Thank you soooooo much to those that have followed, favorited, read, and reviewed this story! It has gotten well over 1k hits, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I was rereading some of my older works, and it is kind of crazy how much my writing has changed since then, but I still love writing this type of story.
How about that last episode of AoT? I am so happy to hear that Season Four will have a part two come out. I cannot wait!
So, to address a question that had be asked, no, Levi is not a reincarnation of Endymion. For the purposes of this story, all the Senshi live on through Usagi/Serenity. They were not reincarnated since their power went to her in order for her to become Sailor Cosmos. Levi just reminds her, at times, of Endymion's protective nature.
Don't forget to read, review, favorite, follow. Thank you again lovely readers!
As the story turns…
Chapter Six: Tension
Levi had tossed and turned throughout the night. No matter what he did, he could not get the girl off his mind. After overhearing her words last night, after she healed him and Erwin, he couldn't believe she was an enemy. But what if that was what she wanted? What if he was playing right into her?
His mind was battling itself. On one side he wanted nothing more than to trust her. Open up fully to her, help her, and to know more about her. He wanted to understand what had caused her so much pain. On the other side he was dead set against trusting her - his reputation as a leader on the line. He could not let some woman who came from nowhere break down his walls and his ability to think critically. The Scouts trusted him. Erwin trusted him. He could not give in so easily to her, no matter how much he wanted to.
Levi let out a frustrated growl as he sat up from the bed. He just wanted to know more. He needed to know more. What was she doing to him? He punched the pillow on his bed as he tried to think of what to do. He could see the sun rising, and he knew he had to get up and begin the day. Everything was up in the air now. They were standing over a precipice without any idea if they would fall or be saved. Three shifters. Three Titan shifters were after Humanity's Last Hope. They had to come from somewhere, but where? Were there more? What exactly was the government hiding? Would they ever find out the truth?
He sighed as he swung his legs over the bed. A knock came at his door, and Levi couldn't help but roll his eyes at being unable to just have a moment to himself.
"Name and business." Levi's voice gruff clearly showing his disinterest in whoever was on the other side of the door. He wasn't really in the mood to deal with anyone.
"Erwin, and that is a cheery mood you are sporting Levi." The voice of the Commander coming through.
Levi just rubbed his temples as he said, "Come in."
Erwin came through the door and simply looked at Levi. "I don't think I have ever seen you this disheveled. Rough night?"
"What do you think?" Levi snapped at the Commander.
"I think you got about as much sleep as I did." Erwin sighed. "Too many moving parts. My brain can't sort through them all. I still haven't determined whether Serenity is a blessing or a curse, but I am grateful that she helped me with my arm. I just...what is she hiding?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Levi deadpanned. "I am, however, determined to find out."
"Why? To protect us or to satisfy your own curiosity about her?" Erwin questioned.
"Both." Levi answered honestly, offering nothing further than that.
"Well, it may have to wait. We will be going to meet with Commander Pyxis this afternoon." Erwin said. "Apparently Hange and Connie have important information to debrief us on. We may have an answer to where the Titans came from inside Wall Rose."
"I hope we do have answers. I'm tired of only having more questions." Levi whispered. The weight of all this beginning to feel too much.
"Same." Erwin responded. "I'll leave you to get ready. We head out at noon."
Levi nodded as he watched the Commander go. He stood up and began his morning routine. Trying to get her off his mind.
After Eren left, Serenity could only stare at where he exited. She tried to go back to sleep, but her mind was racing at this point.
She needed to get out of there. Needed to try and figure out the situation and see how to combat it. While she could just leave, she wanted them to trust her - to help her. She didn't know what else she could do to show them she wasn't a danger to them. If she came out with the truth about who she was, would that help? Or would it just hinder?
She had been staring at the wall for ages. She knew this because the light inside the room was growing. The sun had risen, and a new day was about to start. Her stomach growled, and she couldn't help but chuckle. She was still a massive food lover even after all this time.
She picked up one of the books and started to read it again. Even just as a distraction to take her mind off her hunger. Who knows? Maybe she overlooked something the first time around. It couldn't hurt since she had nothing better to do but sit and wait.
Unbeknownst to her, there was another in the room with her. Try as he might, Levi could not just let it be. He needed to see her. He still had some time left before he had to leave for the meeting with Pyxis. His eyes took her in. Crunched over one of the books he had given her. Her hair loose from its previous ponytail as it cascaded around her.
She chewed on her nails as she tried to take in what the book was telling her. One eyebrow raised in skepticism as she didn't believe the words that were written on the page.
"Have the books helped any?" The voice she had come to know cut through her thoughts. Her eyes met those of Levi's, and she offered a small smile.
"You know, it is rude to spy on a lady Captain Ackerman." Serenity joked with the man.
