I Don't Belong Here (Levi x reader)

The Friend

The next day, I wake up early, before the sun even sets it's light on the earth. The wind is chilly, rustling the trees and moving the top layer of dirt on the ground like a rushing stream of earth. I layer a jacket over the outfit I had on yesterday when I tried to learn to fight, and ran out to the training grounds. 

I scurry past the windows and keep to the shadows as I run, making sure I make as little sound as possible. I don't want to get caught.

I reach the grounds, and It's just me. Good, that's what I wanted. I set a bag down that I had brought with me to stash my jacket in when I got overheated, and a full water bottle on the ground, then open the chest full of training weapons. I dig around for a bit, almost cutting my hand from a rusty dagger that doesn't have it's sheath. I finally find a wooden sword, the thing I'm looking for, to start with. I figure I better get my grip right before trying an actual sword.

I close the chest and start stretching and doing a couple squats to warm up my legs. I'm already pretty warmed up from my journey here, but enough to get my stance stable couldn't hurt. 

I spend some time swinging the wooden blade around, getting used to how it moves within my grasp. I drop it a couple times, but I pick it right back up and try it again. I refuse to be defenseless in this world, no matter how long I'm trapped here.

I practice and practice until the sun is nearly completely over the hills, then rush to put the sword away and run back to town. Once I arrive, I hurry back to my room to get washed up. I know everyone has the day off today, so I assume I'll bump into people on my way in.

Sure as shit, Hange rounds the corner at the same time I do in the hallway. We nearly bump into each other and I'm startled by her being startled, dropping a pile of papers on the ground.

"Sorry about that, Hange! Let me help you..." I say, bending down to get a few loose pieces by my feet.

"That's ok! They were all disorganized anyway. Where are you off to in such a rush, anyway?"

"I like to go for a run in the morning sometimes. It helps me wake up, and I like the fresh morning air!" I say quickly, covering my tracks.

We stand up and Hange tilts her head to the side a little, her glasses glinting in the morning light. "Huh. Well run yourself over to my lab any time today, I'm working on something groundbreaking! I just have to share it!" She says, excitedly rushing off to her office to, I assume, report her data.

I exhale, relieved it wasn't Levi. As much as I'd like to see that bored, unamused, pretty face of his, now is not the time. I still need to bathe, and he would see right through my lie. He would probably see the blisters on my hands too from squeezing the wooden handle of the faux sword I was training myself with.

After I bathe, I get myself ready to venture out to find something to eat. Behind me, I can hear voices that are saying my exact thoughts.

"Man, am I starving!"

"Don't you always have food with you?"

I turn around to see Sasha and Connie complaining about how hungry they are. I walk towards them, waving and wearing a friendly smile. "Hey, you two! I was just headed out to get food, do you want... to..." I trail my words as I watch Sasha take an entire prepared sandwich out of the inner pocket of her jacket. "Sasha... where did you even have room to pack that thing?" I say as the three of us laugh.

"I'll never reveal my secrets!" She says, chomping down into her first bite. As we laugh, a few more familiar faces round the corner and join in with us as Sasha downs her entire sandwich. Armin, Mikasa and Eren offer to spend some time with us while they had the chance, and I feel completely included. These people, even though they've been through hell, still have so much friendship and love in their hearts. They didn't mind making room for one other person. even though I wasn't a cadet.

The closer it got to nightfall, I pull Mikasa aside. She adjusts her red scarf around her neck as the chilled wind picks back up again as night approaches, and stands by the window with me.

"Yeah, (F/N)?"

"Mikasa, I know you more than anyone would understand where I'm coming from, and that's why I'm asking you for you help."

She looks at me with curious eyes, waiting for me to continue.

"I need you to train with me."

"Are you out of your mind, (F/N)?" She asks, her eyes getting bigger.

"Mikasa, just think about it. If it weren't for you guys, I'd be titan food the moment it got a hold of me. I need to be able to protect myself if I'm going to be behind this wall in case another disaster comes along. I'm too damn scared of what will happen to me if I can't defend myself and I have to rely on others to protect me! Please, Mikasa. Help me."

Her eyes return to her normal round, tired expression as she looks down and holds her scarf to her chin. "Alright, I'll help you."

"Thank you!" I gleam at her.

"But don't think I'm going easy on you. You have to take this seriously if you want any chance of fighting for yourself." She says, determined.

"Right." I nod with my face serious, ready to go.

We agree to train together at night, when no one will be awake to catch us, and then return before day break. I realize I'm asking a lot of her, but she's one of the strongest of the cadets and I know I can trust her. She would do anything for a friend.