This one is a fun one. :P

Hindsight
Summary:
There's a lot to be said for persistence… but Hanji, Sasha and Crista learn that maybe it's best to just leave well enough alone. But you know what they say, hindsight is 20/20.
Rated: T (16+) for crude language and suggestive themes and very light citrus.

"How's it going with you two anyway?"

"Fine."

"Just…fine?"

"Yeah. Fine."

"…You realize 'fine' is just code for you not getting any, right?"

"Sasha!"

"Oh, calm down Christa. I'm just joking… but you are getting some, right?"

"For crying out loud…"

Mikasa took a sip of her tea calmly, pointedly keeping her face in its usual flat stare and disinterested gleam. Both Sasha and Christa were looking at her from across the table, expectant and even wide eyed. News of the Lance Corporal proposing to Mikasa Ackerman had spread at a speed only light could rival. You think I'm joking, but the moment Levi had gotten down on one knee and placed a firm hand to his chest as he had gazed into her eyes and asked her the question - people were already speculating on the date of the marriage.

And it was all thanks to three very nosy women.

The moment had been a very private affair, Mikasa had believed. It wasn't until she realized they were being eavesdropped by not just Sasha, but Armin, Jean, Hanji, Christa and Eren it was already too late to control the brush fire. No one was faster at spreading news quite like Sasha and Hanji together. Even so… it wasn't like anyone gave chase or anything. Mikasa had been too overwhelmed with happiness that she had been busy sealing her response quite firmly on Levi's mouth.

Sure enough, their relationship had gone from socially non-existent to the very topic of everyone's conversations. Thank god for reputations at least, Mikasa didn't think she would survive having to deal with the gossip directly. The urge to murder people would've caused another problem to the Survey Corp all together.

By the time Humanity's strongest and most definitely affianced couple had arrived back to the legion's castle, Erwin was there alone with several other groups of officers ready with wine and alcohol and food in celebration - much to Levi's chagrin and Mikasa's embarrassment.

Thankfully the news had died down as the weeks crawled by, and all manner of topics and conversation drifted from how Mikasa fell in love with the Corporal to how they managed to date secretly… and shortly to their bedside manners. That much Mikasa had hoped wouldn't be quite so invasive as other questions had been… of course she had hoped in vain. Damn Sasha.

"We're fine." Mikasa repeated, ignoring Sasha's roll of the eyes and Christa's weak smile.

"Come on," Sasha insisted, her cheeks reddening as her gaze slid into a pervy leer. "Does he like taking you from behind, or does he prefer you on top?"

"S-Sasha!" Christa exclaimed, her face turning an endearing shade of pink. Mikasa inwardly groaned, unable to hold down the blush on her own cheeks.

"That would be so funny!" Sasha giggled to herself, taking a long swig of what she claimed was water, but Mikasa was very quickly beginning to doubt that. "He's so demanding and fierce, but ends up wanting to be dominated! Ooh, Mikasa, say, does he like you on top or bottom? Does he bite?"

"What is w-wrong with you?!" Christa trilled, looking around frantically in hopes no one was listening. The mess hall was rather full that evening and talk was loud, but still. It wasn't as if Sasha was making a point in staying quiet.

"What about Connie, Sasha?" Mikasa quickly returned. "Does he like taking you from on top?"

Sasha's face turned scarlet, "N-no…"

"That's because she's not with Connie anymore, Mikasa." Christa piped in, eyebrows curled in slight confusion at Mikasa's quip. "You're with Jean now, right Sa—"

"S-shut up!" Sasha exclaimed, slamming her mug down, looking away. Mikasa's eyebrows shot up.

"Really? You and Jean?" Mikasa asked, a stream of relief surrounded her stomach as she leaned forward. It had been difficult dealing with Jean after Mikasa had rejected his feelings. Even more so when it was discovered that not only she had been with Levi but were already getting together to wed.

