A.N: I don't own Aot! There are places where the story breaks up from past to present. I break it up by putting '...' to not confuse the reader. Please R&R. And if anyone wants to beta me that would be awesome! Anyways Enjoy~
It was a little past noon and the weather outside was dreary. The cold season was coming bringing in a lot of business to a little cafe in the root of a small town. The Tea Cup was a small tea shop, owned by Levi Ackerman. The short man was wiping down all his cups watching everyone around him. He was very proud of his tea shop and how hard his workers worked. The bell on the door chimed every few minutes signaling a new customer coming in.
"Next customer please." Petra, a young petite strawberry blond woman, happily said. She loved the buzzing sound of the packed house. Her peppy attitude leaves her great tips by the end of the night.
Erwin, a tall blond sophisticated man, walked into the busy shop and watched all the workers running around frantically. Petra taking in orders, Eld behind the counter making the refreshments, Gunther serving them, and Oruo going around cleaning.
"Well isn't this place as lively as ever." Erwin chuckled, in his arms he held his son. Levi finally looked up to his best friend and noticed the infant in his arms.
"You brought baby Armin with you." Levi walked around the counter and led him to an empty table.
"Come now. Say hi to your nephew." Erwin grinned as he placed the baby in the other man's arms. The baby fussed a bit as he was taken from his father's arms. Making sure he cradled the baby's head, Levi expertly held him in his arms. He rubbed small circles on the boy's back successfully calming him down.
"If he even drools on me." Levi glared at the blond.
"Who are you trying to fool Levi? I am your best friend and I know you secretly love kids, I know you also babysit for your neighbor sometimes." Erwin gloated.
"I brought over some tea." Petra set down the tea and cooed at the baby. "He's gotten bigger since the last time I saw him." Petra smiled at Erwin. "He looks so much like your father."
"Last time I brought him here he was a little past the newborn stage. He just turned four months yesterday." Erwin smiled at his baby boy. "Time really does go fast."
"How are you doing Erwin? I know it's been hard for you. Especially after losing your wife." Petra solemnly stated, rubbing his shoulder. Erwin patted her hand and smiled.
"I didn't expect the outcome of her passing in childbirth but I'm taking it a day at a time. My parents and Levi have been a great help." Erwin looked at his son and best friend. "Without the support of friends and family I don't think I would be as well as I am doing now."
The door slammed open, making all the occupants look at the commotion. Taking that as her cue, Petra hurriedly went back to the register. A woman with brown hair in a messy ponytail and glasses walked up to her.
"Can I get a double shot espresso. Actually make it as strong as possible. I've been up for a few days knee deep in research and have to be up for another few hours." Hange huffed out in one breath. Taking in her appearance Petra noticed a few things. The woman's lab coat was dirty and her glasses were really smeared. "Oh and a black tea lightly sweetened.
"What a weirdo." Muttered Oruo, a middle aged man with slightly curly brown hair and an undercut. Making Erwin laugh.
"That is Zoe Hange. A bit eccentric but the smartest person I have ever met. She has written books varying from basic biology, history and modern medicine. Which she happens to be the founder of a few cures. Her vast knowledge is scary. I somehow convinced her to teach a class at my school." Erwin explained.
"No offense Erwin but if she was so great why would she just teach High School?" Oruo asked him.
"From what she told me, she wanted something more tame. She's tired of travelling and not having a place she could call home." Erwin answered his question.
"Dr. Hange!" A blonde Man came rushing in. He held onto his knees trying to control his breathing, after a few minutes he stood up straight and looked at the brunette.
"What is it Moblit?" She asked him.
"You forgot your wallet in the lab." He handed her the bag. Hanji chuckled as Petra sweat dropped.
"Thank you." The brunette paid and handed her assistant his tea. She quickly left with Moblit in toe. Levi didn't stop staring at the brunette until she was out of his sight. Turning his attention back to Erwin.
"I had her over for dinner and Armin absolutely loved her." Erwin broke Levi from his thoughts.
"She's abnormal." Levi muttered. "Armin likes anyone with glasses."
"Well I have to get Armin back to his daycare. My lunch is almost over." Erwin bid them all goodbye.
It was ten minutes to closing and Levi was wiping down the counters. The cafe was empty and the place was almost spotless. Eld was helping him finish cleaning so they could leave early.
"I'll finish up. Go home Eld." Levi told him.
"Thanks Levi." Eld finished sweeping before heading out. The bells on the door chimed signalling someone had entered the shop. Hange slumped in taking a seat on the counter. Resting her head in her arms she began to snore a bit. Normally Levi would be irritated at the customer coming in right before he closed but he noticed it was the weird woman from earlier.
"This is a tea shop not a motel." Levi glared at her
"Motels are dirty. This is cleaner than any place I've ever been to." Hange yawned in her hand. "Ever think of opening up your own cleaning service?"
"Once but the thought of cleaning other people's shit made me stop." He placed a cup of tea in front of her. "It's on the house."
"My name is Zoe Hange, but all my friends call me Hange." Her face lit up in glee after tasting the tea.
