A/N I have not read the manga, I have only watched the Attack on Titan anime but am yet to watch the OVAs, but I have read various of the wikia pages on things that are not in the anime. The OVAs are something I will watch soon and will add into the story. This idea came to me and I really like the idea – usually with my fics I tend to change things up a bit so if something isn't exactly right, that may because it's a change I made to make it fit with the story. Anyway, I hope you like!
About this story: "The Homeland" is a story of high values in regards to family, friendship and love. Set after the events of season 1, Eren and friends are rescued by a group who claim to be from the mysterious homeland who are on a mission to get them out and beyond the walls to the only place in the world where Eren will be safe. This is also a LeviXOCfic (because….I bloody love that guy).
The Homeland
Chapter One
Loss of a Loved One
Year 845
Shiganshina
The remaining of the Scout Regiment had finally returned home after yet another failed mission to claim back some lost territory. The scouts were wounded and grim-faced, riding on tired horses or back in the carts. The villagers of Shiganshina had gathered by as soon as the alarm sounded of the Scouts return, among these villagers were the little ErenYaeger and Mikasa Ackerman who had climbed on to a couple of crates to see above the heads of numerous adults. The two children had been on their way home, carrying piles of firewood on their back.
Eren stood in awe at the returning heroes, his eyes scanning the ranks for Survey Corp Squad Leader Selena Rossworth, his brave and noble auntie from his mother's side who had been part of the Scout Regiment for as long as he could remember. Whenever she returned Selena always had some exciting tales to tell the family over dinner, she was always wore a proud and wide smile for the Survey Corp and everything they stood for. To Eren, the Survey Corp seemed like the greatest adventure and he too would join them one day, to fight side-by-side slaying titans and seeing the land with his favourite and only auntie.
But…where was she? He couldn't see her or her squad in the caravan. Eren thought maybe they just had passed them yet; he was so excited to see her again. He wanted to run to her, hug her and drag her back home for tea. But, he couldn't see her anywhere. A sullen, blonde haired man at the lead of the parade had glanced in Eren's direction and saw his wide-eyed grin. He should tell the boy, but he couldn't. Erwin's eyes returned to the path below him, he caught the change of Eren's expression before he could watch nothing more than the stones that lay ahead. He would leave that news for Levi Ackerman to give, who was currently being more quiet than usual. Though that wasn't surprising. No one was really in the mood for talking much anyway, not after that failure.
Erwin glanced over his shoulder as some of the parade paused, this was because of the frantic mother of Moses, who couldn't seem to find her son anywhere. Only to then be given the terrible news of his demise in front of half the population of Shiganshina by being given what remained of him, his arm. She yelled out for her fallen son, and the people of the village murmured and moaned about taxes and the scouts being a waste of resources and people.
Levi had continued on horseback past the grieving mother, he wondered what the Yaeger's family reaction would be. He wondered if Carla, Selena's twin sister would scream and cry like Mose's mother. He thought of how traumatised little Eren and Mikasa would be, especially Eren – Selena had always been so good to them, she only ever had smiles and laughs for the children no matter what disturbing and distressing events they pushed through on the field she never showed them. If Levi didn't know her so well he never would know she'd seen any bloodshed her entire life, she always was a great actress. Selena would frequently spoil them with gifts and games because she didn't have children of her own, but how she loved them. Levi always thought his fiancée would make an excellent mother, she was always so happy. But they were both in the Scouts, the risk on their lives were far too high for children. But now…now they wouldn't even get that chance. He looked down at the object in his hand, his hand slowly opened to reveal a silver locket necklace, traces of blood and dirt on the chain and locket. The chain itself was now broken, as if it had been ripped off and abruptly thrown to the ground, had she done that in her last moments? Maybe. Was the blood hers? Possibly.
Time had moved in a blur, hours had flown past him in a matter of seconds. Levi's feet had been moving on their own accord since leaving the Scouts HQ, his feet destined for the Yaeger household. A place he had been many times with Selena, not because he wanted to go but because she always practically dragged him there or persuaded him to go when he'd much rather stay home or be at HQ in peace and quiet. His mind was foggy and thick, he couldn't think clearly. Why couldn't he think? This wasn't the first time he had lost someone. But, it was the first time losing someone like her. His face must have been one to fear as people stayed clear of him. He paused and turned to face the door to the Yaeger household, he sighed, raised his fist and knocked hesitantly. The knock was faint, but it was all he could muster at this time.
