"Aren't you just the cutest little thing?" The woman behind the counter beamed at Kuchel, who was clutching Petra's hand. Petra smiled as she was rung up; department stores in Marley were truly wonderful, she had to admit. They'd gone to Valentino's, the biggest store in Valle, to buy a few maternity dresses. Petra wanted to be prepared.
She'd gotten the confirmation last week. She was pregnant again.
Somehow, the new baby both made her happy and lowered her spirits; she thought of Armin. She thought of what Levi had told her last month, that Erwin was going mad on Paradis, according to rumor. Her baby…
She had to focus. She forced a smile as the woman finished ringing her up and put the dresses into a paper bag.
"Did you want to open an account with us, Mrs. Ackerman?" The woman kept smiling. Petra and Kuchel dressed nicely now, in fine summer outfits of white and blue. Willy was extremely generous to their family. She dressed almost as fine now as she had as "Mrs. Smith." Levi wore sharply cut suits to work every day, which pleased him. He loved the feel of silk and fine material against his skin.
"Oh. Thank you. Maybe another time."
"I'm gonna have another ba-by bro-ther," Kuchel sang, clutching Petra's leg. The saleswoman laughed.
"That's so exciting."
"Uh huh. I had another baby brother, but we hadda leave him behind." Kuchel frowned and scuffed her shoe. Petra cleared her throat.
"Come on, sweetheart."
"Oh, no." The saleswoman looked politely confused.
"Uh huh. We left him on pardice." Kuchel sniffed.
It was like a cloud going over the sun. The saleswoman's face went from warm to icy in an instant.
"Oh. Paradis Island." She sniffed, looked away. "How nice."
She turned on her heel and stalked away from Petra. She sighed and picked up her daughter.
"Baby. What did Papa and I say?" she whispered. Kuchel sucked her thumb.
"Um. Don' tell people we're from pardice." She frowned. "Why can't I?"
"Because…" How to explain prejudice to children? "Lots of people think that anyone who comes from Paradis is bad."
"But why?" She looked so surprised.
"I'll explain when you're a little older." The Eldian Empire could wait. "Just keep that our secret from now on, okay?"
"O-kay." Petra set Kuchel down and walked out of the department with her. Valentino's was bustling today, mostly filled with "women of leisure" as they lunched and shopped. Petra was a woman of leisure again; she didn't have to work. Until the baby was born, she probably wouldn't.
But it depressed her. Still, at least she had Kuchel to worry about. She squeezed the child's hand as they passed fine evening gowns, and a jewelry counter. They took the escalator to the third floor, where there was a café. It was lunchtime, and Petra needed to eat much more frequently these days.
At least they were almost out of the third trimester.
Oruo. Oruo will be born, but not before Armin.
Eren's voice haunted her. She looked down at her daughter as they walked.
No saving Kuchel now.
A chill walked down her spine. She squeezed her child's little hand. Impossible. Ridiculous.
"Petra!"
She almost screamed when someone popped up in front of her. Petra skidded to a stop, shocked to find Giulia Tybur standing before her. The woman's hair was blonder than ever, and she was dressed in a sharp fuschia suit with a matching hat and sunglasses. The woman took off her glasses, her eyes crinkling at the corner when she smiled.
"Giulia. Uh. Hello."
"Takin' a nice afternoon constitutional? It's the perfect day for it." Giulia smiled down at Kuchel, who was twisting back and forth on her heels. "Haven't met this little lady yet. Hello, darlin'."
"H'lo."
"So sorry we haven't had the whole family over to dinner yet." Giulia gave an exaggerated pout, then smiled wide. It was all a performance; the woman's life was fake, every aspect of it. Why perform for Petra? She knew everything about the Tyburs already.
Maybe Giulia needed to perform for herself. To get herself through the ordeal of her life.
"We'd be happy to, anytime," Petra replied. "I just…well, with the baby on the way, it's hard for me to stay out too late."
"Of course. Another little one. Such a blessing."
"How are your boys?"
Giulia's megawatt smile flickered, dimmed. She loved her children. One of them was slated to be sacrificed in a few years. Petra could understand Giulia's…behavioral issues.
"Good. Delightful, as always."
"And Clara?" It made Petra sad that Willy's sister had cut her off after discovering how badly she and Erwin lied to everyone. Petra wanted to be an actual friend to the woman. Not because she was the War Hammer, but because she was lonely.
"Fine. Fine. She's got about six years left, and she's starting to brood. More on Cassius's account than her own."
It was startling honesty.
"I see," Petra said. "Well. I don't want to keep you. Kuchel and I were on our way to lunch."
"Well, isn't that something! I'm having a little pit stop myself." Giulia's smile all but ordered Petra to go through the motions expected of her.
"Why don't you eat with us?" Petra forced a smile.
"Oh, I couldn't intrude on mother-daughter time."
"I'm gonna have a ba-by bro-ther," Kuchel sang, sitting down on the floor out of boredom. Petra picked her up.
"Please. I insist," she said. Another performance.
"Oh, if you don't mind. I do love a good gossip. And it's been so long."
Giulia chatted as they went to the café and took a seat. Petra tried to pretend to be engaged, but it was exhausting. In a way, she'd been happier back at the refugee camp than she was here. Petra lived to do things.
Now she felt ornamental. Levi would've supported any decision she made as far as a job went, but she knew that for the next six or seven months at least, her time was spoken for.
And she had to spend parts of it with people like Giulia Tybur. Petra sighed inwardly. At least Levi seemed to genuinely enjoy working for Willy.
Levi stood in the corner of the office, relaxed against the wall. He had his hat tipped over one eye, but kept the other eye fixed squarely on the prick seated before Willy's desk.
"You laid off half your work force in a single day, Mr. Adorno. Do you understand why that seems strange?" Willy leaned back in his leather office chair. The merchant in front of him appeared coolly indignant.
"They weren't working hard enough. Besides, it's a private business."
"When you fire every single Eldian and not one Marleyan, it looks a bit suspicious. You remember the recent proclamation forbidding racial prejudice in hiring or firing?"
Adorno looked over his shoulder. Levi glowered at the asshole. He stood straighter, came over while adjusting his cuffs. He was something of a famous figure around here. An Ackerman. Willy's right hand man. One month after the refugee camp, and he and his family had become pretty well ensconced in Valle. Thanks to Willy.
Much of Marley respected him, even if they couldn't like him.
And then there were pricks like this guy, who just wanted to be a racist piece of shit.
