Pursuit of Happiness

5. Sound of the wind

It's 9 in the morning. The morning light embraces the living room of the Ackermans home creating beautiful scenery inside. Levi is sitting on a sofa, reading through a tabloid, as he sips down his recent favorite tea, Rose tea. He starts to drink it after the birth of the twin after naming one of them, Rose.

A four years old Kuchel, lying down on the floor as she plays tea party with her dolls. Meanwhile, the twin still sleeping soundly in their cribs.

Mikasa sits on a rocking chair beside the open window, focusing on her embroidery. Embroidery becomes her hobby when she discovered that she will become a mother for the first time. She already creates a lot of things; scarves, handbags, blankets, and some of them she will sell them to the market nearby. Her small embroidery business is growing smoothly. Many of the young girls and women adore Mikasa not only for being the once strongest soldier but an independent woman. It's all thanks to her late mother, who taught Mikasa well. Not only that, her mother demonstrated her to stitch the Azumabito's mark, which she discovered about it years ago, on her wrist.

"You need to pass down the mark to your children," Mrs. Ackerman said to a young Mikasa, delicately tracing the stitch on her daughter's wrist.

Meanwhile, Levi quietly stares at his wife across from him, enjoying the impressive view. He always has the habit of staring at his wife silently. The morning light shines on her delicate face, her hands softly stroking her small-bump belly. Looking at the view of Mikasa has a calming effect on Levi. She is 3 months old pregnant, again. Mikasa gave birth to the twin a year and a half ago, then they conceived another Ackerman baby. A year and a half gap. If Hange is here, she will tease Levi for being so quick. If Erwin is here, he will pat his shoulders and congratulate him for being a father again and again.

If they are here...

Remembering his old good friends, Levi needs to visit the cemetery. It's been a long time he hasn't visited them. He missed them. His old squad, Erwin, Hange, Isabel, Furlan, and the other fallen soldiers dedicated their lives to humanity. Also, his family. His mother and uncle, Kenny. Kenny is a father figure that Levi could have and he is the person who taught him survival in 'harsh' ways. Even though the old man is crazy, Levi still sees him as his uncle and a father.

"Lil runt fucking like rabbits, I'm impressed with you, boy,"

His uncle will say that to him. 'If' he was here...

"Mikasa, I'll be going to visit Erwin and the others," Levi says as he stood up.

"Alright...," Mikasa replies and continues, "Hey, do you ever have a feeling for Commander Erwin?"

Levi nearly spits out of his tea when he hears Mikasa's question. What's going on with his wife's head? He blames it on the hormone that affects her into being so weird. It's must be the pregnancy. Indeed, his wife is very weird when the hormones inside of her start to work. Levi only furrows his eyebrows.

"What's with the sudden question?"

"I'm just...wondering if you ever fall in love with him since both of you...hmm close? I think?"

Romantic feelings toward Erwin? Levi never had a thought developing such feelings toward Erwin. He respects him as a friend, comrade, and commander. Levi admires Erwin's dedication and his dreams. Even though it will cost his life, he will choose to help Erwin to achieve his dream. In the end, he did. Killing Zeke Yeager. However, Levi still gets annoyed with Mikasa's random, unnecessary question. He really blames the hormones.

"What the fuck are you talking about Mikasa?" Levi says in annoyance.

"Levi! Don't curse in front of the children!" Mikasa snaps, afraid that Kuchel will hear it.