Chapter 11: Humanity's Hottest Achieves Resolution

Levi strode into the soldiers' barracks with a bouquet of flowers. His mouth was dry and his heart was racing, but he forced himself to keep walking until he stood before Mikasa's room. He knocked. Slow steps approached, and the door creaked open. Levi saw surprise flash across Mikasa's face and he jammed his foot into the door as she tried to slam it shut.

"Is this how you greet guests?" He grunted in pain.

"I'm not dressed. Give me a moment," she said, averting his gaze. He glanced down and noticed her in a simple, white nightgown. He smirked and she blushed.

"Your innocent act doesn't fool me. Plus, you'll take ages to change with your injuries. Let me in."

Mikasa glared daggers at him but let him in, grumbling. He stepped into a small, modestly furnished room. Compared to his last visit, it was much brighter. And sparkling clean. Levi raised an eyebrow.

"It keeps me busy," Mikasa said grudgingly as a smug expression flitted across the corporal's face.

"Still, I hope you're getting enough rest," he said. Mikasa nodded and looked away, and they were silent for a while. Levi remembered his gift.

"I brought you flowers," he said, shoving the bouquet into Mikasa's arms.

"Thank you," she whispered shyly. The corporal suddenly felt an uncharacteristic heat creep across his face and promptly turned to face the window so she could not see his expression.

"I can see your face. I wiped the window using your twist-and-swipe technique."

He turned around and glared at her, for once incensed by perfectly polished glass. "Tch." But Mikasa's attention had returned to the flowers.

"Daffodils, how pretty," she whispered, playing with the petals. Suddenly she winced, and Levi started. It was a miracle that Mikasa was moving around, what with the harsh punishment she had received.

"What do you want?"

"A vase to put the flowers in. There's one in the cabinet over there."

"I'll get it for you." Levi walked past Mikasa and retrieved the vase. He filled it with water from the nearby sink and placed it on the small, wooden table at the centre of the room.

Levi stood back as Mikasa untied the string keeping the stalks together and placed the daffodils into their new home. She began to arrange them, her delicate, nimble fingers shifting each flower with purpose.

"You look like you've done this before," he observed.

"When I was young, I used to gather flowers in the mountains with my mother all day. We'd take them back home and arrange them for my father."

He watched her for a while, suddenly tongue-tied. After trying and failing to continue light conversation, he cleared his throat.

"I went to see Erwin a few days ago. He told me that they would use our relationship to boost public support. Brand us as the 'Humanity's Strongest' couple." Even after he had had time to digest the news, the term left a bitter taste in Levi's mouth. "I'm sorry that you got roped into this. The media is ruthless when it comes to gossip and I should have thought twice before getting carried away with you in Hart's house."

"It was unfair of me to write those things about you. You were too soft on me, even when you found out. Erwin's punishment was more than fair. I'm grateful to him, and to Eren and Armin, for letting me bargain my way to your side. Now that we're both in the spotlight, I know what you're going through and I can help you through it as well." Her hands paused over the stems and she looked away. "I'm sorry for making you famous in the first place."

"Now infamous," he corrected her. "But I also prefer it this way. At least I won't have to worry about being molested in public anymore." She looked at him briefly, an amused look flitting across her face.

They were silent for a few moments before Mikasa spoke again. She spoke casually, but her frame was tense.

"Did the commander tell you to distance yourself from me?"

"Yes, and he made me promise that I would never prioritise you above a mission. I gave him my word."

Mikasa's eyes fell. "Why are you here then?" She whispered bitterly. "Why did you give me these flowers, if only to tell me that we can't be with each other anymore?"

"You misunderstand."

"What?"

"I only swore to not prioritise you above a mission. He told me to stop seeing you, but I didn't swear to that, so like hell I'm listening." As he said this, Levi remembered how deliberately Erwin had phrased his words and was grateful. "It took me this long to realise my feelings. It would be stupid to pretend I didn't care, and you showed me that. Painful as it might be, I would rather live and die knowing how you felt about me."

He huffed, mumbling afterwards, "I hope you feel the same."

Mikasa's onyx eyes glittered and filled with tears. "Idiot."

Levi stared at her. He had expected his words to make her happy, but instead she was crying. He was at once disheartened and annoyed at being rebuked after pouring his heart out. "Tch, what a pain – "

"No!" Mikasa shook her head and a small laugh escaped her. "I'm so glad – " She turned to look at the corporal, hurriedly brushing the tears from her eyes, " – so glad you feel the same way I do. For so long, I believed I was in love with Eren. I've told you how he was always looking past me, and you were right; somewhere along the line, I became so insecure that I couldn't breathe if I didn't so much as know where he was. It hurt so much, working hard to get his attention and getting nowhere. So when you scheduled that meeting at the coffee shop, I felt like I had to go, even if it meant revealing myself, because you noticed me."

