Time Slip

by

Blue Sonnet (Nana_41175)

Chapter 6

Author's Notes: Hey everyone! This took a (looong) while. Thanks so much for your patience, and for asking after it. The story continues...

Levi sat on the window ledge in his room, legs crossed at the ankles and his arms over his chest, staring out at the dark night before him, so impossibly peaceful. Above him, the moon— huge and full and bright— rode a bank of clouds. Not smoke, just drifting clouds.

Not smoke, Levi thought, yet the acrid stench of it was in his nostrils, and he knew that it would stay with him as long as he lived, day after day, night after night— the smell of burning bodies on top of Erwin's funeral pyre.

They had to do it quickly, during a lull in the bloody fight, before the titans could advance further. There had been so many dead; they would not be able to bring all the bodies back behind the walls, and Levi had refused to leave Erwin's body behind. There had been no time to go through any sort of ritual, there had been no goodbyes. It was just as well that he had felt nothing by then. His soul had been extinguished just as Erwin had been reduced to ashes.

Grasping Erwin's bolo tie, with the shattered green stone in its center and crusted with dried blood, Levi had thought that he would die the next day. Yes, the next day would be a good day to die. He'd take out as many titans as he could but he would not live to see the sun set. He would not be able to stand to live another day. Erwin had died, taking with him any hope for humanity's future. Levi had known without being told that the walls would not be able to hold out for another fortnight.

With his new resolution had come peace. He had been deathly calm once they reached the walls and the castle that served as headquarters. He had been so frighteningly calm beside their weeping and dejected comrades that Hange had taken him aside and led him down to the dungeons.

"Fuck, Hange, I'm not in the mood for this," he had said at last, disliking her insistence on showing him something, her hand biting deep into his arm. It must be one of her loony experiments. Of what use would it be to show him one of those when they were all going to die very soon?

Hange had let go of him then. She had peered at him with eyes which were bloodshot, yes, but entirely lucid. "What would you do if I were to say that you can see Erwin again?" she had asked.

Levi had turned away before she could say more. "Fuck you, you sick—"

"Erwin, alive and whole," she had said, her tone insistent and forceful, without a trace of hysterics. "What if I were to tell you that you can go back in time to save him? Save all of us?"

Levi had felt something rise within himself as Hange showed him the contraption— a tiny pod of shiny metal and bristling wires that sat like a giant egg in one of the remote dungeon cells, far away from prying eyes.

"Why haven't I heard of this before?" he had asked.

"I've been working on this baby on and off for twenty years," Hange had said proudly, her voice fond. "I've never got it to work, until now."

"Erwin?"

"He knew, but he batted it down time and again because the project was too expensive. Unfeasible." She had snorted. "It's too late to tell him that Moblit and I got to transport a puppy back and forth just this week, before the titans attacked."

"Wait," Levi had said. "You what?"

"We managed to transport a puppy back in time," Hange had said, as though she were simply explaining a weather phenomenon. "We're pretty sure we got to send it back twenty years, just for a few minutes. Anyway, the best news is, the machine came back in one piece and the puppy got backalive. Oh, Levi, we've never been able to do that before."

Levi had stared at her as though she had gone mad, and he probably would have carried on thinking that way if Moblit had not confirmed her story. There had been explanations, rolled up blueprints, references to forbidden books that told of unheard-of-before theories of warping time, and finally, Hange's obsession that predated even titans.

"All my life, since I got hold of this book," Hange had said, waving an ancient tome in front of Levi, "I've never stopped hoping that one day, I could make this work. You see, Levi, we've not been thinking of time in the right way at all. We keep thinking of it as some sort of linear plot when we can actually roll it up just so they can overlap in layers, and the past and present can be seen as happening almost at the same time. All we need is a little time pod to traverse that barrier and boom! We're back to a point in time that we consider as the past."

"I don't get you at all, but if this means what I think it means, then Erwin—" Levi had said.

"Then we can avoid the present as we know it by changing the past," Hange had said, laughing. For once, Levi had felt like laughing with her. "Me, I would want to go back to see how the Titans started, but knowing you, Erwin would be a priority, right? He will need to be warned years in advance, and Humanity's Strongest is going to be the only one to convince him."

As Levi stared at her, he had wondered whether Hange had caught on to him and Erwin, how they had become lovers in the months leading up to this, before Erwin had died. Indeed, it had been clear, as far as Levi was concerned, that there would be nobody else for this mission except him.

