Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin.

Summary: Modern AU. Levi attends the wedding of a university friend where he reunites with his first and last love. Romance/Angst.

Song: At Last by Kevin Michael

Throughout Time

at last

Levi was still where he sat, waiting for the ceremony to proceed. Around him, people were drifting into the room, filling vacant seats. A hand held onto the intricately designed pamphlet of the wedding program as his eyes looked at the altar indifferently. There was this extravagant bouquet of white roses drabbed with carnations and greens over his shoulder, right by the aisle. He tried to keep his mind off it, not wanting the protruding object to irk him as much as it should. Then maybe, he thought, no matter how improbable, he'd find the ceremony rather pleasant.

Right before the string quartet started the prelude to opening processional, a light tap came to his shoulder. The nonchalant young man dressed to the nines turned his eyes to glance above and found himself staring into a familiar pair of dark grey eyes. For a second, a foreign feeling of anticipation crept into his system.

"Excuse me." Came her smooth voice. Levi looked away, suddenly drained of feeling, suddenly feeling the need to mask a more indifferent exterior. He shifted his legs to give her room to pass. Once she settled beside him, with her shawled arm next to his slick black coat, she lightly leaned against him, whispering into his ear as the music continued. "It's been a long time."

"Ah." The abrasive man grunted distantly, keeping his gaze at the processional. He tried not to think about the beautiful lady beside him. He tried to occupy his thoughts from the fact that he fell in love with her in university. He tried to remind himself that it has been nearly a year since he last saw her. It was hard to have kept his emotions intact all for the sake of his sanity. Surely, he could keep his actions civil for a few more hours before their imminent and final farewell.

The pleasant gasps and approving glances caught him from his reverie. He followed the people's gaze to the entrance door and found his lips curving into a small smile. The bride's steps were careful, he mused. Her usually inappropriate posterior was forgone and painted to accentuate her lovely features. The old man beside her, her father, kept a straight face, surely trying to keep himself from shedding a happy tear.

Gradually, as the ceremony progressed, Levi's mood lightened. And for the briefest moment, as if the most natural thing in the world, having been fully aware of the presence of the beauty beside him, he gently took his seatmate's hand in his and intertwined their fingers. His gaze unwavering as he kept looking forth. The vows and promises, the loving gazes of forever exchanged by the couple before them melted his coarse exterior. And the woman to his left could only follow his example, her eyes drifting to his tender touch, tightening her hold on his as they continued to lie witness to the union.

When the ceremony ended, they all stood to congratulate the newlywed couple with their applause, cheers, and pellets. Levi proceeded to walk outside, following the crowd gathering by the entrance door. He leaned on the frame in amusement as he watched the women cluster next to the bride raising her hands to throw the bouquet.

His grey eyes followed the thrown roses. And for a second, white and green seemed to have etched itself into the blue sky. Entranced, he failed to notice the falling debris. And before he knew it, the bouquet hit him square on the head. The guests near him laughed before he could even process what happened. He shook his head, blinking in bewilderment as he picked the bouquet from the floor.

"Do you want it?" He casually asks his friend. The lady shakes her head. Her eyes dancing in mirth. Frowning amidst the touch of pink of his cheeks, he proceeded to give away his unwanted gift. A number of hands desperately clung onto him in an instant, fighting for the bouquet. In the shuffle, Levi found himself being pulled away. His eyes were wide in shock as he watched the women fight over the flowers. He never thought people could be that crazy for a superstition. "What the hell." was all he could utter as he turned to his savior.

"Are you going to the reception?"

Levi's eyes flickered. Then, standing tall as he readjusted his cravat and brushed away the traces of the mauling crowd on his clothes, he told her civilly.

"Might as well." His eyes were glued to his hands which he decided were soiled by the sweaty palms of silly strangers. He then turned to her, finding she had waited for him. "You can go ahead." He raised his hands with a frown. "I need to wash my hands."

She nods and gives him a knowing smile before turning to leave. The clicking of her heels merged with the leaving crowd.

When he arrived at the reception, everyone's attention was on the couple as they took the first slice of their enormous wedding cake. He slipped into the shadows by the back. His eyes watched them as their hands fumbled against each other, laughing in unison as they did. The yellow light filling the vast reception hall was soft to the eye. And the light swing music accentuated the easy atmosphere.

As he sat on his table, he looked around and sighed in gratitude. She was seated tables away.

Around the fifth song that night, the bride settled on the empty seat beside Levi. The silent man was lazily nursing his drink while a number of couples slowly swayed to the soft jazz music playing on the background.

"So, how's it going?" She asks him in her usual perky manner. His eyes flickered to the solitary curl at the side of her face hair, finding it irksome. The lock must have loosened from its do when she danced earlier. The glittering eyes of the newly married girl flashed to her side, off to another table where a dashing woman brought her beauty no gratification. Like Levi, she practiced the unneeded abstinence from dancing. And from the looks of it, she was declining her seventh offer that night. Levi's grey eyes followed the bride's gaze and could only let out an irritated sigh.

"Don't tell me you planned this."

The woman's eyes flashed back to him before letting out a silly grin.

"I just want my friends to get together."

Levi cast his eyes away in disinterest, wanting nothing more but for the nosy woman to go away.

"Ask her to dance." Her eyes were still on the lone lady's figure. The man beside her snorted. His gaze glanced back.

"Can't you see she doesn't want to?" He sipped his whisky. Another man approached her, confident he'd be the one to win her that night. "She'll end up with a sore neck from the constant shaking of her head."

