Mirage

A/N: This fanfiction isn't a work of the mind, this is a work of the heart. I know this may already sound so obsolete but thank you again for your warm responses to this story. Here's Chapter 6. Thank you again!

Summary: Humanity's strongest soldier had secrets of his own. So when the woman he loved died, he turns on another for pure companionship and comfort. But a night of mistake has its consequences. Levihan.

CHAPTER SIX: MENACE

The two previous missions that the Survey Corps had conducted couldn't really be called a success; unaccounted blood was still spilled, soldiers who should've been enjoying with their families and friends right now have met their fateful end in the hands of those creatures they only knew a few things about. But the people inside the last remaining base of humanity had long deciphered the meaning of life – it can spring out so easily but can also cease to exist in just a single blink of an eye.

Although they lost many soldiers in those excursions, it was quite noticeable that the casualty rate had a significant decrease, thanks to the brilliant minds behind the formulated plans. The Commander still regretted those many lives they lost but the idea that his new tactics seemed to be working out still gave him compromise.

At least for now.

But if there was one thing that clearly bothered Erwin is the fact that the officers from the Higher ups had ordered them to capture a Titan from the last expedition, their purpose was still unknown to him but if he knew better, they are desperate to know more about those creatures so they could compare them with Eren Jaeger; if he is really a threat or a key to humanity's continued survival.

Or so he thought. Everything is still a mystery, even to a brilliant mind like his'.

"I don't know what had gotten in their rotten minds to push for an experiment with the Titans, Erwin," Levi prompted, his voice slightly echoing of rage. "But I know they're up to something." He had his arms crossed before his chest as he sat in the chair in front of the Commander's desk.

"They always are," the blonde man anchored his elbows on his table and interlaced his fingers together. "Sneaky bastards. Treating us like blind marionettes for the dominance they crave. Pathetic."

The Commander's eyebrows were furrowed, most probably because of their current dilemma but Levi saw some change in Erwin. His composure was somehow slipping and he could feel that his mind isn't on their subject entirely.

However, he decided to shrug it off. "You think this is about Eren?"

"Most probably," Erwin locked his eyes with the dark-haired man. He seemed tense, but it was clear that he was holding himself back from something, not that Levi cared, but this isn't the usual demeanour that the man before him showed. "Continue keeping an eye on the boy for me, Levi. Once Hange gives birth, we'll commence the experiment with him again."

Levi flinched in his seat. The mention of Hange conducting experiments on Eren and putting her life in danger in the process, nagged at the back of his mind. But he kept his stance. "Of course."

They stayed in silence for a moment. Erwin began sorting through the documents that were laying on his desk as Levi continued to sit there and followed his movements. Erwin's hands were a bit shaky and the dark-haired man could see that his focus wasn't on the paper he was reading.

Even if he won't admit it, he looked up to Erwin. Being his follower isn't a choice that Levi will ever regret. But as he stared at the man who is currently wearing an uncertain mask, Levi pondered that this wasn't the man he looked up to.

He gritted his teeth before finally summing up the courage to ask him. "Erwin. You don't seem like yourself today," He wanted to ask him if he was constipated or something but he figured that the man would just be perplexed by his query. "Something you're not telling me?"

The Commander looked up from the paper he was reading, his grip on it a little tight that it rustled. "I don't think that is a relevant question, asking that to your superior." He cleared his throat. "Might I just also add, please keep an eye on your wife. I'll bet she won't be staying away from the Titan we have captured. You know her,"

The Lance Corporal snorted at the thought, suddenly forgetting about Erwin's odd uneasiness. He'll figure out a way to bring up the topic again with him sometime, if his unusual attitude persisted. Right now, he thought about his wife. This was actually the first thing that came to his mind when Erwin told him about their orders to capture a Titan for experiment. Hange will be having her nose on it nonstop, and will even try to get near to it, risking not only her life but the child she's carrying as well.

He won't allow that. He simply won't.

Levi got up from his chair and headed for the door, with Erwin trailing behind him. The two men remained silent as they walked their way to the cafeteria to have their lunch. When they entered, the entire place was buzzing; each group of soldiers had their own talk but once they felt the presence of the two high-standing officers, they were rendered quiet. The Lance Corporal and the Commander headed for the table far away from the rest of the Corps.

