Almost Want To Love You {Attack on Titan Fanfiction}

Chapter Nine

    Hanji urged her horse faster. The memory of Levi falling out of view played through her mind on loop. She had to make it back to the wall, or else she'd never be able to send the captain help. If he were even alive.

    On her ride, Hanji had only seen a couple titans—both of which she'd carefully avoided. It would take her longer with the detours she'd made. It was worth it, though, since running into a titan would mean the end for her. She only hoped that doing the smart thing wouldn't take so long that Levi would run out of his own strength.

    Her mind told her that it was a pointless fight. There was no way that Levi could still be alive out there. His 3DMG was most likely broken after it had been hit, he had no horse, and he'd been surrounded by titans the last she'd seen. No one could survive that. But her heart told her that he was alive, as irrational as it was. Trusting her heart was the most she could do to keep from breaking.

    The open plains she rode across were both a good and a bad sign. Bad because titans could easily see her, and good because it meant she was close to the walls. Hopefully there was only a mile or so left. Once she was close enough, she could fire a flare. The moment she was behind Wall Maria, she would ask the others for help.

    She prodded Levi's horse to go faster. "I know you've been running a while," she comforted, "but don't worry, we'll be there soon. Just a little further."

    From the corner of her eye, Hanji noticed a titan. It was to her left, probably thirty yards away. She hoped it wouldn't notice her, but fate had other plans. The titan—a thirteen-meter by the looks of it—began to run toward her. She spurred her steed. With the walls this close, she couldn't afford to die!

    The titan behind her began to catch up. To her right, she noticed two more. A few more were near the far walls. The brunette checked her 3DMG. Levi had taken all the gas she'd had left, since he'd used the rest of his the night prior. If something were to happen to her horse, that'd be it for her.

    She could distantly see Wall Maria. "I can make it," she reassured herself aloud. Hearing her own voice drowned out the negative thoughts running rampant in her mind. "I can make it back to safety!"

    Once she got close enough to the wall to see dots of people on top, Hanji loaded her signal gun. She fired the one of her flares. Red smoke rose in the air. At this range, someone had to notice it.

    "Yeah!" Hanji yelled, glancing at the titan behind her. "In your face, titan scum! Woo-hoo!" She would make it home now. And Levi...he would have to, as well. He had to be alive. If she were the only one who made it back, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.

    If she could make it home, then there'd be hope for Levi. It didn't matter how impossible the situation seemed. Years ago, he was the only one of his friends to live. Isabel and Farlan had been promising soldiers, but Hanji could tell—she had from the start—that Levi was something different. His speed was unheard of, along with his odd way of holding blades. Not to mention he'd taught himself how to use 3DMG. A smile crept onto her face. Yes, if anyone were sure to live, it was Captain Levi Ackerman.

    A green flare fired from the wall top—a response. Though this filled her with relief, her excitement was dashed as she realized that the titan behind her and two to her right were keeping up with her. The ominous pounding made her chest tighten. She still had a way to go. Hopefully, she could make it behind Wall Maria before the monsters caught up.

    The gate at the wall opened, releasing two dozen soldiers from the Scouting Legion. At the front, leading his men to her aid, was Erwin. Joy raced through Hanji's veins.