Just as a head's up for this chapter, there is mention of the fall of Shiganshina, just to clarify, despite me saying there was no Marley threat, the Colossus and Armoured titan did break through the wall as in the Manga, but there's been no threat since hence why Reiner, Bertolt and Annie are not in this fanfic. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3: Realisations

{Levi's POV}

We both laid there staring into each other's equally alarmed eyes. What was I doing? I was her Captain, yet, I wasn't moving, and neither was she? Did I like this? The feel of her on me? No, what a stupid thought, she's my subordinate for fuck's sake, and a teenager! As if she had read my mind, she suddenly leapt up in a fit of panic, brushing her clothes rapidly as if to banish the scent of me from herself. Surely, I wasn't that repulsive? My whole body was definitely a thousand times cleaner than hers anyway. Her eyes were still wide with shock as a new pink tinge coloured its way through her cheeks. I too, swiftly rose to my feet and brushed the dirt from the back of me. Disgusting dirt.

"Right…er…moving on swiftly, that was the end of your test."

Her short, black hair was the only thing facing me as she kept her head down, repeatedly brushing her clothes with her hands.

"Oi—Ackerman! I expect you to look at me when I address you."

Slowly, her head began to tilt upwards, her eyes were burning with rage, sending daggers into my body. Oh, for fuck's sake, I know she's a teenage girl but get over it already.

"I know you must be embarrassed but I tend to delete such events from my mind otherwise you'll just dwell on it for the rest of the day and that would be an enormous waste of your time, don't you agree?"

My words, seemed to have some effect on her as her fiery eyes began to cool off and relief flooded in, she was expecting me to make her feel even more uncomfortable with some witty remark, I bet. Well, I would have normally, if I hadn't been so affected by it myself.

"Yes, sir."

It was barely audible but I was thankful for some obedience from her at long last.

"Right, as I was saying, your test is over and I've graded you accordingly, I'll present a full report to Commander Erwin later on, which you too will receive a copy of, he has taken a particular interest in you and might I add it certainly is not every day the Commander of the Survey Corps is interested in a new recruit. So do not disappoint him, or me. Understand?"

Her blank glare had returned but this time there was a hint of something else within those dark, dark eyes, was it determination?

"I understand, sir. Does that conclude our training for today?"

"Almost."

"Almost? What is next?"

I smirked slightly as I turned my back to her and walked towards my horse. I was mounted in seconds; her small face was staring up at me from the exact same spot I'd left her. This one really had a mind of her own when it came to following the lead of her superior, most other soldiers followed me wherever I went, but not her.

"I understand."

That was the only response she gave before taking off at full pace towards the barracks. I watched her as she ran ahead, no falter in her speed or technique whatsoever. I decided to take my own leave, there was mountains of paperwork to do before lunchtime, and I hadn't even looked at it. I caught up to her in moments, her face not even bothering to register my presence.

"You better not take 25 minutes again. I expect to see you at the Barracks main entrance in 20. Chop, chop!"

I left her for dust but could have sworn I heard the word 'Bastard' escape from her lips. Well a bastard I may be, but I was determined to turn her into the most elite soldier this squadron had ever seen, and that was a promise.

"Mikasa! How was training with Captain Levi? Aw, I'm so jealous, why can't it be me!"

Connie wailed as he sat down with his lunch.

"Because you are shit at everything, why would Captain Levi, of all people waste his time with a runt like you!"

Sasha bellowed with laughter, potato flying out of her mouth as she did.

"Shut-up Sasha! I could take you any day! Isn't that right Mikasa?!"

Mikasa hadn't registered any of the conversation, she was keeping her eyes out for Eren, who was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Eren?"

"Oh, he's with Armin, um…he found it pretty difficult today, he's not physically strong like the rest of us but he tried goddam hard I can tell you that! Hanji and Mike were so impressed with his efforts!"

"I see, well I'm glad to hear it."

