851
[Naomi]
"I close this argument for now, Your Honor, and respectfully divert the next issue on my superior, Commander Zoe." I announced firmly, politely gesturing to Hanji by my left as I sat back down on the courtroom bench, in the middle of the military conference we held in front of Darius Zachary's jury about the next Scout Regiment Expedition.
I sat by my Commander's right hand, as she arose with the same resilience and ardor about her as always, beginning her dialogue with the Premier that I was going to support a few moments from then.
My hands were still shaking like a baby's rattle. As I looked up at my Commander explicating her ideas, I rubbed my palms against my white pants, trying to calm myself down. My pulse was ticking like a time bomb, my nerve ends tingling. Until I felt a warm touch over my right hand, enclosing my fingers in reassurance.
It was Levi, sitting by my right. When I looked to him, his deadpanned face was straight and strict, and no one would think that he was holding my hand in such a way under the bench's desk. His caring gesture was hidden away from others to see, for only me to be eased by.
I smiled softly to myself, as Levi's thumb ran gently over my knuckles, pausing at the ring on my finger and playing with it for a second, before continuing his careful motions over my fingers.
He was able to calm me down, by furtively telling me "You got this.", in that loving manner. And as moments passed on, I didn't even notice that I was already standing up from my seat and speaking towards the high jury after being ushered in by my Commander.
"I will relate my proposal in a manner of simplicity, Your Honor, to my best efforts." I said as a starter. The Premier nodded his head at me and gestured with his hand for me to proceed, as all measuring gazes from the soldiers around settled onto me, the niece of Commander Erwin Smith.
"The first time we have arrived on the shoreline, I have observed that the water oscillates, and the motion only decreases in intensity as it arrives to the beach." I explained as I walked to the high bench where Zachary and his assistants sat in the Trost courtroom. "Meaning, by my own hypothesis, that the waves would only grow higher and more violent as we tread distance towards the horizon. The limited machinery of our zip-lined boats would not be able to withstand the force of the waves as they get stronger, so we would need more horsepower on the engines to support the propellers."
Zachary put his intertwined hands under his chin, his usual pensive stance as he observed the way I gesticulated with my hands. "In order to achieve greater horsepower, we would need to venture into more ambitious processes and production of materials."
I sensed pride in my small self, standing in the middle of an older audience with the same bright presence I always used to have, I lost, and now bringing back. I felt enlivened, like I was back from my long, mourning repose. I'm almost a complete person again.
I climbed up the short-flight stairs, feeling a slight pain up my calf as the scout onlookers of all ages and positions, including some members of the Military Police, witnessed my explication of this serious advancement matter.
"Your Honor, these are the proposals I have drafted meticulously on behalf of the Scout Regiment." I said, my voice still taking on the similar firmness it sustained since the beginning of the hearing. "In brief explanation of my report, I, as the Section Commander of the Fourth Squad and Second Scout to Commander Zoe, would like to request an extension of time to annex and observe the behavior of the environment more in order to create a more reliable blueprint of the aimed mode of surveillance."
Zachary, through his thick spectacles, held my paper bundle courteously in his hand, studying the rationale well. "And what of our shortage of manpower? Our steel and wood allocations are quite volatile in the present. I'm confident you know of it, Corporal Smith, as you are a committee of economy at the Royal Court."
I nodded affirmatively. "Yes, Your Honor. I'm very much informed of our current predicament. Which is why I am proposing a time extension of another year and a generous reservation of which amount I have delineated on that report. Those and nothing more."
Zachary lowered his voice for only the two of us to hear, and smiled at me weakly, commendably. "This is not your handwriting, my lady."
I giggled softly. "It's my husband's, sir. He diligently transcribed my scribbles."
"Oh." He said in pleasant surprise, nodding. "And may I know to whom was the honor given?"
"Captain Levi Ackerman." I answered, still smiling. He paused for a moment of realization and surprise, then gave me a small yet meaningful smile.
"Great man." Zachary answered, nodding with approbation as he looked back onto the paper. "I could wish for nothing more."
