*
ABOUT A YEAR LATER - YEAR 853
It's such a warm day today.......
Standing in front of the vanity in the bathroom, I held the scissors and began trimming my hair a bit. While doing so I could hear little Luka cooing and babbling nearby my foot, in a small pillow like seat for him to rest on. His azure eyes were bright and filled with curiosity, while his tiny arms waves around. I hum soft to him, while focusing on cutting my hair.
The weather has grown hotter, and the need for a change was set.
"What are you doing, love?" A deep voice breaks me out of my thoughts, before feeling the scissors being taken from my hands. His hands gather my long hair adjusting the length, before meeting eyes through the reflection of the mirror before us.
"Well just looking for a change, and the weather is humid," I simply reply, seeing his eyes rest halfway with a tiny smirk. "Cutting it shorter seems to be easier, especially with combat too....."
"Really? Well if you ended up doing it yourself, it would end in a rats tail," he retorts, blatantly while brushing through my fingers with his fingers. He sighs heavily while his attention solely focuses on my hair now, only hearing the small coos and babbles from our son. "....How short are you thinking?"
Lifting my hands I shift them in level with my chin, "Just about here, but a undercut....not too much,"
"Undercut? Are you copying me?" He huskily whispers against my ear, teasingly. The brush of his lips graze my hot ear, feeling my neck and face heat up as well. "It's cute and all--"
Clicking my teeth together, "I'm not, I just.....need a change," Rolling my eyes playfully, lowering my hands to the edge of the basin. The condensation drips down to the bottom of the sink, while my eyes watch him gathering my hair in sections. Knowing what he was doing, I pass him a few hair ties to part each section. Once he gathers the top half I realise how thick my hair was, as I've been getting hot every time summer came by.
"Alright keep your head straight......" he murmurs gently, straightening my head.
His hands carefully began to cut the under part of hair, before grabbing a razor and began to work on giving me an undercut. It was going to be different, time to adjust to new changes. Whether if I disliked it, my hair needed it after the shit I've been through with it. It's like memories every time, growing and growing until the ends split and break off. By time, we forget and some we remember.
His piercing eyes reflect back realising I was staring, before I lower them allowing to work away.
Suddenly my thoughts break away when I hear little Luka babbling again, earning a small stifle chuckle from Levi. "Yes......give mama a sec...." he resumes focusing on my hair, as wisps of the dead ends of my hair fall. Every minute that passes by, the lighter my head felt and the cooler it grew.
"How're you feeling about the Azumabito?" He breaks the moment. "I mean......with their answer?"
That's right.........they finally replied after months....well it's the new year ...
His question breaks the silence for a moment, before gathering my thoughts. Even thinking about it, I didn't worry about Kiyomi harming me. It was my own child I was afraid of, and even the weight of being the next Shogun for Mikasa, created an ill aura between myself and Lady Kiyomi. Yet, that was only an obligation that should be settled between us two adults, than a young teen who is still figuring her life out.
If Shogun was a heavy burden to bear, then how come they couldn't find anyone back on their land?
".....still figuring out if I should confirm my intuition about her," my hand grips the edge of the basin tightly. "I'm happy that Mikasa found out more about her family, of royalty........but she's still a child and--"
"....And what does that make Historia?" he slices the intensive air, with the whisk of his scissors. He lets out a troubling sigh, "Listen hun, Mikasa......may be a moody teen, but we're not supposed to tell what she decides to do or what not to do. We are just her Commanding officers. She can decide for herself, but.......I doubt she'll drop Eren and go with them like that....."
My eyes lift to meet his focused gaze, while he continues brushing his fingers through my short locks. He unties the top half, before blending the cut. Making one side long and gradually shorter from left to the right, before he turns me around by the waist.
His hands steadily cup my round face and straightens my posture, before fixing my bangs as he parts my hair to one side as usual.
".....this land is important to her, Eren is....." he pauses for a moment, his brows furrowed together in thought. "......different. You're a mother now to our child...." he cups my face again, but this time it's for me to look into his eyes. "......I know you feel obligated to care for our young soldiers, but--" making me shake my head.
"I don't feel.....obligated, Levi....it's just..." my shoulders slump down, my eyes wandering around than on his own. "Our mothers relied on each other, despite the age gap.....I swore to look over Mikasa if it comes a day when she's left alone--"
"But she isn't, she's got that smart ass kid and that titan brat," He sternly spoke, his hands sliding down my neck to my shoulders and grips my biceps firmly. His eyes look into my own worryingly, "You have a family now, you've got me. Mikasa is growing, adapting, learning......all you can do is be her Section Commander..."
"If anything comes up.....it's my priority to step up," my voice grew firm, seeing him in defeat. He resume fixing my front bangs, blending it nicely. "But my sons safety is first, you know that....." earning a chuckle from me, before he pecks my lips gently.
"Yes dear......." he fluffs up my hair, his calloused fingers gently adjusting the length. He trims a few missing areas, before he placing the scissors in the sink. His hands firmly grip my waist, his body weight leaning me against basin. My breath grew heavy in response to the way his eyes drank in my image, his hand drifting up my waist and beneath my shirt feeling his thumb grazing my soft skin.
"....hmmm? What is it?" his warm breath coaxes over my lips, my eyes soften.
He gently smiles, "You're just beautiful......no matter the hairstyle..." his eyes flickers down to my lips. "...and you're all mine..."
Luka babbles cutely, causing him to smile again.
Raising a brow, "......well, ours...." he gazes down to our son, who looks like he wanted to fall asleep. "Our best mama and wife......I really don't deserve you."
"Then....." licking my bottom lip, with a teasing grin. ".....I don't deserve you, but here we are..."
Laughing softly while brushing my hair away, his grip against the skin with me in between was firm. His free hand drifts up and cups beneath my jaw, his thumb beneath my ear before drawing me closer until our lips inches away. A small smirk curls upon his lips before they mould against mine, feeling the rushing warmth through my body. Smiling against the warm kiss, our lips dance together slowly and tenderly.
Soon he inhales deeply, before a deep groan leaves him while his grip at the nape of neck tightens. ".....god I missed this..." he mutters beneath his hot breath, before kissing me more passionately.
Placing one hand behind me, bracing for support as our lips moving eagerly.
"I wish we could continue, but we have things to do...." I pull away for a moment, panting between my words. My cheeks warm and a dark hue, while he held his grip tightly around me. "....and Lena is babysitting Luka again, while we go check on young soldiers--"
"They can wait a few more minutes," He kisses me, cutting me off while his lips trace down to my throat. His hand tilting my head to gain more access, planting hot warm kisses that left my tummy fluttering and my head spinning. Giving in to his compliance, I lean back to allow him to shower his intense affection upon me. His tongue licks a strip up my throat, his back purposely shielding the eyes of our child while he kisses me affectionately.
"He's too innocent," I chuckle, feeling him nibbling and sucking against my flesh. Suddenly he finds a spot that me almost buckle, making him hold me tight as his teeth bite down. A short moan drifts past my lips, while I held him him tightly while he draws the collar of my shirt down to trace kisses down. His lips lick and kiss against atop of my soft breast, as my breath grew heavier in response.
"Hang o-on...."
"Shh.......only moan for me....." nibbles against my flesh, before littering a few dark love bites along the contrast of my skin. His grip on me felt heavy like lead, but warm and comforting at the same time. The humidity got to the both of us after a while, sweat glides down my temple as well his own forehead.
~Knock~ Knock~
"Hang on!!!" I call, when Levi cups my face again and kisses him again with tenderness. Chuckling against the warm kiss, we both pull away as he takes a step back and sweeps the left over hair on the floor. Feeling warm and flustered, I check my hair quickly making sure it isn't as disheveled.
"We're finishing this tonight, and I don't care if it's hot," He raises a brow, while sweeping my hair up to a tray and placed it in the bin. Dusting his hands he sighs, "You can come in now!" he calls, hearing the door open.
*
AT THE RAILWAY
The horizon ripples in the heat, feeling my skin glistening in sweat from the humidity. It's been a few weeks since I've last seen the young teenagers, since Lady Kiyomi's meeting. The railways were underway, being constructed by our squad a few others from time to time.
I'm just more worried about how they'll cope with the Azumabito's answer, knowing full well we're unable to gain any other alliance at this rate.
My hands grip the reigns while the hot hair blows past, as we travel down the already finished part of the railway and followed down. Hanji was chatting away like usual, while Levi remains quiet at the heat was getting to us all. With a flick of my wrist, I usher my horse faster.
"Hang wait Akira!!! I wanna be first!!!" Hanji whines childishly, before hearing her pick the pace up.
"Tch, I'm not up for childish games......" I remark, earning her to poke her tongue out.
"Oh come on, let's have some fun!" She groans, leaning back in her saddle and stirrups high up. "This heat just too much, how the hell do these kids last?!"
I laugh softly, "They're alot tougher than we think,"
Glancing over my shoulder Levi kept quiet, his face remains stoic and impassive as we gallop down the railway. Waving one hand towards him, he blinks his eyes for a moment, "What? Did you need something?"
Shaking my head, "Nah, just making sure you're not dozing...."
Not long after an hour or so we finally reach them, seeing Mikasa carrying heavy metal tracks over her shoulder. Following with Jean and.....Connie? Did he grow taller? He's catching up to Jean quickly, and Sasha is......being herself like always.
"HEY!!!!!" Hanji waves eagerly, galloping faster than me as she reaches them first. Jumping down she exhales deeply, looking at the hard work as Levi and I come to a halt glancing down to see how hard they've worked. Swinging my leg over the saddle and off the stirrups, I gaze around in awe.
"It's amazing! I've never seen such fine work," my eyes widen, interested in the new modern technology that we have fallen so behind. Kicking the metal tracks and wooden, it was quite sturdy and simple to construct.
"Section Commander, it's been a while!" Armin spoke up, walking towards me along with Eren and Mikasa. "We're still at it so....."
Hanji chuckles wiping the sweat from her temple, "Phew! It can't be easy, working your asses off when it's this hot out,"
Jean gravelly sighs, "Yeah, well...we have to be here to watch over this moron, right?" gesturing to Eren.
"You brats got taller," Levi folds his arms, eyeing Connie specifically with a bitter sour look. "It's like you're sprouting up just to spite me."
"It's not that bad Levi," I chuckle softly, when he arches a brow with a deadpanned expression. Sucking on my teeth with a click I nod slowly, "Well....you just can't help it. You're too good looking to notice--" he flicks my temple with a sigh cutting me off, earning a small chuckle from me.
"Hear anything from Hizuru yet?" Eren spoke up, asking the very question everyone is dying to know. They've waited patiently, but sadly the answer they'll be searching for will be in vain.
I sigh, "That's why we're here currently," shifting my eyes on him, before glancing to the others. "The Azumabito's replied..."
Earning a sharp inhale Eren waits anxiously, "What's they say?"
Hanji grimaces subtly, "It's no good..." she pauses for a moment, figuring how to spell it out for them. Though we couldn't guarantee, we knew it was worth a shot but it would leave at a disadvantage. "Hizuru either can't or won't help us with this.......Makes Sense. Hizuru has a monopoly on any resources that we want to export right now, so why would they ever help us trade with other countries? From what I hear, the world's major powers want Paradis to be the root of all evil. We're the shared foe that helps brings them together. Their hatred for us promotes global stability..."
The air grew silent while ever registers the news, as if we've sunk further alone in this world.
"Then.....do we have to resort on the Rumbling?" Eren's voice shakes, his hands balled into fists til they turned white in frustration. "Do we have no choice but to sacrifice Historia?"
"That's right," Levi replies, blatantly. He still held a grim look about it, but even admitting the painful resolution to all this is against our will.
"So what? The world's decided that we're devils, regardless of what our intentions are?" Armin steps in, appalled by it all. "They can't want us to repeat the past, so why won't they consider peace?"
A heavy pause follows, before my eyes fall upon Mikasa's troubled gaze as she met mine. "Probably 'cause they don't know better," she spoke up, her eyes tiredly lower down to the ground. "They don't know anything about us and that makes them afraid."
With a heavy sigh I nod, "In terms to that, I agree......our neighbours across the sea would never trust a face they've never seen before," my brows furrow, recalling the moment I faced my Uncle. Unknown to me, but his intentions were the polar opposite in what we're trying to do.
"That's why, we're going to sail out and meet 'em," Hanji declares firmly, with determination. "If they don't know anything about us, then we'll just have to teach them!"
Levi was hesitant for a moment, taken back by the suggestion so quickly.
"That's what we Scout's always do, right?" Hanji grins ear to ear, raising her arms encouragingly. "I know it's a quick suggestion, but I'll guarantee it will be an adventure but like another Scouting mission......without bloodshed..."
Though the plan was Hanji's idea, Levi was always hesitating like usual but ends up giving in to the idea.
*
The room was dim with the orange hue coaxing the walls, as the room finally cooled down from the humid day. After a fresh shower and finally getting Luka to sleep, my mind was worried about anything but rest. Still adjusting with the new haircut, my fingers couldn't help but comb through the short strands feeling much lighter.
Peeling the blanket away, I slide into the comfy clean sheets that felt like silk against my bare skin.
The door opens from the bathroom, seeing Levi just drying his hair just in his briefs. His body glistening from the shower, his eyes tired like usual and his figure was looking more healthier. Actually since the Anti-Marleyan's came to the island, Levi has been eating a lot better. His face slightly fuller but still defined, his cheeks glowed more.
"You gonna keep staring, or do I need to do something about it?" His voice breaks the silence, feeling the mattress dip beneath his weight as he crawls over to me. Scooping me into his arms he pulls my back against his bare chest, and buries his face into the back of my neck planting soft kisses against my nape. Chuckling and squirming for a moment, he lays comfortably with me laying against him with his fingers running through my short locks.
"How do you feel about the trip to Marley?" He murmurs softly, his finger curling a lock while basking in his warmth embrace. His voice was comfortable, but with a slight edge with nervousness about seeing another world. "I mean......do we leave little Luka? Or bring him with us? What if it's too dangerous?--"
Laughing quietly I turn around to ruffle his hair, "Calm down, I should be the one rambling......not you," before sinking into deep thought for a moment, glancing over to our sons crib nearby the foot of the bed. "If it's only an undercover kind of visit, and we dress normally....I think we could pull off a safe arrival and exit from Marley. Think about it, they don't know what we look like......even if I look distinctly like one of my ancestors......they'll assume I'm one of them. If you don't stress, and breath.......maybe bring Luka wouldn't be so bad."
He clicks his teeth for a moment, and sighs in defeat.
"Well I had this long ass speech in reasons why you should stay behind...." He trails off, with a subtle stoic pout. His brows crease with worry, but I tap the centre of his temple while laying on my side gazing at him lovingly.
"I can't just ask Lena or someone to babysit Luka for everything, you know," my fingers brush through his hair. "Though I'm a mother with responsibilities, I am a Section Commander with priorities and importance as well.......but a mother is important. I don't want to be kept in the dark when we've come so far......I want to see for myself in case things go to hell. I fought so long, and yet......my journey feels unfinished......I want to learn more..."
For a moment he was hesitant with a troubling stoic expression, before he sighs with a chuckle and leans closer pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek and pulls me into him.
"As always, you're a stubborn woman," He murmurs softly into my ear, and kisses the shell of my ear. "But, I know you're a strong mama.......so I trust you. We'll bring Luka with us, and lucky he's a year old...."
"Thanks hun,"
*
A FEW DAYS LATER
My eyes widen in awe of the vast ocean that stretches out so wide, feeling the salty scented breeze cleansing the air. The sunlight flickers upon the water like stars, and the water was so blue that it felt like we're sailing in the sky. Little Luka cooed happily waving his tiny arms, as he was tucked away in the curve of my arm.
Earlier before we departed we were given instructions to not stand out, following precautions and been notified that Onyankopon will be our guide. With ourselves being picked up before anyone else of Marley, it was so we wouldn't be as suspicious from our destination. We had to go to a seperate small island, before departing from that dock.
This trip was meant to be discreet and to be cautious, especially with the ship that was a routine type of ship to come by at certain times. Thankfully with the Azumabito giving into Hanji's suggestion, they gave us the ticket into Marley without raising suspicion.
Though before the night of boarding the boat, we were given clothing directly from Marley for disguise.
Despite having similar clothing, it would safer to say that we wore things from the country itself. Wearing a navy blue blazer with a white button shirt beneath, with a long navy blue skirt that lowered just mid of my calves, it was rather uncomfortable for my taste. It was gonna take time to grow accustomed with this kind of attire, but it was the best we could do.
For the following who joined us are Hanji, Levi, and I along with Luka. Then Jean, Connie, Sasha, Mikasa, Armin and Eren were always following close by, which made the trip easier to not worry.
"Yes baby, it's the ocean...." I coo quietly to Luka, while embracing the beauty of the sea. It definitely was so beautiful, that I wished that Erwin would have seen it before leaving so soon.
A warm hand rests upon my hips, "You doing alright? You're not feeling seasick, or whatever its called?"
I chuckle in response, "Yes, I'm fine....and see..." taking Luka's little hand in one, earning a bubbling giggle. "He's enjoying the sea.....so please, stop worrying?" my voice filled with warmth of reassurance.
Levi gazed upon his son for a moment, and melts for a split second and pokes his chubby cheek.
"Just don't spoil him too much, alright?" He smirks, while stepping closer beside me as his torso rests against my back.
Smiling I slightly lean into him while gazing out, with Luka secure in my arms for a moment. However this time Levi nudges my arm, gesturing for him to hold onto Luka for a bit. Thinking in teasing him about to refuse, I just gave in and passed our son into Levi's arms earning more bubbly giggles.
"Bwa...bwa...."
A small subtle chuckle follows from Levi, as my eyes widen in surprise to see such a warm genuine look in his eyes. He places his finger into the tiny palm of Luka's hand, and moves it around playfully while finding comfort in our son's cuteness to ease his worries.
"Goddammit.......I love you both," I whisper beneath my breath, leaning against Levi's side.
"Gah....would you listen to me for once?!" I overhear Jean complain in the background, while the wind quietly blowing against the sail. Glancing over I notice Jean's little trio group having a small arguement, but I trust they'll be on their best behaviour while on unknown territory.
"If you think about it, this is sort of a return to the Scouts' original mission," Hanji spoke up, seeing a warm reminiscing smile. Just like my first days a scout when i was just a teenager, but now as an adult I could feel much stronger with what we have now. Armin nods in agreement with a hum, while he stood beside Hanji patiently.
"Let the survey begin...."
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