She felt dry, warm lips pressing kisses on her forehead. Nathalie couldn't believe she had managed to fall asleep again. After that long talk that they had last night, she ate the dinner that he had brought her, and he had helped her take a shower. He took good care of her. His touch, gentle. His hands almost trembled, afraid to hurt her, but she had reassured him that it was alright. He had tucked her in the towels to dry her off before he had brought another clean gown for her to get in.
She had protested that there was no way she could sleep again after sleeping the entire day, but she slept anyway. She couldn't help it. He was so warm with his arms around her. His heartbeat, steady beneath her ear, and his calloused thumb rubbed soft circles around her shoulder. These were enough to make her drift off to sleep.
His lips found her forehead and pressed a kiss, and another, till his Nathalie was finally beginning to stir. His thumb found her cheek. "Time to wake up, Nat," He whispered softly against her hair and she finally lifted her head off his chest. They had a meeting to attend with all the rest veteran squad leaders of the Scouts.
Her blue eyes met his own and her lips curled up into a sweet smile as she looked up at her handsome husband. Nathalie nodded and hummed in response. She leaned in and she found herself pressing kisses on his chest, his neck, all the way up to his chin, his cheekbone. That perfect jawline. Her husband. So handsome and perfect. His hair were a raven dishevelled mess against his pillows and he just closed his eyes and revelled in her touches and kisses.
"You're going to make it very hard for us both to get off this bed if you keep this up," Levi frowned. His hand snuck beneath her gown and traced the supple skin of her back. Perfect. Smooth and perfect.
"Who knows? Maybe that's what I'm trying to do," Nathalie giggled mischievously against his lips, before she started planting pecks on his lips and he tried his best not to return them.
He knew just the thing. "You know, we've got ten minutes to get ready,"
At that she stopped kissing and she looked up at him wide-eyed. "Ten minutes?!"
She was off the bed before he knew it. Always works. He smirked as he watched his wife opening the small closet that they had nearby for the few clothes that they owned. She pulled out a skirt and a shirt for her, and then she fumbled through his clothes. She'd pick him a new set of clothes whenever he needed one. She knew every single one of them. Whenever he needed to buy something new, he'd make sure to take her with him. Nathalie just always knew exactly what to search for and ask from the shop owners.
Levi was just so helpless without her.
He watched her as she pulled out a set of black trousers with a black jacket. A white buttoned shirt and an ascot that he was going to let her tie around his neck later. She placed his clothes on the bed and she grabbed her own and hurried in the bathroom. Levi's smile grew when she was out of sight. They actually had twenty minutes to get ready, but knowing her, she was going to get ready in five minutes.
His Nathalie was always so fast when rushed.
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"Where have you been?! Are you alright?! Did he hurt you?!"
Hange's voice was the first thing she heard when she stepped foot in the Commander's office. Hange and Moblit were already there. Erwin wasn't there just yet, and they had been waiting for him and a couple more Section Commanders and the Captains of the veteran squads. They were supposed to all gather and review the plan, and talk about the information that Nathalie had come up with the previous nights.
Hange had jumped off her seat, and she had hastily made her way towards Nathalie. She grabbed Nathalie's hands in her own and looked down worriedly at her friend. Nathalie was in her dark grey skirt, and a white shirt on top stuffed into it. She was wearing a very nice grey scarf around her neck for obvious reasons. Nathalie was trying her best to hide the limping. Levi's hand was almost always around her waist to help her with that. Her body was still sore. The bruises were still sensitive and everywhere. Hange could see right through the act.
"Hange! We have no business sticking our noses where they're not-" Moblit tried to defend Levi, but Hange cut him.
"Shut up, Mobby! This is a matter of life and death," Hange growled before she let go of Nathalie's hands. Nathalie tried to speak, but Hange grabbed Levi by the shirt, tugging him closer, looking down at the man with a deadly look on her face. "What did you do to her?! Spill it out!"
