Running Wild

by CursedRedRose

Eren Jaeger has only ever known the world from inside the boundaries of the Maria pack's territory. After a long devastating war with the Survey Corps nobody is allowed to venture outside. Eren always hated the Survey Corps until he met their deadliest soldier Levi Ackerman. As a bond starts to grow between them, their worlds prepare to collide. Can there ever be a way out? Ereri

15. Chapter 15

Well... this has been a long time coming.
It feels like it has been ages since I last wrote any fanfic and honestly there was a part of me that didn't think this would get finished. I have not really been writing too much and it feels like it was forever ago when I really enjoyed it at all. But a couple of weeks ago, I got a review on this story and it made me think, to heck with it. I'm going to finish this story and I've actually really loved writing this final chapter. I hope it lives up to everyone's expectations.
This is going to sound so repetitive but thank you to everyone who's ever left a kudos or a review on this story. It has really saved it and I can only hope that I get the last chapter out in a timely manner, lol.

Edit: I am sorry about the code showing up, I have no idea how that happened and hopefully this fixes it. I love technology sometimes.

The horn continued to blow, the sound long and low like a death knell. For a long moment, the crowd was still, like an array of pale wax statues that were slowly melting in the weak morning sun. Their faces white and clammy with sweat, they stared in the direction of the sound like they expected Death itself to appear from the undergrowth and Eren could feel his heart pounding inside him with terror. He turned to Levi and he didn't need their shared bond to tell him that his partner was just as scared as him. His usually thin eyes were blown wide and his hands were gripping the hilts of his blades like he wanted to snap them. They exchanged a glance and they didn't have to say a word as the expressions on both their faces were clear.

They all needed to get out of here.

Levi turned to Mikasa, who's body had stiffened like stone. Her eyes, like everyone else's, were wide with terror but when she looked back at Levi, they were as sharp and focused as her blades and she looked ready to charge the entire Survey Corps army by herself.

"We need an evacuation plan. Levi, do you have any idea where they will attack?"

Levi thought about it for a few seconds, pressing his hand urgently against his chin. "The closest point to their territory is in the east." He said, pointing in the direction he and Hanji had just dragged Eren from. "That's where the horn is coming from. That means they're not too far away. We may not have as many people in our pack but our units are small and fast and, from what we saw last night, Erwin's whipped them all into a frenzy. They're all going to be after blood and they won't care that they are attacking defenceless people in their beds."

"We need to get a move on." Hanji interjected, still fusing over Eren's sodden bandages as he leant weakly against her side. "If we head west, we might just be able to put enough distance between us. They are going to be so focused on the main camp, they hopefully won't notice us if we slip out now."

Levi and Mikasa exchanged another quick glance and she faintly nodded at him before the two of them leapt into action.

"Everyone, listen up!" Mikasa suddenly bellowed, her loud voice seeming to bring the crowd to life around her as all of their heads turned towards her. "We need to get as many people evacuated from this camp as possible. I want all of you to head west through the camp and wake up as many people as you can. I don't care how you do it, drag them out of bed if you have to but get them out of here. If any higher-ups try to stop you, dispose of them. They've done nothing for us so we won't do anything for them."

"Aren't we going to fight?" A voice sounded from the back. Mikasa turned to face the direction of the sound, already opening her mouth to fire back a cutting response but before she could, Levi quickly cut over her.

"I will be," he said, causing several people to step back and Eren to stare at him in shock. "The Survey Corps will need to be held back; they have speed on their side and if they charge now, there is no way anyone will get out of this camp alive. If you give me your best soldiers, I can create a distraction that will hold them back for a while. That will give you all enough time to get out of here safely."

Mikasa nodded, her eyes firm and unyielding as they turned back to the crowd. She didn't even need to say that she would be one of those soldiers; everyone could see from her face that she was ready for it. "Who else will join us in keeping back the Survey Corps? I won't lie, this will be dangerous, probably the most dangerous fight you will ever face, and you may lose your life but I can't think of a worthier cause. However, we won't force you to make a sacrifice you don't want to make. If you are willing to do this, for your pack, step forwards with us."

For a few seconds, there was silence as nobody moved and over half of the crowd stared down at their feet. Then suddenly, Jean strode forwards and stood in front of Mikasa and Levi, his back straight as a rod as he saluted them both.

"I'll do it." He said with a slight smirk in Eren's direction that he immediately returned. "Somebody needs to show those cowards who's boss."

Levi chuckled. "Not bad horse boy." He then turned to the rest of the pack. "Who else?"

Seemingly encouraged by Jean's example, a few more people slowly stepped forwards. Not all of them looked as confident as Jean but their resolve stood firm as they gave shaky salutes and they were rewarded with a rare wide smile from Mikasa. Sasha and Connie were among those who stepped forwards and Eren watched as they shared a determined look. Marco also stepped forward to stand by Jean and, although his hands were shaking a little, he still managed a firm salute as Jean looked on proudly. The air around the group had changed from one of fear to one of confidence and it was a change Eren welcomed. If they wanted to survive this, they would need all the hope they could get.

"Armin," Eren suddenly turned to his friend who still looked a little like he was going to be sick. His face was milky white under the worried mess of his blonde hair but at the sound of his name, his face shifted to a serious expression and he gave his own salute. "I need you to try and lead everybody out of here. You know the forests on our territory better than anyone so I need you to take everyone and find a safe place as far away from here as you can. And be careful, we don't know if the Survey Corps have left any surprises for us."

"Right. I'll see you on the other side." Armin said with a firm nod and a smile before he turned to the crowd around them and addressed them with a mighty cry that seemed almost too loud for his light frame. "Everybody listen up! We need to get to the west gate right now! It's the only way we can escape from here! Go back to your dorms, try to wake up as many people as possible and get out! NOW!"

Nobody needed telling twice as like a wave rushing to the shore, the large group poured away from the scene as they headed west, led by Armin's bobbing blond head. There was a great roar of noise as many of them started yelling for their friends and family and several figures broke off from the main body of the crowd to sprint into the cabins that surrounded them. More and more voices were joining the commotion and the noise was swelling like a balloon about to pop. Eren watched them as they went and he closed his eyes. Hopefully, this would be enough to save most of the pack from the encroaching disaster. He had to pray they weren't too late.

As the crowd disappeared, Levi looked over his meagre forces with a grim resignation. He had hoped that they would have more time to rally the Maria pack and get more people to safety but right now, time was a luxury they were long past affording. He knew all of the Survey Corps tactics but he was still very worried. Erwin had very deliberately kept him and Hanji out of his plans for this attack; normally he would have known what to expect but right now, Erwin was unpredictable and that made him very dangerous. He was keeping a calm and organised front but inside he was seething at himself.

