Ok here we go. Thank you to everyone who has soldiered on this far, I never intended this to take so long to get to, but here we are. The big bit. I hope you enjoy, and I hope it was worth the wait. This isn't the end of this fic, but it is certainly a pinnacle moment for obvious reasons. But anyway, thanks for reading!

Disclaimers: I don't own Attack on Titan, and there are SPOILERS for the OVA A Choice With No Regrets. Duh.

Thank you all.

With the dawn came the rain, and with it a sense of foreboding too potent even for me to try to ignore. But I try anyway, assuring myself it was nought but paranoia. Or newfound Hydrophobia. Apparently luck had taken a holiday as the wind also began to pick up, and I was sure this drizzle would soon become a typhoon. My attempts at calming myself grew weaker as I sensed the thick unease even in the most seasoned veterans. This was bad. I think by the time we're ready to head out Isabel is ready to knock my head clean off my shoulders, but I can't help it. She had to stay close by me.

"Kitty Kat back it up would ya? For the last time I'm gonna tell ya, I can flipping well handle myself!" she growls, hair still in a mess as she fails to tie it back properly. I sigh and fasten my saddle bag in place, soon moving over to help her with her own. Her bright green eyes narrow and she blows that wayward fringe out her face once again. Dammit kid you're too adorable for this situation, no one is that precious and not destined for a bloodied end. I'd read the books, I knew how this shit went down.

"I'm not doubting that, kiddo."

"If you don't doubt me, then what's with the pesterin'?!"

"Because if you're not by my side I'll freak out!" I yell back and then look at the ground as I grit my teeth, I'd meant to keep a lid on it. Apparently I'd failed. She snorts at my confession and just heads away, not understanding my words in all likeliness. She was young, headstrong, and felt invincible after yesterday's success; I was just a daft woman pawing over her.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. Initially I recoil angrily, not liking the sense of pity from that simple gesture. But as I see Farlan look back at me with those soft eyes, I sigh and blush a little. Damn.

"Sorry Farlan."

"It's fine Kat, just don't take her dismissal too much to heart? She just doesn't get the whole worrying thing. Flies by the seat of her tiny pants that one." He chuckles and shakes his head.

"Just keep an eye on her all right, all the cadets seem jittery. I guess Erwin's damn formation doesn't work as well when you can't see the big pretty smoke signals…" I sigh and fasten my cape, "Not to mention we might all end up with pneumonia."

"And now you sound like an old woman again, congrats Kat, keeping the habit going!" he snorts as he gathers his own things.

"Hey at least I cut back on the bad metaphors!" I laugh and he just ruffles my hair on his way past, like I was the kid now. "Just stay sharp okay?"

"You got it claws." He winks at me and heads off. He was a good egg that one.

The formation gathers outside our little hovel, and we get ready to move off. The uneasiness has hardly lessened with the rumbling of far off thunder. But maybe we could outrun it? Erwin rides towards the front, giving me a small nod as he goes. I return it but offer nothing else. He knows today is the day he dies, and he knows I won't fail. Personally though? I can't help consider that I might. I have to make his death the priority here, the success of it looking like an accident was secondary.

Right?

I pull up next to Farlan, noting his uneasy expression again, and I feel the stare boring into the back of my head. I don't need to turn to know it's Levi. He always did that when he wasn't sure whether or not I would do as I'd said. I didn't break promises, but I did find loopholes. And this time I hadn't even promised.

The formation takes shape and soon enough the order is given.

Back into hell to head for home.

There's little to no trouble encountered, and I start to think of how to head towards the inner centre of the formation. My mind whirring away with possible plans and strategies. But how do I justify it? I could claim I need a supply of some kind, emergency supplies were kept in the centre of the formation just in case. But as I clear my throat to relay this lie to Flagon I flinch back from a cold breeze, and the rain begins to patter down upon our heads harder. I look up and swallow hard as I see the heavy clouds rolling in thick and fast. It seemed we hadn't outrun it after all.

