(This can be read as a standalone but it’s best paired with Acceptance.)
He’s drunk again.
“Let me in, por favor, mami.” Is all you hear through the wood of your front door. This is the third time this week he’s done this and at the rate his going, you’re scared it won’t be his last.
The break up was almost two weeks ago and it devastated him. Since the fateful four words slipped past your lips, it’s been a whirlwind. Long conversations filled with pleading and getting out of bed at 3 AM to pick him up from the local dive. But that’s come to a screeching halt.
You’ve come to realize that you’re giving him hope. Connie needs a clean break and you’re struggling to give it to him. You love him. Two weeks won’t change that. Honestly, two years wouldn’t change that.
But this—this isn’t healthy. For either of you. And for the first time in a long time you find yourself dreading seeing the man you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with.
“I just need one more chance,” he slurs through the door that’s secure with every lock imaginable on it.
Your hands shake as you throw your pillow over your head to stifle the sounds from outside. You hate to hear him suffer but you know your neighbors are sick of this. You refuse to call the cops, but your neighbors are an entirely different story. They know Connie, and by now they know that’s over between you two.
The door handle rattles, and he sobs through crack in the door that he’s made for himself. “You even changed the locks.”
Your eyes get blurry with unshed, frustrated tears. The pounding starts a few seconds later. The door begins rattling on its hinges with the force of his fist. That’s when you call Eren. You have no choice.
He answers on the second ring, background as loud as the pounding outside your abode.
“Hello?” he sounds confused and you completely understand why. You and Eren only knew each other through Connie. So, the fact that you’re calling him on a Thursday night at 3 AM is no doubt jarring.
You get straight to the point. “Have you seen Connie?”
He answers immediately, voice tapering on confused. “Yeah, he’s right…”
The trail off leads to a small breath of, “oh shit.” You can practically hear the wince when he says, “I’m so sorry, dude. He was right next to me, I swear.”
You nod although you know he can’t see you. “Yeah well…”
Although the music is blaring, you hear the sigh he produces as clear as day. And somewhere in the distance you hear his keys jingling. “Right. I’m on my way.”
You don’t utter a word of gratitude, instead opting to hum quietly. You just want to go back to sleep. The dial tone clicks in your ear and by now you notice the eerie silence outside your door.
It’s not your job to care anymore. At least that’s what you tell yourself. You hear one final thud against the door and you assume he’s given up. About five minutes later, you hear another voice outside of your door. You can only assume it’s Eren. It doesn’t take much coaxing and the soft acquiescence brings you solace.
You fall back into a fitful sleep and pretend the tears on you pillow aren’t there.
Being without Connie is odd.
You were a pair.
No one really ever said your name without his and vice versa. So it doesn’t really bother you too much when you’re invited to a work thing and they say, “bring that handsome man of yours.” And it doesn’t upset you when your mother asks about coming up for Christmas with him.
It does however bother you, when he shows up at your work. He’s outside waiting for you when you get off at exactly 4:38. He doesn’t make a huge deal in front of your coworkers, opting to offer you a quiet greeting. Persistence was the thing you admired the most about him. When he first started courting you, you’d never seen someone so enthusiastic and thrilled just to be in your presence.
That was enough— for a while.
But it’s been a while since the break up and you’re exhausted. He pops up randomly as if the breakup means nothing to him. And you’re tired of having the same conversation.
So when you spot that familiar buzz cut, you sigh. He keeps his composure. You suspect it’s because he’s sober for the first time in a long time. His car flanks ri yours in the parking lot and you simply nod your head in the vehicle’s direction.
“Have you had dinner?”
His body perks up at the sound of your voice and your question. He’s quick to shake his head in negation. Honestly, you expect he hadn’t had dinner in quite a few days. The bags around his eyes are pronounced, and his cheeks are sunken in. And although it really isn’t your business anymore, you hate to see him suffer like this.
When you slide into the booth at the restaurant of where you two had your first date, there’s a sense of peace that washes over you. Peace that seems very much like the end.
You two order and when the food comes, he simply stares at his plate. Many words have been spoken and you suspect he finally gets it.
“Sorry,” you say simultaneously, voices blending with the backdrop of the music roaming in the background.
His lips quirk up and you shake your head quietly.
“It’s fine,” you whisper.
The silence stretches for a bit, while you eat a bite here and there when he suddenly says, “I’m embarrassed, you know?”
Your eyebrows crinkle in confusion. “I acted like a mad man. Coming to your house at all hours of the night. Begging my friends to keep tabs on you. I even called your mom to ask for advice.”
He scratches at his nape in consternation and his eyes drop to the water that’s condensed on the table. “I just thought we were it for each other. I’m sorry for not defending you like I should’ve. You are-were mine to protect and I didn’t. Please forgive me. That’s all I want.”
Forgive him? For what exactly? If anything, you should be begging forgiveness. And just like he’s reading your mind, he declares, “For not being worthy.”
His eyes glisten with unshed tears and he lets a lone tear roll down his now thin face. “I’ll regret losing you the rest of my life. And I’ll never love anyone as much as I love you.”
You nod because it’s the same for you. He was your person. That wouldn’t change just because you two weren’t together. The grief comes then. Sharp and strong and your hand grabs at your chest in quiet anguish. Your tears flow down your face and you have to rip your eyes away just to feel a modicum of calm.
This is what he did. Exposed the deepest, most sacred parts of your soul. Now, it feels like a piece of you is going to leave with him.
That’s okay—you’ve decided.
“I forgive you, Connie.”
He smiles at that. Through a face full of tears, he grins like you gave him the best gift in the world.
With that, you leave a bill on the table, press a lingering kiss on his forehead and you leave.
tags. attack on titan, armin, cadet, season 1, shingeki no kyojin
a/n. im so excited to see where this will go next!! decided to write a follow up to my last post earlier this weekend and now i just want to keep going :3 im so excited !! ty for ur care and posts everyones<3
The morning awoke the Survey Corp in nothing but brisk summer breezes and what seemingly had been peace for the first time in a very long time. Most soldiers experienced the excruciating, long nights of never-ending heartache of their fellow loss comrades just to bask in the reality that soon… they could be next. Of course, you weren’t an exception to this undesirable dread. What made you different? Did it matter? You knew what you were after, and that was to eradicate Titans at all costs.
You felt your body drain at the thought, your existence could just easily become a statistic at any time… Another name to shortly be forgotten just to be quickly replaced. This idea irked you beyond belief; what was the point of living in such despair when you knew that there was nothing you could do about it now? Your life was still yours, and unfortunately.. you had no choice but to try and live in it.