I smiled, and stepped back a respectful distance between us on the steps, as he wore his serious countenance once more to announce his decision on my rather imposing proposal. I looked back to my Commander, biting my lower lip in my nervousness.
Sitting next to Levi, with my empty seat on her right, Commander Hanji nodded assuringly at me, giving me confidence with the way she clenched her fist and smiled. I turned back towards the Premier as he cleared his throat and put my paper down on his desk.
Zachary lifted his sweeping gaze to the wide court, surrounded by the many soldiers who witnessed and contributed on today's hearing for the next endeavour of humanity.
In the observer column, my four apprentices stood- Reid von Fritz, Timothy Schiller, Cara Kleist and Kurt Hess- and though their emotions were covered by years of military training, I was even more accustomed to reading eyes. They watched with sheer awe as how all of this unfolded before them. What more so when they finally take sight of the pristine ocean this coming week?
I smiled to myself as I looked down on the glossy hardwood steps, knowing that it would be exactly the way I felt like when Uncle Erwin finally allowed my freedom to decide if I should report to the greatest expedition of human history. I wanted to be that person for them. For Cara, Timothy, Reid, and even the close-minded Kurt.
"Very well." Zachary finally declared. "As we all have witnessed the excellence of Her Grace, Section Commander Naomi Smith-Ackerman on the explication of this matter; it is with no further contemplation that I shall sanction her advancement request on behalf of the Scout Regiment."
In excitement I was trying to muffle, I looked back to Levi, smiling up to my ears. He was looking at me before I even turned towards him partially, and he smiled back. His same, Levi smile- faint, grayed, yet so incredibly proud and supportive of me. Though his smile looked rather weak to make other ladies happy, it was more than enough for me.
I looked back towards Zachary as he continued his proclamation. "The request on a time extension for annexing and further observance of the environment, as well as materials reservation, will be granted. Any further matters I shall find questionable in this rationale will be addressed in another conference, but until then, let us give our support and assistance to the Scout Regiment's Science and Technology Department Head, Corporal Naomi Smith, and the Head of the Brigade, Commander Hanji Zoe."
After the hearing several moments later, the Spec Ops, together with Commander Hanji, were walking together to the convoy back home. We were having an animated conversation about the hearing and our future hopes, as the sun set in the western distance, creating patches of amber and gold on the cobblestone ground.
As always, Levi was walking beside me silently, the same somnolence practiced by Mikasa and Eren, while the others jovially laughed and conversed with the ever-lively Commander.
"You did a great job back there, Naomi." Armin said, clasping my shoulder. I smiled warmly at him. "I'm so excited for the things we're going to be doing."
"You gotta teach me how to do that sometime," Connie said. "For some reason, every time I get in the middle of a crowd, I lose all confidence to speak. It's weird."
I laughed, shaking my head as I was once again surrounded by my friends. Jean put an arm around my shoulder and another on Connie's, placing himself in between us with an arrogance to his air. "Things like that, Connie, are natural. Only gifted ones like me and Naomi are capable of things like that."
"Show-off." Connie mumbled, "You know, you keep up that bigheaded attitude of yours and you're sure to end up in a fist fight bloodier than yours and Eren's."
"Is that a challenge?" Jean asked, jerking a defensive stance over Connie.
"No, it's a promise." Connie glared back.
"Hey!" We heard a startling shriek, as Sasha came running from behind us at full-speed. In a second, she jumped over Jean and Connie's backs, clinging her arms and legs over them. Laughingly, we staggered forward at her surprising weight. The pain in my calf sprung again, making me wince a little bit.
"Sasha, my ankle!" I whined, limping back a little bit.
"Sorry, Naomi!" She said sheepishly, before turning her furrowed eyebrows on the two boys. "You guys are on two-weeks restraining order, right, Captain?"
Levi only regarded his soldiers with a glare, and looked away with a cold "Tch."
"You six are going to murder each other before the enemies could get close to you." Hanji said, shaking her head with a chuckle.
Sasha grinned at the Commander cheekily, still clinging on the annoyed boys' backs. "Don't you worry now, ma'am! I've got them both under control while the Captain's away."
"Get off of us, Sasha." Connie groaned.
