CHAPTER 15 - The Two Strongest

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Levi immediately flew off towards where Mikasa was when they heard a large thing that crashed. There he saw how Mikasa slowly fall down, holding her swords as she was standing on Eren's titan form's shoulders.

Mikasa pulled the trigger of her gears as she flew off towards a roof. Right after the titan fall, its body started to evaporate like how it should be. Levi immediately went towards the titan as Mikasa noticed and followed him.

The both of them immediately aimed for the nape, as the both of them sliced the titan's nape, they saw Eren with his eyes closed. Mikasa immediately kneeled down and pulled Eren from the titan's form.

"Eren..." Calmly, she said as she looked at the man she was holding onto her arms. Longing for his face and appearance for her to see.

Feelings wrapped her up as she stared at him. Missing his angry voice when she had always tried to protect him in every thing that he did. Mikasa hugged Eren as Eren remained unconscious.

Levi looked at her, as he kneeled down beside her while she was hugging Eren. Levi saw how tears fell down from her eyes, but her face remained calm still. He wanted to smile, but he knew he should not. Not in that situation. He realized how much Mikasa had changed through the years, and that was the only time that he noticed it fully.

"Mikasa." He called, making Mikasa look at him before she closed her eyes again and placed Eren on the ground softly. Levi stood up first before Mikasa followed him.

The other soldiers were looking at them as Armin stared at Mikasa and Levi before he looked at Eren that was lying on the ground.

"Take Eren Jaeger's body together with Annie." Levi said to the soldiers that was on stand by. As the soldiers saluted at them, Mikasa wiped her tears off away from her face.

"It's good you finally know how to hold yourself back now." Levi said that startled Mikasa while she was in her deep thoughts.

"It's different now." Mikasa said, that drew confusion on Levi's face. Making him stop from walking and turned his back to face Mikasa.

"What do you mean?" He asked, making Mikasa look at him with her eyes full of courage. Mikasa looked at her back, looking at the guards that were carrying Eren, before she looked at Armin who was leading the other soldiers who were aiding the Asians before looking back to Levi who she was talking to.

"We don't know if Eren's still with us, or not. We don't know what happened in those years. We don't know what the others did to him. We don't know what Annie and the others are planning." She said continuously as her hands started to form a fist, clenching it harder and harder with every word she said.

"Mikasa..." Levi called out as he walked towards her, about to grab her hands when Mikasa suddenly spoke again.

"I don't want to believe it, at first." She said, as she looked down to her feet with tears flowing down to her cheeks coming from the onyx eyes of hers. Serenity on her face was not visible. "When they said that Eren was attacking the district. I didn't believe it. Eren couldn't do that!"

"Mikasa..." Levi called as he grabbed Mikasa's hands.

"But it's true." She whispered as her voice broke down. She slowly kneeled in front of Levi even though Levi was still holding both of her hands. "It was Eren who was attacking and Annie is injured."

Levi kneeled down as well before he pulled Mikasa's head, letting it lean on his right shoulder as his hands travelled to her back and to the back of her head.

"In the end... In the end I needed to be practical." Mikasa said as she sobbed. "I need to stop myself from getting on your way in doing things." She said, before she looked up to Levi's eyes as Levi was looking at her as well. "I need to open my eyes and do things the right way. I know it to myself that in this situation I needed to be practical, but I just can't. Eren's my brother. I promised mom to take care of him." She said, as she was gripping Levi's cape tightly with her hands.

"Mikasa... shh. Calm down." Levi said as she pulled Mikasa towards him before hugging her tightly. "You've done enough." He said as he closed his eyes while carressing Mikasa's hair.

Mikasa's eyes grew big for a moment and stopped sobbing for a while, before she buried her face onto Levi's shoulders and started to cry again. She did not know why Levi's words could make her feel that way in an instant. It was too comforting for her. Especially that it came from him, who had always seen her as a nuisance every time they have a mission with Eren together with them.

"Heichou, is she fine?" A voice said that made Mikasa pulled herself away from Levi.

"Armin." She whispered before she looked at the person who Levi was looking at as well.

"Mikasa..." Armin uttered as he reached out his right hand supposedly placing it on to Mikasa's right shoulder when Mikasa suddenly spoke, stopping him to do so.

