Titans Rule, Levi Ackerman UNDER EDITING

(43) Yelena.

~Amelia's POV~

After our little excursion to the beach, we decided to set up some lookouts near the port. We needed to keep an eye on the horizon now that it was safe to be outside the Walls. The uneventful year ominously weighed down on us, feeding into our paranoia that we could be wiped out at any minute. Why had no one come for us when they seemed determined to clear us out a year ago? Had they secretly been invading us from under our noses and we had already lost the battle? Just how advanced was their arsenal and how on earth were we supposed to hold our own against them? This was the spiral I had been falling down every time I closed my eyes in the past year.

I sat up from my sleeping bag, rubbing my tired eyes awake. My mind was too busy to sleep so, I decided to offer myself up as lookout and give whoever was on duty an early night. I might as well do something rather than stare blankly at the banal fabric of the roof of my tent.

Pulling myself through the entrance to my tent, I searched for the one source of light left, signalling where the lookout would be. My search led me closer and closer to the shore, the sound of waves crashing against rocks becoming louder as I approached. A shiver travelled up my body as the brisk sea air made my hair stand on end.

"What are you doing awake?" I had been so caught up in watching the ocean that I hadn't realised that the lookout had noticed my presence.

"Couldn't sleep. I suspect that it's the same for you." Of course, Levi was the one on lookout being the insomniac that he was.

Levi nodded, pulling out a flask of hot liquid and offering it to me. "Here, this should warm you up a bit," he offered. I opened the half-drunken flask, the smell of tea emanating into the air.

"Thank you," I took a tentative sip, trying not to burn my tongue on the steaming liquid. "I was originally coming to offer to switch places with whoever was here. But I guess there's no need if you're already here." I handed the flask back to him and started to head back to my tent.

"Wait," Levi called out. "I'm not sure if I'll be able to drink all of this by myself."

A smile rose to my lips. "I did only have one sip. It would be a shame if it went to waste," I chuckled. Levi still struggled to express himself, but I've become fluent in his ways.

Side-by-side, we returned to his perch on the rocks. A blanket was laid out, likely to stop his uniform from getting dirty. The lantern I saw from afar was placed on top of it. Cozy.

We sat a reasonable distance away from each other, staring out into the pitch-black water. "It's crazy to think that we really made it here." I continued the conversation.

Levi took another swig of his tea and then offered it to me. "It sure is. I remember when all those brats seemed to discuss was the damned ocean. I'll have to admit, I didn't believe what they were saying was true, but I could feel their passion. And it's a lot more passion than most of the people on this shitty island have."

"I couldn't agree more," I smiled at the memory of promising myself that I would get the kids here and I did. We did. Then, my mind wandered to Eren and how he was acting this afternoon. "But I have to say, I'm worried about Eren. Ever since he closed off his mind to me, I feel like he's been slipping further and further into the darkness. I try and talk to him but he won't reveal anything to me. I know people grow up but, I miss the kid that he used to be."

The air grew heavy. Levi didn't respond, and yet I knew he agreed with me from the deep furrow in his brow. I knew that he was just as concerned as I was, as everyone was. Eren was unpredictable and that kept us on edge.

The conversation died down after that. The combination of having Levi next to me and the soothing wave sounds was lulling me to sleep. I felt my body slump onto his and he didn't do anything to stop me. It wasn't as if it was the first time it had happened.