writing is getting so tough lately ugh i've been sick for a month and it's sucks. stay healthy anyone. I edit this until 3 am in the morning and my eyes starts to get dry lol i'm sure there's a mistake here and there, and I promise I'll edit it later.

"Ah... It's been about a month since the last time we visited your castle, Captain," Sasha said as she walks follow Levi to his castle with the rest of Levi's squad.

"Sure, it was right before Captain sent us to the southern frontier," Jean said sarcastically. Levi doesn't respond Jean's sarcastic tone.

"Ah... The meeting in Sina Capital turned out to be much more tiring than having to practice for a day." complained Connie as he yawned.

Levi opened the castle door. He looked inside and found no one there. He already said that his team was coming but didn't say exactly when. Today Levi and his squad have just returned from Sina Capital, and Levi decides to return to the castle and bring his squad before make him another headache.

It seemed that Levi's squad chatter is too noisy and was heard to the upstairs. Mikasa hears them and immediately greets them gracefully.

All eyes were on Mikasa. Jean Kirstein was already gaping wide with his redness face and Connie Springer's eyes rounded in shock and Sasha Braus smiled from ear-to-ear with excitement.

Mikasa greets them gracefully with her simple light blue dress and bowed politely to welcome their arrival, "You must be Levi's squad, I've heard a lot." she greets politely as she glanced deliberately at Levi's black eye that also steals a glance with her, without any smile, but only with her bored face.

"Mikasa... They are my squad. This is Connie - " Levi's speech was cut off as Connie instantly grabbed Mikasa's hand and gave her a light kiss on the back of her hand.

"Springer. You must know my mom, she works on Captain Levi's farm. You're really as beautiful as my mom said," Connie said.

"And this is... Jean Kirstein," Levi said. Jean's face reddened, he take a step forward and did the same thing with Connie. "Jean, people call me Jean," he smiles nervously like a teenager going through a puberty.

"And lastly... Sasha Bra-"

"Right from this moment, I can tell that we're gonna be best friend!" Sasha said with excitement, her eyes sparkling so bright, similar whenever the girl see any meat and shakes Mikasa's hand and welcomed her with a warm hug.

Mikasa seems surprised to get this probably-too-friendly treatment from his squad. But the woman recover from her shocked quickly and put on a thin smile on her bored face.

"We're here to clean the well," says Levi.

"Well, well - Mikasa you have such a unique name, now we have to do what the girls need to do and let them clean the well, let me show you the kitchen. It feels good to have a female partner to cook. I used to use the kitchen alone to feed them but i'm happy we're partner now," Sasha said, quickly abducting Mikasa, taking Mikasa's arm and bringing her into the kitchen, "Are we?" murmurs Mikasa in confusion, she turned her head towards Levi before she completely disappeared into the kitchen with Sasha.

She'll be fine, right? Levi just hopes Sasha doesn't show her extreme side to Mikasa.

For the first time Mikasa ever knew someone with such a high enthusiasm for food, especially meat. Throughout the cooking, Sasha incessantly led the conversation about the food she liked, the meat and boiled potatoes, with her accent, enough to keep Mikasa entertained as well at the same time, uncomfortable. She had never met a women who bold enough to behaved this intimately to her and especially a fellow woman. Mikasa never had a female friend the same age as her before that she could talk with, because Grisha used to forbid her from hanging out with anyone outside the household.

And Mikasa listened carefully to every word Sasha said, indirectly she was fascinated by how Sasha talks to her.

"Ah... Am I talking too fast?" asked Sasha as if she can reads Mikasa's mind.

"I'm sorry. I'm also still adapting to this new side of me. Believe it or not, I used to be a weird girl and had no friends. My father sent me to the military so I could be friends with other people, I couldn't talk to anyone except my family before. I grew up in Dauper village, in the middle of the forest. The forest is my friend and I grew up as a hunter. What about you, Mikasa? I heard from Captain Levi you're from Shiganshina. It must have been very hard lived there... very close to Marley's Colony outside Maria."

Mikasa rounded her eyes, "I grew up in the Southern mountainous area of Maria, the neares district is... Shiganshina District." Mikasa said doubtfully, whether she should tell this to someone she had just met.

"I think it's quite difficult to live in Maria. I'm from Rose, precisely Dauper village, our village used to be very poor until Captain Levi lived in this castle and changed pthe people of my village and Connie is from Ragako. I think I was lucky enough to be choosen by Captain Levi as his new squad. Captain Levi is a highly respected Captain in Sina Capital, I'm so glad Captain Levi has a farm which means he always has meat to us!"

