Hiya! Back for the weekly update. Thank you so much on all the views and kudos! Please enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you thought of this chapter at the end! It's another really long one and you may hate me for the ending - but please don't ;)

Erwin sat on the edge of the bed, not having slept much in the night. He had taken a few short naps on the ground next to the bed, Levi sitting up with the pillows in his back, slumping into them as he was asleep.

During the night, Erwin had woken from Levi coughing, whimpering and eventually even struggling to breathe, only managing to fall asleep again when Erwin had helped him sit upright.

He tried to get some sleep as well, knew it was going to be a long and dangerous day as well. But thinking about losing Levi, he hadn't been able to get much sleep.

'E - Erwin' he heard Levi mumble. He moved a little closer, kissing him on his forehead.

'You okay?'

'Hmm,' Levi just mumbled, sitting up a bit more as he rubbed the sleep from his eye, giving Erwin a smalls mile then.

'How long before we leave?'

'Three more hours,' Erwin answered him, caressing the side of his face.

'There are some showers as well on the boat, maybe we can beat the oth-'

'No,' Levi said softly, Erwin's stomach sinking. If Levi didn't even want to shower, he truly was feeling his worst.

'You should go – I am just not - ' Levi mumbled, hardly audible.

'It okay,' Erwin just said, 'I am not leaving you,'

Levi wanted to object again, but pain show through his stomach again, just like it had yesterday. Groaning as he held himself up with one arm, Erwin hurried to his side again.

'Levi,' Erwin said gently, worried - Not ready for Levi jolting forward, throwing up a big stream of thick, almost black blood came out of his mouth as he threw up. He still held Levi as the blood fell into his lap. Heaving heavily, Erwin held him, not sure what to say or do until Levi finally seemed to calm down.

'I'm dying,' Levi mumbled weakly, stating the obvious. He had tried to protect Erwin from this, from his failing body, from his imminent death.

'It's old blood,' Erwin mumbled, not being able to comprehend what had just happened. Or not even wanting to, he wasn't sure himself.

'Shut up Erwin, please,' Levi groaned, clutching his stomach again as it started to hurt even worse. Breathing heavily, Erwin got up, tears in his eyes as he clutched his fist, realizing that Levi had really taken a turn for the worst. He couldn't even look at the blood that his hands and his sweater were covered with now, tears in his eyes.

Taking another deep breath, he tried to get hang of himself, as much as thoughts kept racing through his head.

'Shower?' he finally offered Levi again, the man covered in his own blood.

Not listening to Levi's objections, he carefully lifted him up, walking to the small communal shower room. Locking the door behind him, he carefully put Levi down on the small bench used for changing.

'I am tired,' Levi admitted, 'so tired,'

'I know, but you will feel better after cleaning up,' Erwin assured him, Levi hanging onto him as he was undressing him. He wanted to object, but even the objections cost him too much energy.

Erwin turned on the shower, holding Levi up as he kicked the bench towards the water. Holding Levi against him, Levi looked up at Erwin. His face was stern, focused and he almost seemed robotic in making sure he was doing what was best for Levi. Helping him sit down against, the warm water hitting against Levi's back now, Erwin got undressed as well.

Some of the blood had seeped through his shirt, his stomach stained in red as he got undressed too. He tried not to look at it, washing it off under the water as he washed off Levi's back too, gently caressing his body.

Helping him turn on the bench, he tried to look away from the horrible bruising on his stomach, knew the implications of it. The only thing he could hope now was that Onyankopon was right and the people in the hospital could still help him.

Wetting his hands, he knelt down by Levi, carefully wiping the blood away from his chin, careful not to wet the bandages that covered half of his face still.

'It happened yesterday too, I couldn't tell you,' Levi finally admitted.

'Levi-'

'I couldn't tell you Erwin,' Levi mumbled again, closing his eyes as Erwin caressed over his body, relaxed for just a second before pain shot through his body again.

'Why?' Erwin said as he jumped to his aide before Levi could topple over, groaning in pain.

'Because I – because I knew it would hurt you – telling you wouldn't have changed a thing,' Levi just stated then, biting through the pain.

'You wouldn't have had to go through this alone,' Erwin told him.

'Just so you could suffer too?' Levi wondered, Erwin not sure what to say.

