So after a whole bunch of rains, we got a wave of heat that raised the temperatures outside by around 15-20 degrees more than last week. Even though I've written a bit here and there this week, I've been mostly just melting and not having any energy to write even though my inspiration has gotten better with the clear skies. But I hope everyone's having cool weather and that you'll have a lovely weekend!
As always my lovelies, go ahead and enjoy this chapter and don't forget to toss me a little review, to let me know what you think~ ;)
P.S. All Attack on Titan characters belong to Isayama Hajime. I only own my OCs.
17. Important to someone
~ 850 ~
A couple of times he had fallen in and out of sleep that night, before his insomnia had caught up with him and he had settled for watching Natalie in the dim light from the still burning candles. She looked so peaceful, so perfectly fitting in his arms as if they were two halves of the same whole that had finally come together.
"...You can't sleep?" she whispered, stirred from her light slumber by the kiss he pressed to her forehead.
"Yeah."
Rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes she turned back to him and reached to comb her fingers through his hair. Huffing at her attempt to help, he pulled her closer and pressed his forehead to hers.
"It's alright..." he said, reaching to take her hand in his and lace their fingers together. "I'm not tired; I'd rather enjoy having you here with me."
"Thank you." she whispered, a loving smile gracing her lips before she leaned in to steal a kiss, only speaking again in the face of his confused expression. "For being so impossibly kind, like you've always been ever since I met you. For showing me how much I could enjoy something like this."
"That's not something you need to thank me for, dummy." he smiled affectionately. "Seeing and hearing you enjoy it was one of the best parts. You're mine, and now I'm yours... your pleasure is what gives me pleasure."
All she could do at first was to stare at him, wondering if that was really the same Levi she had known all those years. Maybe it was a silly thought, but she couldn't help feeling so incredibly lucky that the man she had fallen in love with, was someone like him. And again she leaned in to his lips, not knowing how else to show him what he made her feel.
"I don't want to ever leave your side..." she sighed.
"And what makes you think I'd let you leave my side?" he retorted, startling her into looking back at him. "Anyone who wants you will have to get through me first; whether it's your family, the Military Police or anyone else. You belong to me and no one has any say over you anymore. Your deal with Erwin might have been only for my sake, but don't think for a moment I'll just allow anyone to take you from me."
At first she said nothing more, only watching him with a gaze so heavy with emotion that he could almost feel it weighing on her. Then she pulled her hand from his to wrap her arms around him, drawing him into a deeper kiss which he all too gladly accepted.
"Do I still have to call you Captain, tomorrow morning?"
At first he arched a brow at her question, before he caught onto her jesting tone and brought a hand up to tousle her hair.
"Of course you do, you ill-mannered brat." he retorted, again smiling at the sound of her laughter. "Don't get cocky just because you seduced me into your bed. Beyond that door I'm still your Captain."
"You say that as if you're planning to never repeat this night..." the redhead pouted.
"Oh, I'll repeat it... if you deserve it."
Though she stuck her tongue out at his remark, eventually she once again settled comfortably in his arms with a sigh.
"I hope Erwin wakes up..." she said, her fingers tracing loose patterns atop his chest. "The Survey Corps can't lose him, just like it can't lose you."
"He will; he's far stronger than you know."
"I don't know why I'm so restless lately... I always feel like something horrible is about to happen."
"Just... don't forget what you promised to me." he said, gathering her closer to where he could press his cheek to her forehead. "Don't die... don't leave me alone, when I finally decided to share my life with you. I don't want you to be a hero; I don't love you because you're a hero. I love you because you're you... because you're mine."
Had anyone else said such words to her, she would have found them awkward at best. But coming from Levi, they carried a wholly different kind of weight and meaning. He was a man who had lost everything, and yet still had the courage to bond with her. A man who had known so much pain, yet was still able to look past it and hold someone dear to him again.
