Levi & Mikasa

Mikasa brushed her hair from her eyes, only to have it frizz and clump together on her sweaty brow. Her concentration was focused entirely on her body and its position as she manipulated it into a complex pose.

"Just relax guys. Breathe in slowly. Don't strain, but don't be going easy on yourself you here?" said the instructor as he helped a student who desperately needed to have her posture corrected. "Keep your backs and legs straight. Core tight. Try to distribute your weight evenly."

Mikasa stretched to her full extent, slowly feeling her muscles stretch, relax, and her spine pop as her body came in alignment, almost completely supported by her limbs.

"Great job," said the husky voice of her instructor as he walked by her. Mikasa only gave him a nod.

"Okay ladies, relax your positions, stretch out, and I'll see you next week.

Sighs came from around the room as the ladies, and some of the men watched Eren's figure as he walked out of the room to teach his next class. Mikasa quickly stretched before rolling up her mat and walking out of the studio into the locker room.

"Hey, Mikasa right? Our instructor is so hot! Don't you think" a brown haired young woman appeared, giggling beside her. Mikasa only grunted.

"God! I hope he's not gay," said a blonde petite woman as she heard the giggler's words.

Ugh. I'm skipping the shower. I'll just go home.

Her steady steps sounded in her head as she walked to her studio apartment. Her ear buds in, she walked with purpose, head straight, towing her gym bag. As she hurriedly crossed the street, she had a strange feeling that she was being watched. She shivered and then shook her head.

Mikasa felt the cold shower hit her skin, sloughing of the sweat of her work out. The water ran down her body slowly as she stood under the stream. She shivered, but didn't bother to turn the tap to a hotter setting. She only shook her long hair from her eyes, before turning off the water and stepping out onto the mat, gathering a towel around her body. She looked out the long floor to ceiling windows of the western wall of her apartment. The apartment, which was positioned in a U-shaped red brick building was on the top floor. All of the top floor apartments featured rooftop access as well as a view of the park across the road. Mikasa's apartment, which was situated in a corner of two joined walls in that U, gave her the maximum view anyone in the building could have. It was the reason she had fallen in love with it.

The western view was perfect for her to see the sunset from her bedroom. She could see anyone entering the building, as the only doors were positioned in the inner most part of the U-shaped building. An iron gate which prevented tresspassers from loitering was high and secure, giving her extra security. She didn't love the feeling of being enclosed by walls and gates, but it made her feel secure.

As she gazed out of the window, she pulled down a see-through but tinted shade so she could change. Slipping on a white dress shirt, tight black slacks, and a pair of knee-high black boots; she grabbed her messenger bag, leaving a note to her room mate.

Gone out. Will meet you at Armin's in time to have your first (legal) drink.

-Mikasa

She locked the door and headed out. Feeling that she was being watched yet again, she turned just inside the gate to look across to the back row of apartments. She saw, in the apartment directly across from hers, a dark figure, standing there, seemingly watching her as she walked away.

Confused, she shook away her paranoid thoughts, and left.

She walked into the bar an hour later, the sound of pool cues striking balls reverberating from the room. The sounds of soft jazz playing in the cozy and dim lighted room, smells of food coming from the kitchen, and laughter of the customers filling her senses. Mikasa walked behind the bar, stowed away her bag under the counter, and tapped the bartender on the shoulder.

"Mikasa! You're here," her friend Armin exclaimed. "Is Eren with you?"

"He said he'd be here in a bit," Mikasa said as she looked at the busy bar, "Need some help?"

Relief was evident on Armin's face. "Would you? I just need to help Connie and Sasha in the kitchen. By the time Eren gets here the kitchen will be closed and I'll be able to come back up front."

"Sasha in the kitchen? Are you trying to lose business?" Mikasa gave a smile, or at least her version of one to her old friend.

"Haha, she is supposed to be waitressing but we have all the orders taken in and Connie is just a little overwhelmed," Armin laughed. "Thanks Mikasa."

"No problem," Mikasa turned to face the bar, quickly pulling up her hair to remove it from her face.

"What'll you have?" She asked.

As she put a pitcher of beer into Sasha's hands and nodded to the customers at the booth who had ordered it, Mikasa turned to a man who sat by himself on a stool by the bar, nursing a whiskey that she had given him ten minutes ago. He was quiet, but aware of his surroundings, sitting in a corner so he could survey the whole room. He would watch her when she wasn't directly facing him. It didn't bother her though. She knew when she should be uncomfortable around someone and when she shouldn't. But she often positioned herself so she could observe him as well.

His head was shaven halfway up his scalp, leaving a uniform length all around his head, reaching about halfway past the top of his ear. He had a wise face, with sad eyes, a firm mouth, and a knowing gaze. He was short for his age, a reason she had carded him, so she knew his name.

Levi.

The door opened, and a cheer spread the bar. "He's here," and "Here comes the birthday boy," filled the room. Mikasa turned to see her roommate, yoga instructor, brother, birthday boy, and best friend walk towards her, smiling wide.

"Mikasa, give me the best you've got!" Eren exclaimed joyfully.

"I'm going to start you off slow," She answered, grinning weakly but genuinely. She poured him a beer from the tap. "Here you go tiger," she said, anticipating his first taste.

Eren grabbed the mug and took a big gulp. As he registered the taste his eyes bulged, his mouth grimaced, and he looked as if he had been electrocuted.

"This is a beer? How do people drink this stuff? Heck, how do they enjoy it?" Eren questioned. He sniffed his drink.

"Told you to start slow. You never believe me." Mikasa chuckled. "I can get you something else," she offered.

"Hmmmm…. I think I'll attempt to 'acquire the taste'," Eren said, "Come to the booth when Armin gets back," He called, turning away from the bar before seeing the figure in the corner and lighting up. "Levi! I didn't think you'd show up!"

Mikasa looked at her brother. How did he know the man? Eren saw her confused reaction and pulled her from around the bar.

"Levi, this is my sister, Mikasa. Mikasa, this is Levi, the new instructor at work that I told you about, the one who moved into our building," Eren tugged his sister toward where Levi sat. Mikasa extended her hand to the man, who hadn't yet spoken, but looked at her with hidden interest. He looked at her for a second before grasping her hand. His hand, which was warm and calloused sent a slight shock into her, and she jumped.

"Mikasa," Levi spoke, his strong voice filled her ears as he shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, finally. Your brother talks about you a lot at work."

"Levi, nice to meet you. And welcome to the neighborhood I guess. I'm sorry that you'll have to put up with my brother at work as well as at home. He is a little much sometimes." Mikasa said with as straight a face as she could manage.

The corners of Levi's face turned upwards slightly. Eren however gave a joking and offended, "Hey!"

Mikasa, in a moment of uncommon familiarity, grabbed Levi's arm and drink and towed him to the large room off to the side that had been set aside for Eren's birthday celebration. As she had towed him away from the bar area, she saw a shift in Levi's face, as if what she had done seemed completely out of character and he knew it.