Can I Get a Hell Yeah For Petra-TSD [Another Rivetra AU]

The air in the room seemed to thicken as Levi watched the commander, who gave a slow nod to acknowledge Hanji when she just entered the room. His gaze then went to Petra giving her a reassured look. Whatever Erwin had to say Levi could easily handle it, he always had and this wasn't any different. Returning the look Hanji had given him, it was strange that the two of them didn't know what this was about and anything important was sent through paper if it was the plans for another expedition and if that was what this was about it wouldn't be discussed here. Levi's eyes fell back on Erwin though the hardness in his expression didn't change as he gave up to trying to piece together what was about to be said.

Erwin straightened once they all were settled at the table, a noticeable intake of air as he found himself sighing, this was the last thing he wanted to deliver. Not because of the content or the weight it carried. No he dreaded who it involved..and who would want to get involved. Erwin's eyes glanced to Levi before finally he spoke "Petra Ral. This information is for you specifically, with your involvement in the 57th expedition."  he didn't leave much room to pause to look at the rest of the table "and how your debatable actions have not only effected the survey corps but hindered the goal of humanity" the commander glanced up when he heard Levi's chair move in the slightest, the man had his fingers locked, elbows on the table watching Erwin with an eerily intense stare. Already his words weren't gaining much favor but he continued "you are being charged with the murder of Auruo Bossard, Gunther Schultz, and Erd Gin as well as aiding the Female Titan in her capture of Eren Jeager." His words cut through the silence as he rolled off each name, he had them memorized as much as he had to read them the past few days. "you are also charged with the highest form of treason against humanity. The charges will be discussed in further detail and your conviction will be found through trial. You have a weeks time between your arrest to settle any ties you need to. Until then you must be escorted by a high ranking official of the survey corps or you will be arrested immediately." Erwin pursed his lips with a slight clear of his throat as he looked towards the woman in question, then to the man next to her with a slight surprised blink. The intensely in Levi's stare had risen.

Levi grew stiff as he listened to the information relayed back to him, he looked at Petra occasionally. The word continuously rang in his head, treason against humanity. Her survival of the attack must have brought this on. He didn't look at her again, he kept his eyes forward. The information was a creative way to blame someone, at best, for the horrible failure of the mission nor did he believe for a second his squad member had anything to do with it. "That's the hugest pile of bullshit I've heard in awhile Erwin." he was quick to throw his opinion of the situation out, though the commander didn't seem surprised. Levi's voice had more to an edge of it then usual "you signed her medical release papers, does that sound like a damn traitor to you?" though he didn't move from his spot, his eyes never left the commander who shifted and returned the look "Levi.." he said slowly, giving an unsure look at the man sitting at the table "it wasn't my decision. After her report was reviewed certain aspects came up suspicious." he barely had time to finish before Levi chimed in again "and you wrote her fucking report." the corporal still hadn't moved an inch from his spot, his hands still covering most of his mouth. Erwin frowned, "Levi." he said in a sternly though the other man showed no signs it effected him "the order has already been certified. Its been spread through the Legion before I had a chance to get out here to the three of you. As far as anyone is concerned shes a traitor." Erwin had known Levi well enough to be one of the few to separate his anger from his usual horrible demeanor. The tension that was radiating off the corporal now was a clear indication that Erwin made the right decision to come here himself instead of sending an unsuspecting soldier.

"She won't be leaving this building." his words took on an even sharper edge as his eyes never once left the commander, who gave the same look back "this goes way over your head Levi, and over mine. Anything you do to resist at this point will label you as assisting a criminal." the two stared each other down when Levi was the first to speak "So be it." he didn't hesitate, which caused Erwin to blink at how willingly the man was to jump on the opposite side. There was a long quiet moment before Erwin stepped towards the table, resting his hands on the edges as he leaned forward matching the gaze of the corporal "Don't let your emotions effect your judgement Levi." he glanced to Petra then back to the other man with another sigh.

Slowly Petra moved to take her seat at the table, glancing over at Levi shortly. She played with the fabric on her sling, her eyes shifting to Erwin as he addressed her. She listened to his words carefully, shifting slightly when she took another glance at Levi before turning her gaze back to her commander. Hindered the goal of humanity? She opened her mouth to question further, but closed it again when her commander started talking again. Time seemed to slow when he went further into detail, his words becoming muffled as the details of her apparent charges were discussed. Murder? She couldn't if she even tried. And treason? She didn't join the Survey Corps to eventually betray them on an expedition where her own life was on the line. Any words she may have wanted to say were lost to her now, feeling tears sting at her eyes.

Her hand moved to cover her mouth slowly, shaking her head. "I didn't..." She muttered, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks as her shoulders shook, her head shaking again. The other woman in the room crossed her arms, looking from Petra to Erwin this time. "Erwin. You can't really believe Petra is a traitor to humanity. Just because she's the only survivor of Squad Levi, I don't see how that's reason enough to charge her for murder and treason." The squad leader pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head as well. "Who else knows, besides the Survey Corps?" Hanji asked, glancing at Petra again.

