"Captain, we have a problem. Like a really... really big problem."

Levi shut his eyes like usual, and drowned out every noise, even his own thoughts. Once again, he had to force himself not to explode. When he opened his eyes he found Eren glaring at him.

"Captain! We need you." He repeated. "The rest of the scouts just showed up!"

Levi snapped out of his daze and stood up from the bed, his hands were shaking but his face showed absolute stoicism.

"Where's Hanji?" He asked walking towards Eren.

"She's outside."

Levi moved right past the boy who could feel his captain's bitter aura.

"Stay in this room and lock the door." Levi ordered.

"What?"

The man turned his head ever so slightly. "You heard me."

Eren gulped. "Uh... Yes sir, is she sleeping?"

Levi's heart leapt into his throat. He paused and wavered between telling the truth or a white lie.

"Yeah... Don't wake her." He said, and continued walking. Levi quickly grabbed Floch's gun from the kitchen table and headed outside. He didn't want to have to fight any of his subordinates but if it came down to protecting the cottage and his promise to you... he would.

You'd saved his life in the forest, he probably would've died if you hadn't stumbled upon him. You'd taken care of him, showed him kindness, joy, and sensuality. It felt like a dream. Never in his life could he remember being cared for like this.

It seemed that for years, he'd been waiting for someone to come along and save him.

The warmth, the laughs, and the desire he felt with you lit up his entire body and made him feel brand new. Just for a moment, his heart was cured. But it came as quick as it vanished. Your smile faded away, your voice, and your face in the sunlight. You weren't his "guardian angel", you were human.

She was actually a real friend. He thought.

I probably would've married her eventually.

His favorite memory of you was from that morning when he'd chased you in the garden. You were wearing his shirt, your laugh echoed in the air, your skin glimmered beneath the sun. It was a fleeting moment that captured all of your allurement at once.

To honor that memory and to honor his time with you in general, he wasn't going to let anyone take over your home. It was time for him to repay his debt to you.

So the man pushed open the front door and claimed every gaze. His stance echoed authority, anyone who tried to challenge that rank would be reminded of just how fragile they were.

He'd walked into a group of about twenty-five remaining scouts standing in the garden. A few of them had guns drawn, horses, and swords. Any scrap of weapons they had left were in hand.

Levi's squad stood across from them near the house. The distance between the two groups was about twenty feet.

"Captain, they have guns." Mikasa said. Levi ignored the girl because his own back pocket harbored the same weapon.

Levi pushed through his squad so that he was standing directing in front, seizing his role as leader. Hanji grabbed his shoulder. "Levi, wait!"

"Get off me." He muttered, shrugging himself from her grasp. Hanji backed her hand away and slowly came to the realization that her protests were no use.

Floch stood with the remaining scouts, a bruise had begun to form on the bridge of his nose from Eren's punch. Levi smirked to himself, that was one thing the brunette was able to do right.

"Look who finally came out!" Floch chuckled.

Levi knew he was just fishing for a reaction, he wasn't about to play into the hands of a kid. He'd hoped it would be the other way around, because Levi had a plan of his own.

"If you wish to take over this place, don't consider me your captain anymore." He said.

"Are you seriously willing to fight your own subordinates over some random whore?"

His black hair ruffled in the wind but his eyes remained as steady as ever. "You wouldn't be considered my subordinates anymore... You've already gone behind my back and disrespected my honor as your captain."

"Honor?" The boy scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. What honorable captain puts the woman he sleeps with before his own people? A woman who also happens to be the enemy, dare I mention."

"This is something you probably won't understand. But when someone saves your life, it's your duty, no matter who they are, to repay your debt. That's what honor means, that's what respect means."

Floch couldn't contain his laughter. "This is you, repaying your debt to her? How pathetic, here I thought you were the great Captain Levi. Humanity's strongest soldier. And now, I feel like I'm just looking into the eyes of some commoner."

"I'm not special Floch, none of us are, that's why it doesn't give you the right to take away someone's home."

"I guess that's where we disagree. Some people deserve to live more than others. The girl in there has to die."

"She's already dead..." Levi muttered. His response triggered a few muffled gasps from his own squad behind him. Mikasa froze and her breath went cold. She remembered Eren's words.

"If she doesn't make it, her death is your burden to carry."

Her eyes began to water.

"Captain... Are you serious?" She said behind him.

Levi didn't answer.

"This is all my fault." She whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.

"I don't believe you." Floch replied. "Show us the body."

Levi gritted his teeth. "It doesn't matter. I'm not letting you take this place regardless so there's no use in seeing her body."

"Then I think she's alive, you're probably trying to protect her."

"I watched her die with my own eyes."

The boy paused when he realized Levi was being dead serious, his gaze didn't waver and his voice didn't break. He was telling the honest truth. Floch widened his eyes for a moment before drawing back to a sneer.

"I wanna see her. I wanna see the dead whore!" He shouted, earning a hearty laugh from the soldiers behind him. A few of them started jeering amongst themselves like dirty men.

"Maybe we can have some fun with her body."

"We can take turns."

"I heard she was a pretty girl. I wouldn't mind using her for what she's worth."

