A New Companion | Attack On Titan

2: A Semi-Normal Life

Levi's POV

My large apartment was full of friends that found out I was back, via four eyes. I didn't want to have a party happen at my place, but being that it was with friends I haven't seen in eight years, I was ok with it though.

As long as they clean up after themselves.

Everyone was busy putting up my Christmas decorations for the first time in years. I would usually dress the place myself, but with my leg the way it is, Erwin insisted they do it for me. So, I'm sitting here on the couch, telling them where to put what. "Oi four eyes, I am not putting that on my tree."

"Aww, come on Levi, it'll look nice!!"

"Pink does not look great with the colors already in this apartment."

"Aww come on!!"

"No."

"Darn. . ." Hanji starts to puts anything that's pink back into its respected bags and she goes to place them in her room. "So Levi," Eld calls me and I turn to him. "What was it like out there in Iran?"

"Well, it's big, bad, dangerous, you know. . . the usual military movie shit."

"Was it bad over there? Did something happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean. . . . Did something bad happen?"

"Of course it did. People died."

"No, I mean. . . Did something bad happen to you. . . besides your leg?" I thought for a moment, trying to track down anything that happened. Maybe Eld wants to know if anyone died while being around me-

"Levi?"

Barry. . . DAMN IT!! Why didn't I save Barry?! I could've pulled him out the burning b-building before it exploded. . .

"Hey. . . Hey Levi!!!"

H-he saw me. . .

"Levi!!"

He saw me standing there. . .

Barry was calling me. . .

He tried to reach for me; he wanted my help. . .

"Levi?!"

He called me. . . To help him a-and. . . I-I just-

"LEVI!!" My mind began to think straight at the sound of the piercing scream. The world was clouded, but began to clear when I kept blinking my eyes. The ceiling fan is the first thing I saw. People's voices were muffled together as I started to adjust. Then, I caught glimpse of an arm that's snaked around me, holding me in a warm embrace. My body was very cold and I felt sweaty, so my body started to shake. "Perta, get that blanket over there. Quickly."

"Ok. . ." I recognized the first voice; it belongs to Erwin. He is the one holding me. . . I shifted in his grasp and he slightly flinched. "You're awake now?" Right on cue, I felt groggy and rubbed the tiredness from my eyes. Petra comes back and hands Erwin the blanket. "So. . . Levi?" He wraps me in the blanket. "Hmm."

"Who's Barry?"

"Huh?"

"You started mumbling something about this Barry person. You said. . . 'Barry was calling me."

"He's just another soldier." I spat out and rushed to sit up. My muscles tensed up and I tense under the pressure. "Easy. . . You need to relax." Erwin's low-toned voice reached my ears and I stopped in my tracks. "I'll take Levi to his room so he can sleep. The rest of you, enjoy yourselves." Erwin announced as he lifts me bridal style and carries me down the back hall. Once he gets into my room, Erwin shuts the door behind him and places me on my bed. "What's going on?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Something is wrong here Levi, you have never broken down like that before."

"Broken down!? I-"

"You had a breakdown in the middle of the living room!!" He cut me off to get his point across. "Something is wrong Levi, and I'm going to figure out what is. One way or another."

". . . What do you think is wrong?" Erwin thinks for a while and once an idea is in his head; he clears his throat. "Remember your doctor visit hours after you got off the plane?"

"Y-You think I have a disorder?"

"That may be the case."

"I'm not schizophrenic!!!"

"You must be, that's the only explanation for this!!"

"Shit Erwin, why jump to conclusions when the doctors said it was a slight chance?!"

"Well, I don't think it's a slight chance anymore Levi! Hell, you were not the same since you got back!!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You've been so distant and absent-minded. You hardly pay attention to anything that's going on-."

"I did say I was tired-." He raises his hand in my face to cut me off. "I'm not done yet." Erwin sits down in the bed next to me. He was not in the mood for my attitude. "Levi. . . Believe it or not, you may have developed schizophrenia. . . All the symptoms match up."

"So, what are you planning on doing about it?"

"Tomorrow, I'll take you back to the doctor and we'll see from there." Erwin lightly patted my back and got off the bed. "Get some rest, you have a mild fever from your breakdown."

"Great. You wait until AFTER all the drama goes down to tell me."

"Good night Levi." Erwin exited my room and closed the door, leaving me in a dark enclosed space. The feeling of dread creeps in and I just sit there, motionless. ". . . Shit. . ." I cursed at myself while voices start to rise in my head. At first, it was all just at random, nothing made sense. But as the minutes flew by, the voices get more distinct, and it's narrowed down to just one. Levi. . .

"Huh?"

Levi. . . .

"B-Barry?"

Where are you. . . Where are you going?

"Barry, I-"

You left me to die. . . . Why? Didn't you see me?

Barry's voice continued to haunt me as I covered my ears and said anything I could, random things to ignore his voice. It only kept growing louder and louder, till I couldn't hear myself thinking at all. It was too overwhelming for me; I couldn't make out what was real or not. . .

What's happening to me?