"Oh. I'm sorry, I thought you had a boy," some woman said. She was the mother of one of the brats currently running full speed through the Ackerman apartment. Balloons were all over the place. Levi had whapped one out of the way as he went to the kitchen to get some tea. Spring sunshine poured in the window, glinting off of the HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KUCHEL banner hung over the wall. Petra had taken the cake out of the fridge a little while ago, getting ready to cut it.
Meanwhile, Levi had been carrying Oruo around. He looked down at the baby in his arm, and frowned.
"He is a boy."
"Oh!" The woman's eyes widened. She pursed her lips. "He's dressed so…well!"
"Yeah, my daughter likes dressing him up."
Oruo was in a pink, poofy gown today. Kuchel had also put a frilly bonnet on the kid. 'He's my dolly!' she'd crowed. For her birthday, she'd also put a little heart sticker on his cheek. Levi's take was that until the kid was aware enough to pick out his own clothes, what he wore didn't much matter.
"Well, Kuchel's a sweet little girl." The woman beamed. Levi really ought to ask what the hell her name was. "But aren't you worried?"
"About what?"
She kept doing that thing where she smiled and the corners of her eyes crinkled in an effort to be polite.
"Well, what if he gets used to it?"
"To what?"
"To wearing a dress." She sounded on the exasperated end of friendly now. Levi frowned.
"Then he'll wear dresses. Who the hell cares?"
"Well." Pink spots appeared on her cheeks. "Well, well."
"Better my son wear dresses and be happy than walk around a constipated shit his entire miserable life," Levi said. "Enjoy the party."
Levi left the woman stuttering to herself. Bunch of moralizing pricks. They were everywhere. Levi looked down at Oruo, frowning in his pink, sparkly dress.
"You look fine," he said to the kid.
Oruo made a raaaar noise and scowled deeper. He agreed.
Levi bounced his son as he walked the halls, feeling like a stranger in his own home. Kuchel had the social ease he'd never acquired. The birthday girl ran past him, being chased by six little kids. Levi noticed Cassius Tybur, Willy's son, gleefully leading the pack. He'd never catch Kuchel, though. She was an awakened Ackerman, and fast as hell.
Giulia had done her part in helping hook Kuchel up with all the most high ranking Marley society kids, and since his little girl was a damn delight they all took to her. That was her mother's influence. Kuchel was already a ringleader, often telling the others what they were going to play next.
For her birthday, they'd pinned a tail on a donkey, played a ducking goose game or whatever the fuck they called it, and now were charging up and down the hallways in a screaming game of tag. Maybe he ought to put a stop to that, but eh. If a kid slipped, fell, and cut his lip, that was life. No sense coddling them.
Levi watched Kuchel prance back his way, giggling wildly with a balloon clutched in her hand. The kids charged after her.
Five years old. Fuck. Where'd it gone? In the fall she'd start school, just the pre-elementary stuff, but…
His baby was making friends. He wasn't going to be her whole world soon. And that was as it should be, but Levi found his heart cracked a bit.
He looked down at the scowling baby in his arms.
"You're gonna have to stay this size a while," he said to Oruo.
Oruo growled. Levi smiled.
The kid started fussing soon, so Levi made his way to the parlor where Petra was gamely organizing the kids into a round of hide and seek. She was always so assured when ordering people around. A real ball buster. But she did it so sweetly.
Levi felt himself relax just watching her laugh and pat Cassius on his curly blond head. What a woman. How did he deserve her?
Oruo started screeching, which rocked him out of romance a little bit.
"Oh, is he hungry?" Petra came over and took the baby. Oruo gurgled. He only ever smiled and cooed when his mother held him. Levi didn't mind one bit. She bounced the little boy and kissed his sparkly forehead. "I'll go feed him. Can you watch the kids a minute?"
"I'm good with brats," he said. Petra grinned, that adorable wrinkled nose grin that got him a little weak at the knees and tight in other areas. She kissed him. Still wasn't comfortable with too much affection in public, but he was better about it these days. Her kiss tasted like strawberries. Some new lip gloss. He was going to be tasting it a lot later.
