Attack On Titan- Wings of liberty*

It had been a week since Sana last spoke to Levi, and she hadn't seen him much in that time. The days felt longer than they should, and the silence between them weighed heavily on her. Several months had passed since they arrived here, and with only two days left before the expedition, there was little time left to resolve what had been left unsaid.

This morning, as the sun rose and the rest of the group prepared for training, Sana woke with a single thought: today, she would apologize to Levi. No matter what.

She went through the motions of breakfast, but her mind kept drifting back to him. She needed to speak with him—to make things right, to fix the rift between them. She finished her meal quickly and then went out in search of him.

It wasn't long before she found him, training with Captain Flagon and the others. Sana took a deep breath and stepped forward, but before she could speak, Levi was called away by the captain. Without even a glance in her direction, he turned and followed Flagon, disappearing into the training grounds.

Sana stood there, her words stuck in her throat. Why couldn't he look at me? she wondered. Why is he avoiding me?

She watched him leave, the realization sinking in. He had been through so much in his life—hardship after hardship—and now, she was the one who had caused him pain.

Levi couldn't face her. It wasn't supposed to be this hard—he had faced countless enemies, dealt with his own demons, but this... this was different. He wasn't sure why, but the thought of talking to Sana now only made him feel like he would hurt her more.

"Yes, what is it? You summoned me?" Levi asked Flagon.

"Training's done. You should check your 3-D gear," Flagon advised. "If it's in bad shape, you'll get in serious trouble."

Levi nodded curtly and walked away without saying another word. His mind was still tangled in the confusion of his feelings, and the idea of speaking with Sana again was like another weight he couldn't carry.

When he returned to his room, he sat in the corner, brooding over everything that had happened. What should I even say to Isabel and Farlan? he thought. How can I explain what's going on with me?

But there was no time to dwell. He turned his focus back to the reason he was here—the mission, the plan. He couldn't afford to let anything, especially his emotions, get in the way.

The day passed in a blur, and soon it was dinner time, but there was still no sign of Levi. He was avoiding her, and it stung more than she expected. Isabel and Farlan had noticed the tension between them, but they had no idea what had happened. They were probably just as confused as she was.

The next day, everyone gathered to review the formation for the upcoming expedition. It felt like the world was moving forward while she was stuck in place, unable to fix things with Levi. They had been preparing for this moment for so long, but now, everything felt more complicated. There were so many things to memorize—the flare colors, the different signals, the routes through the terrain—and Sana struggled to keep up, her mind scattered.

Levi was sitting on a bench behind her, next to Farlan. She hadn't had a single opportunity to talk to him. She wanted to apologize so badly, but every time she tried, he seemed to slip away. It was like the distance between them was growing, and it was suffocating.

Finally, the day was over, but there was no chance to speak to him. Tomorrow, they would be heading out, and there was no more time to fix things. She felt a deep knot in her stomach, unable to summon the courage to face him.

The morning of the expedition arrived. Everyone was up early, checking their 3-D gear, preparing supplies, and getting ready for what lay ahead. Sana went through the motions, but her mind was elsewhere. I'm so stupid, she thought, as she fed her horse. Why did I hurt him? He's the first person who's ever given me this much care... and I messed it up.

They all rode their horses toward the southern Shiganshina district, the gates looming ahead. As they neared the entrance, Commander Shardis gave the order to open the gates, and Sana could feel the excitement and tension rising in the air.

For Levi, Isabel, and Farlan, it was the first time they were truly moving freely outside the walls. Sana couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and fear. It was no longer about theoretical training—this was real. They were going to encounter Titans.

Farlan looked visibly nervous, his eyes darting around, clearly uneasy. Isabel, on the other hand, was practically buzzing with excitement at the thought of seeing a Titan. But before they could get too far, a quarrel broke out between Sairam and Isabel. Flagon quickly intervened, his voice sharp and commanding. He reminded them all to focus on the formation, not their bickering.

And then, it happened. They encountered their first Titan—an eerie, lumbering figure in the distance. But what made things worse was the sudden appearance of an abnormal Titan. The squad was given orders to handle it while ensuring the supply wagon passed safely.

Three members from their squad advanced to engage the Titan, but they were unprepared. Sana's heart sank when she realized how badly things were going to turn out. She saw them charge in recklessly, uncoordinated and unaware of the danger.

"No! Not like that!" she shouted, panic rising in her chest.

But it was too late. They were slaughtered in an instant. The Titan devoured them before anyone could react.

Sana's heart hammered in her chest. She was frozen, not by the sight of the Titan, but by the realization that the people who had just died... had once been human. The horror of it shook her to her core. The words of her mentor echoed in her mind: Don't underestimate the Titans.

Captain Flagon, visibly shaken but determined, ordered Sairam to follow him, along with Levi. They would try a new strategy—one that involved breaking the Titan's legs while distracting it with a bold attack.

Levi was already on the move, his eyes steely with resolve. "You told me not to underestimate the Titans," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "Then why are you using these half-assed tactics to fight them?"

Sana's thoughts were a blur as they followed Levi's orders. Isabel and Farlan sprang into action, following the plan with precision, but Sana couldn't move. The fear of losing someone she cared about—the fear of losing her family—was overwhelming. Isabel and Farlan had succeeded, but Sana was paralyzed by the weight of her own emotions.

The Titan was eventually taken down, but Sana couldn't shake the haunting image of the three squad members who had died. It wasn't just their deaths that haunted her—it was the reminder that those Titans had once been human, too.

As they reached the castle ruins to set up camp for the night, Isabel called out to Sana, her voice teasing. "Oye, Sana, you were scared, right?"

Sana shook her head, trying to push down the heavy feeling in her chest. "It's not that," she replied, forcing a smile. "I didn't have anything left to do. You three handled it wonderfully. I would've just been in your way."

They settled for the night, but Sana couldn't find peace. The day had changed her in ways she wasn't ready for, and the silence between her and Levi remained, unresolved and unbearable.