Is This What They Call, Love?

Chapter 19- The Love of Family

Levi's P.O.V.

I couldn't move. It just wasn't possible.

All I could focus on was the imminent danger that Eren was placed in, let alone the one she had already been in.

I couldn't move.

The silver next to her head. The bruises that were already visible and prominent. The look in her eyes that I dreaded. The malicious sneer of that monster.

And I snapped.

Eren's P.O.V.

When I was dragged outside, I was met with the numerous faces of policemen.

The guns, the hidden faces of my friends, and...

Levi?

It all happened so fast.

"Drop the gun now!" a policeman shouted.

All he received was a malicious chuckle. And a curt reply.

"Now, why would I do that?" Grisha said in a rather bored tone. "Ya see, she's my ticket out of here. Ya can't risk this filthy pig's head, now can ya? No, that won't work, I think I'll keep it this way. Much safer, ya know."

I should end this.

I'm tired of him winning.

Why don't I just try to escape? He'd have to shoot me. Then what would be his shield?

I refuse to help him.

I steeled myself to bolt.

And then...

Chaos.

I don't remember what happened.

One minute, I'm tensed and ready to run; the next, I'm on the ground staring up at the two most significant people in my life.

But one had a gun to the other's head.

How did he do that?

Levi's P.O.V.

I was panting. Hard.

All of my nerves had snapped. And now here I was.

How did I get here?

I had a gun pointed to that monster's head.

I was ready.

I was really ready.

To pull that blasted trigger.

But...

"Levi...?"

I remembered. I remembered that day in the hospital. The day Eren came home. Her real home. She came to me. I told her that I would always protect her. I told her she would never have to deal with that again.

No more bruises. No more broken bones. No more tears. No more hospital visits.

No more.

I'll end it here.

Right now.

Except...

"Levi."

I looked down. I looked down at this beautiful, broken angel of mine. That I was so lucky to have. Yes, she was mine. And someone hurt her.

Who did it? Oh, right. The guy I'm pointing a gun at right now.

I'll hurt him. Just like he hurt her.

I need to pull this trigger.

"Levi, stop."

And I'll make sure he'll pay.

"Please."

Then everything shattered.

I blinked a couple times. And I took notice of my surroundings for the first time.

The monster was kneeling down, whimpering in fear. The policemen had shocked looks on their faces, but their guns were steady. My friends, standing solemnly, but with determination in their eyes. And Eren.

She looked the bravest of us all.

With unsteady legs, she heaved herself up and took the couple steps in between us. Without ever looking away, or blinking, she grasped my hand holding the gun and with her other hand the barrel. Slowly, she pried both away. And I could do nothing but stand there in awe as she held my gaze.

When she had the gun, the monster snapped out of it.

Roaring with anger, he surged up, charging at her for one last chance.

Big mistake.

I could feel the bones in his rib cage snap. The howl of pain was piercing in my ears.

And I relished in it.

The policemen rushed forward, handcuffing him and dragging him away, all while he screamed profanities.

Eren calmly handed the gun to a nearby policemen, and promptly collapsed.

But I was there to catch her.

I always would be.