Freedom: Levi Fanfiction

| A date between two friends

17

It was bright and sunny outside, nothing exhilarating but a fine day nonetheless. This fine day was soon brought down when a tall, familiar blond man stood to the right of Iris's home. Her eyes blinked twice, thrice, four times. Why's Erwin here?! She walked toward him, hesitation limiting her movements. 

        "Let me guess. Levi brought you here?" He looked at her up and down in curiosity. She wasn't in her survey corps uniform-- it was his first time seeing her in a normal outfit in a long time. What was it... It reminded him of when she was younger. 

Erwin shook his head, a slight smile was on his face. "No. Although he did remind me to talk to you." Of course, Iris groaned. A small sigh left her mouth while she looked at him. 

         "You don't mind? I'm going to the marketplace." He shook his head and uncrossed his arms from behind. The two walked down the stairs, silence played in between them. Their last argument was like a small bolt that put a stop to a cog that's been working well for years. It's no wonder that things were awkward between them. 

        "How are things?" he asked softly, turning to her for an answer. Iris's lips pursed together into a faint smile. She told him about her family. How much Eren has grown and how even the most mundane things made her realize what she's been missing. She wanted to get to know herself. And if she hadn't quit, Iris wouldn't have realized these things. 

They proceeded to walk toward the main street; It's where everyone gathered, a street full of energy and joy. 

        "I heard that you and Hanji talked it out a few days ago." Erwin's eyes gazed around the small festivities of each person in the streets. They were happily minding their own business until their eyes latch onto the man who was wearing the dreaded survey corps uniform. 

Iris shook her head as soon as she saw their stares. She sort of knew this was going to happen. After all, the survey corps were the least respected out of the three branches. "Yeah. It was the first time we talked like that. And I assume the Captain wanted us to do the same, no?" He chuckled. 

        "Well, I figured. But I wanted to talk to you for a while." Erwin pointed toward the river, and it was as serene as it was gonna get. They walked toward the body of water, silently watching it flow north as the sun's light reflected off its surface. 

        "You've grown a lot," he spoke suddenly. How many times has she heard that before? Still, it never gets tiring. Knowing that she's grown from being a scared girl to a slightly cowardly woman made her chuckle. 

        "I learned from the best."

Erwin frowned, shaking his head. "I only taught you to never look back. While that works for me, I realized it doesn't for a lot of people. You've got heart, Iris. Something I often don't." Out of confusion, she brought her brows together and looked at him. 

          "Elise's death must've hit you hard. But for me, it didn't. I always thought things like that ought to happen. It was just another day as a scout. I was in the wrong for desensitizing the death of our comrades. But it's just how I cope. Although never have I once thought their deaths were meaningless. If I choose to get hung up on our comrades' death, will there be progress? Will humanity finally get freedom? We won't. Sacrifices have to be made in order to achieve something. Even If I have to play devil's advocate to achieve our goals, then I'll do it."

She looked away. That was the cold harsh truth and she just chose to never accept it. Accepting this life inside the walls was just like forcing herself to be blind to the truth. Erwin and Iris felt like there was something beyond this cage... this island-- but what?