Today is February 10th. It's Mikasa's birthday.

Her shoes made a pit-pat sound as she jogged the stairs leading to the hospital entrance. She nodded to the guard at the door, her daily visits made her familiar with some of the hospital staff on duty every morning. The plastic was digging in to her fingers but she paid no mind, walking to the direction of Levi's room.

Levi was hospitalized almost six months ago. It mainly targeted his lower limbs, rendering his body too weak to move then; his therapy's going great but the hospital kept him from leaving due to risk of infection. He was irritable and angry, more at himself, because he couldn't do something, anything productive. Mikasa always thought Levi was like a wave; never ceasing to move. Having him in a room, with nothing to do but lie down, eat, be tested every two hours by nurses every day was a sure plan to bring out the snappy, crappy side of him. Everyday, Mikasa keeps him company from 7-3. She would willingly stay at the hospital all day and night, but she does have work; her boss, Annie, was kind enough to let her have night shifts.

"Hey." Levi was reading the book Eren gave him when he visited last week. He closed the book and put it on the table next to his bed. Mikasa hugged him lightly before sitting on the bed next to him.

" Happy Birthday, Mikasa."

" I'm getting older. Eren told me he'd give me anti-wrinkle creams this christmas. " Levi smirked.

" You shouldn't be here, you should be out celebrating with that idiot and your friends."

" Our friends. Our social circles almost overlap. " Mikasa corrected. " I'd rather be here with you. Doubt they'd remember even." She was peeling the oranges when her fingers pinched too deep and the juice sprayed the bed sheet.

" You're even dirtying my sheets." Levi replied, but Mikasa knew that wasn't purely out of annoyance.

" The doctor talked to me yesterday. You're getting better at a rapid phase—" Mikasa was cut off by Levi suddenly moving out of the bed.

" When will I be out? I'm so fucking sick of this place."

" The doctor said he wasn't sure. Soon enough. "

" You know what that means? I'm never getting out. I hate it, I hate this, I hate myself, I hate that driver that had to fucking drink behind the wheel that night! I'm so sick and tired of feeling useless!" Levi banged his fist on the window.

There he blows. Mikasa approached him gently but surely. " You're not useless. " Mikasa tried to coax him to turn to her by pressing her hand on his shoulder but he didn't budge.

" You're not useless. Well, no photographer would want you as their model now because you look like shit. When have you last washed your hair? " Mikasa teased lightly. " Think of it as a work in progress, alright? I know you're getting better; I've never seen a person make therapy seem physically easy. "

" You have to take my word, Levi. I believe in you. " Levi turned his face sideways. Mikasa continued. " You're only next to me in everything, but still, that says something. "

Levi cradled Mikasa's nape and brought their faces close, but not enough. " Your faith in me is enough to account for the both of us. Thank you. "

Mikasa blushed, but then it transitioned into something far deeper and far more burning. " I missed out on a lot of presents for your birthday; just you wait."

…

Levi! Don't be inappropriate!

A/N: This has no plot aaaaaaah. That "thank you" reminded me of SasuSaku though. SS and RM are such beautiful pairings! 3