I do not own Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin
Greeting all! Sadly, this chapter is about 1,000 words sorter than most of the other chapters. It's a disgrace! I got stuck and didn't know what to do, but don't you fret; the next chapter is way better. Well, at least I'm writing and not leaving it. I'm starting to get a new idea for a story and I have no idea if I want to create my own story, again, or make it a fanfic. The most part of it is that I want to remember things, but I don't know how it ends. If I ever write it, you'll understand as you probably can't at the moment.
Hehe. Anyway, let's begin!
It was now a month until Levi and Eren's wedding. Eren was currently sixteen weeks pregnant and was getting bigger, but only slightly. He felt rather miserable as Levi would sometimes find him in their room, complaining into a pillow. It made him smile slightly, but he knew Eren would experience hormones very soon.
Preparations had already begun, even though both of them had said that it would be a small wedding. Eren had made sure to know the list of people who were coming. He looked down it.
Wedding Invitees:
- People of Shiganshina
- Council members
- Hanji and Petra
- Farlan and Isabel
- Annie (?)
Eren sighed at the last name. Levi had no way of contacting her, but the news of the wedding had spread across the whole three Kingdoms. The guards were there to make sure no one got in to Shiganshina during that day. They both hoped that she would turn up; Annie did say that she would return to see Eren and their child alive.
Petra had been very stern about Eren writing his own vows. He did so and continuously changed it, just as she said he would.
During the week, Eren had arranged for Carla to come to the Palace. He could remember sitting by the window of the library, staring down at the courtyard. As soon as he saw the troops trotting passed the gates, guarding his mother, he ran downstairs as fast as he could. He learnt new things about being pregnant. One was that he got tired more easily.
Eren ran passed Petra and down the steps, to the front door. The servants had already opened the door and his mother walking in, carrying in a small suitcase.
Eren literally threw himself at his mother. She smiled and laughed as she hugged him.
"Hey, cub, how are you?" she asked. Eren nodded into her shoulder.
"I'm okay..." he muttered. Carla chucked and stepped away from Eren, getting a better look at him.
"You've certainly grown. God, I can't believe you're to be married to a King in a month. The Elder has agreed to be the one to give you away. He was sort of waiting to be asked," she said. Eren smiled and looked at his stomach.
"I'm only half way through and I'm still trying to prepare mentally," Eren said. Carla smiled and nodded, placing her hand on her son's cheek.
"You'll be fine, cub. You will always be my cub, even when you have your own." Eren placed his hand over his mother's and nodded.
Levi was walking down the stairs at that point and came over to the mother and son. Carla smiled at her future son-in-law.
"Levi. I presume you have been well," Carla said, hugging him lightly, knowing full well that Levi didn't really hug much, apart from Eren. Levi nodded.
"Well, you know, I have a Kingdom to run and only a few weeks ago we were threatened by mysterious guy from the Underworld who thought he was all Hocus Pocus," he replied. Carla looked to Eren, raising an eyebrow.
"Please tell me you didn't go," she said, looking rather scary. Eren smiled innocently.
"You know me so well." Carla grabbed Eren ear hard. "Ow! Ow! Okay, I'm sorry!" he cried. Carla let go and rubbed it.
"Honestly. You need to be careful, cub. I had my fair share of adventures when I was pregnant with you, even with Grisha around. It resulted in a difficult birth. Have fun," she said. Eren sighed and slumped down.
"I'm sorry."
His mother smiled and sighed.
"As long as your cub is safe, then everything is fine." Levi nodded.
"I'll get someone to take your bag," he offered, but Carla shook her head.
"Nope. I refuse to allow people to do things for me. I'm sure Eren was the same," she said, holding onto her suitcase. Levi nodded.
"True. Eren refused to even allow someone to take his plate away from him after dinner. It must be the Shiganshina blood," he replied. Carla shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe. Or we could be so used to doing things ourself that we hate seeing people waste their lives away doing something, when we have the arms and legs to do what they do," she said. Levi smiled slightly.
"Of course."
Carla dropped her bags off in the same room she stayed in last time, the Prince's room. Eren and Levi knew that at some point their child would own that room, be it male or female, it was really the Royal Child's room.
Carla was desperate to see both Armin and Mikasa. Mikasa explained about her being accepted into The Survey Corps.