"You can't prove it was 'cause they were Eldian," Adorno muttered. He shrank away a little as Levi leaned over him in the chair.
"Why'd you fire 'em, then?" he muttered. He cocked his head to the side. "None of 'em know how to make a decent cup of tea?"
"My associate makes a good point," Willy drawled. He smiled at Levi. "It seems unlikely none of the Eldians on staff suited. I suggest hiring most of them back, if not all."
"Y-You're the king, but you said you're not a dictator." Adorno was ballsy, Levi'd give him that. "You can't tell me how to run my business."
"He can, actually." Levi gripped the guy by the back of the neck. Adorno whimpered and slumped forward. "If you don't listen to him, well. That's up to you. But you won't like the results."
"I hate using any form of muscle," Willy said. "I despise coercion. Perhaps you might reconsider rehiring at least two thirds of the workforce you dismissed. That would satisfy."
Levi wouldn't be satisfied without all of them reinstated, but he wasn't king. He took his orders and that was that.
"F-Fine." Adorno practically leapt out of his seat and bowed, keeping Levi always in his sights. "Anything. Sure."
"Wonderful. Have a good day," Willy said. Levi stalked Adorno until he was out of the room, the door shut behind. Willy chuckled as he stood and stretched. "I do hate the more tedious aspects of this job."
"Guy's the biggest tire purveyor in all Marley. He's gotta know he'll be watched extra close." Levi straightened his dove gray silk tie. He loved how sharp he looked these days. Marleyan tailors just couldn't be beat. "You do good, king."
Willy chuckled. "As do you. Though you're a little blunter than I'd sometimes like."
Levi shrugged. "Whatever gets results. So." The two men stopped enjoying themselves. They looked to each other. "It about time?"
"His plane should have arrived an hour ago. The airfield's thirty miles north." Willy nodded. "Within fifteen minutes, I'd say."
Levi looked out the window, stared at the boulevard below the palace's eastern wing. Soon a shining car would drive down the street with the Eldian flag waving for everyone to see.
Four months since Levi had last seen the king of Paradis. Erwin Smith was on his way; Levi would meet him again for the first time since that afternoon in the palace's forest. Last month, after Erwin found out what Willy had done for the Ackermans, he'd apparently thrown a world class shit fit. But Willy hadn't allowed himself to be intimidated. He was still powerful enough in his own right not to be bossed around by Erwin. And he had the man's former best friend; the mother of Erwin's son. Willy could no longer be trifled with.
It had taken a few weeks for Erwin to orchestrate a meeting in Willy's offices. Levi would be present. This meeting was supposed to be a routine meeting between Alliance members, but Levi knew what it really was. A way to confront Levi. To try forcing his hand. Levi was in no mood to be forced.
"Are you concerned?" Willy asked.
"Nah." Levi watched a group of teenagers run down the sidewalk dressed in their summer clothes, laughing about something. "Petra and Kuchel are out shopping for the new baby." The word 'baby' lifted his spirits a bit. "They'll be safe."
"Erwin isn't going to resort to kidnapping." Willy stood beside Levi. The sly man looked at Levi with some authentic concern. "He'd never be able to take her out of the country."
"I know." Levi shut his eyes. What would it be like, to see Erwin again? To have that man's death sitting in his pocket, waiting to be pulled out? Levi owed it to him. But…it couldn't be today. For Willy and Petra's sakes, it was too dangerous.
"If you need to leave at any time, just go. He won't be able to follow."
"I'm not scared of him." Erwin only made him feel sad. Once they had stood beside each other in that titan forest, spoken of strategies; once they'd sipped tea late into the night. Once they had shared everything. And now there was only coldness and distance.
Levi did not regret choosing his family over Erwin. That didn't mean it didn't hurt.
"Speak of the devil," Willy murmured. Levi watched as a sleek black limousine pulled up to the curb, signaled, and then pulled in through the gates. The two men returned to their stations, Willy behind his desk, Levi leaning against the wall. He crossed his arms and stared at the doorway, his heart getting faster and louder as he waited for Erwin to walk into the room.
He respected Willy, even liked the king, but he would never hold the same fury and fascination for Levi as the king of Paradis did.
At least Petra was safe, and far away from here.
The phone buzzed. Willy had the secretary send them in. The door swung open.
Levi stood up straight and neatened his jacket.
"I just looooove her li'l li'l cheeks." Giulia was on her third glass of white wine; her chicken and arugula salad was only half eaten. Petra had to sit there, enduring the whole charade as she ate her club sandwich as quickly as possible. Giulia pinched Kuchel's cheek, which the little girl blithely didn't even notice. She was too busy slurping her chicken broth out of its dainty little cup. "Queen soup" she called it, though Petra had no idea why. Kuchel also dutifully took all the rolls from the breadbasket, ate the center of them, and then tossed them back. "She looks so like her daddy, huh?"
"She does." Petra wondered if she could get the check. When Giulia got extremely drunk, it was more sad than amusing.
"I always wan' a li'l girl." Giulia stroked Kuchel's hair as the child slurped her soup and dribbled some down her front.
"Kuchel! Honey, we use spoons." Petra sighed as she dipped a napkin into her club soda and wiped Kuchel's face and dress.
"Sorry Mama. I, I wanna go home an' see my dolly, an' my baby, an then, um, uh." Kuchel lost her train of thought. Petra knew the feeling.
"She is so sweet." Giulia put her chin in her hand and beamed at the child. "My boys'd jus' love her."
"They should play together sometime." Petra actually meant that. She wanted Kuchel to have friends her own age.
"Yes! I love that idea. Is a date." Giulia gulped down the rest of her glass. "Ssssso, y'know who's visitin' today?" She wrinkled her nose. Probably thought she was being coy.
"King Erwin." Petra now redoubled her efforts to get the check. The waiter mercifully arrived and handed it over. Petra paid for the whole meal. Giulia really could put a dent in a bottle of wine, huh? Petra shook her head as she signed the bill; alcohol was expensive.
"Mmmhmmm." Giulia glanced at Kuchel, who was talking to her napkin. "Tell me. I'm curious." Giulia's eyes became hazy with inebriated malevolence. "How good was he?"
Petra managed to restrain herself. She did not punch the woman. Good work.
"I've had better," Petra said sweetly, then took up her bags and nabbed Kuchel. "Come on, baby girl. Time for your nap."
"O-kay." Kuchel had been yawning vigorously the last five minutes.
"He musta been real thick." Giulia held her hands more than a foot apart. "Like that?" She chortled.
"Please contain yourself," Petra said, ice cold now.