Mikasa wolfed down the rest of her meal before getting up swiftly to return to their dormitories to find the two boys.

"Wait-! Mikasa, before you go just tell us quickly how it was?! Please!"

Mikasa turned around slowly to see the pleading eyes of all her comrades, silently, begging her to reveal the details of her training session. She let out a heavy sigh before answering.

"To put it briefly, it was horrible, I hate the man, yes, he's a brilliant soldier with immense skill, but I dislike his character and personality, I don't agree with his methods and I sure as hell hate the fact that I have to actually follow him. If I could switch places with one of you I would but unfortunately, I can't. That's it."

Everyone's eyes were filled with horror and disbelief, Jean was even looking pained in the face as if expecting a heavy blow to the gut.

"Why are you all loo-!"

"I knew you didn't like me Ackerman, but hate? Now there's a strong word."

The hairs on her neck stood on end as the familiar click of the Captain's tongue sounded in her ears, she spun round immediately, to find his face staring back at her with one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me, I have to go."

Mikasa shook her head in frustration before attempting to storm off past him. Before she could get away successfully, something tight grabbed her wrist forcefully, she instantly saw his hand clamped around it, his grip tightening every second.

"Listen here, and listen good brat, I couldn't give a fuck what you think of me, hell, I couldn't even a give a crap whether you existed or not but you do and funnily enough so do I. I am your superior officer and it's gonna stay that way for a fucking long time. So, I suggest, you hold your tongue and obey my every command with your smart mouth shut. Got it? Report to my office at 1800 hours, serious discipline is in order."

The 104th cadets sat, quivering; Connie looked on the verge of passing out whilst Jean was welling up with tears at the sight of his beloved Mikasa being punished so ruthlessly.

"Hmph. Fine, sir."

Mikasa yanked her arm out of his hold, laying the sarcasm on thick at the word 'sir' and tore through the rest of the dining hall at breakneck speed.

"What are you brats looking at, hurry up and finishing eating, there are chores for you all to be getting on with. If you're still here, in 5 minutes, I will put you on my own personal cleaning duty, do I make myself clear?"

The cadets responded in unison, all except one.

"Yes sir!"

"Aye, aye Captain!"

Everyone's eyes immediately darted to Sasha who still had a mouthful of potato.

"Ur…I mean yes sir! My apologies, Captain Levi, sir!"

Levi simply glared at the girl in disgust, she was no girl in his eyes, but an animal.

"Stupid brats."

Luckily, he shook his head and walked away, leaving them all on the brink of collapse.

"Sasha, you fucking idiot!"

Connie virtually screamed the words in her face.

"What? Jeez, Connie calm down. Oh, are you gonna finish that?"

"You have to go to Captain Levi's office later on for one to one serious discipline?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!"

Eren was practically screaming in Mikasa's face as she washed some of the bruises on Armin's arms.

"I'll be fine Eren. I'm sorry, but I can't worship the ground he walks on like you, he's repulsive."

"AH! How can you say that he is giving you private tuition basically and you go and mouth off about him to everyone in the dining hall?!"

Armin sighed sadly, he knew Mikasa had really stepped in it but had decided to leave the questioning to Eren, though given his reaction he wished he hadn't.

"They asked how it was, I simply answered them honestly, would you rather I lie?"

Mikasa suddenly raised her eyes and challenged Eren, she knew this always made him back down.

"Well…er…no of course not but still I think you really need to stop and consider what you're doing."

"I agree, with Eren, Mikasa, you really don't want to make an enemy out of this guy. I heard before joining the scouts he was a top tier criminal in the underground city!"

Eren's eyes only widened further at this new piece of information.

"You see Mikasa! This guy is the most dangerous person on the planet so, please, for our sakes stop trying to get yourself killed!"

Mikasa let out a sigh as she stood watching the faces of the two she treasured most.