How could I not have seen what the bastard was planning all along? He thought bitterly as he gripped the handles of his sharp blades like they were a lifeline. I've stood by him all these years and through all that hellish fighting. He saw what we all went through, he worked so damn hard to end this war… Why would he start it all up again? And why didn't I see through him? Am I really that much of a fucking idiot?

Only Eren could sense what was going through his head and, despite his weak state, he was able to shuffle his way towards Levi and wrap him up in his arms. "It's OK." He told him, whispering softly in his ear so that no one else could hear his words. "They fooled us all Levi. I always thought there was something but I never could have imagined it was this bad…" His voice weakly trailed off before he spoke again with that same fire that Levi knew never went out. "Still, that doesn't matter now. What matters is getting everyone out of here before the Survey Corps come."

"Right." Levi affirmed, as he pulled Eren even closer and squeezed him tightly. It wasn't until he heard Eren sharply wince and he felt the warmth of sticky dried blood on his hands did he remember exactly what condition he was in. "Eren, you haven't had your blood transfusion! You're still badly injured, you need to get the fuck out of here!"

"I'm fine!" Eren replied stubbornly, drawing himself up shakily to his full height and putting his hands on his hips. "I want to fight!"

"Are you serious?!" Levi was surprised to find his anger matched by both Hanji and Mikasa, who were both staring at Eren like he had gone crazy.

"There is no way you can fight Eren!" Hanji said, sounding a little like she was pleading with him. "With the amount of blood you've lost, I'm honestly shocked you're still standing. There's no time for the blood transfusion now; we need to get you to safety as fast as possible so you can get proper treatment…"

"No!"

"Eren we don't have time for this!" Mikasa strode towards him, ready to sling him over her shoulder and drag him out of there but Eren, to all their surprise, pushed her away and unsteadily stood up straight, staring them all down like he was daring them to approach. His legs were clearly weak; his knees were wobbling like they were made of glass and were about to shatter and his face was so pale, his flushed cheeks looked grey. He focused his eyes on Levi and he could feel his desperation.

"Eren…"

"Please." Eren said, his voice choking through a sob. "I want to stay with you Levi. I don't want to run away, I don't want to leave you fighting on your own… what if something happens to you?"

"Right now, I'm way more worried about something happening to you." Levi hastily stepped forwards as Eren wobbled again and he had to almost catch him. As he embraced him, Levi could feel how shaky the rise and fall of his chest was and, as Eren clung to him, he could sense just how much effort it was taking Eren just to hold onto him. He clasped Eren's shoulders like he was going to shake him and he pushed him up slightly so his silver eyes were staring deep into Eren's green ones. "Right brat, you need to listen to me and listen good. You are not capable of fighting. You are barely capable of standing right now and, whilst normally your stubbornness is quite endearing, it's downright infuriating right now."

"But.."

"No buts!" Levi lowered Eren's body by the tiniest amount, just enough so that their foreheads were just touching. When Levi next spoke, his voice was lower and rougher but also filled with a tenderness that made Eren want to reach out and hold him close. "I need you to go with Hanji, OK? I can't fight if I know you're not safe. I need you to be safe, do you understand? I need to know that after this, I can go back to something that was worth fighting for."

Eren could see small tears forming on the feathers of his lower lashes and the sight of them made him want to weep too. There was a voice in his head, something deep and primal that was begging him to throw himself at Levi once again and cling to him like he would never let him go. He knew Levi could feel it too; their bond was strumming with it, like a string on an instrument that was about to break, and it took all of Eren's effort to pull away.

"OK." He said softly. "I'll go. But… be careful, OK? I need you to come back as well old man."

Levi made a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you. And don't you start worrying about me brat. You know I'll be fine." His words were trying to be light-hearted but he couldn't help feeling like he and Eren were making a promise to each other. They both knew the danger they were facing and they could both feel the pain and worry of the other in their shared bond. It was a dull painful ache in both of their guts and, as Hanji gently pulled Eren away from Levi's touch, their hands reached out to prolong their contact for just that tiny bit longer.

"Be safe Eren." Mikasa stepped forwards to give her brother a hug, being careful not to touch his injuries. Levi could see that both of them were crying as they separated and it put a heavy lump in his throat. They all had a lot to lose today but he understood that to Eren, it felt like he was leaving his whole world behind. Eren's fear was so strong that he could almost taste it on his tongue and it left him with a sour flavour in his mouth that he wanted to spit out. All he could do however, was try to calm him down by sending him his assurance and his certainty that they would make it out alive. He had to believe it, for both of their sakes.

Eren put his arm over Hanji's shoulders and began limping towards the west, in the aftermath of the crowd that had been there before. Hanji looked back briefly to lock eyes with Levi and, from behind the sheen of her glasses, she looked ready for anything.

"I'll keep him safe I promise." She said, both to him and Mikasa, before she pulled Eren closer to her side and, after picking up the case of blood with her other hand, she began to move faster, encouraging him to use all the strength he had left. It wasn't long before they were both out of sight, lost in the hullabaloo that was the pack evacuation and Levi suddenly felt empty. Without Eren there, it felt like someone had taken one of his limbs away and he wasn't sure how he was going to function without it. However, he made himself turn away and he bit the inside of his cheek hard, clamping his teeth down until he could taste blood. Now was the time to focus. He had a lot of lives that were depending on him to lead them. He couldn't neglect them just because he was feeling sad that his lover wasn't there.

Levi looked back on his handful of volunteers and could have groaned. Of course, they had witnessed all of that sap. And worst of all, the one that Eren had always referred to as horse-face was staring at him open-mouthed, like he had just grown three heads. He sighed. Normally, he would have never shown such emotion in front of his troops; something like that would have been considered a sign of weakness. However, this was not normal times and he instead responded by drawing out his blades and holding one up to the sky like he was ready to cut the great blue expanse in half.

"Get ready you fuckers." He swore up at the clouds like he was making a solemn vow. "This is really about to get ugly."

Beside him, Mikasa too slashed her blade upwards, drawing all of the volunteer's eyes to her. Although no words had been spoken, it was obvious that she was going to be second-in-command after Levi. Even though he had the knowledge of the Survey Corps, it was clear that Mikasa had the devoted following of her packmates. Levi could see the way they were all looking at her as she stood there proud and tall like a warrior queen. Their eyes were shining with admiration and before she had even spoken, they looked ready to plunge into battle. Levi watched her impressed as she boldly stared down her small convoy of troops. She already looked like a general.

Maybe it was a good idea we didn't end up fighting at that beach, he thought humorously. Fuck knows what it would have looked like afterwards.

"Alright!" Mikasa addressed the small crowd, her voice as hard and cutting as a sword. "Our job is very simple; we need to evacuate as many people as possible from this camp and get them to safety through the western gate. We will then have to defend them from the back as the Survey Corps are sure to try and chase us as we all escape. I'm not going to lie to you, this is going to be the hardest fight of your lives. This isn't going to be a battle, not like the ones you've heard about from our elders. This is a struggle for our lives and for the survival of our pack, pure and simple."

