#rivapet

[captain-natey]

Afternoon nap with the Captain ♥

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[reereezoku]

This screams...

RIVETRAAAAAA!

[amyina]

To all those who disavow the ship between Levi and Petra: you can not like it, but you can't say it is not there. The focus on her, together with Hanji and Erwin, is the additional and final proof that she was somehow important for him too.

Petra will always be there. 🖤🧡

[heybeybey]

through all of my lives

Summary: Reincarnation AU [Canon-Compliant]. The three Christmases Levi could have spent with Petra, and the one time that he finally did.

Words: 4,986

Rating: M

[Crossposted on Ao3]

“I think my parents would adore you.”

Levi turns, the warmth from the oil lamp hitting his bare back, while the body heat of the woman on his bed engulfs his front.

“Doubt they’d approve of a rat as a son-in-law, Ral,” he answers.

Petra swats his bare chest softly before cuddling back in, her forehead nuzzled against his ribs.

“You’re too hard on yourself, captain,” she lightly scolds.“Your birthday is on the 25th, yes?”

He raises a brow but still nods, and Petra beams.

“Why don’t you celebrate your birthday with us?” she invites. “Mom makes great tea and dad’s been asking about you.”

“Think that time would be better off being spent with family than with your superior, brat,” he says. “You don’t wanna waste your time off for the holidays.”

She reaches up a hand to cup his cheek, “Don’t be ridiculous. You are going to be family soon too, remember? Unless you forgot that you just proposed. Or was that just a way to get on your subordinate’s bed?”

He snorts in amusement as he pinches her butt, “Yep, that was exactly the plan. I’m a scheming asshole.”

She gives him a mock glare, and another swat on his bicep.

“Fine,” Levi acquiesces as he looks at her pouting face. “If your dad kills me, you’re the one explaining to Erwin.”

Petra smiles, and in no time, she starts rattling off ideas on how to make the most out of Levi’s first visit back home. She’d detailed all the food she’d help prepare when they get to ride to her home, along with all the sights Karanese has to offer.

It’s still months away, and they have the upcoming 57th expedition to focus on. Still, it had been a nice change of pace to discuss plans with Petra, the domesticity of it all a warm thought in Levi’s mind.

Months later, despite the unfortunate outcome of the 57th expedition, Levi still found himself spending midwinter with the Rals.

Petra had already extended the invite, and the captain received another letter from her father a month before his birthday. Mr. Ral was a nice man—too understanding, in Levi’s opinion. He doesn’t deserve it, but not once did the man blame Levi.

Petra was right when she said her mother was great at making tea, similar to her daughter. The older woman had been hospitable, preparing all the dishes that Petra had detailed in her letter—ones that she knows her captain would love.

She also had three younger brothers—all as adventurous and curious as their sister had been.

They’d shot the captain one question after the other, with one of them being brave enough to tug on his military jacket and another asking him for a lesson on how to wield the ODM.

He doesn’t indulge them in their curiosity. If Levi were the religious type, then he’s praying now that they won’t join the military.

Levi had never spent midwinter festival with a family in so long. The times he had with the Scouts were the closest to what he would consider as one, but he’d never had the privilege of a warm home, of a home-cooked meal, and a room filled with children’s laughter as they open presents the moment the clock strikes 12.

It would’ve been perfect, but Petra’s absence was a heavy ache as he dines with the Rals.

————————————————————————————————

Her face was familiar, like seeing an old childhood friend that he didn’t bother contacting once they’re out of their diapers.

Which was something that he never expected he would say. He wasn’t really the most sociable person around, nor the most approachable. Then again, university is a time when even the most introverted are forced out of their shell. He might’ve seen her in one of the classes he’d sat in as a teaching assistant.

Her ginger hair was up in a haphazard bun, the ones that didn’t make it fall past her shoulders. She was bent over the coffee shop table, heavy eyes going over stacks of papers.

Her tired eyes almost reminds him of the worried lines that graced her face the night before every expedition.

Expedition?

Before he can question himself further at the strange thought, the woman finally looks up and meets his gaze. Her brows twitch in a suspicious frown, and he realizes that he’d been staring for far too much time for him to look like a creep.

He looks away, placing back on the heavy as fuck headphones that his lab partner gave him in their Christmas party last week.

A few minutes passed by when he hears the screech of a chair, and a shadow obscures the textbook he was reading from.

“Are you with someone?” the woman—the same one he was staring at earlier—was right before him, gesturing to the remaining seat in front of him.

“Uh… no.”

She smiles, “Great.”

Then sits on the empty chair.

He frowns, “I don’t remember inviting you over.”

“And I don’t remember allowing you to stare at me like a creep,” she quips, then smirks when a subtle flush passes over his face. “But here we are.”

He doesn’t attempt to answer back. After making her uncomfortable like that, he deserves to squirm in her presence.

“Senior?” she finally speaks up.

He blinks, surprised she’s starting a conversation with him.

“Grad school,” he corrects. “You?”

“Junior.”

“Ah.”

They’re once again plunged into silence, focusing on their respective studies.

He was all too content to ignore her until he finishes his cup. The place was starting to fill in more with sleep-deprived students anyway, and he thinks he can move to the library instead.

That was until he caught sight of an empty packet of black tea in between her planner.

“You like tea?”

She blinks, surprised he’s finally talking to her. She glances at the item that brought on the inquiry and nods.

“I find it helps me with fatigue,” she explains. “I take it you’re also a tea lover?”

He nods. He never knew what made him gravitate to such a preference, just that he always opted for a cup of tea over coffee ever since.

She beams, then takes out a few more empty packets behind the journal. “Me too! I used to be into coffee, but I don’t know why I’ve been into tea recently.”

From there, she started to explain the different variants she ended up loving—the reason why she kept their empty sachets as reference, even offering some brands that he never even considered.

Papers and textbooks forgotten, the two of them spent the whole afternoon chatting. Well, she honestly did most of the talking and he’d been all too pleased to just listen to her voice.

He learns that she’s 20 and he reveals that he’s 27. She’s in the hospitality field with dreams of becoming a flight attendant one day, while he shares that he’s working towards a med degree after he’d lost his mother a few years back.

