Disclaimer: I don't own Shingeki no Kyojin.
Summary: Levi shares a cup of tea with Mikasa. Possible spoilers.
Throughout Time
the recipe for intimacy
When Levi walks into the kitchen at the back, behind the mess hall, he couldn't really say he was surprised to find the ebony-haired beauty still frozen where she sat earlier during their briefing. The sight of her brought an annoying stinging sensation to the swell she had so willingly embedded to his left cheek with her ever obliging right hook. The squad captain sighed. With his crass manner of address, such incidents were inevitable he mused.
Mikasa doesn't acknowledge him as he entered. Her fists were tight over the table. Her knuckles were red from earlier's brawl. She herself was sporting a bruised lip, among others. Regardless to say, Levi was not one not to retaliate. The news he broke was utterly ludicrous. He even had the gall to make an announcement in front of the entire legion. She knew she trusted him. She respected her captain, after all he's been through - after all they've been through. But the idea and Levi's apathetic expression wouldn't sit well with her - she couldn't let go of Eren. Above all else, there was no one more important, no one she cherished more. If anything were to happen to Eren, she was certain - no one around would fight as hard as she would to assure his safety. No one. Not even, ebony eyes flicker to the side where Levi was, their captain.
The wooden cupboards creak when Levi opened them. The short man had to tiptoe to peer into the cabinet's contents, hoping there was still some of his tea leaves left over. His eyes light up at the sight of his jasmine tea. Before long, he was seeping his tea in his brewer.
It was remarkable really, how they managed to keep their calm amid being close to tearing each other's limbs earlier. Call it the heat of the moment, Levi shrugged. Now that he had his wits back to him, he was willing to accept he could have held his tongue. Then again, his tongue clicked, the bruise on his cheek was an unnecessary irritation. And, regardless of what he said, he was on the right. He always was.
Still, he prepared two cups of tea.
To say Mikasa was surprised when Levi placed a fresh cup of tea before her was an understatement. She barely sputtered a "Thank you." before inconspicuously taking the mug he offered to her and hiding her face in discomfort. Levi looked away disinterested as he took the seat across from her. Now, she was embarrassed. What was wrong with her?
"I don't blame you." He tells her simply before taking a sip of his beverage. When he set down his drink, he continued. "And you can't blame me for doing my job."
Mikasa said nothing to this. And quiet ensued. Their breathing, the light howling of the wind outside, the flickering of the lamp, barely made noise. For a long while, as they drank their tea, they sat in an companionable silence; a moment the young woman later chose to interrupt. "If I choose to deny the post-"
"You'll be removed from service." Levi nodded. "Among other punishments." A second passes and her captain sighs. "I distinctly remember already telling you this - you brats can't have everything you want."
Mikasa's brows crease defensively. "I don't."
Suddenly, Levi looks up and holds her gaze with a sober expression. "I never understood your attachment to Eren. I've only tolerated it because you were necessary to ensure his safety. However, from this point on, he no longer needs you. You have to accept this." He hesitates before continuing. "I don't want to lose a perfectly good soldier."
Mikasa's grip on her mug tightens. Her jaws clench in frustration. In a few days, Levi's squad would embark to unknown territory, leaving her in the barracks to train her very own squad. Eren would face weapons they could only fathom. Enraged orbs narrow at Levi's unaffected ones. There was no doubt they needed her in the frontlines. Levi's tactics, ever since he's been promoted to commander, has been incomprehensible. Had Armin not spoken sense to her, she would never had have calmed down.
"It's due time you lead." Levi tells her.
She sobers at his words. A sour taste fills her mouth.
Without Eren, she was nothing.
"There must be more to you than you lead on."
Dark onyx orbs flicker at Levi's words. She found a lightness in his tone that surprised her.
"Without Eren, who are you? Don't you think it's high time we found out?"
As they shared a gaze, they forget their drinks. As the seconds passed, their teas cooled. And something that was there before, though unknown, though dormant, started to spring to life.
"I, myself, am looking forward to it."
END.
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