"Unlike most of you, I wasn't born into this pack. I know already what it is like to have your people, your own family, taken away from you. I can't really remember the day the Survey Corps attack my pack and slaughtered us all but I can remember small things, things that still make my blood run cold today. I can remember running through the woods after their attack, tired and alone and afraid. I can remember my mother screaming at me to run and hearing the Survey Corps laughing as she tried to fight them off her with a kitchen knife. I can remember looking down at myself and seeing the blood of my packmates on my dress. If it wasn't for the kindness and the generosity of the people in the Maria pack, I would have died that day as well."

Mikasa's strong words wobbled slightly at the end of her last sentence and there were tears shimmering in the corners of her eyes like tiny crystals. Levi could only lower his head sagely; he out of all of them understood what it was like to have everything taken from you in an instant by cruel people. And now, those same people were threatening to do it all over again.

"This pack didn't give up on me so I'm not giving up on it just yet." Mikasa continued undeterred. "If we win today, we will save countless lives. If we lose, we are all going to die and our pack will disappear. We cannot fail. None of us can give up. We are the only ones that can prevent this from being a massacre. We are the only ones that can prevent all these deaths. We are the last hope of our pack and we will not let our families and our friends down!"

There was a tremendous cry from the small force of soldiers that sounded like it could have come from a legion of a hundred men. Mikasa's words had clearly touched their hearts and stoked the fire inside them into a raging blaze. Many of them also had tears in their eyes as they unsheathed their weapons and when Levi and Mikasa glanced at each other, they were able to share a hopeful smile. Maybe now, they had a chance.

"Everyone, to the western gate! Get as many people awake and running as possible!" Mikasa cried and they all surged forwards like a group of lionesses about to chase down their prey. Levi could see Jean and Marco running side by side and the pair had one brief precious moment where their eyes met and they refused to look away. Levi felt a jolt in his heart when he saw them; he knew that looks like that said more than a thousand words and, as they both peeled off from the group to run into one of the log buildings nearby, he found himself thinking of his own beloved partner, who he hoped was well out of the camp by now. Come on Hanji, you crazy witch, he thought as he threw his body upwards at the nearest cabin and scaled the wall with ease. You better be as far away as possible right now. I trust you to know what you're doing.

Levi jumped up onto the cabin's log roof with the effortlessness of an alley cat and it surprised him how his old fighting skills had come back to him so easily, even after all this time. I can't even remember the last time I had to do that, he pondered and a grim thought came into his mind that made him grip his blades even tighter. The last time he had been in a battle was at the Last Stand and he had hoped that was the last fighting he would ever see. If he had been told then that not only would he be involved in that war again but that he would be fighting to protect the Maria pack… He chuckled darkly. God, he would have thought that was fucking insane.

From his vantage point on the roof, he could see that the evacuation effort was well under way. People were running in and out of the cabin doors yelling at the very tops of their lungs and with every shriek, more and more bleary-eyed people were spilling out of the buildings like oil. Some of them stumbling over their own boots in their haste, whilst others were running with armfuls of items that they clearly didn't want the Survey Corps to get their hands on. He could hear the soldiers shouting hoarsely over the crowd, trying their hardest to direct the horde of moving bodies, but they could sometimes barely be heard over the screaming and crying as people flailed about in panic, unsure of what to do. As Levi moved forwards, jumping onto another roof as he did so, he could see the western gate up in front of him. It had been thrown open and the people on the ground were rushing towards it like a stampede of wildebeest. There was a large gathering of people that were already on the other side of the wall, making for the horizon but there were still what looked like thousands stuck behind it. Trying to push that many people through one tiny opening was like trying to force a tsunami through a tap and the soldiers on the ground were clearly overwhelmed. It was chaotic and the fear and panic in the air was so thick, Levi could feel it prickling at his skin like a thousand tiny needles. He tried to scan the crowd but there was no sign of Eren. That made him sigh a little with relief. Hopefully if he couldn't see him, that meant he was in the trees beyond the wall, far from any danger.

Levi turned around to face the east, squinting a little as he tried to focus on the very far end of the camp. There hadn't been another blast of the horn, which to him was more than a little unsettling. As of yet, there had been no sign of the Survey Corps anywhere. What exactly was their game plan? He thought as he scanned the horizon around him. Where they hiding in the trees or something? He looked back up at the sky where the sun had risen into a cloudless cornflower-blue sky. It was past dawn now and there still hadn't been an attack. Levi grunted. He didn't know quite what was going on but he really didn't like it. This wasn't like Erwin at all to be late; every aspect of his life was ruled by military time and he hated to waste it. Why would he be late now, at arguably one of the most important battles of his life?

Then, as if Levi's concerns had pulled a trigger, the sound of the horn suddenly burst across the camp, causing the huge crowd below to fall silent and still. As it rang out, there was a deep rumbling sound from the forest in front of them and, as they all watched in horror, something started to rise up from the horizon. At first, it looked like a great long shadow, a dark blob that was merging with the trees but after a few seconds it became horribly clear and it made Levi gasp. It was an army of people approaching the wall menacingly, their weapons glinting in the sun and the wings of the Survey Corps emblazoned on their uniforms. Some of them were already in their animal forms and Levi could make out some creatures, including tigers, coyotes and crocodiles, that were snarling and snapping their jaws like they couldn't wait to sink them into some flesh. Leading them was the form of a great golden bear who was staring down the camp like it was his already. Just the sight of him made Levi fill with rage but the sudden realisation of what was happening sent a cold flood of fear rushing through his body and he could have fallen to his knees in despair.

They were attacking from the west.

They were attacking from the fucking west.

Levi froze, his stomach dropping like a cold stone as he watched the onslaught of people swarming the west point like a screaming mudslide. The horn had started up again and each long low bellow felt like a punch in his chest. He felt powerless as he watched the forces of the Survey Corps swarm the western entrance like flies falling on a dead animal. How… How was this happening?

He could taste more bitter bile in his mouth as he realised he had been duped. His experience in the tactics of the Survey Corps had been used against him in the most brutal and betraying way possible. After his outburst last night, Erwin must have realised he would try to get to the Maria camp and get everyone out so the bastard had changed his battle plans. He knew that Levi would have expected them to attack from the east so he had turned that plan on its head and gone for the west instead, where he knew they would be trying to evacuate…

He's fucking sick, Levi thought with a growl. He knew this was going to happen. He knew this was going to cause a bloodbath and he's fucking relishing it. Seething, he suddenly ran for the edge of the roof and threw himself off of it, landing on the building nearest to the wall. He turned back to the crowd, which had become stiff with terror. He could see some people were trying to run back into the camp but most of the others had frozen, like Medusa had appeared and turned them all into stone. Levi gritted his teeth; he had to get down there and get them all moving or else they would be killed in this prison like cattle.

