Prompt: Modern AU – Mikasa accidentally sleeps on the shoulder of a stranger on the train.
Mikasa quickly glanced at her watch, hoping the train would arrive just a little bit late. 9:48 pm. Damn Armin. A long day at work had drained her and she was definitely not in the mood to deal with the other pushy passengers of the Underground.
A rumbling and an announcement from the overhead reminded her that the Central Loop was always on time and that today would not be any different, so she sighed, tucking a few files back into her bag. Boarding the car, she chose a seat next to a man reading a thick book with his legs crossed and a slight scowl on his face. He didn't look up when she sat down, which suited Mikasa just fine; she would not be entertaining any sort of conversation tonight, let alone with a stranger.
The whir of the train was constant and low, and soon she found it was difficult to stay conscious: her head was slowly drooping and her eyes were growing dark. She managed to catch herself a few times and jolted up in her seat, flashing a peek at the stranger next to her to see if he noticed—he didn't—until she gave in. She was exhausted from her day at the hospital and she'd be damned if she didn't think she deserved a little rest. So she let her eyelids fall and leaned back, the lull of the train car giving way to blackened slumber.
Mikasa's seat mate was unaware of her state of unconsciousness until a heavy weight crashed onto his shoulder, startling him from the passage he was reading. Turning, he was about to retort some kind of sharp remark about personal space, until he found it would have been useless: the woman who had taken the seat next to him minutes before had either passed out or—the more likely case, considering their atmosphere—had fallen asleep.
He tried to nudge her off his shoulder and move her head back to its proper position—at that angle, she looked like she had broken her neck—not caring if he woke her or not. A hard shove did the trick and the woman adjusted in her sleep, lolling her head to the other side.
The man harrumphed in satisfaction and reached down to check on something in a bag, muttering to himself. Just a third of an hour left on this godforsaken metal hunk.
The familiar scrape of cloth on plastic caught his attention and he flung out his hand in time to catch the woman from falling into the aisle of the train, yanking her back into her chair. To his growing annoyance, her head snapped back—onto his shoulder again. He almost swore with irritation and sneered grotesquely at her.
Fine. Let the woman stay there. As long as she didn't bloody drool or anything disgusting like that. He had an appearance to keep.
Cracking open his book again, he tried to continue his reading, eyes darting across the page in a particular manner that would leave some feeling wary. But he found that he couldn't concentrate with the snoring woman on his person, and he sighed in discomfort, looking her over.
From what he could see, she was somewhat pretty: black hair framed a young face and green nurse's scrubs covered her thin figure. She suddenly sighed and the man withdrew his gaze, not wanting to be caught staring.
Ah well. You met all sorts of characters in the Underground and this woman was one of the least bizarre he had had to deal with. The only problem was that he was slowly finding her calming.
Waking from her short nap, Mikasa rubbed her eyes and yawned, sitting up in her chair. When she looked up to find the announcement banner, her eyes met those of her seatmate's, and they weren't exactly inviting.
"Have a nice rest?" He muttered, his fingers tapping on his knee.
He was staring intensely at her and it was beginning to get a little uncomfortable. "I suppose I did. Why?" Mikasa opened her mouth again, but didn't say anything, unsure of what this man wanted from her.
"Did you find my shoulder a proper replacement for a pillow?" he answered gruffly, still watching her.
For a few moments, she didn't answer. She what? Eyes widening, she bit her lip, looking the stranger up and down. His eyes were hard, but his face was soft—though still marred by a frown—and he was dressed impeccably, almost to the point of excess. She swallowed. "I'm very sorry, sir. I've had a long day at work and I—"
"I don't need to hear excuses." He waved her off with a gloved hand and glowered at her. "Just watch yourself."
Mikasa was taken aback. "Watch myself? I'm afraid I don't follow you, er…sir."
"Levi." The man answered and snapped his book shut, placing it in the bag at his feet.
A sweet scent rose from the brown paper as he opened it and she eyed the bag, still leery about the stranger.
"Almost faceplanted into the filthy floor." Levi's scowl deepened. "And you're not being very discreet, are you?"
Her face brightened with embarrassment and she snapped up her eyes. "Sorry, it's just I…er—thank you for catching me, Levi. I'm…Mikasa." She ignored his biting tone.
"Pleasure." Levi said shortly.
Mikasa sighed and pursed her lips, looking this man up and down. His eyes were hard—but his face was soft—and he was dressed impeccably, almost to an excess. "Flowers?" she nodded to his bag.
Levi raised a thin eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
"The scent is too fresh to be perfume." She shrugged. "And I've definitely had more than my fair share of it."
"You don't strike me as one who would indulge in eau de parfum, Mikasa." Levi smirked and reached down, bringing out a large white blossom, its petals furled in a tight bulb. "Ipomoea alba."
Mikasa smiled. "Sorry. I don't think I'm familiar with it. I've never seen it before."
"Doesn't grow here, so I wouldn't expect you to." He placed the flower on his lap delicately and inspected it, the leaves shuddering. "Moonflower."
"Well it doesn't look like much. It looks like you picked it too early." She turned her head back to the front of the car.
Levi said nothing, still holding the stem on his lap.
"This is my stop. I apologize for the trouble I've given you, Levi. Good day." Mikasa stood up and gathered her bag and coat. To be completely honest, she was still intrigued by this strange man and his flowers and probably would have stayed if she wasn't exhausted. She would never see him again anyway.
"Here." Levi's low voice stopped her and she turned back questioningly. He was holding out the flower between his fingers, a tight smile on his face. "Give it time."
"You're not trying to poison me, are you?" Mikasa teased, but took the flower anyway and held it close, her body going warm and her heart quickening. "Thank you, I suppose. Goodbye, Levi."
It was still a brisk walk from the train station to her apartment, and Mikasa almost ran home, eager to place the stem in some water so it wouldn't dry out.
Levi. What an interesting name. Perhaps a pseudonym? Even more interesting was the name's bearer: his eyes were deep and dark, and Mikasa had perceived bitterness in them, maybe a tragedy or loss of some kind. The words that sprang from his lips were harsh and direct, and his countenance was even more imposing, but she had a dim feeling it was suppressed. He was an enigma, someone who fascinated her, almost to the point of captivation, and she had to admit to herself that she was riveted by this stranger on the train.
She glanced at the flower and almost gasped in surprise. During her walk, it had bloomed almost to its full, and she grinned, bemused. Moonflower, eh? Looking up, the shine of the moon brightened the darkened street and Mikasa clutched the flower tighter.
Give it time.
It was beautiful: the pearlescent white petals gleamed in the moonlight and they continued to open wider and wider. Looking closer, Mikasa noticed a small slip of paper tucked in the center of the flower between the petals and she gingerly plucked it out. Confused, she unfolded it, wondering why on earth anyone would want to place a piece of paper in a flower, and her thoughts flew to Levi. Mental, you are.
But her grin grew as she read the verse scribbled on the note.
That which shields itself during the day will be unveiled beneath the moon.
There was a number hastily scrawled on the reverse side, and Mikasa laughed out loud, her heart shooting out of her chest and her brain going haywire with dizziness and peculiar delight.
"If only, Levi. If only."