Part 80
A Night in Marley

"Here." Came Levi's voice, standing over Fury as she was sat on a public seating. Looking up to see him holding out some form of wrapping filled with other foods. "Apparently they're called Burritos. Smelt good, smelt like something that isn't fish for once."

"Hm." Fury hummed, taking the wrapped item in one hand. Soon passing it over to the other, and then back again due to its heat. "Not like you to go out of your way to try something new."

"All of this, what we're all doing now, is new." Levi corrected, taking a seat next to her in which he then began examining his own wrapping, already picking out what he knew were onions. Only then feeling comfortable enough to take a bite, and Fury watched with intrigue. There was no further complaint from him, and so it prompted her to take a bite of her own.

"… Actually tastes good." She spoke with a small mouth full. "The onions kinda compliment the meat, or whatever it is."

"Onions are disgusting." Levi huffed. "Doesn't do so well for your breath either." He listened to Fury's amused huff as a singular bird came and landed itself near to them. The Captain looking over at it, seeing the bird somewhat looking back at them both with a titled head. He tore some of the wrap and threw it to the ground, only to see how the bird ignored the offering and took off once again.

"Either way, this foreign food isn't all that bad." Fury swallowed. "Do you think you'll be able to shit again normally now?"

Levi almost cracked a smirk. "Tch." He crumpled up the paper wrapping his food came in, tossing it into the trash can that rested beside the bench they both sat at, even taking Fury's and throwing it aside for her too. The Captain cleared his own throat, using his tongue to pick at bits of food left upon his teeth. "Do you wish he was here?" Came a sudden question.

"… He, as in, Erwin?" Fury figured, yet strangely not answering the question itself, noting that Levi looked her way, and looked upon the bolo tie around her neck. She raised her fingers, to lightly stroke it. Honestly, as of recently, she almost forgot it was even there. And that made her feel somewhat selfish. Was it okay to move on? "I don't know…"
The same bird came back. Now landing nearer to Fury. And she would also notice the oddity of how it simply looked at her, almost in study, not interested in the crumbs of food littered on the street. "Its almost been 4 years since that damn day… Yet everything that has continued to be planned has been done with a future in mind, more so than for the people who died for it…" Fury then stood, with Levi watching, as she moved over to an overlook of the sea out before them. She rested herself against the overhang, taking a small look down at the water to see her rippled reflection on the timid sway of the water, with Levi coming to stand next to her; hands in his pockets.

"We need to talk about what it is that Zeke wants, Fury…" Levi then solemnly brought up. "Have you given any thought to his request?"

"You think because Historia was so easily able to say she'd become a reproduction farm, that would make me want to accept as well?"

Levi sighed. "Not at all. And I'm glad you haven't."

"You mean you don't want me anywhere near Zeke." Fury huffed.

"I made a promise to Erwin. To both kill that bastard and to keep you safe…-"

"Did you make those promises because you wanted to, or because you felt like you had to, Levi?" Fury then sharply asked. "In all the time I have known you, you have rarely, if ever, made a promise to anyone.

We lost our friends; I heard no promises being made to get rid of all the Titans.

You lost your first Squad to Annie; I heard no promise being made that you'd kill her for what she did. So yet another Titan kills Erwin and you're making promises to him?"

"Isabel, Farlan and the formation they were in were killed by an Abnormal that I took care of. My squad was killed by a kid who was just following orders, as we do. Zeke killed our Commander, and that of most of the Scouts we had to spare, and for what? Because he had to?" Levi asked, narrowing his eyes. "I had to. And I also wanted to make such a promise. And I intend on fulfilling it."

Fury closed her eyes. The nearby sound of a bird calling from nearby had them open once more, strained and frowned. "No. I don't wish he was here…" She then finally answered. "Erwin wasn't a bad man, but… his goal, his dream; it was just for himself, not for everyone.
I get it now… Why you chose Armin.
Erwin's goal was fixated upon that basement. As Kenny said, he had become a slave to it, unable to see past it or what to do once achieved. But Armin… his wished for everyone to see this ocean. He wished for us all to see another world beyond the one we are raised in. A dream to see such a vast amount of water… it reflected the space available for him to make room for more goals, and that of others." Levi continued to watch on over at Fury. His narrowed view lightening, to see her being able to see more openly herself gave him a sense of relief. He watched as her hands lifted the bolo tie up and over her head, and watched further as she dangled it over the side of the pier, only to let it go and watch as the sea water swallowed. And the woman sighed. For a brief moment, she smiled. "I've had enough shadows follow me around.
I realise now that I may have loved Erwin, but I don't think I was ever in love with him. I knew of the rivalry between him and Nial. How Erwin was once in love with his wife in their younger days. I think it was the same for Erwin too, but with more of a focus on his goal. And that's okay. Like I said, he wasn't a bad man. And I doubt he'd want us to linger on his death anymore." Fury then turned her head, her gaze, to Levi. Her hair flickering in the sudden blow of wind as her features softened. "And as for Zeke, there's plenty of excuses for a woman to say a pregnancy isn't possible. But for now, let's just hope Historia agreeing to it is enough."

