#snkfic

[levis-coffeecup]

chapter 29| Turning Page

WC-6.5k

Summary

The underground is filthy and dark. Dim lights, dull alleys, and desperate hearts. A place Levi knows as well as the back of his hand, and a place he would do anything to get out of.

Chapters of life roll by and with the turn of a page, things drastically change. In front of him is the opportunity to live on the surface. And the flimsy bridge that he has to cross. From an uncivil criminal to a disciplined soldier.

But life on the surface seems tougher amidst all the mockery, civilities, and the gaping hole left in his heart, after the demise of his dear friends Isabel and Farlan.

Content/Warnings

canon- compliant, canon-typical violence, spoilers for No Regrets OVA, descriptions of PTSD, grief, depression, heavy angst and themes, strong language, self-hate, physical assault.

Author’s Note

OMG hiii guysss!

Can't believe that this is the last chapter!! There's so much gratitude in my heart right now. This has been a long long (irregular🤡) ride, and I'm grateful to everyone who's sticked around!

I've tried my best to write an amazing chapter since its the last, which is why this got so delayed. (And I might also have been overworked to the core at work lol ) But there's going to be a long ass note at the the end of the chapter about everything!

Song for the final chapter is by Turning Page by Sleeping at Last!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

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APRIL 857

It’s an hour past 12, and Levi sits on his balcony looking at the midnight sky.

The thick veil of pollution prevents the stars from being visible. Instead there's street lights and high beams from cars, twinkling on the ground.

He misses the stars from Paradis. It was the first thing he fell in love with once he came to the surface. And he wonders, whether Mae is looking at the stars and thinking of him as well?

The world outside the walls is beautiful.

There are soaring cathedrals that almost reach the sky, and beautiful temples with the most intricate architecture. There’s snow capped mountains and beautiful cherry blossoms. And everyday, from his tiny balcony, he gets to see the sun sink below the sharp silhouette of the towers.

He’s getting to experience the world his comrades died for.

But as beautiful the outside world is, it isn’t home

The development of technology seems unfamiliar. And the people around him haven’t lived their entire lives caged in fear. These people don’t know the cost of freedom.

It has been so long since he’s been back home.

It’s been so long since the Rumbling too.

The earth was left razen. Mountains crumbled to dust and forests burnt to ashes. Countries had simply been wiped off the face of the earth. Years of civilization and developmentsnuffed out in an instant, with no one to record their names.

But against the odds, humanity managed to survive. Traumatized and beaten, but still alive.

Miraculously Levi made it too.

Jean and Connie found him half dead, on the foot of Fort Salta. He was lapsing in and out of consciousness. Devoid of the strength to even stand up.

Tents were made into makeshift hospitals, food was meager. And his first few months were spent on a wooden cot,bed ridden with the stinging pain of his knee and his yearning for Mae.

He yearned to see her when he was trapped with Zeke for a month, he yearned to see her when he woke up with searing pain and bandages all over his face. And now the war was over, but he couldn’t get back to her.

The Rumbling destroyed everything humanity had ever strived for. Rail tracks, roads, ports, farms… everything was abolished as an aftermath.

It was impossible to get to the other side of the world.

Gradually Levi recovered, it took him almost a year. But his strength never returned. The tiniest task would turn him breathless, and the sight in his right eye was gone for good.

The doctors diagnosed him a plethora of health problems. And he was never allowed to look weak, but now he was in a wheelchair, needing help to pick things up from the floor. Life dealt him one blow after another.

Armin, Jean and Connie became busy, making peace with the remaining nations. Mikasa never returned. And Levi found himself, all alone. With a chaotic mind, and too much time on his hands.

Soon the Allied Nations rescued all the survivors from the Titan Waste Lands. Marley was no more, so most refugees ended up taking asylum in Hizuru.

And by the courtesy of Kiyomi Azumabito, Levi was gifted an apartment in the center of the city hall, and citizenship. A tiny apartment in between a lush square, in the city center.

It was tiny, but homely enough. And he would love sitting on the balcony and watching the outside world.

Life got more comfortable and Levi got to see the sights his comrades died for.

But there were still days where he barely had enough strength to pick his remaining fingers. Those days were the worst. And he felt like the walls of his apartment would swallow him up.

The purpose of his life was over. Hange was gone. Erwin was gone. Life came crashing down.

And sometimes, under the flicker of a candlelight, at his tiny desk, he would close his eyes, and imagine that he’s back in Mae’s old house. Learning the alphabet, listening to the soft scratches of her pen as she corrected his writings. It seemed like lifetimes had passed since then.

Mae was always with him, through all his hurdles he faced on the surface. And now he had to face an awfully big one, without her.

So he decided he’ll start to learn writing again. With two fingers of his right hand gone, he had to re-learn how to hold a pen again. He told Onyaknapon to get him books, so he could trace over letters, trying to perfect every curve. Just the way Mae had taught him.

It gave him a sense of purpose, and it also made him feel close to her in some way.

It took three years for the Yeagerists to finally agree to a cordial discussion with the Alliance. Historia sent letters to everyone. And this morning the Alliance left, back to their hometown.

Armin did extend an invitation to him too. But Levi didn’t want to be associated with the world anymore. He didn’t have the strength for it nor the will. His job was done.

“Captain,” A voice pulls him out of his thoughts. Behind him is a sliding door that leads to his room. And on the bed sits Onyakapon.

He points at the three thick journals that take up most of his space in his briefcase.“Are you sure you want to take these back?”

And Levi contemplates. Paper doesn’t spoil, and he should rather carry some spare clothes to keep himself clean.

“Leave the journals there.” His voice comes out gruff, and then it turns wispy. Everything he’s ever felt in these years without her and his limbs, is penned in these flimsy sheets of paper.

“It’s letters I have written to her.” There is no need to clarify. There’s no need to carry his journals all the way back either. But he does it either way. The war has changed him. And Levi realises he doesn’t have to torture himself anymore.

“I’m surprised you never got her to meet us.” Onyakapon smirks. He could have never guessed the captain had a lover.

And a faint smile appears on Levi’s lips as the curve of her smile plays on his mind. He wonders if she found the pearl ring and his letter. He never found the courage to directly hand it to her.

It’s been three years. Three long painful years. Perhaps, she’s forgotten all about him.

“Tch, as if I’ll let you filths near her.” He brushes his feelings off. Masking his thoughts with harsher words. Some things truly never change.

A flight passes over his head, he’ll probably sit in the next one.

“I hope everything is safe out there, hope there’s no hostility.” Onyakapon mumbles as he closes the briefcase.

And Levi gets off from his wheelchair, limping towards his bedpost. “No harm from a guy in a wheelchair.” He tries to joke, but there’s a prick in his heart.

He can’t pick things from the shelf. Some Days he also needed help to get to the toilet. And even though he’s returning back to Mae, there’s nothing he can do for her now.

And while happiness was never a part of his destiny. He hopes she’s happy. At least one of them must be.

“Well if things are bad, you can always come back here captain.” Onyakapon’s voice cuts through the constant torture of his thoughts.

The words bring him enough solace to take him through the night. A rare smile tugs on his lips. “Thanks Onyakapon.”

It’s going to be a long trip.

_________________________

It’s 10 am, and it’s sweltering hot in Mitras. Sweat clings to Levi’s skin, and he wipes it off with the back of his hand.

His briefcase sits on his lap. And he pushes his wheelchair through the dirt road,

Vast meadows stretch in front of him. The air is fresh, and a plethora of apple trees border the sides of the road. Its shade is very welcome in the sun.

Farmhouses are scattered at a distance, crops grow in structured rows. And Levi taps his heel, as he moves past them mindlessly. His thoughts are only set on one.

Historia told him Mae’s house was at the end of the apple plantation. Luckily the terrain is flat, and he’s able to maneuver his wheelchair with ease.

Nonetheless, it’s been a tiring ride.

The royal guards did offer to escort him to Mae’s house, but he declined the offer. The moment approaching was too personal to share with a bunch of strangers.

Soon, what he’s searching for comes to vision, and eagerly he moves forward.

100 meters away from him, down the mud path, is a humble home. Its stone walls are smooth, worn out by time. And the roof is thatched with wood and straws.

There’s a small garden at the front, with saplings that are beginning to sprout. And a few meters away from it all is a park. The sight of which bubbles a bittersweet feeling in Levi's chest.

“This is it.” He exhales, cherishing the cold air on his lips. It’s a breath that he’s been holding in for too long. A yearning that has been living in his heart for years now.

His mind jogs back to a small trip they took 5 years back, on Mae’s birthday. She had booked a small cabin nestled in the middle of farmland.

He still remembers the smile on her face, and the way her eyes crinkled in the sunlight.

Her hair flowed in the wind, and he thoughtlessly followed it. Too enamored by the happiness she radiated.

The birds sang, and the lillies seemed to beam.

Stories were told by the fireplace, and they would stargaze from the flower field. Cuddling under the sheets of the stiff bed, and eating lunch under a tree's shade.

She laughed, then he smiled. And for a fleeting moment, Levi had escaped from all his responsibilities.

He realized he could spend his entire life this way, under the shadow of the sun, and the warmth of their love. He couldn’t care less about saving the world, or his tea shop even…

He just wanted to be here with her.

Forever.

But time stopped for no one. And Levi’s prayers had a habit of going unheard.

And now, 5 years later, life has brought him here again. In a secluded countryside so full of beauty and peace, and so unlike him.

This is the kind of life Mae had always wanted to live. Away from the bustle of the city, where she could spend countless hours looking at the stars.

The door to her house softly clicks. And Levi leans forward, with his breath caught in his throat.

He has felt her caress in the warmth of the sunlight. He’s heard the faint echo of her laughter in the rustling of the leaves. Every breath, every movement, was just in the hopes that he’d get to see her again.

Seasons passed by like shadows, and now finally he’s finally here, moments away from her. The journey has been staggeringly hard.

Time passes at a lumbering pace, and Levi feels like he can almost hear the creaking of the door, as it gets swinged open.

Out steps a man with a basket in his hand. He’s well built and tall, and donned in a casual attire.

And Levi’s heart drops to the floor as a sickening feeling of jealousy takes over. All of a sudden the blood is thunderous in his ears.

He feels like he can’t breathe And his heart burns at the thought that her gentle smile turns to a man who isn’t him.

A moment later, a toddler comes out, chasing behind the man.

And Levi clutches the sides of his wheelchair so tight, that his knuckles turn white.

Fuck

He feels like he’ll vomit.

Like salt to his wounds, the man picks up the child. And she smiles so bright, he can see her sweet giggle, even though it's barely audible in the distance.

The man kisses the toddler’s cheeks, and takes her to the park. And Levi watches the scene with a sting in his eye.

He was her lover once but now he's a mere bystander. A powerless man who can do nothing but just watch. The realization is like a punch to his gut, and a bittersweet memory comes to Levi’s mind.

On their last night in the cabin, he told Mae he didn’t have the time to get her a birthday present. And then she shed a silent tear, telling him how she felt like she’s carrying the entire relationship.

It wasn’t too far from the truth. He had too much on his mind as a soldier. And life was not easy when the weight of humanity rested on your shoulder. Some days he didn’t even have the time to think of her.

And Levi knew he was being selfish by keeping her chained to him, but his heart didn’t know a way of living without her.

He asked what he could do to make it up to her, and she asked him to run away to a peaceful place.

All she had ever wanted was to stay next to him.

The decision was clear in his head then, but now he wonders if he should have just eloped with her… It's not like all the wars he’s fought have turned this world into an ideal place.

The impermanence of life… It’s something that he still can’t comprehend.

What is born shall die, what has started shall end. People come and go out at their own pace. The good moments turn stale, and eventually everyone ends up alone, with only memories to comfort them. Time is truly a fickle piece of shit.

The man places the toddler on the swing, before he heads the other way. And Levi gets consumed by his thoughts.

He had people who he once held close too. Erwin, Hange, Isabel, Farlan. But they left.

He wasn’t prepared for their deaths, but somehow he made his peace with it.

But he's not ready to let Mae go yet.

Not when her name is etched in the depths of his heart. Not when her thoughts have troubled him day and night. His heart yearns for her so deep, it doesn’t know another way of living.

It was supposed to be his kid, she was supposed to be his wife. He wanted to start his tea shop too. Life just had some other plans after all.