Mikasa had honestly expected to see the sulking man brooding in corners but he had been surprisingly cool about the whole thing. Maybe Sasha was the reason…

"Christa!" Sasha whined, nudging the short blonde with a hard elbow. The girl let out a squeak of indignation but nodded eagerly anyway.

"But really though," Sasha began yet again before Mikasa could open her mouth to turn it completely around. "You haven't said a thing about the two of you, Mikasa."

"There's nothing to say," Mikasa sighed.

"Wait!" Sasha exclaimed, throwing herself nearly completely over the table as she leaned forward. Mikasa had quickly been able to move her teacup before the red-head knocked it over. "Does that mean… you guys haven't done it yet?!" She ended in a shrill whisper.

Mikasa's stomach dropped, her face burning bright red at this new accusation but could not bring the words out to deny it. Christa's own eyes turned to the size of saucers as she leaned forwards as well.

"Well, have you?" A new voice chimed in, and Mikasa felt her entire body burn at the piercing stare of Hanji Zoe. She slid in right next to Sasha and not for the first time did Mikasa wonder if the two were long lost siblings with how they carried on like that.

"I… uh…" Mikasa stammered, looking down and firmly into her cup. The three women let out cries of shock, Mikasa wincing as they silenced themselves when some people turned their attention on them.

"Oh my gods," Sasha wheezed, while Christa covered her face, Hanji gave a bark of laughter.

"Unbelievable!" the Major exclaimed, "All this time I thought Levi did the nasty with you but hasn't. Oh my god."

"It's not a big deal!" Mikasa hissed, downing the remaining tea from her cup. "So we don't have sex, who cares? Lots of couples don't have sex!"

"Mikasa," Sasha spoke slowly, her tone really grating on Mikasa's nerves. "Are you a virgin?"

The only warning that came was the growl that escaped Mikasa's mouth as she grabbed what remained of Sasha's bread and shoved it rather viciously down the girl's mouth.

In all honesty… don't you guys want to do it?

Why should that matter?

Mikasa, you are a couple now. You are getting married. You might as well do it.

We'll do it when we do it, why is this such a big deal?

Don't worry, Mikasa!

Hanji, plea—

I WILL HELP YOU.

Wha—?

OPERATION: SEDUCE LANCE CORPORAL LEVI is underway!

It wasn't that they convinced her or anything… Mikasa thought to herself as she kicked the punching bag the next day. She was just… curious.

And it wasn't as if she hadn't tried and she most certainly knew Levi was not impotent or anything like that. There were nights where they had been in each other's presence and it was nearly overwhelming - the urge to strip and feel each other's skin. But more often than not, they would be interrupted, or Levi would press a chaste kiss to her wrist and walk out the door before she could do anything.

In a way, it was sweet of him. He never pushed her to do anything she wasn't ready for, and while he may had years of experience - neither could deny Mikasa was still very, very new to the whole relationship thing.

It was honestly nerve wracking.

"Hyuh." Mikasa exhaled as she kicked the bag one more time, a sudden surge of anger boosting her kick into ripping a large wound on the target. Sand began to pour out of the bag and Mikasa sighed, watching the falling grains as they spread into a pile on the floor.

This was nerve wracking? She is Mikasa Ackerman for Sina's sake! The woman worth one hundred soldiers and slaughterer of Titans! She's faced off against 17-meter class titans with less nervousness than this!

How laughable. Mikasa Ackerman more nervous about engaging in intimacy with her fiance than in placing her life in danger in extinguishing a Titan.

Killing Titans is less complicated, Mikasa thought grimly. But the fact remained.

Eyebrows furrowing, Mikasa glanced out the window of the small indoor training area. I'm doing this. No more frightened rabbit, Mikasa Ackerman was facing this. And Levi is going to enjoy it, whether he liked it or not. And so…

"Hanji!"

"Ah, Mikasa! Great, can you help me with this? I need to move this—"

"I'm doing it."

"Wha-? Oh, thanks! Just move this—"

"No, Hanji. I'm doing it and I need your help."

"…Right, what are you—?"

"Levi. I'm going to seduce him."

"You're going to—?"

"And you're going to help me."

"I… I'm doing what now?"

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

"Mikasa!"

The girl nearly jumped thirty feet in the air if it wasn't for the table in front of her. "Don't worry!"

Mikasa's face burned as she scowled. "How in the hell does this help, Hanji?" She muttered under her breath, glaring at the open window in the study. Hanji's wide grin met her from outside the window and toward the bottom.

"Just be cool!" Hanji grinned wider (if even possible) and she made an a-okay sign with her hand. "I'll be right out here if you get stuck!"

"But… Hanji!" Mikasa protested, already regretting this decision. But the woman had already ducked under the window sill just as the door slid open.

"Oh?" Mikasa heard and nearly felt her heart burst out her mouth. Mikasa quickly composed herself - well… attempted to anyway. - as she met the surprised gaze of her fiance. Levi stood at the door, looking at her with a raised brow as he held a stack of papers in his hands.

"H-hi." Mikasa greeted, lamely. Levi closed the door behind them.

"Hey," Levi greeted in return, walking toward her before placing the papers on his desk. "I didn't expect you here."

"I…I uhm…" Mikasa began, inwardly kicking herself before clearing her throat. "I was just wondering… if you needed help."

Good. Step one: offer him a way to calm down. relax.

"With?" Levi asked as he began to straighten the things on his desk, out of habit more than necessity. Mikasa watched as he moved, his hands deftly arranging the things on the desk with fascinated eyes.

"Oh…" Mikasa opened her mouth, and feeling it go dry as he turned his gaze on her. What's the matter with her? Since when did his eyes and stare make her feel so incredibly hot all of a sudden?

"Hm?" Levi encouraged, patient. Face burning, Mikasa tried to remember the tips Hanji had given her beforehand. But each one seemed to be no more than a distant memory in a sea of bumbling thoughts.

"Uh…paperwork?" Mikasa offered and a sudden bang outside the window jolted the two to look outside.

"What the hell?" Levi muttered and began to step toward the window. Mikasa nearly panicked then.

"Uh, probably just a bird?!" She exclaimed, laughing nervously. Levi looked at her wide-eyed and she cursed herself. Composing herself much easier, Mikasa cleared her throat again.

"Sorry, right. So… paperwork?"

"Is…everything all right?" Levi asked, eyeing her curiously. Mikasa shrugged, but it came out more as a twitch. Her attempts at being nonchalant making her appear and more and more out of character.

"Y-yeah. Just… a bit stressed out. What with planning the wedding and all…" Mikasa trailed off.

"I thought you said Armin and Christa were taking care of it…" Levi replied, and Mikasa struggled to think quickly.

"No, I know. I just… want to see how they were doing and… so and so. Anyway, it's been a while since I last hung out with you." She finally let out and was glad to at least feel that that much came out sincerely. It was true. The last time Mikasa had spent time with Levi had been nearly a week ago. …How did that happen?

"So… I figured it'd be nice if we just…worked together and talked." Mikasa continued, finally looking away from Levi to the window and struggled not to balk at Hanji making angry motions with her hands.

"Well," Levi agreed. "It has been a while." He smiled tenderly at her, and Mikasa felt a familiar warmth spread through her chest. It was a smile he reserved only for her and she couldn't help but smile back. But the feeling was awkwardly replaced by weak sheepishness at Hanji's movements. Hanji rolled her eyes dramatically before mouthing quite obviously,

give. him. a. massage!

followed by very exaggerated hand gestures. Mikasa perked up, realizing what was the next step but nearly froze when Levi walked past the desk to grab a chair and sit on the opposite side of her.

"So, what would you like to talk about?" Levi began, splitting the paperwork in half and handing over her share.

"Oh…uh…" Mikasa trailed off again, trying to sneak a sideways glance to Hanji as the woman continued to make huge movements that were soon lost on Mikasa.

