You were Commander Lee. The soldier walls whispered about. Tall. Sharp. Cold. Calculating. The kind of leader who never cried, never flinched. The kind of woman who didn’t need to be saved—because she was the one people called when the end was near.

And now?

The end had come.

The Rumbling tore through the continent below like an unstoppable wave. Thousands of Colossal Titans marched, devouring earth and sky. Cities crumbled. Forests turned to ash. The horizon bled red.

But you didn’t move.

You stood at the edge of a ruined cliff, body bruised but unbroken, staring into the collapse of everything you’d once vowed to protect. Smoke curled at your boots. The wind carried the smell of fire and blood.

Behind you—

A crunch of boots.

A rough, familiar breath.

Levi.

He limped toward you, battered, worn, and bleeding from his shoulder. His hair was dusted with ash, and his gear was barely holding.

But his eyes—

They were fixed only on you.

“Lee,” he called, voice rasped, low.

You didn’t turn. “I failed them.”

“You didn’t.”

“There’s nothing left.”

“There’s still you.”

That stopped you.

You turned, slowly. For a moment, the firelight made his eyes look gold.

“Why are you here?” you asked, quieter now.

He didn’t answer with words at first—just stepped closer, his limp heavy, his body exhausted. But still, he reached for you.

His fingers curled into the front of your jacket, like he needed to feel you there. Like letting go meant losing you forever.

“I’ve followed you through hell,” he said. “Not because you outrank me. Not because you always win.”

You stared at him, heart thudding too loud inside your ribs.

“But because I loved you,” he said. “Since before I knew how to say it. And I’m not letting you go without saying it now.”

Silence cracked between you.

And for the first time in all your years of command—

You didn’t have a single thing to say.

Your breath stuttered.

Your lips parted. Nothing came out.

Because something in your chest—something hardened by war—was breaking open.

You wanted to answer. You wanted to fight it.

But he saw it all.

In your trembling fingers. In the flush rising up your throat. In the way your eyes finally softened for him.

And Levi— He moved without permission.

Stepped into your space.

Wrapped his arms around your waist—tight, grounding, desperate.

Then—click—his ODM gear fired.

You flew.

Together.

Over the cliff. Over the chaos. Over a world unraveling behind you.

The wind roared in your ears. Ash stung your eyes. The Colossal Titans thundered beneath your boots.

But all you felt—

Was him.

His arms locked around your waist. His chest pressed to your back. His breath trembling against your neck like he still couldn’t believe he had you in his grasp.

Below, the scout jet waited on cracked ground. Mikasa. Armin. Jean. Connie. Hange. All staring up as the two of you descended.

The moment your feet hit the stone, Levi staggered from the impact—but refused to let go of you. His hand stayed on your side like it was instinct. Like the moment he let go, this would all collapse again.

You turned to him.

Still stunned. Still speechless. But your eyes gave you away.

And Levi, breathing hard, looked at you like the war had ended—and he’d finally won something worth keeping.

“I meant every word,” he murmured, eyes flicking to your mouth, then back to your eyes.

You didn’t speak.

But this time—

You leaned into him.

Just enough.

And for now—

That was enough.