Strong Connections - Levi x Reader

Chapter 3

After Hange dished out the food everyone momentarily quietened down. Levi put me to sit up and was currently spoon-feeding me, despite my complaints and statements that I can feed myself. Levi was gently shoving food into my mouth when Hange spoke up, "It will be five hours at full speed to the harbour, with rested horses. We'll be relying on the Azumbito."

Hange continues, "According to Miss Kiyomi, there is a flying boat meant to observe the rumbling ready at the port. We can approach the Founding Titan using it."

Commander Magath grits his teeth, "I knew it. So the Azumbito were helping you behind the scenes."

Hange nods, "The problem is figuring out where the founder is. We will run out of fuel in no time if we just fly around aimlessly."

"That's right, we need to figure out where the founder has gone. It can be anything, we just need a lead." Magath agrees, "That's why I captured her." Magath faces the evil spawn we call 'Yelena', "Where is Yeager heading to first?"

"Why would I know?" Yelena glares ahead, "And even if I did, why should I tell you?"

"You're the one who offered Yeager your knowledge of the mainland when he had none. He has a path in mind for this rumbling of his." Magath sternly explains, "You should be able to make a guess."

"Bastard..." Yelena mutters and I let out a sigh, "I'm asking why I ought to help Marleyan bastards like you." I facepalm at this, Levi putting down my now empty stew bowl.

"Because we decide if you live or die." Annie retorts.

"It's pointless. I'm pretty sure she wants to die." I shrug my shoulders and shake my head.

"But aren't you fighting Marley for the sake of your own homeland? Are you fine with doing nothing and letting it be trampled?" Connie asks in between chews.

Yelena remains quiet and Onyankonpon speaks up, calling her name for an answer, "Yelena..?"

"She must not want to save anyone." Magath starts, "Because, she's a Marleyan bastard just like the rest of us." I slap my hand over my mouth, trying to stifle laughter while shaking my head.

Who doesn't love drama?

"W-what??" Onyankonpon stares at Yelena in a panic.

"After you betrayed us in Liberio, Yelena, we did a full look into your past." Pieck starts to explain, "Born into a run-of-the-mill Marleyan family, but you pretended to be from a small nation annexed by Marley. You came up with a tale of saving the world with a prince."

Yelena chuckles and strokes Pieck's face, "It almost sounds like you claim to be any different. What exactly do you think separates any of you from me?" I notice Levi shift closer to me, "'Saving the World' Are there any words sweeter and more alluring?"

"Just think back a bit, won't you?" Yelena's eyes hold a deadly stare, "Reiner Braun. I wonder how many Eldians were eaten by pure titans after you made a hole in the wall. From there, you snuck inside and shared times, both good and bad, with your so-called comrades here. And then..." I grit my teeth, "You betrayed them. You killed them. And now you are pretending to be their comrade once again?"

"Annie Leonhart." Yelena continues, "It seems like you killed a number of Survey Corps members yourself." I place my hand over Levi's, remembering the day his squad were killed, "Oh, and that you trampled countless residents of Stohess as well."

"All of you from Paradis were quite brave yourselves when fighting against the great nation of Marley. I never thought someone who acts so sensible would smash and tear his way through a naval port like that, Armin. You showed everyone just how much strength you snatched from Berthlodt Hoover. The scale of your military exploits must have only been matched by the casualties you left behind, dead civilians included." Yelena calls him out.

"I don't know the extent of the rest of your bravery in Liberio. But you did an impressive job of overcoming the Marleyan army's superior numbers. Especially you Jean. You courageously hurled a thunder spear at Falco, that boy over there, to defeat the cart. Thanks to it just barely missing, the boy continues to live." Falco and Jean make eye contact, with Falco looking like he's about to shit himself.

"And then you, Y/N." Yelena says my name and I brace myself, "You tried to avenge Sasha after Gabi, that girl over there, shot Sasha to death. Can I even blame you? Sasha... What a good girl she was. Even I was saddened by her death. But all of you were like family to her since your training days. Your sadness and your hatred must dwarf mine in comparison. On top of that, Y/N found out she was of Marleyan royal blood but continued to fight on the side of Paradis. Admirable."

I'm about to say something when Jean interrupts with a gulp and slamming down his stew bowl before taking a swig of wine, "Are there seconds?" He asks Hange, "Thanks, Yelena. The idea of airing out all of our grudges so that we can get our minds straight, right?" My eyes widen at this, not having expected it, "Yelena, 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."

Yelena doesn't seem amused and starts, "Oh, I forgot. What was it again? The name of that good friend of yours you once told me about... That's it, Marco. " Jean instantly freezes up. "You said Annie was involved in his death, didn't you? Have you asked her about it yet? The truth behind his death?"

"Yelena..." I mutter in a dangerous tone, glaring at her. She briefly glances over at me but doesn't comment.

"I took Marco's gear." Annie admits, "That's why a titan ate him."

"Annie was just following my orders." Reiner looks down, "Marco overheard a conversation between Berthlodt and I about something he couldn't know. We were afraid of being found out, so we thought the best way to shut him up was by taking his gear. I held him down to keep him from moving while Annie took off the gear. Marco was stuck there until a titan ate him."

Everyone grows silent, remembering Marcos corpse.

"Is there anything he said at the very end?" Jean quietly asks with a grim look.

"He said, 'We haven't even tried to talk this out yet'." Reiner responds as I clench my fists in anger.