Experimenting With Miracles // ERERI

Chapter 21

She was running as fast as her legs would take her, but dammit it wasn’t enough. Eren was in labor. He needed her now. But she had to find someone - anyone really - who could relay the news to Captain Levi. Hanji knew well enough by now that the stoic man would never forgive himself for missing his own child’s birth, and would probably also ring her neck a bit if she didn’t at least try to send for him.

So she ran. He would last for a few minutes, but Eren needed her back soon.

The scientist practically tackled the first soldier she saw.

“ You! I need you to do something urgent for me!” she screamed in his face.

The soldier cowered a bit under her intensity, “Y-yes, ma’am!” He saluted.

“Go catch up with the deploying group and tell Captain Levi labor has induced. Now!” she shoved the cadet off before he could ask questions.

Hanji sprinted back in the other direction.

Corporal Levi looked around boredly at the usual scenery. Horses whinnying and chewing on their bits, townsfolk gathering in gossip circles, whispering and pointing, and newbies quivering in their boots. Typical. Only this time it was even more annoying. Why the hell did he even have to go on this mission? Erwin had forced him to move to the most protected ring in the formation, commanding that he not take any “unnecessary actions” this time. So basically he was just supposed to stroll around on his horse and catalog flowers while his men fought for their lives; his favorite thing in the world.

“So fucking stupid,” he muttered sourly as the gate began to rise.

“Captain Levi!”

He ignored the call. It was probably just some stupid civilian trying to yell at him about some dumb shit or another. So goddamn annoying…He spurred Magnolia and started a slow trot forward.

“ Captain Levi! Please, I come with urgent news!”

Levi snapped his head around. Who the hell was talking? He couldn’t see anything through the crowd of faces. His heart became a little tight in his chest.

“ Sir!”

A sweat riddled cadet burst forth through the crowd. Levi stared at the man callously, his filthy disheveled appearance offending his OCD.

“ What.” he growled as the soldier performed a rushed and sloppy salute. How rude--

“Sir, I was told by Squad Leader Hanji to inform you that labor has been induced!” the soldier shouted.

His eyes grew wide. No, that couldn’t be possible. Eren wasn’t supposed to be due for at least another month... No. Fuck, this is--

“ Scouts! The 79th Expedition begins now! Move out!”

Hanji didn’t need to ask Eren how he was doing when she burst in the door; she had heard his screams of pain from three halls over. The shifter was writhing, coated in sweat and tears, and screaming nonstop. The pain must’ve been utterly unbearable in order to make the teen react so strongly.

“Eren! Hey, hey it’s okay! I need you to breathe for me okay? This’ll be a lot worse for me if you don’t calm down,” she soothed over his cries, grabbing his hand in hers.

Eren groaned and whined in agony, his breathing still ragged.

“Hey, I need you to try to breathe. You have to breathe through the pain okay? It’s...it’s going to get pretty bad but I need you to stay strong and at the end of this you’ll have a beautiful little baby to call your own so just--OWW!”