Levi
It was only a few weeks after that I forget my siblings words, and I find myself dashing up the side of the school to the roof, where I squat and look over the practice field with bored eyes. It took me only five minutes to climb up the school. They redid the design of the building not too long ago, taking down the bricks and replacing it mainly with steel. I had slipped on my gloves and boots, a perfect new use of new technology. They can stick to nearly anything. The gloves and boots are similar to suction cups in how they work, but they really just seem like normal boots. They are troublesome and annoying for casual wear, but for climbing they are probably one of the better inventions made by the Democracy.
The building is four stories tall. One floor is a pool area, another is a gymnasium area while the other three are classes. The wind rushes through my black hair, my grey eyes raising from the ground to the blue sky. My windbreaker is flapping helplessly around me, and I'm tempted to just zip it up and go down the way I came. But looking over to the gigantic screens on the sector's government skyscraper. Seeing another threat caused by Trost? Ever since he blew up our airships, the government has always tried to find him. We don't know what he looks like, we don't know his motive, we don't know if he is working with the Patriots, we don't even know where he lives or where he is striking next. He's spontaneous in actions, but smart and strategic. Either he's a mastermind, or he has someone helping him. Maybe both.
I slowly stand up, slipping out of my black jacket, the red stripes on the sides of my sleeves matching those that run down my track pants. Ruby sector, I think with a glorious smile, leaning my head back. But soon, my restless mind quiets and I have to focus. I close my grey eyes, my face clearing of my past smile. Slowly, a simulation plays easily in my thoughts. I'm being chased up by soldiers. Rebels, maybe. They're armed, I'm pinned to the top of the building. My eyes stay closed, but my body moves. It presses against the railing of the building. They're going to be here any moment, and their guns will be ready. There's nothing to barricade the door. Nothing on the school roof.
My eyes don't open as I jump, holding the sleeves of my jacket to try and get most of the area of the jacket to become a parachute. My arms snap back. I must have got the jacket to fan out properly. My hands strain against the fabric, and it slips out of my grip. My eyes finally snap open, and I'm falling. My mind races, but I just force my mind to still. Roll on impact. I remind myself. Over, over, and over again. I don't know how long the time passes, but I grunt as I try my hardest to fall more vertically, my core scrunching painfully. I swing my arms, and finally I get to a somewhat reliable position. I quickly fall back into the falling position, and I wince as I reach out and the tip of my boot and it runs along the steel of the building, squealing coming from the friction. I quickly push off, using the momentum to straighten myself. I'm close enough to the ground. This either works and I land well enough on my knees, or the momentum will be too strong and I'll probably crack open my skull. Negative thoughts aside, I bend my knees expectantly, waiting. Not patiently. My fingers are trembling. Maybe Hanji was right, maybe I should just stop trying. We will probably never catch Trost. This thought surges through my mind, but suddenly, my mind stops working. It freezes on my constant 'roll on impact'. Instincts and adrenaline, I realize later is what took over.
It's getting closer, and I space my feet a little bit, making sure they aren't angled out or staggered. I give myself enough space, spreading them to match my shoulder-width, maybe a bit less. I feel the ground under my feet, specifically right below my toes. I jolt as I absorb all the shock. I'm glad I landed properly for this, and all I can feel, mixed with my dumb rushing adrenaline, is relief. No broken toes, no bad ankles; yet. My hips move down, my strong thighs and calves easing out the amount of shock I received from the fall. Everything moves with it. I let my upper body fall, the side of my left arm lashing out to protect myself as I slam into the ground, tucking my head in and using my feet to push me over. I'm somersaulting, but the jump was not all perfect. A jump from a four story building could never leave me unscathed, and this is no exception. I can't help but let out a scream as I dislocate my shoulder; I hope; but also receive a pain in my lower arm, a few inches above my wrist.
I quickly muffle my scream, laying on the ground. I get up a few moments later, breathing heavily. The ground feels odd underneath my feet, but I could care less. I roll my left shoulder, and when that hurts and doesn't fix anything, I roll my arm. My right hand smashes against it until my shoulder pops back, and I wince as a strong huff of air exhales from my nose. I cradle my arm and place it by my stomach, and when I start walking towards the school doors, I already see a few curious students and worried teachers headed my way. They don't seem surprised as they say me enter, holding the door open for me. I won't lie, this is not the first time I've gotten hurt on a "stunt", but I don't think I've ever broken a bone. If I hadn't let go of the dumb jacket, I probably would've gotten out with just a bad muscle.
