Dangerous Territory

Day of Rest

Levi roused from a deep, surprisingly pleasant sleep. The bed was soft and warm. He felt a weight on his back, and as his brain stirred more, he realized there was an arm draped over his waist and someone's leg trapping his down.

Eren! He had completely wrapped around Levi in his sleep.

He sighed in annoyance, but he did not move away. This was ... nice. He wanted to feel Eren for a little longer, to be right up against him. He softly caressed the arm that had captured him around the waist.

When had he last felt so safe and loved?

"Levi."

A woman's voice! He looked up, and in the piercing glow of the rising sun blazing through the window, he saw a gentle heart-shaped face, pale ginger hair cut above the shoulders, and large eyes the color of honey sweetening an autumn teacake.

"Petra?" he whispered. It couldn't be! He tried to reach toward her. She looked so close and felt so far away. "How are you here?"

"Oh, Levi," she sighed. "I'm so sorry I left you."

"No! No, I'm sorry. I never should have taken you with me."

"You've forgotten just how stubborn I was. I would have followed you into Hell itself."

He smiled at old memories. "Not followed. You would have ridden ahead to make sure there was tea waiting for me." He heard her soft chuckle, a sound he had nearly forgotten and which now sounded so sweet, it stung his heart. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you and the others."

"No regrets, remember?" Her smile shined like the sun itself, blinding him. "My poor Levi. You're the one who taught me that, yet you're the one with the most regrets in life."

"More than the angels could list," he confessed. Levi thought he felt the warmth of her fingers on his cheek. "It hasn't been easy, continuing on without you."

"I know," she whispered, her voice wavering through the silent morning. "He'll protect you now, but you must protect him."

"Him?" He glanced back around. Eren looked so far away, still sleeping on his side. "He's not you!"

"He's more. You know that already, though, don't you?"

"Petra ... it's you whom I love," he cried out, fearing she would vanish.

"You will always have my heart, Levi, but you need to move on now." Her glowing face drifted back. "You must live on."

"No! Don't go!" he shouted, trying to follow as the light drew away.

"Live, no matter the price."

"Petra!"

* * *

Levi jolted awake. He was still in bed with Eren wrapped around him. He could feel Eren's nose breathing on the back of his shoulder, and his arm tightened around Levi's waist.

Just a dream. He had dreamed of Petra so many times over the years, but never had he seen her face so clearly. Normally she was just behind him, or her sunbonnet shaded her eyes.

He missed her. The pain would probably never fully go away, but whatever that was—dream or spirit—he felt like she had given him permission to be happy despite the lingering pain of loss.

Maybe a part of his mind feared he was replacing Petra with Eren, but he knew now, that was not the case. No one could ever replace her! Eren was simply something more to his life.

Eren began to stir. Like a child waking from a long, good dream, he made a soft hum, a tiny yawn, and his arm tightened more. Then he jolted in a moment of confusion, slowly realized he was holding Levi, and sank again, squeezing him with melting contentment.