"I promised, didn't I?" she replied, nuzzling her face in the crook of his neck to hide the tears stinging her eyes even while her tone betrayed her. "I'll never do that to you... especially not when you finally gave me all I ever wished for."
"Did I?" he goaded her, wanting to hear her say it; to know her thoughts and what made her tick. "I wonder... if a man like me even has anything a woman could wish for."
"You made me feel important to someone."
Her answer left him gawking at the dark ceiling with wide eyes; that... was not what he had expected her to say, and he barely registered that she was still talking.
"I know it probably sounds stupid to hear me say this. But I was so many things to so many people, throughout my life... except what I wanted to be. To my father, I was only a piece of flesh to be sold for a good business match. To every man who wanted to marry me, I was only a pretty face, with breasts and a womb to produce an heir. To their families, I was only a good name tied to a fortune, to be shown off like a trophy. I was never just Natalie to anyone... except you. You made me feel important and normal; you taught me that I am useful and valuable. And tonight you made me the happiest woman alive... and I love you for that."
~ oOo ~
"Do I have to?" Natalie pouted, watching Levi's hands moving as he strapped the harness onto her.
"Yes, you have to. I want all the details of what happened out there. Now, you said the 104th was near you along with Hannes, right?"
"Yes..."
"Do you know why I'm doing this?"
"...Why you insisted on helping me get dressed?"
Her half-jesting retort caught him off guard for a moment, before he huffed with a faint smile and reached up to tousle her hair.
"Are you mouthing off to your Captain?" he retorted.
"I know..." she replied, grabbing his hand and bringing it to her lips. "I'm not sure if any of the Military Police soldiers survived on our way back. I was too out of it, worrying about Erwin dying on me, to pay attention."
"They're not obligated to listen to his orders, beyond that mission." Levi nodded, cupping her cheek. "We all need to be on the same page with what happened. At least the ones that we can be certain are trustworthy."
Standing he used that same hand to pull her closer for a reassuring kiss.
"No matter what Erwin decides when he wakes up, I'm not letting anyone take you from me. I'll protect you just like I've done until now, and I can't do that if I'm in the dark."
When she nodded, he briefly examined the concerned look on her face before wrapping the redhead in his arms.
"I'm scared..." she whispered.
"I know; I'm right here with you. I'll be with you every step of the way."
With a final tender kiss to her forehead, he stepped over to the door to unlock it and go out into the hallway. Glancing along the corridor while he waited for Natalie to retrieve her jacket, he frowned.
"What are you two gawking at? If you have the time to dally around, go do your duties before you miss breakfast."
Startled by that, the redhead poked her head out of the room in time to see two of her neighbors in the female barracks swiftly heading off after saluting him.
"Great... now they're going to be gossiping about this all day." she grimaced, stepping out and closing her door to follow him.
"Let them. It's not like I was planning to hide this."
"Captain..." she scolded him with a giggle. "It'll look like favoritism, you know?"
"Anyone who wants to believe that wouldn't be convinced otherwise, no matter what you or I say. It would just be a waste of time to pay them any attention."
Upon leaving the building he paused for a moment, glancing around before pulling her to the side.
"Go to the stables and make sure no one's following you. Ready Ada as well, I'll be there as soon as I can." he said in a hushed tone. "If anyone sees you and asks, tell them we're going on a date."
With the redhead nodding and hurrying off, he headed to his office to write a summons for Hannes which he sent off with another Scout.
"You'll deliver this straight to him; no one else is to know about it." he ordered.
"Yes, sir!" the man nodded, accepting the letter.
"And take off your uniform. You're going there as a civilian."
Blinking at that, the soldier hesitated a moment before speaking up.
"Captain... is this about... what happened out there? Commander Erwin—"
"Nothing happened out there." Levi retorted, wondering if he'd chosen the wrong man for the job.
"I understand, sir." the soldier nodded again, his face saying he had caught the underlying implication. "Don't worry; she saved us... the Survey Corps needs her."
