Mikasa's New Cat
The rain was hammering down against Erwin's skin as he opened his car door. He hated it when it rained. Everything got soggy. Usually including his socks. He grumbled to himself as he crossed the car park behind the veterinary surgery to the front entrance.
"Great." he muttered, "first day back after my holiday and it's raining."
He fumbled with the keys as he made his way around the building to the front door. As practice manager it was his duty to open up the surgery for the day and lock up again at night. When Erwin was away, it was Levi's job as his deputy manager and head veterinarian. But today it was Erwin's job. And admittedly a much more enjoyable one when it was sunny and dry. When he found the right key and stood in front of the door, the rain had plastered his hair to his forehead. So much for styling it. What a waste of time that was. I should have brought my umbrella.
Squinting through the drizzle – and regretting leaving his umbrella at home – he tried to ignore the rain dripping down his forehead and nose, he slid the key into the lock and turned it, sighing in relief as he pushed the door open. Feeling the warmth and dryness that waited for him inside.
He was about to step over the threshold when something caught his eye. A small cardboard box was sitting just to the side of the doorway, brown and soggy. It looked like it had been there over the bank holiday weekend. Somebody had just left it there to soak up the rainwater. Erwin thought it was just a bit of rubbish at first, until he saw the tape sealing up the box.
"It can't be a delivery." he thought. "They use the back entrance. Unless some idiot..."
Erwin could feel his body go cold, and not from the rain. Sometimes – not often, but sometimes – people just dumped their unwanted animals on the surgery's doorstep, leaving Erwin and his vet team to deal with them. It was quite sad, the amount of animals they'd found abandoned at their surgery. Erwin just hoped that this time it really would be just a cardboard box. He leant down to get a closer look at the wet box, and despite the rain he caught the faint sound of a cat mewling pathetically. Erwin's heart sank. Another one. He bent down and picked up the sopping cardboard box before going inside.
Erwin was carefully cutting the tape from the box and opening it when Levi walked into the surgery, also grumbling about the rainy weather. He'd brought his umbrella with him so he didn't get too wet, but that didn't stop him cussing and complaining about it being wet. It was only when Levi noticed Erwin wasn't paying attention to him or even responding that he looked up.
"What's in the box?" he asked, hanging his coat up on the hooks behind the door in the staff room before walking back through to the reception/waiting room area. Levi strode over to him and peered at the box, watching as Erwin opened it up. Inside was a young tomcat, with black and white fur; predominantly white with black patches on his ears, one of his eyes, his back, paws and tail. It looked a terrible state, with matted fur and a scarily thin body that spoke of neglect. Erwin wouldn't be surprised if the poor thing was beaten, too.
"Shit." Levi cursed. "What kind of sick person does this?"
"I don't know." Erwin replied. "But I'd love to meet them so I can beat the shit out of them."
Levi nodded. "Me too." he added, turning his attention to the cat in the box. "The poor thing's starved and dehydrated." Levi commented. The cat looking up at him from the box with tired eyes. The creature was severely lethargic, with barely enough energy to keep his head up.
"I'll set him up on some fluids and give him some soft food." Levi said. "Come on, buddy," he called gently to the cat, carefully reaching into the soaking wet cardboard bx and lifting the cat out. "We'll sort you out."
The tomcat just mewed quietly as Levi carried him towards the surgery and holding rooms in the back where they kept all the recuperating animals. Erwin just sighed and picked up the telephone on the reception desk to report the case to the RSPCA, who would come and collect the cat later that day.
By the time Mikasa entered the surgery to begin her shift, the rain had let up. Although that didn't make it any less miserable outside. Oh well. She thought. At least me and Levi got some more work done on my garden while it was nice out.
"Good morning, Mikasa!" Armin called to her from behind the reception desk. Armin was the receptionist who dealt with clients and bookings. Mikasa was one of the veterinary nurses. Mikasa smiled at him.
"Good morning, Armin." she greeted. "How was your weekend?"
"Ah, it was alright." Armin answered. "I basically crashed at Eren's and played video games. How about you? Did you spend any more time with Levi?"
Armin's eyebrows raised excitedly. "Word on the street is he kissed you."
Mikasa felt her face redden and go hot. She glanced down at her feet, her hair covering some of her face. It was growing out again now the summer was getting on, it had been annoying her before, but right now she was grateful it hid some of her red face. She also raised her hand to cover her face.
"Ugh. This is the last time I tell Sasha anything." she grumbled. "I assume it was Eren who bribed her with food for gossip about me."
Armin laughed, quiet and nervous. "Yep. That's pretty much what happened. She stayed strong until she saw the jam filled donuts. Then she crumbled like a cookie."
Mikasa dropped her hand from her face. "And I don't suppose you did anything to stop Eren, did you?"
Armin laughed again. His laughter taught with the nervousness of a guilty conscience. "Erm... well... I did try, but you know how Eren gets. I won't be surprised if he gives Levi a real grilling next. Tell him to 'look after Mikasa or else'."
Mikasa sighed. "Yes. I suppose that will happen soon enough."
"Oh." Armin interjected. "So things are getting pretty serious between you two, huh?"
"You could say that." Mikasa answered, glancing upwards and fiddling with a lock of her dark hair. Twirling it between her fingers. Catching herself, she quickly turned her eyes back to Armin, just in time to see the huge giddy grin spread across his face.
"Ah~I knew it!" he said, "I knew you two would be good together! I knew it the minute you met!"
Mikasa groaned and rolled her eyes. Sometimes she swore Armin had his shipping goggles on too tight. It was more likely that Armin was the one who tipped off Eren that Sasha knew about her and Levi.
"Armin." she said, trying to get his attention. Although he wasn't listening to her, already too absorbed in his gushing.
"I know you didn't really get on at first," Armin trilled, "But that's just because you're so alike! I know you still butt heads every now and then, but what couple doesn't argue? And it's obvious you both care about each other."
"Armin..." Mikasa said again. But Armin didn't hear her.
"Personally I think you're cute together. I bet Levi has to stand on a little stool to kiss you though – or you have to crouch down to kiss him. It's a little funny but still cute. Does Levi ever get frustrated about the height difference? I'm sure he must."
Mikasa sighed. "You're not going to listen to me, are you?"
"Oh! Will I have to bring a stool to the church when you get married?" Armin asked. "Speaking of which, Mikasa, have you set a date yet?"
Mikasa groaned inwardly, willing herself to not be angry at Armin, when Levi's stern, harsh voice broke the conversation.
"No, we haven't." Levi stated,"Bit I've set a date to break your teeth for gossiping about me and Mikasa behind my back."
Armin fell silent and gulped. The colour very quickly draining from his face. At the sound of Levi's voice. Mikasa would have laughed at the little squeak if he weren't so terrified.
"Levi!" Mikasa scolded, "You can't say things like that!"
Levi just glared at them. "I told you to send Mikasa to me as soon as she arrived." He barked. "I need her help with this tomcat."
Armin swallowed. "Ahh! I'm sorry Levi." Armin exclaimed, clasping his hands together nervously. "Please don't break my teeth! I swear I won't ever gossip at work again!"
Levi sighed. "Alright. I won't break your teeth. It was an empty threat anyway. Come on Ackerman, you're with me today."
Levi turned and walked back out. Leaving Mikasa muttering under her breath.
"Yeah it better be an empty threat."
Armin just sighed in relief. "Phew. He's scary when he's angry."
Mikasa smiled at him. "He is. But he just doesn't know how to be tactful. Anger is his default mode. Don't worry Armin, I won't let him hurt you."
Armin smiled weakly. "Thanks Mikasa. You better get going and help him with the surgeries before he starts yelling again."
Mikasa nodded and placed her hand on Armin's shoulder. "Alright." she said. "I'll see you at teabreak. Try not to let Levi's bad attitude get to you, okay?"
Armin smiled back at her, grateful that Mikasa was on his side. That he could count on her to watch his back.
"Okay."
She smiled and nodded to him, and then walked through the door Levi had gone through that led to the surgical suite and animal holding room. She clenched her fists as she walked, keeping her jaw clenched. It was all she could do to not go storming down the corridor and tear into Levi for threatening Armin. She liked him, yes, but that didn't mean she was going to let him get away with being an asshole. No way.
Who does that guy think he is? She thought, you can't talk to people like that! What did Armin do to deserve that shitty treatment?