The copper-haired woman turned her eyes to Levi, barely catching his willingness to be charged with assisting a criminal. She kept her hazel eyes on him for a few seconds longer, her breath hitching slightly as she tried to muffle a small whimper.

The commander kept his eyes on Levi, who seemed to be stewing in his generating anger, his final comment probably didn't help. Pushing himself away from the table, he glanced over to what Hanji had asked, his head shaking slowly "I didn't come up with these charges, I got the document a few days ago" he crossed his arms as he looked over to the crying woman though his expression didn't change in the slightest. "I have no opinion on the matter, I'll admit the charges are extensive. I don't think Levi would choose a potential traitor to join his squad" he glanced to Levi who hadn't taken his eyes off the man, a little more then a grunt escaped him now. Erwin turned his attention to Hanji again with a sigh avoiding the heated gaze of the corporal "All the branches have been notified of the..threat" he used the word carefully, barely catching an off colored curse in his direction from the other man "the idea of a traitor has gotten to the people from word of mouth, the trial itself will be headed by the high commander..the survey corps has been under a lot of attention the past few days because of Ms. Ral"

Turning he sighed once again as he headed towards the door "As I said before you have a weeks time before your impending arrest, I suggest you take care of any loose business..even I don't know the full extent of this trial. Until then you will get another paper explaining the situation, Petra." nearing the door he stopped and turned completely, watching the three that were going to be left behind in the room "and Levi" Erwin looked across the room to the corporal, who now had his hands across his chest, his eyes were on Petra as he leaned to her direction in the slightest when they flicked over to Erwin in a slow blink "Behave yourself." and just as he arrived Erwin was gone, leaving the three alone at the table.

"they needed to blame someone, they don't want to look bad" his voice still had an edge to it, he glanced at Hanji, his eyes still hard and ridged "you don't believe this shit do you?" Levi didn't believe it for a second. Though he was arguably biased, he chose Petra, he chose all of his squad for not only their skill but their loyalty to the cause. The accusation not only blatantly attacked Petra's loyalty to humanity but in a way, also Levi. His attention fully went to Petra, though Hanji was still only a seat away he made no attempts to hide his concern. "Look at me Petra" he watched her with an intensity, his jaw just as tight as before "you won't be found guilty of anything."

The woman kept her hand over her mouth, still barely able to process any words coming from Erwin now. A traitor against humanity is what she was labeled as now, likely to everyone within the walls. Conclusions were being jumped to and she would be gone and out of the castle at the end of the week. A muffled sob escaped her this time, barely shifting her gaze to Erwin when she was addressed again. She still barely caught what he had said, but it was clear there wasn't a way to weasel out of her current situation. Petra turned her eyes away from Erwin, focusing on the wood of the table again.

Hanji asked no more questions, simply mulling over her thoughts even as Erwin left. Glancing up at Levi when he spoke again, she frowned slightly. "They're making themselves look bad by charging one of their own with treason." She paused, looking over at Petra before turning her gaze back to the corporal. Despite the fact she hadn't been around the other woman as much as Levi would obviously be, she shook her head slowly. "No, I don't. If Erwin signed her medical release order on account of mental trauma... I don't think anyone intending to attack humanity would be in her current state." Slowly she stood from her chair, pushing it back in after she had stood. "I'd be careful, Levi. Something's not adding up." She took a final glance at Petra before her arms crossed again, the woman leaving the mess area.

Petra turned her attention to Levi when he addressed her, removing her hand from her mouth to wipe her tears. Holding back another sob, she shook her head slowly. "L-Levi... I didn't. Y-You know I wouldn't..." She choked out the sob she tried to hold back, her hand balling into a fist on her thigh.

Levi kept his eyes on Petra mostly, though he slowly looked over to Hanji when she spoke a grunt escaping him. She had a point, none of it added up they were rushing to blame someone but why and why did they choose Petra. For convenience? None of it made sense to him but he would need more time to sort his thoughts out. For the time being, Levi watched Hanji leave, turning back to look at his squad member with a softer look. His expression suddenly hardened when he registered what she had said."Of course I do. Don't think for a damn minute I would believe that bullshit" leaning back in his chair, his eyes focusing on something on the opposite side of the room. He sat in silence as he thought a part of him allowing the anger that was boiling in the pit of him to subside, the other attempting to understand what Erwin had told them.

"I will work something out, they wont convict you" he spoke suddenly, his eyes still trained on the wall opposite the table they were sitting at. "Let them have a trial, they won't find anything on you." his tone still had an edge to it as just jaw remained tight. He glanced to the woman sitting next to him, she didn't deserve this, a soldier who had served humanity with nothing but the purest intent and this is how the military repays her. He doubted the survey corps were going to offer assistance, they had enough pressure then to help one of their own. Levi's fist balled into a fist on the table, a muttered curse pierced the silence. "You are still my squad member, however far this goes you have my support." his eyes finally landed on her, watching her features with intensity "you take any step forward and I will back you." squeezing his fist, he leaned back with a soft squeak from the chair.

