Your Wings - Reader X Levi Ackerman

Chapter 11: The Forgotten Fortress

 The path had been winding for what feels like hours, the terrain growing more rugged as you and the Levi squad ventured farther from HQ. Dust clung to each of your cloaks, the weight of the task settling on your shoulders. You were far from civilization now, nearing your destination—a secluded, abandoned castle said to be your new temporary headquarters which had been left to rot for years.

"How much further is it?" Petra asked, wiping sweat from her brow, her orange hair strands sticking to her face.

"Not much," Levi replied, sitting stiff-backed in the saddle ahead of her. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, always on alert. "It's just up ahead."

After a few more minutes, you could make out the outline of the structure up ahead. The castle, nestled deep in the forest, loomed like a ghost from a forgotten age. The closer you got the more detail you can see. Its stone walls were weathered, the roof sagging in places, vines creeping up its sides. It looked anything but welcoming.

"This is where we're supposed to train this kid's titan powers?" Oluo muttered under his breath, trying and failing to hide the sarcasm. "What's next, rebuilding it by hand?"

Levi shot him a glare that could freeze fire. "That's exactly what we're doing."

A thin, dark haired boy with teal colored eyes rode just behind Levi, tensed slightly. Before departing, he was dropped off by Erwin where he introduced himself as Eren Yeager. There wasn't really any time for further introductions so you're left with your mind wandering. As you rode behind him, you see his shoulders were squared, but there was a nervous energy about him. You noticed it immediately, your eyes flicking to him now and then. Since he had joined the squad, there had been this unspoken distance between him and the others, something... unsteady.

"Cheer up, Eren," Hange said cheerfully as it seems she too noticed his uneasy look, her glasses catching the rays of the sun. "This place will be perfect for you! Remote, isolated, tons of space for us to experiment your titan abilities. Doesn't it give you that sense of adventure?"

"If by adventure, you mean the kind where there's a possibility of getting eaten by titans, sure," Oluo muttered, barely loud enough to hear.

But Eren just nodded, eyes fixed on the crumbling castle ahead. "I'll do my best."

You didn't miss the way his jaw tightened slightly. You've heard whispers between other soldiers about him during training, how hard he pushed himself and now all of a sudden being a shifter... how much weight he's carrying for someone so young. There was a kind of determination in his eyes that reminded you of the others, of Levi especially.

You finally arrive to the gates of the dwindling structure. Dismounting, the squad gazed up at the castle's towering walls, casting long shadows over the overgrown courtyard. It wasn't much to look at, but it would have to do.

"We're staying here for the foreseeable future," Levi said, stepping forward to inspect the grounds. His hand reached out, brushing against the stone wall and crushing the dirt between his fingers as specks fall to the floor. "Which means it's going to be cleaned. Properly."

Oluo rolled his eyes but said nothing. Hange lets out a small chuckle, "Well I'm sorry to you all but me and Eren have some very much needed experimentation to do so we'll just slip on over here-" 

"That includes you too. Your lousy experiments can wait until tomorrow." Levi sternly says. 

"Does it really have to be spotless? It's a castle! Think of the history buried in this dust." She says.

"Then you can bury yourself in it with a broom and a mop," Levi shot back without missing a beat. "This is our new HQ. I expect every inch of it cleaned as soon as possible. I don't want to be sleeping in this dump." He turns to face everyone. "Understood?"