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*


AFTER THE BATTLE - (Levi's Pov:)

The battle was over.......

However the cost was greater, than I had hoped for........

Losing Commander Erwin was a heavy loss to the Scouts, to the close people that surrounded him and to the other fellow Commanders that greatly respected him, though he was a crazy son a bitch. Charging head on in a shower of boulders, was such a waste of soldiers, but it was the only way for me to reach him without being noticed.

The burden will rest on me, until that hairy beast will die by hands.

Placing him on a bed in an old house, we laid him to rest. Painful as it seems, I didn't know what to feel. It was like I ran out of tears, my body numb, losing the man who used me for leverage in the Scouts. Now, I see a man I greatly respect and admire. 

Rest well Erwin.......your chapter in life has come to a close...

*

"Hold on, hold her damn wound!!!!" 

Shouting angrily, my throat boiling with panic, as Lena applied pressure upon the wound we found on her abdomen. Blood was pooling beneath her, and blood was everywhere, "Shit, shit shit........goddammit!!"

"One of you that isn't injured or is able to move, find a med kit now!" Hanji orders sharply, as my eyes was taking in her pale body. She must've lost so much blood, but how did she manage such wounds....?

Lena stood up quickly, and ran to find the med kit without a second thought in her mind.

Blood seeps through my fingers, trying to applying pressure hearing a slight grimace, but my stomach churns at the state she was in.

"She's got shrapnel in her wound in her abdomen!" Jean informs me, as I gasp pulling my hand away from applying pressure. Not knowing how she received most of these wounds, I was at a loss thinking what to do. Shaking my negative thoughts, by instinct I reacted quickly as Hanji begins to help with her wounds. Though it will prevent further bleeding, she would need to be checked by the professionals once we get back.

"What caused these wounds?" I question sternly, my eyes focus on Hanji taking the shrapnel out steadily and cautiously. 

"She was battling hand to hand with one of the enemies, sir!"

My eyes slightly widen instantly understanding whom it was, despite the odds were it could be another enemy. No, it was definitely him, the man that was after her in Trost and the underground caverns. Clearly she got attacked by surprise, knowing full well she was meant to help us out on the front lines. My eyes trace over her scattered wounds, as I gauzed her arm and shoulder that also had been scarred by the shrapnel.

"Where is the man now?"

The soldier stammers for a only a moment, "He's........."

"He's dead," Hanji replies blatantly, replying with bitterness in her tone. "She finished him off........that bastard got what he truly deserved."

The usual crazy scientists tone was more unusually cold, with a frightening gaze in her eyes.

My eyes fall upon my girlfriend, stunned that she managed to take him down, despite how heavy her wounds were. Hanji soon finished getting the shrapnel out, as Hanji began working on her with haste. We weren't professional with wounds, but I couldn't allow her to die. 

Not now, not ever....

*

Four Hours Later

 my body felt numb..........

Raking my fingers through my messy hair, my eyes felt heavy and tired while watching Akira's unconscious state. Though we prevented her from bleeding further, we don't know how much the wounds have taken a toll on her body, which means we must seek medical attention when we return.

Lena treated Hanji's blinded eye, seeing the nasty scar across her eye. 

Both of them held injuries across their faces, and they both were only two that managed to escape the zone. Lena however remain strong, her eyes focused on Hanji's eye. Akira is lucky to have an assistant like her, that I've grown to respect Lena over the years.

Landing upon the wall I noticed Armin was awake, but Sasha remained asleep beside from a severe injury as well.

"'Bout time," assuming that's the case, Eren turns around after hugging his friend for dear life with relief.

"Captain...." Armin breathes out, still in confusion. "What happened? I saw Bertholdt transform, but then everything gets kind of blurry--" he soon gasps in realisation. "Did we fight them off? Is everyone okay?!"

My eyes avert from his for a moment, realising he doesn't have any recollection of what occurred since I injected the titan serum. Must've wiped bits of his memory.

"It sounds like your recent memory was just about wiped out," My eyes drags to meet his, pulling out the flare gun raising it high. "Eren, tell him everything...."

Firing off the flare gun to inform the others, Eren held a deep grim look in his eyes.

Soon after Eren told explained everything to him, Armin's eyes were wide with shock and horror. Eyes so distant for a moment, but I knew that he had to know either way. My eyes fall upon my girlfriend, still pale and unconscious on the other side of Sasha.

