Walls Surrounding his Heart {|Eruri|}

1

The gentle pitter-patter of rain echoed through the small enclosure. A raven-haired man lifted himself from where he sat. He then redirected his gaze to the water droplets clinging onto his window. Precipitation was visible for miles on end, of which brought along a refreshing icy afternoon with it. 

Levi was not keen of snow, although loved the rain. He pressed his narrow fingers upon the delicate glass, of which caused the thin layer of ice lacing the window to melt away into his palm. 

A handful of hours after exiting the underground, Levi experienced precipitation for the first time. At first he turned to his friends, Isabel and Farlan, accusing them of spilling water carelessly upon him. 

~~~

"Oi, Isabel, quit throwing water at me." Levi frowned accusingly, narrowing his gaze. 

"Eh? I have done no such thing, big brother!" Isabel whined. 

"Then explain this." Levi spoke, pointing to the water on his hands. 

Farlan turned his gaze to the sky, only for his face to be struck with a cascade of murky water. He filched at the cold liquid dripping down his complexion. 

"Wasn't me either, Levi." Farlan explained. "What is this?" 

"It looks like the clouds are crying!" Isabel gasped. "No, why are they sad, Farlan?"

"How would I know?" Farlan stammered. 

"Big brother, do something!" Isabel pleaded.

"What do you want me to do?" Levi scoffed. "Sing them a song?" 

"This is rain." Erwin, who was escorting the trio to HQ, spoke up. "When clouds cannot hold the water they have collected any longer, it is deposited over the land." 

"How does the water get into the clouds in the first place?" Farlan inquired, mesmerized. 

"The water that evaporates from rivers, lakes and puddles is stored in the sky as a gas." Erwin continued. "When it rains, the clouds return the water they took to a different location." 

"Whaa? Why would the clouds steal the water from the rivers, just to give it back, sir?" Isabel responded. 

"The clouds are not alive, idiot." Levi commented, flicking the girl's forehead harshly. "They are about as living as the sidewalk." 

"H-Hey!" Farlan called. "She was just curious! Damn, Levi!" 

"Whatever." Levi shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets once more. "Will this shit hurt us, Smith?" 

"Well, if you stay in the rain too long, you may catch a cold." Erwin replied, smiling somewhat to himself. 

"Then we should hurry and get to wherever you're taking us." Levi suggested. "I don't want to cough up my lungs again." 

Erwin turned his head back somewhat, looking into Mike's eyes with intent, delivering a wordless message. 

Suddenly, the man in question pulled out three forest green coats, all of which had the Wings of Freedom imbedded into them. He passed the cloths to Levi, Farlan and Isabel correspondingly. The three wore the coats promptly, throwing the hoods on as well. 

"You knew we would join you." Levi concluded, now shielded from the rain. "And you knew it would rain." 

"Correct." Erwin nodded. "We are able to predict when rain judging on the color of the clouds and the seasons."