Remembrance ; Levi

C. 7 | Expedition

Everything cruised smoothly, but everyone was strictly cautious. The cicadas chirped loudly in the heat, and the glaring sun was an enemy upon everyone's mood. 

So far, there had been silence from the group. 

"Levi! There's a flare."

Within a second, the tension rose intensely. 

You had been watching his body motions carefully, just in case. He was already pushing himself to the limit.

"Just keep going." He urged.

For a moment, you thought you heard faint screams- but you dismissed it thinking it was just your imagination and the heat. 

Eren urged his horse forward, his eyes trained on the miles and miles of grassy plains up ahead. "(Y/N), you have to tell the captain about the female Titan."

You urged your horse faster, leaving Eren behind. "I'm hearing things about a female Titan." You called to Levi.

His expression was grim. "We need to go into the forest," he called, leading the formation on.

And so you did.

But after some time, everyone became confused. Levi was silent, no longer giving out orders, and the group was left to ride in silence through the tall trees. 

You warily looked to either side of you, worried for a singular Titan that may have been lurking in the forest. 

Petra, who was riding beside you, wore a frightened expression. "Captain! What are your orders!?" She cried.

You helplessly looked up ahead, Levi's flying green coat waved in the wind as he rode on silently.

Your next breath was caught in your throat. 'That's right. Levi wouldn't do anything that would injure his team, I need to trust him.'

'Because you really do care for all of them, don't you?'

You were snapped out of your thoughts by your desire to scold the strange man riding close as he muttered, "we're all going to die."

His negativity was clearly affecting the whole group, as they muttered amongst themselves in worry and fear. 

You couldn't bring yourself to yell at him. "Shut your mouth." You said, glaring at him.

He leaned away, looking at you. "What?! I-"

And he bit his tongue.

"I tried to warn you..." You muttered, giving your mare a gentle but firm kick as you realized you were falling behind.

'They're still yelling at him.'

'Well of course...any sane person would be questioning him.'

"Eren." You tried to sooth his nerves. "Your captain wouldn't do anything to risk his troops. We need to believe in him, just as he believes in our capability."

Your words fell upon deaf ears. Eren was too panicked and yearning for answers to listen to you. 

"Captain! We've restrained the Titan!" 

Levi swung around at that, and instantly slowed down, signaling for the others to do so as well. "We need to go on foot. Hurry, securing that Titan is our first priority!" He shot his claw hook at a tree and took off. 

The others looked around. 

"What are you all waiting for!?" Eren demanded, following Levi in pursuit. 

___

You knelt on a tree branch, your hand resting on your 3DMG, preparing to pull a blade out.

"We need to get to the HQ." Levi said, leaping to the next tree, and zip lining past you with Mikasa by his side.

You look back at Petra, Auruo, and the others.

"Go!" Petra shouted after you.

You gave her a thankful nod, and chased after Levi.

'Why...how did it come to this?! It seemed only moments ago when the Female Titan was restrained."

You spared a second to glance back at the Female Titan.

You heard Eren stop behind you. "Levi, Mikasa, Eren- he..!" You stop on a branch, and look forward at Levi.

You could see the annoyance twitch on his lips as he rushed back, with you following close by.

Your eyes widen as your brain slowly processed what you were seeing.

"Eren!" Mikasa's scream echoed throughout the forest. You watched Levi survey the mess of dead bodies, his expression unreadable. 

Then, he stopped at a tree-branch, his face dark.

You swung next to him, your face twisted as you looked down. Petra's body was slumped against the tree.

'Impossible, she just talked to me...' You felt strange. 

"Her eyes..." You murmur, jumping down from the tree. "(Y/N)!" Levi called, loudly.

"Get away- the Titan-!"

Your hand hovered over Petra's eyes, before slowly shutting her eyelids, and laying her down on the ground.

You jumped back up, where Levi greeted you with an explosion of anger. "You. What were you fucking thinking? You could have died."

You turn your head, blocking him out. "Mikasa..." You warningly called. Levi turned his head to her.

Mikasa sat where the remains of Eren's Titan body was, her face shadowed by the looming trees.

"Mikasa, stay calm. We're going to get him back." Levi calmly said, rushing ahead and shooting his grapple hook.

"The Titan's slowing down!" You said to Mikasa, who was rushing towards the Female Titan with a furious look on her face.

You couldn't help but notice the blood splattered over the site. It would only be time until yours joined theirs. 

You whipped out both blades, and lunged in front of the Titan. "I'll bait." You called, loud enough for both of them to hear.

"Y'know..." You muttered to the Titan, raising your head to look at her. "You're not so nice with my friends."

Her short blond hair shook as she ran forward. You rested on her nose.

"Stupid! What are you doing?!"

Levi's voice surprised you. "Whoa, don't get so emotional." You teased, before running up the Titan's nose, settling on her head.

As if swatting a fly, her hand flew to her nose, squashing the place you had just been a few moments ago. 

You returned to hanging on her nose, throwing a sharp blade in her left eye, causing her to cry out in pain. You could see her giant eye stare into yours, with a faint sense of humanity and understanding of what was happening. 

But that second was more than enough time for Mikasa and Levi. Levi swung himself up in the air, and spun down on the Titan's arm.

Retribution was divine, and Levi was the executioner. 

As you watched him, you couldn't help but smile.

The Titan had recomposed herself, but Mikasa swung down to her feet, tripping her again.

"Whoops." You swung back on her head, landing safely in her hair.

You jumped back into the Titan's nose, pulling your blade out. "Thank you very much." You said, crisply, drawing your blade to slash her face.

She cried out, but you were so occupied, you didn't notice a hand flying at you from behind.

"(Y/N)!"

You felt yourself fly off her large stature as you felt something hard hit your side.