Hi there folks, sorry for missing last week, time got away from me! Chonky chapter for you this week!

Note: To those that DM'd be to whine about a lack of update - sweethearts, if the only time you get in contact with an author is to bitch? There's the door. You've already had about 5 or more full-length novel's worth of work from me for free. I upload this for the fun of it, I write it for me, so I'm gonna sometimes miss a week. Deal!

For those of you patiently waiting gladly - ENJOY MY DEARS!

KEZA POV

Okay Scowler, let's dance.

Robyn's hardly happy to be sending me down there, she's too protective for her own good, that one. But I calmed her nerves by pointing out I'm not the one Levi wants to murder. That rather gave me an edge. Over her, anyway. GooGoo disapproved of my lack of "careful" demeanour with Robyn, but it's the only way I know how to properly deal with all this. Me and Numbnuts had been through hell. We fucking grew up in it, and this was how we dealt with it at the time. Sure, we had both grown, we were both stronger now. But we still had that bond. I could comfort her all I wanted, but the only way to distract that woman properly was to make her smile. And I could do that like no one else.

Beyond that, I'm pretty sure the new Commander was just feeling guilty. She looked at me all solemnly every single time we spoke. Made sense. She'd stepped into Erwin's shoes. But I didn't resent her. If anything, I pitied the damn woman. He was a bugger to follow-up on, I knew that well enough from the expressions on people's faces when I was referred to as the Great Erwin Smith's Widow. Folks had their airs and graces, but when it came down to a wrinkled nose, it mattered to me as much as a smudge of dog shite on the bottom of my shoe. Scrape it off. Wash it clean. Keep moving.

Regardless, Robyn seemed better today. It had been maybe a week since she remembered what those bastards had done to her during her captivity, and she didn't seem to need me to stay with her at night now. Or at least, she's no longer okay with asking. Still, I lingered outside her door, reading or dozing in a chair. Just in case. But she was settling okay, I think. I think. It's always been hard to tell with her; how much is real recovery vs. how much she wants me to believe it's recovery. I'd keep an eye. For my own sake as well as hers. As much as she'd probably convinced herself she needed me more than I needed her, that couldn't be further from the truth. Even when Erwin had still been around, I needed my Robyn. And now? I desperately did so.

But enough of that.

Show time.

I pinched Robyn's cheek before I left the office of GooGoo. Robyn smiled and wished me luck as she hugged me tight. Then I made my way to the cells; my little potion safely hidden away for the final reveal. It would be a hard sell, this con, but the nerves hadn't hit me yet. After all, if I could convince the leathery old men on my clientele list that they were Gods of the bedroom, I could convince Scowler I wanted Robyn dead. Maybe. Our red ribbons flashed before my eyes, and I shivered at the idea of this conversation ever being real. But I didn't think anything could truly push us apart like that. Not in this life.

It was dank and thoroughly depressing; a horrible place, but a dandy prison for sure. Pacing sounded up ahead and I had to wonder if the Captain ever slept. He'd been yelling, muttering, pacing, and clanging against the cell bars for the past week. The poor man was tearing himself apart. I couldn't let that go on. For Robyn, but also for Erwin. He had spoken so highly of his Captain, his comrade, his friend. A long road, for sure, but they had indeed become friends – I saw it in their exchanges, and in the light that would appear in Erwin's eyes as he told the stories. A warmth. A genuine connection. That didn't exist for him with many people, too many wanted his power, or wanted to undermine it, and many more simply wanted him to fail. But Levi, Erwin had trusted. Completely. He wouldn't want his friend in this kind of place; he always said one of the things he was most proud of was enabling Levi to leave the Underground, to be free of the darkness. So I had to do this. For Robyn, for Levi, and for Erwin.

Guess I was just everybody's fucking hero today, huh?

The guard by the cell door considered me closely. He knew why I was there of course, but he had a part to play. I glanced through the bars, and winked at the demanding expression of my latest mark. Captain Levi. He didn't look impressed. But there was a hint of confusion, if I played my cards right, he might be interested enough to listen before long.