Petra's shoulders shook, another shake from her head shortly followed. She was...she didn't know what she was. Confused, disbelieving? The woman had told Erwin that she had watched her squad all get killed by the Female Titan; if anyone was a traitor to humanity, it was whoever the Female Titan was. She hit her fist against her leg in a small form of protest, a wave of sobs hitting her as she leaned forward. Covering her mouth with her fist, she turned to look at Levi again when he spoke to her.

He trusted her, and she trusted him. The woman knew Hanji also had her back, but was that all she had in the military? No one else's word would matter and she wasn't even sure she had the commander's support in the next coming week, or even at the trial. She was now labeled a 'threat' to every branch of the military. A woman still riddled with guilt over what had happened on the expedition was the enemy, and one of her only back-ups is Levi, who is likely also another topic of ridicule. He was her captain, after all, and for the corporal to choose a traitor for his squad was unheard of. She didn't have much else to say, another sob finding its way out of her. "I...thank you." She muttered, wiping her eyes again. "Only a week." She whispered under her breath, shaking her head again.

Stepping out into the sun Levi's eyes narrowed for a moment before he adjusted to the light. The abandoned castle was dark and dull on the inside and the contrast to being outside was a shock at first. A hand came up to momentarily adjust the ascot around his neck, turning his head slightly as he looked to the woman next to him without any words. The horse that was saddled to the carriage in the front of the building snorted, causing his attention to return to what was at hand. He stepped forward to the plain looking door, reaching up to grab the handle to pull himself up some, opening the small latch enough before offering a hand to the woman behind him, allowing her to go first. The cab tilted and swayed from the added weight as Levi followed her in, it was musty on the inside more then likely from lack of use from recent events. The corporal had only been in a carriage once or twice before, never seeing the enchantment with them when going on foot was just as fast.

He sat down slowly next to Petra, eyes trained on the window ahead of them, the back of the driver could barely be seen through it as the cab lurched forward with another squeak. Levi glanced over to his squad member, they hadn't spoken much since Erwin had brought her the news of the trial and her arrest at the end of the week. Nights were spent in a silent embrace, the occasional comforting word or touch. Levi was starting to ease into the idea of comfort, learning what she appreciated the most or needed more of. Their kind of relationship was still new to him but it wasn't un welcomed, and now of all times he was letting her in more when she needed him most. Grunting in slight irritation when the cab hit an unusual large bump, he glanced over to Petra with a blink "I won't be going in with you" he spoke, the cab was small and it was just them but he still felt the need to keep his voice low and directed at her. "You both will have a lot to discuss. You don't need me adding to that." he ended it there, his tone seemingly dry and distant. Though it wasn't for another moment and his fingertips brushed hers, in a subtle movement his hand rested atop Petra's as he looked out the window closest to his side.

Petra blinked, the sunlight shining into her eyes as she brought her right hand up to shield the sun from her eyes. She felt tired at best, the past few days taking a lot more out of her than she would like to admit. In between the lack of sleep she was experiencing from fear of seeing the expedition play out in excrutiating detail in her dreams, a new anxiety had settled with her: her supposed crimes, impending arrest and subsequent trial. She wasn't looking forward to receiving the paper Erwin said she would eventually get, the one that detailed her apparently crimes. Stifling a yawn as she looked forward again, the door for the carriage held open and Levi holding out a hand to her. She took hold of his hand, using it to pull herself into the darkened carriage and to sit down on the far side.

She glanced at Levi when he sat next to her, shifting slightly to get more comfortable in the seat. Another thing she wouldn't admit was her apprehension. With little less than a week before her arrest, she only had one loose end and personal matter to tie up. Petra had promised to go visit her father when she had the chance and ever since the day after the expedition, she had plenty of those. But she didn't take them, not necessarily wanting her father to worry about her questionable mental state. Now seemed like a better late than never opportunity; if she was going to be put on trial where the sentence would be detrimental, the woman only had this chance. She shifted again when the carriage hit a bump, turning her attention to Levi when he broke the silence. She only nodded in response, glancing down at their hands. "Thank you... but I hope it won't take too long." She shifted her attention out the window as well, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach as the carriage only drew closer to her father's home. She really had nothing to worry about, she knew. He would be understanding, he had to be understanding.

The carriage bumped and shook as it now turned onto more solid road, Levi kept his gaze out of his window at the people passing, some looking up to stare curiously at the carriage and horse others ignoring it altogether. He wondered if they talked about the 'traitor' if the very people passing were the ones so easily convinced Petra was against them. Did no one have a mind of their own to come to a conclusion. Of course not she was being used as a pawn to blame, give them a face to hate to hide that no one really knew what was going on. Levi's free hand balled into a tight fist against his leg though he said nothing as he felt the carriage slow, then come to a stop.