"Aight, aight, but imagine the sunrise, Connie; imagine the sunrise..." Sasha said, a self-made phrase she thought would be able to calm Connie.
"You're still on us, root crop." Jean said.
"Sigh... They're just like that. Nothing really changed." Hanji remarked, making me smile as the three began their bickering once more, while I casually joined my mentor's pace. "It's a good thing you and Levi chose to live separately from them. You already have enough headaches on your own."
I laughed, nodding in agreement. "Oh, Commander. You wouldn't know how much migraines we already cause each other. He cannot stand the 'mess' I make whenever I create prototypes and blueprints. He cleans them up before I even finish. Plus, he and I never agree on what to have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Then, he doesn't trust the way our servants do chores... It always ends up with him doing everything on his own."
Hanji chuckled. "Classic Levi. Didn't you expect that though? I mean, you knew him since you were a child."
"Yeah... There's so many things about him that continue to surprise me." I answered. "I guess you never really know a person until you get to live with them."
She laughed. "Yeah. He certainly didn't realize you were such a frisky sleeper before he married you."
"I am?" I asked in surprise doubt, looking at her as she nodded with the blush of a bright smile across her cheek. "He said that?"
"Yes, he said you sleep like a clock." She said, chuckling. "One moment you're hand is on his face, and the other your foot is on his back, and most nights you take on seventy-five percent of your bed as he squeezes himself in the remaining twenty-five."
"Why, that audacious creature!" I laughed, imagining the way Levi must've looked like putting up with how I sleep. I never realized that.
"Your Grace," The voice of my coachman called, as we neared the pavement where the carriages lined up. He got off his driver's seat to greet me with a polite bow, before regarding the presence of the Commander.
"Richie." I greeted, smiling. I took his hand as he assisted me to board the carriage. Before I sat, I smiled towards the Commander and gave her a salute.
"See you next week, Commander." I said, smiling brightly. She smiled back and gave me a salute too.
"Happy trails, junior." She answered, before Levi finished off giving grave notes to his unit and boarded the carriage with me. Commander Hanji was accompanied by other soldiers to her carriage, as the Spec Ops rode on their horses behind us.
Finally having time to ease down, Levi and I sat back, waiting for the convoy to begin riding. I leaned back on my seat and put my head on his shoulder to rest.
"How did I do today?" I asked softly, holding him by the arm as I placed my chin over his shoulder. Levi looked down at me.
"You were okay." He answered plainly.
"Okay?" I pouted, disappointed at the remark.
"It was great for being rushed. But you had better days." He told me. I stared at him for a moment of serious thought.
"What?" He asked. "You know I won't lie to you."
I shrugged, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, I suppose I was rather jittery earlier because I thought my stance wasn't substantial enough. But I powered through it."
"Yes. You're improving, that's what matters." Levi added.
We shared a short, comfortable silence as the carriage began to ride, and I was almost falling asleep in exhaustion of the day when I remembered something.
"Levi?" I called.
"Hmm?" He responded quietly.
"Thank you for helping me last night." I answered. "And for moving me to our bedroom when I fell asleep. When I woke up that dawn, hours before we got up, surprised that I was magically on our bed... I remembered my childhood. When I fell asleep on the couch, or on the floor... And when I wake up the next day, I'm in my bedroom. Because Uncle Erwin carried me there. It warmed my heart, really. To feel that again."
Levi was silent, the steady rise and fall of his chest cradling my drowsy head.
"You know, last night," Levi started, and I listened carefully. "I was talking. Asking you questions. Only to realize you've already fallen asleep. And when I looked at you there, soundly sleeping on the messy desk, I was... filled with so much pride."
"Hmm? Why?" I asked, curious, feeling warmer with every word he said.
"Because the little girl I risked my life for over and over again is my wife now, and a person who has contributed so much to society." He said. "You're cunning, intelligent, strong, and brave. And yet, so young. l was already twenty-six when I realized what role I wanted to play in my life."
"That doesn't make you any less of the great man you are." I told him. "I'm better because of you."
