✓ Blood Lust (Levi Ackerman - Attack on Titan) #wattys2021

Chapter Fifteen

*Just a note, I went back and forth between Hulu and Netlfix. They both translate the series differently.*

I'm tired as I gaze into my tea next to Levi in the almost empty food hall, aside from Eren.

"They're late. What's keeping Erwin and the others? They'll let the Military Police beat them here." He takes a sip of his tea. "I'll bet it's his constipation acting up again."

I roll my eyes. "That's still my dad, remember?" He doesn't answer, the cup becoming interesting.

"Captain, you're quite talkative today," Eren pipes up.

"Don't be stupid. I'm always talkative."

"Oh yes," I say sarcastically, flicking my hair, "those dark expressions say so much." He proceeds to give me one, before suddenly grunting in pain, grabbing his thigh. On instinct, I lightly massage it, despite his swatting.

"I'm sorry," Eren apologizes from his seat. "If I hadn't screwed up that time, you wouldn't be..." He trails off, looking at Levi's leg.

"I've told you before, no one knows how things will turn out."

"If we want to point fingers, it was Mikasa—"

"And you told her to go ahead for the nape," Levi points out, taking a sip of his tea pointedly. He's got a point there.

The door opens then, causing Eren to rise while Levi and I to remain sitting. My father and the rest of our friends from training are with him.

"We believe we've found someone that is the female Titan," Erwin says from Eren's puzzling look. "This time, we'll capture her without fail. We will do it the day after tomorrow, while passing through the Stohess District on our way to the Capital. This will be our first and last chance at her," my father says as the rest of the soldiers place his battle plans in front of us to view. "Once on the other side, the government will take custody of Eren and we'll have difficulty investigating those bent on destroying the walls. Both of which will foster humankind's destruction. We'll have to bet everything on this operation."

What he's really saying is that we'll have to commit treason with this, and probably die. My father goes on to explain the plan, but my eye keeps catching to Levi's hand as it rubs his thigh. Will he be in good enough shape to go?

We're dismissed to rest up for the next night. I follow behind Levi as we sleep in the same section, but gasp and reach out to steady him when he stumbles. Frustrated, he punches his fist against the stone wall.

"Let me help you to your bed," I say, taking his arm around my shoulder and leading him to his room. Once he's sitting on the edge of the bed, he starts pulling his grey shirt, then his pants. I stare, having to refrain from licking my lips. I'm only brought of my staring when he grunts, pulling his body up into bed, a slight pained look on his face.

"Here, let me help," I repeat, my hands going to his thigh and starting to massage like at the table. He doesn't stop me this time, just closing his eyes and resting his right arm over his forehead. I move his leg, stretching it out, but he doesn't make a sound of a pain. I resume massaging until I hear light snores, almost laughing. I actually relaxed the Captain enough to put him to sleep.

I run my hands through his dark black hair, knowing I'll never get the chance to do so again without being murdered. After, I bring the blanket over him, putting out the lamp, before returning to my own room to sleep.

"Why do I have to wear a damn dress?" I mutter, pulling down at the hem. After four years of being in nothing but pants, this was an adjustment, one that I didn't like. I'm pretty sure ODM is not even safe to use in a dress.