AN: I'm back!
How long has it been? Two years? Crickey...
I'll be honest, the motivation for this fic just disappeared for a while. And then my life took a drastic turn.
My dad passed away and I just never had the mental capacity to even write fanfiction anymore. When part one of the finale aired, I couldn't even mourn Hange because I was in a brain fog. Have you ever experienced that? It comes with grief. It fucking sucks.
I've still been writing; I've been publishing under my pseudonym on KDP. I'm making quite a good living at it now, and it has become my sole source of income; I am even working on three books as we speak, and it's crazy.
But in all, I have started to feel like myself again. Grief has no timeline, but I knew from the moment I started grieving for fictional characters yet again that I would be okay. Sounds silly, but it's true.
This is perfect timing for me because I literally just finished the final episode as of this evening and it always gets to me. It's awesome being able to watch every episode now, OVAs included, in my native tongue. It's nice not to have to rely on fan translations anymore in the manga. Now I have a complete anime I can watch in any language I see fit, from start to finish, and it was one of the reasons why I dragged this fic out for so long at the start. We even know what Historia's daughter looks like now, and for once I can put a face to that kid (brown eyes, brown hair, but it can still work).
I am determined to finish. I actually have an outline, which I had to dig up in my old files. The same with this fic, too. I had a few more chapters already written just sitting there waiting to be published, but then... life.
I do believe I wrote this chapter over three years ago. It's way overdue, and it's time I finally published.
Thanks for being so patient with me. I hope you enjoy chapter 24.
Historia
I gaze down at my dress.
It's a deep satin red. A bold colour choice indeed.
I'm like the colour of Marleyan wine now. The dress fitters have just left, and now I spin before the three panelled mirror, loving the way the satin swishes with my movements.
Who's choice was it to put me in red? The top brass?
It's a beautiful gown, though. It's off the shoulder with a wide, sequined skirt and a cinched waist, and best of all, I get to wear gloves.
I slip them on my arms and pose before the mirror. My ruby grown dazzles in the light. It rests atop my perfect bun, and my nerves are a jitter.
The Opening Ceremony starts in one hour. The function room at Trost's HQ isn't as fancy as the ballroom back at the palace, but I hear the decorations are to die for.
They've really gone all out to celebrate. The Volunteers will be attending, of course, and our foreign dignitaries from Hizuru, too.
So we have to make a good impression. My dress has been styled in the Marleyan fashion, and all eyes will be on me when I make my grand entrance.
If only my ladies-in-waiting didn't have to get sent to jail; I could do with some company right about now, even a trio of backstabbing bitches with sweet smiles.
That's when the door knocks, and I peer up. I'm not expecting anyone.
I clear my throat. "Come in."
The door opens, and my eyes almost pop from my sockets when a beautiful woman steps into the room.
"Mikasa..."
She's wearing an elegant gown of silk, one embroidered with silver flowers and sequins, and I have never seen a garment so lovely. The sash around her waist is a bright red that really helps the blue tones pop.
She spots my questioning gaze. "It's a kimono. A gift from Kiyomi. This is how the ladies of Hizuru dress."
I can't stop staring. The sky blue silk complements her fair skin tone and her jet black hair, and I've never seen her with her hair up like that.
Mikasa's bone structure is flawless, and I shrink in her presence.
"You... look like a princess, Mikasa..."
She rolls her eyes, and I suppose being called 'princess' wouldn't appeal to a girl like Mikasa. "I know... but it's just for tonight, though."
Silence passes between us as we stand so awkwardly. I can't help wondering why she is here.
She answers for me, as if reading my mind. "They thought it would make a statement if we both entered the ceremony together. Me as the last living descendant of the Shogun Clan and you as the great, great granddaughter of Karl Fritz..."
My eyes widen, and now I squeal in surprise. "It's perfect! See, just as I told you, Mikasa... We're a perfect match!"
She groans in embarrassment as I jump up and down, and it takes me back to the time when she first showed Kiyomi her shogun mark on her wrist. The one her mother left her.
Mikasa has covered it up again, and I step forward, unwrapping the bandages. She snaps, tugging her arm away. "Hey."
I frown, placing my hands on my hips like I'm her mother. "What would Kiyomi and the rest of the Azumabito think, Mikasa, if they saw you were still covering up your mark? You should wear it with pride."
Mikasa grips her waist, becoming shy and timid like a little girl, and I think I finally understand. "It's just... my mom... told me that I should only let the father of my kids see..."
She thinks she is betraying her mother's old promise, but that's just silly. Her mother would understand, and besides, things have changed. It made sense back then since the Eastern Clan were persecuted along with the Ackerman Clan, but I think she prefers it when only a certain someone sees her mark...
Her mother told her to only show it to the father of her future kids... and Mikasa showed it Eren...
How sweet.
Mikasa sighs at last and hands me her arm, and I finish unwrapping her bandages. I see that letter A at last in the shape of three blades, and smile.
"There. Wear your shogun mark with pride, Mikasa. Your mother would be so proud if she saw you know... and you won't betray her..."
