Strong Connections - Levi x Reader

Chapter 7

I hear Hange sigh as she turns to face us and then asks, "Are you all okay with yourselves?" There's a short silence before she continues, "Even if we do stop the rumbling, just think of how Eldians will be treated after this." I nod my head, knowing full well that we will probably be hated on more than ever and our efforts will be discarded as ingenuine.

"I hate to say it," Pieck lowers her head, "but you are right. Despite this, General Magath left us with one final order. He said to work together and do what must be done." I feel my face flush as I remember how both Commander Magath and Shadis most likely got caught up with the explosion not too long ago. It's crazy how we have already moved on from that.

I notice Hange's eyes glisten and I furrow my eyebrows before she starts with, "Pieck, In that case, I will ride the Cart Titan's back and feel the heat of its body as we-"

"Stop." Pieck interrupts her and I facepalm with a small chuckle, surprised that Hange is back to her titan loving antics, "Why are you acting creepy all of a sudden."

"Four Eyes." Levi speaks up and I glance over at him, "Yet another love for a titan gone unrequited I see." I roll my eyes in agreement.

"Don't worry. We may not be like you and Y/N but we will be friendly in no time." Hange comments like it's nothing.

My eyes widen at this and I start to walk away from the two, "You sound like a Mother-In-Law."

"I can be that too!" Hange calls out but I just wave back, cringing internally at the idea. I walk over to Mikasa, who still isn't wearing her scarf and sporting a surprisingly blank expression.

"Are you doing good?" I ask, placing my hand on her shoulder.

"Yes." She replies, not a lot of emotion in her voice and her eyes failing to meet mine.

I sigh, knowing she must be the most confused out of everyone here, "You know, you don't have to put up a front when with me-" Suddenly gunshots break the friendly chatter and my eyes widen. I glance behind me and see Floch crawling on the ground with a gun lifted. Instantly Mikasa is onto him and I grit my teeth, angered that Floch had to fuck everything up once again.

"He shot holes in the fuel tank!" Onyankopon confirms everyone's suspicions, "We can't fly like this!"

"We can still manage if we can close them." One of the engineers speaks up, although he doesn't look too hopeful.

"Set up to weld!" Another engineer shouts and they all gathering equipment. "An hour maybe!" I run my hands through my hair, stressed because we already didn't have enough time and this would make it worse. The familiar sound of steam being released from somewhere can be heard from the entrance and instantly causes me to stop.

"Walls." I mutter as Connie runs out to check.

"The rumbling is here!" He shouts back in and everything becomes hectic. The engineers are yelling for things and I find myself in the loop, helping to prepare for the refilling of the tank, even though I have never done it before while others are simultaneously welding the holes on the tank. Even in our major rush, we manage to get it done neatly in record time.

The Flying Boat gets started up and whirrs into action, taking off as the rumbling is held behind us. I finally get to sit down, my back burning in pain as I haven't done so much activity since Zeke turned Levi's and I's soldiers to Titans. Unforgivable. I sat down between Levi and Hange with the others around us and a pile of ammo close by.

"We only managed to fill up by half." Onyankopon says between breaths as he finally sits down too.

"Will it be enough to get to Fort Salta?" Hange asks.

Onyankopon nods, "I promise you I will get us there. This Flying Boat is our final hope, I will get us to that base no matter what!" Onyankopon looks up at us, sincerity in his eyes, "So please, promise me that you will stop the rumbling. No matter what it takes."

"Yes." I instantly answer, already filled with enough determination to take on a full army, "We will, so we are counting on you Onyankopon."

"No problem."

***

We had started discussing the plan of how we would stop the rumbling. Our first objective was to try to speak to Eren. If that failed, we would do our best to locate his nape and slice it. Hange theorised that it was possible that Eren was using the power of the Founding Titan through Zeke, so Levi said he would take down the blonde bearded piece of shit. I, of course, would need to get in a good slice on him too. We get back on the topic of Eren when I finally decide to air my thoughts.

"This whole time I have tried to make myself think like Eren." I start, but chuckle at my words, "And it's safe to say it is borderline impossible. The Eren we knew is not the same Eren we see now, and I think there is only one reason why: Eren must know exactly how this ends."

"How so?" Mikasa asks.

"I've been thinking the same thing, Y/N. Eren is able to affect the actions of every Titan and Eldian but we are still able to use the power of the titans the way we always have. Eren must know exactly how this ends and is giving us the choice to fight it. Letting us act freely."

"But why?" Hange asks, "Is there any reason why he is being lenient?"

"Eren hates people who aren't free." Mikasa mumbles and clenches her fists. I feel my heartbreak as I recall Armin telling me about Eren's harsh words towards himself and Mikasa.

"If it is true and this is how Eren is acting, I'm guessing somewhere deep, deep down, he doesn't want to do this, but has no other option." Armin finishes.