A/N: Chapter 29... My fanfiction is getting on... it's already nearing the big three o.
...
Historia
I awake to the soothing sound of morning birds as I stir in my sleep. But then a splitting headache shoots through my skull, and I release a silent moan.
How much did I have to drink last night? I can hardly remember a thing. The only thing I do recall is Captain Levi carrying me away to bed.
I hope I didn't embarrass myself too much. That is not how a queen should act. Yet it was the most fun I had in years. It really was like being in the Cadet Corps again.
I sit up, massaging my throbbing head. I wonder how the others are faring as I climb out of the tent, flinching when that beautiful sunshine stings my eyes.
The ground is covered in glittering, blue frost as I shiver, wrapping my cloak around my body. My breath is a cloud, and I just wish I could crawl back into my sleeping bag.
At least I have a warm tent. The others had to sleep out in this cold all night, and I hope they're okay. Slowly, I make my way to camp, trying not to slip on the ice, and soon I find everyone snoozing.
I smile.
They all look so cute dozing around the fading fire. Jean holds an empty flagon of ale as he snores with his mouth wide open. There's slight drool dripping from his lips. Connie crouches in a foetal position while Sasha hugs a loaf of bread.
Eren, Armin, and Mikasa lay close, and it warms my heart to see Mikasa draping her arm across Eren's chest, feeling his heartbeat by the looks of it.
The only person missing is the captain, and I search the forest. Even when I scan the trees, he's nowhere in sight unless he's just camouflaged himself.
He was always really good at that.
The sound of horses catches my attention next, and I peer towards the sound, my heart thrumming in my mouth.
We… we have company…
"G-guys… s-someone's coming…" I whisper, trying to wake the others.
Armin's the first to stir as he sits up, rubbing his eyes. "Historia? What time is it? Where… where's the captain?"
I address the blond. "Armin, someone's coming!"
His blue eyes bulge and now he jumps to his feet, following my gaze. Through a break in the trees, we spot that unicorn emblem, and we both release a simultaneous gasp.
"It's… it's the Military Police!" Armin peeps, turning to Jean. "Jean! The MPs have arrived! We have to alert the captain. Where is he?!"
That's a good question. He would have normally arrived the moment the MPs showed their faces. It's so not like him, and I do really hope he's okay.
Jean groans, massaging his face. "Armin, not so loud... Rough night, you know…"
The blond goes into a blind panic next, and I watch now as he flaps around camp, waking the others. By the time he has them all on their feet, the MPs arrive, and now they look down their noses at us from atop their high mounts.
Really? I thought the rivalry between the MPs and the Scouts was over with, especially as we all share a common enemy now. Then again, didn't we always share a common enemy?
The titans would have eaten us all the same.
I don't know these MPs. There are two of them in total. They're young, about the same age as us. They probably graduated in 850 too, the same year we all did. Funny, if Trost hadn't fallen, it could have been Jean and Marco looking down on us now, but I doubt the latter would have had the heart to be so cruel to his former comrades (God rest his soul).
Jean on the other hand… If he had joined the MPs, he probably would have become just as self-righteous.
It seems Nile finally got wind of Captain Levi's plans, sending two of his youngest lackeys to investigate and report back anything suspicious.
The dirty-blond MP skims his eyes around camp as his gaze falls on those empty kegs of ale.
We went through three full kegs. The shame…
"It seems there was a party here last night, and we weren't invited."
None of us know what to say. We all just stand around acting dumb.
The MP looks over at me and Eren now. "Well, if it isn't Eren Jaeger and Queen Historia Reiss. How strange…"
Eren glares at the MP, keeping his mouth shut. Mikasa takes a protective stance in front of him.
My heart won't stop pounding. If only the captain were here, he'd know what to say.
Where is he? I hope he's not too far...
To my relief, Jean steps forth and addresses the smug, dirty-blond. "There's nothing to see here, Fellas. Now hop back along to the capital and tell Commander Dok that you needn't come here again. The captain merely brought us out here for training. That's all."
The dirty-blond narrows his eyes. "Training for what, exactly?"
Jean shrugs. "You never know when the Marleyans could attack."
The MP glances up at the trees. "It seems you've all downsized. I thought you Scouts liked training in the Titan Forest in Wall Maria."
"Well, we did... but then our enemies downsized too. It only made sense."
I stare at Jean, impressed. He always knows how to handle himself against these city officials. As a country bumpkin, I'm clueless.
The MP casts his eyes around again. "So, where is the infamous Captain Levi or should I say Humanity's Strongest?"
Both MPs laugh at the remark, and I narrow my eyes.
Oh, they'll be sorry when he finally does arrive… I doubt they will look so smug then.
Jean shrugs once again. "Beats me. Maybe he saw your ugly face and retreated back into the forest."
