Strong Connections - Levi x Reader

Chapter 2

Instantly all chatter dies around us and I stare at Levi, my cheeks burning as I stare at him with wide eyes.

"Just something I wanted to say." Levi looks down at me, a small grin on his face. A genuine one that doesn't appear too often.

"Well," I scratch my face feeling embarrassed, "I love you too but I wasn't expecting you to announce it." I mumble.

"Is it an issue?" Levi asks, his eyebrows furrowed.

"No-" I answer but am interrupted by Hange throwing her arm around my shoulders, ignoring me when I wince and starts making kissing noises.

"I'm so jealous." Hange places her hands on her heart, "If only someone short loved me to..."

"Shut up Four Eyes.." Levi glares at her and crosses her arms. I laugh and notice Mikasa come around by my side, sitting down.

"I don't know what you see in him," She whispers, "I hope you are happy." I nod my head with a grin.

"I knew it!" Connie exclaims, "I knew they were in love."

"Huh?" Jean slams his fist into Connie's stomach, "They've been in love for ages now."

"Are you just realising now?" Armin chuckles.

"Wait what?" Connie glances between Levi and myself in shock.

***

After some further explanations of what's going on while eating, I sat with the others trying to come up with a solution for what is going on. I bit down on my lip, already knowing what has to be done before finally blurting it out, "So we have to kill him."

"Kill who?" Mikasa asks, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear me say it.

"Eren." I mumble.

"That can't be the only way." Armin says, side glancing at me.

"From the way I see it, there are only two outcomes from our current situation, both favouring the people of the walls, which is Eren's ultimate goal. Isn't it? To save the people inside the Walls." I take a deep breath.

"What outcomes?" Levi questions, glancing at me.

"There's the obvious outcome, Eren completes the rumbling and everyone outside of the walls is killed. Humanity inside the Walls destroys their enemies outside the Walls through mass genocide and finally becoming free. Plus one point to Paradis." I explain, "Or outcome two, we prevent mass genocide by killing Eren, our own comrade, and saving everyone outside the Walls. Resulting in, at the very least, a ceasefire between the people inside the Walls and the people outside the Walls. In the best case scenario, we form a peace treaty with the people outside the Walls. Again, plus one to Paradis."

"I never thought of it like that." Hange looks over at me, "But how do you know Eren wants us to kill him?"

"I don't know," I sigh, "But I can assume he wants us to because he has the power to control all of us. He could make Reiner and Annie attack us, but he refuses to. He could have brainwashed all the Eldians, but he didn't. He has given us the choice to choose how we obtain freedom."

"He hates slaves. I can see him refusing to control us for that reason." Jean scratches his chin in deep thought.

"So then," Annie speaks up, "Can you kill him?" The questions makes me frown as I really think about it, "Considering everything Y/N has said, can you actually kill him?" I notice Mikasa gritting her teeth beside me.

"There might be another way." Mikasa growls, still in denial, making me sigh. It's hard for me to accept such as well. Growing up with Eren in the Survey Corps is something I can't just dismiss, I can only wonder how hard it is for Armin and Mikasa who knew him since they were young kids.

"Yeah, I thought you'd say that." Annie deadpans, "Then what? Are you going to try and convince him?" Annie approaches us, "Is the kind of person who tries to commit mass murder really going to have a mind you can change that easily?"

"We don't know. Not until we try to talk to Eren." Armin states, crossing his arms.

"I agree, we should definitely try to talk to Eren." I agree, "I will be pretty angry though if he replies to us."

"Okay, then say you're able to speak with him." Annie asks, "What are you going to do if he still doesn't decide to stop this genocide? Don't you think we should have a last resort in mind?"

I glance around and notice no one has an answer for, even Jean and Connie seeming angry at what is going on. I scrunch my eyebrows wondering why Annie is being so aggressive, especially since she was calm earlier.

"Thought so." Annie taunts with a serious expression, "If we try to protect our homeland of Marley by Killing Eren you are going to end up fighting us in order to protect him, aren't you? Thats how it is, isn't it? Y/N? You are Marleyan so I'm sure you understand."

"I understand, but I do not have anyone in Marley that I want to save." I respond getting angry at her question, assuming I want to save my mother.

"Well then, Mikasa." Annie glances over at her, "I doubt you have ever considered something to be more important than Eren."

Mikasa starts to march up to Annie, gripping her blades, "So you are saying I should die?" Suddenly Annie raises up a familiar ring, the same one from Stohess many years ago with an extendable blade. My eyes widen at this and I usher her to calm down, while her commander yells at her.

"I understand exactly how you feel." Annie exclaims, "I only have one reason to stop Eren. I don't want my father is Marley to die. That's why I need your help. If you can convince Eren, then fine. At the very least we shouldn't fight if we don't have to. But if what Y/N said is true-"

"Alright!" Hange announces, interrupting Annie, "Stews ready!! Eat up!" I chuckle at this, knowing Hange interrupted Annie on purpose to prevent further arguing.

I wonder what exactly Eren is doing...