Watching as the man hurried out of the office, he sighed and ran his hands over his face.
'I knew you didn't tell me the truth last night.' he mused, not at all surprised to hear she had used her power to try and protect everyone.
On that thought he stood and left the office, heading over to the stables to find Natalie already waiting for him with the horses. Taking the reins of his mare from her, he patted the animal's muzzle before grabbing her hand and tugging her along to lead the horses out into the open.
'Well, it worked in Stohess...' she mused, knowing he was only making a show of it in the eventuality of any unfriendly eyes.
On that thought she gave his hand a light tug, using that to lean up and kiss his cheek. Following his lead when he mounted, she spurred Ran to a trot alongside his mare keeping an eye out for anyone trying to follow them. Only once they had gone through the district gate did Levi stop off the road among a cluster of trees that hid them from the sight of the guards. She couldn't tell how long they waited there until she saw Hannes coming through, dressed in civilian clothes with a hat hiding his blond hair and what looked like a shawl to hide his broken arm.
Without a word Levi cupped his hands around his mouth and issued a call strikingly similar to one of the numerous doves she had once enjoyed feeding, as a child. Cautiously the man changed course, coming around as if on a leisurely stroll before entering the shade of the trees to join them.
"Sorry for the delay, Captain." he apologized, while Levi pulled him up onto Ada's back. "I have some things you need to know, but not here."
Using the thick grass to muffle the horses' hoof sounds they kept the beasts at a trot, until Levi was certain they were far enough from the gate that they could afford to break the horses into a gallop. It was almost two hours before they reached the secluded cabin where the 104th Cadets were gathered to guard Eren and Historia.
'Who would've even guessed she was of noble birth?' she mused, recalling the report Hange had given to her after the girl had confessed who she really was.
Tying Ran next to Levi's steed, she then followed the two men into the house, smiling lightly at seeing how happy Eren, Armin and Mikasa were to see Hannes.
"How are you three?"
"We're recovering for now..." Armin replied.
"Good." the man nodded, tousling his hair.
Having just removed her cloak, Natalie was startled when Eren made a beeline for her.
"Where have you been? Weren't you supposed to come here with us?"
"We needed someone to keep watch on Erwin." Levi replied in her stead. "Besides, moving both of you out of Trost at the same time would've aroused more than a few suspicions."
Sighing lightly when the boy opened his mouth to speak again, the Captain pointed at the table in the other room.
"Sit down, all of you. We have a few things to discuss."
Taking up the chair at the head of the table, he waited until everyone had obeyed his order before looking over to Mikasa and Jean.
"How are you two feeling?"
"Much better, sir." Mikasa replied. "Fortunately no ribs were broken."
"Yeah, I got lucky too. There was no damage other than a concussion and a severe nosebleed." Jean concurred.
"Alright..." he sighed after a brief pause, glancing over to the redhead who only nodded. "First, let's address the biggest issue here... Natalie's Titan powers."
The shift in the air was instant and palpable, as was the change in Eren's gaze when the redhead looked at him across the table.
"Go on... say what you want to say." Levi goaded him, leaning back in the chair.
"I've been thinking these days... about everything that happened until now. I just want to know why you waited so long to use that power." the boy said as calmly as possible, though Natalie still heard the faint tremor of anger in his voice. "When you could have used it so many times before... to save so many people..."
"I couldn't..." she replied, barely louder than a whisper.
And yet that seemed to be enough to trigger him, when he leapt to his feet and slammed his hands on the table startling everyone.
"No, no, no... this is all wrong!" he said, his voice rising already. "What the hell kind of excuse is that? You could've used it to help me fight Reiner and maybe Hange-san and the others wouldn't have gotten injured! You could've used it in Stohess, to fight Annie and maybe we could've captured her! No, even before that... you could've used it in the forest. We could have saved all those lives; we could have saved everyone on Captain Levi's squad!"
