Paring: Mikasa/Eren & Slight Hanji/Levi
Setting: Post Series; Eren and Mikasa are in their early twenties.
Rating: K+ (Little language)
Words: 4149
Notes: A request that for the life of me I cannot find. I'm so sorry, I'm so bad about that sometimes . They asked for Eren being nervous to ask Levi for Mikasa's hand in marriage. I thought it was adorable and I couldn't not write it. I also like imagining their world once the series is over (I give the happiest ending ever of course, but still lol). This piece and the next entry will be companion pieces because the requests went hand in hand. The title is from "Till Kingdom Come" by Coldplay and it's such an eremika song it's not even funny. If you don't know it go listen to it, it's lovely.
Say You'll Come and Set Me Free
It had been a few years since Eren saw the tall walls looming over head. He shaded his eyes as he looked up at Wall Maria that still extended up into the sky, far higher than he could see. Carts and other people riding on horses past him on the road to the main gate but Eren kept his horse still on the road. It was a bittersweet sight to see with all the emotions and memories that came rushing back just at the sight of the wall he saw so many times as a child.
"Eren? Is something wrong?"
He turned his head to the side to see his traveling companion watching him with her ever caring dark eyes. "Yeah, Mikasa, I'm fine." He gently pressed his heels into the sides of his horse to get her moving again as Mikasa followed alongside him. Eren glanced at her again; her eyes were also watching the walls that were getting closer by every step.
It was a long ride from their home by the ocean back to the place where they grew up, but it was a necessary one. Well, at least Eren thought it was, even if it was one that was making his hands sweat constantly against the reigns of his horse.
"Do you think they'll ever tear them down?" Mikasa asked, as they slowly followed traffic closer to the entry gate.
"Probably not. Too much history in them. I think they'll keep them up to remind everyone not to repeat history."
The traffic stopped again, letting Eren know they were still checking identity at the gates. Once they could, it seemed like humanity rushed back out into the world to explore and settle but within the walls still remained the capital even as other towns popped up everywhere around it. Most of the people surrounding Eren and Mikasa were farmers and vendors bringing in their goods for the morning market. A few small children were traveling with their parents, squealing at the sight of the huge walls probably for the first time.
Eren couldn't help but smile to himself; the first generation born free.
Traffics started moving again once more. "Here," he held his hand out to Mikasa as they got close enough to see the symbols of the roses on the jackets of the guards at the gate. "Hand me your badge."
She reached into the pocket of her jacket to pull out a folded up piece of paper and handed it to him. He placed it on top of his and held them out to the nearest guard to them.
"Thank you," the guard said taking them from Eren and unfolding the pieces of paper. "Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, both currently residing in the Ocean District and former members of the Scouting Legion." The guard looked up, eyeing them suspiciously. "A little young aren't you?"
"We were younger then," Eren gestured to take their badges back.
"You're good to proceed," the guard grunted and handed back the papers.
Eren motioned his horse to continue through the gate with Mikasa by his side. "Wow," was all he could say when they hit the opening into what was once the Shinganshina District.
"Wow, is right," Mikasa agreed halting her horse once more next to Eren.
It looked like the town they grew up with the landscape but the entire town had changed. Eren knew that going in; they had renovated the entire area since it was now the closest place to the outside world. Many people were traveling in and out on a regular basis and it had become a district overflowing with commerce from the inner walls and the outside.
"It looks so much fuller and livelier than the last time we saw it," Mikasa said, her eyes looking down the many new streets, buildings, and markets that seemed to be everywhere.
"That's because the last time we saw it, it was still in ruins."
Mikasa rolled her eyes as she jumped off her horse to lead her to the stables nearby. Eren followed suit, reaching in his pocket to pay the stable hand waiting to help the many travelers wanting to keep their horses off the streets. He grabbed both his and Mikasa's bags before meeting her back on the streets.
"So," she said, taking her back from him and slinging it over her shoulder. "You still haven't told me why we came out here, let alone where we're going."
"Does the word 'surprise' mean nothing to you?"
"No, not when the surprise took us days on horseback to get to a place we haven't been back to since the day we left."
Eren started to walk down one of the streets, trying to remember the directions Armin had given him before him and Mikasa left. "Hey," he said, reaching over to grab a hold of her hand and intertwine his fingers with hers. "We had a good time traveling out here." He nudged her with his elbow and looked down at her, giving her a bit of a smirk.
Mikasa nudged him, admittedly much harder than he nudged her, but she was already laughing. She looked away from him, watching the buildings and houses as Eren led her up the street.
It shouldn't be too far away now; the headquarters of the Scouting Legion stayed close to the gates of Wall Maria. While they weren't needed to scout against Titans anymore, they still remained at the head of making scouting trips out to the world to see what places could be inhabited by people and also making maps of the areas humanity had access to again.