I concentrated on my fellow actor, and fluttered my eyelashes. "Say, guard-boy? Fancy doing a lovely lady a little favour?"

He blushed. "What is it you need ma'am?"

"I need a chat with the Captain, could you go get your handsome self a cuppa tea while I do?" I purred, strutting over, and playing with the collar of his uniform. The poor bloke was bright red, acting or not as he stammered through his lines. It helped sell it, in all honesty. Although I did wish he wouldn't sweat so much.

"C-Can't do that Ma'am. S-sorry."

"Oh? Pretty please? I just need to plead for my good friend, Robyn's life? Please? Do this for me, and I'll forgive the use of Ma'am?" I chuckled, running my fingers along his strong jaw and playing with his slight stubble.

Scowler just watched, clicking his tongue at the mentioning of his intended victim. Such callous reactions, such calm hatred. I shivered at the contrast; remembering the warmth in his gaze towards Robyn before all this. Men and women alike stared at me, and ogled at my assets. But no one had looked at me like that. Ever. Well… Perhaps Erwin had, and I simply hadn't seen it. Sure. I could hope that maybe Erwin had.

The guard continued. "But it's dangerous—"

"I promise to stay on this side of the bars. I just need to talk to him… Please?" I whispered in his ear. He shuddered, and walked away, stride a little odd, muttering a 'make it quick' as he left. Poor man; either he was a gifted actor, or seriously needed a girlfriend.

As we were left alone, the curtain rose on my performance. No going back. I focused on Scowler. He stood in the shadows, arms folded and foot tapping. It was hard to read what else was going on in his head beyond the impatience, how the hell did Numbnuts manage it?

"So… Hey there handsome." I wandered over to the bars, my smirk in place. He looked me up and down. "Listen, I didn't really come here to beg for anyone's life, I need a question answered."

"And I'd do that, why?"

"Common decency? Because you're bored?"

"What's the question?" He perched on his bed

I glanced towards where the Guard left, and then to Levi, my angry frown in place. He frowned as the silence became appropriately tense.

I gritted my teeth. "Is she really that thing?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your new Commander said… You said Robyn…" I gripped the bars and sucked a breath between my teeth. "Is she really the F-Female Titan?"

He studied me. "Why?"

I drew out the quiet as I forced my breathing into raggedness, making my hands quiver against the bars. Damn it, I'm selling this. If only my audience was more than Scowler. "My… My brother. He was… in the city when… when…"

"When she attacked." He clicked his tongue and leaned on his knees. A sigh left him. He put his head in his hands, and ran his fingers through his raven locks. Lovely hair, really, nice shine to it even down here. Did he condition it? "I'm sorry Keza, but she is."

"Damn it." I sniffed, tears rolling.

"She's fooled everyone."

"B-But how can she… I mean, I've known her for so l-long and—"

"Don't give me that shit." He was suddenly right there, at the bars, gripping my hands as he put his face as close as possible to mine. His stoic expression was gone, replaced by a snarl and wild eyes. I tried to pull away, but he held like a vice.

I suppressed the urge to bring my knee up between the bars, and crack him in his scowling beanbags. "C-Captain please."

"Don't snivel at me. You know it's true, you wouldn't ask if you didn't, so don't go denying it now."

"I—"

"You saw me throttle her right? Your best friend. So don't pull the denial shit, I don't have time."

"All right… All right." I sobbed, hanging my head and ladling on the pathetic little whimpers. But then I paused for dramatic effect, and slowly raised my head to stare at him head on. I swallowed hard. I let my expression waver for a moment's moment. Then I leaned in and only stopped when we were a breath apart, and my teeth were bared. "Fine. You're right, no more fucking about. Let me help you destroy her."

He released my hands and stepped back, looking me over.

I sucked in a breath, more tears flowing. "Please. Knowing it's true… Suspecting it even before that… I can't stand to look at her. She's hurt so many, and if what you say is true? I need to avenge my brother, surely you can understand that?" I choke out. "Please. I'm desperate."

"Evidently."