The cab shook from the force though not much as Levi turned back to look at her, his eyes looking over her for a moment before looking towards the door. "I'll be out here if you need anything." He watched her for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to the house they were currently parked out in front of. His eye traveled from one window to the next. It wasn't much different from the other houses around it, as the city went on a pattern of close housing. A thought hit him suddenly as his lips formed a hard line. He knew very little of Petra considering, the occasional story she would tell when it was just them was hardly knowing someone. He wondered why now of all times he would think of that, when their time suddenly became even more limited. Levi's gaze was distant as he looked to her again, mouth still at a hard line.

Petra kept her hazel eyes trained out the window, seemingly unnecessary dread making itself more known the closer they had gotten to her father's house. Her left hand subconsciously clenched into a fist, slowly pulling her eyes away from the window to focus on nothing in particular as her body swayed with the motion of the carriage. She wanted time to go back to before the expedition, where she didn't have so much anxiety about the small things, when life seemed just a little simpler than this, even when she knew it wasn't the case.

The woman didn't move when the carriage lurched to a stop, shifting her stare over to Levi when he spoke again. She didn't say anything, just giving him a curt nod as she stood, turning her hand to give his a squeeze for her own reassurance. 'It would be fine, you won't have to worry about anything,' She repeated in her mind as she opened the carriage door for herself, stepping out into the sunlight again. Petra barely felt the warmth of the sun on her body, closing the carriage door behind her to walk to her father's door. She hesitated momentarily, staring at the door before raising her hand, giving the door a few loud knocks.

Levi moved with the carriage as it shook, returning the squeeze he felt as he watched her leave. He watched her from the window at his seat, the only thing his eyes seemed to want to focus on as his hand once again came up to adjust the ascot around his neck, if anything to busy his hands. There was nothing from the door for a few moments until it finally did open where the man stood, he seemed confused at first as to who would be knocking at his door at such an odd time of the day but soon his eyes fell onto Petra. There wasn't much to read on his face as he stared down at his daughter, not a smile or a hug. Just a stare. His stance almost seemed to straighten "Petra..I...wasn't expecting you." he looked up to the large carriage in front of his doorstep before his gaze fell onto her again. "come in I suppose" he opened the door further to let her in, shutting the door behind her.

The house was quiet as he lead Petra to the small living room. he motioned for her to sit, as he did the same across from his daughter. "Do you know what they're saying out there?" he asked suddenly, breaking what was the silence of the house, he looked down at his hands as his eyes narrowed "Everyone is saying you're a traitor, I've heard the stories about the expedition Petra. I'm starting to believe them. None of it adds up, why didn't you tell me those young men died?" he stood up, pacing to the opposite end of the room his eyes now avoiding hers "Soldiers came to my house the other day, asking me questions I couldn't answer, what am I suppose to believe when they tell me my own daughter is a traitor to humanity?" he stopped, staring hard at the ground as his hands clasped firmly behind his back, still not looking at Petra. "Why Petra..I didn't raise you like this..where did I go wrong, how could you do this..?" he turned completely, his voice clearly having an edge to it.

Petra fiddled with the hem of her white shirt with her right hand, her eyes focused on a brick in the wall until she heard the door open. Her attention turned towards her father in the door, the uneasy feeling in her stomach only getting worse when there was no smile or hug, no happy greeting. Her expression barely changed, giving a barely noticeable nod. She didn't voice it, but his first words held a small bite. He wasn't expecting her. "I meant to visit sooner, but...I was caught up in other things." She knew she was lying to an extent as she entered the house. The woman could have visited him at other time, she just chose not to.

The silence that filled the familiar house made her uncomfortable, the woman taking to looking at anything that wasn't her father's back. Her attention turned back at a shift in movement, the man motioning for her to sit. Slowly she did, shifting uncomfortably as she still tried to look at anything that wasn't her father. He wasn't expecting her; that kept repeating in her mind. She jumped slightly when the silence was broken, Petra turning her eyes to look at him. She chose not to respond to his first question, her hand clenching into a fist at her side as she listened to him further. Her anxieities were only becoming reality. He was starting to believe the lies circulating throughout the walls. "I...I don't know." She muttered an answer to his second question. She didn't know why she didn't tell him the truth in the first place. Petra should have been able to tell him anything, but she felt as if it wasn't too much of his concern at the time as much as it was hers, Levi's or the Survey Corps'. Was it that simple lie she told that made him believe she was a traitor? The idea made her shake her head.

She was barely processing the words he was saying to her now, watching him as he stood and paced the room, not looking at her. Almost like he was refusing to meet her eyes. Watching him carefully, she turned her attention to her right hand, examining the bitemark that was still there from all that time ago. Her nails dug into her skin as she clenched her fist further, fighting off the tears that threatening to sting at her eyes. Her father, her own flesh and blood, thought she was a traitor to humanity. "I... father, I didn't... I wouldn't ever think to do this." Her voice shook as she spoke, still refusing to look up at her father. "I didn't join the Survey Corps to bring it down from within. I thought you knew that." Her final words were spoken in an out of place bitter tone.

