"I assume you met him face to face?" raising my chin a little, my eyes steadily study her body language and observe her habits.
"Yes, you can say that.....though not on good terms," She admits, nonchalantly and her eyes with a flat expression. "That is beside the point, what I want to know is his last words as the Rogue soldier of Marley."
My eyes hardened a little, "He said 'you and your family were the cowards, for turning your back on our clan' before I ran my blade through his throat," finding the memory too vivid, and still in the back of my mind. "So what did you want exactly from me? What's the point of this conversation?"
Onyankopon steps slightly forward, "Forgive Yelena's presumptuous questions, and assumptions," he apologises, with a much more lighter tone. "We wanted to know if you're the young infant that fled Marley all those years ago, rumours kept swarming Marley. It's no joke that you and your.....?"
"Uncle?"
"Yes, you and your Uncle look so much alike, it's uncanny," He nods in response, trying to put it more simpler. "It's a relief that you're still standing, actually Yelena....." turning to the tall woman, compared to my height I was short. "....maybe would that woman, she could--"
"Not yet Onyankopon, we must wait for a bit til then," Yelena replies sternly, sharpening her focus back on me. She may seem collected and calm, but theres a side of her that waiting to be cracked open. "Right now, we must discuss further of our negotiation and wait for your permission to help modernise Paradis and make this more easier, vice versa. This will benefit with alliance and power as well against the Marleyan empire."
Swallowing thickly, all I gave was a simple nod only wanting nothing more but to gain more power and help to extend our alliance with others beside our own. We're weak in our current situation, let alone less man power since we gained back Shiganshina thanks to Erwin's sacrifice. Not breaking my eyes from hers, they slight squint in wondering what's the catch behind all this?
"Well that bastard had nothing to do with me, I hardly knew him," my voice comes out unattached, with a little bitterness. "He stepped foot into unknown territory, and karma was a bitch....." my eyes coldly and steadily meets hers. "........just because we look defenceless, you would be more surprised in what we can do."
Without another word I step foot out the tent, the fresh morning air grazes my tempered warm cheeks
Though I felt troubled and slightly intimidated, by height but mostly how unpredictable an alliance going blindly can be. Making my way back over to Hanji and Levi, all I could focus on is making Paradis better and easier against enemy counters. The weight of Levi's gaze made me focus back to reality, giving him a half smile of assurance.
"Everything alright?" his voice breaks the chilling silence, his brows still furrowed.
With a nod, "Yeah, everything is...." glancing over shoulder, seeing Yelena standing outside the tent as her eyes meets mine for a moment. ".....fine, let's head back and relate the conversation to the Premier."
Hanji jumps right from behind suddenly, her arms wrapped around both Levi and I's necks, "Wow, I'm so excited about this!" She exclaimed, her eyes doing that thing again. Once something new and interesting comes in, she quickly absorbs it and doesn't shut up. "Seriously, trains.....I don't know exactly what they are but I assume they'll make things easier, and then..."
She continued to ramble on, which made a small smile to slip from my cold exterior for a split second.
"Okay, okay......Hanji we get it," pulling away from her arms, Levi then also dismissively shoves her arm off, before flicking a few specks from his shoulder. "Just........don't get too excited, we need to discuss this first before we can make the call for this alliance."
Without a second Hanji left us already heading to the horses, where our young soldiers waited for us. She eagerly hoists herself up, while I chuckled softly with a raised eyebrow.
"We need to start carrying a leash on our Commander," I jokingly remarked, making my way to the horses.
His steps grew closer as his shoulder brushed against mine, his fingers briefly wanting to hold my hand but pulls away. With a teasing a grin, I flick his knuckles playfully while glancing in his direction.
"Dumbass..."
"You know you love me," while I bite my lower lip playfully, easing the atmosphere. Nudging his shoulder, he gives me a small sly smile before rolling his eyes with the click of his teeth.
*
MEETING HALL
Sitting either side of Levi, Hanji was already on her feet with the request papers in hand directly from Yelena and Zeke Yeager himself. My eyes follow along for a brief moment over some requirements listed on the desk as well, preparing myself whilst glancing up every now and again to meet Queen Historia and Premier Zachary at the front.
The four banners displayed high on the walls, of all four regiment emblems proudly in view.
The sunlight streams through with the dusty mist accumulates, that follows along the sun rays. It wasn't a room where we often come to, well not much for now but for many future meetings. There was enough seats for the main officers, Commanders, section commanders and Captains allowed.
"Zeke Yeager's requests are as follows," breaking the silence, Hanji's voice remained firm and steady. "Accept him onto the island of Paradis for the remainder of the time he has left. Introduce him to the soldier who possesses the founding titan....his half-brother, Eren Yeager...."
Hanji licks her thumb to peel the papers back, while I sigh quietly leaning slightly back while I faded in and out of the meeting. My mind wasn't there, feeling my body becoming fatigued lately.
".....In return, he will guarantee Paradis's safety," She continued on. "He will provide us with the latest technology, including weapons. He will act as a mediator between us and friendly nations, which he claims exist.....and finally, he will provide support for intelligence activities targeting Marley....So, that concludes Zeke Yeager's requests. He claims that he can save the Eldian people, who's existence is currently under th--"
"Absurd!!!!" One of the Garrison officials cuts in, vehemently. "We shouldn't even be listening to this!"
"We're talking about the Beast titan here!!!" An Mp Official added in, reminding us the sins Zeke has made himself known for. "He turned the people of Ragako into titan, and spread terror within the walls! He hunted the Scouts to near-extinction! Now he has the gall to come to us with requests?!"
