#**Levi in this case** crumbling down at the idea of them leaving them

[nocreativityfornames]

Welp, THAT'S a case of late realization if I've ever seen one...

I mean, the brothers have known that we're looking for a way home for what, almost twenty lessons? Since you know, during that meeting at the Council Room we told them that we were brought to the Devildom by someone else and that Solomon was helping us find a way back.

I'm guessing that Levi ( and probably the others too ) didn't expect things to happen so quickly ( in the brothers' perspective, at least, since to them we haven't been there for long ), and knowing that we only have four pacts to go, and could very soon leave the Devildom, he got overwhelmed by all of it.

Which is totally understandable, by the way.

The only friend he has outside his brothers - and romantic interest if your relationship with him goes that way - is leaving him and it fucking kills him.

[leviiattacks]

Hi, you're a very talented writer and your works are very beautiful. Can I request one where Levi's fem s/o does the ignore your boyfriend prank? Thank you so much and take care of yourself ❤️

author note :: thank youuu i’m glad you think that anon !! this isn’t good at all bc i’m just very sick and yeah,,, i’m sorry if this doesn’t live up to your expectations but i needed something to do and ended up finishing this. hmmm what is this is it fluff?? idk it’s captain levi and survey corps member reader though :-) requests are open so feel free to drop by if you’d like :D word count :: 3.4k 

you should NOT be bothering levi as much as you are because he understands you need your own space to relax sometimes

but come on... you’ve been ignoring him for an unreasonable amount of time now??

and he’s not talking about groggy ignoring, it’s not the type you do when you’ve just awoken from a restless night’s sleep

no. you’re talking to everyone apart from him.

and it’s driving him up a literal wall

did he do something wrong???

has he made a mistake so large that you’re too scared to bring it up???

are you finally sick of him??

will you break up with him?

levi winces when thinking of that specific question

but he’s the type to silently keep his worries to himself as soon as he sees any indication of a bad omen

currently, he’s mentally preparing himself for you to break the news to him any day now

but little does he know you’ve just pulled a prank hoping for him to whine and complain a little

the point of this all is to elicit an out of character reaction

;-)

the idea came from historia at first

her playing such a foul trick on ymir didn’t go unnoticed and little by little ymir’s resolve crumbled away throughout the day

she went quite literally ballistic trying to get historia’s attention

and watching it all play out made you want to try it out with levi

you’d be a FOOL not to

WELL!!!! the fun part about this is that you’re a bit actually, no. a lot, more stubborn than historia!!!

and instead of committing to the prank for a day you’ve chosen to see how far you can stretch this out

if you have to drag it out for two days so be it

you have good reason to

levi isn’t the most affectionate man, your relationship is kept a total secret from all of the cadets

meaning pda never happens

and,,, listen you would love to kiss him before expeditions without having to drag him behind your horse for cover

to be frank the back of a horse does smell rather unpleasant and it’s not as romantic as you’d like for it to be

honestly you’d rather have everyone stare and gawk in awe watching the two of you make out

seeing them put two and two together realizing what it is that’s going on between you and the captain would be hilarious

especially since reiner said last week he could never picture levi dating anyone

AND!! he even had the audacity to say he thinks someone like him would never date someone on the team

is it really not that obvious to them?

do you and levi lack chemistry?

silently fuming you walk away and even then none of the cadets get the hint

but you do think mikasa has known for a while. her senses are sharp and whenever she sees you and levi together she makes a u-turn heading in the opposite direction away from the both of you

but even if she does she isn’t going to tell anyone about it unless she’s directly asked so it’s not like the cat will be out of the bag any time soon

it’s silly getting worked up over reiner’s comments but it’s kinda disheartening having the relationship be kept a secret

and you thought even if it was there would be at least a hint of a rumour, like it should be decently obvious it’s been months since the two of you began to see each other

ESSENTIALLY, this is your plan to “accidentally” let the cadets figure it out

eventually levi will have to get restless enough to do something bold

that’s what you think will happen

but then the reality of the situation hits you at the end of the first day

he seems to be dealing with it just fine ?????

after giving him the cold shoulder he shows no signs of returning at all

...

WHY IS IT NOT WORKING???

mayday mayday mayday....?!??

red alert....?!??

you are about to bang your head against a wall he’s the one who’s meant to be suffering over this not you

but again, you’re stubborn and won’t give in easily

by the end of day one levi has approached you two times

two...

each time you’ve given him completely blunt responses

it’s frustrating you that he’s just dealing with it as it comes

and when he does speak to you it’s not to ask what’s wrong

the first time he approaches you is to ask if you’ve seen petra around which makes your blood boil a little because everyone knows petra has a big, fat, MASSIVE crush on him

you know he won’t ever reciprocate or anything for a number of reasons but you can’t help but feel annoyed

the second time he speaks to you is to ask if you’re willing to help hange out with some paperwork

??????

he doesn’t even look interested in asking you what’s wrong

honestly you would drop this plan but you’re in too deep now

may as well keep it up.

the second day rolls around and it’s not your best day

you burn breakfast

trip over a broom and hit your leg rather hard against the dining table

spill an ENTIRE cup of tea over hange’s important documents

and you haven’t slept a wink after overthinking your relationship status for hours on end

maybe this prank wasn’t a great idea

you’re hunched over the documents close to tears not knowing how you can save them now

there’s nothing you can do and even though you know hange will be okay with it, (they’ve never cared much for paperwork) you just don’t want to inconvenience them with this mess

“y/n?”

looking up you see eren standing by the doorway of the kitchen watching with a humored expression as you place paper towels over the disaster you’ve created

“captain’s looking for you.”

perking up a little internally you make sure to remain as disinterested as possible on the surface

“what does he need?”

“i don’t know he didn’t say.”

“tell him i’m busy.”

and that’s all that occurs during day two

you pass by levi and occasionally his gaze flicks to you but he doesn’t take any action to address you in public or in private

you end up going to bed even more disappointed than you were the first night

the prank definitely isn’t going the way you want and instead of it leading to levi cornering you in front of everyone and dipping you into a dreamy swoon worthy kiss it’s led to you developing doubts.

many doubts.

but you aren’t giving up any time soon, now more than ever you want to be reassured levi even wants this relationship because he’s not acting like it

it’s admittedly a bitch move on your part for pulling this prank in the first place but you expected him to ask how you were doing it has been forty-eight hours after all

if the roles were reversed you’d force him into a room until he would tell you

so you can’t explain his weird behaviour at all

maybe he doesn’t like you as much as you think

that thought makes your eyes sting at the corners

he’s always been reserved and a little lost when it comes to opening up but you’re beginning to lose hope if he finds it this hard to ask if you’re okay

drifting off to sleep before you can wallow in your thoughts any more you wish tomorrow is better

it’s the third day and to say you’re exhausted is an understatement

midday and you’re training in the sweltering heat

the lack of sleep you’ve had recently paired with your stress isn’t doing you any good

a little dizzy you attempt to hold onto a nearby tree for stability but end up somehow missing the mark by a MILE??

tumbling to the floor painfully you hiss at the collision and rub the back of your head which is now sore

footsteps approach you in a hurry and for the first time in days you’re face to face with levi

“you okay?” concern is very much evident in his voice and that eases your nerves

without you even responding he’s turning you around just to check in case

nodding wordlessly you try to get to your feet when you feel a shift.

your ankle without warning gives out on you and you’re sent crashing back down to the ground

closing your eyes and bracing for impact you’re pleasantly surprised when levi catches you by the waist

your weight is leaning onto him and you’re looking down to the floor

hange is yelling from across the courtyard telling levi to drop you off at the infirmary but he doesn’t need to be told that

his instincts do the talking for him and he’s already slung you over his shoulder and begins carrying you towards the base

“levi. put. me. down. this position’s embarrassing.”

he doesn’t respond and you can hear sasha and connie cackling at the compromising situation

swatting his back you’re huffing and puffing yet he’s still ignoring you

you’re being given the silent treatment but you suppose you do deserve it

sighing you deal with the stares you receive on the way there

this is levi and at this point nothing is seen as abnormal when he does it

you can’t really look behind you to see levi’s expression either but when a cadet walks past and mouths “y/n, what the hell did you do??” you know you’re in for it

eventually he reaches the infirmary and without even letting you get a word in he plops you onto the bed albeit a little rough

“what’s with the cold shoulder?” he places both his arms by your sides leaving you trapped

“i-”

“if you want to break up you can just say that instead of beating around the bush.”

you’re stunned by the harsh tone of his voice, he doesn’t have his usual soft timbre and your eyes glaze over in defense

“you want to break up?” your question hangs in the air

chewing at your lip anxiously you know if you bite any harder you’ll draw blood

“i don’t care. if that’s what you want, sure.”

oh.

oh no.

this isn’t going how you planned

nails digging into the flesh of your palms you hang your head low

he doesn’t care at all

if that’s what you want????? really???? that’s his response??? he won’t even fight for you???

it’s silent as he bandages your ankle and you’re burning in a mix of embarrassment and fury.

“i was just pull-” choking up in the middle of your sentence you feel yourself automatically frown

“i was just pulling a prank on you. you know how historia did with ym-“

really you’ve always been terrible at holding back your tears and a few spill over the edge and you sob

why are you like this why why why why why?????

yeah,, you get why everyone calls you overly emotional from time to time but really you swear you feel your heart shatter a little at how levi’s acting

shielding your eyes with your sleeve you cower away from him

lord have mercy.

levi wants to curl up into a ball and die from the wave of embarrassment that hits him

a prank.

a trick.

and he didn’t catch on.

and now you’re crying.

because he thought acting tough and cold in case you wanted to break up with him made perfectly logical sense???

spoiler : it didn’t make any sense...

but now it’s made him look like he hates you??

but he doesn’t hate you

no, no, no. not at all.

he could never hate you.

you’re always willing to help anyone out, you’re genuine, always say sorry even when you don’t need to, unapologetically yourself at any moment, you’re fearful yet push it all aside to be courageous and most of all he loves your little hobbies because who in their right mind actually enjoys gardening??

he’s convinced people who say they like gardening are looking for something unique to make themselves stand out but really you enjoy it and it’s quite cute

ok, ok no more getting side tracked whilst talking about your love for plants

he could name so much more he admires about you but he’d be here all day

“i tried to talk to you yesterday but after you refused i thought you hated me and wanted to break up. that’s why i was acting like that just now.” he slowly tries to explain his point to you

“i know i’m hard to love so when you began to ignore me out of the blue i figured you didn’t want to-”

cutting him off without giving him the option of finishing his sentence you’re wide eyed in horror. he was NOT meant to interpret the prank this way.

“levi?? for as long as i’m alive i’ll never get tired of you. i promise.” his heart rate shoots and the intense magnetism between the two of you becomes stronger by the second

you pause for a second gathering yourself.

“and i’m sorry i should’ve thought about how you’d feel. the reason i did it was stupid.”

levi kneels by the bed and takes your hand in his, he graciously lifts the sleeve of your uniform and ducks down to press a soft kiss onto your wrist.

your heart flutters seeing him be so careful and gentle with you and bashfully you look away

guilt overwhelms you at that moment because you really are horrible for putting him through all of that.

levi cares for you he does

he may be silent about it and not the best at being public with it but you know how he feels.

you feel it in the way he looks at you

you feel it when he helps you mount your horse

you feel it when he double checks your harnesses before expeditions

you feel it when he tends to your injuries

and, you definitely feel it right now when it sinks in that he was acting like he hated you just so you wouldn’t feel bad if you really did want to break up with him.

he’s always been bad at picking up on hints and cues so you now understand why he interpreted it as you wanting nothing to do with him

of course he wouldn’t ask how you were if it looked like you wanted to skin him alive

“what was the reason for the prank?” he inquisitively asks genuinely wanting to know what it is he can do for you

“i...” you’re wandering off and suddenly don’t want to tell him

“i wanted you to kiss me.” you whisper in a rush

he cocks an eyebrow up even more lost. “i kiss you all the time?”

“i mean, in front of everyone else.”

he blinks and his mouth forms into an “O” shape

it’s a little awkward now

he doesn’t bring it up again so you assume he doesn’t like the idea of letting everyone know just yet

and that’s okay!! you respect that!!

after all, you can’t get mad at him for it, it’s the best choice.

you don’t want people to accuse him of having bias towards you and it’ll probably upset petra and hinder her performance if her crush just suddenly starts dating out of nowhere

your gaze is back on levi and he’s now double checking the bandage on your ankle after tending to it

“you can’t walk for a few weeks.” he tsks

“be careful next time.” he’s always been blunt when he does show he cares and you warmly smile after not talking to him in days.

you feel the need to apologize again

“to make it clear i really am sorry, i should have thought more about you.”

he scoffs and rolls his eyes

“i’m overjoyed that my beautiful girlfriend doesn’t want to break up with me. now, stop moping around about it i’m over it.”

he scoops you up effortlessly and you wrap your arms around his neck.

“y/n, for the record, i’ll work on not jumping to the worst case scenario first.”

you love this aspect of your relationship

being able to understand how your flaws impact the other and choosing to make changes or adjustments

it’s sweet and you must be smiling like an idiot when thinking of it because levi blows a puff of air onto your forehead knocking you out of your daydream

feeling a little less light headed than before you notice he’s walking back out towards the courtyard

why is he doing that...?

“you’re walking in the wrong direction?”

“no i’m not.” he replies with a smug grin

oh my god

no he isn’t

oh my god

is he???

you’re bright pink in the face as you turn to look at him panicking when you hear hange’s group returning

eren can be heard arguing with jean as per usual and now you’re smacking levi’s chest even harder

“you don’t have to do this no, no, no. it’s okay really.” it’s funny how you’re begging him not to do what you’ve been waiting on for three days

but you really don’t want him to feel like he has to do this

as if he’s read your mind he replies. “i’m doing this with my own free will.”

he gives you one last grin and pushes you up against the wall, your back is against the cold yet solid surface and you tense up

oh god. it’s happening he’s diving down and it’s as if everything is moving in slow motion.

gradually you feel the familiar feeling of your heart jumping out of your chest

both of your lips mould together, he’s hoisting you up again preventing you from slipping away. hungry hands grip at your thighs and a knowing smile twitches across his mouth.

nipping at his bottom lip he groans and you nearly forget why it is he’s kissing you

that is until you hear a SCREAM from your right

“eren what the fuck are you yelling at?” jean’s voice can be heard scowling in the distance but you’re too distracted by levi’s mouth to care

eren must be speechless because nothing is heard until jean reaches the scene

“OH. MY. GOD.”

“WHERE IS REINER??? HE’S NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.”

“you’re both overreacting.” mikasa makes her appearance and you’re not sure if she’s seen you and levi yet because your eyes fluttered shut long ago

“Y/N AND THE CAPTAIN????? WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE MIKASA??” eren’s voice sounds so distressed you guess you’re right for assuming he may have had a crush on you at some point

“it was obvious, i don’t know how no one else knew.”

finally levi pulls away and you’re panting practically gasping for any traces of air

“what you looking at brats?” levi snaps in their direction and mikasa nonchalantly shrugs and walks away

jean and eren however, dash away at LIGHTENING speed probably on their way to let everyone else know of the shocking new development

levi pecks your forehead and you nudge your nose against his.

since that day you and levi have been able to get away with a lot more pda

you can hold his hand and stare at how pretty your hands look laced together

you can nuzzle your face into his neck without any questions 

you can loop arms with him and even if he acts like he doesn’t enjoy it he genuinely does like walking around with you latching onto his bicep

although he still prefers the privacy of his office he’s more than happy to give in once in a while

and at the end of the day you’re ecstatic because there’s no more kissing behind your horse!!!

GONE ARE THOSE DAYS

wooHOO

honestly, you’re over the moon about it 

and so is levi

:-)

[absolutepokemontrash]

Beach Day!

Masterlist~

As requested by an anon, The Half Demon kids get to have their beach day! Please enjoy!

‘‘Twas a summer’s day in the Devildom, and school was out for the next couple of months, what else was there to do other than have a fun little beach vacation?

“Do we have towels?”

“Check.”

“Umbrellas?”

“Yep.”

“Beach toys?”

“Uh huh.”

L!MC and Lucifer were running through the long list of items as the rest of the family loaded everything into their (several) cars. Mammon grunted and shoved one of three umbrellas into a gap in the piles of luggage, they were all packing the rapidly filling car like they were playing a game of Tetris from hell.

“Ya know, you two can try and, I dunno, help a little?!”

Lucifer raised an eyebrow and looked up from his list. “I am helping, Mammon. I’m making sure this doesn’t end up like the last family vacation we took.”

“What happened last time?” The soft voice of A!MC piped up, they were carrying roughly four different carryon bags into one of the cars.

“Mammon forgot to pack sunscreen during our last little visit to a human world beach and we all got horrifically sunburned. That’s why this year we’ll be visiting a proper Devildom beach.” Lucifer explained.

“That stupid mistake nearly cost me my perfect skin.” Asmo grumbled, A!MC patted him on the shoulder.

“Don’t feel too bad, dad. You look great!”

“Oh little butterfly,” Asmo patted A!MC on their head, much to the kid’s delight. “Go on~.”

“Hey pop!” Mammon’s head whirled around as he looked for the source of the voice. “THINK FAST!”

A duffel bag slammed into the side of Mammon’s head, knocking him into the side of the car.

“What the hell M!MC?!”

The little culprit gave their dad a fanged megawatt smile and shrugged. “I said think fast.”

“M!MC, he can’t think fast, he doesn’t have a brain.” Asmo smirked over at Mammon, who not so graciously flipped him off. A blast of water from wiped both the smirk and some of the makeup off Asmo’s face.

“Whoops,” M!MC lowered their water gun. “Misfire.”

Lucifer massaged his temples as he watched this complete and utter chaos unfold. This was ridiculous, he turned to L!MC. “I refuse to subject you to this, I don’t was CPS to come knocking. You are riding with Lord Diavolo and I.”

“Wooop!” L!MC cheered, then paused. “Was I not riding with you two before now?”

——————

After arriving and unpacking, everyone set out to the beach, per Lucifer’s totally reasonable beach rules, no cameras within eight feet of the beach. Asmo had to compromise and take his Devilgram selfies at Diavolo’s villa in the five minute window of time before everyone set out for the beach.

While the group made their way to the beach, M!MC proudly presented their shiny new metal detector to the crowd of not too impressed family members. Well, everyone but Mammon, he was hyped as all hell to try and find buried treasure.

As M!MC and A!MC lagged behind and chattered aimlessly, something flew right into M!MC’s face. Reeling at the sudden loss of their sight, M!MC’s hands flew to their face and peeled the thing off of them. A…piece of paper..?

No, not a piece of paper, it was a map! Well, half of a map!

“Woah… Pop! Check it!” M!MC waved the piece of paper in the air. “What if we use this to find treasure or something?”

Mammon’s eyes practically sparkled as he swiped the map from M!MC. “Kid, we’re gonna be rich. Not the lame kinda rich either, we’ll be… multiple yacht rich!”

“Oh geez…” A!MC murmured.

By the time the entire group had gotten to the actual beach, Mammon and M!MC had already had the layout of their fabulous Hollywood mansion planned out and were busily describing the kinds of cars they wanted to own. Armed with only half a treasure map and a metal detector, the two set off down the beach.

L!MC, Belphie, and Satan snickered like a bunch of kids as they set up their new pink unicorn floaty. It was just perfect for just slightly ticking off Lucifer. A!MC hummed happily as they unpacked all their sand toys, perfect for making a sand-empire! The rest of the adults set up the umbrellas and beach chairs and practically deflated when all the work was finished.

Hang on- where was Levi- OH! There he was. He had ran right into the water and was petting Lotan. Man… Lotan was fucking massive.

“Hey, Luke,” L!MC called out. “Why are you wearing water wings? You know those things don’t work, right?”

“H-huh?” Luke tilted his head in confusion. Like a chihuahua- “What do you mean?”

“Well, water wings aren’t like life jackets, water wings only keep your arms out of water. If you start to drown, those aren’t helping.” L!MC dutifully explained. “There are documented cases in the human world of kids drowning with their arms still afloat because of the water wings.”

Luke was having such a good day forty five seconds prior, now he was petrified.

——————

“Ah, this is the life, right Sea Monster Levi?” L!MC leisurely floated around on their giant pink unicorn floatie as Levi swam around them.

Levi couldn’t exactly speak, but the terrifying eldritch shriek of delight was enough of an answer.

“See, you should go outside more often, the ocean is outside, fresh air is outside,” L!MC continued to list lovely things that just happened to be outside until Lotan poked four of his heads above water. “Lotan’s outside,”

Levi grumbled and slammed his tail into the water, sending a massive wave over to L!MC.

“Fuck.”

Those were L!MC’s last words before the wave crashed into them and tipped over the floatie, leaving them angrily starfish floating in the water. “You fucking hikikomori.”

—————

A!MC carefully placed their bucket full of sand onto the ground upside down and slowly pulled the bucket away. Perfect! That made a great castle tower! The sand-city that A!MC had concocted could put any city to shame, there was a town hall, a bank, a museum, and multiple construction projects headed by Luke. Well, the chihuahua wasn’t doing too well with his castle-building.

“Aww…” Luke pouted as his castle crumbled. “I ruined it…”

“You should add a bit of water to the sand, Luke.” A!MC said as they carefully placed some seashell decorations around their castle tower. “It’ll help stop your towers from crumbling.”

Luke vehemently shook his head. “There’s no way I’m going near that water. Not after what L!MC said…”

“Luke, L!MC’s just being a butt, you won’t drown-” A!MC was unceremoniously cut off by Lotan rising from the depths of the ocean and L!MC’s squawk of protest when he began to bat their unicorn floatie around.

“Y-yeah… I won’t drown, I’ll be eaten by a sea monster…” Luke shuddered.

“A!MC, I’m living here.” Belphie laid his towel out a little ways away from the sand-city and collapsed into a snoring heap on the sand.

“Great! A new citizen!” A!MC smiled and clapped their hands. “Beel, are you going to join us?”

Beel took a large bite out of a watermelon and sat down next to Belphie. “Yeah, I’m going to live here too.”

“We’ve got a real kingdom now!”

—————

The metal detector beeped for the thousandth time that day and M!MC and Mammon were beginning to get tired. They had found a total of 45 cents and a bottle cap, not the heaps of pirate treasure their map promised.

“Alright old man, dig.” M!MC lazily motioned towards the spot in the sand where the metal detector beeped.

“Why do I gotta dig?” Mammon whined. “You do it this time!”

“I’m holding the metal detector!” M!MC snapped. “Lookit! This shit’s heavy!”

“UUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH.” Mammon dropped to his knees and began to dig, unearthing a second bottle cap.

“Have our intrepid treasure hunters struck gold yet?” The taunting voice of Satan wormed its way into M!MC and Mammon’s ears as they both rolled their eyes.

“Why do you care, Satan?” M!MC sneered. “Shouldn’t you be off waxing philosophical about the demon condition or some other pretentious shit right now?”

Satan scoffed and shook his head. “So you haven’t found anything, shocker.”

“Ya didn’t answer the question, Satan.”

“Fine, you two dumbasses forgot to bring water after you immediately ran to go find your treasure.” Satan chucked two metal water bottles at Mammon, both of which hit him in the face. “So where’s your little treasure map?”

M!MC grumbled and pulled the map out of their pocket. “Here.”

Satan raised an eyebrow as he looked over the map, then looked back up at Mammon and M!MC. “I’d expect this level of idiocy from Mammon, but not you, M!MC.”

“WHAT WAS THAT?!” M!MC and Mammon shouted in unison.

Satan flipped the map around so it was facing the pair, he pointed at the X. “You’re supposed to be going that way,” Satan pointed back towards where they had set up the towels and umbrellas.

“…shit.” Mammon murmured. “I swear if we just wasted two fuckin’ hours on this-”

“Don’t blame me! I’m a mathematician, not a fucking geographer!” M!MC hissed.

“Actually, cartographers are the ones that make maps-”

“SHUT UP SATAN!”

——————

“Ugh… I hate the ocean now…” L!MC trudged over to Lucifer and plopped themselves down next to him. “0/10. Next year, can we go somewhere with significantly less seaweed?”

Lucifer wordlessly pulled a clump of sea-gunk out of L!MC’s hair and dropped it on the sand next to them. The fucking gunk-thing then began to MOVE-

“…is that alive?”

“Probably.”

L!MC grabbed the thing and threw it as hard as they could into the water. “I’m not allowing that eldritch terror the privilege of evolving.”

Lucifer chuckled and shook his head. “This is karma for the unicorn floaty.”

“That wasn’t even all my idea!” L!MC hugged their knees to their chest and grumbled. “Where’s Belphie, Satan and M!MC’s karma?!”

“I’m sure it’ll come soon.”

“Now would be nice…” L!MC growled.

“If you’re going to go sit and whine for the rest of the day you can walk back to the villa by yourself.”

“Ugh!” L!MC threw up their hands and walked away. “So Belphie can angst all he wants but I can’t?! This is bullshit!”

“LANGUAGE!”

—————

A!MC’s burgeoning kingdom had grown in population in the last few hours; Barbatos and Diavolo had moved in and were gleefully helping out with the construction projects (well, Dia was gleeful, Barbatos was standing off to the side holding lemonade), Simeon had joined in and was making a moat, and L!MC was designing the flag.

“Our walls will be impenetrable!” Diavolo proclaimed as he continued to reinforce the sand-walls. “No one would dare invade us!”

“Where’s our sand-army? I call dibs on being sand-general.” L!MC raised their hand. “Luke, you can be a sand soldier.”

“Huh?”

“Here’s your sand-sword.”

“L!MC this is driftwood…”

“Hit a bitch with it.”

“There will be no hitting of any bitches.” Simeon gently took the driftwood from Luke and chucked it into the ocean.

“Lame…” L!MC rolled their eyes.

A little while into the kingdom building, A!MC surveyed their land with a proud smile. Every little building was adorably decorated with shells and pebbles, the roads were laid out perfectly, the castle was stable… Ah. Perfection!

A familiar trio sauntered over looking down at their map and occasionally back up at the surrounding beach until they stopped right outside the moat outside of A!MC’s kingdom. Satan, Mammon, and M!MC looked up at the group and pointed their shovel and metal detector at them.

“Hey kiddos, and… not kiddos. We’re gonna need ya to move over. There’s treasure in the area and we gotta dig!” Mammon proclaimed, standing up straight and putting a hand on his hip.

“Uh… no?” A!MC sat down on their beach chair, but to them, it was more like a throne. “We spent forever building this, we aren’t just going to let you destroy it.”

“Can’t you build somewhere else?” M!MC waved their hand to a place farther down the beach that was just littered with holes from M!MC and Mammon’s treasure hunting. “Couldn’t have taken that long.”

“Are you stupid or just ignorant?” L!MC hissed, protectively moving in front of the sand-wall next to Diavolo. “This took literal hours. You three can piss off.”

“L!MC, don’t be dramatic.” Satan rolled his eyes, then looked to the adults. “Come on guys, this may actually lead to something historical. Can you guys move out?”

“Uh… fuck off?” Belphie sleepily looked up from his towel. “We were here first. Finders keepers.”

“Yeah,” Beel paused his job of helping clean up the toys and buckets. “Belphie napped here, this spots been claimed.”

Barbatos and Diavolo nodded in agreement.

“A!MC has claimed this land, therefore, it’s their kingdom.” Diavolo said.

“Guys, this ain’t a joke! There’s actual treasure here!” Mammon waved the map in the air.

“That doesn’t matter. our sandcastles, our rules.” Luke crossed his arms and huffed.

“Oh bullshit! Move over! Money and treasure is under your city and we’ll take it by force if we have to!” M!MC crossed his arms and glared.

“Really now~?” L!MC cooed, slamming their fist against their open palm. “Fucking try us.”

————

A fight would have broken out if it weren’t for Lucifer calling for everyone to eat. Everyone sat down on their towels and angrily munched on their macaroni salad and sandwiches.

Team Treasure hunter (it was generous to call them a team considering there was only three of them) were forming a plan to try and get passed the much larger Team Sandcastle. M!MC and Satan bounced ideas off of each other while Mammon stole everyone’s potato chips.

“So, we need to lure at least some of them away… but how?” M!MC stuck their hand into the much reduced bowl of chips and took out a fistful.

“Mmm…” Satan murmured. “Well, there’s a thief in our midst…”

M!MC knitted their eyebrows in confusion, then began to nod in understanding. “Ah… and we have someone very quick…”

Both Satan and M!MC turned to Mammon, who was polishing off the chips and counting their metal detector money. He stopped mid chew and tilted his head.

“What are ya lookin’ at?”

Over with Team Sandcastle, L!MC carefully traced Belphie’s hand onto a piece of paper with a vindictive smirk on both their faces.

“What are you doing?” Luke asked as he bit into his kebab.

“It’s an official declaration of war.” L!MC quickly finished up the tracing and proudly showed the picture of Belphie’s middle finger to the assembled team. “I think it’s very clear and concise.”

Simeon slapped a palm to his forehead as Luke let out a gasp.

“L!MC! That’s so vulgar and awful-” Luke’s irate yapping went completely ignored.

“It’s a very nice picture.” Beel calmly observed, turning over the paper in his hands.

“Enough about the declaration!” A!MC stood up and put their hands on their hips. “We need to take action immediately! I’m not letting our sand kingdom fall into their hands!”

“We know that A!MC, but we need to at least give them some kind of warning that we’re going to beat them into the ground.” L!MC said.

“They got their warning. Now is not the time for being polite, now is the time for curb stomping.”

“Is it just me,” Belphie leaned over to Beel and cartoonishly whispered. “Or is A!MC getting really intense about this?”

