Chapter Text
Connie bounces his foot nervously as the silence draws out longer than he believes is natural, only broken up by the occasional sound of papers being shuffled. He tries to keep his nerves under control and not sprint straight for the horizon, knowing that if he wants what he loves most, he must endure this for as long as it takes. Even if that means sitting in an office with Commander Erwin Smith, the greatest enemy unknown to humanity. He knew this was inevitable, but he wishes he’d prepared himself better mentally. The only thought keeping him sane is that after this is done, he can take Sasha to that priest.
“You are aware that this will limit both of you in promotion until one of you goes to another squad, right?” asks Erwin casually, breaking the long silence. He looks up from the papers and squarely at Connie, who sits up straighter in a surprisingly comfortable office chair.
“Yes,” he replies, nodding to emphasize the point. “I’m sure there isn’t much room to move around in our squad anyway.”
Connie meant it as a joke but then he remembers far too late that Levi and Eren are no longer with them, one gone into hiding and one escorting the future queen deep into enemy territory. He can feel a bead of sweat drop down his neck.
“Until your captain and lieutenant are found, we won’t worry about promotions quite yet,” replies Erwin smoothly, although Connie did catch the tension around his eyes. “Which reminds me, how’s your squad acclimatizing to working with Hanji?”
Connie can’t help but chuckle. “I would almost argue that she’s a more demanding taskmaster than the Captain. She smiles more though, so I guess that’s something.”
Erwin seems satisfied with that answer if the upturned corners of his mouth are any indication. He then turns his attention back to the papers neatly stacked in front of him and then back to Connie. “I’m not sure how you waited almost a week to marry the person you love, but I admire your patience.” He then takes out his quill, blotting material, and stamp from the top drawer of his desk; with a smile he signed off on the top piece of paper and stamped the seal of his office beside his signature.
“It was difficult,” Connie admits freely, knowing conversation will calm his racing pulse. “Sasha didn’t like it, but Hanji told us we needed to be by the books with this. She’s the one who helped us with the paperwork.”
“With so much uncertainty right now, it’s nice to see a little order,” agrees Erwin as he hands the stack of papers to Connie, who stands the moment they’re in his hands. “Do you already have a place picked out? How about a reception?”
“We were just going to grab the nearest priest and have him marry us wherever we happen to be,” says Connie with a smile. “And I don’t think any restaurant, tavern, or inn would have enough food for Sasha.”
“We could always arrange something here at the base,” says Erwin thoughtfully. “I’m sure we could all use the distraction and I’m positive the rest of the Corps would love to celebrate with you. It’s not every day the Scouts have something so joyous to celebrate.”
Connie can’t see a way out without it being implied that he’d rather not have Erwin or the rest of the Corps anywhere near him or his bride, so he simply salutes as best he can with a fistful of papers. “I’ll speak with Hanji.”
Erwin grins widely. “Wonderful. I’ll inform the cooks and the other Section Commanders. Will you need anything else? We could certainly arrange for your ceremony to be at the chapel here. It’s small but it’s functional and you’ll be married by one of your own.”
“Sure, we could do that,” agrees Connie somewhat reluctantly. This is exactly why he didn’t want to listen to Hanji about paperwork and just spring it on Erwin later, but it’s too late to change the past. “Who would be marrying us, sir?”
“Me,” replies Erwin happily. “As Commander of the Survey Corps, I have recognized authority to marry, bury, and baptize anyone under my command. Pixys, Nile, and Zachary all have the same authority. Even Hanji and Captain Ackerman are ordained to a certain extent.”
I would rather have the Captain belittle and insult me as he married me and Sasha than stand up there with you.
