Promise me [Levi Ackerman x OC]

✦ IX: Reckless ✦

The freckled girl from the underground improved faster than they thought. With the medicines, the special diet, and following the instructions Dr. Jaeger gave, Hazel restored her healthy condition, allowing her to work without worrying she would suffer a heart attack.

Her new work was more pleasant than the previous one, and tips were better as the pay. Customers were more respectful, but as in every pub, the drunk ones would try to approach the exotic new girl. The owner made clear if anyone disturbed Hazel or tried to overshoot with her, he would ban them from the establishment.

She was still learning about the outer world and new facts about history. There were so many books she could read. Sometimes, when babysitting Eren, the girl heard what he learned at school.

The three walls and their purpose, keeping the titans from humanity. So basically, she escaped from a hole to a bigger one.

One day, a friend of the Jaeger family came to catch up with his friends. An important and busy man, the Commander of the Survey Corps, Keith Shadis. He was taller than Declan or Furlan, with wrinkles on his forehead, a beard under his chin, and deep black bags under his eyes. Recently, he had arrived from an expedition out the walls, telling them what they had found.

Hazel was amazed. She couldn't imagine the large fields of grass and enormous trees making forests. But the flaws from this beautiful world of his tales were the horrible man-eater monsters.

"Shut up before Hazel wants to join you." Carla was concerned because Hazel's intrigue in the tales was relentless. Every answer made her ask something else. "Sweetie, don't listen to him. He always comes back crying for their losses in the field."

"Darling, let Hazel learn about the world. She has every right to be curious." Carla left so worriedly and pissed off from they hadn't listened to her. "Excuse her. This subject is upsetting since Eren told her he wants to be a scout someday."

Keith sighed with shame. "She's right, though. There's no training that prepares you to lose your soldiers. Even after all these years, I get back hopelessly crying. It's natural to be scared. It takes guts to be in front of a thing that surpasses your size and at any second could eat you."

Grisha gave a pat on his friend's back, knowing how much he suffered every expedition.

"So, being a scout means to offer your life to humanity. Sacrifices must be done for freedom. Sounds like a worthy way to die."

"Hazel?" The worried doctor turned to look at her in shock. He believed she was only curious, never thought she was really considering listing for the military. "You know your condition."

"I'll die anyway, but I want to follow Declan's lead in the left time I have. I can't accept working in a pub for the rest of my days."

"Carla will murder you. You know that, right?" Grisha stared at the Commander, shaking his head, knowing he won't change her mind.

✦

The underground had been more neglected than before, the lack of resources was alarming, and the crown didn't seem to notice. The poverty and hunger the city was going through made it harder to survive.

A couple of thugs were having trouble finding jobs that paid them what it was worth. They had to start doing shadier and tougher tasks.

"You will get us killed if you keep being so reckless." Furlan was yelling at Levi, the emotionless zombie sitting in the kitchen.

"I did what I have to, and nobody is dead. Stop complaining or go away." He didn't bother looking at the blonde walking around the living room.

"Luckily, you're fast enough, but you could've been getting shot. Do you have a death wish or what? Since she left you don't give a shit."

The shorter peaked his head when the other mentioned her, standing from his chair and stomping his steps in Furlan's direction. Taking him menacingly from the collar of his shirt, Levi brought him closer, whispering in anger.

"Her departure has nothing to do with my way of working. All I do is get the job done, no matter the risk. Can't you see the misery this city is in? We need to change our ways of getting the job done if we want to get the hell out of here."

Furlan wasn't threatened by his demeanor. The blonde let him lock himself in the room, knowing how much sorrow was holding by looking into his eyes. The thought of the girl was hunting his friend day by day, as the words, he had said.

"And for the record, she doesn't mean anything to me anymore. In fact, she's dead to me." Slamming the door, Levi threw himself on the bed, looking at the ceiling.

After months of feeling miserable, the boy started to pretend that Hazel was dead, making it easier for him to bear the pain of her absence. It was better than raising his hopes that someday he would finally see her again because there was the chance of not finding her or simply that she might hadn't survived.

The guilt of letting her leave alone in her state was shattering him.

✦

Hazel decided to join the training corps once Shadis let her know about the recruitment call.

Carla did her best to convince her to stay with them. Dr. Jaeger warned her about being under the stress of training and her condition but seemed proud of her bravery. However, he stated terms before she left.

Hazel must use her meds on schedule, and learn her physical limits because even with the right care, her heart could suffer an attack. She would need to come for a follow-up every 3 months or if anything unusual happened.

"Hazel, wait for me until I join you, okay?" Eren, who saw her as a big sister, hugged the girl from the hips, burying the face in her belly.

"Don't worry, I'll come often to tell you everything. Got it?"

Before leaving, they made a pinky promise, and waving goodbye to the family, she walked away.

The training field was full of young people in line taking their uniforms. Everyone changed their attire before introducing themselves to the training corps Commander.

After a few ability tests, the remaining ones were assigned to cottages where they would live these years of training.