Here I am again, and hoping I'll update this daily haha

JanieZ: OMG you need to continue this one, please! I'd really like a scene with only Levi and Mikasa, either before or after the reveal. Pretty please with cherry on top? *inserts pouty face here*

So, as requested, here's a sequel to the third chapter, Silence. I think this one is kinda fluffly, actually, and it makes me feel all giddy and stuff and yeeeaaaah I hope you like it, girl!

I'll work on the other prompt I got after I watch the movie, but in the mean time, feel free to send me your prompts to chinarai tumblr, or even comment/review with a request!

(also, please, have in mind that any mistakes will be corrected later today)

Enjoy! xx

IV. Assurances

It was late into the night when he left his room to visit her, and Levi would have felt like a foolish teenage in love sneaking out at night had he known what it was like to be said character. She was awake and waiting for him, back resting on the headboard of her bed and one thick comforter covering her legs, the small flames of the candles flickering and twisting the shadows. They had moved her to a more comfortable chamber, one that was conveniently closer to his, not that they knew he frequently checked on her before they even found out about her condition, and he could feel they wouldn't know so soon that he was responsible for it either.

Two months had passed since the accident in the training grounds. Her stomach was much swollen and bigger than before, and it wasn't that hard to convince Mikasa that she should stay away from her maneuver gear; in fact, she seemed more than willing to spend some time away so the baby could grow and form correctly, one could come to such conclusion the moment she delivered her uniform to Erwin and went about on regular civilian clothes, helping as much as she could and as much as they let her.

Eren and Armin, the former especially, hung around her like overprotective lionesses would to their cubs, helping her sit and stand and hurrying to her side whenever she wore an expression that was a sign of discomfort. Sasha and Historia were exceptionally useful throughout the day, helping her when the boys couldn't, and keeping her company when they fussed and Eren voiced his endless list of concerns. Mikasa would only smile at him and try to calm his nerves, but he was as nervous as he was excited, and had already made her promise he and Armin would be there by her side when the time came.

Overjoyed; that was the only word Levi could think of to describe how both boys felt. They were going to be uncles, or so the titan shifter said, and they along with the rest of the male part of the squad were already making a list of all the things they would teach the baby so it could grow strong and join the Scouting Legion when it was of age. Kirstein was still somewhat hesitant, for reasons Levi really didn't want to think about, but had embraced the cause and joined his teammates in their own Help Mikasa squad.

"I think," she hummed at the sound of his low voice, tilting her head in his direction but still not opening her eyes. The corner of his lips twitched when he glanced up at her, then his gaze travelled down to his hand resting on top of her stomach.

"Yes?" She squirmed slightly when his callused palm stroked her skin, legs moving under the comforter.

Levi threw one leg over hers so they would stop moving. "I think I can feel it."

Her eyelashes fluttered and he now could see her grey irises glinting under the dim light of the candles, little flames reflecting in their dark depths. "I can feel it too," she murmured, pressing one palm close to his and smiling slightly. "It seems happy."

He nodded his head, eyes fixed on their hands again and thumb lightly tracing one small scar by her bellybutton. "It does."

The baby was moving a lot that night, trying to get comfortable inside the mother's stretched uterus, and Mikasa softly smiled at the man lying by her side, watching his face intently. "It's happy that you're here."

Grey eyes flickered up at her, then down again. "Seems like it." She let out a short, breathy laughter and playfully swatted his hand away, but it found its way back to her stomach soon after.

It was weird, Levi thought as he traced patterns on her swollen belly, that he felt as excited and nervous as both Armin and Eren did, though he could hide it way better than they hoped they ever could. He was almost scared of it, because he wasn't born to heal someone, only to try to protect, and somehow he managed to create a life. Her adoptive brother had confided to him his worries and thoughts once, and the one Levi couldn't picture having kids was his own person, not Mikasa, and in the end there they were: humanity's strongest soldiers had a baby on the way, and the mere thought of it set alarms off in his head.

Mikasa, as if reading his thoughts and feeling his body gradually tensing, placed her hand over his fist and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Levi," he held his breath and uncurled his fingers slowly, warm palm resting on her equally warm skin, "you're gonna do fine."

But would he, really? They had yet to think of how they would break the news to everyone, and let they all know that her superior was the father of her child. He didn't know how they would react; of all the people who mattered most, he was sure that Historia and Armin would be the ones who would take it all in quietly, and Hange would be the loudest of all, if Eren did not beat her to it, that is. The rest was unpredictable.

He had never really cared about other people's opinions on him, but now it seemed the corporal couldn't stop worrying about it. They had to tell them, they needed to. He wanted to be there to raise the baby, wanted it to know he was the father and not have to hide the truth and keep his distance as it grew up under the care of its mother, two uncles and a bunch of soldiers. Levi didn't want to shower it with kisses and read bedtime stories, but he would take responsibility for the things he did, not only because it was right, but mostly because he loved the young woman carrying the kid, and good god, he already loved it.

Just one of the things he never imagined would happen; never had he thought he would care so deeply for someone.

"Have I ever told you...?" He trailed off, not knowing how to approach the subject, but Mikasa was patting his hand and shaking her head slightly.

"You don't need to," he locked his gaze with hers, and there was a smile on her lips again. "I don't need to hear it. I already know."

Levi nodded his head numbly and suddenly shot up to a sitting position, pressing his palm down harder on her stomach. The woman's smile only widened as she studied his stunned expression through half lidded eyes, watching his brows draw down and his lips part as his breath hitched. "It..."

She gave a nod, lacing her fingers together and resting her hands above her ribcage, eyes slipping closed. "It kicked," Mikasa confirmed, and the man let out a puff of breath. "Talk to it." He looked at her oddly, and for a moment she believe he was really going to when Levi started to lower his head, but he only pressed his ear against her belly and inhaled deeply through his nose.

Lean fingers lazily played with the dark strands of his hair, and he pressed the back of her other hand against his lips. "Mikasa," he whispered after a while, breaking the silence.

"Yes, Levi?" Her voice was much softer now; he realized she must be feeling awfully tired, and felt guilty for keeping her awake for so long, but if anything the motions of her fingers were making him feel drowsy as well.

He blinked his eyes rapidly to remain awake and murmured, "I wanna be there."

A smile stretched on her lips, and she understood all the hidden meanings. "You will be."

Mikasa felt the corner of his mouth curling up against her skin.