𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑵𝑫 - Levi Ackerman [2]

twenty two

22|children

"Thanks, Yelena." Jean grumbled, leaning back and drinking his bottle of wine. "The idea's to air all our grudges out in the open so that we can get our kinds straight, right? You were so committed to your fantastical dreams that you blew the brains out of all those precious comrades of yours. But in the end, you had nothing to show for it but a death wish. Yet you're still so considerate."

"All right, before I use this so called power to torture you. I need to puke." Lillian stood up gracefully, a smug look on her lips before she quickly walked into the forest and threw up the stew behind a tree. She leaned her head against the bark of a tree, breathing heavily as she held her stomach. "You're really doing a number on me, little one."

Lilly wandered over to the river, washing her mouth out with water and splashing water over her face. When she heard a ruckus in camp she headed back, finding Connie and Armin holding Jean back while Reiner lay unconscious on the ground.

"Should I ask?" She mumbled to Hange who still stayed sat on the ground holding Jeans bowl of stew.

"The usual." Hange waved off her concern.

"Gabi!" They both glanced over, seeing Jean hit Gabi in the back as she jumped on Reiner. "Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry." Gabi apologised, confusing everyone. "Our wish was to slaughter all of you on Paradis. For the world to accept us and forgive us. That's why it was always our hope for this island for the devils to go away. And now, mum and dad, everyone in Liberio us going to be taken away because of it. I'm sorry." She turned to the Scouts and bowed down desperately. "I know just how shameless it is of me to ask, but we need all of you to help us. Please, won't you lend us your strength? Please! Stop this rumbling with us."

"Let me go." Jean mumbled before silently walking into the forest.

"Where are you going, Jean?"

"Jean? What about your seconds?" Hange called after him, still holding the bowl of stew.

"Will they shut up?" Levi sat up and spat, startling everyone as they glanced at him.

"Here." Lillian kneeled beside Annie with a bucket of water and a cloth. She wiped the blood off the unconscious man's face. "I don't blame you, any of you."

"What?" Annie looked up at her confused.

"You were children brainwashed to believe we were horrible devils." She stated, pushing his nose back into place for his Titan healing to kick in. "You were children."

"Why are you being nice?"

"Because I've lost far too many people in my life I care deeply about. But I refuse to blame anyone or channel it into hate." Lilly explained, sitting back to properly talk to them. "I've lost my parents, my brother, my babies, my best friends. I even almost lost my husband and now I'm about to lose my Godson."

"I'm sorry." Annie apologised, not knowing what to say as the older woman stared out into the forest.

"It's all in the past. We just all need to live in the present." She stood up and wandered over to her husband, lying beside him and feeling him drape the blanket over her. "I love you. Thank you for not dying."

"I made a promise." He kissed her head as she cuddled into his side. "And I refuse to break my promise. Especially with my son at home and a child on its way."

Hange carefully woke her up, whispering that they were moving now to the port. The pair transported Levi on to a proper trailer with the help of Onyankopon. She sat beside her husband, Hange on his other side as they traveled.

"Can we really rely on the Azumabito?" Theo questioned from the first trailer which held him, Onyankopon, Yelena, Lillian, Hange and Levi, with Connie driving.

"What other choice do we have?" Hange asked back before noticing the Cart Titan coming towards them. "The cart?"

"Stop!" The General ordered. "Looks like something happened."

"The harbour." Pieck stated, half hanging out her Titan. "The Jaegerists have captured it. They must have gotten there first by steam engine. They were prepared for battle. The place was covered in soldiers with anti-titan gear. They've figured out that we want to prevent the rumbling and they plan to stop us before we can."