"Hange," Nathalie said, placing a hand on her shoulder and drawing her friend's attention. "I'm alright, darling, you don't have to worry,"
Hange finally let go of Levi's shirt and she turned at Nathalie, placing her arms on her shoulders. "Then where have you been?!" She asked worriedly.
"I-" Nathalie realised she had no choice but to use Levi's excuse. "I took the day off, that's… all," Oh, but she was a terrible liar. She had always been.
Hange gritted her teeth. "Bullshit!" She parted her lips to throw something utterly rude to Levi's way, who still had that bored, stoic expression on his face, but Erwin and the others walked in.
"Good to see you are in good health, Lieutenant," Erwin said, as he passed the four and set off to sit on his chair. Nathalie could tell from the tone of his voice that he kind of doubted whether she was in good health.
Nathalie tensed up slightly. She hadn't seen this man ever since two nights ago, after what they had done. "I- y- yes! Thank you, sir!" She stuttered helplessly and Hange raised an eyebrow. Her friend was only confirming the fact that she had cheated on her husband with their Commander. Oh, Hange had a long-ass talk to do with her.
"Let us begin,"
Her hand reached for her glasses that had been hanging from the rope around her neck, and she settled them on her nose, turning her attention on the papers that were handed to her. Nathalie was relieved to just focus on the plan that they would be executing tomorrow. She only hoped that by tomorrow she'd be able to walk.
Her beloved husband was sitting beside her on the large green couch of Erwin's office, but one hand was always around her waist, pressing her against him. He didn't care about the way Hange glared at his hand a couple of times during Erwin's long talk. Nathalie didn't care about his hand being around her either. She only had to fight the need to rest her head on his shoulder and cuddle with him.
Hange and Moblit were sitting on the same couch, whilst the rest of the Squad Leaders were sitting across them on chairs. The veteran squads were four, including Hange's, but the Hange and the Levi squads were going to be dealing with the Colossal and the Armoured titans. Nathalie couldn't say she liked letting her kids deal with these, but Hange was going to be with them, and she was going to take good care of them. Nathalie was glad that their squad wasn't going to be with them. Dealing with the Beast Titan was going to be a pain. But Erwin's plan was flawless. They knew the enemy's strategy. That was exactly what Erwin needed to come up with a perfect plan.
"You spoke to Shadis, and based on what he told you, seems that Grisha Yeager was a human who came from outside the walls," Erwin said turning at Hange.
"Yes, and like the others, Annie, Reiner, Berthold, and the man stirring the Beast Titan, he also seemed to have the power of the titans, but whereas those four sought to undermine it, he was supportive of humanity within the walls," Hange explained.
"That's because there's people like us out there,"
Nathalie spoke, drawing their attention and she took out her notebook. She fumbled through the pages till she found the bloodstained ones from a few nights back. Everybody noticed the blood that had dried off on the pages, but Erwin, Hange and Moblit decided to scold her about it later.
"Marley is an enemy Nation governed by normal people. People who can't turn into titans because they don't have the genes that can turn them to titans. The people who do, are called Eldians. Which means, we're all Eldians here. Should any of us be injected with TSF, they'll turn into a mindless titan. But there are Eldians out there too, and they're being treated like animals," Nathalie explained.
"So you're saying that Grisha Yeager was one of the Eldians from the outside?" Erwin asked.
"Yes," Nathalie nodded. "The Eldians from the outside tried to revolt, and Dr. Yeager was a participant in that revolution. Of course, they were caught and sent here as titans to terrorise us,"
"So they really are hoping that the titans they're sending will wipe us out," Hange said.
"They think we're devils for being able to transform. They hate us for crimes we never really committed," Nathalie closed her notebook. She had much to say, but it was all information that she wasn't sure whether Erwin wanted to come out or not. She'd have to tell him privately.
