A/N: Hello, hello! I received a recent review wishing that this fic won't "fall into an abyss of unfinished fics." So, here I am! Seriously, thank LycheeRambutan for this update. Lol. So I still haven't read the recent manga updates...butbutbut I promise I'll dedicate the remainder of this month to catching up!
The Royal Decree
Chapter 4
Levi frowned in concentration, his gaze falling on the two objects in Hange's hands.
"So," he began slowly, gesturing to one of the objects. He wanted nothing more than to punch the smug smirk on the Commander's face. She was having too much fun at his cooperation. "So, the dick goes inside that?" He pointed to the other object.
If possible, Hange's grin became wider and turned manic. "Wonderful, my student!" She exclaimed, startling Jean into consciousness. "I'm glad to know you're paying attention!"
In one corner of the room, Armin and Mikada had started a game of chess with Eren watching them with the enthusiasm of Squidward.
"She's still not done?" Eren complained. " it's already been an hour since the meeting started."
Mikasa shrugged and moved a pawn.
"Well, the Captain's questions are actually encouraging her," Armin answered his friend.
"Yeah!" Connie quipped in between mouthfuls of french fries. "I have no doubts that Captain Levi will become an expert by the end of the day!"
"That actually made me lose my appetite, Connie!" Sasha yelled, shoving the bag of food away from her.
Armin, Mikasa, Eren and Connie all stared at her in shock.
"Oh, my weak heart," Jean muttered before sliding off his chair and onto the floor, unconscious once again.
"I trust you're bringing with you a positive progress report?" Historia queried from her perch on the throne. Her blue gaze swept across the three people kneeling in front of her.
Nile Dok was the first to answer. "Of course, Your Majesty," he announced with that smug proud tone he always used whenever he had the chance to. "The members of the Military Police are only too willing to abide by the law, and we see no problems arising from the people of Sina either as long as the parties involved agree to a prenuptial agreement. The people under my commandare honoured to serve such purpose for the humanity, Your Majesty."
The young queen noticed a slight movement to her right and subtly inclined her head towards the only other female in the room. Commander Zoe must have found Commander Dokçs statements amusing, if the shaking of her shoulders were to go by. But as much as she wanted to, the queen could never laugh at a highly respected military commander. Her advisers would surely reprimand her if she did.
Historia, instead, just nodded and turned to Commander Pixis for his report. She figured she'd let Commander Zoe recompose herself begore bringing the attention to her.
"Your Majesty," Pixis started. "While my soldiers and most of the citizens of Wall Rose have no qualma about abiding to the new law, they do have their concerns about certain matters."
The queen nodded thoughtfully, blonde strands shifting against her face. "As should be expected," she remarked. "What exactly are these concerns, Commander Pixis?"
The older man shrugged. "The normal things, Your Highness. They are mostly concerns about housing, food, and other expenses that the marriages would bring."
"Our economy hasn't fully recovered from the last year, Commander. The Royal Bank will be able to offer some assistance, but it won't be much since there are still parts of Wall Maria that are yet to be rebuilt."
It was the truth. The kingdom's funds were stretched thin between reconstruction of infrastructure, rehoming displaced citizens and reintegrating those from the Underground to society. The latter didn't sit well with the nobles in Midas. After all, who in their right minds would let a whole sector of criminals in the city. Queen Historia, apparently.
"Forgive me for interrupting, Your Highness." Hange Zoe, 14th Commander of the Survey Corps, who uncharacteristically remained silent until now piped in. "But I have drafted a few proposals for each of those matters you mentioned." She produced a few folders from the briefcase she brought with her. "If you're willing to read them?"
Historia reached her hand out and Hange stood up and handed the papers to the queen. She, then, stepped back to where the other Commanders were, but remained standing. The queen skimmed through the contents of the documents and nodded to herself every now and then.
After a while, she looked up and an approving glint lit up her blue eyes. "Commander Zoe, you are to come back here in a week's time so we can discuss your proposals. I'll take that time to review these documents with my advisers."
Hange couldn't stop the grin from her face. "Understood, Your Majesty."
"You're all dismissed."
Captain Levi slammed the door open and marched towards the only person in the dark room. He folded his arms across his chest and tsk-ed in disapproval at the slumped figure on the desk.
'Seriously, doesn't she know what a bed is? ' he thought to himself.
"Oi," he mumbled, gently kicking the chair with a booted foot but the figure didn't stir. "How many times have I told you not to overwork yourself, you Shitty Glasses?"