“Wake up, Cadets!” There it was, that blaring, obnoxious tone that never seemed to end for the Survey Corp. Your captain, Levi Ackerman, seemingly wanted to remind you what your place was for. “A new assignment has been signed off by Erwin himself. Meet me downstairs in five.” His beckoning voice trailed from room to room closer to yours, awaiting for nothing but that door to slam open for that same reminder. You could hear your comrades regret their duty with unimaginable groans and merciless yawns. Who would have known that you’d find yourself enjoying it?
Without another moment to lose, you scrounge up your uniform in an instant to understand your assignment. This time, you just prayed that it didn’t have to end in someone else losing their last breath. As you snagged each button into place, slipping your nimble hands beneath your uniform before leading yourself out… You couldn’t help but admire the dedication of your uniform. It was just the moment that you decided that you were met with another desire…
Inherently, hearing your name being called from on the other side of your door created a faint smirk into a giggle out of your lips. You could already imagine it, his hands resting against your doorframe, hesitantly awaiting your answer. It all became priceless, and just for a moment, your idea of the assignment you have all became a daydream. Again, he called your name with hesitance, “Are you, um, in there? Can I come in?”
A nod or two become subconscious before you aggressively shake your head. he can’t see you! You sigh, responding with a yes before watching him walk through that door. There, a person you couldn’t help but just smile at the presence, “Hey,” You mutter, “What are you doing? We should be getting downstairs.”
Attempting to be brisk only just failed in your attempt, as Armin’s once a smirk slowly faded with each each second that passed, “I was just wondering if you wanted to take a walk with me whenever we have free-time, there's something I want to talk to you passed about.”
Huh, this was interesting. What was he implying? Hopefully not the worst, and regrettably.. You couldn’t help your mind make that implication. Your fingers crossed into a fisted disaster with your breath, attempting to fiddle with your hands just became as obvious as your once flustered expression fading. Of course, Armin noticed. “Hey, wait! It’s nothing serious, I just.. wanted to ask you a few questions about…” He paused; he couldn’t help it, but his mind soon became scarce with each breath… like he was nervous? “The future.”
Right then and there, your body that was once tense beyond belief subsided into that familiar blushing mess. What? The future? What future was there to talk about in their line of work? With what they do for their country, could they even say they have one? Suddenly, it was almost fate that your life would end short- so why even bother talking about one?
“Sure. We can talk about that after we head downstairs. Now, don’t make us late, Armin!” You sighed, slipping your hand in between his instinctively before making your way downstairs. Attempting to shrug off his request only made you feel even more nervous about it. What was this feeling? A sign of.. Anxiety? No, it wasn’t anything you had to concern yourself with. You knew what you needed to do; all that mattered now was to execute that. Let’s just hope Ackerman can understand that…
Armin’s intertwined fingers felt warm in yours, his comforting contrast to the chill that always seemed to cling to the Survey Corps headquarters. Your mind continued to race as you both descended the stairs. The usual cacophony of soldiers preparing for a mission surrounded you – clanking of gear, hushed conversations, and the occasional sharp order. Yet, in the midst of it all, Armin’s aura rescued you like a small island of calm. Your eyes drifted to him, his blue eyes holding a flicker of something that made your heart chase itself in circles.
Beyond you stood Captain Levi, with his arms crossed, a stern expression on his face. The briefing began, detailing the new assignment: a scouting mission beyond the walls, deeper into Titan territory than usual. The risks were heightened, but only so was the potential reward – information that could turn the tide within the war against Titans and humans.
As Levi examined the details that were laid out, you couldn’t help but feel a knot tighten in your stomach. The future. Armin had wanted to talk about the future. But what future was there in a world where every mission could be your last? You stole another glance at him, and he offered a small, reassuring smile. It was enough to steady your nerves, just a little.
As the briefing ended, the soldiers dispersed to gather their equipment. You found yourself beside Armin again, the weight of his earlier request hanging in the air. "So," he began, trying to sound casual, "about that walk…"
The words only made the tension in the air thicken, heavy with unspoken meaning. You wanted to ask more, even if it terrified you, to unravel the mystery behind his words. Yet the call to mount up caused him to be interrupted. Without another thought, you squeezed his hand one last time before turning to your horse. The question of your both your future and Armin’s intentions swirled in your mind as you rode out beyond the walls.
next part here!
armin arlert — lust to battlefield, part III
You were the only black girl in the village. Heck, you even thought you were the only black person in the village until you met Onyankopon. Onyankopon, a handsome man with a good heart, made you feels less alone. It didn't takes long for you guys to become close. You and Onyankopon was immediately friends. He just had a chill and positive vibe. It was refreshing because everyone was going crazy or being bitter up by the titans attack. Before you realizes, you were falling in love with him. He was the light that shines so bright in this twisted dark world.
You wanted to ask him out, but your fears were always in your ears whispering, " Don't be stupid, no one in this village finds you attractive." You didn't want your fears to be true, but what you faced during the past as being the only person with darker skin tone did caused you to feels this way. Men usually called you ugly or worse just fetsished you. You could barely handle when those stupid blind men said or did that you. You knows you wouldn't survived if Onyankopon do that to you. Onyankopon finding you ugly caused a stream of tears coming down from your eyes without you realizing.
Onyankopon was walking up to talked to you about something important. He saw you crying all by your lonesome. He immediately ran up to you. "Are you okay?", he said while rubbing your back. " No, I am too ugly for you to love me!!!", you yelled that out without realizing it. You immediately wanted to grab your words back and locked them inside you forever. It was bad enough you were ugly but insecure was doing too much. Onylankopon tries to hide his laughter, but he failed. " You have no idea about beauty did you. The moment my eyes laid on you everything in this world seems dulled. Stars can't even compare to shine as bright everytime I looked into your eyes.", Onyankopon says while wiping your tears away. You couldn't believed your ears. No one ever compliment you like this.
"You are the most beautiful woman God have let my eyes sets on." Onyankopon's words were so pure like his eyes. Before you knows it he leans in for a kiss. In the first time in the world, you were finally treated as the queen you always been in the first place.
PROMISE /ˈprɒmɪs/ -> a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen. Levi reunites with a part of his past he had tried so hard to forget. But could he really have forgotten her? From Attack On Titan / Shingeki No Kyojin, A Levi Ackerman x Fem!Reader (she/her) Story.
The day of the most dangerous mission of the Survey Corps was to arrive tomorrow. Retaking Wall Maria was an important mission with a minimal success rate. And the survival rate? Lower than a typical Scout mission.
