#rivetra fanfiction

[sparkywrites25]

Rivetra au where in they are together and Erwin is like “secretly” Petra’s older bro (maybe like from different mother idk) and Levi doesn’t know but Erwin knows about them

Summary: Petra Ral is holding onto more than one secret in the Scouts.

Pairing: Levi Ackerman x Petra Ral

Taglist: @youre-ackermine @lunar-rainclouds @captain-natey @love4-bunny @galactict3a

Notes: If you like my work and want to see more then please join my taglist. Form is pinned on my blog.

I restarted this a lot cos I had a lot of different ideas.

Petra jerked awake at once, her body snapping into an upright position, her head flying from its comfortable nest on her lover’s shoulder. Her large, amber eyes swept the room with the same speed and dexterity as if she were searching for titan presence on the battlefield. For those seconds, her heart thrashed in her chest and each of her breasts was pushed out of her in uneasy pants. She blinked, slowly taking in her surroundings as a strong, firm hand began to rub circles into her back. 

“Easy,” Levi’s voice was low and steady, soothing against the racing rhythm of her heartbeat and breaths right now. “You’re fine. It was just a nightmare.”

It was a nightmare, Petra recalled although the recollection was quickly slipping out of her mind like water down a drain pipe. She got glimpses of bloodied bodies and torn off patches of uniform. A beautiful countryside littered with blood and fallen comrades. It wasn’t just a nightmare though. It was memory. The recent expedition to be exact. 

“Breathe,” the captain spoke again, equally low and unobtrusive to her heightened state of anxiety right now. Petra followed his instruction immediately. She inhaled long and deep, letting the oxygen flood into her lungs. She held the air for a moment, willing it to go to her brain and clear the fear that was sat in her mind. She exhaled after a moment and felt some of the tension in her shoulders begin to subside as well. 

Another breath and the feeling continued to ease off more and more. As it did, she became more aware of herself and where she was. 

She and Levi were sat on his little sofa facing the fireplace. The warmth from the flames was welcome against the slight chill that was coming from the slightly rattling window that never seemed to quite shut fully, thus allowing some of the waging wind to slip inside. She leaned towards the warmth, enjoying the feeling of her lover’s hand rubbing her back. 

Petra ran a hand over her face and sighed once she’d taken a few more deep breaths. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to just doze off.”

“Don’t apologize for resting,” Levi chided her, giving her a knowing side-eye that immediately inspired some guilt to bloom in her chest. She was reminded of his own sleeping issues. How nice it must seem to him that she could just fall asleep like that. “You need to listen to your body so that you can recover.”

Petra arched her back as she stretched up then regretted it instantly. Her face contorted into a grimace as aches and pains from earlier came rushing back into her limbs. She half-grumbled a curse word as the discomfort flowed through her. “I’m fine,” she liked automatically. 

“Tch,” Levi shook his head. “You expect me to believe that feeble bullshit?” he asked. His hand pressed firmer into her back, working at the lower muscles where her ODM gear had been most heavily placed. Petra bit back a grateful moan at the wonderful sensation of his touch there. “Go and take a hot bath. Use my place,” he told her with a jerk of his head towards his bedroom and the small private bathroom beyond it. “Hot water will do you some good.”

It was out of habit and duty that Petra even hesitated about such a generous and enticing offer. She bit her lip thoughtfully and could practically hear Levi’s eye roll in her direction.

“Petra,” he spoke softly although not many would recognize it as so given the similarity to his usual brusque tone. “Go and get some clean clothes and come back here. I’ll have the bath waiting for you. You need this. Otherwise, your muscles will just thank you by cramping or seizing up tomorrow. I doubt you want to spend another day off being in pain.”

Petra was grateful for the matter-of-fact manner in which Levi spoke. It helped to reawaken her own common sense and push back at the pride that wanted to resist special treatment. Doing so had kind of gone out of the window at this point anyway, ever since she and the captain had begun their secret relationship: late nights sharing tea and helping him with his paperwork, the occasional sleepover in his room, and some “coincidental” patrol times shared as well as shared duties. It wasn’t always easy having this secret relationship but Levi’s ability to treat Petra the same as he always had helped her to keep up the act too. Plus, they’d both agreed that being the subject of gossip and teasing and accusations of favouritism just wasn’t the sort of hassle they wanted to deal with at the present moment. Maybe one day they would but for now it suited them to keep quiet.

It was rather exciting to sneak around, as well, Petra thought to herself as she finally agreed and left Levi’s office behind to fetch some clean clothes from her room. 

On her return, she followed the light steam through to Levi’s small personal bathroom. Levi knelt next to the bathtub, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows as he swirled the water about and kept hold of the tap. The water was already over halfway filling up the tub as Petra stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. She eyed the lean muscles visible along his arms. A light blush touched her cheeks as memories of those arms holding her close began to slip into her mind. Those strong limbs pressing her into an equally strong and beautifully bare chest while soft lips pushed against hers, making her whole body heat up with intense sparkling energy. 

“Are you planning on taking a dip fully clothed?” Her lover’s question cut through her increasingly lustful thoughts and the blush in her cheeks deepened as she returned her attention to Levi who had turned the taps off and was rising to his feet. “That doesn’t really count as washing your clothes, you know.”

“Funny,” Petra smiled, trying not to imagine the clothes coming off his body and yet her mind was already wandering there, to the many nights they’d spent in his bed, kissing and letting their hands feel the way to the spots that gave them both the most intense pleasure. To the feel of him moving over her, inside her and behind her, his lips warming her skin with his touch. The power of his body, so vicious against titans but so careful and restrained with her. Her heartbeat fluttered the more she thought about it. 

“Maybe you could do the honours,” Petra’s lips quirked. 

“I’m not sure there are many honours in stripping you off and then stepping aside,” Levi retorted although he released the tiniest huff of amusement. 

“Who said anything about you stepping aside?” Petra questioned, stepping closer to him. Her hands touched his forearms, sliding up the lean sturdiness of his muscles before coming to rest atop his shoulders. Her hands squeezed the muscles there softly. “You could always join me.” She ignored the ache that rose through her wrists at the movement.

She smiled more as Levi’s hands moved to her hips and for a moment, Petra thought that she might be able to persuade him, that this bath might become all the more enjoyable. Her smile grew and her eyes shone bright and hopeful as she gazed into Levi’s grey-blue ones. 

His thumbs rubbed her sides. “Your body’s not going to thank you for having sex right now,” he breathed.

The corners of Petra’s mouth twitched irresistibly and she lowered her gaze briefly, taking another step forward until her chest was brushing against her boyfriend’s lightly. “Well, actually sir, I think it just might,” she whispered teasingly, slowly leaning in towards his face. His beautiful eyes narrowed, their attention drawn to her approaching lip. He inhaled slowly and tilted his head, lowering his head just a little to meet Petra’s mouth in a brief, tender touch. Petra lingered there, her eyes closing fully as her smile widened. “I think it’d thank me very much,” she whispered against his mouth. 

In that moment, Levi relaxed under her touch. She felt his shoulders drop for a moment and his mouth moved slowly over hers, engaging her in another gentle kiss. Her hands slid to his face as he continued to kiss her. His hands moved around to the small of her back, holding her snugly against his body. Petra relaxed into the kiss immediately, satisfied with the feeling of being in her lover’s arms, surrounded by the enticing steam of the bath and the faint aroma of the limited liquid bathing soap allowed to the upper ranks of the officers. Lavender filled her nostrils, easing away some of the lingering tensions from earlier. 

Petra’s arms began to wrap around Levi’s shoulders but his hands suddenly caught her forearms and stopped them. He broke the kiss and blinked for a moment as if waking from a dream. “It won’t thank you tomorrow when you ache even worse,” Levi reminded her, his voice low and soft. He pecked her lips once more. “When you’re feeling better,” he added. 

Petra felt like some cool air had been added to the seductive warmth of a moment ago and already the atmosphere was thinning out. She pouted a little in protest but the captain’s words still landed well. If they were to fool around right now, it would miss the whole point of the bath in the first place. 

Pulling away a little, she nodded once, smiling ruefully at her boyfriend. “Okay, you’re probably right,” she conceded. 

Levi moved his hands up to her shoulders, cupping them carefully but firmly. “Stay still. Hold onto me if you need to,” he instructed as he began to slide her jacket off her shoulders, letting it fall down her arms. He folded it up and rested it on the counter next to the sink behind them. Petra was grateful for him stripping her as it gave her a nice reason to not move her aching limbs more than she had to. Plus she liked the way that his nimble fingers quickly unfastened the buttons of her shirt one by now until the material gave way and revealed her  flat stomach and the numerous purple bruises already forming there and up closer towards her chest too. Soon he was pulling her shirt off completely although he did so more slowly once he spotted a couple of bruises on her arms along the way. 

“Did you play bounce on the ground or something?” he murmured as he folded up her shirt. 

“Something like that,” Petra shrugged then winced. 

Levi lifted his hands to her bare shoulders, stroking them softly, his thumb pressing gently into the tired muscles there. Petra’s heartbeat fluttered and her skin tingled under his touch. Each stroke brought a little relief to her shoulders which she enjoyed for those seconds before Levi lowered his hands away. 

His hands made careful work of stripping off the rest of her uniform. By the time he was finished, her legs were feeling achy. Petra reached out a hand towards the wall to steady herself as she approached the bath.

Suddenly Levi’s arms were under her back and legs and he lifted her into a bridal hold with ease. She swung her arms around his neck to stabilize herself with a soft squeak. She saw the corners of his mouth play up slightly at her noise. “I’ve got you,” he whispered as he lowered her into the bath. 

Petra couldn’t hold back the prolonged moan that escaped her as hot, pleasantly scented water washed over her at once. Her aches were replaced with this rush of heat all through her. She leaned her head back against the tub and let her eyes flutter closed. “Oh that feels good,” she breathed, letting herself sink into the water as much as she could. 

Next to the tub, Levi knelt next to her, bringing his hands through the water and reaching up to spread the water over her neck and face. Petra let him. It felt nice to have that soothing touch amplified by the heat of the water. 

“Thank you,” Petra sighed after a few minutes of just basking in the heat had passed. 

“You know, it’s ironic,” Levi commented as he took a small bowl and filled it with water from the tub, “that you’re so good at taking care of everyone else but you let things slide for yourself.” He put the bowl to one side and then leaned both of his elbows on the edge of the tub, watching her thoughtfully with his eyes narrowing a little. “You remind me of someone that way,” he mused. 

“Who?” Petra’s curiosity won out over answering Levi’s initial comment. “I just find it easier to worry about other people. I guess, with myself, it’s hard to draw the line between what’s necessary and what’s… an indulgence, I guess.” She confessed as she pushed the water around her arms and chest. 

“Soothing aches after a mission is an indulgence?” Levi questioned. Petra smiled at his dodging of her question. 

“Isn’t it?” Petra questioned, lifting her head to meet his eyes. “When I wasn’t really injured and I feel okay?” Her voice shook with uncertainty. How could she saw that she was entitled to anything after some of the things that their comrades had gone through? She moved the water around some more and inhaled the steam that still hung in the air. Her insides melted under the seductive heat, chasing away some of the chilly anxiety that was trying to creep in with her thoughts. 

Suddenly Levi’s hand plunged into the water, reaching for hers and lifting it out, entwining their fingers together as he did. “You didn’t break any bones, Petra but you still got hurt. Your body is worn out from fighting so hard. Think of the comrades that you saved today. They’re alive and can go home and see their families because of you. I’d say they’d agree that the least you deserve is a hot bath.”

Petra’s anxiety melted away from her instantly and she shook her head with the softest of laughs. “Wow. With that kinda speech, you can give the commander a run for his money,” she teased, squeezing his fingers. “Thank you,” she added quietly. 

“Tch,” Levi shook his head. “You’re the one reminding me of him right now. Pushing yourself forward without resting.” He stroked her fingers with his thumb. 

“Me, like the commander?” Petra scoffed, coughing a little awkwardly. “I don’t see it.”

“In that respect you are,” Levi remarked, a slight smirk tugging at his mouth. “It’s a pain,” he mused before the smirk dropped entirely. He rested his elbows on the side of the tub. “You can only stay as strong as you are by resting, Petra. By doing what you need to feel better.”

It was Petra’s turn to squeeze Levi’s hand. “Shall I remind you of that when you only rest for four hours?”