He looked down onto me, and lifted my hand to kiss my knuckles. "Strange how that applies to me too, when I swore I'd never be attached to anyone like this."
My heart in the comforting haze of smiling, I nestled deeper into my husband's shoulder, basking in the comfortable silence we shared through the carriage ride back home. When we arrived, it was already nighttime, and the servants were all about to head to their own families and homes after another day of work was done.
Levi and I stood at the Mansion's steps, just alighted from the carriage when we met my two court ladies making their way out the residence.
"We'll see you in the morning, Your Grace." Vita said, as she and Leila curtseyed before me as a retirement for the night. I smiled softly at the two of them, the last servants of the house to leave.
"Thank you, Vita, Leila." I answered. With another polite bow of their heads, the two exited the dimly-lit Mansion, leaving it completely soulless except for mine and Levi's. The door creaked close, and the wholesome emptiness of our home settled in the evening atmosphere.
We shared a silence as we took off our boots, taking a few moments to get rid of our coats in the mudroom. The place was now cold with the night breeze, and as if he felt my senses too, I felt Levi's arms wrap around my waist.
"I do believe we have unfinished business." He whispered slowly, the back of his hand trailing up the fabric of my backside.
I smiled knowingly, looking slightly over my shoulder. "I don't know, can you take a second sleepless night after one?"
"Depends on what we're doing." He answered as I turned around slowly, meeting his lips with mine. Surprised at my initiated action as my hands trailed up his chest, Levi staggered back, allowing me the liberty to take off his brown leather jacket.
I pulled away as I unbuttoned his white shirt, and his lips lingered around my neck. "That was risque. Where's my innocent Naomi? I want her back."
"Hmm..." I responded quietly, pulling his cravat off. "Are you sure?"
He was silent, pulling my body closer to him as he unbuckled my belts. He kissed me along my neck and ear, his breath warm over my sensitive skin as his fingers worked their way around my uniform. "Maybe I can make one exemption for tonight."
Without another word, I took off his shirt, planting kisses along his chest as I also began to unbuckle his belts. Levi peeled off the tights from me, and took his off, ardently kissing me all the way back.
I pushed him towards the door, where I leaned up to meet his lips, and he showed a doubly desire in him that overpowered how much I could display. In one motion, he pulled my turtleneck over my head, revealing me in only the black lace he caught me wearing alone earlier that morning. I blushed, feeling a wave of shyness overcome me.
"What a sight." He whispered, before he kissed me again, deeply, wandering, melting me with every touch. Levi pulled me closer, making my heart pace faster as he carried me with one single effort. I enclosed my legs around him as he pressed me to the wall, his lips moving from mine and onto my chest.
My hands on his hair, I writhed underneath his kisses, his one hand supporting my weight and the other slowly, sensually exposing my bare skin. His mouth travelled over the sensitive skin of my breasts, making me breathlessly call out, "Ah,.. Levi.."
As my legs were wrapped around his waist, I could feel him growing against me, and how I so yearned for this thin boundary between us to be broken already. I wanted all of him, right then and there; and I didn't know one could feel that way. It was so strong, almost unbearable. He didn't fail with making it obvious that he desired for the same thing, too.
With no difficulty at all, Levi carried me to the couch, where he laid me down on the soft mattress and let his hands and mouth travel down my body, undressing me completely.
When I was completely exposed to the cold, mine and his undergarments a pool on the floor, I found myself rising up to him, gently pushing him down to sit on the couch as I put my leg over his and kissed him again.
"I'll never get tired of this." He told me between our lips, gripping on my leg gently as I straddled him. He lifted me a little, his hands gently pressing on my soft skin, and I gasped as I felt him invade me from underneath, his heat being transferred to me through the sparks I felt running from my hips and to every inch of my skin.
"Levi..."
Following him, we moved together in a perfect rhythm, feeling every inch of each other as my lips wandered down his neck and his warm hands made permanent territories over my chest and back.
"Naomi..." Levi called out, his voice husky and sighing in pleasure. "Naomi, my love."
Now I understood why he wanted to hear the sound of me. Him calling my name as I took equal control instead of being as submissive as I naturally am made me feel a different kind of satisfaction.
