No Regrets

Ch 8

Almost a week had passed since we returned from our expedition. With so few of us having returned, it was time to kick training and preparing into high gear for everyone.

My own training sessions were about to look different. Levi and I usually trained privately three days out of week, but we were moving it to just one so I could train with our other squad mates.

I had just finished whooping Petra's ass in sparring when Levi and Erwin walked up to us. I held back an eyeroll as we stopped abruptly to salute them.

"Miss Busch, Miss Ral," Erwin greeted us kindly, soft eyes lingering on me as I gave him a soft smile. I glanced at Levi whose usual scowl seemed to be deeper as he stared at me. I furrowed my brows slightly at him in confusion, but turned my attention back to Erwin.

"Commander, Captain," Petra responded for the both of us. "What can we do for you?"

"We actually need to talk to Gwendolyn , but you're welcome to stay for the conversation," Erwin said. Why is it always me?

She looked between the three of us quizzically as we both waited for one of them to explain.

Erwin cleared his throat and directed his attention towards me. "We need you to go pack for a little trip," he said. "Captain Levi and I will be representing the Survey Corps at a benefit ball for the military..."

He trailed off, assuming as soon as he said ball I would know exactly why I'm going and where I'm going. And he was right. Dread knotted in my stomach and I internally cringed.

"Right," I said with a sigh. I glanced at Petra's confused face and explained, "We're going to visit my parents for money."

-

After a brief goodbye to our squad mates, Levi and I threw our packed bags into a carriage that he, Erwin, and I were about to share for many hours. The road to Mitras was a long way from where we were at and the idea of sharing a cramped space with these two men had me feeling on edge. Not to mention I haven't seen my parents in well over a year and it always gets weird. My overbearing mother and distant father, both wanting me to stay home for different reason.

Before stepping into the carriage I slipped a full flask from my jacket pocket and took a swig. I felt Levi watching me from the corner of my eye.

After cringing at the disgusting taste of the alcohol, I slipped it back into my pocket and gave Levi a side eyed look back. "Can I help you?"

"I thought you would be used to sharing cramped spaces with Erwin by now," he smirked slightly before ducking his head into the carriage. My face heated as I followed in behind him, choosing to sit in the seat across from him.

"Keep your shitty comments to yourself this weekend, Captain," I hissed in annoyance. His eyes seemed to darken slightly but the small smirk never left. "That's not why I'm stressed. It's been a while since I've seen my parents."

Before he could ask why, Erwin's blonde head poked in and looked at the two of us with a beaming smile. He began to climb in but stopped halfway in the doorway, trying to decide where to sit. Sitting next to me might give the wrong idea, but not sitting next to me might make it seem even more suspicious. In a failed attempt to make it less weird, he chose to sit next to Levi. The visible uncomfortableness on both of their faces made me stifle a snort and earned a very annoyed look from Levi as Erwin hit the roof with his fist to signal to the driver that we were ready.

The two of them sitting next to each other was quite a sight. Erwin was a huge man who nearly didn't fit inside this carriage in the first place which in turn made Levi practically look like a child next to him.