A Birthday Gift

A birthday gift

It’s been ten years already, hasn’t it? Levi thought, coughing more blood onto his towel. He sure has gotten older and weaker after all that time. If it weren’t for Gabi and Falco taking care of him after the war he would’ve been dead years ago. It’s not like he wasn’t about to die soon though.

Failing to take a proper breath, Levi looked to his right, reaching out to whatever was left of her.

A spare eyepatch.

He grabbed it in his shaky hand, remembering the feeling of its owner’s soft touch as she held him close, bandaged his scars, and took care of him like no one did. She couldn’t give him the luxury he was living in the bed he lay on for sure, yet the love behind every action was worth more than a lifetime in the big house he stayed at.

Levi held the eyepatch close to his heart, closing his only eye as he decided to just give up and let death embrace him. He coughed again. It sounded so scary, just like those sleepless night he spent with his sick mom in the underground, right before she left him alone. He was more than glad that he wouldn’t leave anyone alone, that Gabi and Falco had each other, and were about to be blessed with a new dear one soon.

Levi opened his eye again, and was greeted by her, yet the sensation of the warm bed still overwhelmed him.

“Am I dead?” He asked, voice too hoarse to come out clearly.

Hanji answered from beside the bed: “Not yet, at least. How are you doing?”

Levi deadpanned: “Fucking dying… why are you here?”

She smiled, caressing his cheek. This time, it felt so real, unlike the other daydreams he had of her visiting him where he was only greeted by the cold breeze whenever he tried to reach out to her. This time was as if she was really there.

“I’m just here to take my birthday gift. It’s my birthday, or did you forget already?”

“More like it’s your fucking death day.” He replied, making her laugh. It still felt heartbreakingly ironic how she died the day she was supposed to celebrate her birth in such shitty world. He even wanted to get her a gift after the war if it weren’t for her leaving him behind. “And what kind of gift are you taking?”

She softly smiled: “Just someone dear.”

So he really was dying.

Even though he didn’t want to go in such unhealthy, dirty and bloody state, even though he wanted to see Gabi’s child grow in front of him, if it meant meeting everyone again, meeting her again, he didn’t give a shit.

He lifted his hand up, trying to catch Hanji’s grip, and as soon as their fingers touched, it felt like he was so light he could just fly. All the heavy weight of life was left in the numb, dead body he looked at from behind him.

He looked at himself, scars still remaining, yet nothing like pain was felt in them. It was as if life wanted to keep a reminder of all the suffering he went through, to tell him that it was all over.

He then glanced at the hand grabbing him, as soft as it always was. Their gazes met after what felt like an eternity. Her only eye was enough for him to see the joy she held behind it. And with that happiness that he saw, longed to see in her, she looked more beautiful than he could ever imagine.

He didn’t stop a smile.

Hanji put her hand on his chest, triggering a memory from years ago as she said: “Thank you for dedicating your heart to me, Levi. It was the best birthday gift I’ve ever gotten.”

Levi put his palm on her fist, feeling her warm hand and his heart beating in joy through it. He then grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her to his chest, hugging her like he never got to do. “I’m just glad I got to meet you again, four eyes.” He muttered, “because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to forgive you for leaving me that day.”

Hanji held him back as they looked at his corpse from the bed, being violently shaken by the crying Gabi and Falco as they tried to call him back to the life he finally left. “When I left you like that… it must’ve hurt.” Hanji whispered, “I’m sorry… it was painful for me too, to leave you just like that after all the time we fought and dreamed together.”

Levi looked at the kids. “They have each other. I’m not worried about them anymore. They’re strong. Besides,” he turned towards her, caressing her cheek, “sooner or later, we’ll meet them again, right?”

Hanji chuckled against his touch, hugging him again. “Welcome back, Levi.” He smiled against her shoulder, hugging back and enjoying her presence around him in a way he never got to do when they were at war.

“Think we can live together now?” He asked. Hanji laughed in glee and answered: “Of course! Even the others are there too! Erwin, Moblit, your squad and mine, I even met your mother too! She’s such a sweetheart!”

A chill ran down his spine as he remembered his mother, feeling on the edge to go meet everyone again. “Let’s go then, four eyes.”

“Having you by my side again is the best birthday gift I’ve ever had from you. Well, besides the titans if course.” She chuckled, holding his hand and taking him outside, there was a whole different world, it was so wide, and so peaceful. It was the paradise they devoted their hearts for.

Levi looked at Hanji once more with a smile, pecking her palm as they headed to where they saw Erwin wave at them. He whispered: “Happy birthday, Hanji.”