They walked silently, Levi sending death glares to whomever crossed his path while Erwin maintained his calm composure. Not a noise in the entire cafeteria was heard as the two veterans trailed their way to where Hange, Mike, and Nanaba were sitting.

Levi sat beside her wife. Erwin took his seat in between Mike and Nanaba, forcing a gap between the two who were becoming quite smitten with each other.

Just like they always did for the past years that they have been together, the group ate in casual silence until minutes later when Mike decided to break it.

"Hange, you're in good spirits today," Mike asked as he chewed on his bread noisily. "What's the good news?"

Everyone on the table had affixed their gaze on the pregnant woman. Mike's right. The way Hange smiled that day and her very jolly movements will give almost everyone the impression that the scientist is quite excited about something. Her eyes always seemed to wander off and she giggled to herself most of the time, which frightened her subordinates to the point that whenever Hange crossed their way they tended to avoid her.

Not that she'd never been this way before, but being in her third month of pregnancy, she always seemed to be in a very pissed off mood and glared at everyone she met. She acts funny. One moment she's this very kind woman who cares so deeply about her co-workers, the next she's this fire-breathing dragon who snarled at even the tiniest thing that had somehow irritated her.

So seeing the scientist constantly in a good mood was very, very rare these days.

Hange blinked twice as if she was jerked from her thoughts. "N-No good news, Mike! I'm just….." she turned her head to where the brawny man was sitting. "I'm just really feeling better today."

"Oh you should be, I heard Levi is taking a very good care of you," Nanaba grinned at her, then also flashed a smile at Levi's direction, to which he only returned a cold sneer.

Hange smiled at her before falling deep into her own thoughts again. But if she'd just look at the man beside her, she would've seen rage burning in his irises.

Levi knew what the woman was up to.

The entire force of the Survey Corps kept themselves busy that afternoon. Anchored with the goal of further strengthening the abilities of the soldiers, the Commander had tasked all Squad Leaders to train their squad in the forest near the Headquarters, with a few getting left behind to guard the trapped Titan inside.

The Titan-obsessed part of Hange rejoiced, as there were only a few people to be left at the old castle that they were staying in and Levi was also assigned to manage the training.

She could sneak out and get a close-up of the Titan.

Hange bit her bottom lip. She had been marvelling about the new captured Titan nonstop, since this is going to be the first one she'll see in over two months. She's excited. She had to get close to it, she had to. Earlier when Mike had noted her good spirits that day, she wanted to say what got her thrilled but she knew that if she did, she'd be reprimanded for it. From the way Levi looked at her with very sharp eyes, Hange knew her plan to sneak out and get near to the Titan is doomed if she got loud about it.

When she was sure that all the recruits had left and her husband was already nowhere to be found, Hange decided that it was time to act on her plan. She looked around her lab and found her subordinates consumed with whatever they were doing. Moblit, who fussed around her almost every time, was busy experimenting on the flower he had obtained outside the walls during their last expedition.

The woman grinned, a maniacal one. A mask she hadn't worn in months started to make its contour on her face.

Adjusting her glasses in place, Hange turned her back from her busy subordinates and silently tiptoed towards the door. She looked over her shoulder to catch one final glimpse of her team before flashing her teeth and releasing a chuckle.

She ran so fast to the direction where they usually held a captured Titan, her heart hammering wild on her chest. The grin on her face never vanished as she ran, her cheeks were flushed and burning.

There were a few guards and soldiers at the gates but being the cunning and sly woman that she is, she managed to sneak in without them noticing.

The Titan, as so very obsolete as it is, was enormous in size with its stomach a little bloated and its body structure quite deformed. It was a regular type, a 7 meter class to say the least. It had coal black hair, yellowish complexion and eyes feral as an animal predator. Its body was trapped by stakes and numerous ropes.

Hange moved near it, stopping on her tracks to create a safe boundary. She smiled at the eerily gigantic creature. "Hello there!" she raised a hand in greeting, then waved. "Nice weather we're having!"

The Titan opened its mouth, revealing a set of large, pointed teeth. Its incisors shone against the sunlight.

She beamed with delight. "Oh you have a beautiful set of teeth! Reminds me of a tale I've read a long time ago! It's about an immortal man who loved to suck the life out of its victims, but I forgot his name…"

The woman pursed her lips and looked up, trying to remember. "Oh now I remember! His name's Dracula! Can I name you after him?" Hange moved a little closer. "So, what have you been up to, Dracula? Anything new about your friends outside the walls? Come on, tell me! I'll listen." Hange said, enthusiasm tainted in her voice.