—————

Team Treasure Hunter’s battle plan did not go as well as they thought it would. Satan and M!MC did not factor the fact that Mammon would be stealing something and then running in sand, and next to no one can properly run in fluffy beach sand, what this poor narrator is trying to say is that Mammon got football tackled immediately because he couldn’t run after he stole something as a distraction. Oh well… at least the sand was soft…

Team Sandcastle’s superior numbers meant superior ideas, and one of their ideas was for A!MC to politely ask some of the beach dwelling creepy crawlies to attack the other team. Well uh… toes were pinched that day…

“Fools,” A!MC sat straighter in their beach chair. “All of them.”

“I’m loving the supervillain vibes, A!MC, but-”

“But nothing!” A!MC cut L!MC off with a huff. “I’m not a supervillain either!”

“Sounds like something a supervillain would say.” Belphie snickered, only to be blasted in the face with a water gun. A!MC was turning on their own people…

“Alright, everyone who dares to doubt me gets the water gun.” A!MC sneered. “My kingdom won’t fall!”

The kingdom fell.

One giant wave caused by Lotan and Levi playing in the water nearby crashed onto the beach and absolutely flattened the detailed sand kingdom. A!MC slowly moved their hair out of their eyes and turned to Lotan and Levi in the water.

“You… you…” A!MC growled, a tick forming in their right eye. “YOU SHUT-IN PIECE OF [Hello, this is the narrator, I’m very sorry but I cannot repeat what little A!MC said here. I hope you all can find it in your hearts to forgive them for this outburst, their kingdom just got destroyed after all.]”

Simeon vaulted forward and covered Luke’s ears while the rest of the group on the beach stared in wide eyed shock as their sweet little A!MC cussed out two giant sea monsters. This was… not what they expected from their beach trip…

Beel quickly recovered from his shock and scooped A!MC up into his arms. A!MC didn’t seem to care all that much as they continued to kick and scream profanity at the giant sea monsters. Beel lumbered over to Asmo and handed the screeching A!MC to him.

“This is yours.”

“…Beel dear,” Asmo looked at the practically feral child that had managed to shift into their demon form, then looked to Beel. “Are you sure?”

——————

Ever the opportunists, Team Treasure Hunter managed to dig in the area where the sand kingdom once stood. After roughly an hour of digging, Mammon struck something… wooden. Hmm…

“Hey I uh… think I found somethin’!”

“Really?” M!MC exclaimed. “Lemme see! Let’s get it out!”

“Allow me,” Diavolo motioned for everyone to move away and leaned in. He yanked a massive treasure chest out of the sand like it was nothing and plopped it onto the beach. “Oh! It is a treasure chest! How novel!”

Mammon jumped forward and yanked the chest open, inside was an absolute mess of glimmering gold and jewelry.

“DON’T TOUCH THAT.” Lucifer’s booming voice stopped Mammon dead in place. Everyone’s heads swivelled to look at him. “It’s probably cursed gold, you idiots.”

“As much as I hate to agree with Lucifer, we should at least check before we touch anything.” Satan crossed his arms and grumbled.

The gold was hella cursed and basically useless. No one went back to the villa happy.

———————

A!MC sulkily kicked off their shoes and flopped backwards onto their bed. They stared half-vacantly up at the ceiling, they were so tired despite the fact that they hadn’t even gone swimming… they had spent their entire day building that stupid sandcastle kingdom…

M!MC flopped down next to them and let out an explosive sigh. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Sorry about your sandcastle stuff…”

A!MC sighed and shrugged. “Yeah… sorry about your treasure…”

“Yeah… so far this trip blows.”

L!MC flopped down next to A!MC and practically deflated.

“What’s wrong with you?” M!MC asked, rolling over onto their side to look at their cousin.

“I’m in mourning…” L!MC grumbled, holding up a piece of pink stretchy plastic. “Lotan ate my unicorn floaty.”

“Aww… I’m sorry L!MC.” A!MC patted them on the shoulder. “Let’s go fight Lotan and Levi for revenge.”

“A!MC. I’m grieving, not suicidal.” L!MC said seriously, then their face melted into a grin as they began to giggle. “Dummy…”

“I’m not a dummy! I think we might have a chance!”

“Yeah, a chance of gettin’ eaten!” M!MC snickered.

“Okay… maybe…” A!MC giggled.

“Hey guys,” Simeon knocked on the door and poked his head in. “We’re making a fire for s’mores, you all better hurry up before Beel gets to everything.”

The three kids stuck their thumbs up and got ready to go. S’mores fix everything!

————

Author’s note: Okay, back in like… May, I promised I’d write a beach day episode for these characters, and it’s finally done!!

The whole sandcastle war is something that actually happened when I went to a summer camp ^.^

It was less about digging for treasure and more about who had the best sandcastles, and I shit you not, a wave slammed into the rival team’s sandcastle. It was funny as S H I T. HA! TAKE THAT RIVAL TEAM! MAYBE YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE MADE YOUR CITY SO CLOSE TO THE WATER!

[prettyboy-asmo]

Brothers (+Diavolo and Solomon) reaction to GN! MC fainting

A request from @bigg-crybaby  HC for how the brothers + Diavolo and Solomon react to the MC fainting because of a diet/ ED.

TW: Discussion of EDs, Diets, disordered eating, fainting.

Note: Disordered eating is something I’ve struggled with in the past, so I know that like most things in life it’s experienced very differently for each individual. I also want to make a note that My messages/ask box is always open to anyone who might need to talk for whatever reason. (I also put all the tags i could think of for tw but if I missed one please let me know so I can correct it.)

Lucifer:

It happens one day when you join him in his office to work on your homework for RAD, you just want to be able to work in peace and don’t have the energy to listen to the usual bickering.

you stand up to grab something you’d left in your room and suddenly the room is tilting and oh boy, you think, because you know how this goes. 

Lucifer catches you before you hit the floor and sits you in the armchair, unsure of what to do.

Lowkey panicking but trying very hard to keep a semblance of calm. 

you don’t appear to be in any immediate danger, so he messages his brothers and asks if they noticed anything strange with you lately. as his brothers respond the pieces finally put themselves together. 

Mammon replies first- They were sleepin late today and when I woke em up they insisted on skippin breakfast to be on time. then comes Satan’s reply, they didn’t eat at lunch, they said they’d gotten some snacks between Classes from Beel and went to study instead. And finally, Beel, I didn’t see them at all this morning.

When you’re aware, you’re greeted by Lucifer’s concerned gaze. “MC,When is the last time you ate?” for a moment you expect Lucifer to be angry, but his expression remains concerned. “Please talk to me, MC,” 

Eventually, you admit that you last ate at Dinner the night before, finally telling him that you’re struggling- it’s a habit, You tell him, suddenly unable to meet his gaze, Sometimes I can’t even stand the thought of a meal.

He’s angry with himself for not noticing before now, and he swallows his pride and Admits he doesn’t really know how to help- but that doesn’t mean he won’t learn.

He makes a point to sit with you at meals- if it’s too much for you, eating around so many people, He’ll start taking you to his study or his room to eat with him. 

Lucifer is gentle about the whole thing, but not patronizing or babying. He’ll ask you to take an extra bite, or sit you down and tell you to eat, but he still treats you as an adult, besides his extra vigilance of your eating habits, he treats you no different then before- he knows you are anything but Fragile (Or at least, no more so than the average human is fragile to a demon.) 

He tells you that you can deal with this together, and he means it. Good days and Bad days both, he’s right there with you. 

Mammon:

You’re walking back to the house from RAD with him when you’re suddenly aware you’re very light headed. You sway once, hand trying to grip Mammon for stability, then tip forward as black edges around your vision. 

Mammon Catches you and is instantly in Protective Panic mode

He doesn’t know what to do in the slightest- he spends a few seconds weighing his options before turning in the direction of Purgatory Hall- the only other Human must have an idea, right? 

He doesn’t make it very far by the time you’re already stirring in his hold, a little out of it as he slows his movements, afraid to jostle you, but he’s rambling- “Ya can’t die on me, Human, alright? I’m your first man and I’m supposed to protect ya!” 

You tell Mammon you’re not dying, urging him to just take you back to the House of Lamentation. 

He hesitates but relents when you promise to explain things. Refuses to let you walk back though, he doesn’t want a repeat performance. 

You explain that you’d saw this diet going around- how being surrounded by incredibly fit and attractive demons spurred you to try it so that maybe you could feel a little better about things- but you hadn’t had breakfast, or lunch, and dinner last night- he knows you didn’t eat enough to fill or keep your energy up.

He’s heartbroken. “MC, ya don’t need to try any of that bullshit, ya hear? You’re perfect. And ya gotta eat to work! Humans especially!” 

He’s constantly checking that you’ve eaten enough. Even if you insist on only eating specific things, he always makes sure they’re available to you. Even when he’s not on dinner Duty he’ll make a specific dish on the side if it makes you feel more comfortable and keeps you healthy. 

Mammon becomes much more open with giving compliments, no longer hidden behind jabs. 

He might go a little overboard with his protectiveness/ checking in sometimes, but if you tell him he’ll back off after making you promise to tell him if you need him for anything at all.

Still lowkey keeps track of things, just to make sure you actually are okay, just doesn’t vocalize it as much. 

Leviathan:

You and Levi are playing games in his room when it happens. You’re exchanging your usual banter, both of you focused on the screen of the game when Levi notices you go quiet. 

You blink a couple of times, the controller in your hands feels heavier all of a sudden, and you can’t quite remember the right button combinations to press- or even focus on the game.

It all happens within seconds, your vision goes black and you drop the controller, the noise of the game and Levi’s panicked voice seemingly coming through a long tunnel. 

Levi Panics. He abandons his own controller and game, “MC? MC!?” he shakes your shoulder slightly, breathing a sigh of relief as you stir. 

 Your head is throbbing and you can feel the slight shake in your limbs

“You fainted,” Levi said, his frantic worry still evident in his voice, the way his hand lingers on your shoulder despite how adverse he usually is to physical affection, “Are you Okay? Have you been feeling sick?” 

I’m not sick, you say quietly, “I’m sorry,” His genuine concern stirs something in you, and you’re crying before you even realize what’s happening, “I’m sorry for scaring you.” 

“Wha- no, No don’t apologize!” You want to shake your head, but the lingering dizziness prevents you from doing so. “Do you know what happened? S-Should we get you a doctor or-” 

“No doctors,” you say quickly, “I- Uh, I haven’t eaten today,”  His confused expression draws the admittance out of you, “I didn’t feel like I should.” Oh. Oh. 

He understands a little bit, his own self esteem isn’t the best and he’s had his share of self deprecating thoughts but to see something like that manifest in you...he can’t stand it. 

He’ll help you in any way he can. He’ll even leave his room for every meal and go to RAD to have lunch with you everyday if that’s what you need. 

Makes a habit about asking if you’ve eaten that day. He’d even started carrying around little packages of snacks that you enjoy in case you haven’t and insist you at least share one with him

His worry for you is obvious, but not really suffocating. He understands the need for space, so as long as you can assure him you are actually alright, and that you’ll at least eat a little and that if you start having issues you’ll come to him, he won’t have an issue stepping back for a bit. 

Will still attend meals to make sure that you are to, and subtly watches to make sure you actually eat things from your plate.

Offers his room to you anytime you need. Is it easier for you to eat while you have something else to distract you? Dinner time Anime sessions it is. 

Satan:

You finish the book Satan had given you, realizing the other book he’d recommended for you is on the couch next to him. You stand just a little too fast and you curse your mistake as the familiar feeling of falling takes over. 

Surprisingly calm. Catches you seconds after he notices what’s happening. 

You become more aware in Satan's hold. He’s maneuvering you to his now empty spot on the couch, setting you down and saying something, you’re still a little fuzzy, but when his eyes finally meet yours the look of concern on his face is painfully obvious. 

“MC, What’s goin on?” His tone is calm, but there’s an edge, “That isn’t normal,” he says when you remain silent

“Don’t be mad”, you say and a whole new wave of concern washes through him. Are you sick? Injured? “I used to- I’m having trouble with...food.” 

It takes him a minute to understand. He sits next to you on the couch, and gently begins to question you. “Can you tell me why? Can I help?” He doesn’t push you to explain, but he does ask that regardless of what you tell him you let him try to help you. 

While he does research things, he always asks you if you think something would help, rather than suggesting it. He leaves it up to you to decide what you’re comfortable with. 

Will let you eat in his room or join you in your room if you’d rather eat away from people. 

He reads about ‘safe foods’ and asks if you have any. If you do, he makes sure there’s always some in the house (Even if he has to go to great lengths to hide it from Beel.) 

Doesn’t try to hide his concern, makes sure you always eat something but he makes sure not to overwhelm you. As small of steps as you want- he’ll be there for you. 

Asmodeus:

Asmo had begged you to go shopping with him. You honestly didn’t have the heart to tell him no.

You are just entering the third store when you notice your vision blur and darken at the edges, all the sounds seeming far away. 

When you come to, you’re in Asmo’s room, tucked under the blankets. Asmo perks up from a chair pulled closer to the bed, handing you a glass of water. He waits for you to finish your drink before he speaks, “I asked Solomon to check on you.” And what did he tell you? “You know that you’re perfect, right? I’ll remind you as much as you need to hear it.” 

He’s so genuine when he says it, your resolve to remain distant about the topic begins to crumble. You’re all so beautiful and I just feel..I’m just- I thought that maybe if I could lose some weight-

He cuts off your rambling there, “You’re gorgeous, MC. Every part of you. You don’t need to change anything about yourself for anyone but yourself.” He pauses, his eyes searching your face for something before he continues, “And if you truly feel you must change, You can not endanger yourself to do so, do you understand?” 

He waits for your answer before saying anything else. He asks that you promise to come to him whenever you feel that way. 

He’s always been open with affection and compliments, but it intensifies- He’ll shower you in compliments while still being entirely genuine. 

If you seem in an off mood or you do come to him with concerns, he’ll offer a spa day or shopping trip. If you don’t want either that’s fine to- he wants to make you feel better so whatever it is you need, he’s got you. 

While he has full trust in you to come to him if you need him, he’s still keeping a close eye on you. He checks in often but it’s usually subtle enough that you don’t even think twice about it. Even when he’s more straightforward about it it never comes off as pushy or nosy or overwhelming, just genuine concern and curiosity. 

Assures you that he’s not going anywhere, through good days or bad, he wants to make sure you are healthy and happy. 

Beelzebub:

Knows something is up when you’re consistently offering him unfinished plates of food, but he doesn’t say anything because maybe he’s wrong? Humans don’t need as much food as he does, after all. 

But when you insist on joining him in running laps and after only one pass he sees you stop, eyes squeezed shut as you lean forward, trembling slightly- he’s by your side just in time to catch you before your legs give out. 

You regain focus in his arms, “MC.” He sounds confused and worried, brow furrowed as he speaks, “You haven’t been eating enough.” You can feel the flush on your face, unsure of what to say. “Are you ill?” 

Not physically, you say without thinking, and regret it when the furrow of his brow deepens, It happens sometimes. When I’m stressed. When I need to control something. When I feel… bad about myself. You try to explain. 

“I don’t completely understand.” he admits, “But I want to help you be safe. Can you help me understand?” So you explain it as well as you can to him, try to convey what it feels like for you. 

He gets a grasp on it eventually, and then his questions move on to how he can help. 

Offers you bites of his food more often, and no longer asks if you’re going to finish your plate. 

He won’t even take your offered plate if he thinks you’ve eaten too little of it, but he won’t outright press you to eat more. 

He’s always carried snacks around for himself but now he has all the snacks he knows you like to. He even manages not to eat them so he always has them for you. (He’s extremely proud of this, and you are rather touched when you find out from Belphie.) 

Even though he doesn’t fully understand he does everything he can to make things easier for you. 

Make sure you know that he wants you to be safe. He knows it’s not good for Humans to constantly skip meals or under eat, (He asks Solomon how much a human should be eating, just to make sure you are getting enough.)

If you tell him there’s certain food you feel better eating, he’ll avoid those during mealtimes until he’s certain you’ve had as much as you want. He’ll even avoid them during his late night snack runs that way you’ll always have the option to eat those if nothing else seems okay to eat. 

Belphegor:

He comes to your room pretty often looking for a nap buddy. It’s no different this time, except you’re at your desk, staring at your homework but not really doing anything. 

“MC,” you start a little, turning to Belphie, “You look like you could use a nap.” You think that sounds like a pretty good idea. You push your chair out and stand, but just a few steps towards your bed you wobble, stomach swooping and blinking rapidly to try and still the spinning room. 

Belphie steadies you, placing you on the bed gently as you finally seem to come back to yourself. “MC? Are you okay?” 

He doesn’t look outwardly panicked, but his heart is pounding and he’s trying to figure out what the hell that was. 

I need to eat, you admit, your hands are shaking in your lap, and you try to clench your fists to make it stop. I didn’t eat today. He knows you keep a stash of snacks in your room for Beel, so he grabs something out of that and hands it to you. 

He doesn’t really ask questions, he just sits next to you and waits to see if you say anything to him first. If you don’t tell him anything, then he will ask what’s going on. 

Whatever the reason, he doesn’t want to see you putting yourself through that. Makes you promise to talk to him if you need to. 

“Humans have to eat to stay healthy, MC. I don’t want something to happen to you.” 

Already used to carrying snacks around for Beel, just starts carrying more, in case you weren’t able to eat breakfast or can’t stomach a full meal. 

Subtle check ins. He’s not pushy but he can be slightly overwhelming sometimes. He wants to know that you’re okay and sometimes it’s almost like he’s looking for reassurance that you aren’t hiding something from him. If you tell him to step back a bit, though, he will. 

He asks you if you’ve eaten before you nap together. He loves naps and cuddles, but if you haven’t eaten they’ll have to wait until he makes sure you do. 

Solomon:

You and Solomon met at least once a week to study together. So that’s where you were, heading to Solomon’s room in purgatory hall. He’s just a couple steps behind you, and you’re telling him about the latest scheme Mammon tried to cook up when the stairs ahead of you tilt. 

Your hand latches onto the banister and you stop, waiting for the feeling to pass. But it doesn’t this time, instead you hear Solomon’s voice buried under the rush of blood in your ears and everything in your sight is blurry around the edges. . 

Solomon catches you, cursing to himself as he steadies you and then lifts you to carry you the rest of the way up the stairs. 

You wake up in Solomon’s bed, the Sorcerer sitting at the foot of it and simply watching you. 

“Is there something you’d like to talk about, MC?” His tone of voice tells you he already knows, and you decide there’s really no use in trying to hide anything from Solomon. 

It’s just a diet, you tell him, but he shuts that down quick, “Diets are not supposed to make you faint, MC. You’re smart enough to know that.” 

He’s not harsh, but he’s firm. It’s obvious he’s coming from a place of genuine concern and wants to make sure you aren’t endangering yourself. 

“You don’t need to diet, you know that, right MC?”

He starts messaging you to make sure you’ve eaten breakfast before you leave for RAD, and he eats his lunch with you more often- not that either of you mind. 

If he’s really concerned he might ask Asmo to check in with you, or make sure that you’re not skipping dinner. 

Will also invite you over to purgatory Hall for dinner or Lunch. (Made by Simeon, of course.) There might even be an increase in your study meetups. 

Despite all of this, he doesn’t feel suffocating. He listens to what you have to say, won’t make you eat anything you don’t want, just as long as you promise to eat something, even if it’s a little bit at a time. 

Diavolo: 

He invites you over to discuss the exchange program, and you see no reason to turn that down. Barbatos leads you to one of the sitting rooms where Diavolo is waiting, and when you enter he greets you in his usual cheerful manner. 

You can feel the beginning of an odd sensation in the back of your mind, and you’ve almost made it to the chair Diavolo offered you when grey edges in your vision and you sway- 

“MC.” You blink at the concern in Diavolo’s voice, taking a moment to recall what happened. The Lord of the Devildom is crouched in front of you, gaze searching your face, “MC,” he says again, “Barbatos said this would help.”  He holds out a glass of some sort of juice and waits for you to take it and drink a few sips before he continues. 

“Would it help if we brought more Human world food here?” he asks, and you feel bad that all you can really do is shrug. It’s a problem for me with human food, to. You admit under his gaze. It only prompts more questions but you answer them as best as you can. 

“MC, Please don’t think me unavailable if you need to talk to someone. I care about your health.” He continues to question you on if there is anything at all he can do to help. 

You run into him more at RAD, and he always seems to have something extra that Barbatos had made and insists you take it. “Even if you don’t want it now, you might want it later.” You appreciate it more than you can say, even if you don’t always eat whatever he gives you. 

Will also message you if he knows he doesn’t have time to see you in person that day. He doesn’t usually ask if you’ve eaten, but he’ll ask if you’re feeling okay. 

If you tell him that you’re having a hard time with things, whatever he had planned for that day will just have to wait. He’s more concerned with making sure you’re okay. 

He thinks about asking Lucifer to keep an eye on you, but he trusts you to come to him if you need help. 

He understands that he can’t fully understand what it is you feel, but does his best. If he’s concerned about something, or he thinks something might help he’ll bring it up to get your opinion. 

[fuzzyporcupine]

lead me with your hands tied | chapter two

chapters:

1 - 2

summary:

In the midst of a crumbling kingdom at war, Levi Ackerman is commissioned by King Jaeger to paint a portrait of his overzealous son.

–

“You don’t think I’m worthy enough to be the king?”

“No, I think you’re a spoiled brat who would rather play with pomp and circumstance than save his own people from starvation,” Levi spat.

Levi’s eyes were closed when the door to his room was opened once more.

“Enjoying your bath, sir?”

Startled, his limbs flailed in the water, soaking the tiles below. Cursing beneath his breath, Levi turned his gaze to give a half-hearted glare at the girl. Her hands were full of linens and fabrics, meant for him, he supposed. “It’s fine,” Levi finally answered, shoulders relaxing as he attempted to lean back comfortably into the tub. “Where’s Petra?”

“Oh, the Madam is preparing your studio, sir.” The girl nervously shuffled her feet, a piece of dark brown hair gracing her cheek as she shifted. “I’ve been told to bring you a change of clothes.” Levi opened his mouth to interject. “The Madam insisted,” the girl spoke before she could hear any complaints. “I’ll just gather your things and return them after they are washed, sir.” His consent was apparently not required as the girl dropped the linens off onto the bed and began collecting his items off the coffer. She was quick, pale hands hastily gathering his belongings. However, when her grasp hovered over the white cravat, Levi jolted upwards.

The sudden movement caught the girl’s attention, downturned olive eyes seeking out an answer to the distraction.

“I’ll…” He felt trapped between her leering and the tiny confines of the bath. “Leave it.” Her hand was still floating in midair above the object, thin brows now furrowed in question. Levi swallowed hard, hands beginning to slip on the sides of the tub. He didn’t want to explain - shouldn’t have to - to some servant girl why he insisted on washing something as inconsequential as a cravat. It wasn’t made of some rare, expensive material. Hadn’t been passed down from generation to generation. It was a simple item of clothing that, nonetheless, had Levi going white-knuckled.

The girl seemed to notice, curious stare fading into a look of something that appeared close to understanding. “Yes, sir.” Her hand dropped audibly to her side. “Of course.” She shuffled out of the room quietly, leaving him anxious and hung over the side of the bathtub like a true and tried idiot.

He looked down at the tile where a large puddle of water had congregated from his splashing. Stared at his warbled reflection as it shook and rippled with every drop that fell from his head. Wanted to reach inside that image and shake the bastard’s shoulders. To rip all those tainted, gruesome memories out of that mind.

That poor, poor mind.

There was a feeling pooling in his gut. Fear? Disgust? He couldn’t pin it. Only knew that the water which once felt like a sanctuary from all of travel’s aches and pains was starting to slowly drown him.

The tile was cold against his bare feet and toes curled as an unpleasant shiver traveled down his spine. The chill quickened his pace to the bed, eager to examine the clothing brought before him. Levi was almost positive that nothing would fit properly. He was, as loathe as he was to admit it, a small man. His uncle had always chucked the lack of growth up to Levi’s malnutrition as a child. But Kenny was no doctor, and Levi tended to never believe a single sinister word that weaseled out from those thin lips.

Fingers twitched anxiously at the thought of dragging their touch across the fine fabrics laid out across the bed. The dark blues and soft beiges complimented each other wonderfully, and Levi secretly hoped that the king would not be expecting the items back after he was finished with the commission. The linen glided effortlessly over his skin, smooth and soft. Surprisingly fitted, as well. Levi would have to thank Petra for her keen eye, he thought.

No sooner than he had finished fastening the last button of his tailcoat, the door creaked open again. This time, however, it was Petra’s face that greeted him and not a nosey servant girl.

“I take it the attire is suitable?” Her hands had migrated to her hips, and Levi couldn’t help but feel like a child who was about to be scolded. Maybe the servant girl had said he was an ass. More likely Petra just had a good intuition.

“Not bad,” Levi said, hands running down the front of his cinched waistcoat.

“Glad to hear it, sir.” Petra hesitated, mouth opening and closing as if she were trying to find the right words. “You scared poor Emmie to death, you know?” she finally spoke. Levi pressed his lips tightly together, not necessarily keen on the idea of a refreshment course in etiquette. “She said you near leaped out of the tub like a madman.”

Levi scoffed, “I think your poor Emmie may be suffering from a case of exaggeration.”

Petra’s lips quirked at that, the stern look in her temple softening a touch as she regarded the man. “She didn’t seem to think so, Mr. Ackerman. You had the girl in practical tears.”

“I tend to have that effect on women.”

Petra huffed overdramatically, “Of that I’m sure." Levi was positively certain that he should be affronted by the agreement. There was a mischievous twinkle in the woman's eye that begged otherwise. “Come now. The studio awaits.”

Levi brightened at the thought. He had traveled so far, and the idea of the studio was the only thing that he was sincerely looking forward to. To hell with the royal family. Levi just wanted to paint.

Petra led him down the hall, under the vast stone arches that supported the great structure. Their footsteps were muffled by the expanse of red that flowed from the singular carpet extending down the path. It was a rich, luxurious scarlet that brought warmth into an otherwise cold corridor. Beyond the rug, there was no other color. Only a bland variance in the shades of grey amongst the stone walls. It was a stark difference to the vibrant Jaeger family crests that flew their proud viridescence along the castle like a silent battle cry.

Or silent subjugation, Levi thought.

They paused at a twisted, metal staircase - the thing looking archaic and out of place amongst the brick and mortar.

“It’s this way,” Petra said as she lifted the hem of her dress. “Watch your step, sir. The stairs can be most unforgiving should you take a fall.” Levi imagined his head splitting open like a melon against the thick stone walls. To be fair, the splash of red would do the hollow halls a favor. However, the color would, ultimately, clash with the carpet.

He held on tightly to the narrow stair rail. It was rusted beneath his hands, a rogueish vermilion staining the black metal. The steps ached and creaked loudly in opposition to his frame being carried up their spine. Thankfully, the journey did not ascend too high, only above to the next floor. It was here that Levi was met with a door. A large, black door that seemed more imposing than all the castle grandeurs combined.

“We had to improvise where to place the studio,” Petra explained. “There’s been no need of one since the young Majesty’s mother passed.”

Ah, yes, Levi remembered her. Well, at least remembered hearing the tales. He’d never been so lucky as to meet the woman in the flesh. The beautiful and elegant Carla Jaeger. Shinganshina was truly a different land with the queen on the throne. Her peaceful hand helped keep the king’s tumultuous relationship with Marley in check. Some say it was her doing altogether. There was truly no one better fit to rule over the people. And then she died. Suddenly and with no warning, leaving Shinganshina with a manic king and two motherless sons. Soon after, the fragile peace with Marley had launched into an all-out war.

The residents of Shinganshina could do nothing but watch the world around them crumble while silently mourning the loss.

“A shame,” he murmured, sharp eyes studying the intricate patterns warped into the wood of the door. Looked a lot more likely the room would be housing an alchemist’s laboratory than an artist's workshop.

“Indeed.” Petra voice had lost the giddy edge, and she wrung dainty hands as the true intent of Levi’s comment weighed heavily in the air. It appeared that not only the villagers were still feeling the ill effects of the queen’s loss. The woman seemed to steel herself as she took a deep breath, “Forgive me, Mr. Ackerman. You’ve only just arrived, and I am already burdening you with unpleasant memories. You must think me a very poor excuse for a housekeeper.”

“It’s no trouble-”

“We shall make a glorious evening of this yet!” A pale fist was raised high into the air as she beamed with triumph. Levi couldn’t help but offer her a subtle upturn at the corner of his mouth.

“Come, look at what we've pieced together for you,” Petra said as she pulled on the large, bronze handle. “I’m sure you’ll be absolutely marveled.” Levi had his suspicions. It was foolish to think that the king knew a single element that would be required of an adequate studio.

The entrance opened with a satisfying click, followed by a long drawn-out creak that preceded a breeze of cold air from the other side.

And then, light.

The room was positively bathing in it.

Vertical windows lined the outer wall, reaching nearly from floor to ceiling. The effects of the evening sun shone unconstrained through the glass, painting the room in a bewitching orange glow. So, the king did know something about the art of portraiture after all. Or perhaps this was all Petra’s doing. Turning to look at the bright, expectant smile lighting up her features, Levi suspected it was the latter.

There was miscellaneous furniture placed throughout the room. A plush green sofa, purple needlepoint armchairs, a rustic wooden bureau. However, what stood out most of all to him was the fireplace. Elegantly crafted from carved stone and decorated with hints of teal and gold, the fireplace seemed to perfectly embody the image of an ideal royal heir. Strong and bold, yet handsome and rich. Levi detested the thought of comparing it to a spoiled brat, but couldn’t deny that the object would be the perfect backdrop to the painting.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Petra’s smile had not faded as she stood in the doorway. Levi felt a bit like their roles had been reversed - Petra morphing from chastising mother to expectant child eagerly waiting for praise. He indulged her, giving a quick nod of his head.

“You’ve done well, Ms. Ral. I look forward to capturing the prince’s likeness here.” The words were a half-truth. To paint again and be compensated for his talents, that was what he yearned for. The damn dirty prince could burn in a thousand hells as far as Levi was concerned.

