Chapter 46

Levi

Something was shining right in front of his eyes… Some shape he couldn't identify. A man? An animal? He stretched out his hand toward this strange phenomenon, but then it shifted uneasily and disappeared. Levi looked around and found a void. He was all alone, no sound, no smell, no movement coming to him. Suddenly he felt like a fly locked in a jar. What would happen to him when the air ran out?

Ackerman opened his eyes.

His gray-blue eyes gleamed with surprise. He couldn't believe that he had just woken up from a dream, that his mind had designed a dream vision for him and that for a short moment he was transferred to a land existing only in his head. For the first time in a long time, he had a dream, and it wasn't about his mother. His dreamlike image was quite disturbing, this was a fact, but he couldn't care less about it. The most important thing was: he had a dream.

Levi finally snapped out of his thoughts and realized the current situation. His gaze softened as he fixed his eyes on Eren's face, who was lying next to him.

The detective felt a soothing warmth fill his body. Yaeger was still asleep. His eyes were closed, and his naked chest was slowly rising and falling. He looked calm and innocent. He was nothing like that serious, focused young man in a black shirt, whom Levi had seen on that fateful evening in the Red Bow, who then seemed to belong to a completely different, dark world.

They were lying next to each other, arms around each other. They fell asleep in that position, and apparently neither of them thought to change it through the night. Ackerman could smell Eren's soft scent, which was a blend of sweet floral hair conditioner and citrus soap, as well as the fresh scent of his warm, soft body. Levi reached out his hand and very gently, taking care not to wake the boy up, stroked his cheek.

Suddenly, the detective's eyes echoed with a certain nostalgia, an inexorable awareness of what was to come. He was still angry with himself for not having confronted Eren earlier about the inevitable ending of their bond, their affair, their relationship; ending of whatever was between them now, that Ackerman found it hard to pin down.

He had been sure for some time that he totally fell for this stubborn, charming young man. He knew that his feeling had long since ceased to be a mere fondness or infatuation, and had turned into something much more serious. The more he resisted, the more Eren drew him to himself with his tenacity, his charming laugh and his unforgettable green eyes.

He would have given a lot to wake up by his side every day, but he knew it would be impossible.

He would have given anything to keep Eren safe, and that was what he intended to do.

If the split-up was the only option, they shouldn't even hesitate. He would never forgive himself if, after so many hardships and so many sacrifices they had suffered, they had returned to the starting point. He wasn't going to let that happen, not on his watch.

He moved gently, resting his elbow on the sheet. He leaned over Yaeger and placed a tender kiss on his neck. Eren sighed in his sleep. Levi leaned closer and hugged his lover, almost lying on top of him. This finally made the brown-haired young man open his eyes, and when he realized what was happening, he laughed softly, as joyfully and vividly as he was wont to do.

Levi's heart suddenly filled with two ambivalent feelings. He felt the ravishment, caused by this moment of peace and happiness, but there was also a painful twinge of sadness, for he knew the moment would finally come when he would hear this laugh one last time, and then there would be silence.

"Do we still have a moment to ourselves?" Eren asked, trying to look over the detective's shoulder at the watch on the bedside table. However, Ackerman stated that he didn't care about the time at all. He had never overslept for work before, it might as well have been the first time.

He rose a little to look at the glistening green irises.

"I'd like to go back to the topic we brought up yesterday," He said in a whisper, staring from one eye to the other. Eren looked back at him, but quickly moved his head up, reaching with his mouth to the detective's, trying to stop the words that tried to pass through them.

"Oh no, let's not talk about it anymore, please... It's so nice right now," Yaeger whispered, continuing to place loud, wet kisses on the man's lips.

"If we don't talk about it, it'll bother me all day," Levi replied, stepping back a little, though not very willingly. Eren sighed, but quickly reflected and looked at Ackerman seriously.