I didn't need to be a veteran to know this was bad.

I ride closer to Isabel and make a point of ignoring how she pouts about it. With this rain visibility was bad and getting worse, and it's hardly helped by the thick coils of mist slowly crawling along the ground. Shit. This day is getting better and better.

"Flagon! Shouldn't we be tightening the formation in this shit?!" I yell a little angrily, uneasy thanks to the now rumbling sky as thunder broiled above us. It seemed to also dance around us. Unless of course that wasn't thunder at all...

I can't see anything and my eyes blear with rain whenever they're not blinded by mist. This was madness. We shouldn't have set off with this as a potential problem, Shadis you're a damn idiot for now postponing. I swear if something happens to any of them I will be coming for your head, your thinning brown haired, sunken eyed and horribly hoarse voiced head. Flagon turns back to me and gives a pointed look. In all honesty he is damn lucky I need to cling to these reins with both hands in such conditions, or else he'd have had a gesture, or projectile thrown his way sharpish.

"We await orders, Cadet!"

"And how are we supposed to get said orders when we can barely see our own fucking horses?!" I yell back, but he has no answer of course, so he just turns back and presses on. And that's where I really lose my patience with soldiers. Yeah they're brave, and yeah we need them, but holy hell could you colour outside the box occasionally? I feel the mist loom over us and try to ignore the panic rising in my throat like bile.

I look to my troublesome three and find them looking as uneasy as myself. Well, Levi looks like his usual calm self, but there's a slight edge to how he's set his jaw. He's shitting it just as much as I am. I know it. He knew this was bad, and he was having the same problem I was. We could only be in one place at one time.

"Stick together god dammit, this is crazy weather." I call to them, and Farlan rides a little closer to Isabel. Another tongue click probably happened, but as I can barely hear myself think, I can only assume. Levi remains quiet, and remains on the outskirts. I narrow my eyes, looking at how he's holding those reins at a slight angle. He's thinking of breaking away and going after Erwin.

"Don't you dare Levi!" I yell and he just smirks for a split second. "Levi I'm fucking serious!"

Apparently Flagon isn't hearing this, but the other two are. Isabel looks to her Big Bro and frowns at him, Darlan doing the same but with far more annoyance than his little counterpart.

"Big Bro?"

"Levi? You have to wait until the fog let's off!" he yells, and Levi just shakes his head at them. And then at me. But before I can say anything else a sound grenade goes off, making us all yelp and look to where it came from. That'll have been from command. And Levi turns to Farlan and nods before he pulls off and rides away.

Shit.

I stare after him and just as I move to flick my reins and bolt right after him, I stop. If I leave, then these two are left to fend for themselves with the group. We could be hit by Titans any second. In these conditions you needed all the help you could get. But then again, by remaining I was leaving Levi to go and sully his soul all over again. For a stupid bit of revenge, his freedom was already assured. God dammit this world was cruel. My heart aches, being pulled in two directions and not knowing which way to go. This kind of confusion isn't something I'm used to, isn't something I know well. But in the time it's taken me to consider my dilemma he's gone.

I've missed my chance.

He's flown off back into the darkness.

Dammit.

"The hell happened to Levi?" yells Flagon as we alter route with him and the dumb bastard finally looks back. Great timing Squad Leader. I grit my teeth and spout the lie that will buy Levi some time, and possibly innocence when the shit hit the fan.

"Got separated in the fog, but he'll have headed for the sound like us. He'll be back."

"So he ain't dead?"

"Too fucking right he isn't!" I yell, and Isabel gives a whoop as confirmation.

Their Big Bro wouldn't leave them like that.

But should I have?