Armin was part of the teams who made the maps which is why Eren went to him for directions to their base. Armin asked Eren if him and Mikasa wanted to join his team and help the Scouting Legion again but Eren said no. While they had traveled with Armin for a while, Eren knew what Mikasa always wanted, and Eren wanted to give that to her.
"I feel like I should recognize these places but I don't." Mikasa didn't seem like she was bothered too much by it, more like she was amazed the place she called home was so different now.
"We'll, you should recognize that at least." He pointed up to a flag he could see waving in the near distance, one of white and blue wings.
"Is that…?"
"Yep, that's their headquarters." Eren tugged on her hand, leading her in the direction of the large building that was slowly rising over the others as they got closer.
"Is that why you came? To visit?" Mikasa wasn't upset, Eren could tell that much, but he could tell she was a little skeptical that they had rode for days just to come say hi.
He looked over at her. "I came here to talk to someone, but I thought you might like to see everyone again too. Armin might be here since he hasn't been home in a while."
"Who do you have to talk to?"
Eren opened her mouth to tell her to mind her own business, though he knew that wasn't going to end well. Thankfully a guard at the gate that surrounded the headquarters stopped them before Eren could answer.
"It's a restricted area beyond this point. You can come back during the open for public hours." The guard was wearing the ever familiar uniform even if there wasn't much need for 3DM Gear anymore.
Eren reached into his pocket to pull out both him and Mikasa's badges, ones that also had the Legion symbol printed on them. It came in handy every now and then.
"Oh," the guard said, eyeing over the papers and looking a little flustered. "I'm sorry, here, you can go in." He tapped the gate which swung open for them.
"Thanks," Eren waved, putting the badges back and taking Mikasa into the walkway that led up to the stone steps of the building.
"Don't you feel important," she chuckled, her eyes scanning over the building. "They've come a long way from an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere."
"Yeah," Eren tried to be responsive, but now that he was faced with what he came here to do, his pulse wouldn't stop pounding in his ears. What was he thinking coming here?
"Hey." Mikasa's hand on his cheek brought his gaze back down to her. Her face was concerned as she reached up to his forehead. "You look red, are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He gave her a smile but it didn't work. "I promise, Mikasa, c'mon lets go."
She didn't seem convinced at all but she still followed him up the stone steps and past the large wooden doors.
There were so many people bustling around that Eren didn't even think anyone noticed them walking into the entrance all. Most everyone was dressed in the signature uniform of the military moving around to other parts of the building, carrying papers, discussing business with other members of the military. Eren was positive he never saw so many members in the Scouting Legion before, granted that could be because a majority of them aren't eaten when they leave the walls now.
"There you guys are!" Armin was waving from a nearby hallway. He looked like he had been talking to someone else judging by the papers in his hands, but he quickly abandoned his conversation to rush over to them, his short blond ponytail bobbing as he did. "I'm so glad you made it safe."
"You knew we were coming?" Mikasa asked as Armin pulled her into a tight hug; he nearly lifted her off her feet as he did. Eren was sure Mikasa would never get used to going from being one of the tallest between the three of them to being the shortest.
"Of course, I did." Armin turned to give Eren his hug too. "Eren wrote me about it. Wow, you're doing a good job keeping things from her for once."
"It's been hard, she knows me too well for me to pull anything over her."
Mikasa's suspicious glare turned from Eren to Armin as she looked between the two of them. "What're you two up to?"
"Nothing, c'mon, I haven't told any of the others you were coming to visit," Armin grabbed a hold of Mikasa's shoulders and started to slowly pull her in the opposite direction of Eren. "I take it you'll meet up with us later?"
"Ah, yeah," Eren said, trying to ignore Armin's all too knowing eyes and grin.
"Hey, Marta," Armin called to the girl who had followed him over from the other hall. "Will you take Eren wherever he needs to go?"
"Of course, sir," she nodded, turning to look up to Eren for further directions.
"Eren, wait!" Mikasa's voice alone was enough to send guilt to the pit of his stomach, let alone the distressed look on her face. She clearly didn't like any of this at all and Eren mentally slapped himself for not knowing better. He took her to a place that would naturally bring back horrible memories, without telling her what was going on, and then just leaving her.
"It's okay," he said, walking the short distance to where Armin had let go on Mikasa. She closed the distance between them, throwing her arms around him, her head leaning against his shoulder. "I'm sorry but I promise, everything is okay." He placed a hand on her back and one against her head, placing is head down against hers. "I just have to go do something first, but I'll meet up with you in a little bit, okay?"
Mikasa nodded against him as she pulled away slightly to look up at him. "Okay."
Eren moved his hand from her head over to her face before he leaned down and pressed a kiss against her lips. He looked back to Armin over Mikasa's shoulder. "You gonna take care of her?"
