Chapter 26 Fastened Harmony

Birds sang through the misty morning, the ground puddled with water from the rain the previous night. Levi opened his eyes, frowning at the unfamiliar surroundings. Where was he? As he sat up, his back ached from sleeping on the floor, the events from last night flooding back to him. He and Elle were married...

He looked down at Elle, hidden under the blanket where she slept. He pulled the quilt back a bit, looking down at her slumbering figure. Her blonde hair was splayed around her, cheeks rosy as she breathed softly.

Levi got up carefully so he wouldn't disturb her. He felt grimy from some of the mud still on him from last night, his skin and hair was stiff with sweat. He searched the house for a wash room, but only found a pump outside with a clothes line. The water was cold, but figured it was better then nothing.

He found some soap and took a shower using the pump, having to pull the chord every five minutes to keep the water flowing. He had to contact the squad to make sure they weren't worried that he and Elle had suddenly disappeared, he might as well go while she's asleep. Or wake her..? No...he'd return, he didn't want them to end this so soon when the mission was tomorrow. Based on the layer of dust in this place, it was abandoned, so they could spend the rest of the day here, and return in the evening.

Levi rode back to the cottage in a rush, wanting to get back to Elle before she woke, even though he left a note explaining.

it didn't take very long to get there, and he walked into the cottage just as the squad was getting up for breakfast.

Petra looked curiously. "Levi? Where'd you come from?"

Levi paused. He wasn't expecting a confrontation. "I...I went out to visit my friend Ezekiel. I brought Elle with me and she's over there now. We had to stay the night because of the storm. "

Fortunately, Petra believed this. "Oh, okay, are you going back? Why didn't you and Elle return?"

"It's mission eve, Elle and I are planning to rest there for the day for it. Besides everything's prepared-"

"I wouldn't be so sure."

Levi looked over his shoulder, Erwin towering over him, dressed in his uniform. "Oh it's you..." Levi grumbled.

Erwin scowled. "You still have work to do Levi, so you better not be leave like I hear you are-"

Levi's brow twitched with anger. "It's missions eve. We're allowed to rest."

"Not you. I need you back at head quarters-"

"No."

Erwin glared, still for a moment. The squad was still, staring at the two. Petra's mouth was gaping.

Erwin stepped closer, towering over Levi, his blue eyes oddly like hot flames. "And. Why. Not."

Levi hesitated. Should he say? He didn't want to make excuses but...if it got him to just spend the day with Elle...

"I...fine. But I can't work long." Levi looked away, cursing himself. Coward…

Levi returned to the cabin he left Elle in just as the sun was setting that evening. His horse huffed from the sprint, levi still wearing his military jacket from headquarters. He ran through the door, out of breath, his hair wind blown from riding.

Elle jumped as he burst inside, wearing the same white dress from the day before. She was in the middle of peeling potatoes, the knife and half peeled potato still in her hand. Her expression was relieved when she saw him. "I was wondering when you'd get here, you said you be back soon but-"

Levi rushed toward her, holding her close and kissing her. She jumped in his arms, dropping the knife. Levi pressed her against the counter, cupping her face, the kiss deep and long.

Elle made a muffled sound, the pot on the stove boiling over. "L-Levi...wait..."

He released her, but still leaning close. Her face was an adorable red, expression startled. She turned quickly to kill the stove, picking up the knife from the floor and putting the potato in the sink with the peels. "Sorry...y-you startled me..."

"Im sorry. I meant to come back right after but Erwin made things complicated..." He had wasted precious hours, minutes and seconds with her. He was so stupid! She could be left out there, coming back bleeding, missing another limb, or not come back at all...she could flayed alive by those cannibals, crushed by a Titan, eaten, slain, killed, dead, and where would he be? Once again stuck in the same rut he keeps trying to climb out of. He'll convince himself not to get too close again, because everyone dies. Everyone! It's the same god damn viscous cycle. Maybe Erwin is the smart one here. He never got married, because he never wanted his wife to face the fate of losing her husband to Titans. Levi didn't want to face the fate of losing Elle.

"Levi?"

Elle pulled him from his thoughts, unaware he was scowling at nothing, his fists clenched tightly. "Levi, look at me, please..."

His eyes finally met hers, grey and blue, the cheerful azure sky compared to the brewing of storm clouds. Her gaze was understanding, recognizing the turmoil his expression gave away. Her arms wrapped around him, pressing close against him, her head resting on his shoulder. "I'm not going to die...I would never leave you like that, you understand? But you have to promise me the same..."

He swallowed and nodded slowly. She pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, but stopped him as he chased her for another. "After dinner, you look pretty hungry."

