CHAPTER 6

The jogging was starting to take a toll on me. We'd be running for at least a couple of hours, and though we'd taken a few minutes to rest every so often, I still felt tired out.

My head wound was beginning to hurt again, and I had to keep retying my makeshift bandage around my head. The dried blood was caked on my forehead and hair, making me feel sticky and incredibly uncomfortable. Sweat ran down my face, and occasionally, it would encounter some blood. Occasionally, it would make blood run down my face too, staining me and surroundings.

Whenever we found a cluster of trees, we would use our 3D Maneuvering Gear to launch us farther. We didn't know how much longer we'd survive. Even a titan-killing genius like Levi would still be taking his chances to spend another night or two outside the walls. It would be even riskier with both of us stuck out here. Being alone would mean easier escape, being at two would mean having a comrade to help you out in a difficult situation. Being outside, would most likely mean death.

I tried to smile, trying to convince myself that everything was okay. I remember Hanji telling me that if you smiled, it would make your brain think your happy. Even if it was fake, I could really use some happiness right now.

I forced myself to smile as we ran along, holding my blades by my side, the wind blowing through my hair.

"Oi, Petra. Why are you smiling? I hope you're not going to do anything crazy."

"Levi," I said through gritted teeth.

"Is that what you look like when you're trying to shit?"

I sighed. There was no dissuading Levi from making the occasional joke, and at times it could even lighten up the gloomy air on an especially...awful expedition, but now?

"You always make them at the wrong time." I said blandly, trying to sound level headed.

Levi glanced over at me, and observed me, not slowing down. "Do I? It seems like a perfect time to me. Being stuck in Titan Country with you, making jokes, I think it's okay."

His simple comment was enough to make me blush, and I turned away from him. "Whatever...Captain...Levi..." I tried to cover my face with the sides of my hair, my expression completely flustered. I could imagine the amusement on his face—not quite smiling, but not quite that usual expression he has, not the bored look, nor the disgusted look. A specific look. His look. Oh God...his look...

"Your face is red, like a strawberry." he said aimlessly.

"Wha—" I quickly sheathed my blade, cupping my hand over my mouth in shock. "My face isn't—" then in the reflection of my sword...

"I'm red because I'm hot, sweaty, and covered in blood." I stammered out, desperately trying to say it with conviction.

"The first part might be true. I also didn't say it wasn't."

I felt my face become hotter. My entire body was almost turned away from him at this point.

"I could be joking." he said. "But I never said I wasn't."

"Just, stop, Captain..." I moaned.

"Never. Until the day you're gone."

I turned back at him, convinced that my face was not like a strawberry. "That'll be a long time." I replied shyly.

"It better be." he said sternly.

Then I started smiling, but this time it was real.

But, of course, the world came crashing down on us, once again.

Over Levi's shoulder, I spotted a titan, probably a ten meter class, making its way towards us. "Levi!" I cried out, pointing behind him.

He turned around immediately, then quickly analyzed the situation.

"There's a small clump of trees ahead—could we just wait there?" I suggested. Its footsteps grew louder as it approached, and I felt scared. My hands were shaking slightly, and I was extremely nervous. I didn't try to hide the panic from my voice.

"It'll be too tall." he replied. "There's no way to avoid fighting it."

"No, no, Levi." I murmured. "Captain?" my voice was shaking. "Captain, let's just try it. If it's too tall, we can still kill it then, we'll still be a bit higher than the nape, we'll still be okay!"

"Those trees aren't very tall. They're at most five meters tall, they won't help us."

"Captain! Are you certain? Captain, it's approaching! Shouldn't we—"

"Petra, remember this. I'm not certain anything. I may think that my plan will work, but there's as good of a chance that one if not both of us will die. It's up to you whom you trust." he turned to me, and locked eyes with my eyes, brimming with tears. "You can either trust me, or your own instincts. I haven't been doing this much longer than you, Petra. If you believe that you'll have a better outcome, you can go on your own. I don't know how this'll end. I might die, and you might live. Do what you'll regret the least, Petra."

Levi grabbed the back of my neck, and pulled me closer to him. "Just try not to die, whatever you do, Petra. Just remember that you have to go back inside the walls, that you will come back out another time, that you will be a great Survey Corps member, and that you won't die right here, because of that little bastard. Do you understand?"

I felt a single tear spill out. I couldn't hold that one in anymore, and I let it slip down my cheek, tracing down my neck, soaking into the green fabric of my cloak. I closed my eyes. We had stopped, but the titan was still approaching. I looked up at Levi.

"Of course I understand, Captain. I won't let you down."

"You could never let me down, Petra." and after that, he kissed me.

He pulled me towards him, keeping his hand resting on the back on my neck, never letting go. Another tear slipped out when I closed my eyes, but I didn't care. All I could think about was Levi, his lips pressed against mine. His kiss was so sweet, somehow playing on the taste of tea, the tea he would always drink—black tea. Somehow it had stayed. It also tasted like the things that made up a captain of the Survey Corps—sweat, blood, and...and...freedom. Everything the Survey Corps strived for: freedom.

His other arm enveloped me, holding me tight against him. It was so hot out, and I felt so sticky, but pressed against his jacket, his shirt—pressed against him—I felt so comfortable, like I could've stayed there forever.