Why is he even trying to hold a conversation with someone who's dead asleep to the world? He slowly pulled the chair away from the desk with his hand clutching the back of Hange's collar to prevent her from falling forward.
He hooked his other arm under her knees and effortlessly hoisted her in his arms. A frown appeared on his face at the woman's subtle weight loss. Hange was already bone thin, she didn't need to be losing any more weight than she already had.
The Captain exited the Commander's office with said Commander in his arms. It was already late into the night and most of the recruits already went to bed a couple of hours earlier, with the exception of those who were undergoing night training in the surrounding forest.
But as he turned to the next corridor that led to the Officer's Quarters, he came face to face with the Arlert boy who was most likely doing the nightly rounds.
"Ca-Captain!" He gave a hasty salute. "And is that the Commander?" he glanced towards the sleeping Hange.
"Yes," the short Captain answered. "She fell asleep on her desk." Again.
The blond haired teen's eyes rounded in understanding. "She hasn't left her office since she returned from personally overseeing the new recruits' training."
Levi's frown deepened. "Stubborn Four Eyes," he muttered. "Oi, Arlert, I'm giving you new orders."
Armin visibly straightened up even more when Levi directed his steel eyes towards him. "Yes, sir!"
"Aside from being Deputy Head Researcher, Statistician and Tactician, I want you, Jaeger and Ackerman to make sure Commander Zoe eats all her meals on time, and that she gets at least two hours of break," he ordered through gritted teeth.
"But... But what if she resists?" the poor boy stammered. The Commander could be downright scary and convincing if she wanted to be.
"Then report to me immediately. Am I clear?"
"As Anniecs crystal, sir!" He blurted without thinking and he gasped in terror.
The Captain squinted his eyes at him. "Good."
"You really are a stubborn shit, Four Eyes," he continued to mumble as he unbuckled Hange's chest harnesses.
Her standard issue boots were thrown haphazardly on the floor with her hip and leg harnesses and her jacket. If anyone barged in at this moment they'd be rewarded with the sight of the Captain wrestling the Commander into the bed.
Suddenly, her hand came up and absentmindedly undid the buckle with next to no effort. "Hnngh... Levi?"
"Shut up, Shitty Glasses. Just sleep." he commanded, sliding the straps off her and began to unbutton her shirt.
He was rewarded with a sleepy chuckle. "Why are you undressing me?" she mumbled, shivering when her skin was exposed to the frigid air. Seriously, Armin should hurry the construction of that central heating system they both designed.
"You've been in these clothes the whole day. You have to stop being disgusting if you're going to be my wife."
Anotger sleepy chuckle was given to him as response. The brunette pushed herself upright just enough so she could shrug her yellow shirt off her shoulders befire she plopped down once again, now only in her undergarments. "Can I stop being disgusting tomorrow? I'm too tired right now."
Levi just tsk-ed and proceeded to work on removing her pants and socks. Being used to bathing the woman, he didn't even bat an eye at the sight before him.
He, then, gathered the discarded clothes and put them in the laundry basket at the corner of the room. Next were her boots which he placed next to his near the dresser.
He glanced at Hange and she had seemingly gone back to sleep, snuggled in the blanket that he threw at her earlier. Satisfied that she appeared to be comfortable, he grabbed a change of clothes and entered the bathroom for a much needed shower.
Seriously, how did the Four Eyes survive all those years before they met when she didn't have him to take care of her?
But, at the back of his mind, he could recall the moment the Colossal Titan came down on the wall a year ago and rhey received the report that the entire Squad Hange went missing. He remembered how the moment he found Farlan and Isabel staring lifelessly at him. And how, slowly, their features changed to that of Hange's and all of a sudden, it was she who lay there dead, her still warm blood drenching the soil in front of him.
Levi inhaled sharply. A realisation coming to him as the hot water cascaded over his body.
As much as Hange would starve to death without him, he couldn't bear living in a world where Hange Zoe didn't exist.
Later on, when Levi finally succumbed to sleep, Hange turned over in her sleep and rested her head in his chest. In return he snaked an arm around her, finding the spot between her neck and shoulder where he could feel the steady thump thump of her pulse against his fingers.
Seems like, even in sleep, they craved the reassurance that the other is alive and breathing.
A/N: I know, I know. It's a little heavy on the LeviHan... But guys, this is primarily a LeviHan fic with a side of all the other pairing I'm going to be introducing later. Soooo, patience please. :) And this is just because there's a real shortage of LeviHan fics.