“Heh, you think I wouldn’t sleep longer if I could?” Levi questioned, lifting both of his eyebrows and lowering Petra’s hand back into the water. “Don’t take this for granted, Petra. Rest for as long as you can. Heal for as long as you can.”

Petra held his gaze for a moment, considering his words as the heat from the bath continued to soak into her skin, chasing away the remnants of the pains from the mission.

——————————————

An hour later, the fireplace was blazing hotter and higher than before. 

Petra and Levi had returned to the fireplace. Levi’s arms cradled Petra close to him, holding her so that she could lean her head back on his shoulder. He made no complaint for the wetness that had seeped into his shoulder. The clean smell of her hair was soothing to him as was the feeling of her nestled perfectly into his arms. 

Outside the window, the wind had died down and the world was quiet. The crackling of the fireplace rose in volume. An aura of peace shrouded the silent, relaxing couple. 

Petra could stay here all night and all day, she realized happily as she leaned against Levi. The thought of shutting out the cruel world that they lived in and the pain that was constantly being inflicted within it was an appealing option if an unrealistic one. Eventually they would have to return to their jobs, their duties. For the sake of humanity. They had to give the people hope. They had to do their best to bring people back alive. They had to give the world a reason to keep smiling, to find the joy in life. Otherwise what was the point of all this fighting? They had to fight for moments like these: relaxing by the fire with loved ones, emotional conversations and cups of tea. All the little pleasures in this life. 

Watching the flames was so comfortably hypnotic that Petra’s eyes drooped again and again. After fighting back a couple of yawns, she eventually let one escape. 

“Go to bed,” Levi murmured, kissing her temple.

Petra gave a soft, protesting groan. “I’m comfy here,” she murmured, snuggling into his shoulder all the more. 

“That bath will have been for nothing if you hurt your back falling asleep on this shitty sofa,” Levi pointed out. He lifted his hand from around her shoulder to play with the damp strands of her hair. “Go and get some sleep, Petra,” he urged her with another kiss to her temple. There was a long pause before he spoke again. “People are going to need you at your best to keep their spirits up,” he added. “You’re always telling us to take care of ourselves, right? Follow your own advice.”

His answer brought a deeper smile out in Petra’s face and she tried not to laugh aloud at it. He made good points, as he often did, but Petra still didn’t want to leave the comfort of his embrace and the gorgeous warmth of the fireplace. Even the prospect of wrapping herself up in bed didn’t compare to this feeling right now. However, she was out of any logical arguments that would swing. 

She yawned once more and stretched her arms out ahead of her with a slow, resigned nod. “Okay, you win. I’ll go to bed,” she said pushing herself up to her feet. She felt him standing up behind her. Smiling, she turned to face him, her hands moving to his cheeks. His hands found her sides as she leaned in to kiss him again. “Goodnight,” she whispered. 

“Goodnight, Petra,” Levi whispered against her lips before moving away from her and walking towards his desk which still had a mountain of paperwork sat atop it. 

Petra sighed. “At least pretend that you’re going to go to bed,” she complained softly. However by this point, she knew when to choose her battles over this. She watched as the captain sat himself behind his desk and pulled the pile of paperwork in front of him. 

“Sleep, Petra,” was all her boyfriend said on the matter. 

——————————————

Admittedly the mild chill in the hallways was a refreshing balm against the heat of the bath, fireplace and her own drowsiness. It forced Petra to focus on navigating the many hallways and stairways of the headquarters. The further she walked, the more her aches began to wake up. She slowed her pace, determined not to undo the bath completely. She slid her hands into her jacket pockets and gazed out of the windows as she walked. 

The world was hauntingly beautiful in the middle of the night, Petra thought as she stopped by a pane and gazed out at the darkened world and the shadowy houses of Trost all around the walls of Scout Headquarters. A constant reminder of the people that Petra was here to protect. A reminder that they were part of humanity as well as fighting for them. 

You are starting to sound like the Commander a little bit, Petra mused to herself. Maybe he’s rubbing off on me. I suppose it was gonna show up sooner or later. We are related after all.

Not that anyone in the Scouts was aware that Commander Erwin Smith was, in fact, Petra’s half-brother. As she began to walk again, continuing down the empty hallways, she let her thoughts wander back over her time in the military. It was a careful secret they’d both kept well - helped by the fact that Petra had a different surname and had inherited more of her father’s looks than her mother’s though her mother often said that she and Erwin had the same smile and the same determination in their eyes whenever they got it in their minds to do something. She’d been so frustrated when Petra had been determined to join the military like her brother. 

Erwin was already a squad leader by the time that Petra began her training. It was determined to be the simpler course of action to avoid any suspicion and claims of favouritism if they just kept their family connection a secret. Not that there was anything to found such things. Erwin had always been good at treating Petra the way they’d agreed that he would - as just another Scout. They’d both managed to hold the secret very well so far. Petra had made only one request when she’d first joined the regiment. She didn’t want to be in Erwin’s squad. Her brother had agreed that, while having her in his squad would give him the opportunity to watch over her, it also potentially offered them both a distraction on the battlefield and that was something they both considered too risky. Out of sight didn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t worry about each other but it had to be better than watching each other fight. It would force them to focus on themselves and trust the other one to be able to stay alive and do their job. 

It was the right decision, Petra mused with a smile. She wasn’t “the Commander’s kid sister” nor was her elevation to Levi Squad any act of nepotism. She had made it this far within the Scouts on her own. Even though it meant telling lies along the way including to her captain. 

Petra pushed those thoughts away from her as another yawn tumbled from her mouth. The prospect of bed was even more welcoming and comforting now. The thought of sinking her head onto her pillow and wrapping herself in her bedsheets was a very happy one.

She was walking along a particularly quiet hallway when a door in the middle suddenly opened, filling a rectangular patch of the floor with the familiar amber of firelight. The sudden appearance of the light caught her attention and she lifted her eyes towards it instantly. Who else is up at this time of night?

A tall and familiar figure stepped out into the doorway, turning towards Petra. “You’re up very late, Petra,” Erwin remarked. 

His sleeves were rolled up and rumpled and several buttons of his shirt were undone as well. His hair was ruffled with stray stands sticking up. He immediately began to smooth it down. Petra thought back a chuckle. Some habits never change. Always has to look his best as soon as someone is watching him. 

He’d been that way for as long as Petra had known him. She’d never really understood why. Why he was always putting on one face when there was more going on below the surface. Whenever she’d asked him, he simply told her that it was easier to catch flies with honey rather than vinegar and that sometimes things got done better with charming smiles rather than bitter bickering. Their mother agreed and Petra couldn’t say that she disagreed with that logic either but even so, there was still something that her

“Yeah,” Petra acknowledged, her hands finding their way to each other through the air and clasping, channeling the nervous energy that was beginning to rise up through her. She couldn’t admit that she’d just spent the evening in the arms of her superior officer (and Humanity’s Strongest, for that matter.) She and Levi had long since determined that keeping it out of the ears of those who would gossip and those who would have concerns was just going to be better all round. “I just wanted to… to go for a walk before bed. I’ve been thinking about a lot,” she said, taking as much truth out of today as she could. She had taken a walk this morning… which was technically before bed. She did have a lot on her mind too. Nothing she’d told the commander was a lie. 

“It’s been a trying few days,” Erwin acknowledged, sliding his hands into his pockets. “It was a particularly brutal expedition.”

That was a line her brother would say most expeditions. So far the mildest description of an expedition, in her experience, was “rough” and even then it had taken out a quarter of their soldiers, mostly new recruits at the time. It didn’t fill Petra with reassurance or confidence about her ability to survive the expedition. It just meant that the danger was still as present and still as ruthless as ever. She was just lucky at this point, as were they all. Petra had seen many good, talented soldiers being eaten.

Petra cut those thoughts off. She wouldn’t be able to sleep if she kept thinking about all that. The advice that Levi usually gave their squad after missions came to mind; focus on being alive and safe within the Walls again, otherwise it’ll drive you mad and next time you won’t come back. Blunt but effective words coming from the typically blunt captain.

“They’re always brutal,” Petra remarked as the resignation and sadness continued to swim around in her eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an expedition that wasn’t.” She folded her arms and turned her eyes back to one of the windows she’d been looking out of. She could still see them, their comrades, spread across the ground like they were dolls. 

“That’s true. The very nature of our job is brutal, no matter the fatality count,” Erwin remarked. He walked slowly towards her, tilting his head a little. Some of the stray strands of his ruffled hair fell into his face. “I’m glad I ran into you. I was hoping that we could talk for a few moments.” He paused. “If you’re not too tired, of course.” 

He reached out and touched her elbow, just a small gesture but the action helped to ground Petra’s thoughts back to the present moment. 

Petra’s gaze lingered on the blue stillness of the outside world for a moment as she exhaled slowly. “Yeah, I’m good to stay up for a little longer.” She murmured and slowly turned back around to face Erwin. “Is something wrong?” she asked, anxiety creeping into her voice. 

“Nothing like that,” Erwin gestured for her to walk into his office. “Don’t worry.”

“Just what every Scout wants to hear while being summoned to the Commander’s office,” Petra commented, her eyes flickering playfully towards his as she strode into his office. 

“I’m not exactly talking to you as a Scout,” Erwin murmured as he followed her inside.

The warmth of it welcomed Petra instantly. Unlike Levi’s office which had a minimalist structure in all with a bookcase, desk, sofa, chairs and a fireplace, Erwin’s room was like stepping into a library. Every wall not taken up by either the fireplace or windows was covered by bookshelf after bookshelf. It gave the room a comfortable library feel that felt very Erwin. In the middle of the room stood his desk with a couple of chairs beside it. Further along, a small sofa sat opposite the fireplace just like Levi’s. Erwin gestured to the sofa and they both took a seat on it. Petra’s attention immediately turned towards the flames which were still reasonably high and piled with a considerable amount of logs. Apparently Erwin wasn’t planning on getting some rest anytime soon. Petra smiled at the similarity to Levi who was no doubt still cooped up in his office with papers. 

They sat comfortably for about a minute or so. With each second that passed, Petra wondered whether something was actually wrong and that Erwin was simply trying to keep her calm about something. Her brother’s ability to lie smoothly - while not something she’d experienced much - wasn’t lost on her either. 

“Erwin.” The sound of her brother’s name sounded unusual from her lips, in their place of work anyway. Here he was just “the commander” or “Commander Erwin” if she used his name at all. Right now, on their own, it felt odd to be laying official titles to one side. “Are you sure that everything’s okay?” 

“Everything is fine,” Erwin insisted, “although Mother has contacted me about you coming home for a visit soon.”

Petra released a breath in mingled relief that nothing was wrong and a little bit of exasperation. Her mother had been asking for her to come home for a while. Petra didn’t hate the idea in itself. It would be very good to see her, and her father too. She enjoyed the time she spent with them; being able to act like an ordinarily civilian was nice from time to time and it was a much needed rest. Being able to just do ordinary things every day and sleep in a bit longer and eat something other than the harsh military rations would be pretty damn good.

The trouble didn’t lie in going home but rather the preparation to go back. At some point during the trip, her mother would begin a conversation about whether Petra was still happy with the Military and if there was really no other work that she could be happy with. Petra bowed her head a little and reached up her hand to rub the bridge of her nose in anticipation of that conversation yet again. She’d lost track of how many times they’d had that conversation and how, each and every time, their mother had worn the same shining glimmer of hope in her eyes. The same shining blue of Erwin’s. Petra would hear the sorrow and the worry in her mother’s voice and she did feel for her, she really did. 

But ultimately Petra would give her the same answer and deep down she’d resent her mother for making her give that same answer. For making her hurt her with the same answer.

“Of course she has,” she sighed, still staring into the fire. It was never going to be something that was ever unexpected but it was even more likely now after recent expeditions. 

Some of the more recent fatalities had been children, brothers, sisters and cousins of the Ral’s neighbours. Petra could only imagine the impact of watching neighbours grieving over their children when your own child was still alive, still living in that danger. Petra could only imagine the level of anxiety that her mother was sitting in now. But still, the thought of reliving that conversation yet again held her back. 

“I will go and see her,” Petra finally told her brother, “at some point. Just not yet.” She straightened up in her seat. “I don’t want to argue with her about still being in the Scouts.”

“Is that something you both argue about a lot?” Erwin asked with interest. For a moment, Petra scowled up at him, fire shining in her amber eyes. 

