Stars - Levi Ackerman Modern AU (COMPLETE) [#Wattys2018]

"Never Forget"

I awoke to Levi's gray-blue eyes looking straight into mine. I smiled weakly and slowly got out of bed. It's been years since the war has ended. We came out victorious, but that doesn't mean that we got off scot free. I lost many important people in my life. Very important people. They were my family, but now they were nutrients to the soil. I didn't bother to brush my hair or my teeth. Today wasn't a day for that. Levi would probably disapprove, but honestly, nothing really mattered anymore.

"How are you?" Levi asked, worry apparent in his voice, "Do you need anything? Eren will be over today. I know this date has always been hard for you, so I got your cousin here to help."

I shook my head, "I don't need anything, but thank you, Levi. I'll be where I usually am on this day."

Levi grabbed my hand and squeezed it before replying. "Okay. We're here for you. I know that I can't exactly understand what you've been through, but I am always here to help."

I ignored Levi and made my way to the dining room table, two cups of tea already waiting for us.

Levi's POV

I watched as she sat down at one end of the table, slowly taking a sip of her tea. I bit my lip. I wish she would feel better. I wish I could help ease the pain, but I already knew that I couldn't. She was like a piece of broken glass; no matter how hard you try, she just can't fit perfectly back together. Small shards of her were broken off and had gone missing, never to be found again.

I was so deep in thought watching her that I didn't notice Eren until his hand was gripping my shoulder.

"How is she?"

"Same as every year," I replied solemnly, "She's okay any other day but today. It's fine."

"I wish she wouldn't do this," Eren's voice was quiet, "It's been seventeen years since it's happened and she still carries on like this. She needs closure, I just don't know how to help her find it."

I exhaled shakily, "Eren, I don't think it's that big of a problem. It's just how she mourns."

Eren just gazed at her. She was drinking her tea, staring blankly at the wall. The smell of peppermint was wafting through the air. It was strong, suffocating really. She always insisted that this was the kind that she wanted on this date. If any other kind was given to her, she would break down. Her breakdowns were painful to watch, so I always made sure to have the peppermint tea stocked.

"You know," I finally broke the silence, "I can't fathom how you two live on, having lost people so important to you."

Eren looked at me, sadness in his eyes, "Levi, you understand too. McKenzie didn't just lose friends and her husband, but you lost you lost your father as well."

I looked at the end of the table, opposite of where Mom was sitting. It was completely empty except for the cup of now cold tea sitting on top of the table. I felt tears start to well up in my eyes, but I held them back. I didn't have the right to cry, for I didn't know him like she did.

----Flashback in McKenzie's POV----

I came running for Levi, excited. We had won. The Survey Corps had defeated the TITANs due to the information gathered by Eren from his old basement. The TITANs weren't sick, but chose to take the drugs, knowing exactly what they did to them. They wanted it. Hange was able to use the drug to come up with a toxin that would only kill those who had the drug in their bloodstream. Levi, Erwin, Hange, and Eren were the ones to release the gas on the TITAN bases. They were the only ones besides me who were left of the Survey Corps. The others had met tragic ends, but their deaths weren't in vain, for we put an end to all TITAN activity. I didn't get to take part in the gassings due to Eren and Levi being dead set against it because of my... state.