There were days when he didn’t have the strength to get out of his makeshift bed, there were days where his injuries hurt so much, he thought he’d prefer death over the pain of living like this. But he pushed and pushed.

Because at the end of this tunnel, he saw her.

The sweet end of his tiresome journey, The reward for his unyielding perseverance. His home after years of loneliness.

But it’s been three years now. And she’s not his anymore.

A part of him wants to throttle this man, for laying his hands on her. And a part of him wants to hate on her too. But it isn’t her fault as well.

His heart has been placed in the palm of her hand for far too long. And if she decides to break it, then he’ll just have to disseminate.

He guesses he’ll just have to live with the weight of being all alone.

The silence consumes,

And Levi taps his heel in frustration.

Time passes by painfully slowly. And one minute turns into fifteen.

The man and toddler are long gone now, but Levi still continues to bleed on the edge of his seat. He continues to sweat in the heat. Too nervous to move forward, yet too regretful to turn away.

Old habits die hard, he guesses.

The strength to move forward wanes from his body and every breath he takes only shatters his composure into pieces. He never thought he’d have to taste defeat, after winning over the entire world.

There’s some shuffling in the woods, and he swivels around aghast. His reflexes are not as sharp as he used to be. And he’s too exhausted to put on the act of a stone cold person.

He tries honing on the sound of movement but what use would that even be?

Back in the day he had the strength to beat any person to a pulp. But now with his crippled leg, he’s more of a burden, than a lover.

His hands trace back to his scars, a habit he has recently developed. And insecurity floods his mind.

He feels stupid pondering over something as trivial as his appearance. He wouldn’t even pay it a thought when he was in the Survey Corps. But he’s on the way to meet the love of his life and there’s these scars on his face that make him look fucking hideous.

The pit he's falling into is not unfamiliar. It’s something that bothers him everytime he looks into the mirror.

And in the haze of his insecurities. A sweet voice finds him.

“Dadd-a?”

He gasps, slowly turning towards the voice.

A little girl peeks at him from behind a tree trunk. He can’t see much of her, as she’s a few feet away, partly covered between the dense layers of trees. But he recognises her as the same child, who stepped out of Mae’s house a few moments ago.

The silence stretches, and she continues looking at him. With her eyes all wide and beaming. And Levi sighs, not knowing how to react.

He decides he doesn’t have it in him to see Mae or her happy family. He’ll just come back another day, when his heart hurts a little less.

And so he turns his wheelchair around, almost taking a U turn. But the same innocent voice stops him again.

“Dadd-a,” the girl squeals, and her tiny shoes squeak as she waddles towards him.

And Levi feels stumped, when she wraps her tiny body around his leg.

He’s always been quick to react to situations, but now he’s frozen.

He wonders why this little girl is hugging his leg, and how she’s not scared of how scary he looks with the huge scars on his face.

And as much bitterness his heart holds at the cruel turn of fate, her purity washes it away. Slowly, gently, deliberately. His features soften, and he decides the least he can do is drop her back home to safety.

He huffs, bending down to pick her up. And as he lifts her up by her armpits, his eyes are met with the same shade of silver.

Her skin is pale, papery white in complexion and her hair is the same shade of midnight black as his. Everything from the shape of her face to the shade of her lips comes from him. And there’s also a little cravat tucked inside her red polka dot dress.

“Daddaaa,” she chimes as if she recognizes him.

And a shuddered breath escapes his lips. Her smile… It comes from Mae.

She is his. Theirs. A part of him and a part of Mae.

And Levi has faced strong emotions before. He’s had his stomach churn with anxiety, and he’s had his heart overrun with grief and loss. He’s always anticipated all the things that could happen in his future, trudged every moment with caution. But no amount of preparedness could prepare him for the moment in front of him.

His hands tremble, as he puts her down on the floor. He’s a father now… he’s been a father for the past 3 years. It's too much to process. And his heart beats so fast in his chest, he’s afraid it will break out of his ribs.

“Lilly, Lilly,” A familiar voice cuts through the moment and his heart skips a beat.

“How many times have I told you not to-” Mae steps out of the trees, panting and worried. But the sight in front of her makes the words on her tongue scurry away.

Levi is a few meters away from her, in a wheelchair with 2 long scars running down his face, just the way the Queen had foreseen in the paths.

Everyday, she has stared at this road for countless hours, waiting for him to show up. It feels like she’s waited a lifetime to see him again.

The years of separation pass by her eyes.

Countless nights were spent crying into his shirt and every breath felt like a burden.

Everyone was ecstatic about the liberation of their island. And Mae was condemned to be alone, with her dwindling will to live.

Then she met Samuel and Claus, the soldiers who showed empathy to her, in a world that had become too hostile for anyone who supported the alliance.

They took her to the Queen, and the Queen recognised her instantly, as the doctor who helped when Trost was breached.

And as a Survey Corps Soldier who was once a part of the Levi’s squad, the Queen made it her mission to protect and provide for the ones who were close to the Alliance.

That’s when Mae moved into the peaceful countryside, with Jean and Connie’s mom.

Living with people who dealt with the same grief surely gave some solace, but life was still painful. And in the midst of her pain, like a beam of light into stark darkness, her baby came into this world.

And Mae never thought she’d get to see Levi’s eyes again, but they were right in front of her. Resting so peacefully against her chest.

That night she cried tears of gratitude. Life crashed into her as peacefully as it could.

“Mama mama, dadd-a has come back,” Her daughter squeals, with her tiny finger pointing towards Levi. Her grasp on her leg is still tight, and her eyes sparkle with joy.

And Mae tries to smile, but it gets dissolved in the trail of her tears.

This moment has haunted her every second, wrecked her entire being. And as she steps closer to the dream of Levi she’s had, every night since she was pregnant, the details of him come to life.

Her eyes follow the strong curve of his jaw, chiseled as if it has been carved by an artist. The ridge of his nose is sharp as always and his thin eyebrows are slightly disheveled.

She caresses him with her gaze, before her touch can even come close.

Two different Levi’s look back at her now. On the left, his face is marred, with two long scars running down his face. He is hurt and hidden away. And she can never see him through his cloudy iris.

But in his other eye, there are flecks of hope. The black of his pupil has expanded, and his iris shines blue in the sunrays. He wears his heart on his sleeve, Mae swears she has never seen him this vulnerable before.

And she might have lived without him for 3 years, but he has lived inside her every second, in her every thought. Her hand extends towards him out of deprivation.

Life hasn’t been the kindest to her.

But when the pads of her fingers reach the hollow of his cheek, her heart steadies itself. Whenever her eyes met his orbs , her ears met his voice, and her body met his touch. His familiarity always envelopes her. As if the hearth of a warm house, always welcoming and open.

Her hands reach to his lips, the shape of which she can trace on paper, even with her eyes shut close.

And Levi closes his eyes in alleviation.

There’s a search for words. Words for the longing, words for the separation.

And Mae shudders, as the pads of her fingers skim over his skin. They trace over his scars, the old and the new. From the top of his forehead, down to the edge of his chin. From the curve of his necks down the length of his arms.

Three years have passed by, but his features are still as strong.

Her caress reaches the end of his arm, and her fingers find the indents of his knuckles. Gingerly she takes his palm into hers,

And Levi is quick to wrap the 3 fingers that remain on his hand, around her.

Her touch feels both foreign and achingly familiar. He has craved this so much.

Mae’s eyes widen at the gesture, heavy with tears. And she kisses the spot where his 2 fingers once used to be. Levi is as real as ever, she can feel every divot of his skin against her lips.

The realization breaks her, and she drops to the floor. With her head on his lap, and her arms sprawled all over his thighs.

There’s disbelief, there’s elation. The feeling can never be put into words. Her shoulders wilt, heavy with the pain of separation, and she cries into his lap.

“I missed you… You weren’t there.” Her voice is muffled against his skin. “I thought I’d never see you again.” Her sobs pierce through the quiet of the farmland.

And he stares wide eyed, biting back his tears as well.

The pain she has carried with her all these years, is right in front of him. Laced into the heavy sobs that rake through her frame.

And Levi knows he should pick her up and kiss the shit of her, but he’s frozen. For his gaze is stuck on the familiar pearl ring that rests on her ring finger.

Words fail him, and his heart spasms in his chest. “D-did y-you ? He can only stutter, as his touch lingers over the pearl. ”A-after all this time?”

The question hangs in the air, but the answer is right in front of him. In the grief that occupies her heart, in the love that still brims in her eyes. And in the tiny girl who looks exactly like him.

It feels like all the sacrifices he’s made in life have finally come to fruition. His directionless quest has finally found its destination. His exhausted soul has found its shelter.

There’s such mercy in this moment, all he can do is shudder and let out an exhale. Maybe in exhaustion, maybe in fulfillment.

And Mae looks up at him, her eyes tinged red with tears. “I was only going to wait one more year, good that you came back in time.”

He puts his hand on her head, and her body trembles beneath his touch. All the grief she has held onto for so long, slows paroles in the form of her tears.

The scene is as heartbreaking, as it is rewarding.

“Ma-ma,” Lilly babbles, her voice as bright as sunlight cutting through storm clouds. And Levi looks at her as she tries to fit herself in the space between Mae’s hunched frame and his legs.

She settles into Mae’s lap, and Mae is forced to look into her eyes full of wonder.

“Mama…” she coos, and her tiny hands wipe the fat tears that roll down Mae’s face.” Dad-da’s back, don-t be sad.”

And Mae smiles at that, certainly she takes a lot from her father.

“You’re right, my love…let’s take Dada home shall we?” Her voice turns gentler, and she gets up with Lily in her arms.

“Levi?” Mae questions, gesturing towards his lap.

And Levi hesitates, a little too afraid that he’s too scary for the delicate human being.

“You’ll be a great father, don’t worry.”

The second time he looks at her, he knows he’s doomed. Her cheeks are round and full, as if there’s food stuffed inside them. And her eyes are just like his, but there’s a brightness in them that he never had.

She settles on his lap. And as he wraps his arms around her waist, she places her tiny palms on his scarred forearms. And Levi realizes there is nothing he wouldn’t do for this tiny person that he’s just met a few moments ago.

His heart feels full of love.

Mae starts pushing his wheelchair forward. And he closes his eyes, as he feels the wind against his face. It’s a moment that makes him feel grateful to be alive.

In a span of a few minutes, they’re already outside the veranda to her house. And Levi can smell the Lavender she has planted in the front garden.

“It’s not a big house but it’s enough. I stay here with Jean and Connie’s mom… Luckily for us though, they’ve gone to Trost for a bit.” Mae speaks, as she picks Lily from Levi’s lap, and places her inside the house.

“It’s a very sweet place though. All the farmers staying around often visit. It’s like a big family. Borris was here too, half an hour back. You might have seen him…he wanted to take some cookies for his son.”

“Ahh,’ Levi drawls, as if he didn’t spend fifteen minutes hating on that man. “I don’t think I saw him.”

She takes his briefcase in one hand, and hooks her other arm around his waist. Slowly helping him up the short flight of stairs. And he wants to do nothing, but melt in her embrace

“I can walk for a few minutes.” Her murmurs, almost embarrassed.

“You’re not walking anywhere until I check your leg myself.” She reprimands, but the softness in her eyes contradicts her strict tone.

As it turns out, Mae’s house is very much a home.

The interior is simple and modest. There’s a couch, two wooden chairs and a table in the front room. The wooden floor creaks as he steps in. And the walls are filled with the crayon marks.

“I’ll get your wheelchair inside.” Mae mumbles as she seats Levi on the couch.

And when Mae comes back in again, Lilly has already managed to climb on the couch. She’s standing on Levi’s lap with her hands on his cheeks. The faintest of smiles plays on Levi’s lips, and he holds her by the waist, making sure she doesn’t lose balance.

The sight makes Mae’s heart swell. Her entire world is now in front of her. Her heart feels so full and so heavy at the same time. And her eyes turn misty again.

“Oi oi, don’t start with all the crying again?” Levi mutters as he notices her standing by the door.

And Mae sniffs, overwhelmed. “I’ll make you some tea?”

“Yaa- Da-dda love teaaa.” Lilly squeals, before Levi can even respond to Mae.

And Mae smiles. Her family is finally complete... a few years back she would have never believed she’d get the privilege of experiencing this.