I hung my head again. "Please!"

"Stop whining." He muttered. "What do you think you could even offer?"

"I…" I touched the pocket briefly and then gripped the bars again, breathing hard. "I have a way you can kill her, and you won't be stopped this time. Not before it's worked anyway." I waited for him to bite.

He paced, obviously staring at me, but I just shivered and huffed my way through a supposedly panicked moments.

He huffed a bitter laugh. "Don't mind me taking the wrap for your vengeance then, huh brat?"

Brat? Excuse me, Scowler, that is just plain rude.

I sniffed. "But you don't care if you get caught, right? All that matters is—"

He surged forward and gripped my throat. Fuck. Whatever the hell those bastards had done to him was strong stuff. I clasped at his hand, but really all I could do was stare at his enraged face. Eyes wild, teeth bared; an animal thirsting for the kill. I just hoped he didn't fancy a quick sip with me as practice.

"Don't pretend to understand my need to kill her." He growled, throwing me back across the small space, I stumbled and slid down the opposite wall. He looked down at me with utter disdain. I lied there, soothing my throat. Play it cool Keza, you could do this, do it for Robyn. She loved this raving lunatic, for some damn reason. No. Stop. Don't let the bastard's win. It isn't really Levi, it's the madness they've warped him into believing. He's vicious, yes, but not really himself.

"S-sorry." I coughed, lowering my head and waiting for him to nibble the bait.

Come on Scowler, you can't do this alone, you're stuck in a cell with everyone suspecting you of having gone nuts. Which you admittedly, have, however, you're convinced you haven't. Work with me here you silly bastar—

"What's this plan of yours?" He leaned against the bars, watching closely. I swallowed, smiling timidly as I reached into my handy pocket, and withdrew the special medicine. His frown returned. "The hell is that?"

"Poison, untraceable."

"And you have this, because…?"

"It came in useful when dealing with the more stubbornly willed of my clients. You know, some of those old bastards just didn't want to die. And I can't say I'm all that patient." I got up and handed him the small vial. He studied it. "Slip it into her tea, offer her a cup of something, when you're eventually released. Claim it's a peace offering, and watch her finally pay for all she's done."

"You've planned this a lot for someone not fully convinc–"

"Call it denial if you must." I snapped, swallowing hard. "Can you blame me for now wanting to fully buy into the idea of being so totally blindsided by this? I loved her. I thought she was my partner, my friend, my sister."

He gave a small nod. "All right. But it seems too clean. She deserves to suffer."

"Agreed. She should suffer long and hard… But you already tried messy, it takes too long. They'd stop you and save her. If you want to do this, we have to be clever."

He stared at the liquid, and a weird light entered his eyes. Joy? Euphoria? Whatever it was, the fact that it came about because I'd just outlined how to kill the woman he loves, made my stomach churn. That simple ring I'd found, shone in my mind. How far those White Cloaks had dragged this man into their mess. What the hell had they done to him in order to warp his mind like this?

"So why did you have this with you at all? If you weren't even sure she was the Female Titan. That I wasn't just crazy, like they all think I am?" He turned the vial over in his hands slowly. I pursed my lips, and looked to the side as though ashamed. Not quite mister, I had seen all angles to this con, and you are not about to trip the likes of me up.

"Despite the denial… I was scared that I'd chicken out, if I didn't bring it with me, plan in tow. If I let myself dwell on the idea… I was worried my sentimentality might get the better of me."

"Sentimentality..." He slipped the poison into his uniform with a disturbing smirk taking hold of his pale lips. "I get it, she got me with that trap too. She got everyone. Even Erwin. But she'll pay for it tenfold."

Oh Robyn. Can we really bring this idiot back?

He continued. "As soon as they let me out, probably in a week or so, she'll be dead. Before you can even think to doubt."

He held out his hand to me, and I stared at it for a moment, before reaching in and sealing the deal with the devil. I just hoped this worked. I just hoped that poison brought all this to a close; healing the wounds and bringing these two fucking idiots back together. Without any blood needing spilled.

