Blessed be the Fruit, May the Lord burn this place down ┃a levi ackerman AU

Chapter 3: Women don't need to read, sir

As usual Oferwin was in the kitchen with Ruth, they both enjoyed each others' company, the handmaid was helping the Martha with the cooking, the Commander was hosting a dinner party tonight and there was a lot of work to do. Oferwin looked at all the ingredients on the wooden table, so many people were hungry, some of them might have never seen as many food before, it made her sick to think that as food was so rare these days with the war that a small portion of privileged people were eating in abundance.

As she was cutting some vegetables, the handmaid heard people entering the kitchen, her back was facing them but she didn't turn to look at them, she was focused on her task. "Is everything will be ready on time?", her body froze, it was the Commander, he continued talking with Ruth about the dinner, when she felt someone standing by your side. Oferwin still couldn't move, she felt like a prey waiting for the hunter to shoot his fire, the person next to her wrapped his hand on hers, she was still holding the knife against the cutting table. This sudden contact made her go out of her frozen state and she turned her head to her right to see Levi. He took the knife from her hands and started cutting the vegetables that where in front of her. "You shouldn't use the tokens you have left to buy things for me", he whispered with his usual indifferent voice, his eyes focused on his new task, the handmaid discreetly looked behind her, the Commander was still talking with Ruth, when she was sure that the blonde man was not paying attention to them, she looked back at Levi; "How did you knew it was me?" she asked totally ignoring the fact that he could have just thanked her. The black haired man let out a small smirk, to her surprise you she the corner of your lips lift up. Honest smiles were rare in Gilead, and even though it was only a smirk Oferwin could feel how honest it was coming from Levi. "Levi.", the deep voice of the Commander suddenly called for the driver, the blonde man was waiting for him at the door of the kitchen, with a ghost of a frown still visible on his face as he looked at Levi, his harsh gaze finally setting on the handmaid. Oferwin quickly turned back to the sliced vegetables on the counter and took the knife from Levi's hand, immediately going back to her work. She felt Levi's gaze on you for a second before he left your side.

Surely she didn't do anything wrong? Right? Her mind was filled by thoughts during the rest of the day, she could still see the expression on the Commander's face earlier in the kitchen. "The guests are here..." the handmaid was interrupted in her thoughts by Ruth, Oferwin smiled at the woman and followed her, they both stood in the far back of the living room looking at the circus in front of them.

Ofdaniel was there, it was weird to see the pregnant handmaid there, it's not very common for a Commander to bring both his handmaid and his wife to a formal dinner party. Although the short woman soon realised why; the hand of the Commander's wife was gesticulating on Ofdaniel's baby bump, the woman dressed in full blue wife attire was eagerly talking to Commander Smith, "We are so blessed, we can't wait to meet our baby!". "Excuse my wife's excitement Erwin, you know how women are !", said her husband as if he was talking about a turbulent puppy. Commander Smith let out a faint smile, "It's alright, I'm happy that the Lord finally blessed your family." The blonde man unexpectedly turned his head towards Oferwin and with a smirk that made the handmaid feel sick to her stomach he added, "Hopefully his grace will fall upon me soon, right Oferwin?". The woman gulped and bowed her head, her eyes not leaving the floor for the rest of the night.

The handmaid was now climbing up the stairs, on her way to her bedroom, it was a long day and she couldn't wait for it to be over. "Oi, come here.", the woman turned back and looked down, Levi was at the bottom of the stairs looking up at her, his face shielded from any emotions. She slowly headed towards him, you looked at his eyes, it almost looked like he was battling with himself, she could see a mix of so many different feelings passing in them. The man quickly retook his composure, "The Commander wants to see you in his office.", Oferwin's eyes widened, she was not supposed to see him privately outside of Ceremonies, her mind couldn't stop but think of horrible outcomes for this late meeting. "Tch, j-just follow me." said Levi, as he was already heading to the office, interrupting her gruesome thoughts.

Levi's hand was about to knock on the door but it stopped mid-air, Oferwin looked to see what was the matter, and her terrified eyes met Levi's grey ones. The black haired man pressed his lips together, closing his eyes, he sighed and turned his head back towards the door and finally knocked. The handmaid didn't have time to think about what just happened that the voice of the Commander invited her to enter. Oferwin was now fidgeting with the sleeves of her red dress, slowing walking to the front of the Commander's desk. The blonde man who was sitting in a big dark green leather chair stood up and looked behind her, "You may leave Levi." the handmaid didn't dared to look back at the driver, she saw the Commander's questioning glare looking at Levi when the smaller man didn't take his leave yet, finally the door closed leaving her alone with the Commander. Oferwin felt a wave a panic consuming her body now that Levi was gone.

The Commander was now right in front of her, his height towering her, his index reached under her chin to lift up her head. "Do you know how to read Oferwin?", she frowned her eyebrows, of all possibilities that came into her mind before entering the man's office, him asking this was not one that she would have ever considered. Was it a trap? Was he testing her 'devotion' to Gilead? "Women don't need to read sir." she simply said. His hand had now left you chin and was playing with a strand of her coppery blonde hair that had escaped from her bonnet. He smirked at her answer and let go of her hair, he turned around and sat back in his chair behind his desk. "Sit.", Oferwin's body had calmed down now that the man was not as close anymore.

She was about to seat in one of the chair in front of him, "Not here" he said with a smirk, she looked at him, her hands trembling again, she reached to the chair that was next to the previous one, "No." he said, a disgusting playful smile was now completely plastered on his face. She gulped, "W-where?" whispered the handmaid. The blonde man patted his legs like you would do to capture the attention of a small child. Fear and confusion filled her body as she slowly headed towards him, as she now stood in from of him, his hand held her arms, in a quick movement he turned her around and pinned her to his knees? Oferwin's back was facing him, he handed her a book that was previously on his desk, "Read it to me.", she bit your lips as she took the book, fighting the urge to cry as she felt his hand circling around her waist. With shaking hands she opened the book, suddenly the door of the office slammed open, she looked up, her eyes full of tears that were threatening to fall down, her bottom lip shaking, Levi was the one that abruptly opened the door, his mouth was opened in a 'O', his eyes analyzing the scene before him with incomprehension. "I hope you have a good reason for storming in like that", said a very annoyed Commander, "The neighbor's house is on fire..." the black haired man answered with an absent voice, his gaze still locked on the handmaid.

The Commander stood up, in his movement he had slid Oferwin off of his knees, she was now sitting on his chair, her hands still gripping the book like her life depended on it. The Commander quickly left the office to go see what was happening, not taking a glance back at her or Levi. The handmaid was lost, she felt like she was outside of her body, she knew that she was still shaken after what happened during the Ceremony but she genuinely thought she was feeling better. But as Oferwin realized the state she was in right now, she came to the understanding that she was in fact still absolutely terrified of the Commander. The handmaid didn't hear Levi walking towards her, so when she saw a hand taking the book away from her hands, she flinched and looked at him with wide eyes. Levi crouched down to be at eye-level with her, "What happened?" he asked with a surprisingly soft voice.