Birdie (Levi x OC)

twenty-eight

I kept my gaze fixed on Levi and the others until they vanished into the cavern's depths, Levi's retreating back the last to disappear.

The instant they were out of sight, my attention snapped to Hange, who lay groaning, still unconscious. "Shit," I muttered under my breath.

"We've gotta get her out of here," Armin's voice cut through the air, and I whipped my head toward him. Right, Armin was with me. I wasn't alone.

"Together we should be able to lift her," I said, nodding toward Hange. "I'll take one of her arms around my shoulder, and you take the other."

"Got it," he replied, immediately moving into position.

We stumbled, the three of us, as we made our way toward the cavern exit. Just as we reached the stairs, a deep rumble vibrated through the ground, and the sharp crackle of electricity pierced the air.

I slowly met Armin's eyes.

"What is happening?" he asked, fear stark in his expression.

"I don't—"

A deafening crash cut me off, making me duck instinctively.

"What the hell?" I yelled to Armin as the ground shuddered beneath us.

"Birdie, the ceiling is caving in!" Armin screamed.

I looked up, and his words were confirmed by the collapsing rock above. "Oh, God," I whimpered. "The others!"

I looked back the way we had come, about to release Hange.

"No!" Armin screamed, grabbing my forearm as my intent became clear on my face. "I am not letting you go!" he yelled, the sound of crashing rock echoing through the cavern. A large, crystal-like stone plummeted, landing barely a foot away from us.

"But Levi and the others!" I screamed back, struggling to pull my arm from Armin's surprisingly strong grip.

"Trust Captain Levi! Trust them all to find a way!" he yelled over the constant rumble. "And trust me, Birdie. We have to get Hange out of here!"

A pained expression crossed my face as I looked from Armin to Hange. He was right, even if my heart protested. Trust Captain Levi.

I did trust Levi. I trusted him with every fiber of my being.

"Oh God, please be all right," I whispered to myself, glancing back towards the cavern's depths before squeezing my eyes shut. I opened them again, looking at Armin.

"Okay," I nodded, making my decision. "Let's go." I readjusted Hange, and we ran up the stairs and out the exit. We made it above ground just as we heard the sounds of the cave collapsing in on itself, our exit sealing shut with rocks and crystal.

"Oh my God," I whispered, watching the last of the rock tumble into the cavern. I let go of Hange and ran out of the chapel entrance just in time to see the ground across the field rupture, right where the underground cavern connected.

I sprinted toward the field, my breath quickening as I started to hyperventilate. Levi. Oh god...the kids.

Just as I reached the edge of the field, the ground rumbled again. A giant, grotesque titan, unlike anything I'd ever seen, began to claw its way out of the earth, causing even more destruction.

I stumbled back, landing hard on my ass. Armin joined me, Hange now conscious but leaning heavily on Armin's side.

The three of us watched in horror as the titan crawled on its belly away from the Chapel.

Hange winced, gripping her still-bleeding shoulder. "That thing's as big as the bloody Survey Corps Headquarters."

"It's bigger than the Colossal Titan," Armin replied, almost in awe. "Probably twice the size."