Chapter 3
The crackles from the fire as wood burned. The creak of tall trees and leaves rustling in the wind.
Levi had been conscious for a few minutes but he kept his breathing shallow and his eyes closed. He expected to smell the smoke from the explosion of the thunder spear and charred flesh but his senses were hit by the fresh air, grass, and an earthy smell of decomposing leaves soon after it rained.
There's someone else's presence beside him in the forest clearing. Slowly, Levi opened both of his eyes aware that his body had healed albeit a little disoriented.
By his side, someone was sitting on a large root with their hands clasped together and staring at the bonfire. Just like Levi, the man was also sitting still and silent. From their build and the long dark brown hair, Levi had a guess on who's his companion. Especially if he didn't dream seeing ocean blue eyes when he had a bit of consciousness earlier.
It was dark as the night sky enveloped the forest in darkness with the fire as their only source of light and heat.
Eren furtively glanced behind him and their eyes met. The young man's eyes widened along with his mouth.
Levi Ackerman
Shut your mouth close, if you don't want to swallow flies.
Levi blurted out. He slowly sat before leaning back as if he's looking at a wild animal that'll pounce if he moved wrong.
Eren immediately closed his mouth shut before looking back at the fire. The surroundings were silent giving Levi's mind the time to ponder.
Levi's mind raced as he thought of the implications of Eren's presence here with him. There's no Zeke and his body didn't felt like it experienced a deadly explosion point blank. He traced his face and noticed the large scar, along with the scars around two of his fingers. That woman who mended him...
His thoughts were interrupted as Eren spoke.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"What do you last remember, Captain?"
Levi narrowed his eyes. That woman told him that Eren was gone but the man was clearly here. He clicked his tongue.
Levi Ackerman
"The bearded bastard escaped. I was supposed to be incapacitated after the shithead pulled the trigger on a thunder spear. The moron was that desperate to see you."
Levi looked at his stretched left leg and felt uneasy. Maybe its because he hit head but he couldn't recall things as fast as he could.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"After that?"
Eren murmured with he same blank tone he used last time they talked.
Levi Ackerman
"That's it. What a shitty way to go. Did the hairball finally kick the bucket? Is that why you look miserable?"
Levi never looked away from Eren who flinched at his last question. He used the word miserable but the appropriate word would probably be unsettled. The shitty brat looked restless as he fidgeted with his knuckles. He waited as Eren carefully chose his next words.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"We're back in the past."
Amongst all things Eren could've said, that's the least thing Levi predicted. No, he wasn't even able to think about that response. What did he mean by 'back in the past'?
Levi Ackerman
"Seriously."
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I am serious, sir."
Levi glared when Eren added the 'sir' as if its an afterthought.
Levi Ackerman
"I don't believe you. Eren, we can no longer put trust in any of your words after what you've done. You essentially betrayed us, that's why you were locked in the dungeon."
Levi continued, crossing his arms.
"Betray you..." Eren finally looked at him again, unidentified emotions swirled in those murky eyes.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Then why did you lock me up in a dungeon instead of executing me?"
Levi frowned. Since Eren disappeared months ago, this was the longest the man held a conversation with him. Since the scouts rescued Eren back from Marley, the young man never showed a desire to talk to any of them.
Levi Ackerman
"You're suspiciously talkative tonight."
Levi remarked. He inwardly smirked as Eren showed a bit of anger in a scowl.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
“You said 'if he betrays us or goes berserk, I'll put him down without hesitation'. Instead, you threw me in a dungeon instead of letting someone else eat me to pass the Founding Titan's powers. You-,"
Eren glowered before suddenly halting when something passed though the sullen look on his face as if he saw something he-
Levi realized that Eren looked at his scar when those blue eyes glanced down his neck. They spent the next seconds in uncomfortable silence while Levi mulled on Eren's words. The young man mentioned what Levi told him soon after they got custody of the holder of the Attack Titan after the trial.
"No, didn't you still need to kill someone?"
Just then, he remembered hearing someone talking while he thought that he's dying. It was then that he's dragged to that unusually beautiful place. That woman...
"No, didn't you still need to kill someone?"
Levi thought if it was Eren that she referred to that he needed to kill instead of Zeke who he thought of killing.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Did Ymir speak to you?"
Eren asked, anger momentarily forgotten. It had been a while since Levi heard this kind of earnest tone from the brat.
Eren must've seen the confusion in his face since the brat sighed.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"A small woman with light blonde hair. She had shoulder length hair and wore tattered clothing with a headband, sash belt, and leather sandals laced above her ankles."
Levi listened as Eren described the same woman who healed him.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"She should be the one who healed you, if you're wondering how your wounds look like it's been months since you got them."
Levi Ackerman
"What if she talked to me?"
Levi was still suspicious of Eren and he never believed a word he spoke about being in the past. He didn't even know what did that mean or implied since he didn't feel like he went back to the past. The last time he recalled matched the sequence of events that led to this moment. He was unconscious, Zeke escaped, Eren apparently arrived too late- maybe they missed each other- and then the brat helped him...
Levi Ackerman
"Why would that Ymir heal me?"
Levi asked. That's the one thing that didn't match with anything.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I- I don't know. She-"
Eren stammered. A stark contrast to how he was in that airship where he laughed after learning Sasha's death.
Levi Ackerman
"You do know. You're a shitty liar."
Levi Ackerman
"Where did that collected attitude you had when you need it? Spit it out before I force it out of you."
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I want to know what Ymir told you. Or what you can remember from what she said."
Eren clenched his jaw before speaking in a strained voice. Levi was still determining whether it's from frustration or because the brat had something to hide. He had his bet on the latter.
Levi Ackerman
"So you can match it with your story?"
Levi drawled, not giving Eren the option to lie.
Levi Ackerman
"Start talking."
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