She clenched her fists tighter as her shoes clicked down the corridor, noticing just then that she was grinding her teeth. Catching herself in that bad habit, she relaxed her jaw again and took a deep breath.
I really need to stop doing that. She chided herself. It's not good for my teeth.
When she pushed open the door to the surgery suite, she found Levi standing next to one of the clean metal surgery tables, examining a very sick looking black and white cat. Levi was trying to listen to its heartbeat with his stethoscope while the creature mewed pathetically, clearly in a lot of pain. She wanted to ask him what happened to it, but first she had to call him out on his shitty treatment of Armin.
"Ah, there you are." Levi greeted her. Although it really wasn't much of a greeting. Mikasa just frowned at him.
"Good morning to you, too, Levi." she answered, her tone very sarcastic. She wasn't sarcastic often, but she was when she was angry at someone. Levi finally turned to look at her.
"You're in a bad mood today." he stated.
"Well, you did threaten to break one of my best friend's teeth earlier." she countered, hanging up her coat in the little cloakroom to the side, revealing her green short sleeved uniform with white trim she wore with her black trousers. "You can't talk to people like that!"
Levi glanced up at her. She was frowning and glaring at him, with her arms folded across her chest.
"Like what?" he asked her. Realising only too late that it was a big mistake. He could feel her rage bear down on him like that of a mother bear defending her cub.
"Gee, I don't know, Levi." she snapped, her eyebrows furrowed and teeth clenched together in fury. "Maybe try 'threatening to smash someone's face in and break their teeth!'" she roared, "That someone being my dear friend!"
Levi fell silent. He knew that tact wasn't one of his strong points, but from the way Mikasa was yelling he knew he'd really put his foot in it this time.
Mikasa cleared her throat, calming herself. "I mean, how would you like it if somebody threatened to break your teeth?" she asked. "Put yourself in Armin's shoes."
Levi furrowed his brows in thought. Armin had been working as their receptionist for just over a week now, and Levi had been nothing but rude to him. And to cap it all, today he'd threatened to smash the boy's face in. it didn't matter the reason he was annoyed at Armin, that was no way to treat him. OR anyone for that matter. Levi felt the cold stab of guilt through his stomach. In his first job as a retail assistant in a local pet shop, his boss had been awful to him. The absolute worst. And now he'd just done the same thing to Armin. Which made him no better than his horrible boss at the pet shop. That fact alone made his stomach churn, as that was not who Levi wanted to be.
"I'm sorry." he said quietly.
"What was that?" Mikasa questioned.
"I said I'm sorry." he growled. "I didn't mean to upset anyone. I was just annoyed and ended up taking it out on Armin."
"Good." Mikasa nodded. "But you still need to apologise to Armin."
"I will."
"You better." Mikasa snapped. "Ot you'll be the one with smashed teeth."
Levi looked across at her. "Jeez. Calm down mama bear." he said. "I said I'll apologise to him, so I'll apologise."
Mikasa relented a little. "Alright. I'm just making sure. Anyway, what's wrong with this cat? Is is a client's?"
Levi shook his head. "No. this one Erwin found this morning inside a taped up cardboard box on the doorstep. Some asshole just dumped it here. Presumably after kicking the shit out of it. Or running it over with a car. Judging by it's tender ribs. We'll need to do an x-ray to see if anything's broken."
Mikasa blinked in shock. She knew that sometimes this sort of thing happened at veterinary practices, that people who didn't want their pets anymore just dropped them off at the vets for the staff to look after. But this was the first time Mikasa had seen it with her own eyes.
"That's awful." she gaped. "What kind of person does this?" she asked. "Who just abandons their animal? Especially after it's just been hurt in an accident?"
Levi frowned and looked down at the cat. "I don't know." he answered. "But I'd love to go and beat the living shit out of them."
Mikasa reached down and stroked the cat's back with her hand. The poor thing was exhausted and looked ready for sleep. She could see it's eyes grow heavier and heavier.
"Me too." she said. The cat lifted it's head and Mikasa moved her hand to scratch his chin. The cat then let his head rest on top of her hand, ready to go to sleep. She smiled at him as Levi watched watched them.
"I think you've made a new friend." he said, a light smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I guess so." Mikasa smiled. "Come on, baby," she cooed to the cat, "You can't sleep here."