He also learns that she’s an international student from Paradis, which wasn’t as hard to deduce based on her accent.

She tells him that she’ll be spending the holidays alone, as most of her roommates—all international students like her—were sent back to Paradis.

“They were visiting home for awhile. I delayed my visit to my family until after Christmas,” she explains, frowning. “But then the borders closed. I’m helping them fix their papers with the university.”

He’s not sure what pushed him to say it out loud. Maybe it’s because she looked like a kicked puppy at the thought of being alone for the holidays. She seemed like the type who’d easily get along with anyone, who’d bring light into any conversation.

“You can come over,” he finds himself inviting her.

“Hmm?”

He coughs, cheeks starting to warm. He never even celebrated the Yuletide season. After finals, he’d often opt to sleep away the holidays instead, body and mind too tired for anything else.

“My roommate decorated the damn place and stocked the fridge,” he starts. “Then left me and went back home last minute after his pops told him they’re traveling over the holidays. So… uh, we can watch Christmas movies? Or just whatever you want. I don’t know…”

At this point, he’s sure his face is about to melt off with how heated it feels.

She bites her lip and a giddy smile spreads across her face. Before he knows it, she’s grabbing a pen and scribbling her number down, along with a brief run-through of how her schedule looks like.

“I’d love to,” she says, handing the scrap of paper to him and giggled at his bewildered look. “My name’s Paige, by the way.”

--

Weeks later and she never came.

They were texting almost every single day one moment, then she went radio silent. She told him that she might be flying back to Paradis real quick, but her parents told her to not stay for too long as the situation was getting worser back home.

The stab was quick, and he tells himself it’s for the better. He doesn’t know where he got that thought from—the urge to shield himself from further heartbreak—when he’d invited her with nothing more than friendship and warm company over the holidays in mind.

Still, the silence in his apartment further scalds the pain.

But it was nothing compared to what he saw on the news when he turned on the television later that night.

He watched as Paradisian immigrants and students—even those with the proper papers to stay in Marley—were forced back to their home country.

He already knows about this, it’s something that many governments had insisted on in the past few years. No one truly understood why, and many had chalked it up to generational hate and racism. They targeted the illegal immigrants first, then policies made it harder for international students and overseas workers to seek a life beyond Paradis’ shores.

He was one of the fortunate ones. Though of Eldian descent, his family had already established a life in Marley generations ago. By this point, he’s not entirely sure where his Eldian blood started and ended.

He watched the news as Eldian women, men and children were shipped back as if they were nothing but simple cattle.

Riots, chaos, stampedes in the harbor and airports.

Then, came the bombs.

Paradis, once a thriving island decades after Eren Yeager’s rumbling and the time of the titans.

Reduced to rubble in a single day as retribution.

————————————————————————————————

He knows he shouldn’t approach her. He really fucking shouldn’t. Every time he got involved in their first few lives together, it had never turned out well for him, for her. Especially for her.

But she was right there, beckoning him with molten amber eyes, a come-hither in her gaze. As she usually does every time her boss and his associates take some time to unwind in this establishment.

She’s different in this life. Although she still has that fighting aura surrounding her reminiscent of her very first life, there was something more sinister this time around.

Something broken. Battle-hardened, physically, emotionally, mentally.

Titans were a real bitch to deal with, but humans are a breed of monsters on their own.

Her red-tinted smiles look adorable to the untrained eye, but as this establishment’s bartender, he’d witnessed the many times she’d swindled her way through a deal—often with a pat on the back from the blonde behind her.

The only time she’d ever smiled genuinely was when she’d slide on the stool in the front bar while the bartender wipes down the surface. To him.

He sees her whisper something to her boss and the man nods back down to her. She takes that moment to saunter over.

“What can I get you this time?”

“The bartender would be perfect,” she says, lashes batting, voice ever blunt.

He gives her a long look, before tearing his gaze away when he feels that familiar tug in his chest.

“Wrong order,” he quips. “Menu’s over there.”

Thank fuck the lighting was dim enough to hide the usual blush that her flirtation would often draw from him.

She pouts, before the smile lights back up on her face. The woman stands from the stool when the bartender leans over to wipe a spot left by another customer, and she takes that opportunity to grab his collar.

And he gives in, as he always does.

The kiss was searing, her fingers insistent as she wraps them around the back of his neck. There was something urgent, bordering desperate, in the ways she takes him in, and he was all too ready to melt into her.

Next thing he knows, she’d dragged him again into the usual VIP room they’d find themselves in every week. His pants were discarded first, followed by her tight emerald green dress. He was only able to pop a few buttons of his top before she’d climbed his lap, his moan barely restrained as she speared herself on him in one go.

He watches her from below as she rides him, his palm reaching up to cup her cheek and never tearing his gaze away from her sweat-slicked face. He tries to memorize every soft corner of her skin, every emotion as she chases both of their release.

A couple of lives later, and she’s still as radiant as she’s ever been.

“It’s Christmas Eve,” she says afterwards as she nips on his ear. He wraps his arms around her, their breathes syncing against their bare chests. “Why don’t you go home early instead?”

“Can’t. I still need to—“

“Consider this as undertime payment,” she whispers as she reaches over her bag and leaves a wad of cash on the table. He was about to rebut that shit like that doesn’t exist. Maybe even jest that she’s treating him like her whore. “You said your mom’s waiting for you tonight, right?”

“Your boss’ gonna kill me,” he retorts.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” she purrs, patting his bare chest. “He’s quite fond of you. I’m sure he would’t mind.”

He hesitates, but nods. It would be nice to have some time off to actually spend with his mother. It was a luxury he even get to spend time with her after he’d lost her so early on in his first life.

“If it’s not too much to ask…” he finds himself saying while he watches her get dressed.

She turns back to him, fingers pausing from zipping up her bodycon dress.

“Yes?”

And it’s there. The same unburdened, eager look she’d get whenever he’d ask for a cup of tea to be brought to his office the very first life around.

It’s her.

He bites his lip, face warm.

“Are you free,” he awkwardly coughs into his fist. “Sometime this holiday season?”

