"Y/N-" a chorus of voices called out to me as I entered the room the knights were gathered in.

im back

"I missed you gu-" before I could finish Eren pulled me into a tight hug.

you must've missed me too

"You're back," he mumbled, pulling back for a second to look at me.

only slightly worse for wear

"I'm back."

"Stop hogging her!" Jean, who upon closer inspection appeared to have recently cried, called out.

it was hard to remember but

we all lost someone didn't we?

they must've been worried

"I'm sorry," I apologized, pulling Eren closer, "you must've been worried about me- I'm back now."

"If you were going to be like this you shouldn't have helped her leave," Sasha whispered under her breath.

he didn't know

"If I hadn't left I would still be stuck in Levi's body," I muttered, awkwardly looking around the room as I waited for Eren to detach himself.

"Will he leave?" Mikasa asked, eyes trained on the door Levi was waiting behind.

i hope not

"He's-"

"He will, won't he?" Jean piped up again.

"He-"

"I'll make the preparations," Armin nodded, "Y/N should rest."

"No actually-"

"Of course he isn't staying," Eren scoffed, finally taking a seat on one of the couches. "Y/N has more important things to do than attend to his every need- he should take a hint and leave as soon as possible."

wait-

i know i haven't exactly spoken positively about him but-

it's not like my issues with him impacted you personally-

"Right," Connie nodded eagerly.

hold on-

"You have to assume your father's position," Mikasa muttered, worriedly assessing my reaction before continuing, "the Rose Guard is useless without a leader."

i know

"I will return to the capital with Levi," I nodded. "I'll announce my succession and gain recognition from the aristocracy."

"With him?" Eren gasped, "he'd be a useless guard- take one of us instead."

"He isn't my guard," I grumbled, "and he's staying here until we leave."

"Are you sure you're Y/N?" Eren shook his head at me, "I'll come."

"No- you have to stay here- you all do."

"At least one of us should-"

"I'll be with Levi," I reassured them, "he has plenty of guards- don't worry about me."

"How could we not?" Sasha cut me off, frowning slightly. "What else are we supposed to do?"

i want you to focus more on yourselves

"Listen- if someone is going after me it's because they want to go after the marquisate."

there isn't any real reason for someone to have a personal grudge against me

aside from levi but-

id say that we've effectively dealt with that

"Still-"

"I need you here- you're the only people I can trust to take care of this for me," that seemed to win them over, a chorus of reluctant agreement filling the room.

and besides

i get the feeling that levi and i won't have any time alone if we allow them to join us

i'd like to at least have that

"Won't you need an escort?" Mikasa chimed in once again.

oh-

"You don't need to worry about that," I shook my head, "Historia will help me find someone."

i don't think i'll be allowed to leave if i share the truth

"She can?" Connie muttered, before ultimately letting it go.

i'll have to catch her up to speed as soon as i get back

"I mean-"

"I'll go," Eren cut in again.

dear lord

"Did you not hear me? You're all staying here- I'll find my own escort-"

"Why bother searching?" He grumbled, "what are you planning?"

"I'm not planning anything," I sighed loudly.

"Then I'll be your escort."

"You aren't going to be my escort- I need you here."

"Bullshit-"

"Eren stop," Mikasa attempted to diffuse the situation.

"Eren- you aren't going to be my escort- I can find one myself."

"On such short notice?"

"I already have one!"

"What?" Silence blanketed the room.

oh god

what have i done

someone save me

"Right," I tried to steer the conversation away, "I'll need your help making preparations for our departure."

"You have an escort?" Eren repeated.

"How could you possibly have an escort?" Jean scoffed, "you didn't even know you were leaving."

oh well-

"We don't need to linger on this-" I glanced around the room searching for someone to help me out.

of course you guys abandon me in my hour of need

"You're definitely lying," Eren grinned, clearly gloating.

im not a liar

"I'm not lying-" my eyes darted to Mikasa who was staring at me with shock and horror.

oh

i think she's put two and two together

thank god the rest of them are dens-

"An escort?" Sasha tilted her head at me, "do you mean-"

"I'm going to leave-"

"No wait-" Connie turned to Sasha, "what do you mean?"

"Isn't there only one person who could have become her escort in such a short amount of time?" She explained, eyes wandering towards the door.

OH PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT

"It can't be-"

it is-

"Should we end this here?" I asked in a last ditch effort to escape the room, "I'm a bit tired-"

"You can't just leave after that-"

"Oh god she's-"

"Wait hold on-" I cut in, "this shouldn't be that surprising? I mean didn't half of you think that we were already a thing- calm down-"

"SHE CONFIRMED IT!"

"This is so stupid-"

"Is something happening here?" Levi entered the room, staring incredulously at the group of us.

"OH MY GOD!"

as stupid as this is

it feels good to smile

_____________________

happy early lunar new year to those who celebrate <333

- ami