Bonds of Steel and Blood (Levi • OC)

CHAPTER 31 - Flickering Flames

     "Why the hell are you out of bed?!"

     "You're not supposed to be walking yet, Rei!"

     "Where did you go?!"

     Mila, Jasper, and Aiden all started yelling at Reinae the moment they found her in the hallway leading to the Mess Hall. She barely registered any of their words, absentmindedly hugging Aiden back when he grabbed her into a crushing hug.

     "I have bruised ribs, asshole!" she hissed at him when he squeezed her tightly.

     "I was scared shitless," Aiden said, easing the hug.

     She sighed and patted him on his broad back. "I'm sorry."

     "We could've known you'd be playing hero even up here," Jasper said, smiling sadly at Reinae.

     "I wasn't playing hero."

     "Yeah, yeah, tell that to someone who'll believe you," Mila said, swinging her arm over her shoulder, leading her to the Mess Hall. "Let's get you fed. You're as pale as a wall."

     Reinae didn't have much appetite despite ingesting only sweetened water for the past five days when she was unconscious. She was glad to be back with her friends but couldn't stop thinking about the hurt in Levi's voice and the door slamming behind him. He didn't come to the Mess Hall that evening.

     Reinae didn't know how she managed to put on her carefree mask during dinner, chatting with Jasper, Aiden, and Teodor, who were all filling her in on what she'd missed while in the infirmary. Only Mila remained quiet, her big blue eyes scanning Reinae's face as if she were digging into her soul.

     According to the boys, Erwin visited Reinae in the infirmary every day. Eld and Oluo also came to check on her whenever they were free, and Petra even brought flowers into her room. It warmed her heart to hear how much they all cared for her, but still, the smile she gave to those words was forced.

     After she emptied her plate, people started coming to their table. First, her squad, with Eld giving her a harsh earful of how she can never do such a thing again before he hugged her tightly, and Petra literally crying about how awful it was when they tried to stitch up Reinae's leg, and she knocked out a doctor when he tried to get her to take painkillers. Next, three of the men who made it out of the mission alive because of her, including the orange-haired wall of a man who brought Reinae back to Trost when she accordingly collapsed to the ground after eliminating seven titans herself. They each gave her such a heartful thanks that it made her uncomfortable.

     Before they left, the orange-haired man, who introduced himself as Isaac, leaned closer to Reinae and spoke with a gentle baritone.

     "If there's ever anything you need... find me." He smiled at her kindly, then left back to his table.

     She blinked after him in surprise.

     "Maybe next time I'll go and be the savior if it'll bring such handsome men to my table," Mila sighed, eyeing Isaac as he left.

     "It wouldn't bring any men to your table because you'd be crushed to pieces in a forest somewhere," Teo said, dodging Mila's smack.

     When Reinae excused herself, saying she was tired, Mila caught up to her on her way out of the Mess Hall.

     "Rei, what is—"

     "Reinae."

     Erwin's deep voice interrupted Mila as he crossed their path. Reinae froze when she recognized the black-haired figure standing behind the commander.