And it happened to be your first mission as a Scout since you were taken out of the Underground City you grew up in. Tomorrow would be the first time you venture outside the walls. But for the moment, you were sitting next to Hange, across Levi as one of the Squad Leaders was announcing something.
"This may be a special night, but let's not let the public find out! Behave like soldiers without causing a ruckus!"
Though his voice entered your hearing, your focus was nowhere near there. Your concentration was all built up to what was on the plate at the center of the table. In the Underground, you've only eaten whatever you could get your hands on.
But never once, have you ever had the luxury of enjoying well-cooked meat like the one that was displayed in front of you. Your mouth was watering just at the sight of it, your eyes unable to look elsewhere.
"Tonight's the night before we retake Wall Maria! Cheers!"
His voice was drowned out by the echoes of the soldiers fighting for meat. You weren't much of an exception since you quickly took a bite out of the piece of meat Levi had put on your plate. Hange watched with amusement as you savored the flavourful taste of the meat.
You paid no attention to your surroundings as you devoured the luxurious meal. But you still ate the meat slices slowly to avoid choking on them. As everyone was busy enjoying their food, not a single person there noticed the small smile Levi had on his complexion.
But he couldn't help it. He thought you looked absolutely wondrous as you had luxurious food for the first time. Levi knew he never stopped loving you but if he was a complete stranger who saw you so happy living in that moment, he would fall in love with you instantly.
If by any chance, he did stop loving you -which he knew was impossible-, seeing you like that would cause him to fall in love with you all over again. If Levi died and was reincarnated, he knew he would love you.
And he always will. Again and again.
Levi Ackerman will always love you.
You heard familiar voices coming from not too far from where you're sitting with Hange, Moblit, Erwin, and Levi. Looking up as you took a large bite, you saw Connie with arms around Sasha who was biting Jean's hand, causing the latter boy to let out a loud scream. Swallowing, you turned to look at Levi who bore a tired expression from seeing his squad members.
Turning to Hange, you asked, "Shouldn't someone stop them? Like maybe their Captain?"
"They'll figure it out themselves," Hange waved a dismissive hand.
You let it go since they themselves said to let the teens be. But you didn't let your eyes stray away mostly because you found it to be entertaining. You almost choked on your food when you saw Sasha accidentally punching a boy with a bowl cut while trying to get out of Connie's grasp. You knew Sasha was a good soldier but her strength was clearly proven in that scene that played before you as you noticed the gush of blood leaving the boy's nose.
"Seriously, are you just gonna let them be?" You frowned with slight worry as you lightly kicked Levi's leg under the table.
It seemed that Levi's lack of worries was the right choice because a little bit after that, you saw Eren and Connie tying up Sasha to a pole. This caused you to slightly laugh. Ever since you met Levi's squad, you couldn't help but find them quite the character.
"Is it a good idea to be drinking the night before a mission?" You scrunched your nose to the smell of the drink Moblit poured for you.
"Probably not," Moblit gossiped.
"Well, since everyone's doing it," you giggled a little, shrugging as you took a sip of the alcohol. "Hmm," you shuddered, shaking your head while Hange and Moblit laughed at you.
"Not used to your alcohol, Cadet?" You heard Erwin ask with a light smile.
"Not used to it at all," you laughed, giving your cup to Hange. "I'll stick with tea."
"YOU'RE SO FULL OF YOURSELF, YOU PIG SHIT!" A sudden voice shouted, causing a loud commotion.
Your eyes darted to see two boys standing up and going on each other. Both Jean and Eren were looking at each other with sharp eyes to kill.
"YOU TRYING TO GROW OUT THE HAIR ON YOUR MANE, HORSE FACE?!" Eren retorted with the same amount of anger, if not more. Both their fists were tightly clenched around each other's shirts.
"YOU JERK!"
"YOU'RE RIPPING IT, ASS!"
"What are they-" You let out a small laugh, eyes wide in disbelief.
"It's a normal thing between them, apparently," Moblit giggled next to you.
Your lips parted in a soft gasp when you saw Eren punching Jean in the stomach. Your hand went to cover your mouth to stop yourself from laughing over the two boys. You continued watching with slight amusement as Jean returned a hard punch to Eren.
The two exchanged more punches, words, and insults going back and forth while most of the crowd in the room cheered for them to continue with their infighting. To add to your amusement, you caught sight of Levi letting out a heavy sigh, no doubt annoyed by his Cadets.
"Usually, Mikasa would be the one to stop them," Hange whispered to your ear.
"She seems to be enjoying the show as well," you scoffed lightly as you noticed the dark-haired girl next to Armin who looked quite troubled.
After a while, the fighting duo still went on each other, arms throwing strong punches at each other. The cheering had stopped a little but some people still kept cheering. You were taking small sips of your tea when Levi suddenly stood up. Curious, your eyes followed Levi's trail.
"Oi," he called to the boys before kicking Eren harshly on his stomach.
He then proceeded to punch Jean until both boys were groaning in pain as they laid on the ground. You let out a small laugh, clasping your palm over your mouth as you widened your eyes at the sight. You noticed Jean beginning to throw up, causing you to scrunch your face in disgust.
"You're all too damn rowdy," he spat. "Go to sleep," he looked down on both the pained boys. "And clean that up," he instructed, looking at Jean in disgust.
"Yes, sir!" A chorus of nervous soldiers sounded at the man's request.
You lost sight of where Levi went but you couldn't find it in you to stand up to find him. Not when the sight of him standing there reminded you a lot of when you two still lived in the Underground together.
⥀
"You were gone for so long, I was starting to miss you, Levi," you panted, tilting your head upwards to allow Levi some room.
"Hmm, you better have," he whispered lowly, his lips leaving quick kisses against the skin of your neck.
"Shit," you cursed while giggling slightly, feeling slight pain on your back as Levi pushed you against it a little too roughly.
"Sorry, love," he hummed, his right hand cupping your cheek while his left hand crept under your shirt. "You're fucking gorgeous," he breathed out, pressing his lips against yours.
"Hmm, says you," you smirked as you mumbled against the kiss, your fingers fumbling around his buttons. "We should leave all business to Furlan and Isabel," you exhaled, your left hand going up to tug onto Levi's dark locks.
"Yeah?" He smirked, quirking a teasing brow. "And we'll have all the pleasure, won't we?" He teased, turning you around while his lips melded with yours, his hands never stopping their travel down your body.
"And I can finally have you whenever and however I want," you giggled, walking backwards towards the bed.
"Hmm, such a tempting offer," he chuckled darkly, lightly pushing you onto the bed without ever letting go.