Leaning against Erwin as he dried him off, he just tried to enjoy the gently touches, knew it may be their last moments together. He didn't want to think of his pain, he just wanted a moment to think of all the lovely moments – years – memories – everything they shared.

'Gonna lift you up now, okay?' Erwin warned him, lifting him up as Levi leaned against him again, holding him close.

Laying him down on the bed again, he took the clothes he had taken off him last night. Levi tried to keep quiet as Erwin helped him put his t-shirt and the pants on.

'We never should have moved you – whatever was bleeding inside of you – it got worse,' Erwin said remorseful as he still sat on the edge of the bed, careful slipping the socks around Levi's feet.

'It's my stomach, I think,' Levi admitted, Erwin not responding, not wanting to face the injury nor what it meant.

'Would have died at the farm too,' Levi mumbled, his eye heavy lidded as Erwin carefully let him settle.

'You don't know that,'

'Erwin, I need you to listen to me, okay?' Levi said then as Erwin sat down beside his bed again, taking his hand.

'What is it?'

'I told Armin that other night – if you love people, you have to let them go – you have to let me go. Help the others, fight Eren, save the world -' Levi wanted to persuade Erwin to choose himself again.

'No!' Erwin told him stern.

'I am in pain and I am not getting any better. Please – let me go,' Levi told him again, 'I am slowing you down – I don't want you to die too because you are too busy with saving my dying ass,'

'Don't say that, you are not dying,' Erwin told him stern.

'Erwin-'

'I don't want to hear it,' Erwin said as tears burned in his eyes. Careful, he kissed Levi on his forehead.

'Erwin, you have to face reality and let me go,'

'You didn't in Shiganshina and I am not doing it now,'

Levi didn't say anything, his face tired and weary as he just looked at Erwin. Erwin always thought Levi had looked nowhere his age, looking much younger than a lot of the scouts that were younger than him. But now, it seemed that all the years of trauma, fighting, grief and little sleep were catching up with him.

'I can't face the reality of you dying, okay! I don't want to – I refuse,' Erwin said frustrated, 'you are not dying, you are going to be okay! You are the strongest human out here and you are going to make it, I know – I can't live without you,'

'You led thousands of scouts to their death Erwin – even my squads, you can't let millions be killed just because of me' Levi told him, seemingly fighting against falling asleep again.

'Hange is commander, they can do this without me,'

'Thousands of lives Erwin,'

'They – they were not you,' Erwin told him, still caressing his hand, 'If that makes me a terrible leader I will happily take it, but your life is worth more than anyone's – even my own – to me,'

'Whatever you are planning - dragging me into Marley is going to cost you your life, it is an active war zone – I would rather just be at peace here knowing you are fighting Eren than end up under some titans foot. I am not going to be useful soldier anymore anyway,'

'I don't care about you being a soldier. I need you with me-'

'Will you shut up and listen to me? Before I pass out again,' Levi mumbled, clearly struggling to stay awake as looked at Erwin.

'I want – I want you to survive and to be in this world – happy, leave the corps - have the family you always wanted,' Levi mumbled softly, 'that is worth more than your pathetic attempt to save my dying ass,'

'No, I don't want a family without you – I don't want anything without you, Levi,' Erwin told him as his voice broke, kissing his hand again.

'At least let me try, I am not going to live with the idea I didn't do everything to help you, ' Erwin pleaded as he was not sure what he could say to let Levi change his mind. As much as he knew he could take Levi either way, he didn't want to disrespect his wishes, knew he needed Levi to hang on as well.

'Give up on your dreams with me – and let me die,' Levi told him bluntly.

Feeling his throat closing, Erwin couldn't say anything as tears started to stream down his cheeks. Feeling Levi squeeze his hand only made it worse.

'You have been the best part of my life Erwin,' Levi said softly as his eye started to droop down again.

Erwin moved closer, his hand on the side of his face for a second as he kissed Levi on his forehead again, wrapping his hand around his as if it was the last lifeline he had to him.

Levi sat in his office, the stack of papers in front of him.

It was over a week ago that Erwin had told him he loved him after their evening in the tavern, their night together and finally those three words in the morning that had caused Levi to leave without much of another word.

