Mirage

A/N: Number 16 – my most favorite number all, it's my birthday (which I might say, is coming in less than a week). Hahaha. I've got a little surprise for you all, I've given so many hints for this in the previous chapters so if you've guessed it already, then you are really into this pathetic excuse of a story to make Levihan shippers happy.

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 SIXTEEN: NEWS

The air was damp, the ambiance in the room was humid, and the breeze that gushed in the surroundings sent chills to the bare skin. The fresh aroma after a summer downpour wafted in every direction, a familiar earthly scent that somehow conveys peace, at least for someone who loves the gloom that rain brings.

Hange trailed her eyes into the droplets of water that were rolling down the window's glass. She tried to catch a glimpse of the horizon she loved, but a thick blanket of mist covered the hills and trees she usually admired, hindering visibility. Outside, the rain was still pouring hard, finally quenching the thirst that the flowers and plants had endured over the long, dry season.

Oh, how she loved the rain.

She bit her lip, and without hesitation, her hands flew to her rounded belly. She stroked it lightly, feeling the little miracle against her hands.

It had been a full month since she and her husband visited her hometown in Wall Sina, and she couldn't help but admit to herself that she terribly missed the place and her family already. If she had another choice, she would've chosen to stay longer and relieve some good memories.

It was nice going back after almost two years. The village was lovely as usual, but it was the peaceful atmosphere of the place that somehow made her forget about the horrors that they come face to face with everyday. The cerulean skies, the familiar scent of the greeneries and flowers and the ambiance of her childhood bedroom made her feel at home, made her feel safe and guarded. It brought back the innocence that she lost when she enlisted in the Corps and good old memories flooded her intricate mind in sepia flashbacks.

As she continued to gaze into the misty perspective, Hange thought that even if she'd only stayed for a short while, she managed to catch up with her family, and made some new memories in the place, too.

With Levi.

A week spent with the father of her child – no trainings, no paperworks, no other soldiers to hoot, just the two of them enjoying each other's company – it's something that Hange will always treasure in her now severed heart. She woke up in the morning, feeling him curled up against her body. The man constantly showed affection not just when they were alone, but even when her parents were present, he would sometimes hold her hand and squeeze it.

They never made love like she initially planned to do in their trip, excuse her but her hormones are still raging wild and she couldn't do anything about it. That afternoon when he chopped some firewood while sweat rolled down his naked chest didn't exactly help calm her nerves but it even got worse. At one point she even tried to seduce the man the night before they left, but he was too busy cooing to their unborn child that the arousal she felt instantly died out with the sweet words that came out of his mouth.

Hange had felt herself change over the past few months but their trip made her realize that Levi had changed a lot, too. He was still the same man of few words, but once he spoke his words are always so perfect it almost made her squeal with unfathomable joy, not used to hearing the cold and stoic man utter some fluffy words instead of shit jokes and harsh statements.

But the only statement that had truly made a mark in her heart, was what he uttered when they were alone sitting on her favorite spot in the wide clearing.

Thank you, Hange. For giving me something I never knew I wanted.

Hange wasn't sure if he was referring to their baby, which could probably be it; or to their undefined relationship in general, but whatever it was, she was sure. His very words meant something, they sent her heart soaring.

She couldn't deny it to herself anymore, because after all, who is she fooling with all the holding back?

Hange had fallen inlove with the infuriated man.

But she couldn't possibly tell him that, because she knows the feelings are not, and won't ever be reciprocated and if she ever told him so, she'll just end up being hurt. It is true that Levi, despite the asshole phase that he is always in, is a man who is still capable of emotions but the wounds that he had attained all throughout his hellish life had hardened his shell.

He could fall inlove, but it has to be with a woman capable enough to mend the wounds that even time itself could not heal.

But that woman would never be her.

She was Hange Zoe, a citizen of from the wall that Levi so obviously loathed, she was dirty, exuberant, weird, rowdy, and hoyden – the list could go on and on. She was deemed as crazy, most people thought that she had a few screws lose in her head due to her quirky movements and her obsession to study the creatures that drove mankind to extinction.

She won't be able to fix his wounds, because even she herself couldn't fix hers. She was a woman of contradiction. An unfathomable person. A stained soul.

Levi would never, ever fall inlove with her.

Sighing, Hange turned her back from the window and started walking to head for the door. Her chest was tight, tears threatened to fall from her eyes. But rather than admitting to herself that the pain of unrequited love is now tearing her insides apart, she just blamed the cold breeze for making her eyes watery – a pathetic excuse for a pathetic person like her.