"I'm fine Armin." She said and smiled faintly as she stood up. Armin stared at her as she looked at Levi. Levi stood up and nodded at her before he started to walk away, walking towards where the other soldiers were.

"Are you sure you're fine?" Armin asked, his brows were furrowed as he was worrying for his friend.

"Nn." Mikasa said as she nodded at him, before her face returned to its usual plain state. "Let's go and start helping the others now."

Mikasa started to walk towards where there were damaged houses before she started to help the other soldiers who were there.

The other members of the garrison was already there to help them as the head of the garrison started to plan kut on how would they rebuilt the damaged houses.

Armin walked towards where Mikasa was, and started to help her as well before someone called for their attention.

"Soldier Armin Arlert and Soldier Mikasa Ackerman, Captain Levi is waiting for the two of you at the wall. He said that you'll have a meeting with Commander Erwin and the others." The soldier said right after he saluted in front of the two.

Armin nodded as Mikasa put down the things that she was holding before the both of them started to walk towards where Levi was as they started to use their gears as well.

As soon as they got to the wall, they saw Levi talking with Jean and the others. The both of them walked towards them before Mikasa heard what Levi had to say.

"Annie and Eren will probably have a trial at the court." Levi said that shocked Mikasa, but still retained her blank face as she and Armin stopped walking when they reached where the others were.

Jean and the others nodded as they Mikasa started to look at Armin before she looked at Levi. Levi looked at their surroundings before he closed his eyes and released a deep breath. Seeing the new district in a disaster made him a little bit disappointed.

"Let's get going." Levi said before he prepared his gears and started to go down to the ground. The others followed as Mikasa took another glimpse of the district. I'll definitely return here. She said, fighting the urge of helping the other men.

---

"Erwin." Levi greeted as he started to walk towards his usual spot every time they had a meeting, but this time they were with the Queen.

"Good to see you guys. Please take your seats immediately." Historia greeted right after she saw Levi who opened the door.

Each and everyone of them took their seats and paid their attention to the Queen who was preparing herself to speak.

"What happened there? Did any of the two speak to you?" Historia immediately asked when all of them took their seats. She looked at Levi and the others as Mikasa was prepared to speak when Levi suddenly butt in.

"Annie Leonhardt was the one who helped us stop Eren Jaeger." Levi said, as if he was speaking such foreign names.

Historia looked at the others, waiting for any other i formation to be said until Levi spoke again.

"They are somewhat claiming that they are here as allies, not as enemies. But we can't let our guard down, even if it's Eren Jaeger who is there." He said, making everyone, except him, look at the girl who was beside him.

Mikasa gripped the belts on her legs as she faced down to it. Thinking about everything that Levi said. She knew to herself that it was the right thing, she even said that that was the thing to do. But even though she knew it all along, it did not make her feel completely alright at all. It was still Eren they were talking about.

"Mikasa..." Historia mentioned, as Levi slowly took a glimpse of the lady beside him.

Mikasa immediately looked up to Historia and spoke her words. "It's fine, Historia. Levi is right. Even if it's Eren." She said, making everyone's eyes around them grew big, making Levi as an exception. He wanted to smile though, but he held his triumph inside of him. "Especially now that Eren was the one who's attacking the district absentmindedly." She continued.

Erwin, who was inside the wall looked at Mikasa with his curious eyes. "What do you mean absentmindedly?" He asked.

"He was out of control, Erwin." Levi spoke, making Erwin's attention divert to him. "Annie gave us something that would make him stop and return to his human form, but even though she helped us with that, we can't let our guard down."

"It may be a trap, making us believe that they are allies, but they are actually spies just like Mr. Thomnas." Armin suddenly spoke, making everyone in the room look at him. Everyone was quiet after him.

Erwin was thinking, staring at the table in front of him making it look like it was an interesting thing.

Historia sighed before she slammed her first on the table in front of her, making everyone look at her with their tired eyes.

"We will solve this on the court. Just like before, there will be a trial." Historia said as she looked at the people in front of them bravely.

Hanji looked at Historia as if she was a proud mother of hers. Seeing how she matured throughout the years made her feel a little bit happy for her, but her attention for Historia was disturbed when Connie spoke.