"Eren—" Armin tried to interject, fearing his friend was about to go too far, only for his timid voice to be lost in Eren's shouts.
"How could you?! How could you stand aside and let them die like that?! You knew you had this power all this time; you were just too selfish and too cowardly to use it! Instead, you put the entire burden on me! You left me to struggle alone, when you could've helped! You... were you actually on the same side as Reiner and Bertholdt all this time? You're really no different from them, are you?! Do you even care that so many people died, because you didn't use that power?!"
The searing anger burning in his gaze had left Natalie speechless, more so when her memory brought up that terror her future self had felt upon meeting the older him. She could do nothing but stare at him with near horror in her eyes, until she suddenly realized he was no longer looking at her. It took her a moment to process the fact that Levi had gotten to his feet as well, twisting one of Eren's arms back and smashing his face onto the table.
"Get a grip on yourself, you shitty brat." he ordered.
"Mikasa!" Hannes called out scoldingly when the brunette tried to stand and reach for Eren. "Captain Levi's right... Eren, learn some manners. What would your Ma say if she could hear you now?"
Gasping when Levi released him to fall back into his chair, Eren rubbed his now hurting nose trying to settle down.
"I... don't think it was a matter of not wanting to use it." Armin at last spoke up again, in the growing silence. "If anything, Natalie's shown that she's not the kind of person who would stand aside without a very good reason. Remember that back in the forest, Commander Erwin had a plan to capture Annie? Yes, she could have turned back there... but she chose to trust his plan, just like you chose to trust Captain Levi and his squad. There was no way she could have predicted the outcome; but she had to choose. Commander Erwin himself knew that we had to sacrifice some people for that plan to work. Like him, she chose to give up her humanity in that moment, for the sake of changing things. Those who can't discard anything, will never change anything."
"No, Eren is partially right..." the redhead sighed. "I was too cowardly to use this power, after seeing what he went through once people knew what he could do."
"That's not true, is it? Why don't you tell them that you did it to protect me?" Levi interjected, his side-glance making her shrink in embarrassment while he turned to the others. "I've known about her from the start... and she figured that the moment those pigs in the Interior found out about her, they would also come after me. They would come after Erwin as the Commander of the Survey Corps, and would have accused us both of treason to humanity because we kept her a secret. They could have accused us of any number of things, from planning genocide, to trying to overthrow the King by using her power. And they would have executed us, along with her and Eren. She had to choose... and she decided that Erwin and I were more important than the soldiers who died."
"Eren, you haven't always been aware of this power." Armin spoke up again. "The first couple of times you transformed, you only did it instinctively. But Natalie had to make a conscious choice... that's not always easy to do. And... I don't believe the Natalie who saved me from getting disfigured by the steam from the explosion, would be in any way similar to Reiner and Bertholdt. That the Natalie who tried to talk Annie into siding with us... the Natalie who begged Reiner to reconsider, to not fight you... I don't believe she's in any way like them. It's understandable that she was afraid; other than Captain Levi and Commander Erwin, she didn't know who she could trust. And among our group we kept finding traitors... I'm sure you would have been wary in her shoes, too."
"And she was right to be afraid." Hannes at last intervened again, looking over to Levi. "There were a couple Military Police among the group that returned to the Wall. Commander Pyxis asked me to try and pass this message on to you. The Royal Council has discussed ordering the Survey Corps to hand over Eren, Historia and Natalie."
"They don't want much, do they?" Levi huffed sarcastically, before his eyes once again settled on the redhead. "Well, if you think there's something you can tell them..."
With everyone turning their confused looks on her, Natalie decided that maybe it was time to give them some information.
"What the Captain means is that my Titan has a special ability, the same way Eren's Titan can harden its skin beyond even what Annie could do. Eren, when you made those swords that wasn't just happenstance. The way your Titan can use the hardening ability is not only for defense, like Annie's – you can manipulate it into different shapes, it's... kind of hard to explain, really, until you actually try it. Mine... allows me to connect to all other people who held this power in the past, or who will hold it in the future. I can see bits and pieces of their memories, but most of it is jumbled and I can't make sense of it."
