Chapter 5 - A Letter from Across the Sea

"What are you up to?" demanded Levi, glaring as Onyankopon entered the residence. He'd seen the kids through the window and had gone to the door to ambush them.

"Huh?" the young man looked confused.

"Don't bullshit me."

"Could you explain? What are you talking about?"

"The cat. In my backyard. What is it doing there?"

Onyankopon's shoulders relaxed, and he gently smiled.

"Falco said he'd take care of her until she's better," he replied cooly.

"Falco doesn't live here."

"I'm here every day," Falco chimed in, entering behind Onyankopon.

"And what happens in the middle of the night when it throws up on the carpet?"

"That's why she's outside. Keep her out there; she'll be good for pest control."

Levi grumbled and crossed his arms. Onyankopon had a point. Except that Levi wasn't worried about pests other than the two young adults currently filing in through his front door.

"She's in the cage so she learns this is a safe place to call home."

"I don't want a cat."

"I'll keep her outside and feed her every night," Falco pleaded. "And play with her and make sure she learns to use a litter box."

"I'm not paying for any of that."

Falco looked at Levi with large, sappy eyes. "Does that mean she can stay?"

It was then that Levi knew he'd lost the fight. Falco always seemed to know how to turn him into a spineless pile of mush. However, Levi also refused to show any cracks in his armor pertaining to this particular subject.

"No."

"None of us can take her," stated Onyankopon. "Where else is she going to go?"

"Back on the street."

"You don't mean that…" Falco started.

Onyankopon squared his shoulders. "The cat stays. You'll get used to it."

Levi's glare was deadly. A low growl thrummed in his throat.

"I got your mail," Gabi interjected, the last to enter. Just in time, too. Levi was about to deliver a scathing remark that he likely would have regretted. She had a few envelopes in hand. "Looks like you got a letter from Mikasa."

Aggravated, Levi snatched the stack of mail from Gabi, who stepped back, confused concern written on her brow. Onyankopon shook his head and with a look, assured her that she was not the one at fault for Levi's current mood.

The letter from Mikasa was on top, and Levi set it aside before rifling through the rest: mostly bills and solicitations. Setting those on the entryway table to take care of later, he put the letter on his lap and wheeled himself into the living room.

After the war, Mikasa returned to what had once been the Shiganshina district on Paradis. Levi hadn't seen her since then, but they'd communicated regularly through letters like this. Every few weeks, her name would appear on an envelope in his mailbox, and although the young woman never had anything profound to say, Levi always looked forward to hearing from her. Usually she just wanted to say hello and update him on happenings in her life and on the island, things he didn't really follow in earnest. But he didn't mind. Admiring her scratchy yet uniform handwriting alone was enough.

In her first letter, Mikasa explained that she felt implored to stay in touch because they were each others' last living blood relative. Levi didn't disagree with that sentiment and was glad she'd opened up communication with him. The notion made him realize that the ties he and Mikasa shared were extremely precious, and he would be remiss if he didn't do everything in his power to preserve that bond. After all, he'd never known any other family except his mother and the bastard Kenny, whom he learned too late was his uncle. Levi had responded with a letter of his own, iterating as much to her. He also explained that he might not respond to every letter she sent and that she should not take it personally if she didn't hear back from him for several months. He then went on to say that he did look forward to hearing from her as often as she wished to write. In her following letter, Mikasa expressed that she'd never known him to be a man of many words and that she'd expect nothing less. They had continued to write each other ever since.

Curious and excited as always to hear from Mikasa, the kids followed Levi into the living room and found seats on the surrounding furniture.

Levi read the letter quietly to himself as they settled in. It was shorter than usual this time. Straight to the point.

When he finished reading, Levi handed the letter to Onyankopon and headed into the kitchen, where he began pulling out pots, pans, and ingredients from the cabinets.

Onyankopon read out loud in the other room:

Hi Levi,

I hope you've been feeling better these last few weeks. Last time you wrote, it sounded like you were struggling more than usual with your injuries.

