symbiosis » levi ackerman

chapter sixteen ; uncovered.

Fallan

The sound of the Titans heavy footsteps was almost defeating, but we continued to push forward. I glanced around, everyone shared the same panicked expression I'm sure was evident on my face. I stared at the Titans - 16 titans ranging from the 2-5 metre variety. 16 Titans heading directly for us.
"We will not deviate from the path!" Levi yelled, glancing back to us momentarily, "Do not dismount, do not engage until the last moment, and for fucks sake - do not die!"
A chorus of 'Yes sir!'s chimed, but I couldn't even choke out an 'okay'. My chest heaved as I sucked in oxygen through ragged breaths, my eyes fixated on the gaggle of Titans gaining on us rapidly.
"Fallan!" I heard someone yell, but it seemed so far away.
"Fallan!" There was the voice again, closer this time.
"Fucksake Fallan, snap out of it!" Levi snarled, and I jumped out of the trance I'd slipped into. I stared at him with wide eyes as he looked back to me.
"You are not to engage unless completely and utterly necessary. Understood?"
I simply nodded hastily in response, my shaking hands gripping on to the reigns tighter.
They were so close, and getting closer.
"Now!" Levi yelled, raising his arms up and holding the two blades firmly. He shot forward and latched on to a 5 metre variant's arm, swinging himself onto its shoulder. He jumped again, hooks digging into the nape. In one quick motion, he'd sliced the nape and the Titan tumbled forward. I watched in awe at the effortlessness of the manoeuvre. The sound of mechanical whirring buzzed past my ear as Eld dismounted, grappling on to a Titan in front.
"Fallan! Watch out!" Petra screeched as a Titan pelted towards me, and I froze up in fear. She shot forward, slicing its achilles' tendons. It fell forward, narrowly missing me. Oluo shot off to the left, and Gunther quickly joined him. I was left surrounded by horses with empty saddles, but I continued on. My chest was tight as I desperately tried to steady my breathing, knuckles white as I clasped onto the reigns. All I could hear was the rumbling of the Titans footsteps and the whirring of the gear. I continued pushing forward, until a Titan blocked my path. I had no choice, I had to dismount. It was only a 4 metre variant, but its wide grin sent a chill down my spine.
"Fuck." I breathed in, and reached down for the handles of my blades. I pressed down on the trigger, and shot my hooks into the shoulder of the Titan. I must've misjudged my shot, because my hooks latched onto the Titan's upper arm. I swore loudly as I was lifted off the ground, propelled forward by the gas. As I hurtled through the air towards the Titan, I shot my hooks again, this time they landed firmly in the Titans shoulder. I flew further upwards towards the nape, until the Titan swatted its hand. Fuck, that's going straight for my-
The wind was knocked out of my lungs as my cord was pulled, and the hook detached. I fell to the ground, and felt a sickening crunch as my body made contact with the floor.
This is it. This is how I die. Eaten by a Titan because of a badly aimed grapple shot.
The pain was like nothing I'd ever felt before. White hot flashes of agony seared through my bones. I closed my eyes and let the darkness consume me. The pain began to fade, I almost felt like I was floating. I prepared myself for the feeling of being lifted off the ground in a Titans grasp,
But it never came.
"Get up, you damn brat."
There was that voice again. Why was it so far away? And why did it sound so... familiar?
"Reid. Get up."
Shush, can't you see I'm sleeping?
"Fallan Reid, if you don't get your arse up here I will personally-"
I opened my eyes and blinked, to see Levi standing over me. Evaporating Titan blood was smeared across his face.
"Thank God for that. I thought you were dead. You look like shit, by the way."
Same old Levi.
Along with my consciousness, the pain had also returned. I yelled out, and looked down. Blood had begun to pool around my thigh.
"Tch. What idiot falls on their own blade?" Levi tutted and crouched down beside me. He untucked his cravat and pressed it to the gash on my upper leg. My sense began to return to me, and I realised the danger of him sitting out in the open with me.
"Levi! The Titans! What are you doing? You need to-"
"They're gone. You really think a few Titans we're gonna stop us?" He interrupted, looking almost smug. I propped myself up, wincing slightly and looked around. Titan carcasses littered the field, and groups of Scouts were huddled together.
"How... How long was I out?" I mumbled, confusion beginning to cloud my head.
"Don't ask me, I just found you like this. Fuck knows how you weren't eaten, lying there like a dead fish."
"But I... There was a Titan. Right there. It yanked my cord Levi-"
"Look, I don't know alright. We cleared the Titans, and there you were. Just lying there, on the floor, with your own blade sticking out of your thigh. Everyone else arrived shortly after. We're calling it a day Fallan. We're going home."
"Already?!" I exclaimed, but secretly I was relieved.
"Look around, there's no Titans to be seen, and we won't survive another freak ambush like that."
I sighed and propped myself up more, preparing to stand up. As I took a breath, I felt a pang in my side, causing me to wince.
"Oh no you don't." Levi mused, placing his hand on my shoulder, "Not so fast. You've got a nasty gash on your leg and a few broken ribs I suspect. You'll be riding home in the cart."
He tied the cravat around my thigh, then stood up and brushed himself off. I quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Are you sure you're not just going to leave me out here?" I teased, shooting him a small smile.
"Oh no," he replied, "Quite the opposite."
He bent down and scooped me up in a bridal carry. I felt my cheeks redden as I stared up at him.
"You're making me feel like an invalid." I mumbled.
"You are quite useless."
"I never claimed otherwise."