He felt guilty, hated how he had handled it. Erwin had said those words and he had frozen up. He had told his worries and Erwin had been so gently, telling him he loved him and assured him and he had completely butchered it after the nice evening and night they had had together.

He had seen him down the hall this week and he had thought of approaching him, saying sorry. He didn't want Erwin to think he felt any different, but as much as he wanted to force himself to say those words, he wasn't able to say them. He never had said them to anybody after his mother had said it to him, right before she died.

Looking at the papers in front of him, he couldn't concentrate on it, everything with Erwin still bothering him.

There was a short knock on the door, Erwin finally entering after a few seconds.

Levi didn't dare to look up, not sure what he could say to Erwin about what had happened that morning or how to fix it.

'Still working?' Erwin finally sighed as he sat down on the edge of his desk.

'Yeah, writing a report,' Levi said as he didn't look up. He took his time, making sure each word, each letter was written immaculately.

'So you gonna be here for the rest of the week?'

'Maybe – you'd miss me too much though and forbid me from writing any more reports though,' Levi pointed out, Erwin chuckling for a second. Sitting in silence as Levi kept on writing, Erwin sighed, not sure how to ask the question that was on his mind.

'You came to roast me because I write slow or you gonna tell me what is on your mind?' Levi finally asked as he looked up from the paper, putting the pen aside.

'Tomorrow it's thirty years ago my dad died – you know I always go to the cemetery,'

Levi nodded, leaning back in his chair.

'I want you to come with me tomorrow, please,' Erwin asked him, Levi nodding.

'Yeah, sure,' He smiled at Erwin.

'Haven't seen you all week?' Erwin finally wondered.

'Sorry, I have just been busy,' Levi lied. He still wasn't sure what to say, feeling so guilty about how he had handled it that morning in Erwin's bedroom.

'Something bothering you?' Erwin wondered, surprised that had had not seen Levi since that one night they spend together.

'I – I - no,'

'Alright,' Erwin nodded a little unsure, 'I will see you tomorrow,'

He looked as Erwin was walking towards the door, feeling his stomach sinking again. The feeling he had had all week after not being able to answer to Erwin's admission of love.

'Erwin?' He finally did ask as Erwin was nearly at the door of his office, the tall commander turning around looking a little surprised.

'Erwin, I am sorry about that morning in your bedroom,' Levi finally muttered.

'Why?' Erwin frowned, walking back towards the desk and taking Levi's hand.

'Just – you said you loved me and – I feel like such a fool for totally flopping that,' Levi admitted.

'It's fine if you don't feel the same-'

'I do – I just – I never said those words before and-'

'As long as you feel the same, I don't care how or if you wanna say it,' Erwin told him. He kissed Levi on his forehead, but as much as what he said was meant to resolve the situation, Levi could see that it did hurt Erwin.

'Alright, come pick you up tomorrow okay, thank you for coming with me-'

Levi wanted to beg Erwin to stay, to maybe even stay the night, but worried he was going to mess it up with Erwin again. Especially with what he had asked for tomorrow, he didn't want to make things worse between them.

Erwin knew that they were nearly at Marley and he had only at most half an hour more to decide what to do.

Levi laid on the bed still, his hand over his stomach, having whimpered and clutched it a few more times, but he hadn't woken again. Erwin kept caressing over his hair, wanting Levi to know he was there.

Looking over Levi, he still doubted if it was right thing to do.

Maybe he should listen to his wishes, maybe he should let him go.

Hange stood in the doorway suddenly, knocking softly as not to wake Levi.

'Just wanted to check if there is anything I could do for you before you leave,' They said as they walked in, holding their hand on Erwin's shoulder for a second as they looked at Levi.

'No, I am not even sure if we should go,' Erwin mumbled, 'he threw up blood this morning and has been getting worse through the night, moving him may harm him even more,'

'If you stay here with him, he will die too,' Hange said softly as they sat down on the edge of the bed, facing Erwin, trying not to look at the dried blood on the bed.

'I don't know what to do Hange,' Erwin admitted.

'You know, deep down inside,' Hange told him.

'I don't want to give up on him, but he wants me to,' Erwin admitted, 'he told me again I led thousands to their death – and I worked years for this and he is not wrong. How can I chose his life over all of them,'

'Erwin – you are only one person. If we don't manage to fight Eren it won't be a matter of missing one person – specifically you in our crew,' Hange told him.

