Pain and suffering
"Twenty-four.
Thirty-two.
Thirty-five enemies!
They're gathered behind the pillars! Continue the plan! We'll take them all out right here!" shouted Levi as he launched himself towards enemies together with Mikasa.
"All troups, spread out! Surround them one at a time!" shouted Traute Carven.
(If you don't know who is she: she's Kenny's blonde subordinate who almost killed Hanji in battle from season 3 episode 7)
The hell begun. Smoke was everywhere. Jean, Connie and Hanji joined Mikasa and Levi. They knew they're going to get their hands dirty with blood, but they didn't have other choise. They must get Eren and Historia back no matter what. Even if it costs their lives... or their souls.
Jean was first to kill. He used smoke as advantage to go behind one man and slite his throat. He was looking at his face. It was full of pain and with fear in his eyes. Jean was sick. But he did it... he killed human being...
Connie was chased by two MPs. They shooted at him, but he was fast enought to avoid their bullets. When one of them hooked up for the pillar, Connie appeared above him and swung his blades. He cut him right at the back of the neck, just like Titan...
Other MP, who was female, angrily shouted and aimed her gun at Connie, ready to avenge her fallen comrade. Cennie widened his eyes in shock. He thoigh it was his end until one single arrow came flying and pierced woman's chest. She fell in the smoke... death...
Connie looked at direction which arrow came from and he saw Sasha with disgusted expresion and teeth gritted.
"Sasha..." he knew this was hard for her, for everyone, but they mustn't stop now.
Hanji killed too. Her sword went right through men's abdomen. Blood was all over her face...
Mikasa on the other hand was killing MPs one by one with an ease.
Traute Carven was frightened by strength of the Scouts.
We must stop them! At this rate, we'll het wiped out!
Suddenly she heard screams above her. It was Levi who killed three of her comrades. He was just about to kill her too, when Kenny appeared of nowhere and shooted. Luckily, before bullet hit him, he was behind the pillar.
"Yo, Levi. It's not like I have time to waste on you, but if you get past here, there's not coming back" said Kenny.
"..."
"Oh? You're pretty quet there. What is it? Come on, runt, show yourself and I'll ease all of your pains..." Kenny said as he readied his guns "Heh, looks like I'll have to play!"
He jumped with guns ready to fire.
"Your mine! ... What, where are you, midget?!"
Levi wasn't at the spot he expected him to be. Instead, he came from bellow and attacted him with his sword which Kenny blocked using his gun barrel.
"Damn it! You're spunky one! Looks like this is going to be better then I expected!" With that they continued fighting. Kenny was shooting and Levi was using every chance for attack. Levi then attacked with full strengh, but Kenny blocked, this time with large knife. He suddenly pulled another knife and cut Levi's chin. Levi then backed away from him a little and kicked him in the head.
"Oow! You little sh-!"
Levi then rose his sword and made a big slash at Kenny's waist.
"It hurts!" said Kenny as he put his hand on ugly wound while launching himself away.
"You'll pay for this..." he said through teeth.
Hanji spotted Traute and prepared herself.
Traute smirked. Looks like a good oppening.
"What is this? You really like living this carelessly?" said Hanji.
Now's my chance!
Traute aimed ger gun at Hanji and wire shooted instead of bullet. But Hanji was smarter than that. She turns on her left and avoided certain death. She was ready to cut her, but Traute blocked and kicked her. Hanji hooked a wire for nearest pillar and quickly went behind it just in time.
It was pointless now. MPs had less then a half soldiers. They started to retrait.
"Armin, now! Everyone, cover your noses!" Levi shouted to his teammates.
Armin rapidly took big signal gun and shooted towards MPs. When granade reached them, it exploded.
"What the fuck is this?! I can's see anything!" shouted Kenny at the edge of his nerves.
"Captain Ackerman! We need to retreat!"
"HOW!? This shit scrubs eyes!"
Then everyone started coughing. They fell to the ground and held their throats.
"Quick! We don't have much time!"
Everyone started to move deeper inside the cave. They must get to Eren and Historia in time.
With Eren, Historia and Rod:
Historia throwed syringe out of her father's hand and it scattered in million pieces on the ground.
It needed 10 seconds for Rod to understand what's happening. He growled and grabbed Historia's shoulders.
"HISTORIA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"
She grabbed him by the collar and throw him on the ground violently. Before he fell, he grabbed her by the ankle and she fell too. He get up and took his pocket knife.
"How DARE you! You useless bastard!" he shouted and put a knife under Historia's throat. She struggled but all in vain.
"LET HER GO! HISTORIAAA!" shouted Eren at the top of his lungs while trying to broke chains.
