It was a silent ride all the way to the Reiss family chapel, most of which was now buried under tons of rock and dirt and rubble. Underneath all of the earth, however, gleaming pieces of the crystal caverns could still be seen. While Yavena was not sure how valuable they could be, it would certainly be worth taking them. The Scout Regiment could sell them and acquire additional funds, or perhaps they could prove to be helpful resources.
Yavena swung herself off of the horse, Levi directly behind her. The soldiers under their command began to flock forward, waiting for additional orders.
"Split up in three groups of eight. Two of these groups will begin to search the perimeter of the cavern," said Yavena, standing tall. "The last group will inspect what remains of the chapel. Look for any documents, anything that might give us further information on the Reiss family or something called the Founding Titan."
All of them saluted and split up into the groups of eight; though as one of the soldiers in the third group began to turn aside, Yavena grabbed his shoulder and added, "Make sure you dig up some of those shining crystals as well. It would be good to have the Section-Commander look at them."
"Aye, Captain!" exclaimed the young man, and then he and a few others began running to the chapel with the intention of digging their way to the crystals as best as they could.
Once they were gone, Levi locked eyes with her for only a moment before turning towards the chasm and jumping down inside it.
Yavena followed him, not wishing to be left behind. She held a rifle in her hand, and both of her blades were also at her hips… though as she looked around, she figured none of these weapons would be needed.
A large number of bodies were hidden by the fallen rocks. Their positions were only revealed based on a limb sticking out here or there, or a splotch of dark red staining the otherwise flawless white of the crystal ground. Yavena remembered that Levi had claimed there were thirty-five enemies when they'd first begun their fight in those caverns, but as she walked on, it felt like there were more.
It soon became obvious that not all of these people had been killed by the collapsing of the cavern. Some of them had missing limbs, cleanly severed: killed by herself and her squad. She could not remember how many people she herself had killed in the latest fight. Unlike in Trost District, she hadn't kept track.
"It doesn't look like there are any survivors," she mused.
Levi nodded without turning around. "There were only a dozen or so left by the time we made it to Eren. If the boulders didn't get them, the burning winds of Rod Reiss's Titan would've."
She caught up to him and glanced towards the sky. It was blinding, a dazzling powder-blue with sheer white light from the sun. Only a few rays reached them in the depths of this canyon; there was more shadow than sun here.
"Come on," said Levi, gesturing forward with his rifle. "There might be something useful further on."
They walked together, carefully inspecting the ground for anything suspicious. There were less corpses of Interior Military Police the further they traveled, though there wasn't anything else interesting, either. Just rocks and more of those shiny white or grey crystals.
It was twenty minutes later that someone began sprinting up behind them. Both Yavena and Levi turned to see one of the soldiers of the search groups panting, sweat upon his forehead as he shouted, "Captains!"
"What?" said Levi, frowning. "Your face looks like it's leaking shit."
The soldier ignored the insult and gasped, "We've found Kenny Ackermann!"
Levi's eyes widened. "Lead us there."
And so they set off, using their omni-directional gear to haul themselves out of the chasm and back onto solid land. According to their subordinate, Kenny was not too far away—but he was in bad shape.
The words 'bad shape' were an egregious understatement. When they laid eyes on the man, Yavena bit the inside of her cheek. There was blood, both fresh and dried, caking his clothes; one hand was still pressed against the wound, which hadn't been treated in the twelve hours since he'd received it. The right side of his face was covered in horrible, third-degree burns. His skin was paler than she had remembered it being. It looked like it was taking everything he had just to continue breathing, if he was even still alive at all.
Levi turned towards the soldier who had led them there and said, "Report back. We're fine here."
"Aye, Captain," said the man, and then he trotted off, still running despite the wheeze with which he did so.
"Would you like me to stay or go?" asked Yavena. She tore her eyes off of the soldier running back to the Reiss's chapel lands and towards Levi, who seemed disturbed… or, as disturbed as Levi ever was.
He did not look at her. "Stay."
Without anything further to add, Levi began closing the distance between them and Kenny, the man who had, for a brief period of his life, raised him. Yavena kept one hand trained upon her rifle. She did not expect trouble, but it would not hurt to be prepared.
Kenny's eyes cracked open as he heard their approaching footsteps. He sighed. "Tch. Just what I needed… the runt and the orange."
"Your comrades we fought. They all ended up getting crushed," said Levi. He stood over the battered man, his eyes betraying none of his thoughts. "Are you the only survivor?"
"Seems that way," Kenny murmured.
His condition was even worse up close. The burn marks upon his face were flaring a furious red, almost as if it was not skin that Yavena could see, but the muscle underneath. Much of his stringy brown hair had been scorched away as well; some of the burns trailed up to the top of his head. There was a trail of blood leading from where he had somehow managed to drag himself.