Minutes went by and Levi hoped that no one was home, but he could hear the steps inside and Carla's chirpy voice saying "coming!". He looked up from the floor when the wooden door opened, revealing Carla smiling as always. She still didn't know. She had no idea. "Levi! How great it is to see you! Eren said the Scouts had returned…huh," Carla noticed that Levi was alone. Her smile dropped, "where is Selena? Levi?" she looked up and down the street but couldn't see her anywhere. She stared at Levi.
"May I come inside Mrs Yaeger?" he decided to keep this professional, for the sake of all parties involved, this includes himself.
Carla stayed quiet but nodded, stepping aside to allow Levi to enter the house. Levi followed the small, narrow hallway through till he got to the room where Grisha ,Eren and Mikasa all resided. The room tripled as the kitchen, dining room and sitting area. This was because the family lived in a relatively small house with the basic essentials. The home Levi shared with Selena was bigger but not by much, so they often had the children stay over to give Grisha and Carla a little peace and alone time. Eren was still putting the firewood away thatMikasa and he had collected earlier that day. "Levi?" Grisha quizzed, Eren gazed up from the firewood and grinned, running over and stopped by Levi all excited. His eyes were wide with glee, "Uncle Levi! How was the mission? I bet you and Auntie Selena kicked some serious butt didn't you? Tell me about it! Please! Please!"
"Eren, please…stop," Carla placed a hand on little Eren's shoulder, which caused Eren to finally notice the subtle look of distress on the normally expressionless face of Levi Ackerman.
There was several seconds of silence as they all stared at Levi and waited. "You may have heard rumours that the Survey Corps recent mission was a failure…" he paused to take a breath, "due to this failure we lost many comrades in the field. I regret to inform you that…Squad Leader Agent Selena Rossworth is officially MIA," Levi lifted his hand up and opened it, the blood tarnished locket that Selena always wore still in his hand, "and we have reason to believe that Miss Rossworth was killed in the line of duty. I am…sorry for your loss," Levi took in all the faces, one by one. They were all gawping at him, mouths open and eyes wide in shock. It was Carla that burst into tears first after regaining her thoughts from the shock. Her hands clutched her face as she screamed in horror and fell to her knees, staring at nothing in particular as she cried. Grisha came to her side and cradled her. Mikasa was staring at the table and Eren was stuck in place, stiff as a board with tears rolling down his face of shock.
He took a step forward towards Grisha and Carla, trying to hand them the locket. Grisha, who cradled he distraught wife looked up at the uniformed man. Grisha gave him a faint smile and pushed his hand back, "That locket has meant a lot to the Rossworth family for generations, only a few of them were ever made and passed down. The Rossworth's regard family above all else, and you sir, had become part of that family as soon as Selena fell for you. She'd want you to keep it, Captain Levi." Levi brought his hand slowly back and traced the lines carved into the locket that made up a rearing lion surrounded by intricate roses. Selena had told him that it was the Rossworth family crest, but he had never known a noble house by the name of Rossworth.
His gaze turned to the darkwooden floorboards as it creaked familiarly beneath his foot. "I shall see myself out," he voiced in his usual monotone speech. He left the Yaeger house, Carla's cries falling quiet behind him. Once again he was left with his thoughts as he left Shiganshina for the home he shared with Selena behind Wall Rose.
Levi pushed open the blue painted door that had the Wings of Freedom carved into it. Levi had thought it was silly but Selena had insisted, she was so proud of them being in the Scouts Regiment, she believed it to be the highest honour. He entered the house and slammed shut the door that suddenly felt much heavier than it normally was. He felt so angry. He stared down the hallway, his eyes narrow and on fire. The house was unusually quiet. Pushed against the wall was a small unit that held a few collections of books and several framed sepia photographs that featured the Yeager family, including Selena and Levi, another of Squad Selena, another Squad Levi, another two photographs being Levi and Selena together. He glared at them, in the first Selena wore a big beautiful grin as she leaned against Levi who had an arm around her shoulder. He was looking down at her, with only a faint smile. In the second photograph, Selena was half falling, arms flinging around but her facial expression wasn't one of fear but one of a happy surprise while Levi had caught her arms and was trying to balance the both of them but had been fruitless. In the photo his slender eyebrows were raised and he looked a little shocked.
He remembered that Selena had purposely fallen just to get a more humorous expression out of Levi for the photograph. She had laughed so much when they were both on the ground, whenever she calmed she glanced at Levi's confusion and erupted again. She had a loud and infectious laugh that always got everyone else going. The photographer had been laughing also but in the end Levi merely made an amused sound before getting back onto his feet, only to be pulled back down by Selena who greeted him with a kiss. "Cheer up big guy," she chuckled as she squeezed his arm.