“I am honored, truly, sir.” Petra bowed lowly. He stiffened, not accustomed to the actions one would typically reserve for nobles and royalty. If only the woman knew that she was most undoubtedly wealthier than the man to whom she so easily bent her head. “I will have one of my girls bring your supplies here if that is quite alright?” He could easily manage this on his own, but Levi was positive that Petra had certainly already sent one of the servant girls into his room. Agreeing with her now was simply common courtesy.

Levi made a vague noise of approval. “Of course.” He turned to begin a more thorough inspection of the studio when the sound of quickened footfall called his gaze.

“Oh, Mr. Ackerman, I’m sure that you are eager to get to work, but you must remember.” Levi quirked a suspicious brow. “I said this would be a most glorious evening. What is a magnificent affair without a proper meal to finish off the day?” Petra looked at him as if she were anticipating an answer, but Levi fancied that the woman would enlighten him without his query. “His Majesty has ordered the chef to prepare the finest venison and vegetables I’m sure you’ve ever indulged upon. You are the guest of honor, after all.” Levi tried not to let his expression sour. This was inevitable, wasn’t it? He could not very well manage to paint a picture of the king’s son without at least meeting the royal family first. The thought alone made Levi’s skin itch.

"That's not necessary," he tried, tongue heavy in his mouth as he searched for a suitable escape.

"Oh, don't be silly, Mr. Ackerman," Petra laughed, "I'm sure you are absolutely famished. And His Majesty insisted, after all." Levi felt his face morph into a sneer as his jaw tightened.

His Majesty insisted.

Of course, the bastard insisted.

“As His Majesty orders.” Hopefully, the venom in his tone was not too apparent. If it was, Levi would simply blame it on the journey. A strenuous voyage could make any man affable. Petra's smile fell, and Levi inwardly cringed. He'd have to watch his mouth, the damned thing it was. Got him in a fair amount of scuffles in his youth. However, the stakes here were much higher than a black eye or bloody nose. “Lead the way,” he continued, trying not to sound so incredibly vexed. Petra nodded silently, all former excitement replaced with a disposition as if she’d just sentenced a man to place his head on the block.

“Certainly. Please follow me, sir.” She quickly turned on her heel, the bounce in her step replaced with a rigid tread. Thin nostrils contracted as he heaved a deep sigh.

This was inevitable, Levi reminded himself. And he began his march towards the dining hall, leaving the cold chill of the studio behind him.

[angelanimedesaray]

A Quest for Gods

AN:  This is an inherited request for a DemiGod!Reader, child of Hades, going about the task of reviving Erwin after the events of season 3.  This turned into far more of a behemoth of a part 1 than I’d been expecting, and wow did I love writing this.  I’m playing with the idea of a part two, but if I do a part two, then unlike this one, it will be more pairing centered, and yes, I already have a pairing in mind.  But that’s entirely up to how this part 1 is received and the feedback I get.  Also, yeah, this part is pretty much pairing free because there was already SO MUCH TO DO WITH THIS IDEA without adding a pairing into the mix.  Finally, I tinkered with some of the Underworld myths because there’s different variations/conflicting stories, and here and their I wanted to tweak the narrative to fit my needs :)

Characters:  Demi-God!Reader, Levi, Hange, Erwin (?), Hades, Charon

Warnings:  Language, Death, angst

Word Count:  9930 (Sweet Merciful Glory, this is the size of my longer AO3 fanfic chapters O_o)

Part 2 --->

(I reached a dead end trying to find who made the gif)

“He’s already dead.”

The solemn finality that settled over the group of five--now four--was crushing, the weight of the yawning unknown in front of them causing a suffocating pressure to build in your chest.  The grim air cloying around those gathered near Erwin’s body was in stark contrast to the reunion happening several houses over.  As glad for Armin and the others as you were, Erwin’s loss hung too heavily over you for you to join those feelings.

You didn’t envy Levi having to choose between Erwin and Armin, something telling you that if you’d only had those two choices, you wouldn’t have been able to choose.

If you’d only had the two choices…

Your gaze slid towards Erwin’s body, the inkling of a dangerous thought starting to tickle the edges of your consciousness.  Before the idea could form into a solid thought, Levi’s words about why he’d chosen Armin despite his earlier stubbornness to save Erwin echoed in your mind.

He had no choice but to become a devil.  It was us who wished for that.  And in the end, when he had finally been set free from hell, we wanted to bring him back once more.

But I think...it’s time to let him rest.

You snapped your gaze away from Erwin with a guilt starting to eat its way through you at feeding the thought that hadn’t even completely formed.  How could you even start to consider doing such a thing to Erwin?  Floch had said the reason he didn’t kill Erwin upon finding him was because Floch wanted Erwin to suffer more.  Part of Floch’s argument had been to make Erwin suffer more.

Surely, whatever it was that awaited them in the abyss of the unknown, was something they could navigate without Erwin having to suffer on this Earth any longer.  The few Survey Corps that were still alive would find a way.

Somehow…

And yet...I can’t quite bring myself to believe it.

The basement didn’t bring enlightenment.  It brought darkness and fear, a frightening reality that made frightful questions plague your mind.  Yes, Armin was a genius in his own right, and he was valuable and still had so much to live for...but with possibly the whole world against your people…

How were any of you going to survive without Commander Erwin’s leadership?  You all had thought he could finally rest--whether or not he’d earned it wasn’t in questions--but it seemed now you all needed him more than ever.

But could you justify pulling that man out of what very well could be true rest after the hell of this world?

Your eyes stared unseeing into the darkness of your room as thoughts, ideas, theories, all angles of the moral dilemma in front of you churned in your mind.  It was an unseen wrestle of the soul, and when at long last you decided you would not come to a conclusion on your own, you threw the covers aside and felt your feet touch the cold floor.  You subconsciously made yourself decent, your still-bare feet carrying you out the door as you strode with a purpose through the halls.  You didn’t even fully realize where you were going until you were standing outside the door and were halfway through four quick knocks.

You needed another opinion if you were going to break the pattern of indecision.  What better place to go than to someone who said things as he saw them, blunt, and the one who’d already made the impossible choice?

There was a moment of complete silence that made you briefly worry that you had just knocked on Levi’s door one of the few nights he’d managed to fall asleep.

“Who is it?”  After giving your name, you heard shuffling inside, and then a follow up, “come in.”

Levi’s office was almost as dark as your own room, except for a single candle on his desk lighting the small area.  Levi was still in uniform--minus the cloak and jacket--and leaning against the front of his desk, a faintly steaming cup of tea in hand.  Beside him, sitting in the chair normally placed in front of his desk, was Hange, a glass of what was most likely alcohol gripped in her hands.  She was leaning forward, tired eyes focused on you as you slipped inside and shut the door behind you.

“What is it?” Levi asked, the hint of a worn note reverberating in his curt question.

Fuck, what were you doing?

You were already here, the door was shut behind you, there was no going back.  You might as well--

“Spit it out,” Levi commanded as an awkward silence started to fill the room.

Don’t even think about it, just say it and get it over with--

“If there was another way to bring Commander Erwin back, would you do it?”

Another, this time painful, silence fell over the room.  Levi’s eyes widened in surprise, and Hange leaned back in her chair.  The urge to squirm under their intense and shocked gazes was hard to resist, but you didn’t want to give them any more reason to keep giving you those looks.

“What the hell kind of a question is that?” Levi eventually snapped.

That piercing gaze was not one you wanted to meet right now, considering Erwin had just died and the pain was still fresh, and here you were asking this.  Instead, you looked either at the ground or at Hange, even if her gaze was also quite piercing.

“It’s just something I need to know,” you said softly.

“Tch.” Levi turned aside, placing his cup on the desk with more force than necessary.

“There’s no way to bring the dead back to life, y/n,” Hange said in a serious tone you were still adjusting to hearing from the woman.  The new Survey Corps Commander...she had a lot of weight on her shoulders, now--you might be seeing this serious side of her far more often.

“It’d be a pointless conversation,” Levi cut in with a tone that suggested there would be no more discussion of the matter.  “If that’s all you wanted to ask, then you should leave.”

You stood your ground, summoning up the courage to meet Levi’s gaze head on, even if you wanted to squirm or dash away.  “Just answer the question.”

The faintest smile appeared on Hange’s face, while Levi scowled and turned away, walking around his desk.  He paused at the desk’s side, his back still towards you, and started to speak.

“It’s like I said...Erwin’s earned his rest.”

“We might need him more than ever, now that we know what’s out there,” Hange pointed out.

“But would you want to take that rest from him?” Levi asked sharply, head turned to Hange as he addressed her.  He turned just enough to face you, part of his face cast in shadow.  “Does that answer your question?”

No, it didn’t.  It was just the simplified version of what you were struggling with, and didn’t give you the solid answer you needed.

It seemed you were only going to get the sure answer from one person.

Your frustration bubbling, you hoped the dark of the room hid your feelings and the serious contemplation you were still struggling with.

“Thank you, Captain.  Commander,” you said suddenly, re-opening the door to make a quick exit before things could get any more awkward.

As the door shut behind you, Levi and Hange shared a look.

It was depressingly easy to sneak out with so few Scouts left.

Upon returning to your room, you had simply stood in the center of its darkness for a few moments before stirring to action.  After pulling on your green cloak and some socks and boots, you grabbed a pouch you’d been keeping hidden under a loose floorboard, tied it onto your belt, and hurried back out of your room, drawing your hood to hide your face.

Outside it was a little easier to see with the moonlight filtering down through light canopies of the trees instead of peeking through the occasional window of the Survey Corps headquarters.  Your steps were sure and quick, your destination firmly in mind as you moved in the shadows--just in case someone who was still awake like Levi and Hange happened to look outside.  This was something you needed--or, at least, wanted--to do alone, and prying eyes was the last thing you wanted on you.

A couple miles away from the Survey Corps headquarters, you finally saw the outcropping of rock you’d been looking for.  Walking up to the exposed rock wall, you placed a hand thoughtfully against the cool, smooth surface, your other hand reaching into the pouch you’d brought with you.  After a quick inspection of the rock, you pulled out one of the small medallions your father had given you long ago for emergencies only.  You hesitated for one brief moment, then carefully pressed the medallion against the surface of the rock.  The metal-wrought image of an ancient helm placed in front of a bident suddenly sank into the surface, a dark red glow appearing around its edges.  You stepped back as the medallion seemed to melt, the trickles of metal turning to thin lines that shone like obsidian framed by magma in the night, forming the outline of a slim, arched doorway.  The rock within the outline started to crack, then suddenly crumbled with a burst of steam to reveal a dark, cavernous passage leading steeply down into the earth.

You hesitated at the entrance for a moment, wondering if you needed to brave the depths alone or if you needed to wait for…

Movement in the darkness caught your eyes, and you stepped back from the entrance at the sight of silver streaked white hair.  The figure emerging from the darkness was an elderly man dressed in tattered, simple clothes, a sturdy, long rod in hand that he leaned upon in the doorway of the newly formed entrance.

A gnarled hand reached out towards you, held out as if expecting an offering of some kind.  His eyes were dull and haunting, framed by a tangle of long, unkempt hair the same silvery white as his patchy beard--but his eyes also held danger, a threat, even for you if you made a wrong move.

Reaching back into a pouch, this time you pulled out a handful of ancient silvery coins, dropping three into his hand.  The man quickly clamped down on the obol coins, tucking them away as you spoke up.

“Does he know I’m coming?”

“You’ve been gone a long time--he would not miss your arrival.”  As he spoke, his eyes shifted, looking at something behind you.  A shiver went down your spine, hairs standing up on the back of your neck.

“And who exactly is waiting for you?”

The low, dangerous tone had you backstepping before you’d even finished turning around.

Captain Levi, the one who just spoke, and Commander Hange were both standing directly behind you, a look that matched the dangerous tone darkening Levi’s face.

The reality of just how bad this all looked, considering what they had learned today, struck fear in your heart, even if you knew you weren’t doing anything wrong.

All they knew was that you’d snuck out in the middle of the night, opened a hole in the earth by means unknown, and were talking about some mysterious individual you wanted to see.  Considering you’d all just learned about a world of unknown capabilities beyond the walls that was out to destroy everyone in the walls...you understood why Levi was pinning you with such an expression.

Lying right now was only going to get you killed.  They would know you were lying, and at the very least, the fact you were trying to lie might condemn you if the ‘you wouldn’t lie if you didn’t have anything to hide’ philosophy applied here.  The truth was your best option, no matter how outlandish it may seem.

At least after today, after all the information that had been dumped on everyone, they might be more liable to listen to the outlandish and insane.

“My father--I wanted to try asking for his help,” you said quietly in the face of their suspicion, doing your best to stay calm.

Levi’s eyes narrowed.  “Your father?”

“I know this looks bad, but I’m trying to get help, not fetching another threat,” you said, glancing between the tense Hange and Levi.

“Your behavior suggests otherwise,” Hange pointed out.  “Sneaking around, keeping secrets--it’s in your best interests to start explaining.”

“It’s a lot to explain, and a lot to believe…” you said with a hint of hesitation, conscious of the fact you’d already paid an increasingly impatient Charon.

“I would not keep your father waiting.  Not on account of these mortals,” Charon said behind you, his annoyance clear.

Your father’s anger, or Levi’s…

Your father could wait a few moments longer.

“Look, I don’t have the time to explain right now,” you said, drawing Levi’s and Hange’s attention back to you and away from the fact they’d just been called mortals.  “But, if you think you can trust me enough to come with me, I’ll try to explain along the way.”

There was understandable hesitation from both of them.  Considering the current situation and the recent betrayals even among former Scouts, you weren’t expecting these two to trust you immediately, no matter how many fights and near-death situations the three of you had been through in the past years.  Frankly, you’d be disappointed if they hadn’t hesitated, or didn’t even try to question you to some extent, first.

“How do we know you won’t lead us into a trap?” Levi asked.

“I suppose that’s part of the trust.  You’ll have to trust that I don’t mean either of you harm, or anyone within these walls, for that matter.”  You put your hands up in a proffered silent offer.  “You can frisk me for weapons if it will make you feel better.  I don’t have any--considering I’m going to meet my father, I didn’t think weapons were needed--but you can still check.”

Not one to disappoint, Levi checked you over anyway, fingers prodding in places you hadn’t even thought of for any kind of hidden weapon.  While Levi searched you, Hange asked questions.

“Who’s your father?”

“Hades.  Just Hades,” you said simply.

“You say that like it’s supposed to mean something to us.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t--it didn’t mean anything to me the first time I heard it, either,” you admitted, finally putting your arms down as Levi stepped back, finished firsking you for weapons.  “If you’re satisfied I’m not going to try stabbing you in the tunnel, I’ll explain who he is on the way there.  If I keep him waiting any longer, he’s going to be furious...and that’s not something I want to be on the receiving end of.”

They didn’t say yes, but they didn’t say no, either, so you assumed they were willing to follow you, turning back to Charon and digging back in your purse, pulling out six obols this time.  Charon didn’t reach out to take them.

“Your father will not be...pleased that you’ve brought mortals into his realm.”

That earned a bit of a glare from you as you dug back through your bag and pulled out two golden drachmas to add to the obols.  Now that you’d tripled the fare, Charon accepted the coins and turned to face the depths below them, already starting the path down.  You turned back to Levi and Hange, neither of them looking pleased to be following you down into the unknown.

“Stay close to me,” you told them seriously.  This was uncharted territory for them, but somewhere familiar for you, and considering all the dangerous things the three of you could run into on your way through the Underworld...you’d rather keep an eye on them, for their sakes.

With no torch lighting your way, the three of you followed the narrow tunnel, the sound of Charon’s rod tapping against the rocky ground acting as an audible guide through the darkness.  You had a hand pressed against the wall on your right as a way to stabilize yourself.

“Where does this even lead?” Levi asked, his voice coming directly behind you.  Hange was probably walking behind him.

“The Underworld...not to be confused with the Underground, that’s entirely different.”

A few moments of silence, then, “Start explaining.”

Here we go…

“Before the walls were put up, there used to be this ancient civilization known as the Greeks.  They believed in many different gods and goddesses, but the most important were the Big Three: god of the sky, lightning, and thunder, Zeus; god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses, Poseidon; and god of the dead, hidden wealth, the Underworld, and some would also say regret...Hades.  My father.”

“You want us to believe you’re the brat of some ancient god?  You do know how insane that sounds?”

“Even though we live in a world with Titans, and after everything we’ve learned about what’s outside the walls, is it really that hard to believe?” you asked, noting that the ground beneath you seemed to be leveling out once more.  “Besides, you’ll see it for yourself soon, anyway.”

Light started to filter into the tunnel, a faint bluish light that made it possible to see the ground beneath your feet and Charon walking a few steps ahead of you.  If you turned your head, you could see Levi indeed walking only half a step behind you, Hange only a step away from Levi.  At least they were staying close, like you’d asked, though you had the feeling part of it was in preparation for an ambush or trap of some kind.  Especially since you were officially claiming to be the offspring of a god.

“And the Underworld would be what, exactly?” Hange asked.

The light grew brighter, an indication that you had at least made the on foot part of the journey.  You were about to come to the part that made Charon invaluable to anyone who wanted to travel through the Underworld.  In fact, it was close enough you made Hange wait for an answer until you’d gone down the last few steps and could finally see the beginning of the Underworld, moving aside so that Hange and Levi would be able to see as well.

“The land of the dead.”

They had entered a vast cavern that was bathed in the etheral blue light.  The tunnel ended in a small cliff that jutted out into the cavern, the rest of the space made up of vaulted natural ceilings and a bottomless pit instead of a smooth rock floor.  As for the light, it came from a flowing silvery blue river that touched the lip of the cliff before disappearing down into the dark depths below.

And it was suspended in nothing; just a stream of ethereal water thick enough for a narrow boat to sail, winding forward and curving out of sight, deeper into the realm.

It was all they could see at the moment, though considering it was a glowing river suspended in the air, you figured it would be enough of a first sight of the Underworld to get them thinking you were telling the truth.

Hange gasped behind you, pushing her way to the front so she could get a closer look at the river, peering over the edge to gaze at the water disappearing below.  She got close enough to the edge you saw a slightly wide-eyed Levi shift closer, ready to catch her if she leaned too far over the edge.  As you watched, Charon’s boat started to make its way towards you as if it had a mind of its own, Charon’s gaze focused on the boat and ignoring the three of you entirely.  Hange was momentarily distracted from the river by the approaching unmanned boat, eyes wide.

“Ooh, you have to tell me how it’s doing that--and this river--”

“Most of what you’re going to see down here I can only explain by calling it magic or divine...or infernal, whichever you prefer.  I don’t think you can call some of the things down here divine.”  Maybe if you said that now, it would save you from having to explain things you really didn’t know how to explain later.

The boat reached the cliff, causing Hange to step back as Charon reached out a hand and placed it on the boat’s figurehead of a screech owl, bringing it to a stop and steadying the boat in place.

“Come on--we need to keep moving,” you said, already climbing onto the boat, watching the other two as they climbed aboard.

Hange was studying everything, from the figurehead carving as she climbed into the sides of the boat for any kind of visible mode of movement--finding none--and still gazing at the glowing water, an arm resting on the side of the boat as she did so.  Levi was far more cautious, approaching the boat like he expected it to tip over and drop all of you into the bottomless chasm below, leering at the glowing water--he probably thought it was poisonous or tainted in some way.

Sadly, he wasn’t wrong.

Charon was the last one to get in, the rod in his hand dipping into the shimmering waters and pushing off the cliff to get the boat started forward.  It glided through the waters without any kind of turbulence or resistance, making it deceptively smooth sailing into the land of the dead.

“I don’t see many dead people for a land of the dead,” Levi pointed out, leaning back in his seat at the end of the boat opposite from Charon, his back against the bow and other carved figurehead.

“We haven’t even gone through the entrance yet,” you defended, watching Hange as she leaned over the edge of the boat to get a closer look at the water.  “That tunnel only brought us over the boundary river Styx.  This river is going to bring us past the actual entrance.  Don’t worry, you can’t miss it, there’s a three he--don’t touch the water!”

Your hand shot out before you even finished speaking, lunging forward to stop Hange from plunging her hand into its glowing current.  You had her by the wrist, your eyes wide as you pulled her back into the boat.  Levi was half out of his seat from your sudden shout and movement, but Hange was looking at you startled and with an expression that clearly asked ‘why not?’

“This is the Lethe, river of forgetfulness.  Souls drink from this river to erase the lives they’ve lived from their minds entirely.  So unless you want to forget everything you’ve ever known, I’d resist the urge to touch it...or any of the rivers, on that note--none of them are good.”  You let go of her wrist.  “It’s best to just steer clear of the waters down here.”

Levi pulled Hange down into her seat by the back of her shirt after your explanation.  “This place isn’t curiosity friendly, four-eyes, try to keep yourself under control.”

Hange pouted.  “But I wanted to get a closer look…”

“Sorry, Hange, but this is as close as you’re going to get in this stage of existence,” you said with a bittersweet smile.

“This is all...interesting...but why did you come down here?” Levi asked.  “This isn’t just a family visit.”

You looked away, choosing to look at the glimmering water below rather than at your companions.  “No, it isn’t.  Ever since we found out what was in that basement, I’ve been thinking, and I want to try…”

You really hoped they weren’t going to take this badly.  Especially knowing Levi’s thoughts on the matter.

“I want to try asking my father if he’ll let Erwin come back.”

There were a few beats of silence with you refusing to take a peek at their reactions, just in case their reactions weren’t pretty.  Your eyes were fixed on the water until you finally heard Hange speak.

“So you are trying to raise the dead, essentially.”

Your question in Levi’s office had been rather obvious and odd, hadn’t it?

“Sort of.  I personally can’t do anything more than get down here.  My father’s the one who can do it, if I can convince him.  I wouldn’t dare try this without his permission--”

“Were you listening to anything I said?” Levi interrupted, voice low, his body taunt and his eyes stormy.  Predictably, he wasn’t happy about your rushed scheme.

“I was.  I put this whole notion aside several times listening to you.  But knowing our situation, knowing we might need him, and hearing conflicting opinions left and right…”

Turning the bend, the actual entrance to the Underworld loomed overhead.  The sight made you trail off as you rose to your feet, exuding calm in the hopes your companions would retain their calm.

Trying to attack the Titan sized three-headed black dog pushing to his feet would not go well.

A snarl reverberated around the cavern, causing Levi and Hange to reach for what you could only assume were concealed weapons.  They really had been prepared for the worst, for a possible betrayal, when they’d followed you tonight.

“Steady,” you admonished, trying to carefully step around Hange to get a little closer to the massive dog.  “Cerberus might be a big, scary guard dog, but he’s got a soft spot for my father and his children, which includes me.”

As you spoke, you reached out a hand as the boat came close enough for Cerberus to be within arm’s reach.  Levi rose partially out of his seat while Hange leaned closer…

The snarls resided when Cerberus got a whiff of your scent, lowering his heads as you came within range.  The left and right you gave affectionate rubs along the sides of his faces, while the middle you nuzzled against affectionately.  The head on your right nudged your pouch in askance, prompting a small chuckle out of you.

“Sorry, Cerberus, I don’t have any treats for you today.  Maybe another time,” you told the giant hound with one last affectionate rub on two of his snouts before pulling away, the boat already drifting past the giant hound.

Turning back to the other two, their expressions were rather priceless.  Hange seemed like she was about to burst at the seams with questions--when was she not?  This place was like a eutopia of question provoking things for her--and Levi...well, his reaction had been fleeting, and he’d already schooled his expression back to its usual neutral state.  He’d definitely been watching you treat the giant hellhound like a fluffy puppy, though.  You must have been quite the sight.

After passing Cerberus and continuing past a passage on the opposite bank, a jagged opening in the cavern appeared around one last bend, a cacophony of ethereal lights emanating just beyond the exit.  The Lethe grew wider, and as the boat passed under the opening, divided into three separate directions.  To the right, the Lethe continued with its glowing blue waters.  The left melted into a seething river of fire that winded over the immediate landscape and towards a jagged collection of sharp rocks that reached towards the skies like broken blades, a hellish red glow emanating from something unseen within their center.  Down the center, the glowing blue rivers melted into waters blacker than ink and appearing bottomless even though it wound through the air--at least at the beginning.  At points, the waters of the different rivers dipped low and ran along the ground before reaching back into the air.

At the moment, the only thing of the land that was visible was a stretch of field that seemed endless in its bleak, grayish appearance, devoid of most color, only a few of the hoards of wandering souls below appearing to retain faded memories of color in them.  In the distance to the right, the Lethe melted away into a river dark red and thick as blood, the border to an area of land draped in a heavy fog and darker than the rest, no other definite features visible from such a distance.

As the boat continued forward along the black waters, you shuffled back to your seat, gaze searching the horizon for your destination.  Hange and Levi were both looking around, taking in the sight of the actual Underworld as you waited for them to process their surroundings.

“A little grim for an afterlife, especially compared to what you normally hear,” Hange commented, gazing over the edge of the bow into the colorless fields teeming with aimlessly wandering souls.

“Most of it is, yes,” you admitted before launching into an explanation of the Underworld’s regions, Levi and Hange both letting their gazes roam to follow your explanation.  “There is a better corner of the Underworld, it’s just on the completely opposite side.  What we’re going over now is the Asphodel Meadows, the largest portion of the Underworld, that acts as a sort of in between--no one down there did anything exceptionally bad or extraordinarily heroic or good.  They fell into a middle ground.  Those jagged rocks at the end of the Phlegathon--the river of fire--cover Tartarus, where the especially nasty beings go.  We’re on the Acheron River right now, river of sorrow and pain--it winds through most of the Underworld.  That foggy place over there is the start of the Fields of Mourning, a place specifically for those done wrong by love who never recovered, framed by the Cocytus River of lamentation and sorrow...Then somewhere off in the distance, on the other side of the Underworld, is the Elysian Fields and the Isles of the Blessed.”

“That sounds much better than Fields of Morning and River of Fire,” Hange said in a tone so deadpan that for a moment you thought it was Levi who’d spoken.  It definitely wasn’t Levi who spoke, though.  He was looking up at the rock ceiling high above--almost out of sight--with an expression that disgust and trepidation only began to describe.

“They are.  The Elysian Fields are for the truly exceptional--the heroes, the ones who made a difference, the truly good.  And the Isles of the Blessed are for...the cream of the crop, I suppose.”

“Then you’re going there.  For Erwin,” Levi cut in.  You would have assumed it was a question, but it still sounded like a statement, which was a little confusing for you.  Thankfully, whether it was a statement or a question didn’t matter, because he was wrong.

“Actually, no.  I am not about to presume where the judges decide souls go, that’s not my area--even my father rarely pulls strings for who goes where.  And I’m not about to piss off my father by trying to sneak a soul out of here, either--not that it would even be a successful endeavor,” you said with a shake of your head.  You weren’t about to be pretentious or foolish enough to think you could do anything successfully down here without the permission of Hades...or Persephone, but it wasn’t winter, so she wasn’t down here and wouldn’t be any help.  “Which is why we’re not going to any of these fields--we’re going to my father’s palace.  I’m going to talk to him, see if he’ll be willing to make some kind of deal or arrangement.  And if he is...I’ll ask Erwin himself if he’d be willing to come back.  Since everyone else can’t seem to agree, I figured why not ask the man himself instead of assuming what he’d want.”

After your explanation, you settled down leaning against the side of the boat, eyes cast in the general direction you knew the palace was, letting Hange and Levi gaze at the Underworld around them to their heart’s content.  You were simply waiting for your destination to come into view, eyes glazing over as you eventually stared off into nothing, the subconscious squirm in your stomach at the thought of asking such a big thing of your father coming to the forefront of your mind.  You could probably count the tales you’d heard of someone successfully bringing a soul back from the Underworld on one or two of your hands.  And most of those had been because Persephone gave permission, not your father.  Perhaps you should have waited until winter, until Persephone was in the Underworld as well--maybe then she could have been a mediator.

You could feel Hange’s gaze lingering on you after some time traveling down the river, and you looked up a split second before her question burst out of her.  “So how long have you known your father was this Hades guy?”

You grimaced at her casual use of his name, a little tingle on the back of your neck as you wondered if he’d sensed it.  “Ancient Big Three Greek God of the Dead...best not to speak casually about him, he won’t like it.”  You saw Levi roll his eyes behind a once again pouting Hange, but you ignored him and continued.  “I was about fifteen when he sent one of the truth Oneiroi--daemons of dreams--to find me and bring me down here so he could explain my heritage to me.  It’s not exactly the olden days when everyone knew about the Greek Gods--well, at least everyone in the Greek area--and he could just give some sort of well-known sign to claim me as one of his children.  A lot more explanation was needed.  I knew nothing about any of this until that explanation, other than the fact I was a little...different.”

As you spoke, you could finally see Hades’ palace appear in the distance, the Elysian Fields visible a little ways to its left, a stark contrast to the rest of the Underworld, with its rich color and brighter atmosphere.  You also knew, from the few times you’d been allowed in--no matter how briefly--that there was a sky visible in those fields.  You weren’t entirely sure if it was an illusion or some kind of magic or bending of the cosmos, but you knew the sun shone on the fields and the waters, and the stars blazed in a night sky in those fields.

But that wasn’t where you were going.  Even though the Acheron River twisted and split in two separate directions low to the ground to form a border between the Elysian Fields and the Asphodel Meadows, Charon was guiding the boat to the right, closer to the palace of ebony, obsidian, and marble intricately carved in an ancient Greek style.  Columns lined the front of the first floor of the soaring building, the top and bottom of every pillar containing tales from ancient Greece, tales of heroes dying, of the toppling of the titans, of the legends Hades and Persephone were both well known for such as Hades taking Persephone to the underworld, and Orpheus attempting to lead his wife out of the Underworld (one of the unsuccessful stories).

