In Love with a Devil

Chapter 37 - Devils of Death

The following morning, everyone woke up and packed the supplies to head to the sea port. The travel time was five hours, but when you arrived, the Jaegerists were already there. They took the train to get there and took the Azumabitos captive, their numbers quadrupling your own. The original course of action was to ask the Azumabitos to help, using their boat and airplane to search for Eren, but now Floch and his sheep were standing in the way.  You look up at the sky and see it covered with steam clouds. That means... the colossal titans Eren had awoken... are already off the island.

Time is already short, and now everyone needs to factor in the Jaegerists and find a way to protect the Azumabitos. Reiner and Annie offered to make an initial strike, but there were too many soldiers with thunder spears to fight off for them to be affected. No one from the scouts wanted to hurt the Jaegerists, since they went through training together. 

"I'm not going to sit by and watch the carnage... i've already killed 4." Hange says as they descend from the hill. "I know they were our comrades, but they won't listen to us unless we're on their side. Eren's titans have already crossed the sea... it's possible that they've reached the shores of other nations already."

Magath walks over to Yelena and steps on her arm, holding her face firmly. He demanded she tell him where Eren was going, breaking her arm in the process. Yelena agrees to comply, but only if they bring her along to see how it ends. Magath steps off her arm and faces the rest of the group. He apologizes for what he said last night, and to Annie, Reiner, and Pieck for treating them as less than human. He also emphasizes that there's no way to avoid fighting, and he would understand if they did not want to fight. Armin speaks up, and devises a plan to attempt to avoid killing off their old friends, and if it fails, they will fight alongside the warriors.

"Let's hope it works... because if not, they won't hesitate to kill you." you say hauntingly. You start putting on your gear, but your harnesses feel a bit too tight. You watch as everyone starts to get ready, Armin and Connie on horseback going down the hillside when you see Levi sitting up on the wagon. "You should be resting. Please, lay back down." you say, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm fine, Y/n. I'm more worried about you... I can't be there to protect you if things go wrong." Levi says, taking your hand in his.

"I'm capable of handling my own. I used to be a killer before I was a scout, you know."

"I'm aware..." he sighs.

You bite the inside of your cheek as you look at him, his uncovered eye dull and sorrowful. "If there was anything I could do to ease your mind, i'd do it..." you say, lowering your hand behind your back.

"You could sit the rest of this damn war out... I lost my family once already. I don't need to lose you or our baby next..."

You blink as you hear his words leave his mouth. "Levi... how did you-"

"Before Eren spoke to everyone, I heard bits and pieces of you and Hange's conversation. I understand why you didn't say anything... but that won't stop me from voicing my concerns. You wouldn't listen to me even if I ordered you to sit out." Levi says painfully. He sits at the edge of the wagon and brushes a strand of hair out of your face. "If you fight, you stay alive. Both of you. Understand, Lieutenant?" Levi says, lowering his hand to your stomach. You feel your eyes water but you quickly wipe your tears away and salute, putting on a brave face as he looks up at you.

"Understood."

~

3 gunshots.

3 gunshots is all it took for everything to go up in flames. Mikasa, Jean, Hange, and General Magath went after the Azumabito captives, while Annie and Reiner transformed into the Armored and Female titans. You look back a final time at Levi, his face disheartened as you shoot off with your gear. The Jeagarist's main focus was on Annie and Reiner, so when others were reloading, you killed them when their backs were turned.

You shoot dozens of Jaegerists, their blood staining the ground and rooftops of the port you all built together years ago. It felt as though you were taken back in time. Back when you would kill without thinking about whose life you were ending. When you were a machine made to kill. Your mind was in a haze, the blood and bodies everywhere becoming more blurred the more you moved.

It's them or you.

Don't hesitate.

Kill them first.

You were fighting with the automatic setting in your brain, the urge to mindlessly kill anything that tried to attack you, and the part of you that wanted nothing more than to stop. You have changed so much over the past 9 years. And that change was Levi. he woke you up from your stasis of blindly following orders. He made you feel human again after years of unfeeling emptiness. He made you believe in humanity. And above all... he loves you for all that you are and will be.

Just as you pull out of your thoughts, you see that things were not looking good. Annie and Reiner were being blown apart by the minute, and the Jaegerists had backup coming from the train. Mikasa was relentless, slicing bodies faster than they could shoot, but Jean and Hange could only do so much while protecting the Azumabitos. You start to feel sick and deploy your gear into an alley, watching as the fight goes on. You feel the air grow thin as you start to pant for breath, tears welling in your eyes.

I'm not this person anymore... I haven't been in a long time. Ever since I met him... he's the reason I'm here at all. You cradle your stomach, examining how much it's grown. This world is cruel... but I'll love you no matter what. I promise... You snap out of it when you see the Cart titan swimming towards the boat, Levi sitting on its back. You shoot after them and help him onto the ship, taking him inside.

"What are you doing?" Levi asks, holding your arm.

"Making sure you're safe." you reply, anxiety in your tone.

You stand in front of the doorway as you feel the ship start to move, the rest of the group piling on. Armin, Anine, and Reiner were steaming from their injuries, and the young boy, Falco, had tried to use his titan abilities, leaving him unconscious.  You take a moment to breathe, a wave of relief washing over you as everyone that came here and the Azumabitos are still alive. Though, the moment passes as the other ship at the dock explodes before your very eyes. Gabi wails for her former General, and you can't help but feel pity for her as she cries in Pieck's arms.

You take Levi farther into the ship and find a room with a bed on it. You set him down and quickly shut the door, your breathing becoming more erratic.

"What's wrong?? Were you hit?! Fuck, please tell me you're-" Levi starts, his voice wavering slightly.

"I'm not hit! We're fine..." you shiver, holding your stomach tightly. You kneel to the ground and bury your head into Levi's chest. "I'm tapping out..." you whisper.

"Y/n..."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I'm sorry I put myself in harm's way, I'm sorry for making you worry about me..." you cry, your words overflowing into a babbling mess. Levi picks you up, carefully as to not hurt you or himself, and sets you in his lap. He lets you cry into his shoulder, swaying your body with his as he shushes you.

"We're sticking together from now on then. Okay?" Levi says softly, his hand rubbing your stomach gently.

You can only nod once, your body and mind exhausted from the battle. You fall asleep a half hour later, the last people heading towards their final chance of saving humanity... towards stopping Eren.

***Author's note: if you read my story, thank you so much! views, votes, and/or comments are always appreciated!! unfortunately, this story will remain as is until the final part of the anime series AOT Season four has come out. please stay tuned for more works.***