She quickly changed into her uniform and stormed out of her room.

A large amount of soldiers still roamed the castle, which meant that they were still getting ready to leave.

"(y/n)!" Armin called out from behind her with Eren beside him.

She turned around to see them. Armin was tenser than the last time they had talked.

"You're not going to the expedition?" He asked and tilted his head to the side.

"No, I can't. Captain's orders. Plus I'm new here. I'm not that skilled to take on titans just yet." she responded. "Good luck though. Kick ass for me, guys."

Eren gave her a look, "Why would Captain Levi order you to stay? Once you're in the Scouting Legion, you must be ready to take on the titans at any cost. It shouldn't matter if you're new, right Armin?"

She froze for a second, not knowing how to respond.

Thankfully, Armin quickly answered, "Eren, we have to go meet up with Mikasa, remember? You promised. Sorry, (y/n). We have to go."

"It's fine, good luck again."

He smiled at her, "Thank you, I'll need the luck. I won't let you down."

He put on a determined face. But despite that, she could see the sheer terror hidden behind his eyes of going to another dangerous mission.

"Do you know where he is, by the way?" she whispered as Eren walked ahead.

"Captain Levi? I believe he's in his office discussing the finalized plans." he responded.

"Thank you, Armin," she gave him a hug before taking off.

---

She sighed heavily before knocking on the door.

"Captain Levi," she called out.

After a few seconds, the door opened. Levi was still putting on his harnesses and belts when she knocked.

"Come in." he opened the door wider for her entrance.

His voice was as timid as ever, but she could hear how nervous he was for this trip. "So Hange's theory-"

"Yes, she was right about us being forcefully brought back at the time we are needed in the story." he finished her sentence. He looked at her as he tightened the straps for his chest.

She just looked back at him. Somehow, Levi felt different.

He stood up straight after finishing with his belts.

"Come help me with this." he held out his cravat to her.

"Why didn't you put this on first?" she asked, taking it from him.

"I don't know... I forgot. I'm just too invested on everything to even remember." he looked at her as she buttoned up the last button on his collar and tied the cravat.

She patted it and stepped backward to observe her work from afar. "Nice," she said, looking at him with her hands on her hips and nodded.

"Come here," he held out a hand.

She stepped closer to him as he held her hands in his.

"You be careful, okay?" she squeezed his hand.

"I will." he replied. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He pulled her closer and kissed her longingly. He kissed her as if he hadn't seen her in years.

Her heart was speeding as he grabbed onto her waist, grasping her as to prompt her not to leave.

He left small kisses on her lips as they broke off. "When I come back, we're taking this into your room." he lowly growled under his breath.

"Geez," she slapped him on the arm, laughing. "That should be the last thing to think of right now."

"I'll certainly use it to motivate me in this expedition." he trailed his hand down her back and lightly squeezed.

She squealed. He was being so intimate with her, which caused her face to turn bright red. It was not the appropriate time for him to be doing this.

"Good luck." she put a hand to her face.

"Mhm." he hummed.

---

She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she waved Levi and Hange goodbye.

Hange, as usual was excited to leave, ready to make her way through the walls. Her voice louder than the towns people who were cheering the Scouting Legion on.

She stood on the side, saluting the courageous soldiers before they left.

Levi looked back at her unnoticably and nodded.

She nodded back in response and gave a small smile to him.

As the gates opened, she waved at her friends for the last time, already missing them.

She made her way back to her room after the crowds started to dissipate; having to make excuses of why she didn't go to the expedition.

A large exhale escaped her mouth as she opened the door with her keys, the usual bright light that she had now gotten used to shone again.

As she entered the room, Marco was sitting on the couch, watching the Animal Planet channel showing a documentary for horseriding.

"Hey," she said, causing his to avert his gaze from the television and on to her.

"Hey, you weren't gone for long." he looked at his watch, "A few minutes."

She sat down beside him on the couch, a bag of chips in between them.

"So... this whole universe that appeared in your closet..." he started. "Why couldn't I get through it? If this world was where my dreams have been leading me to, then why can't I get across?"

She pondered. For some strange reason, she was able to wall across, but Marco couldn't. He was stuck by the door as if an invisible wall had been put infront of him.

An idea popped into her head, but she feared to tell him. This might be an idea useful to Hange's theories and observations.

"I... I really don't know how to tell you, or want to tell you, for that matter, but I think you deserve to know."

He gave her a questioning look, one that made him seem as though he doubted ever word she said- which he had every right to. Even she herself had trouble believing what Levi said the first time they had met.

"Uh, I think that the reason you weren't able to get across the door was because you aren't allowed to. Or the author doesn't... allow you to return back to where you belong."

His eyes widened, "What...? What do you mean?" he leaned forward with his eyes fixated on the floor.

"You used to live there... where you weren't able to enter- even when I pulled you in." she muttered, regretting what she told him.

"Why can't I go back? How come you can, but I can't?"

"Well, I'm assuming... maybe it's because I'm an original character in my own book and never really existed in yours. And because... you died in your book, now you're here." she replied slowly, helping him understand. "Your author won't allow you to go back to your book which is why you can't. Your death has already been written."

"So, is this 'book' a book for people who died in that other book set in a different environment? Like heaven...?" he asked her, his face full of confusion.

"I guess," she replied. The thought hadn't ever crossed her mind, but maybe it was the sole reason for the existence of this book she lived. "But I can't be too sure on whether that's true or not because you're the only character I've seen in the book... so far."

He looked down at the floor for a long moment, staring at it absentmindedly.

"Sorry, can I have a glass of water please?" he asked, nervously playing with his hands.

"Sure," she said as she got up to get him water.

"I'm sorry if this is difficult to take in. I'm still trying to figure this out myself." she stated, sitting back down on the couch.

"It's... it's fine," he managed to say despite him struggling to talk. "I just want to know who this Jean... something is?"

She scratched her head, "He... was your best friend."

His head bobbed back up as he looked through the window into the dark night sky. "I see."

"I think you can hear his voice in your sleep." she added. "If I can, I'll allow him to come through the door to see you if it's possible in anyway. I hope you'll remember him when you see him."

(A/N) HEY FRIEND.

Uh ok so im so sorry agin for the late post i just procrastinate so much ahh.. I hated this chapter bc it was difficult to write. Sorry if you dont like it i completely agree.

Anyway, I'm reallllyyyy reallllyy excited to write the next chapter because stuff happens.

And sorry for horrible writing as usual. Im not getting any better at it.

Thank you for reading, voting, commenting, following, and adding to your reading list, it means so much to me seriously.

Uhh yes.

Thank you, have a great day!!!