Birdie (Levi x OC)

fifty-seven

"You expect me to act normal after you just asked me to marry you?" I hissed at Levi as he ushered me out the door. My voice was low but frantic.

"As much as I would love nothing more than to throw you back on that bed and celebrate our upcoming nuptials right now," Levi murmured into my ear, his breath hot, the suggestion a deliberate counter to my panic. He waited for me to steady my hand and lock the door to our office. "We unfortunately have Marleyan defectors we have to deal with. Ones you told me you wanted to meet."

"Do we tell everyone?" I whipped my head around, making eye contact with him, our faces inches apart. My voice sounded giddy. "Cause this is rather exciting."

"Absolutely not," Levi snapped, his gaze instantly hardening into a glare. "That sounds horrid. You know how those brats will react. They'd turn it into a week-long celebration."

I frowned, my bottom lip turning to a pout.

Levi hissed under his breath. "Maybe later. Not today, okay? We have enough on our plate. We don't need to add six annoying teenagers to the list of things I have to manage."

"I mean, you find them annoying either way," I retorted.

"Maybe so, but talking about my personal life with those brats would make them even more so."

"Fine," I conceded, stepping away from the door. "I'll keep my mouth shut. But they're going to find out at some point."

Levi ignored the sentiment, guiding me firmly through the Survey Corps headquarters until we reached the mess hall. The atmosphere instantly shifted from private tension to public scrutiny. Hange was waiting for us at the entrance, leaning against the doorframe, already buzzing with anticipation.

"Hange," I stumbled towards her, wrapping my arms around her neck. "I'm sorry I didn't see you last night. I would have, but I got—" My voice trailed off, a deep, uncontrollable flush rising to my cheeks—"...distracted."

Levi huffed in annoyance, the sound barely audible, as Hange gave him a knowing sideways glance. "I think 'kidnapped' might be a better suited word, Captain." She shot Levi a pointed glare as I let go of her.

"Oh shut it, Hange," he growled. He then looked in my direction. "You too. You don't have to be so honest."

I laughed, Hange soon joining me.

"Can you just catch her up a little bit," Levi growled. He sounded impatient. "Then we can get this shit over with."

"Whatever you say, Captain," Hange smirked before turning her full, brilliant attention to me. "They're inside having breakfast. They're under careful watch, but we've granted them limited freedom for now. We need their cooperation before we head to the capital to discuss this with Queen Historia and the rest of the military heads." Hange paused thoughtfully, mulling her words over. "The non-defectors, the ones who truly invaded, are dead or locked in private rooms in the barracks. We'll deal with them after we extract information."

"I see," I murmured. "Will they be transported to the capital dungeons?"

Hange nodded, "it's likely. But let's hope they volunteer some useful information first."

She creaked open the heavy door to the mess hall. A wave of ordinary noise, clattering cutlery, low conversations, washed over us. "Shall we get some breakfast and talk to our new friends?"

I nodded, limping my way inside the large room. Scouts were scattered around, munching on breakfast and chattering in quiet tones. Some of them cast wayward glances toward our destination: a few tables in the corner filled with people who were distinctly different from the rest of the soldiers in the room.