"How has it been training new recruits?" Levi began, as he plucked a pen and began to scribble on a few documents. Mikasa frowned helplessly at Hanji before turning her attention on Levi.

"A nightmare." She replied honestly, but smiled when Levi gave a short chuckle. The sound of flesh striking flesh made the two look out the window, but it was clear outside and Mikasa could only heave a sigh before Levi continued the conversation and the two fell into a comfortable place of conversation. The feelings of nervousness soon melted away and Mikasa found herself thoroughly enjoying the company with the man she had agreed to marry.

Hanji was persistent, Mikasa gave her that much. Even after their fifth attempt ended in similar fashion to the first, Hanji merely sighed and set her sights in a brand new determination. The original determination Mikasa had felt slowly gave way to a grim acceptance, and she had stopped trying to convince the woman to just leave it be.

And now, Sasha and Christa managed to get themselves involved. Great.

"Alright, what about spilling food on him?" Sasha asked, and Mikasa leaned her head against the wall as she stared at the ceiling. Ugh.

"I don't think he'd like that very much." Christa shook her head. Hanji nodded.

"Even making it look like an accident, it wouldn't work." Hanji responded. "That would put him off more than turn him on."

"Okay, well he's obsessed with cleaning right?" Sasha piped up. "So, how about we have Mikasa offer to help him shower or something?"

"Guys…" Mikasa sighed but both Hanji and Christa perked up, eyes gleaming brightly with rapt interest.

"What if she just surprises him by already cleaning his study?" Christa offered. Hanji shook her head, vehement.

"That's it!" Hanji exclaimed, jumping off Mikasa's bed with a flourish, surprising the three girls. "We've been too soft! Too careful! We've been picking at grains when we should've been digging with fervor and ferocity!"

Sasha and Christa let out sounds of awed agreement. Mikasa could feel her stomach begin to drop. Oh no.

"What we need is for Mikasa to really surprise Levi." Hanji continued, cheeks flaming and glasses shimmering eerily from the candlelight. "We need to be more bold! More candid! No more beating around the bush!"

"We will have her sneak into his room, in nothing but an apron and a wash rag!" Hanji announced and Mikasa paled.

"No!" Sasha cried out. Mikasa felt her stomach drop completely. "Have her be completely naked!"

"Naked and soaking in soapy water!" Christa added, and the three women let out squeals of perverted glee.

"Guys, quit joking around." Mikasa demanded but the women turned bright gazes on her with the look of hunting predators.

"No, No, Mikasa…" Hanji chuckled darkly. "It is far too late to be joking. Far too late to turn back now…"

and in a moment Mikasa found herself attacked by her friends, and before she knew it she was stripped from her clothes and thrown into a bathrobe before hijacked out of her room and taken down the darkened halls of the castle. All before she could fully register what just happened.

"I changed my mind!" Mikasa exclaimed, struggling viciously to remove Hanji's tight grip on her body.

"Coast is clear!" Christa whispered from down the hall, her blue eyes bright with an unusual mischievousness.

"Now's not the time to be frightened rabbit, Mikasa!" Hanji insisted, her grin as oily as her words. Mikasa swallowed dryly as she tried to form an escape. What was going on? Why couldn't she just break free? She could rip a titan's hands to shreds but when it came to trying to run, she was as weak as a kitten!

Footsteps fast and soft the four women ran down the hallway, Sasha and Hanji gripping on to Mikasa's arms as they dragged her off.

"Please, guys, let's not do this now!" Mikasa begged, her heart ramming in her chest viciously.

"None of this now!" Hanji sang before taking a peek over a corner while Christa ran ahead to pick the lock on the corporal's door.

"But what if he's inside, sleeping?" Mikasa wailed. "Or worse, trying to work and I just get thrown in there, don't you think he'll have questions?"

"Mikasa, we're not just going to toss you in there in naught but a bathrobe!" Hanji gasped, affronted. Sasha shook her head, disappointed as they finally made it to Levi's door.

