The pain before happiness (Levi Ackerman x Reader)

Four [The one?]

"Today, we will be spending out day at the village."

"The village?"

"Yes, the village. Imagine yourself as a Prince. You stand tall and proud. You smile at people, you wave at people, you treat them well."

Eren nodded as he tried to catch up with the general. Considering that his legs were so much shorter, he had to practically jog to catch up with her. It was their first Friday together and Eren was perplexed on how he should feel. He was excited yet terrified. What if the General poisoned him again? What if this time she will throw him over the Wall Rose and feed him to the hungry titans hidden behind it?

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand." He uttered.

It was a couple of minutes later when they reach the village. Kids were running around playing the tag game, elderly sat outside their houses as they breath in the air and enjoy the fun of the children. Eren eyes visibly light up, internally wishing he could have a childhood like them.

"You see all these people?" Eren nodded in response, "Their lives are in our hands. If that wall breaks down," The general pointed to the tall brick wall that parted the real outside world from inside, "all of them here will die. They are defenceless."

"General Kim!"

The kids hollered the moment the see the general removing her cape hoodie.

"What did you bring for us today?"

The general knelt, rummaging through her pouch that she hangs around her waist, "I brought chocolates. Take one each and share it everyone, okay?"

"Yes Ma'am!" They chimed and happily ran off with the chocolates in their hand.

"Oh General. How generous are you to have given them the chocolate? Thank you so much for your generosity." An elderly floundered towards the General. "Who do we have here? He seems very lovely."

The general smiles and placed a hand on Eren's shoulders, "He is the one."

"Oh, sure he is. What is your name my dear?"

"My name is E--," Eren corrected himself, "Kim Eren."

"You chose him well my dear General. He will be the one, the right one for you." The elderly chimed and that left Eren to be more confused than he already was.

It was dusk when they finally got back to the General's office. Eren was surprised to see the captain sitting on the couch as they entered.

"General Kim."

"Captain Levi." General nodded. "Eren, please clean yourself up and we will have dinner." Eren quickly went into his room.

"What pleasure do I owe your existence right now?" General Kim started as she makes her way to the kitchen, preparing the ingredients for dinner.

"A talk, a conversation is what you owe me." He responded and proceeded to help the other.

"Can we talk about this after dinner? At least after Eren gets in back."

"You have a kid now. A kid. Don't you think it is something you should talk to me about? Eren is our responsibility."

"Levi, stop, please. Drop it."

"Drop it?" The captain slammed the knife that he held. It was now stuck into the chopping board. "You expect me to drop this matter as if it was nothing."

"It is not nothing. There is an unsaid reason behind all this and I..."

"Save it. When you feel the need to talk about it, find me." He whispered and left the office.

"Are you ok?"

General Kim had tears welling up her eyes.

"I did not ask you to leave your room for dinner." General Kim sternly said as she blinked back the tears.

Eren gulped, "I'm sorry. I heard a loud bang and I thought you got hurt."

"Sit down. Dinner will be out in a few minutes."

Dinner went uncomfortable as Eren sat eating his dinner while the general at opposite him, face buried in her hand. She was not eating; she literally did nothing.

"I will be sending you over to Kuina's house for the next week. You will live there by the same rules here. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Eren responded.

It was that night when Kuina came over and Eren had packed all his essentials and followed her. He did spare a glance to the General, only to notice that she was buried under stacks of paperwork. All he wanted to do was tell the general to take care but, none of the words left him.

"ARGH!!!"

Shattered of glass echoed the room. She stood in the middle of the mess, breathing heavily as her head pounded against her skulls.

"Please."

Was all she whispered.

Eren felt weird, almost in disbelieve that he was not living with the General. Despite only being there for a week under the general's care, it seems to be a part of him now. Kuina was not the same as the general, she was so much less strict and that was a part of the reason why Eren was feeling weird. He tried to sneak a peek into the general's office or at least hope that he could get a glance from her but, nothing. He has not seen her for a week and worrisome arose in him. He wanted so bad to ask the captain to check on her on his behalf.

"EREN! EARTH TO EREN!" The loud voice of Armin broke him from his trail of thoughts.

"What, what?"

"We were asking if you want to follow us to the village." Armin Arlet, Eren's childhood friend asked.

"Yeah sure." He smiled. The village would remind him of their first Friday.

"Ah, is that who I think he is?" The elderly from before called out. Eren told Armin to move along as he stopped by the elderly's place.

"Yes Ma'am. It is me." Eren greeted.

"That's weird. You are not with General Kim today."

"Not today Ma'am. The general is busy." He replied politely, "if I may, can we have a talk?"

And Eren wished he did not ask for it.