He sighed, letting her go to finish cooking. "It's not food I'm hungry for..." His eyes gazed down at her as she glanced over her shoulder, satisfied as she turned away with a blushing face.

She made potato and cheese soup, the potatoes she found in the field and the cheese she was able to walk to the market and buy with the little money she had with her. It was filling at most but not decadent, which was fine with Levi. His stomach would be doing flips till they returned from the mission he was sure. Elle stirred her soup with her spoon absentmindedly, lost in deep thought.

"Are we going to tell the others we eloped..?"

Levi stopped, putting his spoon down. That was a good question. He was sure they were going to mad he didn't invite them to the wedding, but then he was sure they'd be happy about his marriage. He just didn't want them to overreact like usual. "I guess we should." He concluded.

With a smile, Elle nodded. "Good, I don't like keeping secrets from them. Were you worried it'd disrupt your image?" Her eyes were teasing, smirking slightly.

He wanted to be through with dinner already to begin on his dessert, but he wondered what she meant. "My image?" He repeated as she sipped the broth from her spoon.

"Yeah, like how you're the unemotional stoic leader who doesn't let anyone into his heart."

He scoffed at her. "Well obviously that's not true thanks to you. Besides, I've never much cared how I'm perceived." His hand moved across the table, taking hold of her left hand resting there, his thumb brushing over the ring. "You've changed...why?"

"Changed?" She squeezed his hand, expression confused.

He gazed at her face, putting together the details that made her different. "You've matured...it seems after the Wild Games you seem a little less...naive I suppose, less childish." She rolled her eyes, smiling warmly. She used to pout and cry constantly, too naive for her own good. But now she seemed more mature and level headed for some reason.

"It might've been because the thought of you hating me might've steeled me a bit. I...I decided after that it was time to stop being so narrow minded...things are going to go bad in the world and...it's not always going to get better." She kissed his palm sweetly, pressing his hand against her cheek. Levi's heart raced a bit to the warmth. "I'm Levi Rivailles wife...I want to be a woman you'd be proud to tell everyone about."

He now realized the difference. She didn't seem like a girl, or an idiot like he often called her before, but a woman. It wasn't his doing, but something she must've decided on her own.

"You've changed too you know," she smiled, "you're less quick to judge or show prejudism. That's good."

"I guess we were both narrow minded." He mumbled, watching her fingers brush over his hand. The windows were dark, and they both hadn't realized how dim the room had gotten. Levi lit a candle, looking around the empty room he'd yet to venture into. It was small and orderly, the only cleaning needed was some good dusting. He stripped the top quilt, the blankets and sheet safe from any dust. He felt arms wrap around his waist, relaxing into Elle's hold.

"Why don't we stay the night? Get up early in the morning and go back." She suggested, her voice muffled with her head resting between his shoulder blades.

Levi's chest warmed to the thought of the hours he wasted could be made up. "Of course, Mrs. Rivaille." She giggled, kissing the back of his neck. He turned around in her arms, holding her close.

Crickets chirped through the muggy air of the night, the moon only a quarter full, casting shadows over the rolling fields of the hills. Only a lone candle sat on the bedside table of the isolated cabin flickering light onto Elle's bare glistening skin.

Her moans were throaty as he moved against her, back arching with every thrust. Their skin was slick and rubbed together with the close proximity between the two.

Levi was overwhelmed, trying to forget what will soon come as the sun rose in the east, he just wanted to be present in this moment with the woman he loved. His lips tickled down her throat while he felt her fingers tug at his hair, moaning his name. He wasn't sure how long they had been glued together like this, hours? He'd already came twice before, but he just didn't want it to end. Ending this would mean going back. He slowed his hips, favoring the feeling of his wife squirm restlessly in his arms. "Levi...m-maybe...we should rest..." Her voice was high breathing shallow from her orgasm she had just minutes ago before he plunged back into another round. She was still recovering from the ache of her first time last night as well, and he didn't want to exhaust her before the mission. But he didn't want to be pulled back into the thoughts of what could happen during the mission either...

Elle gently sat up, her eyes concerned. Sweat curled her long hair, cheeks flushed an adoring rose color. "Levi, we should rest now...we won't have enough energy tomorrow..."

"I know…" he muttered, sighing. "I'm alright…" he pulled away from her and held her in his arms, savoring her warmth. she hesitated, but eventually moved to settle closer to him, still faintly trying to catch her breath.

"Goodnight," she breathed, placing a soft kiss on the side of his neck. he did not answer, and even as her breathing slowed as she drifted to sleep, he still gazed at the flickering candle at their bedside, watching it's flame dance with the shadows it casted. Even when it was finally snuffed by its own melted wax, even till he could not even tell whether he was asleep or awake, he never stopped thing of what could happen. What has always happened.