And just as she’s about to turn towards the kitchen, Levi stops her.

“Mae…” His voice drawls, and he pats the spot next to him. “Tea can wait.”

_________________________

The world outside fades into a quiet hum as the bustle of the morning stretches into the lull of the afternoon.

The sun has draped itself over the earth, like a soft blanket. And Levi rests on the bed. He’s just finished his lunch, and he allows himself to sink into the mattress.

Time seems to have been caught in the gentle sway of the trees, and Levi takes his sweet time looking at the things around him.

Lily's soft toys are stacked on top of the cupboard. And there's a wooden cabinet, filled with all of Mae's favorite books.

The curtains are made of colorful crocheted patchwork. And somehow Mae has managed to bring most of her things from her house in Trost here.

But it's not just that. Levi's stuff is here too.

There’s a cupboard next to Mae with his clothes folded and organized just the way he likes it. His favorite novels and teacups are kept in a separate cabinet. And right in front of the bed, there's a wall with paintings of the three of them together.

It feels like nothing has changed, like he was never away.

And everytime he closes his eyes, his heart begins to race. But for the first time, the adrenaline that flows through him isn’t nerve-racking. It feels exciting

The curtains above his head billow softly with the wind. A mild breeze enters the bedroom and Levi tilts his face to bask in its warmth.

His whole world now lies in his arms. Snoring peacefully, with her hand wrapped around his finger. She's so tiny, that all of her body fits on his torso.

And he lets out a sigh as he feels the subtle rise of her tiny chest against his own.

“Are you not able to sleep, because all of a sudden there’s a child on your chest, and you don’t know where she came from?” Mae steps into the room, quietly shutting the door behind her.

“I can clearly tell where she comes from.” Levi comments as he looks at his dear daughter. “Is this why you were crying so much the day I was leaving for Marley?”

“Mhmm… “ Mae nods, as she rests her back against the door. And Levi closes his eyes, listening to her voice.

“You had to save the world Levi, you had to give it your all. And you would have died hating yourself if you knew you had a child coming into the world, that you weren’t going to be there for… As much as I was dying to tell you about my pregnancy, I thought it was best to keep it from you…” It’s an uncomfortable topic that defines the rest of their future, Mae’s eyes fall to the ground.

If only she would look up, she would see Levi with the faintest of smiles, thinking of how he can actually see her instead of imagining her.

“I know a child was never something you wanted… So I understand how complicated this situation can be for you.” Mae goes on and Levi lays still with his eyes shut in contentment, hoping for time to slow down.

“What?” She gasps, finally looking up at him. “Say something? I’ll never know how you’re feeling if you don’t tell me about it.”

Finally his eyes flutter open, and he looks at her through the curtain of his lashes. A faint smile plays on his lips, and his cheeks turn pink as he stretches out his other hand towards her. “Come here.”

In an instant, her features soften, turning into one of relief. And she smiles as makes her way to him.

She rests her head on his shoulder.And he drinks in every detail. As if he’s a parched man, dying of thirst. His heart pounds in his chest, and then his gaze falls towards her lips.

It doesn’t take too long for their lips to fuse together. It’s a simple kiss, but it’s been years.

They part in bliss.

And Levi brings her hands to his lips, pressing a doting kiss on her skin. She’s his to keep, his to salvage.He can’t put his gratitude into words.

“Thank you.” His voice is heavy. “ I-I…” He wants to tell her how happy he is to be next to her. He wants to tell her how exhausting it was without her. And that he can’t believe she’s all his. He wants to tell her about all the letters he’s written to her. But his heart is lodged so deep in his throat that he can’t squeak out the words he desperately wants to say.

“Rest my love.” She keeps her thumb on his lip, tracing his bottom lip. “We have time.”

His eyes flutter shut at her words, and her hand reaches to the top of his head. She starts combing out the hair that falls on his forehead.

His old scars have faded, almost blending into his skin. And the hard muscles on his chest have been replaced with soft dimpled skin. The lines in the corner of her eyes run deep.

He’s softer now. Marked by age, but just as beautiful.

Her finger traces down his cheek, following the scar that runs across his face. The feeling of his skin dipping under her fingers almost feels overwhelming.

“Levi,” she calls, caressing the side of his face. And he responds by leaning into her touch.

“I can’t believe you’re real,” She murmurs.

The silence is blissful.

And Levi feels his heart flutter, just like it did when she held his hand for the first time.

“Mae…” his voice trails off and he gulps. “How did Lily recognise me?... It feels like she knows so much about me?”

And Mae tilts her head up. “She’s heard stories about you ever since she was in my womb, of course she knows a lot about you… We even got someone to draw a portrait of you last year, because she wanted to see you for her birthday.”

“She thinks you’re some kind of hero Levi.” Mae yawns, “A few months back, she was trying to eat food by herself, and she ended up making a mess… which was fine because she was just learning, but she started crying frantically, and I asked her what happened? She said Dada wouldn’t like her, because she made a mess and Dada hates messes.”

Mae’s eyes trail to the way her daughter sleeps, with her cheek squished against Levi’s chest, and her eyes are shut close in peace. “She thinks you’re some kind of hero.”

And Levi remains silent. Afraid the words will ruin the tender moment.

It might seem like he’s dozed off, but the pink crawling on his cheek tells otherwise.

And Mae looks at him with the softest of smiles. For the first time in a long while, her heart feels complete.

“Actually she is right… you are a hero.” She mumbles as she closes her eyes in peace.

And a single tear slips past his eye.

He’s finally home.

Thoughts? Thoughts? Thoughts?

I know its a very simple, cliche, happily ever after ending, but I really REALLY wanted Levi to have a family of his own, and experience a normal, happy life, which is why I made Mae pregnant lol.

To anyone who has made this far. I would love to know your thoughts on the entire story. Things you liked, didn't like. Your feedback is crucial.

I'm going to start editing this fic from now on, and whatever you say will be considered. So I would love to know your thoughts on what could get better and be improved.

Something else, I'm very excited about is designing and illustrating a book cover (since I am a graphic designer lol) and get a few hardcopies printed for myself!! I'm assuming I'll be done with it by DEC 25th, so right now I do plan to post an Epilogue/ bonus chapter and share the book cover designs on Dec 25th. (I don;t know if anyone is interested in this, but I'm just doing it for myself hehe)

I would like to thank the many people who have been a constant support while writing this. I don't think I can tag everyone since they are on different platforms, so I'll just mention their names here. @Alexandra218943 , Cupidcup, @musumusuhasi and Abha , I wouldn't have completed this without you, so thank you <3

And to all the people who have commented, and interacted with the story at any point. I want to let you know that I've had a shit month at work, my self esteem has been at an all time low , and the only thing that's made me feel capable of something are your comments, and I keep going back to them! So thank you for that, I am immensely grateful!

[lunaleen-writes]

In another life

Main Characters: Levi Ackerman/Petra Ral

 [ModernAu] AO3 link 

Summary: Petra wakes up from surgery feeling confused, a minute ago she was fighting the female titan, and now she was waking up in some place called hospital and captain Levi was her husband?!

Notes: I wrote this in like 5 minutes, I just have a terrible headache and need some good Rivetra to feel better. 

Petra had been brought back from the recovery room around half an hour ago. The doctor said the surgery went well and that she should recover without any issues, she just needed to rest and take it easy for a few weeks.

The lights were so bright, like the sun. She noticed a man sitting beside her wearing strange, dark clothes, when her eyes adjusted to the lights she realized it was her captain, Levi. What happened? Weren’t we fighting the female titan just a few moments ago? 

‘’Oww, it hurts.’’ She whimpered, placing her left hand on her lower stomach.

‘’Don’t move’’ Levi ordered, moving the chair closer to her bed. ‘’You just had surgery to have your appendix removed, how are you feeling?’’ 

‘’Am I dead?’’ She asked feeling extremely confused. One minute she was in a forest riding her horse and then she woke up in a strange place.

‘’Of course not Pet’’ He soothed, I just told you, you just had surgery, we are at the hospital.

‘’Hospital? what’s that? She asked confused, she was asleep before he could answer her                                                                                ⸻

She woke up again a couple of minutes later, Levi was still sitting next to her, he was reading something that looked like a newspaper, which he put down when he realized she was looking at him.

 ‘’Captain Levi, what happened with the female titan?’’

‘’Captain? Titan? Looks like you are still pretty out of it.’’ He said softly, slightly confused by the question, he sighed ‘And who is this captain you are talking about? Were you reading fanfiction last night?’

‘’Am I okay? She asked lethargically for a second time that day, ignoring his question. ‘’Are there no titans?’’

‘’Yes, you are fine, the effects of the anesthesia are just wearing off and that’s making you feel funny. I promise, you are okay and there are no titans here, and even if there were, I’ll protect you.’’ He reassured her, kissing her forehead.

The nurse had warned him that this was probably going to happen, most people woke up pretty confused from the anesthesia so he just let her be to not agitate her.

‘’Captain?’’

‘Yes?’’

‘’Did we save him’’

‘’Save who from what?’’

‘’Eren’’

‘’You mean my sister’s boyfriend Eren?’’ Chuckled Levi ‘’That brat is fine, they will probably come to visit you tomorrow.’’

‘’Captain, are we together?’’ She wanted to ask since she woke up, he was being so sweet and nice to her, not like he wasn’t before, but this time it was different, more intimate. The way he looked at her, his tone of voice. 

‘’What do you think?’’ Bragged Levi, pointing to the ring on his finger. She still seemed confused so he continued. ‘’Yes Petra, I am your husband, we are married.’’

‘’Oh’’ grinned Petra ‘’I’m so happy’’ She exclaimed followed by a huge yawn.

‘Yeah, you better be’’ He smiled at her. ‘’Get some rest, you are exhausted. I’ll be here when you wake up.’’ He promised. 

‘’I love being with you captain.” Petra purred, as she snuggled, going back to sleep.

‘’I love you too.’’

[lillia-leonhartfav]

Lost in the Pages, Birds for Paradis. Chapter 0

You ripped yourself away from your family duties the first chance you got. Expectations on you were higher than any of your other siblings, and you would soon find out why. Refusing to carry on the family tradition, you run away from your home and went as far south as you could. Enlisting in the 104th training cadets was how you started your life, it was the first choice you ever made for yourself without being lead to that decision by one of your parents. That's where you met them, the people who you'd eventually consider the most important in your life. You had so much in common with most of them, it was hard not to get attached. But you certainty did, attachment was inevitable. Eren Yeager, Armin Arlert, Mikasa Ackerman, Historia Reiss, Jean Kirstein, Ymir, and Reiner Braun. Those are the names of the people who made it impossible for you to stay at arms length. If it weren't for those people, your life surely wouldn't have gone about the way it did. But out of all of them? Reiner Braun, and Armin Arlert? Those two, they played the most difficult roles in your life. Both painful, and pleasant. It wasn't all bad, not at all. Some of it...was sweet. If only it could have stayed that way. *AoT Season one* In progress *AoT Season two* /Not there yet/ *AoT Season three part one* /Not there yet/ *AoT Season three part two* /Not there yet/ *AoT Season four part one* /Not there yet/ *AoT Season four part two* /Not there yet/

Reader insert fanfiction

Y/n= Your name

F/n= Father name

E/c= Eye color

H/c= Hair color

Year 847

"Is a pathetic worm like you the best at Karanese has to offer?!"

You stand at a halt, fist curled against your chest. Saluting with your heart, as your eyes try their hardest to stay away from the dark haired girl next to you. Tied up in pigtails, one on either shoulder. she shuts her eyes and shouts back, a pink tint growing in her cheeks that rises from her neck.

"Sir! I'm afraid that's the case, sir!" She shouts back, moving ever so slightly where she stood. Her shoulder bumping into yours, though you didn't move. You told yourself that you weren't allowed to move, not right now. The last thing you wanted was to speak in front of so many people, better yet the last thing you wanted was to be yelled at in front of so many.

"And your name?" The instructor shouted again, keeping his head right next to hers. Bending at the hip to tower over her, not the knees. You held your breath, "Mina Carolina, sir!" As her name was shouted back. He didn't say anything else, as he grabbed her by the top of the head, and turned her around.

there he goes. Standing back up straight, Keith Shadis. The Commandant, he turns his head to the left of Mina, staring down the empty row before him. Taking a step forwards, and stopping right in front of you. Places his hands behind his back, and slowly turns to make eye contact with you.

