Favor

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Summary: Levi visits Petra, who has a big favor to ask of him.

"Are you heading into town to buy cleaning supplies?" Hange asked when she spotted him. "But why are you in your civilian clothes?"

"I'm meeting up with someone afterward." Before Hange could make a big deal out of it, Levi added. "It's Petra. She invited me to visit her for lunch."

"Ah," she said, nodding. "Say hi to her for me." There was a sad smile on her face. No doubt she was thinking about her own squad. Most of them had been killed by Kenny and his subordinates, leaving only Moblit as her remaining teammate. His own squad had suffered large causalities during the 57th Expedition and only two subordinates remained. Petra was too damaged for active duty, though. Still, she was alive and whole.

Levi had not seen her in a month and a half but they had kept in touch via letters. He always enjoyed hearing from her and looked forward to receiving a letter from her at least once a week. Her recent missive had mentioned she had something important to discuss with him.

So much had happened since the last time they saw each other. The identities of the Armored and Colossal Titans had come to light, the turning of Ragako village, uncovering the truth of the Titans, overthrowing the Royal Government, Historia being crowned Queen of the Walls. It was hard to imagine all of that had taken place in such a short amount of time. Was the 57th Expedition really only six weeks ago? It felt like a lifetime to Levi.

Stopping by the stables, he grabbed his horse and took off for Karanes. He was very much looking forward to seeing Petra. He'd missed her.

After buying a bag of red apples—Hange had told him not to show up empty-handed—he went straight to Petra's house. He'd pick up the cleaning supplies after so he wouldn't have to lug them around. And he was in a hurry to see her as soon as possible.

An elderly couple directed him to the correct house when he reached her neighborhood. Levi knocked on the door, waiting patiently.

Uneven footsteps came from the other side before the door opened. "Levi, welcome!" Petra said, a happy smile on her face. "Come in, come in."

"Petra," he said in greeting. "I brought you these."

"Thank you." She accepted the bag of apples with one arm. "Take a seat."

"How have you been?" Levi made it a point not to stare at her as she limped. She'd mentioned a few times in her letters about how self-conscious it made her feel when people did that.

Petra set the crutch against the table and sat across from him. "I've been doing well. I'm more eager to know about you, and Eren. I don't get to write to him as much since I don't want to interrupt his training."

"He's working to master hardening so we can finally seal up the gates in Wall Maria and reclaim the land. There's a lot of preparations and training being done."

"When will the mission be taking place?"

"It's less than a month away."

Petra nodded. "I have to admit, I'm feeling really jealous and disappointed that I went out of commission just months before such a critical mission. It feels like this is it, you know? We will finally learn the truth about the world. The Corps will have fulfilled its decades' old cause. And I'll be stuck here."

"I won't lie, I'd feel kinda shitty too if I was in your place and stuck at home while my soldiers risked their lives." As soon as he said those words, Levi wondered if maybe just for three seconds he could stop being his blunt, harsh self and offer her kinder words. She deserved that much at least. But Petra smiled. She always preferred the bitter truth to a sweet lie. The honest sympathy made her feel better than any assurances about how she contributed for years and did her best would have.

"By the way, I made this for Eren." She reached out for the brown package and pushed it closer to him. "Can you give it to him, please?"

"Of course. Do you mind if I ask what it is?"

"Nothing much. Just some cookies and a sweater. I've had a lot of time to get back into knitting."

"It's good to keep yourself busy. How is your father doing?"

"He's a lot more relaxed and happier now that I'm back home, safe and sound. And mostly whole." Petra stood and reached for her crutch. "Let me make you some tea."

Levi had to fight down the urge to stand and help her with it. It would upset her if he offered her assistance over such a menial task, especially in her own home where he was the guest and she was the host. She already felt useless and he didn't want to add to it. "The brats don't do as good a job as you and the guys used to. They're slow learners."

"I'm assuming you're referring to cleaning instead of training and learning maneuvers."

"Naturally."

That got a small laugh out of her.

"You won't believe some of the shit they get into," he complained lightly. "Especially Connie and Sasha. Armin and Mikasa are sensible for the most part. But sometimes, Jean and Eren really get into it and they drag the two down to their level. Then I have to kick their asses to straighten them out."

"Tell me more about them."

Levi was happy to oblige.

In turn, she told him more about helping out her father and entertaining the neighborhood kids with her doodles. She always did have a talent for drawing.

