Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 42: Plight of the Shifter

Levi found something to hate with nearly every fiber of his being: broken legs. If it was just his arm, he could still walk and potentially use ODM gear. Since it was his leg, he could do nothing but sit, limp, or lie down. It didn't help that Hanji was acting like a fucking nurse every time he stood up to go do something, making sure he didn't "overexert himself." He probably had Erwin to thank for that. At least he wasn't watching the pastor anymore. One less migraine to deal with.

"I think I'll kill you tonight, Four-Eyes," he said as he watched her pour his own tea. "Make it look like an accident. In your excitement, you tripped down the stairs and cracked your head open."

"Nice try, Levi," she replied, undeterred by his threat. Not even the bandages on her wounds could stop her. "You'd find yourself getting acquainted with the noose if you did that."

"At least I'd have my dignity back," Levi muttered as he drank his tea before spitting it out. "You put sugar in this?"

"I always put sugar in my tea," Hanji explained.

"This isn't your tea, Shitty-Glasses," he growled, his temper flaring up once more. "You know what? Just get me some fucking water. You can't screw that up."

"Someone's in a bad mood," she muttered while she filled up a glass from the sink.

"Commander Erwin took me off the field thanks to that psychic bitch, and now you're playing nurse. Of course I'm pissed off." Levi shook his head. "No, not just that. Leonhart. She's been keeping secrets from us."

"I can understand why she did," Hanji admitted, handing him the glass. "Would you put all your faith in the people you were against?"

"This isn't about me; it's about what we're going to do about her." Levi grimaced as he drank the water. It wasn't the cleanest liquid, but he dealt with it. "We need to know the full extent of what she's hiding."

"Torture can only get us so much," Hanji explained. "Technically, it's impossible to know everything about a person."

Levi stared at the water, mulling it over. "No... no it's not. People lie, but memories don't."

Hanji gave him a look of surprise. "You really think they're gonna go for it?"

"You think I'm gonna give them a choice in the matter? I know what those damn Psions are capable of, and we've got one at our disposal. Let's make him useful."

"Big brother..."

Hanji gave a yelp when the glass fell from Levi's hand and shattered onto the ground, spilling water and shards all over the wooden floor. When she looked at the captain, she saw that his hand was shaking a bit, but it was gone in a second. "Levi-"

"Don't," he warned, his eyes locked on the mess he made. "Don't go there."

She knelt to his level. There was no joy to be found in her face. Only deep concern for her friend. "Levi, I was there for you when you lost Isabel and Farlan. I wasn't a shoulder you could cry on. That's not your style, but I was there for you."

"You can't do anything for me, Hanji," Levi said quietly. "It's my own demons I have to deal with. They'll fade. They always do."

Hanji let out a sigh, but she dropped the matter while she cleaned up the mess he made.

Levi pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to calm the voices. Elise awakened them, and that was unforgivable. Leonhart killing her was the best thing she could've done, but it still didn't silence them. The opened wound would take a while to heal. Until then, he would suffer whatever his thoughts had in store for him.

The castle began to shake in rhythm, signaling the arrival of a Titan. Naturally, Hanji quickly outfitted herself with ODM gear before taking off towards the castle entrance while Levi limped after her. Not much he could do, but he wasn't content to sit down and wait until the danger had passed.