There is a bit of news to report this time as I've been doing some research and came across some information you might be interested in hearing. It's nothing secretive, but I'd like to tell you about it in person, so I've planned a trip to visit. I hope it's okay that I didn't ask first. I should be there around the first of the month (whenever the next passenger ship leaves for Marley).

Say hi to the kids for me, and please take care as always. I will see you soon.

–Mikasa

Naturally, the letter piqued Levi's curiosity, but there was no benefit to dwelling, and he let it go pretty quickly. The main thing he took away from Mikasa's message was that she planned to visit. Whatever it was she had learned was much less important. He expected it was simply an excuse to visit, which was fine, too. He was not opposed to the idea of having her around for a while.

At some point during dinner, Levi thought he felt something brush gently against his pant leg, but it was such a soft touch he couldn't be sure. As soon as he started to crane his neck, a fork scraped across a plate, and he froze, the sound setting his teeth on edge.

When he looked up to see who had done it, he noticed the expression of contrition on Gabi's stuffed face. He didn't say anything, but the way he narrowed his eyes made it clear she was on thin ice and not to do it again.

Finally, Levi turned his eyes downward, investigating the space under the table. A coughing fit overcame Gabi just as a pair of large golden eyes greeted him from the shadows at his feet.

Gabi was still on the verge of choking and reached for her water as Falco slumped down in his seat like he wanted to disappear. Onyankopon just sat there shaking his head, waiting for the eruption.

"Who let it in?"

No one answered.

Levi's scowl fell on Falco, and the boy's face went even whiter. He cracked almost immediately.

"She was cold!"

The magnitude of Levi's silence terrified the two younger kids as they held their breath, waiting. The cat, on the other hand, plopped its butt down on the carpet by Levi's foot and chirped at him pleasantly.

"Outside. NOW." Levi's frustration was zeroed in on Falco, and he pointed to the back door with his whole arm (minus the missing fingers).

"You're so cruel," Gabi said pointedly, trying to guilt-trip him as Falco scurried under the table. With a meow, the cat went right to the boy and brushed against his hand.

"Get it out of here and clean up anything it brought in. And keep the racket down!"

Falco picked up the creature and, mustering his bravery, decided he would try one more time to sell Levi on the idea of keeping it.

"She's telling you that she feels better." Falco dangled the cat before Levi, its big black eyes staring into his soul. "Look!"

"I don't want to."

"She's also thanking you for letting her stay." Falco moved the creature closer to Levi's face and he leaned away.

"No," Levi drew out the word, "I said it can't stay."

"But she feels safe here! She's probably never felt safe anywhere before." Falco finally brought the cat into his chest. "And you want to throw her back out on the street."

"Now." Levi's tone became quieter but no less menacing.

Falco didn't argue further but took the cat out the back door.

Once the room was quiet, Gabi "accidentally" scraped her fork again, and when Levi turned his attention to her, she let him have it.

"You, of all people, should know what it's like to not have a safe place to live."

Levi had really started to resent the girl's sass. It made him proud that she was so headstrong, but it was infuriating as hell.

As he brushed off the scathing comment, he took a swig of his drink—he'd stopped at the store on his way home that afternoon to get a new bottle—and caught Gabi eyeing him over the rim of the glass. He returned the sentiment, wordlessly imploring her to back down. The spice Onyankopon had added to the dish was already not sitting well in Levi's esophagus, and the whiskey only added to the burn. He didn't need Gabi punishing him more than his body already was. Unfortunately, at the point they were at in their relationship, Gabi had become impervious to Levi's deadpan glares, and he could only match her intensity. Her defiance only doubled.

Thoroughly annoyed, yet again for a second evening in a row, Levi said nothing as he pushed himself away from the table. Like the night before, no one followed him, knowing where he was going and not wishing to poke the bear.

The fresh outdoor air and a cigarette would help put him in a better mood. Levi was sure of it. The prospect of Mikasa's visit and the excuse to clean the house to an acceptable standard for his guest was also something to look forward to.