The woman remains silent, watching him in wonder. But if he squints, he can swear melancholy momentarily tinted her gaze.

It was a scary thought—taking that first step to finally get to know her better after months of just fucking. He tells himself every single time that it’s the last time, didn’t even bother learning her name, lest he loses her again.

But she’s physically stronger this time around. More so than some lowly bartender could ever be. She’d laced on guns as if they’re pearls, stabbed men on the back both metaphorically and literally.

Maybe… maybe, this time around, he won’t lose her.

The silence eventually becomes too unbearable.

“You know what? Fuck it,” he finally says. “I get that shooting people’s brains out is a time-consuming job—“

She forces a smirk back on her face as she cuts him off, “I’ll check my schedule.”

—

The next day, the bartender he was supposed to work his shift with was dead.

Along with six other patrons, twelve men and the blonde crime lord that owned the establishment.

It was all over the news—a shootout along Clement St., all culminating in the bar downtown. Something about a misunderstanding (an understatement) between two of the country’s biggest crime bosses.

As the news reported the casualties, he finally learns that her name in this life was Piper.

————————————————————————————————

When Levi received his rank as captain in his current life, a part of him wanted to laugh.

The world is still a cruel place, but it had substantially mellowed compared to the inequality and hatred that ravaged nations centuries ago. There’s no Marley or Paradis or Hizuru anymore.

What’s funnier is that he also goes on expeditions. He’d found Erwin again, the Expedition Leader of the SC Ocean Explorer, and Hange, the Lead Scientist of the same ship.

It feels like a full circle.

But this time around, they’re not killing titans and saving dying comrades. They’re mapping unexplored shores and marine ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean—all while stopping Hange from adopting another damn shark (which is a full-time job in itself. That’s why they have Moblit). He’s not privy to the scientific and discovery part of things as compared to Eyebrows and Four-Eyes, but like his first life, he’d dedicated his career to the well-being of everyone on this ship.

And like in the very first life, he’s still weak to the whims of these two idiots.

“Everyone’s willing, Levi,” Erwin tells him. “It’s a different experience to spend Christmas on the ship. It’s not like we’re forcing anyone.”

“Yeah, except for me,” Levi retorts. “Ever crossed your mind I have plans tonight?”

“But that’s the thing. You don’t have a life, Levi,” Hange pipes up. “So I think we’re all good to go!”

He’s the captain of this ship. Hell, he technically outranks them all, simply because it’s his ship even though Eyebrows’ the one in charge of planning these scientific expeditions. But one eager look from Hange, one nudge from Erwin and of course he’s stupid enough to give in. And on Christmas Eve, no less!

“Also, we have a junior documentations assistant coming aboard,” Hange adds after he finally gave in to push through to their next destination. “Try not to scare her off, Ackerman.”

“Not my fault you and Eyebrows choose crybabies for these expeditions.”

“You’d find she’s far from one,” Hange says. “She was one of my students. Very smart. Sharp tongue too. Oh, and she makes great tea!”

He freezes at what seemed to be a harmless fact, then shakes his head. Nothing but a coincidence, probably.

“Whatever,” Levi brushes Hange off instead. “Just make sure she finds her way around. You keep passing that job to me Four Eyes and I do not want to babysit again.”

All this time, he’d been rest assured that he’s never going to see her again. He noticed that he’d always meet her right before he turned 32—the age when they got together the first lifetime around.

Now that he’s about to turn 40, and not a single sight of Petra Ral in the past decades, he was so sure that he’d be spared the heartbreak at least for one life.

Levi was in the middle of reviewing the map Erwin had plotted down when he was proven so fucking wrong.

“Captain?”

Levi freezes at the familiar voice. He feels his shoulders stiffen, heart going erratic as his fist tightens on the cockpit’s wheel.

He must be dreaming. Yeah, that’s what this is. He’s fucking dreaming. Or maybe having a nightmare. He hasn’t slept more than three hours for five days now.

Because only his mind would fuck him over like this.

“Uhm… excuse me sir?”

She was persistent, soft knocks reverberating again from the door. He hears her whisper to herself that maybe the captain of this ship wasn’t inside, but the light coming from the cockpit was more than enough proof that she was being ignored.

He hears her pause, then start to walk away.

Against his better judgement, Levi found himself wrenching the door of the cockpit open.

“Petra…” he breathes.

The woman turns back, surprise apparent on her features. And if he’s seeing it correctly, a momentary flash of recognition.

Because it really is her.

Adorable ginger bob, petite stature, creamy skin and sweet lilting voice. Only thing different is that she’s not wearing the long-forgotten green capes of their shared past lives, but still donning a uniform similar to Hange’s and Erwin’s.

She was even carrying a tray of tea.

“How did you know my second name?” she asks, head tilting to the side.

Fuck.

“I always check the list of names of all the crew and team,” he smoothly diverts as he composes himself and backs away from the doorframe.

Which was bullshit. He never bothered checking, save for a quick run-through.

“Oh…” she says, then gives him a friendly grin. “Well, Mr. Smith said that I can find the captain of the ship here. He said you’re fond of tea?”

He wants to reach out, caress the stray strand of ginger locks that fell on her face. Kiss her stupid because fuck, he misses her.

Levi feels his mouth go dry, not knowing what else to do but nod.

“That’s great!” she replies. “We’re actually getting together at the deck but Professor Hange told me you’re not really a people person.” Then she extends the tray out to him. He sees that there’s what seems to be peppermint tea, along with some gingerbread cookies. “I made everyone tea. It’s my first day here— Sir, are you okay?”

He feels faint, his hands going clammy the more he looks at her.

“I’m fine,” he brushes off. To prove it, he takes the tray from her with a mumbled ‘thanks’.

She offers him a smile and a ‘it was nice meeting you, sir’ before turning around to go back to the deck.

“Oi, brat,” he decides to call out as he watches her leave, still slightly pale. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Natalie, sir,” she answers, then a thoughtful look crosses her face. “But you can call me Petra, if you’d like. I don’t use it often but it’s my second name.”

