As you stepped off to the side, a wide grin etched onto your face from the dance. "That was incredible," you said, turning to Levi with a gleam of excitement in your eyes.
Levi's gaze met yours, a faint smile graced his features. "Yeah, it was," he agreed, his voice even but filled with genuine warmth.
Before you could revel in the moment any longer, Erwin approached, his presence drawing your attention. "Impressive dancing, both of you," he commended, offering a polite nod. However, his expression soon turned more serious as he continued, "But, Adeline, I'm afraid duty calls. There are some officials and higher-ups, along with their wives, who are eager to meet you. As the queen's executive officer, it's important that you make an appearance."
You couldn't hide your disappointment, exchanging a regretful glance with Levi. The brief moment of connection you shared on the dancefloor seemed all too fleeting now, overshadowed by the demands of your newfound responsibilities. With a resigned sigh, you nodded, understanding the necessity of the situation. "Of course, Erwin," you replied, steeling yourself for the inevitable separation.
Reluctantly bidding farewell to Levi, you followed Erwin across the bustling ballroom to where a group of officials and their wives stood. As you approached, Erwin introduced you with a respectful nod.
"May I present Adeline, the new executive officer of Queen Historia," he announced, his voice carrying across the group.
You offered a graceful curtsy, acknowledging the assembled guests. Among them stood familiar faces, including Nile Dok, whose presence stirred a twinge of resentment within you, the memory of your imprisonment still gnawing at your mind. Despite knowing that his actions were merely following orders, you couldn't shake the lingering bitterness from the memory of your arrest.
Pyxis stood beside him, his weathered features softened by a genial smile. A few new faces stood around including Keith Shadis and Zachary Dhavis who completed the group, their imposing presence casting a solemn air over the gathering.
Hange offered you a quick smile as you approached, her eyes twinkling with mischief. You returned the gesture, grateful for her familiar presence amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces.
After exchanging quick pleasantries with each of the officials, you found a moment to step aside and gather your thoughts. However, before you could fully compose yourself, Nile approached, his wife trailing behind him. There was an air of formality about him, tinged with a hint of shame.
"Adeline," he began sheepishly, "I wanted to take this opportunity to formally introduce myself and offer my apologies for our previous encounter."
You fought to maintain a semblance of formality, despite the turbulent emotions churning within you. "Commander Dok," you nodded in acknowledgement, your voice tinged with restraint.
"I understand if you harbor resentment towards me for my actions. I assure you, it was never my intention to cause you any undue harm. I was merely following orders, as any soldier is expected to do."
His words struck a chord within you, stirring conflicting emotions of anger and understanding. Part of you wanted to lash out, to demand retribution for the injustice you had endured. But another part recognized the truth in Nile's words, acknowledging the difficult position he had been placed in.
With a concerted effort, you forced yourself to bite back the sharp retort that threatened to escape your lips. Instead, you offered a curt nod, your expression carefully neutral. "Well, I appreciate the apology, Commander." you replied, your voice clipped.
As Nile extended his apology, his wife, Marie, stood by his side, her expression carrying a mixture of regret and understanding. Nile, acknowledging the need for a formal introduction, gestured toward his wife.
"Adeline, allow me to introduce my wife, Marie," Nile said, a note of sincerity in his voice. He took this moment to awkwardly excuse himself from the conversation, seemingly satisfied with the basic apology. It seemed he didn't want to linger any longer, and you didn't mind.
Marie offered you a small, sympathetic smile, clearly aware of the impact their previous interactions had on you. "It's a pleasure to officially meet you, Adeline. I truly regret any distress my husband may have caused you. He can be a bit slow to apologizing," She humored
You nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating Marie's genuine attempt to bridge the gap. "The pleasure is mine, Marie," you replied, your tone more gracious. "I appreciate the effort from both of you."
To avoid more silence, Marie confessed, "I've never been particularly adept at navigating these kinds of events. Always feel like I'm one step away from saying the wrong thing."
You couldn't help but smile, appreciating Marie's honesty. "I know what you mean. It's a whole different world, isn't it?"
