*
We're trapped.......
We weren't fools and naive to know there would be an ambush, but sometimes the enemy could only be a couple steps forward.....
Though slight fear courses through my body, the guilt weighing in my heart, I only hoped Hanji, Moblit and Lena were alive. It was all I could cling too, especially with how serious the Colossals transformation was. I did. When I was abducted a few months ago, feeling the steam burning against your skin, like your own flesh was melted off metaphorically.
Yet, laying half of my command to Armin, I knew what I was doing. His mind and my soldiers teamwork, will figure a way to take Bertholdt down.
Standing beside the young soldiers, all we could do for no was gape at the sight of the Colossal. Sweeping it's giants hands across the houses, sending them in the air, as the timber burned into hot flames. My cheeks grew flushed from the heat, while my jaw clenched firmly.
"Look at all those houses up in the sky," Connie spoke up. "One of 'em could be yours, right, Eren? How's it feel to have your own roof over your head again? Get i?!!!!!"
Connie bursts out laughing, head back, while I grimace from his terrible joke. However, I knew he was trying to make the situation lighter and half serious at least.
"Sasha, could you smack him for me?" Jean asks, seething through his teeth.
Without hesitation she slams the side of her thunderspear against his head, while I turn back around to focus on the situation. Seeing Bertholdt wandering aimlessly, burning houses beneath a simple touch, he clearly doesn't know our exact location to stop Eren.
"Seems he doesn't know our exact location," narrowing my eyes, as I spoke up.
"You're right," Armin agrees. "He's just scattering burning debris to turn Shiganshina into a sea of flames."
Suddenly heavy burning debris destroys a house just beside us, causing Sasha to gasp with fear, startled by how close we stood.
"Corporal! Armin! Your orders!" Connie hastily asks, wavering under the pressure these children were placed with.
"Yeah! What should we do?!!"
Armin froze hesitantly while he's eyes fearfully lock with the Colossal, while I'm trying my best to stand guard to protect my soldiers. Glancing down I place a warm hand upon the nervous soldier, "Armin, is everything alright?"
His shoulders shook while his teary blue eyes, meets my own.
"C-Could you ask s-someone else, maybe Jean?"
I blink a few times, remembering a few minutes ago he was confident.
Jean glances down with confusion, "What?"
"I don't know what to do," Armin admits, stressfully at the brink of tears. "I'm worried I'll screw up. I made a mistake thinking we could talk to Bertholdt, and look where it got us. Please, Jean! You're better suited for this!"
Clearly Jean was taken back by Armin's request, trying to consider our own options. I do agree Jean was capable in leading, yet I just couldn't count the options we have without losing anyone else.
Jean turns to me, as if waiting for me to reject Armin's request. Surprising him, I give him a nod to come up with our next move, after he considers some kind of an idea to reinforce some kind of leverage.
Returning the nod he clears his throat, "Move, make for the river!!!" He orders. "Everyone aboard Eren, to conserve our gas!"
Everyone began following his clear directions, resting upon Eren's titan forms shoulder. While shuffling down the pain grew more intense in my torso, I found it rather difficult to breathe. Applying pressure over my tied jacket, Jean lended me a hand to climb alongside them. Using one arm I grasp his arm in a monkey's grip, as he helps me up.
"Corporal, are you--?"
"I'm fine, we must head to the river," I cut him off sternly, not wanting waste a second of our chance to come up with something. Jean was hesitant as his hands shook near my wound, seeing the blood heavily soaking through the material and seeping through my fingers. Shaking his head he continues on, as he steps near Eren's ear.
"Eren, at some point we'll have to get Bertholdt's attention," He continues on, while keeping ourselves hidden behind the larger houses. "But until then, you need to stay out of sight......." he turns to Armin. ".....hey Armin! I'm all with judgment calls, but I don't have some genius plan for getting us out of this. The Corporal is depending on us both, but in the end you're the one we're gonna be counting on."
My stomach churns painfully, jaw clamping shut preventing me to even groan in pain.
"Shit....."
Suddenly my head perks up to the sound of explosives of some sought, yet, I don't recall bringing any with us. My head lifts up in the direction to where Levi and the rest were, as a few more echoes from a distance. Though I'm able to hear from afar, I still can't tell what I was really occurring over that wall.
Having my Uncle under my custody, tied and unable to escape, I was more assured to grab answers once we come up with something.
Heavy stomps approaches the same wall where the rest of our soldiers were, slowly but quickly. Thick steam emits from the back of the Colossal, fear ran through my body of what's to become of Levi if we don't think of something. Clearly I know Erwin might think of something, but if my hearing is correct, and they're also cornered?
Well, I'll be damned to let this end with them winning.
