Titans Upon Change

Chapter Fourteen

I curled up underneath the heat lamp while keeping a lazy eye open on my hosts as they continued their friendly get-together. Their discussion were mostly about their friends and family within the walls or the upcoming expeditions.

I tensed up as Levi walked towards the door and opened it up all the way. He left it open and proceeded to ignore me while talking with the others. They were keeping a subtle eye on me as they judged my reaction.

Considering that the door face him, mostly, I had no intention of moving. After a few minutes, my tense posture slowly but surely relaxed, although I kept a keen eye on them since I had no idea what they were up to. If you guys think I am about to make a break for freedom. You're a bit late.

I tuned them out and half-closed my eyes as I rested. My eyes popped back open as I saw Levi's feet approach the cage door. Thankfully, he didn't step inside the cage.

Moments later, he withdrew his feet and rejoined the conversation. I narrowed my eyes and lifted my head in suspicion. What did he do? I blinked in surprise at the large block of sugar by the door.

My stomach growled slightly at the sight of my favorite thing in the entire world, being delicious and nearly addictive. Did he know they were my favorite from the multiple bowls?

I studied the brick of sugar the size of my paw and Levi. Was it a trap? Or an attempt to gain my trust? Obviously, no point in trying to capture me while I'm in a cage.

Levi rubbed a smaller sugar cube between his fingers, causing my nostrils to flare at the scent of the sugar. It was just outside the door, so I wouldn't have to leave the cage to get it.

If it had been anything other than a huge sugar brick, I would've ignored it. I slowly got to my feet and took a few slow, cautious steps forward while keeping low, watching for any movement from the four. They were sitting completely still - Which Hanji is having a hard time with - and quietly talkign while pretending that they didn't notice me. Can't fool me.

I paused by the door to get a drink, at least pretending it had been my destination all along. I doubt I'm fooling them any more than they are fooling me. I internally snorted at the thought as I sidestepped towards the door. I know that since I tower all four of them and outrank them in basically every class, I shouldn't be timid, but I can't help it. Ready to jump away if needed, before I slowly extended my neck past the door and scooped up the large sugar brick in my beak.

I slowly backed up to the corner before lying down to lick the sugar brick.

"Was that a sugar brick?"

Levi was now watching me openly, chuckling with amusement as I continued to lick and savor the rare treat.

Eyebrows commented, "Ah yes. Use their favorite foods as training treats. If they will go great lengths to get them, then you can push her right to the edge of her comfort zone quite easily."

Of course. They were willing to use my favorite things against me; that sugar brick had been worth it though. Too bad that I haven't had my dinner yet, or it would've been much easier to resist those bricks.

Eyebrows asked, "How far do you think they'll go to get these sugar bricks?"

Levi smirked as he looked at me. "I have a pretty good idea from how this brat acted."

He picked up something beside him before resting the back of his hand on his lap. His hand opened up to reveal another sugar brick, reaching from his fingertips to the end of his wrist. I watched him, but he never put it down. Shame. I tilted my head as I examined the situation.

The cage was to his left, and his right hand held the brick as his hand was resting on his right leg. The sweets taunted me from his hand as my nostrils flared, picking up the drool-worthy smell. 

The cage was just far enough so that my hind quarters would be outside the cage for me to reach the brick. I snorted as a memory came flooding back. When I was younger, I had done this to squirrels in the nearby forests just so I could get a close up look at them.

Had he done this with anything else, I would've ignored him since it was so far out of my comfort zone. Sugar bricks were more addictive than anything else I've ever tasted though, and the glistening white brick beckoned me like the legends of a siren's song.

I took slow steps, remaining semi-low to the ground while keeping a careful eye on Levi, and an eye on the other three - mostly an eye on Hanji - the door faced him, so I only had to travel a straight line to get to him. My back legs cleared the door, and I hesitated, how far would I be willing to trust them?

They kept ignoring my presence and the fact that I was obviously having second thoughts. For such a large and intimidating creature, we sure were shy. I lifted my head to his full height, and looked down on Levi, my tail lightly swaying in agitation. I was now standing only a foot away from where he sat.

My eyes were on the brick, but I saw a duffel bag filled with bricks on the seat beside Levi. I thought fast; was there any way that I could get the duffel bag?

I was close enough to grab the sugar brick in his hand now and slowly reached down and picked it up between my beak, careful not to draw blood from my beak on his hand. I noticed that he was barely beathing to avoid scaring me.

I quickly swivelled and pounced towards the cage and heard the yelps of surprise from several of the humans. They had not expected me to hook my tail through the small handles of the duffel bag. Now I had both the brick and that he taunted me with, as well as dozens of others in the bag. 

I was content.

I heard two of them start chuckling as I curled up under the heat lamp and started to lick a sugar brick. The fourth guy whom I found out his name was Armin, was finding it hilarious as he told Levi. "You're gonna have to start doing a better job at hiding her treats."

Levi grunted but I could tell he slipped a small smile, "Tch, I didn't think that she would even come out of her cage when we're here, and I also didn't think that the brat would actually try anything."

Apparently, he hadn't thought that one through. My wing was dully throbbing from the quick turn and pounce back to my cage, but I figured it was worth it for dozens of sugar bricks at my disposal. Losing their focus on me, and their talk turned to matters of their future expeditions.

They left my door open, but I had no care. I had my sugar bricks.

I had decided to save half of the sugar bricks. I carefully wedged the rest of the remaining sugar bricks out of the duffel bag and into the corner beside me. I curled up and relaxed as they discussed how their friends were doing. 

After a while, all of the humans left the room, and I regarded the open door of the cage. Now what are you up to? I rolled my eyes and snorted, already knowing nothing here will help me in escaping.

I napped a bit before Levi returned. He closed the cage door before dimming the lights to an almost black level. He went into one of the back rooms, and I saw a bed before he closed the door behind himself.

I examined the door without moving. I'm unsure of what you're up to, but I'm not buyin' it. The door was slightly crooked, so I could push it open if I chose to. He knew that he had left it so.