"I TOLD YOU IT WAS WRONG!"
"NO, YOU SAID I SHOULD TRY IT OUT FOR MYSELF!"
The deep kiss you were sharing with Levi broke as soon as you heard the shouting voices outside. You let out an annoyed groan, not really letting go of Levi's hair.
"Let's just ignore them, please," you begged, pulling him by his hair to continue the kiss.
Groaning against your lips, Levi finally pulled away. "If we do that-"
"They'll kill each other," you continued with a heavy sigh. "Seriously, out of all the time they choose to fight, it had to be now."
"If you think I'm planning to let you go so easily, you're wrong, my love," Levi tilted his head, the teasing tone causing a grin to curl on your lips. "Give me a second," he gave a small kiss on your forehead before going to the door.
You sighed, standind up while slightly fixing your shirt and your hair as to not make it seem too obvious of what you and Levi were doing, or at least about to do. You followed him out to the living room, watching him lift both Furlan and Isabel by their shirt.
"Shut up," Levi growled harshly.
"He started it!" Isabel frowned, looking at Furlan.
"I don't care," Levi coldly glared at the two.
"Now now, Levi, let them down," you kissed him on his shoulder before resting your chin there. "I'm sure they've learned their lesson."
Levi reluctantly let the two go, causing Isabel to quickly hug your arm. "Y/N, my savior!"
You laughed, looking at the young girl while Levi only rolled his eyes, walking back to your shared bedroom. You glanced over your shoulder to his direction and slightly giggled before looking back at the two.
"Well, don't be too loud, both of you," you reminded, looking at Isabel then Furlan.
"I'd say the same thing to you," Furlan replied with a smirk, nodding his head to your mess of an appearance.
"Hmm, maybe its better for you both to get out of the house for a while," you grinned, quirking both your brows. "Me and Levi have some important matters to get to."
"Ew," Isabel scrunched her face.
"Disgusting," Furlan gagged.
You let out a small laugh and waved them both goodbye. You heard them both walking away towards the front door. The creak of the wood was produced as it opened and closed, a sign that you and Levi were in the house alone.
You made your way back to your shared bedroom. Before you could even close the door, Levi had you pushed up against it, his lips immediately finding home on yours.
"Now where were we?"
⥀
"Y/N?" You heard Hange call you while their elbow nudged your arm gently.
"Huh?" You gaped, slightly lost in the memory that flashed your mind.
"We're going soon. You coming?" They asked.
"Oh, uh, just go ahead. There's something I wanna do," you said, earning a nod from them and Moblit.
You stood up and waved them both goodnight. You walked out of the room, the empty street of the night haunting you with its silence. But that silence was temporary as you heard familiar voices that belonged to Eren, Armin and Mikasa.
You let a smile form on your lips at their slightly loud voices that you could hear from the neighbouring road that was connected by a dark alley. You walked a little further towards the alley before you turned to enter the pathway.
Your body softened upon recognizing the figure that was sitting on the ground, back laid against the wooden wall. Just the person you were looking for. Your footsteps were light, helpful in keeping your presence a secret from the young trio.
But the familiarity of your aura did not allow such secret from the man sitting on the ground. He looked up, watching blankly as you approached him. His eyes only followed your body as you took a seat next to him, his cup of alcohol resting in between you.
"Have you been dirnking?" You asked in a silenced tone.
"A little," he replied.
"Okay," you uttered before letting the silent night take over. But after a while of silence, you broke it when you had accidentlly blurted out, "You can't die tomorrow."
Keeping his gaze straight like you, he asked, "Why not?"
"Because I still haven't forgiven you yet," you responded blankly. "So you can't die. Not until I forgive you."
"Then I guess you can't die either," he scoffed lightly. "Not until you say you forgive me."
"What a tempting deal," you hummed.
You took his cup that still had some alcohol in it. You brought the rim over to your lips as you took a sip of his drink. A relieved smile was plastered on your lips as you sighed, putting down the cup. You let your head fall against his shoulder, your hand falling to place in the space between you.
"Y/N," he called in a whisper, causing you to lift your head as you looked at him with a hum. "I love you," he whispered, his face so close to yours, you could smell the slight aroma of alcohol mixed with Levi's natural neat scent.
"I know," you whispered back, noticing how his eyes flickered from your orbs to your lips. "I really do know," you repeated, pressing your lips against his.
Levi savoured in the taste of your lips against his. The feeling of home from the merged lips between you two brought not just nostalgia but a sense of true love.
Love that he'd never get from anyone but you. He wanted to kiss you more, having you against him more, feel you more. But that was not to be as you pulled away from him, breaking the kiss that you so adored that it caused your heart to flutter wildly.
"And that's why you can't die tomorrow," you silently said to him within the comfort of this dark alley with his presence right next to yours. "Because you need to live long enough for me to tell you the same thing."
"Then ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇ me," he whispered. "ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇ me you'll survive tomorrow."
"I ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇ," you replied in a quiet whisper, letting your head rest against his shoulder.
I havent been caught up on AOT since the rumble happened but whateves Ill totally find the time.
So, anyone wanna do a Romance RP of Mikasa x Armin? Love the ship and I can never find anyone who likes it either. Someone hmu. I would prefer on discord but heres ok too!
AU ideas welcome!
Semi lit to lit please! Which means, no one liners!
tags. attack on titan, armin, cadet, season 1, shingeki no kyojin
a/n. so... it's been a year, currently trying to figure out what i genuinely want to post, so, take this AO3 armin x reader that didn't get any traction LOL
You feel yourself slipping into a portion of space. The body you once called your own has become something so much more significant. As if this universe was something you dreaming of on your own. Your blood flow reaching to the tips of your fingertips and into the depths of your mind, as you finally took your last breath. Completely paralyzing to what you would behold.
The world around you would start slipping back into place, and soon enough you become at ease as you see yourself within smiling faces. Some look familiar while others may look completely foreign. No matter what though, they all seem to align with the feeling you’re experiencing. Trust.
“So… are you done with that?” Unsatisfying groans lashed out like wildfire across the dining hall, as you could only see so much before noticing your comrade, Sasha Blouse, sink her hands deep and thoroughly into the half-eaten bowl beside her. From first glance: the food looks disgusting. With leftover slices of tomato partially cooked and whatever you could consider being used as a broth melted to the core of the bowl before watching it being swiped away.