So they had made preparations. The walls had grown weak day by day as the titans laid siege to the beleaguered population within, and Hange had shut herself up with Moblit in the dungeons, going over the calculations and repeating, just one more time, the puppy transport. They had made other preparations as well for Levi to ease into his role back in time. They had gone to their leaders— Pixis, Shadis, Zackly, and had convinced them of the plan. As outlandish as it had seemed, they had very little choice, and they had parted with letters and keepsakes to convince their younger selves of the authenticity of Levi's mission. Zackly had parted with letters and the seal of his office, Pixis with his wedding ring, and Shadis had left Levi his amulet of Amanda, the woman he would have married, had she not lost her life to a rampaging titan. That amulet, Shadis had told him, had never left the breast pocket of his jacket in the years since then.

In the end, the walls had fallen sooner than they had believed possible, and as the remaining members of the Survey Corps mounted their last mission against the Titans, Hange and Moblit had calmly walked down the dungeon corridor with Levi one last time, their arms loaded with supplies: Hange's books and references, her journals to give to her younger self. Levi had brought along the keepsakes and two sets of 3DMGs. Moblit had saluted Levi after they loaded the things into the fragile little pod. Levi had already accepted the fact that the experiment could fail and he could die right there and then. He had consoled himself with the fact that it would not have made a difference.

"I'm sending you back five years," Hange had said as she showed Levi how to set the controls inside the pod. "Erwin would be twenty-eight then, and you've not come onto the scene yet. That should be enough time to take care of everything.

"Good luck, Levi," she had said as she turned to him one last time, and her eyes had been the same as ever— feverishly bright, and kind. "No goodbyes; rather, see you very soon. Hopefully."

Levi had nodded, unable to get the words from unsticking in his throat. Hange had stepped out of the pod and closed the door, and suddenly, the noises of the castle coming down around them could no longer be heard, to be replaced by the strange noises of the pod as it came to life. There had been sensations, weird and indescribable, and Levi must have passed out, because the next thing he knew, he was being dragged out into harsh sunlight, amid shouts of "he's alive, he's alive!"

It had taken him a week to get back on his feet, and now here he was, safe and warm inside the officers' quarters of the Survey Corps, and the night outside carried only darkness, with the moon riding high in the sky. The walls were intact, would remain intact for years. There were other, far more pressing problems than titans to worry about.

He knew it could have been so much worse, but his main problem now was that he had not gone back five years but fifteen, and Erwin was not a seasoned officer, but a young man just emerged from boyhood. Yet Levi was thankful even for that. To have Erwin alive and breathing, within touching distance, had been a miracle in itself. It was a different life, and Levi was not prepared to see Erwin so young and undamaged, carefree and generous with his smiles and laughter, the ruthless streak already in evidence when it came to the things he wanted. Levi had seen the way Erwin had looked at him after his little demonstration with the 3DMG that afternoon, and he had seen the man there, in that hungry gaze.

The man he loved.

He had deliberately looked away, just as he had deliberately chosen Erwin to participate in the demonstration. He wanted him to see, and Erwin had seen him. Finally, Erwin had seen him.

Just then a soft knock sounded on the door, and Levi stared at it, hardly breathing.

So he would not even wait for morning.

It took a while for Levi to open the door; he did not want to unless he was completely calm. The last thing Levi needed was to lose control and be stirred along by Erwin at eighteen. The man might be good but he was not that good. Not yet.

There was that vile contraction of the heart yet again as he swung the door open and watched as Erwin stood before him nervously, his face flushed with daring.

Levi made it easy for him by saying, "did you find her?"

"Yes, I did."

Levi could not help himself: "You could have waited until morning to tell me."

"I did not come here to tell you that, sir."

"Then what are you here for, Erwin?"

"I came to ask if your offer still stands, in regards the other bed."

"You're never shy, are you?" Levi observed dryly as he stood aside to let Erwin in.

Erwin grinned and said easily, "I'm afraid not, sir."

He entered the room as though he owned it, lived in it. "I can move my things in first thing in the morning, sir," Erwin said as he reached down to pull back the sheet from the other bed.

"As soon as we've asked permission from Shadis to let you stay here with me," murmured Levi, surveying Erwin with lidded eyes.

"Of course, sir." Erwin could not seem to stop smiling.

Levi nodded as Erwin continued to stand by the bed, as though awaiting orders. "What are you waiting for then?" he said. "You have the bed. Go to sleep."

"Oh, umm, right, sir," said Erwin, his smile faltering and eyes growing large and round with mild confusion. "Aren't you going to sleep, sir?"

"In a while," Levi said as he resumed his vigil by the window.

What did Erwin think he was going to do, bed him the moment he stepped into Levi's room? Levi was not that stupid.

He watched as Erwin made himself comfortable on the bed. "What are your orders for the morning, sir?" Erwin asked.

"I want you to fetch Cadet Zoe, have her come here by eight o'clock, sharp. We're leaving for the Capital."

