Mirage

A/N: So much for 'I'll get to update more often again' thingy. Things just didn't go the same way as planned. Sorry for the wait!

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

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: REASONS

He wasn't really sure what had suddenly gone into him – or even to Erwin, for that matter, but when Mike abruptly raised the offer in between the shuffles of myriad paperworks, he knew he wouldn't consider no for an answer.

And now here they were, three unlikely men in the most unlikely of places, a glassful of liquor in their hands, and four empty bottles laying below their stools. The stench of cigar and alcohol wafted in every direction, the place still far from deserted no matter how deep the night had already sunken into. Men from all walks of life each had their own companies, own stories, own laughs, and of course, drinks in their hands.

Levi eyed the glass he had in his', mentally counting just how many shots he had taken down over the past few hours that they had been at that tavern. He knew it wasn't that much since it was Mike and Erwin who had been pouring their glasses one after another and he was just an observer who threw occasional exchange when he thought it fit.

Although, he can already feel the alcohol kicking in his system, his thoughts falling back from all the rationalities. And he can tell, from the way they looked and from the direction that their conversation is already taking, Erwin and Mike are already drunk as hell. But he wouldn't blame them, how often did the three of them manage to have this kind of night together? The Corps had been in a lot of work this year, and if his memory serves him right, the last time the three of them went out for pure personal business was… the night before he and Hange got married. Eleven months ago, apparently.

Mike's booming laughter shook him out of his thoughts. Levi lifted his head and glanced at the two men before him, both of whom were already flustered red and their eyes are now a little loopy.

"Remember that one time when good old Keith Shadis busted our asses while we were trying to pull a prank on Nile and his co-Military Police, and he made us run around the entire area of Wall Rose for three days straight?" Mike hunched out a big sigh, soon followed by a grin. "Those three days were the best days of my life, I can say,"

Erwin, with his dishevelled blond toupee, looked up, as if reflecting on his own memories of being a rookie in the Corps. "I almost forgot about that one, when was that again? Thirteen years ago? God, Mike, we're getting old," he gripped his glass and took a sip of his own drink, then huffed out a chuckle.

The brawny man gave him a disbelieving look. "How the hell can you already forget about that, Erwin? I can still feel my entire torso hurting from those three days! That was actually worse than injuring my ribs during a Titan fight," Mike declared. "I must admit though, we really are getting old." He suddenly glanced at Levi, curiosity marred on his face. "Oi, Levi. We've been together for what, almost ten years now? But you haven't really told us how old you really are,"

Levi raised a brow. Clearly, he had no idea why this thing would still be a topic of interest for them. "I'm not hearing a question," Crossing his forehead, he bluntly replied.

"Come on, give me a break. Let me guess, thirty?" Mike grinned. Hearing no reply drew out a pout from the man. "Higher than thirty? Forty?"

Levi snorted, giving his brawny friend a deathly, cold glare. "Don't be fucking ridiculous,"

That seemed to put down Mike's curiosity for good as he simply grinned at him, then turned to Erwin, who, at this point, was far from the Commander he really is. With his blond hair in complete disarray and one too many buttons open on his shirt, Erwin looked like totally ordinary.

"How about you, Erwin? How old are you?" Mike continued with his interrogation, now pressing on the blond Commander. It was highly silly and of course irrelevant but he's drunk and seemed to not care at all at the moment.

Erwin, with his usual calm composure, smiled. "Not telling,"

Mike gritted his teeth, then crossed his arms before his broad chest. "You both are no fun at all,"

After a brief moment, silence filled their table. Mike had his attention picked by his glass, shaking it lightly, as if to size up its measure. Erwin's eyes darted from one group of men to another, a faint smile on his face. Levi quietly observed the two, waiting for he didn't know what. He looked around and noticed that the number of people in the bar didn't seem to diminish, more and more seemed to come in as the night ticked itself further and further into morning.

Minutes seemed to pass. And after a few more while, Mike suddenly cleared his throat, catching Erwin and Levi's attention. That was when Levi started to stare him down. There was something unusual about Mike's eyes. They were loopy, but yes, his usual cold blue eyes displayed something that can be mistaken for a little glow or shine. Definitely not the Mike he knew.

Mike's lips curled into a smile. "The reason why I suddenly brought you two here is that I want to tell you something… And I want to be drunk enough to have the courage to blurt it out."

Levi and Erwin exchanged glances. "You're not dying, are you, Mike?" Erwin stated.

Levi simply rolled his eyes. For someone who is known for being ruthless in the battlefield, Erwin sure is a little off. He clicked his tongue. Completely drunk, alright.

Mike smiled, a genuine one that Levi so rarely sees. "Well… I think I'll be following Levi's steps, after all," he sighed, looked into the two men's eyes, searching. "Nanaba and I… We've been together for a long, long time. I'm sure it had been very clear how much the two of us are really drawn to each other. You know I'm a man of few words so I'll get straight to the point – I'm asking Nanaba's hand for marriage."

At any other time, Levi would probably be choking right now. Mike, getting married? That's something he was not at all prepared to hear, yet alone see. But seeing the genuine and sincere look on his comrade's face seemed to drive his doubts away. And he thought, maybe, this was the right thing for him and Nanaba. They've seen horrors after horrors and it is only right for them to finally experience something that will make them thankful they're still breathing and fighting.

Like what he and Hange are experiencing right now.

"I know the risks. We both do. I know death is inevitable, and it can happen to us at any moment given the fact that we're always verging on death whenever we go outside the walls. But at least, if ever I die soon, at least… at least Nanaba knows that I love her, and I know that she loves me. I know this may sound so sudden, even I was really surprised with myself that I even thought about marriage at this point, but I saw you, Levi, and Hange. How the two of you tried to work everything out. And I just thought that if the two of you shitheads managed to work it out together, how can Nanaba and I not?"