For an ugly concoction, it was well-wanted by the average soldier. A cleanly shaved man swallowed hard before accepting his unfortunate defeat, “Oh, well I guess that’s fine. I didn’t need leftovers anyways.” Connie Springer, a man early in his cadet years had nothing but a dissatisfied appetite and hunchback to seem over the age of fifty. Watching as your comrade humbled himself over and over by the same scheming girl, it was almost pitiful. Like you want to help but the idea was almost out of the question every time he accepted his disaster.
You tried convincing yourself that your rations would last you days, but it felt pointless. As if food wasn’t even an option for the man sitting across from you, you made a choice, “Uhm, you can have mine. With what we’re about to face, you don’t want to even think of the idea of getting hungry.”
“Oh, thank you.” Connie hitched his head back with his eyes open wide. You couldn’t tell if he was happy to hear about more food or if he was shocked beyond belief. Without a second thought, the man scrounged up the last piece of courage he had to take you up on your offer. Slipping his calloused fingers between the cracks of his jacket and into the soup bowl in front of you. You had no idea what those words mean to him right now, all you know is that you have less on your plate.
“Damn, if I would’ve known you weren’t that hungry I would’ve asked too!” Sasha hovered the same man with a close desire to attempt her long-lasting trick. However, taking a look at your reaction to such a thought felt like a walking joke. Your eyes sunk deep and still before letting your brow seep into a nice furrow, it was your way of saying no. Those words were left unsaid before the girl lumped back to her side of the table. It wasn’t long before she’d slip her hand to her back pocket, chewing on a piece of bread that you can only assume came from her stolen goods. Typical.
It wasn’t like she wasn’t hungry though, everyone around you has been throwing back leftover rations from the food crisis curating across Trost. It wasn’t purposeful harassment, just loatheful. Those words were the same words that you consumed that night, was it worth it? Sure, rations are rations but… There's only so much food to go around before you’re the one begging for seconds. You kept letting those words ring before thinking clearly about what you’ve done. Watching your mind go limp was just a reality to it all as your body slowly made its way to your corridors. Maybe that wasn’t the right call, maybe, you should’ve considered your options… Did you make the decision? Questioning your own judgement wasn’t uncommon but it sure wasn’t easy. Will it go noticed or just taken for granted?
“Hey, Cadet!” A familiar voice beckons you at the brink of your existence. Almost begging for you to stop.
Without a second thought, a smile dwindles to the back of your lips. “Yes? Where are you?”
“Over here!” Echoes chased down across the dining hall before you led yourself closer to such a sound. That same voice… it came from the supply room to your left. What was once your heart soon became a thumping mess to your body, shaking and quivering at the thought your thoughts were breaching reality. You wanted to run, scrounge up whatever courage you had left, and scream in the opposite direction: but instead, your body had a mind of its own and took you head-first to the mysterious voice. Once you reached the supply room, you noticed the door slightly cracked and filled with candlelight.
With no rush to open the door, you cracked your lips to mutter yet the door seemed to beat you to the punch. Maybe that was a good thing.
“Armin?” A name that was said between voice cracks and prolonged eye contact kept you smiling as you hugged him close. You were almost too stunned to move, too slow to react as he reached his left hand filled with candlelight behind you whilst the older slipped beyond your waist.
Why even worry in the first place?
“I’m glad to see you, I seemed to have noticed you walking back from talking to Sasha and Connie-- Well, I wanted to wish you goodnight.” Slight whispers and sweet goodbyes were all the two of you really needed in what you considered to be, yours. You weren’t entirely sure why this time it was within the supply room instead of your bed. Perhaps it was his way of changing the scenery? Either way, it did catch off guard.
Cadet Arlert was clever. He knows what he wants and he isn’t going to waste time for it. Maybe it was simply just a goodnight or even a hug he wanted: but those would be achievable back in your corridors. It wasn’t like it was impossible either, as a common practice for the both of you would be to walk back together after supper. Yet, this time it was different. You two stayed apart that night: achingly wanting to see each other seemed to be one of the things that kept you two apart.
“Thank you for stopping me.” Your heart pumping out of control as it left no room to spare. Not a day passed when you didn’t feel this way around Armin, and why would it? His motives were intentional and it only kept you wondering what he’d try next.
Arlert slipped his fingers from your back to the back of his pocket, reassessing whatever had been left between them before looking back at you. “I got you something but you’ll need to come inside.” The once softened glow you had slowly slipped into a sickeningly sweet smirk plastered across your face, radiating whatever energy he was insinuating to come inside: it worked. “Of course.”
One step into the room was all you needed to do before he shut the door behind the both of you. Instead of holding you close, he pushes his fingers out of his pocket and shows the wide assortment of baked goods. Some ranged to smelling sweeter than honeysuckles as others shared a wide variety of sweetened flowery goods. You couldn’t help but feel your mouth become in awe of such a variety of types of bread, some of which you’ve never become acquainted with. It had been over two years since the end of baked goods, and even further ago there was a set-back on flowery meals being created due to supply loss. The merchants that remained soon became greedy and unexplainably hard to find with these sweetened snacks. Almost impossible to even imagine such a reality that they’d ever exist again. “Armin? What’s the meaning of this? How’d you find them?”
Fiddling with your soft gray shirt between your fingertips as you stay in awe of the collection he has burrowed in his possession: he tilts his head sideways: almost confused at such a question. “I saw you offer your rations to Connie. I didn’t want you to stay hungry.” Of course, why wouldn’t he? Although he kept many others at arm’s length when it came to gifts: it didn’t apply to you of course. He was always trying to find ways to make you enjoy yourself.
With small rations or flowers, he wanted only for you to see his compassion. It wasn’t easy living such a life, day in and day out expecting to be eaten or even worse: slaughtered by the seams of mankind. It’s almost like life didn’t give you an answer. Nor did you expect it to. As you are told that earth is a living hell continuously, you begin to realize that’s the only answer you’ll ever need. At least this way, it was easier with him. That was your only thought.
You graced a gentle smirk before pressing your lips against his. Armin's simple gaze lasted a short while the intensity of his heart rate went up, and his fingers strayed out of the intertwinement to his significant other’s hair. You could feel your face heat into quiet rosebuds as an explosion of emotions hit you all at once. You swallowed, hard, as the two leaned in closer and closer after each gasp. However as all good things come to an end, the two of you slowly pull away to return to the same gaze you began with.