"My apologies Miss Moon." Levi responded. Playfulness behind his eyes as he smirked at her. "I was just wondering if the books were of any use or if they simply bored you even more."
"They are...interesting." Serenity said slowly. "I was about to start reading them again to see if I missed something, but to be honest it only created more questions in my head."
"I was wondering if that would be the case. The Commander has this belief that the government has been hiding the true history from us. He has been trying to prove that theory for years." Levi said.
"I would have to agree with him. This history doesn't make sense to me. How can you not know where Titans come from? And if no one goes far beyond these walls, how do we know that there aren't other humans out there?" Serenity asked. "I mean, it could very well be that other humans are sending these creatures to you. For one reason or another."
"But, how would they? What kind of technology or power would they have to have in order to do this?" Levi's eyes were staring out the window. Trying to process the way her brain was working.
"I don't know." Serenity said. "Kind of hard for me to investigate the situation locked inside a jail."
Levi's eyes turned sharply towards hers. "If you would just be upfront and honest about who you are or what you are, perhaps we could change that. I know you know more - there is so much you are not telling us. Why? You say it is dangerous information, but that doesn't make sense. Tell us what you know, and maybe then we can move on to the next step of letting you out."
"You honestly think it is just that easy?" Serenity shook her head at the man.
"And why wouldn't it be?" Levi bit back. "If you are no threat to us, then why would it be difficult for you to tell us the truth? Unless of course you are a threat, and you are trying to conceal your true motives."
Serenity could feel her anger starting to rise. She didn't want to give into it, but she truly had felt that at least the Captain was warming up to her. That maybe he didn't completely trust her, but he didn't see her as an enemy. Was all that just in her head? Even Eren had the decency to step back and wait until she was ready, but maybe that was because he understood what it was like to be her. A freak. An unknown.
Serenity's eyes narrowed on the man. "I am not going through this again. I have told you and others that I pose no threat. I have helped you. Healed you and the Commander. I threw myself in front of a damn Titan to protect you, and yet we are still at this point. We are still at this conversation. I will do whatever needs to be done to help humanity, know that. With or without your help." Her breathing was coming out fast at this point as she could feel her patience wearing thin.
"And what will you do behind those bars without our help?" Levi asked.
Serenity just rolled her eyes at him. "Answer me this, Captain, if someone you did not know came to you and asked you to spill your entire life story, would you do it? Without hesitation?"
Levi's face faltered as he looked at the girl. He opened his mouth the respond, but nothing came out.
"You wouldn't." Serenity answered for him. "I know that, and we have only just met. There are things, memories, pain, secrets that you would not tell even your closest friend, let alone a perfect stranger. So, don't you dare try to act as if I am being the unreasonable one here."
Levi stepped closer to her without thinking. "You forget that you are the one being held right now." Levi said simply. No emotion showing on his face, but his eyes were on fire. "I am grateful that you helped me, and I recognize that you have been nothing but understandable to the situation you are currently in, but what you fail to realize is that this goes beyond whether or not we can trust you. If you haven't noticed by now, lies fly through here. People we thought we could trust turned on us. That Titan that carried Eren away - member of the Scouts. There were two others with him that were also shifters. Also, members of the Scouts. Plotting against us, so please forgive us if we are a little on edge about trusting someone who we cannot explain."
Serenity took a step closer as she placed her hands on the bars in front of her, closing the gap between the two once again. "Look, I understand things are tense. I understand you don't know me, but recognize that I don't know you either. My story is dark. It is complicating. It is dangerous. I have enemies out there that I don't want to drag to your front doorstep, because if that happened, the destruction that would follow would be beyond your comprehension. So no, I can't just go telling you my life story when I don't know if I can trust you with it. If Chaos finds me here, then everything will be ruined."
Levi stepped forward. His frustration showing all over his face as he got within an inch of her. He was getting somewhere, and he was determined to pull more information from her. Serenity's eyes held steady with his. She would not be intimidated by him.
Levi's eyes bored into hers. She was unwavering. If she felt fear, she didn't show it. Her lavender smell greeted his nostrils as he tried to get a handle on himself. The air was tense, but he needed to push her. He needed to know who she was.
"Trust." Levi scoffed in a low voice. "How can you expect us to trust you when you won't trust us?! Chaos? Your demon? Are you even telling the truth about that? Nothing you say makes sense."
"And nothing you say makes sense!" Serenity yelled out. Her face coming closer to his. "Nothing in those books makes sense. Nothing about this makes sense. I was supposed to come back to a thriving city. Technology booming. Humanity thriving towards new advancements, yet this is what I am greeted with? Population decimated and the remainder being held in grand cages. History erased and rewritten to suite whoever did this, and all of this...ALL OF THIS...is something I could have prevented had I not been running from my past. Had I not been running from that day when I watched everyone I ever loved die - at the hands of THAT demon."
