literature

Survey Camp / 9 [Levi|Reader] Summer Camp AU

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  Never before had you been so utterly irked at a few short and snappy words. A knot of resentment tightened in your stomach each time his scrunched and pinched face popped up in your brain. His words had nestled themselves in the forefront of your mind, countering the calming notion of the painkillers Rico had injected in your IV earlier. As much as you tried to focus on the task at hand your mind veered in the direction of Levi's narrowed eyes and tangy tone, spitting commands as if you were an unruly toddler sneaking out past bedtime. His unprecedented frown had nearly burned a semi-circle in the back of your head the moment you turned away.

   His anger, though it had a little ground to stand on, reminded you a bit too much of being scolded for something partially out of your control. Nobody else had the speed to catch up to her nor did anybody shout out alternative plans while you were flying through the air trying not to drop yourself or the crying kid latched to your body. A moments hesitation and the events would have played out entirely different, fear was understandable but the moment had passed yet his anger still nipped at you like frost bitten wind.

   "Hey she went this way."
 
   Sasha's soft voice broke through your drumming anger, her chilly fingers tugging at the sleeve of your shirt, urging you to follow an unmarked path towards the outskirts of the forest.

   "How do you know?"

   The brunette pointed towards a tiny imprint in the underbrush a few feet head of your position. Squinting you flicked on your flashlight that Hanji had tossed your way when she split to follow Levi the opposite direction, and lowered yourself to the ground. Sasha idled to your left, rocking back and forth while her bright eyes flitted around the thinning trees. Pressing the pads of your fingers into the damp grass you traced the small tennis shoe outline, a tiny gasp of astonishment slipping past your lips.

   "How did you see that? I can't even see my own hands in front of me without a flash light. Sasha that's amazing!"

   "It's in my blood I guess, or my grandpa says so."

   She smiled faintly, digging the toe of her boot into the ground with her hands clasped behind her back, almost timidly. Rising to your feet you clicked the flashlight off and ushered her forward into the woods. The outlying forest near the medic cabin was thinner than the rest but the moon had hidden itself behind the thick branches, leaving only the faint glow of lightening bugs zipping about like tiny comets. Sasha seemed to have held true to her word as she navigated flawlessly between thick and mossy roots in pitch black darkness, leaving you stumbling and grasping onto the poor girl every few minutes.

   After your fourth near death experience with a snagged tree root Sasha firmly grasped your hand and guided you through the woodland, nudging you here and there as a warning to pick your feet up higher. Abruptly a sharp jolt shot through your shoulder followed by a dull throb, signaling the pain killers had finally begun waning off, another added benefit to saving a girls life. The further you sunk into the forest the smaller and scarcer the trees became, a twinge of familiarity tugging at your memory.

   "She shouldn't be far, she started off running but she seemed to slow down." Sasha said reassuringly.

   "How do you know all this? You should be like work for the government as a spy or something."

   "I don't think the government would want someone like me."

   Sasha glanced at you over her shoulder briefly, eyes brimming with untraceable emotion before turning her attention back to the fading treeline. A streak of moonlight illuminated a patch of midnight blue and deep green grass, its pallid glow cutting between two lone trees in the center of the clearing. Crickets chirped scantly as your boots crushed thickets of wet foliage, the haze wrapped around your mind from the drugs seemed to be fading as the ache in your shoulder grew. A sweet, steady aroma brushed beneath your nose with the timid wind, lazily flicking your loose hair against your shoulders as it passed by.

   "I think I know where we are." You whispered happily.

   "We're by the furthest edge of the lake, but there's a huge field of flowers somewhere I think. I can't name the smell though, daisies maybe?"

   "Lilies."

   Taking in a big breath through your nose you wandered into the beam of light, bewitched by the scintillating ghost like hue amidst the deep blue of nightfall. A small sniffle to your right caught your attention, cocking your head to the side you skimmed the breathtaking scenery, a moment of relief pushing through the throb of pain when a tuft of red hair stuck out amongst the white rows of lilies. Sasha gasped when she came upon the ceaseless plain of flowers, their vibrant alabaster hues protruding from the dark meadow lining the far side of the lake.

   Pulling your forefinger to your lip you turned to Sasha and pointed to Isabel's shaking figure hidden amongst the throng of flowers. She nodded in understanding and tiptoed behind you, tactfully avoiding the tiny budding plants. The shape of Isabel's head and back sharpened as you began gently weaving through the meadow, her tiny cries muffled beneath her arms. Sasha sneakily wound her way in front of Isabel and crouched down, motioning you with her eyes to stand behind her.

   You tried as hard as you could not to make a sound, but an inevitable crunch of a flower announced your position, causing Isabel's tear stricken face to pop from her folded arms. Before she could scramble away Sasha pulled the tiny girl into her arms, squeezing her tight while she pounded her fists against her back. A piece of your heart tore a little more, her muted sobs echoing against the empty silence. Struggling forward you clasped your arms around both of them, pushing the wall harder against your own emotions trying to break free and drown you in their grasp.

   "I'm s-s-sorry.."

   Isabel's voice cracked against Sasha's chest as she stroked the small girls head. You and Sasha held her tight until her loud wails were softened to whimpers and the occasional hiccup. Once she stilled you released them both and plopped on the ground, cringing at the sharp pain in your arm from baring weight on it. Sasha followed suit, swiveling her body around and landing next to you while still holding Isabel against her. Cloudy green eyes gazed at you sheepishly, her dirt caked hands clinging to the fabric of Sasha's red t-shirt.

   "I just wanted you guys to like me, I didn't mean to hurt anyone." She admitted quietly.

