Relief never seemed to last long.
"Commander! Captain! The Armored—it's coming this way!" a scout's panicked voice rang out behind us.
Erwin and I yanked our horses to a halt and wheeled around in unison.
There he was Reiner, his Titan form crashing forward with the fury of a thunderstorm. Titans clung to his armored body like parasites, clawing, biting, desperate. But his armor held, and one by one, he flung them aside like broken dolls. Each time he freed a limb, he moved faster, more determined. More dangerous.
"He's headed straight for us," I said, eyes scanning the carnage.
"Commander, I don't see Eren or Mikasa anywhere." My gaze darted in every direction, searching for any glimpse of them through the crowd. Nothing.
Reiner hurled the last Titan off his back with a guttural growl and broke into a full sprint toward us. Toward Eren. He was looking for him too.
"Erwin," I said, voice tightening with urgency, "let me borrow your gear."
He didn't even hesitate, his answer was a hard shake of the head. "Absolutely not. You'd be running on fumes, and there are no spare blades left. I'm not risking it."
"But Erwin—"
"That's an order. Stand down." His voice cracked like a whip, sharp and commanding. His blue eyes burned into mine, filled with fury, desperation, and something deeper. Something more personal.
And it hit me. He wasn't just trying to protect a soldier.
He was trying to protect me.
I let out a frustrated sigh. "Then what the hell do you suggest we do, Commander?"
"Eren is still the main goal. We need to find him and retreat."
Suddenly, every Titan around jerked away in unison, their heads snapping toward the same point on the horizon before they took off, thundering across the field in the same direction.
"What the hell? Why're they—"
"Look! Eren and Mikasa!" I shouted, arm extended. There they were, Eren sprinting with Mikasa clinging to his back, his steps wild but purposeful as he charged across the open field toward us.
As if the very world decided to shift its weight, the swarm of Titans turned on Reiner, assaulting him without hesitation. He roared, flailing against their attack, but they overwhelmed him, and his progress slowed. Good. Let them keep him occupied.
Armin rushed forward, breathless and trembling, dragging Jean's limp form behind him. Without missing a beat, he handed Eren a horse.
"This might be our only window! Soldiers, retreat!" Erwin's voice boomed across the fields. It wasn't a command, it carried the weight of our survival, the sheer will to endure.
And like that, we moved.
The Scouts surged forward in one sweeping tide, every horse charging toward the promise of safety, of life, of home.
By the time we had put real distance between ourselves and the chaos, the sky had surrendered to the embrace of night. Blue layered over blue, the world deepened into shades of sapphire and ink, a masterpiece unfolding one quiet stroke at a time.
The stars were spilling across the sky like scattered dreams. Unreachable, untouchable, and achingly beautiful. I pulled in a breath, sharp and clean, letting the air cool the fire still raging beneath my skin. For a moment, I allowed myself to feel it. The crispness of survival. The fragility of calm.
Above us, the Big and Little Dipper tilted forward as if they might pour down their light, while Scorpius curled and shimmered, dancing slow and secret across the canvas of the cosmos.
***
Erwins POV:
I watched her in silence, completely spellbound as she tilted her head to the sky, her eyes tracing constellations like old friends. She always did love the stars—always searching for something higher, something brighter in the dark. Watching her now transported me back to those quiet moments during her days in the training corps. Has it really been almost four years since she entered my life? Four years since that quiet fire of hers first caught my eye?
From the very beginning, Y/n had disarmed me. Not with bravado, not with bravura, but with a quiet resilience, a strange kind of grace. And here she was again, lit by silver moonlight, every feature softly sculpted by its touch. Her lashes fluttered gently, her lips tugged into a smile so peaceful, it nearly stopped my heart. I had never seen her like this. Not in battle. Not under stress. Just... free. And it was beautiful.
My heart stuttered, quickened, and for a moment, I forgot the dull throb of my injured arm. Forgotten was the blood, the fight, the weight. All that existed was her. If I could have frozen that moment in time, her silhouette wrapped in starlight, her eyes full of wonder, I would have. I wanted to look at her just like this for the rest of my life.
Then she lowered her head and caught me staring.
She blinked, tilting her head with a crooked smile, her voice teasing, "What's wrong, Eyebrows? Is your arm worse? Want me to look at it?"
I tried to summon something clever, something to cover the flood of feeling threatening to rise, but all I managed was a quiet, "When we get back."