"Oh..." He moaned again, his hands flying from my back and up to my face, moving the hair that covered it to my temples. He looked into my eyes, making me feel a different fondness taking flight as I saw his handsome countenance and the drunkness across his cheeks. "I need to kiss you. Come closer."
I obliged, kissing him. With so much wonder, he met my lips and opened my mouth, wandering there in a way he never did before. When we've both reached the rippling waves, I moaned against him, gripping hard on his shoulders as he did so around my waist.
He threw his head back as we slowed down, and I leaned up, lifting myself on my knees to look at his face, beads of sweat running on his brow as they did so on mine. Levi gazed into my eyes and held me by the cheek, as I held the sides of his face in my warm hands.
"Quite the show." He whispered.
I laughed softly, pressing a soft, sensual kiss on his lips. "Am I not always?"
"Fair enough." He answered, wrapping his arms tightly around me as he laid me back down, slowly, on the bed.
-~•~-
"Things have been tough. I don't know what else there is to say about what happened this year, everything has been very fast-paced and yet so incredibly slow at times. I don't know what wondrous time is going to bring, but I know I'm ready to face it with my partner for eternity; my love, my husband, my best friend, my protector; Levi.
Here's to our first month together, and many, many more ahead of us. I love you, Levi. May you live long and healthy."
I smiled as I wrote on my journal, chestfirst on my bare skin only half-covered by a soft blanket on the floor. I used the pale moonlight from a faraway window to illuminate the paper, shining down on mine and Levi's bodies as it always did in the few nights we've spent together in this kind of intimacy.
"I don't understand where you get your energy after all of that." Levi said, with his usual Levi tone. "Can I have my wife back? You've been writing for fifteen minutes."
"Relax, it's not like we weren't just finished a second time only fifteen minutes ago." I laughed softly, putting the fountain pen down as I felt his hands grab around my arms, gingerly pulling me closer to him.
"Come on now, you can write about how good of a husband I am in bed in the morning." He told me, "I like cuddling with my Naomi after making love."
I giggled softly, letting him take me into his strong, firm arms. He put his forehead against mine, his eyes looking into me. I giggled. "I guess it was on my influence that you like cuddling after making love."
"I always liked this part." He whispered, kissing me softly. "It's really calming."
"Me too." I answered. "Dare I say I love this more than making love."
"Me too." He replied faintly, as I closed my eyes.
"Goodnight, Levi. I love you. Happy first month." I whispered.
"I love you, Naomi. For many more years before us." He answered quietly.
We shared a few moments in serene silence, with only the sound of the gentle breeze outside and the occasional rustling of the leaves taking over our ambient atmosphere. I thought I was going to fall asleep. I thought Levi had already fallen asleep before me. Until he broke the silence with a whisper.
"Naomi."
"Hmm?"
"Can we go again another round?"
I laughed, throwing my head back as I held him by the shoulders. He smiled faintly at my reaction, and I tried to keep a straight face as I looked into him. "And you question my energy after making love!"
He shrugged, looming over me to kiss me again, his warmth pervading my body from above. I met his lips again, feeling him express his utmost devotion to me with every touch. And there we exchanged love again, in a magical night that felt like it was only a dream.
When I woke up in the morning, Levi was breathing gently behind me. The sun had barely risen, and the living room was drenched in the dimness and coldness of dawn, our bare bodies laying on the floor, intertwined under thin sheets. I wished it could be like that all the time, as I always did.
Levi hugged me from behind, his arm securing me over my chest and around my shoulders. Feeling him still deeply in slumber, I planted a soft kiss on his hand that limply hung around my shoulder, and carefully removed his binds around me.
Gently, so as not to wake him up, I sat up, massaging my sprained ankle. I stood, in my bareness, and stretched at the obscured light of the rising sun. I was not clothed, nor was my hair up in any way, and there was no audience to impress or to educate. It was only me- in the home I built with my lifetime lover, and I felt so unrestricted in the dawning light.
My hands intertwined over my head, I stared onto the sheer drapes over my glass window, flowing gently by the breeze.