"Okay. So... I agree with you that we cannot take risks. After all, it's not just about me, but also Armin and Mikasa. I don't want to put them in danger. If you think this is what we have to do, that we need to cut off contact with each other, so be it. Just remember that... It will be very difficult for me, especially after what you told me yesterday." Eren, still lying on his back, just below Levi, smiled sadly.

Ackerman realized he'd seen that smile before, and suddenly remembered when. It was in that old car workshop, where they had met just before Eren disappeared for a few months. Eren smiled at him that way right after they kissed for the first time.

Levi parted his lips to say something, but the boy continued:

"But, you know, I'm glad that I met you, after all. I've never been so happy before, in my entire life, as I'm with you. Thank you for that. Even if it's for such a short time."

The detective's eyes widened. He felt his heart leap forward. It danced madly in his chest, betraying his own feelings. Eren must have noticed it, he must have felt it, they were so close.

"It's... It's very mature of you," Levi whispered, squinting slightly. He should have been relieved, but for some reason he had expected more objections from Eren. It didn't matter though... did it? "I'm glad we're on the same side."

Ackerman leaned over and pressed their lips together. He didn't want Eren to notice how much he was moved by those words, especially the last part of Yaeger's speech. He didn't want to be the cause of his sadness, his internal distress, but it was too late for that.

Levi kissed him lower, to which Eren responded with a loud sigh and then a soft chuckle as Ackerman ran his fingers down his hips, tickling him.

"Hey... I know I usually don't care about this, but I don't want you to suddenly get angry for being late for work... Shouldn't you get ready to go to work?" Eren wanted to know, looking curiously at the older man.

Levi jerked his head up to meet Eren's gaze. The ravenous expression of Ackerman's eyes made Eren's cheeks flush.

"Whether I'm late depends on whether or not we hurry," Levi whispered, and lifted the corner of his mouth to see Yaeger's face turning redder and redder. "So? What do you think?"

Eren didn't reply, instead he pulled the detective close to him and nearly crushed his mouth in a kiss.

Eren - a few days later

Before he entered the main hall, he took a deep breath. He had to remember what he had learned at Marley… Confidence is essential, and even if it is faked, no one will know the difference.

To calm down, he briefly thought back to the memory of his last meeting with Levi. He knew that when they saw each other again it would be all over. Grisha and Zeke would be arrested, and he, Mikasa and Armin would be free, at least in theory, until they start to testify and the police help them leave the country. He should be happy at the thought, but at the same time he was afraid of this moment, because it might be the moment when he would see Ackerman for the last time. The boy frowned and got his act together. He should be focusing on something else now.

He strode inside, looking around the room with a calm expression on his face. He hoped he looked like a man who wasn't plotting anything. Xavier, however, immediately noticed him, which didn't surprise Eren at all. Tom said something to the two workers who were just packing two huge barrels for a forklift truck, then started toward the young Yaeger. Eren nodded at him.

"How are things? Everything under control?" The boy asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Tom adjusted his glasses that rested on the bulbous nose.

"Yes. Admittedly, there was a small failure, but everything is fixed. Has Zeke sent you? He was here in the morning..."

"Actually, I only came for one of the employees. I'm supposed to take her to another place."

Tom frowned slightly.

"Oh, yeah? Zeke didn't mention it."

"Because it's a direct order from my father. If you want, you can ask him," Eren looked around the room and suddenly saw the person he was looking for. "Oh, I can see her already."

The boy looked at Xavier and saw his doubtful gaze. Yaeger quickly took a step towards him, closing the distance between them.

"Something's wrong?" Eren asked, squinting his green eyes lightly. Something dangerous flashed through them. The boy was taller than Tom, he was also younger and better built. In hand-to-hand combat, Xavier might not have stood a chance against him. The man quickly reflected.

"No, absolutely... Who exactly is this about?"

"I'll go get her myself," The boy muttered indifferently, and then passed Xavier and moved towards the familiar figure.