She smiled again, so effortlessly charming it hurt. "Okay then. When we get back, I'm taking you straight to the doctor. You're lucky your arm wasn't completely gnawed off back there," she said, pride laced in her tone. She was proud of herself for saving me, and damn it, I was proud of her too.
I chuckled under my breath, unable to stop the grin tugging at my me.
God help me, I was in deep.
"Yes. Thank you, Y/n. But there's still something I don't understand."
She tilted her head, that playful spark returning to her eyes. "You don't understand something? And what enigma are you facing, Commander?" she purred, voice laced with sarcasm and subtle seduction.
I turned to her, gaze steady. "I don't understand why you came back for me. Why you didn't go after Eren like I ordered. You even cried."
Her expression faltered. Color rose to her cheeks, and for once, the ever-composed Y/n was flustered. She opened her mouth to speak, but only a jumble of half-formed words came out. Her stammering was so unlike her and it was charming in the most unexpected way.
Finally, she exhaled hard, jaw firming. "Soldiers can sometimes make decisions that are smarter than the orders they've been given," she said, voice sharper now, steadier. "So what if I disobeyed and went back for you? I don't want to lose you." Her words dropped like stones between us, undeniable and unmoving.
"I care too much about you to let you die," she added, bluntly, without flinching.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Her honesty hit harder than any wound. My eyes widened, just slightly, but it was enough for her to notice. She didn't say anything about it. She didn't need to.
Instead, she nudged her horse forward, her voice softer now, a gentle echo riding the breeze. "Let's go home, Commander."
And with those words, I followed, heart heavier than ever, yet somehow, more whole than it had been in years.
***
Y/n's POV:
"You visiting Erwin again?" Hanji asked, striding down the corridor toward me with Connie trailing close behind.
"Yeah," I replied simply.
"You've been by his side the past few days. Did you at least get some rest yourself?"
"I did. Took a much-needed bath and managed to get a decent bit of sleep before coming here."
"Well, that's good," she said, her voice light with relief. "I'm glad I ran into you... I was actually looking for you. There's something we all need to discuss with the Commander."
Her words unsettled me. I had been hoping—maybe foolishly, that things would slow down, just for a little while. But peace was a fleeting thing.
Hanji knocked on the wooden door to Erwin's recovery room.
"Come in," Levi's voice called from inside.
Levi? He's here?
"Pardon the intrusion, Erwin," Hanji said as she stepped inside, offering a sharp salute. I leaned slightly to the side, trying to peer around her blocking frame. Within the room, Commander Pixis and Levi were already seated beside Erwin, who sat upright in his hospital bed, his posture proud despite his injuries.
"Glad to see you on your feet, Erwin," Hanji said as she approached the foot of the bed. "Or, well... propped up, at least."
"Commander Pixis—good, we caught you too," She said quickly, stepping aside to allow Connie and me into the room.
I slipped in quietly, closing the door behind us with a soft click.
"Um, this is..." She began again, eyes narrowing slightly. "State your name."
Connie flinched, his body going rigid as he snapped into a salute. "Sir! Connie Springer, sir. Hundred and Fourth Cadet Corps!"
Hanji gave a brief nod, then motioned toward me. "And I believe you've already met Captain Y/N L/N."
Levi gestured to the empty chair beside him. "Captain. Sit."
I did as instructed, silently easing into the seat while Connie remained frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the wall as if haunted by something only he could see.
"Connie here hails from Ragako," Hanji began.
"Ah yes," Pixis mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "The village where the invasion appears to have started, correct?"
"Exactly," Hanji confirmed. "And he's brought us a crucial piece of information, something that supports our working theory."
Connie's face had gone pale, his features stiff as stone. The room held its breath.
"I believe his account will shed light on what really happened," Hanji continued gently. "Soldier... if you would."
Connie pulled a framed family portrait from behind his back, his fingers trembling slightly as he held it up. His voice was steady but heavy with sorrow as he recounted how he believed his mother, and many of the villagers from his hometown, had been transformed into Titans.
"Come again? You're saying the Titans responsible were the citizens of Ragako?" Pixis asked, his surprise barely contained.
Erwin's voice cut through the room, sharp and cold. "So, in actuality, Titans are human beings."
Levi and I exchanged uneasy glances.