Knowing that wasn't entirely true, Levi went silent – if she had decided they didn't need to know more than that, she had to have a reason for it.
"So... did you know about the Titans in the Walls?" Armin inquired, falling prey to his curiosity as he usually did.
"Don't tell them yet... let things happen for now. Historia needs this." her other self whispered in her ear nearly visibly startling her.
It took all she had to keep her expression and voice in check, when she heard Hange's voice echoing from her twin's memories saying how the girl had ended up becoming Queen.
"The... future holder of my power told me, but only after everything had happened. In that regard, the Wall Priests would still know far more than I do, at this point. But that's why I hoped Hange-san would figure some things out... and they did. What I can tell you about people like me and Eren... we're called shifters. And our power is split into nine parts, meaning that at any time there can only be a maximum of nine people like us in the world. One shifter, however, can also possess more than one power, so if you're going to ask how many there are now, Armin... I have no idea."
Closing his mouth at her words, as he had been about to ask just that question, Armin pondered for a bit before speaking up.
"Well, let's just count the ones we know so far then... we have you and Eren. Then there's Annie, Reiner and Bertholdt. And then Ymir is a shifter too, right?"
"Yes, she was." Natalie agreed, exchanging a brief look with Historia.
"What about that monkey?" Conny interjected.
"...Monkey?" she blinked in confusion.
"Back at Utgard, before you guys got there to save us..." Historia concurred. "There was this odd looking, huge Titan covered in fur that went over the Wall. We think he controlled the Titans that attacked us at the castle."
"Hange-san said he might be responsible for what happened to my village." the boy nodded.
"A... Beast Titan... that controls other Titans?" Natalie pondered. "It certainly sounds like something other than a normal Titan. He might be a shifter as well."
"So that would leave potentially two more that we have no idea about. Do you know when they appeared?" Armin concurred.
"The power existed, I think, long before our time." she replied, this time her gaze passing over Levi before it moved to the others. "At the very least, there was at least one other host of my power before me... but he lived in a place I don't recognize. He could have very well lived before the time when Titans drove humanity behind the Walls."
"That would be more than a century ago... does the power get passed to someone else, somehow, when one of the shifters dies?"
"I don't know that..."
"I think we should stop with this interrogation for now." Historia at last spoke up from her seat at the other head of the table, looking over to Eren who still didn't look entirely satisfied. "Even I have no idea what I was supposed to have known, according to Pastor Nick. She's already said she can't make out much of what she sees. I'm sure when she does she'll tell us on her own. I agree with Armin... her actions so far were not those of a selfish person."
In the growing silence, a loud bang on the door startled nearly everyone before Hange burst into the house.
"Good morning, everyone!" the Section Commander greeted with a cheerful smile, their presence instantly adding some levity to the atmosphere. "I'm here for Eren and Natalie..."
Surprised to be included in that, the redhead exchanged a look with Levi who only rolled his eyes.
"Hange talked to Armin back at the barracks." he explained.
"I'm hurt, Natalie... to think you'd keep this amazing thing a secret from me!" Hange nodded, rushing over to her seat to grab her hand. "You have to show me!"
"Just don't get carried away, you damn four-eyes."
Blinking at Levi's warning, Hange grinned dragging the girl out of her seat and towards the front door.
"Eren! You come too!" the researcher called over their shoulder excitedly.
"That idiot..." Levi sighed, getting to his feet. "Everyone, get your gear on. Jean, you join Hange's squad on horseback to keep an eye out around the perimeter."
"Yes, sir." the boy replied, jumping to his feet and rushing out of the room while everyone else stood.
He was certain Natalie could stay in control, but he had no idea how much Hange would push her and what effects that could have. On that thought he removed his coat and headed upstairs to change and get his gear.
