Titans Rule, a Levi Ackerman x Fem OC story.

(54) Alive.

~Levi~

Pain enveloped Levi completely, numbing him to everything else. Surrounding him was an expansive darkness that made it feel as if he could wander indefinitely without finding an end. As he struggled to navigate this directionless void, a familiar voice echoed through his mind.

"Levi... the pursuers are all gone." The voice let out an exasperated sigh, and as they continued speaking, the darkness started to fade. "You Ackerman's and your goddamn resilience. It's the only reason that you weren't turned into a Titan, nor could you let yourself be killed by a fucking thunder spear, isn't it?" The voice complained as they stitched the broken skin on Levi's face back together. The discomfort only compounded the internal suffering he was already experiencing.

A thousand memories flashed behind Levi's eyes as he regained his sense of self. Despite the darkness subsiding, Levi was still trapped inside his body and clawing beneath his skin's surface to find a way out.

Eventually, the needle halted, and the pressure of the body hovering over him ceased. By now, Levi had recovered enough of his memories to recognise Hange's voice. "It's quite the shoddy job, but without Amelia, it's the best I can do."

There was a break in Hange's voice that Levi didn't like. He couldn't quite figure out why until he replayed Hange's words.

Amelia, Amelia, Amelia.

All at once, Levi was brought back to the feeling of tears descending onto his face, an embrace, words he had longed to hear, the explosion, and fingers clutching at his side before they vanished.

How could Levi have made such a grave mistake? Amelia had warned him that using the thunder spear was a foolish idea, but his resentment towards Zeke had blinded him, leading him to make some horrendous decisions. Now, Ameli, the first and only woman he had ever loved, was gone, and it was all because of him. How was he supposed to face Hange or Furlan when he woke up, if he woke up? How would he face himself?

"What happened on that wagon, Levi? What happened to Amelia?" Levi heard the shuffling of Hange's hands rubbing against their face. "I'm so done with it, with everything. I'd rather the two of us just live here and try to go on without her."

Grass twisted beneath Hange's feet as they pushed themselves up onto their feet. Without Hange's presence by his side, Levi disappeared into the void again. This time, however, he didn't lose himself.

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With a brutal determination, a bright light pierced Levi's vision. It cracked and flickered through the expansive twilight that had enveloped his body, and finally, Levi was free.

Upon waking, a black sky greeted him, and for a moment, Levi thought he was still stuck in that dreadful place. Nevertheless, as a breeze bristled the leaves in the trees above and the glow from the fire flickered in the corner of his eye, Levi knew that he was back.

"Levi!" A shriek assaulted Levi's ears. With great effort, Levi pushed on his elbows and brought his lead-like body up to a seated position.

"Where is she..." Levi croaked, his voice muffled in the bandages covering most of his face.

The mallet Hange was holding clunked to the floor as they rushed over to Levi's side. "Lie back down," Hange insisted as they grabbed Levi by the shoulders and gently forced him back down. "You tell me. Just what happened back there?"

"I screwed up. I didn't expect that Zeke was prepared to die...." Darkness overtook Levi's features. "Amelia was right..." A dry wheeze rattled in Levi's throat, somewhat resembling a laugh.