"I'll hurry back," she whispered.
"You better."
He watched her walk away, forcing himself to tear his gaze from her. Levi heard a couple of soft female sighs right next to him. He looked at a pair of those society moms, both of them cooing like he was a cute little puppy dog.
"I've never seen a couple so in love before," the one with the dye job said.
"What keeps the spark alive in a marriage?" the one with the chemical tan asked.
"Marathon sex," Levi replied, then clapped his hands and walked away. "Oi! Brats. Line up. We're going over the rules of the game. I don't want to hear any talking right now. Stand up straight."
Some of the kids look scared. Well. Fuck 'em, they were in the army now.
"Feeling better?" Petra asked, after Oruo had burped. She wiped his face and did up her shirt. The baby grinned as she kissed his cheek. "My little baby boy. My little precious guy." She cuddled Oruo as she sat on the bed, and her son looked positively gleeful. He scowled at the world but melted for her; he was absolutely his father. She kissed his little nose.
Oruo had done so much to heal her heart. More than anything else these last couple of years, he'd cauterized the wound she'd inflicted on herself.
If only he could meet his brother…
One day. Today, it's Kuchel's birthday. You're holding your son. Be present today.
Every day she had to say a variation on those words to herself. And every day she did, and felt a little stronger.
"Let's go see Kuchel. Huh? It's almost time for cake. Ooooh boy, cake!" She swung Oruo up over her head, and he squealed with glee. Petra carried her son back into the hall, stopping to speak pleasantly with guests, letting them all fuss over the baby. She'd started getting to know them, the movers and shakers of Valle. She liked them all well enough, but she always found herself looking around for familiar faces. She missed her family. Friends. While Marley was more technologically advanced than Paradis, the island was home in a way this would never be.
And Oruo had been born here, not on Paradis. Kuchel as she grew would have only vague memories of her homeland.
It always dragged her down a bit, those thoughts.
"This is a splendid party, isn't it?" Giulia Tybur asked, appearing as if out of nowhere. She was wearing spike heels, even at a child's birthday, and a vanilla colored day dress. She had her sunglasses on even indoors, probably fighting off a hangover.
"Giulia. Hello."
"What a precious little…baby." She seemed puzzled by the sight of Oruo. Whatever. Petra nuzzled the baby's plump cheek. Oruo, seeing someone who was not his mother, responded with his customary glare.
"He's a good boy," Petra said. Oruo growled. "I was just about to put him down for a nap. Care to join me?"
"Oh of course."
The woman followed Petra down the hall and into the Ackerman bedroom. Oruo would stay here in his bassinet until he was six months old. Petra shut the door on the party hubbub, though it still bled through the walls. She took off Oruo's bonnet and laid him in the cradle. Her grouchy little boy grumbled, yawned, and immediately fell asleep as she rocked him.
"They're precious when they're that size," Giulia said quietly. One of her few organic moments. She did love her sons. Petra would give her that.
"Kuchel certainly loves playing with your boys," Petra said.
"Yes. She's a sweet little girl." Giulia headed for the door.
"Just a minute. I want you to look at something." Petra opened the terrace doors. The sounds of traffic could just barely be heard from up here. "The view is spectacular."
"Mmm. How lovely." Giulia strolled out, looking politely bored. Petra shut the doors behind her. Giulia stood just before the balcony railing, gazing out at the city skyline. "Well. How about a little drink? I think I spotted some adult beverages in the kitchen…"
Petra calmly walked over there and wrenched Giulia's arm behind her back. The Tybur woman screamed as Petra gripped a handful of her hair and bent her over the railing.
Giulia's screaming became more shrill as she stared at the thin line of cars below. The penthouse was high up enough to make her death quite messy.
"Don't struggle," Petra hissed. The month or so of weight training she'd done was already paying off. The other woman flailed, but couldn't break free. "I don't want to drop you accidentally."
