Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

THIRTY

'Trust is walking unarmoured onto the battlefield with only a prayer and the love of one's enemy.'

-An extract from the book 'Evolutions' written by philosopher Adette Briggs.

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THIRTY

Wall Maria, South Region, Port Noaks, Noaks Survey Corps Base of Operations

When Lorelai awoke the following day, it was still dark. Petra's breathing went in and out as she slept soundly across the room. The winter sun would rise only hours later, but she had a feeling she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep.

Her fever of yesterday having lessened considerably, Lorelai decided she better do some work today.

As quietly as possible so as not to disturb her roommate, she got up and dressed herself. Lorelai hadn't worn her Scouts uniform in several weeks. Oddly enough, she was beginning to grow a little fond of it.

She slung her winter coat over her shoulders and slipped from the dark room.

Lorelai kept her footsteps light as she descended the staircase; the manor slumbered silently around her. As she reached the ground floor, she paused, glancing behind her at the door to Levi's quarters.

Did she dare disturb him? Why did she want to?

Their time in her room yesterday had been rather... odd. Lorelai didn't know what to think. Simultaneously, she wanted to stay far away from Levi and move even closer. She wanted to talk to him— not about anything, just for the sake of it. Lorelai also didn't know what she could safely tell him without repercussions of her naivety sneaking up on her later.

Perhaps it would be better to stay away. But that didn't stop her from knocking on his door.

It swung open immediately; he had been expecting her, or maybe just hoping she would turn up. Lorelai didn't have the nerve to explain herself; she cleared her throat. "Good morning. You're up early."

Levi also seemed happy to brush over the whys and hows of their meeting this morning. "I actually slept in today," he scowled.

"And I see it did nothing to soothe your poor temper. Don't I get a 'good morning', at the very least?"

They began walking towards the mess hall. "You've come to the wrong man if it's pleasantries you want." He took a little pride in the faint laugh that arose from her. "Feeling better, I take it?"

"Decent, I suppose," Lorelai hummed. "I have work to do."

"Don't forget, you also need to keep up with your training. Missions aren't as theory-based as Erwin would like to believe."

Right back to lecturing, then, Lorelai sighed. "I might be inclined to follow your advice if the theory side wasn't drastically lacking at the moment."

"Underwhelmed by Erwin's leadership?" he inquired as they sat down in the empty mess hall.

"My own fault, really." She reached for a bread roll. "The man has his talents. But truly, I don't think I'll understand the way you Walls Scouts operate until I see you all in action."

"How so?"

"Your scouting formation— it's completely bizarre to me. You've drilled it into my mind, but still, I do not understand why it is as effective as you tell me."