Beyond These Walls (Levi x Reader)

My First Expedition

Your P.O.V

It is an early autumn morning. I march outside and the smell of dew and rainfall circles the air. A slight breeze nips at my exposed skin. Today is the first expedition I will be attending and I want to be as prepared as I can. I search the area around me but it is vacant of cadets. I make my way to the horse stable, where I spot Hanji preparing her survey equipment. "I guess you take every opportunity you can to study the titan's!" I joke casually. Her intense stare catches me off guard and she launches into a tangent about her undying devotion to communicating with the titans. I become lost in thought and interrupt her mid speech. "I wonder which squad I will be joining? I still haven't been briefed for the expedition today." Hanji looks at me with misunderstanding.

"Erwin hasn't told you? You have been placed in the Special Operations Unit. Welcome to the team!" She exults and wraps me in a warm embrace. As she lets go I stare at her in amazement. "Actually, rumor has it that Levi demanded Erwin to place you under his command. Looks like the Corporal's taken quite the liking to you." She ensues and I blush lightly at her careless remarks. Shortly after, Commander Erwin approaches with the rest of Special Operations in tow. I salute him with his arrival.

"At ease, soldier. Cadet (l/n), you will be performing survey duty with the Special Operations team. It will be your mission to follow along the top of Wall Maria to the opening in the Shiganshina district. There you will look for any sort of suitable debris or viable option to seal the breech. The rest of the team will distract the titans and defend your position. Understood." Erwin speaks with undisturbed professionalism and I ponder his words for a brief moment. My heart filled with confliction.

"With all do respect, Sir, I would rather be fighting alongside my comrades. I refuse to sit back and watch as my friends are pushed into the face of danger. Please reconsider my role in this expedition." I demand with slight hesitation in my voice. I wince waiting for Erwin's reply. Levi grits his teeth and scowls at me.

"Cadet (l/n), my orders are clear. Though, if you choose to disobey, at the time of battle I will be unable to stop you. If you return to us alive, I will have you bear the consequences of your disobedience." Erwin states curtly with an amused smile. Levi refuses to look me in the eye and walks away in anger. Hanji takes me by the shoulder and leads me to where my bike has been stored.

"I didn't imagine you would be inclined to ride a real steed, so I made sure yours was taken care of properly." I stare up at her with approving eyes and give her a quick hug before joining the troops.

I follow quite a distance behind the formation, considering I was not drawn in for this plan of attack. The gate lifts and the light from the outside world comes pouring in. Within a seconds notice, we are galloping off into the confines of Wall Maria. The scouts move crisply, cutting through the clean air. At first, the titans are sparse and we encounter few. But, as the day progresses we are swamped by continuous streams of titan attacks. Eventually, hysteria breaks loose as the number of titans pressing against our defenses overwhelms us. I make my way to a higher vantage point where I can see the entirety of the surrounding landscape. I listen intently for the sounds of screams. In my peripheral I spot a titan closing in on a Cadet from Squad 17. I break into a sprint and release my grapples, sending me flying forward. I swing from building to building until I approach the titan's position. I see the monstrous hand encase the young cadet and bring him towards his mouth. I leap forward, anchoring into the building to the back left of the titans left lobe. He swings and I anchor right, using his hand to increase my momentum. Then, I fall directly over the titan's neck, slashing a discrete 'x' pattern as I land. The titan's hand loosens and the Cadet manages to escape from its grasp. He approaches me in a tear stained hug. I look to his face and see that he's the Cadet from last night's dinner incident. I gently push him away and resume my perch atop a building.

I spot Armin on top of a church 130 feet away and fly to his location. I startle him as I land. "The squads have been swarmed and we are starting to fall back towards the gate." He shakes intensely.

"Well it looks like we need a plan then. Think you could come up with a way to lure all of the titans towards that square?" I give him an encouraging nudge on the shoulder and he smiles back at me with confidence. He nods and speeds off to follow through with the plan. I stare up at the sun, shielding my eyes so that I am able to see. This is it... Here goes nothing. I am determined to bring everyone home alive.

Levi's P.O.V

We are fast approaching the hole in Wall Maria, but I am unable to concentrate, my thoughts focused on Cadet (l/n). Her rash behavior this morning has lead to her involvement on the front lines and I can't help but worry. Erwin did naught to stop her from disregarding the formation. Suddenly, I hear a chuckle come from Hanji as she halts, staring out towards the landscape. I walk up beside her and stare out, curious as to her jubilant state. Then I see it, a valiant figure standing atop a distant building. "Is that Cadet (l/n)?" I question in disbelief, but Hanji just stands and watches intently. Her cape flows like a river in the wind. Her physique screams bravery and valor. Everything about her is captivatingly beautiful. I just snicker to myself, but my amusement is halted. A group of 10 cadets fly directly towards her from different directions, a titan following closely behind each one of them. They enter the building through different windows and, upon their arrival, Cadet (l/n) departs. The mass of titans follows behind her. Does she plan to take them all on at once? An unknown feeling erupts from the bottom of my stomach. Before I can compute the situation, I am bursting forward towards her location. My heart constricted by fear, my expression unwavering.

I land atop the roof of a 3 story building. Armin scrambles to land beside me, his eyes wide and teary with concern. "Corporal, you have to help (f/n)! We were overwhelmed by the number of titans pressing against us so she told me to lure them towards the square. I had no idea that she planned to take them on herself!" I refuse to acknowledge Armin's pleas, my focus glued to Cadet (l/n)'s position. I plant my foot firmly into the ground, preparing to take off. But, I am stopped dead in my place. Cadet (l/n) heads directly towards a dead end. She latches into the wall, drawing herself closer. Then, in a matter of seconds her feet are planted and she extends, back flipping twice before diving into the swarm of titans. She anchors left, running a diagonal towards the first titan, spinning to avoid its grasp. A single slice marks the titan's defeat. She sprints across the ground and grapples right, sliding between the next two titans' legs. She flies into the air and targets their weak spots with deadly precision. They begin to tumble one by one as a flash of black silk and cold steel fly through the air. 10 titans are effortlessly defeated with little restraint. My pupil's dilate with amazement at her graceful form. She is smart, self-aware and powerful. My heart aches with admiration. I leap from the building and land on the ground stoically. I begin to walk towards her.

Your P.O.V

I land in a crouched position, hunched over from exhaustion. Suddenly, the ground shakes beneath me and turn slowly to find 3 titans approaching me from behind. I quickly equip my triggers and furiously activate switches. But, nothing happens. I look to my 3DMG's and witness smoke bellowing from their carburetors. My face contorts with terror, unable to escape my impending doom. I lay in wait of death.

A black shadow appears as a blur in my peripheral. I snap my gaze to the side, just catching a glimpse of the heroic figure. "Corporal..." I mutter to myself, my face igniting with relief. I feel tears brim at the corners of my broken eyes. The Corporal is able to defeat the 3 titans with ease, his movements like a dance of strength and beauty. I watch as his emphatic actions mesmerize me into a trance. He lands beside me and questions me with a cold hard tone. "Do you have a wish to die?" I answer his refute with melancholy.

"I prefer to live my life dangerously instead of tiptoeing with cowardice. I have no fear of loss when I have nothing left to lose." He stares at me with intense judgment. His icy gaze pierces my being. He begins to speak, but the appearance of green smoke in the distance halts our conversation.

"Return to my office once we have been debriefed."