"Is it true? Eren asked Armin as they walked through the corridor of the prison. He knew that it wasn't the right time to look around the damned prison, but he can't help but feel a bit disgusted. Each wall carefully designed to hold one back from the freedom which he would long for if he had stayed here. It was dark and musky, and there was a foul stench that Eren did not even dare to know where it came from.

"The news are very much true, Eren. Even I cannot believe it when I heard the news. I was expecting it to happen in the future, but not too soon" Armin said, his brows knitted together.

"All of us were expecting her to get out of her crystal someday, but it's so sudden that they even had to wake us up in the middle of the night" Eren complained.

Not long ago, Annie Leonhardt was freed from her crystal that trapped her ever since they defeated the Female Titan. All of them tried to get her out of the crystal, but Hange fears that they might end up killing her if they did so. And so they waited, until the crystal itself crumbles and free the titan-shifter.

Eren was then reminded of those people who were lost those days. Annie had killed many of their comrades, their friends. Eren still cannot stomach the idea that Annie was the Female Titan. He knew her and trained with her. Despite Annie being distant to all of them, they still considered her as a comrade and a friend.

"I know what you're thinking, Eren" Armin said and Eren turned to look at his friend.

"What-"

"I know that you remember the events before, those soldiers who fell in the hands of the Female Titan. I know it's difficult, but things have changed. It's not easy for me too, you know, since I was the one who revealed to the world that Annie was the Female Titan. Somehow, I feel guilty about this, but I know I have done what's right. This is not the right time for us to feel this way" Armin said glumly and Eren looked down on his feet.

"Eren! Armin!"

"Mikasa" Both of them called out as they were approached by the said woman.

"Where have you been? The chief calls for your aid at the cell. They have begun" Mikasa said. Eren and Armin looked at each other.

"What do you mean they have begun?" Armin asked and Mikasa sighed as she gestured them to walk faster.

"Annie Leonhardt is now conscious. And Chief Erwin has already started the interrogation" Mikasa said, though Eren can notice slight change in Mikasa's tone when she mentioned the titan-shifter's name. Eren knew that Mikasa developed a grudge with Annie ever since he was almost killed by her back in the woods.

"What does that have to do with us? Are we supposed to throw some questions to her?" Eren inquired and Mikasa shook her head.

"No, the chief just wants to double the security measures around the area. As much as I want to join the interrogation, we have no right to do so since we are just soldiers. And it's not a part of our orders to question Annie" Mikasa said bluntly and the three of them walked towards the cell were Annie was being held.

Eren's eyes widened when he saw Annie after his last encounter with her. She looked horrible. Some parts of her skin were marred and her flesh was torn. Large chunks of ice were still glued to her skin and small masses of crystal were adhered on her face. Her eyes were red and tired, her lips were cracked and her blonde hair had some dried blood dyed on it.

"Was she tortured?" Eren whispered and Mikasa raised a brow at him. Armin noticed that Mikasa was clearly annoyed at Eren's concern for Annie's condition.

"She's not tortured Eren. It's just that when she was taken out of her crystal forcibly, some of her flesh was still attached to the crystal. But that doesn't matter; those injuries of hers are not enough to pay for the lives she has taken and the pain she has caused. And if it makes you feel better, those wounds aren't enough to kill the likes of her" Mikasa said and Eren turned to watch the interrogation. His green eyes wandered between Hange, Erwin and Annie.

Hange took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. They have been trying to leech out information from Leonhardt, but unfortunately, she isn't saying anything since they begun. Hange put her glasses back on and gives Erwin a tired look. Erwin noticed this and sighed. It seems like even Hange is having a hard time finding a way to take information from Annie.

Erwin did not want to torture Annie to get her to talk, as much as he finds it necessary. Just by looking at her, Annie will not last long if they did so. She looks fragile and could break at any moment. Erwin saw Eren, and Armin outside the cell. He noticed the troubled look on the both of them, probably surprised at current condition of Annie. Erwin knew that despite Annie being the culprit, some people still considered her as a comrade, perhaps even a friend, which makes it difficult for the others to see her like this.

Just then, Eren felt someone stand beside him. He looked at his side and saw a familiar figure.

"Annie, do you know-" Erwin was cut off when he heard the cell door open. He turned to look at who it was, and it was no other than Captain Levi Ackerman. He still wore the usual cold look on his face, and Erwin don't know what was going on the captain's mind. None of them said a word when Levi stopped in front of him.