"What's your name." It's not a question, it's a demand and you know that. Fighting off the sigh that crawls up your throat, you clear your throat and speak up.

"Y/n." Short and simple, as you lock eyes with him. Tightening the muscles in your arm, your back, everything. Feer creeping up into you, as he slowly leans down to your height. Bending at the hips, towering over you inch by inch until his forehead is smacked against yours.

"Any last name?"

"No, sir. Just Y/n." A couple eyes shifted towards you in the mix of young soldiers lined up, everyone from the ages of twelve to sixteen. Most fall on the younger side, when it comes to the 104th training corps. You stand in on that same side, having enlisted as soon as you could. You figure the stares stem from the statement regarding your name.

"Where are you from then, just Y/n."

You don't want to say, but it's on your enlistment paperwork anyways.

"Stohess, Sir." A mix of subtle gasps surround around you at the statement. You feel your left eyebrow twitch as the eyes pile up on you, there wasn't anybody who didn't hear that who wasn't now staring at you with disbelief in their eyes. Keith Shadis took a step back himself, raising his head back up away from your forehead. Eyeing you up and down, both his eyebrows raised in accordance before he chose to speak back up again.

"You're a long ways from home. What possessed you to enlist in the most southern district, Cadet?!" He acknowledged you just now, referring to you as a cadet. The anxiety dwelled down in your stomach, nobody dared to speak a word as everyone peeled their eyes on the unlikely situation happening right in front of them.

All thinking the same thing.

If you're from Stohess, back behind wall Sina? Why would you ever enlist in the first place. Why would you enlist to Trost, if you're to enlist at all? What kind of background do you come from, is you're coming to Trost, away from Stohess? It's not doubt by now in your mind, that eventually these are questions you're going to hear from them.

But that doesn't matter.

"I come from a military family. I'm only doing what's expected of me." And just like that, half the people caught up in the attention of you looked away. Keith Shadis nodded his head, and moved on. Not asking you another question, deciding that was enough to get out of you.

Doing you a favor, by dropping it.

As he walked away onto the next person, and kept on going, you let out a sigh. Shaking your head to yourself, and loosening up your stance. The tension in your shoulders unwinding, the sweat behind your ears and neck finally making itself present in your physical standings.

Nervousness.

You turned to look away, catching a pair of amber eyes digging straight into yours. Held right below a pair of thin, light brown eyebrows. A look of confusion and disbelief being shot right through you from a boy standing across the open dirt. You raised one of your eyebrows, and shrugged your shoulder as if to ask what the hell he was staring at like that for. He simply exhaled sharply, and tore his eyes away from you.

You knew this might happen. Hoped maybe you'd be able to go a couple weeks without anyone finding out you're from Stohess, but put on the spot like that? You know already, that most of the people here already view you in a certain light. Privileged, snobby, uptight. Anything that goes along with those words?

You wouldn't be surprised if that's how you're thought of. You wouldn't blame them for it, either.

But it's just not true. None of those things are true.

This is what's expected of you, having grown up in the household you did. This was mandatory, it was never an option. One day between the ages of twelve and sixteen, you were going to enlist regardless. It was never worth having a conversation over, it was...expected.

But not like this.

You were going to do it your way, not theirs.

(This fic can also be red on Quotev and Wattpad. Coming to Archive of Our own, soon.)

[aruani]

Wir Werden Uns Wiedersehen -Bonus chapter

ao3

ff.net

[lunarfanfics]

Impulsive

Words: 1,638 | Rating: T

Pair: Eren Jaeger & Annie Leonhardt

For ereannieweek, Day 6: Predator and Prey 

I’m using my timeskip au for this one! The timeskip au is just an au I made up in which Annie never crystallized herself and is saved from Paradise and thus grows up along with Reiner & Co- and she is the one who is hailed as Vice Commander instead of Reiner etc. 

[ FF.net / AO3 ]

– —————— –

Boots splashed into pools of water, one set of feet trailing after the other. Rain pit-pattered softly on the cobblestones, and on the trash bags that littered the narrow path. Forgotten quilts hung on a clothesline two stories up between the two tenements. The stench of mildew, damp linen and moldy food permeated the air.

The two strangers stopped walking. Or rather the first one had halted suddenly, that then caused the second one staggering to a stop before they collided into the others back.

He sighed, “How long are you going to follow me?”

She countered, “How long are you going to keep ignoring me?”

“Annie…” He turned to look at her, running a hand through his wet hair, his face a mask of indifference except for the crease between his brows that gave away the irritation he was feeling than. “Go. Home.”

“I should be saying that to you.” The small blonde folded her arms, drenched and as agitated as he was. They were both such stubborn people, neither wanting to back down. He hated how similar they’d become.

He sighed again. He was too exhausted for this.

“If it helps you sleep at night, I will be… soon.” He turned from her, “Now, go home. I’m sure your father must be worried.”

He didn’t get to take one step before he was pulled back by the little force behind him. He nearly fell on top of the damned woman if not for catching himself.

“Get. Off.” He growled, trying to wretch himself free from her hold. Annie clutched onto his overcoat tighter, her pale knuckles tinting whiter than the starch overcoat he was wearing, now soaked gray from the rain.

“You think I’m going to believe you’re just going to leave like that?” She narrowed icy blue eyes, “You have a plan, I know you do…”

He squeezed his eyes shut as he exhaled. He was irritated. Wet. Tired. “I don’t want to hurt you… Just let me go, please?”

“Hurt me?” Annie loosened her hold on him, and he pulled away instantly. She cocked her head, “How exactly are you going to hurt me?”

“I’m not.” He shook his head. “I don’t want too… Just, stay away.”

“Why should I stay away?” She pressed. “What is it that you’re planning?”

He blinked, his clothes felt like they weighted tons, the dress shirt he’d stolen was sticking to his body like a second skin—he was so tired.  

“Eren.”

“Annie.”

“I know you don’t trust me,” she stepped forward, boots sinking into a rain puddle by his feet, “And I certainly do not trust you. But I have never been loyal to the Marley, I do what they tell me to do because I have no other choice, because the odds are against me. Do you understand?”

“If you’re trying to empathize with me, it’s not going to work.”

“I’m not.” She was closing in on him. “My point is, I do what I do for survival. To make a living in this cruel world. And you… there is a reason you’re here, and I want to know if you’re going to be disturbing the peace here, otherwise hindering what years I have left in this world.”  

“Peace?” He scoffed. Pausing for a moment just to peer down at her, take in her questioning icy gaze and down turned lips. She was probably afraid of the outcome of his plan—even if she did not know it.

But with Eren, she knew things always ended in guttural screams, and fire. So, she was taking an educated guess, and she was right too. But he will not relent. So again, he told her to go home. And again, she pushed, and prodded him for information.

And again, and again, and again.

“Is it so catastrophic that you’re not willing to tell me? Does the Survey Corp even know of this? Do they even know that you’re here?”

“Why do you want to know?!”

“Maybe I want to help.”

That sentence stunned him into silence. He could only open, then close his mouth because no words were coming through. Yet he managed one— “Why?”

And Annie, nonchalant as ever, shrugged. “I’m not going to live very long, so I want to spend every second I can with my father—and if your grand scheme involves leading a revolt against the Marley, it’s going to put me and him in further danger, I don’t want to be on the losing side if that’s the case.”

“You’re making a gamble with me?”

“Why not?”

“This isn’t a game Annie.”

“If you have a big secret plan—then you’ve already made it into a game. And you’ll be gambling lives… is that it?”

He looked away.

“I don’t want my father’s life to be thrown into the fray, the Marley has ruled for years… and I know, I can feel— you’re going to change that.”

“… You’ll take back those words, once you see.”

At this, Annie glared at him, “Then tell me what your plan is, and who is involved.”

He huffed a laugh, “Go home, Annie.”

She was on him before he could react, grappling his damp shirt collar and forcibly tugging him down. But he did not cower—instead he wrapped his hands around her thin wrists, and shoved her back, he was stronger than her, he always had been, she was just more technical than he was. Not this time, though.

He pushed her against the dirty brick wall—using his height to his advantage. Annie craned her neck so she could stare him in the eye, intensifying her glare, hands still fisted at his collar.

She blew wet blonde tendrils from her face. “Let go of me.”

“You let go first.”

She did, slowly. At the same time and same pace, he released her wrists, but opted to instead rest an arm above her head, leaning over her. His damp hair fell limply over one shoulder.

He grumbled, “You are so very persistent.”

“It gets annoying doesn’t it?”

Eren cracked a small smile at that.

“I’m not going to tell you anything, don’t you know that?”

“I’m not going to leave until you do.”

“You’re going to make me hurt you.”

She straightened her spine against the brick wall, hands limp by her sides, her nose upturned to stare at him in defiance. “I’d like to see you try.”

He just shook his head, not because he was refusing her challenge, but because of the sheer audacity that was Annie Leonhardt.

He leaned down, got in her face, so they could see eye to eye. “What… you’re going to make me shift right here? Right between these two buildings? Don’t you care about what happens to these people? Do you ever think about anyone else but yourself and your father?”

That got a visible flinch out of her. Still she spat, “Speak for yourself, you don’t give a shit about these people, you only care for the Eldians back on that island.”

She shoved a finger into his chest, baring her teeth, “Actually, I’m going to guess that you don’t even care about those back on the island. No, to you, they’re expendable. You do care about your friends though, don’t you? You can sacrifice anyone— everyone in the world, as long as it’s not Mikasa or Armin, or anyone else in your precious little circle of a family. Talk about hypocrisy.”

Their names on her tongue felt wrong to him. Yet everything she said was true… but she was only attempting to get under his skin with those jabs. So, he was just going to have to get into hers.

He tilted his head, so instead of leering at her face, he breathed hotly onto the pale skin of her neck. The sudden change of position made Annie stiffen, “What’re you doing?”

“Why don’t you just go home?” Eren with his free hand, played with the collar of her uniform—the Marley’s uniform, that was hanging off her lithe body like a loose skin from all this wet weather.

“I already told you—”

He roughly pulled at her collar before sinking his teeth into the juncture of her neck. She gasped, blue eyes widening, her hands immediately coming up to his chest, but she didn’t shove him off, just rested them there. Unsure of what to do, unsure of how to react.

He applied pressure, locking his jaw, until he could feel the supple flesh give way—he could taste the slight tang of copper, and warmth in his mouth. He could hear Annie make a soft— “Uh!”—sound.

He didn’t stop until the steam flooding his mouth made his eyes water, only then did he tear himself away from her. Wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his coat.

Annie was clutching at the fresh wound on her neck, staring at him incredulously.

Eren licked his lips, tasting blood and rainwater. “Go home, Annie. Go back to your father. Forget you ever saw me, and don’t worry about what I have planned.”

He turned his back to her, started walking down the alley before stopping halfway, looking over his shoulder to where she was still standing, still holding her neck like a toddler who’d just been struck.

“And… don’t go to the Liberio Festival.”

Annie furrowed her brows, puzzlement and fear washing over her at his words. “Why?”

But he had already continued down the narrow path, leaving her there in the light afternoon drizzle with his teeth marks melded into her healing flesh.

She didn’t follow him this time.

[meikuree]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Hange Zoë/Pieck Characters: Hange Zoë, Pieck (Shingeki no Kyojin), Yelena (Shingeki no Kyojin), Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, Moblit Berner Additional Tags: not really explicitly shippy, mention of canon deaths for two characters, Character Study, Introspection, Light Angst Summary:

Hange has a complicated conversation with the person who had a hand in the deaths of many of their close comrades.

(based on ch. 126; spoilers ahead)

wrote an introspective hange/pieck (sort of; it’s not really shippy) fic

[los-abs-del-erencio-papi]

Regalo Inesperado: Capítulo 3.

Gracias a los lectores de este fic. ¿Quieres seguirlo por este módulo? Bueno, sólo debes de recordar los # como el de #watashiwauridesu y aparecerá (entre otras cosas) el fic. Al final pondré los capítulos anteriores. ¡Saludos!

Capítulo 3: Encuentro.

