Friends with Benefits (Levi x OC)

Ch. 9: Lance-Corporal Levi

Chapter 9: Lance-Corporal Levi

Levi was quickly made Lance - Corporal. The sheer skill and power he exhibited against the titans was confirmed time and time again - silencing anyone who wanted to believe it was just beginner's luck. He was thrown into a slew of new responsibilities and tasks. I worried about him sometimes. I wondered how a thief from the underground would make for a fit higher up in an army. His name spread around the towns like wildfire. 'Levi, Humanity's Strongest: Equivalent to a hundred soldiers'. He'd become a bit of a celebrity.

Hange moved up the ranks a bit herself. She found herself to be one of Commander Erwin's favourites along with Levi. An odd but beneficial place to be, I suppose. I think the Commander kept Levi close at first to keep an eye on him. I'm sure Levi didn't appreciate that too much.

Sarah, Gianne and I healed slowly. They both got off bed rest last week and are back to work. I got an extra week. My ribs have been a bit slow to heal. Nevertheless, there's an expedition next week and I'm definitely going. Hange and I have been working very closely. My 'power' became a top priority for her after I had another incident.

What happened was I needed to give Commander Erwin some paperwork. So I went to his office with the documents and put them on his desk. I was talking to him about something, I can't remember what exactly. It was probably about the work I gave him.

But during the entire time I was stood there, this object on his desk kept drawing my eye. I didn't understand why I was being pulled to it so strongly. It was just an old book. It didn't look like anything particularly special. I tried to ignore it. But then, I started to hear things, like a breeze through the branches in a tree. They sounded just as real as my own voice. Some words were hard to make out, and some didn't sound like real words at all.

'...Sanness' Spoken like a whispering snake. That was the first thing I heard. But I didn't understand it so I focused on listening to the Commander.

My eyes kind of glazed over and couldn't focus, everything was blurry. Erwin looked at me as though he wasn't sure if he should be concerned or not. My hand reached out to touch this book. The Commander continued to watch me. I slammed my open hand down on the book cover. My entire body tensed, then went completely limp and collapsed. I struggled for breath. I finally gasped as I began to feel pain. It was blinding. An unbearable stabbing agony climbed from my fingertips to my eye sockets. It felt like fire was biting mercilessly at my legs and arms. This tormenting sting crept up my stomach to my chest. I groaned and held my chest tightly. The burning and stinging sensation moved up my neck to my face. I felt a sudden sharp pang at my throat and my tongue simultaneously, like a knife. Hot tears came to my eyes. I was shaking, my muscles tensed and cramped in reaction to all of this physical torture. I stifled my screams and sobbed. Writhing in extreme discomfort, I lay in a ball on the floor.

Commander Erwin really didn't know what to do. It was all over in less than a minute. He crouched down next to me and tried to see if this was caused by an injury. The pain was beginning to subside. Tears I couldn't control ran down my face like it was a marathon. He got up and started towards the door to call for help.

'No! Don't-!' I yelled. He hesitated. He opened the door and ordered someone to bring Hange immediately. I heard their footsteps running off down the hall. He left the door wide open and ran back over to me.

Tears still involuntarily poured out of my blood shot eyes. My breathing was jagged like a broken shard of glass and every now and then my voice would escape from my throat in a whimper. My whole body burned. My tongue felt dry, and my head felt swollen. 

All of these horrible sensations weren't mine. I was aware that I was only borrowing them. The pain was draining out of me slowly. I knew I accessed something I shouldn't be allowed. I felt almost embarrassed and really, really alone.