The atmosphere in the room was stifling. The joy that had once radiated from everyone during lunch had completely dissipated. Eren and I were still trying to catch our breath when Levi handed the crumpled note over to us. I apprehensively accepted it, knowing whatever was written was either inconvenient or detrimental to us all. My eyes scanned over the words scribbled with haste, but my mind wasn't able to comprehend what they meant. It wasn't possible. With wide eyes, I lifted my gaze to meet Nifa's. The fear and determination that stared back at me only confirmed what I was so afraid of. How were those words true?

Levi was easily able to retrieve the message from my hands, as I had lost my grasp in disbelief. Slowly turning toward the candle that flickered in the middle of the table, he held the paper above the flame and muttered,

"Everybody read it? Good... If you're dumb enough to trust him, follow me..."

My mind was racing. The message was written by Erwin, and if everything it said was true, we were fucked. I quickly snapped out of my daze as the silent room evolved into a chaotic buzz, filled with the sound of cabinets flying open and supplies clanking into bags rapidly. I caught Eren staring at me as he began to gather the rifles together from the corner of the room. Again, whatever lingered behind those eyes sent chills up my spine. He had seen what no one else saw; what I never wanted anyone to ever witness. I clenched my fists and tightened my jaw so hard, I could have broken a tooth. Turning on my heel, I decided to escape the heaviness of the situation and jogged down the hall to catch up with Levi, who had already begun to strip our room bare. Swinging his rifle over his shoulder, he addressed me blandly as he continued to grab everything of necessity.

"Did Yeager talk to you?"

"K-kind of, yea... but Levi-"

"Grab your shit, (Y/N). You read the note."

"Yes I did, but Levi-"

I couldn't get him to stop for even one moment, as I meekly requested his full attention. He was flying around our room, pulling everything apart in a frenzy, then retracing his steps to make it look like no one had been there. Finally, when he walked past me again, I held out my hand, pushing my palm against his chest to stop him. As if on instinct, he shoved my hand back, then grabbed my wrist, yanking me into his space. I winced in pain, due to his intense grip, as he glared down at me. His eyes smoldered with the glow of a distant blue flame, focused yet furious. This was not the Levi I wanted before me, especially when I noticed his fingers wrapping ever tighter around my wrist. My eyes raced back and forth between his fist and his face as I tried not to panic. He wasn't present, and I had only gotten in his way. I could have sworn I felt fissures begin to form, my bones begin to crack, as I let out a frightened whimper under Levi's power.

"Levi, you're hurting me-"

The terror in my voice must have finally reached him, because the instant my plea left my lips, the devilish flame that possessed Levi's mind was extinguished. His grip released, and he backed away from me simultaneously. I cradled my hand with a shuddered breath, cowering against the door. Seconds later, I heard my name whispered softly from Levi's lips, but I was surprised by my own reaction; I squeezed my eye lids shut and tried to shrink backwards even farther against the wall.

I recoiled from his touch when his fingertips barely brushed my skin. I could feel him closing in around me, wanting to hold me in my fragile state. But I could only duck out from under his arms and retreat from the wall, still nursing my rapidly bruising wrist. The pain was beginning to throb into my fingertips as I attempted to check my range of motion.

"Shit...(Y/N)... Did I- are you okay?"

Lowering my hand and squeezing my eyelids shut, I willed my tears to disappear and pushed everything back down, caging it deep inside me. I had gotten really good at doing that.

"I'm fine. Just focus on ensuring the safety of our Squad."

With my other hand, I snatched up two of the bags he had already stuffed full of supplies and exited the room without another word.

-------------------------------------------------

We had all barely reached the crest of the hill when our cabin was raided. And by the Military Police, no less. Luckily, we were shrouded by the night, able to stealthily sneak away into the shelter of the woods. Even though my eyes had adjusted a while back, I was still struggling to make out whose silhouette belonged to whom.

My attempts to remain mission focused were being crowded out by Eren's vision and Levi's actions... as if something Eren said had flipped a switch in Levi. The man who had just almost broke my wrist was not the man who had made love to me beneath the stars. I was frustrated and hurt and confused, but above all else, I was devastated.

Devastated that my nightmares were shared visions... Visions to a young boy who had already experienced enough trauma in his life. So why did he have to witness any of the torture I went through? Why was he seeing the worst moments of my life?

It didn't make any sense to me. What had caused Levi to snap like that? Eren said he hadn't told Levi everything-

Wait, what was he going to say before we were called back to the cabin so suddenly? With all of us rushing to get out of there so fast, I completely forgot!

Inhaling deeply, my eyes rapidly began to search for Eren, bouncing from one silhouette to another. But the shadows cast from the trees in the darkness of the night made it all too difficult to tell my comrades apart. We all had our hoods up and were crouching through the grass, making everyone look the same. Shit! I have to know what he was going to tell me before we regroup!

Suddenly, I felt a hand clamp down on my shoulder, causing me to jump. With wide eyes, I turned to find Levi glaring at me from under his hood. What the fuck, I thought he was leading us!?

"Oi, when we reach the rendezvous point in Trost, I want you to stay close to Mikasa, you got that?"

"What? Why?"

"Just do what I say."

"Levi--"

Before I could question his orders, he disappeared to return to the front of the group. I was so goddamn frustrated and confused by everything at this point. Why the hell wouldn't anyone be straight with me!?