Sighing deeply I glance down to meet Armin's, "Okay, are you up to speed now?"

Armin was still taken back and overwhelmed by the sudden news, as he now holds the power of the Colossal titan.

"Yeah......we won," his voice grew quiet for a moment. "But....of the Scout Regiment, there are only ten soldiers left alive. The ten of us."

Jean sighs, "That's what it looks like, the fighting ended four hours ago," he explains, solemnly holding a canteen of water in hand. "We've been searching for survivors, but......no luck."

Armin furrowed his eyebrows, "So, to be clear.....we resealed Shiganshina's gate, securing Wall Maria," He tries to recollect everything we've said. "Reiner and the Beast Titan escaped, along with that quadruped. You managed to capture Bertholdt, and then, with both the Commander and me wounded, you had to choose which of us to give the injection to.....and you did....." his voice broke, horrified at the outcome of it all. "....I transformed into a titan and killed Bertholdt....I ate him."

Armin begins to pant heavily, before he gags about to throw up when Jean lends him some water. He chugs it down like theres no tomorrow, before he gasps for air as he processes it all.

"Why though?" his breath shudders. "Why's you pick me? No matter how you look at it, Commander Erwin's the one humanity needed the most. Captain! Why'd you give me the injection?!"

Scowling I click my teeth, "Tch, hey," kicking Eren in the back with irritation. "I thought I told you to tell him everything, Yeager. There was a short debate. Your friends here argued that you were the one we needed to revive.....and when I disagreed, they staged a little mutiny."

Eren and Mikasa lowers their eyes with guilt, "Punish us as you will,"

"You'll certainly be disciplined for your insubordination," Hanji spoke up, assuring they will have to detain them for a moment. "But getting punished isn't the same as making amends."

Eren grunts with defeat, "I know,"

My eyes narrow, "Thing is, Akira and I chose to revive you in the end....or no," my eyes focusing on Akira's discomforted face. "It's more like we both chose this to be the place where Erwin died."

"Sorry, I just don't understand...."Armin trembles, still not understanding the real reason we revived him. "How could letting Erwin die be the right thing to do? What are the Scouts without him? If he's gone, then how will we go on?"

"You're right, Armin," Hanji agrees. "I believe t should've been used on Erwin, too. To be brutally honest-- never mind. It's a shame we had to choose in the first place. It's over now. Erwin told Levi and Akira to use the syringe as he thought best.......and Akira and Levi chose to use it on you. What's done is done. Erwin's life and the power of a titan, both rest on your shoulders. No matter what anyone says, that's the truth. It's part of who you are now. Accept it."

Armin's eyes become more fragile, horrified and burdened with it all. I bet if Akira was awake listening, she would feel terrible to place so much on a child. Even myself.

"Wait....so does this....mean that I need to become Erwin's replacement?" Armin asks, feeling himself welling with tears. "There's no way, I can't!"

Glancing down I sigh, "Don't misunderstand us, there's no chance in hell that you could replace Erwin," I correct him, blatantly. "That said, your self-doubt aside, you have a strength within you that no one else can claim. Don't let any of us regret this, not me, " I place my hands on Mikasa and Eren's heads. "Not either one of our mutineers here, nor anyone else.....and especially don't regret it yourself.......but also mostly Akira. She has her faith in you too, so consider that your new mission."

Suddenly heavy groaning and grunting is heard beside Armin, as Sasha seethes through her teeth while her eyes were shut, "Shut the hell up,"

Hanji soon chuckles deeply, "Yup that's our Sasha, she's always been one to speak her mind," glancing up to the kids. "You know, since Erwin has chosen me or Akira to succeed him as Commander, I'm more ore less in the same boat as you. We'll just have to grin and bear it,  while doing what we can."

"Right,"

Sighing deeply after clearing that all up, I grab a canteen and walked over to Akira, and knelt beside her current state. Placing a droplet on my finger, I gently swipe it across her dry lips hoping it can not crack her lips. I could feel Lena's eyes harden, knowing she's probably blaming herself for what had happened. Yet, it wasn't hers, but that damn bastard.

Applying more water to her lips, I felt movement beneath my fingertip.

