Birdie (Levi x OC)

thirteen

I walked alongside Captain Levi, the cooling night air doing little to fade the slight flush lingering on my cheeks from our earlier encounter. He took an unexpected turn away from the Military Police headquarters exit.

"Captain? The stables are this way," I noted, gesturing toward the main gate.

"You go on ahead," Levi replied, his tone as cool as the evening breeze. "Your squad left the priest in a room over here to calm down. I have to go fetch him."

I nodded, offering a small smile. "See you out there, then."

He gave a sharp, single nod before disappearing down the darkened corridor. I returned to the main thoroughfare, stepping out into a scene of controlled chaos. Survey Corps and Military Police soldiers were weaving through one another, the air thick with the smell of horse sweat and the metallic clatter of ODM gear being checked and re-checked.

A shoulder roughly caught mine, sending me stumbling a half-step.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, idiot!" a voice snapped from my left.

I looked up to see Jean glaring at the soldier who had bumped me. He was clutching a heavy crate of supplies, his face set in a look of defensive irritation.

"Don't worry about it, Jean. I'm fine," I said, smiling warmly to diffuse his temper. "Thank you, though."

The boy's bravado faltered. A slight blush crept up his neck as he looked away, nervously adjusting his grip on the box. "Ah...yeah. No worries."

 "Your name is Jean, isn't it?" I held out a hand. "You're the one who stood in for Eren. That was a hell of a risk."

"Jean Kirstein," he replied, taking my hand firmly with his free arm. "And yeah, well...someone had to do it. You're Birdie, right?"

"I am. I don't think we've officially met."

"I know who you are," he said with a short laugh. "I saw you during the expedition, and Armin told me you were the one who helped him get the information to the Commander. About Annie."

I shifted, feeling a sudden, uncomfortable weight in my chest at the mention of her name. "I just did what I could, Jean. It wasn't enough to stop the damage."

"Well...they're my friends. So, thanks," he said, his gaze hardening as he looked toward the southern horizon. "The rest of them are out there now. Fighting whatever just broke through Wall Rose."

"I'm sure they're alright," I said, placing a grounding hand on his shoulder. "Squad Mike is with them. He's one of the best we have."

Before he could respond, the heavy doors of the headquarters creaked open. Captain Levi emerged, dragging Pastor Nick by the collar as if the man were a disobedient hound. Levi's gray eyes found me instantly, cutting through the crowd with clinical precision.

"Hey, Pixis. What are you doing milling about?"

Jean snapped into a sharp salute. "Captain!"

"At ease," Levi said, dismissing him with a wave before turning his focus back to me. "Shouldn't you have found your wagon by now?"

"Yes, sorry," I said, feeling like a cadet again under that gaze. "I got sidetracked talking to Jean."

"Come on then," he muttered, rolling his eyes as he shoved the silent priest forward. "Move."

I gave Jean a quick wave, which he returned with a slightly stunned expression as I fell into step behind Levi. "Sorry, Captain," I breathed. "I was on my way, I just..."

"I heard you the first time," he grunted.

I glanced at Pastor Nick, who was walking a foot behind us, his face a mask of pale, hollow emptiness. "Hello, Pastor Nick," I said, attempting a shred of civility.