Author's Note:

Okay, as promise, here it is. Enjoy!!!!


Historia

After an hour of completing every task at the orphanage, the kitchen was finally cleaned, the stables were swept, the animals in the barn were fed, and the children were tucked into their cozy bedroom by Anna and Diana. It will take another thirty minutes for them to leave the bedroom so that the children can fall asleep completely. Finally, her day was coming to an end, and she could finally relax.

"Your Majesty," he begins. Gideon was standing outside the door, hat on when Historia noticed him. He was all set to leave.

"Are you returning tonight, Mr. Gideon? Why don't you just stay here and go back to the farm in the morning?" She inquired. It's already night, and it's too dark to go outside.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I have to go back." The old man smiled at her.

"I just want you to take a rest for tonight, you've done so many things today, there are no more broken walls left because you just fixed all of them."

"It's nothing, Your Majesty; I'm perfectly fine with it. I may appear to be old, but my skin does not sag in that way. I'm much healthier than you might think. So I have to return to check on Wena and Pedro... Those two can only do light housework, so I'll have to return to assist." He laughed hysterically.

"OK, fine. But anyway, I will send a physician tomorrow to check on Mr. Pedro's condition, also, include you from the checkup, so we can identify your body conditions. You all need to be healthy. Send my regards to the Rals, Mr. Gideon." Historia wiped. Strand of blonde hair on her face and smiled at the old man.

Then he gave back a kind smile behind that thick beard. "Thanks, Your Majesty. They will be glad to hear that." Historia thought that it was no use insisting on him to stay. So she nodded as a sign that there was nothing to discuss anymore.

Then she remembered the whole wagon that Mr. Gideon brought from this morning. As she was about to speak, she was interrupted by a voice.

"Please excuse me, Your Majesty, Tonight, Anna and I will return home. Is that all right with you?" Diana's voice was heard by Historia.

Both Historia and Gideon turned around to look at the two women.

"Uhh, sure, S-sure. The Captain and the others are here anyway." Historia responded.

"If you want to go home, I can drop you off near your house," Gideon spoke from where he stood.

"That will suffice, Mr. Gideon." Diana cracked a gentle grin.

Historia cast a glance at Anna, who was standing quietly behind the black-haired woman. "Anna, thank you for coming today; don't worry about us; the Captain is here with the Squad, and we'll handle it." Historia was taken aback by the red-haired woman's worried smile.

Anna shook her head and smiled at the Queen. She embraced Historia right away. "Just keep an eye on things while we're gone. Okay?" Anna stated.

"Got it. Thank you very much." She comforted her.

"All right, girls, let's go," Gideon said.

The three finally left the orphanage a few moments later.

Historia sighed as she shut the door. The surroundings were already quiet and Historia decided to proceed on her next task.

The Captain.

She took the stairs and went to her study, the place was now quiet and none of her 104th friends are roaming around. She went into her office and found the captain sitting quietly in her study. He was dressed in his usual gray shirt and black trousers with a cup in his hand, and there was another cup and a teapot on the small center table just right in front of the Captain.

He was drinking tea while waiting for her. Just as what he usually does when he's doing nothing.

"Tea?" he simply asked her.

"Yes, please." She replied as she sat across from the Captain. He reached for the teapot, then filled the extra cup with tea and handed it to her.

"Thank you." She sipped her tea quietly after she received it. They both remained silent as they concentrated on their teacups. She pondered what would happen next as she waited for him to speak.

Will she expect him to insult her again because she insisted on touching someone else's love mails? She clenched her teeth behind her closed lips. She simply maintained a neutral expression on her face.

When she noticed that the Captain made a deep sigh. It caused her to turn in his direction, as she wondered what he was thinking that caused him to sigh like that.

While his teacup was on his mouth, she met his grey intimidating orbs. Perhaps she needs to fill the silence with a conversation.

So she took a deep breath and spoke.

"Captain--. . ." Historia

"Historia--. . ." Captain Levi

Historia was taken aback, and the Captain raised his brow sarcastically. They both spoke at the same time, causing Historia to lock her gaze on the Captain without blinking. He chuckled and averted his gaze as she also found it very awkward. Crap.

She straightened her skirt with her free hand while letting the awkwardness die. The warm teacup brought a little coziness in this not so steep room.

"What took you so long, Your Highness?" The Captain returned his sharp stare to his cup while sitting on the chair, his legs crossed...