   "Why wouldn't we like you?" You asked, ruffing her hair with your good arm.

   "Because my parents are bad people and they did that drug you have to use with a needle. Nobody likes them, that's why nobody took me. They think I'll end up horrible like them."

   Your throat constricted at her words, a mix of anger and sorrow pooling in the pit of your belly. Sasha's face read strikingly easy for a girl so usually happy and free. A clear connection to the young girls confession had painted themselves on her soft features, adding another tear in the remaining shreds of your heart. Ignoring the advancing headache that had tunneled its way to the front of your skull you took Isabel's fingers, unhooking them from Sasha's shirt and entwining them with yours.

   "There's always someone out there who will want you. Your parent's poor choices don't define you. Don't let them ruin the beauty of who you are." Sasha's voice quivered but the strength behind her words was unmatchable.

   "How do you know?"

    "My parent's made bad decisions too."

   Isabel turned her face upward to Sasha who had a stiffened look of guilt and sadness dancing across her espresso hues. Isabel unlaced her hand from yours and wrapped them around Sasha's neck lovingly, her own eyes finding solace in an unlikely connection with a stranger in a judgement world. The situation warranted so much more wisdom and insight, their adolescent years marked black by unfair circumstances that you couldn't even begin to comprehend. However, no matter how much you wanted to help them all the words got caught in your throat, swelling and strangling you each time you tried to speak. Words of encouragement were becoming harder and harder to come find, your draining resolve that had started as a leak had grown to a formidable size, scratching and yanking you down no matter how much you fought.

    Sasha grabbed at your hand, scooting her and Isabel over and leaning her head on your shoulder. Your muscles relaxed, the tension fading from the moment at the warmth of their silent comfort. As much as you wanted to delve into their personal history, the timing seemed too soon, at the very least it prompted you to push Mikasa closer to Sasha. The closer she moved towards other people the easier it would be to remain neutral once the summer ended. Unintentionally your nails dug deep into the dirt at the thought, unwelcome tension trying to push itself back into your blood.

    The moon hung low in the sky, it's enormous and grated surface had fallen so close it looked like it was barely hovering over the still water of the lake. A stillness fell over the small meadow, it was serene, sitting beneath a cloudless sky dotted with bright stars unfiltered by man-made lights. Simplistic happiness was such a rarity and seemed to be missing in nearly everyone's life that crossed into this camp. Something about Erwin and the way things fell into place around him always brought forth an unfamiliar sense of trust and comfort and seemed to be a universal feeling. Even has a jr. counselor the pattern of kids that came and went all seemed to be missing pieces of normality, and often left feeling a bit more put together.

   "This place is so beautiful. How did you find it?"

   "I heard counselor Hanji talking about it with counselor Moblit and counselor Levi earlier while ___ was still asleep and we were making her cards."

   "Oi! What the hell do you think you're doing!?"

   Just like that the peacefulness had left and the stirring anger jolted up from its slumber. Isabel rose calmly to her feet with her hands around her back and head held high as Levi and Hanji waded through the meadow. Sasha bolted up and dusted her back off and shot her arm out to help you up. Sighing you shook your head and rose slowly, eyes narrowing at the dark haired grump coming your way.

   "I don't know why I didn't check here in the first place." Hanji said with a laugh, scooping Isabel up in her arms. "You look tired, we'll talk about this in the morning alright."

   "Yes counselor Hanji, I'm sorry for the trouble."

   Hanji patted the girls head and Isabel yawned, quickly burying her head in Hanji's neck, a tiny blush dusting across the older woman's cheeks. You smiled, ignoring Levi's gaze and turned to follow, only to be jolted back.

   "Ah fuck! My fucking shoulder you ass clown." You hissed, gripping at your arm.

   "Shouldn't you have a sling."

   "Shouldn't you have a step ladder."

   "Okay Sasha time to go." Hanji squeaked, pulling her forward towards the darkening woods while Levi shot you a glare meant to kill.

   "How do you see when your eyes get so narrow?" You snapped, rubbing the sore muscle of your shoulder with the pads of your fingers.

   Levi stomped towards you and gripped your waist, rooting you to the ground with his calloused grasp. His expression barely faltered, a faint line of anger creasing his brow, barely visible beneath the moonlight. Swallowing thickly you wriggled beneath his hands only for him to squeeze tighter, rooting you to the ground.

   "You are too fucking reckless."
   
    "I saved us both didn't I? I mean it would have been great if I could sprout wings or-"

    "It doesn't negate the fact that you're too careless with your own life."

  A thick pool of saliva caught in your throat, for the first time in your short history with Levi you had to avert your gaze away from his interrogating glare. Your mind drew a blank, leaving you nothing to focus on but the burning sensation in your injured arm and the relentless pounding in your head. He released you from his iron grip, letting his hand collapse at his sides. Where his voice usually left a trickle of lust and need, a new feeling blazed in your chest, a prick of anger, frustration and unexplainable sadness.

   Your eyes flickered to him for a moment, the pale strip of moonlight highlighted  his angular jaw and long lashes. He never tore his eyes from you, a sentimental notion most would consider excessive, but it was his odd way of showing you had his attention. Still, in the moment beneath the romance of the moon and beauty of the endless sea of your favorite flowers you couldn't help but want to run the opposite direction and never look back. You dropped your eyes to the floor, skimming of his thin fingers briefly.

   "Why do you have dirt under your nails?"

Levi shoved his hands in his pockets and puffed out a breath to knock his bangs away from his face.

   "Go back to your cabin, _____."
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Anae-Haruki-Pitch's avatar
This series is just amazing in so many different ways!!!