Chapter 14:

SPOILERS. And feels. Lots of feels. Prepare to cry. I know I did while writing this.

"No! I want you to teach me or Miss Hanji to teach me Daddy!" Ensrahi gave a strangled cry, one of either pure spoiled intentions, or pure terror. She hadn't known anything else other then Levi, or Hanji. Or Eren.

"Seriously Ensrahi. Since when did you act like a spoiled child?" Levi grunted, hoisting the thrashing child over his shoulders. Her now thicker fists felt more like soft small pillows hitting his back; ironically- since he just came home from another exhibition… it hurt. More then he'd like to admit, but he wasn't about to worry her little head about something so trivial.

"I don't like anyone here, they're all either really weird or mean!" Ensrahi pounded against his back relentlessly, before stopping when Levi stumbled. Nearly dropping her, he just managed to stop against a wall and let Ensrahi land on her feet before leaning against the cold tile while Levi closed his eyes. Letting the world swim around him, Levi in relief when he managed to stop swimming in the last lingering bits of winter before feeling a small tug on his battered cloak.

"Daddy…? Are you alright?" She whispered lightly, looking up at him with worrisome eyes…

'Oh now you've done it… Don't look at me like that child. Don't look at me like I'm… human.' Levi cursed himself inwardly, before kneeling down before her with a weary look.

"Rahi… You know your alphabet correct?" He asked politely, Ensrahi nodding brilliantly. She knew how to spell her name, how to spell her father's name, how to get from the mess hall to the bedroom and to the library as well. She knew so much, so much that anytime that she answered something correctly- it made her father's eyes swell with pride.

"Of course I do! Do you want me to recite it for you?" She asked innocently, earning a small tired grin from Levi.

"No. Spell my full name." Levi requested, leaning to shift on his knees while he weakly leaned against the wall. Rani happily sat in front of him, unaware that he was in a lot of physical pain.

"Okay! It's… L… E… V-I…" While Ensrahi was slowly remembering his name, and doing a wonderful job at it, Levi was leaning against the wall. While the content warmth filled his chest, it was like a drug that instantly just made everything go away. The pain, the loss, the sorrow. Everything…

"Daddy…? You alright?" Rahi asked once more, Levi's eyes shooting open in a mild panic. Did something important happen? When did he drift off? Did she finish his name alright? Levi looked up at Rahi, noticing he had slid down the wall to fall asleep stiffly while she was spelling his name. How rude, he cursed himself for doing that to her.

"I'm… fine. I'm okay. Did you spell my name fully?" Levi asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Ensrahi frowned at him, worry filling her eyes once again.

"Levi… I stopped when you were sleeping." Rahi sighed, and sat down on the dirty ground in front of him. They were in the shadow of the corridors, the summer afternoon had changed to summer evening. Even the halls after a bustling trip to the outside was quiet; as it seemed Ensrahi had written sloppy notes at the end two entrances of the hall to take a different path. Less they want to wake an angry Colonel.

"…How long?" He murmured, the dull pain aching in his old and worn joints. Ensrahi smiled cutely, but refused to answer. Next to her, was food for the both of them, medicine and bandages. Some looked bloody and replaced.

"When did you learn how to do all this…?" Levi asked, sitting up stiffly and she quietly put some food in front of him. He smiled, nodding in thanks before taking the fork in hand and nibbling a little on some of the mess hall food. There was even tea ready for him too.

"Miss Hanji helped me when she found you collapsed on the wall… Plus she heard me screaming about going to the public school nearby." Ensrahi answered, using bigger words and prompt to the point descriptions. Levi knew she spoke this way, even though it hurt her head, so that way the injured man could understand her better. His smile ever slowly grew. Though he noticed that her cheeks were flushed at her mini tantrum. But Levi was more happy that she was acting like a child, then a thief and a survivalist.

"Well, thank you. You take care of me better then my own cadets." Levi ruffled her hair softly; her natural reaction to melt and meet his hand in a delicate, happy manner. But her smile soon faded, as she then asked a question he always had dreaded answering.

"Who died Levi?"

"What do you mean child?" Levi asked, nearly choking on his food. Nothing showed though and lucky for him, if he wasn't so used to having a cold demeanor when away from Ensrahi. She frowned quietly, looking at him with a concern so deep- he couldn't do anything but swallow the food he was at working on at the time, and sigh. Levi never wanted to discuss this type of thing with her, but as Rahi continually stared at him uncomfortably- eventually even the steel Corporal gave in.

"Promise me you won't freak out too much?" Levi asked, Rahi nodded in a serious response. The little girl knew he needed this, he had no one to vent to besides the scientist and the commander. Both busy, and both with their own burdens, Rahi knew that Levi technically had no one to turn to. That's when she saw it happen… The stoic face, the way his jaw clenched, how his knuckles turned white, and that his legs crossed. His eyes were else where, recollecting who he had lost this time. Their names… their faces.

Who they were. Souls lost to a chase of truth that even he wasn't so sure about.

"…Martin Gueve died." So said a name, a name that Ensrahi did not know- but was sure Levi did. She just nodded, listening to him quietly.

"He was nineteen. A cadet who had just joined not two months ago. He had a mother. A sister." Levi listed, as if he knew this cadet personally. But in all honesty, it was what he over heard when lecturing the boy to get back to his work.

"Saurun was his sister… Mary his mother. He was going to go home with his father from the Military Police and celebrate his sister's fifth birthday…" Levi murmured, slowly putting the fork down and pushing the food away as he simply closed his eyes.

'Run sir!' Martin yelled, shoving Levi's horse out of the way. Just in time for a variant to stomp on him. Blood splattering in front of his eyes as disjointed appendages flew across the vacant field. Martin's blood slapping him in the face like cold water. They scrambled to keep formation together, and were in full retreat. But nothing worked… Nothing was ready for what came next.

"Natalie Froe died as well… She was in Hanji's squad and one of the only people besides Moblit to be able to handle her ramblings. Hence why you would see her around sometimes. You know, she had a father. A father who wanted Erwin to marry her. Because her mom died in the Breaches. She wanted to be like her mom, and become a cadet." Levi sighed, seeing her smiling face in front of him.

Natalie smiled grimly at him, their small group managing to get away from a variant nearby. She gave him a hearty salute, tears streaming down her face as she did so.

"Return to her sir! For all of us!" Natalie yelled, drawing the attention of more titans nearby. So flew away she did… Never to be seen again. He watched as she managed to hold off three ten foot titans before being split in half by a Jumper. Ironically, the ones she feared the most.

"Oh… I really liked her…" Rahi murmured, watching as the scene unfolded in his eyes. He wasn't just listing off names… Levi was telling a story of what happened on their sudden retreat home. In his own way, and she dare not ask for details. For fear that he might cry, or tell her something that he didn't want to say.

"Francan Briow was a happy father. He had kids waiting for him at home. Three of them in fact. Tristan, Kylie, and Quill… He was a damn good Squad Leader. He was one of the people who were here before I joined." Levi murmured, earning a small scoff from Rahi. Not in disrespect but she did find his last statement to be quite the underwhelming one.

"Levi, you didn't join… Francan was one of the men who captured you. Forced you to join." Rahi pointed out lightly.

Francan was torn, between running away and coming home to his kids… Or protecting his squad, who were all his kids in some sense. He looked at Levi for guidance as the titans were quickly closing around them. They were so few in numbers at this point. Even Eren was stuck, he couldn't move anymore, Mikasa was holding off as many as she could from Eren, and Armin was trying to figure out quickly how to get them out of this situation. Jean was herding panicking Cadets, Connie trying to protect their outside squads. Hanji listening to Sasha's instincts… All the while, Yimr and Christa were trying to keep a head count. Levi glanced around at his comrades, unknowingly answering Francan's question for him. Levi blinked in surprise as the man bumped his shoulder lightly.

'You must make it home. For her. For the child of the scouts.' Francan smiled brightly, even though he knew he was throwing his life away- even knowing that he had kids at home. Three tiny mouths waiting to greet their father at the door. Suddenly though, a lot of Cadets gave Levi a salute of pride… And sadness.

'For the child of the Scouts!' They had shouted, and suddenly turned back to the oncoming parade behind them…

"…I had never seen so many people moved… To defend me. To defend what we stood for…" Levi couldn't tell Rahi, that she had moved so many people with her tiny presence here. Word, of course, had spread around the headquarters that Ensrahi was the victim of a titan bite that cost her ability to process memories everyday. At first, malice and hatred came from it. The jealousy of having such an innocence in this castle was beyond what they expected. But when Ensrahi began to wander the castle, and gave everyone a bit of hope- asking who they were, what families they had, who they fought for… She may not had remembered them the next day; but if she did, Ensrahi proudly went along to tell them their name, their families and why they fought. Eventually, the malice and jealousy turned to a sort of hidden hope. Of course, none of the cadets would openly admit it- as the military police would jump at the first chance to take Ensrahi away… Not just from Levi. But from all of them. In the end- their tiny, hopeful rituals sparked a need in the Corps. A deadly need to rid the words of titans, and to give their families a life they deserved. And for those who didn't have families, Rahi became their family. They would share stories. Moments. Memories. And Rahi tried so hard… to recall them all. That determination, the drive to keep going- knowing that even tomorrow, she may not know them; it was as if Rahi understood how to deal with them all… at a mere eight years old. Finally; his entire squad and half of the Corps came to Levi- thanking him, for bringing her here. For never giving up on her. While he was being thanked, Connie came up with the idea that Ensrahi was really fitting in with everyone, like she was everyone's desire to protect, or love, or care. Just like a child.

