From That Moment, I Understood (Chapter 2).
Sorry for the late update, I was out of the country so I could not post on fanfictionnet, however, I did post in on tumblr ^.^ Enjoy!
The Special-Ops Squad members noticed a change within the next following months. It seemed that the tension between Mikasa and their Corporal had finally cooled down. Their relationship was more relaxed; it wasn't like before where you can literally feel the spark of conflict when both of them were in the same room or within a few feet of each other.
Eren was ecstatic; in his eyes, he sees that Mikasa had probably given up revenge on Corporal Levi. He could see that she respected and admired him. But sometimes (if his eyes do not deceive him)… he would see that the Corporal and his sister were just a little too close.
He noticed this when he woke up in the middle of the night feeling thirsty. Heading to the mess hall, he spots the Corporal and his sister sitting down drinking tea in one of the tables. She was slightly leaning on the table, listening intently to whatever he was saying, while Levi had a hint of a smile on his face, his hands doing gestures on what he was talking about.
And then he heard it.
Mikasa's laugh.
She quickly smothered it as she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. He could not remember the last time he heard his sister laugh.
It wasn't feminine and giggly. It was deep, breathless, and Mikasa.
Then he saw that his Corporal's always stiff and stoic face, ease into softness in reaction to the beautiful sound.
Eren quietly retreated down the hall as he would surely be dead if he was caught.
Commander Erwin watched the scene in front of him.
The Scouting Legion and about to head back to the wall, but tending to the injured was prioritized first.
Levi had gotten injured during one of the missions, a small concussion but the blood made it look worse. A side of his face was bruised badly as it slammed on the ground.
He watched as one of his strongest soldiers, Mikasa Ackerman, gently wipe the Corporal's face with a wet towel. He was surprised that Levi didn't swat her hand away and tell her he can do it himself. But the look on Levi's face was different… seeming amused and, he dare thinks, pleased.
"Idiot," the Commander heard her mutter softly as she applied some medicinal cream to appease his stinging bruise, being very careful as to not making it contact with his left eye. The Corporal merely chuckled.
He saw Levi's eyes close as her fingers fluttered around his head delicately like butterflies, wrapping the bandages tenderly around his head.
"Does it hurt?" she questioned worriedly, a scowl on her face.
"…A little."
The Commander was taken back when he saw her give a swift peck of her lips on Levi's bandaged wound.
A cheeky grin emerged on his face as Levi commented, "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Mikasa blushed, pulling the scarf up to her nose.
Another attack on another district.
It was unclear as to how the Titans breached the wall again, but it did. And number one priority is to evacuate the citizens. The district was ablaze and the foundation of homes fall to ruin as the Titans lumbered their way through.
Mikasa found an old woman and two of her grandchildren trapped in their home. The grandmother could not move while the two children did not want to leave her. Mikasa gently carried the old woman on her back, while the children held on to her green cloak. Taking great pains to 3DMG to the inner wall's gate with 3 people, she successfully managed to get them to safety.
Hanji was reading a report on the Titans' behavior from the recently invaded district when she turned a corner and saw Levi and Mikasa in the empty hallway outside Mikasa's room.
The Corporal gave her disapproving look.
Curious and interested, Hanji hid behind the corner wall, eavesdropping on their conversation.
"That was reckless and dangerous," he glared at her, scowling deeply. "You know the maneuver gear is unreliable to handle that much weight." He fought the urge to sigh, there was no getting through this girl. She would do anything to save anyone.
Mikasa did not answer as she simply stood in front of him.
"Mikasa, we've had this conversation before…" Levi groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You can't save everyone, as much as you want to dive straight into the danger."
"When I get the opportunity to save someone's life, I take it," she murmured quietly. "I don't hesitate because that opportunity can be gone within a second of indecision. I don't regret what I did, I don't regret anything I've done until this point…"
He understood her perfectly of course… but still.
Levi scoffed and crossed his arms, "I'm not asking you to regret it. Just… be careful dammit. Because I know from the moment you take that opportunity, you don't look back and you commit your life to completing the task regardless of orders or to people who care about you."
Hanji raised an eyebrow, people who care about you?
