Not Much Longer (AOT)

Around Here Somewhere

"That was a waste of time."

Levi spoke as the sound of their horses trotted along the dirt path. The day had come and gone, and their time spent in the capitol was for nothing more than a mere funeral.

"I've never met that man before. And I don't believe that you have either." Erwin was lost in thought.

"We just need to get back... and that girl needs to do her fucking job." Levi's words pierced through the air.

Taken aback, Erwin raised his voice as a warning. "Levi-"

"We hired her to do a job. We are risking lives for her. Why do we protect her? She is not a fighter, she can barely stand the sight of blood."

"She's the only one we can trust right now Levi. If it weren't for that fact that her entire home, and not to mention our documents, were burned to nothing but ash."

"The fact that she couldn't translate them before hand-"

"She had to learn a dead language, Levi."

"She is nothing more than a wound to us."

"I think you mean a wound to yourself, Levi."

Levi pulled on the reigns of his horse to come to a stop. "What is that supposed to mean."

Erwin also stopped his horse and turned it around to face Levi. His stoic expression challenged Levi.

"I know why you keep yourself at a distance. This is exactly what happened with Petra."

Levi did not wince but his voice grew cold. "At least she did her fucking job."

"Enough!" Erwin's voice was ablaze and burned with anger.

"It's not my fault someone's got a soft spot for the little girl."

"And it's not my job to tell you how to process your own personal feelings Levi. You're a fool to deny that your acting out because you're afraid."

"Afraid of what? A little girl."

"Of losing someone you care about."

Levi looked away for a moment.

His face looked as if it felt shame and frustration for a mere second, but was quickly replaced with a laugh and a smirk.

"You're funny Erwin" he turned his horse back to the path ahead. "Let's get back on the road."

—————————

It wasn't much longer until the two had finally made it back to the base. The sun was quickly disappearing over the hills as they dismounted their horses.

Hanji stood outside to greet them, with her hands shoved into her pockets. "So boys, how was the trip?"

"Pointless" Levi spat. He then made his way back into the base, barely acknowledging Hanji.

She raised her eyebrows and looked back to Erwin. "What's his issue?"

He just shook his head and took ahold of the horses. He slowly made his way to the stables where they would rest.

"We were called to the Capitol for a funeral."

Hanji twisted her face up in confusion. "For who?"

"That's the thing. It was someone we've never seen before. It seemed he was murdered."

"You think the military police killed one of their own?"

"I don't think so. He seemed too important."

Erwin lead each of the horses into their own stalls and tied them up.

"It felt like someone outside of the government killed him, which is strange. Why would they want to do that? Surely you would think the destruction of the walls and the threat of being killed by those enormous creatures would deter humans from wanting to kill each other."

"Some things never change Erwin."

He gave a solemn nod and turned to leave, but stopped in his tracks.

"Where's Athena?" He asked.

Hanji shifted her weight and thought for a moment. "I think she might still be with Eren."

"Eren?"

"We tried to run some experiments today, and Eren was pretty beat up afterwards. She's been making sure he's okay."

Erwin was silent for a moment. He made his way back into the base at a quick pace. Hanji followed.

Erwin made his way to where Eren was. He promptly knocked on the door and opened it.

But he only found Eren in the room, fast asleep.

"Yeager."

Eren shot up immediately and addressed the commander. "Yes sir!"

Erwin put up his hand to silence the boy. "Where is Athena?"

Eren looked around the room. "She said she was going to get tea for the both of us... but I don't know how long it's been. I must of passed out waiting."

Erwin's grip on the door handle tightened. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know exactly where she is commander, she's got to be around here somewhere."

Erwin ran his fingers through his hair in distress and swiftly left the room without shutting the door.

His heart began to race as his legs carried him outside of Athena's room. With a gentle knock, he opened the door.

He found two shattered teacups and a spilled teakettle that had leaked all over the floor.