You should know this. Petra thought accusingly. You should know we do because you should be going to see Mom too. You should be taking more time off to spend with her. You’re just as much at risk on expeditions as I am. You should know what we talk about. As soon as those thoughts passed through her head, Petra regretted them. Everyone in the Scouts knew how hard their commander worked. A select few even knew that he kept late hours and was constantly revising his strategy to try and minimize Scout casualties. It was a heavy burden and Erwin had taken on that mantle years before he should have had to. 

So her features softened and she looked away with a long exhale. He was a busy man. They had both chosen this busy life. It didn’t leave them with many opportunities for the usual sibling bonding time. It had been that way for all of Petra’s life. Erwin was twelve when she was born. He had been training in the cadets during her infancy and by the time she was old enough to go to school, he was already an experienced Scout. 

“I’m sorry,” Erwin’s voice lowered considerably. “I probably should know this.”

“It’s okay. You’re busy,” Petra said, swallowing back a brief resurgence of the bitterness from earlier as it shot back up her throat. “We do talk about it a lot. It feels like it’s every time I’m on leave. She asks if I’m still happy to keep doing this or if I could imagine doing something else.” She leaned forward again, elbows pressing into her knees as she reached up to cup her temples and push her hair out of her face. “We keep having the same conversation, over and over and it’s…” she trailed off. 

“That sounds frustrating,” her brother murmured. “Especially when you’re so committed to this life that you’ve chosen. You don’t need to be reevaluating it all the time.” Petra felt him shift slightly closer to her on the couch. She turned to him briefly and nodded. 

“Exactly,” she answered. “Why does she insist on hearing me say it over and over? It hurts her, I know it does. But I’m not gonna lie to her or give her false hope. This is what I chose. She needs to accept that.”

“She does,” Erwin agreed. He turned his own attention towards the firelight. “But that’s probably very hard for her. Both of her children are in the walls’ most dangerous military regiment. She’s already lost a husband inside the walls, which are supposed to be safe. Now both of her children travel outside the walls where the dangers are all the worst and ever-present. Every couple of months, she watches us leave the safety of the walls, knowing that the odds of us both returning are never particularly good.”

Erwin’s words made Petra’s stomach fill with a violent nauseous feeling as she imagined that truth going through her mother’s mind every time the Scouts left. 

“I understand that that must be hard for her-” Petra began to say but Erwin cut her off. 

“How can you and I fully understand?” he asked, his eyes fixing on Petra’s. “We don’t have children. We can’t fully appreciate what she goes through every time we leave the walls.”

Petra’s hands clasped together in front of her, wringing her fingers hard. “What are we supposed to do to make it better then? We shouldn’t have to give up on the life we chose,” she argued softly. “I love Mom, I do but I couldn’t do anything else,” she explained. 

Suddenly Erwin’s hand moved to cover both of hers. “Nor could I and I love her dearly too. We can’t give up the purpose we chose. That’s something that maybe she can’t understand,” he continued. “Why our purpose is so important to us. Have you ever sat her down and explained things fully to her?”

Petra bit her lip and thought about it. “I… I’m not sure that I have.”    “Perhaps it’s time you did. You can only break this cycle with her by talking things out with her,” Erwin mused. Leaning forward, his hand squeezed hers. “It’s been some time since she’s seen me too. We can both go home for a couple of nights and talk to her together.”

The idea filled Petra with a refreshing sense of relief. “That would be great,” Petra said, perking up at once. “That would really help, Erwin. Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me for visiting my own mother,” Erwin remarked, his lips tipping up into a playful smile. “We can make it easier on each other by going home together and drawing her worry together.” He released her hands and clasped his own. “I’m sure she’s got plenty to say to me after so long as well.”

“Does she keep asking you whether you still want to be commander?”

“Not that specifically. I made it clear to her that I wasn’t going to change my mind.”

Petra exhaled with a slight pout. “Lucky.”

“You think?” Erwin eyed his sister with an increasing smile. “You’re still young enough for her not to worry so much about relationships at my children.” He pointed out, turning away from her a little to stare into the fire, his smile growing. “At my age, she would expect me to be married with children by now,” he commented. “She didn’t like me choosing the Scouts over Marie,” he continued. 

“You and Marie were so good together.” Petra recalled. “I don’t know how you did that. Giving up someone that you loved,” she mused. For a moment or two, there was silence between them and Petra eyed her brother with a slight frown. “Don’t tell me you didn’t love her. I know you did. You tried to pretend that you didn’t love her back then.”

“That pretense was as much for me as it was an attempt to reassure you and Mother,” Erwin recalled. “As much as it was for Marie. But it wasn’t fair to subject her to that fear of watching me ride out to the titans every few months.”

“Plenty of Scouts have people who do that. Would you say that they shouldn’t be married?” Petra asked. 

Erwin smiled at the turnaround. “No. I’m not speaking for anyone else. Only my situation. I knew that there was someone who could give Marie the constant family life that she wanted. Nile loved her as much as I did.”

Petra scooted back on the sofa, resting her hands in her lap as a soft frown began to fill her expression. “Yeah but she loved you more, didn’t she?” she asked in a quiet voice. 

Erwin didn’t answer straight away and Petra simply watched him for a moment, her eyes memorizing his side profile as the firelight danced over his features. Many people would see this man and they could only see the commander that led them against the titans time and time again. They saw the cool, firm strategist whose long range formation had saved many Scout lives in the long run. They saw the genius and his bravery. They saw his cleverness and dedication to fighting for humanity. They didn’t see the sacrifice he had made along the way. They didn’t see the compassion and care that he held for those closest to him. They didn’t see the man beneath the title and the responsibility. 

“I’m sorry,” Petra said quickly. “I’m not trying to reopen old wounds, Erwin.”

“It’s all right,” Erwin murmured. “I know.”

“I’ve always thought that you deserved to have both,” Petra told him. “That you deserve love in your life after everything that you do.”

The chuckle that suddenly slipped out of her brother startled her and she blinked at him in slow confusion. 

“Do I? After sending how many people to their deaths?” Erwin questioned. “Do I really deserve to have that in my life?”

“Yes,” Petra said without hesitation, smiling as her brother eyed her with genuine surprise. “You’re a commander. Commanders have to carry the weight of their decisions,” she said, placing her hand on his shoulder. “That doesn’t mean that you don’t get to live, Erwin.”

Erwin brought a free hand up to cover hers. “One moment ago, I was counseling you and now you’ve turned this around onto me,” he mused. “I’m impressed.” He squeezed her hand. “I appreciate what you’re saying but I still stand by my decision and I think Marie is happy enough with Nile. She has a family safe within Wall Rose. She has a good life.”

Petra opened her mouth to argue and then closed it again. Tonight was not the night to push it. Instead, she leaned her head on her brother’s shoulder, above his hand. 

“I don’t regret this choice, Petra, any more than you have,” Erwin assured her. “Fighting for humanity gives me my purpose. Improving the Scouts’ survival rates and taking any victory against the titans is important to me. Just as I know fighting for humanity is important to you. We’ll explain that to Mother when we go home, together. We’ll break that cycle. All we can do from there is move forward.”

Petra chuckled softly and raised her head to shake it at her brother. “You just can’t stop with the speeches even here, can you?” she teased. 

“Well, if you wouldn’t be so in need of brotherly advice,” Erwin teased. 

“Says the man who was getting some counseling a few minutes ago,” Petra countered. 

“Fair. Although I’m sure the time will come when I’m counseling you about your love life.” 

Petra let out a scoffing sound. “Oh please,” she muttered, trying to force her voice not to crack or give any indication that she was lying. “I am not there yet. I’ve got enough to think about just getting through the expeditions,” she continued, “and not throttling Oluo every time he opens his damn mouth or bites his stupid tongue.”

Erwin tilted his head at her, not even disguising the smirk that was forming there now although there was another look in his eyes, something that made Petra feel uncertain. It was like curiosity but not quite. Something more. “Could there be some complicated feelings towards your comrade perhaps? You do spend a great deal of time with your team,” Erwin mused teasingly. 

Petra brought a hand to her lips and gagged as nausea shot up her throat. “Oh, no” she said emphatically. “Please don’t say that again, Erwin. I just threw up a little in my mouth.”

Her brother chuckled quietly. “Apologies for making you feel so ill so close to bed time,” he told her. His gaze lifted to the small clock on his mantelpiece. “Speaking of, I think I’ve held you up quite enough tonight.”

“I don’t mind. It’s been nice talking to you,” Petra admitted. 

“We don’t do it as often as we should,” Erwin agreed. 

“Well you’re a busy man. I understand,” Petra said, “and we did agree that we wouldn’t make it public that we’re related.”

“We did. But I still enjoy spending time with my sister even if it means chasing her up to visit our mother.” Erwin smiled. 

Petra smiled and shook her head. It helped to know that she and Erwin would both go home and see their mother and talk things out. It had been a long time since the three of them were all together as a family, including Petra’s father who got on fairly well with Erwin, helped by the fact that he didn’t try and be his father. Petra didn’t know much about Erwin’s father. Neither he nor their mother liked to discuss him in front of Petra and her father. Petra couldn’t say that she wasn’t curious but, again, this wasn’t a night for that either. 

She pushed herself up to her feet and rolled her shoulders. “I better go and get some sleep then. Work myself up for this talk with Mom,” she teased. 

Erwin rose up more gracefully than she had done. He carefully wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It’ll work out well,” he told her. “Goodnight, Petra.”

“Goodnight, Erwin,” Petra hugged her brother briefly before heading towards the door. Carefully, she opened it slowly so that it didn’t creak and then slipped out into the shadows of the darkened hallway, her footsteps quietly echoing as they gradually began to disappear. 

——————————————

His sister had become quite the proficient liar.

Erwin mused on this as he stood behind the door, listening to Petra’s footsteps echoing against the floor. She was going back the way she came rather than the direction she’d been going in when Erwin had interrupted her. It made him smile, to think that their conversation had gotten her thinking, had changed her mind. What specifically that was, he couldn’t say for sure but he had a good idea of who it involved. The sharer of the secret that she’d been keeping from him for some time.

He wasn’t sure when it had happened but he was glad that she could hold her own with a lie. It would be better this way. Better than things being out in the open and complicating things and just generally getting in the way. Some things weren’t meant to be a public matter. Sometimes things were better kept as secrets. The truth didn’t always set people free when it was spoken out loud. Sometimes doing so came with a bitter price. Erwin knew that better than anyone else. He’d paid it.

Smiling to himself, he stepped quietly out into the hallway, towards her retreating footsteps. He knew where she was going so he took his time. 

Soon enough he was stood around the corner, watching his sister lingering outside Captain Levi’s doorway. How long she and his strongest soldier had been in a relationship, Erwin didn’t know. Neither of them were aware that Erwin had discreetly noticed Petra leaving Levi’s rooms rather late some nights or that something was different about his sister. He’d chosen not to confront them about it. Their relationship wasn’t impacting them on missions or in training and the less gossip about either of them among the other soldiers, the better. 

Erwin knew it was selfish to focus on the benefits of their relationship as opposed to his sister’s happiness but the two things weren’t mutually exclusive and, he didn’t feel particularly inclined to meddle in Petra’s relationship without just cause. He trusted her to be able to hold her own or come to him if she needed help or advice and it suited him that she hadn’t. He could focus on other matters. 

Still, there was a sentimentality to watching the captain’s door open and the happiness spread across Petra’s face as she walked into the glowing light radiating from within. 

The two of them deserved to be happy together. In this dismal world, you had to take it where you could. 

#my fics #fic: under watchful eyes #attack on titan #attack on titan fanfiction #shingeki no kyojin #shingeki no kyojin fanfiction #one shot #levi ackerman #levi ackerman fanfiction #levi ackerman x petra ral #levi ackerman x petra ral fanfiction #rivetra #rivetra fanfiction

[love4-bunny]

Petra with her curvy body post to track attention!

Now that finally people realized that tumblr is for the cool kids, what do you think about me posting my rivetra chapters here too?

@sparkywrites25 @ydrance @captain-natey @youre-ackermine @elysiangrace I don't remember more rivetra moots here 😭

#rivetra artist #rivetra #levi x petra #petra ral #levi ackerman #levi ackerman x petra ral #rivetra fanfiction #hope i don't flop

[levmada]

Congratulations Gee!

