Things to know before reading:
Fc/d- favourite childhood drink
M/n-mothers name
F/p: favourite pastry
S/c- skin colour
E/c- eye colour
H/c- hair colour

TW MENTION OF RAPE

~

Trees rushed past us as we galloped at the speed of wind. After discussing the matter for a while, Erwin decided to stay back, with a lot of pursuing from me and Hange for him to stay back that is. It was clear that it was the safest way as he needed to stay there incase of an emergency.

And so, that's how myself, Hange and Levi ended up sprinting through wind even before the sun was up, all three of us were wearing brown long capes that had hoods attached to them to cover our faces. It's been around four hours since we left, and though we didn't have any kind of distractions, yet, I knew something was going to come out of us at some point.

"UGHH!" Hange groaned on my left. Well that was quicker than I expected.

"What?" I say not moving my attention, they sighed a few times before they spoke.

"I'm hungryyyyyy!" They dragged the 'y' for a while, I could feel Levi's man killing glare darting to them. Which, I decided to ignore.

"Check in your bag." I say, we had packed a small backpack, with basic life necessities, and of course one of those necessities were food. I made sure we had a few loaf's of bread and water to keep ourselves a little full until we got there.

"I don't have anything left..." they muttered which made me dart my own eyes at them. "What?! I was hungry!" I sigh not really knowing what else to say to that.

"There's a small village a little further on, we'll stop there." With my words came the similar poisonous glare that Hange received earlier.

I need to piss anyway.

I let myself flop down my horse and onto the soft grass watching Hange and Levi do the same. I grabbed the rein patting his caramel nose, then tying him to a close by tree not far from the village. The two did the same and we started to make our way into the village. Kids ran around with leather footballs: 4 girls were dancing along to some sort of a makeshift guitar a young boy was playing, some were poking one another with twigs, one particular boy was drawing with his finger into the mud along with a girl whom looked quite peculiar.
Her long bloodshot red hair dangling down off her shoulders, her skirt covered in dust and mud at the bottom. "Where's the food!?!" Hange jumped up and down, I gave them a look of 'calm the fuck down' before speaking.

"There are some stalls further in the village." And they started to speed walk forward not even looking back. "WE MEET BACK HERE IN TWO HOURS!" I shout for them to hear, they placed their thumb up in the air then disappeared into the crowd. I sigh then turn to Levi, "shall we." I motion forward then start to walk with him behind me.

We walked for a little while looking around, we did get some weird stares since we still had our hoods on though I didn't care. "This way, there's a bakery here." I say to him taking a left at a corner.

"How do you know that?" Levi asked though still followed.

"After my mother found a house I decided to head on my own way, my initial plan was to join the Scouts straight away but of course I had to wait for collection. So I ended up staying here for a few months." I stop in front of a small building. "So I know my way around." I gave him a grin then entered through the door. The sent of fresh baked bread and pastries filled my nose with pleasure.

"Hello there. What can I get you?" A man at the counter said. He had broad shoulders and a quite tall figure, I smiled under my hood.

"Hello." I say walking over to the man, "may I get 6 freshly made loafs of bread please." The man nodded and started to pick out some from somewhere behind him.

"You two seem new." He said turning back around with the bag. "Here for a visit?"

"I suppose you could say that." I grab the bag and give him the money. "Thank you, have a nice day"

"Thank you, same to you. And be careful." I stop. "Some weird MPs turned up the other day looking for some women, they seemed dangerous." I turned my head to him.

"Were they wearing all black?" I say in a shaking breath.

"Yes, and this man whom I only presume was their captain also had some sort of golden badge on his chest." I clench my teeth together.

"Did this man have any sort of scar or something out of the ordinary about him?"

"Um yes. A scar over his nose and through his eyebrow." He gave me a weird look. "Have you seen him?" He asked confused.

Shit.

"Well. Um. Yes, yes we have." I say clearing my throat. "Thank you for your concern sir." And with that we left. I rushed down the alleys and past people with Levi close behind me.

Shit.

Shit

Shit

"Wait up!" I heard Hange say as they spotted us. "Where are we running?" They asked after catching up to us, I didn't respond and neither did Levi we just ran until we reached the horses. "What's going on Y/n?" I turned to face them.

"He's here. My brother." I looked them in the eyes. "We have to hurry." And with that we got back on our horses with no hesitation and left.