Charon brought the boat to a stop at a bend in the bank that brought the three of you as close to the palace as you could get by boat, his staff planted firmly against the loamy soil of the bank where the river briefly met with the earth.  You climbed out first, taking the lead since this was your mission, your father’s palace, and you knew where you were going and what you were doing.  As soon as the three of you had your feet planted in the ground, Charon pushed off of the bank with his staff, already making his way back down the inky river.

“No second thoughts or going back, now,” you murmured to yourself.  You took a deep breath, and strode the last few steps to the onyx pathway that led all the way to the marble steps of your father’s palace, steeling your resolve.

(Levi POV)

The increasing tension you were radiating with every step towards and into the looming palace of marble and dark stone did nothing to put Levi’s mind at ease about this entire...bizarre situation.  They way you talked about your father--about Hades--you had more fearful respect of the--man?--than anything else.  Him being the apparent ruler of such a grim afterlife and the god of the dead made your mannerisms make sense, but even then, if he was your father, Levi might have expected those feelings to be a little less...intense.  But they were cloying with how strongly they radiated from you, and did nothing to reassure him this entire idea wasn’t as stupid as it had initially sounded.  At first he’d simply thought you were talking nonsense, but now he kept waiting for this rushed, half-baked idea to go south, ready to claw his way out of whatever bad came even if he didn’t understand half of what was happening.

One worldview altering information dump was already a lot to handle, but this was getting ridiculous.

He still wasn’t entirely convinced this wasn’t some crazy drug-induced dream or hallucination caused by Hange slipping something in his tea to try and get him to sleep.  Of course, he hadn’t seen Hange put anything in his tea--which he would have if she’d tried--but at least that would give him a more logical explanation for everything going on from the moment you’d opened a hole in the goddamn ground.

They passed the columns and approached the main entrance, Levi taking in the carvings--warriors dying in battle; a woman eating what looked like an apple, tomato, or maybe a pomegranate--some sort of fruit; a man holding some sort of instrument watching a woman disappear in a wisp of smoke--after he’d established there wasn’t anything dangerous lurking in the shadows.

As your hand settled on the ebony double doors, you paused and turned around to fix Levi and Hange with a serious gaze.  “Whatever happens in there, just let me do the talking, okay?”

Hange shrugged.  “He’s your father.”

Your gaze moved to Levi, who still hadn’t said anything, clearly waiting for him to give verbal confirmation he agreed.

“Are you going to keep us standing out here all night, or are you going to go inside already?” Levi asked eventually.

He wasn’t about to make any promises.  If things started to go bad, he was going to do what he had to.

You gave a little huff as you turned back around, prompting the faintest smirk to flash across Levi’s lips.  You knew he was dodging making the promise, but you also knew you weren’t going to win if you tried to press the issue.

The ebony doors opened with a groan, and Levi followed close behind as you strode confidently inside despite the slight tremble of your hand he’d caught as you’d passed the doors.  They immediately entered the main chamber, a vast room of marble and obsidian and doorways along the walls that signaled different halls leading to different parts of the building.  At the far end of the room there was an intricately carved ebony throne, and sitting in it was a man reclined like a cat about to pounce and radiating raw power, a two-pronged bident weapon glinting in his hand with the blunt end resting on the ground, grasped--at the moment--more like a scepter than a weapon.

More came into view the closer they drew--he was wearing a deep, dark red suit jacket that hung open over a dark grey button up shirt and black pants, his long black hair was unruly and falling just past his shoulders, a carefully kept full goatee and mustache of a matching black, and the rest of his jawline cleanly shaven.  He had a bolo tie loosely around his neck, the pendant the exact same symbol that had been on the medallion you’d used to create the tunnel.  Then there were his eyes--a piercing, all-knowing ice blue, which when matched with his stern and serious expression, gave the impression he was gazing into the very soul of whoever he cast his eyes towards, weighing its very value.

It was unsettling when that gaze was turned on Levi, but he refused to look away.

When you came within a few strides of the throne, you dropped to one knee and gave a respectful bow of your head.  Normally, Levi would have stayed standing...but you had said god of the afterlife, and if you, his own kid, was kneeling, then clearly it would be expected for Hange and himself to kneel, too.

That didn’t mean he had to like it.

After all three of you were kneeling, Hades leaned forward in his seat, that sharp gaze watching Hange and Levi while he spoke to you.

“I was under the impression you were coming alone.  Why are these mortals with you?”

Again with the mortal thing.  And you still weren’t being included in that address.  So, since your father was a god, did that mean you weren’t mortal?  You were immortal because of your parentage?

No, that wasn’t right.  Levi had seen you injured before, even close to death.  You weren’t immortal...but clearly you weren’t quite mortal either.  Somewhere in between.  He’d have to ask after all of this and try to get some clarity on the matter.

You raised your head from its bowed position, meeting your father’s gaze head on once it returned to you.  “Unforeseen circumstances.” You answered Hades’ question like it was an afterthought, trying to redirect the conversation towards the whole reason you were here.  “What’s important is why I came down here to see you.”

Hades leaned back in his seat again, sizing you up where you were still kneeling on the ground.  “The last time you were here you were quite adamant that you needed nothing from me.  Are you already swallowing your pride?”

Levi saw a muscle in your jaw twitch at the allusion, his curiosity rising once more.  There were so many things he wanted to ask once the three of you--maybe four--left this place.

You ignored what Hades had just said, speaking as if the veiled taunt wasn’t there and rising to your feet.  You were also tense again, which gave Levi the impression that Hades was not going to like what you said next.

“I came down here to ask if you would make a deal to allow me to return a soul to the living.”

In the next moment, Hades was on his feet, eyes flashing with a fire in stark contrast with his cold tone.  “What?”

As if the man--being, god--hadn’t had a presence before, now the power crackled in the air, the smell of ozone accompanying it.

To your credit, you didn’t back down in the face of Hades’ anger--Levi had never known you to back down in the face of anyone’s anger, even his own.

“There’s someone who just died that we’re going to need in the coming war, and I wanted to see if we could come to an arrangem--”

“No soul that comes down here is allowed back.  There’s a balance that must be kept, death must be final.  I would have thought one of my own would know this.”

“I do know--I know it’s happened in the past, some of the legends are carved right into this palace’s columns outside.”

The light in the room seemed to be dimming as Hades’ anger grew, a black fog rising in the room.  Levi’s breath misted in front of him as the temperature in the room dropped, something that, now that he thought back, was similar to the chill in the air the few times he’d seen you angry.  At the visible proof of Hades anger, which was directed at you, Levi and Hange both got to their feet.

“If you’re so knowledgeable, you’ll remember those were also instances where the Olympians meddled in the nature of things, or Persephone made the deal without my knowledge,” Hades growled.

“But it has been done, and I’m willing to work out a deal, something that will get us what we need without disrupting the balance of things,” you returned, stepping closer to the angry god of the dead.  “Maybe something like the deal with Iolaus--”

“Iolaus,” Hades hissed, turning away.  “The Olympians plucked him from the Underworld without any cares for the balance and the chaos their interference caused down here until he was returned.”

He turned back to face you again.  “That kind of deal would give me nothing, except the chaos of disorder.  If I was to allow a soul out of the Underworld, a price needs to be paid, one that preferably serves my own interests.  Besides--you were so intent on doing things on your own the last time we spoke.  Even if I was delusional enough to agree, another Iolaus arrangement would be too much of a gift, even by your apparent standards.”

Levi saw your fist clench at your side as you let out a long breath, suddenly falling silent.

Hades turned his back, already making his way towards one of the halls as the fog receded and the chill started to dissipate.  “If that’s all--”

“What about more of an...Orpheus, Alcestis kind of deal?”

Hades paused, a tense silence falling over the room.  Levi’s gaze was fixed on you, though, not on the god.  Instead of trying to figure out what was going on in Hades’ head, he was studying you, a foreboding feeling starting to grow in his gut at the reluctance he could hear in your voice.  That wasn’t a good sign, not with all this talk about balance and prices for reviving the dead.

Hades faced you, his composure back to the calm and calculating demeanor he’d had when the three of you had first entered the room.  “A little more promising.  I’m listening.”

You started to turn towards Levi and Hange, but stopped yourself, squaring up to Hades and centering your gaze on him.  “This may take a while.  Let’s find somewhere to discuss it,” you said with a detached air.

You didn’t want to get into the details in front of Levi and Hange.  Now he really was worried.

Before Levi could do or say anything, Hades was already turning back to continue his way down the hall he’d already been heading towards.  “Then let’s talk,” he said, melting into the shadows with you close behind.  You only turned back long enough to give Levi and Hange a brief ‘wait here’ gesture before you’d disappeared as well.

“I don’t like this,” Levi said bluntly once you and Hades had disappeared.  “Whatever deal they’re making can’t be good.”

“What are you going to do, fight the god of death?” Hange returned, jumping up the steps to take a closer look at the ebony throne, running her hands along the woodwork and intricate carvings.

Maybe.

“Besides, whatever they’re talking about we clearly don’t have a say in--there’s not much else to do but wait,” Hange added.

“You don’t believe that.”

“This time, I do.  He’s a god, Levi, one we know nothing about, and we’re in this Underworld--the afterlife.  We’re getting a glimpse into the afterlife, Levi!” Hange said, her voice bubbling over with excitement as she continued to examine the throne.

“Some afterlife,” he muttered, finding a spot against a pillar on the opposite side of the room he could lean against while he watched the hallway, waiting for you and Hades to reappear.

After what felt like hours listening to Hange rattle excitedly about everything they’d seen and come up with theory after theory, Levi finally saw you and Hades return to the main room.  Thankfully, Hange wasn’t ogling over the throne anymore, so they didn’t have to worry about raising Hades’ ire for playing around with his throne.

Levi studied your face, trying to get an idea of what had happened while you were gone from your expression.  You seemed relieved, which was a good sign...but there was also a slight wilt in your movements, a slight dimness in your eyes, and it worried him.

You stopped as Hange and Levi both approached you, Hange clearly anxious to hear the outcome, while Levi kept his thoughts to himself and simply watched you closely.

“Both my father and Erwin agreed.”

Wait, you’d already seen Erwin?  Without them?  Where was he?  Especially if Hades agreed to let him go, why wasn’t he with you?

“The deal involves us leading him out of the Underworld, but the two of you cannot look back until you’ve returned to the surface world and you see the sun clear the horizon.”  While you explained, Hades passed the three of you and headed towards a smooth section of the wall on the right side of his throne.  “No looking back, even for a glimpse--you’re not allowed to see him until then.”

“What about you?” Levi asked sharply.  You didn’t hesitate in your reply, which was, admittedly, a good sign.

“I’m taking up the rear.  I’ll be guiding you through the tunnel from the back.  Special child of Hades privileges.  Plus, I felt it would help put your minds at ease if I could see it was Erwin we were leading to the surface.  That way you’re not tempted to look back to make sure it’s him.”

A sudden clang of metal on stone rang through the vast chamber as Hades planted his bident firmly in the ground, drawing everyone’s attention.  A beam of silvery light emanated from between the two points of the weapon and cast onto the smooth wall he’d been approaching, a new tunnel appearing within the confines of the light like a billowing curtain being blown back.  Once the tunnel appeared, you made your way towards it, gesturing for Levi and Hange to follow.

You shared a glance with your father, stopping just shy of the tunnel and placing a hand briefly on Levi’s shoulder to stop him from starting down the tunnel.  You were fiddling with the pouch on your waist that you’d pulled the coins and medallion from, undoing the strings and handing it over to Levi, who clutched the bag tightly in his hand as his sharp gaze tried probing you once more.  Why the hell were you giving this to him?

“You guys are in front--I just want you to have it in case you need it on the way up.  To open a passage or pay a guarding being or something like that--I don’t know if we’ll run into anything like that, but just in case.”

...something about your voice was off.  The timber, maybe, but whatever it was made it hard for Levi to believe that was the real reason.

You waved a hand impatiently.

“Come on, we’re on a time limit here, we have to get going.  You two walk side by side up the tunnel, I’ll be right back here.”

Hange shared a worried glance with Levi.  So she had her suspicions as well.  Surely this wasn’t the whole deal?  Did Hades really think it would be a challenge not to look back?

The image from the columns outside of the man looking over his shoulder as a woman faded away entered Levi's mind, and for a moment, he wondered if it was more the fact that Hades knew eventually it would be difficult to not look back.

After that shared glance, they started forward.

The darkness was quick to swallow them up, no light to even guide their footsteps and forcing them to reach out for the walls to steady themselves.  From behind, you had already started to speak.

“The tunnel should be on level ground at first, but eventually it’s going to start climbing up, you’ll feel it.  Just so you know ahead of time.  And stick close, there’s going to be a few forks I’ll have to tell you which turn to take, and we don’t want either of you wandering down the wrong path.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” Hange said rather cheerfully.  “Since we have quite the walk, do you think you could answer some questions for me?”

“I’ll try to.  I don’t know how well I’ll be able to answer, but I’ll try.”

With that, Hange started pelting you with most of the questions she’d been babbling to Levi about while the two of them were waiting for you and your father.  You did your best to answer most of them--there were three demi-gods who judged the souls while your father supervised them, Hades was the god of the dead but not of death, Olympians were twelve gods that got to live on Mount Olympus and were considered the main twelve gods, Hades wasn’t counted as an Olympian despite being the oldest male god because he was never at Mount Olympus since he spent all his time in the Underworld--but other questions you admitted to having given little thought or knowing nothing about.  Two or three times you interrupted Hange’s questions to tell them to go right or left, but other than that, most of what you were saying were answers to Hange’s questions instead of directions.

Until…

“Wait, wait, wait, stop...but don’t look back.”

Levi sighed.  “We know that part--what is it?”

You didn’t answer.  Instead, he could hear you shuffling around in the dark, moving first to Hange, who gasped.

“Hange, don’t look back!”

“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t look, though!  Is that--”

As you shuffled towards Levi, he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder--currently a light weight, but it still felt like a fairly large hand.

“All right, you can start walking again.  Just keep those eyes forward, we shouldn’t have much longer, now.”

Levi started forward, a little more hesitant this time, surprised that Hange even seemed to have grown quiet beside him.  But the further they went, the heavier the weight on his shoulder seemed to get, like something was solidifying behind him, or gradually leaning more and more weight on him.  He felt his heartbeat pick up as he realized it was Erwin behind him, Erwin’s hand he could feel on his shoulder.  You would have said something if it wasn’t Erwin.

This was happening.  The deal was paying off, whatever its details had been.

Feeling Erwin’s hands on their shoulders seemed to make the situation feel that much more real, enough so that even Hange fell silent and no longer bombarded you with questions about everything they’d learned tonight.  The four simply walked in silence up the steepening tunnel, with your voice giving directions every now and then about particularly steep parts that were coming up, or forks in the tunnel.

Then, at long last, light began to filter in--faint at first, but growing in strength as they neared the surface.  It seemed the sun had started to rise above ground, which thankfully meant that they wouldn’t have to wait too long to turn around and see the results of their patience.

Of course now Levi also knew that if he looked back, he might be able to see Erwin.  He wasn’t going to, he wasn’t about to break the deal--he trusted you, so he knew it was Erwin behind him.  It was just that he could feel the impatience to see Erwin starting to settle in, and finally he was starting to understand what was so hard about not being able to look back--especially when the person you were trying to bring out was right behind you.

Levi squinted against a sudden piercing light as they climbed up a particularly steep patch of ground and made a turn around a slight bend, bringing the mouth of the tunnel into view.  Outside he could see the sun making its rise above the horizon--not clear of it yet, but getting there.  Would they have to keep going once they were out of the tunnel or would they simply stand there right outside of it until the sun had fully risen?

“All right, this part,” you said from your spot at the back of the group.  As you spoke, the group came closer and closer to the mouth of the cave.  “Once you pass the tunnel’s threshold you’re going to keep walking--doesn’t matter how fast or how slow, as long as you’re still moving--until you can both visibly see the sun clear the horizon.  You both might want to check with one another until you do, just to be safe.  Once you both can see that, you’ll be able to look back.  Understood?”

“Perfectly,” Hange answered.

Levi hummed in response, his feet finally carrying him out of the tunnel and back onto the grassy surface, gaze fixed on the horizon.

“Good.  Then just keep going, no matter how tempted you are to look back.  Keep going.”

Levi sucked in a breath.

Your voice...was getting farther away.

Levi’s step faltered at the realization, his head starting to turn, to make sure you were still right behind Erwin, that you were still with them, with hi--

“Don’t look back.”

Your sharp words pierced the air in startling clarity, admonishing and firm.  Levi grit his teeth, fixing his eyes forward and berating himself for almost losing Erwin for his moment of weakness.

But he hadn’t been wrong.  Your voice sounded farther away with every step they took.  He needed to look back, to make sure you were there...but he would wait until the sun cleared the horizon, just like the deal required.  That way, if his growing worry was unfounded, he wouldn’t screw this up because of a moment of weakness--he was not going to be the reason Erwin died again.

Levi and Hange both shared a look, the two of them both appearing tense and on edge to the other, but neither of them daring to look back as the weight on their shoulders grew more and more real.  They couldn’t turn around, as much as they wanted to, even as your calls to ‘keep going, don’t look back’ grew fainter and fainter.

“I see the sun’s cleared the horizon, what about you?” Hange said suddenly, reaching out a hand to place on Levi’s arm.  He didn’t answer the first few moments, gaze still on the horizon, waiting, watching…

“Yes,” he said briskly as soon as he saw the sun completely break away from the visible edge of the earth.  He’d hardly finished speaking before both of them finally, at long last, looked back.

Levi turned sharply around, hand instinctively reaching out to steady a perfectly healthy and whole Erwin Smith as the man staggered from a disorientation Levi wasn’t even going to try and understand.  Erwin was alive, resurrected from the dead, and no longer missing his arm, either--something made obvious by the fact the once-missing hand was the one buried into his blonde hair as the Commander uttered a low groan of discomfort.

Levi wasn’t paying much attention to him beyond that.  His wide eyes were instead fixed on the now-distant rock outcropping behind him, no sign that the tunnel had ever existed...and no trace of you ever being there, aside from the small pouch that now hung heavy at his waist.

He finally understood what had made Hades accept the deal, despite the resistance and displeasure at the simple suggestion of letting someone return to the land of the living--or rather, what had made him accept the trade.

Why the fuck did you do it?

Part 2--->

AN:  I was going to write the discussion between Reader and Erwin about whether or not he even wanted to come up to the surface, but this was already sooooo long and I didn’t feel confident enough to do such a discussion justice, so it got chopped.  If I do a part two, I might have the deal discussed in hindsight so I can cheat and talk about the spirit of the discussion without struggling for days with writing the discussion itself, heh.

Tags: @mysteriousmagicx @humanityshottestsoldier @final-fantasy-xv-nut

[eyebrowluv]

Tall Blonde with One Sugar

It was absolutely pouring down the rain as Erwin left the library. Nile, his friend and roommate offered to give him a ride back to their apartment if Erwin didn’t mind waiting for Nile to get out of class. Erwin, of course didn’t mind waiting. He was able to work on his paper after his shift at the library, and he didn’t relish the idea of making the 30 minute walk in the rain. So, he waited.

And waited…

And waited…

Finally, an hour past their scheduled meeting time, Erwin decided to walk out to the parking lot to see if Nile was still there, but his spot was disappointingly vacant. It would be hours before the bus ran again, so Erwin just took a deep breath and sucked it up before jogging home. He would make sure to yell at Nile when he got there.

Not surprisingly, he was completely soaked by the time he made back to the apartment complex. He was cold, uncomfortable, and hungry. He wanted a hot shower, dry clothes and some generic ramen before he finished his paper. However, what he got instead was a sock hanging from the knob of his apartment door.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Erwin muttered to himself. He knocked on the door, in the name of self-preservation, and called out, “Nile, please tell me this is a joke. It’s bad enough you ditched me on campus.”

All he received in response was: “Marie, fuck baby, you’re such a bad girl.”

“Not happening.” Erwin pulled out his phone to call his friend Hange, but the ancient flip phone was dead. He checked his watch. Yup, still two more hours for the bus to arrive to go back toward campus. He didn’t want to have to sit in the library soaking wet, so walking back was out of the question as the rain continued. He pulled out his laptop and checked the wi-fi signal. If he stayed against the wall, he would be able to work on his paper until the bus came back around. He would consider that a win. He dropped his ratty, old backpack to the floor and plopped down beside it. He only hoped he had enough battery on his laptop to either wait out the bus or his roommate.

——

Levi held back a string of curses and he fought with the apartment complex’s front door and his umbrella. It was a miserable day, to say the least, and he looked forward to seeing his bed.

“Oi, heads up,” Levi heard a voice call as he raced up the stairs, reaching his floor’s landing. He almost tripped over the young man in the hallway floor. The tall blond was pressed up against the wall beside his apartment door, wearing a rain-drenched Trost University hoodie, a pair of ragged jeans, and ratty sneakers (the left one was untied). There was a tired-looking, beat-up laptop resting on his thigh.

“Why are you in the hallway?” Levi asked him as he stepped around, afraid of dislodging the ancient laptop, and sending it crashing to certain death.

“I’ve been sexiled,” the blond answered, pointing to the sock on the door handle. Levi sighed.

That was the bad part of living this particular apartment complex. It was walking distance to Trost University’s campus, and, therefore, filled with college kids. However, he also needed to live close to campus because he was the top trauma surgeon at the University hospital, and had to be able to get to work quickly in case of an emergency. So, here he was, tripping over a student after a grueling 18 hour shift.

“That would make sense if you lived in a dorm, not a two bedroom apartment.” Levi rubbed his temples, exhaustion making his head hurt.

“I think they might be in the living room?” By the sounds of it, the blond was right.

“So, why the hallway?”

“I am working on a paper, so I need wi-fi for research. I would just go back to campus, but it’s pouring rain. I don’t have a car, and the bus doesn’t run for another two hours. Hopefully my laptop battery holds out that long, or they finish…”

“I’m so going to regret this,” Levi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Come on. You can work on your paper at my place.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ackerman!” The blond hurried and gathered his things and stood, rising up to tower almost a foot above Levi.

“Just don’t make a mess and don’t rob me or some shit.” Levi unlocked his door and entered. “And take off your shoes, Edward.”

“Erwin, my name is Erwin. Where can I set up?” The blond toed off his shoes and Levi noted that his right sock had a hole in it.

“The bar in the kitchen has better light than the dining room. I’m afraid my office is full of patient files right now or I would let use it.”

“No, no, the kitchen is great! Better than the hallway and it definitely beats going back to campus in the rain. Thank you very much, Mr. Ackerman.”

“Yeah. Just stop calling me Mr. Ackerman. Levi is fine. I’ll write down the wi-fi password for you, and then, I’m going to bed. Lock the door on your way out, and tell Nigel that he has a bedroom with a door for a reason.”

“Nile.”

“What?”

“My roommate. His name is Nile.”

“I really don’t care. Goodnight, Edward.” With that, Levi scrawled down just wi-fi password and went to bed. The clacking of a keyboard lulled him to sleep.

When he woke a few hours later, all traces of his young neighbor were gone except for a lone sheet of notebook paper with ‘Thank You, Levi’ scrawled messily across the front. Levi just yawned and tossed the note in the trash.

——

“Did you get your paper done last night? I tried texting you but you never responded.” Erwin looked over at his best friend, Hange as they sat down beside him.

“Yeah, no thanks to Nile. First, he ditched me on campus after offering me a ride. I had to jog home in the pouring rain. If that wasn’t bad enough, I came home to a sock on the door. He and Marie were going at it in the living room for the better part of the evening. I may never sit on my couch again.”

“Nile is such a bastard. I don’t know why you’re still friends with him. I mean he is dating your ex...the ex that was cheating on you...with him. I just don’t know about you.” Hange leaned against him.

“It’s really okay. I mean, Marie and I really didn’t have that much chemistry anyway. Nile has been a friend since kindergarten. I can’t throw that away over some girl that I only felt luke-warm about.” Erwin shrugged.

“You kill me,” Hange groaned into his shoulder. “So, did you come back to campus, or what? If you would have answered your texts, you could have come over to my place.”

“Sorry about that, but my phone died, and I didn’t have my charger in my bag. My neighbor actually felt enough pity for me that he let me come over and bum off his wi-fi.”

“Wait, what? Your neighbor? The doctor?” Hange perked up, mischievous grin on their face.

“Yeah, but I still think he hates me. He calls me Edward all the time.”

“I doubt he hates you. He did let you come over to finish your paper after all.”

“I guess there is a bright side.”

——

“Were we obnoxious, inconsiderate assholes in college?” Levi asked as he paid for his lackluster cafeteria lunch.

“Levi, you have been an obnoxious, inconsiderate asshole as long as I’ve known you. That didn’t change after Med School,” his best friend, Mike, answered.

“Zacharias, the only obnoxious, inconsiderate asshole I see here is you.”

“Seriously though, why do you ask?”

“My neighbors. I came home yesterday to find one of them kicked out by his roommate and the roommate’s girlfriend. The sorry bastard was camped out in the hallway floor trying to write a paper. Even at the height of your lust-filled rutting with Nanaba, I don’t remember you kicking me out of the apartment.”

“Why would I? I had a separate bedroom.”

“They were apparently in the living room.”

“Poor guy. You didn’t yell at him for being in the hallway, did you?” Mike took a bite of his salad.

“I had no idea you thought so little of me,” Levi sniffed. “Actually, I hate to disappoint you, but I let him come over to my place to finish his paper, thank you very much.”

“He must be hot. Shame on you, Levi. Praying on a younger man like that.”

“You’re an idiot.”

Mike noticed that Levi never did deny that he thought his neighbor was hot, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

——

“Nile, you bastard, come on! I can’t believe you right now!” Erwin pounded on the bathroom door.

“Go away, Erwin. Nile is busy,” answered a soft, feminine voice.

“I need the shower. I have to get ready for work. Can’t you guys do this after I leave?”

“Sorry buddy, but you should have showered at the gym,” answered before moaning lewdly.

“Really? I’m pretty sure you know my schedule by now, and I shouldn’t reasonably expect to not have access to a shower in an apartment that I pay rent for. Rent I can’t pay if I don’t go to work. Dawk open the fucking door!”

“Go away, Erwin.”

“You are an asshole!” Erwin banged on the door one last time. He grabbed his phone and dialed Hange. “Come on, pick up.”

“This is Hange leave a message...”

“I hate my life,” Erwin muttered to himself. He gathered his clothes and toiletries, swallowed his pride, and left the apartment.

——

Levi was listening to the television drone in the background while he cleaned his kitchen. He was in such a state of mind numbing scrubbing that the knock on his front door startled him. He looked at it for a moment as if it were something foreign. He hardly ever received visitors, and never unexpectedly. Another knock had him walking to the door. He flung it open to see a sweaty, desperate-looking Erwin.

“You’re home,” Erwin sputtered as if he expected otherwise.

“You’re observant,” Levi grumbled.

“I really hate to bother you, but can I bum a shower? Nile and Marie are, well, I’m sure you can figure it out. But I have to be at work soon, and I would go back to campus and shower at the gym, but I would miss my bus. I really can’t afford to miss work.”

“I’m really starting to hate your roommate,” Levi sighed. Erwin’s face crumbled.

“Yeah, he’s an ass, and so am I. I’m sorry, Levi, I shouldn’t bother you with my problems. I’ll just try Hange again. Thanks for the other day, though.” Erwin turned to leave.

“I never said you couldn’t use my shower. Get your ass in here. I’ll go get you a towel.” Levi opened the door to allow Erwin to enter.

“Thank you, Levi. I’ll just start showering on campus...daily.” Erwin followed Levi to the bathroom.

“I’ll be right back with a towel. I’m sure you know how to work it.”

“Yep, same as mine,” Erwin said, pulling his shirt over his head. Levi was treated to the sight of a half naked Erwin. And Levi just knew that the guys he went to college with were never looked like this, with smooth skin and hard muscles. (It was damn good thing, too, or he would have flunked out miserably and never made into med school.) He clenched his jaw, and reminded himself that Erwin was probably at least ten years younger than him. It was probably illegal just to look.

He turned away with a blush and a scowl in order to retrieve the towel. When he returned, Erwin was down to his faded boxer briefs, and obviously lacked any sort of body consciousness. And really, with a body like that, who could blame him? Levi mentally shook his head and grunted when Erwin let out a soft, sheepish ‘thank you.’

Erwin emerged twenty minutes later, hair neatly parted, shrugging on a navy blue suit jacket that was well worn, but obviously well taken care of. His red tie was just draped around his neck and Levi noted that his white dress shirt, while neatly pressed and cleaned, was missing the top button as it was safety pinned together. His belt was cheap and starting to fray and crack around the buckle. The slacks were slightly too tight around the thighs and the hem was a little threadbare in the back. Even in light of all this, Erwin wore a suit well...very well.

“Thank you again, Levi. I’m so sorry I had to bother you.” Erwin’s voice broke Levi from his daze, and he blinked a few times before meeting Erwin’s gaze. The boy had the bluest eyes…

“It’s fine,” Levi dismissed. “Just where do you work if you have to dress like that?”

“I’m working for Shadis’ senate campaign. I get civics credits toward my Master’s as well as a paycheck. It pays better than a TA position and the hours are more flexible.” Erwin’s long fingers tied with silk of the tie with relative ease.

“I see. His headquarters is downtown, right?”

“Yeah, that’s why I have to take the bus. It’s too far to walk.”

“Come on, I’ll give you a ride.” Levi stood and grabbed his keys.

“Levi, really, it’s too much. I wouldn’t want to bother you anymore than I already have,” Erwin protested with sincerity.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind and you didn’t expect or ask me to give you a ride. Come on. I have some errands to run anyway.” Levi opened the door and held it for Erwin, posture not allowing for any argument.

“Okay, thank you, Levi.”

