Because Of You

Chapter 48

It had happened again. One moment, she felt like she was dying tenfold, then the next, familiar hands caressed hers and suddenly she was alive again. She couldn't explain what was happening, but she was grateful that Levi was always there for her when she needed him most.

"Thanks." The woman mumbled as she sat up on the bed, Levi following suit once he had woken up. "I thought you said you didn't sleep?" She questioned him, glad that he did.

Levi turned his legs across the edge of his single bed, he'd slept sat up again, consequently receiving a stiff neck in return. He didn't mind it though, at least he was finally getting a good nights rest. Yesterday, he could notice the difference, he worked better, had less headaches, and Hange had even gone as far as saying he was more tolerable.

"I usually don't." He didn't elaborate, Carmen felt as though she knew why. If he was anything like her, then he wouldn't want to talk about it, so she simply nodded her head in understanding.

"Isn't it uncomfortable?" She asked. "Sitting like that all night? I can't imagine it is." It wasn't just a hunch, she'd heard him crack his neck a few times, rubbing the ache afterwards.

"I manage." He reassured, the last thing he wanted was for Carmen to feel guilty - especially when he was helping her. As usual, he walked towards the small station in his room and began to make some tea, it always managed to make his mornings more bearable, he hoped it would do the same for his squad mate.

"You shouldn't have to. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your health just for me." Levi didn't see how it was that important, it was only light back pain, nothing he couldn't handle. "This is a long term thing, I doubt it's going to disappear anytime soon." She added, hoping her hint would make it through to him.

"Your point?" He asked, unsure as to what she was suggesting. It was out of the question for him to just leave her alone, not after everything he'd seen. Last night alone was as troublesome as the others Mikasa had described. He'd heard her gasping for air and saw her hands clutching her torso, when he finally grabbed her hands, he saw the scratch marks along her, she'd been clawing at herself for some unknown reason. Luckily, it wasn't severe enough to draw blood, but there were a few marks remaining.

Carmen hesitated, whatever had come to mind was instantly pushed aside. "Nothing, forget I said anything." She turned down.

Levi was confused, but didn't question it, she was staying and that's all that mattered. "What was last night's nightmare?" He wondered, wanting to know what had distressed her so much. She hadn't ever explicitly told him what they were about, but he had a few guesses.

"It doesn't matter." Carmen lied, it most definitely did matter. When fighting the dolls, she'd sliced a few of their torso's open, assuming it was quick and painless - however now she knew the truth. Her nightmares were never short, somehow they managed to last forever. The blade through her own torso entered her tantalisingly slow, then everything began to spill. It was horrific.

Levi disagreed with her, he knew it mattered, but didn't push any further. "Here." He handed her some tea as the two took their places at his desk again. "It's Historia's coronation today, we're expected to be there." The man informed. "I don't know who the other guests will be, so stay on guard, don't act irrationally."

"You're trying to tell me that some of them might be there." The blonde assumed as Levi nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be on my best behaviour." She rolled her eyes. Seeing Levi begin to drink his tea, Carmen copied his action, taking it as a hint that the beverage was finally safe to drink. "I best be going then, I need to freshen up to meet the queen." She told him, standing from her seat and making her way towards the office door.