"But Historia, wouldn't it be easier if we talk to them personally?" He said, making all of them look at him.

"Of course it is, Connie!" Jean butt in before Armin spoke. He had a point but Armin told them the importance of having an audience.

"Connie, what had happened disturbed all the cities behind our walls. The citizens will definitely ask for us to let them see and hear the talk with Annie Leonhardt and Eren Jaeger." He said before he decided to pause and continue before Connie would say another word. "And after all, we need to talk to them in the court with the elder of the Asians."

"Would that be necessary?" Sasha suddenly asked, making Armin look at her. "I mean, the elder might not cooperate."

"Yes, it is their district that was attacked." Armin said. "And I do believe that the elder know a lot of things." He paused before looking at Historia. "We need to ask him some questions Historia."

"But something's bothering my mind..." Hanji said making everyone look at her.

"What is it?" Erwin asked as he placed his only hand to his wife's hand that was on the table.

"Levi said a while ago that they were claiming that they are our allies, but why did Eren attack the district?" Hanji asked as she looked at Erwin before facing Mikasa and Levi who was in front of them.

"Annie came prepared, she probably knew it might happen to Eren..." Mikasa started as she looked directly to Hanji's eyes. "She was the one who helped us stop Eren by giving me an injection and told me to inject it to Eren's nape."

"Annie knew everything?" Erwin suddenly uttered. "I think we should talk to Annie privately if that's the case."

"She even said she would explain later, when everything's alright." Mikasa added, as she slowly felt dizzy and things started to get blur in her sight. She forgot that she was actually injured, adrenaline rush came first and then, she was feeling the effect.

Mikasa suddenly stood up, making everyone surprised with her action. Levi noticed that her stance was a little bit off, making him realize why that happened. Blood was dripping down from Mikasa's head, as Mikasa gently closed her eyes while facing down, hding on to the edges of the long desk in front of her, before Levi stood up as well.

"Mikasa and I will be on the infirmary, w-we forgot that we are injured because of what's happening." Levi said, feeling a little bit shameful for forgetting they were injured, making Hanji want to laugh but the situation was not right for it.

Everyone looked at the two soldiers who were walking away from them, as Levi's hands were on Mikasa's shoulders, supporting her.

"Those two needed a break." Hanji uttered after the complete silence, making everyone look at her.

Everyone knew how those two worked all throughout the years that had passed, and seeing their situation, the two of them already forgot that they were injured because of the situation they were in, and their position as the Special Operation Squad. Thinking about how they worked hard, risking their lives, most of them felt pity for relying themselves to the two strongest ones, even though they knew to themselves that they were also doing their best to do their jobs to protect humanity.

"Yeah... They should." Erwin said. "After the case of Annie Leonhardt and Eren Jaeger is solved."

---

"Oi, Mikasa. Get a hold of yourself." Levi suddenly said when Mikasa almost fainted beside him. Good thing they were already in the infirmary when that happened.

Levi carried Mikasa before he gently put her on a bed as he looked at her face. Levi called a nurse that was in there and asked for her to help Mikasa that was already unconscious, lying on the bed. Levi looked back at her before he deeply sighed as he moved his right hand towards her face. He moved Mikasa's fringe that was on covering her face before he decided to get up and grabbed a face towel.

He turned on the faucet and let the face towel get wet with the water flowing, before he turned it off and walked back to Mikasa. His brows furrowed as he thought of the nurse that was taking so long to get back. He sat on the chair that was beside on the bed, before he gently wiped the blood that was on Mikasa's face.

"You did a great job, Mikasa." He whispered, before he felt something twitched on his shoulders, making his brows furrow. It was his own injury. But instead of getting worried of his own wounds, he, himself, cleaned Mikasa's wounds before his. Getting irritated how filthy she got and getting irritated why the nurse was taking so long to get back.

Levi stood up and decided roam around the room, looking for something that might help him with curing Mikasa's wounds, when suddenly, he heard Mikasa spoke from her sleep as he felt something inside him feel a little bit, sad? No. He was not. But hurt and jealous?

Even though he knew he should not, he still felt that way, but he did not know the exact words of what he was feeling. For him, he felt something uncomfortably disturbing. Very much disturbing him, with only one word that Mikasa had spoken of.

"Eren."