"Let's look through these batches, I'm sure there's some you must recognize from before the titan fall." Without a second thought, you grabbed him by the shoulder and slipped behind the cracks of rickety chairs and tasteless decorum. It was your way of saying thank you, your way of being noticed. Maybe offering your rations wasn't as bad as you expected.
next part here~
armin arlert — a time to reflect, part II
tags. attack on titan, armin, cadet, season 1, shingeki no kyojin
a/n. oh no what will happen to uuuuuu.. scarrryyy </3
The mission began smoothly enough, the rhythmic thud of hooves against the earth and the creak of leather the only sounds that filled the air. The cadets’ formation moved as one, similar to a well-oiled machine honed by countless drills and the harsh reality of war. Yet, within the ordered ranks, your mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Armin's words echoed, a constant refrain amidst the silence of the march.
As the day wore on, the sun ceased, casting an oppressive heat over the land. The horses began to tire, and your comrade's breaths came in ragged gasps. You could feel the tension in the air thicken, the ever-present threat of Titans looming large. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sent a jolt of adrenaline through your veins. What began this feeling? What could be next? You truly couldn’t tell or identify what would come next.
The only thing remaining was your shallow breaths and a humble amount of solitude by your side… Your formation stayed ludicrous. What was stopping a Titan from wiping out the entire corps? Shortly, your faith began losing hope as quickly as your formation shattered.
Black smoke eroded to your left, an abnormal? You followed orders as asked and shot black smoke within the shrouds of the forest. Praying that someone would be able to see your chaos as a threat. This overwhelming sense of dread washed over you instantaneously. Did you want to get away? Who wouldn’t? It didn’t stop the fact that you did have a mission to accomplish, and that wasn’t going to stop this expedition going south. You attempted to keep your nerves to a minimum before the inevitable…
“Cadet, to your left!” Connie Springer, a boy that had just recently joined the Survey Corp with you, beckoned you with your name. You and Connie had spoken in passing but never truly had a real conversation. Could it have been his insensitive behavior toward leaving his meals to Sasha that always left you uncomfortable? His attitude toward practically everything had irked you beyond belief, yet you still cared for him like he was a brother of your own. Nonetheless, he was in the Survey Corp with you now: that couldn’t change anytime soon. He just needed time to grow; that’s all it was.
Without a second thought, your eyes dashed to your left to be met with your enemy. An echo of a similar sense of frozen fear locked your hands in place. The abnormal, obnoxiously, began chasing you… You knew that the only way to rid yourself of the beast would be to slash its neck, and the next question would be your ability to finish the job. Your mind came clashing with reality as you reached for your swords to finish the job.
Shaking the thought that it was impossible was out of the question because you knew what was and what wasn’t possible. This, of course, was. You didn’t allow your mind to be rampant with the worst but allowed your hands to take charge of your consciousness instead.
Your body swung beneath itself, flipping backward before reaching for the abnormal's upper body. Sensing its ability to strike at you, you took your hooks to hang the beast tightly to secure it. You were on the outskirts of the formation, so of course, you came prepared with your ways to take down a Titan. That was the only way to survive.
Growls and unformidable groans eroded out of the Titan with every breath it took before you sliced the nape in an instant. The titan fell to it’s death, shriveling into the sun within the minutes that passed. You began running instantaneously to gain traction before hooking yourself into the air to climb back on your horse. This all was fast, almost a little too fast. You didn’t want to waste another second before calling out to Connie once more.
“This isn’t just an abnormal attack, this is a herd of them racing at once. I can feel it, Send the message forward!” You debriefed, screaming at the top of your lungs before hearing similar calls for help… The sky that was once painted in light blue began drowning in a deep violet… Purple could only mean…
Connie hesitated, “You’re right! They’re all being..” The cosmetic sense of a code through colors all was for nothing… The abnormal beings began breathing in every human that had been between you this entire time. The once-thriving left wing slowly depleted against your will. A numbing sight to see your comrades become slaughtered without any say…
“I can’t keep looking, We need to focus on the mission at hand. Don’t get distracted, Springer!” Was this sense of entitlement made for the weak? Were you trying to convince yourself of a facade that was just wasteful beyond belief? You honestly couldn’t tell anymore. As your hands grasp your reins as hard as you can, you gallop to catch up with your formation. Now the only thing racing in your head is the boy on the opposing wing… Was he okay?
Armin’s face flashed in your mind, a beacon of calm amidst the chaos. It wasn’t like you wanted to believe he could be.. no. He couldn’t be. You pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. The mission was paramount. Yet, a nagging worry persisted. Was he safe? The left wing's decimation played on a loop in your mind. You tried to shake it off. Doubt was a luxury you couldn't afford.
You urged your horse faster with your landscape blurred, a tapestry of green and brown all became mixed into one. Suddenly, the air grew thick with the stench of blood and fear. It was a smell you had become sickeningly familiar with, a constant reminder of the stakes.
Ahead, the main formation was struggling. The same grotesque creatures swarmed; hoards soon became crowds that made a horrifying sight. You spotted Commander Erwin at the forefront, his gaze resolute. He was your pillar of strength, an unwavering presence amidst the turmoil. His orders rang out, clear and commanding, cutting through the din of battle.
You followed his directions, navigating through the throng of Titans and soldiers. Each swing of your blade was precise, each movement perfectly calculated to fit your needs. Survival was a matter of inches to a nape, a split second's decision for your mind, and a begging war cry for help.
You knew that the coming hours would be the hardest not only for you but your leftover comrades as well. Suffocating darkness would only become predominant as the war went on. For yourself, for your comrades, and for the man that awaited you on the other side. What would come next?
With your physical ailments begin to settle in, your body weakened with every blow that you took; whether that was mental or physical… You knew you couldn’t hold out for much longer, and shortly… your breath weakened. Hearing your name ring like a chime in the wind was the last thing you could consciously remember before falling to your side of your horse. Your body had been.. compromised, to say the least.
past parts here!!
armin arlert — happily generous, part I
armin arlert — a time to reflect, part II
PROMISE /ˈprɒmɪs/ -> a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen. Levi reunites with a part of his past he had tried so hard to forget. But could he really have forgotten her? From Attack On Titan / Shingeki No Kyojin, A Levi Ackerman x Fem!Reader (she/her) Story.
𝔱𝔴𝔬
ᴘʟᴀʏʟɪꜱᴛ
<- 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖛
𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 ->
𝔪𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫; ᵃᵗᵗᵉᵐᵖᵗᵉᵈ ʳ@ᵖ³.
"An unfriendly brat on the brink of death is all Kuchel left behind."
Your eyes watered as you felt the back of your head meet against the wooden wall of the room. Why couldn't they just listen to you? Why couldn't they just arrest you? Why were they so intent on getting you to join them? All they did after your meltdown was leave, informing you once more that they'll visit you again soon.
