Levi has long since lost track of how many people he’s had to watch die in his lifetime.

But right now, as he falls to his knees beside your limp, bloodied body and gathers you into his trembling arms, he thinks this might just be the worst one yet.

He supposes it's his fault for allowing himself to form such a strong attachment to you in the first place — after all, if you never let yourself care for people, it won't hurt as much when they inevitably get taken away from you.

He really should've followed his own advice.

“Don’t you even think about dying on me, you brat,” Levi forces out, his voice hoarse and strained with the effort of holding back his emotions. “Do you hear me? I'm your superior officer and I haven't given you permission to give up yet, damn it. So stay with me. Please."