The Warriors of the Walls

Power Lies in the Blood

(A special thanks to fireheartgorattlethestars on Tumblr for putting up with my incessant need to hear feedback and for providing some incite from the readers perspective, it's very much appreciated 😀😀)

LEVI

Anxiety bled into my bones as I ascended the stairs to the main living room because despite still believing I had done the right thing, the look on Aurora's face when she understood what I had kept from her had frightened the shit out me. It was after all a look I had seen before almost precisely two years to the day, the day I had taken her against the stable wall and told her it meant nothing.

The look of absolute nothingness.

I would never forget that look as long as I lived. It had haunted me in my mind's eye every time we fought, it even haunted my dreams, when I slept long enough that is. In those dreams, Aurora would finally realise I wasn't good enough for her and she would look at me with such emptiness just like she had in the stables before leaving me in the darkness. It was one of my greatest fears, and as such, I had hoped to never see that look again in the waking world however due to what had been interpreted as my betrayal, I had been graced with that mask of indifference once again moments before she had walked away from me, just like I feared.

I have to explain, she will understand once I explain. She has too.... right?

I had kept the truth about Kenny from her because she needed protecting not just from Kenny but from herself. Aurora was strong and powerful when it came to killing Titans but Kenny the Ripper was far more dangerous than any Titan she had faced, he would gut her like a fish without a moment's hesitation, and she, blinded by her anger and need for revenge, would allow him to do just that by seeking him out in a temper.

And I will not allow that to happen.

Coming into the main room where the others were waiting, I saw Armin hunched over with his head in his hands as heavy sobs broke from his chest, clearly he had heard everything downstairs thanks to Aurora screaming. His parents had been murdered by the Interior Police for daring to test the walls, and he was their lasting legacy. 

Poor bastard.

Mikasa was trying her best to comfort him, but she looked as uncomfortable as I felt at seeing the emotional display, it was strange sometimes how much that brat reminded me of myself at times but of course, as sad as all this was, I wasn't here for them, I was here for Aurora.

Scanning the room, I found nor hight nor hair of the furious redhead as I had expected upon seeing her cousin's distress, instead, my eyes landed on Jean who staring at a flight of stairs that lead to the upper floor with a look of deep concern on his face, no doubt in worry for the same reason as I.

Making my up the stairs, I passed Jean whose face twisted into a scowl as soon as I stepped by him before arriving on the top floor and spotting the dim candlelight flickering in the room that Aurora had claimed as our quarters as soon as we had arrived in this shithole, I walked over to the door, pausing as my soon as my hand made contact with the handle.

For the love of the walls hear me out you stubborn woman. 

Taking a deep breath, I  slowly opened the door to the dimly lit room, my eyes falling on Aurora's back as stared out the single window, her arms wrapped around herself in a tight embrace with her face reflecting clearly in the glass, giving me a view of the turmoil that was etched upon her face. I could almost see the wheels turning behind her eyes which flickered in the candlelight, that was until her gaze met mine in the reflection, and once again, all emotion bled away from her pale face.