When Levi noticed how late it was getting, he reminded himself of the reason for his visit. "You said you wanted to discuss something with me? That you had some sort of favor to ask?"

Her relaxed posture stiffened slightly and she became hesitant. "Well, um, it wasn't really something I could ask you in a letter."

"What is it? Tell me." He would do just about anything for her. She knew that. Whatever she wanted from him had to be big for her to ask him like this. "Petra?" Levi prompted when she didn't say anything.

"You know how I said the neighborhood kids love my drawings? There's this one kid among them who's an orphan, and he's very sweet. I've grown really fond of him and he's grown attached to me too. He hasn't had the best upbringing but he's so wonderful. I just feel connected to him," she said with a warm smile. "I want to adopt him."

"That sounds like a good thing to me." Levi knew how caring and kind she was. If this child had suffered, which Levi could sympathize with, then he truly deserved a loving and sweet mother like Petra. In his mind, there couldn't be a happier union. "I think you'll be a great mother."

Petra sighed. "Well, yes, the problem is the orphanage wouldn't let me adopt."

"What?" He frowned, the momentary happiness he felt fleeing him at her disappointed face. "Why not?"

"They don't allow single parents to take in a child. Not unless you're rich or have family to help you out."

"But you have your father."

"He's too old and I'm too broken."

"That's just bullshit," Levi said, infuriated that a kid would be denied a mother over something so trivial. And Petra would be denied a chance at motherhood.

"With a single parent, they worry the child will be abused, used as free labor around the house, or forced to work and hand over earnings. Orphans don't have anyone else so this specific orphanage has this rule to help protect the kids. For what it's worth, I think most of the people at the orphanage do want me to take him in. But this boy has suffered at the hands of people who've adopted him before so they're extremely wary now."

It was ironic. Many orphanages couldn't be happier dumping children on anyone willing to take one off their hands. Anything to lessen their load. But the fact that this orphanage gave a rat's ass about this boy's well-being after what he'd been through was what was keeping him from being taken into a loving family now was just ironic.

"That's why I asked you here today," she said nervously. "So I could ask you to help me with this."

Levi wasn't sure what she expected him to do. Being an active-duty soldier, a member of the Survey Corps at that, unless he was wealthy he would have a harder time adopting than she would. "I don't understand what I could do here. Much as I'd like to help—"

"I was wondering if you could marry me."

The rest of his words got caught up in his throat and he stared at her, dumbfounded. Of all the things he'd thought she might say, this was the last.

"Just on paper, of course. I just need a husband. And if it's you, well, I'm sure there'll be no trouble in us adopting."

"Petra, I—"

"You don't have to decide now," she rushed out. "Or even say yes. I know I'm asking a lot. But you've always maintained your stance on never getting married so I thought maybe you could just pretend it with me, just for some time. We obviously won't be a real husband and wife."

Levi hesitated. Could he really do this?

"And I'm not expecting you to be a father to him. He's ten. He'll understand you were just doing it as a favor for a friend. We won't have any expectations like that. Once the adoption's final and everything's settled, we'll just give it some time, to be safe, then quietly divorce. And that's that. Things will be back to normal—not that it should disrupt your life in any way while we're doing this farce. So if you could please just consider it, that's all I'm asking. I won't hold it against you if you say no," Petra promised firmly. "You know I won't. So please, just consider it. Nothing more."

Levi couldn't say anything but, "I'll think about it." Thankfully, she didn't fall over in relief and thank him profusely. That would have made him uncomfortable. Instead, she only offered him a kind smile and a polite "thank you."

"I'm so happy to hear that. Petra will be a great mom, I know it."

"Did you not hear a word I said, Four-Eyes? The orphanage won't let her adopt the boy unless she has a husband."

"Levi—"

"And I know it's a simple thing what she's asking. I know it." Levi began pacing around Erwin's office. Erwin was the one he had actually come to speak with. But he was busy and Hange there and Levi really needed to tell someone. "Petra's right. I've never considered marriage. She knows me well and she's very sensible, so I'm sure we could sign a marriage certificate and have this easily taken care of, no fuss no muss. Nothing should have to change for me."

"But Levi—"

"But it's in my head now. I can't stop thinking about it. What if something happens to Petra and her father before we divorce? How am I going to take care of a kid?" Because sure as hell if he signed up for this, even if they agreed it was fake and he had no paternal responsibilities, he would still feel compelled to take care of the child if Petra and her father ended up passing away. Levi would never be able to just walk away from a child that had no one else but him.