Levi lowered his rifle, but only just. "With those burns and that blood loss, there's no helping you now."
A grin cracked Kenny's face. Such a gesture made Yavena wary; a smile would be hard to summon through all of that pain.
"I wonder…" said Kenny. He pushed something forward. It was an open container with an injection—Yavena's eyes widened. She tightened her grip upon the rifle.
It was clear that Levi knew exactly what that was too, based on the way that he tensed, ready to act. But Kenny either didn't seem to notice their alarm or simply ignored it as he chuckled, "I swiped this little one right out of Rod's bag. Seems if I inject this… I'll turn into a Titan. One of those dumb Titans, unfortunately. For a while, though… it should extend my life."
"You've had the time and strength to inject yourself. Why haven't you?" asked Levi.
"I wonder that, too. If I don't inject it right, I might end up like he did… all messed up." Kenny frowned with this last, perturbed by the thought of Rod Reiss's Titan form.
Levi frowned. There was pain behind that gesture. He knelt in front of Kenny and said, "I know you're not sitting here waiting to die. Don't you have a better excuse?"
He was answered with another chuckle—then Kenny began to cough. Traces of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. "I don't want to die… I wanted power. But now I see. I think I understand why he did it, after all this time…"
"Huh?"
Kenny continued to laugh, feeble rasps filling the air. "Everybody I've met was all the same. Drinking. Women. Worshipping God, even. Family. The King. Dreams. Children. Power. Everyone had to be drunk on something to keep pushing on. Even him…"
His light-green eyes trailed from Levi to Yavena—she was able to see two messages within his face.
The first was a knowing look: one that stated that he knew exactly how much she cared about the man kneeling in between them. It was a look that said he could not empathize, but he could see.
The second was a request: that she do what she could to protect him.
It was the first time that anyone had asked, even indirectly, for Yavena to look out for Levi. He was Humanity's Great Soldier, one of the most dangerous men in the world. Most people would say that he did not need protecting.
But Kenny Ackermann was not most people. It was clear that he had seen much of life, had been through many struggles and hardships of his own. He seemed to understand that one person could only do so much on their own; that was why he had had so many loyal members in his Anti-Personnel Squad.
Even Levi would not be invincible, should he ever be on his own. But if Yavena was with him, maybe… maybe one day, she could protect him for once.
"I can see what you're drunk on, Orange," said Kenny with a light smirk. Yavena's eyes darted back to his face which, even contorted with pain, was still exhibiting such lighthearted behavior. "But what about you, Levi? Are you a hero?"
Levi lunged forth and seized Kenny by the shoulder, demanding, "Kenny, tell me everything you know! Why doesn't the First King want humanity to survive?"
He was met with a scoff. "Tch, beats me. But… we Ackermanns… opposed him for that reason."
The words only barely managed to eke out—Kenny was wracked with another throaty cough. Blood splattered upon Levi's cheek.
"My last name seems to be Ackermann too," said Levi, his gaze downcast, towards the green grass at their feet. The wind swept the green tendrils against his boot, which was covered in blood and dirt. "You… what were you to my mother?"
"Heh! You idiot. Only her brother."
Yavena lowered her gun. Ever since Levi had spoken about that burst of power, the one that all Ackermanns seemed to receive at some point in their lives, she had suspected that Kenny was related to him in some way. And now it was revealed, that he had known the whole time: he was Levi's uncle.
Levi stared at him. "That day. Why? Why did you leave me?"
Kenny returned that look; the light was fading from his eyes. It would not be long now. "Because… I'm not meant to be… someone's father."
Another hush fell across the clearing, save for the barest hint of grass rustling in a light breeze.
And then a solid thud broke the stillness. Kenny had shoved the box with the Titan serum injection, now closed, into Levi's chest.
The light in his eyes was gone.
"Kenny."
Yavena stood, utterly unsure of what she should do. Levi still knelt in front of his uncle's body, and it did not seem that he was in a hurry to rise and return to where the rest of their soldiers were gathered, perhaps waiting for further orders.
Here once again was someone else that Levi had lost. She bit the inside of her lip. What should she do—what could she do?
That veil of uncertainty was thick, seeping across her skin like ice water and into her nose and mouth. It reminded her of that feeling of drowning, the one she'd suffered through when planning the Stohess District operation… tight chest, tight throat, squeezing and crushing. She still did not know how to get out of it.
But as Yavena turned to the sky and saw the sun, saw the way that it bathed everything in its sight, that feeling was burned away.
She knelt next to Levi, knowing that she did not need to ask the question of whether she should stay or go. With one hand she grabbed onto his; with the other, she leaned forward and closed Kenny's partially lidded eyes. Then she turned back to Levi, whose expression could only be described as stunned, and enwrapped him in her arms.