"Yell at him Eren!!!!" Jean shouts, with haste. "We can't let Bertholdt get any closer to the wall!!!!!"
Preparing myself, his voice began howling with a piercing cry. Being at a few feet away, it was loud enough to leave everything ringing for minutes. This however causes the Colossal to pause in it's steps, angling it's head in our direction creepily. Swallowing thickly, I could feel as if Bertholdt wasn't fazed at all.
"He heard you,"
Just as I predicted while waiting for Bertholdt's response, he continues heading towards the wall. "The bastard's ignoring us!!!!" Jean growls angrily, with disbelief rolling off his tongue. "He's heading straight for the wall!"
"So, what do we do now, Jean?!" Connie questions. "If he get's there--"
"We're not letting him!!!!!" Jean snaps, vehemently. "Hey, Eren! Tackle that Lanky Jerk's leg!"
Gripping onto Eren's hair, he began charging towards the Colossal at full speed. Though we didn't have some kind of plan, this was a dumbass kind of move. "Wait, do we even have a plan for this?" Connie questions, unsurely.
"With that steam he puts out, he can make our ODM gear useless!" Sasha admits, recalling the times we tried attacking the Colossal. "It won't connect, let alone a scratch!"
Jean clicks his teeth, "Tch, you think I don't know that?" He sarcastically remarks, clearly understanding our observations and mistakes from last time. "I'm well aware, but we have to give it a try anyway. We can figure out his weakness as we fight!"
"I can kill him," Mikasa confidently asserts. "You just keep him distracted. Connie, give me your thunder spear."
"Sure thing!" Connie passes her a thunder spear, while I turn to Sasha.
"I'll accompany Mikasa," I spoke up, causing Jean and mainly Sasha to freeze. "Mikasa and I are the only ones that can easily sneak behind, and take him down--"
Jean snaps his head, "No way, you're fatally wounde--"
"I'm your damn Corporal, and you listen to me!" I snap angrily, but not directly at the kids. Holding my hand out I usher her to pass me her weapon, "Keep him distracted, and Sasha give me your Thunder spear!"
Her eyes were wide as her face went pale, as if I'm about to die and leave them behind.
"Sasha!"
"Yes!" quickly passing me hers, I thank her quietly before adjusting it to my equipment.
Though they all looked concerned in my direction, I knew that they're riding on Mikasa and I to take Bertholdt down. This was very risky, especially without a thorough plan or even a deep analysis on the Colossal's weakness. Adjusting the heavy weapon, I ignored the throbbing pain before my eyes trails back up to the Colossal.
O-okay, Listen Armin....odds are, we're still gonna need a plan from you," Jean reminds the boy, trying to knock Armin back to his senses. "So stop moping and observe him from afar! We have to believe we can win this!"
"I agree with Jean on this one, Armin!" I spoke up, turning to him. "As I said before, I have full confidence and assurance you'll come up with something! You got that soldier?!"
"Yes Ma'am!!!"
Eren soon makes a sharp turn before finally charging towards the front of the Colossal's foot, ready to take off. Once we were at a good distance, "Now! Scatter!!!!"
Pushing off we activate our ODM gear and flew high up from the side, allowing Eren to move freely without worrying about us. Though this plan was acting on a whim, we were at least trying and observing the Colossal's weakness. Feeling the intensity of the heat masking the clean air, I inhaled sharply feeling my lungs burning dry.
Swallowing thickly, I follow alongside Mikasa, we land upon a rooftop.
Watching Eren pushing the giant foot, I soon realised how small he was compared to the Colossal up front. Yet, I soon notice a subtle push which lifted the mood for just a fraction, causing the others to chant his name for encouragement. Though our hope lasted for a few seconds, as my stomach sank.
"Shit........he's..."
The Colossal raises his foot backwards, with Eren still hanging on gathering the momentum it needed. Without hesitation, Eren was gone within seconds from where he was. The collision against the wall turned our attention to Eren, as the bits of debris from the wall causes to break beneath him.
"EREN!!!!!!!"
Waiting for a sign that Eren would wake, was pointless. Shit.
A short gasp follows, "Eren's not moving," Mikasa wavers, knowing how concerned she may be.
"He's still alive, though," Jean assures her. "Focus on keeping Bertholdt off him!"
I know we charged in without a real plan, but seriously that was pushing it too far. I hope Eren is alright, despite his abilities in healing. That hit must've packed a heavy hit, judging by the damage of the wall above.
"Now what? Unless we can turn the tables somehow," Jean spoke up. "This operation will fail, all of us will die and eventually humanity will fall! Well screw it then! Plan or no, I'm not just gonna sit around and wait to get slaughtered! Let's take the fight to him!"
