"What if?" A Levihan and Eremika story

Chapter 2 - "My time has come."

The sun was beginning to set behind the tall mountains. The clouds swirled with a light orange blush and a few streaks of rosy pink, but the beautiful sunset was soon obscured by clouds of steam. The rumbling had started. And the Titans were coming their way.

The mechanics worked on fixing the plane, trying to ignore Daz's dead body next to them. But if he hadn't shot at the plane, they could all be leaving by now. They're running out of time, thanks to him.

"Go. I can cover the rear." Reiner instructed his peers with dedication.

"You really think that's any better?"Hange snapped, causing everyone to turn and look at her. The wind was blowing her cape as she gripped her thunder spears tightly.

"If we want to stand a chance, we can't use any of our titan powers yet. We wouldn't be facing this situation if it weren't for me. I dragged you all here over the bodies of your comrades. It's time I made it right." She spoke and stood firmly. Her brown eyes were filled with anguish and determination. They all looked at her, confused and hurt, with mouths hanging open.

"Commander..." Armin was the only one who was able to speak. She walked past the rest of the teens and stood in front of Armin.

"Armin Arlert. I hereby sentence you the 15th commander of the scout regiment. There in your hands now." She told him strictly. His large blue eyes widened in horror as he realized what this meant.

"Short retirement speech I know. Alright, bye guys." She said nonchalantly as she turned away from her grief-struck comrades.

"Oh yeah!" She laughed. "This means Levi is your subordinate. Better work him to the bone." She teased towards Armin who was too shocked to speak before she began to walk away. Keeping a light-hearted smile on her face. She walked across the pier and finally met with Levi. He looked at her with a glare, but a different glare than usual; this one wasn't a glare of anger. It was a glare of pain.

"Hey...That's your goodbye?" He asked her as she stopped in his tracks next to him.

"I know you get it Levi. I've been waiting so long for this. My time has come." She said with a smile. Levi's melancholic-filled eyes stared at Hange. Not again. She held her hands in front of her, and she was noticeably trembling. He wasn't sure if it was fear or adrenaline.

"So please, I wanna ride my high to the end and make a really awesome exit. Let it happen. Okay?..." Her voice cracked as she practically begged him. Almost as if she was desperate to do this. Levi's grey eyes sunk, and they looked to the floor in despair. Before looking up again as they filled with rage. He clenched his fist and placed it firmly on Hange's chest.

"Dedicate your heart." Her deep brown eyes widened as she let out a shaky breath. This was really happening. There was a moment of silence. Before Hange broke with a faint chuckle.

"I didn't think I'd ever hear you say that." She teased him as he began to walk away. He couldn't turn around to watch. Normally he could look death straight in the face. But with Hange? He couldn't look. He doesn't know why. He just couldn't. She launched her ODM gear and began to fly away over the houses.

"HANGE!" Armin shouted as he quickly ran over, swiftly followed by Mikasa, Eren, and Conny.

'Dammit, I thought this was supposed to save her...' Eren thought to himself as he watched her soar out of distance. Guilt filling his veins.

Levi grunted in anger and pain as he clutched his ribs. Could he really fight while he was this injured?

Fuck it.

"God dammit." He growled to himself as he launched himself over the houses, following Hange.

"LEVI!" Armin screamed as he reached his arm out. There was nothing they could do to stop them. They just stood and watched as they flew further and further out of distance, and closer to the titans.