A/N : A world where Eren has an older sister named Bella Jaeger and Levi Ackerman is bit taller.
Also, an alive Sasha cause I love her so much.
Characters not mine. Just the imagination.
Also, spoilers ahead
- § -
* JUST IN TIME *
She swung from one branch to another, hoping to find Levi. She doesn't know why but has a strong feeling that she needed to find him no matter what.
And she did.
She also found Zeke in the cart with a thunder spear buried in his gut.
She also knew that her brother is a piece of work and that he and Eren share one thing in common - Suicidal Idiots.
She has a bad feeling about this.
Her brother is wriggling too much and it may cause that bomb to blast him and Levi.
Levi can yell at her all he wants but this is a bad situation.
And between the two, her brother has a higher chance of surviving the blast if it gets triggered to blow up. Levi would die.
She didn't care.
All she knew was she allowed her instincts to lead her.
So she dove down and swung fast to get to Levi.
And thank her instincts because the thunder spear blew seconds after she grabbed Levi off the cart.
She swung them a little bit farther from the explosion due to her fear of being caught up in a titan fight.
"Fuck you, Zeke," she mumbled and looked at the startled Levi.
Her arms gave out and they tumbled on the grass. She felt Levi wrapping his arms around her as rolled on the ground.
"Are you okay?" She asked him in a very concerned tone.
"That was close," he answered in his usual monotone voice.
She smacked him in the head and he winced, then glared at her for doing that, "What were you thinking?! You were almost blown to bits, you idiot! I'm just grateful to have found you just in time."
He hugged her. Tight. And she was caught off-guard. He had never shown affection or any kind of soft emotion ever since that half-smile when Historia was made Queen.
"Yea. Thanks," he said.
"We have to go get Hange. I think she was captured by Floch and some other Yeagerists. I'm guessing they're looking for my damn brother."
"How many soldiers?"
"10? 15?"
"We can handle that. Let's get our clumsy Commander."
* THE SACRIFICE *
"Armin, you're now Commander. Levi is your subordinate, you can be tough on him," Hange said in a rush then ricocheted herself into the air after glancing at Levi and her confused best friend, Bella, who was shouting after her when she realized what she was about to do
"Sorry, everyone. This is the fastest way," Hange thought and angled her body towards the Colossal Titans.
Bella felt the world go in slow motion. She helplessly watched her best friend smile at Levi and she then flung herself in the air, towards the direction of The Rumbling.
"HAAAAAAANGE! NOOOO!" She ran towards the railings and cried desperately, "NO NO! COME BACK! HANGE, NO!"
Levi restrained her by locking his arms around her waist, but he managed to free herself and ran to the edge of the ship, watching her best friend fly towards the Colossal Titans.
"STOP IT! COME BACK HANGE!" She shouted and cried as Hange took on one titan... Until she couldn't find any signs of movements from her anymore.
"NO! AAAAAAAAAH!" She cried in anguish and pain from losing her best friend, "PLEASE COME BACK!"
Her whole body was trembling as she wailed in despair and denial that Hange is not coming back anymore.
She gripped the edge of the railing and screamed, "HOW MUCH MORE EREN?! HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE?! STOP IT EREN PLEASE!"
She continued to scream and cry her lungs out until her throat is dry and her voice is gone.
Mikasa and Armin just stood there, tears falling from their eyes as it all happened very fast. Conny and Jean were both shocked by what happened and they were trying to process the loss of their mentor, ally, and friend. Pieck kept Gabi tight in her arms, wishing for the fighting to an end. Annie mourned over the deaths that this war had caused. Reiner simply stood there, looking grim and broken for another loss.
Levi knelt and took Bella in his arms. He led her to the nearest quarters so that she can lie down and get rest. He'd force medication down her throat just to knock her out if she resists.
His heart is broken. From all the deaths of their comrades. From his squad, his friends, his mentors... There were too many and he vowed to carry their will in his blades. He cannot save them, but he'll make sure that their deaths won't be useless to humanity.
He can't imagine how Bella must be feeling right now. Her two brothers caused the war and she's fighting against them. She lost her family in this war, numerous of her comrades, her mentors... Now, her best friend.