Paraíso es una isla pequeña que colinda con naciones consideradas poderosas. Somos un reino pequeño, con conflictos políticos tan confusos que ni los mismos profesores de historia se toman el tiempo en explicar. Enfocándose, por el contrario, en la idea de que somos una de las pocas naciones con filosofía ecológica. Esto, gracias a la colaboración entre algunas familias poderosas con consciencia “verde”, quienes decidieron crear una empresa enfocada en productos amigables con el ambiente; generando independencia energética a tal punto, que nuestras reservas petroleras no son necesarias para la producción de electricidad en esta pequeña isla.

Esa independencia ha mantenido intacta esos recursos naturales con alto precio en el mercado mundial, convirtiéndonos en una isla deseada para aquellas naciones sedientas por algo de petróleo. Por ello, es vital, mantener una flota marina poderosa, una buena relación con los vecinos y la presencia de una cabeza de gobierno que tenga como prioridad, proteger el oro negro oculto en ciertas zonas claves de Paraíso. Con el fin de evitar una guerra innecesaria que, en caso de perder; nos quitaría los pozos de la fuente de energía más utilizada a nivel mundial. Pozos aún no explotados en nuestro reino desde su descubrimiento hace más de un siglo atrás.  

 -Señorita -indicó la voz ronca de ese joven de cabellera castaña y con un rostro muy semejante al del chico rebelde -. Las maletas han sido colocadas en el carruaje. Usted irá en el primer carruaje junto con un par de soldados que la resguardarán hasta su destino.

-Ya veo… -respondí con un rostro inexpresivo, sintiendo poco interés por el tema en ese momento, al estar más preocupada por el bienestar de mis padres.

 “Las malditas maletas pueden esperar” pensé; girando sutilmente mis ojos en dirección a mi padre, para regresar hacia donde mi madre se había movido con el fin de observar la posición de cada uno dentro de esa sala de estar.

 -Por cierto… -dije en voz alta, posando mis ojos sobre la mirada amigable de ese joven - ¿Qué hay de mi gato? –le pregunté como modo de desviar la atención en mis padres y en el hecho que; cualquier movimiento extraño, pudiese implicar la muerte innecesaria y repentina de mis progenitores en sólo segundos.

-Su felino ha sido colocado en el carruaje junto con las maletas -respondió, sujetando suavemente mi mano derecha para que caminase un par de pasos junto con él -. Espero que no haya ningún problema -continuó -. Uno de sus acompañantes es alérgico a los felinos, y no es saludable que su gato permanezca cerca. Dudo que desee pasar todo el viaje escuchando estornudos, señorita.

 El sonido era lo de menos, en realidad. Las babas sobre mi rostro no era tampoco un problema, mas no quería que culpasen a mi gato por incomodar a un soldado.

 -No hay problema… -murmuré, mirando fijamente la espalda ejercitada de ese soldado al caminar en dirección a la salida de mi casa.

 La estatura de ese joven era menor a la de ese musculoso rubio amante de las pinturas, mas no debía tomarse a la ligera esos centímetros menos. Su cuerpo estaba muy bien ejercitado, y no lo sabía únicamente porque su mano sujetaba la mía con fuerza, sino porque esa tela negra dejaba entrever fácilmente su musculatura, esa espalda ancha como consecuencia de los ejercicios; y esas piernas bien torneadas por el constante entrenamiento que debía realizar diariamente en su cuartel.

 “Rayos, eso no es bueno” me dije al ser arrastrada a la entrada, comprendiendo cada vez más que eso de escapar no me sería nada fácil con tantos hombres jóvenes fuertes, musculosos y altos a mi alrededor.

 -Me gustan los gatos -indicó, interrumpiendo mis pensamientos. Manteniendo su mano alrededor de la mía al caminar -. Aunque prefiero a los perros -dijo algo divertido al final -. Son más… Como decirlo… ¿Sociables? -preguntó más para sí mismo que para mi persona.

 Como si hubiese chocado con un muro invisible, ese joven se detuvo de forma repentina.

 -Señor… -murmuró, soltando mi mano para inclinarse.

 No comprendí nada de lo que estaba pasando. Era como si todos esos locos vestidos de negro, repentinamente hubiesen visto a un Dios; inclinándose rápidamente para saludarlo.

Mirando de un lado a otro con el fin de entender quién esa esa persona tan importante que había ingresado, decidí caminar unos cuantos pasos hacia adelante, rebasando al joven amante de los perros para ver al invitado.

 -Deténgase, señorita -indicó, colocando su mano sobre mi abdomen, manteniendo su posición inclinada con su rostro agachado -. Detrás de mí, por favor.

 Su rápida reacción me tomó por sorpresa.

 “Con que esa es la manera en la que actúa un soldado bien entrenado” pensé, colocándome detrás de él como me lo había sugerido.

 -Buenas… -murmuró ese hombre de baja estatura al ingresar a mi sala.

 Las cosas comenzaban a ponerse color de hormiga.

 -Espero que todos la estén pasando de maravilla -indicó algo altanero el varón, mirando primeramente el piso, luego el techo y por último las pinturas sobre la pared -. Ah… -murmuró, girando rápidamente su cuerpo en mi dirección -. Finalmente… -expresó sonriente, quitando el sombrero de su cabeza.

 El hombre que había aparecido repentinamente en mi sala, tenía pocos cabellos de color negro sobre su cabeza, era regordete y tenía ojos de una tonalidad muy particular.

 “Creo que su coloración es semejante a los ojos de Kenny” maquiné, levantando involuntariamente mis cejas al ver que su mirada se había encontrado con la mía.  

 -Hanji -exclamó, dando un par de pasos hacia adelante.

 La persona que se dirigía hacia mí no era cualquier individuo. No en este reino, ni mucho menos en las afueras de Paraíso. Su sangre cargaba poder político, económico y según las malas lenguas; poderes ocultos.

 -Príncipe -murmuré, imitando la reverencia de los soldados vestidos de negro.

 No era simplemente el príncipe del reino de las murallas quien había entrado a mi puerta. Ese hombre quien vestía unos elegantes zapatos de cuero fino de color negro; era el hijo mayor de los Fritz, y si la suerte le acompañaba, sería el siguiente en portar la corona sobre esa cabeza medianamente calva.

……………………………………………….

Gracias por pasarte por este canal ~

Capítulo 1

Capítulo 2

[levi-sbooty]

Chapter two of my new work is out now <3

[eveningstargazer]

From the Ground: Part 2/3 * SNK Ereri Fic * * * Never has he been so desperate for a ritual to work. * * My first attempt at an Instagram formatted drabble. This format was an adventure in and of itself, so I hope you enjoy...lmk what you think! #snk #snkfic #ereri #ererifanfic #angst #fanfic #mistlillywrites #erenxlevi #aot #aotfanfic https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ILaA6B_1V/?igshid=fahj12jkmzg5

[jandthestories]

Masterpost

April 14th / T / Incomplete The term is coming up. People will die. Marco keeps a journal.

En Chocolat / T / Ongoing After dropping out of college, Marco's self-esteem takes a hit. He returns to his hometown to work in his mother's store, but almost all of his friends have moved away and made something of their lives. One day Jean walks into the store, who Marco soon learns has dropped out of college to take care of his unexpected son, and Marco can't help but admire him. And that's how Marco's unexpected journey into parenthood begins.

Kiss me again / T / Complete (one-shot) Jean learns, kiss by kiss, how to let himself be vulnerable.

New Music / M / Complete (two-shot) Marco is at the local music bar he frequents when he catches a blond metalhead staring at him, and he's surprisingly up for it (and his sister complains, but she approves), and then his feelings get out of hand.

Upside Down / T / Complete (one-shot) Popular YouTuber Jean Kirschstein gets an invitation for two to a private Christmas party, but the evening goes nothing like he'd expected. His date isn’t much interested in him. Someone else is.

[itsclydebitches]

Title: Hailing Frequencies Open 

Summary: For the @fuckyeahererifanfic 2017 prompt collection. You can find the original prompt here. 

Levi is a perpetually pissed off, cleaning compulsive, grade-A asshole who may or may not have a romantic side buried deep, deep down. Now though? He just wants his Netflix account fixed. He's not prepared for the nerdy service rep who barges in and confuses his poor, homosexual heart.

Words: 5,270

Fandom: Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin

Rating: Teen and Up

Warnings: Levi’s language

Pairing: Levi/Eren

Characters: Levi, Eren, Hange, Erwin, mentions of Armin, Mikasa, Petra, and Mike

Where to read it? On AO3

[levis-coffeecup]

chapter 28| The Aftermath

WC-4.5k

Summary

The underground is filthy and dark. Dim lights, dull alleys, and desperate hearts. A place Levi knows as well as the back of his hand, and a place he would do anything to get out of.

Chapters of life roll by and with the turn of a page, things drastically change. In front of him is the opportunity to live on the surface. And the flimsy bridge that he has to cross. From an uncivil criminal to a disciplined soldier.

But life on the surface seems tougher amidst all the mockery, civilities, and the gaping hole left in his heart, after the demise of his dear friends Isabel and Farlan.

Content/Warnings

canon- compliant, canon-typical violence, spoilers for No Regrets OVA, descriptions of PTSD, grief, depression, heavy angst and themes, strong language, self-hate, physical assault.

Author’s Note

Hiii guyssss,

This is the last chapter of the storyyy! And I can't wait for you guys to read it! (it's so hard to believe that I've finally completed this)

To everyone who's continued to put up with my erratic updates, I am so so grateful to have you here!! I hope this story was as enjoyable for you to read, as much as I enjoyed writing it!

This chapter takes place after the Rumbling, (aftermath refers to the aftermath of the Rumbling)

I hope you like this chapter as well! And this ending gives you all the feels lol!

Song for this chapter is The Joys And Sorrows Of Life by Johannes Bornlöf

Chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Masterlist | Playlist | Other Works

JUN 854

The city of Jinae looks different without the walls.

The sun is scorching, and the streets are a blur of the heat waves rising from the cobblestone. And somewhere in the distance, someone argues about the morality of the Rumbling.

Mae is tired, maybe it's the afternoon heat, or maybe it's just the baby in her tummy that has made her womb so big. She drags her feet through the alleys of the market, wiping the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand.

The produce looks fresh, excellent for the apple pie she's planning to make.

Raz trails behind her too, with a pained look on her face. She rests her hands on her knees, taking a moment to catch her breath. "Mae...You need to be at home resting... Instead of wandering in this horrible heat for a pie you want to make."

Mae halts for a minute, throwing a wistful look ahead at what's left of her lover. "But I want to make something for Levi... Don't you see how miserable he looks? He's not even spoken a word to me since he's come back from his mission."

And Raz presses her lips into a thin line, silencing her frustration.

"You know, the smell of my pies always made him happy. He would always take an extra slice when I wasn't looking." A warm smile crawls on Mae's face, and she remembers all the good times spent over pies and tea.

Her gaze falls down at the growing swell of her stomach. It's huge now, so huge that she can't see her toes when she looks down. And a cheeky grin spreads on her face.

She can't wait to make pies for both him and their child.

"Mae please," Raz sighs, tears well up in her eyes, and she increases her pace and catches up to her. "It's painful to watch you like this."

"Don't worry about me Raz," She beams with pride. "I'll be patient with him, I've always been patient with him."

What stands in front of her, is a ghost of what Levi used to be. His face is gaunt and pallid, and his sunken eyes are filled with emptiness. And yet she smiles back at him, patient and faithful.

The love in her eyes never fades, no matter what condition Levi might be in.

A couple meters away from her is an old lady sitting with baskets of apples. "Don't these apples look wonderful!" She exclaims, hoping to pull a reaction out of Levi.

The old lady smiles. "They are very juicy and crunchy, the best batch we've got in months."

"Ahh!" Mae exclaims. "It would make an amazing pie filling then, am I right?" She looks at him again, but no matter what she does, the lifelessness in his gaze never changes. And his mouth still remains pressed in a grim line, devoid of any hint of a smile.

Her patience runs thins, and her pregnancy hormones catch the best of her,

"You know it's rude not to reply back, DON'T YOU?" She yells, agitated. She's dripping in sweat, carrying her 6 month pregnant belly, and he can't even acknowledge her presence.

The people around her turn, caught off guard by her sudden outburst.

And Raz pinches the bridge of her nose. "MAE STOP IT!."... She scolds, as she grabs her wrist, and drags her towards the end of the market.

The walk is short and soon the scenery changes. The liveliness of the market drifts into the haunting silence of a cemetery.