"You crazy bitch! Help! Help!" Giulia shrieked.
"No one down there can hear you. The terrace doors shut out a lot of sound, and the bedroom door is shut as well. The kids are playing and screaming. No one is going to come.
"What is this? The fuck are you doing?" Giulia stopped struggling, but her voice was ragged. "Willy is going to tear your throat out."
"Willy asked me to do this."
The silence was priceless.
"Wh-what?"
"Willy's given me a little job of my own," Petra said calmly. "I'm going to be your shadow from now on. And if you ever try to fuck with him, Marley, or by extension my family ever again, I'm going to throw your ass off a higher roof than this."
"What do you mean? What the fuck? Petra!"
"Shut up." Petra bent Giulia's wrist at a painful angle. The woman squealed. "You told Erwin where I lived. You're the reason he broke in here last year."
"No real harm done," Giulia growled. "Can't you take a fucking joke?"
"Hilarious." Petra squeezed harder. "For that alone I could kill you. But we all know, Giulia. Willy knows."
"Knows what?" she gasped.
Petra yanked the woman back up and then slammed her against the opposite wall. Giulia flailed to get away, but she wasn't a soldier. Petra held her firm.
"We know you're the one who fed Hybernia information about the Triple Alliance. You're the reason that cruiser was sunk." Petra bared her teeth, animal rage filling her. "You're the reason my husband almost died."
Giulia, to her credit, didn't deny it. She only breathed heavily, the adrenaline leaving her in a rush now that she wasn't in immediate danger.
"You have no right to judge me." Her lip curled. "You fucking devil blood."
"Willy doesn't want you marked up during the party. Or I'd slap the shit out of you for that. Why, Giulia? Why do all of that? Why betray your own country?"
"Good reasons. The Triple Alliance is letting you demons mingle with normal folks. It's dangerous, you all running around free and wild. For that reason alone I would've done it." Petra heard furious tears in her voice now. "But also because I hate that fucking devil I'm married to."
"You committed treason just to kill your husband."
"I'd kill every person here if I knew it'd get rid of him." Her voice was lifeless. Truthful.
"Even your sons?"
Giulia's lip quivered. "My babies should never have been born. If I were a stronger woman I'd finish them but…I can't. I couldn't ever. I…"
"Your children are the only reason Willy doesn't have me kill you."
Giulia sneered. "Both Ackermans on my husband's payroll. How nice."
"You and I are going to be great friends in public. We can hate each other in private. Like normal society people." Petra brought her nose close to Giulia's. She could smell gin on the woman's breath. "I'll watch you. And at the first sign of trouble, I have permission to kill you. I've killed over fifty titans, Giulia. You'll be easy in comparison."
She felt the woman trembling.
"You ought to thank me," Giulia whispered. "If Levi hadn't been caught in that explosion, you never would've fucked the king."
Petra almost choked the life out of her right there. She settled for digging her heel into the top of Giulia's foot. The other woman gave a cry.
"You almost took the love of my life from me. It makes me tempted to throw you over that railing and risk the consequences." Petra remained icy. Levi's training went deep in her. "But if you hadn't, I wouldn't have had…" Armin's face floated before her for one moment. She cleared her throat. "I know I should claim he's a regret, but I can't. He's my baby. For that reason—that reason alone—I'm not going to kill you today. But if you ever conspire with anyone again, especially Erwin Smith, your life is over. Do you get me, you callous bitch?"
Giulia went statue still. Finally, she jerked her head. It was a small nod.
"Good."
Petra kicked open the terrace door and threw Giulia into the Ackerman bedroom. Giulia scrambled up off the floor as Petra shut and latched the doors, patted her hair into place, and then gave a large, warm smile.
"Let's have a drink, shall we?" she said sweetly.
