#because w the suits in new start i was like '!!! perfect for tying tie scene' then realized. they wear ties at school every day

[yume-fanfare]

ties and growing up...

marionette / new start go

[thedyingmoon]

💜 This I Promise 💜

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LXVI. Goodbye

***

"Captain Levi?"

"(F/N)."

She can't believe her eyes. It really was Levi, himself.

But, what was he doing here?

"W-what are you doing here?" (F/N) stuttered, not really prepared for this particular encounter.

"I have come to confirm Hange's news." he answered. "Turns out it is true."

Silence.

For a moment, none of them uttered a single word. The two of them just stood there trying their best to avoid each other's eyes. That was until (F/N) noticed Levi's clothes, which was the official uniform for the veteran Soldiers for the Scouting Legion.

Levi noticed the reaction on (F/N)'s face, so he provided the answer, himself.

"I just got back in the Legion." he said.

"Oh."

More silence. Just when she was about to utter the words she had been rehearsing for when they would finally meet, words like, why didn't you come sooner?, I have been waiting for you!, and what took you so long?, Levi went a bit closer to her as he took out something from his trench coat pocket. It was her old diary which she left at the Dawk Residence. And he was handing it to her.

"How did you get that?"

"Jonas gave it to me." Levi answered truthfully. It was handed to him by the teenager after (F/N) has left their household. The boy seriously believed that their relationship could be fixed, and that they would start all over again the moment they sit down and talk about matters that caused their misunderstanding.

(F/N) knew deep within her heart what Levi was planning, and despite her wanting so much to take the diary from him, she simply refused him by taking a few steps away from him as if he was bearing the plague.

Levi saw this and was completely hurt.

"Y-you don't want it back?" he asked her, the pain clearly heard from his voice.

"You can have it. Or you can throw it away, Captain Levi." she said, emphasizing on his official, give title.

"Why would I throw it away?" Levi said to her.

"I said if you just wanted to." (F/N) answered, the fire in her voice purely accidental. A thing which she greatly regretted.

However, Levi did not know this as he quietly and dejectedly put the diary back to his pocket. There were just two things in his mind, and he narrowed them down into his only options. The first one was what Jonas wanted, and the second one was what he didn't really want, but have to work on, anyway.

And, it seems that he had to go to the second choice, seeing that ring on her left finger. She was, indeed, getting married.

Yes, he has finally made a decision.

"I have also come to let you know about our incoming Expedition outside the Walls." he said.

"Oh. Alright, then." she simply answered, knowing that Levi, Humanity's Strongest Soldier, would surely survive the mission.

At this point, Levi was beyond hurt and heartbroken; (F/N) didn't really care about him anymore.

(F/N) couldn't possibly know what Levi was going through as of the moment, but when he finally smiled a genuine smile at her, she finally noticed her mistake,...

... and complete stupidity.

"I wish you well." he said, pain in his voice and a simple smile on his lips. "Live long and always be happy, (F/N). Goodbye."

(F/N) had no time to answer as the man quietly made his way outside without ever turning back.

The painful scene between the two of them that played in the living room still played in her head for two more weeks right until her wedding day. The thought about how Levi sounded hurt upon her rejection haunted her like a restless ghost, and it honestly gave her numerous sleepless nights. Observant Claire and shy Rogers both noticed this, but they weren't the only people who noticed.

Erwin Smith, who just came out of the Hospital, noticed how (F/N) rarely smiled. And whenever she did, it felt forced and filled with sadness. Of course, being a man of utter curiosity, he searched for the answer, himself.

And, of course, being a man who always gets the results he wants, he got his answer. And apparently, it was directly related to the Captain's visit and the Legion's announcement that they were going on an Expedition to secure a safe route towards Shiganshina District. But then, (F/N) couldn't be sad because of that, right? After all, one of his dreams would finally come true - he was finally going to marry her. And it was purely coincidental that it would take place on the same day as the Expedition.

***

The day has finally arrived, the day when their wedding would take place. It was also the day of the Expedition.

