When I grow up I want to be creative.
Elizabeth didn't know what to do.
It was completely new to her and the news Hange had given her about it had shocked her.
It had taken her some time to process it all, becoming more and more aware that maybe he might want children one day, or maybe not. She had never talked about it and she didn't even know how to tell him.
She certainly couldn't go to him and suddenly say "Hey, do you want some kids?" without upsetting him...
It was a dilemma for her, she didn't like that situation so she decided to throw herself into her particular idea to help Hange.
She knew that sooner or later she would have to tell him but it wasn't going to be the day.
In a notebook of hers she began to write down everything that she considered useful, all the studies she had made on Hange's books and on her own knowledge of military tactics.
She was smart and she could put it into practice.
After about two weeks she was able to deal with it, taking advantage of every moment spent without the team and with Levi in important meetings to dedicate herself to it.
Petra was the only one who knew what it was all about and she was the first to support her with an encouraging smile as well.
She also spent a couple of hours with her trying to help her out but that system was still somewhat incomplete and there were parts of it that escaped her, at least until Elizabeth was able to complete it.
Now she only lacked Hange's contribution and they could try to make what was just a theory, real.
Everything written in front of her always led to the same result, her calculations and her guesses were all perfect, she just had to talk about it with the person she trusted most to understand if it was appropriate to show it to the squad leader or it would have been just an illusion for her.
She left the room in a hurry, crossing the corridor and a few soldiers who casually passed by, without even caring about them.
On the way she met Mike, who greeted her politely, following the same way as hers.
"Hi Elizabeth." he smiled at her starting to walk beside her.
"Squad Leader Mike."
"I see you particularly happy. Any good news?"
Mike's infallible nose had noticed that too. He was a hound but he was also nice and put her at ease, even though she wasn't on his team. A couple of times he had also joked with Levi that he had taken the best soldier of all and left him dry-mouthed, referring to her when he saw her fight.
Needless to say, Levi had only responded with a shrug.
"Something similar."
"And I suppose you're going to talk to Levi." he added bringing his hands behind his back. Elizabeth shivered, that man had surely guessed that there was something between them but she didn't know just how he could have done it; they were always very careful when they were in public and she never behaved differently than usual. She was a person who easily took confidence and joked with anyone.
Well, with almost everyone... but with Levi she never changed her attitude.
"I'm afraid I have to do it. His position dictates it to me. However, he remains my captain."
"He might be your captain but you enjoy provoking him."
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh, then inspiring herself to restrain herself and not be rude.
"Annoying him is my purpose in life." she replied, holding back a less formal tone as she walked past other soldiers. Sometimes it bothered her the way the boys looked at her, as if she was scary or as if they worshiped her. Even if she had to admit, she definitely preferred those who feared her to those who worshiped her.
"Until he punishes you."
Mike had immediately established a quiet conversation, without the formality, like two simple people talking quietly. And Elizabeth had always been good at understanding people's intentions before they even took action to put them into practice.
"Those are small accidents along the way..." she replied with a wave of her hand to emphasize that she did not intend to be punished by him, but at the same time it made her laugh.
When they got to where the Captain was, intent on talking to other people who still remained superiors to Elizabeth, the laughter died instantly and she put her hands behind her back, greeting politely.
"Good afternoon." she replied when they became aware of her and the Squad Leader. "Captain, if you allow me, I need to talk to you."
Levi looked at her for a moment, thinking about it, then hesitated.
"Can't wait?"
"I'm afraid not, sir." she replied looking him straight in his eyes and he realized that she couldn't do it in front of them, it was something that she focused only on them.
And Mike must have understood that from the smile he hid.
"Go ahead Levi, we'll talk about it later." answered one of the three men he was talking to, before they left him alone with the two.
"We saved you Levi." Mike just joked, noticing how Levi immediately relaxed in the presence of the girl. "I really have to ask you..."
