The day of two titans fighting in the inner city was exciting. Levi hated watching from the sidelines and unable to do nothing. Erwin expressed specifically that he not get involved unless he had to.

Never had an order been so hard to follow. Levi remained anxious as he watched. He felt a sense of pride as Eren began to overpower her and turn the tide.

Some sick part of him enjoyed seeing her panic. The way she tried to run away. Climb the wall to escape. She used her crystallization ability on her fingers to climb. However with a swift cut of said fingers and she tumbled back down.

Eren must have been equally as excited. For he began to tear at her neck, exposing Annie to the whole world. Levi leaped into action in that moment. He knew Eren had lost touch with rationality.

Before their very eyes a crystal formed around her as she closed her eyes to sleep. Eren's titan form tried to chew through the hardened crystal. Before he could attempt to bite Levi swung at the neck and exposed Eren.

"Oi," The captain drawled. "Don't go eating the prisoner."

Afterwards Levi was scarce from the Survey Corps. He heard of how Eren was kidnapped. A part of him wished he could be of help. However his leg injury proved that it needed more time.

Levi spent his days alone and anxious. Soon as he heard of Erwin's own injury he raced to his side. He barged in without even asking the doctor, who let him stay because of who he was.

"Levi?" Erwin blinked when he woke up, surprised to see him at his side.

"Soon as I heard I rushed over." Levi hated seeing him like this.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Erwin spoke up.

Hange entered. They didn't bat an eye that the captain was already here. There was a strange expression on their face. A bearer of bad news.

"Mike and his squad haven't reported back." Hange sighed.

"I see." Erwin was saddened.

"Anyone else missing?" Levi inquired.

"Just that squad. Everyone else returned. I wanted to know if you wish to send a squad to search for them."

"No. Not at this time. We can't afford to lose more in search for them. Maybe once things have calmed down." Erwin hated not knowing, but he had to think of the rest of his men.

"That can take forever." Levi grit his teeth.

"Unless Mike returns, Hange will act as my second in command." The commander continued, ignoring the anger fuming with the captain.

"Yes, Sir." Hange understood.

"We don't even know if Mike is alive or not and you want - "

"Levi." The tone in Erwin's voice made the fury wither away.

He stared. And for the first time Levi felt his heart waver. Before him Erwin appeared broken. His eyes didn't hold the flame that had burned so brightly before. All that was left were cinder and ashes.

And he couldn't bear to see it. Levi stood up abruptly. Hange tensed, unsure if the captain actually would or not. Erwin silently stared at the smaller form.

Levi stormed out. He left behind the cane in his hurry. His heart raced as the fury began to build up. He needed to take his anger out on something.

So he reached the training area with human dummies. After a few warm up stretches Levi unleashed all his fury. Because of his leg the captian relied more on his punches.

He didn't know how long he had been at it. Levi felt that it had been a while with the layer of sweat building up. He ended up tossing aside his shirt when it got too sticky.

"Captain? Would you prefer a sparring partner?" Eren approached with hesitation.

"I won't go easy on you, brat." Levi hissed as he turned to stare at the titan shifter.

"I can take a beating." Eren didn't mind.

"Only rule: no legs. No kicks, and definitely no sweep kicks." Levi raised his arms as he took a stance.

"Got it, captain." He agreed as he took his own stance.

Levi started a bit easier than usual. He was testing how hard Eren could take a hit as he blocked with ease. With each passing punch the captain unleashed a little more of his strength into the attack.

As Eren proved not to be a pushover Levi decided he had enough playing around. By this point others began to sit by and watch. The majority were the ones that had trained the same time as Eren.

For the most part Eren didn't punch back often. He endured the hits as he kept his arms up in a block. Levi began to grow frustrated by this.

"Damn it, hit back!" He snapped as he swung fast.

Whatever made Eren hesitate gave way at the outburst. The determination shone in his eyes as he blocked with one arm. The other swung hard and fast. Levi blocked with growing anticipation.

He felt the raw power. And finally Levi felt the challenge that he had been craving. Together they were a blur of movement as they danced. A new sense of admiration for both of them filled the air.

At first they seemed to be on even ground. Neither could gain the upper hand. Levi began to rely more on his speed. This seemed to give him the upper hand finally.

Levi ended it after he unleashed a flurry of punches. The last one ended by breaking through the guard and hit Eren hard in the chest. The captain pulled away, slightly feeling guilty as he gathered his breath.

"Levi." Erwin called out, drawing his attention.

"You should be in bed." He scowled.

"And you shouldn't be taking your anger out like that." The commander bit back.

"Oh, cocky, aren't we?" Levi huffed. "Two cripples arguing over what we can and can't do. What a poor sight we make."