She paused for breath, blushing at her childish admission, but ploughed on.

"I think I almost fell into the same trap with you. You fed my irrational need for attention with the looks and the sex, and it never seemed like enough. I wanted more, and I became so obsessed and insecure that I doubted myself when I read that newspaper clipping. But when I saw how you couldn't lie to me in your office and again in Rafaella Hart's mansion, even when you were trying to push me away, you gave me confidence. Confidence in myself, and confidence in us. And hearing your words now confirms it. I don't need to be by your side all the time. I don't always need to know where you are, what you're doing, or who you're with. It's enough for me to know how you feel about me. So finally, puzzling over my feelings again and again, I've worked it all out. I see Eren more as a treasured brother. And you have taken his place, right here." She leaned towards him, putting her hand on her chest. "In my heart. So thank you, heichou. Thank you for making me feel so much fuller, so much freer, so, so much more…" Tears welled in her eyes again at this admission.

Levi was surprised by Mikasa's unusual outburst. Up until now, he had only ever heard government bigwigs give long-winded speeches in assemblies. Usually, he didn't give a twig about what they had to say and used the time to polish his blades and lob the dirt into Hange's mouth as she snored next to him (what doesn't kill you makes you stronger). But this time was different. Here was someone he truly cared for, reciprocating his feelings in so many words. If Mikasa wanted to talk forever – what about was immaterial – he was happy to stick around and listen.

He drank in the sight of radiant Mikasa in her nightgown, smiling through tears over a vase of daffodils, looking all the years of her youth. It was hard to believe this woman was also a battle-hardened soldier.

But he now realised that Mikasa was more than just her youth and her beauty. She was strong, realising her feelings for what they were and forcing him to face his own when he couldn't do it himself. She was devoted, exposing herself to public ridicule and taking twenty-four lashes without complaint to earn a place by his side. And she was smart, capturing the hearts and minds of a city with pen and paper. That this woman had revealed so many facets of her character to him in the last few months alone moved and humbled him greatly. There was only one thing left to say. He would say it for Mikasa, even if his teeth rotted and fell out afterwards.

In two long strides with two short legs he moved to Mikasa's side and enveloped her in a strong embrace.

"I love you."

He pulled away hastily when she hissed.

"My back."

"Sorry." The mood seemed broken, but then a pair of slender arms wrapped quickly around his waist, arresting him in place.

"I love you, too."

Levi gazed at Mikasa's smiling face and planted a kiss on her cheek. But despite his elation at hearing her words, Levi was not used to tender moments. It wasn't long before he started to feel restless and awkward in the peaceful atmosphere. He angled Mikasa's chin towards him.

"I'm not used to all this saccharine nonsense, so I've got a little game for you."

Dark lashes fluttered at him. "Oh?"

"You said earlier that you needed something to keep you busy. I've thought of an exercise that I think you'll like very much. Think of it as…resistance training."

Without warning, Levi led Mikasa to the bed. He laid her down and claimed her mouth with his in a rough kiss, dominating her tongue and relishing her sweet taste. Then, slowly, he pressed his fingers against the thin cloth of her nightgown, rubbing tantalisingly close to the swell of her breasts. She caressed his shoulders with her fingertips, and he began to move his hips against hers in a slow, torturous grind. Mikasa felt him. Her cheeks coloured prettily, and her mouth formed a silent 'O' as she arched in response. Levi warmed to the sight of how violently she reacted to his ministrations but denied his own pleasure, waiting, waiting until she was shivering, whimpering, pleading for more…

…and then pulled away, robbing her of all stimuli. Mikasa's eyes flew open, disoriented.

"Levi!" She cried wantonly, reaching for him. A delicious shiver jolted down his spine at the sound of his name. He stayed just out of reach and watched in silent satisfaction as she bucked in frustration before curling on her side, panting heavily.

"That's a good start," he purred. "I like it when you say my name like that. In fact, I think I might make you do that again and again until your voice goes hoarse..."

He was thoroughly aroused by the twin emotions of bliss and terror that sparked in Mikasa's eyes. They both knew that in her current state, there was nothing she could do to stop him.

"You're cruel," she gasped.

"And you love it," he whispered darkly, moving in once again.