"I'LL KILL YOU AND BECOME GOD MYSELF!"
"STOOOOOP"
Rod wasn't fast enough. Mikasa punched him in the gut and threw him agains the wall. He fell unconscious.
"Don't kill him Mikasa!"
Mikasa looked at Historia and nooded, understanding.
"Alright"
Hanji took the keys from Rod's bag and together with Connie, Jean and Mikasa went to free Eren.
"Everyone... How did you?" he said in disbelieve.
"Stop it crybaby! We always need to save your ass like this!" said Jean in his famous manner.
"You don't understand! If you're here, MPs will come any moment!"
"Don't worry, we took good care of them." said Connie.
"Are you ok, Historia?" said Armin as he helped her to stand.
"Mmh. I think I'll be."
"That's good thing." said Hanji.
"I... see..."
They turned and saw Rod slowly lifting up.
"Is that a good feeling Captain? To bark orders in hope to protect loved ones... while you still can, hm?"
Levi felt uneasty but didn't show it.
"What are you? Monster that killed humans. Where is your lover now?"
Levi glared at him.
"Where she is? She died because of you... How pathetic... You are now an empity shell, body without soul, man with a broken heart..."
Everyone stopped their current actions and listened Rod's words. Levi was silent, but inside, he was boilling.
Rod snickered. "What's it? Female Titan eat your tongue?"
Levi lost it. He ran towards Rod and punched him in the face as hard as he could. He hit the wall again. Everyone were frozen. Historia ran towards Levi.
"Captain, he's not worth it! We must get out of here while we still can!"
"STAY AWAY FROM THIS!"
No one in that room haven't ever seen Levi in such state. Shadows was on his face and around his eyes. His teeth were bared. No one dared to move.
"What do you KNOW about anything!? How dare you even MENTION HER?" shouted Levi.
Rod spat some blood while river of it were flowing from his mouth.
"I know everything... Rumours... prying eyes... Nothing this important can't slide... and goes unnoticed by me. Humanity's Strongest Soldier... caught under the spell of a woman and been broken after her death..."
"You piece of shit!"
"Say whatever you want, but know that you have your time limited."
Levi turned his head and saw MPs approaching.
"Everyone, go to Eren, they're coming!"
Armin picked Historia up and climbed to central pillar together with Hanji and Moblit.
Levi let Rod go. He provocated him and now everyone's going to die because of it. He always makes mistakes and others suffer. He let that son of a bitch play with his feelings that easily. Now, he'll die for his squad if it needs.
He attacked MPs and killed first four. Nine of the rest separated and tried to move forward, but Levi was faster. He violently killed three of them. There were only six MPs including Traute Carven who shooted at Levi but he dodged.
"Captain! We finished, it's time to go!"
"Get away from there, I'm coming right behind you!" he was making his way towards them. Everyone except him were approaching a hole in the ceilling. Right through that hole, Kenny appeared and pushed them with full streight and shooted. Jean and Hanji fell wounded.
"SQUAD LEADER!" Moblit shouted in agony.
"JEAN, NO!" shouted Sasha.
Levi watched in horror.
"KENNYYYY!"
Levi launched himself at him and fell on the pillar where Eren was chained. Luck wasn't on Levi's side this time because he fell on the back with Kenny hovering him. Kenny put his knee right on Levi's stomach and other on his leg. He tried to stab him, but Levi grabbed his hand tightly and with other tried to slite his throat with the sword. One of MPs shooted and bullet throwed Levi's sword from his hand. Kenny then pinned both of Levi's hands above his head. Levi struggled and almost got out from his grip, when two MPs came and each of them grabbed his hands. Other four aimed their guns at others. Mikasa prepared her blades together with Connie while Sasha had her bow and arrows ready. Armin was holding Historia, Moblit Hanji and Connie Jean. Eren was biting his hands with intent to turn into Titan, but he couldn't.
"Why... can't... I... turn...!" he said between bites.
Kenny rose his head and laughed.
"We won brats! This Titan here can't save you. Same goes to your Captain. Think over a little... There's four of us pointing guns at you, you have two wounded and only four free to fight. Add that I can take care of this runt myself and there's six of us against you. You're not in fortunate position, aren't you? You don't want to risk more lifes of your precious friends?"
As much as they hated it, Kenny was right. If they try to attack right now, they can't win without some of them dying. They don't have room to move or place to hide. Even like that, Kenny wasn't fool. He would never let two who were holding Levi away. He knew he can't beat him alone. But that four around them were enought to kill them all maybe.
"This isn't over, Kenny!" said Levi and with it he frees one hand and grabbed Kenny's neck and squeezed. Seeing that, MP who held his hand seconds ago, punched him in the face, but he didn't let go. Blood dripped from his nose, but he didn't care. Kenny only smirked and put his gun at Levi's throat.
