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He knew how creepy it'd sound if he told others the truth about her.
How he's seen her since he was a child.
She was his friend friend, his first guardian angel, his first hope.
She's never left him while others were forced out of his life by the call of Death.
He knew her name, her true name.
Written among the stars as he laid sleeping.
He knew how others called her, the wrong name.
The name she's rumoured to be were given by the people's faith and desire for happy and peaceful dreams.
But the name she's only told him was the name gifted to her in her magically birth a name chosen for her as any other parent would name their child.
She's never left him.
Even in the darkest days of his life, she's appeared as his only light.
Never forcing blissful and sweet dreams into his mind but at least leaving him to feel safe and seen.
He's always been content and protected in her care.
She was the one that everyone would see before death.
The ghosting shadow that filled everyone's eyes as they take their final breaths.
Some would see their lives flash before their eyes, some seeing lost loves ones and others just seeing a flash of light.
It was always her.
She sprinkled her magic dust, letting them see what they desired most of all in their final moments and allowing them to lay in comfort as they shakily breath their final breath.
She left them die peacefully before passing their soul to Death, leaving them in his capable and caring hands.
He loves her.
Not loved but love.
He wasn't sure when he knew he felt that way for her, he just knew and lived with that knowledge.
He's lost everyone but her, and she's never left even when he's screamed for her to leave.
She's always stayed, always waiting to keep him content and safe in his dreams.
Even when he's conscious and hurt, she stand close by watching him.
A hand pressed to his cheek, using her power to numb the pain as much as her powers allowed by pressing good memories or thoughts into his mind.
Pressing a kiss to his forehead when she knows he has no choice but to stay awake due to his wounds or soldiers needing his help. Her kiss letting the fear and fright she's kept at bay to slip in for a split seconds and force adrenaline sparked by that darkness to fuel him.
She'll disappear after that, not wanting to witness him pushing his limits and not forgiving herself for allowing a single glimpse of darkness to pass her defences, even in under her own control.
He didn't understand her power.
He knew other beings were fuelled and given life by faith alone.
That so many have been born by selfish and greedy humans who held hope for something more.
But he knows that many grow weaker as they grown forgotten or gain less people believing in them as the generations grow.
She's never grown weak, never needed faith to stay alive or strong unlike the rest.
He never understood what kept her alive so healthily and kept her strong against all forms of evil.
He's asked .. once.
A very long ago.
Not long after his mother had died and his uncle had taken him in.
He'd asked, desperate to find a reason that'd prove she wouldn't just leave him behind one day too.
She never told him, just gave a sad smile.
She promised that she'd always be around, always living on and forever the last person standing.
She'd be the one left behind one day between them.
When he dies, she'd still be doing her job to give everyone happy and peaceful dreams in their life. Making everyone's final breaths as comforting as possible.
She'd still be standing there even when there isn't anyone left to bless with good dreams.
And he found that answer more heart breaking than knowing she could just disappear one day instead.
He made a promise the morning he awoken after that dream.
He was going to make sure he never left her behind like everyone else.
He was going to find a way to end such a loop in her life and make sure she's never lonely again.
He didn't care what god he might have to find, he was going to win and gain that wish.
"Hey! I'm Armin and I'll be-" Armin started to introduce with a friendly smile before being cut off by an older women who shoved him out of the way to stare down at the man sitting up from the floor.
"He's not listening. He thinks he's dreaming or something" Isabel announced as she glanced to the gathered group, already knowing the look in her old friend's eyes.
"Come on, Levi. Take us more seriously. We may be dead but so are you now!" Furlan grinned back, offering his hand and helping his old friend to his feet with great ease. Spoiling the news of his death so easily and keeping perky over it.
"I was promised eternal rest when I died. Why am I stuck with brats?" Levi grumbled back with a disappointing frown, glancing towards the two strangers hovering around Isabel. He's never seen the two before.
"Armin's actually death. The Death. He's collecting your soul and we've jumped in for the rise. Thought a familiar face might help make this all easier for you" Furlan explained with a kind smile as he patted his friend on the shoulder, knowing he was taking a lot in at once.
"You're Death?" Levi deadpanned as he turned towards Armin and not believing the bubble of sunshine was meant to be the grim reaper.
