Soldiers are walking with pained and tired faces. It looks like all of their emotions have been drained out, however pain was left like a punishment for their battle, for their will to fight for something unknown, called 'freedom'.
Injured sturdy bodies, limping soldiers, gasps and cries.
It's chaotic.
This view reminds you of all the times you saw scouts come back, but this time they are not in a foreign little town. Now, they are back to their headquarters, home and loved ones, however not all of them are really back.
Some mothers are hugging their dear children soldiers, some are idly staring at the crowd and quietly dying inside. World is merciless as ever.
It's nothing like at Numeko - everyone here is actually crying and waiting for scouts to comeback healthy with great news. Unfortunately, that will never happen as long as the titans exist.
It feels like a one really depressing big family reunion.
You brush off all of the daunting thoughts and look around for Levi or Hange. You can't make them out of the crowd because there are way too many people and you're looking at it through a window on a second floor.
A warm and known hand lands on your shoulder.
"Ella, you should go get ready. There's going to be many people who will need our help," Walter tells you in an encouraging, but upset tone.
No one wants to see a miserable scenery like that. No matter how many times you tried to ignore it and just work, it still always gets to you somehow.
It hurts to see young girls and mothers desperately searching for their beloved the most. The moment they realize the reality of one's fate. The cries and screams... It makes you truly anxious because you are just like them, waiting for Levi to comeback to you, knowing that you'll have to wait like that for your whole life.
Uncertainty and uneasiness will haunt you as long as you will love Levi.
Do you want this life?
"Ella, are you there?" Walter tenderly pokes your head with his index finger.
"Sorry, let's go," you shake off your worry taking last look at the crowd and go to the infirmary with him.
-
"Hange," you gasp when you see them.
Moblit and two other men unknown to you are holding Hange by their shoulders and helping them walk into your infirmary. Instantly, they lay them on the cold wooden table.
"I'm fine," Hange salutes with their right hand, however you can see that they are in pain. Still acting carefree as ever no matter what.
"You aren't fine at all," Moblit looks at them uneasily and puts their hand back on the table. Hange chuckles and their smile is gone.
Other men leave the infirmary.
"Your leg," you stare at a bloody limb.
It's wrapped up with some kind of cloth, but the blood has already fully soaked it and some parts of it look even dried out. You slowly unwrap it. It's obvious that it's been days since Hange got their injury. Scouts probably didn't take it off for such a long time because they had no other choice.
Taking the cloth off reveals a gruesome view of the leg and a smell of sweat and decomposing flesh. You notice teeth marks as long as your hand. It's been bitten by a titan.
Wonders how Hange managed to keep their leg attached to the body because it's not only covered in bite marks. The skin has turned blueish and purple near their hip, the titan probably tried to rip it off causing muscles to strain and likely even tear.
YOU ARE READING
Ackerman's Steppes / Levi x Reader
FanfictionY/N (Ella) is a young doctor, living by Wall Maria, where scouts usually start their expeditions. She hates them for their obstinacy to keep fighting because it only leads their soldiers to their deaths. Ella is the one, who has to constantly bear t...