"Grisha aimed to wipe out the royal family. If members of the royal family still existed, then they'd use the power of the Founder to wipe our memories," Erwin said. "This man really knew what he was doing,"
"Searching for the Royal Family was still a heavy burden to shoulder alone. If you ask me, that's not something you do unless you have an iron will and incredible resolve," Hange turned at Erwin. "And let's not forget, that same man wanted to show his son -eager to join the Scouts- something important,"
"I don't think that something important differs from what Nat has just told us," Levi said. "If there's really an enemy nation called Marley out there, then whatever that man's got in his cellar will be a solid proof of Nat's memories,"
"And that is exactly what we need. We can't convince the Military without any proof," One of the squad leaders said.
"If Grisha was so eager to help us, then why didn't he send any information our way?" The other asked.
"Because he knew things which mustn't be said," Erwin said. "Even if he spoke of the truth, he would be hunted down by the king and the government that we overthrew," He crossed his hands across his chest, and he turned at his squad leaders and Section Commanders. "The final preparations are complete. The Operation to Retake Wall Maria begins tomorrow. Want to know what's in that cellar? Let's go see for ourselves. We're Scouts. That's what we do,"
Erwin was right. That was the purpose of the Survey Corps in the first place. To discover the truth. Everybody offered their Commander a smile as the meeting finally reached its end.
"I'll leave it to you to alert your squads," Erwin said.
"Right," They stood up. "We'll keep it quiet for now though,"
"I think our troops deserve some meat on a day like this,"
"Good idea. Gotta show those kids the adults can be counted on,"
"Oh my gosh, yes! I'm cooking!" Nathalie offered excitedly as she followed them out of the room. The chance to cook meat wasn't one that she'd frequently get. Aw, her kids were going to love what she had in store for them.
"Fuck yeah, if Nat's cooking then tonight we'll be having real good dinner,"
"What about Instructor Shadis keeping important secrets from us?"
"Forget it. We don't have time to deal with that now,"
Levi closed the door, pulling everybody out. He was aware of a yelp that Nathalie and Hange let out as he pushed the door closed, but he had important things to discuss about with his Commander right now.
"What is it, Levi?" Erwin asked as he watched his comrade pressing his back against the door. His hands tucked in the pockets of his trench coat.
"She won't listen to me," Levi looked at his Commander. "But she might listen to you," He stood straight. His hands still in the pockets of his trench coat. "Give the order. Nat doesn't have to come to this mission. She's too important. The things she knows, and those books in that library, she's the only one who can translate them. We can't afford to put her life at risk,"
Erwin sighed. A soft smile spread on his lips and he crossed his hands against his chest. He pressed some of his weight back against his desk and he looked at his friend. He did not expect anything less from Levi, but he knew these weren't the reasons that Levi didn't want her to come. He was only pulling out those reasons to convince him.
"Does she want to come?" Erwin asked.
Levi frowned visibly. "Unfortunately,"
"Then let her," Erwin said and Levi's eyes widened. He parted his lips to object, but Erwin continued speaking. "This is it, isn't it?" He asked. "The reason you two fought about, and you hurt her, and she used me just to get back at you. You trespassed her freedom,"
Levi didn't really have an answer. He just stared back at his Commander. He pulled a hand out of his pocket and he rubbed his forehead tiredly. Erwin never ceased to remind him how smart he was.
"I'm only trying to protect her," Levi said to his defence.
"No one's stopping you from protecting her. I've made sure she'll be with you at all times," Erwin reasoned as he stood straight and made his way around his desk. "I worry about her as much as you do, Levi, but we have no right to force her into something that she doesn't want. She's a skilled soldier. The second best we have. She will be wasted if we don't take her with us," He looked back at his comrade. "Nevertheless, protect her. Give your life if you have to. That's an order,"
Levi did not expect for Erwin to give that order. He was going to do it anyway, but now it was an order, and he had never defied any orders from his Commander. Give your life if you have to. He was going to do it if it got to this.