Levi smiled and shook his head. "You always did have a natural way with animals." he commented. "Come on. Let's get some fluids into him so he can get some sleep. We'll give him some painkiller too. I don't like those tender ribs. We'll keep an eye on him."
Mikasa nodded. She reached out and moved to lift the cat into her arms, however the moment she applied any pressure to his ribs he howled in pain. So she carefully scooped him up into her arms insteadto take him over to the examination table.
"Aw, I'm sorry, baby." she soothed the little feline, "are you sore there?"
The cat buried his head into her arm.
"Don't worry, sweetie," she said softly, "We will make you better."
"Mikasa!" Levi called "I've got the fluids, can you restrain him while I set up his drip?"
"Yes." she answered, "Don't worry sweetie," she whispered to the cat, "It will only hurt for a second and then after, you'll start to feel better, I promise."
After the two of them had set the cat up on an intravenous fluid drip, taken a blood sample, dosed him up with some painkillers and put flea medication on him, Levi carried out a quick health check on him. Mikasa took this one step further and checked him over again more thoroughly when Levi was done. Although she had the strong feeling Levi was only humouring her. Even though she argued that it was good training and was a necessary thing to do.
"Are you checking my work, nurse?" Levi asked her.
"Be quiet." she answered back. "I just like to be thorough, that's all. So we don't miss anything important."
Levi sighed quietly. "alright." he said, cleaning his stethoscope with an antibacterial wipe before he draped it around his neck. "I'll go set up a clean holding cage for him. With clean bedding and stuff so he can rest."
"Alright, Levi." she answered. Then turning her attention back to the cat again.
"Boy he's grumpy, isn't he?" she asked the cat, getting no answer but a yawn. Mikasa smiled and chuckled softly.
"Aww, you must be exhausted." she said gently, letting her fingers and then her palm rest on the feline's head. Her hand was only there for a second when she felt the cat's trembling. Flinching at her touch. She immediately pulled her hand back.
He's afraid I 'll hit him. She realised. Feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of anyone beating this poor cat. Whoever would do such a thing, they were indeed the scum of the earth.
"You poor thing." she whispered to him, "What did they do to you?"
She waited quietly, knowing that she must be patient and gentle, not make any sudden moves that might scare him.
"Hey," she called gently, keeping her voice quiet, "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
She held out her hand to him, palm facing upwards in front of him. He squinted his eyes and examined her hand. Glancing back up at her quickly, afraid she was somehow tricking him and the only thing coming to him was a smack. After a moment of studying her hand, he slowly lowered his nose to her palm and took a cautious sniff. Tickling Mikasa's hand with his whiskers.
"See?" she said gently, "No-one's going to hurt you."
The cat meowed at her quietly and she smiled at him, moving her hand very slowly to touch the cat's face. He froze at her touch, but soon relaxed. Finally satisfied that Mikasa was no threat to him, he rubbed his face against her palm and purred.
Mikasa laughed softly, so engrossed in watching her newest patient that she didn't notice Levi watching her until she heard his voice.
"I think he likes you."
Mikasa smiled warmly. The cat was now purring loudly and rubbing his face all over her hand.
"He doesn't like being petted on the top of his head though." she told Levi. "I think someone abused him."
She moved her hand lower to scratch the cat's chin, watching as he closed his eyes, enjoying her scratching.
"Oh,you like that, huh?" she asked him. Listening to him purr like a little motorboat.
Levi smiled. Mikasa really was a natural with animals. Probably because she wasn't much of a people person. Then again, Levi wasn't much of a people person either.
"Alright you two." Levi interrupted. "Enough fun for today. Weneed to let him sleep, Mikasa."
Mikasa sighed. "Alright." she huffed. "Come on little guy, you need your rest. We have a nice cozy bed all ready for you."
She scooped the cat up into her arms again while Levi held the fluid bag attached to him, and walked through to the next room where all the holding cages were. The cages were made of solid metal, with a metal grid door on hinges that locked shut in such a way that the animal inside couldn't escape. Any animals undergoing surgery or being kept in for observations were housed in these cages. The veterinary team made the cages comfy for the animals by layering them with towels and blankets, and some of the animal's toys if the owner had them. Levi had set up one such cage for this tomcat. He'd layered the floor with soft, fluffy towels and a blanket, and put bowls of food and water in there as well. He'd also dug out some old cat toys from storage for the cat, too. He'd put in a little ball with a bell inside and a soft mouse toy.