"Why are you trying to get free? Death is better than miserable life of yours."
"Shut up. My life might be miserable, but I'll fight. You'll touch this kids just over my death body!"
Mikasa looked at him in disbelief. This man, who she tough was heartless and cold, was fighting to protect them all. He cared. She looked at others and by their faces, they were thinking same. Hanji only had sad expresion.
So she knew. Mikasa thought.
"Heh, my ass! I'll tell you what's your reason for fighting because I see you don't understand yourself. You joined the Survey Corps just because of life under the sun and endless sky, isn't it? When you lost everything, you though you devoted you heart to humanity, but I know better. Humanity doesn't mean anything to you. You're fighting to prove your loved one's deaths wasn't in vain. Or maybe you are hoping to overcome number of corpses you left behind in Underground?"
Levi just stared at him with eyes widened. He looked at his squad and saw their shocked faces. Kenny doesn't know what he's saying. He wants his squad to believe his lies. They won't, right?
How can I blame them even if they believe? I'm always cold and emotionless. They don't love me.
"Do you fear your new squad will turn against you? They certainly will after hearing this. I wonder why your old squad loved you so much. They would die for you..."
Levi squeezed Kenny's throat tighter. He even bared his teeth in anger.
"Stop it." he growled.
"There was one special member, right? Beautiful woman with ginger hair and honey eyes. Name was Petra Ral?"
"I said STOP IT!"
" - I love you, Petra. From the fist time I saw you, I though you were the most beautiful crature in this world. I haven't fallen for you just because of it. It was your warm smile you give everyday. Your behaviour and mother nature you give off. Your eyes full of love and happiness. I couldn't help it. The way you blush when I kiss you or when I tickle your hair behind your ear when we wake up caused my heart to dance in my chest. After everything we came throught, I don't need any gold or rich life. I want to stay with you forever, to spend every day beside you listening your sweet voice. Will you make me the happiest person in this world and marry me? -
That's what you said to her three months ago?"
New strenght awakened inside Levi. He got up ignoring pain in his hands and hit Kenny head-to-head. Kenny backed away a little, then punched Levi three times.
"Captain!'" Eren shouted.
"Leave him alone!" Hanji shouted angrily.
Eren tried to jump on Kenny and kill him, but Traute shoot him in the back.
"EREN!" Mikasa cried and held Eren.
"I'm ok, Mikasa, ugh! It's just... ahg! A little hole."
"Stop it! You can have me, let them go!" shouted Levi.
"Oh?" said Kenny and grabbed Levi's jaw in his hand.
"So you really want to die? You're so eager to be with your sweet little Petra?"
"No... That's not true!"
"Isn't it? You're funny Levi, and pretty pathetic. After everything I teached you in that shitty place years ago haven't done one single thing. But, you were happy then..."
Levi was speechless. Why is he telling me this after everything?!
"So I'm here to help you if you can call it that... She is death now, so you are too, inside. Why to continue living? Everyone around you died. It's like your cursed..."
"Cursed is mild word for it." Rod Reiss said as he was now climbing up the stairs.
"This happens to people which fate was already written. Captain Levi's fate is to bear deaths of his fallen friends and family until his heart can't take it anymore. I suppose that time has come." said Rod.
"You have no right saying that! Everything you know is manipulating other people!" shouted Historia.
Rod ignored her and focused on scene before him. Kenny continued his speech.
"You'll be with her again, Levi. Happy and without pain and blood and this fucking war. Everyone that you love are up there, but only you're here. Is it fair? No. Because..."
Levi wasn't listening anymore. He looked at empity space. His face was stone and his eyes were death. He couldn't listen anymore... he couldn't listen this torture. He lost everything, mother, Isabel, Farlan, Eld, Gunter, Auruo... Petra... Petra. He remembered her. Her beautiful figure bathed in the rays of the sun, her smile, life in the eyes and delicate lips that whispered -I love you-. His heart couldn't take this anymore... He only stared at Kenny and let tears flow down his face.
Everyone froze.. Captain Levi... Humanity's Strongest soldier... man without a soul... heartless bastard... cried. His eyes showed deep and incurable sadness and pain. Tears didn't stop. He closed his eyes in hope to run away for everything. He turned his head aside and gritted his teeth. He then opened eyes and tried to stabilize his breathing, but he was shaking all over.
Kenny nodded at two MPs that were holding Levi. They let go of his hands, but he didn't move them. His squad looked helplessly. Their Captain was broken, and they never noticed it. They were so ashamed. Kenny spoke again.
"Do you understand now?"