His forehead rested upon her shoulder. Yavena did not speak, knowing that words would be no comfort here. She moved one of her hands in little circles across his back, keeping him close while also making an active attempt to be light, to let him know that if he wished to move away, then he could.
Yavena worried that it would not be much. But it was what she could do, at least in this moment; to let him know that even if for all of the world he felt like he was alone, that he was not.
The sun's light disappeared, blocked by some of the thick clouds hovering overhead. Yavena closed her eyes for a moment before sighing and letting him go. When she looked back to him, she was unsurprised to see that the light in his own eyes had diminished. There were no tears, no traditional signs of sadness. It was there in the weight he carried: the slump of his shoulders, the shadows concealing his face, the fatigue in each breath.
Yavena rose to her feet, grabbing the rifle that she had gently placed upon the ground. She looked outward for a moment, wondering if any of the soldiers were returning from their patrols—
"So what the hell are you drunk on, then?"
She turned back around to face Levi, who had not moved a millimeter. "What do you mean?"
"He said you're drunk on something. There's a reason you still fight. That you've made it this far. What is it."
This last was said almost as a demand rather than a question; something that he needed to know just as badly as she did. Yavena noticed the way that his fists clenched at his side and answered, "For a long time, it was mystery. I grew up wondering what the Titans were and why they hunted us. What lies in the world far beyond." Yavena could see Levi's fists clench and unclench, almost like a nervous tick, as she spoke. "But now, I fight for more than that. I fight for the people I care about. Hange. Eren. Erwin. You. For a chance to see our efforts rewarded, by living in a peaceful world free of fear. A chance to know that Petra, Gunther, Olou, and Eld all died for something."
A glaze appeared, crossing her face. It felt as though she was a million leagues away as she finished answering his question. "I won't rest until there's a world where I might be able to live peacefully with all of you… even if it's just for one fucking day. Even if I die the very next day, knowing that I got to see that world, the one without fear, where we might finally lay down this mantle of being a soldier and know that we could live in peace… that would be enough."
The great vastness of the world swallowed up her words, leaving nothing but silence in their wake. Yavena took a deep breath, feeling herself begin to tremble from the severity of her wish and from the chill that descended upon them from the lack of sunlight.
Although she was curious why Levi had asked the question, she did not try to read it from his face. He would tell her in time.
Levi rose to his feet and joined Yavena at her side, his rifle in hand once again. As he too looked out across the lands, upon which oblivious people might one day settle or live, he said, "I will trust you, then. And all of the choices you make."
Yavena blinked and stared at him. "What?"
"You were right earlier. I can't protect you. The Armored and Colossal Titans will return one day, and we will fight them, and there will likely be fights further than we can anticipate." He sighed. "I needed to know if you believed in something strongly enough to keep you alive."
She smiled; a weak gesture, but still one full of meaning. "Our friends may come and go, but I believe that even if there's only the two of us still standing… then it will be worth it. Then all of those deaths… will have had meaning."
Her throat scratched with this last; Yavena cleared it and blinked the wetness out of her eyes. Then she turned back to Levi and asked, "What about you?"
"Hell if I know," he said. The shakiness to his bearing had melted away; now, Levi was as calm and composed as ever. "But I've been holding onto Erwin's vision for a while. A free world. No big-ass Titans."
Yavena couldn't help but chuckle at the mention of 'big-ass Titans.' It seemed that Levi had intended for such an effect, however; there was one of those looks waiting for her, the unguarded ones. He placed a hand upon her shoulder and said, "Let's see if we've uncovered anything useful and report back to Erwin."
She nodded and began the short trek back to the chapel by his side.
Unfortunately, it did not seem that anyone had located any additional information about the Reiss family or related matters in their inspection of the chapel. Nor had any other survivors of the Anti-Personnel Squad been located, meaning there would be no information from them, either. Figuring, however, that the presence of the crystals and this Titan-injection would be better than nothing, Levi gave the order to depart.
Twenty minutes later, they and the two-dozen soldiers accompanying them were on horseback again, some of the crystals from the underground caverns within knapsacks so Hange could study and define them.
Yavena found herself thinking that her and Levi's wishes were not so dissimilar. As they roared past the few trees left standing after the Giga-Titan's rampage, she asked, "So if we manage to make that world a reality… if we really do live to see those peaceful days… what will you do?"
"I don't know," he answered. "I won't until we get there."
It was a fair answer, one that made sense, considering all that they had already been through. A decade and a half of war in Yavena's case: a decade in Levi's. So much of their lives had been spent fighting this enemy that seemed unbeatable; but now, with Eren and with answers in sight, there seemed to be a light at the end of a previously never-ending tunnel.
But Yavena knew what the first thing she would do would be. Smiling, she said, "I've decided that I'll spend every evening sitting outside in a wooden chair, with a cup of tea as the sun goes down."
"You already do that in headquarters."
She laughed, a light and airy sound. "Not in a free world, I haven't. And that will make all the difference."
