Birdie (Levi x OC)

eleven

Chapter 11

As I maneuvered towards Eren, Annie Leonhart and the rest of the Survey Corps, I couldn't get the image of the young girl's dying face out of my head. Further, the priest's frantic worry about the walls made me feel uneasy. I figured he was probably just concerned because he considered the walls to be gods, but he was so...agitated, almost manic.

The journey back to my squad and the rest of the Survey Corps on the team designed to capture the Female Titan was quick. It wasn't hard to figure out how far they'd gone as the destruction of buildings formed a sort of path that led right to their location.

I landed beside my squad on the roof they were standing on as they watched the scene of Annie Leonhart and Eren fighting unfold before them. As soon as my feet hit the roof, Eren threw the Female Titan over a set of buildings, causing her to crash into another set a street over from where Eren's titan was standing. He then proceeded to trample over anything in his path to reach the Female Titan once more. He was intent on beating her; that much was true. But it seemed he had little awareness of the destruction he was causing to the town.

"Birdie, where did you go?" Moblit asked as I walked up to him and Hange on the roof.

"Sorry, I just got caught up at that cathedral...there was this girl and this priest-" I tapered off, shaking my head as if to dismiss the subject. 

Moblit nodded, probably assuming I either didn't care to share or would explain the details at a later time.

We continued to watch the fight between the two titans. The damage was irreversible; the only time I had seen as much damage done to populated areas was when the walls fell.

"This is insane..." Jean spoke quietly, his eyes wide in shock.

"Squad Leader," Moblit directed his attention to Hange. "Even if we manage to capture the Female Titan here, wouldn't it leave the towns in ruins?"

"Even so...we're continuing the mission," Hange's voice was firm. "That was Commander Erwin's decision." Then, despite looking concerned for the welfare of the town and its people, she made the order, "Prepare for capture."

We split off into groups, maneuvering through the town to keep our sights on Eren and Annie. The moment the Survey Corps had their chance to take her into custody, we would have to take it. All that was left to do was to wait for Eren to give us that opening. Hopefully, he could get her out of the nape of the Female Titan, allowing for us to capture her.

I didn't know if capturing her would make up for the astronomical number of civilian and military casualties, but it was a step in the right direction. I didn't overly agree with Commander Erwin's plan to take on the Female Titan within Stohess. It seemed like a meaningless loss of life. We hadn't been prepared for it. Hell, we barely had enough restraining weapons to tie her down for even a few minutes.

Suppose I had just had some more time. Then perhaps we could have caught her sooner.

The fight between Eren and Annie continued. We all stayed close in order to be ready for capture, but far enough that we didn't get caught in the crossfire.

The Female Titan did a great leg sweep as Eren charged up to attack her. One of his legs came clean off as she hardened her skin on impact. I winced, wondering if he could really win this fight.

Eren's titan leg coming clean off didn't seem to phase him as he reared up for a lunging punch, causing Annie to slide back on her feet down the street. The side of her face now flattened.

Much like Eren, the hit hadn't seemed to bother her much as her eyes narrowed, and she lifted her leg, sending the hardened shell straight into Eren's titan face. The force of the kick sent Eren flying directly into a building behind him. We braced ourselves from falling backwards as the force of the kick caused the air to pick up around us. We all drew in a breath as Eren's titan lay crumpled in the street.