May I request Rivetra canonverse, existing relationship? Where Petra achieved a personal best in titan killing but got herself injured. She is trying to hurry her recovery but Levi isn't having it.

thank you sparky :3 i used a prompt i saw while tumblr a long while ago so i can’t find the exact wording but:

The usually feminine ‘weaker’ character to the usually masculine stronger character: “I just want to protect you!”

//canonverse, hurt/comfort, misunderstanding, minor injury | 1.4k

participate in my event here!

He knew this would happen eventually.

No. If he really knew, then he would’ve put a stop to Petra sooner. She was already pushing herself too hard, but he thought that she was far too capable, too level-headed not to push beyond her means.

But no.

He’s not there when she falls—but he hears it happen. The sharp whine of the wire as it drops completely slack, indicative of a landing missed, and a meaty thump, a skittering of leaves down on the forest floor that makes his blood run cold.

Before anyone even knows for sure what has happened, he reaches Petra first, who’s crumpled on her knees, panting wildly. She’s drenched in sweat from midday summer sun, and the sweat has caused leaves to stick. Shes trying to stand, and failing, something wrong with her arm.

Levi feels himself toeing a line between confronting her and helping her up. Acting the part of a leader or her partner.

“I’m fine,” she grits out.

His temper flares. “Hey, idiot. What the hell was that?”

Her head shoots up, causing her to sit back on her knees. She didn’t even know it was him!

“Captain—I just slipped. I’ve gotten a new personal best!—So—really, I’m fine. I just need to walk this off.”

“Do a handstand, and maybe I’d believe you. You’re injured, Petra,” he states tonelessly. “If we were really out killing Titans, you’d be in a stomach by now.”

She bristles. “I was—”

“You were reckless, one. Two, your excuses are pathetic. Now, walk it off.” He motioned with his head. “Get to the san.”

Reckless.

But she wasn’t the only one. He sensed it as soon as he finished talking. Petra is way too strong to show it, but she was hurt in more ways than her injuries by his words.

They spewed from him without a search of a better way to express his worry, not enough time to look through his anger and see that he was actually confused and upset that she’d make such a mistake. The look of her oddly-bent arm. Maybe he’s seen too many broken bodies. Maybe because it’s Petra.

Training went on for the remainder of the day. Soldiers get a few scrapes, or have slip-ups weekly at least, but that’s unheard-of for Levi’s squad.

It’s not an injury to his ego. It’s Petra. She pushed herself too damn hard. Why?

Frustration and imaginings of what he should’ve said boiled inside him, and so he wasn’t done training before the sun was sinking below the horizon. He barely noticed until Nanaba appeared in the yard to wave him back.

“By the way, Petra left the san a bit ago. She shouldn’t be out of commission for more than a few days.”

A debrief shouldn’t have made him bristle so much. Maybe it was foolish to imagine he could tire himself out too much to think. He’s always thinking, always too much in his head.

A bit of relief met him though. Her arm wasn’t broken, it’s just that her shoulder was dislocated on top of a bit of heatstroke and minor bumps and bruises. Nothing some generic pain medication couldn’t solve.

Except it’s not solved.

He has a shower about it, clinical in-and-out like usual, and though it’s good to be clean, it’s hard to look at himself in the mirror. He runs a towel through his dripping hair as he wonders, yet again, what to do. Nothing isn’t the right approach for this, not taking into account the way she looked at him, like he tore down her whole world. Even if they weren’t together, she looks up to him.

All that’s left on the official docket is dinner in the mess hall. Part of him wants to skip it, but, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring Petra dinner as a peace offering on top of scones he had been saving for his squad after the nearing expedition. It’s an investment more than anything. He would sooner make himself sick than waste food, making it another goal to make it back alive for.

He wraps two for her in thin cling-wrap, and heads downstairs.

The problem now presents itself, conveniently enough, next to the big double doors that feed into the mess hall. A few soldiers file in and out—most are probably eating by now.

But evidently not Petra and Miche stood outside, talking. She’s not in uniform. Miche is unmistakable by height alone compared to her, and Levi would spot her by her hair in any crowd. By the way he’s gesturing, he’s giving gentle suggestions that are going in one ear and out the other.

He’s not too near when she raises her head and sees him. What is worse, feeling confused, or feeling resigned? Well, she looks like both.

Miche follows her gaze, and gives a wave. Levi is looking at her when he returns it, though. With a motion of his head, he turns back. The steady scrape of dirt behind lets him know she’s following.

When he gets up the steps and to the doors, he holds one open as she steps inside, much like a kicked puppy.

“Levi,” she acknowledges quietly. Her arm is pinned across her chest in a sling, impossible to hide, but it seems she’s making efforts to.

He sighs silently. “Come on.”

He gives her hair a fleeting pat as they approach the stairway. The walk is crammed in with tense silence.

He lets her into his office, where she idles awkwardly before he goes to the adjoining door as well, to his personal quarters. This is one of those times where he reminds himself to find time to take Petra up on her suggestions to decorate a little. All he uses them for is baking and sleeping, and only one of those things is very relevant.

He stops in the kitchen, and awkwardly holds up the scones.

She blinks. “Why?”

He pulls out a chair. “You know why.”

She deserves more than that. Don’t be so useless.

Apparently that’s asking too much, because everything he should and wants to say gets crossed in his mind, stuck in his dry throat.

I want to protect you. Those words should be simple. They aren’t.

Petra takes them from his hands gratefully, a little slower than necessary, testing what he’ll do? His fingers brush hers, and then they’re gone.

“Th-Thank you.”

She sits, placing them down on the table. Just when he’s putting the right reassurances together, her expression contorts to grimace.

She’s about to cry. She’s sitting there with her arm in a sling, banged up, and he’s making her cry.

“I know I messed up today. But… I succeeded, and you just… I just want to protect you!” she squeaks out, fighting fiercely not to sob. “Why. Why can’t I be g-good enough to?”

“Is… that what earlier was about?” He thinks he understands even less than before. “I don’t need to be. You don’t need to wear yourself out—you’re perfectly capable as you are.”

“I don’t care,” she says, glaring sharply at the floor. “Aren’t we a team…? Don’t we take care of each other?”

She’s not referring only to their squad when she says that.

At first, he thought she was naive. Maybe she is just a bit, but that’s far from what matters. She wants to look after him, and he… He’s been selfish.

He kneels down in front of her, taking her hand, placed upon her knee, and matches her soft gaze, made glassy by tears.

“Don’t cry, because you’re right.”

“Maybe it is pointless, but…”

“It’s not pointless,” he argues. “How do you give a shit about someone and not want to protect them?”

She relaxes a little, which allows him to do the same.

“You’re…” He stares at their intertwined fingers as he finds the words. “You do a fine job at doing the same. I am… proud about back there. But you can’t protect someone without protecting yourself. I don’t want to see you take a fall like that again with me as the reason.”

She nods, and then seems to realize something. “Wait, you are? Proud?”

“And it wouldn’t be a bad thing if you surpassed me, either.”

She laughs at that. “Yeah, right. But still… thank you.”

She puts her arms—arm, around him. He returns it with enough strength for the both of them.

main masterlist

#rivetra.pic #petra x levi #levi x petra #rivetra fanfiction #aot ship #snk fanfic #snk fanfiction #rivetra aot #snk rivetra #petra ral x levi ackerman #levi ackerman x petra ral #2.5k.event

[captain-natey]

#rivetra #rivetra fanfiction #levi x petra #citrinate writes #citrinate draws #adopted mikasa #babysitter petra #new home #snk #aot #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #levi ackerman #petra ral

[sleeperswakewriting]

the drabble challenge, “you can’t just hug me and think everything is okay.”

Rating: T

I woke up this morning and had an AOT dream that made me want to write. Spring always evokes Rivetra nostalgia since that’s when I wrote staring at the sun. This isn’t me coming back but wanting to share something that I wanted to get out of my head. Hope everyone is doing well ❤️

🌸🌸🌸

Levi never savored battle. His comrades knew this while civilians lauded him in the streets, whispering and marveling at how one man was worth fifty soldiers. Erwin played it up, using him to appeal to donors and those that believed in the cause, calling him the hope for humanity. In reality, he was a glorified street rat with a penchant for living.

Blood trickled down his body as the hot shower massaged his scalp. It wove its way down his legs, through his toes and down the drain, his mind numb. It wasn’t his blood, it rarely was. He scrubbed the stench of Titan out using a new floral soap he picked up from the market.

This was the routine, the adrenaline coursing from his body into the water and into the air. Breathe in and out, and live to fight another day.

The door slammed.

“HA! I told you he was here already!”

Internally, Levi groaned. While Special Ops got their own barrack, they still had a community bathroom among the five of them. There were two showers, separated by a wooden wall and it filtered into a single drain at the center of the two. Levi found the mechanism filthy and opted to take showers before the squad woke up. However, on expedition days, it was a race to who got the hot water and unoccupied showers first.

“Move aside, Eld. I called dibs after I saved your ass.”

Levi straightened by a hair as Petra’s voice floated into the steam.

Eld scoffed. “Yeah, sure, after Cap tripped two Titans that were about to devour you.”

Levi could practically hear Petra’s indignant pout. “Can we agree it was a group effort? Also,” she raised her voice a little louder so that it wasn’t a question Levi couldn’t hear hear, “Boots off. You know Captain Levi’s rule.”

Grumbling, Eld muttered under his breath that there was no rest, even on expedition days, and the blond could be heard knocking the dirt from his shoes.

Petra slipped into Levi’s shower stall with a somber gaze upon her face. Normally, he would be delighted at the fact she was naked, and even the crossing of her arms highlighting her cleavage did nothing to untie the knot in his stomach.

She faced the running water, taking the bar of soap in her hands to lather, and didn’t say a word to him. Levi sighed and in one swift motion, pulled her into a hug from behind, his chin balancing on her shoulder.

“I’m not sorry,” he whispered.

She tried to add bite to her next words, but it came out as a resigned sigh. *“You can’t just hug me and think everything’s okay.”*

He tightened his grip, but she slipped through his fingers from the water. “I would have done the same for any other soldier.”

Finally, she faced him with a sad smile. “I know.”

#rivetra #levi x petra #rivetra fanfiction

[ydrance]

Ostara/Easter part 2 : art, sketches and OS part 2

@4melo-dy very kindly made me a sketch to go with my OS! I also made some personal art and sketches (down below). Thank you so so much Alex ❤🥰

explanation: for the first two sketches the fully uncolored is the original. My favorite. Tried to paint it... messed it. Made another sketch, with the intention to paint but no time and energy and I kinda like it to so here it goes. The one where she stands is supposed to be at night (there's progress to be made here I know, but I learnt while doing it.) the last one is also supposed to be more of a night scene but meh I liked it like that. A lot. I included the sketches for them both because I just love them ❤

her dress is inspired by Lenahoschek-tradition and the costumes for the ballet Coppelia. The tartan shawl is because even though AOT use Germany as the base for Eldia, I HC the characters with different ethnicities, some of them, in our world and Petra is scottish*. (Purely personal HC.) So I put little bits here and there, like at her waist: it's supposed to evoke the celtic knot!

finally: part 3 is written. Just have to type it. Should come soon. With at least some sketches too.

(*Petra scottish, Eld Irish, Oluo Italian, Gunther German, Hange German, Moblit scottish too, Annie Sweden, Nifa idk yet, Levi idk).

#rivetra #levi x petra #levi squad #petral ral #levi snk #levi ackerman #gunther schultz #eld jinn #oluo bozado #auruo bossard #Nifa #original character #mentioned #rivetra fic #rivetra fanfiction #aot #snk #petra ral #art #sketches #watercolor #rivetra art #og levi squad

[sawneythelazy]

Brown Boots Monthly Snippets!

August

Eld noticed it but Gunther didn’t right away. 

Eld kicked him under the table, and Petra’s eyes were so wide that Eld thought he could see their entire common room reflected in them, in the very centre of that reflection, a small ruffled square: the new cravat.

Gunther, who was trying to read the morning paper scowled at Eld;

“What?”

Eld mimed at him to shut up, and tilted his head towards the kitchenette, where the wearer of the new cravat was pouring out his morning coffee. Gunther dropped the paper.

It took Oruo several moments to pick up on the rest of the squad’s staring.

