Hellfire • L.A.

Distance

Two days after the rescue of Eren and Historia.

Historia is nervously pacing around the room. Her face shows no signs of fear or worry, but her body language and constant fluttering about alerts me that she's nervous. I don't blame her honestly. She's only fifteen years old and she's about to be crowned queen.

My mind wanders back to yesterday afternoon when she begged Erwin to let her fight. Not only did she manage to convince him to allow her to fight, but she did so with logic and reasoning. Her skills were impressive, though I don't remember them ever being so advanced before. Maybe I hadn't been paying attention to her. I don't believe any of us were.

It's been a strange forty-eight hours. Most of Kenny Ackerman's squad members were killed in the destruction of the Reiss chapel, but the ones who did survive were being held as prisoners for questioning. Levi had led a group of scouts and volunteers from the other regiments to investigate the rubble, hoping to find something or someone with more answers than we had questions. They had returned just after sunset with a few survivors and samples of the ore found in the chapel's underground, but no answers. Levi had acted strangely all evening. He wouldn't even tell Erwin what was wrong, and whenever I asked him if he was okay he gave me the cold shoulder.

It makes me anxious. All of this new territory that we're venturing into is foreign, and not just with mine and his relationship. The scouts, the country, no one knows what direction is the right one to go in. A deep ache settles in my chest as the thought of having to put a wedge in between mine and Levi's relationship crosses my mind. 

I don't want to do that. I don't want to just abandon something like this when it's only begun to finally take form. But maybe...maybe he does.

I turn my attention back to the young girl in front of me. I need a distraction. I don't need to think about my personal life right now. Right now, I'm needed here in this room.

"Historia, why don't you just sit down for a second. I can go get you some water or-"

"Captain Lux what if I'm not good enough for them? For the people?" She turns to me with her big blue eyes. Now I see it, the fear and anxiety.

I do my best to smile warmly at her, and I place a hand on her shoulder. "Historia, don't forget that it was you who laid the killing blow to your father's Titan yesterday. It was you that saved Orvud district."

She takes a seat in a nearby chair and sighs. Her shoulders deflate and she goes to hide her face in her hands. "I'm not a natural-born leader like you or Eren or Commander Erwin, or even Captain Zoe or Captain Levi."

I kneel in front of her on one knee. "Historia, look at me."

Slowly, and timidly, she lifts her face. When she recognizes me kneeling and saluting she gasps. Immediately she stands up goes to pull me out of it, but I remain firm.

"Captain Lux, no! I'm not queen yet please don't."

"Historia, you made a promise to Commander Erwin and therefore made a promise to the people of this land as well the entirety of the scouting legion. We believe you are fit to rule, and therefore you should have more faith in yourself."

She stops and stands up a little straighter. Her hands cross themselves in front of her waist and she looks down at me pensively. I only smile up at her as I continue.

"I am not a natural-born leader. I forced myself into the role I carried with Phoenix to survive. And now, I believe you have to do the same."

She sighs, a loose piece of her blonde hair falling from the tight updo a few of the palace maidens gave her earlier. "You're right, Captain."