"Levi! Stop pacing!"

He stopped and finally looked to her. "What?"

Hange raised her eyebrows. "You know there is a simple solution to this."

"What's that?"

"Just ask Historia. She can have the orphanage allow Petra to adopt this kid. You know she'll be happy to help an orphan find a loving mother if you assure her Petra's a good person."

As soon as Hange had said "Historia" Levi felt like an idiot. Why hadn't he thought of that?

"I'm sure if the Queen of the Walls vouches for Petra, there will be no need for a marriage. You don't need to have a paper marriage, Petra gets a kid, and the boy gets a family. Everyone's happy. Simple," Hange finished, pleased with herself.

"Yeah," Levi muttered, "that's a good idea. I'll write to Petra."

It was getting late and he decided he would finish the letter tomorrow and send it then.

Rather than tell her what he decided, he let her know when he would stop by for a visit and inform her of his decision in person.

The day after she had received his letter, Levi left for Karanes once more. His mind whirled, jumping back and forth.

When he reached her house and saw her face, his mind was made.

"Hange told me about Petra's request," Erwin said after the other squad leaders left the room, leaving just him and Levi at the table. "How did it go?"

"I'm sure she'll be able to adopt."

"You moved fast. When did you get the chance to visit Historia? Or I suppose you wrote to her."

"Neither. I told Petra I'd marry her."

Erwin gave him a startled look. "You did what? Why? Historia could easily have had the adoption pushed through."

"Because I'm a selfish bastard," Levi said, exhaling deeply.

Erwin patiently waited for him to explain.

"I wanted to be the one to resolve this issue for her, not Historia. If I helped out Petra by using my connection to the queen, it was just so...minimal. It was barely any effort on my part. But I wanted to do more for her, you know? Something big."

"This is about the 57th Expedition, isn't it?" Erwin guessed correctly.

"I know it was the right choice," Levi insisted. "But that decision to spend extra time refueling cost Petra her closest friends and ended her career as a soldier. She'll never walk properly again and her leg will always give her trouble for the rest of her life. Chances are she can't carry a child either. I feel like I deprived her of that. And now I need to do something big for her myself. Something only I can do."

"It was the logical decision, Levi."

"I know that. And being the loyal and good soldier she is, she knew it too and accepted it. Being the kind woman she is, the first thing she did when I visited her in the hospital after the expedition was to try and comfort me. Because of how Eld, Gunther, and Oluo's deaths would weigh on me. I feel like I've put her through so much even if she did know what she was getting into when signed up for the Corps. Still, I just..." Levi didn't know how else to explain it.

Erwin put into words what he was having trouble expressing. "You want to make her feel special. That you're willing to do this big thing because she's the one asking. And you wouldn't do this for just anyone. This is your grand gesture to show how much you care because how of guilty you feel."

"It's pathetic, I know. I'm going this route first so I can feel good about myself," Levi said, some shame bleeding into his voice. "I get to be the hero this way. She'll think I'm doing this just for her because of how close she is to me and how deeply I care for her—which is true. And if it fails, I'll definitely ask Historia and ensure the adoption goes through. But first I'm doing it this way, by marrying her, because I want her to think highly of me and know she's special to me. I'm just being a selfish asshole here."

"You give yourself too little credit."

"No, I just have no issue seeing myself as I really am. I'm doing this first and foremost to assure my own guilt when my first thought should have been to say yes to her because it was the best for her."

"That makes you selfish, like you said. And human. But it doesn't make you a terrible person."

"Maybe." It still didn't stop him from feeling guilty.

Petra shifted nervously beside him. "Are you sure about this?"

"Petra, if you ask me one more time I'm going to change my mind and leave."

"Sorry. I just wanted to be sure. I started thinking about it and I feel like I might have guilted you into this," she confessed, sitting with him at the courthouse, waiting for their turn. "That you look at me, broken and alone, and feel bad for not being there in time to save us. And now you're doing this huge thing because you think you owe it to me or something when you were just following orders in the forest."

"That's partially it, yes," Levi admitted, not wanting to lie about it. "It's shitty of me, I know. I should have done it because you're important to me and not to make myself feel better."

Petra smiled and chuckled, shaking her head. "I already know I'm important to you, Levi. You didn't have to prove it to me like this. And now I definitely feel like I manipulated you into it."

Levi snorted. "You? Manipulation? Not a chance. You don't have an evil bone in your body, Petra."

