#I did this same prompt for rivamika too but

[aickerman-s]

ok regarding rivamika promps i got a few. rivamika set in high school rivamika set in 1800s - maybe victorian london? or pride and prejudice inspire rivamika wwII - maybe mikasa being a nurse and treating wounded levi? levi being a teacher in college and mikasa being his student

Hello! You might be wondering why I’m only now answering this prompt from (let me check the archives...) a year ago 😅

I was reading through some of my unanswered prompts, and while I won’t be able to respond to all of them, I happen to have been on a big Jane Austen binge lately, and I’ve always wanted to write something inspired by her. Your prompt (Pride and Prejudice) reawakened some inspiration, and now I want to write a new series!

So before I post it on AO3, here is a sneak peek! Chapter one of my new Regency-Era fic, Fear and Fidelity. <3

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Chapter One | Petals and Grasshoppers

Her hair swaying in the breeze, and the hem of her dress tugging and tracing the wildflowers below her, Mikasa strolled through the wide-open field, taking deep breaths of the fresh country air. A loud chirping caught her attention, and she stopped a moment to kneel and search for its source. After a moment she found it: a grasshopper loitering lazily on a daffodil stem. A nostalgic smile glanced across her lips.

She watched it a moment longer, as it continued its dance, before setting back off on her trail. She enjoyed every moment of the peace and quiet: the caress of the grass at her ankles, the sound of a babbling brook across the way, the chirp of the grasshoppers. She closed her eyes, knowing all too soon that-

“Mikasa!”

She sighed, not out of frustration, and turned with a smile to see Eren tearing through the bed of daffodils; petals and grasshoppers alike flying up behind him.

“Careful, Eren,” another voice called, “you’ll get dirt all over your uniform!”

Mikasa noted the mud and the grass splattering Eren’s newly polished militia boots, and leaned to the side to peer behind him, laughing as Mr Arlert followed in his path of devastation with slight trepidation. He, unlike his friend, presented himself very neat and proper in his navy gentleman’s coat and top hat, and walked at his own pace, not to be rushed.

“That’s what soap and water is for!” Eren called over his shoulder, turning to face him. “Don’t be such a spoilsport-”

His sentence was cut short by his cry, as he slipped in a patch of mud, whirling backwards and disappearing into the grass below. Mikasa blinked, until she heard Armin’s familiar laugh and Eren’s familiar grumbling. She laughed along as he offered Eren a hand, only to be pulled down into the grass beside him.

“Eren! My suit!” he cried, genuine concern in his voice. It was not reflected in Eren’s, who seemed to have regained his humour. Mikasa hopped over to the overgrown patch where they fell, careful not to slip in after them. Her shoes were already in need of a scrubbing after her walk, and she intended to hide them from Mrs Jaeger under a clean hem.

As she approached, the noise went silent.

“Eren? Armin?” she called. She couldn’t see them. As soon as she registered the rustling off to her left, she leaped, jumping off to the right just in time to dodge Eren’s lunge. What she didn’t expect was to jump straight in to Armin’s – he caught her off guard, and with a shriek, they together managed to pull her down into the mud with them. She did not worry for her dress for more than a second; not when she was surrounded once more by the laughter of her closest friends. Sitting in the grass, they greeted each other properly: with hugs not normally deemed appropriate in any more public a setting.

“You’re both a couple of children,” Mikasa beamed, taking in their faces. Yet children no more: Armin had now surpassed her in height, and his newly shortened hair accentuated his sharper jawline. Eren still had that slightly wild and excited look in his eye, as she suspected he always would, but his hair was long enough to tie back in a ribbon, and his broader physique filled the cut of his new militia uniform nicely.

“I have missed you both,” Eren smiled with great warmth, looking between her and Armin. “It feels like forever since I saw you last.”

“It has only been a few months, Eren,” Armin replied, but with an equal warmth, “but they have not been quite the same, have they Mikasa?”

“Not at all,” she replied. She stood, brushing down her skirt and smoothing the hair that escaped her bonnet. “I’ve certainly not been quite so muddy.”