Biting my tongue and keeping my jaw clamped shut, it brought back many memories I didn't want to be reminded.
Premier calmly leaned forward with elbows propped up, "Zeke Yeager's one and only goal is to steal the Founding Titan from this island," he spoke up. "He failed to by force, so now he's trying to obtain diplomatic means."
"Yes, he should know that we'll assume that," Pyxis agreed, already expecting what Zeke wanted. "Regardless, I would still like to hear what else he has to say."
With a small nod, Hanji was given the okay to resume Zeke's plans to the meeting.
"Zeke Yeager claims to have an actionable plan, that can solve all our people problems at once," She continued forth, reading every word or briefly summarising over to what Zeke wants and want everyone gets in return. "And to carry this plan out, we would need two key assets: The Founding titan, and a titan possessing royal blood. He says that with both, the world can be saved. However.....he will only reveal the details of his plan after his conditions have been met."
Clearly some of it was bullshit, and I know many others would agree. But, for now this alliance means more than we know, and I don't want to create more enemies than what we have already.
"He's full of shit!" A Garrison official spat, arms folded and brows furrowed.
"What kind of feckless idiots does he take us for?"
Suddenly the sound of a chair squeaks with force, causing me to turn my head around glancing over my shoulder to see Eren's eyes. Both Mikasa and Armin were sitting there in confusion, "Eren?"
"Zeke is telling the truth, I remember," Eren spoke in a hush tone. "The Founder's power has always been completely impossible for me to use. The only exception was when I touched a titan with royal blood.....I recognised that titan from a picture. It has to be my dad's first wife. Dina Fritz. Zeke is Dina's son. He must have figured it out, too. How to get around the King's vow renouncing war. How to activate the only hope that still remains to us Eldians. He knows how to wake the millions of titans sleeping in the walls.....How to start the Rumbling, and crush the world..."
My eyes narrow about to say something when Levi beats me to it, "Hey, why did you keep quiet about this for so long?" he questioned, while my eyes met Eren's firmly.
"That is vital information we might've needed," I scowled in a hush tone.
Eren was hesitant for a moment, "'Cause I was concerned for Historia's safety," Eren finally admitted, as the news finally revealed to even Queen Historia herself. "At the time, I wasn't sure, and I couldn't let her get turned into a titan based on a hunch of mine. It wasn't a well-thought-out decision, I see that."
I sigh deeply, "We'll discuss this later,"
"However, if everything that you're saying is true," Hanji spoke up, glancing over her shoulder to Eren. "Then Zeke's secret plan holds up."
"You trust them? Have you lost your mind, Hanji?!" Nile raised his voice, with disbelief as if our consideration was betrayal.
"The fact is, we can't risk letting these Marleyan soldiers roam the island freely!!!" Another official firmly stated.
"If we were smart, we'd hang them!"
Hanji's eyes darken, "No, that's not an option," refusing to do anything reckless. "If we want to protect Paradis from Marley's survey ships, we need the volunteer's help. They have something called a 'radio'."
By the time the meeting was over, it was still an unsure advantage to take seen we need the necessities for survival. Like Hanji said, we need more than what Zeke and Yelena are offering. If we gain leverage, and have the support we need for Paradis we might be able to have the bull by the horn sooner than later.
The Meeting Hall was filled with murmuring, and harsh whispers before most of the soldiers left the room. My eyes remain on Zeke's requests, but he always left a bitter taste in my mouth. Deep Levi felt the same, but he had to remain collected by it all. Despite the heavy grudge that weighed on both of us, though it wouldn't do us a thing.
"What are you thinking, is that head of yours......" his voice spoke soothingly, while my eyelids felt heavy.
"Nothing, just still absorbing everything,"
"Tch, same...."
He sighed for a moment, following with a comfortable silence.
The seat creaks beneath his weight, as he shifted the seat so his knees rest either side of my right knee and thigh. He pulls me closer, making me realising the room was empty with only us. "How is your symptoms, are you feeling nauseous again?"
He brushes a few strands of hair, and rests his forehand over my temple, making my frown break into a smile, following with a warm chuckle.
"Levi, I'm only six weeks......I'm not delicate," reassuring him, but his face says otherwise.
"Don't take it so lightly, love," He whispered softly, his eyes filled with a serious and concerned expression. The way his thin brows pinch together with worry, and the way his silver blue iris' appear more gentle. "I don't want you to overdo it.........I don't want to risk it again, please?"
His voice slightly shakes, but clears it up by clearing his throat. He swallowed thickly, sensing he was preventing himself to get over sentimental again.
"You're such a stubborn old man," I chuckled softly, taking his left hand in mine and ran my thumb over his knuckles.
"I'm not that old," he sharply countered, before shrugging his shoulder. "Stubborn, yeah......but I'm proud to be your stubborn ass husband..."
The relief in his eyes brought me this peace, knowing he wanted this despite our circumstances. His other hand soon drifts to my soft stomach, cupping it with tenderness and care.
"We'll tell them when the time is right," I said softly, feeling his warmth closely as his knees press against my thigh firmly.
"Yeah....."
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A/N: HEY GUYS!
I apologise greatly for not updating for a month or two, as things have been going on. I got a new job, and now I have two jobs, and I've been having writers block as I explained last chapter. I have been trying to figure how to start season 4, and I've been drawing some more of the characters which i'll display next time i update.
I greatly appreciate your patience! I hope this chapter was alright!
~ Little Bean
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