Some teachers move around me, trying to pry other kids away. The kids are asking what I've done now. If I beat Trost's records. I'm confused at first but I realize eventually. I didn't have a reason for jumping. I had no reason to try and put myself in a situation. But it wasn't hard to think about how it could relate to Trost. Spontaneous thinking. It's what he would've done. My mind doesn't leave the topic as I am say down in the nurse's office. I don't hear what the nurse says, though it's probably the usual: "I'm calling Captain Hanji and the principal." Slowly, I come to the idea that Trost wouldn't have jumped. Or, at least, not like what I did. He would have his jacket. Maybe buttoned around his neck but opened. He would've thrown himself over the edge, made it look like he was jumping. Especially if he was equipped with my boots and gloves, he would've tried to jump and press against the wall for a while before he believed he could make a safer jump, where he could've grabbed onto the ends of his jacket to help parachute him slightly. It would strain the shoulders, but it would be much less of a cost then what happened to me.
The building is four stories tall. One floor is a pool area, another is a gymnasium area while the other three are classes. The wind rushes through my black hair, my grey eyes raising from the ground to the blue sky. My windbreaker is flapping helplessly around me, and I'm tempted to just zip it up and go down the way I came. But looking over to the gigantic screens on the sector's government skyscraper. Seeing another threat caused by Trost? Ever since he blew up our airships, the government has always tried to find him. We don't know what he looks like, we don't know his motive, we don't know if he is working with the Patriots, we don't even know where he lives or where he is striking next. He's spontaneous in actions, but smart and strategic. Either he's a mastermind, or he has someone helping him. Maybe both.
I slowly stand up, slipping out of my black jacket, the red stripes on the sides of my sleeves matching those that run down my track pants. Ruby sector, I think with a glorious smile, leaning my head back. But soon, my restless mind quiets and I have to focus. I close my grey eyes, my face clearing of my past smile. Slowly, a simulation plays easily in my thoughts. I'm being chased up by soldiers. Rebels, maybe. They're armed, I'm pinned to the top of the building. My eyes stay closed, but my body moves. It presses against the railing of the building. They're going to be here any moment, and their guns will be ready. There's nothing to barricade the door. Nothing on the school roof.
My eyes don't open as I jump, holding the sleeves of my jacket to try and get most of the area of the jacket to become a parachute. My arms snap back. I must have got the jacket to fan out properly. My hands strain against the fabric, and it slips out of my grip. My eyes finally snap open, and I'm falling. My mind races, but I just force my mind to still. Roll on impact. I remind myself. Over, over, and over again. I don't know how long the time passes, but I grunt as I try my hardest to fall more vertically, my core scrunching painfully. I swing my arms, and finally I get to a somewhat reliable position. I quickly fall back into the falling position, and I wince as I reach out and the tip of my boot and it runs along the steel of the building, squealing coming from the friction. I quickly push off, using the momentum to straighten myself. I'm close enough to the ground. This either works and I land well enough on my knees, or the momentum will be too strong and I'll probably crack open my skull. Negative thoughts aside, I bend my knees expectantly, waiting. Not patiently. My fingers are trembling. Maybe Hanji was right, maybe I should just stop trying. We will probably never catch Trost. This thought surges through my mind, but suddenly, my mind stops working. It freezes on my constant 'roll on impact'. Instincts and adrenaline, I realize later is what took over.
It's getting closer, and I space my feet a little bit, making sure they aren't angled out or staggered. I give myself enough space, spreading them to match my shoulder-width, maybe a bit less. I feel the ground under my feet, specifically right below my toes. I jolt as I absorb all the shock. I'm glad I landed properly for this, and all I can feel, mixed with my dumb rushing adrenaline, is relief. No broken toes, no bad ankles; yet. My hips move down, my strong thighs and calves easing out the amount of shock I received from the fall. Everything moves with it. I let my upper body fall, the side of my left arm lashing out to protect myself as I slam into the ground, tucking my head in and using my feet to push me over. I'm somersaulting, but the jump was not all perfect. A jump from a four story building could never leave me unscathed, and this is no exception. I can't help but let out a scream as I dislocate my shoulder; I hope; but also receive a pain in my lower arm, a few inches above my wrist.