When we pulled apart, we were still standing so close, I could feel his heavy breath. His palm was on the nape of my neck, his fingertips playing with the tips of my short hair. The nape of the neck may be death for titans, but for me, it reminded me that this was just the beginning of my life. That there was so much more to do. That I couldn't die, and wouldn't die here.

I stared into his grey eyes, and I just couldn't let go, I couldn't break this spell. Forget the titan. Forget death. Forget all of that.

I moved forward again, kissing his lips one more time, but pulling away quickly. He stared back at me, not dropping his gaze, his left arm still wrapped around me. Levi tilt his head down, resting his forehead against mine, strands of his hair tickling my face.

"Petra…" he said gently. I understood from that single word: the titan's arrival was imminent. I slipped out of his arm, somewhat reluctant. I had to focus though. This was a life or death situation.

We weren't too far from the clump of trees, and I flew over to it. I landed on one of the highest branches, perched up there like a bird. Levi had followed me, but was lower down.

The footsteps were a constant noise, never ceasing. It almost followed the rhythm of my heartbeat—beating fast, but constant, like a drum. The constant, steady, fast beats of a drum. I looked up at the sky, smiling. The world could be so beautiful. Yes, we were locked inside a cage for almost our entire life. Yes, we were out risking our lives for a hopeless cause. Yes, we were called freeloaders, though the price of our advantages could be our life. But the world, the world could also be good.

The titan came closer to us, and I could tell that Levi had estimated correctly. My tree branch was low enough so that it was around the stomach of the titan. If it wanted to, all it would have to do is lift up its meaty paw, and grab me. That's all it'd have to do to end my life.

When it approached, I glided across, only shooting out one side. It hit my wire, falling, and I pulled it back, shooting myself to the tree across, cutting out the back of its knees.

It was an awful sight, seeing it's knees buckle, the blood sprinkling itself around me. I tried to keep that dreamlike daze I was in at first, but I knew it wouldn't last long.

I heard another swipe of blades, and the nape of the neck cleaning flew off, dropping to the side.

I saw Levi through the steam, his blades reaching up towards the sky, like wings almost.

I landed, skittering towards the tree, almost hitting it. I woke myself up, and tried to shake myself out of that nice trance, like warm milk before bed.

Without even realizing it, I was making my way towards Levi, who met me halfway, breaking through the thick clouds.

I walked into his arms, which wrapped tight around me. "I trust you." I murmured softly.

I felt my forehead getting wetter, the steam most likely making it moist. I felt uncomfortable, the heat making me feel slightly dizzy. My breathing was soft and steady, and I could feel all my muscles starting to relax, but my mouth was dry. Water...

But it was steam that was filling my bandage. My knees started to buckle, and my head slumped against Levi's neck.

Quickly, he lowered himself down, making sure not to drop me as he did so. My hands hung by my sides, and my blades were stained with blood, wiping against both of us. He ignored them, the cool metal slipping against my pants, leaving traces of red, like brush strokes.

I felt my body touch the ground, and at the same time, this sort of sleepiness was fogging up my thoughts, sending them fluttering off into this sort of darkness.

Levi adjusted my body so that I was being carried in his arms, and I heard the reeling of the wires, sending us back up into the trees.

The leaves around us tickled my face, and a small noise, like a laugh, escaped my lips. "Petra." I heard Levi say. "Petra, wake up."

We landed smoothly, on a branch, and he readjusted me so that I was leaning against his body again. "Petra," Levi repeated persistently. "Wake up."

I cracked my eyes open a bit, looking up into the impossibly blue sky. Levi felt my forehead.

"You're awfully warm. I hope it's just something temporary from the exercise."

I smiled, and looked up at him. "Exercise." I repeated.

He stared back down at me, my head resting on his lap. His face cast a long shadow over mine, blocking the sun from my view.

I smiled again, then sat up. "I'll be fine. Let's just get back to the walls. Getting sick there would be a lot better than getting sick here."

I made my way down the tree—on my own, just to prove to Levi that I was perfectly healthy—and started to jog.

Levi caught up with me shortly after, and we were once again jogging back to the walls.

I was panting, and I didn't bother try to steady my breaths, to make it seem normal. No, I was completely tired out, and some water would be good. My mouth was dry, and I was feeling dizzy. It hadn't been long since we'd lost Besen, so at least we had her and some supplies for a bit. If only she had stayed...

In less than an hour, I started to seem something over the horizon, peaking out behind all the trees. I saw something cream colored, and if I looked really hard, I could see the small silver dots lining the top.

The walls. Zhingashina. It was finally in sight. We were actually that much closer to going home. We just had one more stretch to go. When the Garrison sees us, it'll already be a lot easier. We just had to survive for another half hour or so. Then...then we'd be back. We'd see everyone else on the Survey Corps. I'd see all my comrades. I'd see my parents. I'd see my friends. I'd be back home.

All these fond thoughts started rushing over me.

Then I looked over at Levi. He was staring ahead, once again, focused on getting back. I wondered what he was thinking about, and if he'd seen the walls. Of course he had, but why no reaction?

He gave me a reaction, right then, and it was a good one.

The walls had become that much bigger, and so had this noise. This...noise...

"Run." Levi stated.