“Oh, come now,” Eren scoffed, “where’s the harm?”

“Your mother will string us up when she sees us like this.”

Eren straightened his shoulders, “Perhaps when we were little, she might have. I’m a military man now, and I’m quite grown enough not to get a scolding from my mother.”

“You might be grown in age,” Armin sighed as he joined them, “but I know you shall never be grown in sense. On that, you have my word.”

“Shocking, Armin!” he scoffed, “Do you hear the way he speaks of me, Mikasa?”

“I do,” she nodded.

“Have you nothing to say?”

“Not in your favour, I’m afraid.”

Eren huffed as Armin chuckled, offering his arm to escort Mikasa out of the field and back to the main road.

“Will we be attending the ball tomorrow?” Eren asked, loud enough for them to hear as he followed behind.

“A ball?” Armin called back, “Whose ball?”

“Well, it’s less of a ball and more of a dance. I believe it’s being held in honour of the returning recruits,” he added with a grin, “such as myself.”

“I don’t suppose we could well refuse, if it’s in your honour,” Armin replied sarcastically.

“I can introduce you both to the rest of my cohort!” Eren skipped to catch up to them. “Some of them at least; some are not worth introducing.”

“Both of us?” Mikasa asked.

“Of course. Don’t tell me you still don’t like a dance?” Eren sighed.

She lifted her chin slightly, “Not particularly, no.”

“But you are a fine dancer!” he cried. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“I don’t think that is quite the point, Eren.” Armin cut in. He glanced at Mikasa, then added softly, “I heard Miss Carolina is recently engaged?”

Mikasa hummed in acknowledgement.

“My,” Eren said, “There was barely any room in mother’s last letter after listing all the engagements. Our peers are growing up fast, aren’t they?”

“Faster than us, it would seem,” Armin replied with a strained smile.

They walked for a few moments longer.

“I can’t imagine any of us getting married.” Eren murmured, to no one in particular. They continued walking, but for a moment, each of the three silently considered that statement, and found that they agreed.

“Not to imply you will end up a spinster, of course!” Eren turned suddenly to Mikasa, panic in his eyes.

Mikasa smiled, and shrugged, “I take no offence, Eren. I am perfectly aware of myself, and I agree. I enjoy my own company and each of yours far too much to pursue someone else’s. At present, I have no desire to change that.”

The two men smiled at her.

“Does that mean you aren’t coming to the dance, then?” Eren asked, a little downtrodden.

Mikasa shook her head, “There will be no way out of that, I fear. I shall go, but I will have to settle for being a tad unsociable,” she smirked, “and spending the evening eating puddings with Sasha.”

[aboutmikasa]

"Hope" for RivaMika, please. Canon fluff. And I'd like Siri. That Idea is very cool by the way. Nice way to get some inspiration.

c/n: Flirty Mikasa is my weakness, so this is longer than I expected. Thank you and I hope ;) you like it. 

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High Hopes

Rivamika | 1007 wc | Canonverse | Ask Siri music prompt | High Hopes by Bruce Springsteen | Valentine’s 2019 

.

.

She swayed her way to the stool, making the eyes linger on those long legs; the kind of legs most dreamed of holding and wrapping around their waists. A black dress hanging on the right places and a fancy cigarette holder. A sight to behold.

Early that day the Queen mentioned Mikasa had returned and prepared a soirée for her birthday. So, the possibility of her presence on his favorite bar never crossed his mind.

“Sazerac for me,” she ordered, sitting in the vacant place to his right. “And another of the same for him.”

“Whiskey, old-fashioned.” Levi avoided the need inside his pants of following the motion of the girl crossing her legs.

“How accurate.” The chuckle sounded pleasant. “Do you still have your clock Captain?”

“I do.”

The bartender took his time checking her out and Levi glared at him, wanting to remind him to mind his own business, not that Levi could claim any business with Mikasa Ackerman. It shouldn’t surprise him, the annoying women dragged all the fucking attention slaying titans or showing to the world her fashion taste. And oh, she loved modern designs—and the clothes loved her back.

“How did you did you find this shithole, Mikasa?”