"Everybody, run for the gate!" He screamed as he vaulted from the roof onto the ground and started to sprint towards the encroaching army. "If you stay here, you'll be slaughtered! If you have a weapon use that to fight, if not, use your animal form! If you want to survive, you need to fight! Run! now!"

"You heard him!" He heard Mikasa yell back from somewhere deep in the crowd. "We need to move! Standing there like cowards won't do anything! Soldiers, get in front of the vulnerable and try to protect them! Everyone else, FUCKING GO!"

Maybe it was the unflappable Mikasa swearing or maybe it was the urgency in her voice but suddenly the enormous crowd seemed to come alive and a great roar tore through the air as they charged forwards. As Levi ran through the gate, he could hear footsteps thundering behind him and for a moment, it felt almost like he was back at the Last Stand, leading his army as they threw themselves into battle. In front of him, still a good distance away, he could see Erwin tense up in front of his forces and a twisted smirk formed on his face. Oh, you weren't expected that were you, you big grizzly bastard, he thought. You didn't think we'd even try to fight back. Boy, were you wrong.

After a few seconds of shock, Erwin seemed to finally come to his senses and he slammed his front paws down on the ground before giving a deafening howl.

"ATTACK!" He barked and the Survey Corps began to rush towards the wall, matching their leader in their ferocious volume. The sound of both armies was ear-splitting and Levi felt like he was caught between two brick walls that were rapidly closing in on each other.

The two armies colluded like a great warship slamming into a storm and suddenly Levi didn't have to think anymore. All of his old fighting instincts that he had thought were long buried suddenly came back to him and he moved like a dancer as his blades sailed through the air like a knife through soft butter. The number of footsteps on the dry ground had kicked up huge clouds of yellow dust and the bodies around him were moving so fast that to Levi, everything around him was a blur. He could hear snarling and wailing all around him and it felt like he was drowning in the terrible din. There were bodies coming at him from all angles with faces twisted with hate and rage and he was cutting them down like they were weeds in a herb garden. He could feel his hot sweat mingling with blood but he kept on fighting, his mouth open in a long angry howl. The only thing that was running through his head like a mantra was that the more Survey Corps he killed, the more chance they all had of getting out of here. The Survey Corps were ruthless and effective, he could see it in the fighting skills that he had long ago taught them, but he could sense that their forces were panicking. The Maria pack sheer numbers and their desperation to survive was slowly but surely pushing them back and Levi could feel his heart lifting slightly. If they could just give it just a few more pushes, we might be able to win…

Another soldier flew at him from the left and he effortlessly slammed them down to the floor. "You fucking traitor!" He heard him spit from the ground but he ignored this as he sliced his neck open and then tried to survey the battlefield for any signs of his soldiers. The area around him was such a foggy mess that all he could make out were shadows and glints of light shining off of blades and teeth. He tried to make out if any of the shapes were his comrades, Mikasa, Armin, Jean and Marco, or even Sasha and Connie but he couldn't see or hear anyone. He felt almost alone in the sea of savagery and there was a part of him that, no matter how illogical it was, wished Eren was here. If he hadn't been injured so badly and he could have fought, what a team they would have…

"Aaaahh!"

Levi cried out in pain and his hands went to the back of his neck as he fell to his knees in the dirt. His head felt like an iron glove was gripping it tightly in its grasp but as his fingers scrabbled at the back of his neck, he realised there was nothing there. There was nobody behind him but the pain was so sharp that he could feel the individual fingernails digging into his scalp and the strong palm placing so much pressure on his neck that he felt like it was going to snap. He tried to fight against it but it was futile. It was like the dust and smoke around him had decided to attack and as he fought for breath between gasps of pain, he knew that this phantom attack meant something else far more terrifying.

Eren. Somebody was hurting Eren.

With a low grunt that could have easily come from his wolf form, he staggered to his feet, still feeling the intense pain clawing at the back of his head. It was getting worse and worse with each passing second, to the point where it felt like he was going to pass out, and his vision was starting to go fuzzy, like he had just been plunged under water. The only thing keeping him on his feet was the knowledge that somewhere, this was physically happening to Eren and he gave a low growl filled with fury. When I find the fucking pig who is doing this to him, I'm going to tear them limb from limb and turn their head into soup…

"Hello Levi."

Levi spun round at the sudden deep calm voice and his eyes narrowed when they landed on the figure emerging from the chaos and smoke like a genie from a lamp. Erwin's human form was towering over him as he walked coolly into the centre of the little clearing but it was clear something was very wrong. His blond hair that didn't usually have a strand out of place, had been tousled and pulled into a straggly mess and his immaculate uniform had been ripped in so many places that the sleeves looked like rags and his jacket was barely clinging to his body. His face however, was dangerously calm. His mouth was held in a serene smile and his blue eyes were glowing ominously like jack-o-lanterns. That instantly put Levi on his guard. He was still struggling to see but when he looked down, his vision became painfully clear as another jolt of pain rolled over his head. There was a long dark shape that Erwin was dragging along behind him with his right hand and, as Levi stared at it in horror, it lifted its head slightly to reveal a pair of emerald green eyes.

"Levi…"

Eren. Levi's eyes went wide and he could have been sick right there and then. The last time he had seen Eren, he hadn't looked good but now, he was so badly beaten he could have just been thrown off of a cliff. His face was covered in blood and his clothes that had already been in tatters were now almost completely gone. His legs were bare and covered in wounds and his chest had been punched so badly that dark purple bruises were already forming. There was soil all over him from where he had been dragged and Erwin's hand was clamped around his head in a grip as tight as a vice. Levi could see tufts of Eren's hair being gripped by Erwin's fingers and he had suddenly never wanted to kill anything more in his life. He was so furious he could feel his anger burning in his gut like lava inside a volcano about to erupt. Mixed in with the pain in his head and the obvious fear in Eren's eyes, it made a potent concoction of emotions that turned his grey irises into a dark storm and when he growled at him again, the sound was deeper and bursting with so much anger that Eren openly whimpered at it. Erwin however, had no reaction.

"There you are Levi. I thought you might be missing something." He said, yanking Eren's head upwards to shake him and making him yelp in pain. "I found him wondering through the woods just now with Hanji, trying to escape. Sneaking out of the Two-Times cell was clever, I didn't think he could do it in his state. Clearly, he needed some more discipline. I'm surprised you didn't implement it yourself Levi. I didn't think disobedient little pups were your type."

"Let. Him. Go." Levi snarled darkly before a horrible sinking feeling entered his gut. "What the fuck have you done to Hanji?"