As Levi found himself stepping one foot closer, a nearby flash distracted the both of them. Their peripherals leaving them both stunned as a man carrying unknown equipment jogged over to them both, huffing.

"Ah, sorry about that, my fair people!" He laughed, suddenly waving a stiff piece of paper around him as a black and white image slowly formed upon it. "I love taking photographs of couples having a moment together. You both looked like you had no one around you and I wanted to capture it!" He handed it to a disgruntled Levi, as Fury herself even sighed and looked away. "But, I still need to make a living! I charge $40. Pricey, I know, but it takes a lot just to capture a single moment."

"We don't want that sh-…"

"It's alright." Levi cut Fury off, dishing into his pocket for the money he was given for this trip and then handed it to the man, who happily gave Levi the image that simply showed Levi himself stood next to Fury, both looking out at the sea, noting the length of her hair more in the captured image.

"Thank you, Sir!" The photographer fare welled, tipping his hat to them both. "You have each other during these troubled times. If only more of us would see that too, ey?"

"… Idiot…" Fury muttered to herself as he moved on to set up his imagery to capture more unwanted moments. "You're not going to keep that, right?"

Levi shrugged. "Why not? Isn't that what couples do?"

"… Hilarious." Fury glared. "Look at the state of my hair…"

"I've told you how many times to cut it? So has your brat."

"Alright, alright." Fury lightly huffed. "I'll see what I can do with it."

Levi looked around behind him. The streets growing calmer as the night moved on. A sudden voice from afar caught attention from both him and Fury.

"… tomorrow night! At the Tybur Manor, in Liberio! Don't miss it!"

"I need to be there!" Fury quickly insisted to Levi. "We all need to be there."

"No. Too much attention." Levi frowned. "But you will be there. Take Isaah with you, the brat won't leave your side anyway. Let's get back to Hange. Let her know we have ourselves a lead and see if the risk is low enough just to have you check it out."

Fury nodded. "I still can't believe they are relatives of mine…"

"I can't imagine the head fuckery. But you'll know soon enough. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"It is but… what if he has other children? Another wife? His own mother and father… I'm used to feeling like a black sheep but… thinking of all those eyes on me is twisting my stomach."

Her wrist was then grabbed firmly by Levi's hand. "Say they know of Zeke. Say they're aware of his request of children from you for the rest of your life. What if there is a possibility that could be altered when they know it will involve a family member of theirs? Whilst I have my promise intact, nothing will harm you, do you understand? Shit with Kenny aside, what's done is done. You're going to be safe from now on."

Flustered, with shaken hues, Fury gently took the processed photograph of herself and Levi out of his other hand and gazed into it. Another little smile appearing, even if just briefly. "I know…" She would acknowledge, as they then took off to return to Hange.

Fury clung to the image along the way. In a way, it was becoming the new bolo tie. Only this time, the person she cared for was right beside her, as he always has been, through the difficulties of life itself. What Fury spoke about in regards to Erwin, it was true. There was once a moment where Erwin once jokingly mentioned the thought of marriage, and Fury only saw Levi's face. That was how she knew, from that moment, that her heart could never be truly Erwin's. And though Levi may never know of it, in whatever time they have left, Fury felt comfortable enough to live her last few days knowing that she has always been in love with Levi silently.

"You can be such a damn princess, you know that?" Levi suddenly called out to her.

Fury raised her eyebrow. "Excuse me? Princess?"

"Don't take it in the way that it sounds. Sometimes, in stories, the princess is often lonely, lost, subdued and it is why she needs saving from the big bad dragon. Not for her to find her prince, but to find escape." Levi tugged on her wrist further, like he was practically pulling her back to Hange himself.

His explanation made perfect sense to her, though to be suddenly called as such caught Fury off guard. That smile came back. Each time, it remained a second longer. Instead of feeling dragged, Fury easily caught with him to match his pace back to where they were all supposed to be staying whilst in Marely. "We still have a full night!" Fury twirled. The sudden act of joy unrecognisable. "I say we give the wine here a taste before we call it a night and get ready for tomorrow's shit show."

"Don't see why not…" Levi muttered. "Maybe a cup of tea…"

"Live a little, Levi." Fury chuckled. "We only do so once."