“What’s the matter? You all look constipated.” Oruo announced, moving to pick up the small milk jug and stopping, instead tapping his teaspoon firmly on the rim of the cup with a swagger that tried to sell the pointless action.

Petra’s frown line deepened, “No milk this morning Oruo?”

Eld tried not to smirk at her accusatory tone. Oruo always had milk.

Oruo scoffed, “Milk? Me? Never. Always hated it. Ruins the taste of a perfectly decent cup of coffee.” 

“Is that right.” Gunther mumbled skeptically.

“Indeed so.” Oruo replied, then, the three pairs of curious eyes watched, astounded, as the man placed the fingers of his left hand around the rim of the coffee cup, and began lifting it towards his face. His hand was shaking, fingertips clearly unused to such an action, he ended up bringing his head down towards the cup and then was in a kind of hunched position, from which he took a hesitant sip of his drink and instantly sprayed a disgusted mouthful back out.

Eld snort-laughed as Oruo irately put the cup back on its saucer.

“It was too hot ok?!” He barked.

“You’re sure about that?” Petra offered dubiously, 

“I doubt it was too hot man, it’s been sat out for a while.” Eld added. 

The redhead continued, “If you want milk in your coffee, just put milk in it.” 

Oruo grumbled, pouring the rest of the cup down the sink, and immediately began scrubbing it.

As they assembled in line at the athletics circuit that morning, the Captain’s gaze lingered on Oruo a second longer than normal, and his brow twitched.

---

Read Brown Boots here!

#rivetra #rivetra fanfiction #levi x petra #aot #levi ackerman #petra ral #original special ops squad #eld jinn #gunther schultz #oruo bozad #oruo starts to act like the captain

[capitainelevi]

The mission was supposed to be simple enough. Squad Leader Erwin had warned her to avoid making contact with her target no matter what. Then how did Petra find herself sitting next to him in the middle of the crowded bar?

A Choice with No Regrets setting.

First chapter here 

#rivetra #rivetra fanfiction #petra ral #rivetra fanfic #my writing

[marbere]

So, I've had this idea(? for a while now. As someone who hasn't read the manga and just finished the anime I didn't know where this was getting at, so I only have like 4 chapters and Idk if I'm going to continue it, but here it is ch 1 and if you're interested, I might post the other ones :)

«Petra Ral suddenly woke up in a forest. She doesn't know how she got there, she doesn't know what these giant anthropomorphic monsters are, and she doesn't know how to explain to those who call themselves the Survey Corps that she's basically from another world.»

---

Petra must admit, chains weren't her thing.

Well, she means, kind of. She'd done it before and was always open to experiencing something new…

But right now, when she was inside what seemed to be a jail… Yes… it wasn't right.

Petra put a hand to her head.

She had woken up in the middle of a forest with trees tall enough to cover the daylight. From what she saw and perceived she hadn't hit her head or anything like that, even her clothes were still the same that she decided to wear to go to college that morning.

However, Petra had no recollection, not even a clue, as to how she got there in the first place.

And the worst came later.

A monster. A giant anthropomorphic monster leaning against a tree. It was naked, but had no genitalia. Its expression was that of someone bored, but it didn't seem like that was really the case.

Petra stopped her steps when she saw that thing. She had refrained from calling for help for fear of dangerous animals appearing and had only been walking hoping to find her way out of the forest. Well, she had found it and that giant was obstructing it.

For a moment it reminded her of a movie she had seen… Or was it a book she read? The one where there was a giant too who became some kind of hero to normal humans in a weird island. Yep. Nope. Petra had been sure that that one there was definitely not a hero.

Then the giant jerked its head in her direction and Petra froze with her legs trembling. She tried to formulate a "hello" to try her luck. Maybe it could understand her? But the monster didn't even think twice before lunging at her.

Petra had screamed. She screamed as loud as her lungs and throat would allow, and when the monster tripped over one of the huge roots, she took the opportunity to run once more into the forest, assuming that she could at least hide in the bushes and undergrowth.

The monster hadn't hesitated to go after her.

Petra watched herself inside the safety of that cell. She was still wearing the same clothes, which amounted to shorts, a white blouse and sneakers. Of course, the blouse was no longer white, much less the sneakers. And her legs… she probably wouldn't wear shorts again if she ever found herself running from a giant monster again.

Then two men and a woman appeared. All uniformed. Uniforms that Petra couldn't recognize from any country that she knew of though she thinks she's seen them before.

"You're awake, I'm glad," said one of them. A blond, well-built man. He had a calm expression, almost showing a slight smile that was probably there to make her feel calmer.

"Have been for the past few minutes," she answered only to look at his companions.

The woman, who wore glasses and had her hair in a messy ponytail, had the most relaxed expression and posture of the three. She wasn't smiling, but she seemed very willing to listen to what she had to say.

The last one, black-haired, however… Petra watched him sideways, though she was sure he was fully aware.

With his back against the wall and his arms crossed, he gave the impression of being indifferent to what was happening, but Petra was clear with the hostility and suspicion with which he was treating her. Ready to attack or protect at any moment if the opportunity presented itself.

It was a different image than the one she had of him when he saved her from that giant in the forest, using those cables that made it look like he was flying…

The giant's body had fallen to the ground, right next to Petra. Smoke began to rise from it and he landed on the giant's head, looking at her with a feeling that seemed to go from confusion to distrust and from distrust to confusion quickly.

With a scowl on his face, he said: "Who the fuck are you?"

She must have passed out, since between that scene and the present everything was blank.

"Going outside the walls is a crime for anyone who isn't part of the Scouts," mentions the blond-haired one and Petra realizes that he must be the leader, or at least the most important person there. "So tell me, what is your name and what were you doing there?"

Petra frowns.

"Walls?" she repeats. What walls was he talking about? She almost died and now she was the one imprisoned? It doesn't make sense and soon a wave of questions makes its way down her throat. "Wait... What's going on? Scouts? Who are you guys? Is this some kind of joke?"

She presses her lips together and draws her legs closer to her body, as if that will make her feel more secure. Suddenly, she knows that everything that has happened is real. It suddenly doesn't feel like a dream anymore.

"Hm…" the woman puts a hand to her chin and examines Petra from head to toe just before looking back at the blond one. "Is it amnesia?"

"It's a possibility," he replies, narrowing his eyes, as if something is going through his mind.

"Or she's acting," adds the black-haired one, looking up.

Petra swallows hard. Faced with confusion, stress and uncertainty, she feels that she is going to start crying just because of the simple fact of not knowing what to do. She senses that she is in trouble, but doesn't know what kind. She can't defend herself, because she doesn't even know what's going on.

With one of her hands, she squeezes the fabric of her blouse and wrinkles it between her fingers. Petra looks down.

"I… I really don't know…"

Her expression must have revealed her sincerity, or the blond man is a mind reader, since soon he's glancing, almost glaring, sideways at the other man.

"Levi," and he says sternly, giving him a warning.

This Levi only responds with a tch before appearing indifferent again.

The blond man sighs, then, as if he has no solution, and looks directly at her again. This time Petra notices that his eyes, in contrast to the woman's, are clear as the sky.

"For the moment I'll assume you're telling the truth," he says and proceeds to introduce himself. "My name is Erwin Smith, commander of the Scout Regiment. These two are Squad Leader, Hange Zoe," the woman smiles and waves a hand. "And this is Captain Levi of the Special Operation Squad," he doesn't do much more than look at her stoically. "You are inside the walls now. To be precise, you are inside the Survey Corps headquarters, in Trost, the Rose wall."

If the man, Erwin, expected that to ring a bell in Petra's head… it does, but she's not exactly sure why. She's even more confused now.

"Now can you tell us your name?"

Petra slowly nods, knowing that she really can't object.

"Petra. Petra Ral," she replies.

Commander Erwin nods once and Squad Leader Hange writes it down.

"Do you know where you're from?" he asks and Petra parted her lips.

She clearly wasn't from there, it was so obvious that she knew they knew that too.

"No… not from here, I think?" she replies and looks around once more. There is a small window that lets in light, but from that angle she can only see the sky and hear a little of the sounds from outside. "But I don't know where exactly 'here' is, either…"

"What can you tell us that you do know?" he asks once more. Petra thinks he wants her to give him a specific answer, the thing is, she doesn't know what he wants to hear.

Because of that, Petra runs out of words faster than expected and just shakes her head no and shrugs.

Then the Squad Leader steps forward.

"Petra, right?" Petra nods and Hange Zoe quickly continues. "Listen, the thing is, you were found outside the Rose Wall, within the Maria Wall, in a location you wouldn't have been able to reach on foot, much less survive the surrounding titans alone and with no ODM gear. What can you tell us about that?"

"Titans?" Petra frowns and tilts her head. The first thing that comes to her mind is that giant she was running from, but it seems like a curious name to her… and then she gasps. Wait a minute. "Look I…I just know I woke up there, okay? I don't know how I got there, I don't know if someone took me or brought me… I don't even know where I am, okay?"

She hopes she doesn't. She really does.

Hange nods and adjusts her glasses, then looks at Erwin. They have a kind of silent agreement, for Petra it was more than obvious that they had known each other for a long time.

Erwin sighs.

"Where do you live, miss Ral?" he asks once again.

Petra doesn't know what the question is about, she had told them something already, but this time she decides not only to give the name of her city, but also her address.

Then Levi, who had been keeping quiet, hits hard on the metal bars. Petra basically jumps. That had startled her.

"Oi, don't tell such obvious lies."

"Lies? What—?" she feels slightly offended at being accused so suddenly, but seeing the faces of the other two, she knows something is wrong. "It's not a lie!"

"Miss Ral, there is no such place here," Erwin interrupts. Arms crossed, expression hard, but Petra can hear some impatience in his voice. "Are you sure—?"

And she gets exasperated too. Her lips tremble before she answers.

"No! I don't know! I really don't know what you're talking about! Titans?! Walls?! What the hell! I don't even know what you all mean by walls! I just want to go home!"

It's only when she's finished and panting that Petra realizes not only had she raised her voice but remembered that there's something about titans and walls that she's seen before.

Isn't that impossible, though? She thinks. There was just no way.

Anyway, Petra instantly regrets her actions, fearing that she will be punished, but doesn't lower her head. She would think about it later. What else can she do when even Captain Levi has stopped leaning against the wall to watch for any unnecessary moves she might make?

And, of course, Commander Erwin's seeming unflappable didn't help her at all.

"Levi, Hange," the commander calls out to his subordinates and starts walking towards the exit.

"Huh?" Levi doesn't seem to believe it at first. Was he just leaving like that?

"But Erwin," and Hange hesitates. However, they both follow him with no complaints.

Petra cringes in her place even though she's glad she's alones now. The chains on her wrists jingle cheekily and she exhales. It's impossible. Titans, walls, Scout Regiment… She had heard those words before. She'd heard them in a sentence before too. Her brother had told her about it so many times…

A video game. She was in a video game.

Now how the hell did she end up there?

---

"What do you want us to do?" Levi asks once they get out of there. His voice is not loud, but it is firm. Especially since he believes that Erwin doesn't want the matter to be known yet.

"Check the information," Erwin orders. They may be his friends but he needed them to know that he was serious.

Hange takes a few steps ahead of Levi to keep up with Erwin. "But Erwin, we know there's no place called like that," she says. "Perhaps in the towns farthest from the capital, but I really doubt it."

And she wasn't the only one. Levi rolled his eyes.

"What are you thinking? That she really comes from outside—?"

"Levi?" Hange cuts him off, confused, probably because she senses the acidity in his voice.

But Levi ignores her. "Oi, you know that's not possible."

The three arrive at Erwin's office and he takes a seat at his desk. Levi and Hange stand still, even though there are other seats.

"And yet, it's also nearly impossible for a civilian to get to that location alone," Hange counters before sighing heavily and putting a hand to her head. What was the punishment for people who went out? Gallows?

In fact, when was the last time someone had gone out on their own account? Hange couldn't remember, and anyway, she didn't feel comfortable thinking about what would happen if what she said was right.

"For the time being we won't say anything," Erwin orders and then laces his fingers in front of his face. "It wouldn't be wise. Both for us and for Miss Ral."

"And what do you suggest we do? Should we investigate secretly?"

"No," Erwin exhales and leans back in his chair. Levi raises an eyebrow waiting for an explanation. "Hange will investigate. Find any family with the same last name and ask about her. Levi, you'll keep an eye on Miss Ral."

