Beneath The Flies • 《 Levi × Reader 》

《 Chapter 18 》• Red Is The Color of The Ocean

It was lurking in the dark of my mind, clinging to the back of my eyelids and causing me to fall ill with a harrowing fever I couldn't break.

The truth.

The story of how it all happened.

It was dragging me under with each nescient breath taken, seething with desire to be revealed.

Not now.

Soon.

Those words angered it tremendously.

I had to tell him before my mind consumes itself entirely.

Before the world at my feet dissolves into nothing but cruel shame meant for me and my sins.

Tell him.

I have to tell him.

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《 Chapter 18 》• Red Is The Color Of The Ocean

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I had shot down his heartfelt confession last night, and I honestly wasn't ready to see him again after that.

I was a fool.

That much is obvious.

I need to suck it up and spill this damned secret- to let it overflow from my head and flood the world around me. I had once fought so hard to keep it swept under the rug, to cover it with excuses and more lies. I hadn't tried to make myself seem like a saint, but I did not want my sins to be brought to light...

So I can't tell him.

I just can't.

...

"[Y/n], hey!" I stopped walking, the long, light brown skirt I wore flowing around my ankles in response to the abrupt stop. I craned my neck to see whom it was who called my name, trying to pinpoint the person in the crowded street.

And then I saw him.

Nile Dok. Member of the Military Police.

"Oh, Nile," I greeted him, holding onto a basket of groceries I'd fetched around town. It was a busy day today, everyone bustling around merchant stands and shoving their ways into stores. It was loud and crazy out here. I'm surprise I even heard Nile in the first place.

Nile walked up with his arms crossed.

"It's been awhile," He spoke lightly as he came to my side. "Care if I walk with you?"

I shook my head. "Be my guest."

So the two of us walked through the streets, narrowly dodging the dashing figures of children and energetic adults eager to purchase their goods before the weekday is long over.

Nile's voice spoke again.

"How've the Scouts been holding up?" He asked as he looked at me. "I've only gotten recent updates from the papers and occasionally some higher ups, but I haven't heard from you guys in quite some time."

I held the groceries to my chest, the vibrations of my voice traveling through the woven basket. "We've held up pretty well," I answered. "I wouldn't really say anything really changed other than our number of trained soldiers. Otherwise, things are what you'd expect."

Nile nodded. "Right, that makes sense..."

I knew Nile to be a friend of Erwins. Or at least, he used to be. Their relationship was quite rocky, but when Nile received the news of Erwin's passing, he had a distant look in his eyes that told me everything he never spoke aloud. He's taken a lot more interest in the Scouts after that day, like he's trying to stand in for Erwin's absence, like he's trying to repay a debt he never had the chance to repay when Erwin was still alive and breathing.