Levi was quiet with that. Apparently not even he had some sort of smart remark prepared this time. Noting this, Yavena grinned to herself and lay her head upon his back, the way she had only a few nights back. She did not care if the other soldiers noticed. They could talk all they wanted. She was happy enough.
Content and filled with courage, she then said, "I hope you'll join me every now and then, when we finally get there."
He glanced over his shoulder. "If you wish."
"Of course I do. It's you, isn't it?"
Once again she was met with no response. And once again Yavena did not mind. It was part of that understanding that they had; a simple promise made. It may be one that would lie dormant for months or even years to come, but it was one that would be remembered.
With this comforting thought in mind, Yavena turned her eyes to the road ahead.
The remaining ride was once again uneventful, which in retrospect, was a very pleasant change of pace compared to the last few days. It was once they returned to the courtyard of Orvud District's Regiment Branch that they received the news: Historia Reiss's coronation would be taking place as soon as possible in the capital city of Mitras, and Erwin, Hange, and the remaining members of Squad Levi had already departed with the order that Levi and Yavena follow them upon receiving the message.
After ordering the soldiers that had accompanied them to return to Scout Regiment headquarters, Levi ushered his own horse in the opposite direction. They trotted through the city with little to no problem, as it had gone quite back to normal now that the future Queen had departed.
"They couldn't have told us in advance?" said Levi once they were back in the open lands of Wall Sina.
Yavena couldn't help but laugh. "They have to keep us on our toes somehow."
"Because Titans aren't enough, apparently."
She was grateful that Levi had to keep his eyes on the road, because a ridiculous grin had overcome her face with his usual sarcasm. It was comforting to hear, as Yavena had been worried that Kenny's death would shake him more than he would let on… but it did not seem that was the case.
Fortunately, the ride to Mitras was only an hour and some extra minutes at most. They were admitted quickly, as word of their arrival had been left with the Military Police guarding the gate, and were directed towards the royal palace, where the coronation was being held.
It seemed that Yavena and Levi were just in time to watch Historia actually be crowned; it was a beautiful and crowded affair, one that took place upon a wooden platform so all of the attending citizens could see their new Queen. This was the structure that had originally been built to send Erwin and all of the Scout Regiment soldiers to the gallows… but now, it was draped in a banner with the royal insignia, and Erwin stood alongside Historia Reiss as Premier Dhalis Zachary lowered a bejeweled golden crown atop her head.
Cheers and shouts rang through the city square. Yavena stood beside Levi, smiling as she gazed up at Historia's strong face. Next to them, a number of citizens were raising a fist to the air and shouting, "Long live Queen Historia!"
Others began joining in; cries of, "Long live Queen Historia!" echoed around the square.
"Is it true she saved us from the largest Titan ever seen?"
"It is! All the citizens of Orvud District saw it!"
Historia began to withdraw from the above podium, her ivory dress almost floating behind her. Those who were upon the platform with her also began to retreat: Commander Pyxis, Commander Erwin, Commander Nile Dawk, the Premier. Somehow, in the midst of the chaos, Yavena was able to see the remainder of their squad members rush out of the crowd and in the direction of the royal palace, undoubtedly with the purpose of meeting with Historia.
Yavena grabbed one of Levi's hands by his side and gestured to where Jean's tall silhouette was retreating. He nodded in understanding, and then they too began budging their way out of the crowd, so they might be able to wish Historia well and then give Erwin their reconnaissance report.
It was difficult to keep track of where Jean was walking; seeing as both Levi and Yavena were of a shorter stature, walking through the crowd was proving more difficult than they'd like. Somehow, however, they managed to maneuver their way through the nobility blocking their way.
As soon as they were free, Levi grumbled, "Too many people."
"You're not wrong," said Yavena in reply. She pointed to where Jean and the others were now running, seeing as the side streets were clear, and once again they set off after them.
There was not much to talk about during the remainder of their walk back to the palace. This did not bother Yavena, as she was quite happy to simply spend the time with Levi… although she could not help herself from asking, when it was clear that no one else was within range of hearing, "Levi… are you all right?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I should think it would be obvious."
Levi turned to face her; a ray of sun fell across his face in a diagonal line. "If I weren't fine, you would be the first to know."
His words were not spoken harshly, or even with the normal edge that accompanied his voice. They had been spoken with a promise; a rare yet steadily more common vulnerability. It was because of this that Yavena knew he was telling the truth.
"All right, then," she said, offering him a tiny smile. "I'm glad to hear it."
When they reached the royal palace, they stopped, their eyes wide. While everything within Mitras practically screamed expense and luxury, from the fine stone of the streets to the silks the attendees of the coronation had been wearing… the Queen's palace was of another league entirely.