"Willy says you coulda been a queen." Giulia tsked. She gave a disturbing smile.
"Well. You're a queen. It doesn't look like a fun job."
"You mus' really love yer husband to give up all that. A crown. A man that tall."
"There was only one part that was hard to give up," Petra said quietly. She forced herself not to think of Armin, then laid down five bills. "Here. For some coffee. You need it."
"Bitch," Giulia said. She chortled as Petra hurried away, Kuchel's hand tight in hers.
"Why's that lady so sad?" Kuchel asked, trotting along beside her mother.
"Because she doesn't like how her life turned out," Petra said. Which was true.
Half an hour later, they were walking down the apartment hallway. Petra fumbled for her keys as Kuchel tugged her other hand, nearly ripping the paper bag and spilling the purchases. Petra grunted as she shuffled her daughter and the shopping and pushed open the front door. They walked inside.
"Hi, Gretel! Hi, Pooky! Hi, Petey!" Kuchel skipped into her room, calling hello to her toys. Petra followed, setting her shopping down in the hall and following Kuchel. The girl was busy kissing every last one of her dolls. Her new bedroom was pink and white, with a rocking horse, a dollhouse, a whole loveseat of stuffed animals, and a chest of games and puzzles. 'Spoiling her' Levi had grumbled even as he'd built the dollhouse himself. Petra smiled as Kuchel kept yawning.
"Here. Let's take your shoes off." Petra reached for Kuchel and—
Wait.
The keys were still in her hand. Why was she staring at them like this? Why was she concerned?
Because…
She hadn't used them. She'd been juggling Kuchel and just opened the door. The unlocked door.
Had she forgotten to lock it before going out? But…
She felt it. Someone was in the apartment. Someone who was not Levi.
"Kuchel," she whispered. "Come on. We're going back out."
"Huh? I'm sleepyyyyy."
"I know, baby. We'll get you an ice cream."
Petra's heart hammered as she took her daughter's hand and led her out the bedroom door, down the hallway, where…
He was standing. Blocking the exit.
Petra dropped Kuchel's hand. She dropped the keys.
Kuchel gasped in joy. "Unwin!"
Erwin stood there, hands behind his back. He stared at Petra with glacial coldness. But when Kuchel ran to him, he smiled at the little girl.
"Hello, sweetheart." He picked Kuchel up and gave her a kiss as Petra staggered towards him. She tried to think. Get a knife. Where? Get the phone. Would she have time to call Willy? How had Erwin even known their address?
Had Willy betrayed them?
"Where's Armin. Is he with you?" Kuchel tugged at Erwin's beard, which was now quite full. Well trimmed, but it covered his face. A patch of gray ran down the bottom. His hair was thinning on top, creating a deep widow's peak. He dressed in a well-tailored dark suit.
His eyes were…strange. Empty when he looked at Petra.
"I had to leave him on Paradis. He's still too little to travel."
"Oh." Kuchel drooped.
Should I scream? Try to ring for the concierge? But Erwin was holding her daughter.
"But soon, you can come home and visit him. Would you like that?" Erwin asked. Kuchel cheered, and hugged him.
Petra needed to get Kuchel out of his grasp. Now.
"Baby, why don't you go take your nap? Uncle Erwin and Mama need to talk," she said.
"O-kay."
Mercifully, Erwin put Kuchel down. The little girl scampered to her room and shut the door. Petra and the king stared at one another. Each waiting for the other to make a move.
"How did you know where we were?" she whispered.
"In Valle? Or the apartment?"
"Don't get cute. Did Willy—?"
"It's Mrs. Tybur you have to thank. She's been very helpful."
Petra shut her eyes. Giulia. That bitch. Maybe she'd even followed Petra to Valentino's to ensure Erwin had time to get into the apartment.
"I'm not going anywhere," Petra growled.
"Neither am I," Erwin said.
"Oi." Levi frowned at Connie and Floch, both dressed in their military garb. Connie looked wide-eyed and nervous as ever, while Floch pretended that Levi didn't even exist. "Where's your boss?"
"Is Erwin outside?" Willy frowned as he came around the desk.
"He. Uh. The king…" Connie gulped in fear.
"Spit it out," Levi snapped. Already, the lightning was starting to crackle.
"The king had us drop him off at Palmieri Circle," Floch said breezily. He gave a shit-eating grin. In his black Paradisian Guard uniform, he looked like an oily punk.
Palmieri Circle. Where the Ackermans lived. Levi headed straight for the door.
"You fucker," he growled at Willy.
"It wasn't—Levi! Wait for us!" Willy cried. Levi just stormed out, letting the fucking Marleyan king struggle to catch up. They had made certain Erwin didn't know the Ackermans' location. Right now, whether or not Willy had actually spilled their secret to Erwin or not, Levi didn't give a fuck. The man was waiting for his wife and daughter.
He had to get there first.
"What do you want, Erwin?" She refused to cower or back away as he drew nearer. The king reached into his breast coat pocket… Petra shifted her weight, ready to attack. Pregnant or not, she could still go on the offensive. Easily.
But Erwin held out a slip of paper. A photograph.
"I thought you might want to see what our son looks like," he replied.
Our son. Petra winced, but snatched the photo from his hand and backed up, gazing at it.
Armin was a little bit bigger than when she'd last seen him. He had wider, more awake eyes. He reached for the camera with those little hands of his, and smiled. If Erwin had shot her in the chest, he could not have hurt her worse. Petra wheezed as she sat down in the hall chair and stared at the baby. His picture blurred with her tears. She clutched the photo to her chest and glared at the king. Erwin did not advance further.
"How is he?" she muttered.
"He's doing as well as can be expected without his mother." Erwin sneered at her. There was such coldness in those blue eyes. The gray in his hair and beard lent severity to his appearance. Dressed in his dark blue suit, he was the picture of elegant fury.
"I never wanted to leave him," she snapped.
"But you did. You abandoned your child for your own sake."
"For Levi and Kuchel, and Armin's sake. You never would have let him go."
"Is that what you tell yourself? That you were so selfless when you left him behind?" Erwin's eyes glittered with contempt. "You didn't want to interrupt your perfect life with Levi. That's the real reason. You'd do anything for that man. I'm sure if he'd asked, you'd have killed Siegfried with a rock. Just to make Levi Ackerman smile."
"That's not true," she croaked. But she remembered telling Levi that maybe they shouldn't have the baby, that she was doing it for his sake. She shuddered.
