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

Chapter Forty-Six

We load Levi onto the wagon. I wince every time he shows any sign of hurting. This trek is going to be hard on him.

"I love you, Levi Ackerman."

"I love you, too, Eliora Ackerman. And Furlan, too. When this is over, you have to find him."

"What if he's already gone?"

"You'll have to find him," Levi repeats, his gaze intensifying. "Our son is not dead. You didn't give up on me. Don't give up on him."

"The walls—"

Levi interrupts me again. "Don't give up on him."

We start ahead at a steady fast pace. I keep looking back, making sure we don't jostle the injured man too much, but he seemed to be handling himself well.

"Shit, Hange, it's the Cart Titan!" I cry out and she stops, heading towards them like the madwoman she is and has always been.

I stay back with Levi, on edge and waiting to see how this will turn out.

"Hold on!" She puts her hands up in surrender when the Titan begins to lunge at her. "Just don't eat me okay? I'm completely unarmed." They look over to us. "What? The guy over there? No need to worry. He's nothing more than a harmless man that refuses to die and of course his wife.

They approach us and I keep my instinct for my blades at bay. Now is not the time to start that.

"My goal is to kill Zeke Jaeger," Levi says bluntly.

"Our interests align. I'm Theo Magath. This is Pieck Finger," he introduces the Cart Titan, one we had a run-in with four years ago. "Levi Ackerman, it seems you have the strength to stand against the nine titans but how do you expect to dodge one of my bullets looking like that?"

"I can't dodge any bullets, but I am presenting myself to an enemy in a sorry state. Shoot, or listen. It's up to you."

"We'll listen before we shoot." I stare at the man, knowing that before he even gets close, he'll be dead. "You said you'd kill Zeke. Where is he now?"

Hange replies. "My guess is that he is trying to win over Eren so he can use his royal blood. Well, win over the Founding Titan."

Pieck speaks, startling us. "You seem to know it all, Titan Doctor Hange, even more than Marley. Have you seen the Founding Titan for yourself?"

"I know that it's unbelievably large and seems impossible to conquer, so we just have to do this together. Let's combine forces."

The Cart Titan returns, spitting three people out onto the ground in front of us. I wrap a hug around the one, ignoring the slobber from him being inside a Titan.

"Jean!"

"El!" he whispers back, hugging me tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm glad you are too."

"Since when did you join forces with Marley?" Onyankopon asks, looking to Jean. "Your position should have been secure if you'd stayed with the Jaegerists."

"You know, I wish I could've stayed cooped up in my room, ears shut, but if I did that, those burned bones would never forgive me."

"And Floch is such an unsteady brat," I mutter. "He probably would've killed you at some point, Jean."

"Yeah, I know."

"Even me, but why?" Yelena asks, wondering why we saved her.

"Securing you was a part of the deal to use the Cart Titan's power," I tell her, facing the woman to most of our problems. "They wanted you, and alive. Can't say I share the sentiment, but General's request."

Hange pulls me aside, out of earshot of the others.

"It's time to go find your son, Eliora."

"And Levi?" I look back to my husband who is desperately trying to make out what we're saying. I turn away so he can't read our lips. I know he won't be pleased with this.

"He'll stay here to recover. We have this handled." She places a hand on my shoulder.

I shake my head. "I know that's not true, but I appreciate the lie, Hange."

"Just be back before morning."

We're interrupted by newcomers and I have to steady myself on Hange at those who appear.

"El? Eliora?!"

"No. No!" I start running towards the figure, tears running down my face but I only have one goal in mind.

"El?" the bastard has the audacity to call me just before my fist hits his cheek. I make no moves to hit him further so no one restrains me.

"Reiner. It has been a while."

He pauses, taking me in. Finally, he pulls me into a hug. I beat at his chest but he doesn't let go and I give in, sobbing on his chest.

"I'm sorry, Eliora."

"Why did you train me if I was just a devil to you?" I ask through my tears.

"I was only following orders. You made everything so muddled. You weren't the devil you were supposed to be. Nobody was." With a thud, I land on my back. "Your guard was down. Did I teach you nothing?"

"I still hold you responsible for my mother's death," I tell him.

"I will accept accountability."

"Who are you?" a younger girl asks, pushing Reiner and me apart.

"Who are you?" I retort back.

"Gabi."

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes, and reopening them. "I'm Eliora Ackerman."

"Ackerman?" Reiner questions.

I point to my husband watching us from the wagon. "I married Captain Levi. We have a son."

"Eren told me you were married and had a child. He just didn't say to who."

"Speaking of son, it's time for you to go," Hange says.

I nod, heading over to Levi. "I'm going to bring Furlan back safely."

"Wait, El!"

"Don't die while I'm gone, Levi!" I call over my shoulder, hopping onto Hange's horse. My tears fall again as I leave behind the others. I'm ready to be reunited with my baby.

A/N: In honor of Christmas and a very important character's birthday, I decided to present an update!

Happy Birthday, Captain Levi!