Creation | Levi x OC

17. Promises Kept

(Not Beta Read. We die like Erwin in Shiganshina)

——

The warm air pushed my hair back with such force. It made it hard to keep my eyes open all the way. My fingers began to burn from gripping the net tightly, keeping me grounded and tethered to the Titan below.

We were on a bird... a titan bird. Who the hell would have thought?

Is this... Falco?

Glancing around me, I could see Annie and Gabi alongside the others; Jean, Mikasa, and Connie. Levi was tucked directly at my side. He grunted, trying to hide the obvious pain he was in.

"Gabi! What are you doing here?!" Reiner shouted over the loud gust of the wind.

"What did you expect when you left us behind like that?! You know that we can fight, too!" Gabi shrieked.

At that, Reiner let out a bark towards the blonde woman, "Annie?!"

"The Azumabito ship sank," Annie replied simply. "It couldn't withstand Falco's transformation... We weren't even sure that he could fly, but Kiyomi knew that and let us go anyway."

Gabi perked up, eyes wide with determination and begging for forgiveness, "That's why we need to stop the Rumbling! We need to pay her back for her kindness!"

"So... How's Arm– No – How's Pieck? What's her status?" Annie asked stoically.

The question made me look at her, quizzically. It caught my attention. Is it possible she also has feelings for Armin and is just trying to cover it up? It's only natural for one to question the whereabouts of people you have known for a long time and were just fighting alongside with.

It wasn't until Mikasa's response that it confirmed my suspicions. "Armin's in trouble. He's been captured by the Titans. The Titan that took Armin is by the tailbone. Annie... Help us."

"Your childhood friends just love getting kidnapped, don't they...? Of course. I'll get him back."

Gabi perked up once again. "But– Where's Pieck?!"

"She's by the skull! She tried to blow up the nape, but the Warhammer Titan was waiting for her. Pierced her Titan."

"Wait– Blow it up?!" Gabi shrieked.

"She wrapped the explosives from the ship around the neck but couldn't hit the trigger in time."

"So– What are we going to do?! Does this mean we have to choose between saving Armin or saving Pieck?!"

"Both," Levi cut in. "We're doing both. One group will rescue Armin... The other will go after Eren and attack the neck at the same time. We'll split into two teams and do it simultaneously."

At that, Mikasa gasped and glanced back in our direction. "Captain?"

"We no longer have the luxury of worrying about Eren. No– We never did to begin with."

"But–" Mikasa shuddered as sweat formed on her brow.

"But?! But What?! If Falco's Titan hadn't miraculously been able to fly, we would've died back there!" Connie shouted.

"Yeah. Without having done a damn thing..." Jean sighed.

"...Jean."

"Mikasa... We're all out of options here. There's no other way..." I pleaded. I could see the hurt in her eyes as she was fighting herself, coming to terms with our situation. It was as if her heart was breaking before me.

Levi exhaled through his nose and glanced down. "I had a mouthful I wanted to say to that idiot, but... dammit."

Connie shook, voice cracking as tears formed in his eyes. "Look, Mikasa! I didn't want to give up on Eren, either! It's my fault the Captain can't even fight now! Plus, we're up against the Founding Titan here!! Do you really think we can afford to go easy on it?!"