The dark-haired MP laughs at Jean's comment. "Ha, he got you there, Elias…"
The dirty-blond growls. "That's rich coming from you, Horse-face—"
"What's the meaning of this?"
I release a breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding in when I hear that familiar, baritone voice, and now the knot eases in my chest when I look up at the captain.
Finally… Everything is right with the world again, but then I gasp when I see the dark circles beneath his eyes.
Did he even get any sleep last night?
Just as I predicted, the MPs lose all confidence once the captain makes his appearance, and now they stumble for words. "C-Captain Levi… We're... w'ere here on behalf of Nile Dok. He has ordered us to investigate—"
"There's nothing to see here, children. Now go home."
Connie and Sasha snort behind me. The captain always did have a way with words.
The MP's face twitches at the captain's rude reply, but it's obvious he's too afraid to challenge him. I mean, he is going up against Humanity's Strongest after all.
A small smirk tugs at the corners of Levi's lips. "Tch, figures Nile would send a pair of little boys to do a man's job. Look at you. You're pissing your pants."
Sasha and Connie guffaw now, and the captain growls. "Knock it off."
They stop instantly.
The dirty-blond's face is beetroot red as he suppresses his anger. His friend snickers at his expense, but then the captain shoots him a death stare too, and now an awkward silence drifts through the forest.
"So… there's nothing suspicious going on here then?" the dirty-blond asks now, choosing his words wisely.
"No. Just a captain and his squad having a little downtime between training. I thought these brats deserved a break for once."
I roll my eyes. Aw, he called us brats. How sweet.
The MP grips tight hold of his horse's reins. "Well, if you say so, Captain Levi. You are within your jurisdiction to authorize the appropriate use of 3DMG gear within this vicinity after all. It's just that the commander was a little concerned when he learnt that the queen was no longer at the orphanage, so naturally, he's suspicious. I mean, her life is in danger."
Levi exhales a thick cloud of fog. "What's your name, kid?"
The MP startles. "Um… Elias? Eli for short."
The captain tapers his grey eyes then stalks closer, and Elias is just lucky he's up on that horse.
"Well, Elias or Eli of the Military Police Brigade… You tell your good for nothing commander that the queen is perfectly safe with me and my squad. I decided a change of scenery would do her good. Also, I think my squad are more capable of overseeing her protection than the likes of you lot. Don't you agree?"
"S-so… so you saying that the queen is now under the protection of the Survey Corps. Is that it?"
Captain Levi's eyes burn electric blue. "Maybe…"
Elias blinks. "Well… I'm sure the commander would be pleased to hear—"
Levi bares his teeth, and my heart goes for poor Elias now. "Get your asses off my campsite. Or I'll shove your head up your horse's anus!"
Both MPs fumble with the reins of their horses, and now they gallop back into the direction they came from.
I breathe another sigh. Thank goodness, they're gone. No thanks to the captain. I knew he would get them away. The last thing we want to do is rouse any suspicions.
I'm with the captain; I would much rather the Scouts helped me out than the MPs.
I mean, I was a Scout myself too after all.
I walk towards him, reaching my hand for his shoulder. "Captain—"
"Jean, thank you for dealing with those asshats before I arrived," the captain says to Jean next, completely cutting me off. He doesn't even look at me.
The others notice as they cast me worried glances, and I've never felt so embarrassed.
How dare he… in front of my friends.
"No problem, Captain," Jean replies, keeping his sharp eyes on me and Levi. "Where were you anyway if you don't mind my asking?"
The captain peers to one side, and I know he feels my gaze. "I… just had to blow off a little steam. I'm sorry. I should have been here."
I stare at him perplexed. Blow off steam? Whatever for?
Things turn quiet again, apart from the sound of a chirpy robin on a nearby branch. It seems to mock us with its happy little noise. Finally, the captain looks around the campsite, grimacing when he sees those kegs. "Clean this up."
"Yes, sir," they salute.
Satisfied, he turns and stalks off into the forest once again, leaving me absolutely speechless.
Is he serious? I understand we have to act like nothing is going on between us, but this is just cruel.
Besides, I know my fellow 104th aren't stupid. Sooner or later they will see through our façade. I'm pretty sure Armin already has, and even Sasha has joked about it to me now. She does have her own beau after all. Nicolo, the Marleyan.
A perfect star-crossed romance.
But he has no right to pretend as if I'm not even standing here right now, and I grit my teeth and say with a bit too much force. "Levi."
Everyone draws a collective breath as I address the captain by his first name, but I don't care.
They saw me punch him once. How's this any different?
Levi freezes and I swear he shakes, but I'm past the point of caring now. I'll make a show of him too in front of his entire squad, and see how he likes it.