Flames burned behind her eyes. Tears streaming down her face. She had lost control of herself. She had said too much, but she couldn't contain it any longer. She was tired. She was beyond frustrated at the situation she was in. Her cheeks were flushed from the embarrassment she felt at her outburst, but she didn't break eye contact with Levi. She wanted him to see the truth behind her words. The exhaustion she was feeling. She couldn't take much more of this, being interrogated at every turn. She would not yield to allowing them to know her secret, and if they would not yield, then they were at an impasse. She would escape and find her own way of saving them.
Levi could only stare. He didn't know what to do with someone crying, but he found himself getting lost in the deep blue ocean of her eyes. Now they were getting somewhere. Some more cracks had been uncovered. Was she from the past? Where else had she been if not here? He wanted to push more. His brain telling him to keep going. To get more information, but no words passed his lips. Even through the tears and the anger, she was still stunning. He could tell she was speaking truth, and he hated that he pushed her to this point, but he wanted, no needed, to know her.
Without his own brain's permission, his hand lifted to caress her face. He wiped the tears from her eyes. Serenity's eyes widened at the contact, but she did not pull back. It felt familiar. The same caress she felt last night as she was sleeping. She blushed fiercely as Levi cupped her cheek. She leaned into the touch as she felt her anger slipping away. Her heart calmed as she continued to look at him.
His eyes flickered to her lips. Studying them. They were puffy from her emotional outburst, and she was chewing on her bottom lip. Before he could stop himself, he leaned closer and brushed his lips with hers. She gasped at the contact but didn't break it. Her eyes fluttered shut as her senses went into overdrive. His lips were soft and warm. She felt herself melting into it as she reached through the bars to caress his hair. Her stomach filled with butterflies as his lips took hers gently. As quickly as the kiss began, it was over. He pulled back as he realized what he had just done.
"I...I'm sorry." He stuttered out. "I shouldn't have done that."
At the sound of his voice, Serenity's eyes flew open. She backed away as her mind caught up with her. He had kissed her. She hadn't stopped him. No one had touched her lips like that since Endymion. What was she doing? She couldn't get involved with this. With him. She couldn't allow those feelings to be awakened again. It frightened her. She didn't want another person to be taken from her. She felt like a cheater even though Endymion had been dead for over a millennium. She shook her head to regain her composure.
"No, I'm sorry. I allowed my emotions to get the better of me." She whispered. Not meeting his eyes.
Levi sighed. He wanted nothing more than to continue what he had started. Her lips were sweet, her hand tender as it combed through his hair. But he could see the inner conflict playing out across her face. He couldn't blame her. He was unsure how to feel about what just happened. He had lost his own composure as well. What was she doing to him? He has never been like this. Never felt like this. So, why her? Was it because she was beautiful? That she was a mystery he couldn't solve? The way she seemed to care so fiercely, but so determined to remain withdrawn? He backed away to try to create more space between them. The tension he had felt earlier finally releasing.
"No need to apologize." He said. "I pushed you to that point. Pushed myself to that point if I am being honest. I lost control, but I just wanted answers. Deep down I know you are not a threat, but I can't help but think of what is best for the Scouts. I can't allow my own personal feelings to get in the way of my duty."
She nodded her head in acknowledgement. Awkwardness filled the room as they continued to avoid looking at each other.
"I know you need answers. I wish I felt comfortable to give them. I also wish you would trust me and let me help." Serenity said, finally gaining the courage to look at him again. "I know things are scary, and you don't know who you can and can't trust, but if you keep locking up those that are different, you will never gain valuable allies. You will push away a hand that could make the difference between victory and defeat. Chains and bars can only hold for so long in a time like this. Sometimes you need to take a risk to move forward. Sometimes you need to put your pride aside and learn to have faith in others. That is a lesson I need to learn as well."
Levi looked at her and nodded. "We have a long road ahead of us, but I hope we can come to a place where we can believe in each other."
Serenity smiled softly at him. "I hope so too."
Levi's gaze once again became lost in hers. He started to reach for her again but was stopped when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned behind him to see the Commander walking towards them. His hand fell to his side as he cleared his throat. He stood up straighter and gave a salute to Erwin.
Erwin just looked between the two. He wondered what had just happened to cause them both to look so flustered. He had a tray of food in his hands, and Serenity couldn't stop the loud grumbling that echoed off the walls. She gave an embarrassed smile as Erwin came closer. Chuckling at her.
"I am sorry it was not brought to you sooner. Things have been a little hectic since yesterday." Erwin said. "It is not the best food, but it will help you keep up your strength."
He passed the food to her through the bars. Serenity eagerly took it and made her way to the table. Biting off a huge chunk of bread before she even sat down. Levi only rolled his eyes at her while Erwin laughed. "Come on Levi, let's leave her to her meal. It is time we went to meet with Pyxis." Erwin stated as he walked out of the room.