Ymir was packing the finished packages into a small pile. She would probably have been more comfortable working, had it not been for the fact that her hands were handcuffed. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of Eren. The woman's hair was shoulder-length and the freckles were more visible because her face seemed unnaturally pale.

"You're coming with me." Eren announced to her, not trying to explain. Ymir looked around briefly, then, since no one was trying to stop her, she followed the boy towards the exit.

As they passed Xavier, Eren nodded to him, while Ymir didn't grace the man with even a short glance. They walked down a dark corridor, then another, then finally up the stairs. As they stepped outside, Ymir froze.

She looked up at the starlit sky. Her eyelids widened very slowly. The night was warm and virtually cloudless, the wind gently swaying the tips of the trees. Only a few little clouds hovered above them and moved slowly forward.

Eren glanced towards Ymir, then grabbed her arm.

"Hurry, we don't have time!" He called, and pulled the woman towards his car, which was parked a bit away.

"Man, take it easy. Let me breathe fresh air for a moment," She murmured, but obediently moved with Yaeger. But she still kept sneaking glances up at the sky, after all, she hadn't looked at it in a long time.

They ran to the car and quickly got inside. Ymir flinched as the boy pulled metal tongs from the closet. In two fast movements he broke through her handcuffs.

Ymir rubbed her slim wrists and opened her eyes wider again. She obviously couldn't believe her hands were finally free.

"You made me wait a long time, boy."

"Sorry," Eren muttered, looking at Ymir with guilt written all over his face. "But better late than never."

Zeke

Zeke pressed the button that opened the driver's side window and reached for the brown package that an anonymous outstretched hand proffered him. The hand had rings on its fingers and colored nails, so it had to be a woman's. Although, who knows, with those freaks nowadays...

Yaeger took the packaging without comment and drove out of the restaurant's inn, shining his headlights on the road in front of him, then mingling with the line of other vehicles on the freeway.

He took a paper cup from the packet and stuck a straw in his mouth. Then, he took a few sips of his fizzy drink, staring up at the windshield. He had an appointment with his father in an hour; Grisha wanted to discuss current affairs. At Zeke's request, Eren was also invited to the meeting. Eren, who had recently fallen out of their old man's favors again... Well, it wasn't entirely his fault, it was about his two idiotic friends. The boy was still on their side after all, he continued to fulfill his duties, regardless of difficult circumstances. Zeke believed that Eren wouldn't leave them and perhaps, who knows, in the near future, together with his brother, they would take over their father's business...

Yaeger suddenly heard the sound of an incoming call. He set the cup down on the passenger seat, then pulled out his phone and held it to his ear.

"Hi Tom. How are things going? No delays?"

"We had a small breakdown, but we should finish in time. I just wanted to let you know that Eren was here a moment ago" Xavier's calm tone came from the speaker.

Zeke blinked, not quite understanding.

"Eren?"

"Yes. He just left."

Zeke narrowed his eyes. The kid should be there by now, at their father's property. It was Zeke who had been controlling the labs recently, because Grisha had decided so. Eren had only minor responsibilities. Until further notice.

"Did he do something unusual?" The bearded man wanted to know. He felt his pulse quicken with the anxiety inside him. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding?

"Don't think so. Although... He took one employee with him. He said he had been ordered to transport her elsewhere."

"Which employee was that?" Zeke's fingers tightened on the device until his knuckles turned white.

"Ymir. Do you know anything about it?"

Yaeger gritted his teeth in anger.

"I'll call you back," He growled into the phone and hung up. He made a sharp turn with the steering wheel, almost colliding with the car, which was riding from the opposite direction. Zeke heard a loud horn, but ignored it. He floored it and set off at dizzying speed in a direction he knew. If Eren was with Xavier a moment ago, there was only one way he could choose and Zeke was going to meet him.

He reached for the plastic cup, finished his drink, then threw it out the window.