—

Later that night, Levi found himself joining them on the deck. He’d entrusted his First Officer to take over at least for the next couple of hours, and the whole crew looked like they were witnessing a ghost haunting the ship as he steps out.

The captain never joins their get-togethers. At least, not willingly.

“Ah, Levi!” Erwin calls out, a genuine grin on the blonde’s face. “Glad you can join us.”

“Is it because of a certain newbie?” Hange teases him as he sits next to the scientist.

“Fuck off.”

But Levi still found his gaze following the new person on board. To Petra—Natalie.

He corrects himself whenever his mind strays to her second name, his last ditch effort to shield himself from falling further. If the universe would be kind in this life, they’d eventually go their separate ways and she’d live her life safe and ‘til she’s gray and cranky.

The last thing he needs is to get attached.

The woman in question was currently chatting with some of his crew—all of them listening intently to whatever story she’s sharing. Even in this life, she has the tendency to bring people together.

In hindsight, Levi should’ve expected that Hange and Erwin had been planning to turn this little get-together into a mini Christmas party. No wonder they’d stocked up on a number of food in their last stop.

The captain thought that it must just be a few Christmas dishes and a few sips of wine… that was until Hange started leading party games.

He watches Erwin give a toast as the clock strikes 12 midnight, as they all welcome Christmas. The SC Ocean Explorer had always been a tight-knit team, and Levi had never felt it more than tonight.

“And to Natalie,” Hange adds in after Erwin’s toast and she raises her own cup. “Welcome on board, ginger! I still remember how you used to be an uptight little student who’d bring her camera everywhere.”

The woman blushes at the attention, her hand gripping on her paper cup, but still smiles gratefully with a quick thank you for the warm welcome.

“Any words from the captain of the ship?” Hange nudges him and he internally groans.

“Uh… thanks for being here,” Levi says as he eyes their expectant gazes—ever straight to the point. “And Merry Christmas, I guess?”

He sees the new girl smile and cheer along with the others, and Levi thinks that maybe he made the right decision to join them on deck this year.

—

“Thanks for joining us tonight, sir,” Petra—Natalie—says later on as he leads her back to her designated room. “And… uh, for showing me the way back. I’m still a bit confused about the layout of the ship.”

It was supposed to be Hange’s responsibility to do so since this new recruit was under her team, but the scientist had already passed out after six bottles of ‘Christmas merrymaking’.

Levi gives her a wave as if to tell her it’s no problem.

“This your first time on a research vessel?”

“Yes, sir. Professor Hange extended the invite a year back while I was finishing my thesis.”

“Also in the science field?”

She chuckles, “You’d be surprised, but nope. I studied film.”

Interesting.

“Thought Four-Eyes was your prof?”

She stops walking beside him and Levi turns with a confused quirk on his brow. Natalie was frozen on the spot, gaze a bit faraway.

“Four-Eyes?” she echoes.

Oh, right. “Hange.”

“Oh,” she clears her throat, shaking herself out of her daze. “Yes, she was my gen-ed prof for Natural Science in my first year. We’ve kept in touch.”

Levi hums in acknowledgement. They take a left turn, and he’s dreading the fact that he needs to bid her goodnight soon, even though she’d be in the same ship for the next few months.

“So, why are you here?” he asks, watching her from the corner of his eyes. “Thought film grads would be off to chase careers in blockbuster movies or something.”

She lights up, and briefly, it reminds Levi the very first time they talked about why she joined the Survey Corps in the first place.

“My final thesis was on scientific documentaries. That’s why Professor Hange and I are still regularly in contact. She offered me a spot in the documentation team,” she expounds. “It’s what I want to specialize in.”

“You chose a dangerous career path,” Levi looks at her, trying to convey how serious he is with his slanted greys. “It’s not all discovery and fun out here, you know?”

Certainly not as dangerous as facing man-eating 12-feet monsters, but the deep ocean can be unforgiving. They’d lost a couple of men and women the last few years—both crew and explorers—on the quest to understand more about the world.

Natalie nods, “I’m aware, sir. I just thought that if I’m to devote my life to something, telling stories of the undiscovered is a good place to start.”

I devoted my life to the Scouts because if I’m to die, might as well do it helping humanity.

Levi swallows. It really is her.

“Nervous?”

The corner of her lip tugs up. “I hear the captain’s great at what he does though.”

He snorts, “Yeah, he damn better be or all the 62 lives aboard are good as shark food.”

Their conversation lulls after she gives a chuckle at his quip. Perfect timing too, as they’d already reached her quarters. Levi was almost hesitant to leave her, because that’s when shit usually starts to go sour. He’d just turn his back for a second, leave for the night, and next thing he knows, she’s dead.

“It was lovely getting to know you more tonight, Captain,” she tells him with a soft smile. “Merry Christmas, sir.”

It’s the first Christmas they were truly able to spend together.

“Yeah, same… Merry Christmas,” Levi awkwardly greets back. Briefly, he finds himself wondering if he’ll be seeing a lot of her in the coming days.

He steps aside and reaches out to open the door for her—

The same time her hand reaches for the doorknob.

She gasps the moment her skin met his, and Levi feels the usual—never-ending—pang of longing. The memories of each of her death flashing, with her very first one the most vivid of them all. For a second, Levi feels the loss yet again, the hollowness fresh in his chest the more he stared down at her dead eyes and bent spine.

But Petra’s alive. She’s here, right now.

And she’s looking up at him with full recognition in her ambers.

She draws her hand away from the doorknob to intertwine her fingers with his instead, and his throat hitches.

“Hey…” she whispers, her other hand reaching up to cup the side of his jaw.

“Hey.”

Levi lets go, allowing his arms to encircle her waist. He’d always crossed paths with her in the previous times they were together, but it was never fully Petra. She never remembered him, and it’s not like he also wanted her to after how she was brutally killed.

For the first time in lifetimes, he feels his eyes start to water—the toll of their shared previous lives together culminating in this single moment. He’d always felt lonely through his life, and the brief moments he’d had with the previous reincarnations of Petra had always lit up his days, until she’d always been brutally taken away.

“I’m here,” Petra hushes him, her hand running to the back of his head as he leans his face against the crook of her neck. “I’m here now, Levi.”

