This might be a multi-chapter.
RivaMika.
Will be rated M later.
"Tomorrow morning, I'll be your opponent."
There were loud gasps and low mutterings everywhere since they were surrounded by other soldiers who were just taking their dinner not too long ago. It really seems an interesting gossip and topic for tonight, since humanity's strongest soldier and the unprecedented prodigy will have a sparring tomorrow. It's as if the biggest show on the history of mankind since both of them are strong enough to take down titans themselves.
It started when the Corporal was lecturing Eren on how sloppy, lousy and bad he was at hand to hand combat. He went to their dining area since he was really pissed about the fact that the titan in his custody is a wimp so he wasted no time to lecture him immediately. He didn't care if there were others who are present; in fact, it's better if they watch him lecture Eren so that the brat can have a motivation to improve if ever he didn't want anyone to call him a chicken. He told Eren that if he didn't do better, he'll have to train the titan shifter himself and it'll be ugly.
That's where Mikasa got pissed. She obviously didn't like the way Eren was treated in front of everybody so she stood up, walked towards Levi and faced him. She remembered the time when the little man kicked and punched her foster brother in court. She knows that it was to gain custody of Eren but the fact that Levi will purposely hurt him this time, made her blood boil once again.
"Woah- Mikasa!" Eren tried to calm her down, but of course, he failed.
"If you win, you'll be Eren's mentor until he gets better. If I win, I'll be his mentor and train him," she was shooting him a death glare, never breaking an eye contact to let him know that she was dead serious.
Levi was staring back at her; he was quiet for a few seconds as if he was really thinking about the idea of fighting this little girl. He knows that she is really talented, he saw her in the battlefield personally. She was proposing a deal and he find himself agreeing to it.
"Fine," he replied.
There are more gasps and mutterings everywhere. Armin and the others, including Eren, had their mouths wide open. The thought of Mikasa fighting their Corporal is totally out of the question for them.
"Good," she replied back, making her way back to her seat but she stopped on her tracks when the corporal removed his jacket and placed it on their table. She looked at him only to see that he was also unbuttoning his cuffs to roll them up to his arm.
"It's better if we settle it here now. So that by tomorrow, that brat can start his training," he said in his usually cool, monotone voice. He was looking at her as if waiting for her to remove her jacket as well.
There was a loud roar inside the dining area. They're probably more excited now and can't wait to see who's going to win. Armin tried to butt in and reason out with Levi, but Mikasa's movements stopped him. She removes her jacket in one swift move, placing it on the table as well, just like what the Corporal did. She rolled her cuffs up to her arm also, mirroring her superior. She definitely won't let this one slip.
"Alright then," she took a few steps back and gets to her fighting stance. The crowd moved backward as if to give them more space.
Levi took a few steps back himself to get on with his stance. Everyone never said anything as if they stopped breathing only to witness the two's duel. Eren had a worried look on his face and so did Armin, the others were just shocked as them. Lance Corporal Levi versus Mikasa Ackerman? This is a duel to behold.
"Is it alright if we fight here? There are a lot of things that might disturb us," Mikasa asked, looking at the tables and chairs to gesture what she was saying.
"It's alright. I prefer that those things are here so that I could hurt you more," he teases and she frowned.
He was the first to give an attack. He was fast but she managed to block his punch with her arms, countering it with a kick. He dropped to his knees and swung his other leg to her feet, hitting her and causing her to fall down. He didn't managed to pin her down, she was fast to her feet and took a few steps away from him.
She attacked him, throwing some fast punches that he either blocked or dodged. She never stopped; but of course, she was getting tired. He got hold of an arm and locked it. He was about to throw a punch when she hit his stomach and punched his face. He took two steps back, quickly regaining his balance and composure. There was another loud roar as the soldiers were impressed with Mikasa, to be able to throw a blow on the Corporal was a very large thing already.
Mikasa attacked once more, giving a tackle that he dodged. In one swift move, he elbowed her nape, took her by the waist and swung her to a table. She was smashed flat on the table and was seeing stars for a split second but it was too late. Levi was on top of her, pinning her down with his legs and arms. She tried to kick him away, to struggle out of his hold but damn, he was much stronger than he looks. He may be a shorty but he's stronger than her.
She fruitlessly tried to break free but his hold was only getting tighter. His face went closer to her, and some of the soldiers watching gasped. He stopped when their noses were just an inch apart, making her shut her mouth and frown at him.
"You should know when to give up, Eren's friend," he says nonchalantly. His breathing has slightly changed; he was panting but not that much. He was sweating, yet he still smelled fresh and clean. The scent was invading her nostril and she welcomed it unconsciously.
She said nothing. She knew she was unsuccessful. She looked away and muttered a 'tch' as Levi's hold of her arms and legs were loosening. He let go of her, climbs off the table and went to the other one where he placed his jacket. Mikasa got up from the table she was lying down from, sitting at the edge as she looked down at the floor, angry with herself.