"Mr. Gideon and the ladies just left. I accompanied them until they left."

"I assumed they would never want to leave, I say." He took a sip of his tea.

"They both are. Anna wanted to stay. But she gave in at the end." She licked her lip after she sipped on her cup.

And she saw the Captain's grey gaze on her lip while hiding his expression behind his grey strand of hair on his forehead as if it were a call from him Historia locked her eyes on him behind her teacup. . It was a little gesture she found not disturbing, locking eyes with the Captain while having their tea session.

"I see. Trust issues." he glanced away.

Historia smirked slightly. The Captain won't go further by starting eye to eye with her this time.

"That was simply because they never went home together. One of them must remain here to keep me accompanied and the kids safe."

"Yeah, you cared too much that you kept me waiting here for an hour and a half. I already consumed half of the teapot before you finally came." The Captain simply returned to his usual strict demeanor.

Historia bit her lower lip in response. She had forgotten to check the time.

"Sorry. Have you gotten everyone settled into their rooms? Or do you already have a place for you to stay?" She sat with her hands on her lap.

"Yes. They have all done so. I can get by on the couch downstairs."

"Couch? What would everyone say if they found out you're lying on a couch in my orphanage?" She felt dismayed.

"How can everyone know when I only sleep for three hours and wake up before anyone else?" He rolled his eyes, "Who gives a damn?"

"I do," she replied eagerly, her voice full of concern. "You require a bed, not a couch. I have to make sure you're well-fed as the one in charge here, you know." She explained as his bored gaze was drawn to her. She noticed that his eyes had softened from a scowl to a smile.

"If you insist on providing me with a room, I won't be able to refuse your offer. Thanks, Historia." While thanking her, he simply stared in the opposite direction.

She became agitated when she heard his tone. Historia wants to smile on the tips of her lips because hearing him say her name always made her cheeks flushes. But it wasn't always like this when he said her name in a kind and soft tone.

"And if you ask me where I want to sleep, I'll tell you it's here. This study and this couch are sufficient for me." The captain spoke to her so innocently that she almost opened her mouth only to close it again...

She cast a glance at the Captain. So he was referring to the couch on which he was sitting. Well, it's a three-seater couch, and she can tell it's comfortable to sit on. But she had no idea that this type of furniture would make the Captain feel at ease. And the location was so close to her quarters...

and...

And. . Oh crap. She doesn't want to offend him, she can't refuse.

"Do you want to sleep here? Not in a bedroom?" She asked again, knowing full well that he would give her the same answer.

"If her Majesty allows it, I can guard you all night since the others will be tending the kids while I can spend the night talking with you." With those ravened colored cold eyes, he asked her. It's not that she doesn't want him to sleep here; it's just...he was so naïve.

"Your cheeks have turned bright red once more. Are you feeling well?" The Captain inquired. Historia now hated herself for her obvious blushing. And the Captain was the first to notice, pretending that he doesn't understand why she blushed.

"I... Uhm, Don't worry about me." She was embarrassed. But she hoped he wouldn't ask why she was blushing so much.

"Fine. Yeager and I will share a room.." The Captain took a sip of his tea.

Historia came to a halt once more. And she can't help but be curious. She was perplexed; he had expressed an interest in sleeping in her study, but he quickly retracted his idea.

"It appears that you have something to say, you're Highness; what is it?" He inquired.

"Uhm." Historia swallowed her thoughts immediately. She wants to know why he changed his mind and decided to sleep in another room. But that's fine. She'll abandon it and move on. "Yes. Before we go any further, I'd like to apologize for this morning." Historia may be unsure about her apology because she believes she did nothing wrong to him... But she can't help herself; she can't stay mad at him. "I understand you're still upset —-"

"Historia. Stop." He simply mentioned her name in a serious tone, and it caused her words to linger on the tip of her tongue.

The Captain returned his attention to his cup, tipping it side to side to stir the contents. "I'm not mad anymore. So, we can get rid of all of this. I hope that you can disregard what happened this morning."

Historia bit her lips and tightened her grip on her cup handle. She dislikes the idea that he is limiting her ability to express herself. "Is that so?" If he refuses to settle their argument this morning, it will remain an argument when they discuss it the next time.

"I know there are some other issues we need to address, Your Majesty. However, we are running out of time. You must explain what happened when you said you lost your vision and heard voices when we slipped in the slicking mud." She noticed that the Captain's jaw has hardened. "You didn't tell anyone about it, did you?" His dark gaze was on her as a warning.