~ oOo ~
"That's it!" Hange cried out excitedly, watching as the redheaded Titan rose to its feet. "Moblit, make sure to do a detailed sketch! Hmm, looks about... fourteen meters in size. Hey, Natalie... can I come up there for a minute?"
Though they had intended to use the gear to scale her body, Hange blinked in surprise when the redhead lowered herself to one knee and held out her hand. With an ear-to-ear grin stretching on their face, the Section Commander didn't hesitate to jump onto her palm so Natalie could lift them at eye level.
"I didn't get a good look at her out there..." Armin said, from the cliff where he and Levi were watching along with Historia. "But seeing her up close, she does look so much like Natalie."
"Maybe it's a specific thing with female Titans." Levi pondered aloud, amidst Hange's excited chatter as they asked Natalie various questions. "The other one looked just like that Annie brat, didn't it?"
"Yes, it did..."
"Section Commander!" Moblit cried out drawing their attention. "Please don't be so reckless!"
Apparently in their excitement, Hange had nearly fallen off Natalie's shoulder with the redhead catching them, fortunately.
"It's so frustrating that you can't talk like that, Natalie!" Hange complained. "It would make this so much easier..."
'To be fair I never tried that... should I?' the redhead pondered, before opening her mouth. "I... think I can..."
Her hesitant statement left a deep silence behind, only broken by birdsong from the forest surrounding them. But then Hange's eyes widened almost comically, and they breathed out a combination of an overwhelmed whimper and an excited laugh.
"Ya-hoo!" the researcher leapt for joy, nearly falling out of Natalie's hand had the shifter not been paying attention. "Natalie, you're amazing! Say... can you do it again? Can you say something else?"
"It feels kind of weird... but I think I can." she replied, trying to process that it was still her voice despite sounding deeper and more powerful.
"That's amazing!" Hange grinned, delighted beyond words. "Moblit! Make sure to write that down!"
It was another two hours before Levi had convinced Hange to give her a break, and instead switch to testing Eren.
"I told Hange not to push you so much..." he sighed, offering the redhead his handkerchief to deal with the nosebleed she'd gotten as a result.
"It's alright, Captain." Natalie smiled from where she had lied in the grass. "I was just as surprised that I could still talk like that... I just have to get used to keeping that form up for so long. I'll use the tests to build up stamina."
"Will that work?" Armin inquired worriedly, having sat down next to her.
"I think it will... the second time I turned, I got a nosebleed after just a couple minutes in the Titan. But then, when I turned out there I didn't bleed at all despite keeping that form far longer than I had before. It might have been because I was much too focused on Commander Erwin's state, but I think each shifter's body reacts differently. You said Eren only bled after his second transformation, right? Whereas the first time, despite holding it a lot longer, he was fine."
"That's true... could it be the lack of activity that actually takes a greater toll?"
"What do you mean with that?" Levi inquired, his own curiosity stirred.
"Well, both Eren and Natalie were perfectly fine each time they transformed before having to fight, or generally just make a greater effort. Yet when they turned just to stand around or do... regular things, you can say... it took a greater toll on their bodies."
"I suppose... that makes sense." Natalie agreed. "I don't imagine these powers were meant for anything other than fighting or at the very least, greater efforts than any normal human could withstand."
"So maybe the shifter's body is also changed to some extent, then, once they get this power. That they have to utilize it as it was meant to be used, otherwise their bodies react poorly."
"I guess that's worth looking into... though right now we have more important things to focus on. You should mention it to Hange-san later and they'll decide when we have the time to study that further."
By that afternoon Hange had at last stopped the tests after Eren's third transformation, which had left his Titan half-crippled and Eren himself without a face. With Jean and one of Hange's subordinates heading off to check the perimeter again, while the remnants of Eren's Titan evaporated, Levi had at last called off that day's experiments and had everyone head back to the cabin so Eren could recover.
