Disclaimer: Hajime Isayama is the rightful owner of Shingeki no Kyojin (進撃の巨人), I write out of pleasure and boredom and I am simply using his characters for my own story. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 2:

By the time they had returned, the sun was just peeking over the horizon, the vast sky bloodshot with streaks of blotted light. The large gates opened to allow the troops in, less had returned, and most were injured, minor and majorly. Apprehensive faces were met with emotionless ones as the troops continued inwards, the realisation of the death of their comrades sinking slowly in, the apprehension quickly left their once eager, young faces.

As the last few trailed in past the threshold of the towering fortified gates, they were locked with a loud, almost obnoxious bang that seemed like it shook even the air. Commander Erwin Smith took no time to situate himself; he immediately called a meeting with Pixis, along with the still injured Levi, Hanji, among other higher-ups. He needed to give a briefing of what had occurred, and the situation they were currently in. They had failed to pursue the Titans, and Eren had been taken from them - it was a disaster. The meeting lasted the remainder of the evening, and by the time it ended, the sky was dark and the wind was bitter and cold, a gloomy reminder of the situation that had presented itself.

After the report had come to an end, Levi waited until everyone else had departed the room; as usual, he wanted a private word with Erwin, regarding some minor things, including Eren. They spoke in muttering voices, sat around a table lit with a single candle light. Outside the room, silence ensued, only the occassional foot step could be heard in the distance, echoing down the large halls. Some time passed since they others had left the meeting room, and eventually Corporal Levi pried open the door to the meeting room and he strode out of it, slightly limping from his injured leg, and then turned made a sharp turn down the expanse. His eyes caught glimpse of two figures at the far end of the large hall.

Stoic faced as ever, Levi continued down the tiled floor of the hallway, upon being in range of facial recognition, the two figures were revealed as Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert. How in God's name could he have missed that damned crimson scarf she always, without fail, wore?

Coming ever so closer, he caught glimpse of the female's face, she had dirt all over her fair porcelain skin, and her hair was slightly askew, she looked exhausted. The Corporal noted a slight strain of defeat in her coal coloured eyes. Levi's gaze surveyed downward, the boy's arm was wrapped tightly around Mikasa's lightly curved waist as he leant against her for the much needed support; as she held him upright, she also seemed to be wincing slightly, but the pain was masked behind her stubbornness, but the Corporal's older eyes could quite clearly see the pain hidden behind them, not that he cared. Nonetheless, she was protecting her arm, and the duo turned as the young boy was helped toward a nearby stone bench.

He took a small but very real intake of breath, and his eyes left her waist almost immediately and rose up to meet her slender face again, this time seeing the girl's side features, coming to halt he rested his arms behind his back, watching them, they apparently hadn't noticed his presence as of yet. He stood and surveyed them.

But Mikasa had noticed him. Her dark eyes rose slowly, locking onto his figure in the dim light of the corridor, she was aware of his presence the moment he left the meeting room, how could anyone miss that stoic aura and overbearing stare? Her eyes rose higher and met his. She scowled, looking away, tch, the damn bastard had beaten the shit out of Eren in the court room, was up his own damn ass, a clean-freak, and didn't seem to give a shit! How could she show him the courtesy of eye contact? What the hell was he doing anyway?

Oblivious to her deathly aura and to the person it was aimed at; Armin tugged on her leather jacket softly. "Mikasa, are you sure your arm's okay?" he asked meekly, breaking her rampant train of thought, she darted her eyes at him, she lifted her lips into a small, wary smile. He sat down on the nearby bench with a wince, Mikasa soon followed suit and sat down directly beside him, she needed to rest her feet anyway, the day had been so exhausting. Glancing down at her scarf, she buried her face in it and closed her eyes, still aware of the lingering, older man shortly down the hallway. She turned her attention to Armin as he spoke timidly. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you…it's my fault you're hurt, I could hav-."

Mikasa turned her head toward Armin's worried face, "Armin," she interrupted, "I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me. It wasn't your fault, don't say such things. You're more hurt than I am, anyway. We should focus more on how we are going to rescue Eren, he-"

"B-But your injuries, Mika!" Armin yelped astonished, "I know you already rejected my request earlier, but...come with me." He said as he craned his neck around her, "Come to the infirmary...", a moment passed in silence as he glanced at her arm; "It hurts still, doesn't it?" he reached his hand out carefully and ran his fingers against her jacketed right arm.

"Hnck!" Mikasa grit her teeth harshly. "Armin! Please don't touch that...I'll be fine, please don't worry, it's nothing, it'll heal soon - by itself." she said quickly, hiding the sheer pain that had shot through her body at his touch. She exhaled after gaining her composure and her eyes closed softly, long dark eyelashes brushed against her skin, and leant back slightly against the back of the cold bench, the pressure of granite against her shoulder sent a pain down her arm, goddamn it, it hurt. Maybe she should go to the infirmary with Armin before heading to bed..? She let out a soft sigh and opened her eyes, looking out at the sky through the open window, it was very dark now, and she was exhausted, the infirmary could wait until the morning.