The huge creature had its feral eyes locked on her and it that instant, it began to move. It used all the force it had as it tried to break free from the traps that held it.

"What's wrong, Dracula?" Hange took a step back to a safe distance. The soldier in her started to move in an attempt to prepare her 3D Maneuver Gear, but that's when she realized...

She wasn't wearing her gear.

With a roar and a hard tug at its straps, the Titan got one of his hands lose and tried to catch Hange, who had stumbled onto her back in an attempt to get away from the creature. Her body hit the land, and her glasses fell off and cracked.

She could clearly see the Titan's feral eyes entirely locked on her as it desperately tried to tug on the traps that held it down. At the sight, fear started to creep in her chest. Her hands flew to her stomach and for the first time ever, she felt the slightly noticeable bump on her belly.

She was afraid. Not for herself. But for her child.

One final tug and the Titan got lose. It stood up to its full height, blocking the sunlight as its huge frame overshadowed Hange in the process.

She wanted to run, but her legs felt numb at the moment and her whole body was shaking. She was frozen on her place. This is it. All those expeditions she went through outside the walls seemed to fade into nothingness as she pondered that the place of her death will ironically be inside the walls itself.

Clutching her stomach, the woman uttered an apology to her child… To Levi….

"HANGE!"

It could've happened. She could've died that day along with the child she was carrying. But as she heard the familiar sound of metal ropes sliding and clicking into place, Hange's senses came alive. The accustomed sound of skin being slashed echoed in her ears.

The Titan tumbled down on the land before her, blood spluttering all over the place.

Standing above the creature's now severed head was none other than her husband.

Levi.

The man immediately shoved his sword back into place before scurrying off to where Hange was laying, her body still shaking and her hands clutching her stomach.

"Are you insane?!" he was furious. His black eyes were raging and his fists were clenched into fists. "What the hell are you doing here?! You could have died!" Levi knelt down on the ground beside his wife, and held her head up. He wrapped his arms around her quivering body.

"I just wanted to see him and maybe have a little talk…." Hange's voice was rugged. She was panting hard, and her heart was still beating wildly against her chest.

"You knew the risks, you are pregnant! You don't even have your gear on. If I hadn't stayed and sensed that something was wrong, your body would have been ripped into pieces now, along with our child!"

Soldiers who have been oblivious to the incident had started to gather around them. The smoke that came off from the Titan's body had noted them about the current happening.

She was on the brink of tears. She was so selfish, thinking about her research and risking her life without even thinking of the child growing inside her – the child that she was determined to keep and even fought for.

"It makes me wonder how you could want the child so bad when you can hardly take care of yourself. You kept telling me everything will be fine but you don't take action on it. With your attitude, Hange, I don't think this child inside you will even get to its 9th month and live to see the world you so desperately insisted is full of hope and miracles." Levi hissed with as much wrath as he could muster.

Hange's shoulders shook and she started sobbing at his words, tears now rolling down her cheeks. Everything Levi had said now echoed in her mind and his words clicked right where they should be.

"Don't cry," Levi muttered. He lifted his wife from the ground. "Don't cry. I'm an asshole." He turned to the few soldiers that have gathered around them. "What the hell are you idiots standing here for?! With all the loud roars that came from this creature, no one ever thought that maybe it's attempting to get lose and escape? Are you all deaf or your minds are just full of shit? No one even thought to inform Erwin and the others about this incident!"

When the soldiers finally to came to their senses and started moving, Levi nodded his head towards the direction of one soldier. "You there, go get Dr. Cameron in his clinic. Tell him Hange's hurt and needs medical attention urgent,"

Hange buried her face on the crook of his neck and sobbed against it. Levi had started to walk, his façade never even cracking as his face displayed the usual scowl. He ignored everyone on his path and went straight to their quarters, where he gently laid the still crying Hange on their bed.

Levi sat down beside her. "Hange..."

"Go away," she quickly yelped. She pushed off the hand that Levi had placed on her shoulder.

"I'm not going anywhere. You are hurt and for the love of God, you are my wife," his voice softened a bit. "You are my responsibility."

The woman let out a breath. "That's all what I am to you, a responsibility,"

"What are you talking about?" Levi's forehead crossed.

"I said, go away!"

