Blades, Blood, and Memories (Part II)

Decision

(Mai's Point of View)

My ears were ringing terribly, I was still in the same spot I was sitting in. I groaned as my back was in extreme pain from laying on a set of stairs. I glanced down at my lap, there was still the Armoured Titan's jaw bone resting. I clenched my jaw and slid my right arm underneath the bone and pushed hard. The bone shifted and I was able to force it off of me, I grunted as I slid myself off the broken staircase. I winced as I ended up landing in a crouch. I watched as a couple of blood droplets hit the dirty floor. When am I not bleeding, jeez. I took a glance at my surroundings, seemed like someone's home. I started to wonder, what the hell transpired while I was unconscious. I slowly rose from my spot and made my way over to the doorway I had been forced through. I heard screaming off in the distance near the Wall. I frowned and slowly made my way over to the screaming.

(Levi's Point of View)

I was not in the exact mood to argue. I growled as I had ordered Eren to give me his ODM gas. I had a mission and didn't exactly want to be thrown from it. I had to go after some ugly ass Titan who took the Beast Titan away from me. If only that kid knew what the hell I had just been through, Erwin and many of our Scouts were dead thanks to the hairy son of a bitch! I was covered in the blood of many Titan's I had just had to use as bridges to get to the Beast Titan.
"Give me your god damn gas Yeager! I can still get to the Titan!" I ordered the kid. He stared at me with blank eyes. He didn't exactly realize for a minute who I was standing in front of. He went to speak and then caught a glance and let out a painful scream. Behind me was Armin, he was burnt terribly from what I am assuming the Colossal Titan. Eren ran over and I watched him kneel next to his deceased friend. As I turned to go and ask another remaining member for his gas when I came face to face with Mikasa. Her eyes were wide, she was covered in blood. I frowned and went to leave when she noticed Armin's injury.
"You have the Titan serum...give it to me." She spoke quietly, I stood strong and glared at her.
"There's no point, Armin is dead." I replied to her, her tear filled eyes shot back to me. She had been going back and forth from Eren, to myself. I heard a faint inhale behind me and shut my eyes, shit that was Armin.
"Give me the serum Captain, we can still save Armin!" Mikasa screamed at me begging. I refused too move, I needed this serum. I was about to say something else, when I was tackled to the rooftop. I received a blade pressed against my throat, that girl had a plan to take the serum by force! I glared up at her dirty face, tears started to fall from her eyes. She had a hand around the box I held as tight as my tired body could.
"Get off me!" I yelled at her, I grunted as she pressed that blade deeper into my throat.
"Give me the god damn serum!" She screamed back, I was about to try and make my move to get his girl off of me...when Mai arrived. I watched as Mai reached for Mikasa and wrapped her arm quickly around Mikasa's shoulder and pulled her back. Mikasa was caught off guard as Mai threw Mikasa across the roof. Mai stood in front of my drawing a blade. I couldn't see her expression at all. I slowly brought myself up into a sitting position. I had no choice but to watch as Mai and Mikasa faced off once again, I gripped that box tight in my blood soaked hands.

(Mai's Point of View)