“Hanji said you would be here” she played with the hem of the skirt, or with him for a more accurate description. “My turn. Why didn’t you come to my party?”

“I wasn’t in the mood for parties.”

“Are you avoiding me?”

“Why would I?”

“Same reason I’m still waiting for your answer.”

He said nothing. Two years ago they share a similar conversation over tea. Nothing changed, he still had issues, she still had issues.

She traveled with Armin, sending letters to Levi every month; letters he never replied. When Mikasa went to Hizuru, they wanted her to settle there, offering an arranged marriage. No letter arrived after that one. After six months with no notice, Levi believed they wouldn’t meet again until Historia told him the news of Armin and Mikasa’s arrival.

“Can I buy you something?” A random man approached, putting himself between Levi and Mikasa, ignoring the fact they had been talking since she arrived, and more importantly, pretending not to see her undisguised annoyance.

The asshole reeked alcohol and excessive cologne. Levi missed the old-good-fights, the intruder needed a lesson from the underground to remember his manners.

“No, thank you and if you don’t mind we’re in the middle of a conversation,” her words were polite, but she wasn’t.

“Common doll, I’m a better company.”

“Get lost,” Levi’s words cut like a knife and the man looked at him wanting to start a fight, and maybe he recognized the Captain or his murderer expression convinced him of his stupidity because at the end he obeyed Levi’s orders with no fuze.

His audience included Mikasa, though, and she witnessed the change in his demeanor.

“I like when you get jealous, but I could handle him.” She wasn’t drinking, the absinthe danced in the glass.

“I know and I know you. I didn’t want to clean his blood from my jacket.”

“You’re not denying the jealousy,” she stroked his hair and tucked some behind his ear. “I’m not giving up, Levi.”

Her fingers felt so good and he drank, trying hard of not leaning towards the sensation.

She kissed him once, pushing the boundaries between ranks and tragedies, making herself clear. Her lips were soft, her body warm and too hot to keep his hands to himself. It wasn’t a kiss, making out with his protege wouldn’t count as just one kiss; not when it wasn’t one kiss, or when he got blue balls for one month. Not when she was on top of him, moving her hips and moaning his name as his mouth traced the lines of her neck. Clothes were coming out when Hanji knocked on his door.

Mikasa didn’t buy his crap about the age difference, the work, the war and so far and go on, reading his fears and self-doubts.

“What if I’m jealous?”

Levi took her with her guard down, at least he still knew how to make her stumble.

“You shouldn’t,” the intensity of her stare knotted his guts and butterflies flew in freedom inside of his stomach. Levi asked at his old-fashioned whiskey if he could be greedy and want more, asking if he would be able to make Mikasa happy. “I dressed up for you, but you didn’t want to see me, and that stupid glass is more interesting than I am.”

Something too close to sadness overloaded every word.

Most of the time she acted cocky, and he knew how to manage her arrogance; her fragility dismantled his defenses.

“That dress of yours, Jean convinced you to buy it because you looked pretty. The fringes open when you cross your legs as you have done to drive me crazy since you sat there; your hair is shorter, not much but still short and shiny and I bet still smells like apples. You have a bruise on your arm, probably over-exercising as you always do. You’re using a cherry red lipstick, the same color you bought the day we traveled to the city, and you’re wearing the earrings I gave you for your birthday.”

As he finished his eyes finally found her. Her confused smile was endearing.

“Make no mistake Mikasa, I’m always looking at you.”

Levi caressed her fingers, enjoying the warm he had missed. He loved the honesty of her eyes and the sultriness of her stare.

“You remember a guy told me I looked pretty in this dress!”

“That’s what you get from all that?”

Her fingers played with his hair once more.

“You know Levi, they can say I look pretty with this dress, but you’re the only one that can take it off,” Mikasa whispered to his ear.

It took longer for her to said it, than for Levi to toss money, grab her hand and walk out of the bar with Mikasa Ackerman laughing behind him.

[writingshiz]

Heartless

Heartless

StormyInk

Summary:

Where I'm tossing all of my rivamika drabbles, one shots, prompts you guys toss at me and anything else of the like. I try to put all of the warnings I can think of in the tags so check those before you read.

