If the world wasn't ending || LeviHan

》Chapter 17《

PoV: Hange

As I sat down on a tree branch close by, I used my pocket knife to shape the stick correctly into a bow.
Starting off with placing the bottom end of the soon-to-be-bow on my foot, and one hand atop of it. With my other hand, I pressed slightly outward, the belly of it facing me now.
Using the knife, I began to shave wood off the unyielding spots on the belly only, until both the upper and lower limbs curved similarly to each other. Once finishing that, I carried on with cutting notches that started at the sides and the curve around toward the belly of the bow and in toward the handhold as they went, making it just deep enough to hold the string in place.

Taking the string I had already prepared beforehand, I now tied a loose loop with a secure knot at both ends of my bowstring before slipping it over the lower, and then upper, limb of my bow.

As I glanced at my creation, I sighed. This was all way more work than I had expected. It was exhausting, but there was no coming back any longer.

With a jump down from my tree branch, I pulled the bow to test its stability. Being assured if it to actually work, I nodded to myself and smirked crookedly. Now just the arrows and I'd already be able to somewhat hunt.

Whilst leaning over to pick up a stick that was on a pile of those, I also tested if they were fully dried and dead by now already, nodding once that was made sure of.
The next step was to shape the arrows. I, of course, needed to whittle the wood smooth around the circumference of the arrow, therefore needing at least 15 minutes for each of them since I wasn't really practiced in it. Afterwards doing the same to the tips, making them as sharp as possible.

As I was about to try to shoot one of them into a near by tree, I heard a sudeen shout and got startled, almost hitting the arrow into my foot by accident.
"Hange!"

"Shit." I muttered under my breath before taking my equipment and walking to where Levi shouted from.
"What is it?"

"Can you uh, help?" He began as I walked around the corner, standing there for about 10 seconds without a single word or action.

In front of me was Levi being completely tangled in his own bandages, the scar on his eye partly visible whilst the ones on his hand were done badly.

"What were you trying?" I sighed and sat knelt down next to him, taking his hurt hand to put the bandages off and wash them in the water bucket we had for it.

"I didn't want to burden you but the bandages looked filthy again so I attempted to do it myself. That's all." Levi let out an exhale, looking towards the ground at the same time as I began washing the cloths.

"You're getting stronger again every day, but you still need help and have to rest just like before until you're fully recovered." For once I was feeling like I was talking to a child that didn't want to listen, even though I obvious knew it wasn't that way.

During the whole procedure of me cleaning the bandages and drying them off and then doing the same with his wounds, Levi didn't say a single word. Not to my remark or anything else. It was odd, but what could I do.

"There we go." I smiled brightly once I was finished, nodding at him.
"Just like new!"

"Thanks, four eyes." He returned the nod, exhaling some air repeatedly just like before. It was like the only reaction he gave to everything, and it was frustrating after some time.
"So uhm," He started again a few seconds later, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Can you help me start walking again by tomorrow? I think I'm ready."

I raised an eyebrow, a crooked grin appearing on my lips before I tapped my chin as I was thinking about it. Another habit of mine.
"I think so! We can definitely try!"

Since he was placed behind me and I was just picking up the arrows again, I heard how Levo was moving behind me again and I turndd around.
Facing that guy, who's pretty gray eyes were studying me carefully. Almost as if he wasn't sure on whether to let a sentence out or not.

''What?'' Levi asked confused as he noticed my staring at him and I quickly glanced away again.
''Sorry, what?'' It slipped out of me and I looked back to him.
''Huh? I didn't say anything.'' Levi shrugged and held up a hand to show his 'innocence'.

''Yes, you did.'' I pointed out, titling my head whilst a dazzled expression appeared all over my face and grabbing after his hand so he'd stop holding it up.
''Well, what did I say then?'' His good ol' frown deepened. God, he was concerning sometimes.
''What?" I nearly shouted and could have slapped myself for it.
''What?'' He now raised his eyebrows.
''What?'' I repeated myself and didn't even notice how I was still holding his hand.
''What what?'' He carried on looking me straight in the eye while I was doing the same.
''Oh, shut up.'' I laughed nervously and let go off his hand awkwardly. Sensing an odd feeling in my hand right after that.

"Hm." He only made, closing his eyes a bit.

I'm so done for.