Birdie (Levi x OC)

sixty

"Wake up, Birdie. Now."

I jolted upright, my eyes flashing open, immediately thrown from the deep comfort of sleep into high alert. Levi was already over me, fully dressed in his uniform. The two days of reprieve Hange had gifted us since the wedding felt like a distant dream.

"What is it?" I breathed, my heart pounding against my ribs.

"Emergency meeting at the capital," Levi grimaced, his voice was low. He was already tugging his jacket on. "Something regarding our new visitors."

"The Anti-Marleyan Volunteers?" I whispered, my stomach churning with a wave of nerves.

"Yes," he confirmed, gesturing to my clothes, which he had already laid out with his usual efficiency.

The morning ritual was hurried, effective, and completely silent. He worked with an impatient focus, assisting me with the brace and boots while I rapidly brushed through my hair.

I stood up, feeling a little wobbly on my feet, my brown wool skirt brushing against my ankles. He helped me slip into my jacket, which I buttoned with ease.

"Ready," I said. "Do you know what this pertains to? I'm starting to feel nervous."

"Something to do with their organizer, I think," Levi grunted as he opened the door, waiting for me to go through first. "Hange said the information is about their leader."

Their leader? I furrowed my brow, thinking. Like the person who headed and created the defectors in the first place? Our ally in Marley?

"Something's up," he stated, his voice dangerously cold. "We wouldn't get the entire fucking military dragged out of bed before dawn if this was some run-of-the-mill person in Marley."

"I suppose we shall see," I agreed, following him out into the headquarters hallway.

~

I soon found myself sat stiffly in the heavy and busy conference room at the Capital, the wood of the tables old and imposing. I was alongside the Survey Corps table, flanked by Levi and Hange. Darius Zackly and Queen Historia took their typical place at the front of the room, while the other military faction heads, including my grandfather, sat at tables beside and behind us.

I turned slightly, sending my grandfather a small wave and smile as he entered the room; he returned my smile with one of his own and a small nod. I looked at Hange and Levi, who were sat on either side of me. Levi was tense, but it was Hange's unnatural stillness that truly unnerved me. She was usually a storm of energy, but now she looked strangely composed. I gave her arm a squeeze and sent her a concerned look. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, returning the squeeze on my hand before immediately redirecting her attention back to the front of the room.

Then, in walked the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers, escorted by the MPs who had been overseeing them. Yelena immediately caught my gaze, causing my eyes to widen. She sent me a small, unsettling smirk as she sat down at a designated table for them on one side of the room. I didn't back down from her stare, instead, returning it with all the courage I could muster. She responded with an open, almost mocking smile, as if she found the entire proceedings an enormous joke.

I looked away then, turning my attention back to the front of the room.

"Order!" Darius banged his hand on his desk, the sound echoing harshly. "I'd like to get started." The murmured chatter in the room instantly quieted.

"Well," he cleared his throat, grumbling to himself as he took a drink of water. "It appears that some new information has come to light in regard to the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers." He shot a loaded glance toward the Volunteers' table. "Commander Hange, you have a communication regarding said information."