Chapter 1

: Two hours till midnightSummary:

Most of the (reluctantly shared) elevator ride was silence laced with loathing—until the lights flickered, reflected a million times in the mirrored walls about them, the cab jolting awkwardly and stopping midway.

“Levi,” Mikasa murmured, her breath hitching, shutting her eyes as her pale hands gripped the railing behind her tightly, knuckles bone white. “Why did the elevator stop?”

Levi moved forward, punching button after button—the levels, the service button, emergency—every hit becoming progressively violent when the elevator didn’t react. “It’s not working.” Levi spat out a slew of obscene epithets. “The power’s out.” He pinched the bridge of his nose for several moments, calming himself. He tugged out his phone—his lip curling when the screen lit up. “No fucking signal. My battery is about to die—and its two hours ‘till fucking midnight.” He dropped his briefcase, turning to face Mikasa, his expression grim. “Merry fucking Christmas to us.”

Notes:

I participated in a Secret Santa on tumblr and I wrote this little one shot as a (poorly written) gift for FyeahRivaMika on tumblr. I was watching a lot of cheesy christmas movies so forgive me. Happy holidays, everyone.

Chapter Text

~4:30p.m.~

It wasn't as if she intended to work until the late hours of Christmas Eve.

Or, perhaps she had. She didn't have anything or anyone to go home to—had tried not to let that fact bother her. She was single and alone for Christmas but that did not necessarily mean she had to be unhappy.

And yet she couldn't help feeling strangely…troubled.

She wasn't one to get too riled up for the holidays—they reminded her of family, of children and parents.

They reminded her she had none.

Except for Eren and Armin of course, a family she was fiercely loyal and protective of, a family that she'd do anything to keep safe and happy.

Even if that meant stepping away from them.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

"I'm sure."

"It'll be fun. Eren and I won't be too touchy with one another and make you feel awkward at all. It'll be like old times. We can all sleep in that cabin Hanji lent us up in Big Bear and enjoy the snow. Come with us, Mikasa. Please. You shouldn't have to be alone for Christmas."

"I have a lot of work to do, Armin. I'll probably work for most of the day and shower and go to bed as soon as I get home. Don't worry about me. You two have fun. As long as you and Eren are happy…I am, too."

And it wasn't as if she had lied, really.

If anyone deserved and needed Eren's indomitable passion, unshakable loyalty and dauntless bravery it was Armin. And if anyone deserved Armin's unparalleled intelligence, his patient tactfulness and his infinite kindness it was Eren.

If anyone deserved her fierce protection it was them.

They loved each other. She was happy for them.

And so she'd found herself up to her neck in paperwork on Christmas Eve, most of her coworkers having dropped off a small Christmas gift on her desk; small handmade Christmas cards, a few foil wrapped delicacies, an excessively large tin box of chocolates from Jean and a large bottle of wine wrapped in candy cane striped paper—from the second head of the company.

She been a bit startled to find it on her desk, had narrowed her eyes as she'd read the name written in lettering as caustic and cutting as his tongue.

Levi.

And for several moments she hadn't really been able to comprehend just why he'd given her a bottle of wine—why he'd given her a gift at all—because they hadn't spoken much, at least not on a personal basis. Most of their work forced interactions hadn't been what she'd call pleasant by any means; they were too good at their jobs, too competitive, too stubborn to not clash during meetings.

Levi took a little too much perverse pleasure in scaring Eren witless and piling mountains of paperwork upon him—would have done the same to Armin if Erwin hadn't assigned him as his personal assistant. She had made it her goal to surpass him, to prove her worth to him despite being so much younger, to best him.

She wanted to earn his respect as much as she wanted to crush him beneath her sharp heel.

Because when they worked together, when they agreed on a subject and executed their plans with their single minded ruthlessness—she'd felt a high like no other.

But she shouldn't think of those things.

She'd dragged a fingernail across the paper on the front of the bottle, peeled the edge away to reveal the label—and had felt her brow furrow.

How did he know this was my favorite wine?

