chasing cars

SUMMARY: Mikasa thinks she should get mad at Connie for distracting her during a car chase with the infamous Titan gang, but having Corporal Rivaille at her beck and call sort of makes up for it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE (please read): So, this is the last chapter. Honestly, I've had so many problems with this fic and they all stem from the fact that I started out with the intention to make it a collection of drabbles, but ended up with a semblance of a plot, only to have no idea where I wanted it to go. This will be the final chapter, owing to the fact that any further damage control I do will only make things worse.

Thank you to everyone who's supported me while I've written this fic, whether you've reviewed, favourited, followed, or just read. I really appreciate every bit of it and knowing that you guys were eagerly awaiting an update really cheers me up. This was my first SnK fic-my first foray into the fandom-and you guys were really, really fantastic in welcoming me. Now, I'm a little more familiar with the characters and it's a little easier to write them. And I've learned to parse out a plot before starting the writing process.

So, thank you guys again for your support! I will be continuing to work on my other fics, as well as a few oneshots I have in mind, but this is the end for "Let's Play Pretend".


"All units in the immediate vicinity proceed to the Shiganshina District. There's been a shooting. Suspects are armed and dangerous. Vehicle is a maroon van."

Connie threw himself toward the radio and cranked the volume. "Mikasa, let's go!"

Mikasa, who'd been casually cruising, shifted the car into gear. Flicking the siren on, she nodded to Connie and began speeding through the streets of the Shiganshina District, in pursuit of the culprits.

"This is sort of exciting!" Connie yelled over the din of the siren. "I mean, this is the first time we've been involved in a car chase!"

Mikasa silenced him with a withering glare. "We're chasing after criminals who could possibly kill us. I fail to see the excitement."

"But we'll impress the uppers!" Connie made wild gesticulations. "And Rivaille."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mikasa asked sharply, spinning the wheel quickly as she maneuvered between cars. "And can you please tell me where to go? I can't exactly look at the GPS and drive like this at the same time.

"Turn left at the upcoming intersection," Connie said. Then, he chuckled. "Come on, Mikasa. You have a thing for Rivaille."

"No, I don't." Mikasa ran a red light. And considered running over Connie.

"You can't hide these things from me and Sasha."

"Tell your girlfriend she needs to mind her own business."

Connie leaned to the right, staring out his side window. "I think you should make a right here."

Mikasa jerked the wheel, knocking Connie's head against the glass.

"Hey!" He said, indignantly.

"Maybe if you stopped making ridiculous assumptions, that wouldn't have happened. I can't believe I'm talking with you about this while we're pursuing dangerous criminals."

"Come on," said Connie. "You've been no fun since you and Jean broke up."

"Connie," said Mikasa warningly. "I'm not having this conversation with you."

"But you had it with Sasha—another right, Mikasa! Right, right!"

Mikasa nearly rode over several mailboxes. "Because Sasha is my best friend so obviously I would feel a little more comfortable discussing my love life with her."

"Ah-ha!" Connie yelled triumphantly. "That car! Over to your left, Mikasa! That's the one!"

Mikasa spun the wheel with one hand, smoothing angling their vehicle to chase the maroon van. By the looks of it, the Titan gang was once again, up to no good.

"So, you admit it then! You're attracted to Levi!"

Mikasa never had the chance to respond, because at that second, the maroon van swerved and crashed right into them.


The first time Mikasa tried to open her eyes, her eyelids felt like they were cemented together. Prying them open was an arduous process, but when she did, she was greeted with a surprising side.

"Ackerman," said Rivaille, sitting patiently at her bedside as if this was something he dealt with on a daily basis. "You're awake."

Mikasa opened her mouth, but her tongue got in the way. She felt groggy and lightheaded, the room spinning around her unpleasantly.

"Eren's been very worried about you. I thought the nurse was going to sedate him." Levi chuckled to himself. "How are you feeling?"

Mikasa tried to shrug, but her body was instantly wracked with a horrible, aching feeling.

Levi's eyes widened and he stood up from his chair. "Don't talk, Mikasa," he said. "If it hurts, I can call a nurse."

"No," Mikasa rasped. "Eren?"

"He's outside," said Levi. "The doctors thought he was causing too much of a disturbance. You should have seen him. He was walking in circles and cursing so loudly, I'm surprised nobody else complained."

"Connie?" Mikasa asked, wondering what became of her partner.

"He's fine," said Levi. "A lot better than you are, actually. He visited last night. Brought you those doughnuts."

Mikasa inched her head to the size, but there was nothing on the bedside table.

"Oh, and Eren might have eaten them."

Mikasa blinked.

"He's been here since he heard about the accident. If it wasn't for Armin, he probably wouldn't have eaten." Levi wrung his handkerchief between his hands, clearly worried about something.

Mikasa laid her head back against the pillow. "How are you?" She asked quietly.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Mikasa smiled weakly. "I'm fine." She held up her arm. "They've pumped me full of painkillers so I can't feel a thing except how high I may or may not be."

"Mikasa." Levi put a hand on the bed, right next to hers, but not quite touching. "Are you okay?"

"Physically? Yes."

"And emotionally?"

Mikasa's face turned sour. "Well, I'm a little miffed that we let Moe get away," she said, referring to the absurdly cute Titan who everyone had taken to calling "Moe".

"In the bigger scheme of things, I'd rather he get away than you end up getting yourself killed."

Mikasa gave Levi a slightly loopy smile. "I'm glad I didn't get myself killed either. If I did, I probably wouldn't be able to see you anymore."

"Mikasa, we've been over this. We need to give it time before we let others know about the relationship between us."

"But, why do we have to wait?" Mikasa whined. "Jean and I are broken up and you're not with anyone and I'm not with anyone and we can be not with anyone together."

Levi gently detached his arm from Mikasa's iron grip. "Give it time," he promised. "And you're going to regret this all when the doctors stop pumping you full of medication."

"Am I really?" Mikasa asked, her eyes wide and frightened. "Am I really going to regret everything?"

Levi sighed. "If you're patient, you won't. I promise."

Mikasa settled back into her pillows happily. "'Good," she said. "Because I like you very much and I don't want to regret that."

Levi leaned forward, pushing a lock of Mikasa's hair off her forehead. "Neither do I."

Mikasa looked up with Levi adoringly. "Can you stay with me?"

"Eren and Armin are here."

Mikasa shook her head. "No," she said. "Can you stay with me?"

"Fine," conceded Levi. "But you have to promise to sleep. And not to tell anyone about us just yet. We have to wait just a little longer. Can you promise me that?"

"Yes," said Mikasa, sounding almost completely lucid. "I can promise that."

"Good," said Levi. "Here, I'll hold your hand so you know I'm right beside you. Is that okay?" He took her hand into his and squeezed it lightly.

Mikasa squeezed back. "I love you, Levi," she said airily, feeling her eyelids grow heavier and heavier.

Levi responded, but Mikasa didn't hear it, having already fallen asleep.


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