"For what?" Levi crosses his arms. "As far as I knew, being a Scout didn't include being a babysitter."

But Erwin just shrugs.

"It does when necessary. There are eyes and ears everywhere, and in the worst case scenario, she's not just a civilian."

With that last said, Hange and Levi are dismissed. Hange can't help but shiver with excitement.

"This is so interesting!" she exclaims, unable to control the volume of her voice. "Just imagine the possibilities, Levi!"

But Levi doesn't share her excitement. To begin with, he isn't a man who gets excited easily, he had lost that ability years ago.

"Tch, keep it down four-eyes," he exhales and shoves his hands in his pockets, thinking that now he not only has to postpone handing out paperwork but also order and explain training sessions to Eld.

"Aw, come on, Levi," Hange gives him a friendly elbow on the shoulder. "Anyone would think you regret saving her."

Levi wasn't sure about that.

"I just did what I had to do. I thought it was one of the new recruits left behind."

But they both knew that wasn't true.

Hange raises an eyebrow in proof of this and Levi tries not to pay attention to her smug smile.

The minutes before saving Petra Ral had been, to say the least, catastrophic. Once again they had not been able to go further than usual —they weren't even close to the Maria Wall—, losing the lives of many of their companions. The place was so full of steam that they could hardly see and it was when they could no longer keep on that all or most of them heard something similar to thunder and a spark lit up the cloudy space.

The titans they were fighting froze for a few seconds, they really don't know why, and Erwin took advantage of the moment to order a retreat.

Levi was in the rear when he heard her scream. Strong, sharp, terrified. Even Hange was surprised when he quickly fired one of his ODM gear's hooks at the nearest tree.

Now, Levi didn't like to play superhero. If he could save someone, he did it and if not, then he looked for other priorities to focus on. With a job like theirs, they all soon had realized that sometimes some lives were worth more than others. Therefore, he himself didn't understand when out of pure instinct he activated the gas mechanism and flew towards where the scream came from.

Perhaps it was because he naturally recognized that it couldn't be one of the recruits, but of course he didn't expect to find someone wholly different from what he would have expected.

Starting with the clothes, which weren't from anywhere he'd been before —and he'd been to many places— to how only that titan kept moving even when the others had strangely and miraculously gone numb.

Erwin couldn't blame him for mistrusting, but at the same time he was right about one thing: the walls have ears, and many people saw her when they returned to the safety of the Rose wall.

"Anyway," Hange continues after a while, just before they have to go their separate ways. "Whether it's what Erwin suspects, or what it actually is, do you have any idea how she got there?"

Levi thinks about it for a few seconds, or so he tries to do since nothing really comes to mind.

Although, that's a lie.

Petra Ral's face pops in his head and he remembers the first thing he thought when he saw her. Her slender and small body, clothes so thin that they had torn from just running through the bushes, the expression of not only utter terror but also perplexity on her.

Yeah… there was no way a person like her would survive on her own outside.

"I don't," Levi replies, and after a farewell nod he and Hange go different ways.

Only to hear gunshots.

Dammit. Levi absolutely loathes it when Erwin is right.

#rivetra fanfiction #rivetra #levi x petra

[youre-ackermine]

Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin // Attack on Titan

Fanfiction, headcanons & moodboards posted here on Tumblr

Fanfiction & headcanons posted on AO3

English is not my usual language

Posted: 03/30/2024 || Last update: 04/20/2024

©2022/2024 youre-ackermine || Do not use or repost my works || Do not translate without permission

Levi Ackerman x Reader

Under the Mistletoe • Tumblr // AO3

Don't you dare! • Tumblr // AO3

Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoe (Levihan)

Sunburst • Tumblr // AO3

Belated Birthday • Tumblr // AO3

Echo • Tumblr // AO3 • for @dont-f-with-moogles

Dumbstruck • Tumblr // AO3

Night Out • Tumblr // AO3

Flushing • Tumblr // AO3

Lips like Sugar • Tumblr // AO3 • fanart by wolfstar13_ on Instagram

Troublée (part one) • Tumblr // AO3

Levi Ackerman x Petra Ral (Rivetra)

[coming soon]

[coming soon]

Levi Ackerman x Erwin Smith (Eruri)

[coming soon]

Levi Ackerman x Miche Zacharias (Rivamike)

[coming soon]

Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoe x Erwin Smith (Erurihan)

[coming soon]

Hange Zoe x Pieck Finger (Pikuhan)

Behind the Scenes • Tumblr // AO3

Hange Zoe x Erwin Smith (Eruhan)

[coming soon]

Erwin Smith x Reader

[coming soon]

Erwin Smith x Miche Zacharias (Mikeeru/Erumike)

[coming soon]

Levi Ackerman

Levi's Birthday 2023 + moodboard • Tumblr // AO3

[coming soon]

Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoe (Levihan)

Postwar!Levihan Valentine's Day 2024 + moodboard • Tumblr // AO3

Our First Christmas + moodboard • Tumblr // AO3

Sunday Walk • Tumblr // AO3 • inspired by @ashh-ketchup 's fanart

Hange Zoe x Erwin Smith (Eruhan)

[coming soon]

Jean Kirstein x Reader

Jean Kirstein x Fem!Reader Valentine's Day 2024 + moodboard • Tumblr // AO3

Historia Reiss x Ymir (Yumihisu)

Yumihisu Band AU + headcanons • Tumblr // AO3

Levi Ackerman

Love Bites (NSFW) with @leviismybby • Tumblr // AO3

Levi's Fingers (NSFW) • Tumblr // AO3

Levi Ackerman / Levi Week 2023 Event

for @leviweek2023

Day 1 Tea Shop

Day 2 Underground City

Day 3 Affection and Fondness

Day 4 Dad / Family

Day 5 Vampire AU // No Name Band

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Levi Ackerman x Reader

TattooArtist!Levi for @stellar-smth || fanfiction Under your Skin

Postwar!Levi fanfiction inspo "Mursa" for @sixpennydame || fanfiction North Star

Postwar!Levi fanfiction inspo "Postwar Fort Salta" for @sixpennydame || fanfiction North Star

Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoe (Levihan)

No Name #1

No Name #2 [coming soon]

Postwar!Levihan Valentine's Day 2024 + headcanons

Our First Christmas + headcanons

Student!Levihan for @smol-lydia || fanfiction I Wanna Make a Couple Bad Decisions (with you)

Scouts!Levihan for @this-is-krikkit

Valentine's Day 2023

Levi Ackerman x Petra Ral (Rivetra)

Rivetra for @love4-bunny

Levi Ackerman x Farlan Church (Levifar)

[coming soon]

Erwin Smith x Reader

[coming soon]

[coming soon]

Erwin Smith x Miche Zacharias (Mikeeru/Erumike)

[coming soon]

Eren Jaeger x Mikasa Ackerman (Eremika)

[coming soon]

Jean Kirstein x Reader

Jean x Fem!Reader Valentine's Day 2024 + headcanons

Historia Reiss x Ymir (Yumihisu)

Yumihisu Band AU + headcanons

Header & dividers: @youre-ackermine || Do not use without credit 💟

#masterlist #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #snk #aot #snk fanfiction #aot fanfiction #snk headcanons #aot headcanons #snk moodboards #aot moodboards #levi x reader #erwin x reader #levihan #pikuhan #eruhan #rivetra #mikeeru #erumike #eruri #levifar #eremika #val writes ✍️ #val's moodboards 🌺 #val's headers 🔳 #val's dividers 🖼️

[sparkywrites25]

In The Fandom

Summary: Actor AU as requested

Pairing: Levi Ackerman x Petra Ral

Taglist: @lunar-rainclouds @captain-natey

Notes: There's also a particularly great Actor AU fic written by @captain-natey. Check it out here. It's a fantastic read.

Also this request turned out a little differently than I expected but I really enjoyed writing it tonight. It's changed a few times in my head since I first took up the request. So I hope you enjoy it.

“What are you giggling at?” Levi finally asked after listening to Petra giggling at her phone for the sixth time. He climbed beneath the duvet, propping himself on his side.

As he stared at his girlfriend, he was struck to see how pink her cheeks were as her eyes fixed themselves on the screen below her. She didn’t answer him, the only movements being her rapidly hitching breaths, her widening eyes and the flick of her finger over her screen. She lay comfortably propped up against the pillows, her light reddish hair a cozy contrast to the stark white sheets peeking out over the pale gold-patterned duvet. . 

“Oi,” he said after no response came. “Petra.” Another pause and this time he huffed. “Oi, Petra!”

“Huh?” her attention snapped to him in an instant and the blush in her cheeks deepened. “I… sorry, Levi. I was just…” she bit her lip, her grin stretching wide now. “I was just…” she tried again. The blush had spread to her ears and neck now and Levi forced himself not to smile at how endearing she looked right now. 

“Trying to finish a sentence?” he offered. 

“No!” Petra retorted, exasperated, only to huff herself. “Okay technically yes but that’s not— It’s just an interesting story, that’s all.”

“Read it to me then,” Levi suggested, elbow on his pillow, hand cupping his cheek. His other hand slid over to rest on Petra’s elbow. “If it’s so amusing, read that part out.”

Petra averted her gaze. “It, well it really needs context, Levi,” she admitted in a quiet voice. She began to turn her phone away, heightening Levi’s suspicions and curiosity. 

“Then send me the whole thing? It’s clearly got you riveted,” Levi remarked. He touched his hand to her wrist, gently tugging the sleeve of her pyjamas so her hand moved towards him. He was surprised and amused when Petra pulled her hand away, another giggle escaping her. Her face was doing an excellent impression of a tomato right now. 

“No it-” Petra cut herself off, “I’m not sure it’s really your thing.”

“I won’t know unless I take a look, will I?” Levi asked, lifting his chin to try and get a better look at the screen. His hand on her sleeve slid down her wrist to her pulse point and began to stroke it in circles. 

One. Two.

Petra’s hand jerked at the third ticklish sensation and her phone flew up into the air. Levi’s reflexes kicked in just as she realized and he grabbed the phone before she could, pulling it away from her and rolling onto his back. This freed up his other arm to wrap around her as she dived on him, holding her back as he extended his arm with the phone so that he could see the screen but have it out of Petra’s reach. 

“Noooo Levi!”

Levi’s eyes scanned the screen and disbelief instantly wiped the colour from his cheeks as he stared at the content. 

“Why are you reading a story about us?” he asked after taking a few moments to try and digest what he was reading. 

Petra buried her face in his chest as another giggle escaped from her. “It’s something Hange introduced me to. It’s really good!” she protested against his bare chest. Her hand abandoned the effort to reclaim her phone and so her arm draped across his stomach instead. Whoever wrote this is really talented.”

Levi’s hand moved on instinct, from around her waist, to caress her hair. All the while, he continued to stare at the screen. 

“Why would you read about us? Why is someone even writing about us?” Confusion was quickly giving way to concern and then irritation. Strangers were writing about their lives? Weirdos were telling stories about them and Petra found that funny? “That’s fucking creepy,” he spat, lowering his arm and the phone. “Who do they think they are writing this kinda shit-”

“Levi it’s not us,” Petra lifted her face, amber eyes sharpening in objection, “not really. It’s from the show,” she reached out to cover his hand on her phone. “It’s our characters. They’re writing our characters together, trying to give them a happy ending.” Her features softened as she explained this. “It’s really sweet, actually.” She began to rub circles into her boyfriend’s strong, muscular chest, leaning her cheek against one of his pecs. 

“Fanfiction,” Levi realized with a sigh. “You’re reading fanfiction about our characters?” He narrowed his eyes at the screen and began to read some more of the content. “Weird,” he mumbled as he read. 

Petra chuckled against his body, snuggling into him a little more. It took her a few moments to remember the other reason why she had been hiding the phone from him in the first place. Her head snapped up at once just as Levi’s brows shot up into his bangs. 

“I see now,” he drawled with pursed lips. “why this was so… interesting.”

Petra’s cheeks transformed into a brilliant shade of fuchsia at once. “St-stop reading!” she protested, grabbing at her phone once more. This time Levi relinquished it immediately and she brought the device into her chest, burying her head back into his bare chest at once. 

Levi waited a few minutes before speaking again, his lips twitching briefly as he watched Petra hide in his chest. 

“I guess our characters have found a very happy ending,” he mused. “Ecstatic, in fact.”