[savingprimrose]

Rivetra Hades x Persephone AU for @shirofukuro ✨✨✨

Special thanks to @capitainelevi for this amazing mood board! 🥰💖 Rating: Explicit

The letter arrives with a strong gust of wind that had him feeling giddy and lonely at the same time. He briefly wonders how such a thing could be as he accepts the letter from the messenger of the gods. 

"Can't wait for the season to end?" They ask him as they adjust the goggles over their eyes. 

"Yes," he admits, a small smile forming at his lips.

The other god grimaces, "It's weird seeing you smile." 

He doesn't smile much but the thought of his wife always brings him inexplicable joy. He would have clapped back at them but he knows his wife would not approve of him insulting the younger god. 

"Did she say anything?" 

"Only that she misses you," they wink at him before taking flight and disappearing with the wind. 

He says his thanks to the wind and before long Cerberus is beside him, barking and jumping in excitement - its tail wagging from side to side and almost knocking over the tall vase his wife loves putting flowers in. 

He shushes the hound and pets its three heads as he walks to his throne room. Once seated on his throne of skulls and bones, he presses the letter to his nose and inhales.

The parchment smells faintly of her and he is once again reminded of how lonely he is without her. 

With trembling fingers, he opens the letter.

Read more on AO3!

[amyina]

So beautiful ❤️ #petra Aot #petra ral #snk #shingeki no kyojin #rivetra #rivapeto #rivapet

A soldier’s last flight.

[anya-grace]

unpopular opinion/headcanon but what if Petra is oblivious about this whole marriage thing because it was a secret agreement (sort of) between Petra's father and Captain Levi. like imagine when Papa Ral decided to visit Petra on HQ one day, and she's out either buying some supplies or still in training, and he found Captain Levi instead. then they decided to talk about Petra, like how Papa Ral wants her to marry already, how he fears that his daughter might end up alone because she's always chasing titans (ya know...the stuffs Petra rants about her father to Levi in the game).

and knowing Levi he'll say stupid things like, "If you're so worried about your daughter, then I'll take her as my bride when the war is over *sips tea*" or something along those lines. then it became a secret between the two men. and petra wonders when did her father get close to Captain Levi? am I missing something in here???

and every damn time Papa Ral and Levi meets, the older man always drop hints about this 'agreement' then it became a habit WHICH EXPLAINS WHY PAPA RAL APPROACHES LEVI FIRST BEFORE PETRA AND THAT'S WHY LEVI IS ALSO SO GUILTY WHEN SHE DIES.

[th-silverkiss]

My own translation of this / Mi propia traducción de esto.

Let me know If I was wrong in something ^-^ / Háganme saber si me equivoqué en algo ^-^

[mare-dogs]

I love these two so much it hurts

[captain-natey]

commission of a new icon for @askrivetra ♥♥♥ Go leave some asks!!

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[reereezoku]

The Absolute Law

Summary: Levi never takes orders from his subordinates. At least that’s what everyone in the Survey Corps thinks.

*Note: Rivetra with the appearance of Levi’s hand-picked soldiers; an idea from a magazine I’ve read years ago; prequel to Captain and Soldier. Sorta.

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Levi Ackerman is certainly a god.

From his flawless fighting techniques, formidable intelligence, god-like face, sole devotion to cleanliness up to his perfectly accented profanities, no one can ever deny his tangible and intangible qualities that manifest a divine entity everyone worships.

He’s someone people look up to (even how short he seems); a figure no one is not familiar with. Even the military police members who express their clear contempt towards the short captain never refused to acknowledge his notable skills when it comes to eradicating titans in the most unthinkable way—thus, earning himself the title Humanity’s Strongest.

“Hurry the fuck up and make sure you clean the stables spotless.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Oh yeah, and that too.

No matter how ridiculous for others his physique may seem, no one in the Survey Corps had ever (even once) dared resist the orders of their god, lest they find themselves serving as baits for titans.

“As usual. Captain has it tough towards the new recruits. They’re afraid of him even more than suicide itself.” Günter says before he lets go of the woods tucked under his arms, throwing a glance at one of the new members saluting at the retreating figure of their captain.

“Can’t be helped. They were moved by captain’s words during the ceremony.” Auruo mumbles, giving a smirk. “That’s exactly what made me join this squad.”

Günter sighs and shakes his head, unmoved by his obvious admiration for humanity’s strongest man before he says, “How exactly is ‘Go die for humanity’ and ‘Get your shit straight’ moving to you? Sometimes I’m afraid how undisturbed you are with your one-sided love towards the captain.”

“It’s not like we can defy him, you know? Everyone should consider that fact too. Once you get your ass in the Survey Corps, it’s an instant death—either because of the titans or breaking his rules.��� He frowns, flicking his bangs. “And for your information, everyone loves the captain. Besides, I only exist to follow him to the ends of the earth.”

“The last one isn’t necessary. Now I’m more bothered.”

“Shut it, man.”

“More than the new recruits… look.”

The two turn around and find Eld standing near them with a broom in his hand, his thumb pointing at the opposite direction—and they immediately spot Petra sweeping the grounds with the captain pointing to several directions where obvious dirt can be seen.

“I wonder how she copes up every day.” Günter mumbles and continues to grab a pile of woods, stopping once in a while to stare at Petra and their captain.

“She’s supposed to be used to it even before they got married.” Eld shakes his head and sits down, setting the broom beside him. “When she said her ‘I do’, the captain reckoned it as if Petra agreed to kneel and bow down before him for the rest of her life.”

Auruo snickers then.

“That was too much metaphor, idiot. It’s not like Petra would literally—” Then he stops when he sees them with knowing grins. He just didn’t like what that implies. “Oh fuck, you guys stop it.”

“Come on, Auruo. They are husband and wife. Captain has each and every right to make her do that.”

“Not when Petra refuses.”

“Do you suppose she will? Look at how eager she is acquiescing to the captain’s orders.” Eld says, still with a playful grin on his face and points at Petra closely listening to her superior and husband. “She’s more devoted to him than you, sadly.”

“Shut up.”

