Hey guys! I've been so excited to post that I keep forgetting to do author notes. Hard to believe that I only have one chapter left to write for this story. It's been a long and amazing journey, and it's truly bittersweet to be coming to the end. I love you all and thank you for sticking with me. I hope you enjoy the chapter! I know I will be posting the next one in tears.
Levi's PoV
Frothing flames awoke me from my daze. What's so damn hot? I'm starting to sweat like a pig, but at least I'm still fucking alive. I'd thought I was going to be a goner with that Tian headed towards me. I'd been a quick meal to finish off too. Tenderly patting myself down, I found nothing else further scathed than originally beside the leg. It'd be shaky to stand on previously, but now it appeared useless. Hurt like a bitch too, but that's one problem of many in the scheme of our current reality.
"Gabi? Annie? What are you guys doing here?"
Disjoined between a lazy unconsciousness and reality, the voices of my comrades seemed so far away. Can't believe I'm still here. Where's Saph though? I need to find her. Panic began to rise as I didn't spot her on Falco with the rest of the group. A thick chill flooded my veins, waking me out of the last dredges of slumber. Shit. She has to be okay. That idiot couldn't have sacrificed herself for me. I couldn't even touch that idea.
Gabi's shrill voice cut through the gabble, frustration with the lot of us thick in her tone. "What did you expect when you left us behind like that? You know we can fight too!"
"Besides, the Azumabito sunk. Couldn't withstand Falco's transformation," Annie drawled, "so, how's Armin? And Pieck?"
"Armin's been captured by the Titans. His life is in danger," Mikasa said. "The Titan that took him should be near the tailbone. Annie, help us."
She didn't hesitate with the sarcasm. "Your childhood friends just love getting kidnapped, don't they? Of course, I will."
"What about Pieck?"
A tenor of fear rung strong in Reiner's heavy voice. "She's by the skull. We tried to blow up Eren's nape but the Warhammer Titan stopped us."
"Where's Saph?" I interrupted. Nobody seemed concerned about her missing. Dread thickened at their silence. Peering down from far above, I scoured for any sight of her. Alive or dead.
"The one on fire," Connie finally answered, "since she activated the Flame Titan."
The swaths of heat that kept fanning me easily pinpointed her location. Taking bony to a whole new level, her skeletal frame is now what made up the body of her Titan. As if dipped in boiling oil, large amounts of black sludge dribbled between the bones. They fed the flames erupting all around her in the format of a protective shield. The liquid boiled and popped, spattering those who dared approach too close.
Using her vicious speed, Saph darted between the horde of Titans to deal death by both burning and slicing to pieces with her claws. She's fighting hard. I'm so thankful. We both need to make it through this. I need to be able to show her how loved and important she is. I can't lose her and Chaco. The grief of my son's absence circled me, ready to devour my strength and hope if I let my mind linger.
Concentrating on making sure Saph didn't fall into the abyss continued to move me forward. She's always helped me. Been a supportive and encouraging light even when I didn't realize it. Now it's my turn to return the favor. For fuck's sake. She is my heart. How hypocritical, I've always thrown myself into the fray without a glance back, but I wouldn't let her do the same. I see now the desperation Saph must've felt watching me disappear into the danger.
Her shining white teeth buried themselves into the concave throat of the Titan. Pinning the smaller creature to the ground, it didn't take long for its screeching to die off as it evaporated into ash on her tongue. A gasp choked me as one covered in scales approached her from behind. It reached out with its long twisted arm only to meet air. She'd darted off to the side with the speed of a wildfire, roasting a less dangerous one alive before the scaled one recognized where she'd gone off to.
