Yours Truly, Levi

The Fall

"...And that's how I wound up in the Scout Regiment," Levi finishes his story.

"Levi... I had no idea," you reply, mouth agape.

"Of course. I make sure never to talk about it. I don't usually talk about my life... but for some... reason, you seem different. Like I don't have to worry."

Overcome by emotion, before you can stop yourself, you throw your arms around the man sitting next to you. He's warm and smells familiar- like a pine tree and worn leather. He stiffens, as if he had never been hugged before, then, reluctantly,wraps his arms around you in an awkward fashion. You stay like that for a moment, just reveling in his warm embrace, wondering where he'd been all your life. This hug, these arms, this warmth is one that could wipe away your sadness. Your chest expands with a strange feeling, a pleasant, warm sensation that travels throughout your entire body, and your eyes fill with tears. I think I love you...

Levi, in all his inexperience with happiness and affection, the first to let go, standing up awkwardly. "We-we should get back," he says, and you silently nod and follow him.

As you walk, next to and behind him one step. But after about twenty minutes of following Levi through the woods, his cool expression becoming more and more nervous, you finally say what you know you've both been thinking.

"We're lost."

"Yup."

"Now what?"

"I don't know."

You both stand still for a moment, taking in the quiet forest around you. Birds chip and chatter from far above in the treetops, and the wind sings in the distance, a sweet and sorrowful song you almost recognize. A tall pine nearby catches your eye, and without thinking, you leave Levi's side and head to the base of the towering trunk.

"What are you doing?"

Grasping the branches above your head, you hoist yourself up sideways and walk your feet up the trunk. "Climbing! What else?" You hook your legs around the branches and your hands release it, sending you swinging upside down. Your loose shirt falls around your stomach, and you hasten to cover up, tucking the hem in your shorts. Your hair, which as grown to cover your ears, now flows freely in the wind. "Ahh," you say, letting your arms fall relaxed.

Levi makes a snorting sound. "What are you climbing upside-down for? Stay like that too long and all the blood will rush to your empty head and fill the cavity where your brain should've been," he says chidingly. He strolls leisurely to the tree, standing in front of you and smirking at your upside-down face.

You flip your self upright, "accidentally" kicking Levi in the shoulder with your boot.

"Ow, damn it," he says, laughing and rubbing the spot you hit. You stick your tongue out, and he laughs. "Baka. Well, actually, I suppose I deserved that."

"Come on up here," you say, scaling the tree to the very top, where a bird's nest was nestled in the branches. "Check this out."

"What, make a fool of myself and climb a tree?"

"Yes."

He sighs, then follows you, taking the branches one at a time. "This better be worth it," he grunts, shifting his weight onto the base of a branch, the part that stemmed from the trunk.

When he reaches the level you're at and sees the nest, you notice a shadow pass over his face. "Is that... a nest?"

"Yeah! Check it out! This baby bird is about to try to fly!"

You shift back as not to scare the bird, who is small enough to fit comfortably in your palm.

"Careful, little guy," you murmur as the gray bird utters a brave peep and leans, teetering on the edge of the nest. The bird's peep turns into a drawn-out screech of terror as he plummets to the ground. You gasp. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" Time seems to slow down. The bird falling in slow motion past your branch and towards the ground.

Suddenly, the branch you're on jolts. Terrified, you squeeze your eyes shut, unable to comprehend the moment.

When the adrenaline begins to wear off, you open your eyes and see the tree, the branch, the empty nest- but no bird, and no Levi.

From the ground comes a loud THUD, accompanied by the snapping of twigs and crunching of leaves. You look down, and to your surprise, Levi is there, on the ground, his backside facing you. A burst of fear fills your system and you scramble down the tree and kneel next to him.

"Heichou? Captain! Are you okay? Talk to me, Levi!" you shake him gently, and to your relief, he moans.

"Ow."

As carefully as you can, you slide your arms under his chest and push him over on his back. In his hands, injured but somehow still alive, is the baby bird, chirping feebly.

"Levi! Are you hurt?"

"Um- ow- I think- ouch, nope, nope- I am alive," he mutters.

"You can breathe fine? Can you move your arms?"

He moves one arm weakly, then the other, not letting go of the bird.

"Anything broken?"

"I don't know... my ribs hurt..."

You press gently on his chest, and he winces. "Sore or broken?" you ask.

"I don't know..."

"I'm going to check your ribs for bruising and dislocation," you tell him. "I have to cut your shirt off." You take your knife carefully from his pocket and grasp the hem of his shirt, slicing through it to reveal his chest. As you prove his ribs, you notice that under his shirt, his muscles are clearly defined and definitely sexy.

"Ow," he murmurs.

"That's a bruise," you say. "It doesn't seem out of place... so... yeah. Nothing's broken or dislocated," you say, and he nods.

"I think I'll be fine after a moment," he says.

"Levi, you just jumped out of a tree and fell ten feet... to save a bird. You could've died," you say, almost tearing up at the idea. "Why?"

Levi sits up slowly, and you support his back as he does. "I... don't know." He glances at the bird.

You gently take it from him, cradling it in your hands. "He has a broken wing, but he will be fine after a while. Let's bring him to camp, okay?"