Her father continued to pace back and forth after he heard Petra, he only frowned further when  she spoke, turning around to look at her "I thought I knew Petra, but all of these charges, your name is everywhere, I can hardly take a walk without hearing someone talk about you." he walked around the couch, his voice raising slightly at the end of his sentence his eyes were hard on her "What were you thinking Petra. because of this the family name has traitor tacked on the end of it" he stood in front of her now, his eyebrows furrowed as his voice was slowly rising at his daughter.  "you need to tell them the truth Petra, they already know you did this, who are you covering for?" his voice faltered he looked desperately at her, though the anger was clear in the man "What would your mother say..?" his voice had rose to a yell, there was a mixture of pain and anger in his words but they were bitter all the same.

Levi sat quietly in the cab of the carriage, he had busied himself with watching the occasional person pass by his mind was mostly on on the impending trial at the end of the week, he imagined it wouldn't be done with one attempt. It was going to be a grueling process and he still wasn't sure of the punishment that was suppose to follow. It was something he simply preferred not to think about. His hand balled into a fist and then relaxed a process he repeated a few times as he sat. A muffled sound caught his attention as he blinked over in the direction of the house, listening now more so then he was before. It was quiet for another moment when he heard it again, he rose then, opening the door to the cab as he stepped out, giving the driver a sideways glance, who was also now staring at the house. Levi waited before stepping towards the door, trying the door with a tug. It was open. Levi slowly opened the door, the yelling was becoming not so distant as he stepped into the house, following the escalating voices He walked in down the hallway, he forgot how small and narrow these types of houses tended to be, even for himself. He eventually found them, his fist once again balling into a fist when he seen how close the older man was too Petra, his face was red with anger. "I think we're done here." his voice broke the silence. The older man looked shocked, looking up from his daughter to Levi "C-Corporal Levi?"

Petra relaxed her fist, listening to her father speak again. She still didn't look up to look at her, her eyes fixed on the wood flooring in the house. Furrowing her brow, she still only listened as each of his words hit her harder than the last, his voice raising and louder due to how close he had gotten. Still tears stung in her eyes, but she wasn't sure what it was from. Frustration or dejection, she didn't know. Suddenly her hand clenched; it was frustration she was feeling. Annoyance from the fact her father simply refused to believe she was innocent, and from all the people to bring into this, he brought in her mother.

She stood abruptedly, meeting her father's eyes as her own sparked with a different fire. "I have been telling the truth. I have been covering for myself, because it seems my own father won't. I don't know if I can even call you that." Her fist shook in anger, her nails digging into her skin a second time. "Aren't you someone who should believe their child unconditionally? What has you so convinced that I'm the enemy here? What say do you have, as a civilian?" Her own voice was raising, the tears she was so concerned about moments ago gone. "You have none! As far as I'm concerned, your opinion doesn't mean much. You haven't been outside of the walls. You haven't seen what we see. What I've seen." She glanced away for only a second, a huff of air escaping her. "I watched my squad get brutally murdered by a sentient Titan and I was almost murdered right after them. I cannot sleep without the guilt eating away at me, telling me I could have done something to save them."

She turned around slightly upon hearing Levi's voice, blinking slowly. Petra sighed as she turned back around to face her father, giving him  a final glare. "And yet you still have an opinion and the nerve to call me a traitor to humanity." Her voice was significantly lower from  where it had just been, the woman taking a step away from her father to turn and walk towards Levi, her eyes still narrowed in anger. "I'm ready to go back now." She stopped her walk next to Levi, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

He walked into quite a scene with father and daughter almost nose to nose yelling at one another, though his words seemed to catch her attention. Levi went unfazed considering, glancing at Petra when she walked to him, simply nodding at her request. If it was before it all, before their current situation he might have been shocked at her raised voice the volume that was coming from the house. But he had already learned from his own experience with Petra's anger. Moving his hand to motion her to go first he turned to follow her when the older man in the room shifted suddenly. "Corporal" it was a broken voice, though it caused Levi to stop giving a backwards glance at the man in question who seemed to be lost in whatever thoughts was going through his head. "do you believe her?" Petra's father looked at Levi, though it was hardly a glance as he looked elsewhere. Levi didn't hesitate, his grey eyes never left the man "Yes." there was another silence, the older man frowned, finally looking at the corporal then to where his Daughter had left "Am I wrong?" Levi turned at that, adjusting the jacket onto his shoulders "Absolutely." he didn't wait for another question, following out the way Petra had.

Walking back out into the sun, he turned slightly to shut the door behind himself, glancing at the woman with a blank expression before continuing to the carriage again. he repeated his earlier process by offering her into the cab then following in himself. Again he sat down next to her with a sigh, the crack on the reins from the outside caused the carriage to move forward. Levi said nothing, rocking with the movement of the cab, giving a sideways glance to the woman next to him.  Putting his arm over the back of seat they were in, his leg crossed over the other in the same motion as he stared ahead. "did you say what needed to be said?" he blinked, watching the back of the  of the driver with disinterest. "be sure you have no regrets." he ended it there, keeping his focus ahead.