Levi

Though the sky was overcast in this part of Trost, Levi could clearly see Nile Dok, commander of the strike brigade, waving a hand toward the darkness surrounding them. Some of his men, dressed in thick uniforms, crept up to the gate to attach explosives to it. As the men walked away to a safe distance, Levi reached for his ears and covered them just in time. The noise of the explosion disturbed the dull darkness laying around. The gate opened before them.

Officers spilled out onto the property immediately, aiming their weapons at the figures in view, which were gripping rifles in their hands. There were shouts, calling to surrender. To Ackerman's surprise, the security guards who were controlling the grounds obediently knelt and laid down their weapons. They didn't break free, didn't renew their attack, even when the policemen had handcuffed their wrists. It was then that Levi realized that something was wrong.

Still with their weapons ready, Levi and the rest of the squad entered the darkened building, looking around anxiously. They had flashlights with them that lit their way. Ackerman saw Nile Dok smile at him triumphantly.

"We'll find them soon," He muttered, then split his men into two teams, he and Levi walked down the hall with one of the team.

Ackerman wasn't so sure. He felt as if everything was happening too fast, too easily for some reason. He was expecting a bloody slaughter, while they were moving forward without any major obstacles. Eren had promised him that he would try to be outside the property that night, but he was to make sure that Grisha and Zeke were present right here. That is why they chose this day.

Meanwhile, they checked all the rooms one by one, and apart from the bodyguards gathered here, they could not come across anyone from Grisha's close circle.

Suddenly, Levi tensed at the sound of footsteps coming from the very end of the corridor they were just walking along. He narrowed his eyes, ready to attack, but his body finally relaxed. He spotted Erwin, Hanji, and the rest of the strike team entering the property through the second entrance, pointed earlier by Eren. In order not to attract attention, they used a battering ram to break in. That was the plan - one group was to have an "explosive" entrance, the other more discreet. Now the two groups met, exchanging concerned glances.

"You haven't met them anywhere?" Nile wanted to know, reloading his weapon. Erwin and Hanji shook their heads. Smith had a gun in his left hand, and Levi had to admit that months of training had made him quite skilled at it. "Well, nothing to wait for. We're searching the whole house!"

Dok split the agents into several groups, each with an area to search. Levi, Hanji, Erwin, and a few more officers started up the stairs toward the east wing. They looked into all the rooms one by one, into deep wardrobes and wooden lockers, but the house seemed empty. The three detectives exchanged glances, each of them growing irritated.

"He evacuated, or he wasn't here at all," Levi suddenly muttered, soft enough that only Erwin and Hanji could hear him. Smith and Zoe nodded slowly, obviously thinking the same thing.

They went back downstairs. All the people arrested on the property have already been gathered in the hall. Levi walked over to one of them and looked into his eyes.

"Who do you work for?" He asked, studying his face intently. The man looked back at him with boredom.

"For Zeke Yaeger," He replied without hesitating, his eyes unmoving. Ackerman snorted softly.

"Mhm, and I dance in a ballet... Grisha trained you pretty well. I would advise you to tell the truth."

"I'm telling the truth. Zeke is the boss" The man added, then shifted his gaze from Ackerman to some vague point in front of him. Levi pursed his lips menacingly, but said nothing more, deciding that further conversation was pointless.

At one point, he and his friends and part of the squad walked down the long, white corridor that Levi knew already. He felt the memories returning to him. He remembered perfectly when he was walking this way, leaning on Mikasa, relied on almost entirely by her help. After a while, they descended the same stairs that he and the girl were running up some time ago. In the underground part, they also found no one. As they entered the room where Levi was being held, Ackerman's eyes widened in surprise. The room has been converted into a wine storage room. They could see many shelves on which bottles had been placed.

"Nice collection," Gelgar said suddenly with a slight smirk, and his eyes lit up.

Levi shook his head in disbelief. They were about to celebrate their victory, but they came to a standstill. The only hope was for the technicians to arrive here in the morning, and thoroughly search the entire place.

