Off The Beaten Path

Mr. Blues

☼ LEVI ☼

He hadn't realized other people were living with her. If he'd known that... He shook his head, sitting straight against the chair he'd been hunched over in. There was no use in feeling guilty he had followed orders. His eyes narrowed, no matter how much he had protested the suggestion.

"A few for the many." Erwin had said.

Levi felt his muscles tense in response to the memory, the Commander sitting across from him sipping the tea that had been offered. For the most part Levi believed they were on the same side now; he respected the man and the tough decisions he had to make. But sometimes... sometimes he said and did things, just little things, that rubbed on Levi's morals and nerves. Not that he didn't understand sacrifice; life was sacrifice, that didn't mean innocent people had to die for it though. His eyes slid to the battered woman's room. Lisa had welcomed them pale faced and swollen eyed. The kids had milled around, the oldest - Phillip - seemed to be the most moonstruck. He wanted so badly to be a soldier he glued himself to Oluo and Petra, absorbing everything they said with stars in his eyes.

The cave itself had drawn Levi's fascination. It was something of a wonder; a house inside of a cave. It had eluded them for so long that Levi was almost disappointed to find out their secret was something simple. When Lisa had described the cloak technique they used to hide their dwelling he was further impressed. It was warm and cozy. A little cramped with so many people but clean, not to Levi's standards of course but he could ignore the things that made his skin crawl when need be, and safe. Levi's hand reached out to the chair he was sitting on, scratching at the arm rest as he waited. A thin layer of dirt embedded under his short nail. He suppressed a shudder as Lisa emerged from the room. She looked exhausted.

"You're welcome to question her." Lisa offered, deferring to the laws she had grown up with. "She said she would accept your company as soon as possible."

Erwin met Levi's gaze, "Is she okay?"

Lisa shook her head, "Her ribs are cracked, her foot fractured. She hit her head really hard and might have a minor concussion. Probably. I mean, she does." Lisa wiped at her face with a trembling hand. "She pulled a ligament in her clavicle. Probably from getting thrown from the horse, though taking off and going to fight wasn't exactly helpful." Lisa face contorted to anger, "Idiot. I'm not a doctor, I'm a herbalist. I don't know how to properly treat a broken human." She spat.

Erwin caught Levi's gaze and rose a brow in an unspoken question. Levi shrugged, how was he supposed to stop the fight other than knock her unconscious? She'd barely been holding on as it was.

"Are you..." Their eyes went back to Lisa, "will you arrest her?"

Erwin smiled broadly as he rose, gesturing for Levi to follow suit.

He placed a hand on Lisa's shoulder, dwarfing the taller woman. "We're just going to do some questioning for now. We'll decide what's going to happen after that."

Lisa's face turned even more red and she pulled away from Erwin's touch like it had burned her; his hand dropped like lead. "It's been a long time since men were in our home. We aren't... used to it."

His eyes darkened for a minute, he nodded slowly. "We won't hurt you, or them." He nodded at the children gathered around the kitchen table eating and being loud. "Or her." He added emphatically.

Lisa's brown eyes relaxed around the corners, her smile softened and she nodded.

The door to the room was just feet away, Levi entered first. As soon as the door opened light and scent hit him. A myriad of herbs had been used on the woman, her dark hair had been brushed and redone to make room for the bandaged salve around her temples. Her dark brown hair shimmered in the lamplight with red and blue highlights. She looked... so different. Usually her eyes were hard and angry, glaring death. Her body was always so tight and straight and in action around him. He'd never seen her so still before.