Azure eyes flutter open weakly feeling my heart pick up with relief, "Levi......what's.....I don't...." her voice was hoarse, and really weak. 

"Shhh don't speak, here," I help her sit up carefully, my hand resting against the bare flesh on the middle of her back. With her torso, shoulder and thigh gauzed, she was secured for now. "Just drink, then speak.."

Holding the canteen to her lips, she drinks slowly and soon she breathes with somewhat relief.

"How is Armin?" She croaks out, before clearing her throat to speak more clearly. She sat up slowly only to see Armin awake, as her eyes looked more relieved. "Armin.......you're okay, I'm relieved."

Tears welled in his eyes, as if hearing her voice of concern was enough to break him.

"I......Corporal......I'm so--"

Akira chuckled, "It's okay, it's my fault for making you risk yourself," she coughs up heavily, before exhaling slowly.

"Don't over exert yourself, you're fatally wound--"

"No I must help--"

She pushes herself to stand up, gathering all her energy while I grasp her shoulders and sternly looked into eyes. "Akira, just fucking listen!" I forcefully seethe through my teeth, anger rising in my voice. She flinches for a moment, while my grip tightens. "We'll find the basement, Lena and a few of the kids will stay with you...."

"But--"

"Out of the question," I spoke harshly, but deep down I hated being this direct and angry. Harsh it may seem, I can't risk her losing her own life I tried to protect. Tension builds before her shoulder slump down, as Lena approaches from behind replacing my hands with hers on Akira's shoulders softly.

"Come and rest, Akira......you've been through worse today," She beckons tenderly, while my eyes soften for a moment. Sighing deeply I turn around gathering Hanji, Eren, Mikasa together and dispersed to find Eren's home. Though it may be crushed, there is a basement we must find. 

Flying down I glance back to see Akira with Lena, regretting for lashing out.

"Dammit," I mutter, before we head down.

*

ON THE WALL - (Akira's Pov:)

"Don't worry, I doubt he's mad with you," Lena assures me, while cleaning my bloodied wounds. She touches it tenderly, "Perhaps just listen to him, because I know you can be stubborn sometimes. Heck, look at you.....you were stubborn and stayed alive."

"My stubbornness kept me alive," I remark, while hissing as she touches a tender spot. Soon I've been feeling a sickening and nauseousness coming in waves, unable to focus on anything. "Hey.......Lena, I've....."

Pausing I chew the inside of my cheek, uncertain whether it was nervousness or some sickness.

"Hmm? What's up?" She asks, reapplying bandages on the wound Mikasa gave me. "I'm all ears."

"Nothing........never mind, but I do have a request," lifting my eyes, facing her. "Could you at least take me to where my house once was?"

"Sure I--" She cuts herself off, snapping her to me. "No! I can't do that, Levi will kill me and--"

"Please? Lena, I'll make sure he doesn't....."I plead softly. "I'm not fighting, and I'm feeling fine......sore...but fine."

She gave me a disappointed expression, seeing herself considering her options. With a few moments with silence, she soon gives in. 

"Fine, we will only find your home.....that's it," She began helping me adjust the straps, before turning to the others to see themselves talking to themselves, or sitting in silence after the heavy massacre that rested on the battle field.

*

Scouting around the ruins and debris, I noticed half of my cottage home was destroyed by a boulder that only got half of my home. Climbing up the splinters of shattered timber, and glass, I soon walk into the empty space that was left the way it was. 

"Akira, wait," Lena hisses, following behind before entering the room. She was taken back, "Wow, surprised it survived this much........but that stench..." pinching her nose, grimacing with the putrid smell.

Stepping closer, I soon saw belongings broken, or scattered from the impact. 

Walking a few more steps something crunches beneath my foot, making me flinch glancing down only to see a pile of only rustic bones. My breath hitched in my throat, already knowing who it was and left a sickening, gut wrenching feeling. Carefully I step over my father's remains, I resume looking for anything that would help me understand my family's past.

Something.....anything.......

After a while of looking finding only shattered vases, glass and rubble, I was beginning to think there was nothing. Soon Lena touches my shoulder softly, startled for a moment before with relief, "Would this help you?" seeing an old rough piece of paper, neatly folded but a little corroded.

Furrowing my eyebrows, "Where did you get this?"