Levi faced him with a face of the man that has nothing left in life. He only blinked once and opened his mouth a little. Kenny understanded and put his gun tube into Levi's mouth and clicked. It just needed one finger move and it would be over.
"CAPTAIN DON'T! Don't do this to yourelf!" shouted Mikasa to everyone's surprise.
"Levi, please!" Hanji said through tears.
"Captain! If there's someone who needs to die, that's me! I let them die and caused you pain! PLEASE, DON'T KILL YOUSELF!" Eren cried.
"Captain!"
"CAPTAIN!'
"Captain!"
...
"Levi..."
Levi and Petra were sitting at the castle's roof embrasing eachother.
"Hm?"
"I must tell you something." her face became serious.
Levi felt uneasty feeling in his stomach.
"If something happens to me... If I die..."
"You won't. I'll protect you and-"
Petra silenced him with her finger agains his lips.
"If I die... Promice me you'll never hurt youself."
Levi didn't know what to say. If she die, he was sure he would commit suicide, but deep down, he was willing to give her a promice.
"I won't. I promice you." he said softly and with that kissed her chin than her neck. She giggled at that.
"I'm glad." she cupped his cheeks with both hands.
"I'll always love you. I couldn't bare the tought of losing you, even in death..."
Levi's eyes snapped. He used both of his hands to pull Kenny's gun out of his mouth. It shooted right beside his's head. Levi then grabbed Kenny's shoulders and throwed him at Rod. They both fell off the stairs. Rod fell on his back and cracking sound echoed their ears. He broke his spine and screamed. Kenny hit his head hard, but stayed conscious. Levi then garbbed his blades and stabbed two MPs who were holding him a few minutes ago. They fell on the ground dead. Mikasa was reacting fast and slited throats of two MP nearest to her. Connie did the same. Sasha shooted her arrow at Traute, but she escaped in time.
"I won't... let you... get away... with this...!" Rod crawled to splilled liquid and licked it.
"NO, YOU FOOL!" shouted Kenny and tried to stop him, but it was too late. Everything was shaking around them. Rod turned into gigantic Titan and was destroying whole place.
.
.
.
They survived because of Eren's newly discovered hardening power. It was almost the same as Female Titan's, but Eren was able to create whole structure of it.
Hanji had her shouler hurt, but it wasn't deadly. Jean's wound was better tough. Bullet only scratched his abdomen. He still can fight.
When they were outside, they watched as gigantic crature was crawling on the ground and was making its way to wall Sina.
Awkward silence spreaded through them. Then Levi fell to his knees.
"Captain?"
He was silent. He was ashamed. He let his emotions out of control and put everyone in danger.
"Everyone... I'm sorry... Please... forgive me..."
They didn't know what to say. Levi was so emotionaly damaged all the time, and no one was there for him. Historia kneeled before Levi and hugged him.
"It's alright Captain. You're human too... more human than every one of us. It's alright to cry." she said comforting him.
Levi couln'd cry. Not right now. There's a lot of things that must be finished.
"Thank you, kid." he said to Historia.
Levi stood up and looked at his squad. They were watching him with different eyes now.
"Captain... I'm the one why needs to beg for forgivness... Because of me... they all died... Because of my... m-mistake... y-yyou... almost...!" Eren wailed.
"I said to you already. No matter which wisedom you're blessed with, no one can tell you how it'll turn out in the end. It wasn't your fault."
"B-b-but!"
Levi only glanced at him and sighed.
"Let's go." said Levi.
"Captain..."
Levi stopped and looked at Connie who called him.
"We're sorry..."
"Hm?"
In was Jean's turn now. "We though of you as... we didn't wanted to know... to know you better... this wouldn't happen if we were with you, but we were just a bunch of an idiots! We're sorry for the pain you go throught."
Levi didn't know what to say. How one can say anything to this? Instead, he smiled. It was small but warm smile. Others were surprised. After everything... he smiled! They have never seen him doing that before. No one ever seen it... except Petra... but they didn't dared to think or even mention it.
"It's alright... Come on, Erwin's waiting for us."
With that, they moved. They must kill that Titan if they don't want enyone to die. Levi looked at the sky. Stars were bright tonight. He was thinking of her.
I'm sorry Petra. Now I understand what you were saying that night. You were right all the time, life might be miserable, but we'll fight. I'll love you until my last breath. Even like this... death won't separate us. I love you. Be serene up there, because I'll keep my promise this time. I'll never let things like this happen anymore. It won't happen ever again.
Finished! Finally! 😥 Second one will be waay shorter than this. I hope I'll update it soon. But before that, I must publish second chapter of 'You can't force love'. I have big plans for that story!
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top