Creedence: An Attack on Titan FanFic

Chapter 8: Eli

***********************************************************************************************

Over the course of the next month, Morgen continued working alongside Hange helping her with her experiments and helping Eren. Morgen was allowed to accompany Hange everywhere, including going to the old Survey Corps HQ that Levi and his squad had moved to along with Eren.

The day Morgen had her stitches removed and was given the all clear, she and Hange had joined Levi and his team. That night, while Morgen sat with Eren while Hange went on one of her maniacal ramblings that Morgen found herself surprisingly and rather quickly getting used to, Levi and his team had left the two cadets at Hanges mercy. Levi had decided to make his way to the rooftop battlements to allow himself to enjoy the clear night sky.

Being so far away from the city and having so few people staying at such a large base, the land around them was silent, save for the soft song of crickets, the faint sloshing of the nearby river and the every gentle summer breeze dancing through the forest. Levi thought of Cree yet again. She often consumed his mind when he found himself otherwise unoccupied.

He recalled the time she had been taken during his recovery after the ambush and failed warehouse mission. The memory of it all angered him greatly, yet another time he had failed to protect her.

''Levi?'' The familiar warm voice pulled the Captain from his anger-filled trance and pushed away the thoughts of those memories. However when he didn't respond, she continued. ''What's wrong?''

He turned to see Cree standing there looking at him with those soft eyes of hers, eyes that could see all of him as if he were an open book for her to read. Anyone else would simply think he was enjoying the silence and being alone, however she knew him entirely too well.

The tension in the muscles of his back, the slightly deepened lines of his scowl, the white skin of his knuckles as he gripped the railing of the ramparts. All subtle signs of his anger that only those familiar enough with his mannerisms would be able to see in a single glance like she had upon walking over to him.

''I was just thinking about...'' He sighed heavily and bowed his head before turning back up to look at her once more. ''I was remembering you. When you were taken while I was still recovering from your first kidnapping. One of the countless times I failed to protect you.'' He sounded so defeated in that moment and she couldn't understand exactly why.

''May I?'' She gestured as a way of asking to join him, he nodded and she walked over to stand shoulder to shoulder with him as both now looked out over the clear meadow to the east of the castle. ''Why were you thinking about that of all things?''

''Honestly, I don't know. I try not to think of the past too often, especially my mistakes and regrets. Yet I feel nearly consumed by it all lately.'' His voice was so low it was almost a whisper, still sounding defeated, and so very tired.

''Is it my fault for being here?'' She asked hesitantly.

''Of course you remind me of our past, but my troubles aren't your fault. Besides, honestly I've been like this since the expedition the day Trost was attacked. I saw...someone. In the crowd that day. They reminded me of something though I couldn't place what. But since then I've been thinking a lot about my past. Our past.'' He sighed again.

''You know my kidnapping wasn't your fault? Right?'' She said trying to reassure him despite knowing it was probably a fruitless effort.

''Of course it was. The entire reason they took you was to use you against me.'' He countered.

''So? That doesn't make it your fault. My second kidnapping and imprisonment had absolutely nothing to do with you. Norvin thought he could use me to seal some alliance with another noble house by marrying off an heir.''