________________________________________
[time skip]

Flowers and vines hugged the side of the house giving a sense of life: rosy bricks along with dark smoky wood filled the spaces in between the flowers, all the windows had potted plants placed on the stool of the window. We were here, finally. I slowly walked up the stone path, flowers peeking through the cracks, I stopped in front of the door: It was old and cracks were starting to deepen.

I held my breath for a while until Levi and Hange made their ways up to me, both standing on either side of me, Hange placed a hand on my right shoulder for support. Which right now I needed since I felt like I was about to pass out. I took a deep breath in, hesitantly bringing my fist up to the door and knocked.

Nothing.

I felt my body tense up at the silence behind the door. Perhaps she didn't hear. I press my knuckles against the door once more and again, nothing. I couldn't knock again. I felt like my arm had turned into stone unable to move, my heart caught up in my throat and the breath I had taken before had vanished inside my lungs refusing to come back out.

Hange leaned forward and knocked for me seeing my struggle, their knock was way more aggressive and loud than mine was.

...

"Coming coming! One moment!" Hearing the voice on the other side rushed relief all over me, my hand fell to my side and my heart settled back in it's place. There were a few locks being turned but soon the door slowly opened revealing her, my mother.

"Mother..." I managed to say, once she met my gaze with her smile that can make anyone feel at ease no matter the situation.

"Oh dear, Y/n?" She looked me up and down as if checking I was really standing in front of her and not just her imagination. She didn't say anything else but instead flinging her arms over my shoulders bringing me into her chest.

She pulled me back holding both of my shoulders, her smile brightens her s/c face: her e/c eyes sparkled with joy at the sight of me, strands of her beautiful h/c hair fell over her forehead and cheeks shaping her face charmingly.

"What are you doing here darling? Did something happen?" She started interrogating me and it hasn't even been two minutes since we got here. "Or perhaps you missed me too much?" She gave me a smirk and I chuckled.

"I always miss you ma." she smiled satisfied with my answer then turned her attention away from me, looking at the two people behind me, she raised an eyebrow. She eyed Hange whom was standing to my left: their face mirrored my mothers and they waved instead of letting out words.

Then her gaze traveled to Levi which didn't match Hange's energy at all: he looked as stoic as someone could be, his hands settled in his pockets, his shoulders sloppy. It looked like he was relaxed, though if I've learned anything about this man in the past years he is almost never relaxed when it comes to being in front of other people, he is always on guard.

"Are these your friends?" She asked curious.

"Yes, they are." I looked at them over my shoulders waiting for them to introduce themselves.

"Hange Zoé. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss L/n." They extended a hand for my mother to take and she did. "I've heard so many beautiful things about you ma'am." My mothers smile widen.

"Oh, no need for formality's call me M/n, and it's a pleasure to meet you too I'm glad my little Y/n has people she gets along with." Her words sounded like I was some child that just came home with friends from school for the first time. Her gaze landed on Levi and she waited for him to speak.

"Levi, it's Levi. Nice meeting you M/n." His introduction was very short, my mother nodded her head at him then turned back to me.

"Can we come inside?" I say.

"Oh yes my apologies, yes come in." She moved out of the door way letting us inside.

The inside hasn't changed since I left: walls painted a beautiful sage green, to the right were two couch chairs and a couch similar colours to the walls they faced a small fireplace. In the far corner was a small bookcase some of the books seemed new to me. Back on the right was a door leading to the kitchen, and a small table with a vase holding some flowers from outside inside it. Pots of plants hung from the ceiling by thick ropes, some rested in the corners of the room, some on the fireplace.

"It must have been a long way, what would the three of you like to drink?" She stood in the doorway leading to the kitchen, her hand on the handle of the halfway opened door.

"I'd like fc/d if you have some." She nodded then turned her attention to Hange.

"I'd like water please." They said with a smile.

"If you have, black tea please." My mother nodded and left the room. I looked back at the two whom were eyeing the living room.

"There are a lot of books in here, do you read this much?" Hange popped up the question looking around at the books scattered around the room.

"I used to a lot when I was young, now I don't really have the time. But I still try." I told them going over to the bookshelf and taking out a book. "This was my favourite when I was younger I used to read it like an addict. The original burned down in the house fire, though I found it at the market." I handed it to them and they started to flip through it.