“Rather, I don’t think she can disregard his words.” Günter mumbles and starts to move the third batch of woodpiles. “Captain wouldn’t let her even if she’s his wife. The moment he tells you to do something, it automatically becomes a law no one is supposed to violate—not even the person closest to him.”

“Unless captain loves foreplay and lets her dominate him even once.” Eld then says and starts to laugh.

“I don’t know but that alone makes me think that it’s ludicrous. And impossible. No one gets to order the captain.”

“Who knows? Captain must have his own kinks, too.”

“And Petra telling him to do this and that turns him on.”

Auruo is about to tell them to shut up, but Günter suddenly waves behind him and they turn to see Eren walking towards them, a tired look on his face.

“Oh, Eren. How’s it going there?” Eld asks, standing up while getting his broomstick.

It’s not precisely smart to let the seventeen-year old see him—his superior, slacking off, or Captain Levi would definitely give him an earful, which is by the way, the last thing he wanted.

“It was tough, sir. The captain wouldn’t let us go until it was sparklingly clean.” Eren says, sighing. “I wish you could see the look on the new soldiers’ faces when they thought we were done and Captain Levi told us to do it right from the start.”

“That must be terrifying.” Günter says.

“Indeed.”

Auruo snickers once again. “Those brats are scared shit of captain.”

“No, sir. Actually…” Eren sheepishly smiles and scratches the back of his head. “…there was this one idiot who was brave enough to tell—not ask, the captain to let us rest for a while.”

“Oh my fucking—”

“Yes, sir. It’s true.”

“So what happened then?” Eld asks, returning to sweeping the floor when he spots the captain passing by them with Petra behind him.

“Let’s just say his face is literally shoved up the horse’s ass.”

There’s a pregnant pause and the three superiors look at each other.

“It’s impossible then.”

“Yeah.”

“I told you guys so.”

They silently go back to their own tasks afterwards while Eren is left staring at them in confusion.

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“So? I wonder what the fuck is this important thing you want to talk about that we have to go back here.” Levi monotonously says and sits on one of the chairs in their kitchen while Petra sighs, walking behind him and placing her hands on his shoulders.

“You’ve been too stiff today, captain. You need to loosen up a bit.” She mumbles. “You’re scaring off the new members.”

Levi stares up at her sideways and frowns. “That’s better.”

But Petra shakes her head and starts to massage him and he immediately relaxes. Sometimes, she just feels so proud of herself when he gives in to her touch.

“Come on, honey. Cut them some slack, will you? You’d lose two-thirds of them in less than a month if you continue this.”

“They should have considered themselves as dogs under my supervision once they decided to be left during the ceremony.” He says. “They were determined to enter hell. I’m just giving them a preview.”

“And you find pleasure in seeing them tremble before you in this hell?”

“More than you’ll ever know.” Levi crosses his legs. “You talk as if you’re never one of them. It’s not like you yourself don’t tremble in front of me one way or another.”

Petra purposely grips the muscles on his shoulders and smiles while gritting her teeth. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. I do tremble in bed. Now please shut up and let me do my job.”

There’s a momentary silence between them save for the sounds of his muscles flexing and Petra scowls when he looks up and gives her a scowl of his own.

“Is this the only thing you called me for, Petra?”

She doesn’t answer; instead, Petra continues to massage his shoulders and hums a series of notes before Levi grabs her hands and takes them away from him.

“I’m going back. There are tons of things we still have to do in the headquarters. You may stay here if you want.” Levi stands up and turns around when he hears her sigh. “And while you’re at it, prepare the—what the hell are you doing?”

He crosses his arms.

Petra tears her gaze away from the three opened buttons of her blouse and removes the chair between them, placing her right arm around his nape, her left one starting to remove his cravat. She tiptoes then and leans forward near his ears with a sultry voice.

“Get naked. In the bed. Now.”

Levi thinks argument isn’t an option anymore, so he follows after his wife in their bedroom without a word.

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“See? Slacking off once in a while isn’t so bad now.” Petra says, smiling—she then instantly laughs when he grumbles a low ‘shut up’ while brushing his bangs upwards with his free hand; his other gripping her waist tightly.

“Do you realize just how much time we lost fucking?” He looks down at her and his stiff expression falters when he sees her looking up at him with a mild smile; her naked chest heaving up and down when she breathes.

He tries to look away from that, but Petra sits up and the blanket slides down her unclothed body. Levi almost loses the urge to resist himself even more when she crawls on top of him, her chest pressing flat against his, and he can feel every curve of her body perfectly fitting his own.

“At least you enjoyed yourself.” She laughs. “Now be a good boy and stay here with me until your head cools off.”

Although protesting, Levi pronounces a loud ‘Hm’ and places his arm around her waist, the other one stroking her copper hair up and down.

“I’m never cooled down.”

“I know.” She mutters, laying her head on top of his chest. “That’s why I’m keeping you at bay from them. You have to exercise prudence once in a while, Levi.”

“Not when you have shitty brats who do nothing but annoy the hell out of you.” Levi scornfully spats. “Their asses needed some serious disciplinary actions.”

She looks up and raises a brow. “Oh? But your sense of chastisement is the least lenient ever known in history.”

“Exactly.”

“Come on.” Petra laughs, hitting his chest playfully. “At least try to be considerate of their welfare. How are you supposed to train your newest Ackerman soldier in that way?”

“They’d have to deal with my shitty management then and—who the hell is that Ackerman soldier?”

Levi stares hard at her with a frown.

Once.

Twice.

Petra grins.

Thrice.

And his sight travels down to her stomach.

Her grin widens.

Silence.

His mouth curls up.

“Well, exercising that—what is it again?”

“Prudence.”

“Yes, yes—that prudence; it can be negotiable. I think.”

Petra laughs and breathes against his neck, and it reduces to a smile when she feels him caressing her still-flat belly.

“Confine me more?” He whispers and she looks up at him with one side of her mouth curling up.

“You’re pretty obedient today captain.”

He frowns.

“It’s not like you’d let me out anyway.”

“Exactly.” She giggles when he scoffs at the same monotonous voice he used a while ago. “Well, fine. That would do—under the condition though that I’m gonna be on top again.”