And Raz pulls Mae through the hundreds of headstones planted over the grass, until she finds the one of the Lance Corporal. She knows the route like the back of her hand now.

The Lavender flowers they kept on his grave 2 days ago have wilted.

And Mae shudders as she steps closer to it. All her illusions shatter and she's held hostage to the cruelty of the world once again.

"N-No Raz," her voice crumbles, and she takes a step back, nodding her head in denial. " H-he was s-supposed to come back after the w-war."

The silence is haunting. And Mae recalls seeing this scene a million times before, in the dreams that would terrorize her sleep.

"I-its a bad dream... it's just a bad dream." she croaks, almost tripping on another gravestone behind her.

And she waits for Levi's arms to pull her out of this never ending nightmare. She waits to feel his tight embrace.

But there's only silence.

"He wouldn't have left me alone." The disbelief in her voice is palpable.

This is the reality of war. Some are lost, some are sacrificed, and some survive.

But rarely, do they remain whole enough to thrive.

"Enough of this foolishness Mae," Raz snaps.

It's the same routine everyday. With Mae pretending that Levi is next to her and alive, and Raz dragging her to his grave until she breaks down over and over again.

Her fingers latch onto Mae's wrist and she pulls her away. "It's been 2 weeks, and y- you need to take better care of your child.... come home with me right now."

But Mae stands paralyzed,overrun by the possibility of what could have been.

Her mind drowns in dissonance, and her heart outrightly rejects the thought of him leaving.

They were supposed to have two kids. They were supposed to open his tea shop as well. There were dreams she had nurtured with so much patience.

So how did they wilt before they got the chance to bloom?

And how did the plans she held so close to her heart become unattainable?

She feels numb. And she hides her voice in a broken whisper. " H-he can't leave me Raz... I-I gave him everything I could... A-all my love... All my e-energy a-and time."

Far away on the ground, lies a crumbled newspaper.

'Humanity's Strongest shattered to pieces due to a thunder spear explosion' it says. And just below the heading is an illustration of him, bleeding on the grass with scars on his face, and 2 fingers amputated.

The earth trembles. The lavenders grieve beneath their violet blooms. And the roses quiver by the tombs, lamenting the departed who rest beneath the hush of the graveyard.

"Fine then," Raz resigns, as she starts walking away ."If you're gonna keep being such a wreck then go be it. Come back to me when some sense has been knocked into your skull."

And Mae turns to the stone that is left of her lover. The moment draws, there's silence, loss and an unfinished promise.

Its gray falls dull compared to his eyes.

And then she breaks. Falling to her knees on the grass.

Grief leaks from her so violently, it frays her voice.

She sobs like a child who's lost in the dark. And his name falls from her lips like a dying wish. She whispers it over and over, as if saying it enough could bring him back.

Her ears crave to hear his voice. But there's nothing.

Languidly her arms drape around his stone. But the stone is cold. And Levi Ackerman is gone

A shining star in the colossal sky. So beautiful, so unattainable.

And just like she'd told him that day, he ran too fast. He left her behind.

When she opens her eyes again, there's rage in them. She wants to scream. She wants to hurt all over her body like it does deep inside her heart.

"You didn't come back to me, Levi," Her bitterness burns her into the edge of destruction and she punches his stone, until it makes her knuckles bleed. "How dare you break my heart like this?"

The wind turns cold, and darkness envelopes.

The grass is lush, and below that is Levi.

With no more loyalties, promises and responsibilities.

For years she loved the remnants of him. What was left of him after the Survey Corps took his best.

There were tales he didn't pay attention to. There were letters he didn't respond to. And she waited for years, hoping that one day he would come back with his duties behind him.

But the war consumed him before she ever could.

She didn't even get to see his body, before he got buried underground.

"I was saving all along to buy you your tea shop," Her voice shatters... "I almost had the entire amount." She traces over the carving of his name on his stone.

The walls are gone, and the world is at peace, but there's chaos in her life. And peace shall never touch her, not when the pain of losing her lover drags her into hell.

"What sins am I being punished for?" She weeps. Damned, absolved, condemned by her love. "Why am I always the one being left behind?"

The petals of the Lavenders she kept, fly off with the wind. The cold claws at her skin.

The road back is long and home is nowhere to be found.

And Mae lays down on his grave, with the harrowing void in her heart. Hoping the god of death blesses her with a visit soon, just like he did to her lover.

_______________________

The Survey Corps headquarters stand long forgotten.

The bricks, once a vibrant red, have faded to a muted rust, some crumbling and others overtaken by ivy and moss. The windows are translucent now, their glass fogged with grime, and dust.

The sun is long gone, and the headquarters look ghastly. But Mae doesn't want to go back to Raz, not when the sight of her and her husband living happily burns holes through her heart.

It takes her all of her strength to open the heavy door. The handles are rusted, and a cloud of dust welcomes her as she manages to push it open.

The interior of the headquarters is doused in darkness.

The fire from the torches is long blown off. The air is thick with the scent of decay and there's dust everywhere.

These hallways that were once vibrant with laughter and activity, are now soulless. Everyone's gone and an eerie silence has taken their place.

Levi would have hated seeing things this way.

Soon she reaches the gate of his quarters, and her heart shudders as she pushes it open.

The darkness is overwhelming, but she walks into it nonetheless. Just like the cemetery, grief awaits her here too,

All the time she's spent in these quarters makes them familiar. And even through the darkness she manages to walk to Levi's desk and pull a candle out from the first drawer.

The room comes alive with the flickering light of the candle. AndMae's eyes rove around, vision blurred with tears.

The ghost of his love haunts the bedroom, ever present in the bed that they made love in, and the couch where countless minutes were spent in silence.

It's a bitter reminder of how much she has lost.

And she wants to trash this place around.

His promise to save the world, ended up destroying hers.

And now she doesn't know how to live anymore.

Her grief comes crashing down on her, all over again. And Mae sulks, close to regretting her decision to be with him years back.

His room is exactly as she remembers, with a single bed under the window, and a small wooden cupboard on the opposite end.

And as she walks closer to it, her attention is caught by the fabric of his shirt that is pinched between the doors of his cupboard. He must have left in a rush.

She walks towards it, to shut it close. But as she opens the doors, a pile of his clothes falls to the floor.

He must have really left in a hurry, unless someone came in and snooped into his room.

It's a bit of a struggle to bend down, with her pregnant belly. But Levi hates messes and so she sits amidst the clutter of his clothes. Folding them in the same meticulous way he did it.

And that's when she notices the big cardboard box far at the back, kept at the bottom shelf.

It's probably all his belongings or a dump of his paperwork, but she pulls it out nevertheless, hoping to find anything that could give her closure.

The box is heavy and she puts it down on the floor.

The first thing she sees are all the letters she's ever written to him. Stacked in a tidy pile, in one corner.

Her breath catches in her throat. And the more she sifts through the box, the more she realizes that everything inside is just about her.

There's an empty box of a premium tea she got him for her birthday, and there's containers of all the spices she would get to make his food at the Survey Corps less bland.

There are books that she would read to him, and even a tag of a pair of socks she got him for the winters.

Her hands start to tremble.

Levi has preserved everything she's ever given him. Even the dried petals of the flowers she would gift him on his birthdays are neatly kept in an envelope.

Time slows down- and every moment is like a stab through her heart. Their entire journey as lovers passes through her eyes in a painful flash.

And she remembers being beyond the moon when she heard about the successful mission in Marley. Levi was alive, and he'd come back valiant.

She couldn't wait to see him again.

But then he wrote her a letter saying that Sasha was dead and to keep her distance, since Zeke was around.

She never thought that was the last time she would hear from him.

Everything that she once held close has been snatched, ripped apart from her heart. His presence has assimilated back into the soil that he came from

And she can only suffer, until she forgets the texture of his voice, and the butterflies she gets from his calloused touch.

It feels like the weight of the world has come crashing down on her shoulders. The feeling is agonizing. And she buries her head into the teddy bear she gifted him on the day he was shifting.

At the bottom of the box is an unassuming white envelope. It's paper isn't yellow like that of all her letters. And she gulps as she sees her name written on top of if, in his neat handwriting.

It feels heavier than usual, and her hand trembles as she breaks the seal open.

Inside is a single sheet of paper, folded neatly. And as she tilts the envelope to take the letter out, something metallic tumbles out, clinking softly against the floor.

Her eyes widen, and she slaps her hand over her mouth.

It's a wedding ring.... the same expensive, pearl ring that she saw in the market at Mitras.

Guttural sobs leak out of her mouth, and she wonders if the clenching inside her heart will ever stop. Because right now, her grief feels larger than the life she has ahead of her.

And with the last of her strength she opens his letter and reads it.

To my dearest Mae,

I remember the last time I was with you. The morning before I left

There was a heaviness in the air, wasn't it? You were busy making breakfast for me. And I could see the sadness that you were trying so hard to hide. For some reason I was scared to wipe your tears away, because a part of me knew I was the reason behind it.

It pains me to see you sad. It pains me to be away from you as well.

Today as I'm writing this, the world around me is on the brink of collapse. The future is so uncertain, and we don't know if Eren is on our side anymore.

I can't seem to read through anyone's intentions. Zeke is still an emotionless bastard, pretending to have compassion. And Eren... for once all the sacrifices I made seem useless. My squad died for this... Erwin died for this. A war seems inevitable, yes... and that is the only thing I'm sure of.

But this letter is not about me, it's about you.

War....Its destructive, its quick decisions taken against the fear clawing your mind. Its finding a way to win with a blade pressed to your neck. It's something you can never process until it finally ends.  All my life I've known war. All my life I've won things through violence. I've taken quick decisions, not having too much time to ponder. But I hope you know that after a million of quick decisions and unforeseen hurdles , you're the only one that's felt right.

Sometimes I wonder how I got to have you by my side for so long. I can't believe we've come so far together. But I believe my luck has run out and my reprieve is over. I'm a sinned man after all.

Lucky would be the man, who gets to come home to you.

All my life I've known to survive. But you taught me to take a break and live. Thank you for staying by my side, when I gave you a million reasons not to.

You asked me if I believed in the afterlife. And I said yes, because somewhere the concept of all the people I have lost being together, and me having the chance to meet them, gave me comfort. But what is gone is gone. It can never come back. And fantasies like the afterlife hardly bring much solace to me, now that I stand at the edge of this war.

But I still hope that one day I get to meet you again. If not in the afterlife, then in another lifetime perhaps.

If you're reading this letter, then I'm probably dead. There's now way I'd let anyone touch this letter if my body was alive.

So go and be with someone, who'll have the courage to wipe your tears away. Go be with someone who'll be able to give you the love that you gave me. Be with someone who'll write you letters everyday.

The promise we made that night is still etched in my head. And you know how I am with my promises. You best believe that I've kept my part and now it's time for yours.

This letter is long, I can't believe I've written all this much. I hope it makes up for all the things I've kept bottled all along.

This journey has been painful, but if given a choice, I would do it all over again.

I hope that we have left this world a better, a safer place.

So go, live your life. I know you have a habit of sulking, and you're probably crying as you're reading through this. So stay with Raz and be kind to yourself.

Go walk on the grass, when the sunlight is warm.

I'll be watching over you.

-Yours always,

Levi

_______________________

The sunlight slithers past the gaps in the curtains, forcing the darkness of the bedroom to fade away.

The light is overbearing and unwelcome. And Mae struggles to blink her eyes open.

It's been a week since she's caged herself in his room. And she's still here, lying in a pile of his clothes that are slowly losing his scent.

She believes she's cried so much that she's out of tears.

It feels like the pain she feels, has found its abode in her heart and permanently

settled there.

She's lost the privilege of being able to trace over his scars. Or taste his lips as she captured them in a kiss. She'll never be able to hear his voice again. And no amount of memory can make her feel the warmth of his skin.

He's gone from this world, and she has lost him forever.

The storm that ripped her life apart, has finally settled down, and Mae is getting used to living in the destruction it has caused.

She believes that the entire world's grief has been spilt through her eyes.

And the state of Levi's room tells. It's as chaotic as her mental state.

There are pages scattered all over the floor. His cupboard is open, and its contents are littered all around. The bed is a mess as well, filled with the clothes Levi once used to wear. And his blanket is wadded at the foot of the bed.