"I agree with you Jean,"
Without wasting a second I activate my gear and flew up swiftly, raising my speed higher than before. Stealthily I flew below his legs just beyond his eyesight, feeling the air pounding against my ears, I kept my mind clear while securing my location.
The nape!
Jean and the others kept the Colossal distracted, but judging by how well they're distracting Bertholdt, it was obvious. Their voices echoing from afar as I drew closer to the nape, almost chuckling at the many insults that was storming through. Mikasa soon follows not that far behind, as we headed for the kill. Timing our attack, we soon reach the nape at a good distance.
Maintaining my course I gave Mikasa the nod as we both activate the thunder spears, grunting with the force and weight. Waiting for them to imbed into the skin, a heavy wave of hot steam bursted out of nowhere without warning.
The burning steam tinges my cheeks as I raised my forearms, keeping my grappling hooks in the skin while trying to maintain my hold on the Colossal.
Without warning our thunderspears were blown back, the steam and wind pounding against my ears. Peering from behind my arms that shielded my face, my eyes widen in horror realising my own mistake. Hearing three sharp clicks, the spears began exploding one by one knocking us off course.
"Shit!!!!"
The impact hit us with a heavy brunt force, as Mikasa and I were crying out. Everything felt overwhelming, the steam burning my lungs causing it difficult to scream. Pain shoots through my torso, feeling something sharp enter my previous wound. Feeling my grappling hooks slowly slacken, we both were soon blown back along with the steam.
"CORPORAL! MIKASA!!!!"
Finally feeling the coolness of the breeze, I created some distance before flying back towards the children. Finding some stability I collide into the roof, while gasping for fresh air, whilst my skin prickles with sharp jolts. Lungs burning dryly, my eyes stinging and my skin warm to the touch.
My knees soon give out from beneath me, finding my body throbbing all over.
"Corporal!" Jean rushes towards me, while I try to gather air in my lungs. He checks for my wounds quickly, "Shit! Your wounded badly!!!"
His hand went straight to my shoulder, which was also wounded, only for me to hiss unintentionally.
Sending him an apologetic look I take a few deep breaths, when I saw red staining through my white jeans on my thigh. Blood soaking through the material, as my hand shakingly hovers over my abdomen, unsure whether to apply pressure.
"I'm alright, the shrapnel from the Thunder spears got me," I assure them, as Mikasa was masking her pain.
Armin turns to her with worry, just by her sudden arrival.
"Mikasa, you're injured too!"
"It isn't bad," She assures them, while I try my best not to move anything that caused discomfort. "Just a bit of shrapnel, that's all there is..........but, have you figured something out yet?"
Armin eyes widen, "Huh?"
Her eyes weakly glance up, "Tell me, is there a way that we can fight back?" searching a hopeful answer to ease her pain.
The pressure began to hold Armin back, knowing we're running out of damned options at this point. His eyes dart to mine, searching for anything that might support any ideas. Pleading for a moment, his breath shook before stepping back.
"I...I don't know,"
A heavy rumble before a house crumbles beneath the Colossal's weight, which made my fear grow. The children were definitely more afraid than I was, but what I saw left me shaken to the core. Behind the thick smoke and dust, the armoured titan was steadily walking towards us.
With my disbelief my breath shook, "He's alive?"
*
AT THE FRONT - (Levi's Pov:)
A heavy shower of boulders were thrown across the torn houses, as the damn beast titan threw with such ease. The air grew misty crimson, countless soldiers dying through every throw the beast mercilessly has annihilated. Right now, we're backed into a corner and Akira hasn't shown up.
With Eren's titan ass hanging from above the wall, I assume they're also struggling.
At least they have Akira, as she is the most dependable asset on their side. Despite many years working alongside, seeing what she can do, I know she will hang in there a little longer. However, I knew her Uncle was also working with the two and this hairy son of a bitch.
"This place is gonna look like a honeycomb before long," I grimace, seeing one of the houses being crushed to debris and splinters. "The Beast titan knows where we are......" turning to the Commander, my eyes harden. "Erwin, if there's no chance that we can turn this around, then tell me....and we can still cut our losses. Go shake the shit out of Eren till he wakes up. Have him run away with as many people as he can carry...Then we'll have at least some survivors."
Erwin fell quiet at the thought, or was thinking of something else.
"It's your job to guard the horses!!!!!!" I heard a soldier bark loudly, turning to see bowl haircut soldier scolding one of the soldiers that wept with fear on the ground. "Why'd you let yours run away?!"
"Shut up! Like it even matters now!"
"What was that?!" Marlo fires back, gripping the soldier tightly.