"If it weren't for Kuchel and Siegfried, I'd kill you," he said softly. He meant it. "I've never seen a more wretched, worthless woman."
"Then isn't it good you didn't fucking marry me?"
In response, Erwin merely dug into his coat pocked and produced something. He laid it on the hall's side table. Petra got to her feet to stand away from him. She looked at what he'd set down.
A ring. A platinum ring with a round cut blue diamond the size of her fingernail. Another of Empress Frieda's treasures, most likely.
"What's that?"
"Your wedding ring. When you return to Paradis, you'll wear it proudly."
"Are you shitting me?"
Erwin sneered again. "Vulgarity doesn't become you."
Fucking asshole. "Levi is not going to share me. That's why we left."
"He won't be sharing you. You'll be my wife, exclusively. I'll divorce you from him. You had a chance to have everything, Petra. You broke my son's heart instead. If Siegfried didn't need you, I'd throttle you for that."
"Wow. What a romantic proposal." She crossed her arms. "You can't extradite me. I'm a Marleyan citizen now."
"Don't be obtuse. If I wanted to extradite you, I'd go through legal channels. If I wanted to kidnap you, you'd already be on a ship bound for Paradis. I'm not a fool, Petra. I won't incite Willy's wrath. When you come to me, you'll come freely. You'll divorce Levi, and marry me."
"What fantasy world are you living in, exactly?"
"Don't misunderstand. I despise you now." That haunted light shone brighter in those mad, blue eyes. "If it weren't for Siegfried…but this is all for him. He'll have his parents together. And you're going to give him brothers and sisters; I won't have him growing up an only child."
"He had Kuchel. You took her away from him." This was madness. She couldn't believe…
"I want Kuchel to live with us in the palace. I love that girl." His gaze softened just a bit. "Siegfried is the only child on earth more precious to me than she is. But I have no legal right to her. Levi will be allowed to decide what to do. If he's a real man, he'll at least give her to us for half the year. Or he'll be smart enough to give her to me to be raised entirely."
"You are out of your mind." She was breathless. "We'll never do any of this. You can't force us."
"You're half right. I can't force you onto a boat. I can't carry you to Paradis in chains." He drew a step nearer; she backed away. "But you left so many loved ones behind. Your parents. Your sister. Your friends." His full mouth settled into a smirk. "Do you ever wonder how they are?"
"You…bastard."
She almost went for him, but her stomach lurched. Oruo wasn't doing well with all the strain. She put a hand to her belly, and Erwin noticed. His eyes narrowed.
"You're pregnant again, aren't you?"
"Yes. Because my milk dried up. Because you forced me to give up my baby." Her left hand made a fist. She could go for him. Just one blow landed, and she'd be happy forever.
"Then Levi will have another child to raise on his own."
"I won't go with you."
"Come whenever you like. Do you want to know where your sister is in my palace?" His voice dropped to a soothing hush. "Do you want to know what I've been doing to her?"
She almost screamed and went for him, but Petra had enough intelligence to know then she'd be within his reach. He could hold her. Take her. She remained standing.
"I don't believe you. That isn't your style. You're not that man."
"I wasn't," he whispered. "But now I'm a father."
Petra snorted. "With eight years left exactly. When you die, I'll take Armin back."
Erwin bared his teeth. "I'll outlive all of you."
"Because you plan to kill all of us with your hyperfusion bombs? You ugly, fucking thing."
"When we're married, you'll stop using that language. I won't let you speak like that in front of our son." Erwin sounded tired. Strained. Almost as if he were hypnotized. Petra remembered what Eren had said: you won't know what will make him go so bad until it's too late.
I'm sorry, Eren. I should have let you touch Zeke that night.
"What have you been doing on Paradis?" Petra whispered. "We heard things. That you're…experimenting. That you want to break Ymir's curse."
"I would have gone quietly into that eternal night if you hadn't given me a son." Erwin glared hatefully at her. "But now, I have to keep him safe. The world is my enemy. They'll try to use him against me."
"Give him to me and they'll leave him alone."
"Don't be an idiot. He needs safety, and you. I'll give him both. And you'll give me more children once we're married."
"So. Rape's on the table, then?"
He lowered his eyes at that. At least there was some humanity left. "When you come to me willingly, you'll come knowing what's required of you."
"I'll never come to you. This is a waste of time."
"Take the ring," Erwin said. "Wear it when you book passage. Wear it when you return to Mitras. If you want your parents to be well; if you want Brigitta's safety; if you want me to stop hunting Mikasa, you will come. Or you will be responsible for the blood spilled."
"Get out of my fucking house." She snatched up the ring and chucked it at him. It bounced off Erwin's chest and rattled on the floor. "This is all your fault. You're the monster here."
"Yes," he said quietly. Then, something moved in his eyes. He appeared so…raw. "I've seen things. I've done things that… Whatever scraps of a soul I had left are gone now. I'm not human anymore, if I ever was."
Petra's knees shook. "What have you been doing, Erwin?"
He glowered at her.
"Come and see," he whispered. He didn't pick up the ring. "Give Kuchel a kiss for me. Remember, Levi is barred from Paradis forever, but she is welcome anytime."
"Get. Out."
Her head spun; her mind reeled. Brigitta? What had he done? Was it a lie? What…
Her parents. Her sister. Her family. Petra was about to fall to her knees when the front door slammed open and Levi stood in the doorway.
He wore his gray pinstripe. He'd left his hat somewhere. Her husband snarled when he saw Erwin in their hallway.
"Wait!" Petra cried when he flicked open his knife. "Kuchel," she whispered.
Levi growled, but didn't attack. He understood. They could not have their daughter witness this. "Why don't you step outside, you big blond shit? We can settle this right now," he hissed.
"There's no need for violence. I came to give Petra a picture of Siegfried. And a gift." He nodded at the ring. "She won't come today, Levi. But soon, she will. She'll come to save her family. Her island."
"Just let me kill you, Erwin." Levi did not move; neither did the king. They seemed locked in a scene all their own, the world disappearing around them. "Let me give you peace."
"You had the chance once, Levi." Erwin scowled. "And you only get one chance."
Petra waited for Levi to attack, but Willy was at the man's back all of a sudden. He breathed heavily, and glared daggers at Erwin.
"How did you…?" Willy asked.
"You really ought to ask your lovely wife," Erwin replied coolly. Both Willy and Levi swore. Petra wondered what would happen to Giulia tonight. When Levi appeared ready to raise his voice, Erwin hushed him. "Careful. The little girl is having her nap."