Levi pulls her head down and kisses her fully on her still-curved up mouth before he smirks and says, “Deal.”

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In the end, everyone in the Survey Corps remained ignorant of the fact that Levi may be the captain, but Petra is the real-time commander.

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A/N: If I’m not mistaken, I’ve already posted this story before but yeaahhh, since I used this story for my thesis presentation, I had to delete it.

[heybeybey]

Moments of Impact (Amnesiac Petra) is back!

Fic Summary:

Petra gets into an accident during an expedition that ends with her losing her memory. The last thing she remembers? Joining the cadets at age 16… with the intention to climb to the top to get into the Military Police. The Special Ops Squad has to deal with the possibility that they’re on the brink of losing the bubbly ginger that had kept their team together for three years. One captain, in particular, tries to make her stay.

A story about moments, how they make a person, and their impact on shaping relationships.

Chapter 6: The Sixth Moment

Petra starts re-establishing friendships with her fellow Scouts. But as with everything in her life right now, she learns that it’s not as simple as everyone and herself hoped it would be. Levi suffers the most, as usual.

[Final chapter of Arc 1]

Preview:

“Pretty sure the golden blonde shade is still the best fit than the taupe,” Eld remarks as he swatches another brow powder. He turns, seeing the stares of his comrades—Oluo’s were judgmental, Gunther’s unamused, while Petra’s were concerned. “What? Don’t tell me the commander doesn’t take care of his eyebrows. Bet he stares at it every single morning—”

Gunther cuts him off, “What is it with your fixation with the commander’s eyebrows?”

“I’m telling you. He’d appreciate this birthday gift the most,” Eld nonchalantly replies as he pays the shopkeeper.

“Yeah, if you want to get demoted fast,” Oluo huffs as he brings out his own purchase from his pack—a book about leadership and management. Petra tries not to cringe at the obvious attempt to kiss ass. “The commander is a man of culture. And unlike our beloved second-in-command’s childish ideas—“

Read it here!

[th-silverkiss]

SNK SPOILER 132

I knew it, I felt it... now I'm pretty sure Levi will see Petra, Erwin and all his friends in the afterlife.

I really hope to see an emotive meeting between Levi and his squad, specially with Petra.

She looks beautiful with that haircut :D

[mare-dogs]

I've had this idea a long time ago but never went too far with it

so here it is a cute rivetra video ♥

all manips were made by afiuma

[captain-natey]

Mushroom man and Dream girl

[reereezoku]

Austerity

Four times Petra obeyed his commands and the one time she didn’t.

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Smile.

Levi was almost convinced she wasn’t fit to be a soldier the first time he saw her.

He was told that at the age of nineteen, Petra Ral had already lost her mother and comrades to those gigantic criminals; he knew she had been a witness to innumerable wasted deaths—which is why he wondered why even after all those misfortunes, she was still able to smile. She reminded him of Isabel a lot, unfortunately. She was all smiles and the perfect epitome of sun—something metaphorical to what his self-proclaimed sister was.

He was doing his best to divert his attention from the suffering the loss caused, yet the more he skipped that part, the more that despising scene replayed on his mind—just by looking at her.

And he was annoyed, really.

She was supposed to take things seriously; frown at the massive unmoving bodies lying on the ground, gnash her teeth at those giants who knew nothing but cause destruction upon mankind, and Petra had been nothing like that for the past months he knew her—yet he was perplexed the very first time he fought alongside her.

That was in year 844; the time they set the twenty-third expedition beyond the walls, and it was his first—or second time, as an official squad leader of Survey Corps. It was no different from the previous excursion he was in, and he was once again reminded of that dreary day he lost Farlan and Isabel.

Then he saw her there on one of the trees, skillfully operating her 3D maneuver gear and preparing to start an onslaught towards a 4-meter titan—easily eradicating it with her blades in just seconds. She was exceptionally gifted at that, he noticed, perhaps given by the countless hardships she experienced in the past.

Before he could call her to order to support the other flanks, she was already kneeling on the ground, wiping blood from the face of her lifeless superior—and that was the first time he saw her crying over a dead soldier.

A few days after the expedition, an announcement about reassignment spread like a wildfire. The death toll was too high, and it was even more vexing that most of their strong soldiers were victims of the titans—Petra’s captain being one of them.

She was quiet the whole time during the cremation service—and he saw how hollow her eyes had been while looking at the bodies being thrown at the blazing fire.

He was glad that she was having a heart fit for a soldier, but he knew he’d be lying if he’d say that he wasn’t waiting for her brightness to come back.

He was dead set on leaving her that way, yet the next thing he knew, he was already behind her tapping her shoulder. She looked back at him and gave him a salute.

He was quiet for a few seconds, thinking of what he should say to comfort her—but he was never good with words; he grew up using the thug vocabulary and he knew he wasn’t bothered cursing and letting out profanities when he wanted to, even in front of Commander Erwin Smith, yet he found himself conveying the first things that he thought through his mouth.

“Smile and live on. He’d want that.”

That was his first command at her.

She was just staring at him for a moment, and he was surprised when he saw her eyes coming back to life; she was nodding and crying but with a small smile this time and that was when he decided that he’d rather see her in this state than when she was as defeated as the bones scattered on the ground.

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Offer your life to humanity.

The day for reassignment then came like a whirlwind.

There were a total of thirty-three soldiers who lost their superiors in the field, and among those soldiers were newly-graduated Auruo Bossard, Günter Schultz and Eld Jinn: members under captain Moses Brown’s leadership. He knew that Brown was one of the skillful captains in the division—from what he heard and saw, yet he died in the end protecting them from an aberrant that destroyed their formation.

Amidst all that, they remained standing strong; heads held up high and a perfect salute depicting their immovable service to humanity. And he decided they were the ones he needed to fight with by his side.

And then there was Petra.

It seemed that she was all different from the last time he saw her—she was back to her usual smile and cheer, and he thought as if the clouds that were once looming over them were dissipated by her sunny smile.

He knew she was still mourning over her loss, but together with his oblivious worry for her was his admiration at how strong she was—physically and emotionally. Her mental state was stable and he was more than fine with that.