"Does your village struggle to live as well?" asked Mikasa, stir the pot of potatoes soup she made.

"Well, honestly the whole region and district other than Sina Capital is a difficult area to live in, isn't it? Maria was an area where the majority of the population had to supply the meat and food ingredients to Sina and Rose as well to Marley's demand. No one really cares about Maria and Rose. It's a fact that we face everyday, the King had not been able to prosper Maria and Rose."

"How... Captain Levi has something to do with your village?"

"Ah yes! It's only rumours between soldier, I heard that Captain Levi used to come from an Underground City, he was a feared thug down there until Commander Erwin recruited him in the Survey Corps. And then Captain Levi stayed at this castle after Military Officials assigned him Trost Disctrict to lead and he helped the economy of Dauper and Ragako villages. My village and Connie were almost dead whenever winter comes, until Captain Levi taught us all how to survive and to live."

Mikasa listen all those words carefully. "...I see."

"The point is... we're lucky to have him here!" Sasha smiles brightly. "I heard that Shiganshina was frequently entered by Marley's colony when he was a child. Armin rarely told me about himself, but I think he told me that one." she continued.

Mikasa stopped cutting potatoes when she heard the name, "Armin?"

Sasha nodded, "Yes. Armin." Sasha with her rounded eyes in surprise, "Oh.. Do you possibly know him? He said he knew everyone in Shiganshina district."

"Armin Arlert?" Mikasa asked right away.

"Yes, that's right. Ah, you haven't met him yet. What about I call Captain Levi and the others for lunch? I'm sure Armin has already joins them at the backyard."

Mikasa nodded and made sure the food she made with Sasha had been served well at the dinner table.

Levi can only notice Jean and Connie constantly complaining and whining. Indeed, his new squad is too noisy and too young and sometimes act like a brat. Fortunately, they are still capable to get serious when they need to.

Levi decided he should add more physical training of Armin Arlert, the corn-yellow-headed man with the smallest body posture among the others was the latest to arrived but he gets exhausted hastlily, many times Armin sat with gasps as if he could die right away.

"Oi! Lunch is ready, come in please!" Sasha shouted from the back door of the castle waving. Jean and Connie cries in joy and ran towards the castle with Armin walking behind them.

"Tch... Armin you should train your physical more," Levi said as he walked beside Armin towards the castle.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry Captain I'll work even harder," Armin said.

"Armin?" Mikasa's calm voice entered his ears as soon as they arrived in the dining room, she found Mikasa Ackerman standing with a worried and shocked expression, with Armin's surprised face as well.

"M-Mikasa?!"

Regardless of the astonished look of the others, Mikasa walked towards Armin and hugged him tightly as if they had not met for a long time, Mikasa did not care about her blue dress becomes dirty from Armin's clothes. They embraced each other tightly.

"Mikasa what are you doing here?" asked Armin, the next second Armin saw Captain Levi still standing next to her.

"Don't tell me - the man you said in your letter is Captain Levi?! Oh, for the sake of titan, I can't believe this situation."

"Do you know Mikasa?" asked Levi.

Armin nodded, "Of course, she's my childhood friend. The last time I met her was about 8 years ago before I joined the military. Indeed, this is a very surprising coincidence."

"Armin are you okay? Do you hurt?" asked Mikasa, who usually doesn't show any expression now that she looks worried as she holds Armin's hands. Levi noticed her gesture that she was comfortable with each other's presence made Levi conclude the two had a very close relationship.

"Okay, I'm actually very touched by this, but can I eat first?" asked Sasha, followed by a voice coming from her stomach.

Lunch was as fun and noisy as ever. Levi was a little relieved Mikasa showed a little excitement with his new squad. Moreover, she seemed unflustered by how Sasha acts with her. She gave a calm respond with Connie's lame jokes with Jean's incessantly stealing a glance at her with his stupid red face. Mikasa seems to be a calm and cooperative person this time.

"Armin... Did you hear anythig from him?"

"No, Mikasa. I didn't receive any letters or news from him."

"He didn't come at my wedding."

"What?"

"Armin... He left me."

Levi doesn't mean to eavesdrop, but he accidentally overhear as he intends to go back to the backyard and hear Mikasa and Armin Arlert's conversation in the kitchen. Levi concluded that the figure they were talking about was the same figure that she waited on their wedding day. Levi decides it's not his right to eavesdrop so he continues his steps into the backyard to keep an eye on his subordinate.

0o0

"Mikasa... Eren didn't leave you," Armin said trying to calm Mikasa down.

