Almost Want To Love You {Attack on Titan Fanfiction}

Chapter Eight

    One set of blades. That was all Levi had left. And with less than a third tank of gas left, and Hanji gone, he was only buying time until his death. Not only that, but he'd had to balance himself using one cord since the other had been ripped out.

    This was, by far, the most dangerous mission he'd been on.

    He'd thankfully managed to evade the three titans that had been near him—killing one—but now he was using the cover of the trees to hide himself from titan view. He checked his surroundings. Two titans behind him—a ten- and thirteen-meter—another about fifteen yards to his left, and two more twenty-five yards to his right.

    This couldn't be easy in any form of the word. Even if he could kill all the titans around him, he would have to use up nearly all his 3DMG's gas and blades to do so. Which was why he couldn't use them. Not unless it was absolutely necessary.

    Thankfully, they hadn't spotted him yet, though they knew his general location. He'd managed to shoot ahead of them and, after he'd gotten far enough, he simply ran. But if another titan came along and spotted him, they'd all know where he was.

    How far was it to Wall Maria? Surely it couldn't be that much farther. He and Hanji had made it within a good range. Of course, he didn't have a horse or his right 3DMG cord now, which would mean getting there would take longer. But he was close. That was all he could allow himself to focus on.

    Levi's stomach rumbled, but he ignored it. He had to survive if he planned on eating again. But, as determined as he was, he couldn't go on forever in his condition. Soon he would be worn out, and he doubted his 3DMG had enough gas for the ground he'd have to cover to get to Wall Maria. Deciding to save what little strength he had, he slowed. Not by much, he couldn't afford that, but enough for his breathing to catch up with him. He was beginning to feel grateful for all the times Kenny chased him around. At least that had taught him how to manage his stamina.

    Levi noticed a slow eight-meter titan not far in front of him. Since its head was below the tree-tops, it was sure to see him. But its lack of height also made it easier for him to kill it without the others noticing.

    He grappled to a tree beside it—using as little gas as possible—and spun as his blades went into its neck. As it neared the forest floor, he leapt from it. Then he kept going.

    Just a few more miles. Just a few more until he was behind the walls. That was, of course, assuming his calculations were right. It could be more like five miles if he'd guessed wrong. Could he make it that far?

    His one consolation was that Hanji would be safe. She'd done as he'd told her to do. Though he wouldn't even acknowledge it to himself, that was all he cared about. If she were safe, he could die happy. Or rather, not so pointlessly. Then again, she had a single blade Levi had left her to defend herself with. If a titan had found her, her inability to walk would lead to her demise.

    Four Eyes had better not die on him. She wouldn't dare.

    Levi's heart was racing. He struggled to keep his breathing at an even pace. His throat burned with thirst. As he jumped over a fallen tree, his foot twisted when he landed. A surge of pain shot through his leg, but he ran it off. He couldn't let that slow him.

    His eyes darted in the direction of a large thump near him. A fifteen-meter on his right had noticed him. How it hadn't spotted Levi before, though, was still a mystery. Not that he was complaining.

    With balance put off from the single cord he was left with, the captain shot to the titan's arm. It swatted at him, but he ducked. He couldn't afford hitting it more times than necessary, nor could he afford using more gasoline.

    It grabbed at him again. Like before, he dodged it. Levi ran up its arm and, in one swift motion, he cut into the nape of the titan's neck. It fell with a crash. This one would probably be seen by the others, meaning his position was given away.

   He couldn't have expected his secrecy to last much longer. With his luck, his distance calculations were completely off, and it'd take even longer for him to reach Wall Maria. Amid his negative thoughts, he could practically hear Hanji saying, "Stop being such a pessimist, Levi. It's bad for your health, and I need you in prime condition to experiment on you." Then she'd give him that crazed grin.

    Levi wanted to see her smile again. Unfortunately, he doubted he would. Chances were, he wouldn't be able to run across all the ground he'd have to cover. Not to mention the titans were bound to notice him now. He didn't have nearly enough gas or blades for his 3DMG, and—worst of all—he was almost out of the forest. From there, he'd be completely visible to the titans.