#a-and

She groaned. “Mm, five more minutes.”

“No, come on. We have an expedition today. Also, why are you sleeping on the floor?”

Her eyes flew open. “What?”

Erd frowned. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

She grabbed his sleeve, feeling the solid fabric bunched between her fingers. Her mouth formed words, but the sounds locked in her throat.

“W-where’s Levi?” she choked.

“Levi? He’s in his room - hey, Petra!”

Pushing away tears, she leapt up and ran down the hallway. Throwing open the door, she saw the face she thought she would never see again.”

“What the hell do you - Petra?”

She threw her arms around him and breathed in his scent, shuddering with pent up emotion.

It was all a dream, she repeated, over and over. Just a dream. Just a dream.

Levi placed a hand on her hair and just held her, until eventually the tears stopped.

“S-sorry,” she hiccuped, looking miserably at Levi’s now-ruined shirt.

“It’s alright,” he assured. “What’s wrong, Petra?”

She took a long, quivering breath. “It’s nothing. Just a dream.”

“What was the dream?”

She looked away. “I dreamed that you and the rest of the squad… died. And all I could do was watch. I’ve had dreams like that before but this time… it felt so real.”

Levi pulled her close again. “It’s alright, Petra. We’re not going anywhere.”

Gratefully, she sighed into his embrace, wrapped up in the familiar scent of him.

“If you don’t want to go on the expedition today -”

“No!” Petra shook her head. “No. I can handle it. I would much rather die fighting by your side than not at all.”

He nodded, quickly pressing a kiss to her forehead before excusing himself to go tend to the horses.

  -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

  The Female Titan was a surprise. For Petra, it was a nightmare come alive. Holding back her screams she forced herself not to panic, focusing only on the task at hand.

But as soon as Gunther died…

She shut down, blocking out Eren’s terror, hands so tight on her blade handles her knuckles were white. If she allowed herself to drown in terror, it would be worse.

Soon, it became evident that they would have to face the Female Titan head on.

“Good luck!” Eren shouted. Petra breathed a sigh of relief. One less member of the squad to worry about.

Erd gave a nod and they attacked. Erd worked as distraction while Petra and Auruo flew in at both sides to blind their enemy in one blow. They worked as a well-oiled machine. She knows how her teammates well - maybe even better than herself - so without words, they make quick work of slicing the muscle of the titan’s arms.

You won’t take my friends from me, Petra glared fiercely. Not today!

In their haste, they had neglected to see the smoke rising from one eye, too naive to understand the importance behind it.

No! Not Erd!

Erd. Her surrogate brother, the one who always teased her about her height yet always listened when she needed an extra ear. He was going to be married soon, to a fiance he talked about constantly, loved more than air itself.

“Erd!” she shrieked, voice hoarse with horror. The images in her dream came back, so vivid, so real.

She couldn’t push them away, could only stare in terror as the titan charged towards her.

“PETRA!” Aururo  screamed, begging her to get out of the way.

He launched himself onto the titan’s neck, in an effort to kill her before she killed Petra. He was kicked out of the way like a ball the children in Wall Sina used to play.

No, no, no,  please no! Petra’s back hit the rough bark of a tree. Frozen. It was just like her dream.

And then like a angel, Levi flew in, spinning and whirling in a rush of blades and blood.

Her vision faded just as he was caught in the jaws of the titan, staring her in the eyes even as he approached death…

Levi… I am so sorry… forgive me...

  -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

  Levi shot up from bed, sweating and breathing hard. Still holding on to the recesses of his dream, he sighed.