We keep going, and we stick together. The mist gets thicker, and the rain gets heavier. It's hell on earth, and I really begin to wonder if we'll ever make it back to the walls. Would I ever be able to see Chai again? Would I ever be able to really see the fruits of my labour and know for sure this life would finally be kind to those I cared about? I've always hated those walls, hated that vaulted rock ceiling and those dank alleyways, and yet right now I wish I was there in those shadows. I wish I was sat there laughing with Isabel and Farlan over a rickety wooden table, a candle sputtering out of life as we talk into the night. It wasn't a memory, I hadn't been with them long enough to make such a memory. But as the rain lashes down against my face, soaking through my hood and into my bones, finally gripping my heart; I fear I never will.

But still, we keep going, keep riding and then of course the inevitable happens.

We start screaming.

My god they came out of nowhere.

Hands grabbing, teeth gnashing, great eyes staring in wanton hunger. Yesterday we were the victors, today we seem like fish in a barrel. They lumber over us, and they seem to swarm around us. The mist swirls, seemingly burning away with their gathered heat. I keep as close to Isabel as I can, but it isn't easy in all this madness of movement.

Suddenly the horse's rear up, startled by the appearance of a giant foot in front of us. Me and Isabel manage to pull back and dodge, but Farlan is knocked from his horse. He rolls and lands heavily, his horse landing atop his leg.

"Farlan!" yells Isabel, turning and chasing as best she can. I try to do the same but my horse skids and falls, I do too and rather foolishly let my leg get between my horse's hoof and the cold ground. Crack. I scream out, and the horse thankfully is able to back away and get off of me.

"Farlan!" I hear Levi's voice, but don't see him.

There's a figure a fair distance away in the fog.

Levi?

Somehow he had noticed all this going on, and was heading back to us. Perhaps this wasn't a lost day after all, perhaps he hadn't had time to doom himself yet. But as he races towards us, his horse stumbles, and Levi is in the dirt looking thoroughly pissed off. I give a sorry shake of my head, hearing him yell out our names from afar. At least he'll be kept out of it.

I shake my head, the image of three tombstones having been lodged there as I hit the muck. No. They wouldn't die, not while I was here to help them. I don't look at the leg, I know it's fucked, I grab a blade from my casing and use it as a brace. I shove it down into my boot and then use my spare straps to keep it firmly in place. No room for shifting, and already I can barely feel it.

I scramble to my feet.

"No! Stop! Not like this!" I hear Levi yell, but I don't turn to look. I don't need to see his panic, I can feel my own well enough. I could do this for them, I could do this for Levi. I launch myself over to where Farlan lies under his horse.

"No time to laze about Farlan!" I yell, yanking his horse up and off him as quick as I can, the poor beast is still scared, but thankfully able to respond to my tugging.

"Get out of here Kat… gah… god damn…" he grumbles, but I just ignore him, flinching as a feral sounding cry sounds from behind us. I turn and watch Isabel slice at the hand that was reaching down to me and Farlan. Frankly the kid is amazing.

"Brilliant kiddo, now get out of— no!" I cry out, as she gets too cocky. She wants to be like her Big Bro, I can see it in those bright eyes as she swings up and goes for the nape. But she misses, her angle all wrong.

"Dang it!" she yells in irritation, going for another try like the crazy fool she was.

"Get out of there Kid!" I yell, firing up to try and get the nape myself, but as I do she's dislodged on her retry and smacks into the back of the Titan. She's about as vulnerable as possible there, and I feel my blood turn cold. But still, I manage to slice down the big bastard leering in from behind to claim her as his own meal. But before I can turn and launch for the original target that she was dangling down from, the beast has grabbed hold of her himself. Reached round and clamped that filthy fist round her doll-like body.

"Isabel!" I scream and she looks down at me, an oddly wistful look reflected in those bright green orbs of promise and potential. No. Not like this.

"Kats—" her blood rains down on my face as I reach for her pointlessly.

Isabel.

I'm frozen, staring at where her life has been sprayed across the beast's ungainly jaws. No. Not those big bright eyes! They were meant to live in the open, meant to see the seasons change and live in a world that wasn't built to be a tomb. Of all the people to die out here in this mess of blood, sweat, tears, rain and mud. Not her.