I was able to force Mikasa off of Levi, she was trying to get the Titan serum from him. He had obtained it from Kenny. Mikasa rose from the spot she landed in when I threw her off of him.
"After I saved you this is how your going to repay me?" Mikasa growled over at me, she was ready to come swinging.
"You saved me huh? I recall being blasted into a building on my own thank you very much!" I shouted over at her.
"You have no idea what you missed! Can't you see Armin needs help?!" Mikasa screamed at me, tears falling from her dirty face. I sighed and shifted in my spot guarding Levi.
"There's plenty of people here that need help Mikasa...do you really think the serum is going to work?!" I tried to reason with her. I started to feel woozy from my head injury. Shit not now! She took her chance and charged at me. Not a chance in hell! I inhaled and braced myself for impact. She took a swing at me and I was able to easily block her attack with my own blade. I grasped at her arm and shoved her back hard, she slid to a stop and was about to take another approach. I took my chance and charged at her hard and fast, I readied my blade to only be greeted by a very injured Hange! My eyes widened as she grasped Mikasa hard, preventing her from moving. I was able to stop before my blade impaled Eren's friend. My blade, was inches away from this girls throat.
"Stop, the both of you please. We have more to worry about right now." Hange begged softly as she held Mikasa tight. They were both kneeling on the roof, I was in a standing position. I sighed and peered back at Levi, he was covered in blood and staring down at the serum in his possession. My eye flickered over to another Soldier coming up on to the room, my eyes widened fast as he was not alone. He was carrying, a very badly wounded Erwin. I dropped to my knees and my blade.
"Captain Levi! Commander Erwin is still alive Sir!" The soldier shouted over to Levi, Levi's eyes shot over to his friend and Commander. Shit! Erwin was gravely wounded, and so was Armin. There was a choice here to be made, and that choice was Levi's alone to take. I noticed that Bertolt was indeed nearby, missing some limbs but still alive. I gazed back at Levi, he was frozen in his sitting position. I slowly rose from my spot and walked over to him and lowered myself. His eyes fixated on Erwin, his hand holding the serum box was shaking terribly.
"Levi...look at me." I spoke to him softly. This was going to be a major decision for him. I needed to know what he wanted me to do. His eyes were locked on Erwin's body. I sighed and shifted in my crouch.
"Levi...what do you want me to do here? Please look at me..." I spoke again, he blinked and I watched his eyes drift down. He frowned and inhaled heavily, his eyes finally drifted over to me. I could tell he was exhausted, and his head was going through the possible scenarios.
"Get them out of here. Evacuate the area. " He ordered me. I frowned and sighed heavily. I reached over to his blood stained shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"I know your going to do the right thing Levi...do what is best for all of us." I told him gently before I rose from my spot. I heard Mikasa start to fight Hange, as I turned Connie, Jean and Sasha had arrived.
"Fall back all of you, we need to ensure the area is clear." I ordered, following Levi's command. They all stared at me shocked with my order, and slowly followed my direction. I turned and looked over at Eren who was still frozen at Armin's side. Shit. I started to walk towards Eren, I could hear Mikasa screaming at me. Telling me what a terrible decision Levi was making. I ignored her as I kneeled down to Eren and Armin. I felt tears hit my eyes as I looked at Eren.
"Eren, we need to go..." I spoke to him, his tear soaked face shot over to me.
"Captain Levi would listen to you! Tell him we need to save Armin!" Eren begged me in between sniffles. I glanced down at Armin, he was indeed alive...just barely. I bowed my head and looked over at Levi, peering at him. He was on his knees staring at Erwin.
"Eren, I have no say here. You have to trust your Captain. I trust him. I need you to go to Mikasa, she isn't going to budge unless you convince her..." I replied to him, his teary eyes shifted over to Mikasa who was still being held back by Hange. Hange was speaking to Mikasa. Hange was missing a eye, must have been injured some point. I sighed and reached over to Eren, and gave his small shoulder a squeeze kid was trembling.
"What if it was the Captain? What if it was you in his position...and you had to decide on his life?" Eren asked me, my eyes shot open. I swallowed hard, I wasn't expecting a question like that at all. I turned my head and watched as Levi rose from his spot finally, he was on one knee...he began to prepare the needle.
"I would do what was best for our survival...I know Levi would accept what ever decision I needed to make." I replied, rotating my head back to Eren. He started to cry again, before lowering Armin to the rooftop. He slowly rose from his spot and walked away to go to Mikasa. I watched as he grabbed her and they left the roof, falling back as I ordered. I glanced back down at Armin's burnt body, I wanted to vomit. I wanted to save the kid too, but that wasn't my decision to make. As the area cleared, it was just Levi, myself, Armin and Erwin left. Levi lowered himself slowly to Erwin, he was breathing heavily. I stood guard, my back turned to the two men. Levi had made his decision, he was right...we needed our Commander. I heard a commotion and turned my head, Erwin somehow had the strength to move his arm and slap Levi's away.
"Commander, what are you doing?" I finally spoke, Levi's eyes were focused on Erwin as his eyes opened. Erwin coughed and gazed over at Levi.
"Don't do it..." Erwin spoke to him. Levi's face dropped, he gripped the needle and let it rest in his lap.
" I forgot about our conversation before hand. Erwin, are you sure?" Levi talked quietly, I barely could make out the conversation. I came closer to the two men and lowered myself to Erwin's other side. I started to piece together what was happening, this was Erwin's decision all along. He wanted to die in battle. Erwin was able to nod to Levi before he glanced over at me finally.
"You two need to continue protecting each other. No matter what. You are each others light...you need to continue down that path." Erwin spoke to me, my head shot up and I felt tears start to form again. I nodded at his request, Levi's eye shifted to me and I sighed.
"Thank You Sir, for bringing two friends back together." I said to Erwin, who gave me a soft smile before glancing over at Levi.
"Thank You Sir...for bringing her back to me..."Levi spoke to him, Erwin took his last breath and went quiet. Levi bowed his head, glancing down at the needle in his lap.
"Mai...I need you to leave the area." Levi told me, my eyes shot back to him. I frowned and was confused. There was no way in hell I was leaving his side right now.
"Levi-" I went to speak. I stopped when he rose his head and I looked into his eyes. He was worried again, gripping the needle tight.
"I can't have you mistaken for Bertolt...Armin will need to eat him to gain the powers of the Colossal. I need you safe and sound. Please listen to me My Love." He said to me, I felt my heart skip a beat at his nickname for me. I swallowed hard before slowly rising, he turned his head to Armin and rose. I turned my back and started to make my way to the edge of the building.
"You better be safe Levi...come back to me." I replied to him, turning my head so I could see him. His eyes locked with mine and he nodded.
"I will never leave your side Mai, you of all people know I can't." Levi told me before turning on his heel, heading to Armin. I shot my head back to my heading and launched a wire, and obeyed my Captain's orders and left the area.

I landed next to Jean, turning just in enough time to start hearing the roaring of Armin's Pure Titan, I could smell him and covered my nose. Mikasa ran over to me and snaked my jacket giving my a rough shake. Eren ran to her side, trying to stop her.
"How could you?!" She spat in my face, I gripped her arms and sighed as she gave me another shake.
"Mikasa! Let her go!" Jean shouted, Mikasa gave me another rough shake before I snapped. I took her arm, and swung her over my small body. She landed in a dust pile and winced at she hit it hard. I let her arm go and backed away, the roaring from the Pure Titan stopped and I could smell a new smell, it was like burning leaves. Armin must have completed his task to gain Bertolt's power. Mikasa had risen from my recent assault before grasping my jacket again.
"Let me go! He chose Armin!" I screamed at her, I was finished with fighting with this girl. Her sudden anger dropped, she was in relief. She let me go and dropped to her knees.
"If you wait here, I will go and see what's going on." I spoke to the group. They all nodded at me and I turned on my heel and stopped.
"Jean." I spoke to the tall man, his train of thought was interrupted.
"Huh?" He asked me, scratching his bloody chin.
"Give me your water bottle, and grab me that cloth from the med kit over there." I ordered. He immediately followed my instruction, I watched as he grabbed what I needed. Hange was being treated by a on site doctor. She was missing her left eye. Jean returned to my side and handed me the water bottle and cloth.
"What do you need this for?" Jean asked me, I sighed and ignored his question.
"When I whistle, bring Eren and Mikasa. We might need help with Armin." I ordered him, he nodded and I left the area. I was getting tired of this back and forth shit.

I landed in a heap next to a window slate. I walked around the corner of it, Levi kneeling down next to Erwin's body. Didn't seem to hear me land, or if he did he didn't look at me. I noticed the Pure Titan bubbling nearby, Armin was resting inside. I sighed and slowly walked over to Levi. His tired eyes were stuck on Erwin's corpse. I lowered myself down, and poured some of the water into the cloth.
"Coast clear?" I tried to get his attention. His blue eyes drifted to the Titan, and he nodded. I went to go and give the signal and he grabbed my hand, I have given this signal before. He seemed unsure of himself as he glanced over at Erwin's body again.
"Did I make the right decision Mai?" Levi asked me quietly. He looked like he was going through a whirlwind of emotions. I shuffled my body closer to him, bringing the wet cloth to his cheek. I started to clean his face, he remained frozen as I started to clean the Titan blood from his face.
"We both know this was what needed to be done...if was Erwin's wishes...then you followed that order. That's all Erwin wanted." I replied to his question. He grabbed my other hand, and peered up into my eyes. He smiled at me gently, and I returned a smile back.
"How is it, when I need you the most...you just appear?" He asked me, he let my hand go and I continued to clean the blood off his face.
"Like Erwin said, I am your light...you are mine." I spoke to him, his eyes drifted back to me.
"Give them the signal. We still have lots to do." Levi replied to me, I nodded and licked my lips. I forced the air out and let out two loud tweets. Levi cringed at the sound and chuckled.
"What's so funny Captain?" I questioned, ringing out the cloth. I poured some more of the water into it and resumed cleaning Levi's war covered face.
"You need to teach me that some day." He mentioned, relaxing as we heard our squad start to arrive. I watched as Mikasa and Eren pulled a new reborn Armin from the Pure Titan skin. He didn't smell so much like burning leaves anymore. Just leaves. Weird. Levi spoke to me after a while, and his words made me literally want to laugh. He asked me what happened to my hair, it was once at my mid back...now to my shoulders. I smiled and ignored as I resumed cleaning him up.