Love you always (Levi x Reader x Erwin)

It had been a month since Eren's Titan-shifting ability was revealed. A month of relentless drills, endless planning, and waiting for this exact moment—the 57th Expedition beyond the Walls. The pressure hung thick in the air like the storm before a downpour, but Erwin, ever the pillar of resolve, radiated certainty. That unshakable confidence bled into the rest of us like fire into cold limbs.

Now, here we were. The gates of Calaneth District loomed in front of us, the only barrier between civilization and the hellscape beyond. Horses pawed at the dirt, nostrils flaring, their unease mirroring our own. One breath, one beat, and we'd be plunging into Titan territory.

I rode at the front lines alongside Levi, Erwin, Hanji, and the other squad leaders. A month ago, Erwin and Levi had told me in private—this mission would be my proving ground. If I performed well, I'd be promoted to second-in-command of the Special Operations Squad. Equal in authority to Levi. You can imagine how well that news went over with Eld. He wasn't exactly celebrating.

Then, right on cue, Erwin's horse reared back dramatically—something that never failed to draw awe, even after all this time. The sunlight struck just right, setting his tousled blond hair aglow like a halo of gold. His cobalt eyes— brilliant, and impossibly vast caught the light in shades of azure, storm-gray, and sea blue, as if the sky itself had fractured and fallen into them.

And then he spoke.

"It's officially begun. The 57th Recon Mission!" His voice rang like thunder, commanding and sure. "Scouts—move out!"

The gates creaked open. Our horses surged forward. And just like that, we were gone. Out into the unknown. On Erwins command we set off. The thunderous percussion of our horses' hooves composed a symphony on the earth with each stride. The ground trembled beneath the rhythmic onslaught, the cacophony of hoofbeats echoing like a percussive declaration of our journey's spirited advance.

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We made our way through the first abandoned town, the eerie silence broken only by the thundering of hooves and the faint whistling of wind through empty buildings. The world outside the Walls felt like a forgotten grave, hollow and dangerous.

Hanji, ever alert, pointed to her left. "We've got a ten-meter closing in from the left!"

Almost instantly, two scouts from the support squad launched into action, ODM gear hissing as they soared toward the approaching Titan. I could see the glint of their blades catching the sun as they maneuvered with trained precision, staying out of reach of its wild, flailing arms.

"Gah! If I could just get a look at what's in that glorious belly! Never mind, just let the support squad do their jobs!" Hanji giggled, a manic gleam in her eye even as we pushed forward.

We didn't stop. None of us ever did unless Erwin said so. I kept glancing back every few seconds, watching the engagement unfold. One of the scouts managed to land a strike across the nape, but it wasn't deep enough. The Titan didn't fall. It staggered, roaring in frustration, but it wasn't down yet.

"Forward!" Erwin's voice rose above the rumble of hooves. "Ride for all your worth!"

We snapped back into focus, eyes ahead, hearts pounding. That was all it took from Erwin—one command and every soul around him remembered their mission.

As we galloped on, Gunther's voice echoed in my memory—something he had said three days ago:

"They'll only have our backs 'til we're clear of the city ruins. Everything beyond that will be uninterrupted Titan territory. The only thing to fall back on out there is Commander Erwins long-range scouting formation."