The Shift; Levi Ackerman X

XI

Ripples echoed through the water, it so clear you could see the almost silver rocks at the bottom. Victor tossed pebbles into the small pond, leaning on Levi's chest as he stared out to the minnows scattering once the rocks hit the water. He sighed. They had been visiting the pond every day for a week, Levi taking time off to be with him until they had to go to the endorsement early in the morning. Victor had his appointment with the midwife earlier in the day, Hange and Levi accompanying him as they talked over his choices. Victor chose the baby, almost spiteful in his optimism knowing he would do better through the struggle he won't ever overcome.

Levi cleared his throat as he looked to the sky. "We should get going." He stood, taking Vic's hand to help him up. Vic gasped, his hand flying to his stomach. Levi caught him, both straightening up on their feet. "What happened?"

"Nothing, just a cramp." He cursed rubbing the little bump that had begun to show. He looked at it, frowning as he remembered how much it had grown. "I don't know if the midwife got the date wrong or I'm just getting fat on top of it." Levi chuckled at him, shaking his head as they walked to the horse. They rode back to the citadel, people carrying the stage set up and banners, others catering around with buckets of water and rags. Victor went ahead of Levi just in case the 104th trainees had already arrived, the other returning his horse to the stables.

Victor watched out of the kitchen window through the break in the trees, Hange stepping out of the front door beside Erwin and Mike. Levi walked up to the trio, them all looking to the carts hauling stage parts to the very front on the lands. Levi nodded at what Erwin had said, him making his way to the cabin where Victor watched.
Vic pulled away from the window as Levi entered, him grabbing butter, a jar of jam, and some uncut bread. Levi sighed as he came behind Victor, wrapping his arms around him with a kiss on his nape.

"What's this for?"

Vic shrugged, placing a pan on the stove after lighting the gas. "Just a craving I guess." He rested his head back, grinning as they swayed. "You seem happy..." Levi hummed, his hand slipping down, pausing over Vic's belly.

"I am, but a little frustrated at Erwin. He's making me go on an expedition with the new brats in a couple weeks." He stepped back, sighing. Victor shook his head, buttering the pan and place two slices of bread into it. "He said it was the biggest group in a while. That true?" Victor nodded.

"Like 30 of 'em, and there are some really enthusiastic kids this time." Vic licked his fingers of the melted butter. "I kinda made friends with this little blonde one, Armin Im pretty sure."

"Yeah?"

Vic nodded as he flipped the toast, adding jam to the crispy side. "Yeah, he was really smart and actually payed attention most of the time." Vic turned off the flame, placing his toast and jam on a plate. "There's this one kid tho, I didn't talk to him much or learn his name because he was such an asshole." Levi chuckled as he gazed at him chewing on his snack. "That kid is weird, very personal against titans. like they targeted him solely."

Levi shrugged. "I mean the majority of them are only 15 so all the boys are early puberty. If you ask Hange he's just hormonal."

Vic furrowed his brows. "I don't think so. Just one kid out of 20 other boys, it's gotta be something traumatizing and who knows who he lost." Victor looked down at his belly, remembering the parent him and the boy shared. Considering the life he had and the way Zeke was treated when he did live with Grisha, Eren must be just as fucked in the head. "I'm tired. Let's go to bed early."

Victor woke long before Levi, sitting in a blanket on the floor of the porch before light rose. The sun was only peaking above trees when wagons began to arrive, sleeping teens woken by the wheels stopping. There was a rumbling inside the cabin, the sound of fast pace boots hitting the ground and the door opening. "Hi." Levi huffed before kissing Victor's forehead & running to the side door of the citadel. Vic sighed, heading into the house to get dressed. His shirt fit fine other than the rounding in the front, his belly almost completely obvious. He cursed trying to get his pants all the way up, groaning as he pulled them off. They wouldn't even pass his mid thigh.

He put his pajamas back on and rushed over to the citadel barefoot, making sure not to see any of the new cadets. Victor came across Oulo, Petra, and Nanaba talking in the halls, Petra side eyeing him as he swerved by them to get into Hanges office. "Hey, I don't mean to interrupt but I really need to talk to you."

Hange looked up from their desk, smiling as their eyes met Victors. "Don't you look comfy." They stood, walking to Vic. "What's up?"

"I don't have civilian clothing, and none of my uniformed clothes fit me." He paused. "I refuse to wear a dress if you say anything like that." He pulled a chair out, slowing his breath down as he relaxed. Hange leaned one arm on the desk, hanging their head off their shoulder.

"Well, I have no time on my hands & Moblit is already running my errands so I can't help you myself." They looked out the door at the tree standing around. Hange perked up and walked close to the door. "Hey, Petra! I have some errands for you and Vittoria in town so I need you both to ride down their really quick." She nodded, saluting before Victor smiled goodbye to Hange and left with Petra.

Far down the road Petra trotted beside Victor, both in silence. She kept bumping the rump of her horse into Vic's leg, the other slowing down to get away but Petra continued to irritate him. "Can you not? Fucking damn, dude." He rode ahead, Petra catching up trying to apologize.

"Please, wait..." She let out a breath, keeping pace next to him. "I'm really sorry. I'm just nervous and Levi told me to be nice to you-"

"Levi? When did you talk to Levi about me?" Victor frowned a bit, his eyes trained on the road.

"I, uh, when my Father came to visit us. I'm not supposed to talk about it but we wanted to lengthen the betrothal for having the wedding after the next expedition instead of before." Petra sighed, her eyes looking to Victor who had stopped. He glared at her with his mouth hung open before closing it and veering his horse around. "Vittoria!" Victor held his stomach as he rode back to the citadel, speeding his way into the stables to leave Phocas and head inside. Petra ran after him as he ran into Erwin's office.

"Where's Levi!" He shouted meeting silver eyes from across the room, Levi flinching as Victor went to grab him by his shirt, ducking from him. "Don't run from me you fucking ass! Tell me the truth about you and Petra!"

Levi stop on the other side of the desk, Erwin's face frozen in shock. "What..?"

"I found out about your stupid little wedding with her. Is that why you take time off but not with me? To be with her and her family like I don't exist?!"

Levi shook his head. "It's not what you think, Vittoria. I'm not in love with her-"

"And you think that makes it better! I'm pregnant!" Victor smack his hand over his mouth, nausea waving over him. He swallowed, shaking off the dizziness as Erwin stood.

"You both need to sit down." Levi pulled a chair out, both of them sitting as Victor glared at Levi. "Victor, explain what you heard."

"Hange made Petra and i go to town to get me clothing since nothing fits me anymore & she told me that her and Levi are betrothed. That they wanted to get married after the expedition." Vic cleared his throat, looking to the blonde. Erwin sighed.

"Petra's father gave a deal before she entered training just after Wall Maria fell. Levi would train her, protect her, and marry her and he's done all of that but the last. I wanted you in the house with him so he could get used to a woman living with him but look where that got you." He looked to Levi. "Petra is in love with Oulo, not Levi. Neither of them want to marry each other so they postponed the wedding to convince her father so they don't have to."

Victor squeezed his eyes shut angry that he overreacted before hearing the whole story. Levi placed a hand on Vic's shoulder as the door opened, Hange stepping in. "Commander... Hello everyone." They looked back to Erwin. "Pixis wants everyone in their places before the trainees finish breakfast."

Erwin nodded and headed to the door after them, turning for just a moment to speak. "Levi, don't be late."

This entire thing was about toast...