(F/N) woke up feeling wrong at different sections of her body. Her neck felt stiff, her eyes looked puffy, even her hair was a complete and unmanageable mess that it took her personal handmaiden almost five hours to make her look at least presentable. The wedding would take place at one of the oldest churches in Wall Rose where the elites of Wall Sina would not reach them. It was Erwin's decision, and (F/N) went gladly along with it.

With her white wedding gown and a small entourage of servants, along with the loyal Rogers and the Dowager, herself, they went towards the location of the wedding where Erwin was waiting. And when they finally arrived, (F/N) saw Hange in full uniform waiting just outside the church.

"Hello, (F/N)." she said and waved.

"Miss Hange, what are you doing here?" (F/N) asked as the other woman engulfed her in a warm hug and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Oh, I just came to see my two closest friends finally tying the knot."

"Weren't you supposed to be on an Expedition?"

"Yes. We would leave in two hours."

"Oh."

It was a cool and nice day, perfect for both a wedding and an Expedition. And of a nice little stroll outside.

"(F/N), would you mind if I talk to you for a while?" Hange asked as she gestured at the gazebo on the garden right beside the old stone church.

(F/N) shrugged her head and followed the woman towads the gazebo.

Hange remained silent until they reached the place she indicated, and when she finally shared the reason of her presence right before their wedding despite of her hectic schedule as the new Commander, (F/N) fervently wished she just stayed in bed and not get up.

"(F/N), this might be our last Expedition." Hange began.

"Why?!" (F/N) asked, alarmed of the gravity on Hange's voice.

"Listen: I think we know who the Armored and the Colossal Titans are."

"What?! Are you serious?!"

"Yes. We are planning to ambush them while they were trapped outside the Walls with nothing but mindless Titans and a full load of traps. Of course, we laid out a plan to prevent them from transforming. But, that does not guarantee our Soldiers' safety. Some, no, most of us would surely die in this mission."

"No, no, no, Hange! You can't be serious!"

Hange just smiled and gave her another warm hug.

"Sadly, I' am. I wish I was joking, but I think this is goodbye."

At the mention of that dreaded word, tears began falling down (F/N)'s face. She tightened her hold on Hange, not wanting to let her go. But, the woman noticed this and pried her free witout much of an effort.

"I'll be stationed together with Levi and his new Squad at the front. We'll be the first ones to retaliate should our initial plan fail."

"Levi?"

"Yes." Hange took (F/N)'s lace - gloved hands into her own and held them so tightly,...

... like she would never see each other ever again.

"I wish you well, (F/N)." Hange said. No, not those words, again!

"Hange, wait!"

"Goodbye, (F/N)." the bespectacled woman uttered, leaving her there alone in the gazebo.

The moment was still in her mind as she somehow made her way towards the massive entrance of the church together with Jonas, who was looking very handsome in a dark suit and tie. The boy, despite his strong opposition, was asked to walk (F/N) down the aisle in the absence of her own father. She didn't even hear the organ as it started playing in the background. She was only brought back to reality when Jonas took her left arm and latched it unto his right.

"Come on, Lord Smith is waiting for you." Jonas whispered to her, effectively calling her attention.

(F/N) was startled upon realizing that she was finally walking  down the aisle of an old church for real and not in a dream. Right there on the altar was Erwin, looking so devastatingly handsome in a white suit and tie, but with a solemn look on his face. It was then that (F/N)'s visions of Levi wearing a black suit came back in her mind, of him waiting for her at the altar,...

... of him and her welcoming a beautiful child in their arms,...

Then, the sweet vision was suddenly transformed into a violent one as blood flashed through her mind, of half - eaten Soldiers who fought and lost, of Eren's Titan form losing the battle against the Armored Titan,...

... and of Levi's lifeless form amidst mountains of corpses.

(F/N) gasped in fear at what she just saw and almost never noticed it when Jonas finally handed her to Erwin.

"(F/N)?" Erwin said. "Are you alright?"