The guilty look didn't leave her face. "But—"

"No. Shut up and listen closely: You didn't make me do shit. All you did was politely ask for a favor and assured me I could say no. And I know you wouldn't have held it against me because I'm well aware that's not who you are. You didn't demand anything of me or imply I owed it to you. It was based purely on facts—I will never get married and we're both sensible enough to do this without drama or complicating it. Am I right?"

She nodded. "You are."

"There was no emotional blackmail involved so get that foolish thought out of your head this instant." Levi thought it over for a second before deciding to come clean. "Hange mentioned I can always ask Historia to ensure the orphanage lets you adopt."

"Oh!" Petra said and straightened. "That's right. I forgot she used to be part of your new squad."

"She was, for all of three weeks. But she has a soft spot for orphans and if I spoke to her on your behalf, I'm sure she'd have had this adoption done in record time."

"Then why are you here, Levi?"

"For you." Levi shrugged. "Now you can rest assured I made this choice fully of my own volition. If you want to avoid the extra unnecessary marriage bit I can have Historia take care of adoption."

Quietly, Petra turned it over in her head. "No. I think I'll stick to this."

"Are you sure?"

"If this marriage plan doesn't work out, you can ask the queen. But if it does, in case something happens to me or Dad, I'm sure you'll be more inclined to look after him this way. So now I'm just being selfish."

"That's fine," Levi replied, surprising himself even as he said it. "I can live with that." And he realized he could. By some tragedy something did happen to Petra and her father, he wouldn't be alone. He had people to rely on if he needed help.

Their turn came up and Petra began filling out the marriage certificate after they showed their papers.

She paused and he saw what made her hesitate. "Ackerman," he provided. It was the first time he was using his name in an official capacity.

"Are you related to that girl Eren told me about? Her name was so pretty. What was it? Mikasa?"

"She's a relative, yes." Levi recalled what Kenny had told him, what Kenny's grandfather had said about a branch family of the Ackermans moving away to live at the edge of the Walls. "We're probably cousins or something." After she finished, he filled out his section.

The clerk stamped it and it was official.

I'm a married man. Levi felt oddly amused by the thought. He turned to his new wife and said, "Well then, Mrs. Petra Ackerman, when do you want to go pick up our new son?"

EXTRA SCENE

Soon as Levi stepped into the mess hall of the Special Ops Squad's barrack, he was bombarded with questions and comments by his team. They crowded around him and began speaking at once.

"You got married without us, Captain?"

"Historia sent a fruit basket."

"Didn't you want us there, sir?"

"I'm sure he had his reasons."

"How tall is she?"

"Is she hot?"

"Back off, brats." Levi pushed the six teenagers back. "How the hell did you even—never mind. It wasn't Hange, wasn't it?"

"Who's your new wife, Captain?" Eren asked curiously.

"Hooray!" Sasha cheered, throwing up her arms. "We have a Mom!"

"What's she like? She's also my family now," Mikasa said, eyes sparkling.

"Is she hot?"

"Connie, buddy, stop asking that. Although I am also curious—"

"Jean, not you, too."

"C'mon, Armin. We all want to know."

They peered at him with eager and curious faces. Children, he sighed internally. "If you must know—and since that loudmouth had already blurted out this much—her name is Petra."

Eren gasped, delighted. "You're married to Petra?" He pouted. "Why wasn't I at least invited? I'm close to both of you."

Mikasa crossed her arms. "I'm offended I wasn't invited to the wedding, either."

"It's not real," Levi said before they could start babbling again. "It's only on paper so she could adopt an orphan boy."

"Why didn't you just ask Historia for help?" Armin asked reasonably.

Connie turned to Eren. "What does she look like, Eren?"

"She's beautiful."

"Wait, really?" Jean had the nerve to look critically at Levi as if to say And she chose him?

"She was really strong and sweet too," Eren said, smiling fondly.

"So, when do I get to meet my new sister-in-law and nephew?" Mikasa questioned him.

"Will you brats can it?" Levi grouched, annoyed at being ignored and talked about while he was right there. "It'll just be easier for me to care for and look after the boy and make any important decisions if I was legally his father. It's only a precaution in the rare event something happens to Petra. I just helped her since she's a friend. That's all. We'll get divorced when the time is right."

But he might as well not have said anything because they went right back to babbling about their "new Mom."

Why did I even bother? Levi wondered, sighing as he left.

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