"Oh, absolutely." Marie chuckled softly, her gaze wandering across the ballroom. "Adeline, I must say, your composure is commendable. These formalities can be quite the challenge, and you handle them with such grace." You nodded in a silent thank you. As the conversation flowed between you and Marie, she suddenly made a comment that caught you off guard. "You and Levi looked quite stunning together out on the dance floor. You make a lovely couple."
You chuckled nervously, choosing not to correct the assumption to spare Marie any embarrassment. "Oh, well, you know how these events are. It's all about appearances."
Marie's gaze darted across the ballroom while she spoke, but her expression shifted to confusion as she scanned the crowd for Levi. Following her line of sight, you turned to look as well, only to find Levi in conversation with another woman.
You halted, a surge of unease and confusion washed over you as you watched them, your heart sinking at the sight. What could they possibly be talking about? And why did it bother you so much?
The awkward silence that settled between you and Marie only amplified the turmoil swirling within you. Unable to shake the nagging feeling of insecurity, you found yourself lost in a whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty.
Sensing the tension, Marie offered a polite excuse before excusing herself, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the lingering ache in your chest. The mounting anxiety from the responsibilities of your role, coupled with the confusion and hurt stirred by seeing Levi engaged in conversation with another woman, sent your emotions spiraling out of control.
A growing panic seized you, making it increasingly difficult to maintain your composure. It felt like the walls of the ballroom were closing in, and you needed an escape. Swiftly, you turned on your heel, anxiety etched across your face, and made your way towards the large glass doors leading outside towards a balcony.
Levi, across the room, noticed your abrupt departure, his sharp eyes following your every move. Hange, who had observed the entire scene unfold, shot Levi a bothered look, a silent commentary on the impact of his actions.
The cool night air on the balcony provided a momentary reprieve as you gasped for breath, attempting to regain control over the panic attack that had threatened to overwhelm you. Clinging to the balcony rails, you focused on shutting out the world around you, desperately trying to collect the shattered pieces of your composure.
Feelings of humiliation washed over you as you grappled with the realization that you might have misinterpreted Levi's intentions. The idea of being a love-sick fool, playing into the hands of someone toying with your emotions, fueled a sense of frustration and exhaustion.
As you stood there, wrestling with your inner thoughts, the glass doors opened and then closed behind you, signaling the arrival of someone. Your heart skipped a beat, and you turned to find Levi standing there. His presence, unexpected and yet undeniably captivating, lingered in the air between you.
His voice broke the tense silence as he asked, "Are you okay?"
Your frustration and hurt bubbled to the surface, and you couldn't contain it any longer. You whirled around to look at him with a dumbfounded look, hot tears beginning to stream down your face. "Okay? Seriously, Levi? How can I be okay when you're so damn oblivious?"
His brows furrowed in confusion, and he implored, "What?"
Your anger flared as you unleashed the torrent of emotions you had been holding back. "You know exactly what, Levi!" You stood there, staring at him with a hurt expression, "I'm tired of this game, this dance we've been doing. I'm tired of feeling like a fool for falling for someone who's just toying with me."
Levi's expression shifted from confusion to frustration, and he retorted, "Toying with you? What the hell are you talking about?"
"You, Levi! I'm talking about you!" Your voice rose with each word, a mix of fury and hurt lacing your tone. "You act like you don't care, like nothing matters, and then you wonder why I'm so damn frustrated! You give me all these mixed signals like you like me, even buying me this stupid necklace, and then you just go frolic with other women! I mean is this what you always do when I'm not around? Am I just another amusement to you?"
Levi, now realizing the miscommunication, grew increasingly annoyed as he attempted to explain, "Adeline, you're jumping to conclusions. Let me—"
But you cut him off, unwilling to hear his explanation. "Save it, Levi! I don't want to hear it."
Levi's silence weighed heavily in the air, his hurt and apologetic gaze piercing through you. But still, he remained silent, his words held back as if trapped by an invisible barrier.
As you stood there, grappling with your emotions, a wave of vulnerability washed over you. "Why can't you figure it out?" you murmured, more to yourself than to him. "Why can't you see what's right in front of you?"
Tears threatened to spill from your eyes as you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper, "I've liked you for a while, Levi. But you're too blind to see it."
The admission hung in the air between you, a raw and unspoken truth that seemed to echo off the balcony walls. You braced yourself for his response, unsure of what to expect but desperate for some form of understanding.