"You're beautiful." His hoarse morning voice called behind me, remarking in a mesmerized tone as I stretched my arms up. I looked back over my shoulder, my arms still weakly in the air, to see my husband staring at me with so much admiration from where he lay in his bare-bodied wonder.
I smiled softly, picking up a powder pink-colored, silky bathrobe of mine from a nearby drawer. I wrapped it around me, still feeling Levi's eyes on me behind my back as I tied the ribbon around my waist.
When I was done, I walked back towards the spot where we fell asleep last night and sat with my legs crossed, returning his tantalized gaze. "Well, good morning to you too, handsome."
Levi only smiled a fraction of a second, then he sat up slowly, leaning closer to kiss me softly. I met him halfway, closing my eyes for a brief second of his touch.
"Come on, let's go have breakfast." I said, taking his hand. "What do you want?"
"You decide this time." He answered, putting his trousers on from underneath the blanket. "I don't want to bicker with you so early in the day."
I laughed softly, and wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders, kissing him soft on the cheek and pulling back to look into his half-awakened eyes. "Is it going to be like this forever?"
"I'll be happy either way." He answered, putting his arms around me and returning my kiss, before gently pulling me back down on the floor to be wrapped in his warmth and kisses again; myself softly giggling through.
Before we both knew it, those relaxed days of just snuggling together in the mornings were easily replaced by our hectic schedules as active, high-ranked soldiers alike.
Levi and I barely spent mornings together as the week of the Sixtieth Expedition neared, but it was not a problem for the both of us since what mattered, in the first place, what we promised to each other- was that no matter what happened throughout the day, we would always be back home on time to sleep next to each other.
So, during those days, I had my cadets trained by a fellow Scout, but I seldom showed my presence to them. I wanted them to meet me again when we finally venture forth into the sea. Because that glorious moment in history would finally open their eyes to our sterling endeavour, and I wanted to be right in their immediate periphery the very moment that happens.
I walked down the bottom of the Trost wall that day to check on the dozens of Scouts who reported for this specific expedition. With my fastidious, sweeping gaze, I made an analysis, an inventory of some sort, to count all of the scouts scattered around, stocking the wagons and buckling their uniforms. Everybody seemed very driven today.
"Corporal Naomi." Hillary called, running up to me. I gave her a smile as she saluted before me, standing a respectful distance away. "I came here to report that our primary wagons are fully equipped. These are the materials that we have inventoried upon inspection, ma'am."
She handed me a clipboard, and I scanned with my discerning eyes how each of mine and Commander Hanji's equipment and paraphernalia were there. I nodded in affirmation, returning my look to her as I handed the board back. "Excellent work, Hillary. Rally your squad now, we're going up."
"Yes ma'am." She nodded, and reverted back to the path she took earlier.
Before I could mind my own business again, I heard a very welcome voice come crashing down my peaceful lonesomeness. "Naomi!"
"Armin!" I called back, smiling brightly as he approached me from my other side. "You sure do look especially excited today."
"Yeah." He replied, nodding. "Can you believe it? We're finally going to study the ocean... For real! It's amazing. I can't believe we're here right now."
I smiled softly towards his direction, looking at the way his blue eyes glinted against the sunset glow. He still looked as zealous as ever to keep rediscovering the object of our fascination, the motivation that kept us fighting all this excruciating time. Thinking now, his blue eyes remind me a lot of Commander Erwin.
In my mind was a distant memory, a fleeting reminiscence of the first time we set off outside the walls. I couldn't believe that was only six months ago, because looking at us now... It all seemed so long in the past.
"What's up?" Armin asked, blinking twice in confusion of my mind-afloat expression.
"Oh, I," I replied, shaking my head. "I was just thinking of how cheesy you were on our first expedition last year. You were talking about your dreams of what the sand would feel like between your toes and how the horizon sparkles when the sun hits the sea."
Armin smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Huh... I guess we really lived up to it. I meant it when I said it helped with my anxiety attacks. And now, it's like a landmark we can keep going to whenever."
I nodded, smiling faintly. "You have a thing for meeting me before an expedition starts."