However, the main reason for coming was to talk to Eren about wedding preparations, such as clothes. Eren whined when he got the letter from his mother. He had never been one for shopping for clothes, apart from that time in Sina.
Mikasa and Armin joined them as they went to the Palace town. Levi, of course, was not allowed to come. He had his own business to attend to anyway.
Carla had seemed a lot happier now that she had a little more money. She was well aware that money could never buy happiness, but it allowed her to make others happy and spoil herself.
Carla handed her son a spare cloak to wear while wondering in the town. Eren didn't want to wear his royal cloak, for it had The Wings of Freedom on and people would know who he was. He felt like someone who did not want to be famous.
They stood at the front doors of the Palace, ready to go. Levi had already waved them off and walked upstairs.
They left the Palace and walked down the road to the town. It was a nice day, so they might as well.
"I saw a tailors last time I was in town," Mikasa said. "They looked very good and had some fancy stuff as well."
Carla nodded and literally dragged her son. He felt like he was being forced into this part. "Fine, we'll go there first," she replied.
"Mum! Is this really necessary? Can't I just wear a nice shirt? It's not like I can wear a white dress, and I don't plan to," Eren said that last bit very seriously. Carla rolled her eyes.
"You're not going to wear a dress if you don't want to, Cub. However, you are not just wearing a nice shirt. Please behave. I want to see you have a nice day next month, not regretting anything, and that included what you wear," she replied. Eren sighed and nodded, before following more willingly.
They arrived in the town and Mikasa led them to the tailors. No one seemed to notice Eren, even with his smell. Mikasa kept close to him, just as she had done in the Slums.
They entered the tailors and Eren removed his hood. The owner smiled at his new costumers, before his eyes widened and he bowed lowly.
"Sir Eren, it is an honour," he said. Eren smiled awkwardly, before walking up to the Beta.
"Please, Sir, I do not wish for you to treat me like this. I am your costumer and I need you help. Do you think you can do that for me. Please call me Eren," Eren said, respectably. The Beta looked a little unsure, but nodded anyway.
"Of course. What can I do for you, E-Eren," he replied, only mumbling Eren's name. It would have to do. Carla stepped forward.
"We need to find Eren something to wear for his wedding. He doesn't want to wear a dress, but he is supposed to be a bride. That's the hard thing about being a male Omega, you never know how to dress them for their wedding," Carla asked, muttering the last bit. Eren almost choked.
"There are a lot worse things about being a male Omega that how to dress me for my own wedding," he said. Carla rolled her eyes.
"Yes, cub," she replied, fully understanding what he meant, but still petting his head. The owner thought for a moment. He was an elderly Beta who had a white beard them went down to his mid neck. His ears and tail had a touch of brown in them, but looked well groomed. He stroked his beard, before it looked like a lightbulb had shone.
He went to the back of his shop and looked around.
"The funny thing is, Eren, I thought that you would come here. I have been planning your clothes even since I heard about the proposal, which was a couple of months ago. You're a lot bigger than I thought you would be, but I guess that isn't your fault now, is it?" he said, smiling and gesturing to Eren's swelling stomach. Eren blushed a little.
The Beta looked through a pile of scrunched up paper, muttering to himself quietly.
Armin looked around the shop.
"You have amazing skill to make all of these," he said. The tailor looked up and nodded.
"Thank you, I appreciate it. I think I found it," he said, taking one of the paper and flattening it out on a table. Everyone gathered round and stared down at the paper. It was a rough drawing of a suit that made Eren wonder.
"Would I be able to add my own touches onto it?" he asked. The tailed smiled and nodded.
"Of course. I encourage it. This is your wedding, after all, so it should have your touch," he replied. Eren nodded and grabbed a pencil, drawing on the paper.
Everyone watched carefully and their face lightened up a little. Eren put the pencil down and stepped aside, allowing the Beta to see his work.
"Well, you're not a drawer, that's for sure, but I like it. I can make this for you in time for the wedding in a month. I will personally deliver it to you," he said. Eren nodded, before reaching into his pocket.
"How much do I have to pay you?" he asked. The tailor looked to his future Queen.