If asked, Levi wouldn’t be able to answer as to why he wanted to help this kid so badly. But something told Levi that he maybe all that Erwin had, and it was just sad that the most dependable person in Erwin’s life was practically a complete stranger.

——

It had been almost two weeks before Levi noticed that Erwin’s presence was missing. He hadn’t realized that the younger man was such a part of his daily routine. They greeted each other in the mornings as they started their day, they brushed past each other on the stairwell on Saturday afternoons, and they nodded in acknowledgment when collecting their mail. But Erwin has been strangely absent lately. Levi frowned.

Maybe the roommate broke up with his girlfriend?

No, the thump a giggle out in the hallway that morning before Levi left for work let him know that the flame was still burning fiercely. Erwin was around before the girlfriend situation, even if Levi only subconsciously acknowledged that the blond was part of his routine. Levi hated to deviate from his routine. He sighed as he put his work shoes in his locker and slammed it shut. It really shouldn’t bother him.

And if he drove by campus on his way home from work, it was because he wanted a change of scenery. And definitely not because it was raining again and Erwin might need a ride.

At least that’s what he kept telling himself as he pulled up beside a sodden, tired-looking Erwin, walking down the sidewalk, clutching his backpack to his chest. He pulled up to the curve and rolled down his window.

“Get in, you idiot.” Levi watched as Erwin’s head perked up and looked around for a moment.

“Levi? You scared me.”

“Get in the car, Erwin,” he growled again.

“I couldn’t. I’m soaked,” Erwin protested as he looked at the sleek black Mercedes, no doubt taking in consideration the soft leather of the interior. Levi pulled a towel from his work bag and spread it over the passenger seat.

“Get your ass in the car.”

“Yes, sir.” Erwin hurried and got in at, trying not to drip everywhere.

“Roommate ditch you again?” Levi asked as Erwin settled in.

“No. I was going to take the bus, but my pass has expired. I won’t have enough money to get another one until I get paid next week. Hange doesn’t have class today, so I didn’t want to inconvenience them. So, I walked.” Levi noticed him absently playing with the strap of his backpack. It was completely torn from its moorings and there was a large hole where the stitching came loose and the bag ripped from the weight.

“Did you drop it?” Erwin looked at Levi for a moment, confused.

“Oh, my bag? Uh, yeah, yeah I did.” Erwin shrugged it off. “I’m hoping Hange or Nile may have something I can borrow until I can find something. It will probably be a couple of paychecks before I can save up enough to buy something decent.”

“Did your laptop survive?”

“I’m...I’m not sure. I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t. Luckily I have backups for everything because I’ve been anticipating it to die any day now. I’ll just have to spend more time at the library.” Erwin’s smile was as bright as the sun, but his blue eyes held a little bit of tension.

“Is that why you’ve been scarce lately? You’re preparing for the eminent death of your laptop?”

“That’s part of it. I’ve been working more hours at the library when I can to try to get some extra money, just in case. Plus, it’s midterms. It’s easier to study, and shower, on campus, since I never know when Nile is going to have Marie over.”

“It’s your apartment, too. You should remind him of that,” Levi scolded as he parked.

“Yeah, it doesn’t do much good. I think it’s more Marie than Nile. She’s just trying to make me jealous.”

“Why? What would it matter to her?”

“Oh, Marie used to be my girlfriend. We broke up because she said I didn’t pay enough attention to her. That, and she was sleeping with my roommate.”

“Excuse me. Did you just say she was sleeping with Nile while you were dating her? And you are okay with this?” Levi pauses for a second. “I mean, unless that’s something you’re into…”

“Oh, no, it wasn’t like that.” Erwin blushed. “It really didn’t bother me because I think she was a lot more into the relationship than I was. I’m okay with them being together, but I think she wants to show me what I’m missing.”

“is it working? ,” Levi asked, curious.

“Not even a little bit,” Erwin laughed. “Quite the opposite, really.”

“Joke’s on her, then.” Silence descended between them as Levi cut the engine.

“Well, thanks for the ride, Levi.” Erwin awkwardly gathered the torn, sodden excuse for a back pack and reached for the door.

“I don’t understand. Why don’t you set your foot down when it comes to your roommate?” Levi’s words made him pause.

“Well, Nile has always been my friend-“

“Bullshit. That doesn’t matter. Do you think I don’t call out my friends on their shit?”

“Truth is: I can’t afford to be the nagging roommate. Because I’m in the Master’s program, I can’t stay in campus housing. I can’t afford rent on my own for a place this close to campus. I don't have a car and bus schedules don’t give me the flexibility to move further away from campus. I can barely make ends meet now. If I was to nag Nile too much, he would just move out, or expect me to. I can’t afford the penalty for breaking the lease, but he can. Either way, I’m stuck just sucking it up. The inconvenience is worth not being homeless.”

“Your family won’t help?”

“Well, um, well, my mom, I haven’t heard from her since she married husband number three when I was 12. My dad…” Erwin’s eyes took on a glassy sheen. “I haven’t...we don’t...it’s been about a year since we spoke.”

“Why’s That?” Levi flinched. “Sorry, it’s none of my business-“

1/?

[shewolfofficial]

hello love! thank you for all the amazing writing you do! could you do a story for Levi and reader where while out on an expedition the reader goes missing and is thought to be KIA or MIA so the corps leaves without her but she ends up either making it back to the wall or they find her on the next expedition out and the reunion 💕

This is a really good idea,it actually is xD

Warning: Cursing, Slight Angst

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Scouts were out on a minor expedition, nothing too big, just going outside the walls to hunt down titans and clear up more land. It was going great and simple, you were placed in Levi’s squad due to his overprotectiveness which made you laugh at his behavior.

Everything was going well until a mob of abnormals came out of nowhere and ambushed you and everyone, Erwin was swift to get the message around for everyone to retreat as quickly as they could and get back to the wall. One abnormal ran straight passed you to where more scouts were clumped together sending you flying off your horse and onto the grass roughly. It was like all hell broke loose, shouts, screams, and cries filled the air as Erwin hurriedly led everyone back to the wall, some of the abnormals have been killed and now their corpses were laying around slowly disappearing with the wind. Sitting up with a groan of pain you looked ahead, seeing the large abnormals chase down the Scouts over the hills.

You noticed your horse had been crushed by a titan and now it lay across from you. You felt the blood drain from your face ‘I’m alone… out here in Titan country… with nO HORSE?!’ you panic frantically looking around to see if there were a horse still around. You felt like screaming, like crying, you didn’t know what to do… They left so quickly and didn’t even bat an eye in case anyone got thrown off like me.

Standing up you wince from the pain in your arm, biting your lip from the anxiousness that was now flooding your veins you begin to run chasing after the abnormals towards the wall. ‘’And Levi says he’s protecting me? Tch.. didn’t even notice I fell’’ you grumble starting on your journey towards the large walls.

// Time Skip - 1st Person \

 It’s been a week since I’ve started running on foot, I was hungry I was getting thirsty and I used up the last bit of water I had in my little water bottle on my waist. I could start to see the wall ahead, slowly getting bigger with every step I take. I also managed to save my gas and gear and now I am exhausted but I refuse to give up. 

I didn’t stop walking, sometimes I’d break out into a run to try to go faster and arrive sooner and now my legs felt like jelly, my chest was heaving and a tight knot had formed in it from getting no rest. Groaning from the slight pain I continue walking along, holding onto my damaged arm and wincing from the searing pain in it.

A few days pass and I’m nearly at the base of the wall, limping next to a tree I lean against it holding my side, tears pricked at the corner of my eyes from my entire body aching and threatening to give up on me from no rest. ‘’Come on.. Come on.. Almost there Y/N… Don’t give up’’ I mutter to myself as I set off again. After a few hours, I finally reach the base of the wall, sighing from relief I knew that if I get to the top of it I could finally rest. 

Shooting my hooks up high I zip towards the sky, soon arriving on the top I drop to my knees looking over the district I was at, Trost. Tears streaked down my cheeks as I began crying from joy, soon settling my cries into sniffles I stand up smiling slightly.

‘‘Y/N? Is that you?’‘ I turn to see Commander Pyxis standing there swigging from his flask curiously looking at me. Saluting I nod my head at him ‘‘yes sir, it’s me’‘ I say as Pyxis walks over to me ‘‘why are you not with the Scouts? You’re up here by yourself’‘ he said gruffly as I sigh looking down to the wall beneath me. ‘‘I was on an expedition with the Scouts, we were ambushed by a group of abnormals and I got thrown off my horse… By the time I knew what was going on Commander Erwin was leading the regiment the opposite way leaving me by myself in titan country’‘ I explain as Pyxis raises his eyebrow before nodding. ‘‘Yes I heard of it… I’m guessing you’re wondering where Levi is now with your friends?’‘ Pyxis asks as I nod eagerly, the man chuckles in response.

‘‘I’ll get you a carriage and bring you back to your headquarters, I say you’ve done a lot of walking and running to get back’‘ he tells me as I laugh inwardly  ‘‘yeah I did a lot of walking’‘.

Pyxis led me off the wall and hired me a carriage that brought me back to the HQ, thanking Pyxis I hop in the carriage and take a nap while I was being brought back to the others.

// Time Skip 2 hours later \

I sat in the carriage as the sun began to disappear over the wall, the carriage halting to a stop and the door swings open revealing a Garrison soldier who smiled gently to me, helping me out I thank them before they leave.

Turning around to face the HQ I scowl at the building from the annoyance of what I had to do just to survive from being left alone. Walking inside, the corridors seemed empty… Then again it’s most likely dinner time and everyone is in the mess hall. Growling to myself I march towards the mess hall like I was about to kill someone, my uniform wasn’t exactly in the best shape either.

My jacket had little rips and tears in it, my shirt was dirtied and stained with blood. My hair looked like I just woke up and I had scratches and bruises covering my once smooth face. Walking inside I frown at anyone who rose an eyebrow at my state until an ear piercing screech fills the mess hall. ‘’Y/N! YOU’RE NOT DEAD!? WHAT!?’’ Hanji screams leaving the superior table and darts towards me, looking over my shoulder I immediately get tackled in a hug. Her hug felt like a bear was trying to crush my ribcage until I pried her off. ‘’Not now Hanji..’’ I grumble as near enough everyone’s eyes were on me. 

She pouted and tried to take my hand in both of hers. ‘’Come on Y/N! You’ve been gone for nearly two weeks… We’re sorry we left you behind! Shorty has been tormenting himself over you since the expedition ended’’ Hanji motions to the superior table where Levi sat wide-eyed. Glaring at her I ripped my hand from hers while clicking my tongue, I got some bread and walked out of the mess hall with an annoyed expression grumbling to myself.

I arrived back in my room and slammed the door shut behind me, scoffing down the bread I lay back on my bed staring up to the ceiling you heard someone sprint down the corridor. Mere seconds later my door flung open, snapping my gaze to the door I noticed Levi stand there with guilt written all over his face. ‘’Y/N you’re safe, oh my fucking lord I’m so sorry… I didn’t even notice you were gone until we came back I am so sorry’’ Levi begged walking to the edge of my bed. Turning away from him I decide to stay silent ‘’Y/N I know I fucked up please.. I promise I won’t fuck up again, I felt like my entire world just crumbled when I realized you weren’t back with us, please..’’ he begged placing a gentle hand on my hip.

‘‘You promised Levi! I could have died out there but instead, I kept going! If I ran into a Titan I would have died!’‘ I scold him like an angry mother, looking over my shoulder to him Levi was on the verge of tears desperately trying to cling to me. Sighing I turn around to him and face him, almost instantly Levi takes me in for a hug digging his head into the crook of my neck. ‘Since when was he into affection?’ I mentally question as I pat his back in attempts to comfort him. ‘’I swear I’ll never do that shit again’’ he says in a low voice, yawning I nod. 

‘‘Alright then you overly-affectionate teddy.. let’s fall asleep and cuddle’‘

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️👑🐲 DMODT 58 start... kiddies, sex is not the way to run away from

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs.

[aromanticasterisms]

im thinking about edolas counterparts

when you think about it, they’re the same character as their earthland counterparts, just in a different world. they grew up differently. they reacted to that circumstance differently. that one crucial turning point in their lives never happened to them.

lucy ashley is similar to lucy heartfilia, in some ways. her father is overbearing and controlling. her future is in his hands, being laid out before her. she doesn’t have a say. there is no solace in that house; no friends in the shape of her late mother’s celestial spirits. she closes herself off, becomes cold, and lashes out. she dreams of the day she will finally leave; maybe taken in the night by a dark guild and finding an unexpected family. she dreams and she dreams until finally she can’t stand her father any longer. as she leaves her father’s manor, she chops off her hair, flips him the bird, and never looks back. if you really want to change something, take it into your own hands.

natsu dragion is terrified. there is no dragon, no burning flame inside of him providing him with boundless strength. there is no ever-present, powerful family around him, telling him that with each other, they can accomplish anything. what he does have is a small, desperate and scared family constantly on the run, with numbers dwindling with each escape. what he does have is a sister figure who beats him up to make him stronger (who loves him and who he loves, but he really wishes she would lay off the punishments once in a while like lucy please). what he does have is an enormous magic four-wheeler with wheels that catch on fire. which is pretty sick. he’d like to see the fairy hunter try and fight a vehicle coming at her at over a hundred miles per hour. behind the wheel, inside the walls of the four-wheeler, he is safe. he is powerful. and he is fast. the fastest, actually. he can outrun any monster, any royal squadron, any problem and any enemy. and that’s enough for him.

wendy doesn’t like humans. her adoptive mother doesn’t like them either. they’re too brash, they think fighting solves everything. they think if they want something badly enough, it’s free for them to take. the king of edolas continually steals from earthland, claiming it’s for the greater good, for the good of edolas, but even wendy, as young as she is, can see it’s to sate his own greed. his own lust for power. she doesn’t like humans. she especially hates the ones that pick on her new friends; the timid boy who won’t stop apologizing, the older boy who constantly challenges authority, and the black and white pair of her age that won’t stop bickering and also won’t leave each other’s side. seeing them get hurt sends her into action. she takes them all on--anyone and everyone who raises a hand against her friends. she hates humans, but some of them aren’t so bad. and those ones are worth fighting for.

cana loves her father. gildarts is a well-off nobleman, who raised cana on his own to be a proper lady. maybe not quite proper enough, she thinks as she steeps her tea in the middle of fairy tail’s guild hall. her father would surely chastise her for joining a dark guild, but she can’t help it. she loves her friends, her family, dearly. it breaks her heart each time the guild loses a member. she doesn’t understand why the king still wants to fight after all this time. all cana wants is to sit with her friends and have a nice cup of tea. all she wants is for everyone to be safe and happy. jet kicks over a table for the third time today and natsu stumbles by, crying as lucy sits on his shoulders and argues with levy across the room. not quite what she envisioned. even so, she smiles behind her cup, there’s nowhere else she would rather be.

mavis never casts law. she ages normally, staying with her newfound family and remaining fairy tail’s master for decades. when the king declares all magic guilds outlawed, she begins to strategize. she already lost one family. she will not lose this one--she will not lose zera this time, nor yuri, precht, or warrod. so she stands tall, stands proud, and defies the king. her strategies bring them victory after victory, and for a while, they win, they celebrate. but their victories are short lived; the king presses down harder on fairy tail. after one especially crushing defeat, where most of the guild barely escaped with their lives, and yuri was fatally wounded, mavis breaks down and cries. this is her fault, she thinks. she should have strategized better, she should have seen that coming, how could she not? how could she be wrong? how could she mess up? how could she let her family get so terribly hurt because of her? she can’t take it. she stands in front of her guild and she offers a heartfelt apology, and steps down. she stays long enough to see that her guild is stable without her, and she leaves. and one last time as the fairy tactician, she doesn’t see something coming. zera leaves with her. 

ivan is a traitor. after mavis steps down, he swoops in with a new strategy: run and hide. the guild has lost almost a third of their members, including their master and one of the other founders. other guilds are crumbling around them. they are heartbroken and terrified. the idea of running, hiding, and staying safe, sounds better than ever. for twenty years, they move their guild somewhere secluded, and run when they’re discovered. they keep to themselves and they are safe for a while. then she arrives. erza knightwalker, a ruthless and cruel captain of the royal army. she sets her sights on the elusive remaining guild and she hunts them relentlessly. they move sooner and sooner, losing more and more members. the guild argues as the time for the fairy hunter’s arrival draws near. ivan slips outside, into the forest the guild is hiding in. they will run like always, he knows this. and he knows where they will run to. he always knows. and through him, the king knows too. family is family, after all. he stands behind the guild and waits. knightwalker’s red hair soon becomes visible in the forest. she is twirling ten commandments in her hand. the guild’s path is predictable, she says by way of greeting. your information is no longer necessary. relieved, he sighs. i can finally return to the castle, then. her spear at his throat makes him think otherwise. he swallows hard. i have provided you with useful information! i have been valuable to you! her spear comes closer. that is no longer the case. as useful as you have been in the past, you are still a fairy. her grin makes his blood run cold. and i kill fairies.

lisanna was a kind soul. she and her siblings grow up in a guild on the run, always on the brink of extinction, and instead of becoming hard like the world around them, they become kind. they smile brightly at the rambunctious guild antics, and softly console grieving friends. their situation is far from desirable, and they know this. but they have nowhere to go. many of their guild members don’t either. so when the fairy hunter is always right on their heels, it’s understandable when the guild panics. some of them accept it, accept their fate, ready to lie down and die. others loudly protest, wanting to stand up and push back, and only go down if they go down fighting. a small amount suggest disbanding and scattering to the winds. we need to decide, someone--probably levy--yells, she’s going to be here any minute! the guild descends into madness, shouting and arguing. things are starting to get out of hand, and lisanna looks around, desperately hoping the master will step in. wait--where is he? i’ll go find the master, she announces, a hand on the door handle, he should be able to settle things. what she does not expect to find in the forest is the master bargaining with erza knightwalker. i have provided you with valuable information! she presses her hands to her mouth, feeling sick. knightwalker cuts him down and she can do nothing but stand in shock. the fairy hunter, with the master’s blood splattered across her armor, spots lisanna and grins.

laxus is lonely. ever since his father infiltrated a dark guild, laxus has been left alone in the royal castle. the king lives there, of course, along with lots of advisers, servants, royal guards, and knights. one of which has been assigned to watch over him after one too many midnight outings. bickslow is stoic, a buzzkill, and no matter what laxus does, he cannot get the man to laugh. even so, he appreciates the company. especially when a green haired thief snatches his wallet and he doesn’t even notice until bickslow runs after him. what laxus thinks he appreciates more, though, is how easy it is to convince him not to alert the authorities. laxus looks at the thief, who has backed himself up against the wall and is looking at the two of them apprehensively, and feels sympathetic. he kneels down and asks him his name. freed.  laxus gives freed some of the money from his wallet. you can just ask next time, though. freed shows up a week later at laxus’s window and asks if he wants to hang out. they become fast, unlikely friends after that, with bickslow as a begrudging chaperone. freed spins dramatic tales and laxus hangs on every word. bickslow is polite enough to wait until the end of a story before pointing out that they’re completely fabricated. laxus knows, but he still loves to listen. one particular tale freed tells sends the three of them to the cobalt forest, looking for a local cryptid, after bickslow says some reports line up with the story. laxus almost instantly gets separated from the other two, and finds himself stumbling into a clearing. sitting facing away from him is a young woman with long, unkempt brown hair. laxus’s blood runs cold. she matches the description almost perfectly. he panics, scrambles backwards, and falls into a bush. the woman whirls around, and after a long, terrifying silence, she laughs. after a while, laxus joins her. he apologizes for startling her, and she smiles. you are not like the others. he takes that as a compliment. he sheepishly explains that he’s kind of sort of totally lost, and she helps him find his way out. they find freed and bickslow at the edge of the forest, and laxus excitedly introduces the two of them to his new friend, evergreen. the four of them build strange, but close bonds even as the kingdom descends further into something none of them like. laxus can’t stand what his father is doing. bickslow can’t stand to see his fellow knights follow terrible orders. freed can’t stand watching people he knows go hungry on the streets. evergreen can’t stand to see the king stealing so much magic for himself. what if we all just left, laxus says one day. just ran away, got away from all this. we could go exploring! go on adventures and see the world! the three of them look between each other, and then back to him. if it’s with you, i don’t see why not.

lisanna strauss is not supposed to be in edolas. she doesn’t exactly know how she got here in the first place. she remembers that beast taking over her brother and sending her flying. she remembers feeling fuzzy and...floating? she thought she died. but here she is, alive and well, being crushed to death in a hug by her sister who is not her sister and her brother who is not her brother. mira isn’t even close, not by a long shot; she’s soft and gentle, not like her sister who is hard and rough to stop the world from hurting her, but who cares so so deeply about the ones she loves. elf reminds her of a younger version of the one she knows; he’s sensitive and timid, and while her brother might be shy, he is stronger than most give him credit for, as he endured the same hardships she and mira did. it’s not quite right, but they’re clinging to her, shaking and crying. we’re so glad you’re alright, we thought she killed you. lisanna looks up at the sky, which isn’t quite the right color, and with a hollow feeling in her chest, she knows she’s here to stay. so she hugs them back, holds them tightly, and mourns the home she will never see again. fairy tail in edolas is wrong. it’s wrong, so wrong, it’s off in so many ways, but she smiles at all the people who cry when they see her, who hug her just as tightly as mira and elf. she pretends she doesn’t remember much, and people fill her in with recent news and old history. it works for a while, but there are still parts missing, parts she doesn’t fully comprehend. it feels like trying to solve a puzzle with a handful of pieces you’ve stolen from someone else. mirajane shows her a picture of the three of them from a few years ago. lisanna looks like her, she thinks as she holds it, but not quite. her hair in the picture is shorter. she cuts it. lisanna wore longer dresses than she does. she changes clothes. she makes it work. this is her home now, this is her family now. this is where she belongs now. even if she feels like a puzzle piece forced into the wrong spot; bent at the edges, not quite fitting with the ones around her. even if the ground she walks on, the air she breathes, the very world around her feels wrong, as if screaming at her that she’s out of place. even if she’s not quite sure who she is anymore, somewhere between lisanna strauss and lisanna from edolas. even if she cries some nights, homesick, missing her family, her fairy tail, torn between wanting to go home and not wanting to make her siblings cry again. lisanna strauss is not supposed to be in edolas, but she’s staying anyway.

[sapphireillustrations]

Happy Birthday, Eren

Mikasa hummed softly to herself, her lips stretching into somewhat of a smile as her cheeks were dusted with a  slight blush upon remembering her birthday present. It was near enough a month ago that Eren had given it to her on her birthday, but she swore she could still feel his touch everywhere.

She lightly traced her fingers along her neck and up to her lips, suddenly feeling his ghost touch burn her skin pleasurably, making herself shiver slightly.

She laughed a bit, that boy had such a hold over her and she loved it, every part. She really could say that was her best birthday ever, turning 20 definitely had it's advantages... every other birthday she had prior felt empty, meaningless. Eren definitely changed that for good from now on.

She tried to shake off her happy thoughts as she walked through the empty halls, it was late on Match 29th, around 11:30pm and she had to focus. It was a half hour before it would be Erens birthday and she wanted to surprise him the way he surprised her, not one up him exactly, but give him something just as good as he gave her.

Maybe a little better even.

She stopped in her tracks when a sudden devious idea came to mind, a sly smile on her lips. Mikasa Ackerman was never one to break the rules, but if Eren was involved in any way in the equation... Then it was a different story.

And this would definitely be worth it.

She elaborately planned her idea and made her way down to the officer's store room, looking for one think in particular.

And, of course, the only one sly enough to catch an Ackerman in the act of doing something as devious as this was, was another Ackerman...

"Oi, Brat, what are you doing in here? It's lights out." Levi spoke up, causing the younger Ackerman to jump slightly and look over her shoulder to the short male.

"Captain, I was... Uh..."

"Tch, why waste your time lying to me? We're... Family... Right?..." He raised an eyebrow, seeming to struggle coming to terms with the whole still-having-a-family-member-alive thing.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair as she blushed lightly, averting her gaze from her superior. Levi narrowed his steel coloured eyes at her as he tried to come up with a logical conclusion as to why she was down here at this hour.

That's when it clicked.

He sighed "Looking for a last minute gift to Yeager, eh?"

Her eyes widened slightly, her blush darkening.

"Uh..."

"Fine. Just know that this cannot go unpunished after all. You're technically stealing."

"I accept those terms..."

"Fine. Pick something. only one thing, do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir..."

Levi nodded and she could have sworn she seen a faint smirk on the mans lips before he turned to shake his head at her for being caught in such a small act of theft and leave her alone with the storage. She sighed. As much as she hated him at the start, she eventually- after having many talkings with- understood why Levi had to hurt Eren the way he did in the courtroom that day. As much as she hated the memory of his blood on the floor- Along with his tooth- and his grunts of pain, it was better than him being killed along with her...

She shook the thought away and went back to the task at hand as she rummaged around, trying to be as quick and as quiet as possible as she could when something rang in her mind.

"Something sweeter than any cake or chocolate..." She spoke quietly to herself as she thought aloud, thinking back to their first night together "I can't think what would be... Other than...* She blushed deeply at the thought of how they concluded Mikasas birthday "Maybe I can make it just as sweet as those..." She smirked as she started looking in the right places.

In the short supply, Mikasa was successful in grabbing what she needed, breathing a sigh of relief when she was out of the restricted room. She kept part of Erens 'Present' close to her as she made her way to his room, tonight, she knew he wouldn't be there for a little while. Hanji currently had his attention claimed, his time being involved with late night talks and experiments rather than sleep like everyone else. She never really did approve of the sketchy experiments, she knew how weak it made him, how much of a toll it was taking on his human body as well as the shifting ability inside him itself. But, if it brought Humanity one step closer to understanding, to freedom...

She shook her head, now was not the time for those particular thoughts. She quietly made her way down to Erens room and went inside, thankful there was one dimly lit candle left burning in the corner of the room. She decided to make it warmer and illuminate the room more by lighting a couple other candles so she could actually see what she was doing before she prepared Erens gift. Normally, one would naturally wait till the other actually woke up the next day, but midnight was midnight and they weren't like other people. As soon as it hit 12am, it would officially be the next day, this case being March 30th- Erens birthday. He then would join her in the glorious 20s. They weren't kids anymore now, not that they needed to prove it.

She laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling, lightly skimming her hand up and down her chest absentmindedly. She would be lying if she said she wasn't anxious, she had composure in everything she did and in every situation. Apart from things involving Eren. A returning sickening feeling rose up to her throat, but thankfully, she willed it to go back down. It was a rather bothersome thing, it was on and off for around a week or so now. She sighed and again, shook the thought from her mind. What was wrong with her today? She kept finding herself to be distracted. She sighed and smirked a bit as she thought about Erens gift. He was sure to love this...

She wasted no time in preparing it, not really knowing how long it would be before her Lover would escape from the lovable crazy scientist. She grabbed the few things she took from the officer's storage room for their delectables- Where they kept the good stuff. She was surprised Levi let her off that easily, but she just labelled it as doing a favour for family. She smiled slightly at the thought as she readied her gift. Herself.

Covered in nothing but sugary goodness.

She giggled softly into the dimly lit room, the lit candles creating soft moving shadows from inanimate objects, as she drew random designs and patterns made of icing and other sorts on her body after she stripped herself of her clothing, clad only in calories and nice looking underwear, the sensation tickling her sensitive skin slightly. The last part of the appetising decor? The cake.

Mikasa was his cake however, but that didn't mean she couldn't steal a small bit of plain sponge cake and crumble it up over selective parts of her body. But she knew she would be the better one. What was a cake without a little bite to it?

She sure as hell couldn't afford a full cake... And the soldiers supply was apparently 'Limited', but she was sure they only said that so the higher up snobs could take the best stuff for themselves and in large quantities.  So, why not be a cake instead? And with Erens hormones after their first time- As well as her own- she knew he would like this alternative better.

She smirked as she started to think about his face when he would come to his room to retire for the night, he was sure to be tired- But with one look at her like this, she was sure his 'little friend' would wake him up. Not to mention the amount of sugar that was on her in different forms. As much as she hated feeling sticky, this had a strangely nice feeling to it. She shivered when she thought about his hot tongue running over every inch of her exposed body to taste her sweetened flesh, especially those hard to reach places. She licked her lips at the thought before bringing her sweetly sticky fingers to her lips to lick away at the leftovers, cleaning them thoroughly.

It wasn't long before Eren escaped the clutches of the mad scientist and made his way back to his room, Mikasa perking up a little at the sound of footsteps outside the door and someone coming in and closing the door behind himself.

"God, I should probably tell Mikasa that I-" He started talking to himself before he looked up at the more lit up room, his girlfriend in question already in front of him laying and waiting for him expectingly on his bed, and looking insanely appetising if he did say so himself... "M-Mikasa?" He stuttered, his face suddenly feeling hot and his trousers suddenly feeling a little tighter.

He was definitely more awake now...

Mikasa giggled softly and blushed herself, glancing at the clock and smiling more, seeing it was just past 12.

"Happy birthday, Eren~"

"I-What?" He blinked before glancing at the clock himself "O-Oh- Thanks, Mika..." He smiled softly at her as he walked closer "So what's this, eh? My birthday present?" He smirked seductively at her, biting his lip as he shamelessly let his eyes roam over her mouth-watering body. It was like a seductive all-you-can-eat dessert table "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to beat my gift to you last month~" He teased, kneeling on the bed and leaning down, swiping his tongue across her sweet tasting lips before he kissed her softly "You taste sweet on your own you know, you didn't need to go all out like this, but I am definitely not complaining... This just makes you sweeter, I think I might get cavaties~" He laughed softly as he licked his lips, some of her sweetness getting transferred to his own mouth.

She blushed a shade darker and shrugged her shoulders "I wanted to surprise you."

