Attack on Titan- A New Beginning

In the Recovery

A knock on the door makes Commander Erwin glance at it. A girl with long gold and light brown hair enters with excitement.

She holds a tray of food. "I brought you some water, a piece of bread and your favourite soup." She says cheerfully.

Erwin smiles at her. He puts down the book. "Thank you, Mei. Don't you have work to do?" He asks.

Mei shook her head lightly, she sat down at the bed, she placed the tray on his lap.
"Nope. Eat up! Do you need help or anything?" Erwin chuckles.

"No. Nothing. You sure, I'm not a bother?"

"Why would you be? This is my job. Taking care of people. You especially." She blushes shyly. Erwin looks away and blushes.

"If I have to listen to this again, I have to kill myself," Levi says sarcastically.
Mei didn't even realize he was standing in the dark.

"Levi!" She runs to hug him. He doesn't refuse her, but he doesn't hug her back. "Tch. You are such a bother."

She pulls apart but gives him a bright smile. "Oh! I love you too. Don't worry." He looks away embarrassed.
"Whatever."

She returns to Erwin. "Are you going to be okay? Do you need anything?" Erwin was halfway done his water.
"Actually, could you get me more water?" He asks.

She jumps off the excitement. "Yep! Don't worry! Water coming right up!" She takes the cup and leaves the room. Levi Sits down on the couch in front of him.

He crossed his legs. "She is so annoying. I don't know how you can tolerate her. She's too happy." Erwin laughs.

"We need people like her, Levi. People like her can cheer up, people like you."

The only sound that leaves Levi's mouth. "Tch."

Erwin lowers his head. "I need, a favour Levi."

"Shoot." He glances at him.
"I need you to take care of her." That caught Levi's attention.
"Meaning?"

"Meaning that, this fight, the one we're going up ahead. I need, I'm going to give everything I got. Even risking my own life."

"Well, that's not new." Erwin lowers his head again.
"Yeah, and I'm stepping out of the scouts." Levi raised his eyebrows.
"Why?"

"Don't you see? I am no longer useful?" He looks at the window; the light coming in.
"Just because of one arm. Tch. You are a bother as well." He says but deep down, he didn't mean it.

"Hmm, you see, when we go tomorrow. I'm not planning on coming back. I am a dead man walking. I'm just a bother now."
"Not to Mei." Erwin looks at him.

"Mei...she is so in love with you, and you too. You two should be married. If you're no planning on coming back, you should tell her because she's on planning to wait for you. Don't give her false hopes. Giving people false hopes, us just as hurtful as lying." He stood.

He walks to the door. "Hey, Levi," Levi stops and turns his head back.
"You don't think I'm a bother?"
"No. So, what you lost an arm. You are still our best shot at saving humanity, with or without arms. I just think you're annoying." He walks out.

Erwin smiles.

Levi glance down; he saw Mei sitting down by the door.
"Why didn't you come in?"
"He's not planning to come back, right?" He kneels, he saw her tears.

His eyes were wide open. He somehow cared about her. He pretended not to because he already lost people too close to him. But Mei was very important to him.
"I'm going to make sure he comes back." She looks at him with a small smile.

"You...you promise?" He clears away her tears with his thumbs, he caressed her cheeks. "I give you my word." She throws herself to his arms and hugs him on the floor.

This time, he hugs her back. He felt wrong. He looks at the door. His best friend inside and him, being with his girlfriend's arms.
The feelings he carried of her, killing him, the guilt he has been carrying for years.

"Now, now. Go back inside." He pulls apart. She nods. She stands up and was about to leave. Levi was standing and holding the cup.
"Oh right yeah." She says forgetting about the cup.

"Thanks." She enters the room.
"What took you so long?" Edwin asks, shyness in his tone.
"I was with my best friend." She closes the door.

Levi only walks away. His head down, like he has done something horrible.
"She's not mine, but why do I feel like I have to protect her? Maybe it's because we're close? Or maybe, it's because I feel something?" He thought.

He stops. "What the hell am I thinking?" He shuts his heart off and walks away.