Title: Obligatory Vow
A/N: Finally found some time to edit. Been busy with directing a play and haven't been writing much on this story for Nanowrimo. (Other creative writing assignments have gotten in the way) I do plan to do some major catching up over Thanksgiving break next week. (3000 words a day hopefully) Please excuse any missed spelling and grammatical errors. Enjoy!
Please review and let me know if you liked it.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the world of snk. Story plot are my own. This is merely a fanwork and appreciation of the original cannon.
Seven: Confidant
Of all the things to happen, Jean Kirschstein never thought it would be this.
The young soldier sat at his usual table as he watched Mikasa enter the dining hall. Gorgeous as ever with a shining backdrop of white. But it just seemed odd that she was coming to breakfast with the Captain.
Even from that far away, Jean noticed the way she melted with the warmth of the room, grateful for the heat. As the dark haired young woman approached his scowl deepened as he saw the way the Captain stood there longer than necessary before going to his own table.
"Morning everyone." MIkasa said as she sat down beside Krista. Her nose and cheeks were a rosy red.
"Mikasa what took so long. I thought you were coming in after me."
Yes, what took you so long.
"Sorry Armin. I guess I just got lost in thought." She looked up and gave him a slight smile. " I hope I didn't worry you."
"No, he just thought you might have frozen to death out there." Ymir joked. "Right Sasha?"
"Shut up Ymir! I have a coat now anyways…" she trailed off.
"Well no. Armin brought me my coat this morning. Nice call there Sasha." She said slowly becoming cheerier.
"Speaking of which," Armin started. "I only got you your coat, you still need to go sign for it over there."
He pointed towards the front of the room where one of the tables had soldiers taking down the name and size of each coat that had been issued.
Jean watched as Mikasa rose from her seat, coat slung over her arm as she walked away.
Frowning slightly, he turned to Connie who was currently very invested in a danish.
"Connie" he whispered.
The bald boy just grunted through his chewing in acknowledgement.
"Did you see that?"
"Swee vwot?" crumbs sprayed from his mouth as he spoke.
Jean was too concerned with MIkasa to notice. "Did you see MIkasa with Captain Levi?"
He swallowed his danish roughly. "Uh,no?
He was there just watching her when the two of them came in."
"Dude when are you gonna let this go? It has been almost a year. Either ask the girl out or stop bitching about every guy that may find her attractive."
Jean's cheeks quickly became a bright pink as Ymir and Krista joined in.
"Oh please, if that dimwit thought she was attractive than of course other men might."
Ymir commented , a friendly smile curving onto her lips.
"Very funny." Jean muttered.
"Jean, I think that if you like her you should tell her. And besides we all know that you've liked her for a while now." Krista added.
He thought for a moment before speaking.
"Maybe."
Hearing all of this, Armin kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to give the others a reason to think that he or Mikasa was a secret from them, but he didn't want to crush Jean either. He wondered how Hanji would react when she found out. Knowing her, she'd probably laugh.
-/-/-/-
Levi drummed his fingers on the table top as he sipped his tea. His eyes closed as he enjoyed the simple warmth of the of the bitter drink. There was a quiet rustle as a another officer sat beside him.
"Eavesdropping on me and Ackerman this morning?"
Erwin chuckled. "Not entirely. I was walking to the mess hall just as you were. I decided not to interrupt."
Levi scoffled. "It was hardly anything to interrupt. She seemed emotional and we don't have time for that." He realised that he probably should have specified what he meant by 'we', but he just left it at that.
Erwin didn't respond to the comment either.
"Morning!" A feminine woman's voice called out to him as a body thudded down on the bench. He gained a tighter grip on his tea and lazily turned his head to look at Hanji. She sat beside him with her own mug of coffee almost spilling as she clanked it down. She wasn't as ecstatic as she usually was, for once, and flipped through her notes.
Erwin seemed to be done speaking. The larger man stood and gave Levi one of his knowing looks as he left the room. Levi returned it with a stoic look of his own, the slightest expression of being peeved as he knew what he meant.