“Shut up,” Petra mumbled in his chest. 

Levi ran his fingers through Petra’s hair as his thoughts began to run away with him. Questions of why Petra would want to read about this when she had the real thing. Unless there was something she liked in the story that he wasn’t doing in their relationship. Or maybe there was something about “Captain Levi” that did it for her. His stomach squirmed as he thought about it. Captain Levi was an incredible soldier after all, a titan-killer. He supposed he could understand why she might desire that. He couldn’t exactly deny that Petra’s character was particularly admirable as well, a loyal and trusted member of her team. It had irritated him to no end that the writer left no opportunity to explore Petra further and cut short the character’s life. 

So he could understand the fans wanting to change that. But it was disconcerting for them to be writing smut about these characters with his and Petra’s faces. Levi could not have imagined that this would come about when all the cast joined the project prior to the manga’s earliest sketches and became the physical inspirations for the characters. It seemed so long ago now.

He leaned down to kiss Petra’s head as his thoughts turned briefly to the day they’d filmed Petra’s death. How fucking awful it was to look down at his girlfriend, made up like a corpse, her beautiful eyes closed with blood painted down her nose. He remembered bringing Petra home and how much he’d held her closer that night and every night that week until filming that part had wrapped. 

Petra lifted her head and watched him. “Are you weirded out?” she asked. 

“It’s pretty weird, yeah,” Levi’s eyes dropped to the phone briefly before they returned to hold Petra’s gaze again. “But…” he continued with an uncertain air, “I guess fanfiction about the show is better than some weirdos writing about us.” he conceded. 

Petra closed the browser on her phone. “I shouldn’t have… I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, Levi.”

Levi’s arms moved around her, pulling her onto his chest. “Technically,” he reminded her, “I stole your phone so quit that bullshit,” he reassured her. He rubbed her back gently. “It’s up to you what you read,” he reminded her. “So don’t worry.” He pulled her closer until their noses touched. 

She was watching him, sadness and guilt shining out of her beautiful eyes. Guilt began to poke away at his chest at the sight. He hated to be the cause of that look. 

“I’m fine,” he told her. “I just wasn’t expecting you to be so into that.”

“Fanfiction?” Petra repeated. “I can’t say I’ve read much of it but it’s interesting.”

There was a long break before Levi spoke again. “Yeah, that and Captain Levi,” he murmured with a grumble in his tone. 

Petra blinked at him. “Captain Levi?” she repeated. 

“He was very well written. He’s a strong, capable character,” said Levi. “I can see why you’d want to read… that… about him.”

Petra reflected on his words, a frown beginning to grow across her lips. “Capta-” she began to repeat again and then she recalled the scene from the chapter once again in her head. Vivid imagery of heated kisses, roaming hands, soft sighs and deep groans coupled with kisses and loving promises made in the privacy of the captain’s quarters. Heat returned to her cheeks as her thoughts lingered over it again. 

She began to smile again and she propped herself up on her forearms on his chest, kissing him briefly on the lips. “Levi,” she whispered, “it’s really not about him at all.”

Her boyfriend was very still as he processed her words. “There’s nothing wrong with it if it was,” he answered with a small shrug that had Petra moving atop him. 

She cupped his cheek. “Yeah but it isn’t,” she repeated. “I loved reading this fic because it gave our characters a beautiful love story,” she explained, “and yeah, it has an amazingly written love scene. But the thing is, I really don’t have to imagine that part,” she continued, her smiling tilting up into a teasing smirk, “because I have you.”

Levi raised one brow again, maintaining a neutral expression. “Is this you leading up to telling me that you take out your fanfiction kinks on me?” 

“No!” Petra protested loudly. “I mean I like— and sometimes it’s good to— Levi!” She frowned at the smirk that her boyfriend was now wearing. She huffed. “I- Look some stuff I read… I’ve never thought about doing and sometimes it-it-it might be fun to-to-to you know…?”

“No, please enlighten me,” Levi teased. “You’re doing an eloquent job so far.”

She scowled. “Don’t be an asshole.”

“Speaking of assholes,” Levi retorted, “that scene was rather-”

“Shut up!” Petra blushed madly. “I wish I’d never opened that link now!”

Still smirking, Levi brought his hand to the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss, slow and tender, silencing her and chasing some of the heat from her face. She melted in his arms, allowing him to roll her onto her back and lean over her, her phone abandoned to the side of them.

“This is no time for regrets,” he murmured, his lips closing in on hers, “so how about you show me some of the things you’ve been reading about, hm?”

Petra managed one last giggle before Levi’s lips landed on hers.

#my fics #fic: in the fandom #attack on titan #attack on titan fanfiction #shingeki no kyojin #shingeki no kyojin fanfiction #drabble #levi ackerman #levi ackerman fanfiction #petra ral #petra ral fanfiction #levi ackerman x petra ral #levi ackerman x petra ral fanfiction #rivetra #rivetra fanfiction

[love4-bunny]

She acts like a woman should

Mature

Ao3 link

1 , 2 , 3

Let me know if you want me to add you to the tag list!

@captain-natey @ydrance @youre-ackermine @amyina

Tags: alternative universe-Canon divergence, period typical sexism, internalized misogyny, 19th century, eventual smut, slow romance, hurt/comfort, dom/sub undertones.

Summary:

Petra Ral is willing to play her role in society to perfection as she has been taught. Accepting a marriage of convenience with Captain Levi Ackerman, they both have to live with the idea that life is not always fair.

Chapter 1: Have you met Mr. Ackerman?

The gentle breeze caressed the girl's face, which was illuminated by a soft light. It was a wonderful day—too beautiful for a funeral.

"Grandma, why does my mother have a lovely dress and make-up?" the girl asked curiously.

"Petra, wouldn't you like your mother to be remembered as a proper and beautiful woman?

"I wish I didn't have to conform to remember her," she said, feeling a gentle squeeze on her hand. "But I think I understand now."

The older woman watched as her granddaughter let go of her hand and approached the coffin where her daughter lay.

"I'd like to be remembered like this too, always pretty and always young,"  the 12-year-old girl murmured as she touched with her small hands one of the roses resting in the carefully arranged hair of the one who was her mother.

"Tell me, Petra, would you like to leave your father's farm to live with me in the capital? What do you say? A nice room, lots of cute dresses, as well as a good education."

Petra enjoyed living with her father on the farm.

As she watched the man cry silently from a chair farther away from the coffin, the redhead put her hands behind her back. She sighed. Her question was more to confirm a decision already made.

Her lucid dream seemed to be coming to an end as she looked at her reflection in the mirror on her dresser. There was a growing sense of anxiety in her stomach as she waited to meet her future husband. Once again, her trembling hands rearranged her dress.

She decided to stand up and walked over to the tall mirror near her huge closet, which seemed to be an additional room to her own, to look at her reflection. She chose a dress that was formal but modest enough for this afternoon. She examined the floral patterns and the intense blue color.

She checked the tightness of the corset, running her hands down it to emphasize the curves even more. She strained a grin but chose to let her face muscles go, which came out much more genuine.

Petra was expecting that Captain Levi would be attracted to redheads since she had spent the whole day using cloths to arrange her hair, which the curlers had caused to reduce to the length that met her chin.

She heard a soft knock on her bedroom door, and it opened to reveal her grandma. The elder woman entered right away and went over to her granddaughter. Her grandma gently squeezed her shoulders and took a strand of her hair to console her. She responded by holding her mother's hands, which made her feel better.

"Petra, you look stunning today, I must say. Let me help you with your lipstick."

"I'm worried about what's waiting for me in the living room," she said as she let her apply the lipstick, realizing she was attempting to brighten her mood in some manner.

She accepted the marriage arrangement set up by her loving grandmother for some reason that even she didn't understand.

"It's understandable; I remember feeling the exact same way when I was in your shoes. But your grandfather and I got along without problem," she replied sympathetically as she rubbed Petra's back.

"Despite having been educated my entire adolescence, the rumors I've heard about Captain Ackerman are confusing, I'm not sure what to expect anymore."

There were many descriptions and behaviors of mankind's strongest soldier passed around from mouth to mouth. It is not unexpected that he is already a well-known individual within the walls, and since he is the sole known survivor of the Ackerman family, belonging to the main branch of the essential lineage that is now nearly extinct. 

She also wanted to know whether what Oluo had said in his letters about his commanding officer was real. Despite his strange personality, he was an excellent leader and a great soldier, considering his obsession with cleanliness, gloomy and rude language. He is a man who trusts his own life.

"And I don't blame you, the only thing I can confirm is that it's too short for my taste, but it's the perfect size for you."

Petra listened attentively to how she had to act, while she had already completed her education in studies accompanied by how to be a good wife and mother. She recognized that the challenging personality of her fiancé would be difficult to deal with, so it was no secret that a sense of dread filled her mind. She knew this day would come; she had no option; there was no better way, not after her mother's death.

"Still, I don't understand why you make yourself so complicated, Petra. You don't know what a privilege you have; look at all those people living in misery."

It upset her, but that was the way it was. She didn't want to disappoint what's left of her family,the guilt that would overtake her every time she complained in any way, her grandma reiterating to her how blessed she was and not to be ungrateful for the life she had been given.

"I am a good woman, I will be an ideal wife and mother. I will proudly bear my new family name, and erase the family history to create a new one," her eyes reflected in determination, clenching her fists tightly. "I swear by the goddesses of the walls and by my dearly departed mother, I will behave as a woman should."

"That's the way I like it."

Forever young, forever pretty.

Both women diverted their attention as they felt the door open. One of the family maids reported that they had arrived and everyone was ready for tea. Petra rose up, took a look, and offered her a smile, one of warmth and melancholy.

"Shall we go?"

They set out to follow the maid through the hallways of what had become her home.

The artwork of her mother as a kid gave her a sense of hidden grief, and the ones with her grandparents as a tiny girl filled her with nostalgia. She was too young to have predicted what was in store for her as a woman.

In the room, lit by a magnificent chandelier, stood proudly the scouts leader, Erwin Smith, and next to him a man. Perhaps a woman who she couldn't quite make out, as the features were rather vague. On the other side of the coffee table, where there was a seat open on the other sofa, The one where her fiancé was seated.

How dare he take such a comfortable posture, with his back reclined, his hands on the back of the expensive sofa, and his left leg resting on his right thigh? Shameless, he was already behaving as if it were already his home. She avoided showing her scowl of displeasure.

Her grandma, seated in her personal chair, had no need to advise Petra on how to bow graciously to the guests and introduce herself, as she had always been instructed.

"I am Petra Ral, and it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet you. It is an honor to have you in our midst," she heard the infamous captain click his tongue, and she resisted responding with a groan.The older woman motioned for her to sit next to the captain. 

"Look how polite she is, Erwin; a pleasure I am, Hange Zoe."

The tea, along with some fresh cookies, arrived in a matter of minutes. He grasped the cup in an unusual manner, holding it by the rim and ignoring the handle.

The conversation, as she had expected, was to establish the engagement arrangements, giving him access to the family's riches in return for the prestige of the Ackerman lineage.

She had no doubt that the agreement had been agreed upon quickly since Levi could utilize the money for military purposes. She couldn't access the money because she was a woman, but if she behaved properly and obeyed her husband, she might be able to persuade him to manage the money alongside him, like her grandmother does.

The individual known as Hange spoke and acted enthusiastically about how he or she was conducting the research. She had never come across someone who was so enthusiastic about their job. She paid little attention to what her grandma had already conveyed.

She was sipping her well-prepared black tea silently, closing her eyes with pleasure at the relaxing sensation it provided.

Her breathing became more relaxed as she sat down, and she noticed that her palms were sweating despite the fact that they were still chilly. She put her hands on the exquisite porcelain cup to warm them up.

"It was unexpected to receive the confirmation letter from Mr. Ackerman with such speed. I am the only remaining member of this family, and I can already feel the passage of time in my body. You understand my concern about not being able to see my grandchildren grow up," she admitted.

"I've killed for way less."

"Levi,'' the commander shook his head in disbelief at his subordinate's inappropriately harsh attitude, "I beg your pardon for his disrespectful attitude."

"I know exactly what we're getting ourselves into, Commander Smith. Mr. Ackerman does not scare me; in exchange for marrying my granddaughter and bringing status to my family, you receive money and the family company. Besides, I believe the crown was already asking that the blood be preserved."

