Work Text:
He looked at peace, dark eyes closed and mouth open in a slight smile, his body worn from years of hardship and battles, scars littered his lithe body in the likes of a carved out map retelling his stories, wins and losses, but he knew he was at peace, even surrounded by his loved ones, hands gripping his body as if to tether his soul to his corporal prison.
A prison.
Because that's what it was, even though he lived a long life, his heart and his soul had died when his sun had set for the last time beyond the horizon never to shine again, years ago on the vestiges of a blood soaked battle, his reason to live and to laugh had been taken from him right from his arms, he was left behind trying to make sense of the sheer loss one man could represent, and as he wrapped his head around the truth that he was left behind yet again, he vowed to spent the rest of his lonely life fulfilling a promise to his friend and to make a child's dream a reality, because as he pondered the question of his constant grief, he knew he had to spend his life protecting others in honor of HIM, because what is Darkness without the rays of light that cuts through it, bringing warmth and hope, what is a moon without its dancing partner twirling around each other like forbidden lovers, and isn't grief but unconditional Love persevering.
So yes, he was at peace, and as he looked at his long since dead body, he felt at peace, because he'll finally be able to join his Erwin, he'll finally be able to let go of the weight on his shoulders and be held in the impossibly wide embrace, he'll finally be at peace, and as ironic as it sounds, his corporal death is only but the rebirth of his long since dead heart, because he died years ago, and only now in his long since waited death does he finally feel alive again.
And as he listened to his grieving friends and family, he felt a large warm presence behind him, a familiar scent of wood and rain soaked forest tickled his nose, he felt a smile tugging at his lips.
.
.
.
"Hello, Levi"