A/N: Hey, hey! So now the release date for Season 2 is announced! I can't wait for February! Anyway, thank you to those who reviewed and put this fic on alert. I hope you're still interested. Enjoy reading Chapter 2 and don't forget to tell me your thoughts and suggestions! I also welcome questions and will reply through PM.
The Royal Decree
Chapter 2
Levi opened the door just as Hange finished buckling her belts, his eyes automatically drawn to the dirty laundry on top of her unmade bed. He tsk-ed in silent irritation, making a mental reminder to either force her to clean it up or do the task himself.
"Are you ready to go?" Hange asked from her seat in front of the mirror, pulling her hair into a messy ponytail.
He tch-ed and strode into the room, grabbing the comb from her dresser. "I've been ready for thirty minutes now."
He stood behind her and undid her haphazard ponytail. He brushed through the tangles with practised ease.
"Oh. Sorry." The female Commander grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of her neck. "I guess I got distracted."
She gestured towards one corner of the room where her desk was. Papers and dirty dishes cluttered the surface of the desk.
'So that's why I couldn't find her in the mess hall during meals for the past few days,' Levi thought to himself.
He refocused on the woman before him. The dark circles around her eyes more prominent than before and her auburn orbs dulled with exhaustion.
"Oi, Shitty Glasses," he called, getting her attention. He glared at her reflection as he expertly gathered her thick strands and tied them together with an elastic band. "How many hours of sleep have you had last night?"
Hange shifted in her seat and put her hand under her chin in a thinking pose. "Hmm... Let me think..."
"Not much, probably."
She turned her head to roll her eyes at him. "Hey! I'll have you know that I slept for four hours!"
He tch-ed once again and tugged at her hair none too gently to show his displeasure, earning a surprised yelp from the woman. He, then, reached over her shoulder and grabbed the bolo tie hanging from a hook. They were both silent as he fastened it around her neck, the blue pendant shining as the sunlight that came through the window caught it.
He tugged at her sleeve before striding towards the door. "Let's go. We're already late."
Her glazed expression was replaced by a grin. "Don't worry. shorty," she told him, flicking a hand to swipe stray strands of auburn hair from her face. "We all know the Survey Corps is Zackly's favourite."
Levi just rolled his eyes before trudging towards the doors to the deserted hallway of the castle's second floor, also known to house the officers' quarters. It seemed like not too long ago that the place was full of chatter and mindless noise.
The sound of a door slamming shut shook him out of his thoughts as Hange stumbled after him. He slowed his steps so she could catch up. Together, they walked down the staircase and passed by the dining hall on their way to the stables.
Before they took off, though, the brown-haired Commander called over her shoulder towards the direction of where she knew the rookies were lounging at the moment.
"Kids, Mommy and Daddy are leaving now!" she yelled playfully. "Make sure you do the laundry, clean the stables, and sweep the floors before we come back or else Daddy will throw a fit, okay?" Said 'Daddy' sent her a vicious glare.
"Tell those brats we'll be back by lunch and there better be not a speck of dust in any surface, or else..." he purposely left his sentence hanging for the others to imagine all sorts of punishment the short Captain would give them.
Meanwhile, in the dining room where all the others were gathered for a late breakfast after their morning run...
Jean was the first to break the silence after the Commander and the Captain rode off. He set his cup of coffee down before saying, "The Commander is really something, eh?"
"I bet Commander Erwin is rolling in his grave and regretting his decision to make Miss Hange his successor," Connie quipped, oblivious to the way Armin's shoulders tensed.
The blonde teen put his spoon and fork down and stood up, wordlessly carrying his plate to the sink.
Eren caught Mikasa's gaze while the chatter around them continued with Sasha's announcement that the lunch menu would consist of chicken. The two followed Armin out when he finished washing his plate, ignoring Jean's enraged yell for them to wash their own dishes.
They found the blonde at the stables up on a step ladder, brushing his horse's hair. Eren sat on a nearby stool to wax a saddle while Mikasa fed the bay some carrots.
The trio worked silently, though Eren and Mikasa kept exchanging glances as if they were debating on who should be the one to say something first.
After a while, though, Armin heaved a sigh and stepped down the ladder.
"Commander Hange will make Captain Levi go crazy," he commented wistfully.
Mikasa paused and put the half-eaten carrot away from the horse. The horse was still hungry and kept on nudging her hand. "As if he isn't crazy enough."
"Armin, I think you meant to say it is us who'll go insane," Eren quipped, capping the wax and inspecting his work.
They shuddered at the thought of tiny titan-loving clean freaks running around the headquarters.
"But I believe the Survey Corps is in capable hands," Armin said after a while.
Really, Hange Zoë may seem crazy, spontaneous and sometimes downright impossible. Her experiments would make anyone question her sanity and even drove Moblit to alcoholism before.
But everything she does is for mankind to move forward, sometimes even risking her life for it.
"Yeah," Eren agreed. He stood up and placed his arm around Armin's shoulders. "Commander Erwin was a smart man. He knew who to trust the Corps to when he died."
"It would've been better if she minimized her experiments on Eren though," Mikasa muttered darkly.
Armin gulped nervously. That would mean the Commander's attention would turn to the other titan shifter in the group...which is him.
The two highest ranking officers of the Survey Corps arrived entered Wall Sina just before nine o'clock and they handed the reins of the overworked steeds to the helpers outside Zackly's mansion. They hadn't stopped for a single breather since they left the Headquarters and the horses deserved to rest even though Survey Corps horses were specifically bred to endure excruciating speeds for long periods of time.
"So, what exactly is this meeting for?" Levi inquired in a bored tone.
Really, he didn't care for some stupid meeting with the brass. His mind kept on flashing the sight of Hange's messy room and his fingers twitched at his sides with the compulsion to clean everything.
"Well, I'm questioning their decision to take women off the roster for a period of time. I am aware that women won't be in the best condition to fight if they're pregnant or trying to conceive, but I'll suggest giving maternity leave to those who are already known to be pregnant. We're already short on people as it is," Hange answered, removing her glasses to wipe them with her shirt before putting them back on. "I mean, can you really imagine having to babysit the Corps on your own while I just stay at home, silently wondering if I'm already pregnant with your child or not?"
Levi's eyes shifted. Why is there a stray weed growing through the concrete of the road? Why are these unsanitary people selling food at the roadside not wearing gloves and hairnet when cooking? That guard's collar is crooked, his medals slightly askew. The heat of the sun causing disgusting sweat to run down the side of his face.
Why can't he focus on one thing?
"Levi?"
He abruptly turned to his companion, growling, "I will make those fucking brats scoop horse shit for a week if they don't listen to me."
The sound of Hange's laughter resonated across the Supreme Commander's courtyard. "Those poor kids."
A/N: Helloooo! So Chapter 88 is out, and I don't have a tiny bit of idea on how to incorporate that into this story... Sooooo, let's pretend it's not out yet and Titan Shifters don't die after 13 years. Okay? Okay.
I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Please let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or if you got confused somewhere and would want to clarify some things. Reviews are very much appreciated.
R&R guys! :D 3