Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

43. The Way To Get Back

Reader's POV

"How is the storm letting up?" I asked Reiner as I laid one of my hands on the window pane before lifting it up and putting it up on the glass only to hurriedly lift it from the window because the material was too cold.

Perhaps that was my answer.

"A-Are y-you blind?" Reiner shivered, "C-Can't you just l-look outside a-and te-tell?"

It was true, I could tell. There was a snowstorm going on. Actually, I wasn't even sure if I could call it a snowstorm. According to Erwin, something stronger than a snowstorm would be a blizzard. I thought to call this that because I had already seen snowstorms. They were extremely rare but they did occur in Stohess once every three to four years.

"How the hell are we going to get back?" I crossed my arms to preserve as much warmth as I could within myself because it wasn't exactly very warm inside the building either even though a generous amount of firewood was burning.

I was also worried about the refugees before Reiner reminded me that they were living in buildings made of wood and brick instead of a castle made of marble and stone and the difference in the amount of heat they conserved was significant.

I was thankful that small communities of people used to live here centuries ago, including the Yeager Family while they were exploring lands to be able to make their own Empire and this was the point they first called their own. If it hadn't been for them then this land would be completely inhabitable due to the lack of buildings and making buildings over this barren land would be difficult in this cold. It was possible centuries ago when this place wasn't as cold.

"A-Are you crazy?!" Reiner was leaning on the fireplace frame to be as close to the fire as possible even though I had warned him not to since it was quite dangerous, "We'd be lucky if we survive at all!"

"We're going back," I decided, "We can't miss those events."

"We can't pull all of your carriages through the snow that exceeds the height of a human!"

"The height of a short human. Like Levi," I reminded, "Not me."

"Are you making fun of his height?"

"I'd prefer to make fun of people to their faces."

"That is not the point here!"

"You're the one who asked," I turned and stared boredly into Reiner's eyes with crossed arms as he glared back before losing the competition and turning away, exasperated.

"Speaking of, where's Mikasa?" Reiner asked.

"She's accompanying Levi and Kuchel. Ever since I sent her to stay with them since the day before yesterday, she's been there, preventing them from learning their position in the world."

"But what can she do?" Reiner sniffled.

"Kuchel is quite understanding and helpful, unlike her son," I started, "Mikasa explained to her that she too is an Ackerman. Well, not exactly because she didn't have to explain since Kuchel recognized her mother's eyes that she has since she met Mikasa's mother before. Mikasa asked Kuchel to not tell Levi of their truth and that I would talk to him personally. Though she was confused on why I would want to do that because even though she knows her last name, she doesn't know her position, the opposite of Levi, she still agreed to not talk about it."

"Then why is Mikasa still with them?"

"Ymir used to talk to me about how Mother had a mother's heart. Meaning that even if she planned to do something, like listen to Niccolo and only feed me that bland stuff-"