Levi could feel his blood boil, these weren't the kids that he thought he'd trained. What the hell happened out on the battlefield..? When did they become so disgraceful?

"You're not gonna see her." Levi said, standing his ground.

Floch stepped forward, a gun in hand—he'd probably gotten it from the remaining scouts. "Captain... Or should I just call you Levi since you're not my captain anymore." Floch watched the disgust grow on Levi's face. "If you don't move out of our way... I'm gonna have to shoot you."

Levi nodded and looked back at the squad, signaling everyone to gear up for a fight.

"Shoot." Levi said, stepping closer. Floch lifted the gun and pointed it at the man's face. Part of him was hesitant, Levi was the guy who had watched over them for years. Trained them, given them advice, seen them cry and break down in their darkest moments. He wasn't just some random enemy... He was like everyone's father.

Floch pursed his lips and shuttered at the thought of shooting his own captain.

"You gonna do it or what?" Levi taunted. This wasn't the first time he'd had a gun pointed at his head. The man had lived quite the precarious life to say the least. A nineteen year old boy pointing a pistol at him really wasn't all that jarring.

"Levi don't push him... He actually will." Hanji muttered, a sword in her grip.

"Shoot me. Do it." He said sharply.

"Let us take over that cottage and I won't have to."

"You wanna be a man right? You want to walk around with a gun in your hand yet shoot at women. We used to beat the shit out of guys like you in the underground. You chose her because you thought she was weaker than you."

The boy shut his eyes and tapped the nose of the gun against his temple. "Shut up."

"Grow some balls and shoot me like the man you pretend to be."

"I'll kill you!" He spat, pointing it back at Levi.

"Do it!"

The captain hovered his hand over his back pocket.
As Floch was about to pull the trigger, Levi yanked his gun out and fired two shots into the boy's upper body.

He genuinely didn't think Floch was going to shoot. He'd thought that maybe he would stand down if he pushed him over the edge—tore away his ego and reminded him that he was just a subordinate. He knew that the gun was tied to his ego, if that was gone, then maybe there was a chance of resolving this without any casualties. But at the height of it all, Floch was actually going to pull the trigger.

That's when Levi made his choice. The startling noise reverberated into the trees and worked as a catalyst that spooked a swarm of birds from their nests.

Floch fell to his knees, clutching at his stomach. The gun slipped out of his hand as Levi peered around the group of halted soldiers who aimed their weapons at him.

Levi's eyes emulated an abyss, two dark circles with an unknown world behind them. "Anyone else who wants to point a gun at me will meet the same fate! I don't care if I run out of bullets...I'll kill you all with my bare hands!" He shouted.

The field was nearly silent aside from a few stifled breaths and Floch's coughs on the ground. It was as if Levi's proposal had knocked the wind out of everyone. He'd always fought on the same side as his comrades and used his strength for their benefit. This was the first time that he'd been an enemy to them, and it was a grave mistake to make an enemy out of an Ackerman. Especially a pissed off Ackerman.

Floch struggled to speak. "What are... You idiots standing there for..? Take the cottage!"

The soldiers glanced at each other in hesitation before charging forward.

"Now!" Levi hollered back at his squad who were already rushing forward to attack. Mikasa took charge and glided past a range of incoming bullets like water—light on her feet. She had a dead look in her eyes as she slashed through anyone who tried to attack her.

She felt that your death was all her fault...

"...your burden to carry."

Each time Eren's words came back into her head, she fought even harder.

Levi eyed Mikasa and started to feel a little concerned but he couldn't let his guard down. The man took aim, shooting down one soldier after another. He couldn't move as fast as usual since his body was still working against him.

The squad was clearly outnumbered but not when it came to skill. Levi had enough faith in his group that they'd all pull through. The only problem was that they couldn't fight all the soldiers at once. Some of them were dispersing for the house...

Levi prayed that Eren could handle it in there, even though he was protecting a dead body...

Floch laid on the ground reaching for his gun. His eyes were set on Levi who hadn't yet noticed him.

One of the soldiers came up to Levi from behind and grabbed him, attempting stab his throat. Levi felt the the sudden thrust on his back and swiveled to the side to elbow him in the face. It took a few hits for him to finally let go of Levi. The man quickly placed his finger on the trigger and shot him in the chest.

Just like that, Levi watched the light leave the young man's eyes. There was a slight knot in his heart. He didn't look any older than twenty, he had life ahead of him, even if it would've been just a few more years... or even months.

He didn't have to die today, but he still made the choice, even though Levi tried his best to give them all a chance to back down. He looked back at the cottage and saw that the front door was wide open.

Eren... handle things in there for me, damnit.

-ˋˏ ༻✧༺ ˎˊ-

"Uh... Yes sir, is she sleeping?"

Eren watched Levi pause for a moment.

"Yeah... Don't wake her." He said, and continued walking, leaving Eren alone in the bedroom with you. The first thing he did was lock door.

How the hell can she sleep through all this noise? He thought, leaning his back against the wall and looking at you.

She is alive... right?

Eren trailed over to your bed and took a seat on the edge.

