Foiled Plans & Pity Chocolate
*All recognizable characters are not my property.
Valentine’s Prompt: “That better not be a pity rose. Pity chocolate I’ll take, but that’s it.”
Mikasa couldn’t believe she actually had had high hopes for today. Everything had been planned out weeks in advance. She had even started practicing making chocolate with Krista since the beginning of January in preparation for today. No store bought chocolate would have been appropriate for what she had in mind.
“Of course, I have no one else to blame for this but myself,” thought a bitter Mikasa as she started making her way to the library.
The signs had all been there, she had just blinded herself in an attempt to keep her desired outcome alive.
You see, today’s Valentine’s day and Mikasa was determined to finally confess her feeling to Eren. She had been in love with him for years. Since freshman year of high school to be precise. They were now both Juniors in college.
“I shouldn’t have waited so long to say anything,” thought Mikasa as she took a seat at her favorite table in the campus library.
“I don’t want to hear ‘I told you so’ Armin. I’m doing a fantastic job at feeling shitty without your reminder.”
Her friend Armin smiled lightly as he pulled the chair in front of her to take a seat, “I wouldn’t do that to you
. If anything I wish I had been wrong if only to not see you like this,” he finished with a frown.
Mikasa smiled lightly at him at placed one of her hands of top of one of his, “thanks Armin, you’re truly one of my greatest friends,” she squeezed his hand lightly before letting go. She then held up her finger asking for a moment as she dug through her backpack.
“I did not forget about you by the way. I know how much you like chocolate so I made some especially for you,” finished Mikasa as she dug out a medium sack of homemade chocolate truffles and handed them to Armin.
“Thanks Mikasa,” said a truly touched Armin.
“Don’t mention it,” said Mikasa with a ghost of a smile which immediately turned into a sad frown upon seeing who was coming into the library.
“Oh great, I’m not ready for this,” murmured Mikasa to herself.
“Eren coming this way?” questioned Armin.
“Yeah with Annie,” answered Mikasa with a pained look in her eyes.
Both turned to look towards the door where a beaming Eren was holding the door open for Annie. They must have felt gazes on them because they waved and made a sign that they’ll join them briefly before heading to the coffee shop annexed to the library.
Mikasa then felt tears begin to fall from her eyes again as she started to laugh lightly, “you know what the worst part is?”
“No,” replied Armin as he handed Mikasa his handkerchief, “what is it?”
“That I can’t hate Annie because she’s my friend and overall a great person. Eren deserves someone as amazing as her,” finished Mikasa as she wiped her eyes and looked down at the table.
“Mikasa, look at me,” said Armin.
Mikasa raised her gaze to meet his.
“You’re an amazing girl as well. The fact that Eren fell for someone else doesn’t change that fact. Understand? This just means that he isn’t the one for you.”
“Thanks Armin,” said Mikasa with a small smile that reached her eyes. “You know what though? I think I’m going to head home. I’m happy for them. Truly. I’m just not quite ready to face it at this moment. I need to go home and unwind.”
Armin nodded in understanding, “go ahead. I’ll come up with something to tell them.”
“Thanks Armin,” said Mikasa as she finished gathering her things and started walking towards the exit.
“Hey Armin, where’s Mikasa going?” asked a curious Eren as he pulled out a chair for Annie to seat before taking a seat himself.
“Sasha called her right now, I believe she had an emergency with her Valentine’s chocolate and needed backup.”
Eren snorted, “I’m sure that emergency is that she ate the chocolate she intended to give to Connie.”
Annie smacked him for this comment, “whatever the emergency is I’m sure Mikasa was the best person to call. She’s highly resourceful.”
“True,” answered Armin with a smile.
With that they all proceeded to take out their respective assignments.
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In the end Mikasa ended up opting for heading to the park instead. Being on the swings was likely to calm her and at the very least she wouldn't be alone to deal with her thoughts. She just wanted to let go and try to make the best of this day. It hadn't been terrible. It would've been a complete disaster had the whole Eren-Annie ordeal all happened before she made an ass of herself declaring her love for him so that was a plus.
She made her way to the swings, threw her backpack on the side, and started swinging as high as she could go with her eyes closed in an attempt to prevent further tears from pouring out.
She swinged until she could feel herself begin to smile again and felt comfortable enough to stop. She opened her eyes slowly only to find herself looking at a rose.
She raised an eyebrow and looked up at the person holding the rose. It was Levi. Her neighbor and graduate student in the engineering program.
“That better not be a pity rose. Pity chocolate I’ll take, but that’s where I draw the line," said a peeved Mikasa.
"I wouldn't bother with a pity rose," replied an equally peeved Levi, "this is just me giving you a rose."
Mikasa took the rose gingerly from Levi, "thanks," she said softly.