"No." She gave a flat response as a result of her slight irritation to him.

"Oh, so maybe it wasn't so urgent. You made it sound like one when you showed me how terrified you are way back then that you want to talk to the commander." He strikes in a calm demeanor expression and Historia felt the sarcasm in it.

"I am terrified but I have children to look after, and I can't afford to be distracted. That's why I waited for you because it could happen again at any time. In addition, I'm not sure how much longer I can go without saying anything, but I've decided to wait for you while continuing my daily task"

"You waited at your desk while comparing my letters," he said coldly.

So she thought that they were over it. The thought raised Historia's heart. She turned to face the Captain

"Then I apologize for it." She said it with apprehension. She knew what was going to happen, but she doesn't want to fight him any longer.

He fell silent and placed the cup on the center table in front of them, his arms oppositely placed on the couch's leaning board. He looked at her with furrowed brows. "Just drop that. Forget it " he rolled his eyes away.

She admits he looked so casual in his grey clothes. And she found him looking so youthful on it, making her want to open up more about her thoughts.

"I admit it was childish, but I don't know anything about you and them." She was talking about the Rals. Her eyes began to cloud, but she held back the tears. "I'm curious. I'd like to ask you about it, but I respect your privacy. I know it's none of my business, I'm just concerned about you."

"There's nothing to be concerned about it, kid. But please put it aside for a moment, and let's talk about what the crap happened to you four days ago?" He asked her a serious question. "You looked fine compared to that day. You were terrified, you're Majesty."

"But it happened so quickly that I'm not sure of what I had heard." She touched her head because her head was hurting from trying to remember everything.

"You can tell me what you heard from the strange voices? Or anything that we can keep as detail."

So Historia started talking about the details and the Captain listened attentively. She was fully certain that he will believe her about what happened. And after she shared the Captain was still serious while sipping on his tea.

"Do you have any thoughts about where these voices came from? Have you encountered something like this before?" He asked her.

Historia thought about it. And as for the moment, the scenery at the underground came back to her mind. She remembered when she asked her father why Frieda, did not fight back when titans destroyed the walls.

"I only encountered a flashback when I touched Eren and when I made the last blow on my father's titan. But this one was completely different. I only heard voices." She furrowed her brows to think again. And then she remembered one of the lines that the voices said. "Oh, there's something else too, I heard something, they said, my blood has been awakened." She announced it to the Captain.

Then suddenly, she was terrified when something just fell on the floor and broke apart.

She almost jumps off from her seat, only to see the Captain knelt on his feet to tend the broken cup on the floor.

His teacup fell on the floor and Historia cannot see his expression clearly as his black bangs hang on his forehead.

"Captain, a-are you okay?" Suddenly she felt puzzled and tried to approach him.

"Sorry. The cup slipped from my hand."

"I'll help. " she tried to move closer but the Captain immediately blocked her by his hand.

"No! Stay where you are. You might step on a sharp shard and hurt your feet." He quickly reminded her in his calm tone...

Historia paused for a moment. Did she say something that made him surprised?

"Captain. . ." -- now the Captain stood straight looking down at her. The broken cup was gathered as one on his palm. He had this leveled expression that made her question his current thoughts. It's like he was dangerously looking at her.

"Are you sure about what you've heard?" He simply asked.

"I-, I am." She replied.

Then he placed the broken teacup on the center table and went near her. And Historia suddenly jerked back from her seat when the Captain leaned towards her, placing his both arms on the arm of the chair that she was sitting on like they were in an interrogation.

Her heart pounded as his unreadable profile came so close to her level. Her shoulders stiffened when his knees bump to her knees, causing her hands to tremble and almost let go of the cup that was on her hand.

Crappy teacups, what the hell, she exclaimed mentally against his face.

"Did you notice anything unusual in your body when they said your fucking blood was activated?" He drew his youthful face so close to her that she clutched her cup handle so tightly. She moved back but was taken aback when she realized she had already leaned so heavily on her seat. He was so close to her that's he thought they would kiss.

She can smell his natural odor, a faded scent of his perfume with a hint of soap and afternoon sweat. For God's sake, he even smelled nice after a long day.

"Everything is as u-usual." She replied anxiously because she could feel his breath. The tip of their toes touched.