"It does kind of make sense," I started. "There was no breach, no sign of an opening in the walls. Considering how mindless and massive Titans are, they couldn't have slipped in unnoticed. But how... how did the people become Titans? That part still escapes me."
Hanji's brow furrowed. "We don't have concrete proof yet that the villagers actually turned into Titans."
Levi lowered his gaze, eyes fixed on the floor. "Great. Prefect. I've spent all this time, all this energy. And the things I've been carving through like carrion were people."
Tentatively, I reached out and rested my hand on his shoulder. He tensed at first but then relaxed beneath my touch. A deep sigh escaped him, and he crossed his other arm over to cover my hand with his.
"Look," Hanji said, her voice firm but hopeful. "Nothing's certain yet. We'll go back, keep searching. Find out more."
She saluted, and Connie followed suit. Quietly, they left the room, the door closing softly behind them, leaving us in the thick silence that lingered in their wake.
"Now what?" Levi asked angrily.
Our attention shifted towards Erwin, only to find him in a state of detachment. His usual composed demeanor was shattered, replaced by an unsettling transformation. A sinister smile graced his lips, curling upwards with an air of dark amusement. The contrast between his typically stoic presence and this disconcerting expression sent a ripple of unease through me.
"Erwin?" I called softly. His body jerked upright, eyes flicking between Levi and me.
Levi's gaze was sharp, unblinking. "What's with that smile?"
Erwin avoided our eyes, a hint of something unreadable playing at his lips. "Oh, it's nothing. Just... feels like we've taken one more step closer to the truth."
Levi stared out the hospital window, his tone dry. "One whole step, huh? At this rate, we'll run out of people long before we actually get there. Not exactly an efficient return."
I swallowed hard, thinking of everything, Eren's titan shifting, our comrades' hidden powers, the crystalizing, and now the terrifying possibility that Titans might actually be human.
"Why does everything just keep getting more complicated?"
"One day, we'll get close enough. The wall between us and the truth will finally crumble."
I rolled my eyes. "Looks like he's back to his usual self. He's spouting cryptic riddles again."
My words seemed to break the tension, and for the first time in a while, Levi and Erwin shared a small, genuine laugh.
"Y/n, did you need to talk to me about something?" Erwin asked quietly.
"Nope. Just came to say goodbye before I leave. Captain Levi put me in charge of watching the new advanced squad."
Erwin smiled warmly. "When will I see you again? You're always welcome to visit whenever you want."
"Whenever the captain lets—"
Before I could finish, Levi's hand landed firmly on my shoulder, making me look at him. "Come on. We've got to get back. I've got a lot of fun planned for you and your little friends." His grin was menacing and I couldn't help but shiver.
My eyes widened in horror as the realization hit. "Oh god... No, Levi, please. You can't make me clean." I whined.
Levi rolled his eyes. "It's not that bad."
"With you around? Yes, it is. Nothing's ever good enough, so you make us re-clean everything over and over. Come on, don't do this." I pleaded, hoping to dodge the worst of it.
"Just do it right the first time and there won't be an issue." Levi said flatly as he grabbed my arm and dragged me from the chair, leading me toward the door.
"Commander, help! Order him to leave me alone!" I twisted around, giving Erwin my most pitiful look, silently begging him to intervene and save me from the clean freak's tyranny.
But Levi didn't miss a beat. "Not even the Commander can save you from me," he muttered, shooting a glance over his shoulder. Erwin's gentle smile faltered for a moment, just briefly—but enough for me to notice. The shift in the room's atmosphere was subtle but strange. I thought we were just joking around... did I say something wrong?
"See you later, Eyebrows," I called out quickly, waving as Levi nudged me out into the hall. "Take care of that arm!"
As we reached the corridor, I covered my mouth and let out a long yawn. "I'm exhausted."
"Didn't you get any sleep?" Levi asked, sounding more annoyed than concerned.
"A bit," I mumbled. "But I couldn't sleep well. I think I've been stressing too much." I reached up to rub my shoulder and rolled it back until a satisfying pop echoed through the joint. A small wave of relief washed over me. "Even my body's stiff as hell."
Levi cringed slightly at the sound. "Get some rest. We'll probably be heading out on another expedition in a few days."
He rested a hand on top of my head, ruffling my hair in that annoyingly affectionate way of his.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."
***
"Hey, Sasha, you so much as think about stealing more food, and I swear—we'll let Captain Levi chop you into bite-sized pieces. Got it?" Jean threatened, his tone only half-serious but his glare sharp.
