In The Eyes of A Stranger [Levi Ackerman x Reader]

Chapter 9: When Heroes Fall

The Colossal Titan's deafening roar shook the ground beneath your feet, sending shockwaves through the crowd. Panic erupted as people scrambled to comprehend the unimaginable. The walls, humanity's last defense, had been breached. Again.

You stood frozen, your mind reeling. The tranquil landscape transformed into a scene from a nightmare. The once clear sky turned gray, filled with the dust and debris of the crumbling wall.

Mikasa grabbed your arm, her eyes burning with determination. "We need to move, now!"

A soldier shouted, "All hands-on deck! Evacuate the civilians and prepare to engage the Titans!" The order echoed through the chaos, galvanizing the soldiers into action. 

You sprang into motion, joining the frantic efforts to evacuate the area. The sound of screams, shouts, and crumbling walls filled the air. Desperation hung like a palpable fog, clinging to every face.

As you helped guide civilians to safety, Levi's face flashed in your mind. You hoped to survive this nightmare, to see him again. His words echoed in your thoughts: "You'll make a good soldier." Would you survive to prove him right?

Mikasa was torn from your side, summoned to the vanguard. She pleaded you three to stay safe, disappearing into the fray. Her voice was steady, but you saw the hint of fear and concern in her eyes.

You, Eren, and Armin were assigned to a squad, tasked with defending the evacuation routes.

The Titans closed in, their numbers seemingly endless. Your squad fought bravely, but the Titans were relentless. The sound of clashing steel, the scent of blood and sweat, filled the air. You found yourself separated from Eren and Armin, engaging a Titan on the rooftops.

As you struggled to take down the beast, you caught glimpses of your friends in the distance. Eren and Armin were cornered by a smaller Titan.

A scream lodged in your throat as you saw Eren's leg get bitten off as he was flying through the air. He tumbled across the roof, bloodied and incapacitated.

You fought harder, desperate to save your friends. With a final burst of strength, you took down the Titan threatening you and turned to help Eren and Armin. 

But it was too late. A grey-haired, bearded Titan had Armin in its grasp. The Titan's jaws opened wide, ready to swallow him whole.

Eren, despite his mortal wound, summoned every last ounce of strength. With valiant effort, he pulled Armin from the Titan's maw and threw him back onto the building.

Eren's hand reached out, his eyes locking onto Armin's. "Armin listen... we're still going to the outside world. The things you told me about, I have to see them. I have to..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Armin's face contorted in horror as his reached for Eren. But it was too late.

The bearded Titan's jaws closed around Eren, his arm flying off as he was consumed. The sound of crunching bone and tearing flesh echoed through the air.

Your world shattered. You felt like you'd been punched in the gut, unable to breathe.

"No!" you screamed, bewildered and horrified. Armin's eyes widened in shock, his face pale.

"Eren, no!" Armin's voice cracked as he stumbled forward, letting out a gut wrenching scream.

With shaking hands, you activated your ODM gear, propelling yourself toward Armin. Fear and disbelief etched on your face. 

As you closed in, you saw Armin's traumatized expression. He held Eren's severed arm, his eyes vacant.

You landed beside him, your eyes fixed on the horror before you. The bearded Titan stood mere meters away, turning its body and stumbling off. Levi's inspiring words echoed in your mind. But in this moment, all you felt was the weight of loss and the crushing burden of survival.

Two more 15-meter titans began approaching. Rage and pain fueled your actions, overriding fear and despair. You slashed through the two Titans with reckless abandon, Eren's lifeless eyes etched in your mind.

The Titans fell to your blades, their crumbling bodies crashing to the ground. 

But in your fury, you neglected caution. A third Titan seized the wire of your ODM gear, yanking you backward.

Your head struck the rooftop with a sickening crunch, stars exploding in your vision.

As you drifted in and out of consciousness, Levi's face floated before you. His words echoed in your thoughts: "You'll make a good soldier."

But what good was being a soldier if friends like Eren were taken from you?

Armin's panicked voice pierced the haze. "No, no, no! Don't leave me too!"

He grasped your arm, pulling you toward the bulk of the other soldiers, to the evacuation route.

Flashbacks assaulted your mind: your father's determination, his unwavering dedication to humanity's freedom. The memory of the funeral, the weight of grief. 

You struggled to focus, your vision blurring. Armin's face swarmed before you, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Eren... he's gone," he whispered, his voice cracking.

You tried to reach out, to comfort him, but your body wouldn't respond.

The med soldiers rushed to your side, evacuating you with the injured and surviving civilians.

As you lay on the stretcher, the chaos receded, replaced by Levi's stoic expression. You wondered if he'd ever know how much Eren's sacrifice meant.

"Levi..." you whispered, your voice barely audible.

The medic's voice was a distant hum. "Stay with us, cadet. We'll get you to safety."

Your thoughts fragmented, lost in the haze of pain and grief.

Levi's words returned once again, "Be careful while I'm gone."

The darkness closed in, a mixture of exhaustion and heartache.

As you slipped away, you saw your father's smile, Levi's resolute gaze, and Eren's courageous heart.

The evacuation convoy moved through the desolate landscape; the silence heavy with grief.