It was then on, she was deemed the Child of the Scouts. Sitting at the right hand of Humanity's Strongest…

Though… it was the one thing, that none of them told Rahi. Not wanting to burden her with such a weight, they let her go on innocently. None of the Corps wanted Rahi to know that she was one of the main reasons why they got up in the morning, or continued hard into the afternoon trainings… Or for those, who had nothing to lose, the reason why they died with honor. Why for those who had nothing, Rahi was everything. They were content to know that the father, who was the hope of their hope, would return home and care for Rahi in their place. A soul to stand besides Rahi and carry their hopes and dreams that they could never accomplish in a world like this, and hoped that she would find a world… Just like the one they hoped for. Suddenly, a tiny hand wiped away at Levi's unknown tears. When had he started crying…?

"…I'm sorry. It must have been really hard out there. Maybe one day I can join you?" Rahi asked, looking up at him with big pearly icy blue eyes. Levi frowned at the statement.

"Absolutely not." He snarled, causing Rahi to flinch slightly. But refused to pull away as he gave way to his silent tears.

'You have no idea… What you mean to so many people. And what they would do to make you safe.'

"Rahi…? Can you list off the names of people you know around here?" Levi asked quietly, perhaps some of the names she recalled might have made it out alive.

"Marian Charleston." Dead.

"Scarlet Nanvi" Dead.

"Gregory Devrat." Levi could recall seeing his body crunched by a five foot just plucking him out of the squad.

"Josuna Fren." Mortally injured… But alive. Just barely alive.

"Bertolt Hoover." Missing.

"Dimo Reeves."

"He comes around here?" Levi asked lightly, Rahi nodding happily.

"Continue. Sorry."

"Well there's Eld Jinn, Eren Yeager, Erwin Smith-"

"Why are you listing their names in alphabetical order?" Levi once again interrupted. Rahi shrugged.

"It's the easiest way I can remember them." Rahi smiled.

"Oh I really like Gunther Schultz! Did he make it out okay?" Ensrahi asked, Levi nodding. Sighing in content.

"Oh is Ymir around too?" Rahi asked, and Levi smiled at her. Good. At least most of the names she recalled were still alive. That would set her heart mostly at ease. Speak of one of them… Levi watched as Erwin turned down the hall they were currently sharing quietly, as he even took off his shoes politely to quiet his footsteps in respect that the note said-

"Daddy's sleeping. Please be quiet. Take another path. Or I'll beat the shit outta you."

It took him a few strides to reach the two of them, sharing a quiet- grieving moment together. He sat down next to the two, as he had brought a stack of paper work with him. Plus a couple blank parchments and ink for Ensrahi to practice writing on.

"See, little lady. I told you I'd return." Erwin smiled lightly, Ensrahi smiling back at him before looking at Levi.

"Well, he's awake now… But I don't think he's doing too well." She pointed out, grunting a little when Levi moved to give her a small, weak shove.

"I'm just fine, tattletale." He joked, before Ensrahi sat next to him and carefully snuggled up. Ensrahi patted the spot next to her.

"Would you care to join us, Commander Eyebrows?" She asked, Levi nearly laughed out loud. It earned a raised bushy eye brow at Levi in skepticism, but a couple innocent giggles from Rahi.

"I would like to. Thank you very much." Erwin then proceeded to scoot next to Ensrahi on the other side, before continuing to look over documents that needed to be either denied or signed.

Hanji eventually stopped by too, giggling and bursting with a lively hood that brightened the now dimming hall. Rahi was excited when she brought over lanterns to light the hall way in the gentle light of fireflies. Which she then left to go catch more with Armin and Christa, who happened to stop and glance by what was the commotion all about. Levi sighed in content, watching as more and more of his comrades came by. All of them, beaten and battered by this recent exhibition- sitting down with more food and drinks.

By the time Ensrahi came back with many fireflies, a whole party had been set up in that tiny hall. Lanterns strewn about everywhere, all of her friends were there. Her mom Petra, her uncles Oluo, Gunther, and Eld all sitting around Levi with Erwin and Hanji. Eren enjoying drinks and food with Mikasa, Armin, and Jean. With so many people she didn't know either randomly showing up as well- but judging by the looks on their faces, she had met them at some point. But the most important part, Levi was glowing with happiness. Yes, he looked grumpy. Yes, he was talking harshly to some of the cadets. But to Ensrahi, she could see him glowing with it.

"You know what they say about fireflies, Ensrahi?" Armin asked, breaking her concentration on Levi. She looked up at him curiously.

"No I don't… Armin?" Rahi slightly guessed, and he nodded happily in her remembrance of him.

"Well, rumor is… Fireflies are souls who have reincarnated. They say that they gravitate towards the people they most care about." Armin then pointed to the filled lanterns, and their filled jars. Swarms of fireflies lay fluttering around them, quietly buzzing in content.

"Look how many people care about you Ensrahi."

In memory of all those who have fallen, in both the Anime and Manga.