Levi stared at the photos as if they had been the reason Selena had died. "All she wanted was for you to smile, disgrace!" he grabbed the table and lifted it. Throwing it a little way, causing the table to fall face down and the books and photos sprawling all over the hallway floor. Glass from the photo frames smashing and causing a mess. He then threw the locket; it hit the table leg and fell onto the glass-covered floor, causing it to open. He ignored it and removed his jacket. Though not long had that happened had he received word of an attack on of the Scout Regiment was too injured to even attempt to defend Shiganshina, but he was still in good shape and had plenty of anger to vent. She had just completely disappeared; there was no remains or even a horse left behind other than her locket. Squad Selena had been ambushed by a group of abnormal titans and though the squad had succeeded in killing a few of them, in the end the squad had been beaten. All of them had been killed. Leaving the remained abnormals to be taken down by Squad Levi. If only he had been just a little earlier, the squad and Selena could've been saved. With the titans dead, he had only himself to blame.
He decided that he needed to kill some titans, get revenge on their kind for the death of his fiancée and now for the attack on Shiganshina. Where her family lived. He donned his 3D Maneuver Gear and uniform and made his way back to Shiganshina to aid the fight against the titans.
Levi had reached Shiganshina as fast as he could using his gear without using too much gas. Just a few short minutes after entering the district he slain two titans with great ease, a four metre and a seven metre. After he had dealt with those he landed upon a rooftop, a safe height away from the mouths of the hungry Titans. He grimaced as he saw the body of the seven metre he killed disintegrate into steam. "Revolting," Such disgusting and vile creatures.
There was a scream from a familiar voice, Levi's head snapped to that direction, "Eren..." running along the rooftops he started making his way to the Yaeger household. Levi whipped through the air, his blades still drawn and at the ready. He landed with a roll upon another rooftop as he caught a glimpse of a member of the stationary guard, a tall blonde fellow carrying Eren and Mikasa while running away from their home. Eren was reaching out to something; Levi turned his gaze and saw Carla pounding her tiny fists against the clutches of the Smiling Titan. Levi began to charge but before he could get to Carla in time the Smiling Titan had pulled her torso, snapping her spine and killing her. This caused him to freeze, there was nothing he could do now. The Smiling Titan took his first bite of the now dead woman that was soon to be his sister-in-law.
With a quick glance towards the trio running for their lives Levi's face lost all expression but within his eyes grew something dangerous. Both Selena and Carla lost, the much loved Rossworth twins both dead within a day because of such tragic incidents. Incidents he could of prevented. He shouldn't have let Selena out on that mission, he noticed she was getting tired quickly and slept more, she was just was not as strong as she used to be - like she was sick or something. He shouldn't have left the Yaegers that day, if he had stayed they all would have been fine, Carla would still be alive, Eren and Mikasa wouldn't be scarred for life and Grisha...wait, where was Grisha? He couldn't see a body, had Grisha been eaten? But he couldn't worry about finding Grisha's body right now.
He had to make sure that the kids and the guard was safely out of the district. So he followed them, and cleared every Titan that tried to snatch them. The Titan steam filled the skies behind the trio as they made for safety. Eren watched Levi the entire time with the furious tears still falling heavily down his youthful cheeks. Why didn't he save her? He thought Levi was one of the best...but he had failed, twice now to save his family.
Levi watched the triofrom a high advantage point till the children got aboard the ferry that would allow them to escape the breeched district of Shiganshina. The ferry began to move and people pushed against the bodies of the Guard in an attempt to climb the ferry to escape Shiganshina. Some managed to get past and jump for the moving ferry, only for their attempts to be in vain as they instead fell into the river.
He watched them with an uninterested expression, they were herding together like rats escaping a flood. But there was nothing he could do to get them beyond Wall Maria that was someone else's job. Instead, he decided he'd use his inner anger for the death of both Selena and Carla to fuel his Titan slaying, to keep the humanoid beasts off the frightened populace as much as granting revenge on their disgusting kind for what they have done.
Using his 3DM Gear Levi moved about Shiganshina, helping those that could be saved and slaying Titans by slicing the weak spot on the back of their necks. Until suddenly he was flung back against a rooftop, he rolled part ways down the tiles before regaining himself. He looked to see what had caused such a force. The Armored Titan had appeared, and succeeded in breaking through the gate of Wall Maria. Levi had not seen the Armored Titan until now. He stared back at the gaping hole where the gate used to be, Titans flooding out of Shiganshina and conquering Wall Maria. "Shit..."