The building was made of bright marble and gilded columns; the floors were covered in deep red carpets or furs. Giant windows bedecked each room, allowing a view out into the surrounding capital city. A number of well-trained Military Police were standing guard within each hallway and the perimeter of the outside gardens.
Those Military Police let the two Scout Regiment Captains pass without a second glance; as they walked through the bright hallways, Yavena muttered from the corner of her mouth, "Think you could swipe a pistol from this place?"
"Easily."
She bit the inside of her lip to stop herself from giggling.
Yavena had never been inside of a place as large as the royal palace, but for all its spaciousness and grandeur, it was thankfully easy to navigate. From a drawing room only a few doors down, they could hear familiar voices—they belonged to Erwin and Hange.
They exchanged looks and, figuring they'd run into their squad-mates later, entered the room. Sure enough, sitting in plush chairs around a pot of tea were Erwin and Hange, apparently expecting their arrival.
Levi closed the door behind them. "This place is ridiculous."
"But it's got cushioned chairs!" said Hange, a bright smile upon their face.
"You're back early," Erwin said. He waved both Yavena and Levi towards the table, where the pot of tea was waiting. Neither of them wasted time in grabbing themselves a warm drink. Only once they were sitting within the remaining two chairs around the table did the Commander speak again. "Based on how quickly you returned, I suspect you either have a slew of things to report, or nothing at all."
Levi regarded him with sharp eyes. "For once, you're wrong. There are only two things worth mentioning, and one of them is… troubling."
One of Erwin's strong eyebrows raised. Golden rays of late afternoon sun highlighted the blond of his hair. "Then tell me everything."
Levi and Yavena took turns telling the Commander about what had been found at the Reiss chapel, including the crystals that had bedecked the destroyed caverns. When they reached the moment with Kenny Ackermann and what he had given to Levi with his dying breath, Yavena caught his eye and smiled in a way to say that she would take care of this portion of the report. Although he was handling his uncle's death well, he did seem appreciative of her interjection.
"You mean to say… you have a sample of the serum that would've turned Historia into a Titan?" whispered Hange, incredulity striking their features.
Levi withdrew the box that had been within his jacket and held it out to Erwin, who frowned as he inspected it. Hange wriggled their chair forth so they too might be able to get a good look at the object—both of their faces contained wonder and puzzlement.
After Erwin had finished looking at it, he relinquished the syringe to Hange and declared, "I leave the task of studying both the crystals and the contents of this injection to you, Hange."
A shiver ascended Yavena's spine as she too stared at the syringe. It made her queasy, largely because this reminded her of needles, and of the stitches that were still lodged in her side… But this particular needle felt even more sinister, and she knew why.
Kenny's story corroborated with Eren and Historia's. That meant anyone injected with the liquid inside this syringe would be turned into a Titan: one of the mindless, unintelligent ones that the Scout Regiment had spent so many years facing.
Hange put the little box away, inside their jacket. As soon as it was gone, the mood across the room lightened; the very sun grew brighter again. From there, the conversation was redirected towards what the coming days would hold.
"I have already informed Eren that the hardening experiments will continue as soon as we return to Scout Regiment headquarters," Hange relayed, resting one arm against the back of their chair. "Now that he's able to perform the ability at will, there are so many things we can attempt!"
The little squeal in Hange's voice betrayed how thrilled they were at the prospect of the experiments. Yavena could not keep back a smile upon hearing it; when her friend caught her eye, she made sure to grin in Hange's direction.
Apparently Erwin had noted the same thing, as the corners of his lips were turning upwards. "Good. We will return to headquarters tomorrow mid-morning. In case you were unaware, there is a celebration planned for tonight. It will be a mixture of both a political meeting and a party. An invitation has been offered to us; in fact, Historia has personally requested that you attend, Yavena."
Yavena blinked. "She asked for me?"
"You, and all the members of Squad Levi. As I understand it, this will be a prime opportunity for us to assist Historia with the beginning of her rule," said Erwin, leaning back in his chair. As ever, he seemed quite at ease with the idea of a political meeting; he was comfortable in any climate. "Based on the way she spoke with me earlier this afternoon, I assume she already has executive plans for our world. We may yet be able to set an example by supporting her regime."
Even though the idea of politics was repulsive, the anticipation of a genuine party with her friends and squad-mates was an exciting enough prospect that Yavena would allow it to slide. When she looked towards Hange, she noted that her friend was intrigued by the day's schedule. Levi, however, was scowling, though it seemed to be more out of concern than displeasure.
"Anything else we need to know, Erwin?" asked Yavena, tearing her gaze away from Levi's uncertain look.
"Be careful with whom you speak during the evening's events," said Erwin. He rose from his chair and towards the table, where the steaming teapot was sitting pretty. "Some of the denizens of Wall Sina take their politics and interactions quite seriously. Until then, we may as well rest as much as we are able."