"When have I not?" Armin answered with a smile.
"I know, buddy." Eren patted Mikasa on the back as she stepped over towards Armin who placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll see you guys soon." He gave them a wave before watching them turn and disappear through the crowd.
"Are you ready, Sir?" Marta's voice made him jump; he had forgotten there was someone waiting on him.
"Yeah and don't call me sir. I'm not a part of all this anymore. Eren is fine."
She nodded. "Where do you need to go to?"
"Uh," Eren looked around the area, like anyone here was going to be able to help him now. "I need to go talk to Levi."
Marta, who had been pretty stone faced the whole time, looked at him with more than a little surprise. "You mean Sergeant Major Levi Ackerman?"
"The one and only."
Marta still looked at him like he was insane but started to lead the way down one of the hallways.
Maybe he was insane; it wasn't like he had talked to Levi since the day he left the Scouting Legion. Mikasa might send letters to him, but if she did she never said anything to him about it. Armin was even the only one who was near him who still had constant contact with Levi. This was different though, this was something Eren had to do.
The hallway got less crowded the farther Marta took him down; paintings covered the walls depicting various battles and honored members through the years. He supposed he shouldn't have been as surprised as he was to see his, Mikasa, and Armin's faces looking back at him at one point. Marta took him up a nearby staircase and onto the second floor.
There was practically no one up here, and the ornate decorating of this hall told him it was all the different offices for the higher ups. If he didn't want to throw up before, he really did now. His heart rate picked up the father down the hall he followed Marta; he had to keep wiping his sweating hands on his jacket.
First of all, it was Levi, he was never the easiest person to talk to and second of all, he was going to talk to Levi about asking for his only remaining relative's hand in marriage. Levi's only relative being the person he always said she was far too good for Eren of all people.
Marta opened a wooden door and held it for him. "Just go in and talk to the woman at the desk. Good luck."
"Yeah, thanks," Eren tried to give her a smile, but he was pretty sure it came out as a grimace instead. The door shut behind him, leaving him alone with just a woman sitting at a desk in front of another wooden door.
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah," Eren said, taking a few steps forward to make sure he didn't bolt for the door. "I just need to talk to Levi."
The woman gave him a skeptical look. "Do you have an appointment?"
"An appointment? Really he needs those?"
"He likes everything organized and scheduled throughout the day."
Why did that not surprise Eren at all. "Of course he does. Look, I just need to talk to him for a moment."
"You need an appointment to speak with him."
Jesus, Levi knew who to pick to make sure no one ever talked to him, which was what he wanted no doubt. Maybe this was just fate, and he should turn around and leave. "Just can you tell him Eren Jaeger wants to talk to him, please."
The woman's face changed when she recognized his name. Eren specifically asked to be left out of all the heroics and what not, but he knew within the Scouting Legion his name was known. She got up and went to the door, so at least it worked.
Though now he actually had to go through with it.
"You can go in," she nodded, holding the door for him.
"Thanks," Eren said and despite his wave of nausea stepped inside the office. It was a typical looking study, he supposed, except it was cleaner than almost any room he had seen before.
"What do you want, Jaeger?" Levi hadn't changed at all. He was still looking at Eren with that typical mix of disgust and annoyance, he didn't really look any different either as he leaned back in his chair.
"Good to see you too, Sir." This was off to lovely start.
"Levi, knock it off, its Eren, we haven't seen him in years!" Hanji was on her feet in a moment, pulling Eren into a tight hug. He hadn't even noticed her sitting on the couch, probably because looking around the room only made him want to throw up more. "Look at you!" she exclaimed when she was done hugging him. She grabbed a hold of his face, looking at him closely. "You've gotten so tall, and so much older. It's so good to see you. Isn't it, Levi?" She turned around to look at him still holding onto Eren's face.
She must have given him a look because Levi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, fine, good to see you alive still."
That seemed to be good enough for Hanji; she turned back to Eren as she let go of his face. "Come in, sit down. We weren't doing anything. Levi just pretends he does so no one will bother him."
"And it works."
Hanji waved Levi's comment off as she practically pushed Eren into the couch before taking a seat next to him. Well, it was nice to know Hanji hadn't changed a bit either. He wasn't expecting her to be there, but he felt a little more at ease with her there; she wouldn't let Levi murder him. "So, what brings you here? Nothing's wrong is it?" Hanji suddenly turned a mix between grim and excited, like she didn't want to hear the bad but hoped the bad had something to do with his other talent.
"No, no, nothing's wrong. Especially in that regard, Hanji, don't worry. Everything's great actually." Eren couldn't help the smile he felt pulling at his lips. "It's been nice to live in peace on our own terms, you know."