"Sir Eren, you need to understand that for someone like you, this sort of work doesn't cost you anything. Please, don't look at me like that. This is no special treatment. The whole of the Kingdom has waited for someone like you and they are doing everything they can to make your and Rivaille's day special. You two already run our Kingdom. Rivaille doesn't tax us with horrendous prices. He is a fair, but stern, King. You already protect us and I'm pleased with the work you have done. My wife now feels like she can sleep at night," he explained. Eren bit his lip and felt guilty. He grabbed a fair sum of money and handed it to the Beta.
"Please, take it. Your wife may sleep at night, but I would feel like I wouldn't, knowing that you might go hungry. Please, take it," Eren insisted. The tailer smiled gently at the money, but Eren was very persistence. He soon gave up and accepted the money.
"I'll make you the perfect wedding outfit, Sir Eren. That I can promise you," he replied. Everyone smiled, before the door opened of the shop.
"Excuse me," said a familiar voice. Everyone turned to the door and Eren's eyes widened.
"Hannes?" he questioned. The Beta at the door could not believe his eyes.
"Sir Eren? I did not expect to see you here," he replied.
"I could say the same. I thought you were in Sina," Eren wondered. Hannes nodded.
"I travel. I thought that this time I would come to Maria. I was planning to ask the tailor if he could teach me more about the art of making clothes," he replied. The tailer smiled.
"Ah. I got your letter the other day. I've been expecting you. Welcome," he said, shaking Hannes's hand.
Eren smiled and gestured to the others.
"Hannes, this is my sister, Mikasa; my best friend, Armin; and my mother, Carla," he introduced. They all nodded and Hannes bowed, looking at Carla.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Hannes, but I expect you already know that," he said. They all smiled, before leaving the shop. They said goodbye to Hannes, knowing that they would see him again.
They walked back to the Palace.
"Well, that was unexpected," Eren muttered. Mikasa nodded.
"Yeah. I remember seeing him back in Sina, but I thought we would never see his again. I think he has a thing for Carla," she said. Carla stopped dead in her tracks.
"Where did that come from, young lady?" Carla almost exclaimed, blushing slightly.
"Oh, come on, mum. He couldn't take his eyes of you," Eren said. All three of the teens chuckled slightly. Carla smiled.
"Eren, you know full well that I cannot express feeling for someone I have only just met," she said. Eren stopped laughing.
"Sorry." She shook her head.
"Don't be. He seems really nice and you seem to like him, so everything's okay," Carla replied. Eren nodded and they continued to walk back to the Palace.
. . .
They arrived at the Palace and Eren found Levi in their room. Carla was following Mikasa as she showed her around the armoury. He smiled at his mate.
"Guess who I saw in town today," Eren said. Levi looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"You sound like a chatty old hag. Go on, who was it?" he replied, playing along.
"Hannes," Eren answered. Levi's expression softened.
"That merchant back in Sina? What's he doing here?" Levi asked. Eren shrugged his shoulders.
"He just walked into the tailors and said that he was going to ask the owner if he could teach him more about making clothes. Can't see why. His clothes are amazing," he replied. Levi nodded.
"How did shopping go? I know how much you dread it," he asked. Eren groaned.
"Urgh! It was boring, however, the tailor was really nice and I know what I'm wearing in a month. How are you doing?" Eren asked back. Levi sighed and sat back in his chair.
"Everything seems to be going to plan. The whole of the three Kingdoms are buzzing and I think people are travelling to see your coronation. Apparently, you are some mythical being who is to be Queen and people want to see if it is true," he replied. Eren smiled and scratched his head.
"I can't help being who I am. Blame nature and that fate shit," he said. Levi rolled his eyes, before standing up.
"Come. I have a job for you," he said. Eren raised an eyebrow.
"A job?" he asked. Levi nodded.
"Well, it's more of a paired thing. Grisha's execution was postponed for a couple weeks, so we need to start getting information out of him," Levi said. Eren nodded.
"Shall I get my mother?" he asked, knowing full well what influence she'll have on him, but Levi shook his head.
"No. I don't want to get Carla anymore involved in this than she already is. We'll deal with it and hopefully come out with results. If not, then we will ask her," Levi said. Eren nodded and watched as his mate left the room, following him.
They walked downstairs and to the dungeons. They passed Mikasa and Carla, but didn't say much.
The guards opened the doors for them and they walked in. Grisha was in his usual spot.
"Kill me already. Eren and the brat didn't die, so kill me," he mumbled out the plea. Eren sighed.
