Outside the Walls (Attack on Titan fanfiction)

Chapter 7- Escape?

Ayano's POV

Just before her teeth could tear her flesh, scouts rushed to Ayano, immobilising her. They grabbed her arms and gagged her mouth with a rag. She struggled against them, but the many pairs of hands held her tightly.

"Please, don't fight," Armin whispered to Ayano. She still tried to jerk free, but with less force as her head drooped.

A sudden kick to the side of her head made Ayano see stars.

"I'm tired of your attitude," Levi's harsh voice said. Another kick landed on her stomach. "Your actions up until now have all gotten me a migraine."

"Scouts, let's move back to HQ." Erwin's strong voice commanded the scouts. The cadets dropped Ayano's now weak body and she went limp. Levi picked her up by her hair, looking into her blank eyes. Her tears had dried, but her eyes were still glassy.

"Why do you have to be so stupid?" he murmured, pulling the gag out of her mouth.

"It's... all coming back," her voice squeaked. Levi's eyes grew wider.

"The memories?" he urged on.

"I don't want to remember." Ayano whimpered.

"Unfortunately, you'll have to. We need to find out what the hell happened with you." He placed the rag back into Ayano's mouth and took the shackles handed to him. "You were on a one day streak without shackles, and now you're back in them again." Captain Levi shook his head. Swinging Ayano over his shoulder, the Corporal used his gear to wizz back to HQ.

***
Levi'd POV

First she mentioned 'Spots', then 'Cole'. Those two titans that she killed in the battle must have been them. It's the only way it would trigger her memories.

Levi was deep in thought as he silently watched Ayano sleep inside her cell.

"Stalker, much?" Hanji whispered as she entered with two cups of coffee.

"Shut up. I'm thinking," he snapped back as he sipped his drink. Just when the brunette wanted to reply, Ayano stirred.

"Humans... are not food..." she mumbled to her dreams. Hanji and Levi listened intently, Hanji taking notes. "We're... not the titans from... Forest of Giant trees." The Captain's eyes widened. How does she know about that place?

Ayano rolled over. "At least... you're not..." Levi looked at Hanji, who was scribbling furiously.

"I think that if we get enough information," she said after a while. "We might be able to put all of this into chronological order." Levi opened his mouth to question some of her notes, until Ayano started softly humming.

Both stared in awed horror as she hummed in her sleep a tune too familiar to both of them.

"Don't tell me that's... her lullaby?" Hanji whispered. But it was exactly that.

"Mavis," Levi breathed.

***

Seven years earlier

"Oh~! You're tuff, I admit!" The woman rubbed her backside, slowly getting up. "How can a youngster beat me? Man, I must be getting old." The woman with her shortly cut hair laughed.

It always sounded like a beautiful song.

"You're not that old..." Levi said. "You're only forty." Mavis crackled. She started to act just like Hanji.

"You're not that young anymore yourself, Shorty!" The woman ruffled Levi's hair. Now she was definitely acting like Hanji.

"Don't touch me." He growled.

"Aaw common! You know I always keep my hands clean!" Mavis poked his cheek.

"It's true!" Günther shouted from the sidelines. "She washes her hands like, five times a day!" The other Squad members laughed.

"I'm not old." Levi took his stance again. "I'm only twenty five." Mavis came at him again, but he flipped her over easily. She groaned as he helped her up again. She winked at him.

"Almost!" Mavis stretched, her silver white hair swishing about. "I bet my daughter would be able to take you on." She pondered for a moment and giggled. "She may even be a stalemate for you! Ya know, she's not that much younger than you, and she's quite the looker~!" Mavis poked Levi again on the chest. He just rolled his eyes.

"Tch. I'm not interested right now." He said blankly- as always. Mavis crooned at this.

"Oh~? I think that she'd be perfect for you! She's a real fighter, just like you! She can be a bit shy, but she's quite bubbly, unlike a certain someone I know..."

The squad burst out laughing as they headed inside. All took their seat, devouring their dinner.

Levi watched Mavis as she munched on some potatoes. She caught him staring and smiled down at him.

"You know..." she said quietly so only Levi could hear her. "I've been... feeling as though I could call you my friend, Heichou..." she looked at him with her crystal blue eyes. "Like a... son." Levi's heart contracted.

Is this what I've been feeling, then? He looked away, and Mavis saw his ears redden.

"S-shut up..." The Corporal playfully pinched Mavis. He looked back at her to see her beaming smile, and everyone listened as she started humming.

"Mavis-san, what a beautiful song!" Petra exclaimed.

"Thank you! I often like to sing it to my daughter. She's even added words to them recently."

"What are they?" Hanji asked. Mavis beamed at them.

"You'll have to ask her to sing it to you once you see her- I'm afraid I sound like a dying bird when I sing. Aya, on the other hand..." Mavis crooned at the memory. "She's like an angel."

~Present~

"That's why... we never recognised her name." Hanji whispered as the melody continued. "Mavis always called her Aya."

"Now that I think about it, Ayano looks exactly the same as Mavis. It just never clicked because Mavis always smiled." The Captain added.

"I wonder... did her mother know about her titan ability?" Hanji pondered. Both of the squad leaders yawned, then bid their farewells as they called it a night.

This kid is... perplexing, Hanji thought, removing her glasses. Oooh, I can't wait to find out more!

***

Author's note: And I'm sure that our readers can't wait either, Hanji ;) Oooh~! Plot twist, much? I hope you've enjoyed the chapter and story so far, as always, thanks again for your reads and input ^3^