In the midst of their bantering, the door suddenly opened and revealed Dr. Cameron. Tugging his medical equipment bag, the doctor hastily got inside and went to Hange's side. Levi stepped aside to let the man beside his wife.

"What happened?" Dr. Cameron queried as he searched Hange's body for injuries.

"The captured Titan got lose, and that idiot was there to humour the filthy creature. She could've died had I not been there." Levi leaned against the wall and crossed his arms before him.

The doctor nodded and turned towards Hange. "Aside from the few scratches and wounds, you did not sustain any major injuries. I suggest you just rest for a few days and you'll be fine." He cleaned and patched up the cuts on her skin.

The woman sat up as soon as he finished. "But… what about my baby? Is he alright? I fell down on the ground."

"That I couldn't tell. You see, the equipment we have here isn't suited for pregnant women. But is your stomach hurting, or are you feeling any pain in your belly?"

Hange shook her head.

"You didn't bleed either. I believe the child is fine," the doctor calmly stated. "But if you feel any pain in the next hours, please do visit the doctor at Trost District." He turned to the dark-haired man. "Levi, ready the carriage and the horses and keep an eye on your wife. Stay by her side and monitor her condition. I'll have a nurse be sent here to help. And in case something happens, I'm just at my clinic down the hall."

"Thank you, Dr. Cameron." Hange softly thanked the doctor and the man nodded in return.

Levi accompanied the doctor and led his way out.

Once they closed the door and Hange was out of earshot, Dr. Cameron turned to him, his face all serious. "Aside from what had happened earlier, I can see that your wife is a bit stressed. This wouldn't do well on her pregnancy. Had she been working herself out on desk duty?"

"She is. But I've been telling her not to. I know it's not good for her and the baby," Levi replied.

"I see. So now your job is to always watch her. First-time pregnancy is quite dangerous, you know, and Hange is not in very good shape. Be sure to take good care of your wife, Levi." Without another word, Dr. Cameron turned his back on him and left.

Levi went back inside their quarters and immediately went to Hange's side, but found that the woman had already fallen asleep in the space of a few minutes. The fear she felt and the injuries she had sustained must've had a huge effect on her.

He sat beside her on the bed and stared at the woman. Her face looked peaceful. Levi had hesitations but he reached out to touch her face, trailing a finger on her cheek. He rested his palm against her cheek and his thumb pressed soothing circles on it.

Hange's hand suddenly sprang up and pressed her palm against his hand which was gently caressing her cheek. "I'm sorry," she suddenly spoke, but her eyes were still closed. Slowly, her eyelids cracked open and Levi was greeted by her impossibly beautiful hazel brown eyes. There was something about her eyes, something he couldn't ever fathom; staring into them brought a sensation inside him that he couldn't understand. Maybe it was the way they pierced him, or perhaps the way her eyes mimics the gesture when she smiles.

"What for?" Levi never stopped caressing her cheek, instead, he did it gentler this time.

"Because of what I did… I put our child in danger…." She sighed. "I feel so pathetic."

"Don't be," he scooted closer to her. "I was an asshole, too."

Hange smiled. "So we're both assholes."

"Yeah." Levi managed to crack a small smile, and Hange fell completely in awe of him. He's so beautiful when he smiles, she could feel her heart melt a little.

"Just please do me a favour, and your apology will be accepted."

"And what is that?"

"Promise me you won't do that again, that you won't put your life at risk again." He calmly muttered. "And that from now on, you'll start taking care of yourself. You'll eat right, and you won't work so hard on your research."

"I can't promise you that," Hange saw the small dent that formed on his forehead, and she reached out to touch it. "But I will try."

Levi gritted his teeth. His eyes darted into her small mouth and he could see the sweet smile that had formed on her lips.

Those beautiful, luscious lips.

Without any more hesitations, Levi leaned and pressed his lips against hers, which she openly and gladly accepted. Their lips met with gentleness, and every stroke that they gave was far different from the one they had shared the night they made love. This one wasn't dictated by lust, rather by passion and sincerity.

He explored her mouth and got lost at the sensation of her taste, his tongue searching in all directions. Hange's hands flew to his head and she trailed her fingers along his dark hair.

Levi was the one who pulled. When he did, he had this small smile on his face that Hange had never seen before. His cheeks were flushed by heat and his breath came in ragged pants.

"I'm here for you, Shitty Glasses. Always."