The bride sighed. Knowing fully that her pleas were falling on deaf ears. Taking matters into her own hands, she considered herself immaculate for doing her good friends a favor amidst the night being hers, she made her way to the stage and grabbed the microphone.

"It's time for all singles to dance." She smiled sweetly. Levi glared. She was obviously looking at him. "You're welcome." She finishes before handing the mic back to the band.

Finding her means too juvenile and crass, he knew he shouldn't have been fooled by her graceful demeanor. He took his drink and stood up, walking out into the balcony amidst the cold winter's breeze. She was still the same inappropriate junior during their university days, he thought to himself irritably. Why couldn't she just accept things as they are like he has? And to think he was actually the fool in love.

He leaned on the impressive balcony railings just as the slow swing music started. His eyes were cast down at the dark sea below. It's splashing nearly drowning the noise from the reception. He thought of leaving when he saw her walk out to the dance floor. Her pale arm linked to another. He mused that, maybe, there was a limit to his façade of indifference. Her silky ebony hair was longer. Her features more regal, her grace more immaculate.

As he watched her sway with the slow rhythm of the music, he wondered why he never made her his. They had been inseparable in university. She was his constant companion, teammate, and equal. Capturing her heart, he asked himself, why didn't he even try?

"Ah." He rocks on his glass fumbled as it melted. He didn't deserve her. He smiles to himself bitterly. The alcohol was getting to his head., he decided. He had almost forgotten that amidst his hard work, social standing, and determination, he had nothing else to offer. Nothing good could come off a meager orphan with no connections.

Deciding his musings started bringing him nothing but grief, he set down his drink and, with a final glance at the dance floor, left the reception. As he descended down the extravagant marbled steps, his sheen black dress shoes clicked with every step. His stature was firm and tall as he made his way out of the hall. A few people dressed in expressive garbs were scattered throughout the area. Next to the entrance where he stood, waiting for the chauffeur to deliver his convertible, his gaze flickered to the stairs. His eyes widened at the sight of her carefully making her way down.

Without thinking, he quickly made his way to her and held out a hand.

"Are you an idiot?" He gritted as they continued to descend the vast steps. "You could've easily fallen."

"You were leaving." She said instead. Amidst the ache of her feet, she never was one for obstructive high heels, she stood by him as he waited for his ride. Levi looked at her, trying to unmask her cool exterior. But, unable to comprehend her, settled himself with the silence that followed. In time, his car turned to the driveway.

"Can you see yourself back?" He asked her before he left. This would be the last time he'd see her, he knew.

She nodded, not even trying to shadow her dissatisfaction with a smile. As he turned to leave, she spoke up.

"Why did you never tell me?"

Levi froze. Then, turned to her, unfiltered as he said,

"Because nothing would come of it." He descended the stairs to the driveway. Behind him, he could hear her steps follow. He allowed himself one last glance and told her grimly and bitterly. "You were engaged. There was nothing I could do. You weren't even supposed to find out." He looked away and continued. "Either way, you'll be engaged again soon. That pristine future just took a quick detour."

"How can you say that?" Her voice quivered. He was sure not to look at her face, fearing he might drown in her sorrow. He did his best to keep his emotions intact for them both. After this night, it would all be over, he repeated to himself in a sour mantra.

In the silence that ensued, Levi pulled open the door of his car. Yet, she still didn't leave.

"You don't need to do me any favors, Ackerman." He told her coyly, albeit with a touch of self-pity, as he slipped into his seat. A click from the other side took him by surprise. And before he could retaliate, she occupied the seat beside him.

"From now on, I'm going wherever you are." She told him simply as she kicked off her heels and reclined her seat, throwing her shawl and purse at the backseat. Levi watched her in absolute bewilderment. She returned his gaze with a beautiful smile. Her luscious ebony hair caught with the breeze. Before she knew it, Levi buried his face in the palm of his hands and groaned. She sat up in an instant, her expression imploring as she placed a gentle hand on his back while the other pulled his hands away from his face. The man turned to her with a grave expression, catching her off guard.

"I just cleaned the backseat."

Mikasa blinked, utterly stupefied. And before she knew it, she broke out in a laugh, leaning in to kiss the lips she's dreamt off since their first day in university.

TBC.

Feel free to make requests!

Explanations for fear I wasn't able to deliver properly. Still, hope you understood what was happening.

1. Levi's a poor orphan who, out of his own prowess, rises up the social ladder because of his inherent talent and determination. Mikasa's someone he meets in a prestigious university he's attending. She's rich, smart, and everything he can never have. At the time they got close in college, she was already engaged to a man as rich as she even though she was already falling for Levi. Throughout their four years in university, the graduate without addressing their feelings.

2. Mikasa breaks of her engagement for a reason not revealed. OK. Let's ASSUME it's because she loves Levi. (Obviously.)

3. Levi still thinks he's not good enough, that Mikasa still has a better life ahead. Sure, his wealth will grow but honestly speaking, she'll never have the helicopters and private plane rides she's accustomed too with him. YES. She's richie-rich-rich. Also, adding the fact that there are people from his dark past (yes we'll assume he was a street urchin like in the canon!verse at one point) looking for him, tying him down. (kinda.) So, in the reception, he distances himself and leaves.

4. Finally Mikasa, the bolder of the two apparently in this story, admits her devotion to him. And of course, before he acknowledges this, his OCD strikes.