He especially requested the four of them to be under his command. Surprisingly, the three immediately agreed except for her. She was at a loss when he told her he had personally picked her, and he didn’t quite understand the meaning behind the sudden change of color on her freckled cheeks.

Later that night, he was totally flabbergasted when he saw her in front of his door, still in her uniform. He was about to tell her to come in, but she beat him to it by saluting and telling him that she was gonna devote all her life to him and with one last bow, she prepared to retire for the night.

Before she could go though, he had already called her name—not Ral, not cadet or private, but her name Petra.

She stopped on her tracks to face him, and once again, he could not comprehend the inexplicable redness of her face when he told her that she should offer her life to humanity, but he’d consider her suggestion of having her life dedicated to him.

Somehow, he developed the habit of making her bring out that color on her face when they were alone.

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Stay with me.

The 34th expedition brought more casualties than they expected.

They were pretty sure of the new strategy they devised, but like the previous excursions, the result was the same—only this time, the number of deaths was doubled. And the saddest part about sacrificing their comrades was that they still couldn’t figure out a thing or two about the titans except for the weakness on their neck they learned years ago.

Not only was he chafed at the long list of names of those who died, he was also ordered to make up an announcement that the bodies they couldn’t retrieve were missing in action. He never knew how to lie; something he picked up during his stay at the undergrounds. He wasn’t the type to sugarcoat his words—he was brutally honest and he never once cared about what people would say about him: may it be something pleasing or just plain insult towards him.

So it took its toll on him when he was the one assigned to announce it on public.

As expected, people’s reactions were divided: some were totally apathetic, some were understanding enough, and of course, most of them were mad, telling him how their taxes were wasted to a useless division like theirs.

Most of the time, he’d actually give them a rational answer about how those people should fight the titans instead of them and they would immediately shut up.

But he had her as his back-up that time.

She was behind him, tapping his shoulder and shaking her head—and he got her message. So he decided to ignore all of the protests and curses thrown at him while she was protecting him from the armed civilians.

Somehow, they managed to get through it without getting hurt.

He was drained from the whole day of explanation and he suddenly remembered the stack of papers and reports he left that he had to sign. He was all worn out going through the list once again; some were people he knew, and some he never knew actually existed.

He was dead-tired, and all he wanted to do was to sleep, but Petra came then barging in his room with a cup of coffee in her hands.

There were occasional words from her and some from him, but it was a comfortable silence and that was the break he needed. Sometimes, they would talk about the result of the expedition, and sometimes about the families that were left. And she would try her best to desert such conversation and open up a lighter one, but he’d refuse.

He was ready to talk about things like that; like how they were prepared to face reality and die for humanity.

It was ridiculously perfect too, having her by his side and talking to her about death—it was ironic and he did not know why.

She was alive yet he felt as if she was too far from him—maybe because they had different views. But still, he had no idea.

So instead, he asked her to stay with him—right now or for the next years of their lives.

She did comply.

For the meantime, at least.

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Be happy.

Everything was set the day before their 57th expedition.

Even the entire division’s mind was almost put at peace. They may have a chance now compared to the days when they never thought that human were capable of shifting into the likes of their murderers.

Some of them were laid back and some were still in fear for what tomorrow may bring.

No one had any idea what could happen in just a second and he knew better than that.

But she was insistent; recursively telling him that they should calm down for a while. He was—and he was too sure of that (he wouldn’t earn the title humanity’s strongest for nothing). In the end, he gave up and complied with her sole wish and the next thing he knew, they were already at the vicinity of wall Rose’s marketplace.

She was almost dragging him from stalls to stalls, but she would occasionally follow him where he wanted to go—especially when he was checking up cleaning materials perfect for their former headquarters.

Then there was this one place she entered—a store filled with garments, and he almost sneezed because of the foul smell.

She was rummaging through the racks, and when he asked what it was for, she said it was for Eld—and he remembered that his subordinate was indeed getting married soon.

The store clerk then came up to them, telling her how beautiful the dress would look on her and how they were a nice couple.

That never entered his mind though—he never intended to get married much less create a relationship (especially a romantic one) when he knew he could lose it in an instant—but Petra was smiling and her face had the color he grew to love, and he couldn’t argue more.

But then again, she was a lot younger than him and he knew she had so much ahead of her. They couldn’t be any more than being captain and soldier.

He wasn’t dead set on ruining that.

Once they were back, he summoned her in his office.

He was sure she had no idea why, but she surprised him when she asked him if he was troubled with her reaction towards what the salesclerk said.

He was supposed to answer a straight ‘yes’, but he saw how her eyes were disappointed, so nothing came except for his silence.

She said she was contented just staying by his side, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He wanted her free from obligation of devoting her life to him, and he knew things would never be the same after that.

And no matter how hard he was trying to convince himself that they were never cut out for such terms, he wished deep within his mind that they were more than just captain and soldier.

Still, he did not know why.

And although he had a nagging feeling of restlessness on his mind, he still asked her to be happy.

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He knew he was staring at her from above with such hollow eyes she once had but he didn’t care.

She wasn’t fit to be a soldier after all.

She was supposed to be smiling, but she wasn’t. The air was—laughing, mocking him by swaying her blood-smeared hair and her face he always wanted to see first thing every end of their excursion.

She was supposed to offer her life to humanity—not grace them with the absence of her body thrown somewhere he could not remember. And now, the only red thing he could see on her face was something he never caused—it was disgusting; such thing he knew would never fit her.

He never prepared for the day he’d stay up all night alone—with the bland coffee he would most likely prepare for himself after spending the whole day dealing with people. He was back to square one.

And when he heard her father’s voice calling out to him, telling him that she was totally devoted to him in every way, he could not remember what he asked her before this fateful day. He was too absorbed on recalling what they should have been, or what they were supposed to do after their mission.

But his memory was too hazy. And he continuously try to chant the mantra that she wasn’t fit for a soldier; that she was supposed to be in his office waiting for him with her coffee, smiling.

She wasn’t really, because she ignored his commands she once followed.

Survive.

Yet she didn’t.

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