"Oh, don't worry about that. She's been dealt with." Erwin grinned. "The question is, what to do with you and your pup." His face suddenly darkened and when he looked back at Levi, his eyes were two blue sparks of loathing. "What on earth were you thinking Levi? After all these years, after I took you in and saved you from execution, after everything I did for you, you betrayed us? And for what? This snivelling pup? I expected so much better from you."

"I should have done it a long time ago." Levi growled. "You made me blind for all those years and you used me like a fucking hunting hound for your sport of war. I thought you wanted to end all the deaths, all the bloodshed and yet you secretly made a fucking deal to continue once both sides finally had enough men and weapons again. It wasn't until I met Eren that I saw through all your bullshit. He made me realise that there are better things to fight for than just which pack has bigger balls." His head was still aching but he was able to draw up his blades and he stared Erwin down. "Now, I'm only going to say this one more time. Let. Him. Go."

Erwin didn't respond and, to Levi's relief, the pressure on his skull started to die down. For a moment, Levi thought that he was going to let him go, that he would let them run away and he took a step forward, towards Eren. He could see that Eren was struggling to even lift his head and look up at him and this made his heart plummet. He had thought Eren was in a bad state before after one beating but this was madness. He could only credit Eren's goddamn unhuman perseverance to the fact that he was still awake and breathing.

"It's OK Eren," he said softly to him, as he took another step forwards and Erwin flinched away from them. "It's all going to be OK now." He was now so close to him that he could have reached out and brushed his floppy brown hair away from his eyes but it was at that second when Erwin's face flipped into a new mask with a great evil grin that showed all of his flashing white teeth.

"Oh Levi. Did you really think it would be that easy?"

Hot sharp pain suddenly tore through Levi's head again and he cried out as he heavily fell to the ground. It was so severe, it was like it was rippling through his skin and over his entire body and it felt like his skull would split from the pressure. The agony was so great that Levi felt almost paralysed by it but what made it worse was hearing Eren. His body, even though it was so tired and beaten, was still thrashing about like a fish caught on a line and he was screaming so loudly that Levi was surprised the battle around them didn't come to a screeching halt. Levi desperately wanted to get up and help him but the pain in his own head felt like it was pinning him to the ground and he could only listen as Erwin started to laugh.

"You really are a fool." He spat out. "I see we never truly beat that outsider wildness out of you. It's pathetic. You could have been our hero again Levi. If you had just kept your fucking mouth shut and your cock in your pants, you could have been leading this attack! You could have been the saviour of the Survey Corps! But it's no matter now." He suddenly pulled Eren's head back to expose his bloodied neck and he drew his own blade and held it close enough that it was hairs away from cutting his skin. Terrified, Levi started writhing on the ground, trying his hardest to get up, but he was powerless against the agony that was rocking his skull. He could only watch as Erwin taunted him, pressing the sharp edge of the metal against Eren's windpipe to make the thinnest little line of red. "How does it feel knowing everything you did today was futile? Your pup is still going to be executed on the battlefield, your new allies are all going to be crushed by my forces and you will still die. Hmmm… Maybe I'll have you hanged the way I should have done all those years ago. That will really teach you a-arrrrghhhhhh!"

Erwin's suddenly shrieked and the pain in Levi's head abruptly vanished. For a moment, he lay on the ground like he had been stuck there with glue. The sudden absence of pain almost made him feel dizzy and when he lifted his head, it felt like the inside of his skull had turned into cloud. However, the sight that met him however, was enough to bring him crashing back to reality and he started scrabbling in the dirt for his blades as he rushed to stand back up. Eren, after the mention of the gallows, had taken the opportunity whilst Erwin was distracted to angle his head and then, in a split second, he had transformed into his wolf form and sank his teeth deep into Erwin's hand. This had not only made him drop the blade he had held dangerously close to his neck but he had also loosened his grip on Eren's head. The blond man who was usually so calm and in control was now shrieking like a banshee as he viciously shook his arm, trying to shake Eren away like he was an annoying mosquito. Eren, to Levi's amazement, was managing to hang on and, as he continued to growl and sink his fangs in deeper, bright crimson rivers of blood were starting to pour from Erwin's hand and drip into the dirt.

"You fucking mutt!" Erwin was bellowing like a bull about to charge but Eren was refusing to let go. Levi could feel Eren's thoughts screaming at him, telling him to run and get away as fast as he could, but he felt rooted to the spot. His body felt so weakened by the agony that he had just experienced that his blades felt like they were made of lead and his mouth could barely move to mouth his lover's name. There was a loud ringing in his ears that felt like it was echoing through his limbs and no matter how much he internally screamed at himself to snap out of it, he couldn't move an inch. His body felt slow and sluggish and he was almost too light-headed to control it. He wanted to shout at Eren to let go, he wanted them both to run but all he could do was watch as Erwin suddenly howled again and his arm swung around like a baseball player about to make the winning throw.

"Noooo!" Levi finally heard himself shout but it was far too late. With all the might that his strong arms could muster, Erwin spun his body round and, with a ruthless thud, he smacked Eren's body against a tree. The sound of crushed bone was sickening and Eren's body suddenly went stiff and then floppy like a broken toy. His jaw unclenched from Erwin's hand and as he wrenched it away, Eren slumped to the ground in a heap, unmoving and silent. There wasn't even a murmur from him and Levi could hear a blood-curdling scream that he didn't even realise was his own. He tried to run towards him, his limbs finally moving in an inelegant dash to get to his love but before he could take more than a few steps, Erwin was blocking his way, blades in hand.

"Oh no, you're not escaping now." That same twisted smile was still on his face and Levi was convinced he had fully gone mad. "Any last requests Levi?"

"Get fucked!" Levi spat out before he raised his blades and charged at him. Erwin quickly brought his swords up to parry him and the two began to viciously spar. Their weapons were moving so fast that it looked like the two were surrounded by a silver blur and when the blades clashed, sparks flew from the metal, lighting up the anger on both of their faces. It was obvious to both of them that this was going to be a battle to the death. One of them would not be walking away.

"You really should give up Levi!" Erwin cried out as the force of their blades pushed them both a few steps backwards and they began circling each other like vultures about to fight over a kill. "There's no way you can beat me! You've already lost!"

"Fuck you!" Levi hurled back but he could feel his chest tightening as he softly panted. He couldn't deny that the exhaustion of the last night and the chaos of the last few hours were beginning to creep up on him and he had never felt his age more. He may have been the more skilled fighter but Erwin was far bigger and stronger than him and the two of them had never had a straight up brawl before, not like this. There was a small part of him that was worried that he couldn't defeat his old pack leader, that there was no hope for him but when he looked over at Eren's motionless body, that voice was drowned out by a sea of others that were calling out for revenge. There was no way he could give up now, not after everything they had already been through. He had to win, for Eren's sake.

