Cadet Ackerman (SnK ff.) [ON HOLD]

17. What a Family is...

17. What a Family is..

Levine stared at the cobblestoned with the embedded name that sounds very strange but close to him somehow. It was the name of his mother. He looked over to the other stones and saw other names on it. Farlan Church, Isabel Magnolia and Titus Bruagstein. None of these names sounds familiar to him except for Titus. It was Hazel’s brother.

“You say that is…mother?” Levine asked as Levi squatted down to the gravestone and placed the bouquet of lilies in front of it.

“Yes…Today is her death anniversary so I came to give her these,” Levine felt a slight pierce in his heart when he said that. In his mind, he wanted to shout, ‘It’s my birthday, too!!’ but he just couldn’t get the words out. It was stuck there.

”Anyway, you shouldn’t have gone running away like that,” Levi said, standing up and Levine clicked his tongue.

“I can take care of myself,” he said and looked away from Levi. He’s nerves are twitching and so as his fingers. It’s wiggling and twitching and cracking simultaneously. A mannerism he developed over the months.

“I’m just worried,” Levi admitted and Levine took a side glance at him, “Cheesy as it might sound, I admit that when I first saw you, I already felt a connection. It annoys and bugs me at first, but when finally got my answers, I wanted to get to know you. I know it’s my fault why we got separated and you might hate me about that.”

Levine’s eyes slightly widened at his confession. The stoic and strict captain, showing his soft part to him is quite amusing and heart-touching at the same time. And of course, Yami has something to say about that.

”He’s sincere. You better tell him too, you know.”

Levine has been practicing what he wanted to say to Levi ever since he knew that they were brothers, but his pride is not letting him. They’re blocking his words from coming out. But seeing Levi acting like that, he finally manage to say something.

“Yes, it’s all your fault…” Levine said and clicked his tongue, “Maybe if it weren’t for Kenny, I might not be here right now, so I’m thankful for that son of a b*tch. But…even though I acted all tough and distant… there’s always that part of me that wanted to say to you, ‘Wow! I have a family.’ I’ve been looking for those since I realized I have none. Yes, I’m mad that you left me. But everyone makes mistakes. Just make sure you can make it right someday. Levi, I’m not sure what a family is, but since you’re my big brother, I want---need you to teach me what it really is.”

Now, it’s Levi’s time to be stunned by this confession. They really have so much in common, they admit to themselves and the cheesiness of their words made them click their tongues in unison.

“That’s way too gross and cheesy.”

“Too much cheese is bad for the health,” they agreed for the first time. For an instance, there’s those ghostly smiles on their faces that only someone with good eyesight can see. They finally came into a closure.

---

“So you built graves for those close to you that died, huh?” Levine said, lying on the ground as the look at the gravestones under the three and lilies for each.

“I find it right to give them proper graves,” Levi said and touch Kuchel’s gravestone. He introduced Farlan, Isabel and Titus to Levine for 2 whole hours and Levine paid respect for them by giving them lilies from Kuchel’s bouquet (asking permission first, of course.)

“You said that today is Titus’ birthday, didn’t you?” Levine asked and the fellow ravenette nodded, “Why didn’t Hazel came to visit?”

“She have other things to do. And besides, it’s her fifth month. We can’t risk that, traveling all the way here,” Levi said and looked up the sky, “

“A niece or a nephew? I wonder,” Yami said as he walk around the two of them. Levine heard that doctors can tell if the baby will be a boy or a girl in the fifth month of pregnancy. Not so sure if Hange’s that kind of doctor.

“It’s nearly noon. We should head back and when we do…why don’t take lunch with me and Hazel?” Levi said and stood up. Levine nodded and followed, but as he do, he caught sight of a dandelion nearby.  He took one and went to Kuchel’s grave.

“Hey…mom. This might not be as grand as Levi’s bouquet, but I hope you like it. I don’t have much money to buy a bouquet. Levi’s the rich guy,” he said and placed the dandelion, beside the bouquet of lilies and jumping up to Zorro, “Race you to your house!”

Back at the Ackerman house, everything’s set. The foods are ready and the surprise is on the go. Hazel, Sasha and Hazel all did the cooking. Talk about female power. While Eren and Armin did the decors and Jean and Connie are on the look-out for the brothers.

Hange is practically excited to the surprise and can’t help herself from almost ruining it. If they want to make Levine feel welcome, why not start from getting him and his brother have a closure on his birthday and throwing him a party right after?

“Guys! They’re here!” Connie exclaimed as he and Jean burst into the house. They took their position as they hear sounds of horses coming nearer.

“I won this time,” they heard Levine said from the outside and Levi clicked his tongue.

“You just got lucky.”

“Looks like phase 1 is a success,” Eren said with a grin and Armin nodded with a smile. Meanwhile, Levine was about to enter when he caught scent of something burning.

“Something’s burning,” Sasha almost screamed when she realized that the cookie that she was baking is starting to burn in the over. She ran to it and almost burnt herself. Clumsy old Sasha.

“Tch, let’s just get it,” Levi said and when Levine finally opened the door, he was greeted with a big….

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEVINE!” some of them threw their arms up and Levine’s eyes widened. He stared at them and back at Levi who just stared back at him.

“Thought I forgot your birthday? Well, I planned this,” he said and Levine is a bit overwhelmed that he didn’t thought of  witty comeback to say to them.

“Come on, let’s enjoy the day!” Eren said, throwing his arms around Levine’s neck. He had no time to reply and they did enjoy the whole day. And it gave Levine a little idea of what a family is.