The woman kept her gaze forward, still glaring at nothing in particular as Levi motioned for her to go first. She paused before moving forward, though slowing her stride to glance back at her father before stepping out of the already opened door. Petra stood in silence outside of the house, her hazel eyes set on the ground. There was a short exchange between her father and Levi that her trained ears couldn't pick up, but she assumed it was about her. She didn't turn again until she heard the door close again, her eyes meeting Levi's before he went to the carriage, his hand offered again so she could get into the cab easier. She took the offer, pulling herself into the carriage with the assistance of Levi's hand.

Petra took her earlier seat, focusing her eyes on a corner in the carriage, brows furrowed. She didn't know why she was still so angry; her father didn't believe her and she should have been upset about it. Was it just the fact that the one of the only other people that she thought would support her didn't? She turned her focus when Levi broke the silence, blinking at his question. Scooting just a little closer, she leaned against him with a small sigh. "There's not much to say when he's thoroughly convinced I'm a criminal." Her attention went back to her hand, balling it into a fist for a short second. "He had my back when I chose to join the Survey Corps. Why won't he support me now, when I need him most?" She stared ahead, her tone still holding a bitter note.

Levi didn't move his eyes off the back of the driver, not having much to look at in the small cab other then the rock or the passing of the buildings through the window. Feeling her lean against him, the hand on the back of their seat fell to her shoulder, dull eyes watching her from the side. He thought about her question, the man who greeted them when they came back into the walls was completely different from the man who was in the house. As far as Levi was concerned, if you knew Petra you would know she wouldn't do what she was currently be accused of. The woman was loyal to him, loyal to humanity and was certainly loyal to their cause to protect Eren. Her own father should have been able to see that, the fact that he didn't confused Levi, as well as irritated him.

His hand lightly gripped her shoulder, his head turning in the slightest. "Give a man time to think about what hes done or said and hes bound to find something he'd wish he had changed" his jaw tightened, turning his head back to stare ahead at the movement of the cab. "They'll believe whatever they are told, they don't know see what we do, they can't judge for themselves." he grunted by another jar in the carriage, though he settled back again with another squeeze to her shoulder "Its bullshit." he finished, but turned to look at her for a second time "We'll get you through this, He will see. They all will." Levi ended it there, his eyes hard on what was ahead of him.

Petra continued to stare forward, listening to Levi's words carefully. Her eyes softened slightly at the first thing he said, the woman looking up at him for a few seconds before returning her gaze to nothing in particular. Still she listened, not bothering to say much in return. She had run out of things to say at this point, despite all of the things running through her mind. The carriage hit another large bump in the road, the woman shifting to settle against Levi further, her eyes closing slowly as she did. She remained quiet, although she gave a small nod against his shoulder. Petra was usually an optimist, but even she had her doubts about the outcome of the trial.


Petra shifted as she moved from laying on her back to laying on her side, her hazel eyes focused on the dark shadows being cast from the moonlight shining through Levi's window. Again she couldn't find sleep and whether it was from the stress of the past few days or the fear of more nightmares coming, she didn't know. She pulled the large blanket tighter around her, covering half of her face with it. Sighing, she moved her arm under the pillow she was using. Her conversation with her father played over again in her head, the woman gripping the pillow tighter. The man next to her in the bed told her to be sure she had no regrets, but she didn't admit that she almost immediately regretted her harsh words to her father. She didn't want to sit and be blamed for something she didn't do and wouldn't ever think to do. Another sigh left her, followed by a quiet curse as she shifted to get comfortable, her eyes sliding closed. Despite her anxiety about sleeping, she had to at least make an effort even if she knew it would be mostly futile.

Levi hadn't gotten much sleep since their return, even less with the news of what Petra was being accused of. Most of his nights were spent staring at various points in his room. His ceiling which surprisingly often made him dizzy. Recently he would watch Petra's back, the rise and fall of her shoulders were calming in a sense and was a personal enjoyment. His final view point was the wall opposite, it was his favored sleeping side though the wall itself wasn't much to look at and often became a last resort. Though it was this night in particular he found sleep, as unwelcome as it came to be.