Mike's phrase intrigued Levi who raised one eyebrow while the other alternated his gaze from him to Elizabeth.
"Wasn't a quieter girl okay?"
Elizabeth opened her mouth, feigning offense but laughing. "What an asshole!"
"If she were calmer I would be bored." he answered surprising the squad leader.
"Don't you even deny it?"
"Why should I?" He asked, then moving on to look at her, who had an irrepressible desire to smile. His gesture was moving her, he was not ashamed of their relationship.
"You must really care about her, I'm happy for you." smiled Mike noticing something, or pretending to, to leave them alone. "And don't worry. I'll keep the secret."
Mike left but Elizabeth was so lost in the Captain's gaze that she didn't even care that, in fact, he had found out about their relationship.
"What did you want to tell me?" he asked when the two entered Levi's office and he locked the door behind him.
"Do you remember that thing I mentioned at the table with you, Erwin and Hange?" she asked, turning near the desk to lean against her with her buttocks.
"Yes."
"I think I have come to a sensible conclusion but before telling her I would like to have your opinion about it."
Levi raised an eyebrow as she pulled sheets full of neat notes out of her pocket. The captain read them carefully, examining every aspect of what she had written above and finding them strangely convincing. He had always found Hange's desire mad, a suicide considering the constant losses, but Elizabeth had managed to deal with it for real.
"I would like to say I am amazed but it would be bullshit. You are smart and it is nothing new to anyone. You did a great job."
Levi's words filled her with joy; still leaning against the desk, she widened her eyes amazed by so much sincerity. She did not believe that Levi would be so permissive towards her, even though he was supporting her.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I think Hange will be able to put what you have created into practice."
Elizabeth was so thrilled by Levi's positive response that she couldn't help but jump happily, making him happy too, before jumping into his arms and thanking him with a kiss on the lips.
"Come on, let me do it." she asked for the third time.
The conversation soon turned to another topic and he regretted saying it.
"No." he answered once more, with her sitting on her desk, in front of him seated in his chair instead.
"I'm know how to do it, I swear to you."
Levi just couldn't tell her no, that smile was so contagious that just seeing it put him in a good mood. He really would have jumped off the walls just for her.
"If you're wrong, I'll make you bald."
"It will not happen." she concluded before standing up and going to the bathroom where she found everything she needed.
Levi's hair had to be cut a little, he now preferred to wear it in such a way rather than make it grow and she wanted to take advantage of it to do something nice for him. Especially for all the emotional support he had given her in those days.
Every evening, when she talked to him about it, he said he was happy for her.
"I always cut my brother's hair." she explained as she ran her fingers through his black locks, slightly shortening the tips of those higher up.
Levi was enjoying the sensation her fingers in his hair caused him; he was beginning to understand why Elizabeth liked it so much while he did it.
"And you didn't tell me before because you thought I would be sorry enough to say yes to you just for that?" he asked still keeping his eyes closed as she finished the job.
"You have to stop reading my mind. It's disturbing." she concluded with a small laugh as she dried his hair with a cloth, sitting in his arms.
Levi immediately, as if by instinct, raised his hands up to her hips, holding her tight.
"You know, at first I didn't think you would agree with the idea of helping Hange." Elizabeth admitted making him open his eyes.
"As your captain I have to stop you if you're wrong but as your man I have to support you if you feel like you want to do something. Or at least I think it works like this."
Elizabeth stopped her movements, blinking a few moments. Her heart began to beat in her chest with such force that he could hear it even from this distance.
"Say it again." she whispered softly.
"What?"
"That you are my man."
Levi just smiled at her, she was so sweet that he just couldn't stay cold and detached. Not with her.
"You said it too, didn't you? I can't be your captain 24/7, I need a break every now and then."
Elizabeth's gaze changed radically, letting her sweetness disappear in favor of a decidedly more mischievous smile as she brought her face closer to his, with the tips of their noses brushing.