'Probably miss - miss me more,' Levi suddenly mumbled from the bed.

'You are the better fighter,' Hange nodded, smiling for a second, grateful to see Levi being awake and aware.

'On that note, I am going to get changed into the gear. Can you help Levi with his gear, Hange?' Erwin chuckled at Levi's remark.

'Sure,' Hange nodded, looking at Levi ready for a berating or getting snarked at, but instead the man fully cooperated as they helped him sit up.

'Alright, let me help you,' Hange said, helping Levi sit on the edge of the bed, taking the shoes from the floor.

'Hange – you gotta make sure Erwin is going to be okay, you shouldn't let him go on this suicide mission with me,' Levi suddenly pleaded as he held their shoulder, Erwin getting dressed in another room, as there was not much space in the small cabins.

'I am not the one who has to make sure he is going to be okay, you are,' Hange told him, carefully putting the shoes on his feet.

'The best I think you can do is staying alive Levi, that is all he needs. I know it is going to be hard and you are in pain, but he is giving you a fighting chance,'

'I know,' Levi mumbled. He wanted to be sure that he was going to make it, but with how he felt, he felt he could slip away any second and putting Erwin's life at risk for a small chance to make it out, didn't feel good.

'I am nervous, but we can make it without you and Erwin, we will have to,' Hange mumbled as they tightened the gear around Levi's shoulders.

'You are going to do great Hange, I believe in you,' Levi said, Hange a little surprised as it was so genuine, not the slightest bit of snark or teasing in his voice.

'And you better do everything you can for Erwin's mission,' Hange told him.

'Dedicate my heart,' Levi jokingly snarked, but smiled at Hange then, as tired as he was, happy that in the direst time in his life, he had them by his side too.

'Can I give you a hug?' Hange finally asked.

Before Levi could even say anything, Hange wrapped him in between their arms, squashing his shoulders and upper arms as they held him.

'See you later, Levi,' Hange told him, holding him close for just another second before letting him go out of the way too tight hug.

'Bye Hange,' he finally smiled at them, seeing Erwin in the doorway, a large coat he had taken from one of the Azumabitos, another over his arm that he wrapped around Levi to hide his gear, even though he would use it later to carry Levi.

'Alright, let's go,' Erwin finally said. Levi didn't say anything, instead just leaning against Erwin as the man lifted him up. He wanted to object again, but knew there was not a chance Erwin was going to stop now.

'Good luck Hange,' Erwin nodded at them.

'See you after Erwin, can't wait to hear what I should have done different from the big commander himself,' Hange nodded back at Erwin. Erwin held Levi a little closer as they started to move towards one of the lifeboats.

'Goodbye,' Hange whispered as they looked at the two men leaving the room, not sure if all three of them would see each other again.

Levi looked as Erwin got down on one knee, carefully laying the flowers in front of the gravestone and wiping some of the dirt off the top of it. He wasn't sure what to do, not sure if Erwin wanted him next of him or he needed some time.

He knew Erwin had never known his mother, only knowing her name - she had died in childbirth and his dad every refused to talk about her. But Levi knew how close he had been with his dad, especially

Not sure what to do, never having been in this position for himself, having no clue what eventually happened ending up to his mother's body, he knew that he did want to be there for Erwin.

Walking closer to Erwin, behind now, he wrapped his hands around's Erwins hand, laying his head on Erwin's shoulder.

'You okay?' he asked softly.

'Yeah, thank you for coming out here with me,' Erwin smiled as Levi stood beside him now, looking at the gravestone as well.

Knowing that his father had been right all his time made it even harder to be here than the other years. At least the last time he was here, he hadn't been aware of what was in the basement and how right his old man had been. It made his chest tighten, but as soon as Levi had wrapped his hands around his, he had felt a lot better about it.

'I wish that my dad knew about all that we found out about Marley,' Erwin mumbled.

'He was right all along, it must be really hard for you this year,' Levi said compassionate as he held Erwin's arm and hand. He wanted to be here for Erwin, know how important it was to him, as much as Levi didn't know what to do. He just hoped that being here for Erwin was enough to be of comfort.

