What More Could I Need (Book #2) AOT Fanfiction

Night Story

Saichi Yamazaki

I sit on my couch with my legs pulled up to my chest while I'm reading over Aki's report sent to me by Eld. He seems to be getting better, besides his eyesight worsening, but they can't be so sure. He doesn't recall what he did so it might pose a problem in the near future. I'm wearing baggy sweats and Levi's hoodie. It's the black one that he always wears and I've become attached to it because of the scent left it in.

Saturday is approaching a lot faster than I want it to. I have to tell Takahiro or Levi my plan. I will be going alone, even knowing Lovof won't. Hopefully, he brings the leader of the White Fangs and I can take him down as well. What Takahiro said was right, no matter how I look at it. I will not be the same after I get this much blood on my hands. I'm ready for it. At least the people I care about will be safe.

I look outside and see it's already dark. I haven't been keeping track of time. I should be putting the brats to bed. Jean and Armin are with me since Furlan had to work and Erwin is on a business trip for the week. His usual babysitter quit and he begged me for the favor. Since he signs my checks, I wasn't going to say no. I get them in the tub while I prepare a bed for them. I sit on the side in a tank top and shorts so I don't get too much water on my clothes. 

I'm scrubbing water in Armin's hair while Eren is blowing bubbles in Jean's face. When Jean retaliates by pushing water at him, Eren becomes upset. "Captain! Make him stop!"

I'm going to give myself a punch to the face if I ever decide to become a parent. "Stop messing with him, Eren."

I wash out Armin's hair and begin with Eren's. Due to his reckless behavior, the same as he was in the previous life, he has all kinds of dirt in his hair. I have to scrub his scalp for an extra period of time just to make sure it's clean. I let them splash and play for a little while so I can grab the towels. I have to take them out one at a time. I blow dry their hair and put on their night clothing. Once everyone is dry and dressed, I tuck them in. Since he moves around a lot, I have Eren in the middle. "Captain?" I hear Jean say. 

I look up, in the middle of setting out their clothes for tomorrow. "Yes?"

"Can you tell us a story about the Titans?"

I hesitate. They already have most of their memories so there is no point in lying. But they are about to go to sleep. I don't want those horrors to keep them awake through the night. Maybe I can put it in sweet, innocent terms that they will enjoy. I kneel on the floor next to their bed. "So, back in the Titan days, they were what humanity feared the most. They were big and mean, dangerous to any human. But, there were a group of people that were brave and they fought against them to protect everyone else."

"Wasn't Captain one of them?" Armin asks.

"Yeah, I was. I did everything I could to protect innocent ones like you." I press his nose like a little button. He giggles, making me smile. "After years and years of fighting, we finally won. The Titans were all gone and the world was safe."

"How did we win?" Jean asks.

"By not giving up."

"Did we ever lose?"

I sigh and slowly nod. "Of course. We didn't always have good days."

"Do you think the Titans will ever come back, Captain?" Eren asks.

"No, Eren. Thanks to some great people, we will never see Titans again. Now, get some sleep. You have kindergarten tomorrow." I stand back up and turn out the light. When I go out in the hallway, I come across my father with Levi and Takahiro. They must have just got in from their meeting. With this White Fang issue getting out of hand, they've been upping the security. I glare at my father, nonetheless. "I'm pretty sure my guards don't need an escort into their own home."

He smiles, something I never like to see. It doesn't mean anything good to me. "I want you to come to this Yakuza party on Friday where you and Furlan will be announcing your engagement."

Levi furrows his eyebrow, staring me down. "Engagement?" 

I go to the next room and peek in. Haru is curled up with Yuri with the ceiling light still on. I click my tongue as I hit the light. I leave the door cracked and move on. Me not responding to Levi lets Takahiro know that I want him to explain everything instead. "The Yamazaki family has been in alliance with the Church family for years now but things changed because of an incident before the two were born. As a deal to keep the peace, these two were to be engaged and marry. In the process, they will be combining the two clans. It was decided the week they came into the world."

Levi understands how obligations of this kind of life are but it doesn't mean he is okay with the idea. I can tell him over and over again that I don't love Furlan but it won't change the fact that I will be tied legally to another man that isn't him. I avoided ever bringing it up but it's getting closer to the time to come. My father is getting old and age is setting in on his health. It won't be long before he steps down and has me take over. 

Lance chuckles. "Yes, it was a brilliant idea from the start. So, will you be there?"

"Denied." I peer into Maki's room. I had to slip some sleeping pills in his food just to get him to sleep. With Aki in a lab, he refuses to do so on his own. I can't send him back to school so he sits around in the window seat of the living room all day. If he does say anything, he's pounding me with questions about his conditions. Each time, I tell him the same thing. He's safe. "I have no time for something as stupid as that."

It's the night before I have to face the White Fangs. I plan to spend it with Levi, Eren, and Takahiro. I can't guess what will happen but I do think they deserve to see me like I am now before the change in me happens.