"It definitely worked..." He licked his lips again as he examined her body more, seeing her careful details she worked on

"Looks like you're going to drool all over me" She smirked

"Is that such a bad thing?" He smirked in return, leaning down and licking a long stripe of sweetness from her neck and moaning pleasurably from the taste "God, where did you even get all of this? Did you steal it?" He smiled and raised an eyebrow at her.

"Maybe."

"Knew it" He laughed a bit and shook his head at her "You're going to get punished if you get caught you know. You didn't need to do this for me, Mika. Having you without the nice little extras would have been just as fine." He peppered her face in kisses

She laughed through his kisses "Like I said, I wanted to surprise you~"

Eren ceased his attack to smile softly to her, truly appreciating her efforts to make him happy for his 20th.

"Well, thank you. I love it." He kissed her deeply, brushing his tongue along her lips again to taste more leftover sugary substances "And if I didn't know any better, you've already been eating away at your er- Wrapping paper?" He smirked a bit against her lips

"Mm, maybe~"

"Scandalous" He teased, smirking as he unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his torso as he kissed and lapped her neck. She made sure to coat all the right places in either jam or icing. Even dusting herself off with fine sugar in good places.

Mikasa moaned softly as Eren licked her neck clean first of all, biting down afterwards on her pulse point as she tried to not move too much, careful to not ruin the work she did on herself. Only after she was licked clean could she move freely without a care. And he was taking his sweet time in 'Unwrapping' his present.

That was to be expected though, she knew he would take his time. Eren loved teasing her at any given opportunity.

As the Birthday boy fed, he progressed down to her collarbones, licking a thorough long strip up both of them before he moved lower to her breasts. Mikasa was silently thankful she chose to disregard her chest bandages before hand and go with the option of coating the skin of her chest with fine sugar, jam, icing and- Finally -dusting the slick surface with cake crumbs. She heard Eren groan lowly as he lapped at the edible and sweet designs, teasingly swirling his tongue around her sweetened buds and biting down on each once he was done, causing her to moan, her hands twitching. He was definitely having too much fun with this.

Eren glanced up to her and licked his wet lips, panting lightly as he took on of her hands in his and kissed the back of it, trailing his lips up to her wrist and along her arm in a line of soft and wet kisses along her fair skin, lapping away at any sweetness there before giving the same treatment to her other arm. She was thankful for her arms now being clean, but she couldn't help but feel herself loose it slightly when he sucked on her delicate fingers one by one. Her chest was heaving slightly when he resumed his delicious path down her body, lapping and grazing his sharp teeth just below her breasts causing her to shiver. At least half of her body was now covered in marks from his mouth and teeth from where he had been biting and sucking. Not that she minded. She loved feeling him against her skin, she loved the way it felt when he greedily lapped away at her gift for him.

And, she really loved every minute of her genius gift idea all the more with every pleasure soaked groan that escaped his throat whenever he tasted the sweetness that coated her body, whether it was the jam, icing, sugar or cake pieces he was tasting off her. Even if it was just her skin alone. Nice things were defiantly a delicacy in their world, whether it be a thoughtful gesture such as this to distract them from the merciless world they lived in for a while before they had to go out and fight again to keep surviving in it, or whether it was premier rated food that their mouths had the privilege of tasting- forbidden or not -either way, this was all worth it for the Birthday Boy.

He ran his tongue down her abdomen slowly, down every crevis, and he grazed his teeth along her hip bones, to which she moaned softly at. When he started sucking at her sensitive spots, just below her hips, she swore she could feel the smirk on his probable-sticky lips.

"You're loving this, aren't you?" She smirked slightly as she ran her fingers through his hair, trying to regularise her breathing.

Eren simply smirked against her hip and hummed in response, nodding a bit as he kissed down a V-line of hers, tugging at her underwear with his teeth a little, the thin material clearly in his way.

"Eager, are we?~" She teased, biting her lip slightly as their gazes met, his teal eyes pull of love and passion, lust and desire. Exactly the same as hers.

"Hey, you're the one that kindly made herself so appetizing for me" He drew out the word 'Appetizing' on purpose, just to feel her squirm a bit where she lay.

Eren smirked as he breathed a hot breath against the dampening material that was hiding her womanhood, feeling her legs twitch slightly in anticipation. He bit his lip and mouthed over the area, grazing his teeth slightly over the sensitive area before he licked a strip up the fabric and moving to place teasing kisses down her sweet tasting thighs, avoiding further attention to the area she wanted it most.

Mikasa leaned her head back and moaned softly, biting her own lip as she tightened her grip in his hair a little more, her body more than ready for him by now. Eren was a damn right tease and he knew it.

He lapped at the sweetness coating her thighs and legs, making sure to lick and taste every single part that she had sweetened up for him. Eren wold say that this would defiantly be the best birthday gift he had ever received. The best surprise. The best cake.

And said cake was almost becoming a moaning and shivering mess beneath him and he hadn't even properly touched her. Not yet.

Once the last of the sweetness was licked away from her last limb, now a salty taste on her skin, her eager sweat mixing with the sweetness that she had stained her body with was a pleasurable combination on his pallet. the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Erens tongue was more than eager for its final treat for tonight. The best part of the cake.

He licked a long hot strip up her leg, from her ankle, that ended at her inner thigh. He sucked away at it until he felt her quiver more underneath him, making teasing licks, kisses and bites as he continued to tease the soft skin that was so close to his final destination. He made sure there was plenty of marks before he tugged down her underwear with his teeth, removing it from her body with firm hands when he got them halfway down her thighs. He threw them to the floor before running his hands up her outer thighs, inching them closer to caress her inner thighs as she bit her lip harder and shivered more, his hands were like fire and she might as well have been ice, even through her flushed and marked skin was just as warm.

Mikasa breathed through parted wet lips and closed her eyes, feeling his touch everywhere that his mouth had been on her wet and marked body. She tugged at his hair, making an attempt to pull his skilled mouth closer to where she wanted- no, needed it to be. Amongst something else.

"Eager, are we?~" He chuckled softly against her skin, mimicking her playfully from before.

"Please...  Just... Take your present..." She panted breathlessly, cupping his face with both hands now

"My pleasure~" He purred in a smirk

He wasted no time into diving right in between her thighs, his firm hands holding her hips tightly against his mouth. Mikasa moaned louder, arching her back and hips into his touch as her slim and pale fingers shot to knot themselves back into messy brown hair almost immediately.

Eren roughly darted his tongue in and out of her, sucking on her bundle of nerves at all the right times as he tasted his real sweet treat. He dug his nails into her skin as he held her tighter when she started to rut her hips against his mouth in ecstasy. He was almost animalistically skilled with how he was touching her as he claimed his birthday gift, making sure to enjoy every last taste of it thoroughly before he were to make a mess of it.

"E-Eren... Fuck..." She moaned desperately, her breath hitching as she pulled harder on his hair.

Eren moaned in response as he pressed a long hot lick up her slit with the entire flat of his tongue, slowly moving it up every part of her heat at an agonizing pace, groaning when he drew out another sharp moan from his Lover. "Hm?~"

"T-Take m-me already... I'm your p-present a-after all..." She breathed before smirking slightly "B-Besides, y-you've licked a-all of the icing off y-your c-cake now you k-know..."

"Mm, good point...~" Eren smirked, leaning up from her wet heat and licking his lips for the leftover taste of her. He couldn't tell what tasted sweeter.

Mikasa bit her lip hard and wrapped her arms around his neck when he crawled up her lovingly used body slowly, shivering when his erection brushed up against her sensitive area.

"Thank you, Mika. This is the best gift ever~" He whispered huskily in her ear before slipping himself inside of her suddenly.

Mikasas nails dug into tanned shoulders as she gasped in pleasurable surprise at the feeling of him filling her so amazingly as he claimed his gift. She moaned shamelessly and buried her face into the crook of his neck, biting down on his skin and wrapping her legs around his waist tightly.

Eren moaned as he took her fast and hard, effortlessly thrusting his hips into hers as he groaned. Her name slipping from his lips. He made sure to hit her sweet spot over and over again once he found it.

"Hah... E-Eren!~" She cried out

"Fuck... M-Mika.. Y-You're defiantly s-sweeter than any c-cake..."

She moaned and dragged her nails down his toned back, rutting her hips against his sharply with every thrust he made into her. Eren breathed heavily and smirked slightly when he noticed something.

"M-Missed a s-spot~"

He reached his hand up and swiped some icing from an untouched piece of her skin with his thumb, just below her collarbone. He took his coated finger and smeared the sweet substance across her lower lip before he leaned in fast to suck it from the pinkish flesh, slipping his tongue into her mouth. She tasted everything from the tongue that danced with hers. Herself, the sugar, him.

That was the best part.

She moaned into the amazing taste from his mouth she moved her tongue with his. His thrusts became sloppy, knowing he was reaching his peak as close as she was.

"R-Ready for more i-icing?~" He smirked, kissing along her jaw line as he whispered in a low and rough voice in her ear, nipping the lobe afterwards.

"Mm... Fuck yes..."

"Fuck... H-Here comes..."

They both grunted out when they were both pushed over their edges, reaching that blissful peak of ecstasy. They cried out the others name, Mikasas nails doing a final tear down Erens back and Eren made his final bruises on her hips. They breathed heavily as they tried to catch their breaths, their hearts beating widely against eachother. Eren placed a final kiss on her lips as he withdrew from her, moaning softly as he did so along side her, both of them now over-sensitive.

"I love you, Eren. I couldn't wait to wish you a happy birthday since you've worked so hard today." She smiled softly to him once he laid down beside her "Happy Birthday."

He smiled and cupped her face, kissing her sweetly "I loved it, Mika. I'll have to step up my gift next year~" He teased, kissing her forehead and pulling here close to him

"I need to wash your sheets" She giggled "Their probably covered in sugar and other things."

"Mm, tomorrow morning. Don't you dare move." He smiled into her dark hair

"Hm, fine. I'll try and not wake you."

"It's my birthday, you're not allowed even an inch away from me today."

Mikasa blushed lightly and nodded, laughing softly into his chest. "As you wish. Welcome to the boring 20s."

"I have a feeling it won't be so boring~" He smiled and reached forward for the left over sponge cake sitting in pieces on the beside table, feeding some to her after eating some of the tasty substance himself.

"Greedy~"

"You taste better~"

[mymistakewriting]

Levi Ackerman headcanons - how he’s changed.

Pre-Meeting Farlan & Isabel

Levi stays a lone-wolf, and tends to stay out of sight of most people if at all possible.

He's diligent about making sure that he stays alive and in a semi-clean environment (not that he has much luck with the latter, which infuriates him, he isn't some animal)

He takes some time in his daily routine to watch others - he picks up on a lot of things just by observing them and makes decisions for the rest of his day based on what he sees.

He rarely sleeps - probably about normal for canon, two hours a night - but it isn't because he isn't tired. It's more because nobody is able to watch his back and he doesn't want to risk sleeping more than that.

Keeps a carefully blank mask up at all times - if people can't see his emotions, they can't pick out how best to target him and eventually they give up.

Post-Meeting: Farlan:

He takes a long time to warm up to Farlan and his group - he distrusts them at best for the longest time.

Once he warms up to them, though, he is protective and people know not to mess with them if there's a risk that word would get back.

His environment is cleaner, which means he's much happier than he had been previous - Farlan finds it amusing but Levi mostly ignores his mirth when he's cleaning.

He sleeps a little more - with people he trusts watching his back, he relaxes a bit about his sleep patterns. It still isn't much, maybe four hours at most a night.

His masks sort of crumble a little bit with Farlan around - he shows a bit more emotion even if it's mostly kept to the look in his eyes and small changes to the set of his mouth and jaw. It's enough that Farlan knows how he feels and that's what counts.

Talks a bit more - he has easy conversations with Farlan about plans, and a lot of times they drift off to discussing the idea of freedom

He's a little more reckless, too. He doesn't observe people as often, and he decides against staying out of sight unless he actually needs to. (Him and Farlan have to run more often than he likes, honestly, but it gives him a rush every time it happens and he can't complain about that because he feels alive.)

Post-Meeting: Isabel:

He becomes so much more protective after Isabel falls into his life - almost literally.

He finds her adoration of animals a nice change of pace, even if her boundless energy exhausts him sometimes.

She makes him be more expressive in his words, even if his mask doesn't come down much more with her than it had with Farlan.

He's still obsessed with cleanliness, but he learns to live with a little mess for her sake.

Conversations between the three of them contain less plans and more discussion of freedom and dreams and what they want - they all agree that life Underground isn't worth staying in, and they decide together to do whatever they can to leave it.

His recklessness goes through the roof, but it becomes more deliberate and thought out - they don't do it for a reason, mostly just to get that feeling of being alive. But you can damn well bet that if they actually need to be reckless, then he's thought of over a hundred back up plans in case something goes wrong.

He feels like he has a family once Isabel joins him and Farlan and their group of thugs - they take care of one another, and he isn't opposed to the feeling like he thought he would be.

Post-'capture' & joining the Survey Corps:

He spends a little time hating himself for putting Farlan and Isabel in the path of danger, but it fades as soon as they're on the surface because damn, the fresh air tastes nice and the two look so happy.

He sticks close with Farlan and Isabel even after they were separated into different bunk areas - like hell is he going to let Isabel be separated from them for longer than just to sleep.

He starts sleeping less again - he doesn't trust anyone around him in the bunks besides Farlan, so him and the other take turns staying awake their first few nights to make sure they stay safe.

Doesn't correct anyone's opinions on them, and he takes note of the reactions whenever someone hears Isabel call him her big brother - it's mostly surprise, but some of them have a small amount of respect in their expressions following. He supposes it's because they can read the protectiveness and paired it with what Isabel said.

He becomes obsessed with making sure his surroundings are clean - it amuses Farlan and Isabel, but annoys some of the other soldiers.

Hates relearning to use the 3DM Gear, but doesn't complain.

His masks go back up a little further unless it's just Isabel, Farlan, and him, and he talks a lot less than they'd become used to - to be fair, they all do.

Post-Isabel and Farlan's Death:

His masks go back up completely once his anger fades out and his sorrow takes over.

While he makes the decision to abandon his mission and stay with the Survey Corps, he doesn't actively participate in conversations.

He becomes more serious about killing Titans, and as he does, he carries not only his wish for freedom but Farlan and Isabel's with him.

They're the first casualties he cares about, and for a long time, they're also the last.

But when he starts caring for his comrades, he starts fighting harder to protect them - he'll be damned if he has everyone ripped away from him again.

It's around then that he meets the beginnings of his Squad, and he's stubbornly determined to make sure they stay alive.

Post-Eren's Trial:

It takes him a few minutes during the trail to get his bearings back - this kid is so startlingly like Isabel (and Farlan, and him) in a way that throws him off-kilter for a moment.

He almost hates hurting him, but he can see the understanding in his eyes (reminding him once more of Farlan), and so he keeps on because he has to save this kid

He can't understand why he feels so strongly about that until they have him and they're all talking after.

It takes a long time to adjust again, and he keeps his masks firmly in place - he learned his lesson last time, he isn't letting people in like that again so soon.

But as time goes and he adjusts, he can feel his masks slipping down again - it throws his Squad off, but everyone's warm to the idea.

The first expedition that Eren goes out for, he's hyper-vigilant because he isn't letting this end badly.

Of course, he loses everyone in his Squad besides Eren, but that's not the point - he carries their hopes with him and moves along and grieves in his own time, in private.

He keeps seeing flashes of Isabel and Farlan in the kid, though, and he's reminded sharply of himself with the two of them when he sees Eren with Mikasa and Armin.

But he says nothing, just keeps it filed away and keeps his usual attitude.

He won't talk about his hopes or dreams with the kid, but he resonates with what he hears from Eren and the other new recruits - he shares their hopes for freedom from this hell one day.

And slowly, he feels himself become attached - these kids were becoming like family, and that leaves him dumbstruck for a bit.

He spends the nights he can't sleep talking quietly - addressing Isabel and Farlan, wherever they are, because it makes him feel better.

When he does sleep, he dreams of them, and sometimes he can feel their pride in him that lingers after he wakes up for the day.

While he isn't the same as he used to be, he's improving, and he's stubbornly determined that they're going to make it through this shit alive.

[ecotone99]

Strength [RO]

Levi had been walking the same block for two and a half hours. He wanted so badly to get out of the cold, go up Stella’s steps, knock on her door, and just collapse into her arms. But he couldn’t allow himself to do that. He was 6’3, well over 250 pounds, and regardless of size, he was the man. He was built to be collapsed into, not the other way around. Or at least, that’s what he thought. Because that’s what he’d been told just about his entire natural life.

Sure, he’d been mildly vulnerable with a few past girlfriends. He even had some close friends who were girls that saw some private sides of him now and again. But somehow, he wasn’t even sure when, Stella had become the most important person in his life. He was closer to her than he had ever been to any living thing, in a deeper and more complicated way than he’d ever experienced before. It was the kind of feeling he’d read about in books and heard cowboys sing about but didn’t think actually existed for regular people unless they‘d gone looking for it.

As the wind picked up, his flannel shirt felt even thinner than it had when he’d stepped out into the street. He hadn’t even intended to end up at Stella’s house, he’d just gone out to get some air. His elbow length hair was whipped in all directions as it went from brisk to frigid. It froze his pride out from under him. The next time he lapped past Stella’s front door, he made himself knock.

Stella was lying half naked on her couch watching a reality courtroom show that was probably definitely staged and eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. To put it lightly, she was not expecting company. “No one should be knocking at this time of night.” She thought as she brushed some crumbs off her bra and propped one elbow up to try and discern the figure through the blinds. It couldn’t be anyone she knew, they would’ve texted her first before just showing up.

Just in case she was about to be robbed, or win the Clearing House Sweepstakes, she threw on a pair of gym shorts and checked the peephole. “Levi?” She could barely make his figure out in the darkness, but he was too distinct to mistake for a stranger.

She opened the door and pulled him inside. “Bro, what are you doing? It’s like negative zero degrees out. Also it’s 2:00AM. And why didn’t you text me?” He just stood in the doorframe, resisting the urge to throw himself onto her couch and sob. “Just came over to see if you were ok.” He said, avoiding eye contact. These were the first words he’d spoken since the phone call, and he could already feel the lump in his throat rising at the opportunity.

“Ok about what?” Stella asked, thinking back to their most recent text exchange frantically analyzing it to see if they could’ve had a fight she didn’t pick up on in context. “Just, things. Life is hard sometimes.” He said, sitting on her couch and staring absentmindedly at her courtroom TV show. “How weird is this?” Stella thought to herself. “If he wanted something sexual he knows he needs to text first, it can’t be that.”

Then she remembered. Levi always projected his feelings onto her when he couldn’t talk about them himself. When he was feeling mad, he’d ask, “Why are you so angry?!” When he was feeling sad, he’d ask if everything was ok. When he was feeling tired but didn’t want to be the one to end their night he’d say, “You seem sleepy, you want me to go?” It was an annoying habit, but she preferred it to his giving her no clues at all.

She sat down next to him and lowered the volume on the TV. “How about you? How are you doing?” “You know. Keeping on.” She wanted to shake this ridiculous macho side out of him, but she knew it was the price she paid for the benefits it came with, like his hyper-protectiveness and his always letting her have the last piece of pizza. “You want something to eat? I have half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some yogurt that’s expired, but… not very expired.” “As tempting as that sounds, I’ll pass.” Levi replied, with something that almost resembled a smile.

Stella resisted the urge to just ask “Why are you here?” Because she didn’t want to give him that idea that there was anything wrong with him coming over. She was pleased by the surprise visit. She would’ve appreciated a few minutes notice to put some underwear on underneath her scratchy gym shorts, maybe get some of her old plates out of the sink, but at the same time, she took his showing up without notice as a sign that their relationship was progressing. “Whatever it is, he’ll either bring it up or he won’t. He’s a grown man, I can’t make him talk about it.” She thought, settling in next to him and turning the show back up.

Stella wrapped her arms around his. That’s all he wanted. This is exactly what he came for. He felt her soft hair, still a little damp from the shower, rub against his forearm. Listened to her beating heart pulsate in near perfect sync with his own. Her presence was the only thing in the world tranquil enough to repress his sorrow. He didn’t realize it still hurt, just someplace else, because repression was comfortable for him. He mistook the familiarity of denial for comfort. It would’ve worked, at least, worked for avoiding his problems, had Stella not tried to make small talk.

She attempted to think of lighthearted topics that might get him to open up about whatever was bothering him. “I saw that cute pic of Curly on your feed. I don’t know how you get your dog to wear hats. Mine just shakes them right off.” There was a millisecond of silence, and then, Levi was like a detonated building. In an instant, he transformed from immovably solid into an explosive crumble.

He still couldn’t bring himself to reach out for her, as badly as he wanted to. Like any solid building, he collapsed in on himself rather than onto anything else. Layer by layer, crushing into the ground. He buried his head into his knees and let out a mournful sob unlike anything Stella had ever heard from him.

It took her a minute to process what was going on. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him cry. She turned the show down, but deliberately, not off. She pulled her hair back and sat right next to him. He’d demonstrated through his actions that he wasn’t eager to talk, so she had to show him that she was here for him before she could tell him she was.

He composed himself pretty quickly and went silent. But it wasn’t a peaceful silence. He stayed balled up, sniffling, too focused on trying to compose himself to actually focus on composing himself.

Stella thought of all the things that could possibly be hitting him this hard. His biological father had always had some problems with the law. He could be back in jail? His mom had a cancer scare a while back. That could have resurfaced? She realized speculating would do no good. “Levi…” She whispered, sinking down closer to his level, “What’s up?” “It’s nothing, sorry.” He murmured. Grabbing a tissue, trying, and failing, to play off the episode. It was moments like this he was particularly glad Stella didn’t have close neighbors.

He could see the fear in her eyes. But worse than that, the concern. He wasn’t supposed to be her burden. Especially not over something this fucking childish. “I have to go.” He said, standing to rush out, thinking he’d made a serious mistake ever coming here in the first place. “Why?!” Stella asked, in disbelief as to this whole bizarre situation, wondering if she might be dreaming, or maybe stroking out. “This isn’t fair to you.” Levi said, halfway to the door. That irked Stella. “Hey.” He was still walking. “Hey!” Stella insisted, rising to follow him and block his path. “You show up in the middle of the night, break down with no explanation, then leave, and that is fair to me? I’m sorry if you don’t want to talk to me about what’s going on, but we’re past that now. Sit down.”

Worst case scenarios were starting to flow through Stella’s mind. What could he be this hesitant to reveal to her? Could there be someone else? Could he have cheated? He wouldn’t be bawling over that, he’s not the type. Oh no… Could he have cheated on her and gotten the girl pregnant? Before she could imagine any more catastrophic a scenario, Levi blurted it out. “My dog died, ok?”

Stella stopped dead in her tracks. “Curly?” She asked, as it suddenly all made sense. “Yah,” Levi explained, his voice cracking. “It’s not a big deal. I’m an adult, I shouldn’t be here bothering you with this in the middle of the night. I’m sorry. I’m just going to go before I make all this any worse.” “Oh, Levi.”

Stella stood between him and the door. She enveloped him in a hug that made him feel ten feet taller and a hundred pounds lighter all at once. Sometimes it was hard for Stella to remember that underneath the bravado, the wear, and the scars, Levi had only just been a little boy a few years ago. And that no matter how big and strong and mature he’d ever be, he’d always need love.

She felt him resist for a second or two, but finally he gave in. He collapsed the way he’d longed to the entire two and a half hours he’d circled her block in the dark, cold, and intermittent bouts of rain. He cried into the softest spot in her neck and let her hold him up so he didn’t have to.

Everything about her was soothing. The warmth of her embrace, the smell of her body wash mixed with the faintest hint of peanut butter and jelly, the even whisper of her breath against his ears, and ever his favorite thing, her heart pulsating in near perfect sync with his, audible even over his cries.

After a bit, she led him into bed, and they lay there in each other’s arms. She drew the shades and clicked the lights off. The streetlights were illuminating enough, even through the blinds. “When did you hear?” She asked, quietly. “Just a few hours ago. My parents called.” “You’d had him almost your whole life, right?” “Mmhmm. I picked him out myself, from a box of puppies. Everyone thought he was the ugliest, but I knew. I knew his fur was just growing in curly.” “You gave him such a good life, you know. He lived 15 really good years.” “You’re right. I just… I wish I’d been there. You know?”

Stella nodded as he broke down again. She stroked his hair, patting it as flat as it ever went. She traced her fingers down his back. “I’m sorry Levi. I’m glad you came over.” “No, no.” He forced himself to backtrack. “It’s a dumb reason to be upset. He was a good dog, but he was… He was… just a dog.” Levi dissolved into a fresh round of sobs as he choked those words out.

“You don’t believe that.” Stella replied with sincerity. She continued, “I’d say you don’t have to be strong for me, but that’s not relevant here. It’s strong to face tough feelings. Loss hurts. Curly was your first pet. You had him 15 years. You weren’t there when he died. I’d be concerned if you weren’t devastated. Dealing with it is the mature thing. Pretending like you’re not upset so you don’t have to face the problem is not.” “Losing a pet is sad, but I’m not a kid anymore, Stel. I shouldn’t have anything to confront, because I’m too old to be feeling like this.” Stella looked him dead in the eye and asked, “Since when is grief a childish emotion?” He didn’t have a rebuttal for that.

Levi spent the night in Stella’s bed. In Stella’s arms to be more specific. She dabbed at his eyes with a cool washcloth to bring the swelling down. She talked to him about all the memories he had with his crazy dog and looked through old photos. She’d never know the full extent of the healing power that night would hold for him.

Levi hadn’t adopted these ideals about manhood all on his own, they were taught. More than that, they were enforced. No one he’d ever loved so intensely had let feel anything but happiness or anger without criticism before. Stella had opened up all kinds of emotions for him, but at this point in their relationship, only a few months in, it was by far the most intense he’d ever allowed himself to be in her presence. It changed him. Which is why the next morning was so bone chillingly terrifying for him.

Levi had barely been awake two seconds when Stella turned to him and said, “Look, this isn’t going to work, going forward.” Levi tried to get words out, but his mind was racing, thinking, “Oh my God, it’s happening. She’s breaking up with me. I knew I shouldn’t have come over here. I ruin every good thing.” Stella continued, “This thing where you try to deal with all your problems on your own until they’ve swelled to an unmanageable size, that’s not ok. If we’re together, we’re together in everything, good and bad. I can’t feel confident coming to you with my crises if you aren’t calling me on your bad days. You know?”

If it was honesty she wanted, then it was honesty she’d get. “Stella, actually, I don’t. I’ve never been with a girl who wanted me to put my walls down. Or if they did, they never said anything about it. So it’s going to take some work, and it’s going to take some time. But I’ll do the work if you’ll give me the time.”

He gave her a real answer, she was satisfied with that as a start. “I can do that if you can.” She replied, snuggling in close to him again. She could feel the drop in his chest as he let out of a sigh of relief and drew her in even closer. In the months that would follow, Levi and Stella would get to know each other, and as a result, themselves, better than they ever had before.

submitted by /u/Nightingale_Effect [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/2A0QqZZ

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️👑🐲 DMODT 58 update

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. * Waking with Eren in his arms, Levi wondered if he was still dreaming. In the night they'd shifted so Eren was now curled into his side, his proud belly resting across Levi's with his leg wrapped around the alpha's waist. Watching Eren's lips puff out slightly as he let out another soft breath, Levi was completely captivated by the moment. Eren was stunning. His face relaxed, and the deep bags that had hung under his eyes had cleared. Brushing a stray lock of hair back from his omega's face, Levi leaned in to steal a small kiss, knowing that Eren would probably retreat from him again once he woke. The omega had been clearly distressed when he'd returned from Marley, sex probably the last thing he needed, but it wasn't the first time Eren had sought out sexual pleasure in order to cope. He was just lucky that the omega was his, and that he was the only person on Earth who'd seen Eren revelling openly in pleasure. It hadn't mattered how many times he'd knotted him, or how bonelessly exhausted his omega had been, he'd asked for more, so Levi had given him everything he had, not holding back as he tried to heal all of Eren's broken parts. He loved him. He loved him so fucking much, and feeling their baby kicking had filled him with such happiness that he didn't have the words for it. He was well and truly sorry for leaving his lover, yet Eren had let him hold him again. Levi was still watching over Eren as Eren woke. A small sleepy yawn falling from the omega's perfect pink lips as he nuzzled into Levi's shoulder with a second yawn. There were a few small moments, before Eren tensed "Levi?" "Shhh, I'm here. You're ok" Slowly pushing himself up, Levi missed Eren's warmth as the omega rose to sit. One hand moving to his stomach as he did "I..." "Eren" "We had sex..." Blushing beautifully, Levi wanted to push Eren down and climb between his legs all over again "We did" Another few moments passed, Eren wasn't running away, though he looked as if he wanted to "How do you feel? You're not too sore are you?" "I... I feel fine... we... seriously had sex?" "It's alright. We did. And a fair bit if I'm being honest. I know you're hurting, and I know you're scared of what this means now. I can see it on your face, but it doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to it to. I love you and I broke your trust. I know you're going through so much right now, that it all probably feels too much, but I want to be here for you" Eren blinked at him before frowning "You make it sound like you're just here for me to fuck" Levi pinched the bridge of his nose "That's not what I mean" "That's how it sounded" "Eren. I love you. I had sex with you, because I love you. You are the most beautiful and amazing omega in this world. What I mean to say is, that I think we should talk, but only when you're ready. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to add to your worries" Sighing, the omega began to climb from his hold. Levi pushing down his desire to pull his omega back to bed "Eren?" "Just... let me use the bathroom. You're saying too many big words and I've just woken up from the best night sleep I've had in a long time. I need... to pee" Levi snorted. Eren had been so ashamed when he'd realised he'd wet the bed, not understanding how Levi could understand these things happen, especially when Eren was so heavily pregnant that he looked fit to burst "Alright. Should I send for some food? You should eat" "Um... just let me deal with this first" "Ok" Taking that to mean yes, Levi opened his door to find it guarded. That certainly made things easier as he sent the guards to the kitchens with orders to bring back a variety of things for Eren. He wanted Eren to stay, and if nothing plucked his fancy, Eren might just leave in order to find something more appealing to eat. The food arrived before Eren returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a bathrobe, his stomach was too large to hide it completely in the fabric. Waddling over to sit at the dining table, Eren sighed as the tie came undone, exposing both small breasts and his swell "I didn't know it'd get so big" Fussing with the tie, the omega sighed again as it unraveled "Eren, it's fine. You don't need to hide your body from me" Sitting in just a pair of pants, Levi was even less dressed than Eren was "That's not the problem... I just... I haven't been comforted with my body for a while now" "You should be. You look stunning" Eren's gaze remained on his stomach "I look fat. I feel fat and about as sexy as a shoe" "Nonsense. You're beautiful" "You're just saying that because we fucked" "No. I'm saying that because it's true. You look beautiful. Motherhood suits you" Finally Eren's lips twitched as his cheeks reddened minutely. How long had it been since someone complimented him? "You, uh, think so?" "I do. You're a natural, and you're a wonderful mother to Luca" "I haven't had this baby yet" "I know. I'm amazed every time I see your stomach. To know that the child is mine... I'm so fucking proud" Eren let out a weird kind of snort, before shaking his head "Levi. I don't know what you want me to say" "You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know you're beautiful" In his mind, Obsydin was agreeing with every word Levi said. The dragon had given him mental privacy while he reconnected with Eren. Both Levi and his alpha grateful for it. It seemed like the dragon had backed off once his sword had been placed beside Vermil's "I... I think I should apologise. Yesterday really fucking sucked" Pouring Eren a large cup of tea, Levi set the cup down in front of the omega. Wrapping his hands around the cup, Eren leaned forward, the bathrobe slipping to expose more of Eren's barely hidden breasts "I figured as much" "I feel like I'm falling apart" "If you need to talk, I'll listen" "Will you? Because I really fucked up and everyone keeps lying to me. I still can't believe your back, and I told myself I wasn't going to go running back to you, only to climb into bed with you so you'd fuck me until I couldn't think and I'm kind of the biggest arsehole in the world, and responsible for hundreds of people dying..." Eren was fast spiralling, his scent souring as Levi rose from his chair. Moving to Eren's side, he squatted down to take both Eren's hands in his. Despite everything that had happened, Eren still wore his engagement ring. Levi's thumb tracing the jewel as he took a deep breath, trying to pick his words so as to not upset Eren further "Eren. I'm not mad. I don't regret sleeping with you. I don't regret holding you, or making love to you. I don't regret telling you I love you. But this goes further than that. Who's lying to you? And why? And what do you mean you've killed hundreds? I want to understand your pain. I want to be here for you, but you need to explain things for me" "The war, Levi. I started the fucking war... now Draecia is going to war with Marley. Historia's bringing Dina up on war charges..." Breaking down into tears, Eren's whole body shook "I did this. I blacked out and flew to Draecia. Zeke was supposed to come with me because we were worried about the baby. Historia sent her kingdom to war because of me. How many more people are going to die because of me?! I hate it. I hate it, Levi. I did all of this. I ruined Eldia. I ruined Marley. I ruined Draecia! I ruin everything all the time! Armin said none of this was my fault, but it was! If I hadn't been so scared, I could have called Luca sooner. I could have taken Zeke to Draecia. I could have prevented this from happening! I married Zeke and the agreement was that I had three years to birth an heir! I wasn't supposed to fall pregnant! I wasn't supposed to care about him! He's dead and gone, and I've jumped back into bed with you! I'm falling apart because everyone keeps lying to me! I did all of this! Why can't they blame me?! Why?!" Eren was basically yelling by the end of the outburst as coughed and sobbed. Everything Levi had been fearing was laid bare by Eren's confession. He'd fucking known Eren would feel this way. He'd known it, but it didn't make it hurt any less "Because you're not to blame. Zeke and Erwin both knew you didn't want a war, yet couldn't put aside their differences to find out what the truth was. I know it's hard, and I knew you'd feel like this, but seeing you like this hurts like hell. I don't blame you. I can't blame you... I love you" "How can you tell me you love me? I've torn three countries apart" "Dina is responsible. You gave up everything in an attempt to keep the peace. Historia chose to take action against Marley. They've been hunting and slaying dragons for years. She's stepped up because she wants better for her country. You're always the last to see the good in yourself, and it frustrates the fuck out of me" "I don't feel good" "You don't feel good physically or mentally?" Eren shook his head "Both... I'm tired, Levi. I love this baby, but I'm done being pregnant. I'm worried about how long they've been inside of me, if they're going to be ok from my body trying to protect them. I'm tired because I know the moment I step outside that door everyone is going to talk about me all over again. About how much of a slut I am. I'm tired of not knowing how you're magically ok. I'm angry that you were gone, and you missed most of this pregnancy. I'm horny. Tired. And depressed. I don't know what to do next, but I know Armin isn't going to like me having spent so much time with you. I just... I wanted to help everyone, but I didn't... I feel so fucking stupid" Half sliding off his chair as he sought comfort in Levi's hold, Levi lifted his omega before they wound up on the floor completely. Carrying Eren over to his bed, he settled him down, kissing his forehead as he took his hands in his "You're not stupid. You're strong and you're smart and you're beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for our baby" "It sucked... it sucked so much... I wanted it to be yours... I wanted it... but I'm so scared of being alone. I'm scared to be with you and I'm scared not to be" "You don't have to decide. But you do need to decide if you're up to eating" "I'm really tired. My chest feels itchy too" "Then stay in bed. Rest. Let me take care of things" "I don't want to sleep alone. I don't want to dream about Zeke dying again" Mumbling the words, the omega looked miserable. Climbing up to lay beside Eren, the omega slowly shifted into his hold "I've got you. I'm right here" "I know, but I don't know how. I don't understand how you and Obsydin can both be in there" "I don't really know either. I don't remember a lot of what happened after I left. I was... it was blank" "Can you tell me what you remember? Everyone is hiding things and I'm tired of it" Levi kissed Eren's forehead, the omega's face hidden against his neck, slotting perfectly into his side where he belonged "I'll tell you what I remember. It wasn't great and I did some stuff you won't like" Eren gave a hollow snort "I married another alpha, had people watch him fuck me, then got locked up. I think there's a whole lot we would have rathered we not done" Levi replayed Eren's words in his head, not entirely sure they made sense, before dismissing the thought. He couldn't tell Eren everything, because he didn't remember everything, so he'd have to start with... with when he tried to kill himself "Levi?" "Sorry. I was thinking. Are you warm enough? It's not exactly a long story, but I don't want you being cold" "I'm ok. You're warm" "Alright... I'll tell you what I remember. Obsydin could probably tell you what I can't, but he won't tell me either" "It's ok... I want to know what you went through, in your own words" * Levi could barely remember the day he'd left Eren and Luca on the beach. The roaring of pain in the back of his mind, combined with the pain of his own heart breaking left him numb. He had no destination in mind as he rode away, only to put as much distance between himself and his family. Telling himself that it was for Eren's sake didn't make anything better. Telling himself he was protecting Eren was just a cheap cop out. He knew how much he was going to hurt his omega, yet he left anyway. From there, things grew hazy for Levi. Days would pass in a blink of an eye, Levi finding himself waking to find he recognised nothing around him, or even worse, he'd wake to find himself in Eren's arms, only for the illusion to shatter as the omega cruelly abused him. Voicing his inner most thoughts as he blamed him for leaving. The horses he'd taken with him found their deaths at his hands, one night he'd tethered them, then when he'd come too again, he'd found them slaughtered by his claws, his body bathed in blood. The money he'd taken was lost from his pockets as his clothes grew tattered, little more than cloth hanging off his weather beaten form. Winter made all that more rough with no sanity to remind him to seek shelter and food. The voices in his head now smothered out his own, Levi soon forgetting he could speak anything other than grunts and growls, moments of clarity disappearing entirely. The voices and the hallucinations had robbed him of all he was. He didn't know where reality ended and the dreams began, and the onset of total madness hit too fast for him to end his own life, as he'd planned. On a snowy winter's night, Levi found himself at the banks of a large lake. The snow drifted and floated down from the heavens, seeping in through the holes in his boots, Levi's body already in the starting stages of hypothermia. Perhaps because of this, he'd been granted a moment of clarity, lonely beyond words as he stared up at the overcast sky. He knew he was dying. His body couldn't withstand the cold any further, nor the months of neglect and feeding on whatever was close and available, without always positive results. If he had one last wish, it was to see Eren one last time. To tell him how much he'd loved him, and to thank him for loving him in return. On the remnants of his shirt, the brooch his love had gifted him hung heavily, only remaining due to the fact it was pinned there. With clumsy fingers, Levi removed the brooch. It's golden shine filled with dirt, Eren's scale a dark blob in the centre, while the diamonds held no glint of shine. This was the last thing he had of his mate. The last thing he could hold onto to prove Eren was his. The bite on his neck forgotten by tired mind. Standing beneath the clouds, Levi took a deep breath. He didn't want Eren to see what came next. He didn't want any part of his omega to see him die like a stray dog. Tears rolled down his face, betraying his own thoughts. With a feral kind of yell, the brooch was thrown into the black inky water, a small plop before it disappeared from his sight. Levi then clutching his hands to his chest as he sank down into the snow, his pain vocalised in screaming sobs. All he wanted was Eren. Eren was soft and warm. He was hope and the future. He was sweet and pure. He felt shame and pain for taking a life. He'd felt the pain of others as his own, and wanted to protect everyone from the monsters of the world... though labelled one himself. By some miracle he made it through the night, blacking out then waking to find himself naked, his soaked clothes hung over rocks in the cave he found himself in. Most confusingly was the fact that Eren's brooch back in his hands. He'd hoped to die. He'd thought he would, curled in the snow, but there he was. Warm, and starving, Levi curled up closer to the fire, falling back to sleep from sheer exhaustion. This was the first time Levi met Obsydin in his mind. Dressed in fine clothes, and standing in a royal hall, Levi thought he'd finally gone off the edge. Asleep while awake had become his natural state, yet he knew he was dreaming, despite how real it all felt. He had to be dreaming, he was looking at a wilder version of himself. He didn't know what was happening, and he didn't want to know. If this was dream, the dream he died in, he was choosing how he died. Using the hooked clawed of his right middle finger, Levi tore at his left wrist. He was done. If he woke up again, he had no idea what came next, or when he'd be licid enough for this "You fool!" The other him rushed to his side. It was surprising how fast he grew woozy. With one arm wrapped around his waist, and his free hand holding Levi's wrist, the other him prevented his fall. Levi's torn arm slowly stitching back together, the sight to repulsive for him to watch "You fool. You're lucky Eren left you that scale" It was a stupid question, but Levi didn't know what else to ask "What are you?" "I think you mean who. I'm showing you myself in the form Eren preferred, though I must say, he is much easier on the eyes than you. I've been trying to connect with you for months, your mind is breaking from the weight of my presence inside of you" Snorting something dangerously close to a laugh, Levi didn't know why he wanted to laugh given the situation "No shit" Huffing, Obsydin let go. Levi dropping to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Glaring up at the dragon, the alpha's face was otherwise expressionless "I did not ask for it to be this way. I did not know the burden would consume you, or that we would be parted from him due to it" "What the hell else was I going to do? Stay around and kill him?" "I had hoped to act sooner, but when you left Eren, you left the part of his soul that still had hold of me. The last stop guard to protect you from losing yourself completely. Separated from him, you were quick to succumb to the madness within" Moving to draw himself into a more comfortable position, Levi held his healing arm to his chest "If you've been here the whole time, why didn't you act sooner? Why didn't you show yourself?" "I couldn't. Please listen, as I'm tired of repeating myself. Last night you tried to retrieve his brooch, you would have died then had I not taken hold of your body. Your weakened state allowed me to infect your mind further. Using your body, I drew my sword, spilling your blood upon my bone and scale in the hopes of forming a new bond" A new bond? He didn't even want the old bond, let alone this bond "Why the fuck didn't you let me just die? It's better for him. Do you think he wants to see me again? After what I did to him? You know how stubborn Eren is. You know how many times his heart has been broken. You know how fragile he is. And you know because you've tortured him yourself. You broke his mind, and took away his ability to bear children. No. He doesn't want either of us near him, and I don't want to live like this" "Even when I can return you to sanity?" Dragons were arseholes. He knew he'd said it before, but they most certainly were complete and total, shitty, arseholes "Right. Sure. You return me to my mind, take my body, then kill Erwin. That's what you've wanted all along" "I will not deny that would please me to see the Smith dead, yet... Watching Eren has reminded me there is more to life than a thirst for blood" "So you've fallen in love with my omega? Is that it? You want to get home so you can fuck him?" "You humans and your "fucking". When he betrayed me, I wanted him to hurt. Then, I grew curious watching him. I thought he'd be a selfish human, given how he pleaded for you. I thought he'd cry out over how he gave part of his soul, yet he did not seek out attention for his pain. I grew further curious until you worsened. The times in which you lost control, I am sorry for. I am a Dreamseer. The times your mind wandered or slipped, allowed my powers to manifest, and my desire to kill the Smith... Well. Yes. He was only spared an immediate death because of Eren, so I wished to know why he of that bastard's bloodline deserved not to die, even with the appalling manner in which he treated Eren. I once had a mate. Who was strong and beautiful. Who wanted the world on a silver platter and I would have gifted them anything and everything. My madness tainted them. A madness of the mind I did not know has manifested there. When they were taken and slain, I, like you, lost control of myself. My desire to seek revenge against the world combined with my illness... Never mind. I speak too much. You asked why am I doing this? I do it for Eren who'd birth a dead clutch and adopt a stranger's child as his own in a heartbeat, because I wish to see what becomes of him" Levi gaped. He actually gaped like an idiot. Though, it was really just him sitting there staring with his lips slightly parted, attempting to process the words he was hearing "I assure you..." "Just. Stop. Ok. I need a moment. You're in love with my mate?" "I..." "You're..." "Levi" "No. Eren is my omega... was my omega... You ruined everything for us. We spent a year apart while he trained his dragon magic. We were to be wed... He gave up everything to support me... and you now decide you love him?!" Obsydin stalked away from him, seating himself on the king's throne "I offer you this, for the sake of Eren, I will lessen the infection upon your mind, and in return, we shall return to Eren" "And how do I know you won't let the madness consume me once we return? That you won't hurt him the moment I'm gone" "You don't. And stop holding dragons to your own human standards. I may be a monster, but no one goes to war without reason. My mate was my world. Our children were born from our love. My mate was taken from me and I was never able to see them again. I make a vow on my children's lives that I will return you to Eren's side, if you do what I need you to do, when I ask you do it" "Can't you just take my body over?" "I could, but right now, it's so pathetically weak that it has no reason to exist, outside of housing our shared consciousnesses. You either make this deal, or you die knowing you broke Eren's heart and left him in the hands of the Smith" He knew he broke Eren's heart. He didn't need fucking reminding. Obsydin's words were getting stuck in his head, an almost funny thought given that this whole exchange was in his head. He was hopelessly crazy, this plan probably a product of his desire to return home. He'd probably be dead soon enough anyway "What do I need to do?" Jumping back up from the throne, the smile on Obsydin's lips was creepy as fuck, forcing him to make a mental note not to smile so widely. It was strange to say the least, setting eyes upon himself, given that the image of himself that he'd always carried, in no real way was translated into human form "Excellent. I take this word to be binding. When you wake, you must burn the last of the scales that encased the sword, and draw the blade. With fresh blood and Eren's scale, you must place them upon my own scale. I will need his magic to awaken my sword" Magic. He'd never fucking understand magic. He wasn't sure the people who used the stupid thing did either "Awaken you sword?" "You had but a taste of my power. A single drop of tainted blood. When you draw the blade, I shall use Eren's magic to remove the... more damaged parts of us. You shouldn't feel a thing" Obsydin was a liar. He'd woken, and with nothing left to lose, he'd done as he'd said. As the scales burned, fever set in. Each blackening and shrivelling scale that crackled on the fire made it worse. It felt as if the flames themselves were burning in his blood. For days he drifted in and out of a fevered state, collapsed by the lake to pathetically lap at the foul tasting water each time he woke. Obsydin had sent him to the lakes edge, the voice now in the back of his mind, rather than before him like they'd been in the dream castle. It didn't matter if he didn't eat immediately. What mattered was breaking the fever and keeping his fluids up. When the process had passed, the sword had become truly his. Following Obsydin's directions, he'd taken the blade in his hand. It no longer felt heavy and clunky, instead more like an extension of his own body... but that didn't mean he could hold it for long at all. He'd lost a great deal of muscle and strength. If not for his natural alpha endowments, Eren's scale, Obsydin's meddling and access to water, he would be dead. Yet, barely functional, Obsydin's first instruction was that they set out for Eldia. The dragon really not thinking through the finer details. Levi was human. He couldn't fly. It wasn't a case of growing a magical set of winds and flapping off into the horizon. He only had two legs and a heartbeat. First came trapping and killing game. Then came strength and stamina training. Once he could go longer than five minutes without feeling as if he'd run a marathon, they'd set out for Eldia. As time moved forward, it became almost natural to voice his replies to Obsydin allowed. It was, after all, a conversation between two beings. They just happened to both be relying on the same body... A body that relied on Obsydin's sword for so much. Not only was the blade ridiculously sharp, it never seemed to blunt or dull. It cut through its prey with all deftness of the most seasoned wolf, tearing the life from the animal before it'd even had a chance to run. It was like no other sword he'd ever held, and gave him the feeling that the inanimate object was trying to assist in the hunt and kill. Obsydin said nothing of it. Nor would be speak of his mate again, no matter how many times Levi pried or pushed. Even Eren was a topic that Obsydin would no longer talk about. He was stuck with the world's second worst conversationalist for a partner with him being the first.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️🐲🐲👑 DMODT 58 - still going...

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. * Waking with Eren in his arms, Levi wondered if he was still dreaming. In the night they'd shifted so Eren was now curled into his side, his proud belly resting across Levi's with his leg wrapped around the alpha's waist. Watching Eren's lips puff out slightly as he let out another soft breath, Levi was completely captivated by the moment. Eren was stunning. His face relaxed, and the deep bags that had hung under his eyes had cleared. Brushing a stray lock of hair back from his omega's face, Levi leaned in to steal a small kiss, knowing that Eren would probably retreat from him again once he woke. The omega had been clearly distressed when he'd returned from Marley, sex probably the last thing he needed, but it wasn't the first time Eren had sought out sexual pleasure in order to cope. He was just lucky that the omega was his, and that he was the only person on Earth who'd seen Eren revelling openly in pleasure. It hadn't mattered how many times he'd knotted him, or how bonelessly exhausted his omega had been, he'd asked for more, so Levi had given him everything he had, not holding back as he tried to heal all of Eren's broken parts. He loved him. He loved him so fucking much, and feeling their baby kicking had filled him with such happiness that he didn't have the words for it. He was well and truly sorry for leaving his lover, yet Eren had let him hold him again. Levi was still watching over Eren as Eren woke. A small sleepy yawn falling from the omega's perfect pink lips as he nuzzled into Levi's shoulder with a second yawn. There were a few small moments, before Eren tensed "Levi?" "Shhh, I'm here. You're ok" Slowly pushing himself up, Levi missed Eren's warmth as the omega rose to sit. One hand moving to his stomach as he did "I..." "Eren" "We had sex..." Blushing beautifully, Levi wanted to push Eren down and climb between his legs all over again "We did" Another few moments passed, Eren wasn't running away, though he looked as if he wanted to "How do you feel? You're not too sore are you?" "I... I feel fine... we... seriously had sex?" "It's alright. We did. And a fair bit if I'm being honest. I know you're hurting, and I know you're scared of what this means now. I can see it on your face, but it doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to it to. I love you and I broke your trust. I know you're going through so much right now, that it all probably feels too much, but I want to be here for you" Eren blinked at him before frowning "You make it sound like you're just here for me to fuck" Levi pinched the bridge of his nose "That's not what I mean" "That's how it sounded" "Eren. I love you. I had sex with you, because I love you. You are the most beautiful and amazing omega in this world. What I mean to say is, that I think we should talk, but only when you're ready. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to add to your worries" Sighing, the omega began to climb from his hold. Levi pushing down his desire to pull his omega back to bed "Eren?" "Just... let me use the bathroom. You're saying too many big words and I've just woken up from the best night sleep I've had in a long time. I need... to pee" Levi snorted. Eren had been so ashamed when he'd realised he'd wet the bed, not understanding how Levi could understand these things happen, especially when Eren was so heavily pregnant that he looked fit to burst "Alright. Should I send for some food? You should eat" "Um... just let me deal with this first" "Ok" Taking that to mean yes, Levi opened his door to find it guarded. That certainly made things easier as he sent the guards to the kitchens with orders to bring back a variety of things for Eren. He wanted Eren to stay, and if nothing plucked his fancy, Eren might just leave in order to find something more appealing to eat. The food arrived before Eren returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a bathrobe, his stomach was too large to hide it completely in the fabric. Waddling over to sit at the dining table, Eren sighed as the tie came undone, exposing both small breasts and his swell "I didn't know it'd get so big" Fussing with the tie, the omega sighed again as it unraveled "Eren, it's fine. You don't need to hide your body from me" Sitting in just a pair of pants, Levi was even less dressed than Eren was "That's not the problem... I just... I haven't been comforted with my body for a while now" "You should be. You look stunning" Eren's gaze remained on his stomach "I look fat. I feel fat and about as sexy as a shoe" "Nonsense. You're beautiful" "You're just saying that because we fucked" "No. I'm saying that because it's true. You look beautiful. Motherhood suits you" Finally Eren's lips twitched as his cheeks reddened minutely. How long had it been since someone complimented him? "You, uh, think so?" "I do. You're a natural, and you're a wonderful mother to Luca" "I haven't had this baby yet" "I know. I'm amazed every time I see your stomach. To know that the child is mine... I'm so fucking proud" Eren let out a weird kind of snort, before shaking his head "Levi. I don't know what you want me to say" "You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know you're beautiful" In his mind, Obsydin was agreeing with every word Levi said. The dragon had given him mental privacy while he reconnected with Eren. Both Levi and his alpha grateful for it. It seemed like the dragon had backed off once his sword had been placed beside Vermil's "I... I think I should apologise. Yesterday really fucking sucked" Pouring Eren a large cup of tea, Levi set the cup down in front of the omega. Wrapping his hands around the cup, Eren leaned forward, the bathrobe slipping to expose more of Eren's barely hidden breasts "I figured as much" "I feel like I'm falling apart" "If you need to talk, I'll listen" "Will you? Because I really fucked up and everyone keeps lying to me. I still can't believe your back, and I told myself I wasn't going to go running back to you, only to climb into bed with you so you'd fuck me until I couldn't think and I'm kind of the biggest arsehole in the world, and responsible for hundreds of people dying..." Eren was fast spiralling, his scent souring as Levi rose from his chair. Moving to Eren's side, he squatted down to take both Eren's hands in his. Despite everything that had happened, Eren still wore his engagement ring. Levi's thumb tracing the jewel as he took a deep breath, trying to pick his words so as to not upset Eren further "Eren. I'm not mad. I don't regret sleeping with you. I don't regret holding you, or making love to you. I don't regret telling you I love you. But this goes further than that. Who's lying to you? And why? And what do you mean you've killed hundreds? I want to understand your pain. I want to be here for you, but you need to explain things for me" "The war, Levi. I started the fucking war... now Draecia is going to war with Marley. Historia's bringing Dina up on war charges..." Breaking down into tears, Eren's whole body shook "I did this. I blacked out and flew to Draecia. Zeke was supposed to come with me because we were worried about the baby. Historia sent her kingdom to war because of me. How many more people are going to die because of me?! I hate it. I hate it, Levi. I did all of this. I ruined Eldia. I ruined Marley. I ruined Draecia! I ruin everything all the time! Armin said none of this was my fault, but it was! If I hadn't been so scared, I could have called Luca sooner. I could have taken Zeke to Draecia. I could have prevented this from happening! I married Zeke and the agreement was that I had three years to birth an heir! I wasn't supposed to fall pregnant! I wasn't supposed to care about him! He's dead and gone, and I've jumped back into bed with you! I'm falling apart because everyone keeps lying to me! I did all of this! Why can't they blame me?! Why?!" Eren was basically yelling by the end of the outburst as coughed and sobbed. Everything Levi had been fearing was laid bare by Eren's confession. He'd fucking known Eren would feel this way. He'd known it, but it didn't make it hurt any less "Because you're not to blame. Zeke and Erwin both knew you didn't want a war, yet couldn't put aside their differences to find out what the truth was. I know it's hard, and I knew you'd feel like this, but seeing you like this hurts like hell. I don't blame you. I can't blame you... I love you" "How can you tell me you love me? I've torn three countries apart" "Dina is responsible. You gave up everything in an attempt to keep the peace. Historia chose to take action against Marley. They've been hunting and slaying dragons for years. She's stepped up because she wants better for her country. You're always the last to see the good in yourself, and it frustrates the fuck out of me" "I don't feel good" "You don't feel good physically or mentally?" Eren shook his head "Both... I'm tired, Levi. I love this baby, but I'm done being pregnant. I'm worried about how long they've been inside of me, if they're going to be ok from my body trying to protect them. I'm tired because I know the moment I step outside that door everyone is going to talk about me all over again. About how much of a slut I am. I'm tired of not knowing how you're magically ok. I'm angry that you were gone, and you missed most of this pregnancy. I'm horny. Tired. And depressed. I don't know what to do next, but I know Armin isn't going to like me having spent so much time with you. I just... I wanted to help everyone, but I didn't... I feel so fucking stupid" Half sliding off his chair as he sought comfort in Levi's hold, Levi lifted his omega before they wound up on the floor completely. Carrying Eren over to his bed, he settled him down, kissing his forehead as he took his hands in his "You're not stupid. You're strong and you're smart and you're beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for our baby" "It sucked... it sucked so much... I wanted it to be yours... I wanted it... but I'm so scared of being alone. I'm scared to be with you and I'm scared not to be" "You don't have to decide. But you do need to decide if you're up to eating" "I'm really tired. My chest feels itchy too" "Then stay in bed. Rest. Let me take care of things" "I don't want to sleep alone. I don't want to dream about Zeke dying again" Mumbling the words, the omega looked miserable. Climbing up to lay beside Eren, the omega slowly shifted into his hold "I've got you. I'm right here" "I know, but I don't know how. I don't understand how you and Obsydin can both be in there" "I don't really know either. I don't remember a lot of what happened after I left. I was... it was blank" "Can you tell me what you remember? Everyone is hiding things and I'm tired of it" Levi kissed Eren's forehead, the omega's face hidden against his neck, slotting perfectly into his side where he belonged "I'll tell you what I remember. It wasn't great and I did some stuff you won't like" Eren gave a hollow snort "I married another alpha, had people watch him fuck me, then got locked up. I think there's a whole lot we would have rathered we not done" Levi replayed Eren's words in his head, not entirely sure they made sense, before dismissing the thought. He couldn't tell Eren everything, because he didn't remember everything, so he'd have to start with... with when he tried to kill himself "Levi?" "Sorry. I was thinking. Are you warm enough? It's not exactly a long story, but I don't want you being cold" "I'm ok. You're warm" "Alright... I'll tell you what I remember. Obsydin could probably tell you what I can't, but he won't tell me either" "It's ok... I want to know what you went through, in your own words" * Levi could barely remember the day he'd left Eren and Luca on the beach. The roaring of pain in the back of his mind, combined with the pain of his own heart breaking left him numb. He had no destination in mind as he rode away, only to put as much distance between himself and his family. Telling himself that it was for Eren's sake didn't make anything better. Telling himself he was protecting Eren was just a cheap cop out. He knew how much he was going to hurt his omega, yet he left anyway.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Shoots self. Who's idea was it that Levi needed his back story explained