'It is, but I am happy at least I found out what he wanted, even if I wasn't there when you went into the basement,' Erwin said, as he was rushed to the infirmary, clinging onto life.

'I was there for you – and your dad,' Levi told him.

'Just hope he finally found some peace now, wherever he may be and that he is proud of me,' Erwin admitted.

'Your dad would be so proud of you, I am sure,' Levi told Erwin as he hugged him, holding him tight.

'Thank you,' Erwin smiled, holding Levi as he smiled, some of the tears just gratefulness that after all these years, he had finally fulfilled his dads wishes.

'I wish I could have known your dad, knowing what kind of man you turned out to be, he had to be a good man,' Levi told Erwin, the man fulling wrapping his body around him now, too overcome with emotions because of Levi's sweet words to say anything.

His body wrapped around Levi, trying to shield him as the smaller boat made its way towards the harbor. Onyankopon steering as they looked at the titans in the distance. Luckily, it seemed to have avoided the central part of Liberio so far.

They were mostly hidden, mostly hidden by the steam still rising from the water.

Levi was wrapped in the jackets, laying against Erwin and Erwin was not sure if it was the outside light that made him seem worse, or having moved into the lifeboat and towards Liberio now. People were trying to flee as they were coming into the city, making it hard to get onto dry land, people stealing their boat.

'Take it! Just let us get off!' Erwin warned them, him and Onyankopon finally making it out.

Stopping for a second, Erwin checked if the gear was still connected properly to at least help a little with carrying Levi's weight as he held him against him.

They pushed through the streams of people, Erwin trying to protect Levi as much as he could from the people bumping into him.

'Come on, you gotta hang on,' he kept on whispering to him, so scared what was going to happen when they got the hospital in the university district – if they would ever go there.

They ducked into an residential area.

He tried to zone out the fighting in the distance as he followed Onyankopon, staying low to the ground as he followed him, holding Levi close to him. As much as the gear, mostly hidden under the blanket, helped with the weight, he was worried he wouldn't be able to carry Levi all the way.

He could hear the thunder spears in the distance, it made him shudder as he realized it was how Levi had ended up like this.

'How much further?'

'The university district is still at least a mile away!' Onyankopon yelled back as they tried to get through the street of citizens of Liberio, trying to flee as it was still unsure where the titans would go.

Even more than his own tiredness, he worried about Levi, his face becoming more pale.

'Come on, hang on, we are finally almost there,' Erwin just softly as they kept pushing through the people, getting closer to the fighting instead of getting away from it.

Walking through HQ, he hadn't been able to find Levi since they had returned. He had said that he would go to his room to freshen up, but when Erwin had gone there to thank him once more for being there for him today, it was empty.

Having checked his bedroom, the showers and even around the kitchen to see if Levi was up to some shit for their dinner again, he had returned to his empty room again.

He noticed the ODM gear was gone from the small couch in the corner, where Levi always put it when he meticulously cleaned it after using it.

Nervous about where he had gone with it, Erwin went to put up his own. Only having recovered just now from his injury in Shiganshina, he was worried about using his ODM great, still training to get used to it again, but with Levi gone from the HQ he didn't have much of a choice.

'Commander, where are you doing?' One of the guards asked a little surprised, signaling to Erwin that Levi had not walked through the gate, but he hadn't expected that either, especially as the window to his office had been open.

'Gotta see Nile!' Erwin lied as he kept on walking now. Having walked down the block, he looked up at the high wall jus to the right of him. If Levi had taken his gear, there was large chance that he would find him there.

Groaning a little as his side hurt as he made his way on the wall, he started to walk in the darkness, careful of where the edge was. Trost seemed to calm, almost quiet while the city was the quite opposite.

Walking over the wall, he was pretty sure he finally saw Levi on the edge, not far up ahead.

'Levi, are you okay?' Erwin said concerned as he approached the man, careful.

'Yeah – sorry,' Levi just said, Erwin even more nervous since the man seldom said sorry. Concerned, he knelt down beside him, sitting on the edge of the wall beside him then, feeling a little nervous sitting on the edge of the high wall.

'Gonna get me in trouble for using my gear?' Levi finally said after a few seconds and Erwin was sure that he heard his voice shiver for just a second, sniffing for a second.