"What is it about?" They asked which even though it wasn't intended it brought back some memories, I smile.

"Well the main plot is that the two main love interest, obviously fall in love, though they do not know each others name nor gender. The first time I read it I was fixated by the idea of falling in love with someone you don't know the two most basic things, yet you still love them either way." I say looking at them, both of them seemed intrigued yet Levi had something else sparkling in his eyes.

"Here you guys go." Mother walked in placing down the cups on the side tables on either side of the couch where the two were seated, handing me mine. "What's that?" She asked Hange, pointing at the book, they raised it up and my mother grinned at the sight. "Did she tell you two about her favourite part?" I look at her and fear grew deep inside me, "there's this part where every time she reads, she sobs like there's no tomorrow." I look at her with pure betrayal.

"Well, it's not my fault that part is the best part, I just admire the writing." I roll my eyes a small pout forming on my lips.

"Of course." She chuckled. We talked for a while about basic things like how she was and how I was. "So, what brings you here, something tells me it's not just because you missed me." I look at her now serious, she was sitting on one of the couch chairs so I made my way over, crouching down so my head could rest on her knees. I stayed like that for a second gathering my words then looked up at her.

"Adwir, he found me." I said slowly letting her proses my words, her eyes shown disbelief, I knew she hoped I was lying and so did I. "He's in the village, he's looking for us ma." I plead with her, I knew she would agree with me but there still was a chance she wouldn't.

"Are you sure it's him?" She asked afraid of the answer. I nodded. Her face darkened.

"That's why we're here ma, we need you to come with us. I've spoken to Erwin and we decided. Captain Levi will be in charge of keeping you and I safe." I say pointing towards Levi, her eyes shifted to the man then back at me though her body didn't even flinch. "Please, I need you to agree."

"Of course I will Y/n, I'm just, your brother... he was supposed to be..." she spoke, snapping out of her trance.

"I thought the same, but I suppose not." I got up finally, letting go of her hands and walking over to the coffee table. "We will leave at sunrise, it will be easier that way. Please pack everything you need but keep it light." I turned to her with a soft smile. "Thank you."

________________________________________
[time skip]

I laid in bed, my eyes searched the ceiling looking for something that could make me fall asleep. I have been trying to fall asleep for the past five hours but I had no luck. After mother agreed to coming with us we help her pack: she brought clothes and basic essentials, but also taking other things like a few books she hasn't yet finished, along with a small, palm size note book, she kept all the things I had given or made for her as a child.

I tried to convince her to leave it behind as I knew she would embarrass me with it at any moment she got, but my begs and tries in taking it away were to no avail.

Though, even if I knew mother would be safer at HQ, I couldn't help my thoughts, the same pondering words replayed in my head. Over, and over again, enabling me to sleep.

He is so close.

I couldn't shake the thought that at any moment my brother could appear in this house, and destroy everything along with my mother, Levi and Hange, I knew his goal was to take me. He wanted me, not to kill me, he wanted to destroy me from the inside then outside until I gave up fighting.

I stud up abruptly, turning my body so my legs were hanging of the bed resting on the wooden flooring, I pushed myself up and made my way out of my room. I gave up the hope of sleep, and there was no point in me just lying in my own loneliness. My legs stumbled their way along the ground, and down the corridor towards the kitchen.

I past a few paintings my mother and I had made years back, along with a few potted plants. I past Hange's and Levi's guest room, hearing Hange's snores seep from underneath the door. When I arrived in front of the door to the kitchen, there was light flickering from underneath it, but there was no noice coming from the other side.

It must be mother.

I pushed my body onto the door letting it slowly open, I walked in though the person whom I come across was not my mother at all. I yelped not expecting him to be sitting at the table, with a book in hand in front of a empty cup. He did not look at me nor acknowledge my presence.

"Making yourself at home I see." I say cockily making my way to him and taking the cup, then to the counter to make myself and him the same drink which once laid in the cup I had taken from him. He did not respond to my remark. Once the tea was done and was now comfortably settled inside the cup, I placed myself on the chair opposite him, resting one of the cups down in front of the raven haired man.

I stared, maybe for a little too long, but I couldn't help myself. His hair was unbrushed, clear he had tried to sleep but obviously did not get to the sleep part: he wasn't wearing his uniform as he had taken a bath a few hours before, the black sweater rested on his top half of his body making it seem as if he wasn't hiding an eight pack under there.

