The next chapter is up! Sorry for the long wait! Enjoy and review please because I love reviews!
Levi caught her quickly, setting her down so that she was sitting on the ground. She placed her head in her hands tiredly. She felt like she could sleep for days. Levi knelt down to her and she lifted her head weakly.
"I'm exhausted Levi. And soon they'll realize I'm out of my cell. They'll arrest me again and you too for aiding me. And then—"
Levi covered her mouth gently and she stopped talking.
"They have bigger problems right now. Don't overexert yourself. Take a deep breath," he said and she did.
He could see in her eyes that she was so tired. Dark circles surrounded her usually bright green eyes. She looked worn out. He cautiously brushed some hair from her face.
"Let's go to the hospital," he said and she nodded slowly.
In the Hospital...A Few Hours Later...
They all stood in the waiting room of the hospital. Soon a doctor approached them and everyone stood up pensively.
"He made it through the surgery," he started and Hange breathed a sigh of relief.
"But, he lost the arm," he added and everyone's face dropped.
Levi's eyes darted to Greer and he watched as she stared at the doctor wide eyed, her eyes becoming glassy. Then a look of defeat washed over her features.
"He's awake and you can see him," the doctor said and left.
They all began heading to the room, except Greer. Something dawned on her and her eyes widened.
"Greer, aren't you coming?" Hange asked.
"I'll stop by later. I have to check on something at home," she said and Levi stared at her.
Hange nodded and left with the others.
Greer ran home as fast as her injured body would carry her. She flew through the door startling the young girl in the house.
"Greer!" Evie shouted and Greer stared at the packed duffel bag on the table.
"Going somewhere?" Greer asked and Evie's eyes saddened.
"It's only a matter of time before people figure out my secret. I want to head out and track Bertolt and Reiner. I believe they can lead me to some answers," she said and Greer stared at her.
"No," she said finally and Evie looked at her.
"Greer—"
"—Evie, your life is here. You need to stay. You don't belong out there," she said firmly and Evie shook her head about to speak when Greer spoke first.
"We don't separate, you and I. We stick together. We're family," she said and Evie felt tears fall from her eyes.
Greer fought back the urge to hug her.
"You have to be stronger than this. You have to be like how you were when you knocked the shit out of Annie Leonheart," she said and Evie's eyes lowered.
"I never wanted you to see that side of me Greer. I haven't used it in a very long time..." she trailed off and Greer stared at her wide eyed.
"You've used it before?" she asked and Evie nodded.
"Dad showed me how to control it," she said and Greer felt sick.
Silence.
"Is dad alive?" she asked and Evie stood silent.
Levi had walked in then, knowing something was up. Greer stared at Evie and then grabbed her shoulders roughly.
"Evelyn! Is dad alive?!" Greer shouted shaking her.
"I don't know! I don't know!" she cried.
Levi walked forward and managed to separate the two.
"That's enough, Greer!" he snapped, seeing Evie in tears.
"Did mom know about you?" Greer asked and Evie shook her head.
"No, dad said it was our secret alone," she answered honestly.
Greer grabbed the duffel and threw it at Evie.
"So this was your big plan? Run away? Leave us here like trash?!" she hissed and Evie dropped the duffel wide eyed.
Levi turned to her quickly.
"Greer—"
"—all those times he injected you with that shit. He told me it was because you were always sick and that the injections helped you get better faster. That son of a bitch," she said more to herself.
Silence.
"Do you hate me, Greer?" Evie asked and Greer looked at her.
Silence.
"No. I hate him. He did this to you," she seethed and Evie stood quiet.
Silence.
"I'm not safe here anymore," Evie said and Levi shook his head.
"So you'll go out there with the titans?" he asked and she nodded.
"They can't hurt me," she admitted and his eyes softened.
"Were you really just going to leave?" he asked.
"I have to protect you and my sister," Evie defended.
"You can protect us here. They won't hurt us or you," he tried and Evie faltered slightly.
"Don't leave," he added and she closed her eyes.
Evie walked over to them slowly.
"I'll stay," she said firmly.
At the Hospital...
Greer walked into his room hesitantly. Levi had convinced her to go see him. He was sitting up in bed; a large bandage around his shoulder. He smiled as she walked in.
