Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

ONE-HUNDRED-AND-THREE

'It is with the burden of victory that I renounce my claim over your faith. To my supporters, return to your lives and the peace my family stole from you. To my enemies... do the same.

I will make no further claim to this name nor the bloody legacy it has brought. Thank you.'

-An extract from the final announcement of public figure Lorelai Briggs on the War of Words.

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ONE-HUNDRED-AND-THREE

Wall Maria, South Region, Port Noaks, Noaks Survey Corps Base of Operations

Before the week was up, Lorelai and Levi returned to Noaks.

The political climate was still far too unstable for them to remain in Islet. All agreed it was for the best they refrained from making any headlines until things calmed down.

Some normalcy was beginning to return. But, what worried Levi was how volatile the public's opinion of Lorelai had become.

She'd always been recognisable. A celebrity, even. But now, walking down the street, she was either fawned over or quite nearly assassinated. Levi did his best to make sure none laid a hand on her.

Though Briggs was barely cold in his grave, Islet had the relief of being freed from his tyrannous grip. And though Lorelai might not feel like much of a hero, even she believed things had begun to change for the better. Given time, that is.

Nevertheless, everyone agreed it was best she stayed out of the public eye until the situation calmed down. Lorelai returned to Noaks with Levi to plan their small, private wedding and lay low until the mission.

Her wedding planners, however, had quite a different idea.

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"Hey, Lorelai, wake up."

She groaned, turning over in bed. The sun was streaming harshly through the window. "Levi...? What time is it?"

She'd arrived back late last night— too busy overseeing wedding preparations. Though Levi lamented stealing Lorelai from her beauty sleep, there was a situation to attend to. "0600 hours, wake your lazy ass up."

Lorelai huffed, only burying her face further into the pillow. "You can't wake me up so rudely," she mumbled. "I still have that pistol."

Levi chuckled, brushing her hair from her face tenderly. "What, are you going to shoot me for waking you up in the morning?"

Lorelai smiled, her eyes staying closed. "I'm still considering it."

He turned at the sound of rowdy talking coming from outside. From the sounds of it, it was quite the commotion. "Lorelai, there are people outside," he explained.

"People?" She turned her face towards the window, cracking one eye open. "Oh, so you want me to shoot them instead?"

Levi laughed; Lorelai felt a swell of glee. Though she'd never admitted it, Lorelai had always taken a lot of pride in being one of the few people who could make Levi laugh.

"What am I going to do with you?" he teased, gazing at her face adoringly. "You're a menace; you know that?"

"I try my best. Now seriously, why are there people outside?"

"I don't know. Erwin came banging on our door just a few minutes ago. He wants you out there."

"Right," Lorelai sat up, raking a hand through her bedhead. "I guess a lie-in is too much to ask for?"