[ He almost wants to ask what the point is in trying, then, but she keeps talking and he listens, and the answer to his questions -- or well, less answer and more additional questions, really -- becomes apparent at the end. ]
[ Worse yet, he can't tell her that her worries are unfounded, because, well, he doesn't know that. He doesn't know what's supposed to be the best option here, he doesn't know what Reiner will do or what will happen. Eren had promised him he would do better... but again, that was more hope than something solid, wasn't it? ]
[ It's ironic, really, him thinking that Reiner's mission mindset is the biggest threat here when the boy who (almost) ended the world is walking around free now. Levi had even given him tea at this point, deeming his efforts to be a person and not commit genocide earnest enough to warrant an encouragement. ]
[ He knows he's biased. He's watched him grow up, he's watched everyone stake all their hopes on him, he's watched Eren's survival be bought out time and time again with the lives of his comrades and friends. And yet. ]
[ Maybe it's just wishful thinking. ]
[ But it is what it is, and he hasn't heard Reiner said he would do anything to not go back home and do what he has done. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if he's set on the opposite right now. If he thinks they're enemies, he's going to act accordingly, regardless of how the other side feels. But he was still going to grow into the same man Levi met years later, one that he could definitely imagine saying those words, one that had so much guilt over his choices he was crumbling underneath. Right? ]
You can't know that. Nobody does.
[ Is that a reason to do it anyway? He supposes he has to leave it up to her. He can't make that choice for them, not right now anyway. He's got no say in this. ]
[ If what she says about not keeping it up is true though... ]
But if things aren't going well, there's a chance he will find out anyway.
[ They're still ought to prepare for that. However that's going to look. Levi's usual answer is violence, but that may not be very effective here. He could ask Hange to build some thunderspears just in case, but weren't they trying to avoid murdering each other? Ugh. ]
[ The fear she voices is a real one, one that Levi himself always keeps at the back of his mind -- the reason he'd initially decided to "babysit" Eren to begin with. And he could certainly still fuck a lot of shit up, but there's quite a few things missing for an actual Rumbling. ]
...well, at least there's no Wall Titans in Nightwake. And us eight are likely the only-- Eldians here.
[ And that's not taking into account that he and Mikasa might not be able to be changed into titans anyway. That significantly lessens the possible titan army. ]
[ Eren couldn't properly recreate the Rumbling here even if he wanted to, and he seems to want the opposite of it, he even seems genuine about it. Levi's fairly confident in it, though of course he does still consider all options just because he's seen it happen firsthand... it's also the reason why he doesn't mention Zeke not being here. Eren might claim that he wouldn't use Historia like this, but he's done worse. ]
[ In the end, though, it's only one missing piece among many. ]
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[ Worse yet, he can't tell her that her worries are unfounded, because, well, he doesn't know that. He doesn't know what's supposed to be the best option here, he doesn't know what Reiner will do or what will happen. Eren had promised him he would do better... but again, that was more hope than something solid, wasn't it? ]
[ It's ironic, really, him thinking that Reiner's mission mindset is the biggest threat here when the boy who (almost) ended the world is walking around free now. Levi had even given him tea at this point, deeming his efforts to be a person and not commit genocide earnest enough to warrant an encouragement. ]
[ He knows he's biased. He's watched him grow up, he's watched everyone stake all their hopes on him, he's watched Eren's survival be bought out time and time again with the lives of his comrades and friends. And yet. ]
[ Maybe it's just wishful thinking. ]
[ But it is what it is, and he hasn't heard Reiner said he would do anything to not go back home and do what he has done. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if he's set on the opposite right now. If he thinks they're enemies, he's going to act accordingly, regardless of how the other side feels. But he was still going to grow into the same man Levi met years later, one that he could definitely imagine saying those words, one that had so much guilt over his choices he was crumbling underneath. Right? ]
You can't know that. Nobody does.
[ Is that a reason to do it anyway? He supposes he has to leave it up to her. He can't make that choice for them, not right now anyway. He's got no say in this. ]
[ If what she says about not keeping it up is true though... ]
But if things aren't going well, there's a chance he will find out anyway.
[ They're still ought to prepare for that. However that's going to look. Levi's usual answer is violence, but that may not be very effective here. He could ask Hange to build some thunderspears just in case, but weren't they trying to avoid murdering each other? Ugh. ]
[ The fear she voices is a real one, one that Levi himself always keeps at the back of his mind -- the reason he'd initially decided to "babysit" Eren to begin with. And he could certainly still fuck a lot of shit up, but there's quite a few things missing for an actual Rumbling. ]
...well, at least there's no Wall Titans in Nightwake. And us eight are likely the only-- Eldians here.
[ And that's not taking into account that he and Mikasa might not be able to be changed into titans anyway. That significantly lessens the possible titan army. ]
[ Eren couldn't properly recreate the Rumbling here even if he wanted to, and he seems to want the opposite of it, he even seems genuine about it. Levi's fairly confident in it, though of course he does still consider all options just because he's seen it happen firsthand... it's also the reason why he doesn't mention Zeke not being here. Eren might claim that he wouldn't use Historia like this, but he's done worse. ]
[ In the end, though, it's only one missing piece among many. ]