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“-nie”
Ringing.
“-onnie”
Annoying ringing.
“Connie”
Is someone calling my name?
“Connie!”
As Connie finally forced his eyes open, he could see this object in the air falling. His first thought was that it was a bird, but as he began to recall earlier events he realised that the falling figure was in fact not a bird, but his own captain.
Connie used whatever energy he had left to propel himself forward just in the nick of time to catch his (previously stronger) captain.
Was he always this light?
Was he always this small?
Were his bones always this visib-
A cough that tore its way through Levi’s throat forced Connie out of his thoughts. He pretended not to notice the blood that was now dripping from his captain’s lips, and decided to bring out an arm wrapped around Levi’s stomach to rub his back.
Things had seemed to die down a bit, but Connie knew that they weren’t out of the woods yet, or if they ever will be. Using the unusual silence during the battle, he took a moment to take in everything that had just happened.
Hanging.
Ringing.
Yelling.
Falling.
Levi falling.
He then realised that the only reason Levi was in his arms was because he had gotten his knee bitten by a snake looking titan that had went to attack Connie.
“It’s alright, captain. We’ll be okay.” Connie said quietly, not even trying to hide the melancholy tone in his voice. He then added, “Somehow.”
“C-Connie,” Levi began, “You-you okay?” He coughed again, and Connie sighed. If anyone ever told him that Levi Ackerman only cared about himself, he would laugh.
“Yeah, I’m fine. A little dazed, but I’ll live.” Connie replied. “What about you? You got beat up pretty badly out there.” As soon as the words came out, Connie mentally kicked himself. Idiot, he thought.
But Levi smiled. A sad chuckle that turned into a cough came out of his mouth, shocking Connie. In all the years he’s known Levi, he’s only seen him smile once.
A yell from above brought both the males attention to a shadow looming over them in the sky.
“A titan?” Sounded Levi’s weak voice, hoarse from his previous hacking.
“It looks like it.” Came Connie’s reply.
Levi attempted to crane his head up to see what was happening. Once he did, he released a long breath he was holding ever since he was in the forest with Zeke.
“It’s Falco, that’s what his Titan looked like at the dock.” He said to Connie, his voice nothing but a whisper at this stage.
Connie couldn’t help the laugh that came out of his mouth. He genuinely thought this was the end for everyone, but there might still be a sliver of hope left.
As the titan came closer, he could see Annie and Gabi riding it. He still didn’t completely trust Annie yet, but at this point he was desperate to save the man in his arms and himself.
As the flying titan came closer, Connie could see Annie’s hand held out, signalling for him to take it. So he did, albeit a bit reluctantly, that nagging feeling still present. Connie was doubtful that it would ever leave.
But as he landed on Falco’s titan with Levi, making sure that the injured man was safe and secure, he finally felt a sense of ease wash over him.
*********
Levi knew he shouldn’t have been fighting in his current shape. But as he heard Mikasa call Connie’s name as he was in a vulnerable position, he knew what needed to be done. After all, they didn’t call him ‘Humanities Strongest Soldier’ for nothing.
His ribs and chest still burned from the thunder spear, and Jean barrelling into him didn’t make his respiratory system any better. But he had already lost 2 of his kids, and he really didn’t feel like losing another.
Using his ODM gear, he skilfully glided up to the snake looking titan about to attack Connie and sliced it’s eyes out with a swift slash of his blade.
Satisfied that Connie was safe (for now, at least), he made the fatal mistake of letting his guard down.
The next thing Levi felt was a sudden, disorienting pain in his left knee. He was left dazed at first, not knowing what had happened. He registered himself being flung around, and then falling.
As he was falling, he realised that the titan must’ve bitten his leg in the process of his blades slashing it’s eyes out.
This is it, he thought, wait for me, guys.
His falling suddenly came to a halt, however, and he felt two arms wrap around him in a tight hold.
As Levi’s adrenaline was slowly fading away, the pain in his leg became unbearable. He tried to think back to when he had felt this much pain, but not even his wounds from the thunder spear paired up with the pain he was feeling now.
He was too spent both mentally and physically to cry out or scream, so he let his body go limp in the arms that encased his torso.
He felt the familiar sensation of blood pooling in his mouth, so he used the last of his strength to cough it up, hoping that he wouldn’t end up vomiting.
Levi then felt one of the arms around him move out and begin to rub circles gently on his back, probably not wanting to cause even more damage to his already broken body.
“It’s alright, captain. We’ll be okay. Somehow.”
Levi knew that voice. He’s heard that voice everyday for the past four years.
Connie.