"I'm afraid Eren went to Marley."

"No way. Why did he go to Marley?"

Mikasa shook her head, "I don't know. Eren always said he didn't want to be a doctor and wanted to see the outside the wall."

"You know the guard at the frontier was incredibly very strict and Marley also won't let any Eldians come into their territory. Mikasa you don't have to worry about Eren. You have to worry about yourself. Are you okay? I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit you, my military service is still two years away until I can have my right to come home. But it's such unexpected that you married Captain Levi. How could it be?"

"My father arranged this. You know Kenny Ackerman? When I was a child... Kenny Ackerman oftenly visited my father. Captain Levi is his nephew."

Armin was surprised, "Really? You two are Ackerman and related to Kenny the Ripper?"

"Kenny Ackerman's predecessor was the leader of the Clan, they settled in Sina, while my family were branches of the family in Maria. Our ancestors are very far apart."

"And you accepted the it? Gladly? Doctor Yaeger didn't say anything?"

Mikasa let out a deep sigh. "It's only a matter of time Doctor Yaeger finds me a suitable husband. I've been putting this on hold for three years and Doctor Yaeger seems to know Kenny Ackerman as well. I can't do anything."

Armin sighed in disbelief, "What about Eren?"

Mikasa pondered for a moment recalling her conversation with Eren.

0o0

"Eren, what are you going to do?" asked Mikasa to see Eren pack his belongings in a bag.

"I'm leaving."

"Take me with you. We can run away together, I will-" Mikasa's word was instantly cut off by Eren. "You know I can't." said Eren, turning his eyes away, his gaze was hard to read. The next second the reality hits Mikasa so greatly, she held her breath.

"What am I supposed to do?" she said desperately.

"You know what you have to do," Eren said, emphasizing his tone.

Mikasa looked at him in disbelief, "You... Leave me."

"There are things we need to do. I had to run away, and you... You need to do what you have to do."

"I was forced to marry a stranger, and you said this was the thing I have to do?" asked Mikasa angrily.

Eren didn't answer, nor did he look at her. Mikasa tried to ignore the pain in her chest, but the pain will never fade away.

"Oh, for god sake, he's not a stranger. Isn't he your distant cousin or something?"

0o0

"Eren... Leave me," Mikasa repeated herself.

"You don't have to worry about it. I'm going to find Eren. The most important thing is, what about you?"

"I think I'm doing fine." she sighed.

"Are you... sure about this?" Armin said. "Is Captain Levi..." he doubt himself and sighed, "Oh... forget it I don't know how to ask it properly," he blushed awkwrdly.

"If you mean... no he let me sleep in one of the bedroom. We use a seperate rooms."

"Does he ask anything?"

Mikasa shooked her head, "He's out oftenly. And... he never bothers me."

"That's weird." he comments, "He may look cold but he's a reliable figure in the Survey Corps."

"It seems like he married me because... He wants to protect me." she says, hesitated for a moment.

"Protecting you? From what exactly?"

"I don't know."

Armin stays silent for a moment, then he seemed to remember something important.

"There are rumors in Military, Frieda Reiss, oldest daughter of Rod Reiss will be betrothed to Captain Levi and that was the King Uris Reiss's request. That's because the King was very fond of Captain Levi who managed to win the southern port from Marley's colony. But many say Captain Levi married someone else instead, who turns out to be you, Mikasa!"

"Does he avoid to marry the royals?"

"I'm not sure. It's so hard to read what on his mind. But one thing I sure, I think you'll be fine. I might be only know him not for long, so I don't know him very well personally and I doubt that I will. Although he didn't say much and was being cold, he couldn't possibly mistreat a women. I'm sure it's because he respects all his colleagues and subordinates," Armin said.

Mikasa let her gaze out the window, towards Captain Levi who just gives Jean a glass of water.

Levi glanced at Armin and Mikasa who began to join in towards them. It was late afternoon, their work to clean the well was perfectly done. Sasha noticed her joins them with Armin immediately approached her and held her arm warmly.

"Oi... oi.. Armin how could you have a good time talking to Mikasa and we're out here getting your work done?" asked Jean as if jealous of Armin's instant closeness to Mikasa.

"I'm sorry, guys."

"Captain Levi let's go to the river to clean up ourself!" said Connie excitedly and ran towards the hills and fields away from the castle, followed by Jean, Sasha and Armin who were indeed, dirty by soil on their clothes.

"Tch." Levi almost complained about how childish his subordinates who intended to play water and splash here and there in the river for sure, but Levi felt they deserved it all. Levi catches from the corner of his eye Mikasa seemingly about to join Sasha that running ahead of them, but she seems to be considers on something and undoes her intentions then decides to walk a little behind Levi. While the others had disappeared running towards the hill.