Snarling, the two of them threw themselves back into the fray. As they fought, it was like the battle raging around them faded away, like they were the only people fighting. The dust that was flying up from beneath their feet was creating a cloud around them that was only broken by the gleam of silver from their swooping weapons. The only sounds that Levi could hear were the loud shrills sounds of his swords against Erwin's own and the sound of his heavy breathing in his ears. He could feel that, despite his best efforts, Erwin was beginning to push him back and, as his boots scrabbled against the dry ground, trying to regain his footing, Erwin's face was still looming in front of him with that deadly smile.

"There's no point fighting any more Levi." He said as their blades continued to clash furiously with each other. "Why continue this pointlessness any further? Give up now and I promise I'll give you a death more merciful than your little pup over there."

"No!" Levi hurled back at him with enough venom to make a rattlesnake cry. He pulled away from Erwin and started slashing at him but his blades were only passing through air. It took him a few horrifying seconds to realise what had happened but before he could do anything about it, he felt metal slicing at the back of his left knee and he fell to the floor with a cry.

"Oh Levi. I told you this would happen." Erwin's voice patronisingly floated down to him as Levi groaned in pain and looked down at his knee. Blood had started pouring down his calf in a sudden gush of scarlet that was so bright it looked more like paint than blood and he knew instantly that the tendon in his knee had been severed. Pain was once again flooding his body and he had to grit his teeth to stop himself from screaming but he was more aware of Erwin's figure dangerously circling him as he chuckled like a headmaster about to dole out punishment on his most troublesome student. "I told you this didn't need to happen and look what you made me do. Still, it doesn't matter now." He paused for a moment as he took his blades and raised them high over his head, like the blade of a guillotine ready to come crashing down. "I told you I'd be merciful and I will. I'll free you from this pain and then I'll do the same with your little toy over… urgh!"

As he had been talking, Levi had grabbed a handful of the dust pooling underneath him and thrown it up into Erwin's face, making him choke. He stepped backwards, his throat heaving at the dry dust coating the inside of his mouth and he dropped his blades to put his hands over his eyes. He recoiled back from the hunched figure on the ground and Levi saw his chance. He jerkily pulled himself to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in his left leg and then, just when Erwin had turned his attention back to him, he thrust both his blades deep into his chest and stomach. Blood started to soak Erwin's uniform as he stared open-mouthed at the two swords that had run him through. His eyes were wide in shock and Levi could see all the veins in the whites of them as he plunged the blades in deeper. In that moment, he wanted to exact every point of pain he could on him, as revenge for what he had done, not just to him and Eren but to all the other people who had followed him and who he had made kill. He didn't move as he could hear Erwin's gurgling breaths as blood crept out of the corner of his mouth and his life slowly ebbed away. Levi could feel the warm crimson liquid gushing over his hands as he slowly pulled them back out and Erwin collapsed onto his knees. Levi just stared at him for a long moment before he leant over to him.

"That's the problem with us outsiders Erwin," he hissed into his ear, feeling Erwin flinch away from him. "We fight dirty."

Erwin, too lifeless and exhausted to respond, merely tipped forwards onto the floor, hitting it with a great thudding sound. For a moment, Levi just stood there staring down at his body, his chest still heaving from their fight. It was still hard to believe it was really over. As the dust began to settle around him and Erwin's blood started to leak into the ground, he could feel the exhaustion settling into his bones and it was all too easy for his blades to slip from his bloodied fingers. He never wanted to do this again. He didn't want to carry on being a killer.

He turned away from Erwin's body and focused his attention on the other side of the clearing where, still under that same tree, Eren's body hadn't moved. Levi ran over to him, falling to his knees as he gently uncurled his tail from where it had drooped over his face and it felt like a shard of ice had pierced his heart. Eren's eyes were closed and, as Levi watched in horror, his wolf form started to melt back into his human form and his body became limp in his arms. No, he thought as he tried to rouse him by shaking his shoulders. No, no, no, this can't be happening… he can't be dying, surely not…

Levi frantically looked around him at the battle that was still raging on. In the midst of the chaos, he had seemingly gone unnoticed and so far, no one had realised that one of the dead bodies strewn around the forest floor was that of Erwin. He knew however, that it was only a matter of time before someone did and he wanted to be as far away from that as possible when it happened. Carefully, he scooped Eren into his arms and stood up, cursing as pain once again shot through his leg like lightning. His own blood was now trickling into the dirt but he didn't really care about that right now. He could get his own medical attention later. He peered around the tree, just to make sure nobody had spotted him, before he began to hobble his way forwards, dragging his injured leg behind him. Thankfully, in the heat of the battle, no one noticed one more injured man limping away into the trees and it didn't take long before Levi was completely hidden among the forest. He continued walking until the noise of the battle was as faint as possible and his arms were struggling to hold Eren's body up. He found a spot under another tree which had been covered in soft delicate green moss and wildflowers and as he rested Eren's body there, he couldn't fail to notice how similar these flowers were to the ones down at the lake. God, how he wished he was back there now, just him and Eren, with none of this pack bullshit to come between them…

"Eren?" He said, his own voice deep and ragged from all the yelling and screaming. His throat felt like sandpaper but he still forced himself to talk, hoping one of his words would get Eren to open his eyes again. "It's OK now, you're safe. I got Erwin for you, he can't hurt you anymore. The battle's nearly over now, I think we're going to win. Once the others see Erwin, they'll retreat, you can hardly fight without the leader who's forcing you to do it… Eren? Please… talk to me Eren."

Eren's eyes however, remained closed. His mouth was slightly open and when Levi leaned in, he couldn't feel a rush of air coming from his lips. His chest was still as a stone and as Levi urgently pressed his fingers against his wrist, he couldn't feel a pulse. Despite the warm throbbing pain from his leg, Levi's skin suddenly felt icy cold. He was trying desperately to feel Eren's emotions, to feel anything at all other than his own panic and fear but there was nothing. All he could feel deep in his chest was an emptiness, a hollowness that was too broken and barren to bear.

"Eren? Eren! No, you can't be dead, you can't be gone…" There were tears pouring down his face now, mingling with the dried blood and he didn't even stop to wipe them away as he shook Eren's shoulders like he could shake the life back into him. "Please… you can't leave me now, not like this…"

Despite his begging, Eren was still unmoving and Levi stopped shaking him just to stare at his face. His expression was surprisingly one of peace; his forehead was unwrinkled by fear or worry and his eyelids were smooth, just like he was sleeping. The thought that he would never see those eyes open again and never see their beautiful emerald colour made a sob escape Levi's chest and he pulled Eren close to him as he began to break down on his shoulder, his tears falling directly onto his blood-soaked skin.

