When night finally fell, Petra and Levi's muscles were aching from staying in the same position for several hours. During that time, both had slept on shifts, leaning on each other. Petra had observed Levi's relaxed face, smiling and tucking a strand of hair from his forehead.

I'm glad he's not relaxed like this only in sleep anymore... How lonely he had been. I am happy I managed to make him feel better.

Sometimes, she would think she could have done it before. That she could have been more confident and braver, not letting Levi's actions . Constantly she would think how glad she is for making Levi smile, laugh or feel relaxed during exhausting or hard times. And the cognition that it may have turned out to never happen made her sick.

But Nifa had once told her that those thoughts coming from her are only consequences from all that anguish and that she should not worry about it. Since it might also have been those intrusive thoughts that had decided to hit when she is fully happy, trying to make her feel tense and awful.

So Petra would always push them away and try to work harder to occupy herself so she would not think. And then she would tell Levi on occasion. He would always reassure her and tell her it was all in the past and that despite him knowing it as well, he sometimes expresses the same worries and thoughts.

We are in his together, he had told her.

Petra had smiled. We are.

The night had set and crickets sang in the grass. Levi woke Petra up and they stretched for a few minutes until they could move again without struggle.

Once they landed on the other tree, Petra had hollered into the dark.

"Auruo! Eld! Gunther! Where are you?"

Not long after, Eld's voice boomed.

"We are here! Two trees from you!"

"Petra, are you and Captain ok?" Auruo's voice reverberated after.

Petra smiled, a relief flooding over her. "We are! We are coming, stay there!"

Pursing his lips, Levi let out a sight. He didn't know what to do anymore. Auruo was a dear friend of Petra's still, even though she had started doubting his feelings a little just a while ago.

As much as he disliked the notion of him being the reason for the end of their friendship, he couldn't allow Auruo to be too close to her now. As much as he knew they were in grave danger and a dire situation, it would not be fair for them and especially not to Petra if he acts on impulse and shows his feelings.

Sometimes, Levi wondered if he's too cruel.

"Let's go, Levi?" Petra smiled with confidence at him and Levi couldn't help but notice once again how contagious her dazzling energy was.

"Let's."

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.

.

"So what now?" Gunther said, hands on his hips, scrutinizing glare pointing across the land.

"Look like we'll have to walk," Levi said with a scowl. "Wall Rose is reachable within six hours if we walk. It should be dawn at the best when we reach it."

Eld bent over and stared at the ground, searching for titans. There were none except for one that laid on its stomach, head in bushes.

That one for sure shouldn't see us.

"But we should run some distance then walk," Petra said, turning to Levi. "We have to reach the Wall as fast as possible."

"And not make any break," Eld said standing up. "What do you say, Captain?"

Levi observed the blackness of night and the distance. The Walls couldn't be seen due to the darkness, which meant not even a black silhouette loomed. Fortunately, he knew this area well enough, having crossed it numerous times in the past, before he had his own squad.

He quickly calculated, moving a few steps to the right, looking at the trees and comprehending which side of the forest they were at the rim of. He again looked at the distance and at the moon, noting its position in the sky.

"I say, follow me."

And they did. They got down by their gear and started running after Levi, each in a row behind the other. Petra was behind Eld who was directly behind Levi. Behind her were Gunther then Auruo at the tail. She looked at Levi's back and couldn't help but to admire how calm he was now and how he had to collect his thoughts and fears for their sake.

For she knew he was doing all of this more for them than for himself.

Her chest ached slightly, her resolve to not be a burden to him and yet to stay alive for the sake of him, others and her father intact. She vowed to devote herself to Levi long ago, even before she fell in love with him.

And she will keep her word.

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.

.

"Are you ok?" Levi asked Petra when they finally started walking, him going behind on purpose to speak with her.

"I am ok, just a bit sweaty," she huffed, regaining her breathing from all the running.

"You haven't even dropped a sweat," she added with a laugh accompanied with a feigned annoyed expression. "I will be the only one who will stink."

Levi chuckled. "Yet you will still smell better than me."

Petra blushed, a laugh bubbling in her chest.

"What a love," Gunther teased from behind them. "My uncle once told me that couples who stink together, stay together."

"Hey there, shut!" Petra said through laughter.

Rolling his eyes, Levi threw a glare at Gunther's direction as a warning that teasing had boundaries even here. Gunther innocently smiled and Levi narrowed his eyes before turning his gaze ahead.

"How long?" Petra asked.

"Three hours at best," Levi said, a tone of worry in his voice. All the while, he had been anxious about his predictions and calculations.

If he errs somewhere, they will all die. And he couldn't allow it. He can't bear the thought of losing another squad and this time... a loved woman in it. Glancing down at her, Levi couldn't help but clench his jaw at the sight of her. Petra's face was brave, eyes full of determination and faith. Faith in him, in his judgement as a Captain, Squad Leader and lover. Someone she decided to devote herself to.