Obviously, Connie doesn’t express this, aware of the delicate peace that is barely keeping the Survey Corps together. He felt it when they returned, how everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells around each other, and it was confirmed their first night back when Hanji returned after speaking with Erwin, that rumor of a mole had burned through the Corps like wildfire. That the mole had conspired with Ezekiel Jaeger to kidnap Eren and Levi and attacked Erwin. It explained the suspicious behavior they saw. No one trusted each other anymore. They knew the only mole – or better yet, snake – was Erwin but they knew they couldn’t say anything, just trust that everyone was doing their part in bringing him down. They are already working their way through the Scouts, searching out those who aren’t particularly loyal to Erwin and those that are, figuring out ally and enemy in a place that used to feel like home. It hasn’t proved too fruitful a search yet.
“We would be honored, sir,” says Connie through his teeth, knowing Sasha or Mikasa will punch them out later for not standing his ground. “I’ll let Sash know right away.”
Erwin nods and that seems to conclude their meeting. Connie turns to make his leave, gripping his papers, excited to be one step closer to officially marrying the woman of his dreams. Then Erwin clears his throat.
“It’s too bad Eren and Levi can’t make it to the celebrations,” he says, and Connie barely has time to retain his composure. He’s certain Erwin said that to see his reaction, and he can only hope he didn’t reveal too much.
He looks over his shoulder, meeting Erwin’s steely gaze and he forces himself to show nothing. “Yeah, it really is. I can only imagine how surprised they’ll be to find out Sasha and I are married.”
“You think you’ll see them again?” asks Erwin curiously.
“Of course,” says Connie adamantly. “I know Eren and the Captain well enough to know they’re probably kicking some serious ass trying to get home.”
Erwin’s gaze hardens just slightly, and his smile is tight around the corners, an obvious indication that Connie’s words struck a nerve somewhere. Still, he must commend Erwin’s acting, he barely looks bothered.
“I’m sure you’re right,” he says coolly before turning his attention back to some papers on his desk. This Connie can tell is his official signal to get out of his office.
Connie doesn’t need to be told twice.
“He’s taking too long,” says Sasha as she nervously paces the length of hers and Mikasa’s room, fingers tangled in her hair as she tries not to pull it out by the root. She hasn’t known a moment of peace since Connie left with their paperwork. He looked like he was being sent to the executioner and she felt like she was sending him to his death.
“He’s only been gone thirty minutes,” says Mikasa calmly, although her heart’s pounding as hard as Sasha’s boots on the floor. She retreated to her bed with her mending when it became apparent that Sasha was not going to do anything but pace. “It was a pretty thick stack of papers and Erwin’s pretty meticulous when he needs to be.”
“He should just sign off and let Connie go,” groans Sasha as her stomach starts aching, butterflies fighting inside as she struggles to breathe. “He probably approves marriages all the time, he’s just doing this because we’re part of Squad Levi.”
Mikasa sighs heavily. She can’t refute Sasha’s claim, not when it seems everyone is treating their squad like they’re marked for death. Although, no one is exactly friendly with each other of late, most sticking to their respective squads and having little to no interaction with anyone outside of their group. She supposes that’s exactly what Erwin wants.
“He’s not going to kill him, Sasha,” says Mikasa reassuringly, although she isn’t sure if anything she says could calm down the other woman. She knows if the roles were reversed, she’d be just as bad or worse; in fact, she knows she would be, she’s struggled every day since she last saw Eren not to hunt him down wherever her uncle is hiding him.
There she goes again. She sighs to herself, inwardly chiding herself for once again thinking of Eren in that way. Eren isn’t hers and won’t be hers, he belongs to someone else – more specifically, her cousin – and she thought she was done with this. She hoped she was done, but it’s plain to see she still isn’t over her hopeless love. Still, she’s come to terms with the very real possibility that it might be years before she finally stops hoping he’ll look at her the way Connie does Sasha.
The sound of a door slamming shut brings her abruptly out of her thoughts and the sound of a distressed man grabs her attention completely. She looks up from her mending to see Sasha and Connie sprawled on the floor, limbs everywhere as Sasha cries shamelessly into Connie’s chest as she clutches him however she can. Connie looks both impressed and concerned as he struggles to take a full breath and keep his papers in his hand, barely holding on during Sasha’s assault.
