Remembrance ; Levi

C. 15 | Lashing

The streets were filled with lively people. It was like Wall Maria had never been breached, or that Titans roamed just on the other side.

You watched them from above, your eyes landing on a child. A child that was stealing a loaf of bread.

Watching the hungry child, your heart clenched, but you moved on, leaping to the next building, your eyes scanning the residents.

You noted the many elders, and widows. 'Their husbands...their families- they're all gone.'

'How long is this going to last? How long is humanity going to suffer?'

You jumped from the roof of the short house, landing on your feet, slightly startling a woman.

She made a face. "To think our taxes are going towards people like them..." She muttered, walking away.

You held your head high as you walked away, ignoring her words. "You think you're so good?!" The woman turned around, and screamed at you, causing you to jump a little in surprise.

'Wha?'

You walked a little quicker, but felt something hard hit your back. You turned around, just in time- catching the woman with a rock in her hand, ready to throw.

"You're just wandering the streets! Why aren't you saving us- and sacrificing yourselves?!"

'Why indeed?' You mused, trying not to pick a fight. So you turned around, and walked away.

"Ungrateful brats!" She screamed after you.

You almost toppled as you felt another hard stone hit your back. 'Is she really pelting me with stones?'

"Ma'am, are-" You turned around, another rock hitting your stomach, causing you to fall onto one knee, your face down. 'Ow...'

You heard murmurs from on-watchers, who were eyeing you two.

'It hurts...'

"Excuse me ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to stop."

You looked up as you felt someone's shadow cover you. "Levi?" You croaked softly.

He looked back, the usual stoic expression replaced with the faintest of a smile. "You're just the type to do this." He said, helping you up.

You still clutched your stomach, but the pain was slowly fading away. "Thanks." You whispered in his ear.

The woman glared at Levi. "You- Captain. You let this girl traumatize me?"

The crowd stirred.

'What?'

"She started screaming at me! So I threw a small rock at her in defense!" The woman yelped, a clearly false expression of hurt across her face.

"It's okay...she's...just bitter. About the Titans. About everything. It's not her fault." You whispered in his ear.

"I know it isn't."

You swayed on your feet, as you felt your world spin.

"She started screaming, you say?" He asked. The woman nodded frantically. "Something about how she hated fighting the Titans!"

At this, you wanted to laugh, but right now- it hurt to even breath.

Levi did laugh. Strangely enough, it sounded like a genuine laugh. "The (Y/N) I know would never say that."

The lady paled as he laughed. She turned even more white as Levi finished.

"E-excuse me." She scurried away.

The crowd seemed to slowly disperse as she disappeared, but the murmurs continued.

Levi looked over to you.

"Hey- (Y/N)?" His voice shook you awake. "Yeah?" You mumbled, wanting to take a seat. Your feet stumbled towards him.

"Levi...I'm tired." You stumbled into a nearby pond, the cold water splashing everywhere as you fell into it.

"Seriously...you're so troublesome." He sighed, wrapping his cape over you as he practically dragged you up.

___

The moment Levi opened the door to your bedroom, you wanted to collapse onto your bed.

Strange stares were given to you as you walked through the halls, shivering but wrapped up in Levi's cloak.

"Wait." Levi impatiently tapped his foot against the floor. "Go change before you sleep." He was about to leave, when you stumbled as you made your way towards your dresser again.

He watched you as you almost face-planted with the dresser. "Can you wake up?" He muttered, annoyed as he grabbed a shirt and pants for you.

He pressed them to you. "You're changing by yourself."

"I have...a tank-top on..." You mumbled, your eyes closing. "I'll call Mikasa then. Wake up!" Levi shook you back and forth.

You were about to shuffle back to the bed again.

"Fine. I'll help with the top only." He sighed as he started to unbutton your shirt. You nearly fell on top of him, half-asleep.

The coldness against your skin hit you hard, causing your eyes to flutter open. You watched Levi check your back.

You heard a 'tch.'

"She really went all out with her rocks." He stated.

You felt a finger touching your skin, causing you to wince from the pain. "Is it...bad?" You croaked.

"There's bruises. You'll live, so shut up and let me dress you."

You shut your mouth, and wiggled into the shirt Levi held above you as he helped.

Now he grabbed your wet shirt. "Go change your pants and then you can sleep."

"Yes, Lev." You said, a small smile dancing on your lips.

As soon as your heard the door close, you threw off your pants, wiggling into your new ones, and snuggled into bed.