"Alright fine, I'll consider giving him less of a hard time. If you both promise to stop coming back from training with bruises. Armin, I know you find it tough but don't risk injuring yourself just to prove a point to the others! Your brain is your most valuable asset and if that gets damaged, we're all screwed. So please, both of you, look after yourselves."

The two boys simply nodded in return as Armin quickly changed the subject.

"Come in."

"Ah, Levi, what is it I can do for you?"

Erwin smiled pleasantly at the sight of his prized soldier.

"Give me everything you've got on Mikasa Ackerman."

Erwin's eyes lit up at the mention of her name.

"Ah, find her rather intriguing, do you? Can't say I disagree; she is quite something!"

"She's a pain in my ass, is what she is. Never have I met such a disrespectful cadet."

Levi let out a loud 'hmph' as he slumped into one of Erwin's chairs.

"Oh, I see. Well she has not had the easiest life Levi, in fact, the things she has seen only you, of all people, could relate to."

Levi's head snapped at this, he knew there was something similar about those eyes, the pain within them, the depth of suffering.

"Spill the beans then, honestly you're so bloody dramatic at times, there's no crowd of soldiers here now Erwin."

Erwin laughed at the sarcastic remark from Levi.

"She is the adoptive sister of Eren Yeager. Grisha Yeager, was a renowned doctor within Shiganshina district, single-handedly fighting off the devastating plague that occurred there many years ago. When Mikasa was nine years old, Grisha and Eren paid a routine visit to the Ackerman's home out in the mountains. When they arrived, they found the bodies of Mikasa's freshly butchered parents."

"Go on."

Levi was completely and utterly absorbed in the story of the girl's life.

"Grisha, requested Eren to wait at the path to the mountain, however, Eren stumbled upon an old cabin and saw the thugs who had killed Mikasa's parents, holding her hostage in the main room. Grisha, soon found the cabin worried that Eren had gone missing also, when he entered, he found the two children sitting amongst the bodies of three fresh corpses, blood everywhere, a brutal murder scene. The two had managed to stab and kill all three attackers by themselves. Grisha then took Mikasa in and they've lived together ever since."

"Well fuck me. I knew it."

Levi rested his forehead in his hand contemplating what he'd just heard.

"Yes, it really is horrific, then obviously you know about the fall of Shinganshina."

"Of course. Amazed nothing since has happened in light of that but go on."

"Well both Eren and Mikasa watched Mrs Yeager get eaten by a titan in front of their very eyes, a soldier from the Garrison who was friends with the family found the two trying helplessly to rescue her from their collapsed house, to no avail."

"Jesus."

Levi took a moment to let everything he had learnt sink in, he was no stranger to troubled backgrounds, and apparently like Mikasa, did not like to mention it at all or let it affect his actions now, yet they both shared those eyes, that gave away all their secret pain in an instant.

"Yes, Shadis remarked that he had never seen a person care for another the way Mikasa protects Eren, apparently, she cannot go a second without being near him or checking his every move. He is the sole reason she is here. She has made it perfectly clear she has no desire, whatsoever, to help humanity or bring victory to the Survey Corps, she simply follows Eren wherever he goes, ensuring his safety."

Erwin paused and began stroking his chin at the thought.

"Can we trust her then? If she blatantly has no loyalty to us?"

Protection, another thing they had in common, there was a time he followed the same rules as Mikasa herself.

"It seems she is also incredibly protective of the Arlert boy and has made good, strong friendships with her comrades, so I am sure she is trustworthy as she desires to protect them all. But overall, I'm unsure, but as a Commander I cannot sit idly by and let such phenomenal skills be wasted."

"I see. I must go."

Levi swiftly left his seat and abruptly headed for the door.

"So soon? Do you not care for some tea?"

Erwin beckoned after him with a concerned look on his face.

"It's 6pm, I have a prior engagement, see you tomorrow Erwin."

Levi flung his cloak behind him as he exited the grand office, his footsteps hammered along the corridor towards his office, where Ackerman was surely waiting for him.