Instead of staying in a corner and cry for something she wouldn't ever achieve, Hange walked straight to Dr. Cameron's clinic, as the doctor had told her earlier to drop by for some check-up.

She opened the door, and found the man was doing exactly what she was doing before she got there. Wearing his white coat and with his silvery-white hair and tall stature, the man had his back from her as he was just staring into the window. He seemed to be in deep thoughts, just gazing into beyond, and Hange gently pulled the knob in an attempt to close the door.

But as she did so, the doctor immediately turned, hearing the small creak that the door had caused. He beamed. "Hange. I've been waiting for you. Come in," he motioned for her to lay in one of the beds, which Hange did.

"Sorry I'm late, Dr. Cameron. The weather is nice so I decided to take a nap," she lied. She had been thinking about Levi and her feelings all afternoon that she forgot to visit the clinic sooner.

Adjusting her glasses, Hange lay herself on one of the beds, sighing as the relief of the soft mattress hit her back. Now on her 7th month of pregnancy, walking seemed to be the most tiring and hardest activity for her system, even if Dr. Thompson, her obstetrician, had advised her to walk more as exercise. Her belly was really large, and it was heavy. She was wondering a bit why.

"Only two months before the little Survey Corps baby comes. Everyone seems really excited to see this little one, even the Commander is much delighted." He smiled before laying a hand above her belly.

She smiled back, remembering Erwin and Mike's small initiative that lifted a few errands from her list. The blond and the brawny man, whom she had known the longest and have considered as friends, were very much excited about the birth of her and Levi's child that they had bought clothes and a few toys for the baby, both for a girl and a boy since they have no idea of the gender yet and wouldn't know so until she gave birth. They didn't have the technology for that. She was also so thankful that even Eren and his comrades had offered a package which contained all the necessary things that the child will need – like wipes, towels, bibs, thick cloth diapers and straight pins to hold it together.

Hange gritted her teeth. "Well maybe because it's a first. And I have always believed that in this world that we live in, babies are miracles, Dr. Cameron. Maybe they thought the same."

The doctor turned his back from her to pull the drawer and gather his equipment. "Indeed, Hange, indeed."

Hange noticed that the equipment of the doctor to whom the Survey Corps relies to, are very much left out. She had seen one of those stethoscopes before, in her home, her father used the same but had already disposed it maybe a few years back to buy a new advanced one.

"I'm afraid this is all I've got. We don't have the kind of equipment there are in Wall Sina. All I can do is check on the baby's heartbeat through this," he pressed the chest piece of the stethoscope against her belly. "I'll just try to check if the child's heartbeats are normal and also to monitor the condition inside. Just lay on your back and relax, okay?"

"Okay," she nodded. Hange released a deep breath.

The doctor leaned forward, trying to find the part where he could hear the baby's heartbeats clearly. He moved the piece around her rounded stomach and when he pressed harder in one certain position, Hange thought that he finally heard the faint heartbeats.

But after a while, a small dent formed on the doctor's forehead. He bit his lip, trying to focus more.

She started getting nervous as she noticed the sudden uncertain look on his face. "Dr. Cameron? Is something wrong? Is my child okay?" she asked, alarmed. Her voice cracked, and her words came out as a whisper. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest.

"Ssssh," He placed a finger on his lips and shushed her, but to Hange's relief a small smile was now starting to lift up his cheeks. The man bit his lip before pulling away. He tucked the earpiece on his neck before turning to the woman, whose heart was still beating fast. Her face still looked alarmed, she was sure. "There is no problem. Just a little surprised. But all in all, your babies are fine, Mrs. Ackerman."

"Surprised of what?" Hange asked, curiosity marred on her face. The doctor's justification that there was no problem about her pregnancy seemed to shot a hint of relief inside her. She continued to stare at the man, who now had a very sheepish look on his face. And that's when his last words echoed in her ears. She let that sink in, a disbelieving expression now settling on her face. "What do you mean… Babies?"

"I heard two alternate heartbeats. If my assumptions are correct, then you're going to need to double the amount of the baby clothes and toys that you now have, Hange."

Hange gently closed the door of Dr. Cameron's clinic, still a little shocked about the news she just heard. She stood still outside the room for a while, and she never let go of the knob, her hold on it tight. Her heart was beating fast and mixed emotions were bubbling on her chest. She can feel herself floating.

A tear escaped from her eye. Her hand flew to cover her mouth, and she started sobbing. Her glasses were now cloudy but she hardly cared. She couldn't explain the feeling she has now in her chest, but she was certain of one thing.

She had never felt this way since the day she discovered she was pregnant.