"So be it," Levi turned around to open the door and leave, but he stopped. His hand was still on the doorknob but there was one more thing he needed to take care of. He turned and looked back at Erwin. "If it gets to this and I'm no longer around…" It took so much of his courage and ego to say this, but he didn't care. It was all for her. "…will you look after her for me?"
Erwin couldn't believe his friend had just asked for that. He gave Levi a genuine smile. "I cannot make her as happy as you can. But if it gets to this, I'll take care of our Nathalie, I give you my word,"
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Nathalie hadn't cooked beef in a while, but she was sure she hadn't lost her touch. Thankfully, Hange was good friends with Flegel Reeves, and the Reeves Company had offered large amounts of meat to feed all two hundred soldiers of the Scouts for the night before the big operation.
It took her all afternoon, but she was finally finished, and set out with the rest of the squad leaders to serve the dishes to their squads that were sitting around the wooden tables of the dining hall.
"This may be a special night, but we don't need the public knowing our plans. So behave like the disciplined soldiers you are," One of the squad leaders said. "Alright, here's to retaking Wall Maria. A toast!"
Everybody literally attacked on the food served in front of them on their tables. Nathalie still had that white apron around her waist. She had forgotten to take it off, but it was alright, she'd take it off afterwards and return it to the kitchen staff. But for now, it was time to eat. She was hungry. Way too hungry. For a moment, she considered being worried about it, but then she remembered, she hadn't eaten anything all day, so that was probably the reason. Nothing else.
Levi was sitting beside her on the bench. They were gathered with Hange, Moblit and the rest of the veteran squad leaders on one table whilst their squads were all around attacking the meat on their dishes like maniacs. Levi wouldn't blame them. It was a reaction that they had all expected from their squads since eating meat was a very rare occasion. Not to mention that it was delicious. He hadn't eaten much. He only tried it because his Nathalie had made it and it was exquisite. She was so damn talented with everything that she did. So perfect. His.
Levi couldn't help staring at her as she munched on the food hungrily. She was still in that grey skirt, and that white shirt. A white apron was tied around her, and her hair were pulled back by a white cloth. She had probably forgotten to take that off as well after she had finished cooking. But it didn't matter. She was the only person he could see right now, even though they were surrounded by so many others. He could spend a lifetime just staring at her.
So perfect. She turned and looked at him. Her cheeks, stuffed. Her mouth, full. She swallowed that large bite that she had taken and she realised he wasn't eating the food that she had served him. He was just staring at her.
"Are you okay?" Nathalie asked as she placed a hand on his chest turning at her husband. "You don't like it?" She asked worriedly.
Levi just chuckled and he shook his head. "It's perfect," A warm arm slipped around her waist, and he brought her a little closer to him. He pressed a kiss to her temple and she giggled as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her nose and her soft breaths tickled his neck.
"Then eat, you must be hungry," Nathalie said, closing her eyes slightly, taking a short moment to enjoy her husband's warmth. They didn't really care whether there were any people around them.
"You seem hungrier than me," Levi looked down at his lovely wife as she snuggled closer into him. He loved how much she needed him. He loved how much she showed it. "You can have mine," She could have it all. Everything that was his, it could be hers if she wanted it. Including his life. No. That was already her own.
Nathalie giggled against his shoulder and she lifted her head to look up at him and speak, but one of the squad leaders drew their attention.
"Uh-oh, I think we got casualties,"
They both looked ahead only to see Sasha punching Marlowe, effectively making his nose bleed, whilst Jean was trying to pull the entire piece of meat out of her mouth. Connie was behind her, with a hand around her neck trying to knock her out, failing miserably.
"Drop the meat, Sasha! I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO KILL YOU!" Connie threatened.
"Should we never serve them meat again?" Hange asked with her mouth full.
"Well, at least now we know what happens when we blow off the entire food budget of two months in one night of celebrating," Moblit said munching on meat.
Once Jean finally pulled the meat out of her mouth, Sasha caught Jean's hand between her teeth. Jean screamed in pain. "AAAHHHH! NOW YOU'RE EATING MEEE! MY HAND! MY HAND!"
