Your Wings - Reader X Levi Ackerman

Chapter 44:The Truth

Your grandmother's trembling hand lowers her cup of tea down, her gaze lowering to the floor. The tension in the room is thick, suffocating, the only sound coming from the crackling fire in the hearth. You keep your eyes locked on her, waiting, watching as she struggles to meet your gaze. Her shoulders are hunched, her hands trembling slightly in her lap. 

You swallow the lump forming in your throat and finally break the silence. "Tell me what you know about the prisoners sent to Paradis and turned into titans." 

Her fingers tighten around the edge of the table, and she mumbles something under her breath, barely audible. "You... you weren't supposed to know that." 

Your patience is wearing thin. The weight of everything you've uncovered presses against your chest, making it hard to breathe. Frustration seeps into your voice as you lean forward. "What do you mean I wasn't supposed to know?" 

She doesn't answer right away. Her lips press into a thin line, and her eyes dart toward the fire as if looking for an escape. You feel your pulse quicken, your frustration boiling over. 

"You had plenty to say this morning," you snap, the disgust in your voice unmistakable. "What happened?" 

She sighs heavily, placing the cup carefully on the small table beside her. The porcelain clinks softly, but in the heavy silence, it sounds deafening. She wipes a hand across her cheek, trying to stop the tears from falling, but they come anyway. "I'm sorry," she whispers. 

Your stomach churns. "Cut the crap, Grandma," you say, your voice sharper than you intended. "Tell me the truth. What's going on?" 

Her chest rises and falls unevenly as she struggles to collect herself. "I wanted to tell you," she says, her voice shaking. "I wanted to for so long, but I couldn't." 

Your eyes narrow, anger flickering beneath the surface. "Why not?" 

She finally meets your gaze, and in her eyes, you see something you've never seen before—fear. Not the usual cautious worry, but deep, genuine fear. "The government," she says, her voice hoarse. "They wouldn't allow it. They made sure I stayed silent... or they'd silence me themselves." 

Your breath catches in your throat. "It was part of the agreement," she continues, her voice barely above a whisper. "They wanted me to bring you in, to make you feel like you belonged here in Marley. If I could convince you to stay, to accept this life... it would make things easier for them. They wouldn't have to keep such a close eye on you, wouldn't have to worry about you trying to escape." 

She pauses, wiping at her face again, and a bitter smile tugs at the corner of her lips. "And in return, I got you back. I got to spend the rest of my days with at least one family member." 

Your throat tightens. "So that was the deal?" you ask, each word dripping with disbelief. "They'd let you have me, and in exchange, they get a powerful titan to fight their wars." 

A sob escapes her lips as she nods. "It killed me every day to keep this from you," she admits. "You deserved to know. After everything they did to you, after they took you away, I wanted to tell you. But I couldn't. I couldn't risk losing you again." 

Your hands curl into fists at your sides. "And what would they have done?" you ask, your voice lower now, almost afraid of the answer. 

She takes a deep breath, as if bracing herself. "They're the reason our family is gone," she says finally, the words heavy with grief. "You know our lineage... our ancestors believed the winged titan's power was meant to protect the world, to prevent war. But before your mother disappeared—before she left—they wanted to prepare her for battle. The government saw conflicts brewing with other countries, and they wanted to use the power to their advantage."