“C-Connie, you-you okay?” Levi said, concerned as the boy was close to unconsciousness earlier. As he spoke, however, another cough tore its way through his throat.
“Yeah, I’m fine. A little dazed, but I’ll live.” Connie replied. “What about you? You got beat up pretty badly out there.”
Connie’s words made Levi smile, despite the immense pain his entire body was in. He laughed, but it quickly turned into another cough.
A shadow then appeared over the two men, causing Levi to turn his body and ignore the sharp pains telling him to stop.
“A titan.” He stated the obvious. But this Titan was different. It looked familiar, like he’s seen it somewhere before.
He heard Connie’s voice speak again, but he didn’t pay much mind to what he was saying.
“It’s Falco, that’s what his Titan looked like at the dock.” He whispered, his throat raw from the blood he coughed up.
The shadow drew closer, and he then felt himself being moved. He groaned, then yelped as his body was then thrown onto a hard surface which he later realised was Falco’s Titan.
As Levi was settled on Falco, he saw black spots dance in his vision. It was only now when he realised how bad of a condition he was truly in.
His breathing was ragged, his vision was blurry, his whole body ached with every movement, and he was somewhat convinced that there was a fire inside his chest.
He couldn’t contain his groans, and Connie must’ve heard him, as he felt the familiar hand return to rub gentle circles on his back.
Levi then closed his eyes and finally came to accept the fact that everyone around him were his remaining comrades, no one else.
********
As Falco’s Titan landed and most of the riders dismounted, Connie was about to join them. But movement followed by a groan from his right stopped him in his tracks.
“Captain, let me help you. You shouldn’t be moving your leg!” Connie exclaimed, not wanting his captain to be in any more pain than he already was.
“I-I’m fine, it’s nothing I c-can’t handle.” His captain replied, pain clearly evident in his voice.
Before Levi could jump off of the Titan, Connie carefully took his left arm and draped it over his own neck, putting his other arm around Levi’s waist.
The two soldiers slowly slid off of the titan’s back. As Connie’s feet were planted firmly on the ground, Levi was dragged along with him.
The second Levi’s left leg made contact with the ground, he let out a pained yelp. Connie silently cursed, wishing he had at least given Levi a warning before they dismounted.
“Sorry. You okay?” Connie asked, concern lacing his tired voice.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.” Levi replied, although the pain in his voice told Connie otherwise.
Deciding not to question it, he made his way past everyone’s tearful family reunions and to where Jean and Mikasa were stationed.
They had to travel slowly, though, having to stop every few steps due to the amount of pain the injured man was in.
Connie considered carrying his captain, but he then realised that the change in position could further aggravate Levi’s leg, and his captain would also be mortified at the gesture.
As they stopped beside the other two soldiers, Levi transitioned most of his weight onto Connie, the latter pretending not to notice. It’s not like Levi weighed much now, anyway.
The injured man was too preoccupied with his pain to listen to whatever Connie was saying, feeling that it wasn’t that important. He then heard someone say something about gas, and that word sent chills down Levi’s spine.
“Mikasa, Pieck, get on Falco. Ackermans and titan shifters are immune to the gas.”
When Pieck wouldn’t make a move to get onto the jaw Titan, Levi was in no mood to deal with her. He never meant to lose his temper, but with what was going on currently, he couldn’t contain his outburst.
He doesn’t remember much of what he said, but he does remember Mikasa having to physically pull a screaming Pieck away from the edge of the saddle whilst they were midair.
As Levi watched the scene unfold, he couldn’t help but feel a form of guilt for snapping at the girl earlier, she just wanted to be with her dad.
*********
It’s over.
It’s finally over.
Levi felt like he was dreaming.
He was happy that this war was finally over, but he felt somewhat… empty.
He didn’t know what he was supposed to do now. The thing that he’s spent most of his life doing, fighting, seemed pointless now.
What was there to fight?
He doubts that he’d be able to fight in his current state, anyway.
A cloud of smoke suddenly overcame Levi, and his first thought was that this cruel world had finally decided to let him rest.
But this world had never been kind to Levi.
As the cloud cleared, Levi thought he was dreaming once again.
Standing before him were all of his old comrades. Some he knew well, others he’d hardly met. But he was glad to see them, regardless of who they were.
“Well, look who finally showed up.” Levi said, his voice nothing more than a whisper at this point.
“This is what you all dedicated your hearts for.”
As Levi saw everyone form a salute (noting that Erwin had to use his left arm), his sight grew blurry and his unbandaged eye became watery.
Instead of holding in his tears like he was used to, he decided to let this tear fall.
Screw it, he thought, what have I to lose?