The soft sound of feet against the echoing floor and a monotonous voice broke the silence.

"Ackerman," her eyes snapped open instantly, "perhaps you should pay heed to Arlert's suggestion. If you're injured, you should be in the infirmary, not waltzing the halls with your dirty boots." he motioned to her muddy boots plainly, "You're of no use to anyone injured." He added. Although he was monotone, he sure managed to sound damn cocky! It made her eyes dart at the culprit, and why had he not left by now? What the hell was his problem?

Levi took two steps forwards and turned his head to face the window. It was dark, and he did require some rest. He glanced back towards the girl, Mikasa; she was staring at him intently, with flaming black eyes.

"I'll be fine, sir." Mikasa replied back, adding emphasis and unamusement, and looked away.

Levi's eyes narrowed, impudent girl, and to think he even tried to being polite to the teen.

"That arm will only get worse if you refuse to treat it." the Corporal stated sternly. "Then what use do you suppose you will be in finding our dear Mr. Jäger, Ackerman?" Her lips formed a line, that had struck a chord.

She span and scowled at him, how dare he.

"Sir, permission to speak?" It was less a request, but Levi nodded, his eyes were dull, awaiting her response. "I acknowledge your oh so dear insistence, however, I am in no need of medical attention. It is nothing. I will be fine, thank you." she shot back.

Levi's eyes narrowed, the nerve of this…woman. He'd had enough.

"Stand up, at attention." he demanded.

'What?' her eyes narrowed, he really was pushing it, why was he so damn insistent?

"Now, Ackerman." he added, voice deepening slightly.

She complied, rising from her seat, Armin's eyes widened in fear of what was going to happen. Mikasa stood straight, and directed her eyes at Levi, much to her own dislike.

"At attention, Ackerman." he repeated.

Her eyes narrowed again, he really enjoyed toying with her this much to prove a point? She grit her teeth, and bent her left arm behind her, hooking it behind her back.

"That isn't all, is it?"

Armin's sharp intake of breath was heard from the bench, "Mik-" sharp eyes shot at Armin, full of threat of punishment if he continued to speak, and they silenced him instantly.

Mikasa's lips thinned and she winced and bit back a moan of pain as she raised her right, quivering arm up, over her heart, in humanity's famous stance.

Levi scowled, she really couldn't just admit she was injured and head onto the infirmary, she had to be stubborn? He inwardly sighed, unintentionally his scowl softened, she really was too stubborn for her own good...

"At ease, Ackerman, remove your jacket and that damned scarf." He motioned his head towards the adorning red material encircling her slender neck; he took three more steps towards her, standing directly in front of her body, not even two feet away from her. He almost raised an eyebrow, but kept his plain, trademark face, waiting for her to comply. She looked away from his intense gaze and bit her lip hard from the inside. What the hell was he playing at?

"Why?" she questioned, almost curiously.

"You question a Corporal's order? And without correctly addressing me, too." He leant forwards a fraction. "Ackerman, you're pushing your luck this time." He murmured in a very low, very nerving voice.

"I only question what I do not understand, sir." She said the last part nigh on sarcastically.

Levi let out an audible sigh, this was tiresome. "I wish to inspect your arm, if it isn't hurt, why refuse me?" he dared.

Mikasa could say nothing. Defeated, she began removing the jacket slowly, biting in the pained screams she wanted to let free, she dropped it down onto the bench beside Armin. She kept the scarf on. Levi raised his eyebrow a small amount this time, he was almost amused at her disobedience, but reached his hand out and gripped ahold of it regardless.

Pulling it downwards himself, unravelling the soft material, he tossed it to the cold ground. Mikasa flinched, eye's ablaze, her left fist clenching, she wanted to knock his head off, that scarf was-

She was pulled from her anger as Levi reached out and lightly gripped her lean right arm. Her eyes shot open, pain clearly evident, and jolted away from his hand. Levi sighed loudly.

"Nothing is wrong, and yet you shy away from even the lightest of touches?" he scowled, "You don't have to be stubborn this time, Ackerman, with your injury you'll be a hindrance to others. Think of it that way."

"I..." Mikasa started, but was interrupted.

"I'll be going now. Arlert," Armin immediately rose at attention.

"Yes, sir?" he asked, loudly.

"Take Ackerman to the infirmary with you and have the people tend her." he turned to Mikasa, and took another step forwards, closer to her "Don't be hard headed this time, Ackerman. It will do none of us any good." Levi murmured, then turned and began down the corridor. "And if I find out you disobeyed my command," he turned back to her, "well, let's not dwell on that." He turned and continued back down the corridor with a mild limp in his step.

Mikasa let out a sigh, suddenly she was reminded that she was also the reason HE was harmed before... Either way, he was a damn bastard.

"Let's go, Mikasa," chirped Armin, "it's late, if we hurry we can get there and maybe get a few hours of sleep before tomorrow." He smiled warmingly at her, and they aided one another to medical centre, much to Mikasa's annoyance.

Chapter 3 uploaded.