'Just fucking leave me alone,' you cried internally. 'He's doing well up here,' you couldn't help but thought, a small proud smile creeping up. 'So why did he leave me? He just abandoned me down there. And I'm supposed to work with him?'
You couldn't help but cry again. Your eyes were straining, your stomach nauseous because you hadn't had a proper meal in so long. And once you had a spoonful of veggie stew, the difference was too obvious.
It was amazing compared to what you were used to. But your body needed time to adjust to the new taste. All you could do was sit on the bed provided for you, your back pressed against the wall as your arms hugged your knees to your chest.
⥀
"Stop! Please, stop!" You cried, tears pooling on the ground.
The large man behind you added force as he pushed you against the wall. The rough, rocky surface wounded your complexion. Your hands were held behind your back with his one hand. Crying as you tried pushing him away, he slapped you against your face.
You let out a loud scream of pain, feeling the blood begin to ooze out from your cheek that was held against the wall. The man's free hand wandered to lift up your dress, the calloused and rough skin of his fingers making friction with your thigh.
"Please, stop! Please!" You tried pushing him off you again, but it was no use.
He was much too strong and you were weakened by the lack of nutrients in your body. All you could do was cry and scream for help. But in the world that you live in, was help even an option? Would anyone even come to help? Or would they be too scared that the same fate would be bestowed upon them?
"PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME! STOP, PLEASE! SOMEONE, HELP!"
Even though you were screaming and crying for help, you had given up on the inside. You knew help was not possible in the Underground. A miracle it would be for someone to actually come help you. If you were to be a victim of rape at this moment, then that would be your fate. No one was brave enough to challenge that.
All you could do was disassociate from the situation. Maybe then your senses would disappear. Maybe then you wouldn't have to hear the man about to rape you. Maybe you wouldn't have to feel the man's rough fingers against your skin. Maybe you wouldn't have to feel the cold air breezing your almost naked body.
Maybe you wouldn't taste the salty tears coming from your eyes. Maybe you wouldn't smell the trashy alley that you were trapped in. Maybe you wouldn't smell the blood that was slowly oozing out right next to your nose. And maybe, you wouldn't feel the pain that was about to come.
"She said stop," a deep voice that probably belonged to a young boy was heard from behind.
The man's hand was caressing you but he stopped upon hearing the interruption. A second later, you felt his body moving away from you, making you feel relieved. You clutched onto the fabric of your torn clothes to cover the parts of you that felt cold and dirty.
Turning around, you saw a boy, probably around your age, and he was slightly shorter than you. He had dark black hair, matching his grey steel eyes that sharply glared at the man that was planning to violate you.
"What did you say?" The man growled, ready to beat up the boy.
"I didn't say anything," the boy replied lazily. "I just pointed out what she said," he shrugged, sending a glance your way. "And she said stop."
"And what if I said I don't care?" The man laughed but his eyes held hatred and anger.
"I don't care," the boy responded blankly.
'Stop!' You thought, scared that he was going to leave and let this man violate you.
"But I'm sure she does," he nodded his head towards your way, eyes challenging the man.
"And what is she going to do about it?" The man mused, laughing as he looked at your weak body. "Look at her," he cooed, caressing his hand on your bare arms, causing you to flinch. "What could she even do?"
"She said stop though, didn't she?" He raised his brow, eyes glistening with loath and disgust. "That should be enough."
"You're just a kid, you don't understand," the older man scoffed before turning to you.
"I understand plenty," the boy said as he stabbed a knife into the dirty man, kicking him in the ribs. "Let's go," he let out before snatching your hand.
He ran fast, pulling you along with him. You could hear the sound of the man from the alley groaning in pain. You ran along with the boy that had helped you. He helped you. In this world where help was impossible, came this miracle that took form in a young boy.
Your left hand still gripped your dress tightly while your right hand was in the boy's hand. You had no idea where you were going, only blindly following him. After all, he had saved you.
You were turning corners after corners until finally, he stopped in an alley. He let go of your hand, ready to walk away from you. But you were scared. Scared to be alone. And you wanted to know who he was. Who was the boy that had saved you? What was the name of this miracle?
"Wait," you called out softly, voice croaked in pain.
Your hand reached out, as though to pull him back. You wanted to ask him his name, you wanted to ask him why he saved you, you wanted to thank him. But no words managed to leave your lips.
"If you want to thank me, get on with it," he plainly said.
"R-R-Right!" You stammered, slightly panicked. "Thank you," you bowed.
"Tsk," he let out before he began walking away.
"W-Wait!" You stopped him again.
"Tsk, what?" He huffed, sounding slightly annoyed.
"Wh-What's your name?" You finally managed to let out.
"Levi," he simply answered. "Is that all?"
"Wh-Why'd you save me?"
"Because I hate people who don't listen," he simply answered, as though he was unbothered by everything. Suddenly, he pulled you and placed a hand over your mouth. "Stay quiet, okay?" He whispered lowly.
Out of fear, you only nodded. Slowly, he lowered his hand that was over your mouth, only to connect once more with your hand. He walked further towards the dark alley, as though he was hiding from someone.
Was he hiding from the man before? You weren't sure, though. But, you followed him. For whatever reason, even though you were scared just a second ago, you followed him.
"Oi, Levi," the sound of an older man was heard.
He didn't sound like the man that tried to hurt you before. But you were still scared. Especially when the boy that held your hand stopped in his tracks as he let out a curse under his breath. Your body began to tremble and shiver from the cold, dark alley. But you could only watch as the boy turned to look at the man who called for him.
"Where do you think you're going, huh?" He approached them. "Don't just go running around whenever I'm not looking- Oh, who's this?" He raised his brows, entertained to see you. "You finally made a friend eh, brat?" He laughed, teasing the boy in front of you.
"Shut up," the boy huffed, taking a step forward to shield you with his body.
"Fine, whatever, I don't care," the man shrugged, his hand in a dismissive wave. "Don't go running around anymore. Go back. And take her with you," he instructed.
You followed the boy again as he guided you by your hand. Until finally, he stopped in front of what looked like a door. It was quite a dark alley for you to be able to pinpoint exactly where you were. He opened the door, pulling your hand gently to urge you inside. Scared and clueless, you only followed him in.
"Make yourself at home," Levi shrugged, walking away to leave you standing alone in the dark room.
A few seconds later, Levi came back into the room with some stuff in his hands. He lighted up the candle placed on the table at the center of the room, he sat down beside it, the things he held gently placed by him. Looking at you, he gestured for you to sit across him. You did as told, watching as he took out some bandages and began treating your wounded cheek.
