Titans Rule, a Levi Ackerman x Fem OC story.

(51) A cold pair.

~Amelia~

There was no way to keep Sasha alive until we returned to Paradis Island. She passed away less than an hour before we were due to land. Sasha fought valiantly the whole time. However, after everything that she had suffered, Sasha eventually stopped fighting. Despite my best efforts to save her, after witnessing the immense pain she went through, I felt a sense of relief that she was finally at peace.

Yet, as I stood before Sasha's gravestone, I could only blame myself for her death. "Hi, Sasha," I greeted with a melancholy smile.

The official ceremony for Sasha and the other lost soldiers' funeral had concluded a few hours earlier. Most of the attendees were still gathered at the wake. But after so many people came up to me to thank me for trying to save their family members, I left because I could no longer handle it.

Fittingly, today's weather was horrid: the air was sticky, with rain threatening to fall, dismal clouds blocking out any hopes of a clear sky, and a deathly frigid breeze blowing through me.

Crouching down to the plinth of Sasha's grave, I placed my offerings on its pedestal. "I know the tradition in this world is to bring flowers or a letter, but in my culture, we also offer food to the dead. And I thought that you would appreciate that a lot more." My downturned cheeks transformed into a bittersweet smile at the thought of Sasha happily eating the food I brought for her, wherever she might be now.

Before me, I arranged several of Sasha's favourite foods, all of which I had Niccolo prepare ahead of time. "It isn't the meat and seafood platter you deserve, but I hope you enjoy it all the same."

Shuffling onto my knees, I clasped my hands together and bowed my head to her to pay my final respects. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you."

A round of sobs echoed through the gaps between our other fallen comrades' final resting places. It had only been a few days since Sasha's death, so the grief I was feeling was raw, and the tears uncontrollable.

Once I managed to calm down, I realised a warm presence at my side, and a scarf had been draped over my cold, cracking hands. Getting up this morning had been difficult, so bringing gloves was one of the last things on my mind.

After detecting the lemony scent of the scarf, I immediately knew who its owner was. "Levi, thank you."

Fumbling with my pocket, I found a discarded handkerchief and used it to blow my nose.

"I wondered where that'd gotten to," Levi remarked, signalling towards the fabric I held to my nose.

"Oh, sorry. Everything's been so hectic, so I haven't got around to washing it yet." Levi was a notorious neat freak, so seeing me slobbering all over his handkerchief must have been torture for him.

"Just keep it," Levi insisted. Usually, I would have demanded to return someone's belongings, but today, I was too weary to argue.

As if noticing my lethargy, Levi suggested: "Shall we head back?"

Returning the handkerchief to my pocket, I allowed Levi to escort me back to headquarters.

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After arriving at headquarters, I barely had enough time to recuperate before I was called into a meeting with Levi and Hange. Life as a doctor had been challenging, but I could never get used to the whirlwind of being a soldier. One minute, you were mourning the loss of your comrade, and then the next, you were being tasked with guarding a treacherous war criminal.