Chapter Seven

"So…you know Levi was her son based on the fact he was the same age as she when she was taken as this crazy guy's wife?"

"No," Erwin said shortly. Except for the Special Operations Squad and Hanji, everyone looked at him in confusion. "He was a grown man when I met him. In fact, it was just before the fall of Wall Maria."

"Before…the fall of Wall Maria?" The cadet with the dark brown hair and green eyes stated. "That doesn't make any sense! That was in year 845 then! There's no way a grown man would be able to join the Survey Corps, become one of the strongest soldiers, and be the second in command in five years! There's no way that could happen."

"It did happen. What's more is that Levi was a criminal at that time." Before Yeager could comment, Arlert spoke.

"Was the situation that bad that you had to recruit a criminal?"

"Many people thought that was the reason for my decision, but that was not so. I knew who Levi was, and of his father and mother. Both of them were highly skilled, and I could tell by looking at Levi that he possessed those genes to the fullest. If…there was any chance at taking back at humanity, I would take in a thief and the son of a serial killer."

"I suppose Levi-heichō didn't come with you willingly," Gunther stated quietly while deep in thought.

"No, he did not. I had to force him."

"How?" asked one of the cadets.

"I threatened the lives of his friends if he didn't join the Survey Corps."

Erwin could see the morphing emotions of the Special Operations Squad and the 104th Trainees Squad as they became shocked, horrified, and later enraged.

"That's low, even for you, Erwin," Hanji whispered.

"How could you?" Three of the trainees stood and began yelling. "How could you blackmail him that? That's disgusting!"

One of them shouted, "Then you must be responsible for their deaths then!"

"He accused me of the same thing when they died."

"Huh?" The three looked at him blankly as if they couldn't understand his words.

"They died," Erwin stated simply. Blank stares echoed across the room. "Their names were Isabel Magnolia and Farlan Church. As far as I know, they were his friends from childhood. Isabel even called him oniichan." Erwin felt his voice tightened as he remembered a younger Levi telling him "They're not my subordinates." He carries the fault of their deaths inside him, even when it wasn't his fault. "I have no idea how they died, but I'm certain Levi saw his entire squad slaughtered. He saw his two friends die, and I think that's what gave him the edge."

"What do you mean?" Petra asked.

"Levi was blinded by rage. So blinded…that he killed all five Titans by himself." Expressions ranging from horror to elation and admiration were across their faces. "Not one person in the sixty-five years since the creation of the 3D Maneuver Gear had ever done that. Soon he was called Humanity's Strongest after that expedition. He told me what a joke that was. Levi couldn't even save the two people he wanted to save most, so why…was he given that name? Why was he alive?" Erwin remembered of how Levi had screamed and tried to fight him despite the rage and grief pouring from him. He had told him that it was his pride that had caused his two comrades' deaths. I told him they were unnecessary deaths…and he took it to heart. I still remember how…empty he was, and of how no one could ever reach him. "Levi did whatever it was possible to make sure that nightmare never happened again. That's why he takes on Titans by himself…and of why he hates unnecessary deaths. He promised himself that he would never allow someone to die because of him ever again. In that…he has his mother's heart."

"Hanji…what will happen if Levi turns back?" Petra whispered.

"He'll likely have to deal with his childhood and everything that happened. He'll have no memory of this." Hanji sighed and held her head in her hands. "I remember them, you know. Isabel...she was so sweet. She seemed very proud of Levi, telling me that he was always the strongest, even in Underground. She loved him so much. Farlan was silent, but I too could see his devotion. He looked up to him." Hanji liked her lips, and uncharacteristic tears marred her face. "When they died…oh, when they died…something ceased to be within him." She looked at the child in Petra's arms. "He was just starting to get whatever he lost back…and now he'll have to experience all that pain once again. I…wish I could change it." Tears traveled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry…I wish I could change that."

Petra swallowed. It hurt to not to cry. "His world….wasn't like ours at all. There weren't moments of beauty like with ours. It was only cruel. …How I wish this state wasn't temporary. We could…give him a childhood he never had. How I wish we could do that."

"Oneechan?" Big gray eyes sleepily opened, and the child looked around the room curiously. Erwin caught the child looking at him. Hanji's right. He is…adorable. Erwin could see Petra smile down at his tiny face, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. She's still upset by the fact that Levi's state is only temporary, and he'll have to go through his childhood and adolescence without the love and affection gives him. Petra understands this, but it doesn't mean it is hard to take. "Where…are we?" Suddenly the child's eyes landed on Mikasa, and he started to tremble. His gray eyes were starting to flow with tears, and he buried his face into Petra's shoulder.

Petra swallowed, trying to not feel the anger she felt toward the trainee. She focused her attention on Levi, who was crying into her uniform. My poor Levi, Petra thought. She was about to stroke his hair, but thought better of it. The young woman stood, and turned to Erwin-danchō. "I'm going to see if he can rest." The commander nodded. She could feel the stares and the gazes of her squad and the trainees on her and the crying little boy. Petra mouthed "thank you," before closing the door behind her.