"What book is that?" I asked curious, it laid flat on the table enabling me to see it, though it looked quite familiar. He didn't reply in words, even so he lifted it off the table showing me the cover instead.

"M/n gave it to me earlier." He spoke, picking up his teacup and taking a small sip, then continued to read. I placed my elbows on the surface of the wood resting my chin in my palms looking at him, I couldn't stop even if I wanted to.

"Have you forgotten your lavender oil?" I question, which I think I am the only person in this house whom knows about that, perhaps Hange and Erwin knew though I wasn't sure.

"I didn't forget. But having to share a room with Hange not even lavender oil can save anyone." I scoffed at his reply knowing fucking well what he was talking about. Hange probably stayed up late telling him things he didn't even give two shits about and once they fell asleep their snores were ear piercing, I myself had been through it. "What's your excuse?"

I stayed quite, not knowing if I should tell him, "thoughts." I said simply, my arms fell on the table then my head on top. At some point he had started to read to me, and his soft and gentle voice made my eyelids heavy yet I still couldn't fall asleep.

He is so close.

I sigh at my pathetic struggle of trying to get at least a wink of sleep, that must have gotten Levi's attention as he stopped, his angelic voice disappearing leaving my ears to search for it again. "What is wrong." He questioned, I didn't respond, and so he asked again, "brat. If you don't tell me what's wrong there's no way you will get any sleep." I sigh again defeat rushing over me.

"There's this one thought, that keeps replaying in my head." I pause taking a breath in, though not picking myself up. "He is so close." I say and I can feel Levi's stare on me now. He wanted me to continue.

But can I?

What if what I'm about to say seems so crazy and psychopathic to him he will never set his eyes on me again? I contemplated for a second or two, and with a hesitant breath I spoke. "I'm scared." I let out in shaking words. "When I was younger, I was terrified of living. I had to ask permission to do anything, I was even scared to breathe." I let myself gather my words before I spoke again. "My father didn't care about me one bit, the only thing he did care was that I wasn't a failure and to make sure I will be good enough to take over one day." I pause not knowing how to say the next part, or even if I should say it.

"Everyone knew how much my father cared so... the guards did whatever they wanted with me before I had started training, and even then they had the upper hand. I was raped multiple times by the people that were supposed to protect me but my father didn't care. Not. One. But." I let him take in what I had just told him, I wasn't waiting for sympathy or comforting words from him.

"But once I had stepped out of that place, seeing it burn to ash, I wasn't scared anymore. When my mother settled here and I left to find something to do with myself, I wasn't scared of what might happen. And then once I joined the Scouts, despite the fact that death was at every corner when missions took place, I wasn't scared. I wasn't terrified because I had chosen it. I had chosen to give my life and heart to humanity, I had chosen to breathe my last breath for humanity, it was my choice."

I picked my head up from the table, and seeing Levi's face seemed unreal, I couldn't tell what emotion it was that he was displaying. It wasn't sadness nor shock or surprise, not even disgust or irritation. But there was an emotion exposed on his face. "I'm scared, terrified!" I say louder, "I'm scared of what will happen, I keep telling myself that I'm powerful enough to take my brother and his men on, and that my mother and the Scouts will be fine. But I know that one slip up and it's over." I looked down at my hands and my nails dug into one another, blood creeping through. "I'm scared to even breath as if he will hear me..."

"That won't happen." His words caused me to look up at him. "I will not let that happen. I said I will protect you and your mother, and I never go back on my word." He said sternly. And even though his words might, one day backfire, I felt hope, he gave me hope. And at that very second I knew my feelings towards him. I knew I loved him and I knew I've loved him far longer than a few months, I just couldn't let myself admit it even if it was only to myself.

"Thank you." I managed to say. With that the rest of the night, until Hange and mother woke, we kept one another company. He read out loud and though I still was unable to fall asleep, I wouldn't want to anyway, I wanted for this moment to last forever.

________________________________________
[time skip]

We left at sunrise, not taking any detours or making any stops on our way back. Once we arrived, mother and Erwin had started talking instantly, not about the situation no, about the littlest of things. Which I admire.

There were changes done whilst we were gone like; the room me and my mother would be sharing was already set up with two beds, and plenty of storage space for my and mothers things. Also Erwin had moved my desk into Levi's office so he could make sure I was safe.