Turning his attention back to Hanji, he watched as she worked in her haphazard manner. She would read, then scribble, gulp down some coffee (the dribble down the side of the cup leaving a coffee ring when she sets it down), and read some more. Her hair was up in a messy ponytail as usual.
He sighed. "Hanji."
She continued to make notes as she drank the last of her coffee.
"Hanji."
The woman just quirked an eyebrow and gave a simple 'hmm' in acknowledgement.
"We need to talk." He said quietly.
She just looked at him.
"Now, Shitty glasses." Levi grabbed her arm, bringing her to her feet as she hastily gathered up her notes.
"Levi?" She exclaimed as he dragged her out the door, coffee cup still in hand. Their coats were draped over his arm. She followed along patiently. Oh was she curious as to what he had to say but she let him lead her to his office. At least she knew that his office would be warm and he may have some of those tea cookies that Petra liked to leave him from time to time. She smiled as she absentmindedly realised that he was still holding her hand as they walked. Levi stopped, probably due to the cold that was settling in his bones, and started to hand Hanji her thick coat. Seeing that her hands were full of papers he just draped it around her shoulders and took her coffee cup before shrugging on his own. Making sure to pull on his gloves before they continued the walk to his office. Hanji was glad that he had taken her coffee cup. that way she could hold the coat closed as she followed.
They reached his office soon enough. making sure to get the snow from their boots before walking down the corridor and slipping into his office. She pulled up the chair from the corner and settled into the seat, draping her coat over her like a blanket. She didn't let on, but Hanji had a pretty good idea what he was going to tell her. And if it was about what she thought it was she might as well get comfortable. Hanji leaned forward and opened the little dish on his desk corner, grinning gleefully as she saw there was one cookie left. She plucked it up, popped it into her mouth and sat back, waiting.
Levi took a breath. He couldn't say that he was nervous it was just that he wasn't sure what her reaction was going to be. She just looked too comfortable sitting there, chewing and wrapped in her coat, like she was waiting on some story or show. He sighed.
"Just tell me Levi." Her voice was level and welcoming as she spoke, attentive to what he had to say.
"To be honest it's some shitty luck if you ask me, but I'm getting married…" He trailed off looking at her. He hated the way he made it sound. Like he was nervous and unsure. Even so his face was neutral and expectant for her response.
The minutes ticked by as she just still looked at him. Then he saw it. The slow grin that curved along her lips before cracking her face into an exuberant smile. "Well congratulations!"
"Hanji."
She chuckled as she continued to smile. "Well, who's the lucky one that's stuck with you?"
"Hanji!" He just sighed and answered her question. "..It's Mikasa Ackerman."
Hanji just took this information and pondered. That did explain their relations over the last few weeks. The glares, and seeing the younger girl walk from his office earlier that week. Obviously, the girl couldn't have been pregnant. She knew Levi was smarter and more responsible than that. Besides their less than cordial exchanges over the year showed no signs of the fact that they liked each other a enough to be screwing…
Nodding, Hanji gave her approval. "She is an excellent comrade…"
"So I've heard" Levi said sitting back in his chair.
"...But be good to the girl that's being saddled with you."
Levi just looked at her. Hanji's tone was more less playful as she gave him a look.
She didn't know everything that this entailed but she decided that things would reveal themselves with time. As usual she could find out more things through careful observance and badgering Erwin than questioning those involved directly.
"Have you talked to her since deciding all of this?"
Levi glanced over his desk before making eye contact again. "Yes. Erwins knows that I'm marry her as well. The engagement will be announced later this week. I have to tell my squad today as well."
Hanji smiled to herself almost smugly realizing that he come to tell her first.
"Make sure you tell them. I'm sure they'll be surprised."
Levi almost wondered what Peta would say when hold her.
Hanji just quirked an eyebrow and stood.
"And keep your big mouth shut until its publicly announced." Levi said
The woman simply winked at him as she gathered her coat and papers and slipped out.
Glancing up and down the hall, Hanji just paused before heading to the research labs way across the grounds. A quick look over her shoulder before turning down another hall.
He's gonna break her poor heart.
