Birdie (Levi x OC)

sixty-two

The railroad was complete, and, alongside preparing for the covert mission to Marley in two months, my focus had immediately shifted to utilizing the new alliance's technology to modernize the military.

I was deep inside my workspace at headquarters, surrounded by schematics and samples of imported fabric. Armin and Onyankopon were with me, pouring over design specifications.

The shift in our capabilities was jarring. The outside world's technology had allowed for staggering improvements: we were designing new Survey Corps uniforms that were lighter, more durable, and resistant to environmental extremes, replacing our crude ODM gear with streamlined, maintenance-friendly models. Onyankopon's expertise was invaluable, filling in the knowledge gaps we'd suffered from for a century. The work was demanding, but for the first time, it felt like we were preparing to fight on even footing.

Of course, the initial hope was that a path to peace with the outside world would open. However, as the weeks and months advanced, that possibility grew steadily dimmer. The necessity of war preparation was therefore in full, unrelenting swing.

We were comparing the strength of a synthetic cable sample to our old, stiff steel wire when the exhaustion hit me again. It wasn't simple tiredness; it was a physical blow. The numbers on the page dissolved into meaningless blurs. My head suddenly swam, and the air seemed to thin out, forcing a dizzying panic. I gripped the edge of the large drafting table, but the movement was too fast.

"Birdie, are you alright?" Armin's concerned voice was muffled and distant, sounding like it was coming from the end of a long tunnel.

Onyankopon reacted instantly, his dark eyes narrowing with alarm as he took in my pale face. "You're dizzy," he stated, moving to support me.

I quickly pushed off the table and waved away his hand, forcing a dismissive smile that felt brittle on my face. "No, no, I'm fine. Just overtired," I insisted, rubbing my temples. "The rail line pushed us all too hard, and these numbers are just blurring together. My brain is fried." I didn't give them time to argue, pointing to a flaw on the blueprint.

I immediately diverted their attention back to the work, determined to prove the incident was nothing more than temporary fatigue. The intense, unexplained exhaustion had finally subsided when a second, fiercer wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to lean heavily against the table, my breath coming in shallow bursts.

"That's not just exhaustion, Birdie," Armin stated, pushing his chair back instantly. "I'll go get the Captain."

"No!" I snapped, the urgency in my voice stopping Armin instantly. I forced myself upright, fighting the vertigo. "Don't. Don't worry him; he's so busy with the upcoming Marley mission. Just... grab me a canteen of water, Armin. Please."

Armin looked at me warily before reluctantly nodding. "Okay..."

As Armin quickly moved to the corner of the room, the dizziness finally receded, leaving only the familiar, deep ache of weariness. I pushed myself fully upright and forced a wide, steady smile onto my face, turning back to Onyankopon.

"See?" I said, the cheerfulness brittle. "It's nothing. Just a dizzy spell. I told you, I just need a good night's sleep to shake off this exhaustion. Let's finish this calculation, then I'll call it a day."

I picked up the pencil, my hand betraying only a slight tremor, and immediately focused on the chart. Both Armin, returning with the water, and Onyankopon watched me with unconvinced, worried stares, but I didn't give them room to argue, determinedly forcing the conversation back onto the numbers.

~

The bedroom was silent when Levi finally returned. I was in bed already, sat up and brushing the days knots out of my hair. Levi opened the door to the bedroom and gave me a glance, his expression unreadable.