{LeviHan} What Hides Beneath...

Chapter 16: In Time

Levi's POV

I'm somewhat thankful that when I dragged myself onto land, I was still wearing those clothes when Hanji was... no. I can't think about that. Once my tail had faded and my clothes appeared, I struggled to remember how to stand. My body soon remembered what it was like to be human. Once I could remember how to run, I ran. I tried to remember where Hanji lived... but I couldn't get there.

My heart was racing- where was she?! 

Collapsing on the bench over exhaustion, I heard a few clinking noises. I turned to my pockets, seeing that... I had a few coins. 

"Phone..."

My eyes widened as I remember everything. Hanji's phone number- and Nanaba's! It was Hanji's kind of thing for me to remember. Oh... I remember her little attitude towards me when I tried to talk back to her about using a phone. She was scary... so I had to obey her. Plus... I didn't want to leave her side.

Of course, I wouldn't have a phone on me. It would've been long gone by now. My eyes searched over and over for some sort of sign. Too many tourists were around- snotty perhaps. After what seemed for hours, I finally found this old phone booth. I was reaching too much... reaching for what seemed a useless hope.

Either way, I was desperate to find Hanji. A few coins were slotted into the machine, and I dialed for her number.

"This machine does not-"

My knees weakened when I heard that message. I reached too far... now... I'm completely lost. No use to finding Hanji or Nanaba. Hanji... I whispered her name under my breath... trying to hold back the tears I had. Maybe... maybe I can start walking back to her apartment. I'm that desperate to return into her arms. 

With whatever willpower I have left, I stood up from the ground and started walking. My memory was coming back as I continued to walk towards where she would've lived. The will to keep going was to hold Hanji once more. I... just... wanted to see her...

*   *   *

"Levi!" I perked up, hearing this panicky voice. I turned and saw Nanaba. I just stopped and stared at her, not believing this coincidence. "Oh god, it's really you! Get it, Levi."

I tilted my head, jumping into the passenger seat. "Where's Hanji...?"

"Hospital-"

"Hospital?!"

Nanaba gave a chuckle, driving on forward. "She's going to give birth soon- her contractions are somewhat far apart. I wanted to give her some doughnuts when she's done with the birth. I didn't expect you to appear."

I looked down at my hands, seeing them shake. "She's... she doesn't have the baby yet?"

"No. You're just in time. Right now, we gotta dart out of the car once we get to the hospital. I-I think she's gonna be in the delivery room by the time we get there. I've been cleared to go into the room- and so are you."

"Cleared...?"

"You are the father of the baby- and there's no doubt Hanji wants you there."

*   *   *

Dashing through the hospital with Nanaba, it was just what she said. I was allowed to go into the room... and how I saw Hanji... I could feel my heart stop. Sweat was dripping from her forehead as she just had this painful expression on her face. Nanaba says something, but I drowned it out. I... I just wish...

"L-Levi..." I snapped out of this phase, and I walked forward to her. Hanji whispered softly, wincing a bit. "Y-You came back... you really... really came back..."

I smiled softly, kissing her forehead. My hand gripped with hers. The tears finally rained down on me. "I'm right here... this time... I won't leave your side. I won't ever... ever leave your side. That's my promise to you..."

*   *   *

Hours passed by, and I was able to hold my little daughter. Hanji already had a name in mind, so I went with it. I just requested if I could give her her own middle name. Now... my daughter was deemed Iris Isabel Zoe-Ackerman. Hanji wanted to keep my last name: Ackerman. 

I held her tightly, and Nanaba had to run off to get more food for the both of us. Hanji and I were trying to catch up- exchanging stories and stuff like that. Apparently, Hanji wanted to buy a lake house for me and for the baby. There was that weird theory of hers about how Iris could possibly have mermaid genes.

That's when... he stepped him. He lied to the nurses and security about him being the father of Iris- which was clearly the lie. He stepped in, trying to show off a smirk. It quickly melted away when he saw me there with the little infant in my arms. 

"How the...?"

"Moblit, leave. I thought that the restraining order's on you." Hanji growled, beckoning me to come close to her. "You're not even allowed to be here. How the hell did you get in here?"

"I just wanted to see my child."

"My child is not your child. It's Levi's."

Moblit scoffs, "Oh, so he's back and alive? This doesn't makes sense..." He steps up towards me, and Hanji couldn't do anything. She was completely exhausted from giving live birth to Iris. "Levi Ackerman, you shouldn't even be here. Give back my son."

There was this familiar scent on him- it smelled too much of salt and the ocean breeze. I could tell that he was a merman from my pod. I've never seen him before in the pod, but the smell was just too familiar. I scowled back at him, thinking back to when I was forced to go back home to ensure Hanji's safety. 

"You hear me, Black-Tailed? Give back my son."

"If you knew about your own child, then you should know their name. What's their name, Moblit?"

"I was gonna let Hanji name him."

I chuckled, leaning real close to him. Hanji kept giving weird looks between the two of us. I guess she could only hear us whispering- but not able to get what we were talking about. Though I guess she just feared for our daughter. 

"What's funny, Black-Tailed?"

"What's funny is that you don't even know your own gender of your own kid. I know my own daughter's gender and her own name. Now..." My voice grew low and I hid a growl through my tone. "I need you to leave Hanji, my daughter, and myself alone. Get near them, I won't hesitate to chase you away. Call me a Black-Tailed again, I will won't hesitate you to leave here with a scratch. I have a feeling you sold me out because of Hanji... I want you to forget everything about me. Understood?"

Surprisingly, Moblit didn't respond back to me. He just retracted away. 

"Now, leave."

Soon enough, Moblit walks out and Hanji was stunned. "Levi... w-what happened...?" When I turned to her, I could see the fear growing in her eyes. "L-Levi..."

I sat down next to her, kissing her forehead. "It's okay... he's not here anymore."

"What did you do...?"

"I told him to get away. He thought too much about our baby as a boy. I know that it's not his daughter... she's ours."

Hanji chuckled a bit, leaning into me. "Ever since you were taken away... he's been trying to get at me. Mostly because he wanted to take care of his baby. Kept trying to tell me it was from... never mind, it doesn't matter. This baby is definitely yours."

I smiled softly, kissing Hanji once more. "I'll do anything for you..."

"When I'm healed and well-rested... can we... make love? I've been somewhat craving for it for the longest time..."