"Do you remember the name Nicholas Frey? The Shadow?" he asked.
"Kill me, please. I want to see the sky one last time. You think I'm sick, but you're sick as well for locking me up this long and postponing my execution. You're questions can go to hell. I'm not answering them," Grisha replied. Levi huffed, before turning to Eren.
"Any ideas, brat?" he asked. Eren rubbed his neck.
"I don't know. We can't just say that we'll release him if he tells us the things we need," he replied.
"No shit."
"But we could allow him to do or see something that he has always wanted to see. Most people do get one wish granted before their death, and I think that this is our only option," Eren suggested. Levi groaned, before nodded.
"I'll leave this to you then," he said, before leaving the the dungeons.
Eren turned back to his father, who was rotting in the cell. He sat down and crossed his legs. Grisha glared at his son in the dark.
"Let me die, Eren. I know you loath me, but allow me to rest. I don't care where I go - Heaven or Hell - I just want to get out of this cell and out of the dark," he begged. Eren sighed.
"Believe me when I say that I want you to get out of here, but we need you to tell us things. Rivaille has agreed to allow you to have a last wish before you die, on the condition you tell us everything you know," Eren offered. Grisha frowned.
"A last wish? And if I don't buy it, then what?" he asked. Eren shrugged his shoulders.
"Then we'll move on to the next plan," he replied. Grisha sighed and leaned his head against the wall. He was silent for a long time. Eren was hoping that he was thinking on an answer.
"I want to visit the place where I first met your mother," Grisha murmured. Eren looked puzzled.
"Where's that?" he asked. Eren could see Grisha looking at nothing in particular, smiling.
"I have never forgotten the place and it will be the place I think about when I die. I met her in a field just outside of Trost. It's open and by the sea. It's beautiful," he whispered. Eren looked down.
"You sound like you have a soul," he mumbled.
"I have a soul, Eren. It's just been beaten and broken by life and by my family. You would never understand and I don't want you to. Even if you are a disgrace, you're still my son and I should say I am proud of you. Maybe I went into life the wrong way, and there are plenty of things I regret. I guess the lonely months in this cold, dark cell has allowed me to reflect on my life. I want to die, that's all that matters," Grisha said. Eren never thought that he would smile at his father, even if it was a small one. He smiled softly.
"I'm glad. I can arrange that for you, I promise. Will you tell me what you know?" Eren asked. Grisha looked down, before nodding.
"I will, but not now. Allow me to remember everything. I will tell you on the day we visit Trost. I want Carla to be there too. She hates me, but I want her to remember me then, not now," he said, before curling into a ball into the corner. Eren nodded and got up, leaving the dungeon.
Levi was upstairs, waiting by the door. He turned to his mate.
"Well, any luck?" he asked. Eren nodded.
"He want to go to a field in Trost by the sea, and he wants mum to be there too. He will tell us what we want to know then and there," Eren replied. Levi sighed.
"I guess that's the best we can do. Do you want to tell Carla, or should I?" Levi asked. Eren shook his head.
"I'll do it. Grisha told me the reason why he wanted her to be there, so I should do it. I'm their son, after all," he replied. Levi nodded and walked off to do some work, leaving Eren to go find his mother.
He went down the the armoury and found Mikasa showing his mother all sorts of weapons. She seemed very fascinated too. They both looked up when Eren walked in and smiled. Eren nodded.
"Mikasa, can I talk to mum alone, please?" he asked. Mikasa looked puzzled, but nodded and left the armoury. Carla looked concerned.
"Cub?" she asked. Eren bit his lip and sighed.
"Mum, I need you to do a favour for me, and you may not like it," he said. Carla nodded slowly, sitting down on one of the benches. "Levi and I need to get information out of Grisha, and the best option is to allow him to have a final wish. He has chosen to visit a place in Trost; a field by the sea. He want you to be there too. He said that he want you to remember him then, and not now."
Carla looked puzzled, before looking down at her hands.
"That was the place we first met..." she mumbled. Eren nodded.
"I know. Will you do it?" he asked. Carla looked up and nodded.
"Yes. If he's thinking of that place, then I guess being in a cell for months has helped his brain. I'll be nice to revisit memories," she agreed. Eren smiled.
"Thank you."
. . .