"Aww, look!" Mikasa cooed to the cat in her arms. "Levi made a nice comfy bed for you!"
Levi clicked his tongue. "Just put him in there, Ackerman."
"Okay."
She settled the cat into his new bed, and Levi hung his fluid bag in the cage door so the fluid could easily drip down the tube and rehydrate the cat's weak body. Afterwards, Levi went to grab a clipboard and a pen and began filling out a new patient monitoring form for the cat. When he returned, Mikasa looked over his shoulder at what he was writing. Which was easy, as Levi was a lot shorter than her.
"You can't just put 'abandoned cat' for his name on there!" she exclaimed loudly, making Levi nearly jump out of his skin. He wheeled around and glared at her.
"Jeez, Mikasa. Keep it down, we're on a ward with sick animals."
"Sorry." she answered. "But he's going to need a name. We can't just call him 'abandoned cat'."
"Well, I don't know what to call him." Levi answered. "I don't know what his name was before he came here. Why don't you pick a name for him?"
""Okay, I will." Mikasa beamed. Thinking hard for a suitable name as she studied the cat, who was currently curled up on his bed. "I know! " she exclaimed after a moment. "I'm going to call him Hambo."
Levi was stunned. "What?" he exclaimed. "Hambo? From that silly kids show? What kind of name is that for a cat?"
"A good name." Mikasa answered back. "Okay little guy," she said to the cat, "Your new name is Hambo."
Levi groaned and covered his face with his hand, shaking his head slowly as Mikasa grabbed the clipboard and crossed out 'abandoned cat' and wrote 'Hambo' in the patient's name field. Scribbling over Levi's writing just for good measure.
"There." she said. "Perfect. Alright, Hambo, get some sleep. We'll come back to check on you later."
Levi just looked at her, clearly not impressed with her choice of name for the cat.
"What?" she asked defensively. "What's wrong with Hambo?"
"Everything." Levi answered. "Couldn't you have picked a more suitable name for a cat? Like Felix or something?"
Mikasa wrinkled her nose. "Ugh. Felix is an old fart's name."
"It's better than Hambo." Levi argued. "After that scruffy teddy bear on that stupid kids show you watch."
Mikasa immediately took offense. "Adventure Time isn't stupid!"
"It is." Levi replied. "It's silly and it doesn't make any sense."
"Shut up!" Mikasa spouted, "You haven't even watched a single episode so you can't even comment!"
"Oh, I think I can." Levi replied calmly. "From the bits I've seen you watch I think the whole show is ridiculous and unrealistic."
"Levi,it's not supposed to be realistic. It's a fantasy cartoon."
Levi just looked at her, clearly unimpressed. "It's weird is what it is. And stupid."
Mikasa huffed. "Well did you think that maybe I like stupid and weird things? And anyway, who said it can't be good?"
"Me." Levi said. "But I can see you aren't going to listen to me and will just keep arguing that Adventure time is the best thing ever. So I'll keep quiet."
Mikasa pouted. "It is the best thing ever."
Levi sighed. "Whatever you say, love. Comeon, let's let Hambo sleep."
Mikasa smiled smugly. "So you're yielding defeat and accepting Hambo as his name?"
"I suppose." he answered. "Now come on, we've got new patients coming in soon, so we better get ready. I'll let you do the monitoring of your new friend Hambo."
"Thanks, Levi." She smiled as they walked back through the reception area and into one of the consulting rooms.
"You know, Mikasa." Levi said thoughtfully. "You can always adopt the little guy. If he doesn't have any owners. It would save Hambo from going to the rehoming centre."
Mikasa pondered over the idea for a moment. "You know, that's a good idea." she said. "I've always wanted a cat since I moved into my new place."
Levi turned to look at her and smiled gently. "I know." he said. "That's why I suggested it, dumdum. Just check with Erwin first."
Mikasa nodded, excitement starting to bubble up inside her at the thought of adopting Hambo, taking him home and looking after him. She couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"Don't worry," she said, "I will."