*
LATER THAT NIGHT
"What did Erwin want from you, this time?"
Closing the the doors behind me with a gentle click, my palms flatten against the surface. My eyes lower with confliction, with slight fear Erwin will think of me differently after informing him about my uncle.
"Actually, the man whom claims to be my Uncle .......Erwin investigated on my Uncle and his whereabouts previously before he ambushed us in Trost," I reply tiredly, feeling my eyes feel heavier. Running around on errands, meetings and processing everything, my head was going to explode. "Seriously, I told him not to concern himself to investigate the issue, but what does he do? He does it anyway......"
Lifting my head up I push off the door, stepping closer to my boyfriend. His hands soon snake around my waist, tugging me into his chest carefully, whilst my arms loop loosely around his neck.
Pressing a soft kiss to my nose, his warm breath coaxes over my lips.
"You look more exhausted than I do," He quietly observes, with concern lacing in his voice. His hands drift up along my curves, before reaching up brushing a few loose strands of hair away from my eyes. "Let's rest a little before dinner is ready?"
Nodding we pull away and settled upon our shared bed, and wrapped my arms around his torso and head against his chest, I exhale deeply. His scent was a mix of black tea, and mint which allowed myself to drift closer into him with comfort.
With the operation ready and prepared, we will be leaving early by sunset tomorrow. The excitement was bubbling inside my chest, but outwardly I was not feeling like expressing it. Finally we can reclaim my home district, even though I may never move back to Shiganshina once we reclaim it. I have no reason to move back, despite it being practically my home.
Levi was now my home, and that's all that mattered to me. He brought me closure, and someone I could come back too.
Fingers tangled through my loose ponytail, before feeling him untying my raven hair completely, allowing the tension on my scalp to be released. Humming softly, his fingers begin to massage my head softly and tenderly. Snuggling closer into his chest, a contented hum thrums in my throat.
"Akira.....there's...." Levi pauses hesitantly, pressing his lips in a thin line. "....there is something I haven't told you, about.....your uncle--"
"He's a alive...right?" I reply, assuming that's what he was about to tell me. Judging by how quiet he's become, I was accurate with my assumption.
His voice lowers, "How did you know?"
Shifting a little on my side with him still combing his fingers through my messy locks, I comfortably nuzzle more into his chest. "A hunch.....a feeling I guess," I reply calmly, my fingers tracing over the veins that trailed over his toned forearms. "Being my legit uncle, I guess the bastard wouldn't die so easily and back down....."
"Doesn't he......scare you?"
Just his appearance alone was intimidating, and his voice pressuring and was live stones gravelling together, that would leave chills behind.
I nod, "He does......but, I know that if I don't face him.....I'll never learn the truth behind my family," trailing off, my eyes flutter closed. "So, if he does ambush me when we retake Wall Maria.....let me take care of him, and only me."
He scoffs lightly, "Is that an order, or a request?"
Lifting my head our eyes meet for a moment, "Do you want it to be an order, Captain?" I tease lightly, a smirk curling upon my lips. "Cause I can make it happe--"
He cuts me off feeling warm lips on mine, drowning the sound of my surprise pitching in my throat. A chuckle soon follows against the kiss, my eyes fluttering shut while sinking into the warm tender embrace. Pulling away our noses gently graze against each other, while his lips gingerly hover over mine, eyes intently gazing into mine.
"Just don't do anything reckless, okay?"
I couldn't promise anything, not wanting to vow something that will break the ties between us. We've worked so hard, I didn't want to lose everything instantly in case something happens.
"M'kay," pecking his lips once more, I bury my face into his chest and snuggled closer allowing myself to rest before dinner. "Same goes for you too."
*
MESS HALLS
Finally after some time of waiting, Levi and I both sat down at the table where Hanji, Marlene, Laus, Dirk, Harold and Lena were sitting at. Sitting beside Hanji, Levi settles beside me whilst hearing all the young recruits and soldiers chattering amongst themselves.
"We really earned the popularity within two months," Hanji comments, with enthusiasm. "Clearly that's a record, dontcha think Akira?!"
Humming in agreement, "Yeah, I wonder why though?" I question, furrowing my eyebrows while scanning the crowds of the young soldiers that talked away. Candles lit, and the smell of tasty meat freshens the air which could make anyone drool.
"I'll begin," Harold pushes himself up, walking over to the centre of the Hall. "Everyone, attention!"
Silence falls allowing the squad leader to continue his speech, while grasping a keg of ale in hand.
"This may be a special night, but let's not let the public find out!" Harold announces, raising his keg in hand. "Behave like soldiers without causing a ruckus! Tonight's the night before we retake Wall Maria! A toast--!"
Without warning a massive uproar swarms the halls, as all the soldiers bursted with joy. More like a pack of wild wolves targeting their prey, as if their own lives depended on it. Glancing up Harold's way, I send him an apologetic expression.
"Hang on, wait!!!!!"
"Calm down! Everyone'll get some, okay?!"
Glancing over my eyes slightly widen with horror, as Connie held Sasha in a chokehold trying to prevent her from devouring the entire meat, that was worth a few portions for everyone on her table. Soon Jean snatches the meat from her mouth, hearing a gasp of shock from the young girl. Leaving her salivating at the loss of meat in her jaws, I thought she was gonna give up for a moment.
However, I should've known how she's like when it comes to meat.....
Suddenly she snaps her jaws, biting onto Jean's hand mistaking it for food, I think, while drawing little blood.
Sighing deeply I felt Levi nudge me, "Eat, you need the iron and nutrients," he pushes the plate, that held two reasonable sizes of meat before me. "You've been looking a little pale lately, so please eat?"
Humming I began slicing up the meat, not even remembering how long it has been since we last ate a decent portion of filling food. Taking a bite I hear another soldier scream out, startling me for a moment before glancing over to my soldiers table. Harold finally sits back down with us, while watching the rowdy soldiers fight over the meat like a pack of wolves.
"Hey, I think we've got casualties," Dirk muffles, while chewing his meat steadily.
"Whose brilliant idea was it to serve meat, again?" Hanji muffles back, with such an unfazed defeated expression.
"Well, I guess now we know what happens when we blow the whole food budget for two months on one night of celebrating," Harold muffles, meat tucked into his mouth with a worried expression.
"Don't make it happen too often..." I warn him, shooting him a sharp playful glare. "...or we'll be the ones, having to take responsibility on who will keep ourselves financially stable...kay?"
"Y-yes ma'am,"
Finally after a matter of minutes everyone calmed down, allowing myself to chew my meat without a worry. Glancing over I noticed Connie tying up a knocked out Sasha, as she was out cold assuming she wore herself out from the fighting.
Sighing heavily, I take another bite before chewing quietly with steady clear head.
"So I've heard the rumours, about the increase of popularity to join the scouts," Harold spoke up, facing me. Arching an eyebrow with confusion, he smiles while gesturing his fork towards me, "Corporal, you're the talk among the young soldiers......how do you do it?"
For a moment a stop chewing, feeling their eyes on me.
"Um.......nothing, and besides you said it's a rumour," before I swallow my bite, before taking a cup of water to wash it down. "Seriously, don't believe such rumours unless it's by the actual interpreter...."
Hanji slings her arm around my neck tugging me to her side, "Oh come on now, all the boys are swooning over your gorgeous look--"
Levi jabs Hanji's side from behind me, causing the scientist to yelp in discomfort. More like a gurgled yelp, before swallowing down her meat thickly.
"Geeze......."
"That's enough," Levi bitterly scolds her, feeling his hand grip my waist tugging me slightly closer to him. "Eat your damn food."
I could feel everyone's eyes focus on both of us now, but before someone could say anything, a large commotion just abruptly echoes within the Mess Halls. Chants were filling the room, following with two familiar voices barking at each other.
My eyes snap up in the direction only to find Eren and Jean, at each other's throats again.
"Show 'em what you've got!" A soldier encourages the two, while Levi's grip tightens more and more with irritation. "He's losing ground!"
Dirk turns around, "It looks like we've got a fight,"
Harold swirls his keg of ale, "I told the idiots to behave," when he turns to me. "They're your soldiers, aren't you gonna do something Corporal--?"
Within seconds Levi disappears from beside me, not even realising he left my side. My eyes dart around with worry for a moment, but soon within seconds the fight comes to a halt. Turning my attention back to the boys, there Levi was, knocking the two's asses to the ground.
The room falls deadly quiet, as the laughter dies down.