"You bastard!" I hear Farlan yell out, and I turn, wrenching myself out of my wallowing bubble and I stagger after him. His gear is all messed up though, jamming when he tries to fire. "Just my luck…"

"Farlan move god dammit!" I yell, voice scratchy from my unvoiced sobs. I couldn't stop to mourn her properly just yet, there wasn't the time. He looks at me and nods, dodging and diving like the pro I knew he was.

There's seven of them around us, no five now?

My mind whirls at the looming masses. What the hell were we meant to do but die? My valour is all on the point of disappearing when I hear Flagon yell out and take on the Titan that had killed Isabel. Squad leader to the rescue I guess, but of course it isn't meant to be. Once again the rain fucks it all up. He slips, he slides, and he is consumed.

I feel Death sneer at me.

He was finally coming to collect.

I slip across the mud, desperately trying to get some traction, but as Farlan staggers back from seeing another comrade fall he's caught by a hand that loomed out of the fog. They were never ending. This world was never ceasing in its atrocities.

"Fuck no, not him too!" I yell at no one in particular, my leg is screaming at me and it becomes warm as blood starts seeping through I assume. Unless I've pissed myself. I have no idea right now, but as I soar through the air and slice into the wrist of the beast, grabbing Farlan's hand a moment later I feel a slight twinge of hope. But I know that's dangerous. And this is only proven when my grapple fails to disengage and I'm slammed into the dirt after letting Farlan go. Another snap, and now there's acute pain slicing through my nerves.

Pretty sure that was a rib…

"Shit…" I pant, trying to get up, but failing. Mobility was the way to stay alive, and right now that was exactly what I didn't have. Soon enough I'm scooped up next, a large hand wrapping round me and crushing my already damaged ribs. Oh god I can't breathe. Did they ever stop? I groan as the momentum makes my head spin, suddenly raising a good ten metres into the air with the heat and stench of this beast. I want to vomit.

I hear Levi scream at Farlan.

Something was going on beyond my sight.

I'm just glad he can't see me through the fog.

The mouth is getting nearer. Shit. Not like this. This is not how I'm meant to go out, not without having managed to at least save someone. Surely? I manage to wiggle my arm free, but my blade's shattered. Then again had a disadvantage ever stopped me before? I hack away with the stub of a blade, feeling the hot breath against my face when I finally slice through and drop from the hand. The wrist flails backwards into the fog.

"Fuck!" I shriek and land atop the hand in the muck below. I feel like I'm going to drown in it, but am soon distracted by the searing pain in my leg. I look down and again feel the want to vomit, I tighten my strap above the break and force myself to ignore the pain. It could come later. I get up and I get my ass moving.

"Levi?! Farlan?!" I yell as I stumble through the grey smog of death. But there's nothing until I finally feel a breeze and then the world finally clears.

Only now… now I wish I was blind.

Levi walks along, staggered steps and face like a grave. In his arms he carries Farlan, but it isn't any good. Blonde hair matted onto his silently screaming face as blood continues to dribble from where his navel should have been.

Oh god.

Not both of them.

Rage burns in me, and as I get closer with each staggering step Levi turns to me. As our eyes meet, green to grey, friend to friend, soldier to soldier; we share a moment of clarity. This had to end in blood, as it was always meant to. Only now it would be Titan blood, and steam, and pain. He lays down our fallen comrade. No words are shared, no words are needed. We nod, and stand back to back as the rest of them tower in on us. The breeze continues to clear the mist and finally we had some sight, at last we could stare our enemies down.

Three for me, and four for him.

He shoots left, and I shoot right.

We are rage incandescent, we are fury, we are vengeance.

I howl against both the pain in my leg and heart as I slice through them. There's no poise in my movements, no cunning plan, no experience given grace; I just hack and swing till my three Titans are left in bits as they steam into oblivion. But that's it, that's all I had to do. So why in hell couldn't I have managed it sooner?