"Get out of here." Levi advanced. "You come near my family again, I'll stuff your skull fulla shit."
"Petra is mine now, Levi. Not yours. You have her on borrowed time."
"And you're living on it, too." Levi was about to attack; Petra sensed it.
"Stop," Willy said. "Levi. No. You can't."
Levi glared at Willy. Petra hurried past Erwin and put her arm around her husband's waist.
"You know we can't. Not yet," she whispered in his ear. But one day. One day. Levi grunted, but squeezed her close to him.
"I came to deliver a message. I have." Erwin nodded at Willy as Connie and Floch appeared behind the king in the hallway. "With my affairs settled, I intend to return home immediately. I don't like to be away from my son longer than necessary."
Armin. Petra felt like she'd been kicked. She clung to Levi, who understood. He hugged her close.
"I do not like being made a fool, Erwin," Willy snapped.
"And I don't like you giving shelter to my enemy," Erwin replied. "But you're right." He sniffed. "I shouldn't run off straight away. I should give Petra a chance to come to her senses." He looked back at her again. "My plane will be on standby until midnight tonight. If you come to me before then, you have my word I'll release Brigitta."
"What are you doing to her?" Petra snapped. Levi pressed her closer.
"You piece of shit," he snarled at Erwin.
"The only way you'll know what's happened to your sister is to come with me." Erwin gave a languid shrug. "Understand that if you don't come tonight, I may never release Brigitta. Even when you come home to Paradis."
"Levi." Willy spoke a warning. Levi was straining to put his knife to Erwin. But her husband was a good soldier. He didn't revere Willy as he once had Erwin, but he would do as the king asked. Within reason.
"Think of your son, Petra. Since you've never thought of him before."
She felt her heart break and her temper rise.
"I'll get him away from you," she snapped.
"Not while I live. And I plan to live a long, long time." Erwin looked at Willy once more. "Why don't you walk me out? We have things to discuss."
Willy seethed, but gestured for the other king to join him in the hall. Willy was a professional in every sense. The two men exited. Petra stayed in Levi's arms as Floch smirked and departed. Connie stared at the Ackermans, his lip wobbling.
"I…I'm sorry." He sniffed, wiped his eyes. "I'm real sorry."
"I know, Connie." Levi did not speak cruelly. "Leave him. You know you should."
"Y-Yeah, but…" The boy's shoulders slumped. "I gotta get my Mom back. Only a few more months before Pieck's term is up."
Petra winced. Poor Hange. But she couldn't chide Connie. She would have likely done the same in his case.
"Goodbye," Petra whispered. Connie looked at her, miserable.
"See you later, Lieutenant."
With that, he turned and rejoined his king. Petra shivered as Levi shut the door and locked it. He gathered her to him. She squeezed him tight. She was never safer than here in his arms.
"He hurt you?" Levi asked gruffly. She shook her head.
"He said…he had Brigitta."
"He's a liar," Levi whispered.
"But what's he been doing on Paradis? He said he'd done things that made him totally inhuman. He…" She blinked away tears. Her stomach rumbled, somersaulted.
"He's a liar." But Levi sounded grimly determined now. Like he was trying to make himself believe it was true. Petra looked into his eyes. They were narrowed. She knew he was saying that to ease her pain. Her conscience. "Whatever he's done's got nothing to do with you. It's on him. He's gone fucking crazy."
No. Crazy would be too easy an explanation. Petra looked at the floor, where she'd dropped the photograph of Armin. The ring lay several feet further away. She gathered them up, clutched the photo close, but handed the ring to Levi. He pocketed it. She didn't care what he did with it, she just wanted it far away.
"I don't feel safe here," she said softly. She hated that feeling, because she'd come to love their new home. In only a month, she'd made the spaces bright and sun-filled. The furnishings weren't expensive, but they were plush and comfortable. At last, the family seemed to be returning to normal. Now, this.
Armin…
Her hands shook. She couldn't bear to see that little face and not hold him, kiss his cheek. Erwin had destabilized her, frightened her. That'd been his intention.
Levi put his arms around her. He kissed her. He kissed her deep and pure. They stayed together for a minute, giving and taking love and pain.
"I'm gonna stick with Willy and Erwin the entire day," he whispered. "I'll see that asshole to his plane tonight. Then I'll come home. Do you want to go to a hotel in the meantime?"
"No. I feel safer here than I would anywhere else." They had a couple of blades. She could protect herself.
"Lock the door. I'll call if I need you to move. Are you okay with that?"
"Yes." She kissed his forehead. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry about all of this."
"You did. Not. Do this," he whispered. "It was him. He's to blame. Not you."
Levi saw the photo again. He rubbed her arm. He understood.
"Stay here and be with Kuchel until I either call you or come home. Okay?"
Petra nodded. She kissed him once more.
Why was she so afraid? Then again, why wouldn't she be?
Levi left her. She locked the door behind him, then pressed her back to it. She looked at the apartment, then went through every inch of it. She went up to the guest room, she inspected the bathrooms, she looked in on Kuchel as she napped with a white stuffed bunny. The only noise was the tick of a clock. Petra was alone. She was safe here.
She was going to fucking kill Giulia.
But Levi would not let Erwin take her. He'd get rid of the king if he had to.
But the anxiety would gnaw away at her heart. Brigitta. Her parents. Mikasa. What was happening on Paradis?
What had she done to her country? To the world?
To Armin?
Petra eventually fell into bed and, utterly exhausted, drifted away.
Levi did not talk to that blond bastard. He would not give Erwin the satisfaction of seeing him fucking pissed.
But he couldn't help glancing at Erwin throughout the day, as Willy tried to keep himself under control—the Tybur king was furious. Almost as mad as Levi.
Erwin had given Petra a fucking ring. He expected Levi's wife to leave him.
It wasn't just that Erwin wanted Petra, though. No; the way Erwin kept sneaking glances at Levi, it was obvious that he really wanted to take something precious away from the man.
Levi provided cover in the restaurant where the kings went to discuss affairs of state. He glared at Floch, and tried to avoid looking at Connie. Poor kid. Poor stupid kid.
Poor Hange. Poor Pieck.
And yet the unease kept growing in Levi's stomach. What had Erwin done to Paradis exactly?
Why had he told Petra he was no longer human? What had happened to Brigitta?
It's not my concern anymore. I'm here to protect my family. They're what matters now. I can't save the island anymore. I have to make a choice.
And he did, though it ate him alive.
Erwin. Why are you doing this to me? Why do you want everything I have?
