The Gamble
Day 3 – RivaMika Week 3 – Apple Blossoms
Good Fortune: gambling, literally or metaphorically, under favorable odds.
"Mikasa," Armin tugged at her sleeve nervously. This was getting out of hand. Way out of hand. After all, he was the one who initiated it in the first place; it was only right that he would end it —- if anyone listened to him.
It was a simply innocent suggestion: the Special-Ops Squad was low on their budget, so why not try their hand at earning twice or maybe three times the amount they have now by playing a set of cards?
The young strategist thought that Mikasa was the perfect candidate. She was most adept at reading people's faces (including the face of one short Corporal) and she had a poker face even Armin cannot decipher. The plan was slightly flawed, all depending on Lady Luck, but nearly perfect with Mikasa's skill combined with his stratagem.
He just never expected it to get this far.
Here they are in a tavern within Wall Rose. They had entered the tavern wearing their casual clothes; wearing their military clothes would have brought a great deal of trouble. Jean, Connie, and Sasha tagged along (Eren and Historia were ordered to remain hidden) and three pairs of eyes sparkled with excitement at the stacks of coin on their end of the table. He could see the drool dripping from the corner of Sasha's mouth, most likely thinking about the food she can buy.
Armin already counted how much they have earned and it was more than four times the amount they initially started. A crowd already surrounded their table, watching with elation on the players' next moves.
Not once did her face flicker with emotion.
Mikasa was a prodigious genius.
She was against a big, bald, burly man with insignias over his fore arms. At first, the young squad felt intimidated by his presence, but Mikasa showed no signs of fear as she sat down and challenged him.
"Mikasa," Armin tugged at her sleeve again and desperately whispered in her ear. "I think you should fold and bail out. This is more than enough."
"This is the last stretch Armin," Mikasa replied quietly, her eyes glued to the cards in her hand. Her eyes set with determination. She was going to get this money and bring it back home. She would make sure of it. "We won't have to worry about starving and getting supplies for the next two years if I make this one."
He wanted to shout at her. If Mikasa! If! He was so close to having a mental breakdown. It would be a miracle if she pulls this one out of the hat. He could just imagine Corporal Levi's face if they were to lose everything at this point.
Scratch that. He cannot imagine it at all.
The burly man gave a smug smirk, his chubby fingers laying out his money —- and his pride, "Six pieces of silver. Double."
The crowd began to murmur excitedly. It was a high price to gamble, high enough that it was what three families with a single child earns in a year.
However, Mikasa was like a mother who would feed eight soldiers, including Corporal Levi and Squad Leader Hanji.
Eyeing her cards, she lays out her last and final gamble, "Same… with the addition of two pieces of gold."
Armin squeaked.
The crowd's murmur escalated louder. A very high price, Mikasa would lose everything if this did not work out.
The burly man grinned rather unpleasantly, yellow teeth and a chunk of beef stuck between his lower teeth. He panted and she swore she smelled his rotten breath, alcohol, and cigarettes.
He laid down each of his cards, proudly and smugly dictating them. "The rose. The lion. And the bull." In the crowd's eyes, it was a rare and powerful combination; the rose being the strongest.
Armin broke into cold sweat. Man, it's over. The rose was the second highest card in the deck. They're good as dead now. If only Mikasa has the…
With no emotion, Mikasa laid down her cards slowly, "The lion. The lion. And the star."
… the star.
A pair and the highest card.
Gasps echoed throughout the crowd. Connie yelped. Jean's mouth was wide open, you could see his uvula. Sasha just jumped in joy, her eyes shining with stars.
Armin just stood in awe and vaguely watched Mikasa collect her prize money and put it in a sack.
The burly man broke out of his trance (out of disbelief) and stood up. His pride shattered, a fist pounded on the table, spilling their drinks, and leaned forward, grabbing her scarf, "Who do you think you're playing with, little girl?!"
Mikasa did not bat an eyelid. Preparing herself to throw the man over her shoulder, a voice stopped her from doing so.
"Let her go."
A short man appeared beside them, grasping the burly man's arm.
"Who are you?!" he spat in his face, then taunted. "Her dad?!"
"Tch," Corporal Levi wiped his face with his handkerchief before responding with a grimace. "Is your brain as rotten as your breath, pig?"
"Corporal," Mikasa uttered, wanting to spare him the trouble because she could handle the situation herself.
"Be quiet, Mikasa," Levi interrupted. He didn't sound angry. He was annoyed by the man in front of him; a sore loser. Well, he'll teach him a lesson. "Tell you what," he walked closer, ignoring the man's rotten breath. "I'll give you a chance to get your money back. This is my squad, after all. Thus, this is my money."
Jean, Connie, and Sasha gasped in disbelief. Armin just stood quietly, watching the events unfold in front of his eyes.
"Corporal!" Jean exclaimed, "Mikasa worked really hard in earning-"
"Shut up, Kirschtein, or you'll be cleaning the horse stables for a week."
Levi turned to the burly man, awaiting his response.
"Fine," he grunted, his unpleasant smile plastered in his face again. He let go of Mikasa, who glared at the man, then turned to Levi, "Are you sure about this, Sir?"
A rare smile showed on his face, "Positive, Ackerman." Rolling his sleeves to his elbows and unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt, he turns to her, eyebrows raised almost teasingly, "Don't you trust me?"
By the end of the evening, Levi had earned twice what Mikasa earned during her gamble. Riding their horses home, laughter filled the air as Jean, Connie, and Sasha were slightly inebriated from their dinner. Even Armin has a slight flush on his face, smiling as he checked at the back of his horse to see Hanji, Eren, and Historia's dinner tied tightly at the saddle.
Corporal Levi and Mikasa stationed themselves at the back of the group.
He glanced at her; she was quietly enjoying the show of her friends' antics.
"You're quite the good gambler, Ackerman," Levi commented, amused. He was within the crowd, watching as his new squad and Mikasa dominate the playing field, nonetheless he was impressed.
"Its not that I'm a good gambler." She picked at her scarf, pulling it up to her nose. "I guess I'm just good at hiding my emotions."
And Levi was determined to unravel and learn her emotions.
The next day, he gambled once more. Although, it was not the kind of gamble one thinks.
It was late evening, his young squad already sound asleep, with the exception of Mikasa who was washing the dishes and cleaning the table. Over the past few months, Levi noticed that she was a motherly influenced in the squad; always referring to their needs.
Clearing his throat to get her attention, he gambles, one hand offering her a small bouquet of white and pinkish flowers (using the extra money they earned yesterday) and the other hand rubbing the back of his neck. He blurted out his words; short and nervous. "Lunch. Tomorrow. Just the two of us."
After a moment, she smiles for the first time and lightly blushes as she delicately takes the bouquet of apple blossoms out of his hands.
"Sure, Corporal."
He smiles back, thankful for his good fortune.
These two are just perfect together. OTL I don't know the money currency within the SNK-universe and excuse my gambling skills. (Haha, that Armikasa at the beginning though…)
My goodness I can't even keep up with reading and admiring fics and art, RivaMika Week is so crazy, I love it!