She holds a dusty old notebook, "This........" seeing mother's cursive writing, engraved into the leather book. Taking the book gently and the letter, my expression soon softens. Placing the letter carefully into the notebook, I slip it into my breast pocket due to the small size. Though it wasn't much, it was enough to understand the truth.

*

TWO DAYS LATER - TROST

Managing to return back to Wall Rose, with a successful mission, things weren't exactly the same. Losing so many hundred soldiers coming down to a mere ten, was a pathetic amount to return for a celebration. No matter how I looked at it, I blamed myself for being attacked by my uncle. From strayed me away from my comrades, from the real battle. Though managing to save a mere few in the end, I couldn't help but feel like shit after everything.

Especially losing the Commander, it was either up to Hanji or I to step up and take on leading the Scout Regiment.

Levi and I barely spoke along the way back and since we arrived, as we had to detain Mikasa and Eren for assaulting their superiors, though I tried my best to understand what's done has been done. Having those two detained currently, I was sent to get proper medical attention due to my heavy wounds. Hanji decided to come along, as Levi needed to run a few things. 

Walking into the medical building within Trost, I noticed drunks or women inside in waiting, but rather quiet and still.

"Come on, you're in critical condition," Hanji ushers me further, walking to the desk where a middle aged nurse sat at a wooden desk. Her forest green eyes brightly glance up twice, before being taken back by the sudden quiet approach from both of us.

"Um.......Miss Yamasaki, it's a pleasure to--" The nurse cuts herself off, feeling Hanji's eyes flicker to hers smoothly with desperation. "Let's get you properly attended too, right this way....one of the doctors is almost finished with a patient, so we will quickly you treated."

"Thank you," I breath out, nervous seen I haven't been here in a long time.  Sharing Hanji a nervous smile, she gives me a warm comforting smile of assurance.

After minutes being assigned to a room, Hanji filled information for me just wanting to know what we're dealing with. Grateful for Hanji accompanying me, I didn't feel as all nervous about the procedure. Once we settled down, two older men, assuming doctors entered the room. Introducing themselves comfortably, they began running a few questions about my injuries.

Clearly it felt sickening to be reminded, but reluctantly I explained where I was at with my condition.

"Alright, you've lost a bit too much blood...." Doctor Kaiser scribbles down, holding a note board in hand. "Shrapnel, so might be lead poisoning....we have to make sure.....alright, would you want a sedative?"

Nodding quietly, they assumed I've been in pain for far too long.

He shifts his glasses, "Alright, could you discard your clothes and lay on the medical bed and we may begin......we won't look," turning around, he begins chatting with Dr Heinrich. 

Hesitantly I do as requested before laying on the table, as they lay a white sheet over my waist only leave the four heavy wounds on display. Closing my eyes, they jab a sedative into me while I glance over to see Hanji sitting on the side, concern flickering behind her eyes. The shift of demeanour changes so quickly, before everything becomes heavy for me to keep awake.

*

Once the procedure went smoothly, I found everything hazy to focus on one thing, whilst laying in a comfortable medical bed. However the moment I woke up, the sudden change shifts within the medical room. Both Dr Heinrich and Dr Kaiser mutters something, while Hanji held my hand comfortably.

"How are you feeling, my dear?" her voice soothing, and clear for me to understand to control my hearing. Blinking a few times I try to adjust my vision, the lights hazy but dim to a warm hue.

"Haven't slept like this for so long," I croak out, feeling my voice gravel out. Hanji quickly grabs a glass of water, before helping take a sip to ease my dry throat. "Thanks."

Shifting my attention the two Doctors approach me and sat down on the other side, with a look of relief in their eyes. 

"How is she, will she be able to continue in the regiment?" Hanji asks, desperation in her voice. 

Dr Kraiser sits taller and holds his clipboard in hand, "Alright, we have a few more questions for you," he spoke up, hospitably. "Before your injuries, have you experienced dizziness.......nausea, fatigue, light-headed even?"

"Um.........yeah, I have......" my voice trails off, wondering how they knew.

"Have you been eating plenty? With your current weight--" Dr Kraiser pauses for a moment, while my eyes lower being sensitive about it. "My apologies.......your body physique is rather healthy, it seems it's a genetic thing I assume?"

"Yes,"

He shifts his glasses, "Any change in your diet, or sleep schedule?" He

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