Chapter Text
Mikasa liked to think she was living a good life. She had to honour those who made this freedom possible and those who weren’t there for it, after all. Her parents, Carla, Sasha, Hannes, Ymir, Marco, Erwin, the list went on. And of course, Eren.
Mikasa aired out the bedsheet and clipped it onto the clothesline. The heat from the sun reminiscent of her days with Eren and Carla as a child, helping around the house. She closed her eyes and felt the wind, heard the leaves rustling, and smelt the soap of the laundry. She itched for her ODM gear and the feeling that came with flying.
Putting the last of the laundry up in the sun, she headed back inside the house. She lived in the Stohess District now. Close enough to go to Mitras when Historia called, city streets loud enough to keep her thoughts busy and her business afloat. Better than afloat. She would have to visit her gardening and flower store in an hour for opening.
A gardening store because she wanted to find a better use for her hands. To use them for something other than destruction. But when Historia called for a secret mission, the hands found their intended purpose. Every morning when she would go on a run and train her body, her hands found their intended purpose.
How long could she keep on living like this?
One day at a time she thought to herself. She had to build her own life, all of the squad did. Placing the empty laundry basket on the wood table in the kitchen, she went to make potato soup. Before she could grab the ingredients, a knock sounded.
Unlocking the door, she faced Armin and Jean.
“Morning Mikasa,” Armin greeted.
“Morning,” she smiled.
Jean went in for a hug. “Mikasa, we came to see your beautiful face.”
Letting go of Jean, she led them through the living area and they took seats on the table. “Potato soup is on the menu,” she said and started working.
“Hand it over, I’ll peel.” She muttered a thanks and tossed the potatoes at Jean, moving to get the water boiling.
Armin started, “I saw Historia and Ymir yesterday. Ymir’s growing up, it’s making me feel old.”
“You still look like a baby,” Jean replied. “You could pass for my son. Yes. A Jean Junior.”
“Jean Junior? Oh my god your poor future kids,” Armin feigned.
Mikasa smiled, “Historia wants me to go on a mission with Levi. It’s just to check up on the underground tunnels they’re building. Can you look over the store, Jean?”
“Anything for you,” Jean chuckled and tossed the potatoes in the boiling water. He continued, “With Levi though huh? I visited him at the tea shop yesterday. He was looking less...cruel...than normal. He also didn’t call me a shithead. Maybe this is why.” he waggled his eyebrows at her.
Mikasa felt a warmth bloom in her chest. “Yeah. I don’t think we’ll murder each other this time.”
Armin, smart as always, nodded. “I’m glad you two are growing closer. I remember the first few months of our time in the Survey Corps. You and Levi were never the get along type but I can tell he cares for you. More so than he cares for the others.”
“Aww, jealous?” Jean remarked.
“Shut up Jean senior,” Armin retorted.
Mikasa served the potato soup in bowls and served some rice and beans alongside.
“Let’s eat,” they all echoed.
“Ohmygoddd,” Jean moaned, after taking a bite of the food Mikasa had seasoned perfectly.
Mikasa smiled. “Thanks for helping with the store, Jean. I really couldn’t do it without you.”
Jean’s eyes focused on his food. “I...I think I’m going to start working at the store full time, if that’s okay with you. I...it’s peaceful.”
“Of course. I needed an extra hand, since spring is here and the store is getting more busy.”
“Armin, what are you going to be up to?” Jean asked.
“I’m going to be living in the castle. Helping out Historia with her plans for running the country and stuff. There’s a project I’m helping her oversee for a central monitoring system.”
Mikasa nodded. “As long as you’re keeping happy. Let us know if you need anything.”
“Thank you guys. It’s hard...living when they’re not here. When he’s not here,” he looked at Mikasa. The names and faces of their comrades went through her head. “We have each other. That’s all that matters to me.”
Both of them nodded. Cleaning up the dishes in a comfortable silence.
“Let’s head to the shop,” Mikasa said and they put their shoes on.
“There’s an order for 150 Blaue Blumes for Suzy’s son. He’s graduating. It’s the big order for Thursday,” she told Jean.
“I’ll get them ready tomorrow and then place them in the water until she arrives,” Jean replied.
Mikasa nodded. She heard chattering that surrounded them. Conversation topics on work, marriage, kids, drinking. Murmurs of the “girl worth a hundred soldiers” always followed her.
“You’re too popular,” Jean said. “I’m overseeing the training of new recruits for ODM gear tomorrow morning. Leader Pedrom is busy tomorrow so they called me in. They want me to show off my skills. You should come and we could scare them shitless”
Mikasa let out a laugh. “Okay. I want to move around in the gear for a bit. I’ll try to help with the training.”
Armin smiled at that. “They’re gonna shit their pants when they see Mikasa. And of course, the mighty swordsman Jean.”
Jean shook his head. Unlocking the store with a spare key, he let them in. Mikasa started to clean the store. Jean started restocking and Armin flipped the Closed sign over.
Armin then said, “I have to go to a meeting. I just wanted to visit you and the store.”
Saying their goodbyes, Jean and Mikasa were left at the store. Making idle conversation for a while, customers started flowing in. Soil for this, fertilizer for that, seeds for vegetables. Mikasa was at cash when Levi walked in.
He had come to the store opening six months back and had been to the store a total of four times since then.
Mikasa felt a hand on her shoulder. Levi’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll look after, go talk to him before he scares the customers off.”
“Thanks” she murmured and walked over to him.
“So this is what you brats are up to,” he greeted Mikasa.
“Yes captain,” Jean yelled, turning the heads of a few customers.
“Hey,” she replied, inspecting him. He looked good. So, so good. The scar that passed his eye was healing and he was still keeping in shape. If not, better shape considering his bigger muscles. He must have been eating better then. “You look better,” she said while walking over to the Camellia sinensis plant.
She handed it to him. “It grows good tea.”
He looked her in the eye. “Thanks.”
He then said, “I missed you.”
Mikasa’s brain short circuited. She opened her mouth to say something. Then closed it and nodded.
“Tch” he narrowed his eyes.
Mikasa understood, and she led them to the sun room at the back of the store. Leaning against a table, she said, “I thought about you alot...more than I would like to admit.”
Levi’s grey-blue steely eyes softened. “Hmm. So it is like that. Good.”
“You’re smug, eh? You like that I think about you,” Mikasa said, feeling bold.
“If it makes you feel better, Mikasa, I think about you every day. More than I should.” He reached out and pulled on her shoulder-length hair. “When I wake up, I think about you. When I’m cleaning, I think about you. When I’m making my tea, I think about you. When I’m at the tea shop, arranging the fucking tea leaves, I think about you. In my dreams, for fucks sake, I see you.”
To that, she smiled. “Good.”
“Brat,” he replied, letting go of her hair.
She cleared her throat. “I’m looking forward to spending time with you. On the mission.” She turned her body to face him. And then she leaned in and kissed him.
He let out a groan. “Mikasa” he breathed. He kissed her harder, slipping his tongue in her mouth, nibbling on her bottom lip. Doing things that made her feel like she could live this life for a long while.
Leaning back, Levi said, “Come home with me tonight. I want to talk about the mission..and us..with you.”
“Just talk?” she smirked.
Levi kissed her again.