"Don't you ignore me. I am your queen, and you will address me with respect."
I can practically hear Connie and Sasha shivering behind me. I hate to make them uncomfortable, but this is the only way to get the captain to acknowledge me.
Provoke the snake. Why not.
Finally, Levi turns, but once again he only gives me the profile of his face as he fixes one shining, silver eye on me. "As you wish, Your Majesty…"
I don't miss the sarcasm, but I still smile. "Thank you."
He keeps that burning gaze on me, and if looks could kill I'd be toast. I'm surprised that I manage to keep it together, but then again we do have an audience. I have yet to be alone with him. There was once a time I would have been pissing myself like Elias earlier, but not anymore.
Besides, if he wants to get rough with me again, fair enough… I don't mind his rough hands.
Now where did that creepy thought come from?
The captain storms off again and appalled, I run after him. "Levi! Don't you turn your back on me. Get back here!"
Soon he's out of earshot, and now I get a mouthful off Jean. "Historia, what the hell are you thinking?! He's captain friggin' Levi!"
I look around at my old cadet gang. My eyes find Eren instantly, who remains oddly quiet. There was a time you could never get Eren to zip it, yet he just stands to the back like a wallflower, letting Jean do all the talking. So not like him. Mikasa is just as silent and Armin too.
I meet Jean's eyes again, confidently. "I'm the queen. There's nothing he can do after all."
"Still…" Connie warns. "You don't want to provoke him. There are stories about him after all, Historia. He's a pretty twisted guy. We once watched him torture a man. He broke all his bones."
"That's a time in my life I would rather forget…" Sasha shivers.
I scoff. "Are you really the same bunch of people who once encouraged me to punch him? Seriously, guys, don't be so ridiculous. He would never go that far… Well, not a second time..."
Jean, Sasha, and Connie visibly flinch as we all recall the time that he lovingly choked me, but those days are over now. The captain would never risk his head and do something so unforgivable again, right? If he was to lay a hand on me now… he would face the gallows for sure, and the thought terrifies me.
The last thing I want to do is endanger him, and I vow to myself I will never push him too far again. I care about him too much, but gosh he just aggravates me. I can't help it.
"At the end of the day, Historia," Jean goes on. "You may be queen now, but you're no Mikasa… You don't have the strength to go up against him. None of us do, and two of us are titans… Just be careful. It's not that we don't trust him around you, but we're also aware of what he's capable of."
I feel that bitterness inside me at his comment. I'll admit I was always jealous of Mikasa back at the Cadet Corps. So beautifully strong… It's almost not fair.
I look to the other trio then, and spot the girl in question. She stands between Eren and Armin, looking at me so intently with those exquisite, dark eyes. Sometimes they appear navy blue, and other times pitch black. I don't know how she does it.
"Well, what do you guys think?" I say.
Mikasa, Eren, and Armin exchange glances. Armin speaks at last. "Well, I think you should go easy on him a little, Historia. I mean, he has sacrificed a lot to keep you safe. He gave up his regiment just to ensure your wellbeing, and has even saved your life twice now. If he wants to be alone, let him. Give him the space. He does care about you… he cares about all of us. He just has his own way of showing it. Just be your typical, sweet self and he'll come around."
I watch him perplexed, and now I get a little choked up as the guilt finally settles in. Armin has always been the smartest and the most considerate of us all. He sees right through people, observing a person from every angle, just as he does out on the battlefield.
He's right. I really am being awful to the captain. Fair enough. I will give him the space he needs.
I put on my most charming smile and clap my hands together. "Well, you heard the captain, guys, let's clean!"
They all groan and help me clear up the campsite. All the while I can feel Eren's probing eyes, and he's really starting to unsettle me.
He's so not himself these days, and I can't help but be worried about him.
It all seemed to start with the simple kiss of my hand.
What happened to him exactly?
A/N: It felt good writing the tension between Historia and Levi. She started out as such a passive, weak character, but now look at her. Bossing Levi around. I love her so much. She's definitely my favourite girl.
I thought it was cute the way Mikasa had her arm over Eren in chapter 123 after they got drunk in the tent. The scene here was a nod to that.
I bloody love the way Matthew Mercer says "Maybe" in the English dub when he's breaking that guy's bones. He just looks and sounds so sexy.
"Are you Crazy?"
Camera pans on Levi. "Maybe..."
That's why he says it again in this chapter. I implore you to watch AoT in dub if you haven't yet just for Matt Mercer's sexy baritone. But I do love it whenever Hiroshi Kamiya says "Nani" too in his soft, buttery voice in the subbed version 😂
I will post again on Friday. Apparently, it's national anime day. So go and celebrate by watching anime I guess. I'm currently rewatching My Hero Academia. I've watched AoT too much now.
CartoonPrincessSigningOff