"Wonder if Petra's made herself known to Giulia yet," Levi said. He and Willy were taking a time out from the kids, hiding in the "study." Levi didn't have a ton of books, but Petra had given him a couple. Mostly he came in here when he couldn't sleep, sat behind this desk, and pretended he was back on Paradis in the barracks.
Only then did he fall asleep. Feel calm.
"I'm certain she'll do a good job," Willy said dryly.
"She will. She's the best." Levi sipped his iced tea and replaced it carefully on a coaster. "Said you wanted to see me about something?"
"It's a delicate topic."
"I'm a delicate guy."
Levi enjoyed watching Willy struggle not to laugh.
"Anyway. Kiyomi and I have been in regular contact. Secret contact."
"Mikasa okay?" Levi muttered.
"She is. That's not the issue. Erwin is."
"Figured." Levi stared at his glass, sweating in the warm spring day. "What's he up to now?"
"The usual, I'm afraid. And the usual is never good. He's started locking down the border of Paradis. It's becoming harder and harder to get non-Eldians to come any farther than the edge of the port. He's open to trade, of course, but not visitors. It's breeding tension. People want to know what he's doing on that island. They want to know if they should fear the Rumbling."
"They shouldn't." Levi sighed.
"Yes. But only you, Petra, and I know the truth of what happened that night," Willy said softly. When Eren had been eaten. When the Founder had passed to a new titan. "That gives us an advantage. We know where the Founder is; Erwin doesn't. And given that Connie and Eren were working together, we can guess that Eren—and now Connie—opposes Erwin's rule."
"If Erwin gets any hint that Connie ate Eren, the kid's life is over," Levi said. "I don't want to risk him if we don't have to."
"My point, Levi, is that I think it might be time to start crafting a new narrative." Willy smiled. A sleek smile. "The tyrant king of Paradis—the false king—enslaves his people and frightens the world. Then the son of the true king arises to take back his father's throne."
"That's not how it works." Levi crossed his arms and scowled. "I can never inherit the Founder. I can't be king."
"The rest of the world doesn't know that. I'll wager most of Paradis doesn't know that. They accept Historia as queen, after all, even though she's not the Founder. The truth matters less than the story, Levi. With me to help you tell it, it can be a good one. Great, even."
Levi regarded Willy with a blank, level gaze. He hoped the king could feel the chill he was putting out.
"I'm a soldier. I follow orders. I can lead a team, sure, but only with someone else's plan. If I became "king", I'd be like Historia. Some puppet on the throne, letting you and whoever else control things in the background."
"You wouldn't be a puppet."
"I would. I see shit clearly. It's a gift." Levi clenched his jaw. "Erwin is the reason Eldians were set free worldwide. He's why I can live here, in this swank apartment, without wearing an armband. He's why my kids don't get harassed on the street. Why my wife is secure. Like him or not, he's keeping Paradis secure and the rest of the world is too scared of him to fuck with the island or us Eldians. I can't do those things. And sorry, Willy, but I don't trust you enough to believe you'd keep it all running the way it is now."
Willy smiled. "Thank you for your honesty." He sighed. "You understand that Kiyomi and I may have to act against Erwin at some point, with or without your approval."
"That's up to you guys. You're the strategists."
"If I had no choice but to act, would you back me up as king of Paradis?"
Levi scowled at the floor.
"If there was no other way, then yeah." He looked up. "But I'd have to be convinced that Erwin needed to go. So far, I'm not convinced."
"For now, that's all I need. Shall we rejoin the party? The children sound as if they've gone feral."
Yes. Screams bled through the walls. Levi and Willy exited into a maelstrom of cute insanity.
Kuchel was at the center, running around with Cassius held over her head. It was a freakish display of strength for such a little girl, but her iron Ackerman grip never faltered. Cassius squealed in shock.
"Oi! Kuchel!" Levi barked. His daughter stopped at once. "What do we tell you?"
Never use too much strength with other kids.
"Sorry, Papa." She set Cassius down and plucked at her little sky blue dress. How the hell could he be mad at her when she gave him those big eyes? He was a soft piece of shit. As he patted his daughter's head, Petra entered. Giulia staggered behind her, white as spoiled milk.
