Ackerman's Steppes / Levi x Reader

Chapter 6: Forest of Your Beliefs

A few weeks have passed since Levi left. Everything is back to normal. Town's people have quieted down. You are working non-stop just as always. But it's lonely. Levi was your break from a cruel reality.

Those few days you spent mainly taking care of him; you have learned and noticed lots of things about humanities strongest soldier. His unusual way of holding a cup of tea, his deep blue ocean eyes, his way of looking at people and expressing emotions. He was so quiet and passive but at the same time gave off a really strong and cold aura.

You don't have anyone specifically close to you. Having to take care of him exclusively made you feel as if you had some kind of connection with someone apart from just taking care of them. Of course, that wasn't true for the most part but it was nice in spite of everything. He didn't want to be taken care of or stay at your hospital in the first place, so it's not like you became friends. You don't know what to think of those few days but you do realize, that they brought in some fresh gust into your life like that wind in the spring, which awakens existential nostalgy.

You admit to yourself that he implanted a different view of the merciless world you are living in into your mind. Sometimes it's hard to see the bigger picture when you have an early prejudice of something or you haven't experienced it. But it's also hard to let go of your old thoughts and beliefs. That's what is bothering you now. You want to understand why scouts do what they do, but you can't, because you don't let it yourself. You feel bad about their losses and pain, but they choose it themselves. And even if Levi made you feel unsure back then by saying he is a human too and that they were trying to save soldiers lives, it still doesn't make sense for them to bring children into it.

On the other hand, some other things happened. You made up with Lizzie. After you came back that day she apologized and told you she didn't mean that Levi is ugly. She said that she was just teasing you because she felt jealous that you could spend time with humanities strongest soldier personally. What a bother. You never understood the difference between her jokes and serious words. You brushed her off since she turned apology into another one of her mind-numbing jokes.

Also, you completely cleared out that disease. Due to that, hospital is almost empty. But not only that. Scouts haven't gone to another expedition yet because of the huge casualties they experienced. You have heard rumors that Mps refuse to let them out of Wall Rose for a few months because of inner dispute going. That would mean that you wouldn't have to deal with their brought back half dead soldiers. It's nice.

Lastly, you received a letter from Erwin Smith. It's a personal thank-you letter. You were surprised by the contents inside of it. A peculiar amount of money and a sheet of paper with distinctive writing.

"Good day, Ella,

I wanted to write you to thank you for taking great care of our captain Levi. He is absolutely healthy as nothing ever happened to him. Also, I am deeply sorry for our soldiers spreading a disease in your town. I hope I can offer my thanks by giving you some money. I know how improper it might look but I also know how it is in those small towns by the walls. I would love to see you sometime and thank you personally.

Respectably yours, Commander of Survey Corps Erwin Smith"

You didn't touch that money. It's way too much. You wish to return it when scouts head to another expedition nearby your town. You feel like it's really inappropriate and you didn't do as much to receive such credit.

It's like an awful joke. Why would he go so far?

Besides all of that, it's almost mid spring. There are some special plants you need to collect considering they only show up at this time of the year. Seeing that there's almost nothing to do at the hospital, your superiors let you off for a day. You couldn't get a more perfect opportunity.