I quickly muffle my scream, laying on the ground. I get up a few moments later, breathing heavily. The ground feels odd underneath my feet, but I could care less. I roll my left shoulder, and when that hurts and doesn't fix anything, I roll my arm. My right hand smashes against it until my shoulder pops back, and I wince as a strong huff of air exhales from my nose. I cradle my arm and place it by my stomach, and when I start walking towards the school doors, I already see a few curious students and worried teachers headed my way. They don't seem surprised as they say me enter, holding the door open for me. I won't lie, this is not the first time I've gotten hurt on a "stunt", but I don't think I've ever broken a bone. If I hadn't let go of the dumb jacket, I probably would've gotten out with just a bad muscle.
Some teachers move around me, trying to pry other kids away. The kids are asking what I've done now. If I beat Trost's records. I'm confused at first but I realize eventually. I didn't have a reason for jumping. I had no reason to try and put myself in a situation. But it wasn't hard to think about how it could relate to Trost. Spontaneous thinking. It's what he would've done. My mind doesn't leave the topic as I am say down in the nurse's office. I don't hear what the nurse says, though it's probably the usual: "I'm calling Captain Hanji and the principal." Slowly, I come to the idea that Trost wouldn't have jumped. Or, at least, not like what I did. He would have his jacket. Maybe buttoned around his neck but opened. He would've thrown himself over the edge, made it look like he was jumping. Especially if he was equipped with my boots and gloves, he would've tried to jump and press against the wall for a while before he believed he could make a safer jump, where he could've grabbed onto the ends of his jacket to help parachute him slightly. It would strain the shoulders, but it would be much less of a cost then what happened to me.
The principal arrives quickly. While as to most kids it's 'I will tell the principal and your parents', I only get the principal. Luckily I have Hanji, who hasn't come yet to give me my lecture.
"What were you thinking?" The principal yelled angrily at me. Realizing her mistake, she took a breath and calmed down. "That was very dangerous, Levi. Don't you learn anything from Hanji? Or is your sibling not telling you to stop. I know you weren't raised properly, but you have to stop."
I narrow my eyes, my fists tightening, though my left hand quickly loosens as the pain shoots through my arm. "Leave Hanji out of this." I narrow my eyes. "You think I'm doing this because my parents are dead and Captain Hanji doesn't have common sense?" I shake my head in disbelief, a sneer on my lips. "My sibling and I are doing fine. Thank you for asking."
A light knocking sounded and I turned, the nurse opening the door. I forgot she was there. In walks Hanji, with the disappointed face that appears when she gets the calls from the school. However, noticing me cradle my arm, I see alarm piercing into his emotions.
The principal sighed as she turned to my sibling. "Levi decided to break school protocol, again, by climbing to the roof during school hours." A pause as I recieve looks from everyone in the room. "Your sibling then proceeded to jump off the building with no warning whatsoever, and with the looks of it, fragmented some of the bone in his arm."
I think Hanji just tuned all of that out except "fragmented some of the bone in his arm". He stands up. "My sibling, brother to a captain in the army, and a perfect 1500 on the trials hurt his arm and the first thing you do is call the principal to lecture him?" Outrage is heard in his voice. "Call the hospital. I want a hospital on this now. Whether it is Ruby Health of Red Quartz."
The nurse quickly moves to place the call, but the principal is fuming. "You're sibling will be fine." She says sibling in a mock way, and for a second I forget that Hanji and I are in fact not blood related. She goes on, "Levi is hardly harmed, and as the 1500, he should know how to handle himself. With our new technology, he will probably only need two days to heal. However, the other students that had to bear witness are harmed-"
The principal's voice is cut by Hanji's. "Oh no! You're precious students saw Levi falling from the roof! That must've been terrifying! I bet it's more so when they realize hospital help was not offered immediately!" The sarcasm in my brother's tone is strong, and it takes all I have to keep my stone face emotion on.
The room sits in tense silence until the nurse announces that the hospital ambulance is here, which is when Hanji stiffly stands up, looking over at me. He just dips his head slightly, but squints at my boots. "Levi, take those off. You'll make it harder for yourself."
