UNDER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION [BOOK 1] the daughter of a dying bloodline and humanity's strongest soldier find themselves entangled in a web of emotions they never expected to feel. but as the relentless fight towards freedom continues, they wonder if th...
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The courtyard was quiet, so much so that Levi wouldn't have realized the expedition returned if he wasn't already outside. Wagons rolled in, carrying what was left of the fallen. Bodies were wrapped in canvas soaked through with blood, piled one on top of the other and carrying an awful stench.
He told himself not to expect anything. He'd already made peace with the possibility that you weren't coming back. That you'd died somewhere far from here, surrounded by strangers with no one to bury you.
But despite himself, he kept looking. He strained his neck higher, scanning every face. C'mon, Adeline. Where are you?
He finally locked eyes with a familiar face. Hange was riding alongside a cart of dead and wounded soldiers. She looked the worst for wear, with burn marks splotching her skin in various places. Even she looked ahead in detachment until she saw Levi. Her expression softened as she entered the courtyard and dismounted her horse.
"Hey." She said, as Levi approached.
"How many did we lose?"
"Too many to count." Hange tried to keep her voice low.
"I see." He stretched his head behind Hange, still trying to catch a glimpse of you.
"Levi..." Hange sighed, picking up instantly on his thoughts.
"Where is she?"
She frowned and pointed to the carriage behind her, "Jean found her. She's still breathing but... It's bad."
His heart sank at those words but he steadied his breath, pushing past the Section Commander without another word. He halted at the edge, staring down in silence at the grim scene. Bodies were piled one atop the other, dirt and blood masking their faces. Among them, just barely separated from the fallen, lay you.
Bruises and red angry cuts covered your skin and your breathing was labored. But his eyes immediately landed on your leg. A makeshift splint held it together, hastily bound in old bandages that had soaked through probably hours ago.
Hange came up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder in solidarity. "I know you care about her. Even if you won't say it," she murmured. "We'll do everything we can. But I can't promise anything, Levi."
He didn't answer. His mind was swirling.
Then he saw the necklace resting against your collarbone, still fastened around your neck. The one he'd bought without a second thought, back when there was time for such a thing.
He cursed. It almost would have been easier if you had died. Now he might be there to see it happen instead.
Without a word, he reached in and lifted you into his arms. You didn't jolt awake. There was no smart comment this time, nor a right hook to the chin. Your hand slipped loose and swung with his steps as he turned away from the cart.