And he will never fail her. He will make sure she survives, even if it costs his own life.

As if sensing his worry, Petra glanced at him, smiling sadly, loving eyes filling him with courage and faith in something he couldn't truly grasp. But for one he was sure - he had just a little bit faith in himself now, that he made the best choice.

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.

.

Walls loomed in the distance. Another half an hour to run. Now they were walking, still catching their breaths, preparing for a grand finish where they will run so fast without stopping that they might collapse right at the gates.

The sky was getting brighter and more blue than black. Even a slight shade of pink and orange could be seen far behind them, spreading across the sky slowly as if it knew it would reach the Walls before them.

Petra sighed out, craning her neck to look at it. If it were different times, she would behold it with mesmerization. Now, she focused on her path, heart bursting with anticipation and fear. Fear that they might not reach in time. During their run, they had seen unmoving titans around, one not too far from there.

If it wakes up and runs in our direction when the Sun rises-

She shook her head, not wanting to make herself slip by those dark thoughts. She had to keep her focus straight, forward and into salvation.

Minutes fastly passed, and all of them felt refreshed, tired but eager, every fiber in their bodies taut, aching to be out into motion.

Levi inhaled sharply, for the first time feeling a stab in his guts. A stab of eagerness and trepidation fresh and painful as a realization that they had less than an hour to each and Walls looked so far still.

He couldn't look back at his squad who might, no, will see his distress and get discouraged. He clenched his fists, inhaled deeply and yelled out his last command:

"Forward!"

Voice boomed through the air like thunder, filling Petra's heart with pride and determination.

They hollered in unison, taking their last run. They ran so fast, as if they could already feel the warmth of their homes, embrace of their loved ones, security and fearless state behind the Walls.

As much of soldiers they were, that much they too desired peace and tranquility.

.

.

.

The Sun was faster. It shone brightly on the horizon, approaching higher each second. Petra's heart pounded in fear that only pushed her legs to move faster. She leaped alongside her friends, all of them running side by side. They painted, lungs almost on the edge, eyes glued on a rapidly approaching picture of the Wall Rose.

Levi ran beside Petra, wanting he could wrap his arms around her, grow wings and fly with her to safety. He couldn't look so much fear in her eyes, fear that gnawed on him even more now.

It even grew worse when they heard roars behind them. Icy cold blood seemed to slacken Petra's moves as she stumbled on her trembling knees.

"PETRA!"

On instinct, Levi's hand shot out and he clenched her forearm, yanking her harshly forward. She leaned on him only shortly before regaining her stance. All the while, they haven't stopped running, slowing down only briefly then continuing even faster, giving Eld, Auruo and Gunther relief they were ok.

"I'm so sorry Levi, I'm so sorry," Petra said in panic, but Levi cut her off.

"Don't think, just run!"

Heavy and rapid steps grew louder and louder. Multiple ones were behind, nobody dared to turn and see how close.

"Oh God, please let us live," Petra muttered out of her breath, earning a wide-eyed look from Levi.

All her faith in herself and others was gone. And others' as well. And his own. For now nothing could save them but a miracle.

Unless...

He remembered then, cursing himself for forgetting. An empty smile formed on his lips, eyes gloomy and grim.

All the gas of the gear others had was not enough for all of them. That's why he had recharged his own. It would not be enough for him to move around for ten minutes, but...

But for this, it will be ok.

Levi once again took a long look at Petra who was so close to his side. He wanted to reach out, to cup her face and kiss her gently, to tell her he loves her. But there was not enough time.

Glancing back, he saw a titan just about thirty meters from them. He looked ahead, they would need a good ten minutes to the Wall.

He smiled. Touching Petra's hand, he made her look at him with wide eyes. Her eyes locked with his and she turned pale. She recognized that look and understood the despair of his whole visage.

She knew what he was about to do.

"No... No- Levi! Don't!" she screamed, drawing attention from others.

Auruo widened his eyes when he saw them. Captain's face, his unnatural and so sad smile. Petra's horror. A titan too close to run from.

"Captain don't!" he called out desperately.

You promised. You promised you'll take care of her.

"Levi, please!" Petra screamed, but Levi only brushed her cheek and said:

"I love you."

He halted and turned around, shooting the hooks on a titan's shoulder and flying upwards.

"NO!" Petra yelled out as she was almost dragged by Auruo and Eld as they all ran, their hands clenching each of her bicepses, not letting her stop.

"Let me go!" she screamed and cried, making Auruo's anger disperse into pain, sadness and something he couldn't recognize.

He couldn't look back as he heard more roars and bodies hitting the ground. He couldn't look at Petra's face that would make him collapse right there and never get up. He looked forward to the Walls, to safety and to the place Captain might never get to again.

He bit his tongue, feeling blood on it.

How could you, Captain? he thought bitterly, eyes stinging with tears.

How could you do this to her?