"Eren… come on brat, open your fucking eyes… I just need to see them one more time, OK? Please Eren…" Levi hardly knew what he was saying anymore. Words were just tumbling out of his mouth in a stream of grief and he didn't think he could stop it even if he tried.

"You can't leave me like this… There's so much we haven't done yet Eren… do you remember that night by the lake when you asked me what was stopping me from happiness? You should have asked me sooner, we should have had more time… I loved you long before that day, I think I loved you a little bit from the first moment I saw your eyes, your fucking beautiful perfect eyes… You were so stubborn and annoying and just infuriating but I wouldn't have you any other way. I didn't think you'd want a cranky old man like me. I still don't know what you see in me but I am so damn happy you kept coming to that lake, even when I pushed you away… Do you remember when we spoke about becoming mates? I don't think I told you but I've never wanted anything more. I wish I could have said yes to you then. I wish I could have thrown all my fucking caution to the wind and been with you. We still have all that to come Eren, so please wake up… we have to help your pack, they won't listen to me but they'll listen to you… what the hell am I supposed to tell your sister? Your friends? There are so many people who love you and need you to be alright… I need you to be alright, I need you to be OK…"

Levi clutched him even tighter to his chest as his already tired and damaged body was racked with his sobs. His entire chest felt like it was being ripped apart and he felt like howling with all the grief that was building up inside him. Is this what it really feels like to lose your mate? He thought as it felt like the wolf inside him was desperately crying out for its partner. God, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

He nuzzled his nose against Eren's neck and felt more tears run down his face onto Eren's tanned skin. "I should have asked you this a long time ago but… Eren… will you be my mate? Please…"

"Of course I will."

Levi snapped his head back and more tears filled his eyes as he stared at Eren with astonishment. Eren's eyes, which he had believed he would never see again, were open and their brilliant green was glowing with tears. His mouth was in a wide but tired grin and as Levi continued to stare at him open-mouthed, he even managed a chuckle. "Did Erwin get your tongue earlier old man? I've never seen you this speechless before."

"You brat!" Levi choked out with what could have been a laugh or a sob before he fell back onto Eren's shoulder and embraced him tightly. He felt Eren's arms reached up to clung to his own shoulders and for what seemed like hours, the two of them just clung to each other, tears rolling down both of their faces. Eventually, Levi pulled away just enough to cup Eren's face with both his hands and he stared at him like he was a miracle.

"I honestly thought I'd lost you." He whispered as Eren gently kissed his fingertips. "When I saw what Erwin had done to you, I thought… how on earth are you still alive?"

"I don't know." Eren told him. His voice was croaky but it was still clear and strong and Levi could only marvel at it. "I honestly thought I was going to die. I was in so much pain and I felt so weak after Erwin hit me against that tree that I couldn't move. I could hear you fighting with him, I could hear him taunting you and I wanted to help you so much but I couldn't do anything and I could feel myself getting more and more exhausted… I closed my eyes and I couldn't feel anything anymore and I thought I was dead but then… I could feel you. I could feel how much you were hurting and it kind of… pulled me back. I don't really know how to explain it but… I'm here now. And I promise you I'm not leaving."

"You better fucking not." Levi growled but his heart wasn't really in it as he continued to clung to Eren and affectionately nuzzled his face, planting kisses on all the skin he could reach. He heard Eren laugh a little as his hair tickled his face and his heart felt like it was blooming all over again.

"Did you really mean it? About wanting us to be mates?"

"Of course I fucking did, you brat." Levi said with a bark that sounded much more like the grumpy Levi Eren knew well. "I meant every word. The minute this shitshow is all over and we get your pack sorted out, that's the first thing we're going to do, even if your sister wants to kill me afterwards."

Eren tried to sit up a little, his eyes suddenly wide with worry. "Have you seen her? Do you know if she's OK?"

"No. Not since this battle started. I'm sure she's OK though, I'd put money on that." Levi suddenly remembered someone else who he hadn't seen since the start of the battle and he bit his lip hard. "Do you remember what happened to Hanji?"

"No." Eren shook his head, his face suddenly darkened with the memory. "Both of us got caught up in the battle when the Survey Corps charged, it was the stuff of nightmares. Hanji was moving as fast as she could, trying to find somewhere to hide so we could ride it out but then Erwin found us…" He closed his eyes painfully and Levi grabbed his hand to try and comfort him. "I got knocked to the ground and I don't remember too much after that. I remember lying on the ground and hearing a scuffle but… I didn't see what he did to her. I'm so sorry Levi."

"It's not your fault." Levi tried to reassure him as he ignored the creeping feeling of fear in his own stomach. "Hanji's tough, I'm sure we'll find her once this mess is all over. She'll be fine." He knew he was saying it more to comfort himself over Eren but he still tried to force himself to believe it. He had to believe that something good was going to come at the end of this battle which, now that he thought of it, had gone surprisingly quiet.

Confused, Levi turned his head to try and see if he could still hear the fighting but all that met him was silence. He strained his ears to try and see if he could hear anything but not even the trees were rustling. It was like even the air around them had stopped, just to check on what was happening and the branches above them appeared to be listening too, leaning in as the silence went on and on. It was strange but it made Levi's heart jump with hope. Could it all be over? Had the Survey Corps left them alone?

"Wait here. I'm going to see if I can get some help." He told Eren as he struggled back onto his injured leg. He hissed loudly as the pain once again hit him like a brick and Eren held his arms up just in case he had to catch him.

"Are you sure about this?" Eren asked him concerned but Levi was determined to get moving. He stumbled a few steps forward in the direction of the battlefield, constantly stopping to look back at Eren's injured form still lying on the moss.

"I'm fine, stop worrying!" Eren shouted over to him with a laugh but Levi could still see how grave their situation was. He knew Eren had had a very lucky escape but he desperately needed medical attention and he was in no way qualified to give it. Right now, he felt like he and Eren had been lost in the eye of a storm and neither of them had any idea if the storm was still raging beyond their little bubble. He didn't know how many causalities were out there on the battlefield and he didn't know how many of them would be people they knew. What if Eren's friends hadn't made it? He thought with a sinking feeling. What if he went out there and the first thing he saw was the mangled body of Mikasa? Or Armin? Or even Hanji? Just the idea made him feel ill but still he ploughed on through the forest undergrowth, dragging his hurt leg behind him.

It wasn't long before he was back at the edge of the trees, surveying the old battlefield where the dust was refusing to settle. Large yellow clouds were still drifting about like lost souls and there were bodies dotted about on the dry ground but as he stared at them, he didn't immediately recognise many faces. Some were vaguely familiar as members of his old pack, whilst others were complete strangers to him. The air reeked of blood and Levi found himself covering his lower face with his hands to try and block it out. It was deathly silent, like nobody had been to the place in days. He looked around, scanning the area to see if anything was moving but the whole place was still, like he was looking into a painting. He wanted to walk around and see if he could spot anything but he was reluctant to move from the treeline. Even though the area seemed lifeless at the moment, he couldn't discount the possibility that there were still Survey Corps around. What if he was attacked and ended up in an even worse state? Then who would go and get Eren help?

