A bright light, one that seemed so close yet so far, nearly blinding Levi as he stared at it curiously. And when he reached out to it, a force that felt like a cross between a magnet and a repelling magnet consumed him. Simultaneously pulling and pushing him, feeling kind of like his body was about to be ripped in two, just not with a force strong enough to do that. But the longer he remained in that state, the closer he got to the light.

"What is this?" Levi asked himself, his hand stretched out to touch beyond him although he couldn't see any form of wall.

"Don't touch it, baby. You might get sucked in."

Levi felt his eyes widen, his head snapping up quickly then side to side to look for the familiar yet almost forgotten voice that called out to him.

"Mom?!" Levi called out surprised. "Am I hearing things?"

"No, no, you’re hearing right. I'm on the other side of the light, I can see you."

Levi didn't know what was happening but by what he was experiencing, he assumed it was a barrier between life and death and for now, he was on the very edge of death.

"Am I almost dead? Did Uncle Kenny really almost kill me?"

"Unfortunately, but you'll be fine, you've always been strong. The strongest," Kuchel comforted, her beautiful face slowly coming into focus where Levi could now stare at her.

Oh how he longed to hug the only woman he had ever truly loved in his life. She was so close yet so far but the power of life and death separated them, their eyes the only thing that could feel a real connection when staring. Not even their hands could be near, lest there be some catastrophe that neither of them anticipated.

"I miss you. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, baby. Don't worry, I watch over you. I've seen you come out of your shell and meet people, I've seen your failures and your accomplishments, I've seen how you remodelled that old castle," Kuchel listed off, a proud smile on her face that slowly morphed into immense joy. "And I've seen your lover. He's a good man, Levi. Don't let him get away.”

"Mo-"

"Don't deny it, Le. I know you like him but you're too scared to admit," Kuchel interrupted. "You wouldn't have put yourself as a target if you didn't. Figure it out, okay? You can’t enter this side yet and you have to remain strong."

Levi looked at his Mother's face in pain, wanting nothing more than to hug her as if life depended on it but at this time, it was the opposite. One hug and his life would be sucked away.

"He won’t like me now even if he liked me before," Levi whispered just loud enough for his Mother to hear him. His usual confident demeanour vanishing as he let his doubts consume him. "Uncle Kenny killed his Dad and now he hates the both of us."

"He loves you," Kuchel stated with such definity, Levi was shocked. Why the hell did his Mother always have to make him so surprised over simple things? "He's watching over you right now as you lay on that hospital bed. Holding your hand desperately. You’ve been knocked out for nearly twenty-four hours. He ditched school for you. He cares for you. He’s just mad at Kenny."

Levi couldn't wrap his mind around his Mother's words. Surely Erwin's history classes were much more important than him laying in his potential death bed.

"Go back, Le. Don’t forget I love you and that I'm watching you. I'm very proud of you as well although you should probably work on your communication skills as well as the other things Erwin has been pestering you about."

"Yes, Mom. I'll try harder."

A fond stare was directed at Levi as Kuchel raised her hand, a magnet like force then slowly pulling Levi away from her. The direction he assumed was life.

And before his Mother's face disappeared, she called out one last sentence.

"Go, my son. Live and be happy in the world you were born into. I love you!"

Levi gasped. He didn't know if he gasped due to the immediate realization that he'd never see or speak to his Mother again as long as he lived or gasped due to the feeling of cool air surging through his lungs as he slowly woke up.

The first thing he did realize even before the ass clenching pain in his Cervical Plexus was the large hand wrapped around his much smaller hand.

"Vi?! Are you waking up?!"

Sure enough, with the groggiest of eyes and a heavy feeling in his throat which he couldn't explain and the simple nickname that pulled within, he knew he was alive. But as the seconds passed and his eyes became focused, he realized it was the beginning of tears he had never asked for.

But what hurt the most, a pain uncomparable to what he felt in his Cervical Plexus and lumpy throat, was the feeling of his hand going cold as Erwin removed the comfort.

"I’m glad you're awake, Vi. I really am but I'll be going. We both need space and you'll have your Uncle," Erwin stated, getting up.

And there was no protest. Just the cold and the burning hate Levi had for his ancestors that started killing sprees and passed down the trade. Fuck them all for ruining his life.