"Just call me as Armin. Sandman chose this job for me, seems souls find it more reassuring with a friendly and baby face man as the reaper than a guy that's all bones" Armin smiled back shyly, giving a small wave as he stayed standing beside the other unknown man.
"I am the currant tooth fairy while Furlan is known as the current Santa. Hanji and Jean are the easter bunnies, it's a lot of work for one person since they don't have any helpers. Well, Hanji has Moblit and Jean has Marco. But it's still only four set of hands for the whole world" Isabel happily passed on the rest of their friends group, mostly mentioning the two that couldn't have made it due to their jobs.
"I'm Krampus. I like dealing with the naughty children and adults. The name's Eren" Eren introduced himself with a two finger salute.
"Why am I in the mythological part of the world?" Levi asked as he turned back towards Furlan, knowing his friend was most likely still the smartest in the group.
"She never told you?" Eren asked with a panicked look.
"Told me what?" Levi asked back with an irritated tone.
"I thought she would have told him before he died. We've ruined his big moment" Isabel muttered back in surprise over him not being told already.
"Let's be glad Hanji wasn't here otherwise she wouldn't have hesitate to blurt everything out at once to him" Furlan mumbled back with a weak smile, nervously chuckling as he knew how bad this could have gone if the bunny was here.
"I should take him to see her. Let her explain everything before we spoil anything more" Armin announced with a worried smile as he started making his way towards towards Levi, ready to hurry and take him away before anything more is spoiled.
"See you around, buddy. Looking forward to catching up" Furlan grinned back, waving to his friend as he stepped back to stay out of the way.
Soon enough Armin was offering his arm out for Levi to take hold off before teleporting them to another unknown place in the spiritual and mythological world trapped between space and time.
Once arrived Armin gave him a kind and encouraging smile before releasing his arm and disappearing by himself. Leaving Armin to face Mikasa all by himself and finally figure out what was happening to him.
"I hate you" Levi snapped out as he stormed towards the figure ahead of him, ready to take his frustration out on her for all of whatever was happening to him in death.
"Hmm" Mikasa hummed back as she swayed her hands in front of her, leaving some of her red sand to dance down into the world where it was destined to land on a sickly person in need of sleep.
"You promised eternal rest. No afterlife bullshit" Levi huffed back in annoyance, crossing his arms over his stomach tightly and sending a murderous glare towards her for ruining his death.
"Heaven or Hell is created by a soul's personal choice. If they don't wish for more time, they just no longer exits. If they pray for a second life, they're reborn. If they desire heaven or hell, they create one for themselves. I don't have any control over that choice nor do Armin. He just helps the soul reach the door they are destined to walk through" Mikasa simply explained as she finally turned round to face him, her eyes finally landing on him and giving her full attention.
"Why am I here?" Levi asked, glancing around and not really understanding where "here" was at all.
"You were chosen" Mikasa replied as if it was obvious.
"By who?" Levi asked with a roll of his eyes.
"By me" Mikasa announced with a cheeky smirk.
"Didn't you just mention you had no control over my afterlife?" Levi reminded her with a small roll of his hand, pretty sure she just mentioned not being able to mess with his death.
"Normally I don't. And you can reject the offer if you're so desperately upset by being some mythological spirt" Mikasa explained to him with an unreadable expression, making it clear that he could reject the offer and leave at any moment.
"What offer?" Levi asked with a curious glint to his eyes.
"Life's circle is ending. He needs a replacement to take over for the next few million of years or until your own power is drained. It depends on all life placed on the earth while you're given the title" Mikasa explained with a small frown, not pleased that another person would be moving on while she was left behind yet again, chained to her fate forever.
"Life?" Levi repeated, both his eyebrows lifting into his hairline.
"It's as much as a guardian as the rest of us. We've got a mother nature too" Mikasa smirked back, knowing he'd scoff at the mere thought.
"Who's that?" Levi asked next, wondering just how many other guardians he'd have to meet during his time here.
"You'll meet them if they desire to meet you. We're not meant to talk about one and another unless they're friends to all those around. Some spirits hold the skill to drain power from others or could be harmful to other guardians. Like Death and Life can't meet, their power cancel out and a deathly virus is released on the earth as payment. Mother nature can't meet with the Nightmare guardian .. last time they met it didn't end well for anyone" Mikasa rambled back as she started walking away, knowing he was following a step behind as she moved them towards a nicer view of the world he grew up, letting him see the beauty still held within it.