No wonder they weren't worried about her welfare, I'd never seen her move with such expertise before as a Titan. She'd be able to take any one of them down herself. What a small miracle to be blessed with. I severely doubted if Saph hadn't unlocked the Flame Titan in time then my initial worry of her dying in my stead would've been true. It's a stupid and selfish idea. I'd always thought I'd be able to prevent her from following through when brought up previously. What a fantasy of mine, that I could stop Saph from doing anything that she's set her mind to. I guess we're both fools
Swaying uneasily in the breeze, I despised the weakness carved into my limbs. I'd just be a burden on the battlefield if I flew down. If Saph wasn't able to hold her own, there'd be little I could do to protect her. It's been a while since I felt this trapped in vulnerability. I'm not a child this time though. I'm a Captain. These are still brats, are they not? No Piek. No Hange. No other damn adult in sight. Even Commander Armin is incapacitated. We're wasting time. Saph won't be able to withstand an endless onslaught forever.
"We're going to split up," I interrupted the cacophony of rising voices. Emotions are high, but one thing is clear. We're giving more consideration towards Eren's life than he is to ours. "One group will rescue Armin. We can use the Colossus Titan explosion. The other will go after Eren and attack the nape at the same time. We'll split up and do it simultaneously."
"Captain?" Mikasa whispered, horror ringing in her expression.
I didn't want to see it. I didn't want to be reminded that I'm about to kill another friend. No. It's worse. We'd placed all our hopes on Eren and sacrificed so many on his behalf. Hundreds of soldiers. My squad. It made me angry, but… I had also always wanted to apologize to him. For expecting so much from a kid. I'd placed those expectations on myself with the title of Humanity's Strongest. It'd been so easy to pass along the responsibility when he'd showed up. Nobody could've done this alone. Now, it's going to take all of us to stop him. We don't have the luxury to hesitate. "We're not in a place we can be concerned about Eren any longer. No, we never were to begin with."
"But-"
"But what?" Connie shouted, grasping the fabric on his chest emphatically. "We would have died back there if not for this flying miracle we're on now! He's the one who created all those Titans that were about to kill us. Why are we trying to save him when he just about annihilated us?."
Maybe so, but I didn't want it to come to this. "Dammit. There were things I wanted to tell that idiot."
"I'm the same!" With vigor and veal, Connie glanced around. "I don't want to give up on Eren, but it's my fault that the Captain can't even fight right now. What's more, we're up against the Founding Titan! We're barely been able to survive, how are we supposed to go easy on it?"
Nobody was excited at the prospect, but a cool edge of resolve had hardened everyone's expressions, but Mikasa's, into a slight frown. There's no alternative. We'd die trying to find one while humanity perishes in the meantime. Even now, the slow thundering steps of the Colossus Titans, as their feet ate up lives and terrain with indifference, ground against our ears. Hard to conceive what the world looks like behind them. Littered with bodies and buildings mashed into the surface? Or is everything indistinguishable underneath a sea of blood?
Gritting his teeth, Jean's words slid through with resistance, "Mikasa, we need to kill Eren."
"Mikasa! Focus on saving Armin. Don't think about anything else," Annie advised.
"...Okay."
Turning her expression away from us, I could only imagine the pain written within. I'd never heard her sound so small. Can't imagine being in her shoes though either. Turning a blade against Saph was unfathomable. The idea itself caused me to watch her for a bit of reassurance. Even in the depths of her unhinged madness, she'd never harm me.
They began to converse as to who would do what. Since I wouldn't be joining either endeavor, I witnessed Saph savagely display her skills. How far she'd come. After being thrown in battle after battle for survival, she now possessed a prowess for fighting that bordered on artistic. No matter how wrapped up Saph appeared to be in her hysteria, she was keenly aware of her surroundings. Little took her by surprise, and even the swiftest of attacks she sidestepped with ease.
Despite her lack of formal education, she'd always been a quick student. Able to pick up the nuances of maneuvering into a variety of stances depending on the current opponent. It's what kept Saph alive in the Underground, speed and clever steps. That's what made her so brave in my eyes, that she chooses to face situations in front of her instead of running away.
Reiner stepped over to me. "You two are quite close, correct? How do we tell her the plan?"
Without meaning to, a dry chuckle slipped out. "That's one way to put it. Saph's not going to top to listen to any of you in her current headspace," I shrugged my shoulders, "but she'll get the idea once you head towards Pieck."