Historia thought about the little gossips she heard about her and the Captain. Mr. Frigoz's voice rang to her ears while she met his Captain's rendering glamour up close to her chair

"Is he your lover?"

"Then. . ." he huskily continued "Can I ask you something."

She nodded. Willing to comply.

"Have you met an Ackerman before?" He whispered with a frown.

She frowned and blinked her eyes as well, several times while staring in his direction. "What?" The Captain's frown had worsened, and Historia was now completely bewildered by his question.

He sighed and moved away from her as he received her response.

She was relieved when the Captain stood straight and walked back to his favorite couch. He slammed his body into the seat and pressed his index and thumb fingers to his brow. He appeared agitated and stressed.

"Captain, why would you ask if I've ever met an Ackerman?" She asked him right away.

"Answer the damn question." He snarled

Then Historia thought about it.

"Kenny is someone I've met before. My mother was murdered by him..." She was hesitant to bring up that name because it reminded her of the time her mother's throat was slashed.

The Captain paused once more as if he was deep in thought.

"Then you met Mikasa? Then me?" The Captain brushed his hair with his palm.

"Yes." She observed the Captain and she wants to ask him why he was looking so uncomfortable. "Now tell me. Why would you ask me if I ever met someone with your family name?"

"The word awakening was common to Ackerman's. Kenny, Mikasa, and I experienced awakening when we fought. . It runs in our blood like a spark, and our strength will overflow. Now I'm not sure if only Ackermans experience that kind of phase. Maybe you did have your awakening when you did the last blow that killed your father's titan form."

Historia passed for a momentarily breathe. Trying to sink all the words that he spouted.

She recalled the wave of spark; it was lightning that hit her main organs when it happened. Now she glanced at the Captain who looks puzzled across her.

"Maybe I did." She agreed as she placed her cup on the center table and clasped both of her hands in a settlement.

She stared at the Captain's broken teacup. It was weird that he let the cup slip from his grasp when she mentioned the word.

"But, Captain, why did it sound like you was as surprised as I was about my awakening?" She returned her gaze to him and back to her cup.

He understood what she meant and he swallowed and averted his gaze from her, truly avoiding her questioning remarks. Historia was now baffled by his unexpected strange reaction. There was something he wasn't telling her about.

"It's nothing." He shifted his body position so that he was properly seated on the couch.

"You're hiding something." She clearly said it with a commanding questioning tone.

"Then leave it..." He scowled at her.

"Speak..." she narrowed her eyes at him and she can see how his brows twitched for a moment and his jaw stiffened." You looked disturbed."

"I don't think it's time for you to know."

"Now you're telling me something that I don't have to know. That's making things odd again, Captain. You're pushing me away, just like how you keep your true relationship with Petra, I was there already. I have proofs and doubts but you're still denying everything.."

"Because it's complicated." The Captain now leaned at the couch while his eyes were on the roof. Historia can see his firm chin and his long calluses hands balled into fists. He was truly keeping something from Historia.

"What's complicated? Things are already complicated, so why not tell me everything. About Petra, about this damn awakening." She stomped her feet.

"It's not always about that, look forget it.."

"Then what? Tell me. Tell me everything that was not about me." Her voice lifted. She just wants him to open up. She wants him to tell her something to prove that he considered her a reliable friend.

"You won't understand. It's out of topic.."

"How can I understand if you always keep me away? You're showing me that you're worried. You're also making me worried, so just tell me why the hell you are worried? It's an order" she spoke the last words clumsily in desperation.

The Captain looked at her with that frowning face. He was not angry, but more defensive and uncomfortable. "Listen, kid--"

"I'm not a kid. Stop calling me that." Historia stood up in anger and curled her fingers. The back of her knees sent the small couch backwards as it made a little screeching sound on the floor.

"Yes, you are and will always be." He replied in a low dark tone.

"I'm not a kid, stop treating me like one. I am the Queen, I don't do stuff that kids do anymore. Kids don't have a big responsibility to all people. I am a kid who's already a Queen of this damn nation. A kid who's always away from her friends because she's meant to be left alone. A kid who's like a mother to all the orphans. Do you think I am still a kid? When everyone thought that you're my lover?-"

Fuck. She snarled on herself.

Historia froze and covered her mouth in surprise.

She widened her eyes while looking at the Captain who was still looking at the center table. She was eaten by her desperations that she carelessly spouted the wrong word.

