The pain before happiness (Levi Ackerman x Reader)

Seventeen [Apology]

"Good morning, my dearest wife." Levi kissed the forehead of the former general.

Raven grinned before planting a soft kiss to his chin, "good morning to my dearest husband."

"Can you walk today? We still owe the monarch a visit since we cancelled yesterday."

"If it was not for you who went hard on me."

Levi smirked, "well, you liked it hard."

"You are such a tease," Raven chuckled, "I am fine. Well, you did go gentle last night, losing your strength already?" She stuck out her tongue. Suddenly, Raven was pinned onto the bed with her hand above her head.

"Well, I can still show you how hard I can go for the whole of this week." Levi teasingly licked her neck. Raven squirmed.

"I surrender. I lose my strength instead." Raven pouted.

"That's what I like," Levi released his grip and kissed her. "Let's take a shower and we can visit the monarch."

"Okay,"

They stood outside the Monarch's door. Levi was gripping onto Raven's left hand so tightly that it was turning white.

"Levi," Raven softly called out. Levi slowly released his grip taking a deep breath. "I'm okay. It's not her fault." She reminded. Levi looked at her and heave a sigh of relieve. "Your highness." They finally entered.

"General Raven and Commander Levi."

"Former General, your highness." Raven corrected her.

"Right," Historia sighed. "I will like you to congratulate you on your marriage."

"Thank you, your highness." Raven smiled.

"If I may please present you with this," Historia signalled one of the guards to bring over a wooden box. "Please do accept it." The guard opened the box. It was a sword that had been passed down from generations years before neither of them was born.

"Your highness, with all due respect, I cannot accept this." Raven apologised.

"I beg you to accept it. This is the most I can get you for all the sacrifices you have made."

Raven could feel how much Levi tensed, she squeezes his hand comfortingly, "your highness. I chose to make those sacrifices."

"I will not have you to reject this. You have done so much for all of us, at the very least, please do accept it."

"I..."

"On behalf of her, she will accept it but, please do keep it in the realm. She will use it when the time comes," Levi answered.

"That is right, your highness. I will accept it and will use it when the time is right." Raven said, "I would like to thank you for the present. It is very meaningful for me." The newly wed couple bowed before the monarch.

"Your highness, if I may, I would like to apologise for being rude to you for the past months." Levi confessed.

Historia giggled, waving her hand off, "you did nothing wrong. You did absolutely nothing wrong Commander Levi. We shall start off on the right term now. The past shall be put behind."

"Thank you, your highness."

"It is thanking you Commander Levi and Kim Raven Ackerman." The monarch said.

The newly wedded couple headed back to their house after the meeting with the monarch. Raven was grinning widely as she rode on Levi's back, humming into the Commander's ears.

"I did it." Levi finally uttered.

"I know. Thank you." She plants a kiss to his neck.

"I'm trying to let go."

"Thank you," another kiss to his ears.

"The next person is Erwin."

"Thank you," another kiss to his cheek.

"Can I just kill him instead?"

"Tha---," Raven eyes widened, "What?"

"Just kidding." Levi chuckled, "I will talk to him before the training start again. Do I not get a kiss?"

Raven smiled and plants a kiss to his cheek again, "I love you."

"I love you."

--

"Erwin."

"Ah, Levi." Erwin looked up from his paperwork.

"Care for some tea?"

"I... sure."

Erwin was not going to lie that he was beyond shock that the commander invited him for tea. The last one they had was before the whole unpleasant memory unfolded. Erwin followed the commander to the tea table and sat down as the latter served him a cup of tea. They sat in silent for minutes until Erwin could not stand it.

"How is everything?"

"It's been wonderful." Levi answered.

"That is nice."

"I..." Levi cleared his throat and put down his cup of tea, "I apologise for how I have been the last half a year. I apologise that I kicked you. That is all."

Erwin could not help but chuckled. It was Levi's way of apologising ever since he had known him. It was short and simple that if they do not know Levi, they would not sense the sincerity. To someone who had known Levi practically almost forever, the sincerity in his apology was so deep.

"I forgive you." Erwin simply replied.

"Good cause Raven would be vey upset if you do not." Levi sips his cup of tea.

"Well, I cannot lie, I missed my best friend."

"Boke," Levi replied. Erwin laughed.