It Started With Cadet Training (Reader/Levi/Erwin/Hange/Mike)

Silent "I love You's"

"Okay, Baba," he says, nodding his head with a confident smile.

You smile back as you crouch to the ground to set him down.
"Now, stick close to me, okay? You're going to need to use both hands to carry the tray so you don't spill," you instruct him, waiting for a nod before you stand back up.

He nods his head, the confident smile remaining on his face. So, you stand back up and start down the stairs.

Little footsteps follow after you as you descend into the madness that the mess hall has become. It truly looked like it sounded, with people fighting for their servings, bread being scarfed down with the water-downed stew, and cheers of happily drunk cadets celebrating the day off.

As you reached the bottom of the stairs, however, eyes landed on you and a hushed whisper spread through the crowd quickly as they quieted down to their usual volume. You stood there, crossing your arms across your chest. You'd just lost a bet - and by the looks on their faces, you didn't look impressed.

"Come on, Reiner, let's get dinner for everyone, 'kay?" you chirp, looking down at the little boy with a smile as everyone busied themselves with eating.

He looks up at you and nods, holding his hand out for you.
"Okay, baba!"

You take his hand, leading him through the mess of people. Those who'd fallen off benches, or had been fighting with each other were slowly pulling apart and straightening up, returning to their dinners. You simply shook your head as you crossed to the kitchens.

"Ah! Captain (Y/N)! Here for dinner?" the head cook Rose asks as you enter, smiling at you from behind a massive stew pot.
"I am, Rose. Do you have any trays left? We were thinking of eating in Erwin's office for today," you say politely, Reiner standing close to your side, still holding your hand.

"A wise choice, it's pure madness out there right now," Rose clicks her tongue as she starts to serve up eight bowls of stew for you.

"I can tell, though I can't blame them. It is the weekend off, I simply have a different way of celebrating," you hum, waiting as she finishes dishing up the final bowl.

"Of course. Now, will that be everything?" Rose prompts as she sets out the bowls on two trays, four on each.

"You wouldn't happen to have a bottle or two of red wine, and a bottle of grape juice, would you?" you request.

She nods her head curtly as she places eight wine glasses down on another tray.
"We do indeed, I'll be just a moment," she excuses herself as she turns to head down the cellar to fetch the requested drinks.

You nod your head, waiting patiently for her return. As you wait, you feel a hand on your back and watch as a hand reaches down to smooth out Reiner's hair. Turning your head, you're met with the visage of a freshly cleaned Levi - though, a little red around the edges.

"Levi, there you are," you exclaim quietly, leaning forwards and kissing his cheek. You're tall enough that it requires no bending down or reaching up to kiss him. It's pleasant.

"Finally got clean again, though my straps are ruined," he grumbles, returning the gesture and kissing your cheek as well, "I see that Mike and Hange conned you into coming down here by yourself?"

"Oh, I'm not by myself, I'm with Reiner. He's my little helper for today," you hum, glancing down at the beaming boy as he rocks on his heels, still holding your hand.

"Want my help to carry something as well?" Levi offers as Rose returns from the cellar carrying four bottles.

"Here you are Captain- oh! My apologies, Captains. Three bottles of red wine and a bottle of grape juice," she chuckles, setting them down in the tray with the glasses. Now, there was something special about this tray, it had slots for glasses and bottles so one could carry them easily without risking them spilling over or breaking.