It was clear the meeting was over at this point, though Yavena was not in a rush. The room was warm and bright, and it seemed as good of a place as any to spend some time before the impending party. She too rose from her chair and retrieved a second cup of tea before reclaiming her seat and simply staring out of the window.
Hange left soon thereafter, declaring that they were going to get started on analyzing the substance inside the syringe. Levi stood as well and, silver eyes upon Yavena, said, "I will find out where the others are. I'll return shortly."
Then he too was gone, and it was only herself and the Commander.
Once the door clicked shut again, Erwin, full of certainty, said, "I suspect that there's more to what happened on the Reiss lands than was originally stated. Levi was… a little unlike himself."
"Aye," she answered, holding her teacup with both hands. It was not so hot that it burned her, but it helped to keep her warm. "The man who gave him that syringe, Kenny Ackermann… they were acquainted."
"I see."
Erwin did not pry further, likely because he understood that it was not Yavena's story to tell. If Levi wished to inform the Commander of the details that had been originally left out of their report, then that would be his own decision.
Clouds outside blocked the afternoon sun from entering the room, and in doing so, darkened the mood within it. Yavena spared a glance towards her Commander and noted the great pensiveness within him; clasped hands, furrowed brow, downturned lips.
She was well-acquainted with that look by now. Crossing one leg over the other, Yavena said, "You're either thinking of the political ramifications of the celebration tonight, or of our inevitable journey to Wall Maria."
The sharp edges to his posture vanished. Erwin smiled wryly to her and replied, "You're correct. I am thinking about our journey to Wall Maria… and what we may find there."
It would make sense to assume that he was concerned over the appearance of the Armored or Colossal Titans, yet there was a strange vulnerability surrounding Erwin's person that told her this was not the case. His mind had not been on battle, but some sort of goal.
Yavena leaned forward, fascinated with this glimpse of humaneness that she had wriggled out of him. "You're hoping to find something in particular."
If Erwin was surprised she had deduced such a thing, he did not betray any motions to suggest so. He chuckled once before admitting, "Once again, you're correct. I do not mind telling you."
He took a sip of his tea—black, with a dash of sugar—and looked at Yavena with the intensity she had come to associate with him. The muted light upon his face made him seem even more serious than usual as he spoke. "My father was a teacher, and an intelligent man. He taught in the school I went to and provided a standard education centered around the world we live in. One day, I rose my hand and asked him some dangerous questions. He evaded them and ended class as normal, but at our home later that night, he answered my curiosities. There were fallacies within the history books, holes in stories and overlooked details; my father believed that our memories had somehow been modified to prevent our understanding of the world.
"And I, young and idiotic, began to tell my classmates what my father had told me. The Military Police soon found out, and asked who had told me such stories. My father did not come home that day. He was killed in another town, they said, in a tragic accident. Even then, I knew better… and ever since that day I've been searching for answers: why my father had to die, for nothing more than getting close to the truth. That search is almost over, if my hunch is right. All of the answers I need are in Eren Jaeger's basement."
Erwin leaned back in his chair and took a sip of tea, clearly finished talking.
When Yavena thought about it, she realized that it placed multiple pieces of Erwin's puzzle together. She recalled the look upon his face when they'd received the news that it was likely that Titans were humans. Even though the news had been horrible and heart-wrenching, Erwin hadn't been disappointed.
He had been fascinated.
And then she remembered.
Do you know why war has never broken out? It's because the First Interior Squad dirtied our hands to protect the peace. A teacher too smart for their own good… a stupid couple who tried to fly… a whore from some ranch in the sticks!
There was no proof, but Yavena knew… that teacher that the Interior Military Police had tortured had been Erwin's father.
But of course she would not say as much. Erwin was already dedicated to finding the truth of the world, of guiding the Scout Regiment to victory for both humankind and himself. Telling him of Sannes's words would not help.
"I used to be obsessed with the mysteries of the world as well," said Yavena, after finishing her second cup of tea. She did not look at Erwin as she spoke, but she could feel his eyes upon her. "My parents had books. The outlawed ones. I read about all of these things the world is supposed to have: oceans, deserts, mountains. They told me all about the Scout Regiment, even when I was a child. I wanted to be just like them…"
"But?" Erwin prompted, hearing the pause in her words.
The corners of her lips turned upwards. "I still want to know about the world's mysteries, of course. And I really wish to help you do so, because I consider you a good friend. But if I ever find myself in a situation where I need to hold onto something in order to stay alive, I won't be looking towards my desperation to have my questions answered. I'll be holding onto the fact that there are so many people I care about still alive, and fighting for a better world."
Although Yavena was not looking to her Commander, she could feel the warmth of his smile nonetheless. She could tell that she had surprised him by her admission that she considered him a friend… but it had been a welcome remark, one taken and remembered.