"SASHA! THAT MEAT IS JEAN! WE DON'T EAT OUR FRIENDS, OKAY?!" Connie cried out alarmingly.
"NAT! COME SAVE ME PLEASE!" Jean cried out as he looked at Nathalie's direction.
Nathalie cringed and she stood up right away and hurried towards her kids. Sasha wasn't letting go of Jean's hand no matter how much Connie tried to push her away.
"Nat! Please! Knock her out!" Connie cried out.
Nathalie wished she didn't have to do it. Human Anatomy wasn't her strongest point, but she did it anyway, or else Jean would be missing a couple of fingers tomorrow. "I'm so sorry, darling!" She said apologetically to Sasha, before she gave a rough jab -but not too rough- on the vagus nerve beneath Sasha's jawline and Sasha passed out in no more than five seconds. Connie caught her, and both him and Jean sighed in relief. "Oh my God, I hope she's not dead!" Nathalie cried out as she checked the pulse point on Sasha's neck, relieved to find a steady heartbeat. She let out a heavy sigh of relief. Her shoulders relaxed instantly.
"Nice moves, Nat," Mikasa smirked and Nathalie turned to give her a smile.
"Relax, nothing can take that freak down," Connie smirked as he tried to drag Sasha but Eren jumped on his feet and approached him.
"Let me help you out," Eren offered and the two boys picked Sasha up to tie her on a pole so that she wouldn't be able to attack their food when she'd wake up.
Nathalie turned at Jean and she took his bitten hand in her own. She put on her glasses and started examining it. Jean was forcing a smile on his face, even though she could tell he was trying his best not to start whirling like a baby.
Jean muffled a wince as she traced the bitemarks. "Does it hurt, darling?" Nathalie asked worriedly.
"N- No! Of course, not, it's just a scratch," Jean laughed nervously. "Marlowe got a hard hit, though," He nudged over at the soldier who was once an MP and he was sitting on the same table as the Levi Squad.
Levi had told her how that very soldier and another one had helped them back when the MPs were chasing the Scouts. She pressed a hand on his shoulder and the boy tensed up right away.
"L- Lieutenant-"
"Call me Nathalie," Nathalie gave him a smile and she cupped his face. The boy was taken aback by her reaction right away. "Let me check on that nose, will you?" She urged him to push the bloodstained handkerchief off his nose and she took a look. The bone didn't seem to be fractured, but definitely there was tissue swollen and bleeding on the inside. She turned at Jean who sat back down beside Marlowe. "Try not to put any pressure on your injuries, alright? I'll get you two some ice,"
Nathalie set off for the kitchen right away and Marlowe pressed his handkerchief back on his nostrils, still surprised. "Whoah… s- she's so nice!"
Armin smiled. "Nat's always been nice to us,"
Jean smirked. "Nat's basically adopted us. Stick around for a while and she might adopt you too,"
By the time Nathalie returned with the ice, Jean and Eren were beating each other up. She sighed. Oh c'mon, these two were so feisty. They were enjoying this, she could tell. Beating each other and shouting at each other whilst the soldiers all around cheered.
"Try not to kill each other," Connie commented with his mouth full.
"Should we stop them?" Armin asked Mikasa and she just shook her head no. It was Eren's fight. They didn't have to intervene like they always did.
"YOU WANNA START SHOWING YOUR MOM SOME RESPECT?! JEANBOY!"
Nathalie did not get the reference but she tried not to laugh anyway. She wanted to see how far they'd get this. When they finally looked too much worked out, before Nathalie could do anything to stop them, Levi walked in.
"Oi," Levi knocked them both down on the floor and he frowned. The cheering stopped. Everybody fell quiet. "That's enough celebrating. Go to bed,"
"Yes, sir!"
