A Moment of Respite (2)

Mina's POV

Did I say something? "Captain?"

"I may not have known you for long…" He whispers, slowly leaning back to gaze at my face properly. And within his determined eyes expressed an emotion that I am well acquainted with, prompting me to sit properly and face whatever issue he had in mind head-on. "But even I understand that every act you do is all for the sake of Eren and Mikasa. So why… why would you say that?"

"..."

"..."

Huh?

Not knowing what he meant by those words, I mumbled. "What do you mean by that, captain?"

"For your safety." He repeats, as his words slowly begin to make sense to me. "That's a bit out of character for you, don't you think so, Mina?"

"Ah…" Well.

He's not wrong about that.

But the image of a young and courageous girl, one with light-colored ginger hair, instantly passed through my mind, making me recall her father's words in light of her will and future endeavors - Her dreams that weren't fulfilled due to our carelessness - and due to my mistake.

At this point, after recalling her smile every time her rude and brave captain passed by, it didn't even take a whole second to formulate an answer.

"Petra would have thought so," I whisper, eyes reminiscent and downcast, completely avoiding the astounded gaze of the captain. "If… If only I were a step ahead of everything that transpired during our last expedition, maybe… I could have saved-"

"Stop." In that moment of carelessness and a tad bit of culpability, I tried to voice my own thoughts, wanting nothing more than to express how my way of coping with Petra and Oluo's death was to ensure their captain's safety. But the older Ackerman just had to stop me by flicking my forehead, an act that instantly baffled me, something that Captain Levi had taken advantage of in order to speak. 

And the tone he used somehow made me want to scream, prompting me to whip my head away to stare at the window.

"It wasn't your fault." He started, shifting a bit of his weight properly on the side of the bed. And even if I wasn't directly looking at him, Captain Levi respected it, knowing full well what kind of soldier I am in the face of susceptibility. "You don't have to carry on her will. Just focus on your task and swiftly deal with it, like you used to."

"That's not what I-" Clenching my fists, there was simply no way out for me. Ymir might be laughing at this moment…

But she might not, too.

Considering how genuine this person is in front of me, knowing full well what he'll do in the future and how countless people will forever respect what he has gone through, maybe even the ancient being will understand why I've decided to care for him like how I care for the younger version of my parents.

It's because he's loyal to a fault, like a true Ackerman.

Similar to my own.

But how do I even tell him that ever since he - the Levi of this world - began to look after me, even if I wasn't in his squad, something within me began to see him as… as a friend.

A person who I'm willing to risk my life for, understanding that he'll also do the same.

It's idiotic, yes, and a bit selfish of me, yes, but how can I not?

He's one of the people that genuinely cares for the people I care about. So, in retrospect, how can I not look at him and not think of his safety in the face of danger?

"I," It took me a while to continue what I was saying. Even if my eyes weren't looking at him, Levi somehow understood that I had more to say and more to express. And so, he patiently waited as the two of us heard a few birds chirping outside of this room. 

Breath in, I thought to myself, remembering Petra's words. Breathe out. 

"I see you as a friend, captain." I finally said, shutting my eyes in hopes of hiding the embarrassment that was leaking out of my figure. "Friends care for each other. Do I need more reason to protect the people I care about?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Captain?" Taking out every courage that I had, I lifted my head and asked, "Is it… wrong of me to think like so?"

"Pfft." Hunching ever so slightly but not successfully hiding what he was about to do, Levi Ackermann chuckled, presenting a face I never thought I'd see. It was as if I had just witnessed a rare emotion from this man, prompting me to tuck this moment safely within my head. "Is today a holiday or something? Who knew that the so-called Guardian has this side?"

Pouting, I replied. "How rude, captain."

"Not the first time you said that to me from this hour alone."

"Still rude!"

Titles aside, nor does age and experience, amidst this perilous time, caring for someone doesn't mean that it has to be of the same age, same rank, or even share the same view in life. All it takes is for them to reach out and present how they truly mean to someone.

And how I want to see them happy until the end of their days.

It wasn't in my plan to meet someone familiar and befriend them - I mean, I don't think I even wanted to talk to anyone before Ymir had transported me to this place in hopes of keeping myself on track. But… Things change.

May it develop or regress, it doesn't matter. All that we can do right now is to move forward along with these newly acquired emotions, praying for the best, and doing whatever I can to keep them safe.

Like the commander.

My current squad captain - I know… there are some moments that I am willing to break it for the sake of Eren and Mikasa's safety. But for the moment, it is what it is.

And lastly, the captain of the elite squad.

But… going back- "Guardian?" I scrunched up my face from confusion and, once more, asked. "Where did that come from?"

"People talk." Captain Levi then shrugged his shoulders before composing himself. "Amidst the devils surrounding our land, an angel descended, guarding our haven." He then paused, looked at me, and frowned. "Now don't you look at me like that- Those words are being spread like fucking wildfire. Not my fault that you became so popular just from one expedition."

"I don't want to hear that coming out from your mouth, oh dear, humanity's strongest soldier."

"Fuck off."

Chuckling, I then proceeded to give him a salute. "Roger."

"So," Finally, after being truthful about how we felt - or it's what I just thought had happened - the captain then stood up, paced around the room, and slowly leaned against the door to hear if someone was nearby, before walking up to the bedside once more and asked. "When are you leaving?"

Smiling after realizing what he just did, I honestly replied. "As soon as possible."

"Hmm…" Humming, he then crossed his arms and frowned. "Have you prepared everything that you'll need?"

"Yes."

"And the transport of it?"

Head tilting a bit to the side, I contemplated for a bit before answering. "I have managed to talk to someone from our squad. But I still need to send a message to where they can leave the materials."

"Okay," The captain then sighed before opening his mouth to continue. "Then let me handle that."

Huh?

"But-"

"No buts!" He intercepts, all the while clicking his tongue from irritation. "Might I remind you that you just burned both of your hands a couple of hours ago, engaged in a fight against the armored titan, massacred quite a number of titans, and now you expect me not to help you?"

"..."

"..."

"Well-"

"Oi shitty brat."

Immediately straightening my back, I rigidly answered. "Yes, sir!"

"I'm ordering you to rest for a few more hours before leaving. And tell me before you do. Understand?"

"I-"

"And don't you dare pull out the right to deny your fucking orders." It was as if something was ignited from within the 'Humanity's strongest soldier' as he continued to urge me to rest in hopes of keeping me away from any form of physical activity. "I'm also not going to beg. You should know better, brat."

"I…" While maintaining a death stare coming from a 160 cm man, I couldn't help but surrender. "I will do as I am told, captain."

"You fucking better, or I might lose it…"

It took a lot for me not to chuckle at that point.

When our conversation ended, I knew that the captain had to leave at some point. He is a captain, first and foremost. He must have a thousand tasks to accomplish. So, I wouldn't exactly mind if he left right now, considering that we've already shared everything we had wanted to say.

Instead, he simply sat back down - not on the chair - but on the bedside, prompting me to raise my eyebrows from confusion.

"I have a few minutes to spare." He nonchalantly says, tilting his head backward.

And after seeing such an uncharacteristic side of him, how can I not smile? 

"Want me to teach you how to use the new weapon?"

Just from that sentence alone, our gazes again connect as a flame of a newly profound desire to learn ignited from his soul.

"Thought you'll never ask."

*****