“You’re alive!” Sasha sobs as tears run down her cheeks and onto Connie’s shirt and jacket. Mikasa takes back every time she thought Sasha was being overly dramatic about this meeting.
Connie’s gaze and grip soften and he gingerly pats Sasha’s back with his free hand. “It’s okay, my dear, it’s okay.”
They stay like that for a few more minutes before Sasha’s tears subside and Mikasa graciously assists in pulling them both from the floor, taking the papers just as Sasha rushes into Connie’s embrace. It’s heartbreaking to see two people so relieved each other is alive after just a simple meeting. Her anger towards Erwin only grows.
“How did it go?” Mikasa asks, deciding it would be a huge invasion of privacy to go through the documents in her hand.
Connie looks at her from over Sasha’s shoulder and shrugs. “Awkward. He spent a lot of time reading each sheet of paper for gods know why and then made weird small talk. He mentioned Eren and the Captain but I didn’t give him anything. I think what I said pissed him off though, he didn’t look too happy when I left.”
Sasha’s grip around him tightens and he wheezes. “What did you say?”
“I told him . . . Eren and the Captain are probably . . . kicking ass trying to get . . . back,” he manages with his limited air supply.
Her grip loosens and he takes a full breath, greedily sucking down air.
“Considering it’s his ass that needs kicking, I can see why he wasn’t pleased,” says Mikasa and Sasha chuckles nervously, as if unsure if it were safe to agree. “You did well, Connie, Eren and Levi would’ve been proud.”
His smile is almost blinding. “Thanks, Mikasa. Although I’m glad I didn’t say anything until after he’d signed, he might’ve rethought it if I had.”
If his smile is a lantern, Sasha’s is the Sun when she hears that Erwin signed off on their marriage request. The week of waiting while they worked on the request with Hanji and all the delays because of their reassignment to Hanji’s command, countless interviews about their missing comrades, debriefings about nothing new or special; and dealing with sleepless nights because they all expect assassins each time they close their eyes, are all forgotten now that she knows she’s free to marry the man she loves. None of that stuff matters now, or it won’t until after the ceremony.
“Congratulations,” says Mikasa, genuinely relieved and happy for her friends. “I’m glad all of your planning wasn’t in vain.”
“We would’ve done it anyway,” says Sasha with a shrug. “We already told Hanji it didn’t matter what the policy is, we were still going to get married. She agreed but insisted on doing the other nonsense. Probably to keep us under Erwin’s radar.”
Connie’s demeanor shifts instantly from happy and relieved to suddenly very nervous and apprehensive. He knows he needs to tell Sasha the rest of his conversation with Erwin, but he isn’t sure she and Mikasa are going to take it well. “Yeah, about that,” he starts, unable to keep his voice from trembling as much as his hands. He forces himself to look Sasha in the eye. “Erwin kind of took over our wedding planning. We’re having the ceremony in the chapel here and . . . and he’ll be marrying us. He’s also arranging for the rest of the Corps to be there and for us to have a reception in the mess hall.”
Dead silence follows this revelation and Connie wants to melt into the floor. Sasha’s expression is as flat as the horizon and Mikasa’s eyes are as wide as saucers. No one says anything right away.
The door opens and Armin and Jean walk in, although they’re not sure what they walked in on when they see their three friends simply staring at each other in complete silence. They consider retreating but Armin is already in the process of closing the door, and when it catches the latch, the noise seems to break whatever spell had befallen their comrades.
“He’s going to kill us there,” says Sasha softly and she releases Connie from her arms. “He’ll poison the food or slice off our heads at the altar.”
“Why didn’t you say no?” Mikasa demands, taking a menacing step towards Connie, who raises his arms in defense of himself.
