“Erwin, please,” Levi’s voice had a pleading tone in it that Erwin had never heard before in his best friend. “Levi, I’m sorry. You know I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have to. But this requires the best and you are the best.” Levi felt like tearing his hair out.
“Levi, this mission is of utmost importance. If we can build a base outside the walls that means we’ll have a safehouse to spend the nights. We’ll be able to go farther into titan territory than ever before. Mikasa will understand,” Erwin was sympathetic but unyielding. Levi’s head had jerked up at the name of his lover, but his eyes were fire.
Turning on his heel, he abruptly departed Erwin’s office. Erwin heaved a sigh but knew Levi would do it. He followed orders contrary to popular belief.
Levi stalked through headquarters, anxiety coursing through him. He found the one he was looking for in the dining hall talking to Eren and Armin. Standing behind her, he murmured, “Will you come with me?” Immediately standing up, she followed him to his office and he shut the door, dreading his next words. “Mikasa…” She shook her head, pressing a finger to his lips, “I know Levi, I know. I understand you have to do this. I’ll wait for you.” Showing a rare display of vulnerability, Levi folded her in his arms, inhaling the intoxicating aroma of her inky black strands. It was tearing him apart to have to leave her. He had just found the one thing he had been searching for his entire life and now he had to parted from her. She rubber her hands up and down his back soothingly, “It’s only a year. We’ll be okay. I’ll always wait for you.” Nodding against her silky hair, Levi tried to commit the feel of her in his arms to memory. “Spend the night with me,” he whispered. He felt his heart leap at her muffled, “Of course.” His arms tightened around and he allowed himself a beautiful moment in a cruel world.
***
3 years. He had been gone 3 years. The mission had a rocky start. Many lives were lost before they were able to properly defend themselves out in the open. Not a day had passed that Levi had not thought of stormy eyes that lit a passion in him like no other.
Riding through the walled city, Levi felt a painful mix of emotions rise within him. Hope, despair, longing. Arriving at headquarters, Levi was on his way to report to Erwin when a familiar streak of onyx caught his eye. His breath caught when he realized it was not her, but a child that resembled her so closely, it was unmistakably hers. And the child was in the arms of none other than Eren Jaeger. He felt a huge force compressing his lungs as he struggle to breathe. She had promised to wait for a year. He had been gone much longer than that. She must have moved on. And she had every right to move on from a lover that hadn’t been there for her.
He forced his feet to move on to Erwin’s office. His old friend welcomed him back warmly, but seemed to sense something was off. “I won’t keep you Levi, go see her.” “Right,” Levi replied mechanically, “I should get going.”
Levi wondered the street aimlessly, drowning in the despair of having lost something so precious. He heard a little voice, “Mama, look at the stars!” “Yes sweetie, they’re beautiful.” Levi stiffened as he heard that voice. Her voice. It was tinged with a hint of longing and wondered why she was sad. She had a family, the one thing she had always wanted. Rounding the corner, they almost smacked right in to him.
Mikasa froze as she laid eyes on the man that had haunted her dreams for 3 long years. “Levi?” she breathed. She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. “You’re back, I can’t believe you’re back.” Levi gently shoved her off of him, seeing the confusion in her eyes.
She blinked rapidly and tugged the little girl forward. “This is Akemi.” Levi forced himself to smile politely at the young girl and then he froze. She had his eyes, his eyes exactly. He looked at Mikasa in bewilderment, “What? Who?” His voice trailed off as he realized who she was. “Mine?” he whispered hoarsely. “Of course. Who else?” Mikasa said, tilting her head at him. “I thought, I thought Eren. I saw him with her,” Levi sputtered.
Mikasa laughed a beautiful melodious sound and shook her head, “No, of course not silly, Uncle Eren was just babysitting his favorite niece.” Levi felt happiness blossom in his chest. She had waited, of course she had waited. He slapped himself mentally for doubting her. Surging forward, he sealed his lips against hers, muffling her cry of surprise. He heard a little voice inquire, “Mama, who is this man?” Mikasa wrenched her lips away from his, passionate love shining in her eyes. She crouched down to Akemi’s level, “This is your father, Akemi. Remember the story I told you about the brave soldier who fought for his family?” Akemi nodded vigorously. “This is him. This is Levi,” Mikasa said softly. “Daddy!” the little girl cried happily, hugging his leg. Levi felt water sting his eyes, but no tears fell. He picked up the child, his daughter, and swung her around in the air and she shrieked in delight. Mikasa put her arm around his shoulders and he put Akemi down, holding her tiny hand in his calloused one, his other arm going around Mikasa’s waist. He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, feeling a sensation of warmth and belonging within him. This is what she had always wanted and he would give it to her. He would stay by her side and be the family that she had always, always longed for. And Levi felt at peace for the first time in his life because he was home.
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