Hange eyed Erwin, an alarmed look on her face. Erwin understood what Hange was panicking about. Levi is here, and if they decided to not harm Annie during the interrogation, Levi will not hesitate to do it otherwise. That's undoubtedly one reason why they intended not to tell him about this, but they should have known better that they cannot hide anything from this man, especially the news about Annie being free from her crystal.

Levi took his place in front of Annie. The titan-shifter looked up and her eyes met the piercing ones of Levi.

Levi looked down on Annie,

"What are you?" Levi asked, and Annie remained silent.

"Levi, I think it's best if you leave this-" Hange tried to speak, but was cut off by Levi who asked Annie another question, this time his voice was louder.

"What is your purpose?" Levi asked once more, this time Annie smiled sardonically. She returned an icy stare at the captain.

"Go to hell" was all she said, and Levi's eyes narrowed. With one swift wave of his arm, the back of his hand landed harshly upon the titan-shifter's face, leaving a red mark. Annie seethed in pain, but she can endure it.

"I asked you a question, worm" Levi stated. Erwin put a hand on Hange's shoulder, gesturing her to go out of the cell. Hange was hesitant, but then followed Erwin's request. She, too, cannot stand to see what Levi might do to the titan-shifter. She knew Annie can be a perfect specimen for research, but then, it would seem impossible for her to get near her soon.

Eren eyed Hange as she silently went out of the cell. He saw the distressed look on Hange, and Eren understood that things aren't going to bode well soon.

"Go fuck yourself" Annie snapped back, and thus she received another hard blow from Levi. Erwin continued to watch the interrogation, while Eren and Armin winced at the sound that came from the blow.

Levi continued to glare down at Annie. Annie then smelled something familiar. She knew it was the scent of someone she knew she killed before. Annie was able to know this because of her senses as a titan-shifter. She knows the scent of her victims, and it would seem that the scent came from the man in front of her.

Annie's thoughts raced, trying to recall whose scent that was. It was definitely not of this man, but of another person. A woman, to be exact.

Then it occurred to her. The woman from the woods. The one she crushed onto the tree.

Annie smirked at this, much to the surprise of Erwin and caused Levi to frown deeper.

"I know your scent. It's familiar" Annie said. Levi raised his brow at her.

"Speak, you vermin"

"It's a scent of a dead person. I smell it on you" Erwin was confused, but decided to let the titan-shifter speak.

"I finally know whose scent that is. It's the woman from the woods" Annie continued, and Levi's face darkened. Eren clenched his fists when he heard what Annie had to say.

"She was skilled one. Her beauty is equal to that of her prowess. She almost killed me, that woman. She looked perfect. But then, she had to die" Annie said slowly, emphasizing each word, watching the small movements Levi makes as she says each word. She discovered that there was indeed something about that woman, and thus she decided to continue.

"And now her scent is on you. What did you do to her? Did you fuck her and give her hopes that everything will be better? I'll tell you, that woman is nothing now. She was indeed beautiful, but I saw her true beauty when I saw broken corpse crushed on the ground with her blood painting the ground. You were too late, she is dead because of your weakn-" Annie was stopped when she received a blow on her face, it was much more harder and more painful than before. She fell on the cold floor and Annie felt blood drip on the corner of her mouth.

Before she could even pick herself up, Levi took his foot and kicked the titan-shifter's abdomen. Annie groaned in pain as she began to cough out some blood. Without giving her a chance to breath, Levi took her by the collar and slammed the back of her head on the wall.

Levi watched as Annie fell on the ground once more. He watched her pathetically squirm on the prison's cold floor. He heard Erwin's command to stop behind him, but he didn't oblige.

He took his foot and stepped on the woman's head, pressing her head against the floor.

"This is too much, captain!" Eren yelled as Armin restrained his friend from barging inside.

"Eren, we cannot do anything!" Armin pleaded and Eren looked at his friend. Armin can see Eren's eyes were filled with distraught and guilt. Armin knew what he felt, but he knew it was best to leave it at that.

Erwin looked away. He knew that words cannot stop Levi now. He winced as he heard sickening sounds of crushing bones and pained noises.

Annie was being pummeled, and Levi wasn't giving her a chance to catch her breath. She felt her wounded and bruised flesh touch the cold pavement once more. Annie took this chance to look at the man towering her.

Levi's stare changed. And Annie knew that look too well.

It was a look of a man ready to kill.

"Is this what fear is?" Annie thought as she was attacked once more, receiving a barrage of blows from Levi. She knew that she was now at the mercy of this man. She knew that she suddenly felt the need to live. This man made her fear death.

But she knew too well that he is going to kill her.

"LEVI, STOP. YOU'LL KILL HER" Erwin shouted as he restrained Levi. Levi sent the older man a glare as he pulled himself away from him.

"Levi, we have a rule that we cannot kill a prisoner may have some vital information. Don't let anger overcome you" Erwin said sternly and Levi glared back at him. Levi looked down at the pathetic being sprawled on the floor. He blood painted the prison walls, and her pained moans echoed through the cell.

The sight disgusted him. But seeing her blood on him disgusted him even more.

Without a word, Levi left the prison. Erwin called out medics to aid Annie's broken form. Eren's eyes followed the captain, not sure of what to think.

xXxXxXxXx

Levi threw his bloodstained shirt on the laundry basket. He sat on the edge of his bed, as he recalled the events earlier. He didn't know what to feel, what to think. He was tired. He was tired of everything.

He was so close to killing her, but why didn't he take his chances? He had a choice. Why did he not choose to end her life?

Levi breathed in. He can smell the faint scent of lilac in the room, he can still smell her faint scent.

He pushed his thoughts away. He had no time to think about her. She's gone. What else can he do about that? She's just one of those soldiers who will die anyway. She was no one special. She was no different than the rest.

Levi put these ideas into his mind. It somehow made him feel better. Levi stood up from the bed and stared at the stack of books that were place at the windowsill. It was her favorite spot in the room. This is where he would usually find her read these books, or write in her journal during the days when they have all the time for the both of them.

The captain shook his head. He will not think of her.

"These books are a mess, a fucking an eyesore that needs to be cleaned" Levi muttered irritably as he took the books in his hands. As soon as he lifted it, a folded paper fell from one of it. Levi paused, as he looked down on the sheet. He slowly placed the books on the nearest table and picked up the paper.

Levi took his place on the windowsill, just like what she always does, and flipped the back of the parchment.

His eyes widened as he read,

"To my dearest husband,"

Petra don't usually call him as such, unless it was something important. She would still call him 'Heichou' even after he was bonded with her. Without even thinking further about that, Levi continued to read,

"We are going to our expedition soon. And the feeling of anxiety still hasn't left me. At any moment during the expedition, things can be very unpredictable. And I fear for the both of us. I cannot bear to think if anything happens to any of us. I never told you before, but I had a dream that I was in a place where there are no deaths, no sorrow and pain. That I was walking there, as if I was waiting for someone. I wouldn't want to think that it would mean anything. But, if it I was destined to go, please don't let it change who you are. Dearest, I remember your promise to me that you will do anything to give me the life that I have always wanted. If such terrible fate happened to me, I would want you to know that you already kept your promise to me. You already gave me that life, and words cannot express the joy and love that I feel when you are with me. Dearest, I know that it would be hard for you. I know that it would be difficult to let go. But I pray that you do not make this a reason for you to change. I want you to smile for me, even the faintest one. It would be enough for me. Dearest, I will say these words to you once more; let your feelings out, it will give you rest. Keeping all those emotions within you would only make you feel burdened. Let it all out, just like how you made feel your love in the days we spent together. This is my confession to you, dearest. And I want you to know that, I love you with all that I am.

Your wife,

Petra Ackerman"

A drop of water fell onto the paper, and so another one followed. Levi put a hand over his eyes, he felt his chest ache once more, the same ache he felt the moment he saw he body on the ground. The same pain that was even more painful than the wounds he had received in the past.

The world is cruel. Fate is cruel. He who had very little even lost the one that he cherished more than his life.

Let it all out

Why her? Why him?

It will give you rest

Levi felt the dampness on his hand as more tears fell from his eyes. That woman. That woman did bring feelings to his life. He felt joy because of her, he felt sorrow because of her, he felt anger because of her, and he felt love because of that woman. She was the only one who made him like this. And for that, he was thankful for her.

Levi felt the heavy load on his chest was lifted. He felt lighter. He can no longer feel the tiredness within him.

He was free.

Levi put the letter down, a small smile formed on his face,

"I love you with all I am. I will see you soon, dearest. Just wait for me"