What he assumed were trees passed him, blurred and not fixed in one location. There was yelling behind him, Captain. Captain. Captain. He looked back, concerned faces looked on to him for direction for orders. Though nothing came from his mouth. The blurred trees bended upon the troop, his squad. Erd, Gunther, Auruo, Petra, Eren. The trees were like claws, swallowing each up one by one. He attempted to stop his horse but the animal wouldn't stop, its whinnies turning into distorted cries of pain as the animal ran. Captain. Captain. Captain. The voices were louder, he searched for them, any sign of them as the animal carried him though the distorted forest. Moments later he was grounded, the horrible cries of the horse faded as the animal vanished, he laid motionless, unable to stand as an unseen force held him to the ground. Suddenly they were above him. Erd. Gunther. Auruo. Petra. They stared down at them, each still calling for him, still demanding an order Captain. Captain. Captain. Then it happened. Their faces became distorted, twisting into horrible faces that he remembered, their faces in death. flesh ripping and bones crushing filled his ears, the cries from earlier returned. Even Petra's twisted, her body bending back on itself which left Levi pushing against his invisible restraints in vain. Though it still chanted Captain. Captain. Captain. He was on his horse again, watching body after body fall off the back of the wagon just as he had before, though the sound hitting the ground was much louder, like a cannon blast as each hit. Their faces still stared at him as they fell, dead mouths still moving in time with the rough collision on the land Captain. Captain. Captain. The horse still didn't stop, as much as he tried to pull on the reins, as hard as he tried. Then white, he was in a courtroom again, for a moment he thought he was back at Eren's trial but it wasn't Eren who was tied back. In the center was Petra, her neck still twisted her eyes trained on him in a half lidded gaze. Captain. Captain. Captain. Levi attempted to reach her, but he was slow moving, as if he was running through sand as she slipped out of sight, the sound of a gavel echo'd over and over when a sound breached the darkness. Captain!

Levi sucked in a deep breath, a gasp almost as he rose from his spot, his eyes wide and breath struggling to catch on itself. He trembled, his skin was hot with sweat and bumps he could hardly tell if he was burning up or freezing. He slumped in his sitting position, a hand roughly tugging at his sweat soaked hair as he attempted to slow his sporadic breathing. Levi slowly glanced over at Petra, his hand, still with the slightest shake, tugged the covers back from her to look at her neck as a cold shiver slid down his spine. "Shit" he breathed, slowly getting up from his spot on the bed, stumbling  to the window in a fumbling attempt to open it. The cool air hit him almost instantly as he unbuttoned his shirt, his breath hitching as he then brought the hand to rub his eyes in an attempt to see straight. All he seen were the distorted faces of his squad, he could still hear the chanting. His body shook again as he leaned on the window sill, shoulders hunched and ridged as he focused on breathing.

Petra was only half asleep, shifting again until her eyes snapped open again upon hearing a sudden intake of air from the man next to her, the bed moving slightly as he sat up suddenly. She didn't move, listening to his rough breathing pattern before she felt the covers over her pull back from his hand, turning her head slightly when she heard a quiet swear from him, his side of the bed dipping as he left the bed. Turning to lay on her other side, she watched Levi carefully, the man opening the window. She felt the chill of the night air almost immediately, but she made no attempt to cover herself again.

The woman sat up slowly, letting the covers pool at her waist, her hazel eyes still watching Levi. She shifted to his side of the bed, sitting with her legs hanging over the edge. "Levi..." She said softly, moving to stand up and take the few steps to stand next to him, tentatively reaching out to gently put her hand on his shoulder. The only conclusion she could come to was he suffered a nightmare, but she didn't dare question it if he didn't want to discuss what he had seen in his head. Petra squeezed his shoulder lightly, following the action with a small rub. "I'm right here with you. I haven't gone anywhere." Her tone was still soft and quiet, the woman glancing out the window at the clear night sky before returning her hazel eyes to Levi. She would wait until he came back to his senses. Her hand slid farther down his back, beginning to rub comforting circles in the middle of his back with a gentle hand.

Another ragged breath came from him as his hand dropped from his face, it gripped the sill tightly he found focus on the latch which wiggled from his own vision before coming to a still crisp image. Levi's head tilted when he heard his name, grey eyes searching through the dark to watch the woman get out of his bed for a moment before returning his gaze to the outside. Around the headquarters was dark, only a few lanterns lit pathways below his window. His eyes were trained on the flickering lights when he felt her hand on his shoulder, he tensed for a moment, his stare turning into a glare "you should be asleep" he spoke, his tone was sharp, sharper then he would have liked. Levi looked in the opposite direction from Petra, the chanting from his dream playing again as he heard her voice.

Though his shoulders fell when he picked up what she said next, a long sigh escaping him followed by another shutter. Levi's gaze slowly fell back on her, he took her in then. Her eyes, which were full of life, the concern that was just past the surface, the way she breathed and the gentleness of her touch. Levi turned to her then, reaching for her and closing any possible gap between them. It was a tight embrace, letting his guard fall completely from what he had built before, he squeezed her tightly against him. Levi said nothing, his face getting lost in her hair. Pulling away slightly both his hands found the side of her face, he studied her with his emotionless eyes, taking in every little curve of Petra's face, her lips then eyes. "Petra." breathing her name he leaned forward, his lips searching desperately for her's in a searing kiss. When he managed to pull away, though his lips hardly left hers when he spoke "I'm not going to fucking lose you again." he muttered between meeting her lips. Levi paused again, collecting himself for a moment before he separated their lips again. The tension ebbed from him in the slightest, though he could still feel the edge in his muscles. "I didn't..mean to wake you. You don't get enough sleep as it is." he muttered, leaning his forehead onto hers. "It was just a..dream" he grunted, almost ashamed of the fact it had effected him as much as it had.