Confused, Mikasa asked hesitantly, "… what do you mean by that, Corporal?"
Grinning, Hanji thought to herself, Yeaaaah, Leviiii. Whaddaya mean by that?
A tinge of red colored the Corporal's cheeks as he realized what he had just said.
"Just… next time, if you can't ask for back up, you can ask me… that's an order, Ackerman." Levi turned his heel and strode towards the opposite end of the hall while Mikasa stood in front of her room, her cheeks, too, with a tinge of red.
Still grinning, Hanji skipped back to where she came from, Oh Leviiii, you silly little man…
It was the eve of December 25th. It had been 8 months since the Corporal and Mikasa built their strangely comfortable relationship.
The nature of their relationship was difficult to describe: they still had the superior and subordinate relationship but it would sometimes go beyond that and it would transition to a close friendship…. And sometimes to an intimate friendship.
Mikasa sat on the dinner table, her friends chatting and eating. She chewed on her food, deep in thought. What was her relationship to the Corporal…?
It was his birthday tomorrow.
She had already prepared a gift for him, the others were so very curious but Armin had an idea on what it was.
As dinner ended, night fell and soon another day rose.
Mikasa cracked her gray eyes open, it was dawn. She knew that the Corporal was already awake. Dressing up in her uniform, without the jacket and the 3DMG, buttoning up her white shirt, rolling the sleeves to her elbows, and wrapping her precious red scarf around her neck. She took the medium sized box wrapped in yellow paper under the bunk bed. She silently went out the room, closing the door gently as to not wake Sasha and Krista.
She heard the shuffle of footsteps as she closed in his bedroom, indicating he was awake. Knocking on the door, she was met with Levi's tired face; damp hair from his shower and his shirt not buttoned all the way, revealing the pale skin on the base of his throat.
His face relaxed as he saw her, then his eyes went down to the box she was holding. Crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the doorframe, he gave a small smile, "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
He knew why she was here… he just couldn't help but ask and see her flustered reaction.
Mikasa blushed, looking at her toes and handed him the box, and mumbled. "…Happy birthday, Corporal."
Levi took her wrist and dragged her into his room, swiftly closing the door. She let out a little yelp of surprise as she was pressed up against his door.
"Is this all I'm getting today?" he whispered, still holding onto her wrist.
Embarrassed and slightly panicked at the close proximity, Mikasa shoved him off her, pushing his shoulders roughly as she handed the box.
"No need to get so rough," grumbling and taking the box gently from her hands, he went to his desk to open it.
Mikasa observed him closely as he unwrapped it and opened.
For a moment, he stared at it. Then delicately picked up the fabric with his fingers.
"Mikasa… you made this?" he murmured, looking at her.
She silently nodded. She stood up, taking the fabric from his fingers into her own and she wrapped it around his neck.
"Is it warm… Levi?" she whispered softly, her hands still holding onto the fabric around his neck.
He didn't respond as he stared at her eyes.
He finally understood why that damn red scarf and Jaeger were so important to her. It was something that cannot be explained, but can be understood through action. It was a tender feeling of love and care, full of meaning and purpose.
Placing both of his hands on either side of her face, he gently pulled her face as he kissed her.
Mikasa closed her eyes, feeling blood rush to her cheeks once again, and grasped the fabric, pulling him closer. Warm, soft… a hint of mint toothpaste… His nose pressed against hers, fingers running through the sides of her hair…
As Levi released her lips, he sighed in content, resting his forehead against her with smiles on both of their faces.
During breakfast, Mikasa and Levi entered the mess hall, fingers intertwined. The members of the Scouting Legion turned to see Humanity's Strongest duo.
Corporal Levi was not wearing his ever-present white cravat, instead, a white knitted silk scarf took place around his neck.
Mikasa looked away from her comrades' staring, pulling her scarf to her nose, while Levi glared at them, barking to get back to whatever the hell they were doing.
Two-shot is done, whoooo~ I'm planning on making a long fic since it's summer, however, I need to work out the kinks and holes in my plot (holey shite, that's gonna be a pain in the ass).
Oh, and I will be joining RivaMika Week! I'm so excited! I hope you enjoyed reading this! :D