One Last Salute

A New Addition

As the day continued on, the two still laid outside with little words still be being said. "There you two are. How long have you guys been out here," asked Armin. Akito sat up and sighed. "A couple hours probably. What's up?" "Well we have a mission in an hour, apparently there is some that titans are wandering the streets, so we need to go kill them, but I have to go and get ready," said Armin as he hurried off. As Akito got up, he held his hand out towards Levi. "Are you going to come or stay here," asked Akito. Levi's eyes shifted from the sky to Akito's hand and then grabbed it as he got up. The two began to walk back inside but stayed silent as they held hands.

After an hour past, everyone in Hange's and Levi's squad gathered outside. Levi began to get on his horse but kept slipping off until he eventually fell to the ground. He felt people staring and keeping in their laughs. Before he could scold his cadets, his body was lifted back onto his horse. "Be careful Shorty," said Akito annoyed as he got onto the horse next to Levi's. Levi stared at Aki to for a minute then shook his head. He wanted to tell him to be careful too, but he couldn't do it. He didn't want to anger Akito.

As the squads arrived at the streets of the small town, Levi began using his odm gear to jump from one building to another while killing the titans. Akito followed him and then stopped as he heard faint cries coming from inside a house. "Levi come over here for a sec." As Levi killed a titan, he jumped over towards Akito. "What's wrong," asked Levi. "Do you hear that sound," Akito asked back. Levi listened to complete silence and then heard the faint cries. "What is that terrible sound?" Akito rolled his eyes, as he held Levi's hand and jumped to the ground. "It's not terrible, but it sounds like a baby." "Who would leave a baby out here all abandoned," asked Levi annoyed. Akito shrugged.

Levi walked inside and Akito followed after and began looking around. As Levi walked towards a room, the cries became louder. When he walked in, he saw a tiny baby laying on the floor. The baby boy had brown hair and was bundled up in a grey cloth and its body was very thin like it has never had food before. Levi picked him up and held him awkwardly. "Oh my god... I was right. He looks so tiny," said Akito. The baby started to cry even louder, and Levi quickly handed it to Akito. "Levi what's wrong," asked Akito. "It's crying." "So?" Levi took one last glance at it then walked out and started to kill the titans again.

Annoyed, Akito ran outside while holding the baby and used his odm gear to go back to his horse. "Aww who is this little one," asked Hange who ran over to Akito. "No clue, but me and Levi found it abandoned in a house." Hange took a closer look at the baby and announced to the squads that the mission is over. "I think you and Levi should raise it if the parents don't come looking for it." Before Akito could respond, Levi walked up from behind him. "Absolutely not." Akito turned around and glared at Levi. "Well we are married so I can also be a part of making this decision and I say we should." Levi glared back at Akito. "I um I think I will take the baby for now," Hange said as she tried to grab him, but it was quickly pulled away. "No," yelled Akito and Levi in unison as they exchanged glares again.

A sudden cry came from the baby as the two got back on their horses. "Tell him to shut up Aki." "Levi it's a baby he won't understand me it will just make him more upset," said Akito. Levi rolled his eyes in annoyance. He couldn't believe they were taking a baby back to the base, but he surely didn't want to take care of it.

As they returned back to the base, Levi got off his horse and looked at Akito who was struggling to get off while holding the baby. "Levi come here so I can get down." Levi turned around and ignored Akito. "Levi, I swear if you don't come back here, I will let a titan eat me on the next mission," yelled Akito. Levi turned around and headed back towards Akito. As he grabbed the baby, Akito got off and began walking back inside. "Aki wait the baby." "You can hold him you're a grown man," Akito replied as he smirked at Levi then continued walking to their room. Levi hated holding the baby, but when he looked down at it, he noticed how it had stopped crying and was sleeping comfortably in his arms.

When they got to their room, Levi sat on the bed still admiring the baby. "See it's not so bad. I think the little guy feels safe in your arms," said Akito as he sat next to Levi, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. Levi stayed silent as he continued to admire the baby. "Earth to Levi." Levi looked up then at Akito. "Sorry what." Akito let out a small laugh and kissed Levi. "Your so cute when your distracted." A small blush covered Levi's cheeks as he looked back down at the baby. "I wonder if this is how my mother felt when she held me." Akito kissed the top of Levi's head. "I bet she felt like the luckiest woman alive to have a son as handsome as you." Levi's cheeks became redder, as he tried to ignore Akito. "Can you go get some food for him please," asked Levi. Akito nodded and then walked out.

As Levi continued to hold the baby, he heard tiny coo's coming from it. The baby's eyes started to open and looked at Levi. His eyes revealed to have a bluish grey color that twinkled against the light. "Oh hello," said Levi. The baby held its hands up to Levi's face making tiny grabbing motions. Confused, Levi lowered his face towards him. The baby squished Levi's cheeks and let out a small giggle. Levi smiled. The baby then carefully grabbed Levi's hand, as he looked up at him. "How could someone abandon you," Levi asked himself.

After a couple minutes, Akito walked in and noticed Levi playing with the baby by tickling its feet. A small laugh escaped from Akito and both the baby and Levi looked at him. As Akito set the plate of food down on Levi's desk, he walked over to them and threw Levi back onto the bed and began tickling him. "Wait Aki.... Please I...." Levi could hardly make out words as it was hard for him to keep in his laughs. The baby giggled as it crawled over to them. Akito stopped tickling Levi and picked up the baby and started to tickle him. High pitch screams and giggles came from the baby as it squirmed in his arms. Akito soon stopped and pulled Levi close while holding the baby. "So, have you changed your mind about keeping him," asked Akito. Levi nodded, "And I think I have a name for him too." "Oh?" Levi looked down at the baby who had now fallen to sleep then back at Akito. "Henry." Akito smiled and kissed Levi. "A very handsome name for a very handsome little boy."

As Levi smiled, he laid his head on Akito's shoulder and looked out the window. He saw someone standing in front of a tree. The person was tall and looked similar to someone he knew. "Aki is that... It's Erwin he's back," Levi exclaimed as he quickly got up and ran towards the window. As he looked out, he saw three men walking up from behind Erwin. "Wait a minute who are those men," asked Levi. Akito got up while holding Henry and walked over to the window. "It looks like Reiner and Bertholdt, but I can't make out the other guy. He almost looks like an older version of Erwin." Levi quickly grabbed his jacket and ran outside to the field. "Erwin," Levi yelled. Erwin turned and walked towards Levi as he unclenched his fists. "It's good to be back Levi I'm glad you got my diversion," Erwin said as he looked at Henry and then at Akito who was walking up behind Levi. "Diversion? What are you... wait the baby...Henry..."

Levi looked down as he realized Erwin was the one who left Henry alone in the house. "Where did you go," asked Levi. Erwin placed his hand on Levi's cheek and gave him a warm smile. "Somewhere far away from here." "Who is that other guy," Levi asked as he pushed Erwin's hand away. Erwin sighed, "Oh Levi I wish you would learn not to ask so many questions it would be the best for you as well as Akito." Suddenly, the sound of a gunshot was heard. The birds began flying away from the trees. The sound of a baby crying filled the atmosphere.

"Aki," Levi yelled in terror.