Still he did not talk to the king. He stayed focused on his job of protecting Willy. Of going home to Petra and Kuchel and the baby.
Poor Armin. Poor…
No. Focus.
As the hours wound down, as the sun started to lower on the horizon, Willy told Levi to go home. The king gave his bodyguard a wry, sad, and understanding look.
"It's my job to stay with you," Levi grumbled. He kept an eye on Erwin as he said it. The Paradisian king was speaking with his own soldiers. He avoided Levi as studiously as Levi avoided him.
"He's not going to hurt me. Besides, I have back up."
Levi saw a black car pull up with Willy's, er, night guard inside. Usually Levi stayed at work later, but he knew Willy was being kind. Letting him see his family. Protect them if need be. Though Petra would be safer in that apartment than anywhere else.
"Thanks," he muttered. He took his leave of Willy and managed not to look at Erwin as he turned and headed back down the boulevard. The lights of cars washed over him as he crossed the street to stand beneath a hotel awning. He'd hail a cab, get back uptown, and have dinner with his girls. That idea gave him strength. All he needed in this world was in that little apartment. With them, he was powerful. Without…
He couldn't imagine it. Levi ambled over to the hotel, waved at a doorman in red livery. The guy would happily hail a cab for Levi—when you dressed as snazzy as he did, the world was your friend. Tch. Some logic. He walked over and—
"Captain Levi?"
He stopped. That voice…
He looked to his left. The girl was standing in the alleyway. Her pretty face had grown gaunt after a year on the lam. Her blonde hair was scraggly. But he would know those wide blue eyes anywhere.
"Historia?" he whispered.
"Please don't say anything." Her lip quivered. "Please help me. I…I need to get away from here."
"Where's Eren?" He looked behind her into the darkness. Historia trembled.
"He…he left me. I don't know where he is. But I need your protection. Please." The former queen looked ready to cry, but then stopped. Her eyes grew hard. The girl had become a woman now. "Please help me."
Levi gaped at the girl.
"I can't—"
"Please don't tell anyone. Not yet. Please." Historia shook. "I've been following you for days. I need your help. God, I need your help."
She wasn't kidding. Of all the times to approach him, when Erwin was in town… The king couldn't take Levi or Petra with him, but he could take Historia if he found her. She was not a Marleyan citizen; Willy had no power. And if Erwin took Historia, Levi got the feeling her life would be hell. Her fear confirmed that suspicion.
"Maybe we oughta go to my place," he said.
Historia quailed. "I don't want to put your family in danger."
Fuck. Nice kid, and a smart one. Shit. Levi was torn. Do the right thing, or go home and be safe. But…
"I have to tell you about the king," Historia whispered. "I've been trying to find a way to get to you for months. You don't know what he's planning. I do."
Shit. "Erwin's here right now." Historia shrank back into the shadows. "Relax. He leaves soon. When he does, I'll take you to Willy."
Yes. There was a clear path now. He'd hide out with Historia for a little while, let Erwin leave, and then take the kid to Willy Tybur. They could figure out what to do with the girl secretly. Historia blinked away tears.
"Thank you. Oh god, thank you. I…" She huddled in on herself. Fuck, what'd she gone through this past year? She looked dirty and horrible. "I promise I'll do whatever I can to help you both if you'll just keep me safe."
"You really don't know where Eren is?" Shit, having the Founder running wild wasn't great. But Historia shook her head.
"I'm sorry."
Well. One step at a time.
"Okay. There's a café a block down. I'm gonna take you there, get you something to eat, hear your story. I can't promise what I can do for you, kid." But becoming a father had made him feel the hurts of vulnerable girls in a way he hadn't even previously. Historia was afraid. He had to do what he could for her. He owed it to her. "But I can promise Willy and I are on your side in this."
"Just keep me out of Erwin's hands, and you can do whatever you want."
Fuck. That was one thing he could definitely promise.
He led Historia away, checking over his shoulder as they went. No one was following. He wanted to keep it that way. Well, he had to do one thing. One important thing.
He had to call Petra.
"Mama? Mama, da phone!"
Kuchel was tugging at Petra's ear. Petra awoke, groggy as hell. What time was it? When pregnant, she got so tired during the day. That plus the stress and the misery of seeing Armin's picture had really knocked her out. She'd meant to take a quick nap, but it was now dark outside. Shit.
"Sorry, baby. Mama's sleepy." Petra pushed the blankets aside and got up. She felt drunk with sleep as she wobbled to the phone and picked up. "Hello?"
"Mrs. Ackerman?" Benito at the front desk. "Sorry to disturb, ma'am."
"It's fine. What's wrong?"
"Mr. Ackerman called and left a message. He wants you to take your daughter and leave the apartment."
Her heart slowed. "Did he say why?"
"I only know what I wrote down. He said…here it is. He said he's seen Christa. You need to come meet them. It's important."
Petra immediately woke up. Shit. Christa. The girl Historia had been once upon a time.
Levi had found Historia? At first she wondered why he didn't bring the girl here, then realized how stupid that was. He couldn't risk anyone tracking them. Did this have something to do with Erwin's arrival? She shook her head.
"Where does he want us to go?"
Benito gave her an address. It was the Balencio Docks, halfway across town. Petra knew the place. It was secret, and safe from prying eyes. But her stomach twisted.
"Did he say why there?"
"Sorry, ma'am. That's all I was told."
Petra sighed. "Okay. Thank you."
She hung up and sat there, stewing. She wished Levi could have phoned himself. Then again…
"Baby, did the phone ring before while Mama was asleep?"
Kuchel nodded, stroking Gretel's yarn hair. "Couple times."
Well, that explained it. She rubbed her face, got up, and went to get her shoes and coat. If Levi wanted her and Kuchel, they had to go. She trusted very little in this world. But she trusted him.
"Is dark here," Kuchel said when the cab pulled up to the docks. Levi had said to be at hangar 14. She had the cab pull over and let them out. Petra frowned; the area was deserted at this time of night, the only light the electric lamps spaced too far apart. She turned to ask the driver to wait, but he'd already sped off. Shit. Son of a bitch. Kuchel grumbled as Petra lifted her and carried her along. "Why Papa say here?"
"I don't know."
Petra searched the area for Levi. For Historia. And as she did, she began to feel worse and worse. Shit. For all she knew now, Erwin had laid a trap for them. Her blind trust, her pregnancy brain, had led her to make a real shit choice.