"Out of habit, I think." He replied. "And besides, meeting you before expeditions takes me off my nerves most of the time."
I put a hand over his shoulder, patting him there twice. "I'm glad to have had so many adventures with you, Armin. And to many more."
"Don't do that, it sounds like you're a grandma already." Armin whined, slowly removing my hand from his shoulder. "We have other stuff to look forward to. Bigger stuff. You ought to be there for yourself and Commander Erwin."
I nodded. "I will, no matter what happens."
"Naomi." We heard a stern voice call from behind me, and Armin and I looked back to be greeted by Levi's permanent glare.
"Captain." Armin addressed, saluting.
"Round up the squad will you, Arlert?" Levi ordered.
"Yes sir." Armin answered. He looked to me and smiled before going to his task. "See you later, Corporal Naomi!"
"See you." I bade back, before turning to Levi and his strict demeanor. He handed me an extra set of buckles. Or frames, rather. Shoved one pair into my hands just like that while he kept the other.
"Here. These are for your ankles." He said blanky, before he kneeled down on the ground and attached the first set of supporting frames around my leg. "We never know what what we're going to encounter outside."
I smiled down at him, watching him buckle the frames around my calf and ankle. He took out his hand for the other one on my grasp, and I gave it down onto him, letting him proceed with his job.
When he was done, he rose back up and looked down at me, his body slightly turned around to go back to his squad. "Be careful on the ride out. I'll be with Hanji at front. Advance when you need anything."
I nodded, recalling my position in the far center. "You be careful too."
"Alright." He said, turning away. "Love you."
I smiled, pulling on his sleeve a little to kiss him on the cheek before he completely turned to his path. Realizing where we were, I stood back almost immediately and covered my mouth in embarrassment.
Levi rolled his eyes, inwardly sighing in impatience before leaning back into me on one leg to kiss me on the lips briefly. He turned around and marched away like nothing happened after that, leaving me in my seemingly permanent butterflies.
"I thought the rule was clear that all relations must be kept professional in military premises." I heard Commander Hanji's speculating voice from behind me, making me turn around quickly, feeling heat rise up my cheeks.
"Commander!" I almost yelled out, my widened eyes making her laugh, breaking her folded-arm stance off. "I'm sorry, I wasn't present-minded at all."
"Levi's the one who initiated it really." She said. "But then again, can anybody ever scold that man?"
We both laughed, shaking our heads. The Commander walked up to me and gave me a reassuring pat on my shoulder. "I'll see you at Shiganshina, Naomi."
"Wait, we're camping by groups, ma'am?" I asked, confused.
"Yes." She replied, surprised that I didn't know. "I just set out the orders this morning, since it would be a delay to have everyone near in. We'll set up camp where we find ourselves at eight in the evening."
"Oh." I answered. "Alright. I'll see you at Shiganshina then, Commander Hanji."
"That's my protege." She said proudly, walking away. "Take care."
"You too, Commander." I bade back, following her direction with my thoughtful gaze, and shrugging it away as I looked down.
I then returned to my game face, and followed the gathering of the Fourth Squad and Andrew Unit. I then directed all ten of us up the elevator to be taken to the other side of the wall. The beginning of another expedition, our second visit to the shoreline. What could have been in store for us this time? I was up in my thrills before the green smoke even blasted up the vast, azure sky.
-~•~-
Daisy, In Bloom
Hi! I'm still blushing. Hahaha. It takes me a lot of courage to publish stuff, so I really hope you like them! Excuse the fluffiness of the married couple, it's the so-called honeymoon stage... ( *whispers* I love it. Three more chapters of this stage!)
So, for recap, and for those who skipped the first book (totally okay, as I said, you can read 'In Bloom' on its own), Naomi Smith is the Squad Commander of the Fourth Squad (Hanji's former unit before succession) and she's also the adopted daughter of the Austerlitzes, a noble couple- hence her title, Lady Austerlitz. Her true parents are Adela Smith (Erwin's little sister) and Ivan Dietrich, a redheaded aristocrat from Calaneth.
I'll let you have fun and figure out the rest. (｡･ω･｡)
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♡ Phoebe