A/N: A short little fluff chapter that will kind of serve as a big shift in our story. This is the end of season 3, so there will be spoilers for season 4 after this. If you haven't read the manga or watched the first half of season 4, I recommend holding off reading beyond this one.

Chapters after this may slow down a bit. I have a lot going on at the moment–plus then I can watch more of the final season to get an even better grasp on the events that are to come ;)

Thanks for sticking with me this far, friends, and I promise I'll update ASAP. Be sure to follow/fav so you get updated when I do :)

Disclaimer: I do not AOT/SNK or any of the characters used in this fic.

CHAPTER 12: A MAN WITHOUT AN ENEMY

The titans were gone, at least any that posed any real threat. A brief image of the sad beast half buried in the dirt they had encountered on the way here flash through Levi's mind. Still, he could hardly wrap his head around the idea. For his entire life, there had been titans, monsters to slay, an enemy to hate. Without them, well, Levi'd be damned if he didn't' almost miss the clear sense of purpose he never knew the titans created.

A man without an enemy will seek to destroy himself. Levi couldn't remember where he'd heard those words, but they seemed fitting.

What would become of the cattle now that they had killed the butchers?

After a few more missions beyond the walls, the Scouts had declared the territory within Wall Maria to be totally retaken from the titans. People began moving back to their homes, or whatever was left of their them.

That left the Survey Corps with just one mission, their very first: discover what lies beyond the walls.

So there they were, as beyond the walls as they had the capacity to travel. The sea stretched out before them, an endless expanse of blue Levi would never have thought possible. It truly looked like the end of the world. If only it was.

From there, Levi didn't really know where they were going, but fortunately, he didn't have to know. That was Hange's job. All Levi knew was wherever that was, was sure to be some fresh new hell.

"When we found out how big the world really was, you can bet it hurt like hell." Kenny's words came back to Levi. Even in death the bastard taunted him.

If only you know the half of it, Kenny.

Levi knew he shouldn't be brooding. His team was splashing gleefully in the salty surf below the bluff he was perched on, and even if he wasn't in the mood to partake, he was glad they were having fun. For shit's sake, they deserved it.

Lost in thoughts, he didn't hear footsteps come up behind him until someone cleared their throat. "Captain Levi, permission to join you?" Eren's voice floated airily about the wind and whoosh of the tide.

Levi waved his hand as if to say, "Whatever." Eren sat next to him, quiet for a long time. "Well, out with it, Jaeger. What is it you want to say to me?

"Always so sharp," Eren chuckled wryly. "I have a request. Something I'd like you to do for me."

"Tch. What makes you think I owe you anything, brat?" That was a damn lie. Humanity, he included, owed Eren a hell of a lot, but Levi had a reputation to maintain.

"You don't. But you owe her something." Levi didn't need to follow Eren's eyes to know on whom they rested. "I want you to keep her safe. Make her happy.

"Mikasa is the most hard-headed woman I've ever had the displeasure of meeting. Once she makes up her mind to do or feel something, nothing can stand in her way. What makes you think I'm even capable of acquiescing to your request?"

"Because I see how much you care about her. The others might be blind to it, but not me. I see everything." There was something chilling in the way he said the last word that made Levi think he wasn't just talking about him and Mikasa. "And I know she cares about you. If there's anyone in this world capable of making her happy, it's you."

Levi snorted. "What about you?"

Eren paused for a moment, dramatically looking out at the dark and tumultuous sea. "I would if I could, but I won't always be here," he said softly, voice tinged with an undeniable sadness. Levi was about to say something about asking him again in seven years then, when Eren pushed himself up. He saw why. Mikasa was making her way toward them, signalling the end of this conversation. Before Eren walked down the beach, he stopped. "Captain. One more thing. She's going to hurt a lot in the future, but please, just don't you be the one to do it. Even if you can't make her completely happy, please don't make her more sad."

His impulse was to bite back something smart, but the annoyance he should have felt at the accusation fizzled as quickly as it had sparked. Instead, Levi softly said, "I would rather die than do that, Eren, and I think you know that."

"Yeah, but thanks for saying it anyway. And thanks for everything, Captain." The way Eren was speaking—like he was about to walk out into the ocean and never be seen again—nagged at Levi's gut. He hoped the brat wasn't planning on doing something stupid.

His thoughts were cut short by Mikasa settling into the sandy bluff beside him, too far away to satisfy his instinctual impulse to brush her windswept hair behind her ear, but he knew she had chosen that inconspicuous space very carefully. It was he who had practically begged her to stay professional on missions—for his sake.

Levi cursed himself for that now, when he wanted nothing more than to feel her skin against his. To let her soothe the gnawing itch deep in his bones that the future was going to be very ugly indeed. That their hell was only just beginning.

In the yawning space, their fingers interlaced secretly in the sand, but that didn't stop Mikasa's eyes from flickering to make sure no one had noticed. Every hair on Levi's arm stood on end. He wanted her closer, needed her closer, professionalism and secrecy be damned. "Fuck it," he said, turning to her and reeling her in by the chin until his lips crashed into hers.

Mikasa froze for a moment, torn between her body's instinctual will to crawl closer and leap as far away as possible. She settled on simply breaking contact between their lips, but allowing her forehead to remain tilted into his. "C-captain!" she stammered, blushing as seven pairs of eyes swiveled in their direction, several of them widening with shock. Eren, Armin, and Hange simply exchanged knowing glances. "Not here!"

"No sense in keeping secrets anymore." He spoke loud enough to that everyone could hear, not just her. "Us eight pathetic souls are a damn family at this point. Besides, half of them know already, and frankly, I'm damn tired of hiding it."

Mikasa didn't know what to say. It wasn't that she disagreed with his decision. It was just the last one she would have thought Levi would come to.

"Mikasa! You and the captain?!" Sasha squealed in excitement. "That's juicier than a rare steak!"

"Aw, man, that's not even fair," Jean muttered much louder than he perhaps thought while Connie just whistled.

"Don't think this changes anything, brats! I'm still your commanding officer and can still kill every single one of you!" Then Levi gave Mikasa a mischievous smile and kissed her again.

Suddenly, it felt real. Not a tryst, not a fling, not a secret.

In one, impulsive moment, it can become truth. Indelible, undeniable truth. Levi felt warmth slink down his spine like a shot of whiskey going down. Mine. Levi felt the word drift across his mind, a word he hadn't dared let himself think lest it get his hopes up.

But now, Levi felt deep in his bones, maybe for the first time in his life, that it was okay to hope—no matter what hell the other side of the sea promised them. If this is what it means to destroy oneself, Levi thought, I should have rid us of the titans a long time ago.