It's quiet as usual, devoid of the sound of his movements. Outside the window, a twig from a tree drops to the ground.

And Mae watches its fall, still devoid of the strength to step out.

Knocks on the door startle her and she stirs, forcing herself to get up. It's probably Raz.

She came looking for Mae, the next day, awfully guilty and embarrassed for leaving her all alone at the cemetery.

Raz was nice enough to get her food twice everyday. Without her, Mae's corpse would have been rotting on the bed.

But what awaits her on the other side of the door is not Raz. Instead, in front of her stand two burly men, armed with guns in their hands.

They size her up and the mess of the room behind her.

She must be someone close to the Captain. Her state can tell.

All of a sudden, one of the two is stepping closer. With his fists balled at his sides, and an evident scowl on his face. "Who were you to that Traitor of a Captain?" he spits.

And Mae narrows her eyes at him.

They called him a hero before and then they called him a traitor.

The courageous captain. He was rude and selfless, deadly and kind. Proud, humble, strong-willed and reckless. And he was also so much more.

He was the lives he carried on his tired shoulders. He was the strength to keep moving forward even in the moments that broke him

But at the end of the day, when he took off his ODM gear, and stood in front of her without the weight of the world on his shoulders. In his scarred skin, and his broken bones. With the tidiness of a maniac and the patience of a ticking bomb.

It didn't take a genius to realize that Levi was so much more than the glory of his battles.

All of a sudden Mae can taste the salt of her tears on her lips. "He wasn't a traitor...He fought for humanity, all of humanity," she chokes.

He was his bravery, but he was also his restless mannerisms. He was the piece of his mom's gown that he wore as his cravat. And he was the pink on his cheeks when she called him beautiful. There were parts of him that were only hers to love, and to accept.

He was her pride and joy. Her hope in this godless world. And if the Yeagerists weren't around, maybe Levi could have gotten some medical assistance and survived.

"If you are one of the Yeagerists, you're not welcome here." She hisses, absolutely appalled. And then her voice turns into something sadder. "It's not like he can harm you anymore."

And just as she's closing the door, the other soldier steps in, putting his body in the closing gap.

It doesn't take him much strength to push the door open. Afterall he is a member of the military and she's weak from all her grief.

Mae's eyes widen with fear. She would have never thought they would stoop low enough to hurt a pregnant woman.

But he has a softer look on his face, which somehow contradicts his rough appearance. "Ease off, miss. We're not Yeagerists." And then he throws a glare at the soldier before he huffs. "Also Samuel... cool down please."

"We're not Yeagerists, but it wasn't fair for Commander Hange to kill her comrades, and to side with the outside world." Samuel scoffs, brimming with resentment.

Turmoil is thick in the Eldian Empire now. There's always been two sides of a coin, and hostility has spread its claws, holding it's people in the vice grip.

"Sorry, his brother was killed at the Paradis Harbour... in the fight to take the flying boat."

And Mae stays quiet, replaying his words in her mind. She has no consolation in her heart for his loss. The flying boat took off... but Hange never came back, nor did Armin, Mikasa or Jean... For all she knows, they were also crushed, just like the outside world.

Ships were sent two days after the Rumbling to see what was left of the world. But it's been a month and there hasn't been an update yet.

Guess that tells plenty about the extent of destruction caused by Eren. She can't believe she used to once feed snacks to that nervous little child.

"We're the Royal Queen's guards." The calmer soldier speaks out again. "My name is Claus. And we're here to empty out the headquarters... The Survey Corps no longer exists, and so it's the Queens Order-"

"The Captain's belongings will go nowhere." Mae cuts him off. " I'm taking everything with me."

And Samuel laughs sardonically, eyeing her pregnant womb. "And who exactly are you to the captain... a road gig? I'm pretty sure the Captain never married anyone."

And Mae knows she's supposed to defend herself. But she can't. The thought of putting together a few words makes her feel like she's going to plummet.

The world has given her so many trials. It has tested her at every age. She's tired now, so tired that she just wants to rest.

Get up and face the world. The message comes to her like a ray of light, in pitch blackness.

Get up and face the world. That's what Levi has always done.

It's as if she can hear his voice thrum somewhere in the back of her mind.

And that's what she will do. For the part of him that's growing inside of her.

She raises her right hand to make their allegations stop. And the pearl ring in her finger shines bright in the sunlight.

"I'm the widow he left behind."

Author's note:

I see you've made it to the end:)

I know some of you must be surprised with Levi being dead, but Floch was the only one who thought Levi might still be alive, and Floch died, so I think the news that would have gone out to the newspapers would be of Levi dying.

Also let me know if Mae being pregnant came out of nowhere.

I had left small clues of Mae being pregnant in the last chapter (her crying so much because Levi was leaving and wanting him to stay, and her placing his hands on the swell of her belly). Don't know if it was obvious though, please let me know if I should mention it more directly in her thoughts in the previous chapter.

Please let me know what you thought of this chapter. Any comments really make my day, and I would love to know what you thought of the fic!

Many thanks!

Also since I'm a graphic designer and I really want to get into illustration, I will make a book cover for this book and get one copy printed for me (let me know if you would be interested to see that, just incase)

(PS: this is not the last chapter lol. I was just messing with you all lol. Last chapter will be out in 2-3 weeks as I'm still not done with it)

[lunaleen-writes]

‘’You fainted straight into my arms. You know, if you wanted my attention you didn't have to go to such extremes’’

Main characters: Levi Ackerman/Petra Ral

Notes: This is a prompt I saw around tumblr ages ago. I had this  draft on my GoogleDrive since 2015. So yeah just posting it. It’s not really good but enjoy :)

[Levi/Petra] [Modern AU]

She had been sick with a pretty bad cold for the past few days. So she knew it wasn't probably the greatest idea to go to a concert in a crowded bar that night but it was a date with Levi, THE Levi. She had been crushing hard on him for almost a year.

He finally asked her out on a random day, he casually mentioned that his band, Wings of Freedom had a concert and that she should definitely go.

There was no way that she was going to cancel, despite how she was feeling.

She took some painkillers for her migraine and body aches along with cough medicine.

The ride in the car was nice. They talked about music, food, his car, the other bands that were going to be playing.

Levi’s band was the closing act so they had plenty of time to hang out at the venue. Around half an hour before their time to perform, he had to go backstage so he left her with their group of friends.

When Wings of Freedom came up on stage, she and Hange move amongst the crowd to go to the front, the venue wasn’t that big, so he could see her from across the stage. They were amazing, despite feeling quite ill she was having a great time, that until they started to play their fifth song.

She started to feel cold even though she was surrounded by sweaty people jumping around, her vision went fuzzy, she felt like her head was underwater. She tried to warn Hange and grab onto her but before she knew it, her body was falling to the floor.

‘’Petra, wait. Oh shit.’’ Was the last thing she heard before her vision went black.

As soon as Levi realized what was happening, he stopped playing and jumped off the stage, leaving his band members confused.

                                                        ⸻

When she opened her eyes again she was laying down on a couch, her legs elevated, her ears were ringing, but she could hear different voices around her calling her, asking if she was alright.

 “Hey, Hey. Look at me.” It was Levi, he looked worried. As soon as she was fully conscious he helped her sit up and gave her a bottle of water. ‘’What happened? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?’’

‘’What happened?’’ She asked confused and a little embarrassed, his whole band and some other people she could not recognize were looking at her. 

‘’You fainted.’’ Pointed out Hange. ‘��Here, eat this.’’ She gave her a piece of gum. ‘’You almost gave me a heart attack down there.’’

After a few minutes, everyone went back to whatever they were doing before she had been brought backstage, the concert was already over so the majority of people were just moving instruments around or saying bye to each other, Hange had gone back to their group of friends to let them know that Petra was ok.

‘’I’m sorry Levi’’ She apologized with her eyes downcast. She was fiddling with her fingernails,    feeling embarrassed, not only for passing out in a place with so many people but for doing it in the middle of one of their songs.

‘’Don’t worry about it, that was the last song in the set anyway, are you feeling better now?’’

‘’Yeah, I think so.’’

‘’You know, If you wanted my attention you didn't have to go to such extremes.’’ He said, mostly to tease her. ‘’I came here with you on a date after all.’’

‘’Leviii, I said I was sorry’’ She replied covering her face with her hands totally mortified.

‘’ I know, I know I’m just kidding, let’s go. I’ll take you home.’’

[ackermom]

erwin/levi. this is not a foot fetish [rewrite]

When he wrings the washcloth, water trickles over his hands and drips into the tub. Soap foams up: white and cold. It sticks between his fingers, and he dips his hands into the water to rinse them, then draws them back up and wrings the washcloth again. He kneels at the end of the tub. His knees crack. He reaches over the edge of the basin, the wet washcloth heavy in his hands. He grabs one of Erwin’s feet; but it jerks away and collapses back into the tub with a splash.

“Your hands are cold,” Erwin murmurs. 

He sits at the head of the cast iron tub, pressed back into the curved end, his arm spread along the rim of the basin. Levi ignores him; he plunges his hand back into the water and curls his fingers around the ankle of Erwin’s right leg. The water swallows and plunges when he pulls the foot back up and sets it on the edge of the tub. He grips the washcloth in his other hand.

“Stop whining,” Levi says. “You’re filthy.”

He turns the washcloth in his hand and squeezes it again; soapsuds slip through his fingers. He holds Erwin’s heel in the palm of his hand. The skin is raw, ripe, burned from boot and work. Levi runs his fingers up the spine of Erwin’s foot, across the red line of callouses, and a hard muscle tenses beneath his touch. He continues, dutifully, pressing the washcloth against the skin, and scrubs away the war. 

He washes Erwin’s feet. He scrubs between toes, across arches, around heels, runs the washcloth over worn skins, brushes his fingers over bruises. 

When he finishes, he stands. His knees crack. He crosses to the head of the tub, his feet slapping in the puddles of water on the wooden floor. He bends, pruned fingers brushing over Erwin’s hair, and sits on the righthand edge of the tub. His fingers trail downward, sliding down ear and jaw until they come to cup Erwin’s chin, and Levi closes his eyes, bending down until their foreheads are pressed together.

“Levi,” Erwin breathes. 

Levi turns his face up, kisses Erwin’s forehead, then draws his hands away and turns his face towards the floor. From the corner of his eye, he watches blood seep into the water. He drums his finger against the edge of the tub.

“We need to change your bandages,” he murmurs.

“Kiss me first,” Erwin says. 

“Stop,” Levi says. “We need to change your bandages.”

“Levi.”

Levi looks at him. He watches him for a moment, both of them silent, and then Erwin leans forward in the tub, the water sloshing and jumping against his chest, and reaches out with his hand to clasp around the back of Levi’s head, rooting his fingers in his hair. His hand clenches for a moment; then it drops, running back down Levi’s arm to brush their hands together over the edge of the tub.

“Kiss me,” Erwin says.

Levi obeys. 

He leans in: fingers twined together with Erwin’s, he bends forward and presses their lips together, cold but gentle, he kisses him, loves him, promises to stay with him.

Levi pulls away first, remembering the blood in the water. “We need to change your bandages,” he says.

Erwin clenches his hand, lifts it towards his lips, and kisses Levi’s bruised knuckles.

“O Captain, my Captain,” he murmurs. “Why are you so good to me?”

[aruani]

Update: Wir Werden Uns Wiedersehen ch 27

ao3

ff.net

[lunarfanfics]

Paths

Words: 2,774 | Rating: G

Pair: Eren Jaeger & Annie Leonhardt

MAJOR SPOILERS UP TO THE RECENT CHAPTER 126.

I just thought of Eren & Annie having a mind chat via the PATHS dimension like Rey and Ben having a chat via the force. idk I'm thirsting for eren/annie interaction

[ FF.net / AO3 ]

-----------------------------------------

Every bump on the road jostled her body as the small blonde tucked herself further into the corner of the wagon. And each time she was nearly thrown off before she could grab a hold of something, Annie wondered if this choice she made was a good one. Perhaps it wasn’t a good one, but it seemed that the world threw her a bone and like a hungry dog, she had no choice but to take it.

At the very least she had left something for Hitch. Annie hoped her former roommate would not resent her for leaving so early when they had just reacquainted, albeit forcefully. This trip would’ve been too dangerous for the sandy-haired MP soldier anyway.