Now I was in Erwins office, as we played chess and talked about what we should do with my brother, and solutions on how we can stop him.

~Levi's pov~

He rested his back on the wall next to the door of the kitchen. M/n wanted to make something for the four of them as a thank you gift, and of course Levi had to be in there with her, though he didn't seem to hate it as much. He had a cup of tea in hand just observing as M/n mixed the floury mixture. "What are you making?" He asked breaking the silence between them.

"I'm not sure what they're called, but Y/n used to love them." She said a smile forming on her face. "She used to sneak into the kitchen when the maids and cooks weren't looking and snatched handfuls." She laughed softly at the memory.

"She must have been a trouble maker." Levi said curious of how you were as a child.

"Oh yes she was, always looking for ways to make trouble. Her father wasn't much of a child lover when she was a toddler so he didn't care at all, because of that I was always with her." She paused, the memories replying in her head. "She was very energetic too, once she was outside in the garden and was climbing on of the trees, she was so happy when she got to the top that she slipped and fell. She has a scar on her side because of it." Levi looked at her with amusement wanting to hear more.

"I suppose she hasn't changed much." He recalled a memory from when on one of your first weeks of being apart of the Scouts, you tried to climb an apple tree so you could get some apples and ended up ass first on the ground.

"She even got her head stuck in the fencing of the garden and it took four guards and a half pound of butter to take her out." Your mother started to laugh louder at remembering the hassle of that day. "She's a very hard worker, even once her father started to train her she began to overwork herself sometimes. Once I walked into her room to see how she was doing after her training, and I found her with her hands pressed on the bed supporting her body and her butt pressed against the wall next the the bed. She was sound asleep."

Silence fell between them after the laughter of M/n died, the atmosphere growing serious. "She was always trying her best no matter how much pressure her father put on her, and despite her doing amazing at everything her fucking bastard of a father threw at her, he still did all those things to her. And I was powerless to stop him." Regret creeped into her words. "I was so useless and hopeless when it came to that man."

"It's not your fault." He chimed in. He would have never done this, make someone feel better, but this was different.

"I try to convince myself that every day, but now that she has found a place where she doesn't have to be afraid of being anything but herself. Makes me so happy. I wish I could fight her battles or at least be next to her but I can't, I'm too week. So thank you Levi." She turned to face him. "You are fighting along side her, so thank you."

Before he could respond, the door slammed open next to him, you had barged in followed by Erwin. "I won! You can't tell me otherwise." You spoke with confidence.

"That is because I let you." You turned back to the blonde, throwing daggers at him through your eyes.

"Hey no killing each other." M/n began pointing a wooden spoon dripping with batter towards their direction. When you turned your attention to your mother, your eyes lit up as you saw the already made f/p. Levi stared at the look in your eyes, causing a warm feeling to grow in his chest.

~Y/ns pov~

I rushed over to the tray of f/p grabbing on in my hand then turning to where Levi was standing, "have you tried one yet?" I asked him and he just shook his head once. I walked closer with a smirk then placing my hand closer to his mouth. "Try some." I said, hope over drowning me.

"You touched them with your filthy hands, no." A pout grew on my lips and disappointment settled in. Of course he wouldn't take anything out of my 'dirty' hands. I sigh, pulling my hand away from his face but before I could bring it close to my mouth so I could taste some, I felt warmth wrap around my wrist. The next moment I knew he was pulling my hand to his mouth and taking a bite out of the f/p, his lips softly touching the tips of my finger.

I could feel how red my face began to be, and my eyes widen at his gesture. "It's good M/n." He said letting go of my wrist and making his way out of the room. "I think you can take over from here, eyebrows." He said before disappearing. I turned to face my mother and Erwin, whom both were staring back at me in as much of disbelief as I was. My hand lifted itself up to my mouth, my lips over the part where Levi's had just been, before taking the smallest bite.

"He's right it is good.." I say, the moment replying in my head.

________________________________________

[Author notes]

Hellooooooo ik it's not Sunday bc honestly it's a long tip so it took me a while, anywho like I said it my most on Saturday I won't be able to post much for the next five weeks, (which won't be much of a difference really) but if I do find time I will post as much as I can<333.

Hope u guys liked the chp bc I do>:).

Have a good day or night. <3

Vote plz.