General Info: I've changed some small things (mostly the season). Mikasa is 18 years old.
Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin and its characters don't belong to me ... yet.
This evening it began to snow, light flakes covering everything with a white coat, a little bit like sugar. The old survey corps headquarters stand alone, defying both snow as well as the cold which had appeared during the last few days.
"What a bad timing", Commander Erwin commented looking out of the window. "Seems like we won't be able to do any major missions for the next two month, at least." Slightly annoyed by the weather situation he turned his back towards the beautiful landscape, facing his visitors.
"It can't be helped", one of the squad leaders answered. They all had gathered in the Commander's office only to find him as helpless as they themselves were. "It's winter after all. We have no choice but to delay our plans." Humanity's freedom would have to wait.
Looking at the same landscape only one floor higher Lance Corporal Levi turned around as he heard someone approaching his room, loudly announcing his presence. He sighted and waited for her to enter as it was easy for the Lance Corporal to guess who his noisy visitor might be.
"Where is Eren? I sure hope he's unharmed!" A menacing voice demanded to know as soon as its owner had forcefully opened the door. It was, of course, Mikasa Ackermann, who had just arrived with the new recruits to join the Survey Corps. Naturally the first thing that had come to her mind was disturbing the peace of the castle.
Levi gave her a dirty look. Great, that brat's overseer had arrived. Why was he the one who would have to put up with her now? "Where he belongs", the Lance Corporal replied shortly, not interested in having a discussion with the new recruit. The sooner she would leave the better it was.
Mikasa's eyes sparkled dangerously. How casually Captain Levi was standing there by the window apparently having all the time of the world to admire the landscape. She understood that it had been necessary to be a little bit rough to her brother at the trial but not only had that midget needlessly exaggerated just to satisfy his own frustration, he also planned to keep Eren in isolation. That was something she just couldn't tolerate. "Tell me! I have the right to know!"
"I'm not taking any orders from an obsessed brat like you", Levi answered already tired of their conversation and with little intention to reveal that Eren Jäger was safe and soundly asleep in the basement of the old headquarters. The Lance Corporal quite liked Mikasa's determined look but could only pity her obsession about Eren – the girl would never have her own life if all she could do was thinking about her so called 'family'.
However, his reply failed to remind Mikasa about his authority and she continued. "Then I'm not leaving your side until you tell me", the girl decided determined to defy any objection. She had known from the start that it wasn't her place to do – a new recruit threatening humanity's strongest soldier - but if it was for Eren's safety Mikasa was willing to do anything.
Now the Lance Corporal couldn't help but find himself amused about the situation. Mikasa's aura was more threatening than any titan ever could be, the flames of the fire in the chimney being nothing compared to her. Not that Levi was afraid, his expression was as indifferent as always, it was just that his boredom had vanished in an instant. "If you're so eager to be a dog, go ahead."
Or so the Lance Corporal had thought … After the new recruit had followed him to a meeting with Commander Erwin (where she at least showed that much respect as to wait outside until the two most powerful persons of the Survey Corps had finished their discussion) Levi just wanted to have his peace, maybe read the latest reports and then go to sleep. It had been fun for a while, just the right distraction from the monotony of these grey days the Lance Corporal had needed, but now it was just annoying as hell.
"Look, I'm bored of your little game", he explained to Mikasa suppressing a yawn and then carefully folding his jacket over his chair. Intentionally putting more attention to that small act than Levi would ever give to the girl, who was still determined not to give up.
Her determination as strong as a wall Mikasa silently stood next to the door, only moving her eyes to observe her superior. For a moment she thought of an answer but decided then that it was best to just ignore the Lance Corporal. The girl was sure that she'd get what she wanted eventually. Had her plan promised little hope at first, Mikasa was now convinced he would give up soon. Even humanity's strongest soldier would lose his nerves at some point and give her the desired information. 'For Eren', Mikasa thought thinking of that boy whose health and safety was most important to her.
"Tsk", the Lance Corporal complained while looking at the girl with his eyes emotionless as always. Levi still looked quite indifferent although his words revealed his annoyance. "Even a dog would be better than you for company … ."
As he expected Mikasa kept her silence. Though humanity's strongest soldier was rather unhappy about having to undress with the light turned off, something kept him from throwing the girl out. Maybe it was the interest to see how long that brat would last. Levi was sure she would give up during the night – how would it look if an innocent girl stayed the night at a man's place?
The so called 'dog' Mikasa wondered about that very fact. After she was standing in complete darkness and couldn't even make out Levi's silhouette the girl had time to think about her inadequate behaviour. Mikasa was aware that her superior was way stronger and more skilful than her (although she hated to admit it) and throwing her out would be a piece of cake for him. Actually the girl had been convinced to be thrown out as soon as she had voiced her decision – but no such thing had happened. Was Captain Levi afraid of her or was it just that he couldn't be bothered?
Mikasa woke up hearing sounds from the adjacent room which was directly connected with the bedroom. What a luxury the higher ranked soldiers had! Why was it that she herself had to share a room with a couple of other female members of the Survey Corps? Come to think of it … It took the girl a while to find out where she actually was. The floor she was laying on was clean but nevertheless not exactly comfortable. The light coming from the window next to the bed shone directly into her eyes, letting her blink. A thin blanket loosely laying over her shoulders had kept Mikasa safe from most of the cold of the night – she would thank Captain Levi for it - if it hadn't been his fault in the first place that she had slept on the floor.
However, for now the girl had to find out where the said Lance Corporal was. Slowly getting up, her body stiff from sleeping on the ground, Mikasa could hear the sound again coming from the next room. Was it the flow of water? Could there be a leak in the ceiling? As Mikasa recalled Levi's room might have very well been on the top level – this building was just too complex to be completely remembered. In this cold winter a broken roof could prove to be fatal. Their most dangerous enemy right now was snow and ice.
Approaching the door and opening it without any hesitation Mikasa couldn't be more surprised to find a bathroom, fully equipped and sparkling clean. 'This luxury!', she thought again. Who would have thought Captain Levi would have his own bathroom! The girl wouldn't believe it if it wouldn't be right in front of her eyes.
"What the hell are you doing?" A voice suddenly asked, not angry but neither very friendly. Just the indifferent, slightly annoyed voice of Lance Corporal Levi who had just finished washing himself. Almost naked, just with a towel and his pants and starring at her as like he had discovered a rare species.
Mikasa instantly blushed over her own carelessness and closed the door again. Then, slowly, she began to realize the consequences. The Lance Corporal was annoyed enough after her behaviour yesterday and with his power and influence it wouldn't be surprising if the girl would be forced to leave the Survey Corps – if not even the military as whole. Impatiently waiting in front of the guilty door Mikasa was imagining ways of how she could escape the sure to follow punishment. Regardless what Captain Levi would say, her top priority was to confirm Eren's location and then hopefully convince him to leave.