I stagger a little but can't fight it anymore. I fall into the mud sobbing, my blades drop from my hands and I hear the last of Levi's targets fall down beside me. I don't even flinch as the impact shifts my hood against me. The gentle hiss of steam is all I can hear above my own gasping breaths. I stare at the ground, soaked with the tears of this world and the blood of my friends. And yet there's nothing now. I sob onwards but can't grasp hold of any one emotion.

I feel fucking hollow.

I look down at my leg and grimace, dammit that was unsightly. The bone sticks through the darkened material of my trousers, bright white against the surrounding dark red and brown mess. My rage dulled the pain before, but now this hollowness lets it register anew. I claw into the earth and stuff my cloak in my mouth.

Shit.

Levi appears next to me, staring ahead of where I sit, stock still as his eyes slowly blink. I know I'll regret it, but I look to where his eyes are locked and feel another scream burn in my throat. It goes unvoiced, but my god do I want to let it rip out of me until my lungs burst.

Those bright eyes.

Those big beautiful green eyes, now glazed over with lifelessness, stare at us from Isabel's sweet head. The mask is broken as he walks over and stares down, hands shaking as they continue to tightly grip his still steaming blades. This isn't Levi, this is the shattered pieces of him being held together by a damn uniform. I can barely see straight from the agony swirling in my mind, but still I wrench my sorry ass up and I go to him. In all honesty, having heard the rage-filled roars from him as he took those Titans down, I'm half expecting him to cut me into pieces as well. I have blame here, just as he would think he had. He left them, yes, but I was right here and still failed to protect them. But as I get closer to him, there's no reaction at all, he's just standing there staring into those green pits.

I limp over and hold onto his shoulder, putting my other hand to his face as I try and stop him being mesmerised by that silent gaze. I can't say anything though, if I open my mouth I feel like I'll just scream at him, and at the world. The sobs are burning in my throat, but I won't voice them. I have to be here for him, I have to fight the shadows back now more than ever.

He blinks slowly, a flicker of light appearing in those silver eyes as he looks at my hand, his downward gaze then catching sight of my leg. That flicker blazes and he tenses up, putting a hand over mine and holding tighter than ever. His other goes to my cheek, seemingly searching my face with those wild eyes.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" he demands coarsely, but I just breathe heavily, unable to say a damn thing. I can't imagine what's going on in his head, the pain he must be feeling. All I'd wanted to do, throughout this shitshow, was help him. That was all I had ever bloody wanted to do. But it seemed like all I'd accomplished was heaping on more pain. The edges of my vision blur again, darkening as my breathing shakes. What do I say?

He shakes my shoulders.

"Kat! Come on, don't do this, don't leave me…"

"I c-can't… oh God… Levi…" I look away, gritting my teeth as I sway, the stench of the battle making it even harder to breathe on top of the fact I feel like those two tombstones I'd seen, were now hung round my neck, pressing down on my chest. Burying me. "I… I tried… I just…"

"Just get off that leg, we need to—"

"We need to bury them." I gag and put a hand over my mouth, and in the next second he's pulled me into his arms. I want to push him away, beg him to fucking save himself before the tombstones dragged him down too, but soon enough I know I can't.

I feel that strength around me, hear that heartbeat that commanded my own. We sink to our knees, and whilst he starts pawing at my leg, fresh blood oozing from the wound, I just stare down at him. I think I understand it now, why he hadn't pushed me away, why he hadn't killed me. In this world of uncertainties, and madness, we seemed to always come back to each other. I was his only real connection to the past, the only real connection to himself that he still has, is me.

You poor bastard Levi.

"You should make it back." He says quietly, and I nod absentmindedly, not particularly bothered about anything to do with myself by this point.

I run a hand through his hair as the rain lets up, and the clouds begin to shift. The last of the fog rolls away and the scene is plain to see. Silence rules us for a while, until finally he looks at me. That light that flickered and blazed was there, but it was dimming as he licks his lips and breathes out a question that makes my iced over heart shudder.