Petra didn't flinch away from Levi's sharp tone of voice; it was something she had grown used to in their time together, something that didn't necessarily affect her anymore. She noticed his shoulders had visibly relaxed at her words, her hand stopping its slow rub on his back to allow it to rest there. She continued to watch him carefully, looking over his somewhat disheveled appearance, the tired look in his gray eyes that surely shown in her own hazel ones. Watching him turn to her, she accepted his embrace, adjusting to move her arms around the middle of his back.

She didn't move much, having her arms around him just as tight as he had his own arms around her. Only shifting when he moved to hold her face in his hands, Petra looked back at his eyes that were currently devoid of emotion. She lightly gripped his shirt when he brought his lips to hers in a kiss, the woman returning the action with little hesitation. Her free hand slid up his back up play with the ends of his hair, catching his muttered words against her lips. The grip on his shirt only tightened, holding herself closer to him even after their lips parted. At his next words, she only gave a small smile that lasted for barely a few seconds. "You didn't wake me. I was still half-awake, so don't worry." She pressed her forehead back against his, sighing slightly. "Do you need anything else?" Her voice was soft again, the hand closest to his hair moving to rest on his cheek.

Levi felt her lean closer to him, his hands falling from Petra's face to around her waist, further assisting in pulling the woman closer to him, His breathing had leveled considerably and the night air had cooled his over all temperature. Upon feeling her hand on his cheek he turned, briefly brushing his lips along her palm as his eyes glanced the window again. His mind continued to replay the worst parts of his dream, he could see it so vividly in his mind even still. Levi was never one to have nightmares, he hardly ever dreamed in the first place his sleep usually was void of anything but this was hardly the case. Though his muscles were starting to relax, the tight grip on Petra didn't lessen in the slightest. Slowly he blinked to look back at her, a strained grunt escaping him, "either way I didn't mean to disturb you" his voice came out more hoarse then he expected though he didn't bother covering it.

There was a long pause when he caught her second question, his eyes looking into hers for a moment. There was a lot to that question, whether Petra really knew what she had asked him. Levi leaned forward, meeting her lips in another short kiss. "You." he said finally unto her lips. It was barely above a whisper, his hands subconsciously rubbing along her sides. Sentimentality wasn't his strong suit, Levi had a naturally hard personality from the hand he had been dealt. He never considered to need anyone but himself, he was all he could count on in a world like theirs. She changed that, Petra had him opened and exposed like a book and at times he doubted himself because of that. She only ever smiled at him even despite it all. Levi's eyebrows crossed, a free hand coming up to rest on Petra's, holding it gently in place as his lips found her palm again."no matter whats ahead Petra." his voice took its usual dry tone against her palm "I'm with you."

Petra watched him as she waited for an answer to her question, looking back to his eyes in the momentary silence that went between them. She met him halfway for their short kiss, smiling somewhat into it at Levi's short answer. It was short, but it was enough The hand gripping his shirt flattened against his back, slowly bringing it up to rest on his shoulder again. She kept her eyes on him still as their lips parted, the woman brushing her thumb over his cheekbone when his hand covered hers. His next few words were simple, and she was accustomed to them now. Despite how many times she had heard them, she felt a sense of peace. She leaned forward to press her lips to his cheek. "And I'm right here with you."

She adjusted to rest her head against his shoulder, both of her arms moving around his neck. Her words were empty...or, rather, were soon to be empty. Petra wouldn't be with him for too much longer at this point, her time almost up. She would be arrested at the end of the week, to be put on trial for something she didn't do and wouldn't ever think to do. Sighing quietly, she only clung tighter to the man. "Do you want to go back to bed?" Her quiet voice cut into the silence, the woman glancing up at Levi somewhat.

Eyes flicking to the words from Petra, he dropped his hand from hers, letting his arms wrap around the woman to return the embrace, his face getting lost in the strands of her hair though the feeling was welcomed. Levi again, one of the rare times he found himself enjoying the silence, the quiet of it being just them. The end of the week was coming up fast and every second spent with Petra was becoming more important, though every moment spent with her had already been important. squeezing her tighter he remembered something, an old memory that seemed to resurface considering they were now on borrowed time. Though he blinked when she spoke again, his own voice muffled against her "Sleep is debatable" with a hidden reluctance he pulled away from her, not without a passing kiss before turning to his..their bed. He left the window open, he was sure the chill from the night was going to have him regretful in the morning but he still felt warm just under his skin.

Levi walked to his side, sitting first as he stared momentarily at the wall opposite to him, his familiar expression gracing his features. The thought from earlier came back as he waited for Petra to return to the bed before he spoke, "you were pissed at me weren't you" he said suddenly looking back at the woman before he laid down with another grunt, his eyes focused on the ceiling for a moment as he recalled it. "That morning I kicked you out" he looked over at her, eyes still dull though there was something else there now. "The first night you spent in my room and I threw you out on your ass by morning." he made a faint 'tch', more so remembering his own actions as his hand searched for hers on the bed.