"Okay, we're gonna walk right back up the docks and find another cab. C'mon." Petra turned around and walked, her heels clacking on the wooden dock. Her heart was beating faster with each step. Kuchel hugged her around the neck and looked over her shoulder. "Hey! Izzat Papa?"
"Huh?"
Petra turned around and saw a figure walking towards them. He was not Levi; he was entirely too tall. But he wasn't Erwin, either. He was too slender. He…
No.
"Don't scream," Eren said softly. He came out of the darkness at her with one hand raised.
His hand was bleeding. Petra gave a stuttering breath.
"Era!" Kuchel giggled, waving her arms. Petra pulled her daughter away, but Eren shook his head gently.
"I don't want to transform here, Petra. But I will. I'll do whatever it takes to end this tonight."
"What do you want?" She felt dizzy.
"Come into the hangar with me. I'm going to explain everything before we begin." He looked on her with the most alarming pity. "You deserve that much. And…I'm sorry."
Historia ate like she'd never seen food before. Kid put away a cup of chili, a ham sandwich and fried potatoes, and was tucking into a piece of cherry pie like she'd die if she didn't. Levi nursed a cup of tea as he watched the disgusting display. Poor thing.
"When'd you last get a good meal?" he asked.
"Two months ago. I've been living on scraps ever since," she said. She looked at him with those hunted rabbit eyes. She wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"Tell me more. Where you been? What happened to Eren?"
Historia sipped her bottle of soda. She seemed kinda evasive now. He noticed she kept glancing at the clock on the wall.
"We came here after Erwin tried to…well. Uh. Maybe I should start there. See…"
She kept stopping and starting, her face growing red. Levi was about out of patience, but he tried to stay cool. Something about this was starting to feel fucking strange, and he liked to listen to his gut.
"You sure Eren just up and left you?" he asked. Historia paused. "That doesn't seem like him."
"No. It doesn't." She huffed, twisted her napkin in her hands. Historia's eyes held a tense, haunted light.
"Look. Oi. What's wrong? Is it Erwin? Eren?"
"It's both." Her voice trembled. "See…"
"Historia." He hissed her name. "What the fuck is going on?"
"I…" She looked at Levi. She worried her lip. "I need…to tell you something." She blinked away tears. "I can't. I can't do this," she muttered to herself. Now he was more than pissed. He was getting scared. He hated that shit.
"You got three seconds to talk before I break your fuckin' hand," he growled. Maybe it was too much, but something about this was feeling worse and worse. She had begged him not to call Petra. She'd been so adamant about it. Why…
Historia took a deep, ragged breath.
"I'm sorry, Eren," she whispered. Then she looked Levi in the eye. "You need to call Willy right now. You need to tell him to get to the Balencio Docks, hangar 14."
"Why?" he growled.
"Because you have maybe fifteen minutes before Eren does something awful."
"Just stay calm, baby," Petra whispered. Kuchel was whimpering as Eren stood before them. The hangar space was vast and dimly lit. Every footstep echoed tremendously. The place was empty of cargo, save a few crates. Eren had seated mother and child upon one of the crates. Petra held her daughter close as Eren crouched before them.
"I'm about to show you something," Eren said gently. He held out his non-bleeding hand. "Kuchel. I want you to touch my fingers."
"No," Petra growled. She hugged the girl.
"You don't have to get off your Mama's lap. She needs to be touching you, too." Eren sighed. "Please, Petra. It won't hurt her. I swear."
"Why…?"
But his other hand was still dripping blood. Grunting in frustration, she watched as Kuchel stretched out her little hand and touched Eren's fingers. And…
Petra gasped as blue lightning seemed to crackle all around her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She smelled ozone. And…
She saw.
He stood outside the closed door, his heart pounding wildly. He looked at his brother, standing to his left.
"I…I don't know about this," he said. His brother rolled his eyes.
"You've never done this before. After the ceremony, you may not want to do it again. Come on." His brother hugged him around the neck. "You'll thank me later. I talked to the guy downstairs. He said she's the sweetest one he's got."
He felt sick to his stomach, but…
"O-Okay."
"Good. Now knock. Go on." His brother stepped away, grinning. "And don't cry."
His cheeks burned as he knocked. A soft, feminine voice called 'Come in.'
He entered and shut the door. He stood in a small chamber with flower-papered walls and a big brass bed. The covers were pink. Candles were lit all around. Here in the underground, candles were a major necessity.
The girl…the woman…
She was…so beautiful.
"Hello." She grinned at him, charmingly shy. She slipped her black hair over one shoulder. "My name's Olympia."
"H-Hi."
She was small and dainty, wearing a pink gown that exposed her shoulders. Her skin was alabaster, and her hair was sleek and black as a raven's wing. Her eyes were a soft blue-gray. She got up off the bed and came to him. She was petite, probably not even five four, yet also a few inches taller than he was.
Just about every woman was taller than him. He was barely five flat.
But she didn't laugh at him, or mock him. She was older, and taller, but there was such sweetness in her smile.
"Your brother mentioned this was your first time," she said softly. She wound her arms around his neck.
"Y-Yeah. I'm…that is, I'm taking over for my father…um." His cheeks burned. He never felt brave in front of girls. "Next month, I'm starting a new position. I really wanted to…uh…"
"Of course." She beamed at him. "I think you're very sweet."
His heart sank. Girls didn't like sweet. But…she did. She really seemed to. Olympia leaned forward and kissed his lips.
His heart went crazy. He felt stirrings all through his body. He felt his cock twitch. She led him by the hand and brought him to the bed. She sat, and he sat beside her.
"Just tell me what you like. If you want me to stop, say so. I want to please you." Gently, she undid the first two buttons on his shirt. "I really think I'm going to like you."
She sounded so soft and shy. He suddenly wanted to take off all her clothes. He wanted to lie on top of her, and in her, and…
He kissed her. The kisses went from gentle to heated. She lay down on the bed, and he lay on top of her.
"What's your name?" Olympia asked breathlessly as he began to unbutton his shirt all he way.
"Uri," he whispered.
Uri Reiss.
Petra jolted as she came out of the vision. She held Kuchel tight; the little girl whimpered and started to kick, frightened by what had just happened. Petra shivered as she stared at Eren. What she had seen…
She had seen Kuchel Ackerman. Not the one she held in her arms, but the one from decades ago. Levi's mother.
God, Kuchel looked just like her grandmother.
And the man whose head she'd been inside was…
"Why did I see King Uri's memories?" Petra whispered.
"Because I was able to channel them through the power of the Founder."
"Why did you need to touch Kuchel?"