If Erwin was surprised by his errand, he did not show it. "Yes, sir."

Erwin looked like he wanted to say more, but Levi turned away to stare outside the window. He did not acknowledge Erwin as he murmured, "good night, sir."

He waited until he was sure Erwin was asleep before he turned back to regard the figure on the bed. Levi kept still as he watched the dim play of candlelight on the blond cap of hair on the pillow, barely visible from view.

Enough, thought Levi. This is enough for now.

He did not recall falling asleep, yet the next thing he knew, daylight streamed in from the window. He was still on the ledge, and when he moved, he registered the blanket that covered him.

Erwin.

He looked across the room to find the bed empty, yet there was a pot of fresh coffee and some bread on the table, as well as a note.

Sir,

I have taken the liberty to bring you breakfast. May I suggest that we meet at the stables by 8 o'clock instead of at the mess hall? I will have a carriage ready by then.

Erwin

That was a good move, designed to draw less attention and talk. Trust Erwin to know what he was doing.

Levi saw them the moment the stables came into view, standing beside a carriage that Erwin had very efficiently procured for them. Erwin was nodding rather haplessly at Hange, who stood by his side, chatting away at full steam. They turned to Levi and saluted as he approached.

"At ease," he murmured and turned to mount the carriage.

Hange clamored in after him. "Sir, if this is about that explosion in the cadet barracks two days ago, please let me explain—"

Levi turned to regard her with a flat, bored expression. "I don't, and do not wish to know, what you're talking about," he said.

Erwin piped in as Hange subsided: "May we know where we're heading, sir?"

"The Garrison headquarters. Commander Pixis is expecting us," Levi said briefly, and waited as Erwin gave the driver his instructions.

He was quiet the rest of the way, watching Erwin and Hange as they got to know each other. Hange could barely contain her curiosity as she peered at Levi, but knew enough not to press things, especially when it came to a superior officer. It was strange how Hange could be so unchanged, when Erwin was a different person altogether. Contrary to his expectations, Erwin did not know Hange from cadet school; at this point, she was merely in her first year.

Every once in a while, Erwin would look at Levi, a series of questions in his eyes.

Levi continued to sit silently in his corner and gaze back at Erwin, giving nothing away. Figure it out, smart guy, his gaze said. Again, this was something new, something to be relished. It was not every day that Erwin could be so clueless. It was almost delightful.

The ride to the capital took an hour, yet they arrived at Garrison headquarters in no time. By then, Hange was a ball of nervous energy, and Erwin's soothing reassurances— which were not helped along by Levi's taciturn demeanor— did little to calm her.

The first indication that something was up was the guard, heavier than usual, heavier than necessary, on patrol. Levi looked at Erwin and knew the observation was not lost on him.

Figure it out, he thought.

Commander Pixis was waiting for them in his office. Erwin had seen him before, naturally, but it was obvious that this was the first time that Pixis would ever speak to him.

"Ah, Captain Levi," he said as he rose from his chair to greet them. "I see you've brought them along."

"I told you I would," Levi said. "I trust everything is under control, sir."

"Indeed, it is." Pixis first turned to a gaping Hange and said, quite kindly, "you must be Hange Zoe, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Sir!" Hange's thumping salute was so forceful, Levi was almost sure she had broken a rib.

"You are excused from your duties until further notice, Cadet."

Hange's eyes were round with shock, but no explanation was forthcoming. Pixis was already turning to Erwin, and when he saw him, his face changed. "And you must be Erwin Smith," he said quietly.

Erwin saluted. "Sir."

Levi stepped in: "From this point on, we won't need Erwin to follow us in."

It was too precious, the way Erwin turned to stare at him with undisguised surprise, his disappointment obvious. He looked almost crestfallen.

Levi steeled himself. It's not his time yet.

"Of course," said Pixis, smiling, "though I would like very much for him to join us for tea."

"Go ahead with the tea," Levi said. "I'll bring Cadet Zoe with me."

He left Erwin with Pixis as he made his way out of Pixis's office and into the corridor, Hange trailing worriedly behind. Their destination was the wing opposite Pixis's office, heavily guarded by several militiamen. They saluted Levi and let them pass.

"Okay, I'm really scared now," said Hange, her voice very small.

"Here," Levi said as he turned a doorknob to enter a huge room.

It took Hange a moment to recognize the thing sitting in the middle of the room, and she could only manage a strangled gurgle, at first.

"I never had the chance to thank you properly, Hange, before I left," Levi merely said, before she could hitch in a breath.

When it came, Hange's scream— a full-blown battle cry—was just as Levi remembered it. It was so loud, it reverberated through the corridor, so that even Pixis and Erwin heard it.