Warily, he walked a little way down the treeline, away from the direction of the Maria camp. He glanced back in the opposite direction, almost as if he expected to see the walls of the camp looming above him and he visibly shuddered. Lord knows what that place looks like now, he thought grimly. He knew the Survey Corps would have likely decimated it by now and whoever had been left inside the walls was most definitely gone. Pushing away the awful thoughts of what must have happened in the camp, he went on walking, being careful to mostly stay in the cover of the trees. His leg was aching badly and he was aware he was still bleeding but he kept on walking, cautiously looking around for any sign of life.

He walked on for what felt like hours and he was just beginning to fear that he would never find anyone when he heard someone shouting in the distance. His first instinct was to dive back under the cover of the trees and stay hidden but as the voice got closer and it started to sound more familiar, he jumped out from the trees and started to shout back, waving his arms frantically as he did so.

"Eren? Eren!"

"Mikasa!" Levi shouted, hearing someone gasp from far away and then a flurry of footsteps running in his direction. "I'm over here!"

"Levi!" Mikasa emerged sprinting from the other side of the battlefield, her pale cheeks alarmingly red and her grey eyes filled with relief. Just behind her, running at a very measured trot was a very sweaty looking Armin and limping after him, her hair loose from its ponytail and her glasses broken, was a very wild-looking Hanji. She looked like she had been thrown about in a tornado with scratches all over her face and limbs and one sleeve of her jacket was completely gone but her wide smile was still somehow on her face and Levi had never been more relieved to see it in his entire life.

"Levi! I knew you'd be alright!" Hanji grinned as she threw herself at him, wrapping him up in a hug that was so tight, he thought he might suffocate. "The others all said you had fled the scene but I knew you'd be here!"

"It's good to see you too, you lunatic." Levi said almost fondly. Hanji might be crushing the air out of his lungs but he had never been more glad of it. "Eren told me what happened to you two. I was scared for a second but then I remembered you're pretty much bomb proof." Hanji's grin went even wider at that and Levi found that, to his surprise, he had lifted his arms from his sides and he was actually returning the hug she was giving him. Fuck, he thought. I really am getting soft in my old age.

"You found Eren?" Mikasa said like she hardly dared to believe him and when Levi nodded, she looked ready to cry. "Where is he? We've been looking for you two everywhere. We found Hanji not long after the battle ended and when she said Erwin had taken him…" She paused to take a long breath that was fighting back more tears. "We really feared the worst."

"So did I." Levi started to explain. "I realised something had happened to Eren when I felt a pain in the back of my head, like something was crushing my skull. The next thing I knew, fucking Erwin had shown up out of the blue and he was dragging Eren like he was a sack." Armin gasped and raised his hands to his mouth and Mikasa suddenly growled like she was ready to pounce. "Don't worry, he's not going to be hurting anyone anymore. I killed him."

"You did?" Hanji drew back and stared at him with her mouth agape. At first, Levi thought that she was angry at him for killing their old pack leader but instead of yelling at him, she merely put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. It was a simple silent gesture of understanding and it was all Levi needed to know. He only needed to look at her badly-beaten face and her injured leg to feel like he had done the whole world a favour.

"I thought something like that must have happened." Armin said. "There was a point during the battle where the Survey Corps all seemed to lose it and they just started running in all directions and flooded the camp instead of focusing on us. It made it so much easier to get away from them and we got a lot of people away because of it. You probably saved a heap of lives by killing him."

"What happened to Eren?" Mikasa suddenly pressed and Levi pointed back into the trees behind him.

"I carried him off the battlefield into the woods to keep us both safe. He's in a bad way but he's alive. I didn't think he'd pull through for a little while but the little bastard proved me wrong. He's OK, I promise you."

Mikasa's shoulders finally seemed to relax once she heard those words and without a word of warning, she began striding into the forest. Armin, eager not to let her out of his sight, began jogging after her and it was left to Hanji and Levi to take up the rear. The two of them hobbled along behind the other two, half-leaning on each other for support and it was at that moment when Hanji finally noticed Levi's bleeding leg that was dragging behind him like a piece of old meat and leaving a wobbly line in the dirt.

"Fuck Levi, what happened to you?"

"Erwin happened." He answered back curtly and she didn't say another word about it. None of them said a word until they were all deep into the forest and just when Levi thought he might need to take a break for a minute, he heard Mikasa shriek and saw her bolt ahead like a hound who had just spotted a fox.

"Eren! Oh thank god, you're OK!"

"Mikasa! Armin!" Eren was overjoyed as his sister almost collapsed on him, swiftly followed by his best friend as they all flopped into a heap on the mossy floor. "You guys are OK!"

"We were so worried about you!" Mikasa cried, almost wailing in her relief. "When Hanji told us that Erwin found you… I was so scared that he really had killed you…"

"It's OK." Eren told her as he reached up to wipe her cheeks. "Levi found me. I knew nothing bad would happen to me after that and I was right." He glanced over at Levi with such a glowing look of adoration that he had to look away. God, I don't deserve this, he thought as he felt his cheeks warm up. I really don't deserve someone as good as him.

"Yeah, I nearly get my leg hacked off in the process though." He lifted it up just to show how limp it was and all three of the young soldiers looked up at him in shock.

"Oh god Levi, I didn't realise, are you OK?" Eren started babbling as he tried to sit up and it took all of Mikasa's strength to keep him lying down. "Does it hurt? Can it be fixed?"

"Of course it can!" Hanji declared with a bubble of laughter and Levi found himself sighing. "Don't worry your sweet little head about it, with my help, Levi's leg will be good as new! I've fixed a few tendons in my time and I can tell you that-"

"Nobody needs to hear that Hanji." Levi told her sternly before he turned back to Eren with a small smile curling his lips. "I promise you I'll be fine brat. I just need a few stitches and a bit of rest and I'll be good to go. You on the other hand are going to need some serious attention. We need to get you somewhere you can finally have that blood transfusion."

"Right!" Hanji said in almost joyful agreement and Mikasa and Armin hurried to get ready to move Eren from his bed on the forest floor. It wasn't long before they had hoisted him up and they were both carrying him away from the scene. As they did so, Eren looked back at Levi and gave him a beaming smile, one he was so used to seeing on him.

"We're going to be alright now Levi, aren't we?"

Levi smiled back at him as he once again took Hanji's arm and the pair began shuffling back towards the empty battlefield, two soldiers with a surprising amount of glee for ones who had just witnessed the defeat of their own pack and the death of their leader.

"You know what Eren? I think we will be."