The girl's mouth slightly dropped open as she looked up at Erwin. She might be willing to go to the altar with him, but he knew full well that her heart wasn't.

"I'm, ahh - "

Erwin sighed. He knew his suspicions to be a fact: (F/N) really was still in love with Levi.

"(F/N), look at me." Erwin whispered to her. The small crowd of their closest friends and witnesses were already getting confused as to what was happening between the two of them.

(F/N) looked up at him, but she couldn't stop her tears from falling. The sight stabbed Erwin right in his heart.

"H-he,..." she hesitated for a while, then finally managed to be truthful to him. "He said goodbye, Erwin. I'll - I'll never see him again,..."

The crowd noticed it as (F/N) began crying. However, despite the confusion of the others, Claire knew that her precious grandchild was finally accepting the truth - that she could never, ever, abandon the person she truly loved the most.

Erwin knew this, as well, as he took (F/N)'s hands and led her outside the church, which made the guests, and even Delilah, herself, stand and witness the growing drama right before their eyes.

"Erwin, where are you taking me?"

Erwin smiled at her. "Outside."

"What?"

(F/N) was still asking this until they really arrived outside the church.

"Why are you doing this?" (F/N) asked him as the man took out a small box from one of his pockets and handed it to her. She looked at it, then stared right back at him. "What is this?"

"It was meant as a birthday gift." Erwin confessed. "I contemplated whether I should give it to you or not, and I took long enough. I was, instead, going to give you this after our wedding, but you should have it, anyway."

"Wait, you're - ?"

(F/N) didn't say more, but the look and smile on Erwin's face told her everything she wanted to know. He was letting her go, again.

"Erwin, you didn't have to - "

"(F/N), listen to me." Erwin said. "I understand perfectly. Now, don't mind me and go after him. He'll leave within an hour, you must hurry."

"But, Erwin,..."

"Go now, (F/N)." Erwin said then noticed Jonas waiting for the two of them. He turned towards the teenager and said, "Jonas, could you get her there in an hour?"

The boy grinned and flexed his muscles. "Are you kidding me? We'll get there in thirty!"

Erwin turned once more to (F/N) and gave her one last warm hug. "I want you to be happy, (F/N)."

"Erwin,..."

"I love you." he whispered to her, then practically threw her towards Jonas. "Go now, before it is too late!"

"Wait!" (F/N) uttered as she tried to remove the engagement ring from her finger, but was stopped by Erwin when he took her hand and covered it gently with his own.

"Please, keep it." he said. "As a remembrance."

"But - "

"I insist."

"Let's go, you idiot!" Jonas exclaimed as he took (F/N)'s arm and led her to his horse, leaving Erwin alone.

The lonely man watched as the two of them rode towards the town to go after Levi. Little did he know that someone was spying on him.

"You really are stupid, you know that?"

"I know, Delilah." he answered his sister, who made her way towards him, together with Hange, who was supposed to be on the top of the Legion's formation right now. IF there really was an Expedition.

He noticed the look of amusement on Hange's eyes, then smiled dejectedly at her.

"Did you expect me to believe that there really is an Expedition?" he asked Hange.

"Well, two can play at the mind games." the woman replied, then winked at him. "But, you know, we really do have solid leads regarding the real identity of the Armored and Colossal Titan. We just want someone to stitch out some proper plans for the ambush."

"And you expect me to say yes?"

"What else?" Hange said, then grabbed the tall man's shoulders. "You can always go back, you know. We still need you, Commander."

"She's right, you know." Delilah urged on further with a wicled grin on her lips. "You might not to be cut out for this whole lovelife thing, but you might BE for this particular ambush, whatever that is."

Erwin smiled, then laughed at the two women and at himself for being so smart, yet so gullible.

"I could never understand you, women."

"It would take you a whole lifetime before you do, brother."

***

~ @levi4mikasa , @yepps , @chocolate-mmilk , @nerdyphantomlady , @shewolfofficial , @unhappysap , @super-peace-fangirl , @fangurl-ontgeside , and @emilyackerman78 . 💜

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💜💜💜

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