"You can do it," Levi said as flatly as possible and was careful not to offend her.

"... what?" she says slowly.

"Catch up with them if you want them I won't criticize you."

"I wish I could... But I wear a dress and women's slippers," Mikasa says. Levi went silent as he looks at Mikasa's dress and a women slippers with a heels.

"You can stay as I..."

"No, please I want to come with, if that's okay." she says flatly, he almost noticed her slight excitement. "...alright,"

They walked slowly with the breeze stroking their faces, splitting vast grass fields, with the sky starts to get orange above them.

"Where's the river Connie's talk about?" she asks.

"It's behind the two hills you will find it after the garden is not far from here."

Shortly after walking, in the north there was a large farm with cows mooing while eating grass that caught Mikasa's attention.

"Is that your farm over there?"

"Yes, if you continue to walk to north after the farm you will find Dauper village. After one hill you'll pass to the south there is Ragako Village. The distance between the two is quite far and you should ride a horse. And to the southeast after two hills and a river, four more hills you will find the border of Trost District."

While the terrain is strarting to gets ascend, Mikasa struggled to climb a slightly steep road and a grass with her slippery shoes. Levi reaches out his hand to help her and she grasp it without any hesitation by Mikasa. But Levi's stopped shortly as Mikasa stops beside him.

"Ah..." Mikasa seemingly upset. Levi approached Mikasa while she who removed her women slippers.

"Is there a problem?" he asks, watching her.

"Yes. My shoes are no longer I can use," Mikasa said, now barefoot and toting her shoes on her hands.

"... We'd better go back." Levi said looking at Mikasa's situation. Mikasa shook her head. "That's unnecessary. If you think I'm uncomfortable, you're wrong. I still want to know about this area."

"Are you sure with barefooted?" asked Levi, Mikasa nods assuredly, "I've always wanted to do it." Levi noticed Mikasa who didn't hesitate to walk on the grass without her shoes, which strangely she looks completely fine with.

"What's that?" asked Mikasa pointing at a large building from a far.

"It's a sub-headquarters to stay a night from traveling between Hermina and Trost districts."

Mikasa tightened her grip on Levi as they pass the first hills.

"Are you comfortable in the castle?" asked Levi glancing at his wife.

"I guess."

"Does Mrs. Springer make you uncomfortable?"

Mikasa shook her head, "She's fine. She's a great cook, but I'd rather cook for myself."

"May I know why?"

"I... I spent my life alone at the Yaeger's house. Doctor Yaeger and..." Mikasa took her breath.

"- his son always traveled to Sina to help the Lords. They often leave me alone there. Although the Yaeger family treated me well and had waiters and chefs who appearently happens very rare in the Shiganshina, they always treated me like... dolls, I guess."

Levi caught Mikasa's long sighed, "The butler and the maid always watched me strictly, they wouldn't let me out without any permission, told me to put on a hat and cover my face with a fan when I'm outside. Moving here made me realize I was just moving to a bigger... prison but the difference was without the butler watching me. At least I hope for a little freedom this time And I want to start new things I've never done, like cooking."

Levi grimaces to hear the word prison, "Why... prison?"

Mikasa smiled bitterly, "I don't know. Maybe I was given a second chance to life, saved by... Eren, but my life always far from what I hoped to. They let me live only to make me hide, didn't they? Including you."

Levi stopped his steps, "...what?"

"Isn't that so? Men like you... are expected us to stay home without doing anything. Keep us to yourself. Look, I don't know what your purpose is to marry me, but all I know is that I have to live in hiding again, right? I'm just moved out to another prison... this time happens to be bigger and safer, and being casted away from my family, and you think I should be grateful for this? Absolutely not," Mikasa said wryly. She looked at the empty hills that were far away. Her voice sounds so far away as if her mind wasn't there either. Levi frowned, thinking that the reason for Mikasa's unpleasant attitude of the other day was because she thought this way.

"... You're wrong," Levi said, Mikasa turning to him, waiting for him to continue his sentence. Levi is not a very vocal person who expresses his sentences that speak in good word, he just speak his thought blantly, but this time he fell silent for a moment to choose the right words.

"I never considered you as my prisoner in this castle. You are free to live in this castle as you expect and I will not resist the will that you desire."

Mikasa snorted in disbelied, as if to slur hiswords, which Levi subconsciously sounded like a lies.