“I tried but he made it impossible,” he tries to explain and when he sees Jean and Armin, he practically runs behind them for some distance and protection. “I swear, if he hadn’t made it sound like a war crime to deny him, I would’ve!”
Sasha doesn’t say anything, she’s just standing where he left her, blank gaze on the wall in front of her. She feels numb and sick to her stomach. Her intuition, her inner guide, her instincts, whatever you want to call them are screaming at her to run fast and far with every precious person she has and not look back until they’re walking to the saltwater Armin told them about so long ago. She wants to listen, knows she should, but her people are scattered to the wind, and she can’t get to them fast enough to satisfy her uneasiness.
“What the fuck’s going on?” asks Jean, more confused than concerned about what’s happening around him. “We heard Connie came back from Erwin’s office. What happened?”
“Erwin made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” replies Connie as he cowers from Mikasa’s fiery gaze. “He’s going to marry Sash and I here at the chapel and have the mess provide a reception, he’s also insisting on inviting the entire Survey Corps to the wedding. He made it sound like a chance for the Scouts to celebrate something and implied I couldn’t really turn it down. Believe me, I would’ve if I didn’t feel like I wouldn’t leave his office without agreeing.”
Jean clicks his tongue and shakes his head. “This is why we didn’t want you to go alone, you idiot! We knew he would push. Why didn’t you bring Hanji? She could’ve smoothed it over before it got weird.”
“It was already weird,” huffs Connie and he looks at Armin. “You’re training to be a judge advocate, isn’t there some legal thing that can get us out of this?”
Armin considers the situation for a moment and then gives the only answer he can fathom, “Yes, but we need to leave right now.”
Less than an hour later, Connie is standing at the altar of the first church they found outside of the base, Jean and Armin beside him as his best men – he laments that Eren isn’t there to fill in the gap, just like he knows Sasha is devastated that Historia isn’t going to stand with her and Mikasa. It feels even stranger not having the Captain hovering nearby, his presence a missed fixture in their squad, probably more than he’ll ever understand. Still, Connie’s grateful for the support of his friends and he’ll name his first son after Armin as thanks for getting them out of the horrid situation Erwin put them in. He feels a little shitty for leaving without Hanji, but as Armin pointed out, they can’t exactly use the defense of being excited, dumb kids with a member of leadership present as a witness. They’ll have to make it up to her somehow, although that’s if they survive the fallout of their actions with Erwin.
“I want to do this again when they get back,” he says to Jean and Armin, and he’ll tell Sasha the same thing, although he’s fairly certain she’ll tell him first. “It doesn’t feel right without everyone.”
Jean puts his hand on Connie’s shoulder. “I know. We’ll get them back and maybe we’ll convince Eren and the Captain to stand up here with you. Gods know it’s about damn time.”
The minister clears his throat and Jean has the decency to look apologetic.
Doors open on the other end of the church, and they turn to see Sasha walking in with Mikasa behind her. Two men in the room suddenly forget how to breathe.
None of them are wearing anything particularly special, the boys are in their uniforms and the girls in their civilian dresses; Sasha does have a small flower crown in her hair, which looks freshly combed and stylishly braided, and is carrying a bouquet of wildflowers Connie grabbed on their way out of base. Mikasa has several small, neat braids in her hair that form a crown of their own, her scarf is draped over her arms like a wrap, and she’s carrying the few flowers Jean managed to snag from the same patch of earth Connie found Sasha’s. Despite the lack of ornamentation and frivolity, they still feel like the moment is something outside of reality, a calm in the storm of the usual chaos.
Sasha is beaming as she reaches Connie and with the radiance of her smile, the tension melts away and they all collectively relax as the minister begins reading from a book of psalms regarding marriage and fidelity. None have any doubt that the last thing Connie and Sasha will do is stray; their relationship, their love is a constant they can count on like the North Star and as long as it holds true, the rest of the world will figure itself out.