"When are we heading back?" Natalie inquired while they were having dinner with the children that evening. "We've been gone all day... that's a bit much for a 'date', don't you think?"
"You're not going back to Trost." Levi replied, taking a sip of his tea. "I want you to stay here and keep an eye on these brats with Hange's people."
"I... I would, but I think... I need to visit a doctor tonight."
"Are you alright?" Sasha perked up.
"Yeah, it's nothing like that..." Natalie smiled nervously, before getting to her feet. "Captain... could I have a word with you outside?"
At that she left the table without waiting for a reply, knowing that he would follow. Once outside she waited a moment to make sure the kids didn't try to eavesdrop, before turning her eyes to the twilit sky.
"Last night I was... a bit too emotional to think straight. But, I do need to see a doctor." she said, only then turning to smile at him with a measure of humor. "Unless you want to take the risk of becoming a father..."
The wide eyed look he gave her was almost comically unlike the Levi she knew, and it made her giggle.
"I need to go back with you."
"There's no need." he replied, settling down from the initial shock of being reminded that sleeping with her didn't come without consequences. "There's this guy I know in Trost... he's a good medic. I'll go to him and bring the medicine to you."
"Levi..." she said softly, reaching to grasp his hand. "I know you're trying to protect me, but I can't stay here for now. If both Eren and I suddenly vanish like this, it'll just cause more suspicion. And I'm still worried about Erwin..."
"Erwin's safe for now... they won't make any moves against him until he wakes up. But you're right, as much as I hate it. Fine, we'll go see him as soon as we get back to Trost."
Bringing her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles, he thought it over before adding on.
"Just... don't think this means I never want to have children with you. To be honest, I never gave any real thought to having a family of my own. But... I think if it's with you, it might not be so bad."
"Don't even worry about it." she giggled. "Even if you didn't want that, it doesn't mean I'd love you any less. I just... don't think this would be the right time to have a baby."
"No, you're right. We should get going, either way. It'll be dark by the time we reach the district, if we stay any longer."
Heading back inside with him, Natalie was left to sigh at the guilty faces waiting for them.
'Of course you eavesdropped, you little assholes...' she mused with a measure of amusement.
"Make sure you stay low, you brats." Levi stated, walking over to the armchair to get his coat. "We'll be back as soon as we can. Also... next time you eavesdrop on us, you'll do sit-ups until you faint."
"Take care on the road, Captain... Natalie..." Historia said, walking them out.
"Yeah, you guys be careful even if Hange-san left their squad here. Especially you and Eren..." Natalie smiled, squeezing the girl's shoulder reassuringly.
Following Levi to get their horses, she smiled at the annoyed glint in his eyes.
"Can you really blame them?" she chuckled. "They're teenagers... they're curious at this age."
"If they're that curious, they can try it for themselves."
Again she laughed at the pout she could hear in his voice, but directed Ran to follow him.
"Are you sure you want to encourage them to do that? I don't think they're old enough to handle the consequences, or to take proper responsibility for it. I'd rather satisfy their curiosity without anyone suddenly realizing they're going to have an unplanned baby."
~ oOo ~
The ride back was quiet for them, without Hannes who had left earlier along with Hange and Moblit. It wasn't that she minded the old man's chatty nature, but she and Levi often preferred to share that comfortable silence between them. Rather than heading straight for the barracks once they had entered the district, Levi directed her to follow him to a part of town she didn't really know. Halting in front of what looked like a small clinic at the ground level of a two-story house she dismounted and followed him to the door after securing Ran, where the young Captain's knock was answered by an older man wearing glasses.
"Levi..." he said in surprise, before smiling and ushering them inside. "Come in, come in."
"Sorry to visit after hours, Albert. But this can't really wait..."
"Well, sit down. I'll get you some tea."
With him hurrying off after leading the two to the living area of his house, Natalie looked inquisitively at Levi after taking a seat next to him on the couch.
