Levi wasn't used to such things like romantic. Weddings seemed ridiculously unimportant, compared to the cruelty of the world they're living in. Love seemed unimportant for a soldier, whose only purpose should be to protect humanity.
And now he found himself in a bizarre situation. He would never have dreamt that one day Smith and Pixis, two distinguished Commanders of the Military, would "kidnap" him to his own, unplanned, wedding. He could guess that it was Mike's idea, but why would Erwin agree to such a ridiculous thing? And why the hell is Pixis here?
"I'm the groom?" he repeated Erwin's answer unbelievingly, rising an eyebrow.
The Commander nodded.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Levi continued his questioning, since they finally started giving him answers.
"Why would I?" Erwin replied with a question himself.
Levi looked at his superior in disbelief in his glance. He was right; Erwin wasn't the type of guy who makes jokes about such things. Actually he almost never made any jokes, but that wasn't important now.
"I still don't get it. Why now?"
"Look Levi", Mike started speaking, before Erwin could. "You don't seem to be a guy who would throw a wedding part. Well, actually you don't even seem like someone who'd ever marry."
Mike interrupted his speech to laugh when he saw Levi's insulted face.
"And since we weren't sure if you'd invite us or not, we figured out that it would be the best for us to invite us ourselves. After all, a wedding is a nice alternation to the paperwork back home," Pixis ended the speech Mike started.
Levi could feel the heat rising to his cheeks. This act of friendship from these three guys made him nearly loose his otherwise controlled, almost distanced behavior. "You guys," he started, searching for the next words. 'Thank you' would be the right thing to say when your friends arrange a wedding for you. But he only smiled at them – and a smile from the otherwise grumpy Corporal Rivaille meant more than a simple thank you. "You guys … I really hate you."
"That's the spirit!" Mike whooped.
It turned out that they were driving to a small chapel at the end of the town. Although it was late in the noon, there weren't a lot of people outside in this district. Maybe that was the reason why Erwin choose exactly this chapel, but Levi didn't ask any further questions. It wasn't important anymore. They got out of the carriage and stepped in the direction of the door.
Levi fixed his glance on the dark wood of the half open door. He was more or less calm back in the carriage, even when Erwin told him what they were planning with him. Now however, only a few steps away from the entrance, he started to feel nervous. He couldn't explain why his heart was beating that fast and why his palms suddenly became sweaty. She already agreed to marry you so why the hell are you so nervous? – he tried to calm himself down, wiping his hands off his pants.
"Oh, before I forget to tell you," Erwin's voice snatched Levi out of his thoughts; "Commander Pixis will hold the ceremony. It was Hanji's idea. She said that you have something against pastors."
Levi stopped, looking at Pixis and Mike disappearing in the chapel and then back to Erwin next to him. "You guys really don't stop surprising me today."
Erwin chuckled. "We're trying our best to do so." He took a step forward, but when he realized that Levi still stood in his spot, he turned around to his friend. "Nervous?"
Levi nodded but then instantly shook his head. "I don't know. First I thought I am, but I guess I'm just excited to see her."
Erwin realized how the others' look became softer when mentioning Hanji and couldn't help but to smile. "If you're that excited, you shouldn't let her wait any longer."
The chapel was even smaller than it seemed from the outside. The altar took over the biggest part of the hall. There were only four short rows of chairs in front of it. But the altar was nicely decorated and the light falling through the colorful mosaic-windows left a magnificent design on the walls across of them. The smell of frankincense fulfilled the air.
"If I've known that it's that nice in a church, I'd come here more often," Pixis whispered with a smile. He stood at the place where the priest would normally, Levi standing a few steps in front of him. The Corporal nodded, his look wandering around in the hall. Wandering over the frescoes on the floor, the flowers next to the big cross, to the row in front where the others were sitting. When they came in, Nanaba and Hanji's, but - to Levi's surprise - also his own squad were already sitting there.
"Yeah, definitely," he agreed with the Commander.
Eventually, the organ pipe started playing. All heads turned around to the door. And then, finally, Hanji came in with Erwin, who accompanied her to the altar. Levi stared at her, bedazzled. She looked gorgeous, wearing a plain white dress and her hair pined up with a few strands hanging loose. However, the most dazzling thing was her smile. She didn't seem to notice anything in the chapel; her look was only fixed on Levi.
When they reached the altar, Erwin hugged her, before he put her hand in Levi's, smiling gently at both of them. Behind them, Pixis started talking:
"Love is a miraculous gift, and a wedding is a celebration of that magic, and that is why we are here today. We are gathered together to be overjoyed for, and with, Hanji Zoe and Levi Rivaille, who are …"
But Levi could hear it only blurred in the background. He lost himself in Hanji's luminous brown eyes, her bright smile. He could almost see the aura of happiness surrounding her and slowly passing over to him. It seemed like the time stopped.
The sound of Pixis cleaning his throat broke the magic moment between them. They both looked at him, confused because, for a short instant, they've forgotten that there were other people around them.
"Squad Leader Zoe, if you would be so kind to answer the question I've asked you…," Pixis said with amusement in his voice. There was a giggle in the first row and Hanji's head turned red.
"Now don't tell me that you've ignored my amazing speech."
"Just the last question," she grinned.
Pixis sighed theatrically, which brought in another round of laughter.
"Do you, Hanji Zoe, take Levi Rivaille, to be your spouse, knowing in your heart to be a faithful friend and a loving companion? Do you give your sacred vow that you will always be with Rivaille, in sickness and in health, as long as you shall live?"
She smiled even brighter, and for a second Levi asked himself how it was possible for someone to smile that wide. "Yes, yes! I do! I do! I do!"
She repeated it with her typical enthusiasm, making everyone giggle again.
Pixis waited for the audience to calm down, before he continued.
"Levi Rivaille, do you take Hanji Zoe to be your spouse, knowing in your heart to be a faithful friend and a loving companion? Do you promise to love her during difficult times, to share your life's simplest, but most enduring pleasures with her? In health and sickness, as long as you shall live?"
Levi's gaze never left Hanji's face, and the expression she made now made him smirk. She looked at him with big, curious eyes, and he could tell that she was holding her breath. – Idiot glasses, as if my answer isn't absolutely obvious! – he thought with a gentle smile.
"Yes, I do."
"Hanji Zoe and Levi Rivaille, by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you married! You may now kiss the bride!"
AN: thank you for being so patient with me and also for you comments :)
i hope that you like the story - i had no idea how to write a wedding ^^
