Meeting the Higher-ups

Chapter 17 ~ Decisions

I entered my house in a hurry to talk to Jake. I walked through the kitchen and foyer and into the living room. I found all five of them there, carrying on a conversation.

"Hey, Emma..." Hanji said, seeing that I looked a little... uncomfortable.

I didn't mean to be rude, but I just wanted to talk to Jake about it all. I nodded to him and we left to go to my room. I shut the door.

"So what's this all about?" Jake asked, a bit concerned.

"I found out." I managed to get out, looking down at the floor.

"Found out what?" Jake asked.

"I found out how they got here." Jake's breath hitched.

"Y-you did?" He asked. I nodded. "How?"

We sat down on my bed and I explained everything to him, from the strange man to what we did to bring them here.

"That's so odd..." Jake commented. "Who was he and how does he know?"

"I don't know." I answered. "I asked him but he kept saying 'it wasn't important'."

"That's so weird..." He commented.

"Yeah..." I replied. We were silent for a few seconds before Jake spoke up.

"So what are we going to do? Wait until the next full moon?" Jake asked.

"If it's okay, I'd like to wait until the next, next full moon." I said. "I'm just not... ready for them to leave yet." I almost started tearing up again. Jake leaned in to hug me and I snuggled into it. Being best childhood friends, his embraces always made me feel better. They always gave me comfort and assured me that everything was going to be alright. "So how are we going to tell them?" I asked.

"We'll just have to tell them straight up." Jake said.

"Well let's go get it over with." I said and we walked out of my room and into the living room.

They were all quietly talking amongst themselves. "Hey, Emma! Are you okay?" Hanji asked, obviously concerned. I smiled a small smile.

"I'm okay, but there's something we need to talk about."

"Okay, what is it?" She asked. I took a seat in one of the chairs. I took a quick look at all of their faces, my eyes lingering a second longer on Levi's. I looked back down to the floor.

"We... we found a way to get you guys back." I said softly. It was quiet in the room. I looked up at everyone's faces. They looked shocked but also sad.

"You... you did?" Hanji asked.

"Yeah..." I explained everything to them and our decision for when they would go back. They still seemed shocked but understood.

"So... we're really going back?" Hanji asked sadly.

"I would love for you guys to stay... but your world needs you. All of you."

"We're sorry, Emma... We never meant to hurt you." Erwin said, seeming considerate but yet guilty but I knew that there was no reason for him to be.

"It's okay. None of us could have knowingly controlled you guys coming here. If anything, it's my fault." I said and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Levi asked.

"To my room. I'll see you guys later." I told them.

"I'll come get you when dinner's ready." Jake said. I only nodded in response and walked back into my room.

I laid on my bed just thinking like I did earlier. They're really about to leave... Would it have been better if they had never came at all in the first place...?

I felt a couple lone tears run down my cheeks. I clutched my pillow tighter and closed my eyes. Erwin... Hanji... Mike... and... Levi... Why...?

Time skip

I woke up to the sound of knocking. Huh? I looked around me. I guess I must have fallen asleep.

There was another knock. "Coming." I softly called. I opened the door and found Levi on the other side, holding a plate of dinner.

"Hey..." He said softly.

"Hey..." I replied.

"I brought you dinner, can I come in?" He asked rather considerately.

"Sure." I responded and let him in. We sat on my bed and I ate the dinner he brought me.

"So... we're really going back?" He asked.

"You have to."

"I know." A moment of silence followed.

"What about... us?" He asked.

"I don't know..." I responded. Another moment of silence followed. Everything came rushing back to me all at once. Levi took note of my starting to sniffle.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked, moving to look into my downcast eyes.

"I'm sorry... this is all my fault." I said, now crying.

"Hey, it's okay. It's not your fault. You couldn't have known." He tried to assure me.

"I just... I don't want you guys to leave... I don't want you to leave..." I choked out.

"Hey, it's okay." Levi comforted me, pulling me into an embrace. I cried for a few minutes while he rubbed my back gently and told me that everything was going to be alright. "We'll figure something out." He said. "And if we can't, let's just enjoy the time that we have left together. Okay?"

"Okay." I nodded and gave a small smile. "I love you, Levi."

"I love you, too, Emma." He replied and we both simultaneously leaned in for a kiss.

It was a very loving, warm kiss. One conveying how we felt about each other.

Even if we're separated, my heart will always belong to him.

Levi's POV

Even if we're separated, my heart will always belong to her.