Saph's PoV

Shaking, I realized that everyone still moved around us, alive and well. Unclenching my body, I uncurled over my protective stance over Levi. Who I'd neatly tucked into my chest in an effort to shield him from the falling debris and caving ceiling.

Everywhere around us, the surface appeared to be smooth and shiny. Glistening as if they'd been coated with water creating an array of shimmering puddles. A soft light emanated from them providing us plenty of light. Even Eren's Titan seemed to consist of the same material. A web of the mysterious stone splayed out from the body, holding up the entire upper walls and roof of the cavern. After we dug Eren out of his new hardened carcass, we moved above to the surface. I couldn't help but be thankful to get out of the stiff underground air of earth. Too big of a reminder of my time in there during my youth, dying by being buried alive would've been a cruel twist of fate.

"We need to make sure the Internal MPs aren't nearby to strike us," Levi growled out, glancing over his shoulder.

Wary, I kept my blade ready in case Kenny appeared. I still wanted to slice him down. Being crushed underneath rocks isn't enough.

Hanji gently sat up, grimacing in great pain. "You and Saph should go make sure Kenny and the rest of them can't hurt us. The rest of us will go back to the wall and develop a plan on how to deal with Rod. Hopefully, Erwin is nearby."

Nodding in agreement, Levi and I trotted off on our horses. We followed the smell of smoke and gunpowder. Obliterated and smushed bodies and pieces hung from the branches and bled into the grass. The extensive damage to each individual meant I had to bring Lucifer up and personal to each one. Peeking at each dead figure, I tried to decipher if it happened to be the bastard himself. Bending down, the burnt older gent in front of me might just be my target. A cough exiting his mouth made me jump back in surprise. Breathing haggardly, Kenny looked up at the two of us. "Oh… it's you two. Going to follow me into hell too, Saph? Don't see where else you can go from here."

"Not yet," I snarled out, mad to see his helpless state. A fight is what I expected and wanted, not this. A ragged and beaten man who can't even lift his arm. I wanted to make him suffer, but that appeared to be impossible with his already degenerated anatomy.

"Are you the only one left?" Levi asked.

Kenny paused, I wondered what we'd do if he didn't answer our questions. It's not like torture's a viable option. He didn't have much longer to last anyways. "Looks that way," he finally grumbled out. "Don't see how anyone else might've survived."

"Why haven't you injected yourself?" Levi asked. My attention immediately focused on the syringe lying at his fingertips. Resting in a small rectangular box. It'd be the only way he might live to see another day. Not as if Levi or I would let that happen even if he did use it since both of us were more than capable of killing a mindless Titan. It'd be less deadly than a healthy Kenny. I only maintained concern because I didn't know if the blast of him changing might injure Levi. He'd been acting fine, but the wound in his ribs bothered him by the way sweat continued to gather at his hairline and how he favored that side.

"Sure, I want to live. I want power," Kenny coughed when he straightened his eyes held a flicker that didn't exist previously. "Every last person I've seen has been the same way… they couldn't keep going unless they were drunk on something. They were all slaves to something, even him. I became a guard dog for the royal family because of how much compassion Uri showed me. Back then, I thought his ideology of peace came from being so powerful. Looking down on us from his position of absolution. Now I learn it's all inherited. Something I can't have because I lack royal blood. What a fucking joke." Kenny glared up at Levi. "What about you?"

Levi crouched down to take a hold of his shoulders. "Tell me everything you know!"

"Why did you kidnap Suzu? Why did you turn me into a Titan Shifter?"

Kenny's rolled back as if exhausted by my questions. "They wanted an army. Kids who knew how to survive Underground contained some of the best qualities to be the deadliest soldiers. Fewer qualms about killing. They knew how to think on their feet and didn't hesitate in the face of death. I took them out of that pit. Gave them new clothes and routine meals. A purpose in life and a way to live it. Much good it did. You've slaughtered almost all of them single-handedly, Saph. The worst decision in my life turned out to be injecting you and feeding you that damn boy. We thought he was a Titan Shifter but not for certain. Needed to figure out if he contained the ability of the Founder too. Suzu said we should test it out on you."

Seeing the life begin to wither out of him, I nudged Levi. "He doesn't have much longer."

"Why did you leave me that day?" he asked, the ghost of his child self appearing before my eyes.

"Cause," Kenny used his last bit of strength to hand him the box, "I can't be some kid's dad."

Levi stood up, I took his limp hand softly into my own. "I'm sorry. You deserved a parent's care and love."

"Thank you," he whispered. "I'm sorry you didn't get your revenge."

Feeling the warm pressure of his palm pressured against my fingers, I swallowed hard. "It's okay. We both needed answers more."

"How do you feel now that it's all over?"

