An Ackerman's secret

14

TW: Mention of suicide

I stumbled away from the direction that Reiner was aiming at when I caught sight of someone leant against the tree that I was heading for. I immediately noticed the black undercut hair and I could feel my lips turn up into a smile.

Once I reached him I dropped to my knees, trying to regain my breath. He looked a mess, his head was rested against the tree behind him and he was looking up while clutching his stomach with his eyes close.

He squinted them open to see who was approaching him and had no reaction when he saw it was me.

I drew my eyebrows together, "Are you hurt?" There was no visible cuts or blood on him but from the look on his face to his worn out uniform, it looked like he was struggling.

"My injury fucked me over."

Still keeping it against the tree, he turned his head and stared me down, his eyes travelling over me to see how I was. For once I wasn't in a bad state, but even if I was, I was more worried about him. I dropped to my knees next to him and reached over to check his stomach.

He glared at me and refused to move his arm. "Levi. Let me look." I insisted. After rolling his eyes, he moved his hand and I gave him a look for his consent, which he simply returned with a nod. I slowly lifted up his shirt to see his ribs black and blue, covered with bruises.

"You shouldn't have been fighting in the first place." I flicked my eyes up to meet his.

"Well I couldn't just wait for you all to return." He hardened his gaze at me and groaned, rolling his neck to help its stiffness. I was clueless on what to do. Reiner was still throwing titans and although we were out of his range, we weren't safe and I know for sure the others aren't safe.

I stood up and took out some new blades, tapping on my gas cannister to check how much gas I had left. It wasn't much, but it was enough to kill a few titans.

"Mila. Don't." Levi muttered.

"I'll be fin-

"No." He interrupted me. "I mean, don't leave me." The last part he said quieter. I raised my eyebrows, unsure of what to do and what he meant.

He didn't even look at me while he said it and I was conflicted on what my next actions should be. I knew that those words were having a big effect on me, he didn't know that but deep down inside that's all I wanted to do, to stay with him. But at the same time, even if I kill a few titans before dying, that's more than just sitting here with him, right?

I'm selfish though.

"Okay. I'll stay." I put my blades back and dropped down next to him again, where he finally looked at me in the eye, not breaking eye contact. His face displayed no emotion, but for some reason I could see that that was his choice and we was hiding any emotions he was feeling right now.

"There is no point. You will die within minutes." He sighed.

I nodded and laid down, my body was exhausted and I felt physically ill. Honestly, I could fall asleep at any second, but that would be dumb. The ground was extremely uncomfortable and increased my pain instead of relaxing it.

"Levi. Can I use your cape as a pillow again?" I hesitated to ask when I realised I had no cape on. He stayed quiet for a few seconds and I didn't blame him if he said no, he looked comfortable and him taking his cape off would mean he would have to move.

"Tch. Just lay across me." He clicked his tongue.

I sat up and peered at him to check if he was serious and when I saw him waiting for me to do what he said, I realised he meant it.