But He looked as if not startled by her sudden daring words, and Historia just really want to disappear in front of the Captain.

She just said that they were wronged as lovers when they never really talked about that sensitive topic.

Yeah for her it was a sensitive one. But they were too busy and the Captain never really looked like he cared too much about what people say.

"Do you think I don't know about that shit?" he calmly replied. And like for a long time, he turned his dark sharp gaze to her. Historia's heart was bow-shaking that he might burst in anger again.

Oh no, he's pissed.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean that way." She gripped the fabric of her skirt in front. "I just want to know about your thoughts."

The Captain moved, and now he was reaching for the teacup that was still whole on the top of the center table. He reached for Historia's cup and the other hand reached for the teapot. Not long after that, he poured tea on the cup and placed the teapot back on the small table and he leaned on the couch as if nothing happened.

It seems that he didn't lose his cool all along. Historia just stared at the cup that he was currently holding, and she wondered if he ever planned on using her cup just by drinking its content.

"Alright. I'll open up to shut your mouth. I felt a spark by the time you landed on top of me. It's the awakening, and the spark hit me when you touched my skin. To cut a long story short, you heard the voices and I was awakened by our unexpected connection. So there's a good chance that my blood had something to do with everything that was going on with us. I'd like to ask you a favor. Don't tell anyone that we had a physical shitty spark connection together. Consider it to be a private matter. Don't talk to the Commander, Hange, or your cherished loyal friends.

Second, I came here to request that you not remove Pedro and Wena from their residency in the Reiss Garden, regardless of what happens.." He then came to a halt, staring at the cup in his hand. "That's all there is to it."

Then he immediately sipped on her cup, drinking all its content.

She was staring at him, her gaze trailing to the bulge of his neck, which moved as he swallowed the herbal beverage. She was sure it was already cold. But it didn't bother him.

All she could think was that her mouth had also touched the hems of the cup he was drinking from.

And all she can think is that he has already tasted her. Using that filthy cup.

"Captain," she simply addressed him, with only one thought passing through her mind...

The Captain now had a stern expression on his face as he looked at her.

"Did you happen to be close with . . . .? Petra Ral?"

The Captain then reached for the tray under the center table, where he placed the broken teacup as well as Historia's cup. He stood up across Historia while holding the tray with one hand expertly.

"Yeah. When she died, she was one month pregnant with my child." He responded flatly.

She cast a sidelong glance. In the direction of the fireplace, the letter has mental significance for the Captain. When he saw her wearing that damn blue dress, the ring, and the letter she kept, he had every right to be angry. She had no idea how naive she was.

And yet the blue dress was kept inside her closet right now. How come she didn't give it to the Captain as well?

All she sees is the Captain who choked her once and the Captain who was responsible and true to his duties, a powerful strong soldier who happened to be so supportive of her. He thought of her as a friend.

"I hoped that was enough for you to understand what's going on with me and the Rals." He gave her a serious piercing look and then walked towards the door.

Historia didn't turn to him.

So after all this time, Petra was not just a comrade to him.

Now out of nowhere, Historia felt heavy, tears started to gather on the tips of her eyes, and she felt pain deep inside.

Pregnant. . .

The Captain had a child with a girl named Petra. And...

"I have one more favor to ask, My Queen." The Captain's voice was using a formal tone.

"Yes?" she asked in a low calm tone

"I trust you, as my friend."

Then her tears fell. She moved her body away from the Captain to hide her tears. She won't know why she was hurting, but part of her was finally happy that he admitted her worth tonight.

Her heart was moved. Her eyes were blurry due to the tear that keeps coming out. She let her blonde hair cover her cheeks to hide her face from the Captain.

"Thank you, Captain Levi." She said in a low tone. "

"Tch." He now walked towards the door.

"Captain wait." She called for him again. She thinks that he will not stay any longer, that this conversation will be over when he walks out through that door. The Captain stopped. "You will return to headquarters tomorrow, and we will not meet because you are already busy with your preparations. Promise me one thing. Promise me that you will return to see me again. Alive."

Historia wiped away a tear from her cheeks. She knew that the Captain was not looking at her at this time.

Then she heard him, chuckled.

"I can't promise that Historia. But keep this in mind; I may face danger during the expedition and I might die. But one thing is for sure. I'm not going anywhere."

Then the Captain continued to walk outside. Closing the door and leaving Historia alone.