Will of the Broken (Levi x OC)

Chapter 68: His Wrath

Warning: descriptive response to emotional pressure. It stems from how I feel when my own anxiety hits. Read at your own risk.

* * * * * * * * * *

When pain wasn't blinding me, I could actually focus on the world around me.

Birds sang in the sky above without shedding a feather out of fear or care for anything happening below them.

A loud, earsplitting, roar tore through the air and I slowly turned to face it's origin.

Surprisingly, they didn't get as far away as I thought they did. Really, the controlled Titans in the distance looked like humans at three times the size.

Not really a big change, but enough for me to watch the fight and not feel the rumbling forest as much.

A stinging sensation rippled through my back to my nape gradually, but it was a pain more manageable than my arm and ribs.

Levi was watching from a branch a few meters away, placing himself between me, the giants, and Mikasa.

She was getting closer to them, as Eren slammed his fist left fist down towards Female Titan's face.

Unfortunately, his fist only made contact with the ground, but the force behind it was enough to damage everything.

The ground under his knuckles caved and cracked open in wild streaks. His knuckles and hand were demolished.

The skin, and muscles up to a small portion behind his elbow completely disconnected from the bone; the sound left behind was a sickening crunch.

Nausea flooded me and I practically had to claw my way onto my feet just to see them better.

This wasn't going well at all. She was good at evading Eren, and even better at making a judgement call.

The hiss of gass filled my ears and someone landed heavily beside me shortly after.

"Section-Commander, we're falling back. How many bodies have you counted?"

What a stupid question. I thought bitterly.

"Several. You may go now. Prepare a wagon to transport corpses. If the Commander refuses, tell him that he will be dealing with me later." I said coldly, disregarding how it may effect the soldier to my left.

"I can't just leave you here! You're bleeding out and look like death itself." They argue, making me look at them directly. Only then do I realize that this person next to me, is a male I've never really talked to before. Alfons Rivera.

"Then you have a choice to make, Rivera. Stay and keep me company, mark the bodies below and get a cart, or you can leave. I was given an order by my Captain, and to disregard what he told me, is insubordination." I bit fiercely, freezing him on the spot.

For a moment, he gaped like a fish out of water, and then he shook his head and looked around below us.

"You still remember my name?" He asked, pacing the branch and counting the bodies below with a flinch.

"I have to review files on all soldiers at least once a month and after each expedition. If I can't identify a body, I have to take roll of everyone remaining. Names are hard to forget. Especially when I have to talk to the families later." I sighed irritatedly, wishing he would leave.

Stop, the pain is making you snappy. Keep it together. Mourn fully later. Deal with it all later.

I had to remind myself who I was behind the pain and grief.