"Those other scouts were insanely strong and all of them died in an instant!" The soldier trembles fearfully. "What chance do we have where they failed? There's no reason to guard the horses, because there's not gonna be anyone left to ride them home!"
Everyone began muttering around the pathetic soldier, but then again I couldn't blame the fresh recruits to feel like this.
"You could tell what's left of the recruits and Hanji's group to run away on horseback," I continue. "They won't have much of a chance, but they'll be decoys. They can give Eren a shot at escaping."
"Tell me..how would you fit into this plan?" Erwin questions blatantly, out of curiosity.
"I'm gonna go after the Beast titan," I simply reply, when Akira flashes in the back of mind. My stomach churns, only wanting a future for her. She's been through too much, that I couldn't ask of her to stay behind and take the Beast titan out. My love only grows so far each day, and if I die saving her, then it's enough. "I'll draw him away somehow and--"
"You can't," Erwin dejects, noticing a grim expression finally surfacing in his eyes. "You won't even make it near him."
"Probably not....but, if you and Eren make it home alive.....and Akira," I say steadily, trying to hope she's alright. "Then there will be still be hope. All things considered, I feel like that's the best we can ask for. We've been brutalized. To be honest sir, it seems like this battle will be where the Scout Regiment get's finished off."
"Yes," he agrees, in a low voice. "If we had no way to fight back, then you would be right."
My eyes slight widen with a short gasp hitching in my throat, "Is there a way?"
"There is,"
I step closer with a slight irritated scowl, "You could've mentioned that before," raising my voice, in disbelief he kept one option in the dark. "Care to explain why you kept your shitty mouth shut?"
"The plan could go a few way," He began, hearing many cries of agony and fear in the distance. The earth trembles while I eye the commander, waiting for him to lay out the options. "Best case, you'll have a decent chance of killing the Beast titan....But for it to succeed....the recruits and I have to die."
Boulders began to hit the wall, causing the recruits to cry out more fearfully than before.
"The survey corps may survive, but regardless most of us will end up dead," Erwin implies, knowing the cost behind his plan. "Frankly, we're almost guaranteed to be defeated, no matter what," Erwin began walking towards a building nearby. "The recruits and I will be staking our deaths on the slimmest chance of victory."
Following along behind him, I was curious on why's he's throwing his life so easily.
"For this to work--to convince these youths to charge towards their deaths--it would take an expert con man and a whole slew of blatant lies," He sits down upon an old crate, resting against a brick wall. "If I don't lead the vanguard myself, then none of them will have the courage. Which means I must be the first to charge..and the first to be slain as well. So I'll never learn the truth."
My jaw slightly clenches, arching an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
He sighs heavily, "I...I want to go to the basement. Everything I've done till now...was because I thought this day would come. That someday, I would check if I was right," he explains, admitting his disappointment uncharacteristically. "So many times.....I thought death would be so much easier. But always, the dream I shared with my father flashed through my mind...and now, I'm close enough to the answer to reach out and grab them."
Subtle tears cascade down his cheeks, breathing heavily with frustration.
"Can you see them, too? Our comrades.......they're all standing around us," His voice shook, the weight of many lives ended beneath his own command. "They want to know what became of the hearts they gave. Because the fighting isn't over yet, and is it all just inside my head? Nothing more than a childish delusion."
Considering with his last request, I soon knelt before him.
"You led us well.....fought hard," endorsing his position, and leadership. "No one else could've gotten us this far. I'll make the choice for you........"lifting my eyes, my eyes narrow with resolution. "......Give up your dream and charge to your death. Lead those crying children straight to hell. I'll reach the Beast Titan and tear him apart...."
Erwin's eyes widen, confound for a moment til his eyes lower with a smirk.
"Right......"
Standing to my feet I raise my head to see the soldiers still screaming, and crying with fear. Though it tore me apart losing so many soldiers for this chance, an opportunity, I knew the blood that will stain my hands. Decisions to make were hard, especially for those you love or for humanity.
"Levi...."
"Hmm?" glancing down, I noticed him digging into his breast pocket before drawing some folded up paper or letter.
"Give this to Akira if she's survived the explosion earlier," he passes me the letter, his eyes focusing the crumbled paper with determination. "The things.......the words I can't express in person, so I hope when I die she will know how I thought of her....or what we could've been all those years back then...."
Placing the letter carefully in my pocket, he stood up.
".....So Levi, you must protect humanity, but also her...." He says firmly, sincerity lacing in his solemn tone. ".....there is no woman that can surpass her, nor ever will....because she is Akira Yamasaki.....both you and Akira are humanity's only hope....."
My chest felt heavier the more he spoke, as I click my teeth averting my eyes from his.
"Dammit," my expression softens, as my shoulders loosen with a deep sigh. "I will...."
---------------------------------