Promise me [Levi Ackerman x OC]

XXXVII: Always

Levi was following her through the market street from the calm district until they stopped in front of the wooden door of a little tea shop. She unlocked the place and as they walked in, the bell ringed making him growl as every day.

"Remember me, why can't we take that stupid bell off?" He walked to the counter taking his apron putting it on, then took hers and she was waiting for him to adjusted the strap around her waist.

"So we can know if someone come in if we are busy. I've told you several times." He finished making the knot and embrace her from her back bringing her closer, resting his chin over her shoulder.

"I notice everything around here." He gave her a little kiss in the cheek and released her.

"What if someday you are not here to notice?" Her face was a bit preoccupied.

Then the bell ring sounded and both looked at the door where a tall brunette young man was making his way in.

"Declan?" Levi whispered.

"Do you know him?" Hazel whispered back before the man came to the counter. "Good morning, sir. May I help you?"

"Hello, miss. I would like to shop this herbs in the list." He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed to her.

"Come with me." She said with a smile rounding the counter and leading him through the store in order to gather the herbs.

Levi stood in shock realizing the whole situation was odd.

Why didn't she recognize her brother? Why did he didn't recognized us? What is this shop?

The bell ringed again taking his attention to the new customer and heard Hazel screamed to him to take care of that.

"Morning, Mr. Ackerman!" The young red hair woman screamed with emotion, she was carrying a box with plants and walked to the counter leaving it. "We got the week's order." Just in that moment the bell ringed again when a tall blond man came in with another box full of herbs.

"Good to see you, Mr. Levi." The blond greeted him approaching the counter as well.

"Isabel? Furlan?" He whispered looking at both feeling his eyes watering. "You are dead." Levi walked backwards stopping when the wall touched his back. He watched Hazel and Declan came to the counter to pay his bill, she was confused for his reaction.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" She came closer to him and touched his forehead. "Are you feeling okay?"

"What kind of joke is this? Hazel, don't you recognize them? They're all dead." He pointed at them with a finger and screaming.

She approached to hug him and rest her head in his chest. "Shhh... It's alright. We'll always be with you."

He pushed her lightly away from him to looked at her face. "What do you mean 'we'?"

The others had come closer, the store wasn't there anymore, and the four were looking at him with a warm smile before all hugged him tight.

⟿

Hazel was waked by the tough embrace of Levi's arms around her waist and a wet feeling on the top of her head. She looked up to him and found a peaceful appearance, and the trace of a few tears in his cheeks.

"Levi?" She caressed his face with her palms softly and combed the bangs of hair in his forehead. "Hey, it's time to wake up." Her voice was soft trying not to frightened him. "Ackerman."

His eyes opened slowly revealing Hazel right in front of him with her beloved smile, then he realized everything has been a dream. He yawned and pulled her closer not braking the embrace.

She giggled a little and returned the hug. "Good morning, sunshine."

Levi haven't had felt so relaxed at the morning in a long time, so when she attempted to get off bed he pulled her from the hand making her fell in the mattress again, he rolled over making himself on top of her clasping his hands with hers at the side of Hazel's head, he was supporting his body with his knees next her hips and their faces inches away.

"What are you doing?" Hazel was surprised by how fast he had moved and also by the position they were.

"Admiring you." Hazel felt her cheeks blushing and couldn't hid her shy smile. "Why don't we stay here?" He let all his weight over her putting his face in the crook of her neck smelling her hair.

She groaned for his weight and pushed him aside then sat at the bed shore. "You need to go and prove what you wanted, remember? And I have to go a take care of my soldiers, besides, I have the feeling that you're going to do something stupid." She stood up clapping. "Com'on, go and change. I'll see you at the field." She went into her bathroom leaving him still lying in her bed.

With reluctance he did as she asked him to after made the bed. He took his shower and put on his uniform, went for a quick breakfast before leaving taking seat with his friend.

"Where were you? I thought you had run away." Roger felt relieved when he saw him. "At least you look better than other days, had a nice sleep?" He made a mischievous face intuiting what happened. "May I ask where do you slept?"

"Is not of your business." He made a serious face to shut him, but instead he let out a laugh and kept taking his own meal in silence.

The whole regiment started to gather the carts, horses and join their squad waiting the signal to ride in direction to the wall. "It's time. Everyone, ride to the gate." The scream of the Commander was heard from the stand where he, along with the section commanders were supervising the logistics before all climbed up their horses leading the way.

Arriving Shingashina district, the city bells started to ring announcing the scouts were there and the people gathered in the streets watching them ride to the gate. The different noises rounded the entire exploration corps, some desperate from seeing their loving ones leave the security of the walls, the angry from the ones who thought their taxes were bad invested and the cheers from whom support them.

They stopped before the gate while the squads took their place and Erwin waited for the sign that it was titans-free outside.

Hazel was in the front line, waiting for her section to formed behind her, when she heard her name was being scream from feet away. She turned to saw the young Eren waving at her with a joyful smile across his face with the black head girl beside him with a faint smile. Hazel waved back to them and blew a kiss in their direction.

Levi, was a few soldiers back of her and saw what she did but didn't caught to who was directed because in that moment, Erwin gave the sign to open the gates following with the crowding of the people.

Hange approached her friend. "That Eren is getting cuter every time." She gave Hazel a good luck kiss in the cheek and went back to her section.

The gates were finally open letting the sun infiltrated and a soft breeze of grass blew through the tunnel. Erwin rose his arm and scream. "Advance, soldiers!"