"HANGE!" Commander Erwin was up at the crack of dawn the following morning. The storm hadn't passed but it had turned to a mild drizzle of rain with light winds, nothing they weren't used to.
"Commnader, I'm awake" This was possible the first time Erwin had seen Hange awake before noon.
"Sorry, I assumed..." Erwin begin rubbing the side of his head feeling slightly foolish.
"You assumed wrong. We need to find Eren today or we risk..."
"You risk what?" A voice asked from the doorway. They both knew that voice, they also knew that they had no way of escaping the question.
"I demand an explanation from both of you." Levi was stood supporting himself on two crutches. It was evident he'd discharged himself sooner than he should have. Levi's distended stomach was now visible through the white shirt of his uniform.
Both Erwin and Hange exchanged glances that needed no words. This was an encounter they had hoped to avoid. They signed in unison and ushered Levi into the nearest chair. Sitting across from him Erwin decided that he needed to start the conversation.
"Cut the bullshit Smith tell me what happened and tell me now" Levi interjected before Erwin had a chance to start his sentence.
Erwin sighed and took a deep breath, there was no point in lying now.
"Eren trying to disconnect from you. When you told him you weren't going to keep the child that's when he decided he couldn't talk it. He's been gone for a few days now. We've looked, we can't find him. We're going out today, the storms eased off a bit so we should be able to get further than we did yesterday"
Levi had never been lost for words before, he was speechless. His facial expression softened for the first time in his entire life. He realised there and then that if there was one element in life that could get past the wall he'd created, it was Eren.
Levi rose to his feet, hand coming to rest of his stomach, a habit he'd become accustomed to over the past week.
"We need to move, he needs to be found" Levi made his way towards the door, just before striding through the doorway he turned and starred at Hange.
"Do I need to ask where he got the potions to do this?" His brow furrowed as his glare hardened.
Hange didn't know what to do or say, she knew Levi knew it was her so there was no point denying it. She hung her head and let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry Levi" Was all she said. She didn't look up until she heard the door shut behind Levi. She knew the look she'd receive and it was one her heart couldn't take.
Levi left the room and headed straight for the stables. He hurried, he knew that with every passing second Eren was getting closer and closer to separating them forever.
"Levi!" It was Erwin, of course it was, Levi should have known he wouldn't let him leave peacefully.
"There's al, Levi should have known he wouldn't let him leave peacefully.
"There's always a lecture with you isn't there" Levi sighed.
"I'm not here to...Levi you shouldn't go out in your condition. It won't be good for you or the baby" Erwin said, stern faced with his arms folded across his chest. He may have been able to tower over Levi in height but there was always a part of him that was intimidated by the smaller man.
"It's my decision what I do Smith. You of all people should know that I'll do what I want whether you approve or now" Levi glared up at the taller man.
"I'm just concerned. You discharged yourself. You're not well enough to be riding out to find Eren, you don't know what..."
"You don't think I know what I could find! You don't think I know I could find him dead!" Levi was screaming now, tears threatening to fall from his eyes but he was in better control than that. He turned on his heel and headed in the direction of the horses.
His horse, a black mare, was calming eating the fresh hay that had been put in her stable an hour or so ago. She looked up he approached. Saddling her up he climbed into the saddle. He'd brought some provisions with him when he went to confront Hange and Erwin, he had a feeling something wasn't quite right and a good soldier is prepared for anything.
"You don't even know where to start looking" Erwin called.
"I have a pretty good idea where he is" Levi responded putting his hand on his stomach again. He couldn't believe a decision he'd made could cost him everything he cares about.
Levi didn't bother to look back as he rode out of the barracks. He knew where Eren was but the only time he'd gone there he wasn't exactly in his right mind. Trying his hardest to remember the way he rode for hours. He realised that he'd take a wrong turn at some point and had to double back on himself.
The day passed quicker than Levi thought possible. He'd stopped once on his search to eat and that was only out of necessity for the child he was carrying. He still had a hard time believing that he was actually carrying a child, no not just a child, his and Erens child.
Darkness began to make it's way across the horizon. Levi hadn't even come close to finding the shelter. He'd needed to remember, if he didn't find him soon it would be too late. The ache that struck Levi's heart and stomach simultaneously was one of the weirdest sensations he'd ever felt.
"You're worried too right?" Levi asked softly. Talking to his stomach was something he thought was stupid but in that moment he didn't seem to care. He was worried and he could feel the distress of the child within him. Stroking his stomach through the white shirt he'd donned that morning. He glanced up and the clouds had darkened even more in the short space of time he'd been distracted.
He reluctantly turned and headed back to the barracks. He was greeted by two stable hands who insisted he head inside immediately and get some rest. He'd been out all day and he really needed sleep. He agreed and handed the horse over to them.
The next day started much the same as the day before, as well as the next few weeks that followed. He grew tired more easily, therefore needing multiple breaks during the trip. The only difference between recent trips and his first two were that he now had a squad to ride out with him. He gave the best directions he could think of and hoped that one of the teams would find him.
The next day marked three weeks since Eren's disappearance, they'd searched miles but Levi still couldn't pinpoint the exact location of the shelter.
"Levi, going out again today?" Erwin asked as Levi was about to leave. He looked and felt exhausted.
"Yep. I won't give up on the stupid brat" Levi said, more determined than ever. He didn't know how much longer it would be until Eren took the second vile to finish the process. Hell, he could have done it already, he could be dead. That thought made him feel sick. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought about it every day at least once though.
"Good Luck Levi" Erwin commented turning around to head back inside.
"What no lecture about how I shouldn't be going out in my condition?" Levi asked mockingly as he gestured to his stomach to emphasise his point.
"Not this time. I can see the determination in your eyes. You won't give this up for anything so what's the point" Erwin said a small smile pulling at the sides of his mouth.
Levi simply huffed and pulled on the horses reigns. He headed out in the same direction that he must have gone at least a hundred time over the past three weeks.
Today felt different, more determination is what he put it down to. He turned right when he got to the run down farm house but stopped immediately. It wasn't right it was left, he doubled back on himself and rode as fast as he could. He didn't know what had brought him to remember that but suddenly flashes of the first night Eren had taken him out here came flooding back. He knew where to find him, he knew where to find Eren.
Levi followed the memories that were guiding him and low and behold he eventually came across the shelter. He could feel Erens presence. He hadn't completed the disconnection yet. There was a chance to save what they had.
Jumping off of his horse he didn't even think to tie her to anything, he had one thing on his mind and that was getting to Eren.
"Eren! Please listen, don't..." Levi burst the door open just in time to see the liquid from the second vile pass Erens lips.