"Did I kill them?" he looks like a child again, completely stripped back to his old self. Before anything had darkened him, before anything had sullied those pure eyes. I just pull him close and shake my head.

"You let them live, Levi. You let them fight."

"Kat… what was all this for?" he breathes, clinging to me suddenly and my heart seems to thaw just a little. I look up at the clearing sky and try to remember. But my mind is a haze of mist, tainted in red flecks. Right now I have no idea. Right now the only thing I'm certain of is that I'm alive, and he's alive; and we had lost two bright souls in our care.

"I don't know Levi. But we… but you…"

"You got it right the first time." He says, breath hitching ever so slightly before he looks at me again and tucks a strand of my hair back. I look away, unable to accept the affection that just appeared in that gaze.

Why now?

Why was it only in the darkest of places we found ourselves able to accept how much we needed each other?

I clamber onto my feet, he watches me go, knowing not to question me as I go over to that mess of Auburn hair. I kneel down and slowly close those eyes, letting my foolish self try to imagine she was doing nothing but taking a nap. That soon enough she would be pestering me again, calling me Kitty Kat and laughing that melodic laugh.

"We." He says sternly from where he sits. "Promise me that at least, brat."

I turn to him, meeting that familiar gaze and feeling my heart give a juddering swell.

"Levi I—"

The sound of hooves makes me jolt, and he turns, also startled by the sudden intrusion of our silence. But as they grow closer we see the familiar figure of our intended victim. He rides up and considers the scene carefully, cold blue eyes wide as he notes the diminished Squad and rotting Titan corpses. And then he lands his gaze upon his, more disbelief showing.

"Levi? Katsumi?! What… what the hell happened… are you the only ones left?"

What a stupid question.

I see Levi tense for a lunge, but I don't have the energy to try and get over there to stop him. Instead I run my fingers through the soft locks of little Isabel, unable to avoid the warm tears rolling down my cheeks. Erwin looks at Levi and then to me, flinching back from my expression, which I can only assume either looks completely broken, or completely psychotic. Either way, not a pretty sight.

"Did you take all these Titan's down yourselv—" his question is cut off as Levi lunges, and drags Erwin from his horse to throw him into the much. They land heavily, and I flinch at the harsh noise. Levi is practically growling as he holds his glittering blade to Erwin's throat.

I look at Mike who had been close behind, and shake my head. Not the time to intervene Sniffers, trust me on this. The man nods slightly, and looks at my leg with a grimace soon following. Yeah we survived, just about.

"I'll kill you Smith." Growls Levi, and Erwin just stares at him coldly. Levi hisses through his teeth. "It's the only god damned reason I'm here!" the blade shakes with his rage as he grits his teeth tighter.

They talk about some document, and about the original 'job' Levi had been asked to do. It all rumbles round me without meaning quite frankly, I had never been involved with it, and even now feel no real drive to kill Erwin anymore. He was as powerless in this as we were it seemed. How petty our squabbles seemed when in the wake of these beasts and their smouldering bones.

And then I hear it.

It had all been a bluff. So the 'job' had been for nothing. I suck a breath through my teeth, tasting blood but disregarding it. The only reason Levi had agreed to all this, to taking Isabel and Farlan out of the Underground and into this madness, was a bluff? Once again the ice crawls over my heart, and I watch as the blade shudders in Levi's hands.

I no longer care.

Cut him to ribbons if you want Levi, I can't hold back this tide any longer.

I'll just linger in the dark with you.

"You bastard… this is all your fault! You knew? You fucking knew?!" demands Levi, and then Erwin glances at me and at the girl's head where my hand lingers.

His eyes grow sad, and then very, very angry.

He turns them on Levi and I feel myself hold my breath.

"Who was it that killed my subordinates, and your friends?" Erwin asks, and I flinch back from that tone. "Was it me? Was it you?"