I left him with that sickening look of hope in his grey eyes, and closed the door to the dungeon with a sigh. It was wonderful to know he held such passion; but I had to admit I was looking forward to seeing it in a more positive light. Come on universe, you callous bastard, give them a break already?

I tried Erwin… I really tried.

LEVI POV

Finally, Robyn Sanshi would die.

Levi steeled his nerve as the doors to the dungeons opened far above, and steps approached from the stairs. He was chomping at the bit, ready to go, eager to be done with his task and able to continue his life, fulfilling his duty, making it all worthwhile. Finally his team would be avenged. The people of Stohess would be avenged. The world would be a little less dark once she was finally put down. The steps grew closer and he made himself as casual as possible. The Commander stepped into view, her one eye studying him close. It was already decided. They had come to question him the day before, with that monster in two – and he had played the part perfectly. No violence. No anger. Perfectly normal and fine. Able to be released. Time to get out of that damned cell and finish the job – no second-guessing this time. No doubts. No holding back.

The poison was heavy in his pocket, full of potential.

Hanji smiled and unlocked the cell, beckoning him into the open world. He dipped his head and stepped out, following back up the stairs, towards the mess hall for some breakfast. It was a beautiful day. Sunshine washed in through the windows and birds sang out in the courtyard. The perfect day to free the Scouts. Erwin would be proud.

The mess hall was bustling, at least to begin with. As soon as the cadets realised he had entered the room, a hush fell. No doubt he had unnerved them with his outburst when he first returned – but they would soon know why, and be glad of his presence. He would save all of them. Erwin might have even been impressed with the scheme. One more step towards ending the Titans. One less enemy shifter to worry about.

A flash of auburn hair caught his eye. He nearly lost it then and there, the red haze descending, filling his veins with hate as his heart hammered, flooding his system with adrenaline. Being faced with a monster would do that to a man. She was sat there, eating breakfast, like nothing was wrong. She laughed. She smiled. She talked with his comrades and wove her web. Since day one that had been what she was doing. The bitch. Sat next to her was the Jaeger kid. He might be a problem – at least initially. From what Levi could recall, she had been fond of the kid, and had a decent bond with him too. Likely planned to recruit him and his Titan abilities. How had they all been so blind?

Jaeger glanced over his shoulder towards Levi, nodding curtly before returning to his meal. Yes, he would be protective of her, right to the end. But Levi would show him the truth. He would free the kid as well. They owed the kid that much, he'd already done the regiment and humanity alike a lot of good service. Even if he was a snot-nosed brat most of the time.

"Levi?" Hanji prompted, nodding towards the food line.

"Sorry, just getting used to all the noise again." He dipped his head and played the part, loading his tray with the usual bits and pieces and then his tea.

It had to look like an improvised idea. A spur of the moment olive branch. If it was obvious he had been planning the gesture all along, Glasses would be suspicious. She probably already was. After all, she wasn't an idiot. But she was also naively hopeful a lot of the time, and that was what Levi was hoping to take advantage of. He hated to use her like that, but it was for the good of the regiment. For the good of humanity. If he accomplished nothing else in his life, then so be it, but it had to happen. Robyn Sanshi had to die.

As he finished his food, every single minute grating against his nerves, he glanced over to her. She was still sat eating, chatting with her would-be victims. Malicious bitch. But she was still there, still open for the taking.

Levi nudged Hanji and nodded to Robyn. "I wondered if I could go give a peace offering?"

"What did you have in mind?" Hanji eyed him.

"She still drinks tea, I assume?"

Hanji nodded.

Levi stood. "All right then, a fresh cup of tea. Nothing much more cordial than that, is there?"

Hanji nodded slowly. "All right. But approach slowly, Levi, no doubt the others at the table will be pretty wary, not to mention Robyn herself. You have a long way to go… But it's a nice idea." She grinned. "Good luck!"

Naive.