I realize that perhaps that's why the walk here seemed so tedious. The grip is worn out on one of the shoes, which must've been the one I slided against the building. I slip them off, walking in my white socks with a slight curl of my lip (which of course is in disgust). I follow after Hanji to the ambulance, sighing as I am helped up, them grabbing my right hand. They question both of us about what happened, though Hanji obviously doesn't have much input. He just says it was an accident. Like every other time I've hurt myself at the school.
Wary eyes scan me, but they let me sit down on the bed inside. I look over to my sibling and offer them a hopeful and pained smile, but I don't get one in return. It seems that though Hanji is worried and knows I am in pain, it's not enough to get me a get-out-of-lectures-free-card. I know that the moment we're alone, I will get to hear it all again.
My adrenaline is gone by now, and I'm gritting my teeth. The medics notice and inject my left bicep with something, and the pain is only a dull ache. I hold off the pain until we get to the shiny silver and glass building of the hospital. Though I'm offered to be wheeled in, I quickly shake my head. I can walk. They offer again, but this time my answer is not as gentle.
"My injury is not in my legs. I will be fine." I say coldly, and they just nod ferociously before walking ahead of me and opening the doors as they go to the receptionist to find me a room. By the time I walk in and reach the desk, Hanji by my side, we are led to another room. It's one of the smaller ones. I realize that I was taken to the hospital on the border of Ruby and Quartz. Also known as, Red Quartz. Both citizens from Ruby and Quartz are admitted here. Usually the people that come here are of higher class, but I notice many poor people, dirt on their faces and clothes ripped. I tear my eyes from them, walking past them with my chin up. I look over to see Hanji, figuring he would do the same. However, her eyes were disapproving at me, and dipped his head respectively to each of the people who met our eyes.
I just shake my head softly as I'm placed into the room, told to wait for a doctor. I sit on the cot, the sound of the wrinkling of the white sheet being heard in the silent, dim room. Based by the white machines, I'm assuming that they plan on giving me an x-ray. My wandering eyes focus on the angry face of my sibling.
"What?" I ask, generally confused. The other sighs and I find myself even more lost.
"You don't have to act like that." Was the soft reply I received, and I send the speaker a bewildered glance. Noticing my never-leaving confusion, Hanji speaks again. "That you're so much better than them. You know your sister is there, somewhere. I know that you are more physically and educationally better than them, but they're still people." Hanji's eyes darken. "We're all the same, Levi."
I never even took time to think about his words. "We aren't. The better of us are placed as higher ups and soldiers. They are measly citizens!" I raise my voice, standing up. "And don't bring my sister into this." My louder voices deepens as I continue. "She wasn't given an option. When I was gone on a mission, our parents were killed. She doesn't know I'm her brother."
Hanji runs her tongue along her chapped lips. They begin to utter words, but the doctor steps in. I thank her, offering a weak smile.
"So, a possible break in your left forearm, Levi?" The doctor said as she stepped forward to me, turning on a few more lights so it wasn't as dim. I sit back down on the bed.
"Yeah, I think it might just be a fracture, but I guess you'll see." I say with a grin, and the doctor replies with a chuckle.
"Indeed... Actually, if you could sit over on that machine?" She pointed at one of the perfectly clean tube-like machines, and I nod, sitting down on it. I put my arm automatically in the arm rest.
"I'll just take a picture of the area." She explains, tightening the manual arm rest so that the circular part of the rest curls up and wraps around the injured part of my arm. I wince as it gets too tight, and she stops. A click of a button and a few whirring sounds later, she takes the device off.
"I'll go get these pictures developed and I'll return in a few minutes." She takes the undeveloped photos that resulted from some other department in the machine and walks out of the room.
"I can't believe you decided to jump off the school. What were you thinking?!" I look in the direction of the outraged voice, my annoyed gaze meeting my siblings' angry and irritated one.
"It was a simulation. I thought it up." I replied coldly, interrupting Hanji as her talking began again. "I admit, the result was bad. I didn't mean for it. I had a good plan but my strength didn't hold up." My grey eyes lower, studying the colored tile squares that make a hollow sound when I get up. "Fractures don't take long to heal with our technology. I'll be fine."