Over the following weeks, Levi made several public appearances and gave interviews providing insight on topics from being Humanity's Strongest to dating the woman worth one hundred soldiers. Although the scars on her back never faded, Mikasa made a remarkably speedy recovery and soon joined Levi in his interviews. At first a reticent wallflower, she transformed into a striking beauty with a sharp tongue and wit under Ezra's patient and firm guidance. The relationship between Humanity's Strongest was both passionate and wild, swinging from intense power struggles to tender bouts of lovemaking. These electrifying interactions kept Levi, Mikasa, and the rest of the Levi squad on their toes.

As the popularity of the couple known as 'Humanity's Strongest' boosted the Scouts' reputation to unimaginable heights, Erwin's plan was approved and granted funding by the Premier and the scouts were able to train their new recruits and gather the resources they needed to reclaim Wall Maria. Whether or not the commander believed the glowing reports accurately portrayed the romance shared by Humanity's Strongest soldiers remained unknown, for he said nothing more on the subject to either Levi or Mikasa.

Finally, they were ready for their mission, and the day of their departure for Wall Maria arrived. Levi was put in charge of overseeing the soldiers' preparations and shifted into his element as he strode through the barracks, scathing insults rolling off his tongue.

"Quincey, your tent looks like horse shit. Fold it again and do it properly. Psim, did you fart in your backpack and keep it sealed for weeks? Clean out that God-awful smell or get a new pack, I don't want you pulling a Dutch oven on myself or on any of the senior officers. Rothenstein, stop slacking off and help Weber get dressed. No, I don't care if you see something you don't want to. It's your fault you let the idiot drink too much last night. On that note, both of you get ten laps around the compound for slacking off."

He paused as he passed Mikasa's room and, unable to control himself, peered in. His lover's room was notably less clean than before, but she was packed and ready to depart. He stepped inside.

"You're just in time. I need to give you something."

"Not a great time, Mikasa. We're about to leave." He raised an eyebrow, but Mikasa had already moved to the cabinet and returned with a small, brown bag. Levi recognised it as the bag she was clutching to her chest when he had run into her at the military gates a few months ago.

He opened it. Inside was a white, silky cravat wrapped neatly in thin, white paper. Amidst the chaos of the past few months, Levi had forgotten to replace his cravat.

"I got this for you a while ago, but with everything that's happened I forgot to give it to you. I thought I would make amends by replacing the one you lost," she said.

Levi froze.

"You know about – "

"Yes. I had to wring Emilius out a few times, but he told me what he made you do on the wall. Don't be annoyed," she hushed the corporal's indignant death threats at the red-haired giant, "and let me tie this on for you."

He stilled when he felt her fingers move nimbly around his neck, tying the simple knot, tucking it neatly underneath his collar and fanning it out.

"You really wanted that story you wrote about me to be true, huh," he remarked dryly.

"Maybe," she replied cryptically, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "But don't you dare use this as a cleaning cloth or I'll kick your teeth out."

"Tch. And you think I'm a savage." He looked down at his new cravat, his eyes softening momentarily. "Thank you." He leaned up to kiss her on the forehead.

Hange's head appeared around the door. "Oi chibi, I thought I'd find you here. Oops, caught you in the middle of your calf raises, I see."

Levi sprang away from Mikasa and looked away, cursing, as Mikasa blushed and ducked into her scarf. "Don't let me interrupt you lovebirds. Erwin just sent me to remind you that he wants everyone downstairs and ready in half an hour. I'm sure that's more than enough time for you to sort your business out," Hange waggled her eyebrows.

"Get out!" Levi roared, chucking the chair at Hange. The door slammed shut on Hange's laughter and the chair clattered harmlessly to the floor.

When he was satisfied that Hange had indeed left, Levi sighed and turned to Mikasa. "Mikasa, I don't want to mention this again, but I need to. I've given Erwin my word to stay impartial to you during missions. I'll do my best to protect you, but it's a dangerous mission and I can't guarantee your safety."

"I'm fine with that, as long as we're fighting together. And heichou – "

"Levi."

" – Levi, I don't need protecting. After all, we are Humanity's Strongest – " she kissed him and led him to the door, her grey eyes glittering, " – and Humanity's Hottest."

- FIN -

A/N: And that's a wrap! Thank you everybody for your support on this fic and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it! All reviews are much appreciated and I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially now that the story is finished. I have several ideas for additional Levi/Mikasa fics, so if you liked this fic keep watching this space for my future works. Alternatively, please let me know if you have any ideas you'd like to see me write up. I can't guarantee I'll take all requests, but I certainly will consider them! - flameinice3838