Good. Petra had had her 'talk.'
"Who wants cake? Yay, cake!" Petra grinned as the children chorused 'I do!' The adults herded the little brats into the parlor, where they'd set up a long plastic table. As the kids found their seats, Petra went to the kitchen to light the candles. Levi followed, and pressed up behind her as she stood at the counter. "You have to wait for a piece like everyone else." She smirked. Damn brat.
"No I don't." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I can have this whenever I want. All mine. No one else gets a taste."
"You act like I'm some object." She feigned outrage. "Like you own me."
"And you love it." He kissed her throat.
"Oh yes." She beamed. Petra turned around, and they became entwined in each other's arms. Fuck the kids, they could wait for their cake. This was sweeter.
He had to stop kissing his wife when the damn buzzer sounded. It was the phone, the front desk calling. Levi frowned, let go of Petra, and went to grab the receiver.
"Yeah?" He stuck a finger in his ear to block out the racket the children made in the background.
"Package, Mr. Ackerman."
Birthday present, probably.
"I'll come get it."
"Er, think the boys better take it up to you. It's big."
Levi's instincts were immediately on high alert. He felt something akin to a tremor pass through his body. He looked over his shoulder at Petra, who frowned and mouthed 'who is it?'
"I think someone sent a big present for Kuchel."
She immediately picked up on who the 'someone' might be. Petra sighed.
"What do we do?"
"I say we look at it and decide later." To Benito, he said, "Send it up."
Petra waited on lighting the candles until a knock came at the door. The children were excited and babbling as two men carried a box inside. It was large, five feet high and seven long. They deposited it in a corner of the parlor at Petra's request. Kuchel bounced around in ecstasy.
"Izzat for me? Is it?"
"Looks like it. Sure isn't my birthday," Levi said, watching the men open the box with trepidation.
Kuchel screamed and jumped around when she saw what it was.
"I love it! I loooove iiiit!" She rushed over to her new rocking horse.
Thing was so ornate and beautiful, it almost could've been a real horse. It was a creamy white with a silver mane, roses along its bridle and saddle. The kids all immediately wanted a ride and forgot about the cake in their mad rush. Kuchel had climbed into the real leather saddle and was gleefully rocking back and forth already.
"Did it have a card?" Petra sounded weary. Levi snagged one from the delivery guy after he signed for the package.
"'To Kuchel. Happy birthday. Love, Uncle Erwin and…'" Levi jerked in surprise. Petra took the card, and her face paled.
"'…and Aunt Brigitta.'" She almost dropped the card. Petra leaned against the wall, staring ahead into nothing. "What does this mean?" she whispered.
"It means that once again, Erwin is a clever bastard." Willy had overheard them, and stood alongside the Ackermans. He wore a grim expression. "He accomplishes multiple things at once. He sends his very likely genuine love to your daughter; he makes you uncertain of your sister's fate; he displays his power and wealth in front of me and Marleyan society. And if you return the gift—"
"We will," Levi snapped.
"—then you succeed in undoubtedly hurting your daughter. And Erwin wins again. He looks like a loving uncle, and you a tyrant. And if you keep the gift? He knows he's strongarmed you."
Petra rested against Levi. He put his arm around her and stared at his kid as she gleefully rocked back and forth on what was now, undoubtedly, her favorite birthday present.
Of course Erwin would do this. Only a bitch like him could make so many moves in one go.
This was why Levi could never be king. Kings had to think like this, all directions at once. He had one direction: forward. Love his wife and children, follow orders. That was it.
"Maybe we should get the cake," he said, and squeezed Petra.
"Yeah." She sighed. "I could do with some sugar.
"Isn't he perfect?" Petra whispered.
They were in their bedroom, standing over Oruo's bassinet while he slept. He looked pretty comfortable in the little unicorn onesie Kuchel had asked to put on him.