"Your parents were good people," said Erwin. His words prompted Yavena to look at him with wide eyes; she'd never heard much about her parents from other Scout Regiment soldiers. Most of those who'd known Louis and Vanessa Verman were dead. "I did not know your father well, but your mother… she was tenacious. I can count on one hand the number of soldiers that believed in our cause as fiercely as she did."
Rejuvenated. That was how Yavena felt in that moment, with pride settled in her heart and determination in her mind. This had been Erwin's way of saying that she and her mother had been one in the same.
They did not spend more time talking. It seemed they were perfectly content to sit within one another's presence; it was time that Yavena was able to sit with Erwin and feel as though things were not always so serious. That he too could simply take a number of minutes and let things pass.
It was after ten minutes of this silence that the door reopened, and Levi reappeared. "I found the brats."
Yavena shook her head, though she could not stop herself from smiling. "I'll see you later, Commander," she said before rising from her seat and following after Levi, who had already disappeared down the hallway.
It did not take long to reach the place where their squad-mates were holed up. As she had with Erwin and Hange, she could hear their voices from around the corridor. Upon hearing the same thing, Levi stopped walking and leaned against the wall, either uneager or unwilling to interrupt their reunion.
Yavena decided to spend the time by tiptoeing forth to peer into a few rooms that had the doors still open: the first room she inspected was a lounge, within which a fire was blazing. Another was some sort of office with two large desks. A third was a room with no discernable purpose; she might even say its purpose was simply to look pretty.
When she turned back to Levi, hoping to make a snarky joke about the pigs within Wall Sina, she noted that he was looking at something in his hand. He seemed to sense her curiosity and waved her forward.
Yavena returned to his side and glanced at the object in his palm. It was a thin silver ring with three turquoise stones in its band; a silver chain was threaded through it, turning it into a necklace instead.
"What is that?" she asked. The mid-afternoon light gleamed upon the metal, flashing the band to look almost white instead of silver.
"It was something else Kenny shoved at me, along with that Titan serum," said Levi. His eyes narrowed as he prodded at the ring with one careful finger. "I think it belonged to my mother. I remember her wearing something like this…"
The ring looked incredibly delicate. Too much wear or tear would break it.
"That's… a good thing, right?" asked Yavena, hoping it wasn't too insensitive a question. "It's one more thing to remember her by."
Levi nodded, though his gaze was far away. "I think so." He placed the ring and its chain back into his jacket pocket.
Before Yavena could reply, a strained voice interrupted them from their conversation. The voice belonged to Eren, who was exclaiming, "Damn it! If it's not a real grudge, just forget it!"
Historia scoffed and shot Eren a contemptuous look. "If I can't do this, how can I call myself Queen?"
"Hell yeah, Historia, that's the spirit!" exclaimed Jean.
By this point, the seven young members of Squad Levi were within sight. Both of the Captains stepped forward to greet them.
Upon seeing them, Historia took a deep breath. She was actually shaking—but then she raised her fists and yelled before sprinting forward and throwing a weak punch directly to Levi's ribs, over the place where his heart was beating.
Eren, Armin, Sasha, Conny, and Jean all screamed as though they were about to witness Historia's untimely death, while Mikasa just smiled.
"Hah!" exclaimed Historia, raising her fists again. She stood in front of Levi with a new swagger in her stance. "How'd you like that? I'm the Queen! And if you have a problem—"
Levi chuckled and looked over his squad members. Genuine sincerity lined his sharp features. "Thank you. All of you."
All of them blanched. Everyone was staring at him as he continued to smile, and Yavena was no exception.
She finally found her voice. "You've got to be joking," she murmured, though her words gradually grew in strength. A bewildered smile was upon her face, but it was not so much made of joy than it was sheer disbelief. "Nearly seven years. That's how long it took me to make you laugh. And yet here you are, after knowing these idiots for two months—"
Levi turned back to her, still smiling. A glint of amusement lingered in his silver eyes. "Problem?"
"Maybe!" shouted Yavena. Her fists were balled and placed upon her hips; this was one of the rare opportunities she took to stand tall, as she was just barely taller than him. "Seven years, Levi!"
She whirled away from him, feeling a confusing mixture of exasperation, astonishment, and attraction. She had thought a lot about the next time she would see Levi truly smile, ever since he had done so before their operation in Stohess District… Her eyes landed upon Historia, who raised her fists and nodded frantically, clearly giving her a sign—
Yavena turned back to Levi, a smirk upon her own face as she said, "I think our Queen is telling me I get to punch you, too."
Levi rolled his eyes. "Will that make you feel better?"
"Possibly."