"Why does everyone leave me?"

The rhetorical question lingered in the air, leaving Levi feeling essentially worthless and much more lonely than ever. The tears that had threatened to fall earlier completely burning up in his hatred.

How did the happiest night of his life go in a completely opposite direction in less than twenty-four hours and land him in the hospital bed right after?

Revolting.

"Cheer up. At Least you have me left!"

Boy did Levi feel like screaming and cursing the shit out of his Uncle right then but the emotional and physical pain was too much. He couldn't even speak whether he wanted to or not.

The following days consisted of Kenny taking care of Levi where Levi couldn't bear to say anything and so he remained quiet and emotionless, as if he were nothing but a vessel, wanting nothing more but for his Mother to haunt his Uncle.

When the time came where Levi was finally starting to feel better and could actually bring himself to speak, he still didn't do anything but provide a cold shoulder. Furious at everything and and longing for the one person that had changed his life.

That time apart was really starting to ignite within and now, more than ever, he felt that he truly did like Erwin. He just hated that it was his ancestors that had fucked everything up. In a way, he felt as if he were a soldier out to war, injured and dying, but soon enough he’d get up, be strong, and return home.

In this case, engulfed in Erwin’s strong and sturdy arms was what he could define as home.

"Come on, Le, talk to me!" Kenny complained. "Or do you want me to apologize for accidentally stabbing you? You weren't even supposed to be there anyway!"

"No. I don't care if you apologize. I just want things with Erwin to go back to how they were."

"What’d I expect? The first time you speak in nearly two weeks and it's about him!"

The only good that had come of the experience was the rest he was forced into and the fact that he had had one final conversation with his Mother. 

"Don't worry. He held your hand for the two days you were knocked out. He's just taking time to breathe, alright? I mean, he found out his lover's Uncle killed his Dad. Of course he'd want space."

Comforting information. Really. But simultaneously surprising.

"Two days? Mother said nearly twenty-four hours."

"Are you stupid? How'd you Mother say that? Kuchel's been dead for thirteen years."

"Met her at the white light when you nearly killed me."

Kenny began rattling off, asking questions that Levi couldn't focus on nor did he want to answer.

What’d Kenny mean two days? Surely his Mother knew how to tell time and Kenny was a liar anyway. But the way each of them said the time contrasted them. Kenny had sounded nonchalant and unconcerned whereas Kuchel had sounded careful but only now did it matter how each was said.

Why'd his Mother lie? Did she assume he'd have felt guilty for Erwin missing his classes? Well, he did but that wouldbt be the reason she'd lie. Normally, even though the most caring, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell him the truth even if it’d hurt.

With Kennys continuous racket and his throbbing Cervical Plexus, his head slowly began hurting as well. He couldn’t think now.

"Get out. I'm not listening to you and I want to be alone."

"Nonsense. You're alone all the time."

"Out."

Begrudgingly, Kenny listened, giving Levi his time alone. 

Though the elder was gone, even the lack of noise didn't allow the steadily incoming pain to subside.

"FUCK!"

Frustrated yells, pent up emotions he didn't know he had and a whole shit ton of angry leg kicking as if he were a child followed suit. But what good is a person once they’re mentally exhausted?

"Damn it."

A tired sigh, itchy hands desperate to clasp onto answers, a nearly lost hope for himself and at least a friendship with Erwin.

No answers provided through forceful overthinking but it was when he was about to give up that he figured the only logical reason.

His Mother wanted nothing more but to see his emotions rage. She knew he would be shocked to know Erwin had stayed by his side for nearly twenty-four hours and she knew he'd be more than surprised and confused when he found out the truth. It was simple, she used a small lie to prepare him for the truth which he surely couldn't handle then and neither now, nearly two weeks later.

"Next week Wednesday."

Three simple words yet they held so much meaning and a sense of fear. Would that be the end of their somewhat civil relationship or the start of a beautiful journey?

He'd have to find out the following week which in all honesty, he dreaded like hell.

Four days. That's all he had to prepare himself. Besides, who gave a shit about the pain in his raw Cervical Plexus?

Surely he didn't.

Honestly, it was simple. Just waltz into the children filled school, apologize as if hell were to drag him if he didn't at least try and then get the fuck out if things didn't go to plan.

"Four days until then."

And the countdown ensued.