Dual Wings

Chapter 12

We must choose to take the path of least regret, I always said
But when the moment comes to make the choice,
What if your life slips out of my hands?

Levi's POV:

       The pages swirled into a familiar face.
      Ugh... It was hers.

      I placed the book on my nightstand and winced at the ceiling. The black image, formed by my eyelids, now radiated with saturated orange light. I shook the picture loose and glanced back at the cover of my novel. Staying up late thinking was a daily occurrence for me, but never thinking about someone.
       The mere thought made me shudder as I rested my back on the headboard. Even the climax of my narrative didn't faze my thoughts. Something must be wrong with me.
I paced around the room, careful not to wake the others, until my legs were sore so I could finally get some sleep, blinking repeatedly to get Petra out of my head.
      After 30 minutes of pacing, I collapsed on the armchair, where I did most of my sleeping. After the auburn-haired woman, a new new pestering thought burst into my mind.
       The upcoming expedition.
      I'm quite sure I'll survive the expedition, along with Eren. Eld, Oluo, and Petra will probably also come out alive. After all, I hand-picked them. Erwin and Hange are too experienced to die on a small expedition. Many of the rookies will meet their end, but that's what they signed up for as scouts...
       And yet that nagging demon would creep in behind my ears and whisper the worst outcomes.
       "What should happen jf Eren gets devoured while you were fighting a different titan?"
      Preposterous. Simply impossible.
      "Or if Erwin or Hange should suffer major injuries?"
      They're too skilled to slip like that.
      "And what if Petra can't defend herself and gets eaten in one bite?"
      I wouldn't let that happen.
     I smirked, trying to feel confident, but it didn't work well. I truly didn't know about the future, and what would happen. And even if I could, any mistake made could alter the future entirely.
      "I want to live somewhere in the outskirts of Wall Maria. Or maybe even outside the walls! In a small wood cabin with sheep. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
       She was so hopeful, so excited about the "bright" future ahead of her. Even if it was a foolish dream, knowing that there were still people like that... So truly motivated...
      I looked towards the ceiling again and allowed myself a fleeting smile.
     I don't think I'd like to live in a cabin. Drowsiness slowly hypnotized my limbs and mind as I rested back in the chilled chair. A simple life wouldn't be too bad, though. The fresh air, the glimmering sun, the knee-high grass. Someone to help me make tea everyday. Not bad at all...

Time skip to later:

      "Captain!"
      Petra was locked behind the grimy yellow bars of a titan's mouth, screaming those words over and over again. Tears flooded her eyes and she began to beg and screech hysterically. Everytime the titan's jaw closed by and inch, her bellows raised an octave.
And throughout it all, I could not move.
       I tried to punched my fucking legs to just run towards her, do something. Why couldn't they move? I tried to yell out as a distraction (to me or the titan?) but my ajar mouth couldn't produce even a fraction of a whisper. Her face was enveloped in horror as she gaped at me. I attempted to struggle free out of my ice encasing but only my pupils could move, and Petra was the only thing in my field of vision.
       And then the only thing left was her muffled screams.
       When the muffled screams came to an end, my breathing and heartbeat did the same.
       For a few somnolent, shadowy moments, the titan licked its blood-glossed lips and skipped away, beaming from ear to ear. When the titan was but a dot on the horizon, I fainted on the grassy floor.

       My eyes darted open, stinging from the cold sweat that trickled down my forehead. Was that all a nightmare? That fearful paralysis was all fake? My breaths stabilized and I noticed quiet breathing on my left and sharply turned.
      "Petra?! What are you doing in my room?!" Her face was flushed and I quickly made sure all of my bare chest was covered by the blanket.
      "You were screaming in your sleep. I just wanted to make sure you were okay..." she trailed off, embarrassed. Then she looked back into my eyes and soldierly said, "I'll knock next time." A few seconds passed of awkward shuffling until I realized it was my turn to speak.
       "Thank you for being concerned about me, but please knock next time." My voice came out slightly desperately and she nodded uncomfortably. She quickly got up from her chair and turned her head back to me.
      "Erm, don't you want to sleep in your bed?" I frowned.
      "No, the chair is just fine." She bit her lip and began to rapidly apologize. Then she scurried out the door and closed it gracefully.
       "Goodnight, Captain!" I heard her happily say outside the door. A shadow smile formed on my face.
      "Sleep well, Petra."

*Blushes cutely* I need one more idea! First come first serve!
Next chapter is a half chapter (m/l non-Rivetra) and remember to vote the chapters you like and stay tuned for updates. On Winter break, I probably will take more time in between chapters so be aware of that. Please keep reading (I'm so depressed from my lack of fans, lol)!