I barked out a laugh. "Is it? We still have to deal with Rod and fill the hole in Wall Maria. I'm certain that it's never-ending." Resing my forehead on his shoulder, I couldn't help but still feel immense relief that Kenny couldn't hurt either of us again. However, his words whistled through in my mind, and I winced in how eerie they felt to my own at times. "I don't want to be like Kenny. Admiring the compassion in others but never trying to emulate it myself." It might've been from the first king, but those feelings moved him all the same. "He knows that everyone has a reason for living. Something important to them, but he still takes and takes whatever he wants. Those citizens in the Stohess district probably had things important to them. Were probably precious to others-" Levi pulling himself out of my grasp halted me in my tracks.

"I've judged you too harshly, Saph. The Ackerman strength allows me to choose how hard I fight in most cases. Allows me the decision to kill or not. Kenny thought Uri's softness came from his sheer power, and that's not completely wrong. When you see yourself as a god, it's easier to take pity on us mortals. You're not scraping by just to survive."

Lifting my chin, I stared at him with resolve. "I'm not a weak child anymore. I haven't been for a long time, and these Titan shifting abilities come with that responsibility. I want to use them to help as you do. Not hurt like Kenny."

The corners of his lips turned slightly upwards while listening to my response. "You're nothing like Kenny. Never have been. You're not drunk on power. He never cared about anyone but himself. That's not you at all."

"What do you think my intoxication is?" I said in a hushed tone as I leaned forward. Titling my upper body until I remained level with him. "What can't I live without?" I whispered into his ear, my lips skimming the edge of his cheek.

His light exhales tickled my neck, his breathing seemed to pick up the pace for a moment before he stepped away altogether again. A curtain of bangs shaded his eyes from me. Hindering me from seeing what laid in their depths. "Dessert?" he asked all so innocent.

Taken back by his answer, I giggled in surprise. "Guess I'm going to have to start buying my own. You don't think Bells will take me back, do you?"

"It's not like you need access to government secrets anymore."

"Still, I'm not any richer today than I was yesterday. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and anything brimming with sugar isn't cheap. Since we control the government now, can't we lower the price of sweets?"

Levi rolled his eyes. "I don't think that's how it works."

"But you're not sure! Besides, we can also ask about having expensive tea be more readily available to us."

"...I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask." Levi walked over to his horse and saddled up. "Come on. First, we need to stop Rod."

The two of us pushed our horses forward at a fast pace. Lucifer nipped the mare's neck as he passed her. "You're such an ass," I grumbled as I jerked his head away with the reins. Kicking him, I urged him towards the front of the large Titan. His ribs jutted out slightly even with his quite round frame. Planted on the ground, he couldn't seem to pick his body up even as he continued to move forward. It dragged its face on the ground, leaving a deep impression on the earth. The sounds of cannons shook the rolling grass and hardened dirt. Over and over a tirade of explosives hit the Titan's flesh. While welts were made, they didn't stay long before he healed. Our best technology could only make the monster pause before it continued its descent towards the nearest town. Climbing up the wall, a blast of hot wet air caused both Levi and me to clutch each other, desperately trying to ensure that the other one doesn't get blown away. Arriving at the top, we saw Eren's titan form positioned on the top, clutching either side. A huge hand flew above our heads and gripped the spot where a group of Garrison soldiers had just been standing.

"We were too late," Erwin stated. "We will have to go with our second plan of attack."

Hanji tugged the two of us over to the rest of the Survey Corps who were all picking up buckets and drenching themselves with water. "We are going to shoot its hands to unbalance it. Then Eren is going to shove a barrel of gunpowder into its mouth to ignite an explosion. That should allow us to land a blow on Rod's body. Saph, you need to pull his lower body away from the wall. Even if there is only half of it left, the sheer weight is still enough to breakthrough."

Levi picked up a bucket of water and poured it over himself. Despite the current danger and dilemma, I felt my heart began to rapidly pick up the pace seeing his soaked state. His now transparent undershirt clung to him. Outlining every hard angle and delicate feature. Drops clung to his lashes, and glossy black hair adhered to the sides of his face. It'd become slightly overgrown with how occupied we've been with other matters outside of hygiene and personal care. I wanted to play with the ends and weave my fingers within. the ends dripped water from his chin and drops collected in his long eyelashes.

Swallowing hard, I turned around. Not wanting my flushed face to be seen by anyone. Taking a position on the other side of the Titan, I watched them launch barrels at the monster's knuckles. Eren flung forward after the initial impact, He shoved the large package consisting of wood, rope, and gunpowder into the gaping mouth of the creature. It blew up instantly. Chunks flew into the air, one having to contain the actual body of Rod Reiss. That's not what I could concern myself with, however. Jumping off, I hooked my claws into the upper ribs of the beast. After I curled my legs underneath me, I sprung forward at full force. My feet propelled me forward with force as I used the wall to jump off of. I carried his torso backward while I wiggled in a desperate attempt to remove my elongated nails.

