Freedom: Levi Fanfiction

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10

844 - A month after the expedition - 

        "Sister!" Eren smiled as Iris walked inside their humble home. "Welcome home, Iris," greeted Carla Jaeger. She and Mikasa Ackerman was putting away some chopped vegetables as Iris walked in. She couldn't help but lift her little brother up in the air in excitement. 

        "Put me down! I'm not a kid anymore!" he pouted but Iris only rolled her eyes and laughed. If she was honest, Iris missed babying her little brother. She felt as if he was growing too fast for this world, and she selfishly didn't want that. After a few hours, Eren and Mikasa gathered in her room to spend time with their big sister. It's funny-- the kids were basically attached to her hip whenever she's home. Well, not that she's complaining. 

Iris sat on her bed while she combed Mikasa's hair. "Mikasa, Eren... can I ask you something?" The kids turned around in curiosity. 

        "How... how did you save Mikasa, Eren?" Their eyes widened at the sudden question. For the longest time, Iris didn't question what Grisha had told her-- actually, she still believed Grisha even with the lack of explanation. He had said that he arrived at Mikasa's house with the two of them safe... and that was it. 

Eren gulped, what should he tell his big sister? That he murdered a few people? Knowing her, she probably wouldn't believe it, right? It was silent for a good while, the sounds of Iris brushing Mikasa's hair played through it. "Eren killed the two men who killed my parents--"

        "O-OI! Mikasa!" Eren scolded. "What?" asked Iris, confused and in disbelief. The brush she held in her hand dropped onto the floor. 

        "I-I had to do it, I promise! Dad left us for help and I had to do it myself! Oi, Mikasa, you killed someone too..." 

Her hand reached her mouth, she couldn't believe what they were saying. How come Grisha hadn't told her this? Did he even know? Does Carla know? 

        "Mikasa... Eren... that's not something kids should do." The words left her mouth without her thinking about it-- because frankly, murdering people isn't what kids should do. Her little brother stood up and looked at her angrily. 

        "You wouldn't understand! Those animals deserved much worse. If I didn't do anything, Mikasa could've died!" His lips were quivering with anger but Iris could only look at him. After she had finally processed what he said, she stayed silent and stood up. Just now, Iris realized that these two were different. There was something off about them.

She looked back and faked a smile. "I got it. Don't be mad..." replied Iris after Eren's face had finally softened. She doesn't understand. She's heard those words before-- and yet... what does she understand?! She knew nothing. Her history, her parents' history and now, Eren. If she was present that day, he wouldn't have to go through that trauma! She was mad at herself.

A few hours later, she was summoned to the survey corps grounds. Last month's expedition bore the same results as the other ones, they achieved nothing. It's been a month since she last saw Levi and she was sure she'd never see him again. After what she had done, surely he'd still be mad at her, right?

As Iris entered their meeting place-- the same dining room that they always go to-- she was greeted by the surprising face of Levi Ackerman. She spoke too soon. She definitely spoke too soon. Aside from Levi, there was Erwin. The two stared at her like some child lost in the woods. Goosebumps surrounded her arms, they stared at her like a child lost in the woods. 

        "Yahoo!" Hanji grinned ear to ear as she appeared without notice, directly startling her best friend and the other two. "Oh..." she smiled awkwardly and sat on her seat before she cleared her throat. It was awkward. Iris could feel Levi's stare all the way to her seat. After several minutes, a few people arrived: a short girl with golden brown hair, a man with brown curls in an undercut, and a man with long blond hair which had a middle parting and bun folded at the back to keep his hair tied. Soon after, Moblit arrived with a cup of tea in his hand.