"I'm Levi Ackerman." While he mopped around her his face grimaced when he caught her stench.
"I was in my lab for eighty six hours. The coffee from here is what kept me going. I kept sending my assistant here on coffee runs." Hange got up from her seat and stretched. "I should get going, bye Levi."
"Zoe." He nodded at her. The moment she left, he stopped what he was doing and wiped down her seat twice. Once he deemed his shop clean enough he made his way home. Stopping at a gas station close to his home he heard two men gossiping.
"I saw Kenny the Ripper earlier. He had some kid with him." He heard one of the men speak.
"I wonder what he does with all these kids." The other guy snorted.
"Maybe he just killed the parents and is selling it in the black market." Levi crossed his arms glaring at the two men. He slammed his car door shut gaining the attention of the two men.
"Oh, how are you Levi?" The tall man began to visibly sweat.
"Get out of my sight." Levi told the men. He watched as the duo quickly got in their cars and sped out of the parking lot.
'What is he doing back in town?' Levi thought as he got in his car. Parking in his driveway he noticed the familiar form of his uncle standing on his porch. He held a baby in his arms and dangled a cigarette from his mouth.
…
Four year old Levi was cold and hungry. His mother had left him in the motel room the night before and he had no idea where she could even be. Levi sat down on the dirty ground of the room wondering when she was going to return to get him. His stomach ached from hunger; it had been days since his last meal, he was absolutely starving. The last time he ate was when one of his mother's friends gave him a candy bar. All he ate was sugar coated snacks that people would give him out of pity. He could hear the door opening and people talking. Earlier that day a maid had come into the room to clean. He gave her his name knowing his mother had forgotten him inside the motel room.
"The maid came in to clean after the couple had checked out and found him sitting there. We tried tracking the mother but she wouldn't answer and you were next of kin." The officer spoke to the tall strange man.
"Aren't you a pitiful kid. Get up." A Gruff voice spoke up. When he didn't listen, the man dragged him up. He wore a brown cowboy hat and a flannel shirt with dark pants. "Are you deaf or are you just stupid?"
The man carried him to a car and began to drive in silence. Looking at the clock on the radio, it was a little past midnight. He made his way to the first open diner he could find. After being seated he had ordered for the both of them and they waited for their food to come out.
"When was the last time you ate kid?" The strange man asked him. They were eating burgers and fries. The diner was empty apart from drunk people laughing and talking. They sat at a booth next to the windows and Levi watched cars and people go by. Hoping to catch a glance of his mother.
"Don't know." Levi was in paradise as he shoved a handful of fries in his mouth. He never had his own plate when his mother did decide to feed him.
"Slow down kid, no one is going to take your food. My name is Kenny." Taking a drink from his cup he continued to observe Levi. The young boy was dirty and his clothes were loose on him and his sandals too small for his feet. His fingernails were either long or broken. His unkempt long hair made his face look much thinner than it was. He could see his bones from the little meat he had in his arms. "What's your name kid?" Kenny already knew everything about the young boy but wanted him to open up a bit to get out of his comfort zone.
"I'm Levi." Loosening himself up a bit, Levi only ate three fries at a time. After they finished their dinner Kenny stood up from his seat and held out his hand for the boy to grab.
"Come on kid, let's go home."
The night he had met him was a night he could never forget. It was the night that everything had changed for him. He learned so much through him. He finally gained stability that helped him become who he was.
...
"Kenny what are you doing here?" Levi walked up to the man. "Who's kid is that?"
"This is Mikasa Ackerman, your cousin. Watch her for the night." Handing the baby girl over to Levi, Kenny turned and looked at them one last time. "She's not kidnapped Levi. All her information is in that bag and take good care of her."
Levi watched Kenny walk away from them. He knew Kenny wasn't coming back for Mikasa. Walking inside, Levi laid the baby girl on his bed and called Erwin. He paced back and forth in the living room not wanting to wake the sleeping baby.
"Kenny left a baby at my house." He spoke calmly.
"Well, hello to you too Levi." Erwin groggily spoke. "What did Kenny say?"
"He said watch her for the night." Levi huffed. "I don't think he's coming back."
"Tomorrow we see what we do, but for now watch the kid. Maybe he'll return." Erwin stated. Levi sighed when he heard Mikasa's cries in the next room. "Be at my house tomorrow at 8 a.m."
Hanging up he got the diaper bag and went to attend the baby. Digging through the bag for a diaper and wipes he found a manila folder and a white envelope with his name on it. Once Mikasa was asleep, he made himself tea and opened the letter addressed to him.
Mikasa's parents were killed and I was next of kin but I don't want a brat chasing me around. Keep her or put her in the system. I don't give a rat's ass. I don't care what you do. All her documents are in the folder. Good luck kid.
After opening the folder he found her birth certificate, pictures of her with her parents, and one of her with Kenny.
He rubbed his head feeling a migraine coming. His life just keeps getting more complicated. Could he do it? Would Mikasa be better with or without him? Would he be able to make sure she grew up nice and healthy? A picture of a blonde haired boy and a red-haired girl popped into his head. He slammed his hand down on the kitchen table.
'Damn it.'