Let's Start Again

Chapter Three: The Strongest Returns

Levi's POV

Combined, the pills and the water had hit the spot, but if he ever saw that crazy woman again, he would never admit it.

Why did she have to return then? he thought, Humiliating doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right now! I mean, seriously!

"AAAHHH!"

Levi heard the scream the moment he felt the rumble through his feet, and, immediately, he knew. He knew, did but he didn't know what he should do about it. He wasn't about to join those pathetic excuses for human beings. Half of them couldn't fend off a purse thief, let alone a Titan. But he couldn't fight. He'd have a flashback, he just knew it!

I'm not a soldier, anymore. I can't fight, anymore. I can't...

As the floor continued to shake, Levi made his way to the closet in the living room. When he had been discharged from the military, he was allowed to keep his 3DMG as a parting gift. No other soldier could imagine themselves using Captain Levi's equipment to fight; it wouldn't feel right. At first, Levi thought that was foolish. Why waste military weaponry on a man who no longer fought? Now, though, Levi was grateful for the parting gift.

"The gas...where did I put it?"

Levi pulled the 3DMG from the closet and looked in the box it was sitting on top of. There was a small, metal canister inside, saved from the dust and the dirt of the outside world. Levi tossed it in his hands quickly, determined there was enough gas to last him awhile, and filled up the maneuvering gear. Levi was amazed at how quickly he had the straps fixed around his body; he didn't think that he'd remember.

There was no more time to contemplate that, though. The screams outside intensified, so Levi made his way to his front yard and then took off.

Even as everything was falling apart around him, Levi relished in the feeling of flight. The air was cool and biting, but it was amazing. Levi had forgotten what it felt like to be weightless; to jump from building to building. It was exhilarating.

"Move it!"

"But why?"

"TITAN! NOW, MOVE!"

Who was that?

Levi looked down to see Dr. Zoe running with the ever-increasing mob, a dumb smile on her face. He should've been worried about her, but all Levi could think was, she looks like a kid on a field trip. What is wrong with her?

As his grappling hooks slammed into the walls of another building, Levi felt it. The unnatural warmth was familiar; a flashback was begging to reach the surface, but Levi buried it deep as he saw Dr. Zoe fly through the air, her face screaming surprised. When she slammed into the ground, Levi moved unconsciously. His feet hit the ground, and he knelt next to Hanji, whose eyes were half-open.

"Dr. Zoe, stay with me!"

"Mm..."

"Dr. Zoe! HANJI!"

"...Huh ...ugh..."

With a groan, Levi grabbed Hanji and pushed his way through the crowd. When he was close enough to a building, he shot off the ground, Hanji resting on his back. As he was heading to God knows where, Levi felt a tug in his mind. Had he forgotten something? No, but he could hear the Titan behind him. That tug was a desire to slash skin.

I want to kill it, Levi thought, I have to kill it!

Hanji was still on his back, though, and if he just rushed into battle, she probably wouldn't survive. So, without another though, Levi landed again and hid Hanji in the bushes of someone's backyard.