Levi made a grunting noise but Hanji nodded in response. "Armin says you all live by the ocean?"
"Yeah, well, not right on the ocean but walking distance. Armin, when he's not here or out on trips, lives down the street from Mikasa and I."
"How is Mikasa?" Hanji asked, reaching out to nudge him in the arm, with a sly smile. "Happy I bet."
"Yeah, happier than I've ever seen her. She's here with me, I'm sure she'll want to say hi. I just…" He felt the comfort he was feeling leave him as he remembered why he was here. "I just wanted to come alone first."
"Was there something you wanted to say alone?" Hanji asked slowly, understanding the sudden change in Eren's tone.
"Ah, yeah," he reached up to run a hand through his hair and smile at her trying to block out the nerves that were knotting in his stomach. How was he supposed to ask Levi this? Oh God, he was going to get beaten.
Levi arched an eyebrow at him. "Is she pregnant?"
"What? God, no," Eren choked, caught off guard by Levi's comment; though the thought brought him a wave of a different type of fear. "At least, not that I know of."
"Don't give him a heart attack, Levi." Hanji reached her foot out to try and kick him in the leg but Levi easily moved out of her reach. "Well, what is it you wanted to say? I take it it's about Mikasa since you didn't bring her with you. Is she okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, she's perfectly fine," Eren said waving off her question with a nervous twitch of his hand. This was it; he had to ask Levi now. He came all this way, he had to just say it. "It's just..." he hesitated, looking up to see Levi watching him. Eren took a deep breath, his hands gripping onto his knees as he met Levi's eyes. "I…I want to marry her and I came here to ask you for her hand."
There was a silence that settled over the room as Eren tried not to show his once commanding officers how nervous he was as Levi just stared at him. Eren was especially hoping the sweat he felt on his forehead wasn't about to start rolling down his face.
"Why do you need to ask me. Mikasa is a grown woman; she can do what she wants. She doesn't need my permission for anything." Levi said, not moving from his spot.
"I know that, nor would she probably want anyone to give her permission for something but it's important to me." He hesitated for a moment, trying not to break Levi's gaze. "My dad and I got there too late for her parents that night and you're the only relative she has left. I want to do right by her family for once."
Silence settled again as Levi leaned forward slightly as if he was going over the words Eren had said in his head. Eren wasn't sure if he was going to answer or just glare at him for the rest of the day.
"You've always taken on too much blame, kid, but if words mean that damn much to you, yeah, I consent and gladly give or whatever shit that is."
Eren felt relief fill his body, like he could finally breathe for the first time for being in this room. So it wasn't that endearing but it was better than Levi berating him.
"Don't let him fool you," Hanji nudged Eren. "He was really touched you thought of him. I could tell."
Levi made a noise of displeasure, one Eren had gotten used to hearing from him when it came to Hanji, but he didn't actually deny her words.
"Well, I should probably go find Mikasa and Armin," Eren said, standing to his feet. "I'm sure I'll see the both of you again though. I know Mikasa will want to see you but thank you."
"We better be invited to the wedding," Hanji said, pushing herself up to her feet to walk him to the door.
"Of course, besides," Eren looked back at Levi. "Mikasa'll need someone to walk her down the aisle."
"Ackerman can ask me that herself. I've talked enough about weddings today, you're gonna get Hanji on my case again."
"We'll see you later, Eren," Hanji said as she opened the door for him.
He waved before the door closed behind him. The girl was sitting at the desk but she didn't pay him any mind as he walked out into the hall he came in. Eren realized he had no idea where to find Armin and Mikasa but it was okay; he had achieved what he came her for. It was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
There had been so many times where Eren almost backed out of the trip, knowing Mikasa wouldn't want anyone's permission to live her life, but he wanted to do it. He wanted to show respect to the family Eren never got to meet. Mikasa at least deserved that.
He went down the steps he came and back through the hall of portraits; he walked slowly this time, seeing places he remembered, and people who were long lost. It had only been a few years but even after a few years of peace made the long years of hell seem like a distant past.
"Hey!"
Eren turned to see Armin at the end of the hallway walking towards him.
"I was just coming to look for you. How'd it go?"
"I'm alive," Eren laughed. "Better than most times I had to go talk to him."
"Good, he's gone soft in his old age. Don't tell him I said that, I'm pretty sure he could still kick my ass."
"He'd kick your ass just for calling him old."
Armin laughed as he reached his hand into his pocket. "Here, since she's not around." He tossed a small wooden box over to Eren who caught it in his hands. "Kept it safe for you. Am I not a best man?"
"Don't get a head of yourself," Eren said with a small smile as he opened the box to see the ring he had bought what seemed like years ago. "She still has to say yes."
Armin draped his arm over Eren's shoulders as he waked him back though the main hall. "That's the one thing I don't think you have to worry about."