"You know where and what time," he says to Eren, stopping his tracks for a moment as he swung his jacket over his shoulder. His cuffs are still rolled up.
"Yes, sir!" Eren gave a salute to his superior, his wit never wavering.
"Show's over. Get back to your business, brats," he announced and makes his way to the exit.
All of the soldiers also gave a salute to Levi, their eyes glistening with adrenaline because of the show. As he closed the door behind him, the crowed congratulated Mikasa and showered her with compliments, saying a lot of good things about her style, strength and stamina with keeping up with the Corporal for a long period of time they were sparring. Mikasa said nothing though; she retreated to where her friends are, wearing an unreadable face. The soldiers went back to their own business, leaving Mikasa alone with her friends.
"Wow, Mikasa! You're really strong. Well, we know you are but you managed to throw a punch at the Corporal's face," Sasha says cheerfully, her smile reflected her words.
Jean, Connie and Krista were talking to Sasha and paid their compliments to Mikasa. But it seems that she was thinking about something else. They all got quiet.
"Cheer up, Mikasa. It's alright! You're strong and you can beat him next time," Armin cajoled.
"Yeah. And don't worry; I'll keep up with the Corporal tomorrow. I'll try not to get too many bruises though," Eren added, giving Mikasa a reassuring smile.
She peeked up at her two best friends, and stared back at her food. She grabbed her jacket and placed it on her lap, after awhile hiding her face with her red scarf.
They all continued their dinner with a silent Mikasa seated with them.
Eren had started his horrific training in the hands of Corporal Levi. They were training outside the Survey Corps' base and Mikasa was waching them. She was frowning, but she didn't do anything. Instead, she went on her way to mind her own business.
Actually, she trained herself. Wearing a white sleeveless shirt, her usual pants and boots, she wore a pair of knuckle protectors as she set off to train; sit-ups, push-ups and throwing punches in the air mostly. She runs a few laps around the base every morning and carries weights.
The weeks went by and Eren seems to be improving in that shorty's care. Eren told them that the Corporal has decided to let him go since he has learned how to defend himself properly and has learned new ways of attacking the enemy and countering their attacks. He was paired with Reiner until he could beat him.
Mikasa studies Eren's face for awhile. He has a couple of bruises on him but it doesn't affect his cheery face as he talks about how Levi trained him. Despite the fact that the little man apparently always threw him on the dirt, it didn't change Eren's strong will to learn and take down his Corporal. He seems to be really passionate when talking about Levi.
The following day, she was early to rise since she needed to jog. She did some stretching and went on her way. She didn't notice that there's someone already watching her from above the base.
Levi watched her like an eagle looking at its prey. He was holding a cup of coffee from his hand as she turned to a corner and disappeared from his sight. She's been doing this for quite some time now, after the duel they had for Eren's mentor. And he has been watching her since then.
After a few minutes, Mikasa decided that she'll take a little break. She stopped jogging as she calmed her breathing, closing her eyes shut and then opening them again. As her eyes wandered around the place, she saw a bush behind another from where pretty roses bloomed. She walked towards it, staring at it in awe. When she got closer, she could see that there were more bushes where beautiful roses were growing. She smiled involuntary; it's been years since she has appreaciated flowers. She was actually really fond of them with her biological mother, until they were attacked by a bunch of thieves. There were sunflowers growing back at her real home, and whenever she thinks about it, she misses it sometimes.
The roses haven't blossomed completely; some of them are still just growing. She sat on her heels to take a closer look on them when she heard footsteps. She turned her head around, only to see Levi watching her. The smile on her face vanished.
"Put that smile back on your face. It's as if you're not happy to see me," he teased with his poker face, stopping a few steps away from her. His eyes darted to the bush of flowers she was admiring not too long ago.
She said nothing; her head returned to the bush of flowers in front of her, keeping her head low as her fingers played with the leaves. They stayed silent for awhile until she heard him taking another step forward.
"You're going to train with me."
Her eyes widened a fraction as she whirled her head around, looking at him. He could see the confusion in her eyes.
His expression hasn't changed. He just continued to look at her and spoke further, "Everybody knows you have the potential to hold the same title I have. We can't let one of humanity's best soldiers die early because of her overprotective instincts to save Eren."
She stood up, her eyebrows met at once to express her frustration as she said, "That is no longer necessary, Corporal. I can perfectly train myself to survive." She was mad.
"That's an order from your superior," he finishes. His sentence blocked every form of argument that she might make.
She frowned further, just glaring at him. She closed her eyes and inhaled. "Sir."
She started walking back to the base, trying to suppress the bubble of anger she was feeling now.
"Don't be late," she heard him say but didn't mind to stop and look at him.
Please let me know what you think. Thank you~ c: