I'm sorry. We're sorry. This happened. Allow me to just warn you: this chapter will be intense, moderately graphic, and basically will just rip out your innards from angst. Sorry. Read and review..? Tell us how much you hate us for doing this to you? Or tell us how much fluff you want for the terrors you've seen?

Anyway...Disclaimer: We do not own Attack on Titan or any of the characters belonging thusly. If we did, you would probably hate us, because we seem to have a large affinity for drama just like Isayama does...

Enjoy~...

~Aria

-Ghosties

Twenty minutes; he was supposed to leave on expedition in twenty, short minutes, and yet he couldn't find the will in his muscles to pull himself from the bed. It was the first time in a long while that Levi had any trouble with that. He prided himself on being a timely person, on being up and ready perhaps even hours before he was supposed to be somewhere. But not today. Today he had awoken with an arm thrown over the two people-or one and a half he supposed-that he loved the most. He looked sadly down upon his lover's slumbering face, stroking a rogue strand of hair from his eyes.

"Eren…" he called quietly, regretting that he had to wake him up in the depths of such a peaceful sleep.

The brunette grumbled and rolled away from Levi's touch, huddling further into his covers. Levi shook his head. He reached over Eren's sleeping form and pinched the teen's nose closed with his fingers. After a moment Eren spluttered awake with a cough.

"How many times to I have to tell you to stop doing that?!" he yelled, a pout forming on his plump lips.

Levi frowned, "I have to leave."

The room became quiet.

"Right now?" Eren whimpered, his voice void of the angry passion it'd had just a moment before. "C-Can't you stay with me a little longer?"

The Captain shook his head sadly and nuzzled his nose into the other's hair. He breathed in his sweet scent, knowing it could be a few days before he was able to have that luxury again. He kissed Eren's hair gently and laid a hand on his pregnant stomach. Levi gave a small smile at the little stir he felt.

"I've already waited too long, brat. I need to leave in less than fifteen minutes."

Eren sniffled back a sob and laid his head against Levi's strong chest. The heavy, bleeding pulses of his lover's heartbeat lulled his sorrow.

"It's so dumb. Your husband is pregnant, so why can't you just stay! I don't want to be alone…" Eren grumbled.

Levi pulled him closer and pecked his lips. "You know I have to go, Eren, so stop making it harder on yourself and accept it. I'll be back soon. Plus you're not going to be alone idiot, remember?" he calmed the trembling young man, "Your little blond coconut friend is going to stay with you."

"Armin," Eren provided with a wet laugh.

"Yeah that one."

Despite their conversation, Eren still wouldn't let Levi go. They sat together, glued to one another for another five minutes before the Corporal finally pried Eren away. He kissed his brow and belly and hastily threw on his uniform. Eren straightened his cravat for him as he walked to the door.

"Be careful."

"Whatever."

And he left. Eren slumped back into the bed, fighting back tears and waiting for his friend to come accompany him to breakfast.

The trumpets could be heard two towns over. Levi never understood why they had to be so loud, but then again he had never felt the need to question it. Not until now, when he was trying to get his thoughts on anything besides his husband and child back at headquarters. He straightened his cravat again and flicked a speck of dust off his horse's saddle. Magnolia whinnied haughtily and he stroked her smooth black mane-even the damn horse could tell he was off today. This was going to be one shitty expedition.

Levi focused tiredly on the slow rising of the gate. Hopefully this would all be over soon so he could come back and be with Eren...Fuck. Stop thinking about him. He bit his lip hard and spurred his horse as the legion began to move forward into the open wildlands.

Everyone quickly fell into formation and the ride was nearly peaceful. The stomping of hooves was rhythmic and the sky was a bright orange and pink, the sun just rising into the vast air. Eren would've loved to see this, he loves sunrises...Dammit, stop. He jarred his mind away from the mesmeric sky and looked off to the east. Black signal flares. He scowled.

"Potato! Black flare, pass the signal!"

"Yes, sir!" Sasha nodded and shot off a flare.

They continued on their way. Levi could hear the distant pounding of titans approaching, but knew they would be far from his position near the center rank. And even if they weren't, his shitty little squad from the 104th cadets could take them down no problem-no matter how inept they seemed.

Their seamless travel was soon interrupted by a soldier on horseback coming up on their right. Levi's gut wrenched. Something's wrong. Fucking great.

"Sir! The right flank has taken severe hits! Prepare for advancement if the need should come! Pass the message through the ranks and good luck!" the soldier shouted before dispatching.

Fuck. Levi ground his teeth together in frustration. This was just like that day three years ago...was another titan shifting shit here to destroy his squad again? Hadn't he taken enough of a beating already?

"Jean, go pass the message to the left anterior flank! NOW!" he hissed.

"Y-yes, Captain!" he steered his horse and was off.

Another wisp of black smoke rose from the east. Closer, much closer this time.

"Blades drawn! Be prepared for combat!"

He couldn't stop a ball of panic from swirling in his gut. Levi never got nervous in battle, what the hell was going on? His blades were clanging against his gear as he unsheathed them. He was shaking.

What the fuck?!

He'd fought so many titans in his life, and never had one gotten the better of him. Most soldiers had a kill count, but he...had lost count in the hundreds. His chest felt tight like a cage.

Eren. That was the only reason he could think of for the pain in his heart and wobble in his knees. Before, he had nothing-people he liked, maybe even loved, but Eren...Eren was another thing entirely. He loved Eren. Enough to make him his husband, enough to have actual kids with him. Levi hated kids. Or maybe he had. But he was going to have one of his own now...he couldn't die here. He had something to live for; so much more to live for.

The titan broke through the clearing. It was disgusting as all are, but perhaps even more so as its chin was stained in human blood. It was gnawing on a severed leg like it was a chicken wing. Levi's blood boiled at the sight.

"Advance!" he commanded.

He spurred Magnolia forward, willing her on as fast as her legs could take her. The gruesome beast grinned down harrowingly as he rode up to its ankles. It lifted its enormous, dirty foot and brought it down in a stomp. The force threw Levi and his mare into the air. The stallion whinnied in shock and pain as she landed, trotting off into the distance as the short Corporal used the momentum to blast up to the beast's face.

It made a swipe at him, and he felt a gross fingernail scrape against his boot and knock him off balance. He stumbled a moment, falling forward toward the titan's bloody maw before maneuvering his faltering into a tight spin. His blades dug deep gashes in the monster's face as he spun around to the nape. He blasted up into the air, shooting his grapples into its back before plummeting down in another spin aimed at its neck. Titan blood flew everywhere like confetti and steam filled the orange sky.

That was that. He maneuvered to the ground and paced wearily back towards his troops. They were meters out, still on horseback. What, they have to take a shit on the way over here? He shook his head and picked up the pace.

As he made his way, he noticed their mouths were moving. Were they cheering for him? Tch, what fucking brats. But no...his troops had seen too much, they wouldn't cheer just because one lousy titan fell. He squinted, his body stiffening. Something's wrong still. Their eyes were wide with fear. They weren't cheering, they were shouting. Screaming for him to look, to pay attention, to get the hell out of there. It was too late when he realized the pounding against the ground wasn't the sound of Magnolia galloping back to him.

Levi snapped around and tried to raise a blade, but the hand was already descending on him. And the raised steel only provided an easy target for the titan to follow. The hand plucked up the silver blade like it was a little sewing needle, the human thread still attached to the looped handle.

Levi didn't feel pain, he never gave into it...but he screamed. He screamed a bloodcurdling scream that turned his squad's legs to pudding. His arm...something was wrong with his arm! He wanted to let go of the blade being yanked upward by the titan, but he couldn't get his muscles to respond. His whole left arm felt numb.