Grimacing, Renier tossed a glance in her direction. "Will she go after me?"
"...Just don't get in her way." There'd be no reason for her to be inclined to look for a fight from the Armored Titan, but I could understand his concern.
My response did little to settle his nerves. Taking in a deep breath, Reiner puffed out his chest, "Okay. I'm going to get the attention of the Warhammer Titan. Jean volunteered to join me to set off the explosives."
Burrowing my nose in the fur, I closed my eyes. Can't just lie here uselessly though when I still have my orders to kill Zeke. Despite my mangled state, I have to follow through. For Erwin. I've never bungled one of his commands. Not even once, and yet, his final order seems to be the one I just can't follow through with. I got those brats to the ocean, and maybe my role in the Survey Corps ended in part there. Telling myself that I'm fulfilling my duty by protecting a valuable Titan Shifter and a possible powerful Ackerman when in reality, I enjoyed being submersed in such peace and contentment.
Maybe I'd lost myself in that time, but isn't that we were striving towards? When they'd devoted their lives was it in order to trample the hearts and lives of others? No. The dreams we had of a world without Titans, that'd been an absurdly innocent and idealized world. Wouldn't have been worth the pain, suffering, and loss of so many good souls if it wasn't.
Erwin, I didn't pick you, and I have no regrets about that. About entrusting the future to a kid who had the same look in his eyes as you. I need to end this. For her… and me.
After shredding apart countless packs of lethal Titans, Saph's movements had begun to slow considerably. Instead of racing across Eren's ribs, she now started to retreat into a corner to conserve her energy, her flames also began to relax from their enraged expression earlier. Fuck. With so many continuing to approach, Saph's only hope was to quickly decapitate them as they came within her range. Hopefully, having Reiner down there will take some of the attention off of her. They need to move quickly though, time is not our friend.
Their arrival seemed to trigger a new wave of foes to rise up from the ridges of Eren's spine. Where are they coming from? Is there any way to prevent more from coming? Doubt I'd be able to do much even if there was. All I have is a child soldier with a gun and a child Titan here with me. At least Pieck had recovered from the initial stabbing of the Warhammer Titan by pouncing out of the nape of the neck as a human before transforming again. The quick flashes of light followed by sounds of crunching revealed her capability of changing over and over again. A few Titans that'd circled Saph ran off to confront her instead, but the numbers were so overwhelming, it didn't grant much breathing room.
Mikasa, Annie, and Connie were faring little better at retrieving Armin. The Titan holding him in its mouth continued to hop away just out of their grasp. Annoying little shit. If we could just get Armin out of there, we'd have so much more fighting power. We needed something, anything.
A Titan with claws far longer than Saph's stabbed into her shoulder. Her cry ruptured into a roar as she pushed forward till it fell into her reach. Snagging onto its head, Saph tried to pull him forward to her jagged teeth, but another one was able to pierce through the fire to prevent her from landing the killing blow.
Anxiously searching for a solution, my horror grew as I witnessed Renier be violently pinned to the floor. Slowly dissecting his limbs away from the rest of the body, The Warhammer Titan methodically incapacitated him. I looked towards Eren's head to find Pieck and Jean dodging amongst the enemies, able to do little but survive. No assistance would be granted from them to Reiner or Saph. The explosives also sat out of their reach, with a wall of enemies safeguarding it.
Riddled with anxiety at the sight of them becoming swallowed by the neverending tide of enemies, I fidgeted with my gear. I refuse to lay here and do nothing. "Gabi, ready your gun. We have to go help them." Tucking his wings to his side, Falco barreled toward the end of Eren's spine. "I'll jump off to help Saph while you guys try to hit the Titan who captured Armin."
Just as I was about to swoop down on a suicide mission, a Colossus Titan shoved away all the impending enemies surrounding Saph. Once she was safe, he turned around to confront the ones piling up on Annie. Stunned by the events playing out in front of me, I missed my opportunity to land.