He collected the fresh tea and added the milk, stirring slowly, slipping the poison in seamlessly. His days in the Underground were a lot easier to tap into than he might have believed possible. The solution was lost in the tea immediately, no sign. No trace even left on the spoon. Keza might have been cowardly for not doing it herself, but clearly her ways were effective. He tapped the spoon and put it into the sink for washing. No trace. He then drew a deep breath and made his move, traversing the mess hall with ease, cadets moving out of his way, not a drop spilled. Only a few more strides. She was so close. The temptation to forgo the poison and simply rip her apart was right at the base of his throat, burning along with every fibre of his being. But there were too many cadets nearby. Too many of her comrades who had been hoodwinked into protecting her vicious life. The poison would do. It would get the job done.

Stood behind her, he cleared his throat.

The table went quiet, and they all turned to stare at him. Jaeger glared, as did Kirschtein and Springer, but they remained tight-lipped. They knew it wasn't them he was there to see. She angled herself round and looked up with those bright hazel eyes, the ones he had so foolishly believed held warmth and affection for him. But all they held were empty promises. She smiled softly, red lips pulling gently upwards, as a slight blush took to porcelain cheeks. He clenched his jaw for a moment. All a facade, a lure. She was the enemy, do not be fooled. Sanshi scum. Yes, she was astonishing, but for all the wrong reasons.

He held out the tea, that same pain from when he returned to HQ threatening behind his eyes. He focused on the task. "A peace offering."

She looked at the cup with a small frown for a moment, no doubt suspicious of him now that he knew her true form. Her true intentions of destroying the Scouts and Humanity alike. But it passed, soon smoothing out to another soft smile.

With an elegant hand, she took the cup and dipped her head. "Thanks, Captain. Good to have you back."

Like hell. No doubt she was already planning how to kill him, or the entirety of another team. To smear them against the trees, to bathe in their blood and bask in their terrified screams. Sick. Wrong. Evil.

She drank. Yes. One long sip, the liquid slipping between her red lips, shining dully in the morning light through the windows. Drink. Drink deep and choke on your own tongue. Pain prickled harder in his skull, his head soon pounding. He kept his eyes on his enemy.

Lowering the cup, she licked her lips. "Perfect tea as always, sir. How uh… How're you feeling?"

"Good, thank you. And yourself, Cadet?"

The whole table was watching him closely, but he just clasped his hands behind his back and retreated one step. To them, likely a sign of good intention. To him, a little space for the show. It wasn't clear how dramatic an effect the poison would have, but Keza had assured him it would be quick. Good thing too. Less time for the fools to try and save their would-be killer.

She sipped again, deeply, closing her eyes for a moment. "Fine. Better for the tea, thanks."

Her lips pursed and she swallowed hard. Feeling the effects?

He smirked. "Any time, Cadet."

She winced and her eyes glanced down at the mug of tea, blinking slow as she paled. It began. Her porcelain skin lost its blush, resembling grey oatmeal instead of fresh snow. His heart raced. She winced again. Her lips fell open in a weak gasp. The mug fell from her slackening grip, tea sloshing onto the floor, mug splintering to tiny fragments. She toppled after it; like her strings had been cut. And they had. By him. No longer would she weave her web, but crumple and curl into an empty husk before his eyes. Finally.

"Robyn?" Jaeger jolted as she slumped, about to fall onto the ground when he lurched and grabbed her just in time.

Unfortunately her head didn't smack off the ground, spilling her evil thoughts across the floor. Instead she lay in the kids arms, going limp, head hanging back, eyes staring up at Levi. In horrified realisation, no doubt. She had been caught. She had been dealt with. Her breathing wheezed, eyes going wider as the air struggled to fill her lungs. That's right. Choke. Be strangled by all the souls you cast to the wind. Petra, Oluo, Eld and Gunter. Pay for their losses. Feel their pain. Every single moment of it, and then some. Her body convulsed, jolting in Jaeger's arms while the boy called to her desperately. Let her go, boy. Let the bitch die. The wheezing stopped. Her red lips paled to rose petal pink, and then barely a blush.

She was dying.

She was really dying.