Eren hated himself for his own weakness. Levi left him weak at the knees, a simple touch reducing him to a warm and fuzzy mess. He'd never stopped loving Levi, and that was the problem. He wanted to let the alpha sweep him off his feet. He wanted to listen to all Levi's sweet words, and lay in the alpha's arms, while Levi felt the solid kicks of their child. It would all be so simple to give in. He could do it. He could do it, but he knew if he did, he'd be running away again. He'd run to Zeke after losing Levi, now he'd would be running Levi after losing Zeke. The alpha scattered his thoughts, sent him spiralling then glued him back together with just a look. His body craved and begged to be touched, Armin's slick soaked bed had been evidence enough of that. His friend too polite to mention that, or that Eren had had one hell of a wet dream after speaking with Levi... but the subtle blush across the blond's face had made it clear that they wouldn't be sharing a bed again. Even if Armin said he was "ok", Eren really wasn't. Levi had told him to be selfish, yet everything he did felt selfish. Armin was the prince of Eldia by blood. He shouldn't have to sleep beside Eren simply because his dreams had decided he needed nightmares. He shouldn't be getting into fights with Levi on Eren's behalf, and attempting to protect him from the alpha like a mate would. Armin would soon have the rug pull from beneath him as he was crowned prince. He'd soon be loaded down with the weight that came from running a kingdom, while dancing to the desires of the royal advisors. Eren needed to push him away for both their sakes, and he hated that it left him feeling like he was about to pull a "Levi" on the beta. There was a war raging in Armin's kingdom, and once Eren returned Zeke's body to Marley, he'd be stepping back from playing at prince. His baby was growing, and he felt he only had a few weeks before he'd be giving birth. His body no longer slowing the pregnancy, nor did he want it to. His child should have been born over a month ago, and his 21st was looming around the corner. It'd been 7 days since Zeke had died. They'd intended to take the alpha's body back to Marley by now. But Historia had forced him to take extra time to rest, and there was no way in hell he was letting them take Zeke without him. It wasn't about trust. It was about the deep all consuming need to be there when Zeke returned home. To make sure Dina saw what she'd done to her own son, and he needed to do it for himself. He needed to say goodbye to Zeke in his own way. His conscious would never let him rest if he dove right into bed with Levi so soon after Zeke's death... even if a fuck was exactly what his body felt like it needed. Dressed in his finest robes, with his hair combed back to within an inch of its life, Eren was finally returning to Marley. Levi had wanted to come, but Eren wasn't letting the alpha go anywhere with him, much less into enemy territory where his presence would most likely make things a thousand times worse. Despite her hatred of him, even Eren wasn't callous enough to bring his old lover to face his ex-mother-in-law. No. He, Historia, Freya, Ymir and Steege comprised the party heading to Marley. Ymir carrying Historia, obviously, and both Eren and Zeke, while Yelena, her head, Porco and Pieck were carried by Steege. The trio wrapped in cloth then piled in to an empty storage box. Eren would truthfully rather be flying with the others, like a small "fuck you" to the woman who'd made his life miserable, but because of his "delicate condition" it was either his human form or not at all. Hanji thought to tell him his own business, like he had no idea he was very pregnant, and like he wasn't technically responsible for Eldia and it's current condition. Historia's magic had saved many, while Freya's had repaired the weapons she could. Eren had bloomed herbs in the darkness of the underground tunnels. The dungeons converted to a third infirmary, which Eren couldn't bring himself to set foot into. Even being below ground level of the castle left him panicked, a weakness he loathed given everything Marley had taken from him, yet one his omega was quick to flood his body with. He much preferred where he was, settled in the saddle of Ymir's nape, with Zeke in his hold. So maybe he didn't prefer the circumstances as much as he did the feel of the fresh wind across his face as they flew towards Marley's royal manor. Crossing over the Marley mainland, the hundred or so battleships in the harbour turned their cannons skywards. Weaving and dodging the cannon balls, the female dragon swooped low enough to pluck a smaller ship from the water, carrying it up to the grass of the manor where she dropped down on the manor doorstep, before looping back to land beside it. Secretly Eren admired a smidge more for her actions, if he'd been in his dragon form, he would have done the same thing. He really wouldn't have, but he wished he had the courage to. As angry Marley soldiers poured off the ship, and even angrier Dina appeared from within her manor. It looked to Eren as if everything was functioning as normal within its immaculate grounds. There wasn't an increase in guards, nor was there a single blade of grass out of place. Not at all like the castle back in Eldia, which would take more than a little magic to straighten everything up. Sending a misty roar in the direction of the ship, the soldiers were falling over themselves as they fell back. "What is the meaning of all of this?! Eren, this constitutes an act of war. It's an international crime to use dragons, and you may be a dragon yourself, but once they hear... What have you got there?!" With the help of Historia, Eren climbed from Ymir's saddle, the princess carrying Zeke as it was easier for her to do so, given Eren's condition. Passing him to the omega, Zeke's head lolled back limply as Eren stood straighter. His heart was racing with fear as he stood before Dina, while his body shook with rage. She'd caused all of this, yet acted like she had the higher ground. Stepping forward, Eren knelt awkwardly to lay Zeke carefully on the manors stone steps. Tears rolled down his face, dripping onto Zeke's face as he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Zeke. He'd gotten him home, and now he could rest peacefully in Marley "Queen Dina. I regret to inform you that your son, and my husband, Prince Zeke of Marley was slain in battle by Yelena" "I... no..." Rushing to her son, Eren was shoved aside by the queen as she threw herself down beside Zeke. For a moment Eren's heart hurt at the scene. It was as if she really did love her son. Caught by Historia, Eren couldn't even find the words to thank her. A thick lump of emotion stuck in his throat "Zeke... no... Zeke... You! You did this!" Looking up, she glared daggers at Eren. Her guards stepping closer, but not too close given the two dragons "I did nothing" "You poisoned him! You twisted him, and turned him against me. I don't believe Yelena would..." "Yelena acted under your orders. Zeke knew the attack was orchestrated by you to limit my actions. He knew you were planning something, which is why he returned to Eldia with me. You never had time for him, nor did you bother to get to know him" "What would a diseased whore like you know?! You didn't know my son! You didn't care for him! You didn't even fulfil your role in his bed. Yet you clung to him and you ruined him!" "I didn't ruin him. He wasn't ruined. He was just misunderstood. You did that. You showed him all the wrong sides of being a mother. You neglected him. You abused him. You told him he was nothing unless he was expanding Marley. He died in my arms, fucking scared of what came next. He loved this baby, and he loved me in his own way. And you know what, I did hate him. I loathed him and wanted to die after the we slept together, but I took the time to get to know him. It wasn't love, but it was more than friendship in the final days. He learned he could be happy, and I'm glad I gave him that" "You should have healed him! His life means something, not like yours!" "I couldn't. Yelena severed his spinal cord. Zeke didn't understand what was happening until it'd been done. He... he was brave and foolish... and I wish none of this had happened, but it happened all because of you. Because you're a greedy bitch who doesn't care who dies in her name. You stay in your manor walls, sending people to death. Torturing and experimenting on dragons, which is illegal by international law. You've brought all of this upon yourself. Zeke is dead because of you. Your armies decimated by dragons because of you. Hundred dead, thousands blaming you, and you did this to yourself with your greed" Dina gaped "How dare you! He was my son! You're just a common slut" "No. You don't get to play that card. I was his husband. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but I was there with him, for him. We brought back Yelena, Pieck and Porco. Your precious dogs were also cut down in battle, and as you rightly pointed out, there are two dragons with me. Two royal dragons, and two princesses from the dragon nation of Draecia. All incidents of dragon abuse are reported to Draecia, including three cases of torture. You left those dragons mindless, only controllable with a scale from another dragon. Vermil perhaps? Your crimes are catching up with you, Dina. Your nation will crumble without a ruler, and you did this to yourself" That was all Eren had the steam to say. The ground spinning as his body forgot how to breathe, the awful desperate need for air that came before vomiting leaving him sinking into Historia. Lifting him into her arms, Eren swallowed hard. He definitely didn't want to vomit in front of Dina. He didn't want to give her pleasure of witnessing him in distress. Historia holding him was embarrassing enough as it was "Out of respect for Prince Eren, in this time of mourning, we will be giving you a week to organise the funeral of Prince Zeke. You shall then be transported to Draecia to take the stand over your crimes" Dina rose to her full height, the woman looking smug as she did "Rod Reiss will not take action against me. He is known for his ridiculous ways and eccentric behaviour. The time of the dragons is passing. The future lays in resources and science. No one will touch Marley, not with our hands on Paradis Island's resources. We are unstoppable" "Your claim to Eldia died with Prince Zeke. You ordered the attack on Prince Eren and his kidnapping that lead to this war. You've voided the treaty with Eldia, and voided the treaty of "non-interference" with Draecia in the process. Rod Reiss may not be willing to act, but his eldest daughter, Princess Freya has seen fit to step in. Neither her, nor I, Princess Historia, will let this slide, or allow you to harm any more of our dragon kin. Send word to withdraw from Eldia as soon as possible, or this one warship will be joined by others" If Eren wasn't gay, bonded, or stupidly in love with a stupid alpha, he may have swooned for Historia on the spot. Her voice was strong, not leaving Dina in any in. Dina looked absolutely livid, and slightly feral. But then again, she was being called out by a princess who was younger than her. Staring into the woman's eyes, Eren hated Zeke laying on the cold stone steps. It wasn't right "Please, Dina. Do the right thing. Zeke never wanted this war. Give him the burial he deserves, with full honours. He loved Marley. He loved you. He wanted to make you proud, but he also wanted to be a father. Lay him to rest, and hand yourself in" "The day I had myself in, is the day the last dragon falls from the sky. Marley will not be so easily destroyed, and I will be lodging an official complaint over your stand over tactics and murder of my son. Leave before I have you shot dead" Ever patient, Historia's voice was low as she started to reply. The princess was probably trying to find a way to reason with Dina, despite how things had played out "Queen Dina..." Snarling, Dina bared her teeth. Never had she looked more human than she did as she yelled "Leave!" In Historia's hold, she looked down to him. Eren nodding, knowing he wasn't going to feel any guilt over whatever came Dina's way. Like he'd said, she'd brought this upon herself. The omega also knew that he was lying to himself. He would care, and the thought sickened him. Because of him, Draecia had now been pulled into this war. The tedious balance between the three kingdoms was crumbling, simply because he existed, and no one could tell him otherwise "Very well. But we shall return. If you wish to public slander Eldia and Draecia to your allies, we will expose the truth behind this war. We will expose your lies and manipulation. I doubt countries will be so open to trade offers when they learn of your dishonesty. They'll probably skip you all together and buy directly from Eldia, something that Draecia will help with" "You wouldn't..." "I would. Doesn't that make the wickedest girl in the world? The kind of child to go against my parents for the greater good of our people and the innocent people your selfish actions have harmed. Ymir, we're leaving. Queen Dina has a funeral to plan, and a war to end" Helped back into Ymir's saddle, Eren's eyes remained trained on Zeke. Dina had turned to sink back down beside her son, one hand cupping his pale face as she ignored them leaving. All at once it felt wrong to leave him in her hands, like he was abandoning the alpha, despite him being long dead. He didn't know what to do or say. He wanted to scream at Ymir to take Zeke's body in her claws and to fly them all back to the castle. He knew he couldn't make such a selfish request. Marley was Zeke's home. Zeke had been proud to be from Marley. Until Eren had come along, he'd lived his life thinking things were the way they were meant to be... "Eren?" Shaking his head, Eren didn't wish to answer Historia. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to think. He didn't know what he wanted, only that he couldn't cling to the past forever. Sinking into Historia's hold, he forced himself to look from Zeke, burying his face against Historia's shoulder for the flight home. He ruined and destroyed everything he touched. No matter what anyone said, he'd done all of this. Levi was waiting with Mikasa and her squad as they landed on the castle's training yards. This time Eren brushed off Historia's help as he slipped from Ymir. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to remember. He wanted to forget everything horrible and he wanted someone to tell him he wasn't to blame. Seeking out Levi, the alpha was the first of the waiting party to reach him. Stopping before him, Levi's expression was soft, while Eren was sure he must look a wreck "Eren?" There was something different in the way Levi said his name. The gentle questioning, the oozing concern and the hesitation from days of not speaking. Crushed beneath his self imposed blame, Eren reached out to take Levi's hand, the alpha quick to turn the gesture into a hug. He wanted Levi. He wanted to surrender himself beneath the alpha, and to forget about the world outside "Take me to bed" Four simple words was all it took. He couldn't keep the charade any longer. He wanted the pleasure that melted his brains and blanked his mind "Are you sure?" "I'm sure" Swept off his feet and carried up to Levi's chambers, the moment they were inside Eren was pulling Levi into a hungry kiss. Months of separation leading to a blinding lust as their mouths clashed and hands groped blindly. Falling to bed with a slight bounce, Levi stripped him deftly, the alpha's hands had always been extraordinarily skilled. Cupping his small breasts, Levi's lips found Eren's neck, nipping and kissing as the omega fought to undo the alpha's pants. His arse growing sopping wet with the need to be filled by the alpha in front of him "You're so fucking beautiful" Massaging his breasts, Eren moaned. They'd been so sore and heavy with milk, the pressure of Levi's hold just right to provide relief from pain. Whimpering as the alpha continued to mouth his way down, precum started to dribble down Eren's neglected dick as Levi's lips sealed around his left nipple, sucking hard as his hands abandoned his breasts to fight his way from his shirt. Leaning back against the pillows, Eren tried to hook his leg around Levi, only for his stomach to prevent him getting any kind of friction down there. Sucking harder, the omega's head lolled back, he could come from this alone, but that wasn't what he wanted "Fuck... fuck... Levi... fuck me..." Releasing his nipple, Levi looked up to him "Are you sure?" "Please. I'm... I'm sick of being what everyone wants... I need you. I need you so badly..." "I'm right here..." Stripped free of his clothes, Levi was still as stunning as Eren remembered. There were new scars, some looking more painful than others, but there was a softness in his alpha that hadn't been there when they'd parted. Kissing his way along each of Eren's thighs, the omega's hands gripped the blankets as Levi finally settled between his legs. Sliding one hand down, Levi's fingers rubbed at his sopping opening, causing Eren to cry out in a half sob of need. It was torture to be so close to coming, yet not being close enough to fall right over the edge "Relax for me, baby. I don't want to hurt you" Nodding, Eren wished Levi would just... the thought gone as his lover buried two fingers into his heat, his back arching off the bed with a lewd moan. God. All Levi had done was begin to finger him and he as putty in the alpha's hands, spreading his legs wider for the man to see without knowing he had. Rocking against the intrusion, Eren's breathy moans drowned out the squelch of his slick "Fuck... shit... Levi... don't stop... don't stop..." Levi knew his body like a harpist knew a harp, drawing the sweetest sounds from within and making it look effortless as he did. He knew every inch of Eren's body, his strong fingers moving in time with omega as he stroke his sweet spot and lit a fire within. Pulling out enough to bring a whine forth, Eren came hard across his belly as Levi pushed three fingers in, a strangle cry erupting as cum splattered across his swollen belly. Leaning down, the alpha lapped at the semen, continuing to abuse Eren's wet heat and drawing every last drop of cum from within. Panting, Eren licked his lips as he tried to catch his breath "Lay on your side for me..." Though foggy and recovering from orgasm, dimly Eren obeyed. Behind him, Levi slip up to spoon him. Peppering kisses to his scaled back as he did. When the alpha's fingers slid from his abused opening, Eren let out a gasped sob. A feeling of emptiness hitting hard, much too hard given he'd just been finger fucked into orgasm "Shhh. I've got you" Supporting Eren's left leg, Eren arched and shivered. His hands gripped the furs on the bed as Levi fucked him. Moans and mews were lost in a haze, both of them desperately chasing the feeling of orgasm all over again, Levi's hard and rough rhythm born from the alpha's nearly year long abstinence, just as much as his love and desire to pleasure the weeping creature in his arms. Lowering his leg, Levi nudged him up, the alpha firmly buried inside as he moved to take Eren's hips in his hands, the omega's gravid stomach rubbing against the furs as it bounce with each hard thrust. His small breasts leaking milk as his stiffened nipples rubbed against the sheets, the weight enough to hurt in a way that made everything feel that much better. Nothing could compare to this. His second orgasm hitting unexpectedly fast, cum turning to piss as he lost control. Growling, Levi's dick swelled and lengthened, Eren crying out his alpha's name, collapsing from a third, dry, orgasm, as Levi knotted him, flooding him with his seed and continuing to ride him roughly through his orgasm. Panting hard, Levi manhandled him back to his side. The alpha's hand sliding across his belly as he nipped at Eren's shoulder. Sweaty, sticky and exhausted, Eren found himself purring as Levi pulled a fur up to cover them. His body felt as if he was overheating, yet that would pass and thought Levi's arms were warm, there was no way of knowing how long he'd remain knotted within. Sinking back into Levi's hold, the alpha crooned softly, his hand moving back to Eren's stomach once they were both covered as he whispered words of praise over the Eren's changing body. Licking his lips, Eren felt like he should say something, yet for the first time in a long time, his mind was truly and completely blank. His self deprecating thoughts ruined by three extraordinary orgasms that had made him come hard enough to render him senseless. Burrowing into the furs, he couldn't find the effort to be embarrassed or ashamed. He couldn't find the effort to hate himself. He couldn't find the effort to deny that Levi was the cornerstone for the foundation of his heart. The way they melted together each time they had sex, nothing felt as safe and right as that. Nothing felt as good as that. Purring up a storm, one round wasn't enough for the reconnecting lovers. Eren's body was starved of physical love and affection. Levi the only thing that could provide any for of comfort, while chasing away the demons from the young omega's mind. Lost in each other, hours passed. When Levi decided the bed was too dirty for the pair of them, he carried him off to the bathtub where he'd cleaned Eren down thoroughly. Drowsy and drained, Eren had fallen asleep in the water. The alpha's hands rubbing the swell of his belly as their baby kicked. To Levi it felt like a dream, his whispers of "thank you" to Eren were lost on his sleeping lover. Leaving Eren sleeping in the bath, Levi stripped his bed down, grateful most of their bodily fluids were captured in the furs that he sent to be cleaned. Carried from the bath to the remade bed, Levi dried Eren carefully, unable to stop himself from mouthing open mouthed kisses to Eren's prominent swell as he did everything he could to make Eren comfortable, before joining him beneath the blankets. Holding him close, they fell asleep in a tangle of limbs. * Waking with Eren in his arms, Levi wondered if he was still dreaming. In the night they'd shifted so Eren was now curled into his side, his proud belly resting across Levi's with his leg wrapped around the alpha's waist. Watching Eren's lips puff out slightly as he let out another soft breath, Levi was completely captivated by the moment. Eren was stunning. His face relaxed, and the deep bags that had hung under his eyes had cleared. Brushing a stray lock of hair back from his omega's face, Levi leaned in to steal a small kiss, knowing that Eren would probably retreat from him again once he woke. The omega had been clearly distressed when he'd returned from Marley, sex probably the last thing he needed, but it wasn't the first time Eren had sought out sexual pleasure in order to cope. He was just lucky that the omega was his, and that he was the only person on Earth who'd seen Eren revelling openly in pleasure. It hadn't mattered how many times he'd knotted him, or how bonelessly exhausted his omega had been, he'd asked for more, so Levi had given him everything he had, not holding back as he tried to heal all of Eren's broken parts. He loved him. He loved him so fucking much, and feeling their baby kicking had filled him with such happiness that he didn't have the words for it. He was well and truly sorry for leaving his lover, yet Eren had let him hold him again. Levi was still watching over Eren as Eren woke. A small sleepy yawn falling from the omega's perfect pink lips as he nuzzled into Levi's shoulder with a second yawn. There were a few small moments, before Eren tensed "Levi?" "Shhh, I'm here. You're ok" Slowly pushing himself up, Levi missed Eren's warmth as the omega rose to sit. One hand moving to his stomach as he did "I..." "Eren" "We had sex..." Blushing beautifully, Levi wanted to push Eren down and climb between his legs all over again "We did" Another few moments passed, Eren wasn't running away, though he looked as if he wanted to "How do you feel? You're not too sore are you?" "I... I feel fine... we... seriously had sex?" "It's alright. We did. And a fair bit if I'm being honest. I know you're hurting, and I know you're scared of what this means now. I can see it on your face, but it doesn't have to change anything if you don't want to it to. I love you and I broke your trust. I know you're going through so much right now, that it all probably feels too much, but I want to be here for you" Eren blinked at him before frowning "You make it sound like you're just here for me to fuck" Levi pinched the bridge of his nose "That's not what I mean" "That's how it sounded" "Eren. I love you. I had sex with you, because I love you. You are the most beautiful and amazing omega in this world. What I mean to say is, that I think we should talk, but only when you're ready. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to add to your worries" Sighing, the omega began to climb from his hold. Levi pushing down his desire to pull his omega back to bed "Eren?" "Just... let me use the bathroom. You're saying too many big words and I've just woken up from the best night sleep I've had in a long time. I need... to pee" Levi snorted. Eren had been so ashamed when he'd realised he'd wet the bed, not understanding how Levi could understand these things happen, especially when Eren was so heavily pregnant that he looked fit to burst "Alright. Should I send for some food? You should eat" "Um... just let me deal with this first" "Ok" Taking that to mean yes, Levi opened his door to find it guarded. That certainly made things easier as he sent the guards to the kitchens with orders to bring back a variety of things for Eren. He wanted Eren to stay, and if nothing plucked his fancy, Eren might just leave in order to find something more appealing to eat. The food arrived before Eren returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a bathrobe, his stomach was too large to hide it completely in the fabric. Waddling over to sit at the dining table, Eren sighed as the tie came undone, exposing both small breasts and his swell "I didn't know it'd get so big" Fussing with the tie, the omega sighed again as it unraveled "Eren, it's fine. You don't need to hide your body from me" Sitting in just a pair of pants, Levi was even less dressed than Eren was "That's not the problem... I just... I haven't been comforted with my body for a while now" "You should be. You look stunning" Eren's gaze remained on his stomach "I look fat. I feel fat and about as sexy as a shoe" "Nonsense. You're beautiful" "You're just saying that because we fucked" "No. I'm saying that because it's true. You look beautiful. Motherhood suits you" Finally Eren's lips twitched as his cheeks reddened minutely. How long had it been since someone complimented him? "You, uh, think so?" "I do. You're a natural, and you're a wonderful mother to Luca" "I haven't had this baby yet" "I know. I'm amazed every time I see your stomach. To know that the child is mine... I'm so fucking proud" Eren let out a weird kind of snort, before shaking his head "Levi. I don't know what you want me to say" "You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know you're beautiful" In his mind, Obsydin was agreeing with every word Levi said. The dragon had given him mental privacy while he reconnected with Eren. Both Levi and his alpha grateful for it. It seemed like the dragon had backed off once his sword had been placed beside Vermil's "I... I think I should apologise. Yesterday really fucking sucked" Pouring Eren a large cup of tea, Levi set the cup down in front of the omega. Wrapping his hands around the cup, Eren leaned forward, the bathrobe slipping to expose more of Eren's barely hidden breasts "I figured as much" "I feel like I'm falling apart" "If you need to talk, I'll listen" "Will you? Because I really fucked up and everyone keeps lying to me. I still can't believe your back, and I told myself I wasn't going to go running back to you, only to climb into bed with you so you'd fuck me until I couldn't think and I'm kind of the biggest arsehole in the world, and responsible for hundreds of people dying..." Eren was fast spiralling, his scent souring as Levi rose from his chair. Moving to Eren's side, he squatted down to take both Eren's hands in his. Despite everything that had happened, Eren still wore his engagement ring. Levi's thumb tracing the jewel as he took a deep breath, trying to pick his words so as to not upset Eren further "Eren. I'm not mad. I don't regret sleeping with you. I don't regret holding you, or making love to you. I don't regret telling you I love you. But this goes further than that. Who's lying to you? And why? And what do you mean you've killed hundreds? I want to understand your pain. I want to be here for you, but you need to explain things for me" "The war, Levi. I started the fucking war... now Draecia is going to war with Marley. Historia's bringing Dina up on war charges..." Breaking down into tears, Eren's whole body shook "I did this. I blacked out and flew to Draecia. Zeke was supposed to come with me because we were worried about the baby. Historia sent her kingdom to war because of me. How many more people are going to die because of me?! I hate it. I hate it, Levi. I did all of this. I ruined Eldia. I ruined Marley. I ruined Draecia! I ruin everything all the time! Armin said none of this was my fault, but it was! If I hadn't been so scared, I could have called Luca sooner. I could have taken Zeke to Draecia. I could have prevented this from happening! I married Zeke and the agreement was that I had three years to birth an heir! I wasn't supposed to fall pregnant! I wasn't supposed to care about him! He's dead and gone, and I've jumped back into bed with you! I'm falling apart because everyone keeps lying to me! I did all of this! Why can't they blame me?! Why?!" Eren was basically yelling by the end of the outburst as coughed and sobbed. Everything Levi had been fearing was laid bare by Eren's confession. He'd fucking known Eren would feel this way. He'd known it, but it didn't make it hurt any less "Because you're not to blame. Zeke and Erwin both knew you didn't want a war, yet couldn't put aside their differences to find out what the truth was. I know it's hard, and I knew you'd feel like this, but seeing you like this hurts like hell. I don't blame you. I can't blame you... I love you" "How can you tell me you love me? I've torn three countries apart" "Dina is responsible. You gave up everything in an attempt to keep the peace. Historia chose to take action against Marley. They've been hunting and slaying dragons for years. She's stepped up because she wants better for her country. You're always the last to see the good in yourself, and it frustrates the fuck out of me" "I don't feel good" "You don't feel good physically or mentally?" Eren shook his head "Both... I'm tired, Levi. I love this baby, but I'm done being pregnant. I'm worried about how long they've been inside of me, if they're going to be ok from my body trying to protect them. I'm tired because I know the moment I step outside that door everyone is going to talk about me all over again. About how much of a slut I am. I'm tired of not knowing how you're magically ok. I'm angry that you were gone, and you missed most of this pregnancy. I'm horny. Tired. And depressed. I don't know what to do next, but I know Armin isn't going to like me having spent so much time with you. I just... I wanted to help everyone, but I didn't... I feel so fucking stupid" Half sliding off his chair as he sought comfort in Levi's hold, Levi lifted his omega before they wound up on the floor completely. Carrying Eren over to his bed, he settled him down, kissing his forehead as he took his hands in his "You're not stupid. You're strong and you're smart and you're beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for our baby" "It sucked... it sucked so much... I wanted it to be yours... I wanted it... but I'm so scared of being alone. I'm scared to be with you and I'm scared not to be" "You don't have to decide. But you do need to decide if you're up to eating" "I'm really tired. My chest feels itchy too" "Then stay in bed. Rest. Let me take care of things" "I don't want to sleep alone. I don't want to dream about Zeke dying again" Mumbling the words, the omega looked miserable. Climbing up to lay beside Eren, the omega slowly shifted into his hold "I've got you. I'm right here" "I know, but I don't know how. I don't understand how you and Obsydin can both be in there" "I don't really know either. I don't remember a lot of what happened after I left. I was... it was blank" "Can you tell me what you remember? Everyone is hiding things and I'm tired of it" Levi kissed Eren's forehead, the omega's face hidden against his neck, slotting perfectly into his side where he belonged "I'll tell you what I remember. It wasn't great and I did some stuff you won't like" Eren gave a hollow snort "I married another alpha, had people watch him fuck me, then got locked up. I think there's a whole lot we would have rathered we not done" Levi replayed Eren's words in his head, not entirely sure they made sense, before dismissing the thought. He couldn't tell Eren everything, because he didn't remember everything, so he'd have to start with... with when he tried to kill himself "Levi?" "Sorry. I was thinking. Are you warm enough? It's not exactly a long story, but I don't want you being cold" "I'm ok. You're warm" "Alright... I'll tell you what I remember. Obsydin could probably tell you what I can't, but he won't tell me either" "It's ok... I want to know what you went through, in your own words" * Levi could barely remember the day he'd left Eren and Luca on the beach. The roaring of pain in the back of his mind, combined with the pain of his own heart breaking left him numb. He had no destination in mind as he rode away, only to put as much distance between himself and his family. Telling himself that it was for Eren's sake didn't make anything better. Telling himself he was protecting Eren was just a cheap cop out. He knew how much he was going to hurt his omega, yet he left anyway. From there, things grew hazy for Levi. Days would pass in a blink of an eye, Levi finding himself waking to find he recognised nothing around him, or even worse, he'd wake to find himself in Eren's arms, only for the illusion to shatter as the omega cruelly abused him. Voicing his inner most thoughts as he blamed him for leaving. The horses he'd taken with him found their deaths at his hands, one night he'd tethered them, then when he'd come too again, he'd found them slaughtered by his claws, his body bathed in blood. The money he'd taken was lost from his pockets as his clothes grew tattered, little more than cloth hanging off his weather beaten form. Winter made all that more rough with no sanity to remind him to seek shelter and food. The voices in his head now smothered out his own, Levi soon forgetting he could speak anything other than grunts and growls, moments of clarity disappearing entirely. The voices and the hallucinations had robbed him of all he was. He didn't know where reality ended and the dreams began, and the onset of total madness hit too fast for him to end his own life, as he'd planned. On a snowy winter's night, Levi found himself at the banks of a large lake. The snow drifted and floated down from the heavens, seeping in through the holes in his boots, Levi's body already in the starting stages of hypothermia. Perhaps because of this, he'd been granted a moment of clarity, lonely beyond words as he stared up at the overcast sky. He knew he was dying. His body couldn't withstand the cold any further, nor the months of neglect and feeding on whatever was close and available, without always positive results. If he had one last wish, it was to see Eren one last time. To tell him how much he'd loved him, and to thank him for loving him in return. On the remnants of his shirt, the brooch his love had gifted him hung heavily, only remaining due to the fact it was pinned there. With clumsy fingers, Levi removed the brooch. It's golden shine filled with dirt, Eren's scale a dark blob in the centre, while the diamonds held no glint of shine. This was the last thing he had of his mate. The last thing he could hold onto to prove Eren was his. The bite on his neck forgotten by tired mind. Standing beneath the clouds, Levi took a deep breath. He didn't want Eren to see what came next. He didn't want any part of his omega to see him die like a stray dog. Tears rolled down his face, betraying his own thoughts. With a feral kind of yell, the brooch was thrown into the black inky water, a small plop before it disappeared from his sight. Levi then clutching his hands to his chest as he sank down into the snow, his pain vocalised in screaming sobs. All he wanted was Eren. Eren was soft and warm. He was hope and the future. He was sweet and pure. He felt shame and pain for taking a life. He'd felt the pain of others as his own, and wanted to protect everyone from the monsters of the world... though labelled one himself. By some miracle he made it through the night, blacking out then waking to find himself naked, his soaked clothes hung over rocks in the cave he found himself in. Most confusingly was the fact that Eren's brooch back in his hands. He'd hoped to die. He'd thought he would, curled in the snow, but there he was. Warm, and starving, Levi curled up closer to the fire, falling back to sleep from sheer exhaustion. This was the first time Levi met Obsydin in his mind. Dressed in fine clothes, and standing in a royal hall, Levi thought he'd finally gone off the edge. Asleep while awake had become his natural state, yet he knew he was dreaming, despite how real it all felt. He had to be dreaming, he was looking at a wilder version of himself. He didn't know what was happening, and he didn't want to know. If this was dream, the dream he died in, he was choosing how he died. Using his clawed fingers, Levi tore at his wrists. He was done. If he woke up again, he had no idea what came next.