A/N: Hello, readers! This is the chapter where Levi and Julian finally talk about their feelings and get together, since I want them to be together before the battle of Shiganshina. Enjoy!

edited on january 10th, 2022 @ 12:12pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝚆𝙾,
𝓝𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙱𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙻𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚆𝙰𝙻𝙻.

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The Scout Regiment hurry their preparations for retaking Wall Maria. There came another... One more thing to shape their fate had been found.

ON A TABLE THERE LAID a syringe with Titan serum left by Kenny Ackerman. Around the table stood Erwin Smith, Dot Pyxis, Hange Zoe, Julian Kirstein and Levi Ackerman. Soon after, the door opened to reveal Dhalis Zachary. The door shut behind him.

"Sorry I'm late." He apologized, walking over to the table and sat in the chair, holding his hands together. "Well? Have we discovered what's in the container?"

"The thing is... With our technology, I'm afraid we can't dig much deeper. Like we've heard from Eren and Historia, it seems to originate from some sort of human bodily fluid. However, it vaporizes when exposed to air, making analysis difficult. Whoever made it must have had technology far superior to ours. If it was the Reiss family, I can't imagine how..." Hange explained.

Zachary hummed in thought. "In that case, instead of tampering with it, we should use it to achieve our current objective." Pyxis stated.

"But who do we entrust it to?" Zachary asked as he turned to Erwin. "Erwin, to you?"

"No... I'm no more than a wounded soldier. This box belongs with one of our elite soldiers who has the best odds of survival." Erwin replied, turning to Levi. "Levi, would you keep it?"

Levi looked up to him. "If it's an order, just say so." He responded. "Why even ask the question?"

Erwin turned away. "We can't predict in what situation we'll have to use this. We'll be relying on you to make a decision on the fly. Judging when and who to use it on will be for you to choose. Can we leave that to you?" He questioned.

"Let's hope it doesn't come down to that." Julian thinks to himself, frowning as he did so.

"If this dream of yours comes true, what will you do then?" Levi asked.

Erwin thought for a moment. "I... don't know. I won't until it happens." He answered.

Levi gave him a look. "I see... All right. I'll do it." He agreed before closing the box and picking it up.

Zachary furrowed his eyebrows. "By the way, I'd like to unveil that work of mine soon. Have you given it a thought?" He asked.

Pyxis tilted his head. "You still haven't given up on that? If the public saw that repulsive display, trust in the military would hit rock bottom." He replied.

"You don't know art when you see it."

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Later on Erwin, Julian, Hange and Levi met with some other officers. Erwin placed some papers down on the table. "In other words, Eren's father, Grisha Yeager... is likely a human who came from outside the walls." He said.

"Yes. Just like Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt, he possessed the Power of the Titans. But different from those three, he was supportive of humanity within the walls." Hange stated.

"If he was so interested to know about the Scouts and such, we could've used more of that support of his."

"I wonder... From the moment he entered the walls, he was searching for the royal family all alone, I'm sure. And that... That's not something you do without incredible resolve. That same father wanted to show his 10-year-old son, eager to join the Scouts, the basement of their house. On death's door, he said the truth of all of it was... in the basement. What in the world do you think is down there?" Hange questioned.

"Things which mustn't be said. No... Things Grisha Yeager couldn't say, even if he wanted to. That which the First Reiss King wiped from our memories... memories of our world... is what I hope, but... Pondering about it here won't accomplish much. The preparations finished today. The operation to retake Wall Maria starts in two days. Want to know what's in the basement? Let's go see for ourselves. Isn't that what Scouts do?" Erwin smiled as everyone else did to, minus Levi.

"Let all your squads know."

"Right. Keeping it secret of course, yeah?"

"On a day like this, we deserve some meat, right?"

"Good idea. Gotta show those kids us adults can be counted on. What about Commander Shadis keeping secrets from us?"

"Forget about him. We don't have time to deal with it." Hange answered.

"I'm shocked, Hange. You used to adore him!"

"Shut up!"

Levi closed the door behind him, as Hange and Julian were left outside. "So, when are you going to tell him?" Hange asked.

"If you're asking about my feelings for Levi, he already knows — sorta." Julian responded. "He completely blew me off the first time. Which I still don't understand."

Hange hummed. "Don't tell Levi I told you this, but a few years before you joined the Scouts, he wasn't the only one who came from the underground." They began. "He also had two friends, Farlan and Isabel."

"Really?"

Hange nodded. "I think him and Farlan had a thing going on." They replied.

"So Levi won't return my feelings because of this dude I never even met?" Julian questioned. "Hold on a second, if he came with Levi, how come I've never met him?"

"He's dead. Along with Isabel."

Julian flinched. "I see..." He mumbled.

"What I'm trying to say is, I don't think he doesn't want to be with you, I think he's just afraid of losing you like he lost Farlan." Hange finished before continuing on their way.

"Losing me like he lost him, huh?" Julian thinks to himself, before following Hange.

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"Tonight's the night before we retake Wall Maria!"