Levi nodded and took a seat on the swing next to her, "from your expression earlier I take it your day didn't go according to plan."
Mikasa scowled at him, "just how long have you been standing there looking at me?"
"Not much," answered a non-plussed Levi.
Mikasa just sighed at his response and answered his question, "no, it didn't."
"Hmm," was Levi's only reply as he started to swing slowly
Mikasa had never spoken much with Levi. If there was a good term to describe what they were it would be friendly acquaintances.
If she was honest with herself she had been highly intrigued with him when she first moved to the apartment next door to his. He always seemed serious and highly dedicated to his studies; not to mention the fact that he was incredibly attractive. In fact, she had initially developed a crush on him that had made her momentarily forget about Eren. A crush that she decided to push to the back burner the moment she found out he had a girlfriend.
"Levi," said an unsure Mikasa
He turned to look at her and raised a brow.
"Would you mind eating my chocolate with me? I don't want it to go to waste."
Levi pondered her inquiry for a few seconds, Mikasa was almost sure he would decline.
"Sure, but not here. We're going to my favorite tea house. My treat."
Mikasa smiled, "that sounds good."
Levi stood and grabbed her backpack, "come on brat, we have to get there before they run out of the good food."
Mikasa made a displeased sound at the nickname, "whatever you say shorty."
Mikasa only stuck out her tongue at him and started following him to the tea shop. She didn't know what it was about Levi but she truly felt like she could let out her inner child and be playful. She didn't often act like this. She wouldn't generally act this way even with her best girl friend Sasha.
"I could get used to this," thought Mikasa as she smiled to herself and walked faster to keep up with Levi.
"We're here brat," make yourself comfortable in the corner table. I'll get us some drinks.
Mikasa took her backpack from him and nodded. She started heading down towards the corner and decided to take the seat that would face the café. It truly was a charming place. It had an 'old world' feel to it that made it immediately feel cozy and rather like at home. Seeing that Levi was already paying she decided to take out the chocolate and have it at hand for when he came.
"Here you go brat. Peppermint tea, plain," Mikasa smiled at Levi and gratefully took her cup.
"So what took you to the park on Valentine's day? I thought an old grouch like you would prefer to hide in your cave and avoid all the blinding ridiculousness that abounds today and pleases us mere mortals."
Levi scoffed, "for your information I happen to like holidays just fine... Though maybe this one a little less than others.
Mikasa chuckled lightly and proceeded to sip on her tea.
"To answer your question," began a pensive Levi as she looked away from her tea and gave him her undivided attention, "I was just walking back home and happened to see you at the park. You looked upset so I figured I'd stop by and check on you."
"Thanks, you really didn't have to go out of your way though. I really hope I'm not intruding on any Valentine's day plan with your girlfriend."
At this Levi lost his blasé attitude and almost spit out his tea, "girlfriend?! What girlfriend?"
Mikasa raised an eyebrow at him, "The pretty redhead that always comes by every Wednesday afternoon."
"Not that I stalk you or anything!" exclaimed Mikasa, "it's just that I alway see her when I get home after lab and she always stops for a chat. She's really nice."
Levi leaned forward and took one of Masa's homemade chocolates, "that would be Petra, my step brother's girlfriend," he informed as he put the chocolate in his mouth and ate it, "surely after all this time stalking me you would've figured I have a roommate?" finished Levi with a teasing gleam in his eyes.
Mikasa blushed and looked down at her tea, "as a matter of fact no I hadn't but thanks for elucidating me on the matter of your living arrangements."
Levi chuckled lightly, making her blush, "kill me now. How embarrassing," she thought to herself.
"I got to give you props brat these are delicious. If your cooking is as good as your dessert making and you ever have leftovers you don't know what to do with please feel free to give them to me."
Mikasa smiled softly at him, "thank you Levi."
Levi raised a brow, "for what? I'm not throwing out compliments just because. If anything this will be for my benefit."
Mikasa chuckled lightly and reached out for his hand to give it a light squeeze, "for approaching me and completely turning this day around for me."
After that, the conversation simply flowed between them. They hadn't even noticed the time until one of the servers had approached to let them know they were closing. Levi paid the tab against Mikasa's wishes and then they both made their way back home in silence; simply relishing in each other's presence.
"Levi," said Mikasa as they had finally reached her apartment, "thank you for today. Truly. I hope we can see more of each other."
"Count on it brat," said Levi as he tried to remain nonchalant to the young woman in front of him.
Mikasa gave him a gentle smile and leaned down to give him a light peck on the cheek. "I'll see you around Levi." She gave him one last smile and walked into her apartment.
Levi stood there dumbfounded of a few seconds before he grinned, and started making his way home. "I won't let you get away this time Mikasa."