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After making sure to feed Sasha, because Nathalie couldn't believe those two monsters -Eren and Connie- had tied her up like this, Nathalie filled a dish with a portion of food that she had saved, and she settled it on a tray. Erwin hadn't come down to eat. He must have been in his office, revising the plan again and again, trying to find any flaws. Trying to think of alternatives. He could not let this operation fail. He couldn't.
But she still had to apologise about what happened between them two nights ago. She couldn't let things stay unresolved between her and Erwin. He was her Commander and she was a Lieutenant in his Regiment. She had to talk to him and solve this.
Nathalie knocked on his door. "Come in," Erwin called out, and she opened the door with one hand, whilst the other held the tray.
Erwin smiled when he saw her. She looked just perfect. She had taken that cloth off her hair, and the apron that she had been previously wearing. She had left them in the kitchen. She was in that same grey skirt, and the white buttoned shirt that was stuffed beneath. Her hair were a short, pale-brown mess that barely touched her shoulders. A strand of hair was falling on the right side of her forehead and her blue eyes met his own. Her pink lips curled into a smile, and he found that he couldn't look anywhere but her.
"You didn't come downstairs for dinner. I saved up some for you," She said as she approached him, and she placed the tray on an empty spot on his desk.
"That is very thoughtful of you," Erwin smiled and he was only beginning to realise how precious she really was. It wasn't about bringing success to his plans with her knowledge and her origins and that brilliance of hers. She was perfect, in every aspect. Levi was right to cling onto her so obsessively. If Levi died tomorrow, she was going to be his. He couldn't deny it. The idea sounded more than intriguing. But Levi was his friend and a powerful ally. Levi was the one who could make her happy. Truly happy.
"I- I want to apologise about what… transpired between us two nights ago," Nathalie stuttered, but she pulled it together. She sat down on a chair across his desk.
Erwin shook his head. "There's nothing to apologise about. It was a justified moment of weakness,"
"Still, I had no right to use you like this," Nathalie bit her tongue. He couldn't be forgiving her that easily, could he? She knew Erwin was a man of honour, respectful towards everyone and everything. Her hand reached for her glasses, pulling them off and allowing them to hung from the rope around her neck to her chest. "I'm sorry,"
Erwin looked at her for a moment and she found herself trying to look anywhere but him and those large blue eyes that she always drowned in. She was blushing before she knew it. She bit her tongue and tensed slightly.
"Come here," Erwin said. His voice soft, but still authoritative. It wasn't a request.
Nathalie bit her tongue a little harsher, trying to focus on the sting. What was it that he had in mind? Was he planning to… no. Erwin would never do that, right? Right? She did as he had asked. If things got out of hand, she could easily knock him off of her. She had fought with much larger men in the Underground. Levi's moves always worked. He had taught her everything he knew.
But Erwin would never use her like this. He wouldn't cross the borders unless she let him. Once she was close enough, he passed his arms around her waist and he buried his face in her belly. He only closed his eyes and he sighed in utter relief that she wasn't pushing him away. Instead her hands slipped around his shoulders, and she found his blonde hair, caressing soothingly.
Nathalie's shoulders relaxed. He wasn't planning to do anything more than that. She wouldn't allow anything more. She just caressed his hair and she shook her head. All these men, so touch-starved and needy. She wouldn't blame them. Life had made them like this. Everybody was touch-starved at this point, with all that cruelty, and all that shit that they had been dealing with.
She owed to hold him, just like he had held her in that cell back in the day of their imprisonment. She couldn't imagine how burdened those shoulders beneath her hands must've been. And he was alone. He was carrying it all on his own.
He forced himself to pull back, and he looked up at her beautiful face. She cupped his cheek and he fought the need to lean on her soft hand. "There you go. I used you, you used me. We're even now," He said and she chuckled.
Nathalie's thumb stroked his cheek tenderly. "Have your dinner, Commander," She pulled away and she made her way out of his office. "And be sure to get some sleep, okay?"
Erwin smiled and nodded at her as he watched her walk out of his room.