27. Under the Moonlight

Levine is in his tree for the rest of the afternoon, reading a book in peace. It's not really in his character to just be peacefully reading while there are still a lot of things to do. At least, he finished all his task before doing this.

However, that didn't stopped the rest of his peers to be weirded out by this. After his continuous bad mood, he started becoming peaceful and calm all of the sudden. He's like an active volcano that is waiting to blow up anytime soon.

"Hey, Levine," a voice said and the ravenette looked up to see Mikasa and Eren towering over him. He closed his book that he was reading and blankly stared at them.

"What is it?" He asked and Eren looked at Mikasa who turned to sit down beside Levine and the brunette went to sit on his other side.

"Well, we are actually passing by and saw you," Eren said and Mikasa glared at him. The boy tensed and sighed, "Okay, we were actually wondering why you're acting...so weird lately."

Levine stayed quiet and just stared at his book. This gesture made the two younger soldiers look at the book and see the title. Compilation of Poems by William Shakespeare.

Eren's eyebrows furrowed together and Mikasa sighed, taking the book off the fellow Ackerman's hand.

"F*ck it, Mikasa," Levine cursed, glaring at his distant cousin, but then averted his gaze. Mikasa clutched the book, securing it from him.

"It's pretty dumb acting like an emo when there's no reason to be," she said and Levine snarls at her.

"I am not being an emo," he stated and stood up, showing his aura that says he's standing tall with authority, "And you, soldiers. Shouldn't you be out there, doing something important than being here?"

"Oh come on, man! You think we don't care about you? Levi Heichou told us everything. There's no need to be--"

"It's not to be worried about, Eren. I've already decided to fix things up today," Levine said and turned to his friends who just looked at him.

"Really? So what's up with Shakespeare all of the sudden?" Mikasa asked, raising the book and Levine blushed in embarrassment.

"Shut up, Mikasa. I was fascinated by how the guy writes," he said and Eren laughed and grinned at his friend. He stood up and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Well then. We hope you do well, Levine!"

The older man just nodded and behind him stood Yami with a smile on his face. He helped Levine think things through with Levi's advice in mind and finally made him decide this option. They're certain than
despite the circumstances, Historia's will still come tonight right by this tree.

---

The clock in Levine's room continued on moving as the anticipation build up inside the usually stoic boy. No. Scratch that. Tonight he'll be a man who can now face something he is having difficulty in facing.

Yami appeared right beside Levine and sits on the floor, leaning against his bed.

"It's almost time," Yami said and Levine nodded, fully understanding what he is implying. After another set of tick and tock, Levine shot up from his bed and put on his boots.

He pulled his hoodie up and stood up to look at the exit of his room. He walked towards the oak door and turned the knob to open it then walked out. He started walking out of the building, his boots' heels creating a tapping sound against the cold hard floor that bounces off the cobblestone wall. Yami walked beside him in a quiet pace and he is certain that the enigmatic man can feel his heart beating faster than it should be.

Anticipation is building up and he decided to loosen up by taking a deep breath. He's finally out of the building.

He now walked over to his tree on the far side of the headquarters and tried calming his heart down. Keyword: tried.

It didn't when he saw a small figure by the tree, looking down to her feet.

Yeah, sure. Talk to her like nothing happened. Easier said than done. That's what he thought.

He was still hesitant for a moment but decided to approach her since that is his agenda in this meeting. To approach and talk to her like normal.

"Historia."

Sh*t! Even saying her name is nerve-wrecking, how will confronting her be?

The girl turned to him in an instant with a desperate look on her face and her eyebrows furrowed. Tears threatened to fall of her blue eyes and she blinked to squint them. She then ran towards Levine in much to his surprise, she pounces on him and wrapped her arms around him. She then buried her head into his chest and cried into his white hoodie with small sobbing sounds.

"You idiot! I was worried sick of why you didn't showed up for a long time! I came here every night, hoping you'll come eventually but you never did! Where were you, Levine?" She sobbed and clutched Levine's hoodie.

The ravenette blushed and hesitantly lifted his hand to pat her blond covered head as his heart beats went faster.

"Why...would you even do that?" He asked, trying hard not to sound weird for her and thankfully he didn't. Historia looked up at him, never letting go of his hoodie. She have a blush on her face as her tears keep on falling off her eyes.

Seeing her like this breaks Levine for some reason. Levi did told him that that's how you will feel when your love one is crying from sadness.

"Because...I don't want to lose another important person for me. Like what happened to my sister and Ymir," hearing her say her name somehow makes him feel insecure, but he just remembered what his brother told him.

He's not his brother if he chicken out. A paraphrased quote by his brother and he will hold unto that for the rest of his life.

"I won't leave or be taken away from you, Historia," he said, staring into her bright blue eyes. He lifted his right hand to the blonde's cheeks and wiped her tears away as the other wraps around her frail torso.

"I can't possibly imagine leaving you," he said in a hush voice and Historia smiled as she put her hand above Levine's right hand.

"Thank goodness, Levine," she said and Levine gives recognition to the warmth of Historia's over his and the solemnity of this moment.

The night sky provided the dim light of the stars and moon for the two of them as they gaze upon each other's faces in a comfortable silence And in that moment, the two of them are happy. Holding each other under the night sky, seeing their reflection in each other's eyes and just standing there in silence give the two of them a realization of one thing.

Building up all the courage he could muster, Levine closed his eyes and slowly lean down to Historia. The girl did the same and leaned upwards, using her feet to push herself up. In a few short moments, the gap between them closed and they felt the unspoken emotion and adoration in each other's being.

It was a wonderful and blissful feeling even in such a short time their lips meet and yet, as they pull away, the feeling of each other's lips linger in theirs in a sweet aftertaste.

Levine saw Levi and Hazel do that a couple of times already but never see the significance of it until he tried it now with his own beloved. He'd seen Levi and Hazel look at each other, lovingly and hold each other like they're the only person in the world and he never paid attention to such gestures until he tried it now. Now that he have Historia's in his arms.

"I love you, Historia,"  he muttered with his monotone voice, but for the blonde girl, she felt the emotion in that sentence. She felt the love.

"I'm glad you feel the same way," she said and smiled, hugging him tight and resting her head on his chest. Levine sighed in relief and hugged the young queen in his arms as the comforting silence envelops them once more.

---

The next day, during a cleaning session which is facilitated by the Ackerman brothers, the squad took in mind the different aura the younger brother emits. Even Levi took notice of Levine's behaviour and came to a conclusion that everything went well with the queen.

"Captain Levine! A news from the Commander!" A  cadet said and they all turned to him. He was first confuse to who he should address until Levine step up.

"What is it?"

"The shifter is now awake!" He said and Levine nodded and turned to his brother then to his squad, taking off his apron and cleaning apparatus.

"Get out, everyone. We're leaving."

---

Season 3 is out already! I didn't catch the release date last July 22 but I'm already in the third episode and it's really fun to see the scenes in the manga get animated. But...why...didn't they animate the time Levi was topless? Why? Why? Why?😢

Anyway, sorry for the long wait. Hope you like this chapter.

~RSE out