Everyone bolted towards the meat and tried taking as much as possible, arguments broke out and the whole mess hall had turned chaotic in a matter of minutes.

Julian was sitting with his squad members at a nearby table, dressed in a black button up shirt. Julian managed to get a piece of meat as he started to chew on it.

"Hey, I think we've got casualties." Zach commented.

"Whose brilliant idea was it to serve meat?" Lyon questioned.

"Just be glad we were able to get some." Julian mumbled.

Sasha had to be knocked unconscious and tied to a pole since she tried eating Jean and gave Marlo a nosebleed. "At least they're excited." Melody smiled.

A fight ended up breaking out between Eren and Jean, they had worn each other out but kept punching each other.

"God, that little shit will be the death of me." Julian muttered as he got up.

"Hey."

Levi and Julian swooped in. Levi kicked Eren while Julian punched his Jean in the guts.

"You're all too damn rowdy. Go to sleep." Levi informed as Jean then vomited. "And clean that up."

"Yes, sir!"

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It was late at night as Julian went out to clear his head. He looked over and was surprised to see Levi drinking something other than tea.

Julian sat down on the steps next to him. "Never thought I would see the day where I would see Levi drinking something other than tea." He commented.

"It makes me feel relaxed, in some way." Levi responded.

The two of them sat in comfortable silence, looking out into the night sky. "I wanted to thank you." Julian began, as Levi glanced over at him.

"For?"

"Looking after Jean." Julian responded. "If there's anyone I trust in the Scouts to make sure my brother stays in line, it's you."

"He's not that much different from you, Jude."

"Now that was uncalled for."

Levi let out a chuckle before standing up. "I'm going to head back." He informed.

"Yeah. I'll come with you."

The two of them walked side by side in complete silence until they finally reached Levi's door.

"I better head back to my own room. We got a long day tomorrow." Julian stated.

Levi let out a breath as Julian began walking away. "Take that risk..." He thinks to himself.

Levi grabbed onto Julian's arm before embracing him, leaving Julian stunned.

"L-Levi?"

"I need to tell you something."

"Huh?"

That was when Levi suddenly connected their lips together as Julian easily melted into the kiss. They both pulled away as Julian was dazed.

"Levi... What are you trying to—"

"I think you already know." Levi interrupted. "When you got slammed against that crystal pillar during our fight with Kenny, I was worried that you died."

"Your uncle is no joke, Levi. I'll admit to that." Julian stated. "But I guess me getting hurt and knocked out brought out what you really felt for me, huh?"

"Shut up." Levi groaned as Julian let out a laugh.

"So does this mean we're—"

"What do you think?" Levi sighed out.

Julian smiled before hugging Levi once more. But that quickly faded into a frown as he remembered Hange's words.

"Levi." Julian began, releasing him as Levi hummed. "I may not be your first love, but I will be your last. I'm not going anywhere, got that?"

Levi widened his eyes in shock as he watched Julian's retreating figure walk away. He thought back to what Erwin had told him earlier that day.

"The chain of command still remains. If I'm gone, then Julian. If Julian's gone, the next. It's true, this operation will be dangerous, but... to humanity, it's more important than anyone else."

"Jude as the next Commander, huh?" Levi thinks to himself before scoffing. "What is Erwin thinking?"

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It was the next day as the sun was rising up. Julian was in his Scouts uniform with his ODM gear along with his green hooded cloak. He was with Erwin, Levi, Hange, and a few other officers as they faced Zachary, the Garrison, and some members of the Military Police.

Zachary then saluted to them, followed by the Garrison and the Military Police as the Scouts returned it. Maya and Marcus were smiling at Julian who smiled back.

Julian was with Levi and Hange as they heard someone shout out.

"Hey! Hange-san! Good luck!" Flegel shouted.

"Flegel?" Hange questioned.

"Take back Wall Maria for us!"

"The future of humanity is in your hands!"

"Captain Levi! Thank you for saving our city!"

The rest of the Scouts then stood on top of the wall.

"You all come back in one piece, all right?!"

"But go and reclaim our territory!"

"Someone's got a big mouth." Levi commented.

"Well, with the commotion we've made, of course they'd find out." Hange stated.

"The thing is, all the meat we ordered was from the Reeves Company."

"Damn that Flegel."

"Yeah!" Sasha shouted.

"You can count on us!" Jean promised.

"You know we will!" Connie exclaimed.

"How long's it been since the Scouts got a send-off like this?"

"Who knows? I don't think we've ever..."

"As far as I'm aware, this is the first." Erwin said before raising his arm and letting out a battle cry.

"He's gonna look real dumb if this mission is a bust." Julian mumbled under his breath, causing both Levi and Hange to whack him. "Ouch! I was just saying!"

Erwin then extended his sword. "The final operation to retake Wall Maria... will now commence!" He shouted.

The soldiers got their horses and the ground as they gathered.

"Advance!" Erwin shouted as the Scouts headed towards Wall Maria.

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A/N: Finally after 32 chapters, Julian and Levi are finally together! Hope it was worth the wait! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2011 words.