"You really do sleep like a rock huh..." He sighed. "You know I didn't even feel a thing when Mikasa pulled me away. It all happened so fast. I swear if I'd noticed... I wouldn't have let her do it. She's always been like that since we were kids. I guess it's part of the reason why I haven't died yet over the years. Tch, what the hell am I even saying? You probably don't care, you're asleep..."

The boy was mostly talking to himself, just sort of rambling out into the air. Similar to how Levi would shut his eyes when he was stressed, Eren would ramble and blurt out all his feelings. Everyone had different ways of coping with their worries.

Levi would bottle it up, Eren would let it all out.

"I don't think they'll be able to take the cottage. Our group is strong... so don't worry." He said, running a hand over your forehead to push a few loose strands of hair out of your face.

But he quickly pulled his hand away when he felt your body temperature. "Why are you so... cold?" He muttered.

It's the middle of summer, why is she... freezing?

A booming crash came from out in the kitchen and interrupted his focus on you. He stood up and listened by the door. It sounded like someone was rummaging through the house trying to find something... Trying to find you.

Eren gripped his sword when he realized what they were up to. He looked back at you and wondered if you would be okay in here all by yourself.

The sound grew louder, he guessed that the person was in the next room, going door to door until they found you. Now was his chance. Eren bursted open the door ready to attack. The person who had gotten inside emerged from the guest room and paused when he saw Eren.

"Samuel?"

"Jaeger?"

The scout had dark brown hair, nearly black, and stood around the same towering height as Eren.

"Do you know where she is? The captain said she's dead but I don't believe him. She's probably alive in here somewhere. I could use your help." The boy said casually.

He said she's dead? He's probably just trying to protect her. She's not dead, right?

"What are... you going to do with her when you find her?"

"I'm gonna kill her."

Eren narrowed his eyes as Samuel analyzed his demeanor, stepping closer. "Eren... Don't tell me you're on the captain's side with this too?" Samuel got close enough so that he was standing face to face with him. "I thought you were the strongest of us all. Don't tell me you're weak too... Jaeger."

Eren gritted his teeth and shoved Samuel away from him. The soldier crashed against the kitchen table. His silence spoke volumes.

Samuel pushed himself up from the table. "Oh... I see where you stand now. Our soldiers are dying, if it makes me the bad guy for wanting to put them first over a stranger than so be it!"

"A stranger who showed us kindness. A stranger who saved our captain." Eren spat.

"Yeah, the same captain who's outside right now firing bullets at us."

Don't play innocent you dumbass.

"I know the captain, he doesn't just randomly shoot people who haven't provoked him first." Eren said.

"He's a monster."

"You can't be serious right now. Are you that delusional?"

"You're the delusional one for wanting to protect her over people you've known for years."

"I'm not just gonna go along with everything you guys choose to do just because you're my comrades. If I believe something is wrong, I'm gonna stand my ground."

Samuel reached into his utility belt and pulled out a slim dagger. "I didn't want it to have to come to this Eren... But if I have to kill you to get to that girl, I will."

"I'd like to see you try." The brunette laughed.

"That arrogance of yours is what's gonna get you killed."

"So be it, I'd rather die with dignity than as a coward who murders innocent women. But then again, I really doubt that a shithead like you can actually kill me."

Samuel rushed at him with his dagger in hand. Eren swung his sword as it clashed against Samuel's blade. The two boys stared at eachother, hungry for blood. Samuel was resolute in his effort to make sure that Eren's sword didn't pass his dagger.

"Is this really the cause you want to die for! You seriously want to fight over this!? You can back down!" Eren exclaimed, trying to find a flicker of humility in Samuel's gaze.

"Yes." He replied coldly, and swiped his blade across Eren's chest, luckily it wasn't a deep cut.

Samuel backed away and took a fighting stance with his dagger near his face.

Eren wasted no time going in for another attack. He swung his sword at the boy's hand and in one clean cut... sliced off Samuel's hand. The dagger went flying with the limb and landed on the kitchen floor.

Samuel looked at his severed wrist in disbelief. The bone protruded out of his skin, it was one of those surreal moments where one is reminded that their body is nothing but meat and flesh.

Blood oozed down his forearm and Eren was far from finished. Samuel clenched his jaw and let out a war cry, running up to Eren and shoving him with all his strength against the stove. With the one hand he still had available, he reached to flick on the fire, driving Eren closer and closer to the open flame.

Eren lifted his sword and stabbed Samuel through the chest from behind—but that once again wasn't enough. The boy was prepared to throw away his own body for his cause. Eren stabbed him again, he could feel the heat from the stove on his back, any closer and he would be set ablaze.

One more time, he pierced through Samuel's body, finally penetrating his heart. The boy let go and slid to the floor.

Eren stood there catching his breath, although his mind was frozen. He'd never killed one of his comrades before and the shock of the act weighed on him more than he had anticipated.

Did I make the right choice?

Samuel laid lifeless on the floor in a pool of his own blood.

Eren blew a strand of hair out his face and headed back for the bedroom to check on you.

Except you weren't there.

-ˋˏ ༻✧༺ ˎˊ-