"Who, me? I would never! Probably," Sasha replied with a nervous laugh, hiding behind the boxes in her arms. "Besides, I've got y/n to protect me, so I'm not too scared!" Her hopeful grin earned her a groan of pure frustration from Jean.
The two of them dropped their heavy boxes onto the floor with a thud.
"Hey!" Eren's voice echoed through the room, irritation flaring. "Did you guys wipe the mud off your boots before stepping in here?"
"Huh? Are you kidding me?" Jean snapped. "Do you not see all this stuff we're carrying?"
"You idiot," Eren barked back. "You really think an excuse like that's gonna work on Captain Levi? Bad enough I had to make your bed for you this morning—and now this?"
I stifled a laugh at Eren's rant. He was clearly still terrified of Levi, and it showed. But there was something oddly comforting about it, watching them bicker like this. It brought a wave of nostalgia over me, dragging my thoughts back to our cadet days. Sitting shoulder to shoulder in the mess hall, barely surviving Shadis' wrath and endless yelling.
Still, even amidst the lighthearted banter, a heavy absence tugged at the edge of my thoughts. Reiner. It was impossible to ignore that he wasn't here, that something between us all had fundamentally shifted.
"Oh, shut it!" Jean snapped, shaking off Eren's scolding. "Who are you now, my mom?"
"We're back," Historia announced as she and Mikasa stepped through the doorway, arms loaded with chopped firewood.
Their return barely registered with Jean and Eren, who were still mid-argument, locked in a back-and-forth that didn't skip a beat, even as the rest of the room slowly returned to motion. Everyone picked up where they left off.
I kept wiping the windows, focused on making sure every last smudge of dirt and dust disappeared beneath my cloth. The glass caught the light better now, clean, clear, and nearly shimmering.
"It's kind of funny," Sasha said, unloading a box of potatoes with a crooked grin. "Feels like we're back in the training corps, doesn't it?"
"Mhm. Chaos and all," Armin murmured as he adjusted the collar of his shirt, brushing sawdust from his hands. "Makes you wonder why they picked us for this new Levi Squad. Guarding Eren and Historia... it's no small job."
Sasha gave a careless shrug. "Probably 'cause we're super talented. Right? I mean—maybe y/n knows." Without hesitation, she plunged a hand into her satchel.
I sighed heavily, not even needing to look to know what she'd done. "Sasha... what the hell did you just shove in your bag?"
"It's definitely not a potato," she replied a little too quickly, already turning away with a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
I rolled my eyes and went back to scrubbing, muttering under my breath. "Unbelievable..."
"Really? What did I tell you?" Jean's voice cracked as he yelled at Sasha.
"Come on, put it back," Connie added, pointing at her satchel like it was a live grenade.
"Hey! Can we focus here?" Armin interjected, exasperated. "We've gotta finish cleaning before Captain Levi gets back!"
The panic in the room was nearly tangible, until it was replaced by pure dread.
"What's all the commotion?" came a cold, all-too-familiar voice from the doorway.
We all froze.
Levi stood there, unreadable as always, eyes scanning the room with clinical precision. He strode forward, knelt slightly, and ran his fingers under the edge of the table. Then, holding up his dust-covered hand for all to see, he exhaled, long, disappointed, and far too calm.
"I gave you more than enough time," he said. "Honestly, I expected this kind of mediocrity from the rest of you... but you, y/n—I expected better. You're a Captain."
"What!?" I snapped, stepping forward. "Don't walk in here and pin this on me! I've been cleaning my ass off since you left! That damn table wasn't even my section!"
Levi didn't respond right away. Instead, he retrieved a white handkerchief from his pocket and methodically wiped his finger clean.
"Never mind. We'll discuss your utter failure later."
He turned his attention elsewhere.
"Eren. Hanji's eager to begin the experiment."
Eren abandoned his broom with a start. "Y-Yes, sir."
"I'm taking Eren and y/n. The rest of you..." Levi's eyes swept the room. "By the time we get back, this place better be spotless."
Not a single word of protest followed.
"Yes sir..."
***
~
This was a nice light hearted chapter Lmfao. I wanted to make our anniversary chapter one that was calm and enjoyable. I can't believe it's been a year since I started this fan fic. I've started over from scratch like 3 times lol. Anyways happy one year everyone! ❤️