His words made some flinch. A harsh reality he made. Even Hange grew nervous at the display the captain made. However it only made the commander infuriated.

"Enough with the attitude. We need to talk." Erwin glared.

That fire within his heart was burning. Levi couldn't help but admire it. Even though it meant he was being burned right now, he felt that as long as the fire in Erwin's heart rose high then he continued to be the beacon to follow.

And like that the fury was calmed. Levi gathered his shirt. Eren offered a small towel, which the captian accepted gratefully. After wiping his face Levi followed Erwin.

A sad sight, indeed. Erwin missing an arm, while Levi was limping. However despite this no one saw them as weak. If anything some watched on with pity.

Soon as they entered the commander's quarters Erwin remained stern. Levi casually sat in the chair at the desk. Odd, not long ago he was the one on the bed and Erwin was in the chair. Now the roles were switched.

"Explain yourself. That wasn't very professional of you as captain to allow your anger to get the best of you. I suppose it's a blessing Eren can withstand your power."

"I hated seeing you look so defeated. Usually you hold yourself together. This time was different." Levi knew better than to lie.

"So it made you feel a certain way." Erwin softened his gaze. He looked down, contemplating. "We all know eventually it would come down to me being vulnerable. I didn't realize it would make you angry."

"I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at myself. I vowed to protect you if need be. And now look at us, we're both crippled." Levi felt the fury bubbling again.

"You at least can heal. You're almost there. And we both know better. The circumstances beyond our control made us this way."

"Even so, seeing you like that made me die a little inside." The captain admitted.

"...Levi, you might just outlive me."

"Don't get all suicidal on me old man." Levi spat. His eyes glared icily at Erwin.

"I'm not. But we need to come to the realization that with one arm, I am not as capable as the rest of us."

"Then step down. No one will fault you for it. Step down, before we lose you." Levi despised himself at this moment.

He was begging. They both knew it. And Levi never begged before in his life. His pride never allowed it. And yet here he was, begging.

"I can't do that. You know it's not within me to give up." Erwin stood firm.

"Damn it! What am I supposed to do without you? You dragged me into this mess! I'm only here because of you!" Levi snapped.

"You continue to fight. There are others that will rely upon you. You need to be the strength for them to find their own." His blue eyes fixated on the captain.

Damn it all. Levi grit his teeth. This wasn't fair. He could feel the fury bubbling near the surface again.

"I am only strong because of you." Levi reminded.

"Then it is time you've outgrown me. And soon. I at least wish to make it to Wall Maria. Afterwards, who knows? Maybe I will retire. But not before we reclaim that wall."

"Damn it, Erwin! No one can replace you! Not Hange, not Eren, not Armin!" Levi yelled.

"Interesting that you bring up Armin at all." Erwin latched onto this detail.

"Don't you dare distract me!" He knew what he was doing. "I've been around you nearly our entire lives!"

Erwin breathed in to calm himself. Between the two he was always the calm to Levi's fury. In truth the captain always felt angry. He only hid it very well after years of help with Erwin's careful and patient guidance.

"I don't want to leave you behind. I am merely trying to help you come to terms with the prospect if it ever happens."

The words tore at his heart. It was greater than all of the losses combined in his career in the Survey Corps. And a determination burned with greater fury within Levi.

"It won't happen! For as long as I am alive you won't perish!" He promised.

Erwin's eyes saddened. And Levi couldn't stay there anymore. He stormed out again, this time slamming the door on the way out. He made his way to make tea in hopes to calm himself down.

"Captain? Is everything okay?" Eren asked as the petite male entered the kitchen. He was sitting with Mikasa and Armin.

"Not now." Levi didn't want to talk.

"Is it about Erwin?"

"Shut. Up." Levi glared icily at them. He had been too preoccupied with gathering what he needed to register who asked.

All three paled. With his point across that he was in a mood the captian returned to his tea. The silence was uncomfortable in the kitchen.

Even as he began to sip away Levi's mood hadn't improved. He had enough of making the recruits feel uncomfortable with his attitude so he gathered his cup and left them be.

Later in the evening the three of them found the captain in the stalls. He didn't acknowledge their presence. Although part of him was curious as to why Mikasa and Armin followed Eren.

"May I ask what's got you so moody, captain?" Eren inquired gently.

"This is only between me and Erwin." This was too personal to share.

"...Will he retire soon?" Armin caught on.

"You know that isn't within his nature. Not when his dream hasn't come true." Levi hated how observant they were.

"And then afterwards?"

"Then I will force him out of his office and drag his ass to his property and keep him there."

"Is it bad I would like to see you drag him?" Eren wondered, mischief in his eyes.

"You can even help, if you want to have front row seats." Levi offered as his mood simmered down with the mental image.

It was something to look forward to.