"I hope none of you will tell this story to anyone else." Erwin eyed the trainees. "There are many words that the government denies, especially regarding Levi's parents. Even Levi himself…knows nothing about his mother. Not even her name."

"So…all of this is true?" Armin Arlert whispered. His eyes were hidden away from his bangs, but Erwin could almost feel the shock and the horror in seen in his eyes. "Levi-heichō's father, who was a serial killer…and his…" Erwin could see that the trainee was struggling to speak. "Upbringing…if you call it that." The hollow laugh that echoed through the hall sent shivers down the other trainee's mind. "His mother, taken away before she could help humanity and later murdered by the father of her child…and including the deaths of the only two friends he had?" His voice was barely audible, and Erwin could hear the hurt in his voice. "I'm sorry, Erwin-danchō, what you did five years ago was wrong. You…forced Levi to join the Survey Corps on the threat of his friends' deaths. You said that you needed him, his strength and the hope he would convey. That…"

"Yes, all of what you said and more is true." Erwin stated quietly. He had suspected that there would be yelling and scorn from both of the groups, but none of them said a word. He saw the trainees slowly get up one by one, and Levi's squad and Hanji quietly talking amongst themselves. Erwin stood and was about to check on Levi and Petra when he saw Mikasa Ackerman come near him.

"Why does Levi's father have the name Ackerman?" Mikasa asked. Erwin eyed her closely. "I suspect that Levi also took that name." Her face was unreadable despite the emotion seeping from her voice. "Are they related to me?" Erwin sighed. The trainee could be as stubborn as Levi at times. She is not ready. I can see it in her eyes. If I told her the truth…everything in her world would fall apart. She would go insane.

"You are not ready for the truth," he told her solemnly. He saw a spark of anger in her eyes.

"Why not?" She's like Levi, apt to hide her emotions and feelings so excellently people believe they aren't human. The only emotions they show are to the ones they love. Mikasa to Eren…and Levi to Petra. …The only difference is, that Mikasa's life depends on Eren's survival. Levi's life does not depend on Petra's…no matter how much he loves her and holds her close to his closed heart.

"You will find out, eventually. Your heart and mind are not yet strong enough to acknowledge the truth." Erwin turned away from her, not wanting to see the expression on her face that reminded him so much of Levi. As he turned the doorknob, he saw Mikasa going into the room where Levi was resting. Go out strong, daughter of Kenney Ackerman.

"What are you doing here?" Mikasa stared, bored, at the woman in front of her. She was holding a sleeping Levi's hand in her own. Mikasa's eyes wavered to the dark purple bruise around the child's neck. I… Mikasa pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down.

"I wanted to ask him a question," she stated calmly. As if on cue, Levi opened his eyes. Immediately after seeing Mikasa, he inched closer to her superior. Mikasa remembered of how she had felt the same fear and dread when the human traffickers almost came to take her away. Before Eren came. I… "Did you see your mother die?" she asked.

Without even looking, Mikasa could feel the shock and anger radiating from the woman beside her. Mikasa could see the child's gray eyes widen, and he opened his mouth as if trying to speak. Nothing came out. "…N-no." Mikasa didn't say anything for a moment. She saw, again, the woman who had been her mother bleeding out, her blood staining the floor.

"You are lucky, then." I thought…we could understand each other more. She walked across the room and closed the door behind her.

"Levi?" Petra whispered. The child was still. Even when she called his name again, he didn't respond. She could see his tiny arms wrapped around his body, and his breaths coming out in uneven gasps. Is…he having a flashback? Or is he reacting to what Mikasa Ackerman said? The little boy was starting to cry. Petra unclasped her hands from his, and embraced him. He wasn't calming down. Petra had a memory of crying into Levi's chest, waking from yet another nightmare. He told her before that he hated tears, and yet somehow he was fine with hers. She remembered the song he whispered in her ears, his breath tickling her face.

"Chanson juste pour toi,

Chanson un peu triste je cois –"

It had the opposite effect. Levi was suddenly struggling to get out of her grasp, his arms hitting her face, and clawing to get away. His mouth was pulled in a soundless scream. "Maman! Maman! Où…êtes-vous? Maman! Pourqoui…Maman?" He was screaming and crying. Tears were flowing onto Petra's face. Levi kept screaming and sobbing…until there was a flash of light. Petra had to close her eyes; the light blinded her so much that she dropped Levi on the bed. Steadily it began to decline.

"Levi?"