"Then…why…" Mikasa trailed off, words dying on her tongue as she looked at the door.

"Don't you worry, Ackerman." Hanji patted her head, giggling evilly. "We've made sure he isn't in there. You see, as we speak he is doing his rounds. Making sure that everything is in order before arriving to his room within," Hanji snatched a pocket watch from a slip in her jacket, snapping the lid open and peeking at the time. "Ooh, about 40 seconds!"

"What!?" Mikasa squeaked, just as Christa gave a thumbs up and pushed the door open. Hanji and Sasha gave a quick boost before tossing Mikasa in, the bathrobe being yanked off her body as she was spun inside.

"Go ahead and get yourself comfortable, and remember, be cool. Just let it happen." Hanji grinned, Mikasa staring at her white as a sheet and sprawled on the ground.

"Good luck!" And with that they shut the door and left Mikasa quite naked and alone in Levi's room. With a clack, the door was locked again (damn you, Christa!) and Mikasa turned around looking at the room and trying to take deep breaths.

"Okay…" the woman shuddered, looking at the darkened room with something akin to massing panic. "I can do this. Just… be cool."

What should she do? Hanji never told her anything about this! Should she lay on the bed? Sit down on the bed? His chair? What position? Should she be under the covers or just out where he can see?

All too quickly Mikasa felt her entire body begin to burn with nervousness and she awkwardly tried to find a way to do as Hanji said, but not moments later did she hear the door begin to unlock and Mikasa Ackerman did the only thing she could do.

She hid.

Throwing herself through the nearest door, she yanked the closet door open and tossed herself inside just as the door to the room opened.

Levi entered, letting out a huge sigh of exhaustion, his left hand tugging at his cravat and his right pulling off his green cloak. when suddenly he froze Mikasa watched through a crack in the door and tried desperately to come up with a plan. He wasn't moving. He was just standing there and it was so dark she couldn't make out his expression.

Feeling around, Mikasa tried to find something to cover herself up with and wracked her mind to come up with a plan to escape from the closet, from Levi's room and back to her room without being caught. But being naked was already a huge distraction enough and Levi being just outside the closet was enough to send her heart pounding heavily.

Trying to still her breathing, Mikasa tried to quietly pull one of the cloaks from a hanger to wrap around herself but became very still when she saw Levi's moving figure head to the closet door.

Mikasa only had time to bite her lip before the closet door was yanked open and she was grabbed around the neck and thrown on the bed.

"Who are you?" Levi hissed, tightening the grip on her throat while the other pinned her arms down. Mikasa let out a sharp groan when she felt his knee press itself dangerously close to the center of her legs.

"L-Levi…" Mikasa wheezed. "It- it's m-me!"

"Mikasa?" Levi's voice kicked upwards, shocked before he reached over the side of the bed and flicked his oil lamp on. The soft candle light hitting her shadowed eyes and making her see the stars his grip on her neck was already causing. He let go immediately and she began to cough.

"Mikasa— what? What are you doin— why are you naked?" He pulled himself off, and Mikasa watched him, feeling her own surprise mount as she saw he not only looked surprised but his cheeks had turned a fine shade of beet red.

"It's hard to explain." Mikasa tried to say, coughing a bit as he stared at her, and tried to look away before yanking the cloak off his shoulders and tossing it quickly over her nude form. Mikasa tugged the cloak sharply around her body, clearing her throat now that the initial pain had passed.

"What the hell is going on?" Levi demanded, and Mikasa would've laughed if she wasn't so humiliated.

"I am so sorry!" She whimpered, hating herself even now for screwing everything up. Wow. that was new.

"What?" Levi breathed again, his hands on his hips.

"The girls were just being really weird and they found out you and I haven't slept yet and so Hanji went batshit crazy and began to try to get me to find a way to seduce you—"

"Seduce me?"

"Oh my gods…" Mikasa covered her face, completely mortified and feeling a terribly prickling feeling take place behind her eyes and nose. "I didn't mean for this to happen… I'm so sorry. I'll leave now."

