Mirage
A/N: My summer vacation will soon come to an end, (hey, I'm from the Philippines), so I'm afraid I won't be able to update as often as I did. But worry not, folks, I will still try to update every once in a while. Anyway, Levihan twins are coming, yay!
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 TWENTY: BREATHE
With one pillow tucked behind her aching back, Hange lazily laid on the bed, her eyes narrowed to her husband as he slipped his clothes on. She couldn't help but bite her lip as she trailed her eyes to Levi's gorgeous body, battered by years and years of reckless fighting and training. His skin glistened pink from the shower, his black hair still dripping wet. From where Hange was laying, she could smell the musk from Levi's very own body wash.
But she ignored her desires and instead remembered the reason why her husband is busy preparing himself. A pent up sulking was now creeping her insides and she very nearly cried when he told her he would have to leave for Stohess today, of all times. She wanted him beside her, not for very selfish reasons but really, she needed him now more than ever.
Levi took a glance at his heavily pregnant wife, then sighed. Her hair is dishevelled as ever and the sheets from the bed was sprawled on swollen her feet, granting him a very vivid sight of her eerily large belly. With the twins she's carrying, Hange looked twice as large as she should be, and she found it hard to move around quickly.
That is why he wanted to be by her side at all costs, his wife is now on her ninth month and can give birth anytime soon. Being the organized man he always was, Levi had already prepared all the necessary things Hange and their twins will need once she gives birth; the infant clothes, white towels, mittens, bottles, bibs, thick cloth diapers and straight pins to hold it together. He didn't need to worry about feeding the babies since Hange's breasts had started producing milk, they discovered it during one fateful moment Levi didn't want to remember. But just in case, he still bought some baby formula from the market.
He had stationed them in one corner of the room, beside the two wooden cribs Levi himself made. Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cameron are already busy preparing in the Headquarters' clinic. Everything is ready and all they're waiting for are the babies. But from the looks of it, the twins already demonstrated a trait they most likely got from Hange, they're both being stubborn inside and still had no plans to come out, and it annoyed the ever loving hell out of their mother.
Levi wanted to stay by her side until the babies are ready to come out as he promised Hange he will be there once she gives birth. But unfortunately, something urgent came up in Stohess District, he and the Commander are being called to office. It was clear he didn't want to go, but he had no choice but oblige. Even Erwin himself was worried about Hange's condition but what is there to do? This is the higher ups they're facing and they don't tolerate this kind of things.
He released a sigh again, his forehead crossing. Slipping his black coat on and affixing his cravat on his neck, Levi walked towards the bed and sat beside his heavily pregnant wife. He reached his hand out and placed it above Hange's belly.
She bit her lip. She didn't want him to go, as she held on to his promise about being there to see their children once she gives birth. Hange was afraid something will go wrong during the process and she wanted Levi to be there as her rock. "Do you really have to go? Can't Erwin just send a replacement for you there? Levi, what if something happens, what will I do without you?" Her voice cracked.
Her words shot straight to his system, kicking his guts and feeling the fear coasted in her shaking voice. "I'll just be gone for three days. Dr. Thompson checked you yesterday, right? She told us no contraction is in sight and odds are they're set to come out next week," He tried to calm her down but knew he was failing as he narrowed his eyes to her worried face. "By the time you give birth, I'll be here. You're free to kick my ass and even kill me with my own sword if I don't make it."
Hange looked down to her belly in order to avoid Levi's eyes. She shrugged before placing her other hand above Levi's and giving it a squeeze. "Killing you for being absent in the birth of our kids sounds tempting. But you'll have my word that I won't do that because my twins will need their father even if I resent him so much." She sighed. "Come home as soon as you get the chance, Neat Freak."
He flinched at the thought that yes, the Headquarters had been his home for more than five years now but he knew that when Hange said 'home', she wasn't just referring to the place in general. Because she was his home, his life revolves around her now. "I'll be here before you know it, Shitty Glasses. Hold on to that thought." Levi leaned in, cupped her face with his strong hands and pressed his lips against Hange's forehead.
When he pulled back, they stared at each other for a while. Hange took in his grey irises, the cold eyes that pinned her into her feet whenever he stares at her. There was this fire in his eyes, hidden by the cold look he always sent everyone's way. But no matter how terrifying his eyes might be to other people, Hange admired his eyes so much. She kind of wished their twins inherited his eyes and their color.