Annie sat near a barrel at the very end of a four-wheeler supply wagon being manned by Armin Arlert, the movement at the back was more erratic. Every whip from Armin had the steeds galloping as if they were being chased by man-eating giants. She could have made herself a spot at the front where she wouldn’t be thrown around so often, but that mousy haired girl—who had big eyes vaguely like a boy she once knew—gave her wary looks. The little fair haired boy called Falco would occasionally toss curious glances her way too.

Those two kids were part of the warrior unit—like she had been. That’s what the little girl—who had introduced herself as Gabi Braun— told her. Gabi had been next in line to inherit the Armored titan, with Falco who had been competing against her.

But certain things went astray before Reiner could choose who to pass the torch too.

And now Falco has inherited the Jaw titan. Annie doesn’t remember Porco Galliard much, but she did remember his courageous brother, Marcel. She wondered if both brothers harbored secret feelings for Reiner, considering they both had risked their lives to save him. She’s sure she wouldn’t have done the same in their place.

She still has some grudges against the armored titan for the years of manipulative abuse he pulled on her. In fact, if she ever saw his face again, she just might kick it.

Fortunately for her, the destination they were heading was a run-down home that Gabi said she had left Reiner to heal in.

“So, what happens after we find Reiner?” Annie had asked Armin as he was packing the food supplies for the trip prior. He had turned to Connie then, with a determined look in his ocean eyes. “Then we find a way to go after Eren.”

Mikasa had been silent, sitting in the coach seat. But her down-turned face told Annie she had agreed with them, surprisingly.

So, they were basically on a suicide mission. How splendid, Annie had sarcastically thought then, only nodding in return. It’s always one battle after the other, one fight after the other, one war after the other.

Would she ever know peace for once? Could there even be peace in a world like this?

Whatever it takes to go back to father, I suppose. Annie huddled into the corner, watching the blur of ruined homes as the wagon raced by. I did say I would do it all over again…

A feathery light feeling touched upon the crown of her head, Annie blinked, watching the smoking charred remains of the small town. The thick smoke burned her eyes some, so she rubbed at her eyes trying to repel the sting.

She rubbed until she saw stars—and when she opened her eyes again, she really did see stars. Bright white shining dots in an ink black sky.

There was a streak of greens, blue and purple lights cutting across the night sky, like someone had taken a paint brush and smeared it across a dark canvas, the lights flickered and glowed brighter than the stars. It stole her breath away, Annie tried to recollect herself.

She breathed in, eyes widening in disbelief. She no longer felt the rumble and tumble of the wagon floor beneath her—but, a soft shifting ground. Sand. Annie looked down digging her hand into the white grains, watching it fall from her palm.

Where…

She stood up slowly, dusting her old uniform of the sand.

“You’re awake now, huh?”

That voice behind her made her freeze, Annie’s heart skipped a beat, out of trepidation, and because she knew that voice.

“… Eren?” She turned around, cautiously, hiding her ring-fingered hand behind her back. Always ready.

There he stood a few feet from her, in that same tan tunic that was just a bit smaller on him, dark pants, and long hair that fell around his shoulders. And like Armin—like all of them really except for her. His face was grown, more angular, sharp, serious. Dangerous.

She suddenly felt trapped in this vast out known space.

“Where am I?”

“It’s been four years, nice to see you woke up from your little nap.” He tilted his head, peering down at her.

“Yes well, your loud voice was a suitable alarm.” She retorted, glancing to her right, then left. She turned back to him. “What is this place?”

“It doesn’t exist to outsiders; this place is where every Eldian is connected. And where shifters go when they die, and when they are born. It’s our end and our beginning.”

She felt chills course through her. End and beginning?  What the hell was he talking about?

“Are you…”, she took a hesitant step forward, “you’re not really, here right?”

“No. And neither are you.”

She’s stunned for the moment. Annie did not know whether to take a chance striking him, making a run for it, or both. She settled for neither in the end. She did not know if she could take him alone anymore, and certainly not in some magical dimension. Eren was watching her studiously. As if he were mapping every contour and curve of her face, it unnerved her greatly. She dropped her hand that had been ready to flick the trick ring on her finger. She figured he had known about it already, considering their last battle.

“You,” Annie cleared her throat, “You never visited me.”

Why did she say that? She hadn’t meant to speak it out loud, but it was one of the thoughts that circulated in her brain upon laying eyes on his face again.

“When I was crystallized.” She elaborated when he quirked an eyebrow.

“And how do you know if I didn’t?”

“Because I was lucid the entire time. It felt more like passing dream.” She took careful steps towards Eren, having to her crane her neck the closer she got to him to look him in the eye. “I can see and hear. Nothing was ever a clear image however.”

Annie folded her arms, “I do know that Armin had visited me a number of times.”

“I’m aware of that.” Eren turned from her, he started to trek across the sandy terrain, he gestured for Annie to follow without looking back. Annie was still for a minute, before she started after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

“Do you want to know what he talked about?”

“His special feelings?”

Annie blinked, flabbergasted, and only slightly pink in the cheeks. “What? No.”

“He talked about you.”

Eren faltered somewhat in his gait. But continued as if nothing had happened. Annie pressed on, noticing the chink in his armor. “That’s all he ever did. Hitch went on and on about boys—but Armin, all he did was ramble about you. About your crazy ideals, about how you were drifting further away from everyone.”

Annie stopped herself, considering all the stories Armin had told her as she lay in an immovable state. She remembers the way his voice would tremble as he uttered Eren’s name.

“What happened between you two, exactly?”

Eren glanced to her momentarily not pausing in his stride, “I made up my mind. We had a fight. That’s all.”

Obviously, that was not all. But this Eren was not like the one she remembered—the one she trained with who wore his heart on his sleeve and was an open book to her. Annie regrettably found herself missing that loud fiery youth.

She huffed, “I don’t get you; I remember when you were so determined to kill every titan outside the walls. And now you want to kill every human outside the walls?”

“Pure titans were Eldians who were prisoners of the Marley. Did you know that? Did you know they brought prisoners to the island and turned them into mindless titans?” Eren shot her an accusatory look.

Upon seeing Annie avert her gaze, he scoffed, “Yeah, I thought you would know that.”

“Not everyone is your enemy, Eren.”

“You’re my enemy.”

The way he so blatantly stated it made her made halt for a couple seconds. “I was… but I don’t want to keep fighting, I just want to go home.”

It was easier said than done. Annie briefly wondered if Eren knew that she was going to be apart of the suicide mission to cease his war on the entire world. He probably did. He probably knew what was going to happen before it even happened. She didn’t know how—but she got that, strange feeling.

“I want to be able to still have a home to go back too.” She mumbled more to herself than anything. “… were you serious about it?”

Finally, Eren stopped walking. His bare feet buried into the sand as he stood just before a towering tree. It had an ethereal glow about it, blinding her vision in white. Annie could not believe it—had that tree been there before? She hadn’t been paying much attention to where she was walking, she had only been following him.

This place—this place was wearing down her grip on reality.

She shook herself from her stupor. “Were you serious about destroying the world. Everyone? Everyone outside of Paradise? Innocent people too? Woman and Children?”

Annie waited for Eren to respond, but he did not speak a word. Staring at that glowing tree like he was entranced by it. Captivated.

Growing frustrated, she trudged through the sand to stand in front of him. He was whole foot taller than her now, but height never did intimidate Annie, she was adamant as ever. “My father is still in Liberio. In the Marley nation, he’s all I have and I—”

“He’s not your father.” Eren interrupted her without taking his eyes off the tree.

Annie choked back on her words, “H-how did you—” She bared her teeth, shaking her head. Stupid magic bullshit. Bastard! “No, he isn’t. But he’s the one who took care of me, who made me strong.”

“To be a tool for war?”

Her hands automatically clenched tightly into fists, she hissed “What you’re doing is wrong.”

“I don’t think it’s wrong, and I don’t it’s right either. But it is just.” Eren peered down at her then. His gaze a stormy gray, cutting through her defenses. “I have to protect this island from enemy nations that want us annihilated. We’re a prime target, Annie. Don’t you know that?”

Eren spread his hands, “I have a family too. Maybe not a mother or father anymore, but my friends… my friends who I’ve grown up with, who I’ve battled alongside with. When I think of them, what I can do for them to live peacefully, to be happy. I can do anything, no matter how gruesome. No matter what blood is shed.”

He sighed, “I just want them to be free.”

Annie scrutinized him, “At the cost of everyone else’s lives?”

He stared down hard at her. “Wouldn't you do the same for your father? For someone you love?”

Annie thinned her lips, looking away. Eren shook his head, “Don’t answer that. I know you already have… and would again.”

The knowledge he has of her scared Annie to no end. This Eren truly did not feel like Eren Jaeger. But it was, according to his… former friends. It was him, and she must accept that. No matter how much she hated it.

“There’s nothing I could do to stop you anyway.” Annie lamented.

Not alone, at least.

“I hope we don’t run into each other. I don’t feel like challenging whatever hideous form you’re in right now.”

Eren cracked a smile at that—though a small one. There was a twinkle of mirth in his grey eyes.

“Likewise.” He tilted his head, gazing down at her with softer look. “Y’know, I did want to visit you. Many times.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Unlike Armin, I don’t talk to rocks.”

Annie folded her arms with a pointed look, “Even one that can hear you?”

“Especially that kind.” He leaned down so his face was at level with hers, “Never know what secrets might slip out.”

A seed of anxiety blossomed in Annie’s stomach; her heart beat quickened. Eren was too close—she didn’t consider her proximity to him, as it had never been a thing to consider in the past.

He was so close she could feel his breath on her cheek, their gazes were locked on each other, stormy gray on clear blue. There was a sudden heat she had never felt before present too. She was becoming uncomfortable

But they had been sparring partners. They had always been close, always touching, always grappling.

So why did it matter now?

Annie abruptly turned from him, facing the tree.

“I guess I’ll say my thanks now.” She heard him step beside her.

“For what?” Annie put a hand to her chest to placate her erratic heartbeat.

“Teaching me how to fight. Your techniques always came in handy when I was in a tough spot. Reiner was strong… but not quite as strong as you.”

Annie shrugged off the compliment. Eren watched her curiously, “Why did you teach me by the way?”

That question caught her off guard. Annie tried to think of a reason, “I don’t know. I… “

She trailed off, she realized that was a question that she had mulled over herself many times. And often she had figured It was the same reason as to why she had spared Armin, why she had saved Connie. But truthfully, she just… didn’t know.

“I just… wanted too.” She shrugged again. “I didn’t really think you of all people would survive that long once we graduated anyway.”

Eren snorted at that. “Ah—so you did it on a whim?”

“I guess so.”

“You are an enigma, huh?”

“Not really.” She turned to him, only to see a little blonde girl in his place. The little girl was dressed in rags, staring up at her behind a fringe of straw-colored hair. 

Annie blinked, stunned. “Eren?”

The little girl waved at her.

Alarmed, Annie could feel herself floating—falling into an inky abyss as the sands parted like the sea to swallow her whole. “Eren!”

And as she fell into darkness, she heard his voice whisper in her ears— “See you on the other side.”

At the blink of an eye, she was once again back in the wagon, that had now stopped its journey in front of a run-down cabin. Annie felt dizzy, she rubbed more furiously at her eyes until she saw colorful shapes—but no stars. No white sand, no glowing trees. No Eren.

None of that came again. It felt like dream—but she knew that it wasn’t.

“Huh?” Annie looked out from the wagon, she spotted Mikasa climbing down from the coach seat of the other supply cart. Armin appeared in her vision than, he held his hand out to her, “Do you need help getting out? I know it was bumpy trip, I tried to take the most stable roads.”

“I’m fine.” She stood up, but her legs wobbled, and she nearly fell off the side of the wagon.

“Careful!” Armin caught her elbow, “I know your body must be pretty tired after staying in one place for so long.”

“I’m fine.” She said more tersely but allowed Armin to help her down from the wagon. “Is this the place?” Annie nodded to the ruined cabin, Falco, and Gabi were at the entrance with Connie.

“Yeah. Reiner’s in there. Once we get him, we’ll work further into our plan.”

Annie cracked her knuckles. “Let me be the one to wake him up than.”

She decided to keep quiet about her little venture into the unknown. It wasn’t as if it would come in handy in their suicide mission anyway.