"When I married you... this whole place... the castle, farm, garden and the hills, and my money is yours too, right away. I don't marry a random women. You're an Ackerman, which I am too. We, Ackerman are connected to each other, and all I know is that we don't treat our relationships like prisoners, but as families. My uncle Kenny, treat your family like his precious family, and he entrusted you to me."

"..."

Mikasa looked at him for a moment, "Can I really trust those words?"

Levi rolled his eyes, "I don't know. I can't make you trust me in one second, it depends on you."

"I know,"

"And I don't care about your cold and gloomy attitude every time I talk to you, but I expect someone who is rational enough for me to work with, at least when I'm in the castle. I don't give a damn time with childish behavior or someone who choose to be a brat and wittingly unprincipled only to annoyed me."

"...I understand, and my apologize for my attitude the other days, I'll try to be more... friendly. I've never really had someone in my life before," Mikasa said hesitantly.

Levi nodded. He quietly agreed to Mikasa's last sentence. He also never really had anyone in his life, they always left and never stay.

"I think... let's be friends, shall we Levi?" asked Mikasa gives her hand, Levi stares at the hand then into Mikasa's bored face. Levi decided not to take long to greet that cold hand.

"Let's continue to walk if you still want to see the river, it's getting dark and I don't want to walk home in the dark," Levi said, with Mikasa again flanking her arm to him. Through the now-down hills, the river is right infront of them, with Levi's team splashing in laughter from the river.

"It's beautiful," Mikasa commented quietly, walking alongside Levi.

"I have a question," Mikasa said, Levi glancing at her slightly. "Go on,"

"In the corner of the 2nd floor... There is a locked door that leads to the tower of the castle. What is inside of it?"

"It's the library tower of Utgard Ackerman, hence the name of this castle by him."

Levi caught her respons quickly, as if she attracted to a certain word that came out of his mouth.

"Library? But you already have a library in the reading room. Mrs. Springer never told me about the tower before,"

"Because I never allowed her."

"Why?"

Levi shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not sure why. I rarely visit the library either."

"May I enter it?" asked Mikasa, her voice sounds interested even though that beautiful face remained monotonous and always looked bored.

Levi nodded, "Sure, the castle is yours as well."

Mikasa chuckled, sounded like a mockery to him but remained categorized as laughing, and it was the first time Levi saw Mikasa Ackerman laugh.

"To be honest I don't have anything, you said that to convince me that you're not what I'm thinking, right?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Tell me, Levi," she said. Mikasa stopped her steps.

"Why did you marry me? Why me?"

Levi frowns, the question sounded rhetorical which both Mikasa and Levi knew exactly the reason is. "I think we both know why. Your father and Kenny- "

"I heard you're going to be betrothed to Frieda Reiss." said Mikasa sharply.

"Why did you marry me, not her?"

Levi snorted, "I don't deal with the royals."

"You're using me, aren't you? When the time comes, I should do what women should do? I mean nothing but as a substitute subject to avoid you from marriage with the royas, and as a replacement for Frieda Reiss. You probably wouldn't have come to Yaeger's house to marry me if the king not intended to bethored his beloved niece. That's why you married me."

Levi rolled his eyes, he felt his anger coming to his chest. What Mikasa said was true and it made Levi angry as well as guilty with himself. It is true that he marry her because he should marry someone other than Frieda Reiss, and Mikasa happens to be the best choice as Kenny who suggested it and she is also an Ackerman. And he should protect her. It's the best choice and it's not like they have any option left.

"One second you agreed to offer me a friendship. Now you're behaving like a brat... as if I'm a jerk."

"I didn't say that - "

"Look, I can't change what you think of me. And I don't care about that at all." he says. "But if you think I married you because of that, I'll let you think that way. But what can you do? It won't change anything, the fact that you're married to me. We're stuck with each other."

Mikasa looked at him in disbelief, "That's enough to explain everything, you're indeed... a jerk," she snorted, brushed off his arm harshly and walked ahead of Levi alone in annoyance while Levi himself still processing what just happened. Levi felt a wave of his anger also appear to see her walk away just to provoke him such unnecessary things.

Mikasa stopped her steps, she turned around, "Men like you... it's always the same, isn't?," she said quietly, but Levi heard it all.

Levi stopped his footsteps watching Mikasa from a distance Mikasa now reached the river as Jean who approached her, strangely, he felt even more annoyed to see that Kirstein's face smiling and blushing like an idiot to his wife.

I really appreciate review and I wish to know what you're thinking about this hopeless fict lol. My apologize for taking so long to update (so random) so please kindly give any review oh and I read them all!