Something like a tear glints in Mikasa's eye, and now she nods and moves toward the door.
I notice she has the same Shogun mark patterned on the back of her kimono, too.
"Well, you coming, Historia?"
I startle next and now butterflies flap in my stomach.
The Opening Ceremony...
How could I have forgotten?
Well, let's get this party started...
...
Levi
The room is stuffy as it fills with people. Men and women surround us, dressed in their finery. The chandelier is glistening with diamonds, glasses clinking left, right, and centre, and I'd do anything to leave.
I just want my chair and my cup of black tea.
White-clothed tables scatter around the dining hall where people chat and converse. I spy the top brass at their own table, drinking fine Marleyan wine served by Marelyan waiters, and then I see the Volunteers at another table.
Then the Azumabito take their own table.
The scouts have a table, as well as the other regiments. Expect the scout's table is all the way at the back of the room. Typical.
But in all the atmosphere is positive. Even the Reeves Company has a table tonight as this event wouldn't have been possible without them.
They teamed up with the Marleyan chiefs and the spread turned out to be fantastic.
So much food, so much excess...
Was it all really needed for one night?
Once again, I think of the poor folks down in the underground. Ever since Historia took the throne, fewer people have suffered, but there is still famine.
I just hope some of this food will go to the poor.
Hange chuckles, elbowing me on my right-hand side, and I glare at her from the corner of my eye. "What?"
"Loosen up, Levi. You look as if someone just spat in your soup."
I peer down at my appetiser. It looks as if someone already did. It's all frothy and bubbly, and what the hell is it supposed to be?
Marleyan cuisine, hey?
Yeah, I'll pass.
I peer around at my squad. They all seem to be enjoying themselves. Sasha downs her soup in seconds, and now she has eyes for the chocolate fountain at the centre of the buffet table. Jean and Connie watch her warily.
Eren is solemn, and Armin passes him his bread roll to cheer him up. The green-eyed boy barely seems to register where he is, his eyes distant.
We're all dressed up. The guys wear three-peace suits while the girls wear dresses, and I would do anything to slip into something casual.
Grief washes over me when I think of Erwin next. He loved parties like this. We always used to attend soirees in the capital where he would rub shoulders with the nobility, getting them to provide funding for the scouts, and he had such a silver tongue.
But now he's in a better place.
I hope he is proud up there.
My eyes fall on Yelena out of habit. She wears that permanent shit-eating smirk on her face as if she knows something that we all don't, sipping on her chalice. Onyankopon sits beside her. They both wear suits and I suppose a dress isn't really Yelena's style.
I glance behind Yelena next, narrowing my eyes.
Yelena's guard was switched to Floch Forster the last moment, and it's rather odd that he would be chosen of all people, but at least the opinionated brat seems to be doing his job.
He looks determined and focused, his eyes on something I can't quite see, and for a moment... he almost reminds me of Erwin...
That's how Erwin always looked before a mission. That is the face of a boy/man who has already made up his mind on the path he has chosen, and why am I having all these thoughts all of a sudden?
My mind should be on Historia's grand entrance. Any moment she will enter with Mikasa, but I can't stop staring at Floch.
Something about him has changed.
His eyes travel to our table, landing on Eren briefly, but when he spots me glaring at him, he quickly looks away again, clenching his jaw.
A memory comes back of a scene atop a rooftop. Smoke and debris surround us as I see a younger looking Floch. He had wanted me to give Erwin the injection, and deep down I knew he had been right.
What this island needs is a devil... yet I couldn't thrust that hell onto Erwin.
So instead, I decided to give the injection to Armin, and now the blond sits across from me enjoying his Marelyan soup.
At least he got to see the sea...
A hush comes over the room, and now all eyes are trained on the door.
Shit.
Historia is arriving...
I reach up, fixing my cravat absentmindedly. Hange pushes my hand down. "You look fine, Levi."
"Tch..." I reply, placing my arms at my sides. My palms are sweating as the room starts spinning.
This was the real reason why I didn't want to come tonight. I couldn't bear having to look at Historia looking so beautiful.
No doubt she will be the prettiest girl in the room yet again.
She always is.
The doors open at last, and there she is, my queen, hand in hand with Hizuru's last hope, Mikasa.
Both women look stunning tonight, but I only have eyes for Historia.
She's dressed in a blood-red gown, and the next thing I know, my nostrils are flaring... My pulse rises as she floats across the polished floor, looking like a tempting goddess.
I'm like a bull, and when I see red, I charge.
I could kill the fucker who decided to dress her in red tonight.
This night is going to be harder than I realized. At least I'm not the only one who looks as if he's dying inside.
Eren peers at Mikasa longingly. She looks so elegant and exotic as she heads over to sit with Kiyomi, and life really isn't fair.
We don't always get to be with the ones we love after all.
AN: Thank you so much!
My spark for this rare pair has been re-ignited once again, and I don't care what anyone says; I do still think RivaHisu could have been possible. In a one and a million chance, that is.
I'm going to aim for publishing a few Sundays a month. Once I get my stride back.
In the meantime, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter.