Blue and White - Levi Fanfiction

Ch. 71 - Time Passing By

Evenings in the Survey Corps' main base were just as hectic and loud as they always had been and surely would be, but I found that in the time the kids and Hange had been away, I'd grown to miss the chaos... somewhat. But maybe being a mother did that to me - made me think I missed the chaos that they all could bring but knowing all too well that eventually my own daughter would soon be enough to be as chaotic on her own. 

...Anyway, dinner was finally wearing down, but the young scouts were only just starting to get fired up.

We were all sitting at one table, chatting and making merry. By then, there was little food left (and whatever we had still been munching on had been scavenged by Sasha only a few minutes ago), and the other newer forces of the regiment had gone about their evening duties already, though reluctantly so, but Levi had been firm with them. Our own kiddos were expecting chores too, but from what I could see in his eyes, Levi was having a good time and probably wouldn't give these scouts in particular any.

And hell, I wouldn't be giving them any, either.

...At least not right now.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Or... maybe not. Maybe in place of giving chores, Levi'd be dishing punishments out instead? I'd looked up from my food only to see Mikasa, done eating, lazily throwing beans at him. Huh. Sasha must have known better than to try to take Mikasa's food, then. Interesting.

Everyone at the table had been shocked at the sight, rightfully so, and myself included. Right away, knowing how Mikasa was and knowing all too well how my own husband was, I prepared to get up, to keep them from fighting if one broke out. My whole body tensed in preparation for it, but I held firm for now, just waiting for one of them to make a move. 

But they seemed to be at a standstill, at least momentarily. Mikasa was regarding Levi as she usually did, with clear disdain in her eyes. Levi looked furious now, leaning to one side to avoid a bean tossed at his head.

"My mother used to tell me about monsters that looked like people," she began, stalling in her bean-tossing, "that you had to drive out of the house with beans."

"And that pathetic fairytale is the reason you were chucking beans at me?"

"Yes."

"Laps, outside, now. Run until you pass out."

"She's an Ackerman," Connie reminded him. "She'll never stop running in that case."

Levi's eyes snapped to Connie who didn't even flinch. "You wanna run with her, then? You won't be allowed to stop until she gets tired."

"All of you, knock it off," I said. "Mikasa." The girl looked at me, a bored expression on her face. "He wasn't kidding. Go on."

She stood from the table then, heading outside. I sighed, resolving to head out later before I went to bed to bring her in and talk about that sort of behavior. The heavy atmosphere didn't last long, my daughter giggling at something Jean said to her.

As the talking began to flow again, Levi seemed to relax again, and Emi was having a great time, being passed from lap to lap as the stories and jokes ran strong. Connie was in the middle of a story when a scout walked briskly through the hall towards our lone table. Connie continued to talk as the scout approached me, saluting.

"Captain Amaya," she greeted.

"At ease," I said to her. "What is it?"

She held out an envelope addressed to me. "An express messenger from the capital just arrived," she explained.

"Thank you," I said, taking the envelope from her and nodding to her. With a wave of my hand, I added a firm, "Dismissed," and off she went.

Jean piped up to make fun of something Connie said as I opened the envelope, sliding its contents out. There was one lone letter, on thin, expensive paper but the writing was damn near illegible - but I knew it well. It looked terribly out of place on such fine parchment, and I shook my head almost indulgently. Excitement growing in my heart, I tuned out the surrounding noises as I began to read.