Don't Call Me Angel, Jerk [ Levi Ackerman ]

Chapter 20 - Squad

Vien's POV

"They were all supposed to arrive an hour ago" I glanced at the clock, it was mid sunset and it was nearly dark. Why was the mission taking much longer than their schedule?

Noon passed, and as the sun was about to set, I heard the sound of several people entering the base. My eyes lit up as I hurried out of the room, and ran outside to where they halted at. A lot of people had casts and bandages on their body, and I was starting to get curious

I firstly spotted the trio on one of the wagons, and immediately ran over to them. Eren had a bandage wrapped around his head and his clothes were beyond filthy. He was shaking and didn't speak, just like the two who were covered in dirt

He seemed to be red, so when I placed a hand on his forehead, I almost jumped back at his extreme body temperature. I turned to the blonde "Where did you find Eren?"

"H-he used his titan form and ran out of gas" Armin tried to explain

Vien looked around, and was relieved that Sasha, Jean, and the rest were able to make it back safely. She smiled "I'm glad you're all back safe and alive. It was nearly dusk so I was worried"

She chuckled the drama off and asked "Eren, why didn't you ride with Levi's Squad? If they knew you left your place, you're dead. Anyways have you seen them?"

Expecting Eren to argue like his usual self, he only showed a look of regret and sorrow. She didn't know what it was for, but the dismay on Mikasa and Armin's faces showed that they also knew. They didn't reply so she repeated her question

"Eren," Her voice became gentle, yet fear was starting to build up inside "I asked where was Levi's squad, why won't you tell me?"

Eren stuttered "T-they died in my stead, only Captain L-levi made it"

Vien let out a weak gasp, and the grip she had on his arm loosened. She immediately ran towards the stables, and the place where six horses were usually kept in, only had hers and the Captain's left

The terror was gradually building inside her chest, and her pulse began thumping hard as she ran towards the Captain's office. She didn't even bother knocking that she swung the door loudly open

There she saw Levi, staring out the window, and not even checking who went in. It seemed like he was too bothered about something that his mind was just beyond occupied

"Levi, w-where's Eld and others? Are they somewhere at the Mess Hall or- can I talk to them now?"

Vien was literally begging for an answer at that point, and the fact that Levi didn't answer made her anger rise. She went in front of him and yelled in front of his unreadable facial expression

"Levi!" Her heart wretched as she yelled, "Answer me now. Tell me whatever they said was a lie, say it"

A tear streamed down her face as her voice cracked "Just please"

It couldn't be true. Petra, Oluo, Eld, and Gunther, where are they? It's impossible they'd die out there. They were more than ready just this morning, just what in the world-

"Protecting Eren and surviving was their only mission, and success had a cost. They knew that they had to abandon one mission to complete the other one" Levi lowly spoke, he was still looking outside "All four of them successfully completed their duty, which is why they achieved eternal peace from today onwards"

Only Vien's sobs could be heard after that, but she scoffed "Bullshit, those people are just as talented as you. How could they even lose to-"

"Let them rest Vien, they've finally done their duty" His head hung low

Vien broke the stare and began laughing like crazy, "Were you even sure the corpses you found was them? Maybe they got lost-"

Levi forcefully grabbed her wrist and held her shaking hands, then he looked at her dead in the eye

"They are gone so just shut up! Why's it so damn hard for you?!"

His yell knocked the girl out of her insane behavior, and the moment his horrified and dead gaze pierced her into soul, her conscience made her admit that she was never going to see her squad mates ever again

When Levi realized that his words already hit her and she stopped yelling, he immediately regretted raising his voice at her and stopped squeezing her wrists that went red

The girl's eyes stopped staring at him, and her mind was completely empty yet so fucked at the same time. She already felt so guilty after losing a cadet at Trost District, how much more losing four of her closest friends? It was too sudden

Levi reached out his hand to her shoulder but she briskly moved backwards, refusing to be touched when she kept arguing with her own conscience and imagination

It finally set her mind straight. This morning was the last she'd ever hear from them again. It also made her realize that she actually yelled in front of his face, in front of her Captain. What was I even thinking?

Vien's regretful eyes looked up to him, and without even listening to what he had to say next, she immediately ran out of the office