduate." He rolled his eyes and tossed his head back. "This is going to be a boring 4 months if these kids aren't as cool as Hange says they are." They both laughed, Victor not sure who's was more fake.

He woke the next morning surrounded by the girls getting ready. The most of his night was spent up the cliff with the other adults, Tomas staying with the trainees while they checked out the trail. They had only made it a little more than halfway through when the horses sensed the storm and refused to go on. Victor had slept maybe 3 hours.
He stepped out once everyone was gone, watching the others start the training exercise. His stomach growled as he sat on the steps waiting for the other higher ups to head back to the cabins for their breakfast. He didn't really know any of them, Tomas was part of his trainee group years back as was Christen but they weren't close at all. They were acquaintances. Stranger who knew each others voices. Once the teens had gone off up the mountain most of the elders began to linger back, Victor standing to head back inside.

Vic was right about it being boring. All he could do was wait or pack snow so they had more room to walk without falling 3 feet. The sun was setting, nine hours passed and they all stood just outside the finish line waiting for all the groups to come through.
He didn't have a lot to do until they left the mountains so he went to stand by the fire. Vic curled up listening to the kids chitter to each other over the next half hour, a certain conversation reeling him in about 3 people missing once another came up asking about them. It quickened to half of them standing, arguing loudly even back to Christen about the rescue team.

"Do you want more people to die!" Christen yelled, the others ceasing their words. The wind blew harder, the green eyed boy, Eren, cursing under his breath as everyone headed towards the cabins. Victor stayed by the window out of his own concern, watching for who knows how long when he could see a figure in the snow. His eyes widened at the sight of a titan at the top of the cliff, jumping down and crawling towards the camp. He inhaled sharply, looking around to see if anyone else could notice it nearing the camp. By the time he looked back it was gone, only a slump body leaving the larger one with something dragging behind.

"Uh, guys?" Christan ran to the door, flinging it open to meet a girl just behind the fence with the another of the trainees. Victor watched, the girl staying outside with strict refusal to go in with them inside.

"Vittoria, blankets please. Someone stoke the fire."