Petra was staring in horror.

"You're what?" she asked in astonishment yet again, oblivious to the soldiers packing the wagons around her.

"Married," I confirmed patiently, holding up the ring connected to the chain around my neck so it wouldn't get hurt. I was lying in the grass to take a break from loading crates all morning. It was eight am, and we were set to leave in an hour.

"Is there a reason none of us were told?" she demanded, and I smiled.

"Sure, it was an elopement. Levi and I didn't even know till the hour of. With everything that as happened he thought it be best to get married before the mission."

"So Levi wasn't actually visiting his friend Ezekiel?"

I smiled. "No, it was our wedding night."

"That is not fair at all!" She exclaimed. "I should've been a bride's maid! Leave it up to Levi to want to elope. Aren't you upset you didn't get a nice wedding?"

I sat up, shrugging. "not much, I'm not one for extravagance. It was really nice too, just the two of us." I smiled to myself at the fond memories, imagining the two nights before, feeling like it wasn't enough. But I wasn't going to die and miss the chance to come back home with Levi, live as husband and wife…

A whistle sounded in the crowd to notify the soldiers to get into ranks. Holding onto Petra's hands she hoisted me up before going off to our team, where I was sure she was going to tell them everything I told her. I went to my horse, keeping an eye out for Levi, but I was sure he was among the higher ranking officers by now, probably finalizing strategies. it didn't seem like a very big deal to finally leave the walls. Levi was in view by then as we rode our horses out of the walls, his green cape billowing behind him as our team broke off to the east. We'd reach the check point by nightfall. Every now and then I'd get a glimpse of a titan in the distance, but it wouldn't come very near. We'd shoot a smoke flare accordingly and change our position.

It wasn't till a six meter class has slipped past the vanguards insurance that my calm started to shake. the thing ran at us on its squat legs, expression forever induced blood curling grin that stared with fixated hunger. There was something about the shorter ones the seemed most terrifying, like it was easier to reach you.

Petra shot off the flare. "Six meter class! Captain, I'll-" But Levi had already launched off his horse. His hooks burrowed into the creatures shoulder, and he used gravity to swing him forward and up. Once high enough he spun down at a blurring speed and sliced at the titans weak point. All done perfectly as usual.

Petra didn't look pleased. "Captain you should communicate to us about a kill!"

"I saw an opening and I took it. Keep your eyes ahead." he responded curtly. the team looked at each other in confusion but kept moving. having a hunch of what the was about, I rode up beside Levi.

"You shouldn't act so rashly." I said to him, hoping the wind from our horses would cover what I was saying from the team. "It could potentially be dangerous If you kept acting on your own." He didn't respond but I knew he would keep it in mind. Something told me he wasn't going to relax till we were at the checkpoint.

A red flare shot up in the distance and we proceeded to change our position, but only to see two fifteen meters ahead battling with the squad. It wasn't a fair fight.

"Sir, we should assist them!" Eldo called ahead. I looked at Levi, who was hesitating, glancing at me. I glared at him. Don't let your feelings for me get in way of the mission. My thoughts conveyed through my expression, because he changed our course to help. "Gunther, Ulio, take out the one on the right, Elle and I will handle the left. Mind our horses the rest of you."

It didn't take long to reach the titans, their movements slow but vast as they swatted at the soldiers like flies. without having anyone to eat yet, they weren't distracted and harder to kill against the three soldiers trying to handle the situation.

"Elle." Levi perched on his saddle, blades drawn. I had just an instant to do the same before we launched into a jump and shot our cables into the titan to the left, it's hair long and matted, looking back to find the source of the cables pierced into its back. As the wind whipped through my hair and clothes I tightened my muscles in response to where I needed to go. I glanced at Levi.

He pointed his blade down at the legs then nodded up. Understanding, I restricted my cables and dropped, ignoring the floating feeling of my stomach. The second I reached the calf closest I tore into its flesh with my blades, allowing it to slow my down, then firing my cables into the titan's buttocks, I flipped my blades in my hands and tore up its other leg. Steaming bloods splattered on my hands, but I knew it'd evaporate eventually.

Meanwhile as the titan fell, Levi had flown to the top of the giant, and sliced a divot cleanly into the back of the neck.

Retracting my cables I jogged to my horse, climbing on as Levi mounted his and we rode on. No one spoke, but I smiled at Levi, a bit smugly too. He simply rolled his eyes with a scowl. He didn't have to worry about me, and he knew it. I'd be fine.