"Surely you can guess." She didn't want to. Eren sighed. "Because Kuchel is of royal blood."
No. Petra started shaking her head slowly. Kuchel clung to her mother.
"Petra. I can only show people memories when my Founder is in contact with a person of royal blood. Uri Reiss," Eren said, "was Kuchel's grandfather. Levi's father."
"We don't know that." Her head was spinning. "Ku—Levi's mother was a prostitute. We don't know who his father was. It's impossible to know."
"If Kuchel had no royal blood, I wouldn't have been able to do what I just did. She is royal. Levi is royal. Do you understand what that means?"
Eren stood. Petra squeezed Kuchel tight. She should scream. Could anyone hear? She wished she'd brought a fucking knife. The way Eren was looking at her…
"I need to touch a titan of royal blood to unlock the Founder and save the world. I'm sorry." His voice broke as he reached into his coat pocket. "I warned you."
"No."
"I told you to let me touch Zeke."
"Mama." Kuchel started to cry. She didn't understand what was happening. But Petra did.
When Eren pulled the box out of his jacket, she got to her feet.
When he opened it and revealed the syringe, she knew that no one could help them, but she didn't care.
She started screaming.
"You…" Levi knocked the chair aside and got to his feet. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. What Historia had said. He… His father…
What the fuck?
"What fucking game is this?" he croaked. Historia stood up.
"Please. Get Willy. They have to go now. There could still be time!"
Eren was going to…
To Kuchel? Levi backed up. Then he grabbed Historia and slammed her against the wall. There were shattered dishes behind them and screams, but he gave no fucks. He started throttling the queen. She choked.
"Why not do it to me, huh?" He brought her face to his. "Why not do it to me?"
"Because Levi is an awakened Ackerman." Eren said this calmly as he filled the syringe.
Petra was sprawled out alongside one of the crates. He'd lunged and choked her until she almost passed out. She could barely hear or understand him now, but at least she was conscious.
She could hear Kuchel's screams as her daughter tried to run. But Eren had his knee pressed into her back.
Petra could still see Eren fighting the tears.
"Ackermans have their own PATH," he said. He sniffed. "They can't turn into titans, it's true. But if an Ackerman breeds with a royal, both bloodlines are represented. Both abilities." He squirted some of the spinal fluid. He was getting ready to inject Kuchel. "Once an Ackerman awakens, they really can no longer turn into a titan. No matter what. That's why Levi's not an option." He shook his head. "It's funny, isn't it? He was the son of the true king all along. If he hadn't awoken, he could have taken Uri's place. But now that he can't become a titan and unlock the Founder, he's functionally useless as a royal. But Kuchel is not."
"Mamaaaaa!" Kuchel sobbed. She screamed. Petra tried to will her body to move. To save her baby.
"I'd like to tell you I can turn Kuchel back after I use the Founder." Eren's lip quivered. "But…I never saw that in any of my visions. I don't know I can. And if I can't…" His voice nearly broke. "I'm sorry. I'll have to release her."
No. No. My baby. No.
Kuchel kept wailing and blubbering for Petra. Eren had readied the injection.
"You said…" Petra could barely move. "You wouldn't…use…children…"
"It's this or let the entire world end." Eren's face twisted into an expression of such hatred. "You did this, Petra. I told you about Armin, and Erwin. You didn't listen. I'm sorry." His anger broke into sadness. Tears streamed down his face as he gripped Kuchel's hair and bared the back of her neck to him. "I'm so sorry."
I'm sorry. She'd found him in the farmhouse that night, years ago, sobbing as he held her daughter. He had seen this day. He had seen what he would do.
No.
"Kuchel…"
As Eren lowered the needle, Petra put every drop of strength she had into action.
She lunged off the ground and stumbled into Eren. She crashed to the floor, taking him with her. Getting him off Kuchel.
"Run!" Petra's voice sounded groggy to her ears, but she clung to Eren. "Run, Kuchel! Baby, run!"
"Mama!"
Kuchel sobbed as she ran for the door, screaming in terror as Eren snarled, put a hand to Petra's throat. As he choked her. As she started to black out, her body growing more and more slack.
"I have to save everyone!" he sobbed. "I didn't want to! I didn't want to!"
His voice grew fuzzy. The darkness grew more oppressive. And then Petra felt his hand leave her throat. Her whole body was leaden as she watched Eren go after her daughter. Furry black spots dotted Petra's vision.
No. Kuchel.
The little girl zig zagged away from Eren, but he was too fast for her. Eren caught her up in his arm as Petra began to drag herself across the floor. She wheezed. Tears flowed down her face. No. Not her baby.
"No! You bastard, no!" she screamed.
"Mama! Mama, Mama!" Kuchel wept and thrashed as Eren knelt and laid the child across his knee.
"Kuchel!" Petra wailed.
"I'm sorry," Eren whispered.
Kuchel screamed one high, awful scream as he stuck the needle into her neck and pushed the plunger.
Almost there, almost there, almost there, come on.
Levi sat in the back of a car with Historia beside him, studying her hands. Behind them, several police cars drove with flashing lights.
Willy was coming. Erwin was coming, too.
Fuck Historia. Erwin could have her, do whatever he wanted. She was lucky Levi didn't fucking kill her.
So what if she'd had a change of heart about her and Eren's plan, warned Levi? If they were too late…
They could not be too late.
Kuchel. His little baby. Asleep in his arms, giggling, kissing her dolls good night, galloping around and playing hide and seek.
Without her, he would not be a man. He would not be himself anymore. He would die.
He couldn't live with this loss.
Faster. Faster…
"I'm so sorry," Historia whispered.
"Shut the fuck up."
Didn't matter one shit that he and this girl were technically related. That he, if this was all true, knew who his father had been. That his true name, if he wanted it to be, was Levi Reiss.
Fuck that. Levi Ackerman was enough for him. It honored his mother. Even Kenny. The two people who'd actually raised him.
Fuck the Reiss family and all their royal shit.
The cars pulled into sight of the docks. Levi leaned forward. Soon, soon, soon—
Everyone in the car cried out as a great bolt of lightning crackled in the air overhead. It was orange, and seemed to emanate from one spot on the ground, rather than spearing in from the heavens.
It was the lightning of a titan transformation.
Levi's heart stopped.
Kuchel…
Giving those little baby kisses, snuggling up as he read her a story, twirling around and around with her arms out as she danced and—
Levi went blind.
Levi stopped feeling.
Kuchel my baby, my baby, my little baby—
He screamed. He did not stop screaming. He would never stop screaming.