"That's enough celebrating!" He snaps, sharply. All the soldiers were circling the fight, but Levi caught me off guard by how quiet he got there, before I could do anything. "Go to bed, tch..."
Within moments I hear Jean throwing up, which made me stand up quickly with worry. Of course that would happen, with how heavy their punches to their stomachs were.
".....and clean that up," Levi orders, with disgust dripping from his voice.
"YESSIR!!!!"
Levi strides back to our table with irritation, while I decided to not finish my second piece of meat. Grabbing a clean cloth from my pocket, I wrapped the fresh piece making sure it's edible for later. Carefully placing in my pocket, I push myself up earning confused glances.
"Where you going, Corporal?" Lena asks, concern lacing in her voice. "Not hungry?"
Shaking my head, I glance over to see Jean trying to hold himself up.
"I'm gonna check on the soldiers," I say, before heading around the table towards Jean. Levi approaches me just before I could make it far, as I place a warm hand upon his shoulder. "I'm just gonna tend to Jeans wounds, so I might--"
"Don't baby him, those idiots shouldn't be fooling around in the first place," He scolds me lightly, while I gave him an'are you for real' look.
"I won't be long," I say softly, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek before making my way over to Jean. Approaching him I quickly hook my arm around his shoulder, before supporting his weight on me.
"Corpo...ral..." He groans out, clearly feeling nauseous and exhausted from his little spat with Eren. Seeing a few soldiers cleaning up Jean's mess, I grimace slightly with disgust before aiding him.
"Come on, let's get you better before tomorrow," I usher softly, knowing a lecture was gonna come sooner than later. Guiding towards the exit to the infirmary, my eyes soon fall upon a certain potato girl tied up. With a heavy sigh, I glance over my shoulder.
"Someone please untie her, or I will make you clean the Barracks!!!!!!"
"Yes Ma'am!!!"
*
Stepping outside I could feel the cool breeze dust over my warm rosy cheeks, making my way down the stairs. After lecturing and tending Jean's wounds, we had a bit of a long talk. With the mission coming up, I told him he could have the last piece of meat, if he swore to stay safe and not let my training go to waste.
Selfish it may sound, but I do care for my soldier's deeply. Though it was a hopeless request, he swore himself to stay alive.
It also goes for everyone else, despite not being able to express my thoughts as much to them. I just clearly didn't want to be the nagging parent, kids hated.
Making my way down the empty stairs, I could hear laughter and chattering echoing back from the Mess Halls from a distance. Glancing down I noticed three familiar soldiers, as Eren, Mikasa and Armin stood up and left their spot they were presumably sitting at.
Those three really have been through so much, despite not being exactly there all the way for them.
I knew Armin held a passion for the ocean; land so wide and neverending salt, that not even merchants can get enough.....
Mikasa's loyalty to Eren was beyond what I saw, when I first saw the two at the beginning of training in the cadet corps. She's also matured, knowing when to pick Eren's battles....
..and finally Eren, who is still maturing and growing as a young soldier who is just discovering a life he never knew of. Despite everything he's been through, he still has his comrades right by his side. Soon, this mission really relies on Eren's hardening ability to plug up Wall Maria and Erwin's gambling.
I can't believe within a day and a half, we'll be in Shiganshina, and god knows what will happen to us. What we will be doing, or who we're facing?
"Akira,"
Pausing within a second my head snaps in the direction, before seeing Levi tucked away behind a wall. Approaching him, he stood up with a deep exhale while grabbing his drink. "What are you doing here, it's cold out here," I scold him lightly, my fingertips gripping his sleeve gently.
"Nothing, just........thinking,"
A heavy pause drifts between us, before he leans closer and kisses my temple to ease the slight weighted tension.
"Don't worry, let's just....get some rest," He assures me, ruffling my hair lightly. "You've been working hard today, so give your body rest..."
Though he may sound moderately okay, his expression wasn't quite convincing to me. However I didn't want to pry, though I wondered if he spoke to the three. Did they say something to him, or the other way around?
Taking my hand he threads his calloused fingers through mine, before giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
"We've got a long journey ahead of us," he informs me, mentioning that we have to be well rested for tomorrow night. "So, I want to get as much time with you as possible as well."
Chuckling softly I press a soft kiss to his lips, noticing his ears redden subtly beneath my touch.