Levi's composure faltered, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes as he struggled to find the right words. In a moment of vulnerability, he stepped forward, his voice quiet but earnest. "Is that true?"
You met his gaze, confirming it with a sad nod. You felt a surge of panic rising within you, your vulnerability laid bare for him to see. In a feeble attempt to defend yourself, you opened your mouth to spew another insult, but before the words could escape your lips, Levi closed the distance between you two, silencing you with a kiss.
The world seemed to fall away in that moment, the touch of his lips against yours sending a jolt of electricity coursing through your veins.
As you melted into his embrace, the weight of your fears and insecurities began to fade away, replaced by a sense of warmth and belonging that you had longed for without even realizing it. The kiss was a silent confession, a bridge between the lingering doubts and the unspoken emotions that had kept both of you on the edge. In that moment, the world around you disappeared, and all that remained was the shared vulnerability as you allowed yourself to be consumed by the overwhelming intensity of the emotions swirling between you and Levi.
You two broke the kiss, lingering in the shared space between you. You couldn't help but express your sadness, your voice cracking as you spoke.
"If you don't feel the same way, you can't just kiss me like that," you whispered, your eyes searching his for any sign of confirmation or rejection.
Levi's breath was ragged as he spoke, his words a mixture of vulnerability and raw honesty. "I do like you, Adeline," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I have for a while now."
Your heart skipped a beat at his admission, a surge of hope flooding your senses. But before you could fully process his words, Levi began to explain the situation with the woman from earlier, his voice full of frustration and exasperation.
"She was... persistent. I didn't even remember her name," he said, his tone tinged with annoyance. "I tried to turn her down, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. When I saw you rush out, I snapped at her to leave me alone."
A wave of relief washed over you as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, the confusion and hurt slowly fading away in the wake of Levi's explanation.
"I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions," you murmured, your voice laced with regret. "I should have trusted you."
Levi shook his head. "No, I should have been clearer from the start," he admitted, his gaze unwavering as he met yours. His voice wavered slightly as he opened up, his usually stoic demeanor giving way to a rare sadness. "I haven't said anything because... I'm afraid," he admitted, his words heavy with emotion. "I've never cared about someone as much as I care about you, and that scares the hell out of me."
A knot formed in your stomach as you listened, the weight of Levi's confession settling over you like a blanket. You reached out, gently squeezing his hand in a silent gesture of support, encouraging him to continue.
"I'm not allowed to have vulnerabilities," he continued, his voice heavy with frustration. "As humanity's strongest, I've spent my life burying my emotions, pushing people away. I've never allowed myself the luxury of a relationship. But with you, it's different. I can't just shut off how I feel."
A pang of empathy surged through you as you realized the depth of Levi's internal struggle, the burden of his responsibilities weighing heavily on his shoulders. You wanted to ease his pain, to reassure him that it was okay to let his guard down, but you knew that words alone wouldn't be enough.
"And now with your new role as executive officer," he added, his voice growing softer, "you'll most likely have to stay at the palace while I'm forced back onto the front lines."
The reality of the situation hit you like a punch to the gut, the thought of being separated from Levi sending a wave of sadness coursing through you as silence fell over the scene.
Without warning, you declared, "Fuck that," a surge of defiance coursing through your veins. "We deserve to do what we want. You, of all people, deserve it the most. I'm so sick and tired of doing what's 'right.' We have a right to want more in life."
With determination blazing in your eyes, you seized Levi's hand, the strength of your grip urging him to follow. Ignoring the curious stares of onlookers, you pushed through the crowded ballroom, weaving through clusters of people until you reached the staircase. Levi, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, couldn't help but inquire, "Where are we going?"
You didn't answer, your steps quickening as you neared your bedroom door. With a determined push, you swung it open, the warm glow of candlelight illuminating the room. Without a word, you tugged Levi inside, your heart pounding in your chest as you turned to face him.
"Doing something for myself for once," you declared, your voice firm and unwavering. And with that, you closed the distance between you, your lips meeting his in a passionate kiss that spoke volumes more than words ever could.
___________
note: AAAAAAA it happened! the slow burn finally ended! omg! they kissed!
on another note, i have ideas i want to include in the next chapter but i don't know if i have it in me to become that kind of writer
lmao (￣▽￣*)ゞ