WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Chapter 9

(Chapter notes: I may or may not modernize a few things here and there and do not be alarmed if and when the fourth wall gets broken)

Kino and I made our way down to the medical ward and were greeted by an ever enthusiastic Hanji.

"She agreed?"

"She doesn't know why we're here yet." I corrected. We walked in and saw the room was outfitted with monitors surrounding a small operating table. Heichou and the Commander came in behind us. Heichou huffed a greeting to Hanji and promptly find himself a spot to comfortably watch the exam.

"Are we ready to begin?" Erwin asked brightly.

Squad Leader Hanji shook her head and poured a clear solution into a small cup. "Not quite. We still need to sedate the subject." All eyes fall on us. I feel Akinomy grip the hem of my shirt.

"Commander," I began. "would it be too much to ask everyone to leave."

"Yes it is." Heichou answered for him.

Erwin cut him a look. "May I ask why."

To let her get comfortable." I explained. "She'll fight the whole way if she feels threatened."

"We aren't threatening her though." Squad leader assured me.

"She doesn't know that."

Commander Erwin looks around the room for a moment then orders everyone out. Then, he left as well dragging Heichou with him. "You have twenty minutes."

Hanji rushes back in and pushes a cup into my hands. "Have her drink this."

The door shuts and I am left alone with Akinomy. I lead her over to the operating table and help her onto it. The look on her face told me she knew something was up. I hold her hand. "Hey, relax. They just want to check and make sure you aren't sick."

She leans forward and rests her chin on our joined hands. I pick up the cup I got from Hanji and hand it to her. "Drink this. It will make you sleepy." She looks up at me with a sad expression in her eyes. "I'll be here when you wake up. I promise."

She stares into the cup and wrinkles her nose a few times. Finally, she took a drink. A few minutes later she was asleep and the examiners were making their way back into the room. I was shuffled out of the way and soon found myself forced into a chair next to Heichou.

"Umm. Commander? How long will this take?"

"I don't really know." He thought. "About two hours."

Oh great.

The exam goes well for about the first hour and a half, but when Hanji points out a peculiar pattern of scaring on Kino's shoulder, Heichou left looking agitated. After several minutes of reassuring Hanji that she did nothing wrongs he test resumed.

(Levi's POV)
I realized long ago to let Erwin think he's convinced me into doing things. It's much simpler than trying to explain myself. This is one of those times.

I sat in a corner of the room that gave me an optimal viewing position while allowing me to maintain my "I don't want to be here" facade. After a few minutes of shuffled organizing, Hanji began narrating the exam.

"I think it's best to work from the top down, don't you?" She asked her team. They agreed and then she turned to me. "What do you think Levi?"

"Why the fuck should I care?" I didn't bother hiding my annoyance.

"Is it wrong to value your opinion?" I cut her a look that would kill most people.

Erwin smiled at her. "You do as you see fit Hanji. We trust you."

She smiled a smile that made me worry about the girl for a moment.

Hanji began by undoing the single braid that held back what turned out to be a quite voluminous and lengthy amount of hair. Almost like...nevermind. After "combing" through in search of lice and other disgusting things that nest in filthy people's hair, the girl was deemed clean. Hanji turned to me with a shit eating grin.

"Levi!" She sing songed. "Are you sure you don't want to help? Your standards of clean are much higher than mine."

I watched her unamused. "Sorry. Too constipated to move."

The next parts of the kid's head check off despite her having a bum tooth. After Arlert finished begging Hanji to leave it, she moved down to inspect the tonsils, thyroids, and breathing.

She goes on to check for breast lumps and digestive abnormalities. About half an hour later, she was done. With the medical part of the exam. Now we (as in Hanji) were going to look at scares and see if there were any identifiable markings. In other words, my moment of truth. Working from the feet up, Hanji documented every scratch and scar she saw.

I zoned out for awhile but was brought back by a select group of words.

"There seems to be a pattern cut into her shoulder."

Before I know what I am doing I am next to Hanji and looking at the pattern myself. There it was. Cut into her skin was the same design I remember. A sunflower, she had told me. To remind her of the days when the sun would shine on her.

Moments later I was outside and heading somewhere. I wasn't sure where I was going, but I knew what I was looking for.