Levi turned back to her. Her cheeks filled to the brim as she downed the food. "Tch." He smirked at her. "Slow down before you choke."
Her face turned red with a blush, but she nodded at the Captain as she slowed down her assault on the meal provided to her.
He gave her a genuine smile before saying "I'll be back soon. I'll try to bring some more books to occupy your mind."
"Thank you." She said as she watched him leave the room.
Commander Pyxis stood in his office looking out at the city. There was something in the air. It felt as if they were a little closer to unveiling the truth, but they still could not grasp it. He heard a knock on his door, already anticipating who it was, he said "Enter."
Hange, Erwin, Levi, and Connie made their way into Pyxis's office. The leader of the Garrison was waiting for a report on the latest expedition and whether there was an answer to how Titans got into Wall Rose.
"Pardon the intrusion." Erwin said as all of them filed in.
"Well, there are a few more heads here than I anticipated, but I am sure there is a reason for it." Pyxis responded. "So, what news of Wall Rose? Were we able to recover Jaegar?"
"We did recover Jaeger, but at great cost." Erwin sighed. Unconsciously grasping at his now missing arm. "As far as Wall Rose..." Erwin hesitated, trying to find the words. "There was no hole found in the wall."
Pyxis eyebrows raised at the statement. "Then enlighten me as to how they were able to breach that wall."
"In order to do that, there is someone you should meet." Erwin reached behind him and brought Connie forward.
"State your name." Erwin commanded the boy beside him.
"Sir! Connie Springer, sir!" He gave an impressive salute as he stood before Commander Pyxis. "Hundred and fourth Cadet Corps!"
"Connie here is originally from Ragako." Hange explained.
"Ah, yes. Where the invasion seemed to have begun, correct?" Pyxis added.
"Yes, sir." Hange continued, hoping that Pyxis would be open to what she was about to suggest. "In fact, he's corroborated a valuable piece of evidence in that regard. I think you'll find his story supports our hypothesis. Soldier, if you would." Hange nodded her head towards Connie, giving him permission to speak about what he saw.
Connie swallowed thickly before he began to tell his tale.
"I am from there, as has already been said." Connie started. "When I heard about Titans breaching Wall Rose, I immediately tried to make my way towards my village. I wanted to check on my family and the people there. When I got there, there were no people. Buildings were destroyed, but there were no bodies. No blood. Horses were still in the stables. At first, I thought the villagers must have ran, but ultimately I realize that didn't make sense."
Pyxis only nodded at the boy. Encouraging him to go on.
"There was one Titan there. One that was so off balance that there was no way it could walk or move. It was laying on top of my house - crushing it." Connie's voice choked up as he tried to continue. "There was no way it could have gotten there on its own."
"So, how would you explain its appearance there?" Pyxis questioned.
"It...it looked like my mother." Connie stuttered out. "Same features, and it even said 'welcome home' to me. It spoke to me."
"Come again?" Pyxis said as he blinked at the boy. "You're saying the Titans responsible for this were the citizens of Ragako?"
Hange only nodded at the Garrison Commander.
"I see." Pyxis hummed. "So, in actuality, Titans are human beings."
"Well, we don't have proof yet." Hange said. Allowing the idea to sink in over the people in the room.
Levi stood up quickly and ran a hand through his hair. His mind once again found Serenity. She was right. They were human. How had she seen it and they hadn't? Perhaps they really did need her help.
"Great. Perfect." Frustration filled Levi's voice. "I've spent all this time. All this energy, and the things I've been carving through like carrion were people." He felt sick to his stomach. How did this happen? Who did this?
"Look, we don't know for certain." Hange said, but Levi knew better. Hange was one of the most intelligent officers in the military, not that he would tell her that to her face. Her hunches were usually spot on. Coupled with Serenity's observations, he was certain they had all been killing humans this entire time.
Connie's eyes were watering from what had been discussed. His poor mother was stuck there. No longer human, but Titan. They had no way of figuring out how it happened, or why. And if they didn't know how it happened, then how could they fix it?
"Now what?" Hange asked.
Levi's eyes found Erwin's face, and he couldn't believe what he saw. "What's with that smile?" He asked the Commander incredulously.
"Oh, it's nothing." Erwin said. The smile never leaving his lips. "Just...seems to me we've taken one more step towards the truth."
"Wow. One whole step, huh?" Levi snapped at him. "At this pace we'll run out of people before we actually reach it."
"Everything comes at a price." Erwin said. "One day we'll get close enough to break through. The wall barring us from the truth will tumble."
And there's another chapter! Please keep in mind, as has been stated before, this will not follow the anime/manga of AoT to the "T". I will take liberties here and there to adjust the narrative. Next up, will Serenity finally get to leave her cell and learn how to fight Titans? Stay tuned!
-Lizzy