Levi adjusted into a more defensive position, clinched his teeth, and made the decision to remain silent.

Like her mother,she had a strong personality and detested being dominated or intimidated. Although she adored her father, she was aware that he could become fairly complacent or even dangerously naive. As a result, she covered her smirk beneath the teacup. She took a moment to stare the moody man in the eye, who was strangely calm and complained nothing. She wasn't yet sure if this was an ideal or bad indication.

After talking in more depth, resolving the different doubts, and agreeing that the Ral family would be in charge of organizing the engagement, the government would reveal the news to the local publications. Undoubtedly, a scandal would be ignited. Everyone in the room was debating the terms enthusiastically, except the captain. His extraordinary ability to reply only in monosyllables From time to time, she would throw him a sidelong glance, hoping for some expression other than his emotionless countenance of absolute blankness and lack of interest. He was refusing even to participate in conversation. To the young woman, it appeared a surprise that he had not uttered a word toward her. The man found good porcelain and black tea leaves more interesting.

When she noticed that the contents of the cup had run out, she got hold of the teapot that had been delivered by one of the employees and replenished its contents into Levi's cup. A well-practiced action. Taking him by surprise, he arched his eyebrows at her in questioning yet mumbled a sincere thank you. She bowed to him and rose up with a teapot in hand, asking the other guests if they needed more tea. Only Hange took another cup so that she would not feel self-conscious that the commander and the gray-haired woman would not stop conversing about confidential topics.

After tea, the affluent family served her a glass of wine that had the guests amazed by the taste. When the lady of the house looked around and observed the guests' empty cups, she asked for a refill. The pleasingly sweet flavor of the wine provided them with a false sense of security as they drank it, taking glass after glass and emptying bottles.

"So, Mrs. Ral, we agree that the ceremony will take place in 3 months from now." Erwin rose up and was followed by Levi and Hange. "It was nice chatting with you and finally meeting you in person." He stated this as the two of them escorted the Scouts out toward the main door

Levi had agreed to stay for the weekend at the family's request. In order for the engaged pair to get to know each other better. They exchanged their final goodbyes, thanking them for their presence considering how hectic the job was.

In a matter of seconds, when she looked around, her brows furrowed. Her prospective spouse had apparently expertly departed the scene. Silent as a falling feather.

"Petra, do you mind if you go looking for him? We don't want him to get lost. Also take the opportunity to show him his room." She stated this as she left Petra alone.

He couldn't walk so far; the mansion, albeit fairly huge, wasn't infinite. Walking leisurely, she hoped she would encounter him purely by coincidence.

Passing through the second level, where there was a wonderful library, always attracted by reading and writing, became her first stop. That's when she spotted him standing in front of a double door, where faint light streamed through the gap in the door. He was leaning against the robust door, and moved by curiosity, he turned the knob to open it.

It was locked.

Levi leaned more firmly against the hard wood of the door, his attention concentrating on the steady banging that could be heard on the other side of it.

"Mr. Ackerman, I suggest that you move away from the door if you do not want to see my servants engaging in sexual intercourse. Unless you're a pervert."

"I'm not." He moved casually towards Petra. "It appeared that a homicide was taking place."

"Do you require the services of an escort?"

"Can you take me where I will sleep?"

She cordially requested to accompany her through the mansion, which is far too big for two people and a few maids. Everything was spotless and well organized. clearly seeing how the lifelessness of the room contrasted with how distinct the design was. It didn't matter that everything of value—exquisite designs or vivid colors—filled the interior. It was soulless.

Petra opened the door and showed him a dark room with a large bed in the center, freshly cleaned bedding, and plush cushions. There was a balcony facing one of the gardens that were dispersed around the exterior of the house. Levi brushed his hands over the shelf of books that stood against the wall next to the closed window of the little balcony. Petra listened to him whistling in amazement as she took care of lighting the little fireplace. This being a vast building, the cold was present in every corner of the different areas. When she finished, she went in through the door leading to a private bathroom close to the bed. They were now in the bathroom together. She quickly started filling the tub with water. He would never bathe in one; habituated to quick military showers, it was a frivolous luxury.

She got up as he sat on the tub's edge, feeling the water heating up.

Hot water in the bathtub, great tea, a clean house, and the silence that someone like him couldn't have living in a barracks full of men who failed to maintain basic personal hygiene. She reasoned that he could grow used to it.

"Here are some towels. Your belongings have already been stored. I couldn't help but notice the few clothes," she said, amazed at herself. "I wasn't being nosy; it's just for the weekend, so there won't be much change of clothes."

"As you say," he responded flatly and uninterestedly. "Unless you are a pervert, I advise you to go out and let me take a bath."

"I'm not."

Petra was still standing there in the doorway of the luxurious bathroom, Levi lifted an eyebrow and a grin developed on his face.As she expected, the man had no issue undressing in front of her; she knew it was his way of frightening her out. To his misfortune, she was by no means shy about it; after all, they would witness how they came into the world as they consummated their marriage. She took advantage of the time he undressed, starting with the top of his black suit. Now alone with him, she had a few additional concerns to bring up to him. She put her back straight and placed her hands behind her back; her eyes were concentrated on nothing in particular.

"I know you do it for the money; I have my reasons for accepting it myself, Mr. Ackerman." Her mouth became a hard line, and she busied herself gazing at the ceiling as he proceeded to unbuckle his belt. Taking a breath and exhaling, she concentrated her sight on the wall behind him. "I have some requests to make."

"Very good, then I'll tell you mine too, carrot head."

She rolled her eyes, but this time she would let him pass. She felt the splash of water and Levi's satisfied sigh, finally willing herself to look him in the face.

"I promise to be a proper wife; however, I don't want any sexual contact before marriage."

"Perfect, we agree on that."

"I want you to moderate your vulgar vocabulary when you are with me and my family or my friends."

He nodded.

"You should know that I need us to have some kind of communication and time together; I don't want to live together with a complete stranger."

"Reasonable"

"That's all I have to say."

"Good, now listen to me carefully," he said authoritatively. "You can know things about me, but nothing too personal; everything stays between us; no chit-chatting with your friends. Forget about romantic novels if you don't want to be disappointed." That's the most he's talked about all day. "Since we agreed on absolutely no sexual contact,I don't have any more requests."

He let his body sink deeper into the water and closed his eyes in relaxation in the warm bath.

"Thank you; enjoy your bath, Mr. Ackerman," she said honestly, and as she was ready to walk away, she heard him address her, and being in another world, she didn't exactly understand him.

"Excuse me?." 

"Levi, just Levi."

Ah, yeah, that's it; there was no reason for her to call him so formally.

"So, Petra, just Petra."

#rivetra #petra ral #levi ackerman #levi x petra #rivetra fanfiction #i figured it out kids #finally i know how to post writing here #boomer moment #🖤🧡 #levi doing a speedrun while petra is still in the slow burn THE FIC

[chaztalk]

#fanfiction #fanfic #slow build #slow burn #harmione #harmony #cleon #jeankasa #rivetra #snowbarry

[its-lulu-dee]

December 6th! Petra’s birthday! 🎂 🥳 🎉 I celebrate it with a new chapter to my fic, and a cute Petra by my side (Okay, it's Nobara from Jujutsu Kaisen, but I like to pretend it's Petra).

#happy birthday petra #december is rivetra month #aot #levi x petra #petra ral #rivetra #levi ackerman #attack on titan #fanfiction #fanfic

[sleeperswakewriting]

Prior to the creation of The Special Operations Squad, Petra and Levi meet in line at the tea store almost every week. After constantly running into each other, Levi finally asks her out.

Rating: G

Word Count: 600

Thanks for the prompt! I'm dusting off the old writing cobwebs, so it's a bit rusty.

---

Levi tapped his foot against the wood floor. He checked the clock above the cashier for the fifth time in the past minute, the ticking sound becoming more and more grating as the seconds passed. He timed his heel with the beat, counting how long it would for his tea to cool to an acceptable temperature, all while staring at the clock, waiting for the minute hand to hit the thirty mark. 

The chimes of the door jingled, and instantly, Levi turned, a wash of relief enveloped him as he caught sight of a familiar ginger. She waved as she took off her mittens, her scarf covering half her face, and Levi’s eyes remained fixed on her while she ordered her usual. 

“Chai tea latte with a splash of milk, thanks!” 

His black Earl Gray steamed in front of him, the chilly air creating dancing vapors, and Levi swallowed. Relief turned into anxiety and the clock seemed too loud, and he wanted to hide in the muffled murmurs of the other patrons. 

“They said it would take a minute,” Petra said, sliding into the seat across from him. Her usual spot. Their usual spot of the past six months, Levi’s table of nearly two years until she chatted him up, noticing that he ordered tea at the same time as her. He came here every afternoon, and she only on Fridays due to her student schedule and budget. 

Without prompting, Petra started talking about her day, her classmates that Levi had become familiar with and was able to follow by name, and complained about the weather. He agreed it was frigid, preferring the springtime himself, another thing they agreed upon. 

“Order for Petra!” the barista called. 

“That’s me!” 

In the short seconds that Petra took from the table to the counter, Levi’s heart hammered in his chest. He deserved good things. He deserved to have a life outside of the Scouts. That’s what Erwin said, what Hange teased him about. He was content as long as he had three square meals and a roof over his head. At least that’s what he thought until he met her. Now all he could think about were her smiles, counting down the days till Friday, and making mental lists of things to talk about. Despite his high rank in the military, he admitted his life was painfully boring when he wasn’t fighting Titans. Petra volunteered at soup kitchens, knitted in her spare time, and was working on a degree in physical therapy. She had friends, a family that encouraged her, and most notably absent, a boyfriend. 

Was he too old for her? She didn’t seem to mind, enjoying his preludes on life, his offbeat bluntness. 

When she returned, scooting her chair back just an inch to not impede on the couple behind them, she had barely raised the cup to her lips when he blurted out, “Do you want to get dinner?”

A small smile crept up on Petra’s lips. “It’s lunchtime.” 

Levi crossed his arms. “I know. I meant tomorrow. Or next week. Or…shit, I’m doing this all wrong.” He paused, resisting the urge to clear his throat like an idiot, and gathered his words. “I like you.” Not much better, but he got his point across. 

Petra’s eyes glimmered. “Levi Ackerman, are you asking me out?”

“I am.” 

She sucked in a breath like she was waiting for this moment, but an air of melancholy clouded her disposition. 

“It doesn’t have to be here,” Levi added quickly. “I know a place in Trost and—“ He cut himself off, realizing how presumptuous he was being, but Petra eased his worry with a brush of her soft hands. 

“It’s not that. I like you too, Levi.” And a beautiful blush peppered her freckles. Her gaze turned serious, her voice just low enough so that only the two of them could hear. “I’m joining the Scouts. I leave for training in a month.” 

If Levi could pick a time for a Titan to swallow him whole, this would be it. 

#rivetra #rivetra fanfiction #levi x petra #my fics

[ydrance]

Lunar new Year and lantern festival, veery late (fic and art)

Ok I don't like doing that but I spent days on that OS, I am very proud of it, and I know my take on things is maybe a bit different than the Rivetra fandom's general take and all but I am feeling a very strong rejection sensitivity dysphoria flaring up right now, so leave a kudo if you like it please. I honestly have serious doubts about my participation in the fandom** after the flop of my previous OS and Outlander AU draft. If that one flops too... Don't feel obliged obviously but if you do read it and like it leave a kudo please. (Or if you dislike it say so. I am afraid of it flopping not of negative reactions.) So that I'll know if I keep spending time and energy on writing, or if I'm too bad and it's useless and it doesn't bring anything interesting. Now art.

Bonus another, older, lunar new Year, (not lantern festival) :

Levi has a strange face on this one I know 😅 He is impossible to draw

** I'm in a bad spot and everything seems a bit dramatic, Rivetra is a special interest, I'll still do things I think, just, if it flops, no more writings I think, and a few other ideas will be thrown away. Anyways. No pity, no obligations if you don't want to read it or don't like it it's fine. I find it good but if you read it and don't it's fine too. Really. Just if you do, and if you like it, if you can leave a kudo please...

#rivetra #rivetra fanfiction #rivetra art #petral ral #levi x petra #levi ackerman #aot #snk #rivetra fic #artists on tumblr #lantern festival #canon divergent au #Petra lives #after the war #traveling #imaginary China #domestic #comfort #of travels and healing