Chapter 2: Dawn
They stood at the edge of something humanity had not seen in centuries. The smell of salt and sea mist washed over them, tossing their hair and clinging to their faces. It truly was a sight to be seen, more than he ever imagined from the stories she told him from her mother. The water glistened like a bed of sapphires and diamonds and the sand was a sparkling white. Their boots crunched in the sand and their worn cloaks fluttered behind them like banners in the wind. They stood together like that for a while, just staring out at the azure waters and the tossing white waves. The sound filled their ears, drowning everything else out, yet it was calming. No words needed to be spoken regarding the majestic beauty they beheld.
Levi turned to glance at his companion, his subordinate, seeing her twist the hem of her apron anxiously. He needn't speak more than a few soft words, unheard over the sounds of the crashing waves but she understood. She always did. She gave him a fleeting grin that was so bright it rivaled glancing at the sun until she turned away, her golden hair flashing in the breeze. Like a child without a care in the world, Petra ran forward, kicking off her boots and pulling up her pants until she met the water. She let out a short yelp as the coldness hit her, but she cared little. Soon after she shrugged off her jacket and spread out her arms as if she were a bird, free as could be. Levi watched silently as she twirled around and let her golden hair tangle in the breeze. She seemed so happy, ecstatic even. The look she wore on her face was what he imagined to be that of a bride on the day of her wedding. He could almost picture it, except she was dressed not in a soiled military uniform but a flowing white dress with ribbons in her hair. Although the ocean was magnificent, Levi still considered Petra to be an even more beautiful sight with her hair like sunlight and eyes like golden honey. Levi shook his head, erasing the vision from his mind. It would do him no good to become disillusioned by comparing her to a bride in this moment.
Levi could hear the sound of horses in the distance, soon to catch up with them. Petra turned to him, holding out her hand, gesturing to him. Reluctantly Levi walked towards her with with no intention of going in the water. She graciously took his hand and slowly led him into the surf. He still had his boots on. The back of his neck prickled from the chill of the wind off the water and from the worry of they'll be here soon, they'll surely see, but Petra's grip reassured him and her gaze put him at ease. It seemed to say, don't worry, it's all over, just relax. And so he let his head fall against hers so that her ginger hair tickled his face and her arm wrapped around his waist, supporting him. Her breaths were slow and even, relaxed as they stood, entwined and soaking in the other's presence. Even Levi could not help taking in a long, deep breath, letting the fresh sea breeze fill his lungs.
Looking out at the stretch of ocean, it seemed symbolic in a way. They could no see past what lay before them. The blue horizon was so far away, and yet just barely visible. Everything seemed foggy but he knew that it would all be revealed if they traveled out that way. It was like a metaphor for the future. Now that the fight against the titans was over, the future lay stretched out before them, ready for its waters to be tested.
"This is my last expedition," Levi said quietly, causing her to look at him in surprise. "I turned in the paperwork the other day. Erwin already approved it." Petra searched his eyes, trying to decipher his intentions. Levi sighed, breaking eye contact and looking out towards the clear blue horizon. "There's no need for soldiers like us anymore. They don't need heroes or fucking champions with no battle to fight. I served my time, and there's no need for me."
Petra's gaze hardened at his words. "So you're leaving?" His only response was silence. Her grasp on him tightened. "What are you going to do? Where will you go?"
Levi made a noncommittal grunt, like he was resisting shrugging. They continued to stand there quietly for a few moments longer with the breeze the only discernible noise. Levi swallowed hard, his throat suddenly very dry.
"Do you remember that conversation we had the night before the 55th expedition?"
Petra turned to look at him, her eyes wide. "Captain?"
Levi's eyes flickered down to his boots, washed with sand and seawater. "You said if we made it out of this war you'd want to settle down and have a house in the countryside, perhaps by the ocean if we made it there."
Petra was rendered speechless. She couldn't believe he remembered that. "I- yes, I did say that, Captain. But what do you-"
"You also once said that you would devote yourself completely to your captain. You even wrote your father about it." Petra's face blushed red, extremely embarrassed. Levi put his hand firmly on her shoulder, his face stern. "So my question is: what are you going to do after this?"
Petra stood stock-still, petrified at the implications of what he asked her. Did he just ask her if…? Blinking herself out of her stupor, the fire returned to her eyes as she pushed back against him. "That was a real shitty way of asking if I would follow you, even outside of the military." She glared at him, challenging him to counter her. Levi rolled his eyes at her antics. He always found himself drawn into her fiery feistiness while simultaneously attracted to her bashfulness.
Petra grabbed his wrist and slowly brought his hand from her shoulder so that it hovered over her heart. "You're a fool to even question what I vowed all those years ago," she murmured.
Levi scoffed. "I'm a fool for falling in love with a subordinate of mine." Their eyes locked, the air around them almost vibrating from the tension.
"You l-"
"Will you follow me into a new life, not as a subordinate, but as an-" Lei hesitated, the word caught on the roof of his mouth. "Equal?"
Petra's breath hitched and her heartbeat immediately accelerated beneath his hand. Levi's lips twisted into the faintest of smirks. Just as she opened her mouth to respond there came a shout behind them. The rest of the party had caught up to them. The sound of footsteps reached their ears and several voices called out for him. None of them were aware that once they returned to the rest of civilization behind the walls, he would no longer be their captain. Before they broke apart Petra grasped the lapel of his jacket and leaned forward to whisper into his ear.
"Yes." Levi shivered, not from the heat of her breath but from the profoundness of her answer.
Petra turned around, going to retrieve her jacket and boots. She tossed her jacket over her shoulder and looked back at her captain, still standing like a statue, the water quietly washing over his feet. He looked at peace.
"You needn't ever ask, Captain."