Hange released a breath, and reached out to wipe the tears from her face. She tried to compose herself and exhaled. She rolled up the sleeves of her white clothing before placing both her hands on top of her rounded belly.

She felt a little kick. One. Two.

She remembered the few random people who have noted that her belly was really large, and if before she also wondered why. She just shrugged off their comments and directly assumed that their baby was healthy, but now she knew the truth. That would also explain why there were a lot of movements and stirring inside her that often disturbed her on her sleep, but she went with her husband's justification that their baby was just really energetic.

A sigh escaped her lips. Hange smiled to herself and started to walk, dragging her heavy self to their room. There was only one thought on her mind at the moment. She's telling him. Of all the people who should know it, the husband she loved with all her heart should be the first.

Walking slowly along the hallways of the Headquarters, she noticed that a few soldiers were already swarming the area and seemed like their training for the day had already finished. She passed by a few veterans, and when she reached the place where the Squad Leaders' quarters are supposed to be, she saw that the door to the room they shared was half-open.

Hange sped up her pace, excitement now filling her body. She found it hard to drag herself and her round belly so fast but she managed to walk the gap between her previous position and their room.

She pushed the door and hurried inside, but once she saw her husband, his current state surprised, almost alarmed her.

Levi, in all his intimidating glory washed off by disillusion, was all wet, his black hair was shoved back and his clothes were dripping on the floor. He had removed his Survey Corps jacket and left on his white shirt and pants, his gear was placed in a corner, also wet from the rain.

"Levi," she whispered. Hange walked towards him for closer inspection, and when she did, she noticed that his face was flushed and his eyes seemed a little loopy. Without further hesitation, she reached her hand out and placed it on his forehead.

Burning.

"Oh my God, Levi! Are you alright? You're hot!" Her hand flew to her mouth, worry started to creep inside her, completely forgetting about the news that she desperately wanted to tell him earlier.

Levi rolled his eyes and shrugged. Turning his back from his wife, he headed towards the adjoined bathroom. Hange noticed that his small profile was lanky and he was panting heavily. "I'm fine. Don't move any closer."

She followed him to the bathroom and opened the door, seeing that the man had already taken off his shirt and unbuckled his belt. The hot water was already running on the faucet. "You're not fucking fine."

He tried to glare at her, but she could see that his cheeks were really red and he was failing to send the message for her to just fuck off. "Get out," he sneered.

Hange crossed her arms before her chest. "I'm not getting out. What if you fall off, faint, and hit your head somewhere? For heaven's sake, Levi, you are sick." She snapped, leaning her back against the wall. "I'm staying here."

Levi hooked his thumbs on the waistband of his pants and gave her a warning glare. He was still panting heavily. "Get out, Shitty Glasses. Unless you want to see me naked here. I'm taking a bath."

She gritted her teeth, the thought of seeing Levi bare ass stark naked suddenly began to turn her hormones up again. Hange tilted her head. No. This isn't the time to be thinking about such things. Her husband is sick and it's her duty to see that he's okay. "Go on ahead and strip. It's not like I've never seen that-" She shot a look on his torso, then trailed her eyes down to his crotch. "-before. Besides, it's not worth looking at."

Hange suddenly remembered about the same conversation that they had months ago, when she had just finished taking a bath and forgot a towel. Levi suddenly bursted through the door and saw her naked, remarking that her body wasn't quite the sight anyway.

When Levi just groaned and thought that he couldn't win against his stubborn wife, he stripped down his pants, followed by his underwear. He shimmied off the two and threw them on the laundry bag.

Hange was trying not to look, but she couldn't help herself from peeking. Slowly, she turned her head, but much to her disappointment, Levi had already turned back. She was still rewarded with the sight of his very cute ass, though.

And then she noticed that Levi's eyes were half-closed, and his forehead was crossed. Both his palms were pressed against the wall. His jaws was also clenched tight. "Fuck…" he uttered. One of his hands reached out and landed on his temples, lightly squeezing it.

"Levi?" Hange was worried. She moved closer, standing just behind him. Judging by the way he looks, she could tell that a headache was almost tearing his temples apart. She felt pity, and when she couldn't take it any longer, she took action. "Bend lightly, okay? I'm pretty sure you won't be able to work yourself up so I'll bathe you myself. We'll just do this quick."

She could feel the reluctance in his stance but he surrendered. He nodded his head and gave up, and Hange started pouring the hot water into his body. She grabbed the soap and scrubbed it against his body, running her hands all over his skin. Her rounded belly seemed a hindrance but that didn't stop her from caring for the man she had already admitted she loved.

