Hellfire • L.A.

Infatuation

A/N:

Helloooo!! before I start the chapter I just want to say sorry for the lag in updates. I've started school and it's a lot of stuff being thrown my way all at once, but it'll be okay. Please just bare with me while I get adjusted to College Life and begin my journey!! I also wanted to ask for some feedback at the bottom of this chapter. What do you guys want to see more of, who do you want to have bigger parts, etc. Please enjoy as usual, and obviously vote and comment if you feel like!!

It's dawn when we reach the town where Perry's wife resides. Levi scribbled a note to Erwin and left it on his desk, and I made sure to grab the folded as proof for everything this woman is about to hear.

In the eight years that I knew Perry, I had only met his wife three times. She did a lot of charity work within the walls, so she was never around our headquarters. The first time I saw her though, she acted strangely and was extremely wary. I had chalked it up to me being a criminal at the time, but now it makes sense. After all I am a spitting image of my mother.

The second time I met her she told me I was much to pretty a girl to have been wasting away underground, and that she would be around if I ever needed her. I didn't actually take her up on her offer, but often times I would write to her and ask about "womanly" things. I had no one else to talk to about them after all.

The third time I met her was Christmas around two years ago. She had come by the headquarters to give Perry his present, but also she had a gift for me. It was a ring, a solid gold ring with a ruby set in the middle of the band. I had insisted that it probably costed way too much and that she take it back or keep it for herself, but she had told me it was priceless and that she would stow it away for safe keeping.

I wrote to her after Perry's death. I apologized to her about not being able to protect him. She simply sent me a letter back saying "You worry too much about the things you can't control." I think she's right.

"Oi."

My eyes flirt away from the window of the carriage to see Levi looking at me. He looks tired, exhausted even. The both of us haven't really had a chance to actually sleep I guess, and it's starting to show on his face.

"Hm?" I mumble.

"When I cut your hair I didn't get to say that I was sorry about your mom."

"What's there to be sorry for? It's not like you killed her or anything." I shoot him a playful smirk but he rolls his eyes.

"I'm talking about what you said earlier, about how you just knew it was your mother. I'm sorry I doubted you." He looks so sure of himself, confident in the apology that I wasn't even expecting.

"Don't worry about it." I murmur, and lean back into the seat.

It's not long before we stop in the district of Perry's home. Levi's watch says its only eight in the morning, but there are already people bustling about. Kids running off to school and playing tag, vendors already setting up shop for the day. While Levi is discussing something with the carriage rider, I look over Perry's home.

It's a small cottage like home, with flowers on the windows and shutters that are forest green. There are more flowers on the front steps, each type in different pots.

"Alright, let's get this over with." Levi walks up next to me with a sigh. Before I reach out to knock, he grabs my wrist. "Whatever we find out you know Erwin will want to know, right?"

I look back at him. His eyes are uncharacteristically concerned. "I'm okay with that." It comes out as whisper. Levi stares at me longer like he's trying to find out if I'm lying, but hesitantly lets go of my wrist.