Never Trust Me

Chapter 16

"The expedition starts in one hour! Captains make sure that your squads are well supplied for this trip! We are to exterminate the leftover titans in Wall Maria to recapture the land that rightfully belongs to Humanity!" Hanji shouted, and everyone silently followed their orders, Levi turned to see his squad checking everything. But Crystal wasn't there, instead, she was tending to the horses, especially his, he could tell that she was into animals, especially horses since her eyes glittered every time she saw her horse she named Crystallina.

'based off of her real name. Funny.' Levi walked over to get Shadow and Crystal to explain they would be leaving. Levi felt his stomach turn, but he didn't know why this is the first expedition Crystal would officially be a part of. How will she react to being in Wall Maria again? Will she want to leave him as soon as she feels the fresh air?

"Shadow and the rest of the horses are fully fed. I gave them smaller herbs than their usual food so that their stamina is at the max."

"Thank you, we will all appreciate it."

"No problem, Captain Levi!" Crystal said excitedly, but he couldn't help but wonder why she was so excited, as everyone else dreaded going into Titan territory.

"Are you hopeful for this expedition?"

"With me around, sir, no one in our squad is gonna die!" Crystal said proudly saluting, "I've devoted my heart to the cause!" Levi huffed in annoyance and pulled himself up onto Shadow's back.

"Let's get together with the others, then we're leaving." Conny and Sasha were manning the Cart, Jean and Armin had rearguard. Levi and Crystal were front lines, Eren with Mikasa in the middle on both sides of the cart. Everyone followed Levi and Crystal as they reached the gate, "You guys remember right?"

"Yes."

"Good." Levi looked forward, forcing himself to forget she was next to him, he wanted her to stay and had even begged Hanji to let her stay behind, but she intruded on the room, into the conversation.

----Flashback----

"Hanji," Levi said angrily, as he walked into Hanji's office, and Hanji looked at him in curiosity.

"What is it?"

"I want Crystal to stay here, inside the walls, far away from the Titans."

"Levi, I understand that you have feelings, but you should know better than anyone else, you can't let your emotions get in the way of Humanity's victory," Hanji stated firmly, but she knew that when Levi is protective, he gets that way and stays that way.

"I'll take up double the kills on titans if you let her stay. You know that she and I can compete with our skills, so allow me to take on her job in my squad."

"No Levi. We need her, she navigated Wall Maria for a year and a half, she could know where the Titans are the worst." Hanji started to get louder, and Levi was getting angrier.

"Hanji! Let her stay! We don't need her in the front-lines and we don't need her on the field!"

"Levi..." Crystal spoke up, the voice coming from behind him, and he turned to see her sigh, "I'm going on this expedition. If it's the last time I ever have to see you, I want to be there, I want to say goodbye." Levi had felt the urge to argue, to shout at her, to tell her that she was to stay, but he realized that she wanted to go because of him, for the same reasons he wanted her to stay.

"You won't die...?"

"I will fight my best."

"Okay..." Levi muttered, the look of defeat spreading across his face and he left, walking past her slowly.