"As you wish," I hum softly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze back.
*
NEXT DAY AT SUNSET
Just before we all headed up the wall of Trost District, Hanji, Levi, Harold, Dirk, Marlene, Commander Erwin and I bidded the Premier goodbye. Saluting him with a firm fist with respect, my eyes determinedly meet Commander Pyxis and Commander Nile's.
It wasn't a long visit, but enough for the preparations to be made to advance to Shiganshina.
The sun's orange hues dust over the land, as slightly dark clouds shade over. Hearing the sound of the equipment resting on the other side, I soon become slightly nervous for my squad. Though they've been through hell and back, this clearly was a blind battle that we don't know of yet.
Being lifted up on the elevating device with Hanji, Levi stood closely to my side with his hand brushing over mine.
He seemed to notice my anxiousness, as his rubs his thumb over my knuckle to soothe my worries. Sending him a warm smile, I could hear someone calling us from down below, "Hey!!!! Hanji! Good luck!!!!!!!"
"Huh? Flegel?" Hanji was surprised, as a few more citizens cheered for us from down below.
"Go out there and take back Wall Maria for us!!!!!!!!"
"The future of mankind is up to you!!!!!!!!"
"Captain Levi! Corporal Akira!!!!! Good luck out there!!!!" Another soldier shouts, as my eyes slightly widen with surprise. "Thanks for savin' our city!!!!!"
Finally joining the rest of the soldiers on the top of the wall, I stood in between Erwin and Levi side by side, with Lena just standing behind me. With many soldiers waiting in rows together, as all faced the citizens of Trost district.
"You guys come back in one piece, all right?!"
"Yeah! But get us back our land, too!!!!!!"
Feeling my chest fill with warmth and assurance, my anxiousness dies down leveling out my heart rate. Smiling softly I gaze down, finally after years of waiting, we can bring back the land that was once stolen from us. Exciting it may seem, I knew it wasn't gonna be an easy journey for us.
"Tch, someone's got a big mouth," Levi comments, bitterly.
Hanji sighs, "Yeah, well that celebration did get a little rowdy," She points out, while I chuckle softly.
Harold clears his throat nervously, "Actually we ordered all of that meat from the Reeves Company, so...." admitting the truth, knowing the Reeves company was always known to spreading rumours, and promptly.
"Flegel," Dirk assumes, while I nudge Levi against his shoulder.
"Hmm?"
Leaning closer to his ear, "Come on, just accept it," pressing a sneaky kiss to his cheek, before anyone could see. "Besides, I'm feeling a lot better already so don't--"
"Yeah!!!!!!!" Connie, Jean and Sasha cheer loudly, in unison. Their fists punching the air vigorously, with excitement. "You can count on us!!!!!!"
Softly smiling, "It's actually been a while since we've had a nice send-off like this," before I clear my throat, scratching the small of my cheek in realisation. "Actually, scratch that....we've never had a send-off like this before."
A smirk rests upon the Commanders lips, stepping forward.
"Well, as far as I'm aware, at least.....this is a first," Erwin admits, knowing all the years of being a Scout, we were looked down upon. Disgraced, and never acknowledged by our own achievements. Finally, this is what the Scouts have longed for, for years.
Suddenly without warning Erwin throws his left fist in the air, before yelling with a mighty roar.
Soon the citizens down below begin yelling back, filled with provocation, and the motivation from their support. Not even realising my eyes widening, Levi's hand interlaced with mine before squeezing my warm hand gently with assurance and comfort.
Erwin sheaths his sword, striking the air valiantly.
"The operation to retake Wall Maria, begins now!!!!!!!!!" He declares, with a thundering voice.
After minutes of our horses being lowered from the elevating machine, all soldiers mounted their horses in many rows. Hoisting myself up right beside Levi and Hanji, Lena flanked behind me along with Moblit, as my attention turns to Erwin who wasn't far from where I was positioned.
"ADVANCE!!!!!!!!!!"
Rearing our horses we flick our reigns with ease, and thundered our way towards our location. The wind begins to pound against my ears, as the warm sunset breeze coaxes my rosy cheeks. Eyes focused on ahead, I kept my horse in sync with Levi's wanting to maintain my course.
This wasn't just a mission.....
......but a life changing course to our freedom......
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