She threw a fist towards his chest—but Levi grabbed her wrist out of the air and with his foot, kicked out one of her ankles. Yavena gasped as she stumbled; Levi took advantage of her being unbalanced and began pushing her backwards, ignoring her breathless exclamations of, "Ah! Oye, Levi! What the hell are you—"
Her back hit the wall hard, making her gasp. Before she could regain her breath to speak, before she could do anything at all, he cupped one hand under her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
Yavena heard her squad-mates choke and cry out in shock, but she hardly registered their presence. She tensed for one split second, thinking it was a dream—this was Levi after all, she could never imagine him doing something like this, not in a million years…
But then she realized it was real and, not wanting the moment to fade away, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck in submit.
Upon recognizing this acknowledgement, this defeat, Levi pressed his advantage. His lips parted hers with ease, and Yavena found herself going lightheaded as she continued to process how warm he was, the tightness with which his grasp was around her wrist, the way his body was tense against her own. She knew that she was exhibiting the same desire, the same tension, which was only restrained because there were others in the vicinity.
Despite the initial desperation with which he had ambushed her, there was real care in the way they kissed throughout those following seconds. Yavena felt her hold upon the world around her slip and fall, and then she was tumbling into that dark abyss, the one where she had no idea what would be waiting for her: a dream world or a nightmare, or maybe both or none.
Either way, there was no denying it now. She was beginning to fall in love.
As quickly as the gesture was begun it was over, and Levi had pulled away to rest his forehead against hers. Yavena stared at him with wide dark eyes, painfully aware of how he had not yet moved away, how his chest was still against her own. Barely able to breathe, she whispered, "What the hell was that?"
"Affection," he replied with a smirk. The light in his eyes, however, was as sincere as she had ever seen it; one of his fingers trailed across her lips, his eyes doing the same.
Yavena wanted nothing more than to kiss him again… but there were seven fifteen to sixteen-year olds ogling at them with varying degrees of investment, and she knew that if she wished to do so, it would have to be without the damn children around. And so she merely groaned irritably at his words and muttered, "Leave it to you to use my own words against me."
The upwards twisting of her lips betrayed the fact that she was not actually annoyed in the slightest, and Levi seemed to note that. He smiled again; Yavena felt something leap in her chest as he said, "As if you never have."
"Never," she said. "I've no idea where you get these accusations."
"Tch," he scoffed, and he stepped away. Without looking back at his charges, Levi said, "There's something I need to do for Erwin. I'll see you brats later."
Levi's silver eyes lingered upon Yavena for another spare second... and then, without waiting for a response, he was off in the direction from whence he had come.
A stunned silence settled over the eight members of Squad Levi remaining in the hallway. Yavena's eyes flickered to her friends; most of them were staring back at her, having not yet recuperated from the last few moments just as she hadn't.
Eren was the first to regather his bearings. He grinned. "It's about damn time."
Yavena felt her face glow pink—she sank down against the wall, a strangled noise along the lines of, "Hnnnnngghh," escaping from the depths of her throat and into the air. She hid herself away as best as she could with her hands and the collar of her jacket, ignoring the laughter that she was met with as she did so.
"You all right, Captain?" asked Jean, voice tinged with hilarity.
She did not respond, as Yavena simply had no idea what to say.
Footsteps signaled that someone was approaching; it was Sasha, who extended a hand and asked, "Want some help getting back up?"
"I need a moment."
More laughter. Eren moved forward next, taking the extra step to kneel down beside Yavena and launch an arm around her shoulder, grinning all the while.
After another minute or so had passed, Yavena finally retreated from her self-made sanctuary and gazed up at all of her comrades. Every single one of them was smiling; even Mikasa. Grateful for their unspoken support, she said, "I know Levi already said this, but… thank you. We really are grateful for what you've done the last week. This outcome wouldn't have been possible without all seven of you."
Warm looks met her words—Eren even ruffled her fiery hair, which just made her splutter in indignation and exclaim, "Damn it, Eren."
He laughed at this before rising to his feet. Both he and Sasha held out their hands, and this time, Yavena took them.
"I don't know if you've heard," said Historia, once Yavena was steady once again, "but there's going to be a celebration in the grand ballroom tonight in honor of my coronation. I would like you all to be there; and if it's possible, I'd like to have you, Sasha, and Mikasa accompany me to my chambers from here."
Both Sasha and Mikasa declared they would happy to follow her, and Yavena confirmed that she would do the same. So it was that the four women wished the men a brief farewell and set off through the hallways.
While Sasha began interrogating Historia on what types of food there would be at the celebration, Yavena had to keep her lip bitten to prevent from smiling. Throughout the whole journey within the hallways, she could not stop thinking about Levi's ambush, and how very drunk she was on him.
I hope this was a satisfactory chapter for everyone, ehehe. :3 And I'm on time this week! It truly is a miracle.
As always, thank you so much for all of your lovely comments. I thrive on those, they are so wonderful to hear. If you have any thoughts on this newest chapter as well, I'd love to hear them! Other than that, thank you of course just for reading, and have a lovely day. Take care of yourselves!