Meeting the Family: Chapter 6 (Levi x Reader)

By the time you and Levi arrive at the scene, the factory’s in complete flames. Even from a couple dozen yards away you can feel the heat slapping your face. Everyone’s running around, shouting orders and throwing buckets of water at the flames. You search the crowd anxiously, exhaling in relief as you see your Dad shouting orders. At least he’s safe.
 
Levi turns to a Garrison soldier. “What’s the situation?”

“We’ve evacuated all surrounding houses and buildings and have managed to rescue all workers on the lower floors. But there’s still 20 that are unaccounted for, and they’re on the upper floor.” The soldier replies, pointing at the upper levels.  

“Why don’t we rescue them then?” You ask.

“Because the stairs have collapsed, and there’s no other way to access the top floor.” The soldier salutes and hurries away to assist another squad. You run over to your Dad.

“How can we rescue the workers, Dad?” Dad gives a start.

“_____, Levi!  I told you to stay at the office! It’s too dangerous to be here!” He glowers at the two of you.

“Dad, please. Levi and I make a living off killing titans, so I think we’re more than capable of handling a fire.” You roll your eyes. Seriously, now was not the time for his mollycoddling and overprotectiveness. “Just tell us what to do!”

Dad stares hard at you, and then sighs in defeat. “Ok, fine. We need some sort of method to reaching the top level, but the stair’s collapsed. Any ideas?”

Levi stares at the factory with a scrunched expression, clearly trying to think of a solution.  “Why don’t we use 3DMG?” You inhale sharply, comprehension dawning within you.

“That’s the perfect idea! Dad, we could use 3DMG to break through the windows to get to the workers! And it’ll be quick; we’ll be in and out within minutes!” You say excitedly.

“You’ll need the Garrison for that then. Can you tell them? I can’t leave this area.” He says. You and Levi push through the crowd, eventually finding another soldier.

“We have an idea. Can you get some soldiers to use their 3DMG to access the top level?” You ask breathlessly.

The soldier glares at you, clearly irritated. “Listen lady, we’re doing everything we can, and the last thing we need is some civilian telling us our job. Now go away and let us work.”

Levi steps forward and grabs him. “Listen cadet. My name is Captain Levi of the Recon Corps, and this is my girlfriend you’re talking to. Now take us to however the hell’s in charge.” The soldier stutters out and wheels backwards, almost tripping. He points at a man to the far left, terror-stricken.

“Sir, my name is Captain Levi and we have an idea, but we need the Garrison’s help.” Levi says, walking up to the man.

“Captain Levi of Recon Corps?” Levi nods.

“My name is Felix. What do you need?”

“Use the 3DMG to send some soldiers to the top floor. They can break through the windows and rescue the workers inside.”

“It’s too dangerous. There’s some explosives kept on the top floor. We can’t just go barging in; otherwise we could set the whole thing off.” Felix objects.  

“How big would the explosion be?”

“We don’t know. It could be small, or it could blow the entire building to pieces.”

“We’ll have to risk it, there’s no other choice.” Levi says tersely. “Unless you want to leave the workers inside to burn, because I’m sure the public will be perfectly understanding of that. Now can we please hurry?” Levi taps his foot on the ground impatiently. Felix hesitates, still not convinced.

“We’re short-handed here though. Almost everyone else is on the west side, where the fire’s most intense.”

“Then can we help?” You speak up.  

Felix falters, looking from Levi to you. “_____ is very adept with 3DMG. She will be of great assistance.” Levi says confidently.

The man finally relents. “Very well, there’s some spare 3DMG in the supply wagon. Go strap yourselves up, and then meet back here.”

You wrestle with the harness, growling with frustration. Levi peels your hands away and helps untangle it.

“Focus _____, it’s just like another mission.” You nod, finishing up the rest of the buckles and turning to go. Levi pulls on your arm and then hesitates. “Just be careful, ______.” You lean forward, giving him a quick kiss before pulling away, eyes hardening.

“Understood, Captain.”

You and Levi regroup with about 10 other soldiers. You curse. So few? Levi doesn’t look bothered by this. In fact, he looks exactly as if he were on an expedition; calm and composed.

“Here’s the plan. We’re going to access through the East Window, so we’ll use the 3DMG to reach the top of the adjacent building, and then break through the window. We go in, grab the workers, and get out. Is that clear?” He says, looking at everyone. They nod.

“Wait, a medic told us to use this.” A woman says, handing everyone some sort of mask made of a strange material. “It’s supposed to protect us from the smoke.” You put it on, fitting it over your mouth and nose.

“Let’s go.” Levi strides forward, pressing the trigger. Steel cables shoot out, latching onto the side of a building. Everyone follows, with expressions varying from fear to anticipation.

Felix steps forward. “I’ll be the one to break through the window, because I’m the largest.” He readies himself, then leaps into the air and shoots the cables at the window posts. He flies towards it, covering his eyes with his arms.

K-KSHHHH!!  The glass shatters, and he rolls in. “I’m fine! Hurry, the heat’s intense!” He shouts, waving at everyone.

Everyone follows, and in seconds you’re inside the factory. You cough, using your jacket to shield your face. Felix wasn’t kidding; it was like you’d run into a wall of pure heat and smoke. Even your mask was barely protecting you. Your heart sinks. If we can barely handle it, how can the workers?

“C’mon!” You stagger forward, hearing the roar of the fire all around, and the floor creaking ominously beneath you. You stumble, almost tripping. You look down; it’s the body of a woman.

Without pausing to think, you grab her, groaning as you heave her onto your back and fought your way back to the window. You jump, using the 3DMG to lower your back to the ground, and gently lay her down. A medic rushes over to examine her. You pause to catch your breath, and then launch yourself back into the air and inside the factory.  

You forge deeper into the factory, squinting and blinking as the smoke stung your eyes. How are we going to find anyone?

Suddenly you hear a faint shout. You stop, straining to find them. You hear the sound again, and you rush towards it.

“Cadet, what’s going on?” You kneel down. “I can’t pick him out, he’s too heavy.” The soldier says between coughs. You look at them with concern. It’s obvious that the fire’s too much for him.

“Ok, I’ll help. Let’s go.” You haul the soldier to his feet, ignoring the sudden head rush. “1…2...3...” Grunting, the two of you manage to pick up the worker and stagger to the window. It’s a long way, and you’re worried that you won’t make it.

Luckily, another soldier appears. “I’ll take it from here. But hurry, there’s still 2 more!” He says urgently. You nod and spin around, back into the factory.

“C’mon, where are you?” You mutter feeling your way through. “This is insane, we can’t find them!” You feel the panic surging through you. You blink hard, trying to focus. C’mon ___, just keep moving.

“Everyone! Get out, we’ve got all the workers!” You hear a shout. You pivot, trying to find your way back, but you’ve completely lost your orientation. I don’t know which way to go! You stumble to your left. Was it this way?

Suddenly, your foot sinks into the ground and a sharp pain rips through your leg and ankle. You fall to the ground, yelling out. You can’t move, it hurts so much. No, I’m not going to give up because of a stupid ankle! You claw yourself back up, biting your lip to hold back tears.

Suddenly, a loud noise tears through the building, practically deafening you. Something heavy falls on you, knocking you down. Pain erupts in your head.

The world goes black.

                   

Levi flies out of the building, landing lightly on the ground. He grunts, lifting the unconscious man off his back and places him on a stretcher.

“That’s the last of them. I told everyone to get out.” Felix nods. Levi looks around.

“Where’s _____?”

Felix pales. “I thought she’d already gotten out already.”

KA-BOOOOM!!!!!

An explosion rips through the upper floor of the factory.