The Captain - Levi Ackerman

Chapter 56

Dedicated Chapter Song: Lucy - Skillet

Now that it's over I just wanna hold her. I'd give up all the world to see that little piece of Heaven looking back at me.

      The morning began with Anna on her feet, healthy, ready, and willing to face the day. To her delight Levi had slept more than his usual 3 hours, leaving her room to sneak out and do both of their work for him. He still woke up earlier than the rest of the cadets, an hour after sunrise.

      Anna was found curled up in the library later that morning with a book in her lap and a cup of tea in her hand. "Doing some light reading?" Levi asked, leaning against the door post to the library. Anna smiled over at him. "Something like that. If you consider the topic of cognitive science and anger management 'light', then I suppose so."

      "The hell are you reading that for?" he scoffed. "Hanji recommended it to me. She said it would help me control my sudden urges to go Titan mode during battle. She reminded me that I have teammates to look after and a power such as this could do more harm than good."

      "She is right about that." he nodded. Anna sighed quietly and closed the book, taking a sip of her tea. "Something wrong?" he asked. Anna shook her head. "Not exactly. I've just been thinking." she sat back in the crook of the bay window, pulling her legs in closer to her. "About what?" Levi asked.

      "About... well, everything really. I've been coming up with a list of a few things in my head I want you to promise me from now on." Levi arched an eyebrow. "Tch, what could I possibly promise you?"

      Anna smiled sadly, tilting her head. "Well, number one was please stay with me as much as possible. I can't bear to be torn away from you anymore." Levi nodded at her request. "And the rest?"

      "I do try and follow your orders as best as I can, so please refrain from yelling at me." she rubbed her arm. "And please just trust me most of the time. Doing that just makes me unbelievably happy." Levi pushed her feet aside as he sat down in the crook alongside her. "When we go out there, promise we'll come back alive." she motioned her hand towards the window.

      Levi lowered his head. "I'll do my best." Anna smiled at him, moving some of his hair from his eyes. "And at times please speak with me. Just because I'm good at reading facial expressions doesn't mean I'm a mind reader. I don't always know what the plan is and how to follow through." She reminded him. "I'll probably argue with you a lot, but at least try to hear me out."

      She breathed in, looking down at hands for the next part. "If I lose control over my Titan form, please be the one to kill me." Levi's lips parted at her words, but she continued on. "Don't blame yourself." she looked up at him, a gentle smile on her lips. "And as I die please stay by my side," she said, reaching out to gently take his hand. "And I beg you, please don't forget..." she grabbed onto her necklace, slipping it off her neck. She took the ring from it. "that I unconditionally and whole-heartedly," she placed the metal ring into his hand, forcing his fingers closed around it. As he looked down at his closed palm, Anna shuffled a bit closer. "Really love you." she finished with a whisper.

      Levi looked up at her, his eyes shimmering. He brought up his hand with the ring in it to his chest, saluting at her with a solemn, yet determined expression on his face. "I promise." Anna smiled, cupping his neck as she leaned forward to kiss him. He let his arms drop and wrap around her, pulling her legs around his waist so that she was sitting in his lap.

      He craned his head back to kiss her now that she was slightly above him. Her fingers trailed the outline of his jaw as she breathed him in, every breathe of theirs moving together in sync, like perfect pieces of a puzzle. Her hands slid up to his hair, where she gripped and tugged at the soft tresses, earning her a few moans from Levi.

      Neither of them noticed Hanji nor Erwin walking into the library. "As I was saying, Commander, I've found a book that might-  HOLY SHIT!" Hanji squealed, making Anna quickly recoil. "Agh!" Anna yelped, looking innocently at the two of them. Levi didn't even look at them.

      "I KNEW IT!" Hanji clapped, jumping up and down. "I told you I heard weird sounds coming from Anna's office!" she tugged at Erwin's jacket. "And you wanted to say Anna snores."

      "She does." Levi confirmed, making Anna gasp and hit his arm. "I do not!" she said, then innocently looked around. "...maybe." Hanji laughed. "Cat's out of the bag." Erwin smirked at Levi. "So, when's the wedding, Levi?"

      "Wedding?!" Anna shrieked. "Tch, the hell are you on about, Erwin?" Levi demanded. "That ring on your finger. It wasn't there before." Anna looked to see he was wearing the ring she'd gave him. "No, no, no, you misunderstand! That's not- I mean, yeah, it's an engagement ring, but we're not-"

      "We'll get married after Anna helps rebuild Wall Maria." Levi said flatly, a certain brooding expression lingering on his face, with a hint of mischief behind it. "Aaaah... What?" Anna stared at him in disbelief. "What?" he shrugged. "AAAAH!" Hanji squealed in delight, running over and hugging Anna. "I'm so happy for you! Oooooh my god! We need to start planning! Can it be a Titan-themed wedding?!"

      "No!" Erwin, Anna and Levi all said. Hanji grumped. "Oooh, fine! You all are buzzkills! Anyways, are you done with that book, Anna?" Hanji asked. Anna, red faced and embarrassed, quietly handed the book over to her. "Thanks! Anyways, this is the book I was talking about, Commander," her voice trailed off as she and Erwin headed away.

      Anna placed her red face into her hands. "Tch, you look like hell. What's the matter?" he asked. She raised her head to look at him, his eyes wide. "Tell me honestly. Was that a real marriage proposal or were you just dicking off?"

      "Depends on whether or not you rebuild Wall Maria." he shrugged. "You know that I can and that I will!" she stated. "Then I guess I'll see you at the alter." he hopped out of the window, fixing his coat and shirt as he walked away, leaving Anna stunned.

       "What the- no! You can't just say that and leave! Get your ass back here! Ackerman!" she called after him, but he didn't come back. She scoffed, toeing the dark carpet of the library. "A wedding?" she laughed in denial. "I could never really build Wall Maria up again by myself... but if I have him as motivation..." she glanced out the window as some birds flew by. "I just might."