They left the room and were about to go back upstairs, but Levi noticed Hanji was fiddling with the wall at the very end of the corridor. He stopped, and Erwin did the same.

"Han, are you coming?" Ackerman asked with impatience, perfectly audible in his voice. For he was sure that until this moment they would arrest both Grisha, Kruger and Zeke, or at least one of them, but they had no one.

"Wooah..." Zoe replied, but she didn't move. Suddenly there was a loud click from where she was standing.

"Hanji!" Erwin called, moving quickly towards her, shoulder to shoulder with Ackerman. They watched in amazement as their friend pushed the wall where she was standing, which turned out to be the door. The doorway opened for them.

Hanji's head turned towards them very slowly. Zoe looked at her friends, widening her healthy eye, glistening with excitement.

"This is genius ... I want one in my house."

Erwin and Levi ignored her remark. They walked over to the woman, guns ready. Smith gestured for the strike force to move forward, also prepared for the attack. They passed through the secret entrance and moved slowly forward, illuminating the dark path with a powerful flashlight.

"You think they got away this way?" Erwin asked, looking at his partner. Levi nodded with a sullen expression on his face. He watched the tunnel as they moved with mounting panic. It was quite tall, had concrete walls, only Erwin had to bend a bit to fit in the aisle. The tunnel was also disturbingly long… Apparently, Grisha had prepared himself perfectly for the situation they put him in today and, what was even worse, Eren knew nothing about the emergency exit.

Levi felt a shiver of terror as the other thought crossed his mind: what else was Grisha prepared for?

At last they saw a light at the end of the tunnel. They went out to a larger room, which turned out to be a miniature hangar. The water gathered behind the railing flickered in the darkness lit by the agents' flashlights. Short steps led straight into the dark depths. Levi looked to the side, saw the open gate, raised up high. He guessed that there must have been a moored boat that Grisha had used to simply escape, and it must have been a moment ago...

"Fuck..." Ackerman blurted out.

"It's okay," Smith said quickly, looking at his friend. "We have more locations that Eren gave us. We will check them all, one by one."

"Keep your heads up, Levi," Zoe added, putting her arm around Ackerman. "I'm sure Grisha left something interesting for us... Anyway, I doubt those boys have permits for those rifles."

Levi, however, looked unconvinced. He had a very bad feeling about this.

Eren

He switched off the engine and quickly reached into the glove box. He took a large gray envelope from there and shoved it into the hands of the woman who was sitting in the passenger seat, next to him. Ymir looked at the boy with suspicion in her tired eyes.

They were at the very end of town, next to a disused railway track, not far from the highway.

"What's that? A goodbye gift?"

"It should be enough for you to get away and start a new life. See that car over there?" Eren pointed to the vehicle, parked several meters away. Ymir nodded. Yaeger handed her the keys. "Hope you remember how to drive. It's tanked."

The woman's eyebrows narrowed into a menacing line. She looked at Eren again in disbelief.

"Is this some trick?"

"Geez, Ymir, hurry up..." Eren groaned, rolling his eyes. "I'm really sorry it took so long, but believe me, the timing has never been more perfect. The police are supposed to arrest Grisha today, so he probably shouldn't be looking for you. He will have other worries on his mind. But you have to be careful anyway."

The woman stared at him for a moment longer, then lifted the corner of her mouth.

"And I was sure you were as fucked up as the rest of your family. However, there's hope for you. Good luck, kid."

Ymir pressed the handle and opened the door as she stepped out of the vehicle, but at the same moment she froze in place. A familiar car suddenly appeared on the road they had come along.

Eren felt his stomach twist in terror, as if someone had punched him. The car pulled to a stop in front of them, the headlights went out and the driver's door swung open.

Zeke got out of the car.

He stared fixed, impassive at Ymir. After a while he shifted his gray eyes to Eren and it was a moment the boy knew there would be trouble.