"Maybe it will be an ocean," Mikasa said dreamily.
"Could be," Levi murmured. "It might also be a field full of dead flowers."
Mikasa gave him a nudge with her shoulder and Levi couldn't help but chuckle. "Okay, okay. A field of deep green grass then, with apple trees in full bloom. The branches would sway in the wind and some of the petals would fall off and maybe land on your hair. I'll tease you about it and you will pretend to get mad."
Mikasa closed her eyes. "That could work."
They sat with their backs against each other, their fingers lightly touching. They had just ended the war. There would be no more battles after this. In the years they spent fighting, they hardly entertained the thought of what the end of war would feel like, afraid of having such dangerous hope. But today was different. They had won.
Levi coughed. "I never thought I would live long enough to see it end."
Mikasa shifted so that her head rested on his shoulder. "Me too. It is beautiful, isn't it?"
They both looked at the scene that was unfolding around them. Some of the soldiers were cheering while the others laid down their weapons in disbelief. Everywhere they looked, there were people emerging from the rubble. They were covered in soot and blood, but beyond that, they wore expressions of relief. Despite the loss and devastation that surrounded them, the faces they saw were no longer lined with fear and despair. It was indeed beautiful.
Mikasa closed her eyes. Levi lightly touched her cheek. "I can see Armin. Eren too. They made it."
Her eyes fluttered open. "That's... that's wonderful," she said softly.
The simplicity of her words made the joy in her face even more apparent. Her eyes widened slightly, "And Hanji is with them" she observed.
Levi gave a small smile. "I never doubted that she would make it."
They settled even deeper against each other, taking comfort in each other's warmth. They watched as their friends ran towards them, voices calling out their names.
Levi broke the silence. "Maybe it will be a forest, with trees bigger than anything we've ever seen. Just endless trees everywhere you look."
"Maybe," she said. "I still think it is the ocean though."
He did not answer.
"Levi?"
"Mikasa! Mikasa!"
She thought she heard Eren's voice say her name urgently. Maybe she felt someone cradle her head, but she could not be sure.
"Mikasa! Mikasa, wake up!"
"Mikasa," another voice spoke. "Mikasa, wake up."
As her eyes slowly opened, she felt familiar fingers gently intertwine with hers.
"You were right. It is an ocean."