"I won't be able to meet that Armin boy if I become life?" Levi pointed out, not seeing it as a bad thing but feeling bad for the kid being given the cold shoulder due to job roles.
"Not really. Not unless Mother nature asks for it due to needing those on the planet to be given a direct warning" Mikasa replied with a small smile, knowing that neither would live without ever bumping into one another or needing to come together.
"Why was I able to meet him just now?" Levi asked, feeling a little confused over the whole matter.
"Because you haven't accepted the offer to stand as the new Life among us" Mikasa anwsered easily enough, coming to a stop once again.
"What happens to the last Life?" Levi asked with a small frown, wanting to know what happens when someone's power drains.
"He's dying. It happens to all guardians. The faith they're created with dies out as the years pass. All their life spams are unknown and once they start to become to drained to carry on, I'm left to chose the next soul worthy of the job" Mikasa anwsered with a look of sorrow, knowing every single one of her chosen's friends fate. Knowing they'd all turn to her to find their perfect replacement to carry on their jobs until there was no one left to pick.
"Tell me Life's last name" Levi demanded, needing to know that everyone was given their own name at some point.
"Mike. He's one of the longest living Life guardians blessed upon us. But he's finally reached his end and he came to speak to me over the matter some time ago. I chose you" Mikasa replied with a small nod as she wiggled her fingers and a pile of sand became a portrait of Mike.
"I've killed. I've taken life. Hell, I've been slaughtering titans for my whole damn life too" Levi hissed out, reminded her that he wasn't some peace keeper who never sinned before. His hands turning into fists by his side and shaking at the blood drowning him.
"But you've shown remorse for the soldiers you couldn't save. You hold heavy guilt in your heart for all those patches left tucked in that box under your bed. You never got rid of them, not even in retirement. Life needs to accept Death, to be neutral with it and respect it as much as Death respects Life back. You wouldn't cheat Life nor Death. You'll stay fair, even if you may hate it" Mikasa softly said as she stepped closer, placing both her hands over his cheeks and making him look into her eyes to see the warmth and honesty she felt.
"Will I be able to stay with you while working as a guardian?" Levi asked, feeling his cheeks being playfully squashed before she released them.
"Life is as busy as I'm known to be. You might even be catching a few sand rides with me during our work. If you think you can last an enteral with me?" Mikasa smirked back, tilting her head to the side as she held her arms behind her back. Knowing that she'd be finding more joint jobs with life in the future.
"Eternity is a long time. I thought you mentioned our powers are drained in time" Levi commented with furrowed eyebrows.
"Theirs are. Not ours. You've been given the same curse as I was born with. You'll stay even whenever everyone else gone. I'm sorry, you won't be able to gain a happy ending" Mikasa passed on the bad news that came with the offer, knowing he'd be trapped in this role as she is.
"Who says I won't be happy being with you?" Levi shot back, a little insulted that she assumed he wouldn't be happy by her side for forever.
Mikasa just stared at him, wide eyed and struggling to accept what she just heard escape from his lips. Finally blinking and raising an unamused eyebrow towards him in return over it.
"Too sappy?" Levi asked, grimacing a little has he couldn't believe he had actual said that out loud. He'd never been an open heart person or openly romantic either.
"Who are you and what happened to the cold hearted bastard that even titans ran from?" Mikasa asked with a playful but accusing tone as she crossed her arms over her chest, staring him down like an imposter.
"He died. Life replaced him" Levi anwsered with a casual shrug, dropping a huge bomb like it wasn't a big deal.
"Li- You're agreeing to the offer?" Mikasa gasped back in shock, expecting him to reject the offer and finally gain his awaited eternal rest instead.
"Yes. I'll become Life. I accept the offer" Levi replied with a small but true smile, nodding in acceptance of the role offered to him.
He never did learn her power source or what kept her alive all this time and for eternity after life had finished in the universe.
But he knew she was wrong over one thing.
He wasn't going to leave, never.
They were stuck just existing together, and it really wasn't that bad.
Not when he knew she had trusted him with her name long before she should have.
And in the end, he was able to keep his self made promise from all those years ago.