"What's going on?" Gabi inquired. "The Titans are helping us?"
I didn't realize how rattled I'd become watching Saph start to drown until my sigh of relief settled my nerves back into place. I'd been holding my breath until I became dizzy. We might just make it out of this alive. "Seems that way. Couldn't come soon enough."
"Hey!"
Lightening struck me, and I craned my neck in the direction of the sound I just heard. Bumps swarmed my arms while my hair stood on end. Is that?
"Hey! I'm over here"
"No way," I whispered to myself. A small waving hand is what finally snatched my attention. Tracing it downwards, my sight landed on the long hair of Zeke.
With the entirety of his upper half peeking out of a rib, Zeke appeared immobilized. "You wanted to see me, didn't you, Levi? Can't say I feel the same."
"Zeke," I hissed between the spaces of my teeth.
Gravity was my friend as I leaped off of Falco. I'd been concerned that my frailer state would prevent me from getting the upper hand, but he didn't attempt to defend himself as I descended upon him. With a swift flick of my wrist, it all came to an end as my blade reached his neck. For all the trouble and strife he caused us previously, landing the killing blow turned out to be quite painless of a process.
Landing nearby, I almost felt emptier as I turned to survey his fallen body, his head laying somewhere else. That is until some sparks tingled my numb cheeks. My neck ached as I stared up at Saph. Is she taller now too? All the Titans that'd been threatening her now lay strewn as ash around us. A smattering of pieces flew up my nose causing me to sneeze.
"Hey! Let's get out of here," I ordered as Jean raced towards Eren's neck. Armin is going to blow this whole place to smithereens right afterward. Nobody should survive that.
She didn't seem to hear me as her head swiveled back and forth in the desperate search to find more enemies. Paranoid for our safety, Saph was still on high alert and not listening.
Falco began to near. "Saph! Please, come to me," I begged in a desperate attempt for her to hear my words. I don't want her to get injured, but I can't cut her out when she's on fire either. Thankfully, she either understood or my tone was what stilled her. Saph lowered herself to my feet, the sputtering flames dying completely. Melting out of the nape, I could tell she was exhausted by the way her body stumbled and swerved. I held out a hand as she took the last few steps toward me.
"Woah, easy there," I said as she half-hazardly collapsed into my arms. Thankfully, she kept her feet underneath her so we didn't both go sideways.
Brushing some hair from her pale face, she gave me a wide-eyed look. "I think I'm going to hurl."
"Before you do anything, we gotta get on Falco first. Then you can faint if you want" Nudging her along, I despised how little strength I could offer. I used to be able to carry her with ease, and now my own leg shook from the weight of my body. What power she'd just demonstrated. I know she's not with me for my physical strength alone, but I didn't like losing that aspect of myself in such a drastic way. "Are you okay? I need you to hold on when I shoot us up there."
Narrowing her eyes, Saph gave a solid nod. "I promise I won't let go," she assured me as she wrapped her arms around my waist. Tucking her mouth close to my ear, Saph's words were heavy with comfort, "I'm not going anywhere."
Taking off, I kept a slight hold of her out of habit more than anything as we flew through the air. Everyone else had already boarded the flying Titan before we got on. Falco's soft feathers cushioned our landing as we collapsed to our knees. With a blush lightly painted my cheeks, I disentangled myself from her with reluctance. How I wanted to kiss her again. Immerse myself in her loving and loyal energy. I needed her now more than ever. We hadn't been able to collectively grieve over the loss of our son. There's been no time for anything but to strive towards survival, but I already felt as if I was on the verge of crumbling into a self-destructive mess. Can we not just lie here together?
The explosion jolted me out of my wandering thoughts. Focus. Focus. Focus. I don't know if we've won yet. All the Colossus Titans had stopped in their tracks at least. "Is it over?" I couldn't help but ask. I spoke too soon, however. As Eren's head tumbled in the air, a long being of light and legs writhed towards it. What a disturbing creature. "Damn it," I muttered.