The doctor, gracing and relieving me yet again by her presence right before my brother speaks, enters with the pictures and puts them on the glowing board in the room. She points out the fracture in my bone. The pain medication is wearing off, and I get even more wary of the split in my bone when I see it.
"It's bad, but it is just a fracture." She concludes, and I realize I missed whatever else she said before. I nod like I listened to it. "Alright." I say softly. "I'm assuming I have to stay the night?"
She chuckles, "At least that. Possibly tomorrow night as well."
A soft sigh is heard from me, but I nod and walk out with my brother following me. I slide on the soft tile, wearing only socks. I realize I left my boots in the ambulance, but I see my brother picking them off of the ground next to where he was standing, and I turn around.
His military boots and my doctor's high heels click, and the hospital is loud with commotion and coughing. Whenever I pass someone who is coughing, I instinctively move away from them. Strong hands rest suddenly on my shoulders, causing me to jump. I look up and see Hanji, a stern look on my sibling's face.
I cast her a sour look. I don't want to get the plague. Sure, as a citizen of Ruby, I get a vaccine every year, but still, sometimes people with the vaccines get sick. I shake it off though as I'm taken to my private room.
"You'll be given a dose of pain medication, but it will be infused with your normal medication. It will help mend your bones from the inside." I nod, laying down on the bed. "You know how the rest works." She said with a chuckle, and I let out a hollow laugh as well.
My wary eyes cast on my sibling, but they return to the doctor, as it seems she was not finished talking. "Also, Captain Hanji, it's asked that you leave soon. I know you have a mission, and Levi needs rest."
Hanji nods, lifting his right hand to his forehead, resting the left side of his flat hand against his skin in a salute. "Alright. I'll just tell my brother about the mission and then I will take my leave." The doctor nods and leaves, and my brother's arm returns to his side.
I wait to hear about the mission, but it's quiet for a long time. Minutes feel like hours before Hanji speaks. "I will be patrolling Ruby Health tonight, helping distinguish plague victims and making sure the hospital is up to protocol. It will go smoothly, and I'll be back tomorrow morning or late tonight to talk to you."
I want to offer to go, but given the fact I just pulled a stunt and I'm injured, I don't bother. "Take care." I whisper, and Hanji gives me a gentle hug. "You too, Ravioli." He spoke the last words in our conversation, stepping out of the door with a gentle wave.
Wary eyes scan me, but they let me sit down on the bed inside. I look over to my sibling and offer them a hopeful and pained smile, but I don't get one in return. It seems that though Hanji is worried and knows I am in pain, it's not enough to get me a get-out-of-lectures-free-card. I know that the moment we're alone, I will get to hear it all again.
My adrenaline is gone by now, and I'm gritting my teeth. The medics notice and inject my left bicep with something, and the pain is only a dull ache. I hold off the pain until we get to the shiny silver and glass building of the hospital. Though I'm offered to be wheeled in, I quickly shake my head. I can walk. They offer again, but this time my answer is not as gentle.
"My injury is not in my legs. I will be fine." I say coldly, and they just nod ferociously before walking ahead of me and opening the doors as they go to the receptionist to find me a room. By the time I walk in and reach the desk, Hanji by my side, we are led to another room. It's one of the smaller ones. I realize that I was taken to the hospital on the border of Ruby and Quartz. Also known as, Red Quartz. Both citizens from Ruby and Quartz are admitted here. Usually the people that come here are of higher class, but I notice many poor people, dirt on their faces and clothes ripped. I tear my eyes from them, walking past them with my chin up. I look over to see Hanji, figuring he would do the same. However, her eyes were disapproving at me, and dipped his head respectively to each of the people who met our eyes.
I just shake my head softly as I'm placed into the room, told to wait for a doctor. I sit on the cot, the sound of the wrinkling of the white sheet being heard in the silent, dim room. Based by the white machines, I'm assuming that they plan on giving me an x-ray. My wandering eyes focus on the angry face of my sibling.
"What?" I ask, generally confused. The other sighs and I find myself even more lost.
"You don't have to act like that." Was the soft reply I received, and I send the speaker a bewildered glance. Noticing my never-leaving confusion, Hanji speaks again. "That you're so much better than them. You know your sister is there, somewhere. I know that you are more physically and educationally better than them, but they're still people." Hanji's eyes darken. "We're all the same, Levi."
