In Another Life | Levi x Reader/OC

Chance

It took an immense amount of energy for Levi to force his eyes open again - the pain was heavy against his eyelids. While he adjusted to his sight, a smoky smell invaded his nostrils. The scent reminded him of wood being thrown into a fiery pit, but he was met with confusion when nothing within his proximity indicated that there was burning wood nearby. The rain pouring down from the sky contradicted what his senses were telling him.

Levi propped himself up by an elbow, groaning at the intense pain in his back as he sat up. Why the hell did it hurt so much?

He flinched when his left palm sunk down on something sharp. His weary eyes trailed down towards his left, examining his surroundings. Blood gathered on his skin when he removed the shattered piece of glass that had prodded him... or was it crystal?

The red on his palm prompted him to take notice of the pool of blood he saw from his peripheral. Turning his head, his eyes searched for the same deep color that was on his palm.

His heart dropped to his stomach.

"Eden," he muttered faintly. He could hardly recognize you from all of the blood stained on your clothes and skin. At least three pieces of wood had been lodged deep into your body with crimson dripping out of each wound.

The placement of your hand stood out to him - he wished he hadn't noticed it. Your arm was extended out like you were reaching out for him before you-

"Eden, wake up," he demanded, sitting up on his knees to shift closer to you. Carefully, he slid a hand under your waist to turn you over and lift you up slightly. "Come on, wake up."

He pressed you against his chest, shaking you gently. "This isn't- this isn't funny, Eden. You're a titan, aren't you? Why aren't you healing?"

It was like talking to a solid brick wall. There wasn't a single sign of movement on your end - your eyes were glued shut, your arms hung limply from his grip, and the blood spilling out of your body at an alarming rate indicated that you didn't have enough energy to heal. Levi's arms trembled at the severity of the situation.

"Please, Eden," he begged. "I know you're still alive. You have to wake up."

You still wouldn't answer. His fingers curled tightly around the cape you were wearing - the one he had given you to shield yourself from the droplets of rain. Red had seeped into the green coloring of the cloth, dying it permanently.

This scene was all too familiar to him - the blood, the hopelessness, the anxiety. His heart began to race out of fear.

Levi was suddenly thrust back into the Underground again. He was a child, tiny hands firm on each of his mother's arms while trying to shake her awake, begging her to answer - begging her to show some sign of life. Then he was in his twenties, still in denial after watching his two closest friends get completely mauled by a titan in front of his own eyes due to his decision to leave them behind. Then he was in his thirties, unable to allow himself to properly mourn the dead bodies of his soldiers or of Erwin because there was no point in mourning when death was all he knew at that point.

Death was all he ever knew. From the beginning of his life, to the end - death, hopelessness, and abandonment was all he would ever know.

Now he was back in the present, observing the way your limbs hung loosely from his hold while your weight was being pulled to the ground. All of those same emotions from the past barged in uninvited.

"Eden," his voice trembled, "come on..."

Frustration and nerves built up in his chest when his attempts were eliciting no response. Water started brimming his eyes, breaking through them abruptly like a waterfall.