"I met him some years ago. Back then he lived in Stohess and sometimes came down to the Underground to treat people. One day, a couple of idiots tried to mug him. Furlan and I happened to be passing by and, seeing that he was a doctor, we thought we could have him indebted to us by saving him. On his last visit down there, he told me he was moving to Trost and that if I ever found my way to the surface and had need of him, he'd help me."
"He's just being modest, as usual." the doctor retorted, having just returned with three steaming cups. "Those two would have killed me that day... but thanks to him and Furlan I got away with only a few scratches. How is Furlan doing? Did he come up here with you?"
"Furlan's... gone..." he replied, retrieving his cup and taking a sip. "It's too long a story, and we're a bit short on time right now."
"I'm sorry to hear that; he was a good man." Albert nodded in understanding. "But... then tell me how I can help you."
"Well..."
At that he looked over to Natalie before speaking up.
"Let's just say... I was a bit careless last night."
"So you finally found a lady to drag you to bed, huh?" the doctor chuckled. "I'm assuming you two aren't planning for a baby yet. How much time passed?"
"I... believe it was past midnight last night..." Natalie replied.
"So less than twenty-four hours; good." he nodded, moving to his feet again after checking his pocket watch. "I'll be back in a minute."
With him gone, Natalie's gaze was drawn to the painting hanging on the wall, depicting the doctor along with a woman she assumed was his lover or wife. She couldn't even remember the last time she had seen such a portrait hanging in someone's home, but now she was certain he had been raised among nobility. But then the feeling of Levi's hand on the back of her head startled her and she turned to him just in time for his lips to touch her forehead.
"Calm down..." he said, making her aware of the fact that she had been clenching her hands.
"I'm... not actually that nervous." she smiled. "It might be my... twin's emotions, influencing me. It happened a few times before; the most recent being with Eren."
Though he didn't reply, she felt him snaking his arm beneath her own to slip his hand between hers and lace their fingers.
"Here you go." the medic smiled, returning with another cup and a small paper bag. "Drink this and then I'll tell you how you need to take these."
"Thank you." she smiled, doing as she had been told even when the horridly bitter taste nearly made her gag.
"Alright, just to be on the safe side; since it's been quite a few hours before you got the powder, I want you to take another one of these tomorrow morning before you eat anything." he continued, pulling a small packet out of the bag to show it to her. "Pour the powder into a cup of warm water and stir it well, before you drink. Next time you need to use it, just make sure to take one as soon as you wake up the next day and that should do it. I gave you a few extra, for now. If you need more, you can visit me anytime."
When Levi opened his mouth, the man simply waved his hand at him with a kind smile.
"There's no need to even ask about payment, Levi. This is nothing compared to what I owe you."
"But..." Natalie spoke up, silenced only when Levi gently squeezed her knee. "Then... thank you, doctor."
It was almost an hour later that they left the clinic, now walking along the almost empty street leading the horses by the reins.
"Is it really alright to not pay him?"
"He wouldn't have accepted it, and insisting would have offended him." Levi replied. "He's not the first one who thinks they owe me their life. People like that can't be convinced otherwise."
"I guess that's true..."
"More importantly... he didn't need to give you that many extra ones."
"Huh? You said you planned on repeating last night." she pouted. "Eventually..."
Smiling lightly, he reached over to plop a hand onto her head.
"Sometimes I don't understand how you can be just five years younger, you horny brat." he huffed. "You're just as bad as those kids..."
"So you say... but don't forget you were the one who seduced me." she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. "So which of us is really the horny brat?"
As he abruptly stopped on the empty street, Natalie too halted with a confused look. When she felt his hand grabbing onto her head and pulling her closer, her eyes widened and for a second she wondered if he was seriously upset or just pretending.
"Do you remember what I said about sticking that tongue out?" he narrowed his eyes.
"Captain—"
But Levi didn't let her finish, his lips cutting her off as he lowered his arm to her waist when she melted against him, using their horses as shields against prying eyes.