His Wounded Heart Beats For One (Levi x Reader Fanfiction)

4: Visitation Hours

You don't bother Erwin with the news of his visitor's impending arrival; the order is ridiculous and you're not going to pander to a disrespectful request just because you were firmly told to do so. Erwin needs to sleep, and some pointless reminder that he'll have a guest tomorrow is extremely unnecessary to share.

Gretel soon returns to her desk, and you tell her about the unexpected guest and the letters for the two doctors. She harrumphs at your tale of the man's mild rudeness, saying she'd like to give the needler a piece of her mind. Not a bad guardian for the entrance to the hospital. You thank her for her stubborn attitude, to which she chuckles and concurs.

The halls stay quiet as time passes, almost all patients asleep and most nurses soundlessly working. You check on the senior officers before heading down the right wing and into one of the two rooms holding the rest of the soldiers.

Inside, tile floors hold up the dozen beds that are stationed like pews in the rectangular space. You stand in the walkway between the beds, looking left and right at the sleeping soldiers. Those that are still awake don't want to be, either suffering through pain too horrible or grief too powerful to ignore. You want to provide consolation to them, but a soft call of your name takes your attention away.

Thea is in the doorway, her hair having loosened slightly over the course of the day. Her exhaustion isn't obvious in the candlelight, and she's sure to hide it to from her demeanor. "Hey," she whispers.

"Hey," you answer softly, immediately leaving the room and letting the occupants inside rest. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. Just finished settling a shaken gentleman." She looks down the hall, perhaps remembering the ordeal. "Most everyone is out for the night. Even most of the nurses are asleep."

"Yeah, it's definitely getting late."

"It is."

You both linger in the void of a hallway, nobody and nothing bothering your tranquility. It's calming, but it allows the dismal emotions to start creeping back into your head. You shake them away and scan the area.

"Um, I wanted you to get some sleep," Thea says. "I tried checking on Clark and Leon earlier, but he just says that you need to be in top shape. So, that's my job to remind you, I guess."

"I...I don't need to rest," you protest. "Yet," is quietly added.

"There's no better time than now. We've got plenty of night shift workers. I'm going to stay up for a few more hours, then trade places with someone else. There's nothing that urgently requires your attention."

She's right, and you have to accept that. Tomorrow will be hectic again, with the addition of visitors and officials looking for reports. It's best to rest now while there's nothing pressing at hand. "Okay. I'll head to bed, here in the hospital."

"You should go to your lodgings."

"But I should—"

"Go to your lodgings." Thea is stern, uncharacteristically so. "Seriously. I really, really want you to get some proper rest. Go to your inn or whatever and sleep in a good bed."

"Gosh, alright." You give in, a bit rattled by the concerned ferocity of your coworker. "Are you sure you'll be alright without me?"

"Yeah. We'll be fine." She smiles again, avoiding tense emotions as much as possible. "You can come back early tomorrow morning. Clark and I will manage until then."

"Well, if you're sure. Have a good night, Thea."

"You as well. Sweet dreams."

Leaving the hospital, you feel the slight chill of the night air as you step into the empty street. Streetlamps flicker, casting blobs of warm light on the cobblestone beneath them. The wind carries the tipsy singing of some drunkard far down the street, his guitarist partner struggling just as much to play along. Otherwise, there's no life in the area.