I never even took time to think about his words. "We aren't. The better of us are placed as higher ups and soldiers. They are measly citizens!" I raise my voice, standing up. "And don't bring my sister into this." My louder voices deepens as I continue. "She wasn't given an option. When I was gone on a mission, our parents were killed. She doesn't know I'm her brother."
Hanji runs her tongue along her chapped lips. They begin to utter words, but the doctor steps in. I thank her, offering a weak smile.
"So, a possible break in your left forearm, Levi?" The doctor said as she stepped forward to me, turning on a few more lights so it wasn't as dim. I sit back down on the bed.
"Yeah, I think it might just be a fracture, but I guess you'll see." I say with a grin, and the doctor replies with a chuckle.
"Indeed... Actually, if you could sit over on that machine?" She pointed at one of the perfectly clean tube-like machines, and I nod, sitting down on it. I put my arm automatically in the arm rest.
"I'll just take a picture of the area." She explains, tightening the manual arm rest so that the circular part of the rest curls up and wraps around the injured part of my arm. I wince as it gets too tight, and she stops. A click of a button and a few whirring sounds later, she takes the device off.
"I'll go get these pictures developed and I'll return in a few minutes." She takes the undeveloped photos that resulted from some other department in the machine and walks out of the room.
"I can't believe you decided to jump off the school. What were you thinking?!" I look in the direction of the outraged voice, my annoyed gaze meeting my siblings' angry and irritated one.
"It was a simulation. I thought it up." I replied coldly, interrupting Hanji as her talking began again. "I admit, the result was bad. I didn't mean for it. I had a good plan but my strength didn't hold up." My grey eyes lower, studying the colored tile squares that make a hollow sound when I get up. "Fractures don't take long to heal with our technology. I'll be fine."
The doctor, gracing and relieving me yet again by her presence right before my brother speaks, enters with the pictures and puts them on the glowing board in the room. She points out the fracture in my bone. The pain medication is wearing off, and I get even more wary of the split in my bone when I see it.
"It's bad, but it is just a fracture." She concludes, and I realize I missed whatever else she said before. I nod like I listened to it. "Alright." I say softly. "I'm assuming I have to stay the night?"
She chuckles, "At least that. Possibly tomorrow night as well."
A soft sigh is heard from me, but I nod and walk out with my brother following me. I slide on the soft tile, wearing only socks. I realize I left my boots in the ambulance, but I see my brother picking them off of the ground next to where he was standing, and I turn around.
His military boots and my doctor's high heels click, and the hospital is loud with commotion and coughing. Whenever I pass someone who is coughing, I instinctively move away from them. Strong hands rest suddenly on my shoulders, causing me to jump. I look up and see Hanji, a stern look on my sibling's face.
I cast her a sour look. I don't want to get the plague. Sure, as a citizen of Ruby, I get a vaccine every year, but still, sometimes people with the vaccines get sick. I shake it off though as I'm taken to my private room.
"You'll be given a dose of pain medication, but it will be infused with your normal medication. It will help mend your bones from the inside." I nod, laying down on the bed. "You know how the rest works." She said with a chuckle, and I let out a hollow laugh as well.
My wary eyes cast on my sibling, but they return to the doctor, as it seems she was not finished talking. "Also, Captain Hanji, it's asked that you leave soon. I know you have a mission, and Levi needs rest."
Hanji nods, lifting his right hand to his forehead, resting the left side of his flat hand against his skin in a salute. "Alright. I'll just tell my brother about the mission and then I will take my leave." The doctor nods and leaves, and my brother's arm returns to his side.
I wait to hear about the mission, but it's quiet for a long time. Minutes feel like hours before Hanji speaks. "I will be patrolling Ruby Health tonight, helping distinguish plague victims and making sure the hospital is up to protocol. It will go smoothly, and I'll be back tomorrow morning or late tonight to talk to you."
I want to offer to go, but given the fact I just pulled a stunt and I'm injured, I don't bother. "Take care." I whisper, and Hanji gives me a gentle hug. "You too, Ravioli." He spoke the last words in our conversation, stepping out of the door with a gentle wave.
No comments:
Post a Comment