Training was harsh that day. Being under Captain Levi's command required a great physical effort as well as an enormous concentration when practicing the daily exercises and new anti-titan strategies. Around 5 pm, the Special Operations Squad returned from training, everyone ready to take a bath and repose for the rest of the day. The sky was clear and there was still light when Petra decided to go out and see the last sunbeams in the horizon. It has been a few months since she adopted the habit of seeing the sunset whenever her Schedule allowed her.

The difference of the landscape, seen from the barracks and seen from outside the walls was huge. Despite being the same sky, the same sin and the same view, everything seemed to change after steeping outside those walls made to protect humanity.

Petra walked towards the usual spot, somewhere near the castle, after a small grove; just where a moorland began...a perfect spot to see the sky's greatness. One day, some weeks ago Levi followed her towards this spot, wondering where might she be going and since then he joined her to see the sunset every time he had the chance. Perhaps three times a week.

They both enjoyed their mutual company, as well as the interesting conversations they had while they were relaxing and while something else awoke inside of them. Slowly, it became the best part of the day for the two soldiers. It was something that didn't happen so often, that neither of them hoped to find or anticipated. They both knew about it, but no comments were made, perhaps because accepting it would be too complicated… but it was still there.

"The birds return to their home" she pointed at the bird flock that was flying towards the trees behind them. She was lying on the grass next to Levi, who was sitting and leaning on his two arms.

"They always do, at the same hour" his voice was calm and quiet. He didn't want to ruin the atmosphere with his harsh tone.

"I wonder where they go every morning" she kept looking at the birds that flew around the pink sky "maybe they go outside the walls and see the outside world, without any fears of being eaten by monsters… I'm a little envious of them"

"Tsch… envy, you say? So what if they go outside the walls? They're stupid enough to come back every day"

"They come back because they have a reason to. They are truly free, since they choose to come back despite having the opportunity to stay somewhere else." Petra said with a great conviction "despite them having those wing that can take them anywhere, they come back for something " there was a pause and after a couple seconds she turned her gaze to see Levi "would you do it?"

"Come back?" he looked towards the sky and then towards those amber eyes that filled his heart with peace "I would do it… for the right reasons" his gaze was intense and his eyes were locked on hers, as she looked at him, waiting for something she didn't know what it was.

"Would you come back for someone?"

"I would come back for just one person" and almost immediately he leaned to kiss Petra, who was still lying in the grass and she let her hand touch the Captain's handsome face, feeling for the first time the closeness between them, a sensation they both had longed for a while.

And for the first time Levi joined the Survey Corps, he felt as if he actually had wings on his back; that he could go anywhere with that new kind of freedom. The wings of freedom weren't just an icon anymore or a metaphor on his green cloak. It was more than that. At last something tangible that his hands would recognize every time they touched Petra; every time hi lips kissed her.

Time passed and those wings continued to cheer him up, giving him another reason to fight, until one of them was brutally ripped away by a titan's kick that took Petra away from him.

All the dreams for a future beside her and the figurative freedom he caressed every day went away on the day she died. Even if he managed to kill all those stupid titans, he would never get his other wing back, and the remaining one would turn black, just like the smoke of his burning illusions.

To be continued…

Hey guys!

Well, this one was quite sad and gloomy… and in the end I had to write those last paragraphs because it will have a continuation and they are necessary for the next chapter. Please don't the me xD

And by the way, the special thanks are in order for Irvin, my co-worker who gave me the idea for this after seeing a necklace I usually wear.