Broken Hearts, Severed Limbs (Levi x OC x Erwin)

|21| Identifying the Killer

Eren was the first one to arrive with Hange. Nathalie couldn’t even imagine what Hange had done to get that kid out of the clutches of the government. They had gathered in the dining room. It was the place where they used to gather with the rest of the squad, and Nathalie and Petra would serve the soup that they had all helped to make. Nathalie felt the bitterness of the empty chairs of their dining table. Eren was sitting silently on one chair when Nathalie and Levi walked in.

Eren stood up right away and saluted them. “Captain! Lieutenant!” Nathalie was using the crutches to walk, and Levi was standing beside her, ready to catch her should she fall. They both looked like a mess. Dark circles surrounded their eyes. It was probably from all the crying. Nathalie’s leg was wrapped in a tight bandage. She was wearing a white shirt and black pants. Levi was in a similar outfit, but that same dead look was stamped on his face. It didn’t really give anyone the chance to figure out what he was feeling.

“Hey, Eren,” Nathalie said she gave the boy a weak smile before she winced again as she made her way to a chair.

Only after she was seated did Levi sit down beside her and served her a cup of tea. They remained in silence for a large moment. They were waiting for Erwin to show up and tell them the plan. Still, Nathalie could tell that neither of them was in a mood for anything. They were both a mess, and whatever Erwin was about to tell them, Nathalie was sure that neither she nor Levi were actually going to care.

It didn’t take long when Hange entered. She wasn’t being as clumsy as she had been the last time she was there. It was funny to think, that the last time she’d been there, there were more than three people sitting on that table. Levi and Nathalie both looked like shit, indeed. Hange didn’t want to add to their troubles.

Hange placed a hand on Levi’s and Nathalie’s shoulders. “My sincerest condolences you two,”

Levi just nodded and Nathalie cracked a smile. “Thanks,” She said and she was startled when Hange hugged her from behind, passing her hands around her chest and resting her cheek at the back of Nathalie’s shoulder.

“I’m here for you,” Hange said and Nathalie’s hand reached for Hange’s. She looked back and gave Hange a smile.

“It was my squad too, you know,” Levi said. He felt a slight irritation watching Hange being so touchy with Nathalie. He frowned slightly, but covered it with the cup of tea that he brought up his lips.

Hange stood straight and placed a hand on her waist. “I’d hug you too, but I assumed you’d probably cut my arm off,”

“Your assumption’s correct,” Levi said dryly.

Nathalie moved her leg slightly and she winced. Her hand reached for her thigh, clutching on it in pain. Levi’s hand immediately found its way around her shoulders as he looked down at her worriedly.

“Don’t move,” He said.

“It’s my fault,” Eren said. “I made the choice, If I had thought this through, none of this would have-”

“You made a judgement call,” Levi cut him. He sighed. “Look, no one expects you to be clairvoyant,”

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Erwin’s voice came as the door opened and he walked in. But he wasn’t alone. Mikasa, Armin and Jean were with him. Eren stood up, saluting the Commander but he looked surprised seeing his friends there.

“What the… Why… Why are you all here?” Eren asked confusedly.

“We believe we’ve uncovered the Female Titan’s true identity,” Erwin said, and Eren gasped in surprise. “She won’t slip away this time,”