'No, was worried sick about you though,' Erwin said as he sat beside Levi, his arm around him now and kissing him on his temple.

'Just wanted to come out here to collect my thoughts,' Levi said a little upset.

'You seem upset,' Erwin said careful, not sure what was going on with him.

'Hmm,'

'Something I did?' Erwin asked worried.

'No, no!' Levi shook his head, worried that Erwin would think that he was upset with him, while that wasn't the case at all, 'No, not you,'

'Want to talk about it? You know I will listen to you – and never tell a soul,' Erwin said still sitting beside Levi.

'Yeah,'

'Come on, let's move back a little, getting nervous on the edge,'

'You scared?'

'A little,' Erwin admitted.

'You have your gear,'

'Not great at using it with one arm,'

'I would catch you,' Levi teased him, 'No, let's move back,' he said then, not wanting Erwin to feel uncomfortable.

'Plus easier to give you a hug that way – you sound like you need it,' Erwin told Levi. They moved a bit further back on the wall, Erwin seeing just a little of his face in the dim light of the stars and the full moon.

'You – you talking about your dad today, just made me realize how much I miss my mother,' Levi admitted, fumbling with the straps on his thigh, not wanting to show Erwin his emotions.

'It's okay to miss her,' Erwin said a little relieved, glad that Levi was not upset with him or something he had done.

'Just – guess I never really allowed myself to grieve her,' Levi admitted. Erwin moved closer to him, pulling Levi against him as he was surprised the man was so open with him. Although he had mentioned his mother, he had never just openly spilled out about her, Erwin having to question every single thing.

'Sorry – today was about your dad and I am making this about myself,'

'I don't care Levi, you are entitled to your grief too,' Erwin said compassionate, not minding it at all. With both of them never really having known one parent an losing the other as a young age, he knew their feelings were similar.

'Do you remember her?'

'Yeah – I remember a few things – remember what she looked like, what she smelled like – even what she sang to me,' Levi said as she stared off into the distance.

'She sang to you?' Erwin said as he smiled slightly, thought it was such a sweet thing for him to remember.

'She used to sing this song about birds to me – it was ridiculous, I didn't even know what a bird was,' Levi remembered.

'Has she ever left the underground?'

'No, don't think she saw many birds in her lifetime either,' Levi shook his head, 'I hate I can't even remember it that well – something about the birds taking something,'

'It sounds really sweet thought – maybe you will remember it if you sing it?'

'I am not singing anything,' Levi said looking down, 'mostly because I don't remember it,'

Erwin nodded, caressing his hand still.

'I really miss her,' Levi finally admitted, both to Erwin and to himself. The thirty years he had missed her, he had kept it all in, knew that crying would never let him have her back, but now he felt his chest tighten as he thought about how much he had missed her these last years. He had barely any memories of her and that made missing her only worse. There were so many things he wanted to ask her but he had never been able to.

He still tried to stay strong.

But as soon as Erwin wrapped his arm around him even tighter, pulling his head against his chest, he broke. As much as he tried to stay strong, he felt tears stream out of his eyes. His chest tighter as he thought about his mother.

'It's okay Levi,' Erwin said gently, holding him as he cried.

'You supported me today about my dad and I really appreciate that. I am here for you too,' Erwin spoke gently as he caressed over Levi's back. Letting Erwin hold him, he didn't feel ashamed about the tears that were streaming down his cheeks, as much as he tried to stop them from flowing.

'She told me – she told me that she loved me right before she died,' Levi told as he was still crying in Erwin's arm, so grateful to have with him now. Even though he had gone here to be alone, never having wanted support from another person, he was so grateful Erwin held him now.

'That's why I don't want to say it, it feels like I might lose the person,' Levi admitted, Erwin's heart almost breaking in two, he felt so bad for him. He knew Levi struggled with love and affection and hearing how torn up he was about his mother telling him that she loved him and how much it impacted him, it broke his heart.

Holding him close, just held and caressed Levi, his heart so full off love that he trusted him enough to tell him all these things. Even though they had been together for over a year now, Levi didn't tell much about his life and feelings.

'I love you,' Levi finally told him after they said, almost laid together on the wall for minutes in silence, just holding each other, Erwin looking at him surprised, the words finally coming from Levi's lips.

