𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑵𝑫 - Levi Ackerman [2]

nineteen

19|the cart titan

Lillian sat on the back of the horse with Hange, watching Levi as they traveled towards the loud rumbling noise. They spotted the rumbling and continued to cautiously go closer before spotting the Cart Titan.

"I'm going to approach them." Hange mumbled, jumping off the horse and slowly walking up behind them. "Um?" The sound of her voice caused the Cart Titan to attack, it's mouth open to eat her. "Hold on a second! Just don't eat me, okay? I'm completely unarmed. Oh, and those two over there? No need to worry. She's a doctor and he's nothing more than a harmless man who just refuses to die."

The Marleyan soldier walked closer, assessing Levi as Lillian stood beside Hange.

"My goal is to kill Zeke." Levi stated, sitting up to talk to the soldier and Titan. "Our interests align. Theo Magath. Pieck Finger."

"Levi Ackerman. It seems you have the strength to stand against the nine titans." Theo Magath glared down at the injured man as he loaded his gun. "But how do you expect to dodge one of my bullets looking like that?"

"I can't dodge any bullets. But I'm presenting myself to the enemy in this sorry state." He said truthfully. "Shoot or listen. It's up to you."

"Then we'll listen to you before we shoot." The soldier lowered his weapon to hear him talk. "You said you'd kill Zeke. Where is he now?"

"My guess is that he's trying to win over Eren do he can use his royal blood." Hange answered him. "Well, win over the Founding Titan."

"Seems like you know it all, Titan Doctor Hange." Pieck spoke up as she stared at the Commander. "Even more than Marley. Have you seen this Founding Titan for yourself?"

"I know it's unbelievably large, and it seems impossible to conquer." She informed them. "So, we just have to do this together. Let's combine forces. You get it, right?"

~•~

Lillian stayed with Levi and Theo as Hange and Pieck traveled to find some of the other soldiers.

"I wonder if she will have my hair this time." Lillian hummed, rubbing her stomach as Levi lazily watched her. Theo glanced up, staring at her confused.

"You're pregnant?"

"Our second child." She confirmed, pulling her locket out her shirt to look at the small drawing of her son. "We have a son who is safely away from all this."

"How long have you two been married?" Theo asked, trying to make conversation as they waited for everyone to return.

"I was twenty at the time and I'm now thirty-one so eleven very long years." Lilly joked as she stroked the hair away from his face. "And after all this I plan to live for a very long time with my husband away from the action."

"That's understandable."

"Do you have anyone waiting for you back home?" She questioned gently, knowing the destruction Eren brought could result in a negative answer.

"I haven't been as lucky as you two." Theo answered with a chuckle before they went back into silence.

They arrived back quickly, Pieck in Titan form spitting Yelena, Onyankopon and Jean out her mouth as Hange jumped off her back.

"The Cart can stay in Titan form for months at a time, right?" Hange asked as she stood in front of the Titan, the other three complaining about being in a Titan mouth. "Don't you ever think to brush your teeth?"

"That's very rude to say to a woman."

"Since when did you join forces with Marley?" Onyankopon glanced around confused, darting his attention to Jean who looked defeated.

"Last night."

"Are you sure?" The man continued to question him. "Your position should have been secured if you'd stayed with the Jaegerists."

"Yeah." Jean said grimly as he looked at his hands. "You know, I wished I could stay cooped up in my room, ears shut, but if I did that those burned bones would never forgive me."

"Jean. I don't understand what that means but thank you." Onyankopon teared up as he watched the boy.

"Just wash yourself already." He splashed him with the river water, both covered in Titan drool.

"Even me? But why?" Yelena said confused.

"Securing you was part of the deal to use the Carts power." Hange answered her. "They wanted you, and alive. Generals request."

"It's so good to see you alive." Lillian embrace both men once they had cleaned the drool of them. "I'm not emotionally stable to lose anyone else."