The next two days, which I initially thought were going to pass in the blink of an eye, dragged on.

not my fault-

"Are you ready?" I called over to Levi who was busy pouring over a stack of notes with Hanji.

typical

The ring I had found had taken up permanent residence in my coat pocket.

not for lack of trying to speak to levi-

he;s just gotten weird

we've gotten weird

"One minute," Hanji replied, muttering something to Levi who glanced in my direction.

this is so stupid- why do i feel like a neglected lover

Y/N ..

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER

"We have to leave soon," I gestured to our bags, "Mikasa is probably at the end of her rope- and we really shouldn't be hogging Hanji's bedroom for longer than necessary."

as much as i would love to stay-

i feel like SOMEONE has been purposefully pushing me away the last couple days

and that's pretty fucking annoying

"You'll write wont you?" Hanji abandoned Levi at the table to come over to me.

of course

"Until you get sick of me," I nodded. "Although- important question- how should I get my messages to you?"

there aren't exactly any mail routes through the forest

"I think a certain cat can help with that," she knelt down to scratch Mr. Squid, "he'll lead you back home so he knows the route."

SO CUTE

"Levi, are you ready?" I turned back to him for the nth time.

the longer we wait the worse mikasa's reaction is going to be

i'm a little worried

she'll forgive me eventually- hopefully

"Yeah," he nodded, gathering together some of the notes he had been obsessing over for the past few days.

finally

"This is it then?" Hanji smiled at the two of us as we stood outside her door, "I hope everything goes well, genuinely."

"Of course it will," I beamed, "now that everything is back where it should be, we're basically unstoppable."

"I wouldn't say-"

"Oh shut up Levi, let me have my fun," I grumbled. "Maybe I can talk to my father about making some exceptions for you," I clasped Hanji's hands in mine, "you could come visit."

"Good luck with that," she laughed, shooing us away, "you'd better get back quickly- I'm sure both of you have people waiting."

"Thank you again."

"Don't mention it."

i think i'll be indebted to her for the rest of my life

With that the door swung closed, leaving Levi, Mr. Squid and I to begin our long trek back.

i don't actually know how long the trip will be- we kinda got lost for a second when that thing was chasing us

"Let's go," I nudged Levi forward.

its so awkward

The silence between us seemed to stretch on forever, as the two of us wordlessly followed the black cat through the forest.

what happened to the levi who was so worried about things changing

why did it suddenly get so weird?

i hate this

even when we hated each other it was never silent- never this awkward

what changed?

"What were you doing with Hanji?" I prodded, keeping my eyes on the ground as we walked.

are you sure you want to ask that-

"None of your business."

yeah

"Was it at least successful?"

"I have a lot more to do," Levi kept his answers short, avoiding even glancing in my direction.

so weird

"Right," I nodded, "maybe when we get back we can look in the storehouse again- there must be something there that can help you."

and maybe while we're there ill beat you up to make things less awkward

why would that help

it would- trust me

"I have to return home Y/N."

"Oh right-" I felt my breath catch in my throat, "but not immediately-" I trailed off letting the sentence hang unfinished.

right?

"Soon."

"Then-" I hesitated, "will you be returning to the duchy or to the capital?"

this is annoying y/n

are you seriously thinking about chasing after levi ackerman?

what would that make you?

just another one of his admirers?

i feel sick

"Farlan, Isobel, and my mother are at the duchy," Levi answered, picking up his pace slightly to force me to lag behind.

would it kill you to give a normal answer?

"Will you write?" I bit my lip, anticipating his answer.

asshole

"I-" Levi stopped in his tracks hesitating.

"Right," I caught up to him, scowling, "I don't even need to hear the answer if you're going to be like that."

"Y/N."

"Don't 'Y/N' me- what the fuck is wrong with you? You promised- we promised- that nothing would change."

and yet everything has

Levi turned to stare at him, emotion flooding his eyes.

that's what i thought

"You're a coward, Levi Ackerman," I scoffed, "I thought that out of everyone you could be honest with me- but you aren't- I don't understand what you're running from."

whatever it is its fucking stupid

"Y/N I-" I pulled back as he reached out for me.

"Unless you're planning on apologizing and telling me why you've been so fucking weird I don't want to hear it."

"I'm sorry," he muttered, clearly holding back.

is that really all you can say?

"That's what I thought."

lets just keep on walking- i want to get this over with

"What is he looking at?" Levi muttered, eyes trained on Mr. Squid who had stopped fifteen feet ahead of us.

"Is that really what you're focused on right now?" I spat out, seething.

"I'm serious- do you hear that?"

"Hear wha-" suddenly I did, the sound of hurried footsteps and shouts from up ahead.

is that?

"Are they calling my name?" I picked up my pace, racing towards the distant sounds.

is that-

"Mikasa?" I called out, aware of Levi following close behind me.

"Y/N?" The voice was clearer now, unmistakably Mikasa's.

"I'm here!" I called out, breaking through the treeline into the clearing that Mikasa was standing in.

"Oh thank god," Mikasa, raced to my side, clutching my hands, "thank god."

what's going on?

"You don't seem surprised that its me," I grinned, "I made it back into my body."

"Its really you," she breathed a long sigh of relief, pulling me into a tight hug.

weird

"Is something wrong?" I laughed, "I mean I'm happy to be back too but-"

"Y/N," she paused, looking gravely into my eyes, "there's something you need to know."

"Really?" I glanced back at Levi who had just entered the clearing. "There's a lot going on right now-"

"It's your father."

my father-

"My father?" I could feel a cold numbness seeping into my hands as her words sunk in.

"He's dead."

_____________________

the next chapter is something i have been sitting on forever- i am so excited for u guys to read it

- ami