But please, not his height. She chuckled at her own thoughts before anchoring her arms around his neck and wrapping them around his body. Hange exhaled deeply. "Levi…. I….. I…..." I love you, her mind and her heart screamed at her, but she chose not to blurt it out loud. "Erwin's probably waiting for you downstairs. Go on, you'll be late. You have a meeting in three hours, right? You'll still have a long way to Stohess so you better go now. You'll arrive there just in time."
Levi nodded. "Right. I had given Nanaba instructions to look over you while I'm gone, so you'll be fine. Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cameron are just there in the clinic, there are a few soldiers from our squads if you need help with something. Eat at the right time. The doctor advised you to stroll to speed up the labor process, you can do it but please, don't stress and tire yourself that much." He declared in a very commanding tone.
"Yes, Captain." She sneered, then without much hesitation, she clenched her right fist and brought it before her chest in a manner only a soldier owned.
"Good." He noted the sheepish tone in her voice, and it relieved him that her worry about her delivery seemed to have died out a little. "Is there anything you want from Stohess? Strawberries just like before?"
Hange shook her head, blowing tendrils of her brown locks into the air. "Nope. I just want you."
Hange managed to survive a whole day without her husband by her side, she spent the night in Nanaba's room just in case something happens when everyone's asleep. When she woke up, the blonde woman had already gone out. She sat up, feeling some rumbling in her belly, but she could swear she was not hungry. Flipping the sheets that covered her body, Hange pulled herself up from the lethargy and got up from the soft mattress.
She trotted towards the bathroom to take a bath. Her back hurt like hell and her muscles quivered with every movement she made but she managed to get inside the bathroom. Slipping her clothes without much ease, Hange trailed her eyes into the marks that have formed in her belly due to her pregnancy, along with wounds that she had sustained from fighting with the Titans.
Thinking of the Titans somehow shot a sting of fear inside her, not for herself, but for her twins. She was not afraid of them, but with the sudden happenings in her life, with the coming of her children, somehow she realized how extreme the danger there is to those creatures. Hange loved studying them, yes, the experiments she handles brought vast knowledge to her, but she didn't just do it for the sake of science. She knew very well that mankind has no ways of defeating the Titans so she desperately continued to search for their weakness other than the meat on their necks.
The survival of humanity depends not only on the strength of Levi or Eren's Titan-shifting abilities, but on the discoveries of Humanity's Most Intelligent, Hange Zoe.
And she knows it.
Right now, as she thought about it, she's willing to venture outside walls again to defeat the Titans. But she needed to stay alive. For Levi, for their children, for their family, and for the life she finally found.
Hange turned the shower on and let the water just flow against her skin, her eyes closed as she felt the heat of the steam just cover up the fatigue she felt. Once finished, she towelled herself off and slipped on some clothes that would accommodate her pregnancy.
She just spent the entire morning off lazying inside the bedroom and playing with stuffs she could find. She walked around the room as her doctor had advised, and all the while she felt her back hurt and the same, familiar pain in her stomach. She wondered if it was the food she ate last night.
It was already noon when she decided to go out, and with the slowest pace she could muster, Hange walked around the hallways of the headquarters. When she passed by the Command Room, the bespectacled woman noticed that the door was slightly ajar. Nanaba and Mike were inside sitting before the huge table, so deep into their conversation. Mike's arm was still bandaged but she heard the brawny man had been recovering from his injury extremely fast.
Hange knocked on the door before pushing it even wider. Nanaba's smile grew, and Mike raised both his eyebrows as he eyed Hange walking inside the Command Room. The pregnant woman sat beside them on the table.
Nanaba leaned on the table. "Hange, you haven't eaten lunch right? I'll go ask the cooks to prepare something for you. You look pale."
Hange groaned, remembering her stomach-ache that still hasn't stopped. "I'm not sure if I can even eat, Nanaba. Awful indigestion all day."
The blonde woman stood up. "Levi will kill me if I don't at least feed you with something. Wait here." She hurried off, closing the door with a soft thud as she went out, leaving Mike and Hange.
Mike suddenly cleared his throat. "Haven't seen you in a while, Hange. You look… Ugh. Bloated? You're big. I mean, really big." He sneered at her before tucking the quill pen into his ear. A piece of paper was laid flat on the table and Hange figured that the two veterans are devising a strategic formation that they will propose to Erwin.
She turned to Mike, adjusting her eyeglasses before glaring at her friend. "Are you calling me fat, Mike?" Hange crossed her arms before her massive chest.
He pouted before smirking at her "No offense but, yes, you're fat."