"It's not much but you can bath here," he informed while cleaning the blood off your face, earning a small hiss from you. "There are some clothes, I'll bring them out to you later," he added, eyes still focused on your cheek. "You can stay here if you want. Unless you have someone waiting for you-"
"I don't," you blurted, earning eye contact with him.
"Neither do I," he shrugged casually. "It's dangerous out there if you don't know how to fight-"
"Teach me," you blurted out, shocked by your sudden interference.
"Okay."
⥀
"It's not like you to daydream, Y/N," his voice was heard.
"What do you want?" You groaned, wiping away the tears that had fallen.
"We have a very important mission coming up," Levi began, pausing before continuing, "We could use your skills on the battlefield."
"And as I've said," you glared, moving away when he sat on the bed. "I'm not interested."
"So what? You'd rather stay inside a cell, locked up without seeing a glimpse of the day?" He scoffed bitterly, disbelief coursing him at your actions and behavior.
"Wouldn't be different than how I've lived before," you retorted, a small scoff escaping you.
"This is unli-"
"Don't tell me what's unlike me," you cut him off. "You haven't seen me in more than 8 years, you don't get to tell me what's unlike me."
"Could you stop being a brat," he huffed with annoyance.
Out of anger, you stood up, causing the man to do the same.
"A brat?! You abandoned me and you have the audacity to call me a brat?!" You let out a humorless chuckle. "YOU LEFT, LEVI! YOU FUCKING LEFT ME! YOU PROMISED YOU'D COME BACK BUT I WAITED! I WAITED YEARS AND YEARS FOR YOU TO COME BACK! I THOUGHT YOU DIED!"
He couldn't say anything. He didn't know what to even say. Yes, he had his reasons as to why he did what he did. But was now the right time to say it? He didn't know.
So all he could do was just watch as you cried and shouted all the things you needed to let out. All the things that bothered you, haunted you. All the things he caused for you.
"YOU LEFT ME TO ROT IN THAT HELLHOLE, LEVI! I HAD TO SURVIVE THAT SHIT PLACE ALONE!" You cried, anger overwhelming your being. "After you left, I waited. I waited and waited. I couldn't sleep at night, I couldn't eat, I couldn't do shit because I was so fucking worried for you! It took me 5 years to accept that you had died! But you wanna know what happened afterward?" You let out a bitter laugh, the sound aching Levi's already broken heart. "'Brought from the deep Underground City, the Scout Regiment promotes Captain Levi, Humanity's Strongest Soldier'," you quoted the headline of the paper you once read.
The words you emphasized were heavy with hatred and anger. Betrayal flooded your tone, your voice, your words. The stains your tears left on the ground reminded Levi of all the regrets he convinced himself were gone.
Sure, he was a man of no regrets, holding onto that as long as he lived but leaving you was something that haunted him every night. That was the only regret he had. He should tell you that. He thought you would've just forgotten him after everything. But why, why were you still in such pain? Why did you feel so much?
'If the tables were turned, I would feel the same, if not worse,' he then thought.
"Imagine how I felt hearing that news, Levi. I waited for you but you weren't coming back. Because you left me. And you fucking abandoned me. And you broke your ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇ-"
"I had to save you," he mumbled but it was loud enough that you could hear him well.
"Yeah? I don't know about you but leaving me to rot in that shit city, that's not what I'd call saving me," you scoffed, crossing your arms.
"Isabel and Furlan died," he continued, eyes looking down before making contact with yours.
You suspected that the two had died considering that you hadn't seen either of them at all since the second you were out. But even still, your heart felt like it had been dragged across mud, thrown repeatedly against the large walls only to be shot at by a pistol multiple times. You lost them once when you accepted that the trio had died. And it feels like you had just lost them all over again.
Upon seeing your silent state, Levi took the opportunity to continue, "It was our first mission outside the Walls. It was the day we had decided to kill Erwin. But then it started raining really heavily and we separated because I left them to go finish the mission. A Titan killed the entire squad. In a rampage, I killed that Titan and a few others."
"But he's still alive and well," you sniffled, trying to hide tears of grief. "So your mission was a failure."
"Yes," he grimly answered.
"Did you regret it, then?" You inquired, slightly angry at yourself for asking such a vague question, using the deaths of your family as a facade to know the truth he felt about leaving you.
"No," without hesitation, he responded.
For some reason, you found yourself shocked yet glad. You were shocked he could answer it so easily. But you were glad to know that he wasn't haunted by their deaths too much. As much as you felt angry towards the man, you knew who he was.
Levi was a caring man and that's an irrevocable truth. If he regretted his decisions, questioning the impossible and endless possibilities of 'What If's, his life would have been lost.
"But I have my regrets about leaving you," he muttered under his breath.
"So why did you leave me?" You exhaled, taking a seat beside him. "Why didn't you come back for me like you said you would?"
"Because at least in the Underground, you'd be safe from Titans," he truthfully explained. "You are one of the strongest people I know, you can handle humans. I've lost so many comrades to the Titans and by the time I had the power to come back for you," he exhaled sharply, turning to face you. "I was scared to ever lose you to one of those shitty monsters."
"Yet you're here, asking me, refusing to leave me alone until I agree to join your suicide mission," you scoffed, looking away before returning your gaze back at him. "What changed, Levi?"
"Tsk, I don't want you to join," he clicked his tongue with a huff.
"Then just leave me alone," you frowned. "I don't want to be anywhere near you. I don't care how sincere your intentions were, you still left me. I can't forgive you just yet," you crossed your arms.
"I understand," he nodded, accepting the treatment. "But I can't leave you alone. It's either you go to prison or you join us. It's the same deal as last time."
"Fine, then a-"
"Stop telling me to arrest you," he angrily interfered. "Look, maybe, if you join us, not only will we have a higher chance at surviving but maybe then, I can protect-"
"I don't need your protection, Levi," you walked away to the window with your arms crossed. "I haven't needed it in for so long."
"I know that but-"
"If I join the Survey Corps, will I get to visit the children at the farmhouse?"
"Is that what it will take for you to take the deal?" He raised a brow, slightly unsurprised.
"Maybe," you mindlessly shrugged.
"I'll talk to them about it," he sighed, standing up as he headed for the door. "And Y/N," he perked up, looking over his shoulder to you. "I hope you can forgive me someday."
You stayed silent despite maintaining eye contact. He gave a small nod before turning the doorknob and heading outside. You sighed, your emotions seemingly about to overwhelm you.
Your gaze moved back to the empty view of the field outside. At least it was something to look at. You always assumed that nature would be beautiful and so far, it proved to be the truth. You leaned your head against the wall, tears pooling in your eyes.