At first I can't believe what the bastard's insinuating; that it was Levi's fault they were dead. How dare he? How dare he throw that blame down at Levi's feet when he can clearly see the pain in the man's eyes? But then it clicks into place. That wasn't what Erwin was saying at all. I look to Levi, and see he has made the same initial assumption as myself, but instead of anger it manifests as guilt and shame. An entirely new darkness is shrouding him.

"You're right…" Levi says, blade remaining where it is, but eyes glancing down. As I hear his confession, his admittance of accountability I feel sick to my stomach. No Levi… no it isn't true. "My arrogance... my shitty pride…"

"No you're wrong!" yells Erwin and I do a double take. I knew what he had meant, but why was he so desperate for Levi to understand? I thought Erwin hated Levi. But perhaps I had set my sights too small. Allowed myself too much indulgence. I draw a shaky breath and rise to my feet, swaying as I stagger over to them.

"It's the Titans." I say it quietly, not really sure if I intended them to hear or not. But then they both look at me whilst I gaze at the mess in our wake. No, in their wake. Erwin nods

"We are ignorant of them, of the outside world, and until we learn all we can about them? Humanity will never escape this nightmare." he grabs the blade and leans forward towards Levi who just stares, still trying to comprehend all that has happened I think. Erwin stands and looms over him, I panic and wonder if he's just saying all this to kill Levi. But when he shoots me a look I just stand where I am, listening to my own shaken breath and stuttering heartbeat. He's serious. "Will you kill me, Levi? Will you return to that darkness of the Underground? Dragging her with you?"

Levi looks at me and I just stare back.

"We need your strength, both of you, humanity needs you." Says Erwin, slightly pleading.

"Needs us?" I breathe, still staring into those turbulent grey eyes.

"Stay in the light and fight beside us." Says Erwin quietly, the breeze shifting our capes and fluttering those green shades around.

I swallow hard.

Perhaps the only tangible thing to be brought out from all this carnage and waste, was doing just that. Remaining to fight. Staying in the Corps and battling for freedom under the big sky Isabel loved so much. It wasn't much, but it was something. I clench my teeth and stagger over to Levi who now looks up at that clearing sky, eyes reflecting the rolling clouds as the noise in his mind continues. I put a hand on Levi's that holds the blade towards Erwin still. I'm not stopping him, I'm just trying to remind him that someone is still there with him.

I'm not much of a consolation prize, but at least I was a connection to what once was.

"I need to know one thing Erwin." I say quietly, eye flickering over to him, the blade still held in his hand as blood seeps from his palm. He was far from safe. His blue eyes zone in on mine and I feel sincerity shine out at me.

"Ask."

"Why did you make me wait? Why ask for the extra time?" I ask and tighten my hold on Levi's hand, trying to steady myself as my vision darkens again. "What did it allow?"

"The longer he had to scramble at a cover up, the more that damned nobleman buried himself into his own conspiracy. By allowing me time, and allowing the mission to continue, you allowed us to show that bastard for who he is. Lobov is now disgraced and can no longer steal, nor hold back our work." He explains and whilst I know next to nothing about this nobleman, the fact that I had allowed the Scouts to continue their jobs was a small consolation.

Without the scouts, when it really came down to it, none of us would fly.

"Why would your death halt the mission?" I snort, seeing it as arrogance initially. But then I stop myself, and glance over to where Shadis sits upon his horse, hollowed eyes extremely tired looking. I look back to Erwin and smirk. "So you're already the Commander?"

"As good as." He shrugs and swallows as the blade shudders in Levi's grip. "Please, listen to me the two of you. Stay in the light, fight with us for the hope of tomorrow. Allow me to—"

"Shut it, Erwin." I sigh, and I turn to Levi with a solemn look. "No more deals, no more secret arrangements or scurrying around behind each other's backs. We have nothing else to lose but this freedom… and maybe each other."