"You're an asshole, you know that, my sniffing friend?" Hange nudged his bandaged arm, grinning in satisfaction when Mike winced in pain. "Sorry, comrade. Didn't mean to hit your injury like that. I'm not fat. This is baby weight. Try carrying two Ackerbabies inside you and let's see and how you'll end up."
Mike released a chuckle. He eyed her massive belly for a moment before looking up to meet her eyes. "If I am not mistaken, you're on your ninth month now, right? Aren't you supposed to give birth sooner or later?"
Hange sighed. "That was the thing, the twins are so stubborn." She rubbed her belly. "They're nice and cozy in here. They get food, sleep, and play when they're bored. Why would they come out? Honestly Mike, if they don't get out of me soon, I'm gonna take them out myself."
The brawny man crossed his brows in confusion, slightly perplexed by the thought of her pregnancy, but he later nodded his head and smiled.
Hange stared at the man. Of all the people here in the Corps, he had known him, Erwin, Levi and Nanaba the longest. Mike and Erwin were ahead of her by four years, and her first day in the Corps, Mike was the only one who approached her. His first words? 'Hey woman, you stink.' It shocked her, but she slowly warmed up to him as she noticed their shared eccentricities. The brawny man loved sniffing people and grinning after he does. She still didn't know why he does that but that's what makes Mike so interesting, after all.
Even before Levi arrived, Mike was humanity's strongest, and Erwin's right-hand man. But one day, an unknown, cold and stoic short man suddenly joined the Corps, and he wasn't strongest anymore. His years of training couldn't compare to a kid from the Underground, and slowly, he faded into the background. People saw his eccentricities, now that he was humanity's second strongest. Even Erwin seemed to favour the man over him, giving Levi the position of second-in-command instead of him, who'd stood beside the Commander for years.
Hange leaned in closer to him. "Mike…." She started, summing up some courage to ask him. "Have you ever been jealous of… of Levi?"
Mike froze, curiosity marred on his face. "Why would I be jealous of that midget?"
"You know, we were all expecting you to become second-in-command when Erwin finally became the Commander but somehow, he chose Levi instead." She breathed deeply, knowing that she was treading on thin ice with all the questions she was throwing at Mike. He was funny and sometimes weird, but when he got serious, he becomes quiet and solemn.
The man huffed out a chuckle. "I never held a grudge against Levi, Hange, if that's what you wanted to hear." He anchored his elbow on the table interlaced his fingers together. "It is true they considered me humanity's strongest before Levi came. But to tell you honestly, I hated that title. I know your husband feels the same. We weren't men to look up to, anyway. And even if I lost the title, I kept on fighting and I protected humanity with all my heart. Levi and I fought side by side, even without people watching."
She smiled at his words, finally realizing that no, Mike is a man of honour and he respected everyone's decision. "I know I shouldn't have asked that, but Mike, thank you for answering. You-" Hange suddenly stopped. "Oh!" she gasped for air, her chest tightening with fear.
Worry registered in Mike's face. "Hange? What's wrong?" He suddenly noticed that water was dripping from Hange's chair, and the floor was wet. "Christ, Hange! Did you just pee yourself?!"
"Mike, you abnormal idiot! My water just broke!" Hange gripped Mike's forearm. "They're… My kids… I thought it was indigestion, but now I'm thinking I've been in labor all morning…." She panted heavily, fear now creeping inside her. No. This shouldn't be it. Her husband is not here, Levi is not here.
"What the… Ugh, fuck I don't know what to do!" Mike cupped her cheeks in between his huge palms, looking straight into her eyes. "Look at me, Hange. Breathe, okay? Breathe deeply,"
She did as Mike said, the pain in her belly starting to grow.
One.
Two.
Breathe.
"That's right, just keep doing that." Mike released her. "I'm gonna call for help. Stay here," the man stood up, but Hange's grip on his forearm prevented him from getting away.
She panted heavily, tears starting to fall from her eyes. "Mike, please don't leave me." Hange gritted her teeth, feeling her insides being twisted with every contraction she felt. The pain started getting sharper, her muscles clenching and quivering. "This couldn't be happening now! Levi is not yet here! I need him with me!"
Mike's jaws clenched tightly. "Hange, listen to me. Levi may not be here, but you can't keep the babies inside. I'm gonna call Nanaba, and some soldiers to take you to the clinic. We're gonna send a messenger to Stohess to inform Levi and the Commander of your delivery, okay? Everything will be fine."
"But I'm afraid," she whispered.
"Of course you are, but you have to be brave. You have to be the strongest person alive right now. Set aside Levi and me, you have to be strong so the babies will come out safe and sound to see this world." Mike pressed on his words, wanting to fuel her courage up. This will be hard.