"Quite right. For example, what I want now, I certainly cannot ask my captain."
"It depends on what you want."
She ran her hands over his shoulders as the towel fell absently and forgotten.
"I want you right on this chair."
"Are you going to mark my entire office?" he asked feeling her warm breath on his lips but he still wasn't going to kiss her. Her hands caressed the back of his neck, where she had just done a good job but he wouldn't tell her. Not now at least.
"A thing like that."
"Then I'll have you to clean it the next punishment."
Her Captain's hands went to squeeze her hips even more as he pulled her over him so their hips collided, already eager for attention.
"Careful captain, you might like it."
"Amaze me."
And without giving her time to say more, he stretched his head enough to bring their lips together and kiss her.
The 'Levi team' decided to organize themselves with targeted training that morning, training not only the technical part but also the practical one.
Kicks and punches were not only necessary for their physical strength but also for their reflexes, then improving them in combat with the use of the ODM gear.
Sometimes it happened that other soldiers passed by there to observe a certain blonde who always gave the best of herself.
The thing that bothered Levi the most was seeing the way they looked at her, first of all because she was a soldier, a person they should have respected just for the simple fact that she risked her life every day for all humanity, but also because, even if no one knew it, she was his woman and they shouldn't have allowed themselves to say even one wrong word to her.
That day Levi was particularly relaxed, not only because everything seemed to be going well with her, but also because he was genuinely happy for Elizabeth; she had managed to create something that could completely revolutionize their expeditions and he was incredibly proud of her. She stood not only for agility and physical strength but also for his intelligence.
"Gunther raise your elbow more when you launch such an attack. If you were to do this on the operating device, you would get caught in the wire." observed Levi with his usual expressionless expression. Elizabeth was crouched on the ground, slightly sweaty and her muscles sore from hard training. She had to exaggerate every time, as both Eld and Petra always warned her.
"Captain Levi will you give me a word?"
The voice of one of the men who had kept the Captain busy last afternoon had called him again that morning, probably for the same reason.
As soon as he left the group, giving them a few minutes of rest, they immediately sat down, catching their breath.
"This thing just doesn't come out, damn it." Gunther murmured sitting on the ground with his legs crossed.
Eld beside him chuckled slightly, giving Elizabeth a light shove.
"Well, we're not all as small and flexible as our little princess."
"But can I even look like a princess to you?" laughed the blonde, getting the same reaction in the others. Eld nodded with conviction.
"Yes."
"No."
"Our Elizabeth is a princess in reverse." Petra added about her, extending a hand along the girl's shoulder to give her a light hug, immediately returned by her direct interest.
"Your Elizabeth is just a slut."
This time in the way was a boy Elizabeth knew all too well for his liking. And Eld remembered it too. That was the same one who had allowed himself to make certain appreciations about her with Misha, long ago.
Eld immediately hardened his gaze as everyone's smiles faded from their faces. Elizabeth, on the other hand, didn't show anger but disgust.
"Coming from you is a compliment." the blonde answered, without caring in the least what he might think of her.
"Hey take it easy, we are the only ones that can take certain confidences with Elizabeth." Oluo added, standing up and preparing for a possible fight like everyone else.
"Why? Are you sleeping with her too?"
Eld could no longer restrain himself and immediately stood up, attacking him with both fists.
However, the soldier did not have time to get to the face of that infamous because it was another person who put him to the ground, much faster than him. She flanked by a second with a look so furious as to terrify anyone.
It was not Elizabeth, who had blocked the man on the ground talking, but the enraged Captain.
"Don't you dare touch her or you'll have to deal with me. And with her. And believe me, neither of us will go easy with you."
Seeing how he swallowed in fear Levi narrowed his gaze further. "Stay away from my team, brat."
"Yes, sir."
Elizabeth took her foot off his face and let him run away as Levi approached her to make sure she was okay, close enough that only he could hear her.
"You are so sexy when you are bossy."