"Greer," Erwin said warmly and she forced a smile.
"How are you doing?" she asked and he nodded.
"It's just an arm, I have another," he mused seeing her pale features.
She sat down in the chair next to him slowly.
Silence.
Silence.
"I'm sorry about earlier," he broke the silence and she nodded.
"So am I," she whispered.
Silence.
Erwin smiled at her.
"If you have something to say then just say it," he said bluntly and she looked at him.
Erwin nodded.
"Go on," he said and her eyes lowered.
Levi walked with Eren to the room, but they stopped short hearing the two speaking quietly.
"You were reckless. You have reckless plans, but usually you yourself are not reckless. And now you have no arm," she chided him softly.
Erwin smiled lightly.
"Your sympathy is sweet," he mused.
"You're spiraling commander. They're going to strip you of power and then what will we do? Get yourself straightened out before it's too late. You put us in jeopardy out there in that forest and now you've put yourself in jeopardy of doing what you promised me when I first joined," she said bluntly and he stared at her.
Levi and Eren listened quietly.
"So that's what this is about. Finally the truth comes out," he said and she stared at him.
"You didn't tell us all the information about the female titan. You put us at risk."
"I knew you'd all make it."
"But we didn't all make it," she spoke quietly.
Silence.
"You blame me for their deaths?" he asked and she didn't answer.
Eren held his breath listening, trying so hard not to make a sound. Levi didn't move, becoming almost statue-like.
"I blame you for a lot of things...but I was wrong back there. I don't blame you for their deaths. That's on me," she whispered and Erwin shook his head.
"That's not on you, that's on Annie. She killed them, not you," he said firmly and she stared at him.
Silence.
"Do you remember when I first recruited Levi?" he asked and she looked at him.
"You mean, do I remember when you blackmailed Levi?" she raised an eyebrow and he chuckled and nodded.
"Yes, I suppose that's a more accurate statement. But you didn't know that at the time," he agreed.
Eren looked at Levi wide eyed. Levi listened carefully.
"Do you remember what he told me that day?" he asked and she nodded.
"He said he was going to kill you," she mused and he smiled.
"And now?" he asked.
Silence.
"He trusts you more than anyone," she admitted and Erwin shook his head.
"Not more than anyone, but more than most," he said softly.
Silence.
"If you're referring to me by that comment, I don't think he trusts me that much anymore," she whispered and everyone's eyes widened.
"Why would you say that?" Erwin asked confused.
Silence.
"Look I know you're not used to sharing your feelings with others, but please know I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly.
Silence.
"I know why you don't think he trusts you anymore. You believe that because you've been emotionally compromised on more than one occasion recently, he doesn't feel safe putting his life in your hands. It's called survivor's guilt," Erwin said and she closed her eyes.
"Let me assure you now, you are probably the only person Levi trusts unconditionally. Or do I have to remind you that he was about to take my head off earlier?" he asked and she smiled lightly.
Levi didn't like that fact that she was so open with the commander, especially about him and their relationship. It stirred something within him that he couldn't place yet. Erwin smiled at her.
"Do you remember when I first recruited you?" he asked and she nodded.
"Do you remember what I told you?" he asked and she nodded again.
"Say it."
Greer's eyes lowered.
"You promised me you'd end this war with the titans," she said and Levi's eyes widened.
Greer never let on to why she joined. She'd always avoid his questioning of it. Erwin nodded.
"And what else did I say?" he asked and she looked at him.
"That all I had to do was trust you."
"And?"
"And then I could go home and die old," she finished and Erwin nodded.
"We're all going to die old," he said firmly and she looked at him.
Silence.
Silence.
"Petra isn't going to die old. Because she's dead already. Her father is going to bury an empty coffin tomorrow. He can't even bury his daughter. He's going to ask me to be there. He's going to want to know her last words. But I can't tell him her last words because she didn't have any. There were just screams. That's all I remember are their screams," she spoke dazedly and Levi closed his eyes tightly.
Eren wiped at his eyes, memories surfacing that he wished didn't. Erwin stared at her calmly. Greer wiped at her eyes trying to regain her composure.