Hange looked up to Mike and contemplated his words. This is the moment she'd been waiting for, all those nine months just trying to make sure her pregnancy was fine and the baby – babies inside her are healthy. They were conceived as a mistake, but she's gonna make sure they come into this world and experience every beautiful thing the world has to offer.
She needed to be strong.
She breathed as another wave of pain shot inside her. "Okay,"
Mike came back with Nanaba, Moblit, and a few soldiers from her own squad. They took her to the clinic, laid her against the flat mattress as the nurses and doctor buzzed around the room. Mike sent Nifa to Stohess to pick Levi, even if the timing is crucial, he hoped he'll still make it.
Four hours of painful labor later, Hange was still panting heavily. Sweat matted her forehead, her hair was sprawled all over her pillow. Nanaba was by her side, she held her hand as wave after wave of pain shot straight inside Hange's system. "I'm not gonna have sex with him again. I'm gonna cut his dick off and make him pay! I'm gonna burn all his brooms and spill out all the windex he kept in storage!" she yelped. "I fucking hate you Levi! Fuck you and your short height!"
Nanaba just winced at Hange's words, turning beet red at the woman's declaration, but she shrugged it off. "Yes, Hange, I'm sure you would do all the things you mentioned. I don't doubt you but let's focus on the matter at hand first."
Hange whimpered. "I'll rip his balls if he so much shows his fucking grumpy ugly face here! Once I get out I'll pull a trap and feed him to a Titan!" Another pain and Hange gave up, no matter how much she cursed her husband she needed him beside her right now. She cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as she turned to Nanaba, then to the brawny man standing on the door's frame. "Where the fuck is he?! Mike, did you send someone to get him? It's been four hours!"
Even Mike was sweating and pacing around the room, only stopped and headed for the door when he couldn't bear Hange's screaming any longer. He moved closer to the bed. "Nifa went off to Stohess. I'm sure they're on their way here. But Hange, it'll be dangerous if you keep keeping the babies in. The last time the doctor checked, you're dilated enough to push."
Nanaba rolled her eyes, then tugged Mike with her on a corner away from Hange's earshot. "I'm not sure if Levi is gonna make it. Listen, Mike. You're not spitting two humans out of your vagina. So you need to suck it up, she needs you by her side. As for now. I still hope Levi will make it but keeping the babies in will be dangerous, as you said. She needs to give birth now."
Mike gulped hard before turning to look at Hange. She looked like a mess. Walking straight towards the bed, he positioned himself beside Hange and gripped her hand in his. "Hange, you remember our talk earlier, about Levi and I being the strongest men alive?" When he saw the woman nod, he continued. "Well, Levi and I are alike. Not in sizes and personalities; we are both good fighters. But what fuels our courage to stand up and fight are the same. We are fighting to live, for humanity. We may be different in our demeanours, but we're both men with one goal in our hearts."
Hange seemed to be listening. Mike leaned forward. "Just think that I am Levi, at least for this moment."
"He's not gonna make it, is he?" Hange teared up again.
"Right now, it doesn't matter. But I'm here for you, Hange. Let's get these babies born. I will not leave your side."
Dr. Thompson walked in and examined her. "Let's see, Hange, are we ready to push?"
She sniffed. Slowly, she reached out and took Mike's hand. "Yes. I think I'm ready now."
Time melted away until seconds blurred into minutes and back again. She pushed, grunted and cursed. Each one moved the twins a little bit farther, until Hange laid back on the pillows again, exhausted. Wisps of her brown hair were all over her face. She gasped for air.
"Bear down and push a little bit more, Hange," Dr. Thompson uttered. "The head's coming!"
One more.
She breathed hard, then pushed.
A wail lit the air, and Hange watched in awe as her baby, wrinkly and red, slid into the world. The baby twisted in crankiness and let out another roar. With her blurred eyesight, she still caught sight of a dark tuft of hair on the baby's head.
Dr. Cameron severed the cord and immediately wrapped the baby in a soft, white blanket. The doctor brought the baby to Hange's side. "It's a boy. Congratulations,"
"A boy?" Hange gasped. She touched the baby's cheek in wonder. "He has Levi's hair…" She muttered then smiled as she felt the warm skin on the tip of her finger.
Dr. Thompson suddenly pinched in. "You're not done yet, Mrs. Ackerman. Prepare for another push."
A/N: So much for Levi's broken promises. *laughs* See you guys next chapter!