Even in the middle of the air, his body began to dissipate into a decaying mess. We still landed hard and unforgiving causing my legs to crumple underneath me. Removing my points from the carcass evaporating into ash, I felt dizzy. I'd planned on climbing back up while still in my Titan form, but now I didn't feel so good. Thinking it'd help to be back in person, I removed myself from the neck. Wobbling, my vision blotted and I began to sweat underneath my clothes.

"Are you okay?" Levi caught my elbow and steadied me.

I shook my head no. Struggling to not puke much less think straight, I held up a single finger. It didn't help, and I slowly sunk into oblivion. Gravity pulled me down, and I couldn't see the bottom.

Used to the brief moment of panic and upheaval during waking up after being forced into unconsciousness, my relief only deepened seeing Levi next to me. "How long have I been asleep?"

"A little under a week."

"Fuck," I sat up, astonished. "That long?"

Levi slowly nodded. "Hanji and Erwin thought you exerted yourself too much, but I told them it's just because Kenny's dead. That you could finally rest without worrying about him."

Dazed, I attempted to get my bearings. "What has happened since?" The only question I could muster off the tip of my tongue.

"Historia got her coronation. She started an orphanage and brought all of the children without homes from the Walls to the Underground to take care of them."

I could only blink in surprise.

He continued, "The Military punished political families by revoking their titles and sending them to detention facilities. New technological inventions got discovered leading to improvements. We built guillotines in the Wall to execute Titans with Eren's power. He can now also close Wall Maria with his hardening skill."

"That's all good! Right?" I asked due to his dim composure. "All I seem to be hearing is positive."

"There's more." Levi clenched the hands he held in front of his hunched-over body, turning them white in the process. "Historia and Eren learned some things from Rod. Being eaten is how you transfer Titan powers. The royal bloodline is the only one who can access the Founder's powers, but they've been held back by King Fritz's rule to not have his people cross the walls. That's why even when Eren's father stole the power, he couldn't use it." His voice wavered. "They also found out that once you've received the Titan power, you only have 13 years left to live."

A smile existed on the corners of my lips until that moment. It'd been almost a year and a half since I'd been kidnapped. "I still have a while."

"You'll be what? 32 or something," Levi stated sadly. "A little older than me now. That's too young."

Standing up, I walked over to Levi to crouch at his feet. "Maybe, but I probably wouldn't have the opportunity to be alive that long without those abilities. They saved us at the village." I put my palms on his thighs. "I still think we should celebrate," I partially teased suggestively for a laugh but would also back up the offer in a heartbeat. I couldn't get that image of him soaking wet out of my mind.

Biting his lip, Levi considered me before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "You broke my one rule."

"Huh?" I choked out. Seeing that he didn't plan on moving or speaking, I got up. "What do you mean?"

"I told you not to kiss me."

Thrown, I struggled to grasp what he meant. "You don't want to continue based on that?"

"No." He watched me. "How long have you lo-"

"What are you talking about?" I interrupted, my heart pounding so hard I knew he could hear it. I pushed too far. That kiss revealed everything, and I did little to dissuade him of the fact afterward. Now that he's confronting me with the truth, however, I wanted to hide. To take it all back. It left me stripped down and helpless, something I couldn't endure. This horrid nakedness.

"Don't try to deny it. I've thought about this a hundred times since you've been asleep."

"Does it matter?" I cried out, bursting loud with emotion at that moment. Cheeks burning, body flushed. I pressed the tips of my fingers to my temples, desperately trying to tame my temper before I said something to regret later.

Levi started to speak, "You were barely a teenager when we first m-"

"You certainly don't see me that way now," I interrupted once again, not wanting to continue this conversation. I didn't like the direction it seemed to be heading.

"Would you let me fucking talk? I'm not saying I saw you as a child even back then." He threw his hands up in the air, frustrated. "You're certainly acting like a brat right now though when I'm trying to communicate here."

Sitting back down on my bed, I could barely even glance up. "Go on then."

"What I'm trying to say is that we've known each other for a long time. I didn't know about this. Shit has changed between us, but... I still miss Petra too."

I did as well, but that still didn't mean I wanted to hear it from him. "I don't want to rush you."

"There hasn't been a moment of quiet since that day in the forest. We have some time to focus on preparing to retake Wall Maria, I want to use it to come to terms with everything. Including Kenny."

"You don't want us to interact?" I groaned out. It could be worse, but irritation still crawled over me. For how long?

He seemed pained. "It'd be good for us. You need to train with Eren and see if Historia might trigger some useful memories of the Titan shifter before you. We still don't know much about that village."

"Fine. You're Captain." I didn't want to be in the room with him any longer.."Since you can't stand to be around me any longer, I suggest getting out."

Levi left without a word.

I've been writing for this story almost every day, so I'm actually ahead on posting chapters for once! If anyone is curious about what the upcoming schedule is, please look at my profile. Besides that, I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Please leave a review! Even a few words help keep me motivated.