Once finished, Hange towelled off his black hair, then his body. His eyes were really loopy and his cheeks were flushed red, and she swear she had never seen the man so weak. She wondered who took care of him before, whenever he got sick, who attended to his needs?

They got out of the bathroom. She guided Levi as he walked and sat him on the edge of the bed while she looked for clothes. Hange dressed him up and laid him down on the bed when she finished. She draped the sheets over his body.

With all his might, Levi slowly turned to his wife. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Hange smiled down at him. "No, don't talk. It's alright, we're fine. I had to do this," she leaned forward, and hesitated a little before kissing him on his forehead. "Try to get some sleep, I'll go out to the cafeteria to grab some food for us, okay?"

She turned her back and left him. Hange went straight to the cafeteria and grabbed a quick bite of dinner, then went to the kitchen to ask the cook to prepare a soup for her sick husband.

Grace, the cook, immediately prepared what she asked. The old woman placed it the bowl of soup on a tray before shoving it into Hange's waiting hands. "I've never heard of the Captain being sick, but I'm glad you're here to take care of him. I also prepared a medicine here, from the herbs that only grew inside Wall Maria. Take this to him, this will certainly help."

She muttered a thanks to the woman, then hurriedly went back to their quarters.

Levi had already fallen asleep.

Hange's eyes cracked open.

She had fallen asleep while sitting on a chair, and now her back hurts so much. She cast a glance on the window and saw that after days of raining, the sun decided to stop by and say hello again.

She turned to her husband, who was still soundly asleep. The tranquil look on his face indicated that the medicine she had given him last night had already worked on its effect.

It was a tough night, Hange stayed up looking after her husband, whose fever was so high she burns her finger whenever she touches his skin. She continuously rubbed his body with a wet cloth in an attempt to ease him off the heat. She had tried to look for Dr. Cameron everywhere but she figured that the doctor must've gone home to Trost District, as he usually does every other week.

A yawn escaped her lips. She was tired, and Levi had worried her so much. She had never seen him look so weak and frail like that, and it scared her half to death.

The man suddenly stirred on the bed. Hange saw his eyes crack open.

Their eyes connected. Relieved brown and still fatigued grey.

She leaned forward. "Hey… How are you feeling?" Hange pressed her hand into his cheek and rubbed it with her thumb. The burning had somehow died out, and Hange sighed in relief for that.

"Like dead," he muttered. Levi sat up and looked around. His eyes caught sight of the bowl of water and cloth placed on top of the bedside table, and a few bottles that he thought are medicines. "You tired yourself so much, you shouldn't have done that."

She frowned, a little hurt at the fact that he didn't even appreciate what she had done. "Would you rather I have done so otherwise? Then maybe you're still burning up there if I didn't do anything." Hange crossed her arms.

"I didn't say anything of the sort, Shitty Glasses." Levi hesitantly grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "But thanks."

Hange pursed her lips, dismissing the topic as she had thought of another to lighten up the mood. She'd wanted to tell him this and couldn't wait any longer. "Levi, I have news."

"What, Erwin asked to be godfather of our child?" He teased, a smirk now marring his face.

She laughed. "Hmmm. Nope, but now that you mention it, I think he will. That's not the news though," Hange bit her lip, a sheepish smile forming. "I don't know if it's good news to you or not…"

Levi groaned, clutching the sheets. His face displayed a rather impatient look and Hange had to stop herself from laughing again. "Get to it,"

She breathed deeply before opening her mouth. "I had a check-up with Dr. Cameron yesterday, before I saw you. I was about to tell you the news but then I saw you were sick. So I tried to wait before I tell you."

He raised a brow. "And?"

"Well…" she flashed him a smile, excitement now filling her body. Hange shifted on her seat. "We're having twins, Levi."

His eyes widened. Levi's mouth fell open and a really disbelieving expression settled on his face. He blinked, twice. It took him a while before he responded, probably contemplating his wife's words and letting them sink in. "You've got to be shitting me,"

"I am not!" she rolled her eyes. "I think it just all makes sense. My belly is large enough, and I could feel so many movements at a time. Who would've thought I'm carrying two Ackermans inside me?" Hange thought about how a single mistake could suddenly bring two miracles, but yeah, she's done calling their one night stand a mistake and is now ready to accept everything.

Hange could see the confused look on his face but a while later, a bright smile lifted his cheeks.

"Two brats, huh? Well this is going to be interesting." Levi bit his knuckles, then a chuckle escaped his lips.

A/N: I have thought of genders, names and I'm so excited to write about them. But I might warn you of the drama though, we couldn't just give them a happily ever after without a little bump on the road, can we? Anyway, hope you liked this chapter! Reviews are welcome and are very much appreciated.