Standing up and gripping the cloak tight around her body Mikasa shot up from the bed and tried to run past Levi, but his hand had shot out and grabbed her by the shoulder and used her own movements to spin her around and face him.

"Hold on," He began, looking into her eyes with disbelief and was that… amusement? "Don't run off, let's just talk about this."

"Levi, please just let me go to my room." Mikasa begged, feeling tears pool around her eyes despite her wish to yank them back down.

"So… wait, all this time… you've been trying to seduce me?" He asked again and Mikasa shut her eyes tight, tears falling down her face and hitting her exposed collarbone. The cloak wasn't very big enough to cover her from the neck to her legs where her hands were trying desperately to cover.

"That moment in the office? You trying to clean my dishes? The whole offering to do my laundry?" He asked, and Mikasa nodded, bowing her head to hide the growing river of humiliated tears.

Suddenly, Mikasa felt one of his hands gently tilt her chin up and a pair of soft lips press themselves tightly on her mouth. Her eyes fluttering open and close in surprise, she let out a startled moan but Levi used that as a chance to part her lips and push a very passionate kiss down her tongue. One of his hands was around her waist, pulling her flush against his body in a firm grip and Mikasa let him kiss her senseless all the while feeling extremely confused if not extremely relieved he wasn't upset.

"So," Mikasa spoke inbetween kisses, "You're not…angry?"

Chuckling against her mouth, Levi smirked. "Not in the slightest." He murmured before leading her to his bed and tripping her on it. She let out a short yelp when she landed on her back, the cloak parting around her sides and her hands instantly shot to the edges to hide herself again.

Levi's hands reached to grab hers gently and with a soft nudge and a kiss to her temple helped pull the cloak off her skin.

"Probably…" He spoke again and was met with a pair of wide onyx eyes. "you should let me know ahead of time you'll be attempting to seduce me again."

"I suck at this." She admitted. Levi nodded wisely.

"Most definitely." He agreed before ducking his head down and meeting her lips with a warm kiss. Soon, the cravat was flung off his neck and Mikasa busied herself with removing his shirt while he reached over and flicked the lamp off, drowning Humanity's strongest pair in darkness and delicious bliss.

"Levi…?" Mikasa panted after breaking away from a searing kiss, eyes narrowing in a dangerous gleam.

"Mm?"

"I have an idea."

There was a hush. Then…

"…I am marrying the perfect woman."

"We unleashed a monster…" Christa muttered, pressing a dainty hand to her forehead as Sasha and Hanji had their heads laid down on the table.

"They're worse than you and Jean, Sasha." Hanji groaned. Sasha hummed in agreement before lifting her head up to see Levi and Mikasa hiding quite poorly behind a corner, making out quite aggressively.

"You think they're doing this on purpose?" Sasha griped, looking away once Levi's hand began to tug on Mikasa's belt.

"I'm more worried it's going to get worse after the wedding." Christa sighed.

"Okay," Hanji threw her hands up, "I'm out of here. Whoever wants to join me in dunking my head in acid come with me."

Christa and Sasha nodded before slowly getting up and beginning to walk away, pausing only when Hanji whirled around and marched toward the heated pair.

"WILL THE TWO OF YOU JUST STOP FOR A MOMENT AND DO THAT IN A ROOM WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO SUBJECT THEIR EYES TO SEE THAT?!" The major shouted, Sasha and Christa groaning as everyone else in the mess hall began to sigh in agreement.

The pair broke apart for a moment before sharing a lewd grin and sprinting out of the room, hands practically in each other's pants as the door shut behind them.

"Way to go girls," Sasha drawled, "Well done."

"Not gonna butt in other people's business again, are you?" Connie asked, rolling his eyes as he walked passed them.

"Shut up, Connie." Hanji grunted.

fin

yeah I know. this one came out cracky. but that's the point. I had to have my fun. and I did. so there.