𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 || 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑𝟗 : 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐞?

Levi locked the front door of his secret cabin, the sound of the deadbolt clicking into place echoed through the stillness of the forest. The cabin, nestled deep in the woods, was a sanctuary, a place where Levi could escape the chaos of the city and find solace in the silence.

The trees, towering above the house, cast long, ominous shadows on the ground, as if guarding the secrets that lay within. The air was crisp and clean, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth. A faint mist hung low over the forest floor, veiling the underbrush in a mysterious, ethereal haze.

Levi took a deep breath, feeling the cool, damp air fill his lungs. He closed his eyes, letting the peacefulness of the forest wash over him. For a moment, he forgot about the world beyond the trees, forgot about the dangers and the responsibilities that weighed on him.

As he opened his eyes, Levi's gaze fell on his car, parked a short distance from the cabin. The vehicle, a sleek and powerful machine, seemed out of place in the midst of the forest, a reminder of the world that lay beyond the trees.

Levi walked towards the car, his footsteps quiet on the soft earth. He reached out, running his hand over the hood, feeling the cool metal beneath his fingers.

And then, with a quiet resolve, Levi opened the door and slid into the driver's seat. His hand instinctively reached for the phone nestled in the passenger seat of his car. The screen flickered to life, casting a pale blue glow over his face. Levi's eyes scanned the screen, and his expression darkened as he took in the sheer number of missed calls and messages.

The name "(y/n)" dominated the screen, numerous calls and messages, each one a testament to her frantic attempts to reach him. But she wasn't the only one; Levi's eyes widened as he saw the names "Four Eyes", "Erwin", and "Yeager" scattered throughout the list, each one a reminder of the responsibilities and obligations he had left behind.

Levi let out a deep sigh, the sound heavy with regret and frustration. He knew that disappearing without a word wasn't right, that it was selfish and irresponsible.

He sat there, staring at the phone's screen, Levi felt a discomfort of guilt and anxiety. He knew he couldn't avoid his responsibilities forever, that he would have to face the consequences of his actions eventually. But for now, he just sat there, frozen in indecision, as the silence of the car seemed to press in around him.

Instead of calling (y/n) directly, Levi's fingers hovered over the screen before ultimately deciding to call Hange instead. He knew that Hange was close to (y/n), and he hoped that she might be able to provide him with some information about (y/n)'s well-being.

The phone rang, Levi's anxiety grew. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew that Hange's reaction would be a good indicator of the situation. After a few rings, Hange finally picked up, her voice low and even.

"Where the fuck were you?" she asked, her tone bitter and laced with a hint of anger. Levi was taken aback - Hange usually yelled and screamed when she was bitter, but this time she seemed subdued, as if she was holding back her emotions.

Levi's instincts told him that something was wrong. "Hange, what's going on? Is everything okay?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

But Hange didn't respond. Instead, she said, "Come home as soon as possible," her voice firm and urgent. And with that, she hung up, leaving Levi staring at his phone in confusion and concern.

Levi navigated the winding roads that led back to the city, his mind began to wander, drifting back to the reason why he had needed space in the first place. The memory of Toji's confession, of his bold declaration of love for (y/n), still lingered in Levi's mind like an open wound.

Levi's eyes narrowed as he recalled the way Toji had asked (y/n) to leave him, to abandon their relationship and start anew with him instead. It was a brazen move, one that had left Levi feeling unsettled and unsure.

Levi knew that he wasn't a jealous person by nature, but the thought of her with Toji, fear that she might choose him over Levi, had awakened a deep-seated fear within him.

It wasn't that Levi didn't trust her - he did, implicitly. But it was the fear of losing her, of being replaced by someone else, that had made him feel jealous and angry. Levi's pride had been wounded, and he had needed space to process his emotions, to try and make sense of the tangled web of feelings that had ensnared him.

Soon, Levi pulled into the driveway of his estate, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. The air seemed to vibrate with a strange, depressing aura, as if something destructive had occurred while he was away.

Levi parked the car and stepped out into the chill of the evening air. He walked towards the front door, his footsteps echoing off the stone façade of the estate. As he pushed open the door and stepped inside, he was met with a sight that made his heart sink.

Hange was sitting on the couch, her face a picture of misery. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her skin was pale and drawn. She looked like she had been crying for hours, and Levi's instincts told him that something was very wrong.

Erwin was standing by the window, his expression stone cold. His eyes were fixed at some point outside, and his jaw was clenched in a tight, angry line. Levi had never seen Erwin look so grim, and it sent a shiver down his spine.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy with tension, and Levi could feel the weight of it bearing down on him. Something had happened while he was away, something that had left his friends reeling. Levi's mind was racing with questions, but before he could ask any of them, Hange looked up and met his eyes.

"Levi," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We've been trying to reach you. Where the fuck were you?"

Levi's eyes narrowed as he demanded to know what had happened. "What happened?" he asked, his voice low and urgent. "Where is she?" He took a step forward, his eyes scanning the room as if expecting to see (y/n) hiding in a corner.

Hange scoffed, her expression bitter. "Now he asks about her," she muttered, her voice dripping with resentment. Erwin placed a calming hand on her shoulder, his eyes warning her to keep her emotions in check.

"Take him to (y/n)," Erwin said, his voice firm but controlled. Levi's eyes flicked to Erwin, then back to Hange, who was already grabbing her car keys.

"Follow me," Hange said, her voice curt as she headed towards the door. Levi's eyes never left her back as he followed her out of the estate, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

They walked towards Hange's car, Levi's anxiety grew. What had happened to (y/n)? Why was Hange being so secretive? He quickened his pace, his long strides eating up the distance between him and Hange's car.

"Where is she?" Levi demanded again, his voice rising as he reached the car. Hange's expression was grim as she unlocked the door and slid into the driver's seat.

"Just get in," she said, her voice firm. "I'll take you to her."