The only right thing her brothers had done was to keep her out of their plans. It saved her from all the questioning and from the guilt. She's the reasonable Yeager, one who would stick to doing what is right even if the odds weren't in favor of her.
"Could we have saved them?"
"You know the answer to that, Bella."
"I have the most idiotic brothers in the world."
"I couldn't agree more."
"Someone has to put them out of their misery. Talking or negotiations won't work anymore. I know this or sure."
"What are you thinking?"
"The only ones who can do that would be you and Mikasa."
"Bella -"
"You know I'm right, Levi."
"But -"
"It's the best thing that we can do for them. I want them to have peace and they can't get that from this world or lifetime."
"Bella -"
"Levi. I can't. I will hesitate because every time I look at Eren, I only see my sweet baby brother. And when I look at Zeke, I would think of the times I longed for an older brother. I'm not asking you because you're an Ackerman. I'm asking you because there's nobody else I can trust to do this for them other than you and Mikasa."
"I don't know where Mikasa stands in all of this."
"We'll have to talk to her and Armin."
Few moments later...
"I don't want to fight anymore. Too many have died. As I said, if I try to kill Eren, will you stand in my way, Mikasa?"
"I -"
"There's no other way but to give him peace," Bella interrupted, "Mikasa, you have to give him peace. This is the only way we can save our Eren."
"Onee-chan..."
Bella knelt and placed a hand on Mikasa's cheek, "We both know it's the only way. Both of my brothers are far gone. I don't know Zeke, but I know that Eren is far gone and we can't talk to him anymore. If Zeke is a decent brother, he wouldn't cause this whole damn murder spree. And if he's the older brother that I hope he is, he will soon realize that too. I saw our father's memories while I was asleep. All three of us were there and I realized that this was all of Eren's doing."
"Wait, is that why you said -" Levi asked.
"Yes. I thought it was a dream, but Eren spoke to me and told me that I'm not dreaming. He took us there to show us the memories of our father. I snapped back to reality when I got mad at Eren. That is his titanmm's ability... The Attack Titan's ability. We have to stop them or all the deaths of our loved ones will be for nothing."
She turned back to Mikasa, "This is why you and Levi have to do it. We need the kind of resolve that runs in your blood."
"I'm... I'm an Ackerman, too," Annie said softly, "Kenny is my father."
Bella looked from Levi to Annie, then back to Levi, who was startled at the revelation, "What?"
"Kenny the Ripper, he's my biological father. Which technically makes me an Ackerman," Annie said.
"My Okasa is his sister," Levi revealed.
"That makes us cousins," Annie chuckled lightly.
"That explains a lot," Mikasa said.
"Well, we have 3 Ackermans... If Annie decides to fight. We're not forcing you. But we have children, so you might have to protect them."
Annie nodded in understanding.
"Mikasa, please. Eren needs you."
Armin laid a hand on Mikasa's shoulder and squeezed it lightly to offer support and understanding... That it is okay and Eren would understand. That Bella-Nee is right. Eren needs them more than ever.
"There's no room to negotiate with Eren now, right Nee-chan?" Armin asked,
"He's not our Eren anymore. He's now the Attack Titan," Bella replied sadly.
"Reiner," Bella turned to the owner of the Armored Titan, "It's a relief to have you and Pieck-san on this side."
Bella walked towards Armin and held both of his arms, "Armin, please when all this is over and we survive and hopefully the curse of being a titan is lifted off... But if not, please spend it meaningfully with us, your family. The places we'll go and we'll enjoy the waters as much as we can," She said.
Armin nodded and kissed Bella's forehead and enveloped her and Mikasa in a hug. They're his remaining family now. He can't lose them and he has to save Eren.'
They arrived at the port safely. The plane was serviced and they rested up while going over their plans. They replenished their supplies and their energy.
"... As much as I can remember, we have to separate Eren and Zeke. Once we do that, we have our chance."
"Are you sure about this, Bella?" Levi asked.
"Yes," She answered decisively. It'll hurt her, but it'll save her brothers and give them peace.
