✓ Blood Lust (Levi Ackerman - Attack on Titan) #wattys2021

Chapter Thirty-Four

Levi and I stand stoically on the edge of the room as Hange explains the serum Kenny had given to us. Darius Zackly looks on in curiosity, staring at the open box. Pixis is present as well.

"But who do we entrust it to?" Zackly asks, looking between Pixis and Erwin. "Erwin, to you?"

"No," he replies quickly. "I'm no more than a wounded soldier. This box belongs with one of our elite soldiers who has the best odds at survival. Levi, would you keep it?" He looks over to the Captain beside me.

"If it's an order, just say so," Levi responds, hesitation in his tone. "Why even ask the question?"

My father looks away. "We can't predict in what situation we'll have to use this. We'll be relying on you to make a decision on the fly. Judging when and who to use it on will be for you to choose. Can we leave that to you?"

Levi's expression is very dark. "If this dream of yours comes true, what will you do then?"

Erwin's expression mirrors the Captain's own. "I...don't know. I won't until it happens."

"I see. Alright. I'll do it." Levi takes the box, placing it inside his coat.

"By the way," Zackly speaks next. "I'd like to unveil that work of mine soon. Have you given it any thought?"

"You still haven't given up on that?" Pixis asks. I'm confused, looking to Levi. He's not giving anything away. Pixis continues. "If the public saw that repulsive display, trust in the military would hit rock bottom."

"You don't know art when you see it." Zackly ends the meeting without explaining further, and I follow behind Levi even more confused than before.

"Where are we going next?" I ask, walking alongside the three.

"We have a meeting with all the squad Captains about retaking Wall Maria," my father responds. We enter a room with couches and bookshelves. It looks like a library. A few Captains I recognize, but a few are new faces.

"Should I go since I'm not a Squad Leader?" I ask as they sit down, Levi in the back on a bench.

"You're my apprentice. Sit down," Hange says, patting the seat beside her. Following orders, I sit down next to her, feeling anxious like when I spoke up during Eren's trial.

Hange goes first, telling them what Sadies had told us. They're in shock, most of their anger directed at Grisha for not helping them more.

"On death's door, he said the truth of it all was in the basement. What in the world do you think is down there?"

My father looks away. "Things that mustn't be said." I briefly wonder if he's remembering my grandfather, his father, that was taken away for his theories. "No," he corrects, looking up at us again. "Things Grisha Jaeger couldn't say, even if he wanted to. That which the First Reiss King wiped from our memories, memories of our world is what I hope. Pondering about it here won't accomplish much. The preparations finished today. The operation to retake Wall Maria starts in two days."

My mouth falls open in shock. I've been with my father almost every day, yet he didn't tell me the mission would happen so soon.

"Let all your squads know."

"Right. Keeping it a secret of course, yeah?" one leader clarifies.

"On a day like this, we deserve some meat, right?"

My stomach rumbles at just the thought of actual meat. Things had been sparse as of late.

Hange follows the other Captains out of the room, but I remain behind with my father and Levi, the latter having physically closed the door on Hange's chatter.

"What is it, Levi?" Erwin asks, staring at the dark-haired man.

"It's a bit hasty, but what will you do after retaking Wall Maria? I'd guess a defense plan would come first but after that?"

"Eliminate threats," my father says bluntly. "Outside the walls, there seems to be someone hoping the Titans will eat us all. Of course, the answer to who, is in the basement, I imagine. It's as I said earlier. We'll plan after the basement."

"I'm asking this because you might not live that long," Levi mutters darkly.

"Levi!" I gape at him, not liking the brutal honesty. 

"No, Eliora," he silences me. "You can't exactly move like you used to. Let Hange call the shots. You'll just be dead weight. Let the good news come to you. We'll tell the others I argued until you gave in. No," he pauses, staring down my father, "that's actually what I intend. Fine with that?"

My father looks towards me, his thoughts mulling over Levi's words. Finally, he turns back to the Captain. "Actually, I'm not. I'm fine being food. Use me as bait."

"Dad!" My voice is going to go hoarse from yelling at the both of them.

"The chain of command still remains. If I'm gone, then Hange. If Hange is gone, the next. It's true, this operation will be dangerous, but to humanity, this will be more important than anything else. That's why I've gone to such lengths. This is all my plan. If I don't do it, the success rate will plummet."

"That's right. The operation might fail, but if you bite the dust in the process, we're doomed. So just sit at your desk and keep using your head. That's the last thing the Titans would want. And for humanity, it's the best thing going for us," Levi replies and I can see how much he cares about my father. This isn't just for humanity; he doesn't want to see him die.

"No, you're wrong. Our best option is for me to gamble it all."

"Hey, hey, hey, hold it up!" Levi extends his arm for emphasis, his face growing panicked. "Keep using that bluff around me and I'll break both of your damn legs. I'll make it nice and easy to attach them later. But the operation to retake Wall Maria will proceed with you weeping here. It'll be a bitch to get to the toilet, though."

Erwin smiles to himself, looking down. "I'd like to avoid that. What you're saying is right. A wounded soldier should stay off the battlefield. However, there will come a moment when learn the truth of our world and I must be there for it."

"Is it that important to you? More than your legs?"

"Yes."

"More than humanity's victory?"

"Yes." He looks over at me, an apologetic smile sent my ways. It isn't until he speaks, I realize what he's apologizing for. "The same reason Eliora will not stay behind, despite her condition."

"Father!" I stand up, angry that he'd tell him before a very important mission, one that I have to go on.

"What condition?" Levi asks, walking towards us from the doors.

"I'm not saying this to stop you from going, but I am saying this because he needs to know, in case something happens. He should know, daughter."

"Someone tell me what is going on," my husband grinds out lowly. I look away, no intention of revealing the truth. Everything will just be a headache now.

"You're going to be a father, Levi."