Her pupils blew wide. Her convulsions stopped, body entirely slack. No breath. Nothing. Hanji ran over, barking orders for everyone to leave. The mess hall emptied – all the while Levi stood staring at his winnings. The pain had erupted inside his skull, but he just drank in the moment. Jaeger pushed the auburn hair back, his foolish tears falling against the blank face of their enemy, begging her to wake up. To speak to him. Hanji knelt down beside the body as Jager laid it flat, still calling that damn name, still trying to save the one that had tried to kill them all. But it was too late. Levi had succeeded. The Female Titan was defeated.

Hanji checked vitals, and her shoulders shuddered. "She's… Sh-She's gone."

Robyn was dead.

Levi swallowed hard. His heart was still hammering but no longer in victory.

She was… dead?

Bitterness entered his mouth, like a need to vomit, and his eyes itched.

She… was… d–

Like shattering glass had been dropped over his head, Levi took a deep breath at the small slices of pain. Cold came next, trickling along the tears in his mind. The thundering of his heart threatened to deafen him, and the fever simmering under his skin would burn him to a crisp in seconds. He blinked. He tried to comprehend what was going on. Nothing stuck. Nothing but the raking of that glass and coldness.

What the hell was going on?

He couldn't breathe properly, the air was so thin and the room swam, everything shifting and warping, except for her. Robyn. She stared up at him, eyes wide, pupils blown, blind. Hanji pushed her eyelids closed. Forever. Never to open again. Levi began to shake. None of it made sense. Why had he done that? Why give her poison and smile about it? Why rejoice in her lying there, choking, wheezing, looking up at him pleadingly? Robyn was dead? No. No that couldn't be right. None of it was right.

Jaeger lunged at him, barely held back by Ackerman and Kirtschtein. "What did you do, you crazy bastard? She loved you! She's been falling apart for six fucking months over you. She would do anything for you! And you killed her, you monster, you fucking monster!"

Levi couldn't tear his eyes away from her face, her beautiful, eerily peaceful face. The teacup laid nearby, in a thousand pieces like his mind and heart. He looked down at his hands, clenching them as they trembled. He had handed her the cup. Added the poison. Wanted her death. But why? She… She wasn't the fucking Female Titan. She never had been. For fuck's sake she had been on the mission, in front of him, when the Female Titan attacked. It didn't make sense. How could he have been so–

His knees gave out, smacking against the stonework as he gripped his hair and pulled. It couldn't be real. None of it. He couldn't have hurt her. Not her. Anyone but her. Not his Robyn.

A kettle whined in his mind. He rocked back and forth. He had poured water into the pot, their pot, he had spooned tea in and stirred. She had unlatched the window and let in the crisp air of the afternoon. What a normal day it had been, a beautifully normal day. Droplets had pattered against the sill as she braced there and looked back down onto the street, her gorgeous eyes shining as she perched. Casually stunning. And then she had caught him staring. She raised a brow, she grinned, she laughed. A blush had blossomed on her cheeks and she rolled her eyes at his foolishness.

So alive. So astonishing. So Robyn.

He shook his head, gasping. He had to go back. Back to that day. To that bubble. To the simple happiness of simply existing with her in the day to day. Go back. He had to go back. "Wake up." He begged himself. "Wake the fuck up you bastard."

"You killed her!" Jaeger bellowed and Levi squeezed his eyes shut.

"I-I can't… I couldn't… I wouldn't." He groaned as pain trickled in past the coldness from before. Pain of realisation, and of guilt. Her blood was on his hands. She was dead. She was gone. And it was because of him. He choked, gagging at the very idea of what he had done. The sickening triumph he had felt only moments beforehand. Watching her fall. Her eyes growing dull, her body going limp, her heart stuttering to a final halt.

Jaeger was dragged away, his shrieks of justified outrage only silenced by the slamming of the mess hall doors. And then quiet took the room. Hanji backed away, hand over her mouth, shaking her head.

And Levi made himself look again.

Robyn was so still. Her hair was splayed around her, looking far too much like spilled blood against the pale grey of the stonework. Her skin had greyed, and her lips too. Everything was so still. No fidgeting. No playing with her hair. No quirk of a brow or twitch of her smile. Nothing. Vacant. Empty.