"Her dad used to show me the letters she used to write to him. They were filled with mushy stuff about Levi mostly. But in all of that he found a letter that was solely about me. And she raved about me. And it only kills me more knowing I didn't save her. Knowing I couldn't save her. I wasn't strong enough to save any of them," she choked out.
"I don't blame you for their deaths. But I blame you for how they died. We didn't see Annie coming and you did and you didn't tell us," she said angrily.
"You didn't protect us. You asked me to trust you and I did and you didn't protect us!" she yelled at him angrily.
Silence.
Levi stared at the scene in shock. It took everything in his power to not walk into the room. Eren watched wide eyed. Greer shook her head turning away.
"Greer," Erwin said and she forced herself to look up at him through glassy eyes.
"You failed me and in doing so made me fail them," she whispered.
Silence.
Erwin sat up more and touched her hand causing her to look at him. He smiled softly.
"I'm sorry I can't comfort you better. I only have one arm and it's proving rather difficult," he said and she giggled.
She covered her mouth immediately embarrassed, but he laughed lightly. He wiped a small tear from her cheek and brushed some hair out of her face gently.
"I'm sorry," he said softly and she nodded.
"I truly am, Greer. Failing seems to be a part of my nature now," he said seriously.
"I will be there with you all tomorrow at the funerals," he said and she nodded.
He rubbed her head softly.
"Try to remember why you joined the survey corps," he said and she closed her eyes.
"From the day I joined, I knew what I was meant to do," Erwin said softly.
Greer lifted her head.
"My reasons have changed since then," she said surprising him.
Greer cleared her throat.
"I joined for the wrong reasons and I stood to prove something to myself. I'm here now with you for very different reasons," she continued and he stared at her.
"I fight for hope," she said simply and everyone's eyes widened.
"Hope?" he asked unsurely.
"Yes. Eren Yeager has given the world hope. He is the very definition of it. My job is to keep him safe and I will. Because he's not just some kid anymore. He's everyone's hope. Evie's, Levi's, yours, and mine," she spoke calmly.
Eren's eyes were wide and his breathing had hitched.
"So I will fight because he continues to fight. Because I've decided to put all of my trust in him. And the moment he decides to stop fighting you will not see me again. Because the moment he stops fighting, all hope is lost. And I will not be around to see that happen again. I'd rather take my chances outside of the walls with the titans. And I will be taking people with me," she said and he understood.
Silence.
"I should go. Get some rest, okay? I'll see you tomorrow," she said standing and exiting.
Levi and Eren were already gone.
At the House...
She walked in and immediately smelt something delicious. Evie was cooking her famous stew. She was surprised to see Levi sitting at the table. She sat at the table to, just happy to be home.
"How was your visit with Erwin?" Levi asked and she nodded.
"It went alright. He's making the best of his situation," she shrugged.
Evie served the stew and they began eating. She noticed right away that Levi was acting different. They finished eating and soon Greer sat on the bed ready for sleep. Levi walked in, sitting on the bed with her.
"I heard you talking with Erwin at the hospital," he admitted bluntly.
Greer stared at him softly.
"And?" she asked and he looked at her.
"And I think you talk too much like usual. But...I miss them too," he whispered and she took in a deep breath.
Silence.
He leaned in and kissed her. His hands rose to her cheeks, deepening the kiss. They could both feel the others pain and guilt that had accumulated over the last day. She moved closer to him, pressing her body to his as much as she could. When they pulled away they were both breathing heavily.
"Stay with me," she whispered.
"I'm not going anywhere."
He stood up then and walked into the bathroom. She waited as he came back out with a first aid kit. She chuckled as he sat down and opened it.
"You haven't had a moment's rest since you returned from the forest. Your body's in bad shape. I'm going to clean your wounds and then you're going to sleep," he said and she sighed and nodded.
He cleaned her wounds as gently as he could and patched up what he could. He helped her change and lay down carefully. He joined her shortly after and wrapped his arm around her securely, holding her close. Greer's eyes became heavy as soon as her head hit the pillow.
"Don't leave in the morning, okay? Stay," she murmured and he nodded.
"I won't leave," he said and she passed out, a small smile on her face.
I hope everyone enjoyed! Please review! I love reviews!