❛ patch . help my muse patch up a wound . – from Eld!
His heartbeat had risen slightly, his eyes narrowed for a second, his composure lost only for a moment, pain not distracting him from taking out his opponent ( an abnormal, who had entered their formation ). When the sun set, and they had the luxury to finally set their feet on the ground, Levi allowed his squad to address the injury he had sustained. A deep cut at the side of his stomach had slowed him down, even if by little. Eld was the first to approach. The most confident when he was around — was it the rest of them were still scared of him, his temper, his reactions? Does it hurt? ❝ What do you think? ❞ Well, no wonder why they were so tense in his presence.
He could have handled it on his own — too many years spent fighting on the streets, too much blood spilt, many injuries sewn, and only his life to be responsible for. The battlefield changed, the purpose he’d chosen to serve, now responsible for the life of others instead ( ensure their protection, their growth, make sure they wouldn’t sacrifice their lives for a worthless cause ) — but alone again Levi would stand among enemies. His conscious choice was, to keep advancing forward, move fast, so none would catch up to his pace — it was dangerous to stay close. Yet, last time he took a moment to look back, he’d see them, his squad, chasing after him. Maybe, it wouldn't be that bad, to slow down every once in a while — let them treat his injuries (visible or not), so he could treat theirs as well.
Most soldiers would grow uneasy when witnessing their superior getting hurt, but not them, and if they were, they were good at masking their fear, matching their leader. Most soldiers relied on someone else to make their choices for them, to take responsibility for their lives — quite common when on a battlefield, to lose trust in one's self, to look for who was more skilled and experienced. They were different, arrogant enough to know they could do well on their own, their strength as a team almost equal to his, and ready to give up on everything to keep moving forward.
Silently they sat by the campfire, as Eld worked on cleaning his injury of any dried blood. Levi could have done it on his own, yet instinctively he had given in. He was bleeding too. He was no different, and neither were they. His weak nature, his humanity, the Captain carried with pride, a rare sight a chosen few got to witness, and a lesson he wanted to teach them. Humanity's strongest soldier. His strength, inhuman. A monster. Even a devil, to some. Cruel, for his humanity to be questioned, when it was monsters he fought against, risking his life just like everyone else in the Survey Corps. Invincible? He wasn't. His life would hang by a thread, just like the rest of them. He wouldn't sacrifice any less, or be worth more.
That much was enough, though. ❝ I'll take over from here. ❞ Enough of himself put on display. Before the balance was disturbed, he retreated back to his usual manners. ❝ I can stitch it on my own. You should rest. ❞