He wasn't sure if it was the idea of Mike and Nanaba getting married or the thought that yes, he and Hange managed to make everything work out between them, but whatever it was, Levi smiled the rarest of his smiles. "I'll forgive you for calling us shitheads, you Titan-sized bastard," he cleared his throat. "And well, what else can I say? Just… do what you think will make you happy. If this is what you want, we're in no position to get in your way, Mike,"

Mike flashed a hopeful smile, then turned to Erwin, who had been strangely quiet. "I'll be sure to bring up a word about it in the next council meeting. In the meantime, I wish you and Nanaba the best, Mike,"

The brawny man huffed out a chuckle, his face brightening up. "Now, who's up for another round?"

There came the next round of their drink and the rest of the evening until they got back to the Headquarters – their home – Mike's smile never faded, and surprisingly, neither did Levi's.

The hallways of the Headquarters were dark, save for one lighted torch at one end. The wind was chilly to the skin, sending shivers down Levi's spine and the jacket he was wearing proved completely inefficient in shielding himself from the cold. With slow movements and blurred eyesight, Levi somehow still managed to reach the room he shared with Hange.

He didn't notice that the lights were still on when he just unconsciously pushed through the door as silent as he possibly could, in the intent to not wake up his wife and the twins. He could tell that it was well past midnight and the family he loved so much must already be in deep slumber by now. The twins are now two months old, they rarely cry at night and he and Hange are now getting the sleep they so craved ever since the twins came.

What he didn't expect, however, was his wife sitting on the bed, her brown hair down, wearing only a white tank top and her conservative panties. Hange had her arms crossed before her rather small chest, forehead crossed, and lips in thin line.

She was furious.

And he was fucked.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?!" Hange pushed herself up. She uncrossed her arms before bringing them to rest at her hips.

Levi scratched his nape and looked up. "I don't know, maybe three in the morning?" he replied, taking his jacket off, followed by his shirt, exposing his naked chest. He folded them neatly and tossed them in the laundry basket, walking past his wife in the process.

"You reek of alcohol, Levi. Where have you been?" Her voice was still tainted with the obvious fury and the slightest hint of worry.

Levi faced her, completely unfazed. He sized her up. She looked so damn beautiful in that state, her eyes dreamy for sleep and her long legs just went on forever. "Went out with Erwin and Mike, lost track of the time."

"And you didn't even think of informing your wife that you'll be going out?"

He chose to ignore her on that remark. Hange was playing the wife card so well tonight, he'd give her that. Instead, he walked towards the twins' cot and peeked at his two sons. They were wearing matching blue onesies. Ciel was sleeping on his stomach, lightly snoring and Theo was sleeping on his side, clutching on the small stuffed toy some female soldier gave to him as a present.

Meanwhile, Hange finally gave up. She laid on the bed and pulled the sheets to cover her body, probably willing herself to sleep.

Levi looked over his shoulder to eye the form of his wife and sighed. A shower would be so nice right now. He trotted inside the bathroom, turned the shower on and let the water flow against his naked body, relishing the feeling. His mind wandered off and he pondered about the words Mike had said to him earlier, and he couldn't help but smile.

When he finished, he towelled himself off and put on some decent pants. The lights were already off when he got out. He climbed into the bed next to his wife and noticed that the woman's breathing seemed laboured, a clear indication that she was still, in fact, awake.

Levi circled his strong arms around her waist, pulling her closer to his body. He pushed her brown hair aside and peppered her neck with kisses. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," he whispered.

Hange turned and faced him. "I'm sorry too, for overreacting," she blinked up at him. "God, I can't believe I did that, that was lame of me, wasn't I?"

"You weren't overreacting, but yes, that was lame,"

Hange put one arm around his side and buried her face on his chest. "I'm just a little surprised the three of you went out, is that a hobby I have no idea about?"

"We go out every once in a while, just to pass the time," He wanted to tell her about what Mike had said earlier, but he chose not to. She'll probably know in a few days' time, maybe when Mike finally popped the question to Nanaba.

"Or to escape doing your paperworks," she giggled.

Levi hummed. "Yes, that too,"

Hange looked up, eyeing her husband conspicuously.

"What?"

"I was just thinking… About us, you know. How we managed to work everything out. I still think it's somehow impossible that you fell inlove with me,"

Levi had to stifle a laugh at that, but a light chuckle still came out. "What the fuck, Shitty Glasses, after everything I've said and done, you still doubt me?"

"I don't… Like what I've said, I just thought it was impossible,"

He was waiting for her to say more, but instead she was just staring back at him wide-eyed, her brown eyes shining and her lips looking more luscious than ever. Without a moment's word, he leaned down, pressed his mouth against hers and pulled her a lot closer to him as he possibly could. Hange started running her hands against the planes of his back, and Levi moved his lips to trace kisses down the column of her throat, then back up to her lips, until he stopped.

"Not tonight," he breathed hard.

"Why?"

"This is not the only reason, but the last time I was this drunk, I impregnated you," Levi hoped she knew what the other reason was, but seeing the sincere look on Hange's eyes further assured him that she knew what he meant by that.

Hange just laughed, the sound echoing around the room, and Levi had to silence her again with another kiss on her lips. "We don't want to wake the kids now, do we?"

"Alright, alright," she pouted. "But wouldn't you want another baby though?"

"I would want that, yes, maybe in a year or two. But I am not having sex with you tonight, not in this state," he pressed.

Hange smiled, knowing exactly where he's getting at. "Okay. Good night, Levi,"

A/N: Reviews motivate me. Thanks for reading!