He made himself stand.

He forced his feet towards her.

No more laughter, no more tea in between duties, no more stolen kisses in a darkened corner, or pressing her desperately to the pantry shelves, their hands never able to hold tight enough. No more promises of a future. Her smile blotted out. Her eyes closed. Her voice silenced. Every single aspect, reduced to nothing but a memory.

He returned to his knees. His hands kept clenching and unclenching, like he might be able to grab the moment and wrench it back. Handing over that cup. Watching the steam rise and tickle her nose, the hot poison slipping between her lips as she drank. Slap it from her hand. Scream at her to stop. Beg her not to trust him. But she had. Those beautiful eyes had looked up at him with what he now recognised as hope. Hope for what, he wasn't sure, but he had dashed it. He took her trust and twisted it around her neck, choking.

"Brat?" He whispered, voice barely audible as he reached and touched her hair. Soft. Silken. He traced along her cheekbone. Cold. "This… This isn't right…"

Levi pulled her body into his lap, cradling her as she laid in his arms, no strength, no fight, threatening to spill against the floor if he let go for a second. But he wouldn't. He couldn't. A little warmth remained in her body, but it was fading. He gritted his teeth. He curled around her, resting his head into the crook of her neck, holding her head up against his own shoulder, the shivering in his bones turning to shudders.

"Wake up… Please wake up…"

It had happened again.

Suddenly he wasn't Captain Levi anymore, nor Humanity's Strongest, not even a thug in the Underground. Instead he was just a child, standing in a cold room wearing a scrap of an old shirt that hung down by his knees. She wouldn't wake up. Never again. Not now. Her face had begun to sink in, her lips receding from her teeth, her skin slack against her bones. Never to wake. Never to smile, or laugh, or call his name. Because he hadn't been old enough, big enough, tough enough to help. They wouldn't wake up either. Even though both of them had had their eyes wide open, staring up at him while the rain poured, him still alive while they died. Because he wasn't good enough.

And now it had happened again.

He was alone. Because he had failed.

Rocking back and forth, the sobs escaped, the cries he hadn't allowed himself for so long, the cracked sounds of a heart breaking, that he hadn't permitted since Isabel and Farlan. Alone. In a supply closet after the latest debrief from the mission. In the darkness he allowed the pain to breathe. Himself to feel. And now? Now he couldn't even hope to wait to hide. Robyn. She had helped him live again, feel again. The tears fell, soaking into her shirt, her hair. They didn't do any good, they were just falling rain, soon to be forgotten. Not even seen by the one they were for.

"Please? C'mon Brat…" His heart quickened, breaths gasping out of him as he held her tighter. "Come back… Smile at me, hate me, kick the shit out of me, but just breathe, blink, smile, do something." He held tighter still, tangling his hand in her hair, turning to kiss her forehead. "You can't burn out. Not because of me. Please… Not you."

Steps approached. He held her close, her head to his shoulder, his body curling around hers like he could protect her somehow. But he couldn't. He'd made it impossible to ever protect her again.

"Levi." Hanji spoke coldly, but her voice was still thickened by her tears. "You have to let go of her. And you have to come with us."

After that, it became a blur. He didn't want to move, couldn't stand to leave her alone like that, just laying there helplessly. Except she was beyond help. She was gone. And he couldn't accept that, especially because it was him that put her there. Someone dragged him back from her and he fought them. He had to stay there. He had to protect her. Save her.

But there was no saving her.

Idiot.

You killed her.

And that was when his fight stopped, his body just slackened in the grip of his captors, his comrades, his fellow Scouts. He was dragged away, staring back at her still body, the broken glass of his mind shifting with every ragged breath. She was dead. Murdered. A brilliant Scout, killed during breakfast. A wonderful woman, reduced to a corpse. Precious memories, warped to haunting nightmares.

Robyn…

He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry…"

Dun dun duuuuuun. So... He's... awake? Cya next time!