"What, Petra?" That voice…Petra knew it from anywhere. The light was now completely gone, and a grown Levi was on the bed, in the same position he was before. Petra sighed, uncertain of how she felt about…this. She was grateful to see Levi again, the man she loved. At the same time, however, she felt sadness overtake her for a moment as she thought of the child Levi had been. He was going to go through the same torture he had been through when Levi had become an adult again…and there was no stopping it. Isabel and Farlan will be there for him, if only for a brief time. He won't be alone. The team will be there for him too. I'm there, she told herself. Then Petra realized the clothes that Levi had been wearing were torn to pieces and scattered over the floor. He was naked.

"Levi, get some clothes on!" Petra hissed, her face now red and not looking at the man in front of her.

"You've seen me naked before." She could sense the irritation in his voice. "I don't know what the problem is." Yes…many times. Petra turned a deeper red at the thought. Her thoughts disappeared as Levi stood and observed the floor.

"Don't tell me the dumbass trainees have gotten any smaller," he muttered. "The torn clothes look like they belong to a two year old." He glanced at Petra. "There's no children around here, right, Petra?"

Petra didn't hear herself give a reply. He doesn't remember? As she continued to observe him, she saw that it was true. Confusion was etched on his face as he realized where he was.

"Why the fuck are we at the brat's quarters?" He tapped his foot in thought. "It must be the shitty four-eyes," he fumed. "I swear, if this is another one of her –"

"Petra! Levi!" There was pounding on the door. This is not good, Petra thought to herself. "Are you okay? We saw this strange light!"

"We're fine, Oluo." Levi answered. They both heard audible gasps coming from the other side of the door. "What is it?"

"You're back, Heichō!"

"Back?" Levi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by back?"

There was a moment of uneasy silence. "Well, Hanji accidently poured something in your drink, and…the medics were busy…so we brought you here to rest." Usually Levi would question an explanation as simple as that, but he was either too perplexed, or as he would say, "Didn't give a shit." Levi sighed in annoyance.

"Get some of my clothes for me while you tie Hanji up for her punishment."

"Ooh, you and Petra were at it again, Heichō? That's not healthy, you know."

Petra told him to shut up as Levi's eyebrows twitched. Soon the two of them were alone, and Petra watched a couple of moments, Levi looked at her in concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked. He held her hand between his own, and she could see concern in his gaze. If only everyone could know him like this. He was different with her. Petra was the only one who saw his human side. Then she remembered. I'm not the only one to see the true Levi, right Isabel? Right, Farlan?

"Do you remember anything?"

"No," Levi stated. "I only remember going to sleep…and seeing you once I woke up." He touched his calloused fingers to her jaw, slightly stroking her skin. "Is something wrong?"

Petra shook her head. "No, nothing."

It seemed almost like a dream that it had happened. A week had past. Erwin treated Levi the same as if he had never been a child. The squad respected him and revered him, and didn't mention Levi turning into a child at all. And Levi was still affectionate and loving towards her.

One early morning while in bed with him, the soft sheets brushing across her skin, Petra burrowed her face into Levi's shoulder and asked him a question.

"Mm?" He was waking up from his sleep, and didn't hear her.

"Do you remember your mother?" Levi sat up, his eyes narrowing and looking at Petra with a questioning stare. Petra was lying against the pillows, watching him through her amber eyes slowly.

"Why do you ask?" Levi's expression was unreadable.

"I…was just thinking about my mother, and of how she died when I was a child. I was…wondering if you had any memories of your mother."

Levi didn't answer. Petra almost hoped that he would say that he didn't. Wouldn't it be too painful for him, especially if he saw her die? Petra remembered the young trainee, knowing that she and her classmates were graduating tonight. She's a lot like him, Petra thought as Levi continued to be silent.

"I remember he death." The sound coming from him was so subdued that it took Petra a moment to understand what he had said. Then her eyes winded. But... "I thought I didn't see her die, but it turns out I did. I…still remember the wounds across her body, blood seeping through the cracks. I had no idea who she was at first. Then he asked me why I didn't recognize her. She was my mother, after all. I still remember him laughing." Levi sighed from deep in his chest, and he closed his eyes for a moment. His gray eyes revealed nothing of the pain he held inside. "I must have been about three when…she died. I only remember what had happened because of a mission he entrusted to me when I was ten years old. I was supposed to kill an enemy of his, but she looked so much like someone I knew. …Then I remembered my mother, and of how she died. I ran away that night, never to go back that shitty place known as hell. I didn't care as memories were fucking up my mind. All I knew was that…I was never going to kill a human being. I was never going to end up like him." Levi's nostrils flared, and his hands were white from clenching them so hard.

Petra could see how close he was to breaking, and for a moment, she saw the lost boy she had taken care of in him. Pain, she could only think. She embraced him and held his hands. Levi looked up and she could see the love he had for her oozing out of him. A glance could mean so much. Softly, he kissed her, sweetly on the lips. She could feel the saltiness of his tears in her mouth. They both held each other until both of them fell asleep.

None of them knew that it be there last time together, forever.

I want to thank anyone who has done anything to make this story possible. Thank you so much! All of your reviews, favorites, and follows really made my day. Thank you again!