Levi stares for a long moment, and I wonder if that's even enough for him anymore. Does he just want to go back to that hovel and dwindle into nothing? But then he finally yields the grip upon his blade. And so do I. It falls to the earth, blood still trickling along the razor edge. Erwin heads back over towards Mike, and once again a strange quiet enfolds me and Levi. As he stares at me, I feel like he's looking for something, and then finally he takes a slow blink.

"Not bad…" he says at me and I can't help but smirk a little. There he was, even if it was just for a moment, there was a flicker of himself in amongst the wreckage. His eyes glance at the fallen and he shudders, gritting his teeth. I put a hand to his cheek and run my thumb where there's no tears to take away.

"You can't regret it, don't cheapen what they did."

"I won't. I'll never let myself do that." He says, pausing to take a breath. "But you can't either, Kat."

"Perhaps we can make that our last deal…" I sigh and smile sadly at him as the sun washes over his pale face. He nods and I know it's done, we have a new vow and a brand new bond. On top of all our history, and all our shared pain, I really don't think anything's going to be able to pull us apart anymore. Heck, it could try, but it wouldn't work.

"Hey Claws… I need to get a look at that leg…" says Hanji as she rides up, having been sent for by Sniffer I assume. I nod, before I glance to those two sleeping souls and then shake my head gently.

"Not yet." I whisper.

"What's that claws?"

"Not till I've put them to bed."

"Huh?" she says, but I don't explain, she'd know soon enough.

I head over to where Isabel sleeps. Signals fire off in the background, and I know in truth we don't have time to bury them. Not out here. Here was a place that Time slid and juddered about, sneaking up on you in the form of gaping jaws. But I can't just leave them like this. I take off my cape and swaddle that sweetly sleeping face in it, carrying her over to Farlan and laying her upon his stilled chest. I'm about to kneel down when Levi appears by my side, silently tapping my shoulder and doing it himself. He wraps Farlan's cape around them and we both take a blade and cross them at the head of the newly appointed resting place.

"Perhaps it's better to not bury them…" I whisper, and feel his arm go to my waist. "Now they're free to gaze up at that sky for always…"

"Let's go home, Kat."

"Yeah… let's go home, Levi."

We head over and Levi gets onto a horse, hauling me up behind him a moment later. Well it isn't as if I can ride on my own with my leg in this state. I hold on tight and brace myself for the oncoming movement, and in all likeliness, soul-crushing pain. He looks over his shoulder as the formation regroups around us.

"How's the pain?" his voice is gentle, and I just shrug, holding a little tighter still.

"I'll loop my hands through your straps if I think I'm gonna pass out."

"Right…"

"I'm here Levi, and if I'm in pain, it means I'm alive. I'm not leaving you again." I sigh and he nods, patting my hand that rests across his stomach. We start to head back with Erwin and Mike, but as we reach the top of a hill Levi slows the horse and we both look back. The blades gleam in the sunlight. I hold him tighter.

"Under the big blue sky Levi, they're not stuck in the shadows anymore."

"I wish I saw the world through your eyes."

"I can help with that." I nuzzle his back and he holds my hand a little tighter. "Don't go taking this the wrong way, you prat… but, I do love you."

"I love you too, brat."

Phew... proverbial fan and shit have connected. That was intense to write, I cannot lie. I just hope it was a good read as well.

Thank you and see you next time!

Maria: Yes I'm back and writing rather slowly, I do apologise about that, but I have caught up with myself in all the stories now so I am having to write fresh for each update which is a new sensation. I basically got it all done, and now have a very annoying waiting game to play... I hope the box of tissues was sufficient and at least used (never know that line between underplaying or laying it on too thick... ugh so tricky!) I do so appreciate your patience and support. It really does mean a lot to me as a writer, and as a human being if I even count as that anymore, haha.

Gracexxx: Once again you are too kind, and I hope this chapter was up to standard for you. Thank you for the continued support on what is my least popular, but still very dear to me, story. :)