Haunted Hearts (Levi Ackerman x OC)

Chapter 11

When I awaken again, the room is dim, and it takes me a moment to recognize where I am. Still in the infirmary, but no longer hooked up to any wires or lines. Slowly, I get out of the bed, my legs slightly unsteady. I guess that's what getting your ass kicked by a Titan will do.

I make my way to the bathroom, but I pause as I hear conversation outside of my door. I can hear the murmur of voices, one of them unmistakably Captain Levi's. I try to make out the words, but it's too muffled to understand. 

The door creaks open, and I quickly pretend as though I wasn't eavesdropping. Fortunately, it's just the nurse.

"Oh good," she says, "you're finally on your feet!"

"Just trying to go to the bathroom," I murmur, unable to help my glance out of the cracked door. The Captain is already gone.

"Well, don't push yourself too hard," the nurse fusses over me, gently guiding me to the bathroom.

I bite my lip in contemplation, considering whether or not I should ask about the Captain. Ultimately, I decide against it. 

After I finish in the bathroom, I walk slowly back to my bed.

"Thank you for the help," I start, "I'm feeling quite tired."

"Of course, miss," the nurse responds, leaving my room to allow me some peace.

--- TIMESKIP ---

After two more days in the infirmary, I am finally cleared to go back to training. I nervously make my way to the mess hall, and I feel as though everyone's eyes are on me. Sasha is quick to spot me, immediately running up to my side.

"Are you okay?" she exclaims, causing me to wince from the residual throbbing in my head. 

"Stellar," I respond curtly, "but why is everyone staring at me?"

"You don't know?" she gasps.

I look at her expectantly.

"Everyone is talking about you, Gail. How you saved Armin. How the Captain--" she trails off.

"How the Captain what?" I ask.

She shifts uncomfortably on her feet, "He's angry, Gail. And not just his usual angry. Training has been ... less than ideal, to say the least."

"Angry?" I ask, trying to mask my unease.

"I don't know, Gail..." Sasha hesitates "I don't think he takes well to ... to disobeying orders."

I scoff at her statement, "Armin would have died if I wouldn't have intervened."

"I know!" Sasha reassures, "You just ... shook things up a bit, that's all."

I roll my eyes and quietly grab my food. If saving a friend means 'shaking things up', then so be it. 

The rest of the morning passes by in a blur, as I navigate continual questions with a dull ache pulsing in my head. I can feel the eyes of the other Scouts on me, their whispering trailing behind me. 

When it's time for training, I do my best to focus -- to prove that I am fine. But the moment Captain Levi steps into the training grounds, the air changes. I move to attention, not wanting to face his wrath my first day back.

"At ease, Cadets," Levi's voice is sharp as he glances at each one of us, "Today's training is going to test your agility and stamina. Most of you have seen real action by now. Play time is over. If anyone falls behind, you'll run extra drills until you can keep up."

Nervous murmurs ripple through the crowd. I understand why Sasha warned me.

We start with the usual exercises -- running laps, navigating obstacles with our ODM gear, and practicing formations. I push myself to keep pace with the others, but before long, I feel the throbbing in my head worsen and the burning in my muscles from lack of use. 

I am determined to show that I'm not the weak link, but during our final round of running, I start to fall behind. I cross the finish line, but a full 30 seconds behind the other Cadets.

"Gail, keep running," Levi calls out, "The rest of you, dismissed."

"Captain, I--" I try to explain, feeling approximately two seconds away from passing out.

"Did I stutter?" he glares at me, daring me to challenge him, "Run."

I grit my teeth and start to run again, my legs aching with every step. My head feels like it's spinning, but I am determined to show that I am strong.

"Captain, she's still recovering," Eren interjects.

"Yeah, she probably just needs a little time to catch back up--" Jean adds.

"Were my instructions unclear, Cadets," Levi hisses, "Those who fall behind run extra. If you knew what was good for you, you would shut up. Unless you want to join her, of course."

"I'm...fine..." I huff out, pushing myself to continue.

The other Cadets look at me with concern, but they know better than to challenge the Captain. One by one, they slowly leave the training field. I don't know how long I run before the Levi finally orders me to halt. By then, my legs are trembling, and I collapse to the ground.

Levi strides over, his expression cold as ice, "Get up." 

I push myself off the ground, but I can't manage more than a crouch.

"Why are you doing this?" I breath.

"You need to learn your limits," he replies, his tone hard.

"My limits? That's what this is about?" I snap angrily, "I'm so sorry that I embarrassed you in front of your squad, but Armin's life is more important to me than your precious reputation!"

Levi's jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he is going to hit me. Instead, he takes a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerously quiet whisper.

"What this is about, Gail," he starts, his breath sending a shiver down my spine, "is that you can't get it through your thick skull that your life isn't expendable. You throw yourself into danger without a thought of what the consequences may be."

"I did what was necessary," I retort in frustration, "You were all ready to leave Armin for dead!"

"And what if you had died, Gail? Huh?" Levi's voice rises, and I see his cold exterior starting to crack, "Did you ever stop to think about that? How that would have affected my squad? How I--"

"How you what ..." I question, my curiosity piqued. My voice is now barely above a whisper.

"You have been reckless since the moment you got here," he responds, his tone sharp once again, "Constant insubordination. Never following orders. You may have gotten lucky this time, but keep going along like this, and you're going to get yourself killed."

He is angry, sure, but something in his voice almost seems ... fearful. I drop my head in shame, realizing that he has a point.

"I'm sorry," I murmur, my voice barely audible, "I didn't mean to--I just..."

Levi stares at me for a long moment, not saying a word. Although stoic, his eyes don't seem as cold as before.

"I've been in the Scouts for years, Gail. There's a reason we do things the way we do," he responds firmly.

"I know..." I trail off.

He turns on his heel, starting to walk away. 

"Wait," I call out, grabbing his wrist and surprising us both.

His eyes widen at he glances at my hand. Our eyes meet, and it feels like time pauses for a moment.

"Thank you," I say, my voice trembling slightly, "For saving me, I mean."

He continues to stare at me for a moment, his expression a mix of unreadable emotions.

"Tch," he mutters, looking away "just don't make a habit of it."

This time, he walks away for good, leaving me standing in the middle of the field. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest and my mind racing with questions I'm not sure I'm ready to answer.