The titan brought him close to his face and he could smell its rancid breath, its sharp teeth slick with the blood of many fallen comrades. He thought he saw a hand stuck between its molars...He vomited upon the sight. F-Fucking disgusting…

He tried to raise his other hand and stab the giant's face, but it acted before him. It grinned upon its catch as it shook the little blade in its grasp. Levi's arm was yanked back and forth again and a horrid ripping and popping gave the Corporal a dazzling picture of his injuries. His hand finally flew free from the sword's handle and he fell into the titan's open palm.

Levi coughed up blood. Spots were already flaring in his line of sight. There was a ticklish feeling down the side of his face and he used his functioning hand to wipe his cheek. Blood. He must've gotten some sort of head injury, and with his experience in the field he knew that meant his chances of survival had just gone down by about forty percent.

His head was spinning, the shapes of the world becoming cloudlike, floating away from his grasp. I'm going to die...he thought. His body was vibrating, and he wondered a moment if he was seizing in the titan's palm. Or was he even in its palm anymore? His ears were ringing, he couldn't hear anything-had he been swallowed? He coughed again.

Eren. Dammit! He couldn't die now! He had a husband, and a baby on the way! This couldn't be happening; he was always so careful, how could this happen? It had to be a dream...but then again when had he ever had a dream with such realistic and nerve-rending pain? He had to focus, he had to stay alive. This was real, and if he didn't try to save himself then Eren would be all alone-and he couldn't do that to the man he loved.

He thought he heard a strange buzzing sound and looked up to see a flash of steam. Was he being saved? A whir of green soared above his head. Something was grabbing him. He shouted in pain as his arm was rustled in the commotion. Shouting. He could hear shouting. There was a blurry face above his, and he faintly registered the feeling of being shaken.

"-apt-in-Le-i!"

Someone was calling his name. His throat was dry though, and he couldn't open his mouth to speak. His arm...they needed to know what his injuries were-but he still couldn't speak. He tried to move his arm to indicate what needed attention but even flexing those muscles sent a horrific wave of pain through his body.

"S-meone -et hel-!"

"Cap-ai-! Can -ou hea- us?"

Small tears began to slowly trickle down his cheeks. Yes I can fucking hear you! Fucking get me some help! Why was this world so cruel? He squeezed his eyes shut in horrible pain and looked up at the blood-orange sky. Eren, would've loved to see the sky like this… What was his love doing right now? Was he happy and safe? Was he thinking about him? Was their baby growing happily?

He sucked in a burning gasp of air-the way it stung told him he must've had a few broken ribs too. Levi was dying. He was going to die. He had been injured before, but this was worse than all those times before.

"Er-en…" he choked out with what little air he had.

Why was that all he could say? With all that he needed to say? With the extent of his injuries needing to be detailed?

Eren and their child...it was once again the only thought on his mind. The golden sky had morphed into his sun-kissed skin, and the darkness when Levi closed his eyes was brightened by a pair of large teal pools. Eren, I love you so much...I want to be with you, now and always...Levi wanted nothing more than to live for him, to make the man he loved happy and warm. But it seemed that wasn't going to be an option. A child...only needs one dad...right, Eren? He let his eyes slip closed in a tired daze.

Eren is loved. Eren will be okay. Our child is loved. Our child is safe inside him. That is all that matters anymore.

"L-love Er-en...t-el…'im…"

All went quiet.

It was dark and the air was stale. Eren lifted himself up from the cold floor and looked around in confusion. Where was his warm bed? Where was Levi? He sat back on his haunches and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Where am I?" he thought aloud.

His voice echoed smally against the tight walls. Why was is so dark? How had he gotten here? Was he dreaming? He pinched the skin on his wrist, but felt nothing. A dream-that was all. But why did it feel so real?

"Hello?" he called into the impenetrable black.

Eren.

Chills racked his body and he whipped around to the source of the voice. There was nothing there...He swallowed thickly and stood on shaky legs.

"Hello?" Eren yelled a bit louder.

Eren. Eren. Eren.

It wasn't one just one voice now. There were many. Tens. Hundreds. Where were they? Who were they? What was going on? The teen turned around again only to have his ankles yanked from underneath him.

"Ahh!" He fell onto his hands and knees.

He grit his teeth hard and peered into the endless darkness.

Eren. Eren! Help! Eren!

Tears began to fall from his eyes though he couldn't understand why.

"No," he cried, "I'm sorry, I can't...help I…-where am I?"

"EREN!"

No. He knew that voice. Eren snapped his head around. No. NO!

"Levi!"

A group of people-no not people, more like black masses shaped like people-riled before his eyes. Shrieks of agony echoed in the brunettes ears. Black shadowy masses, falling to the ground, clawing at the air, and clinging to the one solid form at the center of the giant crowd. Levi.

"Eren! Help! H-help me you damn brat!"

He was beaten and bloody. His left arm was hanging listlessly at his side. He was bleeding from the ears. The shadows were clinging to him helplessly, dragging him down, bringing Humanity's Strongest to his knees and lapping at the blood seeping from his wounds.

"No! Stop! Don't you touch him!" Eren flung himself forward, only to find he was chained the ground, unable to move, unable to save his lover. "LEVI!"

Screaming. Levi was screaming in pain. The figures were attracted to the sound, those lying pointlessly on the ground dragging themselves toward the man and latching their haggard teeth into his flesh. Screaming. So much screaming. Eren watched it all. He couldn't move, he couldn't close his eyes; those steely orbs coated in blood wouldn't let him look away. He sobbed in horror, tears falling into the void suspending him. Piece by piece, bit by bit of flesh ripped off the bones of the man he loved and rended between sharp, nonexistent teeth. Why was this happening?

"E-ren! Please! Help me! Don't-" he was interrupted by another shadow clawing into his skin. He cried in pain, dark eyes falling on Eren in desperation, "Don't leave me!"

A shadow figure's hand clamped down the raven's mouth then. Its claws dug into that smooth face and the blackness consumed the gruesome scene before Eren's eyes. Darkness again was all that remained. He sat there and sobbed until he felt like he couldn't breathe anymore.

Eren tossed in bed, sweat and tears pouring down his face. "N-No," he groaned out, "Levi! No! LEVI!" He sprang up, looking frantically for his lover. "LEVI WHERE ARE YOU?!" His head was pounding with a fierce headache but he ignored it as best he could.

His feverish mind was only focused on the wellbeing of his lover who was missing from his side.

The brunette heaved in breaths, his heart racing in his chest. His green eyes swept over the room once more in hopes that Levi had somehow appeared in his presence. "LEVI?!"

"Eren…"

That voice gave him pause. Eren whipped his head to the side, looking towards the doorway. His heart sunk as he took in Hanji's weary and dirtied form. He didn't miss the blood that stained her uniform like some kind of grotesque painting. "Hanji… Levi - where is Levi!?"

Her brown eyes were sullen as they looked to him, "I'm sorry Eren… but he's been injured."

His breath caught in his throat, "B-But how…? I.. You! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HIM!" Those emerald orbs glinted dangerously, "How could you?!"

"It was his own fault," she countered in a strained tone, "he made a risky move and it cost him!"

"You could've stopped him! I know you could have," Eren shouted at her, though tears betrayed his angry disposition. "Anyone could've stopped him!"

A moment of quiet passed.

Hanji sighed in defeat, knowing she couldn't reason with him, "I'm sorry.."

The titan shifter seemed to realize the situation at hand and he covered his mouth in shock. "Oh god…. h-he's going to die… Oh god no… No please.." He wept into his hands, "Levi!"

Afternote:

Well, we were planning a bit of angst from the beginning so it didn't surprise US! But...uh yeah whoops cliffhanger. Don't kill us. Love ya, see ya next week!