They had let her dictate Oruo's sleepwear tonight, trying to soothe her sadness after they explained, once the guests had left, that they had to return her present from Erwin.
There'd been shouts, and tears, and jumping up and down and screaming. Levi had even yelled at her, finally, telling her she had to stay in her room the rest of the night. Kuchel had slammed the door shut and wailed, and he looked sick.
Just what Erwin wanted. Their home in chaos. She narrowed her eyes. If she hadn't hated him before, ruining her daughter's birthday did the trick.
Petra admitted to herself that it was nice to have a baby right now. Oruo just wanted to cry, scowl, and feed. A simple creature.
"He's pretty great." Levi stood behind her, arms around her. He leaned his cheek against hers. "You worried about Brigitta?"
"I have to believe she's okay." Petra had not been able to contact anyone on Paradis since fleeing to Valle. Her letters were returned, and she couldn't call. They had phones on the island, but they didn't connect to the mainland. What if her parents…?
Brigitta had to be okay. Petra was just worried that her sister was Erwin's prisoner.
Or even worse: that she was his willing guest.
I want to go home. She shut her eyes.
Valle was beautiful, her new job was interesting, her children were safe, but Petra was a homebody at heart. She missed Paradis's fields and mountains, its lakes and rivers. She missed her family.
This was all her fault. If she hadn't fucked Erwin…
"We're all paying for my mistake," she whispered.
"No." Levi kissed her cheek. "Only one person's the shithead here. It's not your fault Erwin used you." He growled. "Same way he used me."
The same way he'd used the squad. Petra thought again of Oruo, lying on the grass and broken. She looked at his snoozing namesake, and trembled with anger to think of how her old Oruo would never meet the baby. They should have had decades together, arguing and nagging each other, attending each other's weddings and baby showers.
Oruo was gone because Erwin had made the choice not to save him.
"There's one thing that I know for certain." She looked her husband in his icy blue gray eyes. "I love you so damn much."
She was one of the few on earth who could make those eyes soften.
"You're perfect." He kissed her cheek. Her lips. "While the kid's asleep," he whispered, starting to hike up her skirt.
"Oh, Mr. Ackerman." She giggled, shoving him back onto the bed. Petra got on top of him, relishing the light chuckle she wrung from his lips. They kissed deeply, arms around each other as—
The phone buzzed.
"Ah, shit." Levi sat up as she got off him. "Probably another present from the King of Fuckheads," he muttered. "Maybe it's a real pony this time." He took her chin in his hand. "You wait here."
"Maybe I will. Maybe I won't." She smiled, happy to see him scowl.
"Damn brat."
Levi went to deal with the call while Petra stood over Oruo and rocked him gently in his bassinet. Little dumpling. He looked so gentle when he slept. It made for a nice change.
She heard Levi's voice in the other room.
She heard Levi stop short, and his voice warp. He sounded…shocked.
Petra frowned and went to him as Levi hung up the phone. He looked pale, like someone had died. Petra's heart beat faster.
"What is it?" she asked.
"We got a visitor," he croaked. He seemed to be in a daze, and walked right past her as if she didn't exist. Petra pursued him, now both nervous and irritated.
"Do I get to know who?"
The doorbell buzzed. Levi went and opened the door.
Hange stood there, a small satchel in hand. Her hair looked massively unkempt, even by her own lax standards. She seemed to have lost weight, and now looked gaunt.
Petra noticed a ring glinting on her left hand.
And she noticed that Hange was alone. Quite alone. Where was Pieck?
"Hange?" Levi muttered.
"Heya, Levi!" The woman tried for a convincing smile. She failed. "Wondered if you could put me up for a few nights. And maybe get me emergency citizenship. But only if it's no bother."
"Hange, what happened?" Petra gaped.
"Oh, it's a long story. I am going to need sanctuary, by the way. That's not a joke." She held up her satchel. "I've committed a little high treason, and if Erwin gets his hands on me again I'm dead."