'I love you too,' he smiled, not wanting to make a big deal out of it, as much as it was a big deal to him. Holding him close, Erwin kissed hi, long, tenderly. His heart fluttered as Levi had finally said it.

'Can I spend the night with you again?' Levi wondered then after a few more seconds.

'Ofcourse,' Erwin said softly, his heart fluttering as he was so happy to know nothing was wrong between him and Levi, but instead he felt that they had only grown closer.

Erwin was still following Onyankopon, the man still waving him along. They had gotten out of the harbour, people still swarming around the street, trying to get away from their impending doom.

He tried not to listen to the fighting in the distance, tried to zone it out as he was only focused on following Onyankopon to the university district, hoping to the get to the hospital.

'Look, Erwin!'

Looking at all the steam rising, he saw how all the titans disintegrated, even the colossal one. Even the massive monstrosity that was the finding titan.

Within seconds, all the titans that had just been there were gone.

Getting onto one knee to rest for a second, looking in awe, he still held Levi.

'Erwin, they did it!' Onyankopon stated the obvious, looking back in disbelief. As much as they had believed that the others could do it, it was still an unbelievable sight to see all the titans crumble.

'It stopped, they did it-' Erwin wanted to say. Before he could finish his sentence, he noticed the blood dripping on the cobblestone street.

Not thinking for another second, he uncoupled the gear, carefully cradling him in his arm.

Blood was seeping from between his lips. It was a lot more than this morning and the blood seemed fresher too.

'Levi?!'

There was no an answer, Levi's body limp in his arm.

Cradling him in his arm, there was nothing he could do as Levi started to shake, his eye rolling back.

'Onyankopon!' he yelled in desperations, but he too knew that there was nothing he could do as Levi started convulsing in his arm.

Opening his eye, Levi looked at the dark sky and the stars above him, the only light around him the big tree of light to his left.

His hand grabbed in the sand beside him, his other hand on his chest.

Groaning as he sat up, he looked at his hand in his lap, the two fingers still gone as a hand suddenly reached out, wrapping around them. Two hands, slender, delicate. Almost like his own.

'Levi,'

A woman's voice, light. Familiar.

In disbelief he looked aside, recognizing it immediately.

His mother sat at his side, she gave him a smile, kissing him on his cheek.

'Look at you, you grew up to be such a fine man,' she told him, tears in her eyes as Levi wasn't even able to say anything, just looking at his mother's eyes – the same steel blue color as his own.

Still disbelief, he looked at her. She didn't look a day older than his last memories of her, healthier though, happier. Her hair danced over her shoulders as she held his body, making all the ache go away as she held it.

'My boy,' she smiled at him. Her hands laid on his face as he looked up at her, Kuchel wiping his hair back as she kissed him on his forehead, wrapping her arms around him then.

'I am so proud of you,' she gently told him, Levi wrapping his arms over her back as well, his bottom lip quivering as his mother enclosed him in her arms. He didn't even make a sound as tears started to stream from his eye.

'You have made me such a proud mother,' she told him again, holding him tight and Levi finally felt at peace, laying his head on her shoulder.

'I missed you – I missed you so much,' he finally mumbled, his voice breaking, tears still streaming down his face as his mother was still holding him, sinking down into the sand with him, her arms wrapped around him still.

'I missed you too, Levi,' Kuchel told him, her hands caressing over his back. Sobbing as he laid his head against her neck, like he always did with Erwin, he felt his body go limp in her arms.

'I'm so tired mom, I am so tired,' Levi cried, his body feeling heavier by the second.

'It's okay, you fought a hard fight,' She told him as she laid him down, his head in her lap as she caressed over his head, Levi felt his chest getting heavier, found it harder to focus on breathing.

'You have been a good soldier – now it's time to rest,' Kuchel spoke softly, caressing his head, holding his hand as he slowly felt himself slip away, in his mother's arms, in the sand under him.

'and when the birds travel by they will take sunshine for you….' Kuchel sang softly as she was still caressing over his head.

His eye sank shut, feeling his body fully slip down into the sand.

Please don't hate me!
Thank you so much for reading again, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter, or the story in general and hopefully till next week!