It was quiet that night. After dinner, Eren and Levi retired back to their room for the night. The sky was clear and the air was cool. Eren sat by the window, watching the constellations. Levi came out of the bathroom and walked to his mate.
"I never asked - how did asking Carla go?" he asked. Eren nodded.
"She was glad to help. Said it would be nice to revisit memories," he replied. Levi nodded and patted Eren's head. Eren leaned into the touch and put his own hand on top of Levi's. Levi rolled his eyes, before leaning down and kissing Eren softly.
The kiss broke and Eren bit his lip as Levi walked to the bed. Levi turned around, realising that his mate wasn't following.
"What's wrong now?" he asked. Eren breathed out a laugh.
"You make it sound like something is always wrong," he replied. Levi rolled his eyes.
"There usually something is. What's wrong?" Levi asked again. Eren looked back out the window.
"Nah. Just silly thoughts that would make me seem crazy," he muttered. Levi raised an eyebrow.
"You're walking into this, aren't you? Brat, you're already crazy," he replied. Eren chuckled.
"I guess I am." Levi walked back to his mate and pulled back his fringe, feeling his forehead. No fever.
"What silly thoughts? Please. I've heard the craziest, so nothing will surprise me," Levi asked. Eren sighed.
"I'm just think of my family," he replied. Levi looked puzzled.
"How does that make you seem crazy?" he asked. Eren shook his head.
"I'm feeling like I'm doing something wrong. I'm getting drawn in. Grisha said that he was proud of me and suddenly I let it tug at my heart strings. I hate him, but I still feel like I'm doing something wrong," he replied. Levi understood and realised that his mate was distressed. He wrapped his arms around Eren and stroke his hair.
"You have never had anything like that from that man. He may be a monster, but he's still your father. These thinks can't be looked over by the heart. For him to say that he's proud of you, it can hurt," Levi comforted. Eren laughed.
"When did you get so sweet?" he asked. Levi rolled his eyes and pinched Eren's ear, making him hiss.
"Is there anything wrong with comforting your mate when they are upset? Next time I'll leave you to cry your heart out," he threatened. Eren hit Levi's hand away.
"I'm joking and you know it. God, I think I prefer my mother's pinch, and that's saying something," he said, rubbing his poor ear. Levi smiled and rubbed Eren's ear better.
"Come on. Bed. I'm tired and I think it's a good idea to take Grisha to Trost tomorrow. I want answers as soon as possible," Levi said. Eren nodded and stepped away from the window.
They walked to the bed and got under the covers. Levi blew out the candle and they were immersed in the darkness. Eren felt arms wrap around him and before he dropped into the depths of his dreams, he heard Levi whisper one thing.
"Never forget who you are."
I brought back Hannes! I wanted to include him more in the story, and as they were going to a tailor shop, it thought 'why not?'. I also wanted Grisha to feel some redemption, in a way. He's an asshole and there is no way for him to be forgiven, but I wanted to look into his mind when he is in a state of piece. I'm just as curious as you, even though I'm the writer.
I feel a bit down about going back to college on Monday. I just want to be left alone, but I guess this world doesn't allow it. I like sitting in my bed, with my iPad, writing stories without the pressure of exam and revision. This world is cruel, but I'm different and that I my belief.
I would like to thank these people for the following:
Reviewing - A World Made Happier With Yaoi, YueChama, BlackNecko, alonealexabluerose, Melyway, AnimeWolf2000, BlueHeart123 (x4), Diaglassheart, Shugo Chara Jazz-chan, xXMelonsXx and yume76.
Favouriting - Limitenacionism, BlueHeart123, sugachibi and Kuro13Dead.
Following - rolltide7, duhorcommonsense, BlueHeart123, Thoughtlessly, Tibbit64 and Kuro13Dead.
If you want to help me get my head around the new story line I've been thinking about, then PM me. I will definitely finish this story, so don't worry. If I can, then it could become my own story. I want to publish books now, but I guess I'm not ready. I just wonder if I'll ever be ready. However, I am determined to publish one book before I go off to university. I'll have no work during that summer holiday, and I want to allow my characters to come to life in a beautiful world. I want to see my own sky, as crazy as it may seem.
Anyway, I'm done. I've got my Japanese speaking exam the day before the next chapter is up (Thursday), so wish me luck.
Well, until next Friday.