And it was with a strange giddiness twisting her insides and a fierce look of concentration darkening her gaze that Sasha found her, walking into her office, her coat thrown over her arm, her large purse in hand.

"Everyone is leaving." Sasha yawned, stretching. "Well, everyone except the boss." Sasha pointed over her shoulder to the office across from hers. Mikasa looked, saw Levi hunched over his large desk, his pen furiously scratching at pale sheets. He looked unhappy, she thought, miserable almost, knew he'd snarl at anyone who dared to interrupt him—but perhaps he wasn't as unpleasant as he made himself to be.

Perhaps he was the kind of man who was keen and attentive enough to notice a subordinate's favorite wine and wrap and gift it to them on Christmas Eve.

She flushed and looked away, eyeing the bottle with reluctant gratitude.

Sasha pointed at the bottle in Mikasa's grip. "You got a bottle, too?"

Mikasa blinked. "Too?"

Sasha nodded. "We all had bottles on our desks this morning. A gift from Levi." She reached into her bag, struggled to tug out her own bottle—wrapped in reflective green paper. "You got fancy paper, though. I think mostly everyone got green or red." Sasha slid the bottle back into her purse. "You leaving now?"

Mikasa held very still. "No."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

Sasha hesitated. "Remember you can come over later if you'd like. Connie and I are holding a party for everyone at our place…"

Mikasa shook her head. "Thank you, Sasha."

Sasha sighed. "Alright, then. Good night, Mikasa. Merry Christmas." She left with a small wave.

Mikasa sat in her chair, carefully placing the bottle in the bottom drawer to her right.

We all had bottles on our desk this morning.

She tugged out her thin laptop, tugging out a small note pad and pen along with it.

You got fancy paper, though.

Mikasa quietly buried her disappointment with every soft tap of her keyboard and scratch of her pen.

~9:45p.m.~

Levi didn't look at the time until the words on the screen began to blur together. He massaged the back of his cramped neck as he shut his laptop, grimacing when he saw how late it was.

Nine forty-five.

He stood, stretching, his back giving several audible, satisfying pops. He began gathering his belongings—suit jacket, his coat, all the other tacky trinkets his employees had messily strewn about his office swiftly stuffed into his briefcase as he shut the light off and walked out—when he saw Mikasa Ackerman's office light still softly glowing.

When he saw her sleeping on her desk.

She had her arms folded over the desk, her cheek pressed over the back of her hand, her small lips parted, her breathing slow and even.

She was beautiful, he admitted to himself, lovely, even. He'd known she was attractive since the first time she'd walked into his building—hadn't known just how exquisite she was until he'd worked with her. It had been a frustrating thing, a slowly satisfying one, discovering the different aspects of her character: quiet tenaciousness, a sharpness that nearly matched his, a bone deep protectiveness and loyalty to the company—or well, Eren mostly.

And her softness.

It had left him breathless on more than one occasion, the blood boiling glares she'd give him one second, the cutting words they'd bite out over a long work day—and then Eren would call her name, or Armin would smile at her, and every one of her lethal lines softened, her shoulders relaxing, her dark eyes almost fucking sparkling.

As if Yeager or Arlert were built out of fucking diamonds.

And he was just a lump of ashy coal.

Yes, Mikasa Ackerman was a woman who troubled him with how much she intrigued him.

If only she didn't completely loathe him.

He sighed, walking over to her office. He pressed his lips together as he rapped on her door sharply—watched her jump awake.

"How unprofessional, Mikasa." Levi leaned against the door, enjoying the open confusion on her pretty features—such a rare display of vulnerability. "Sleeping on the job? I don't think I pay you for that."

She cleared her throat, standing quickly as she straightened her prim dark blue dress. "I wasn't—"

"Yes you were." He gestured to her belongings in the corner of her office. "I'm leaving and I need to lock up. Hurry up."

Mikasa ran her hand through her hair, trying not to seem flustered. She snapped her laptop shut, clicking off her lamp and gathering her belongings deftly.

He watched her as she slid on her coat, bundling that damned scarf about her neck and mouth, sweeping everything up into her long arms. He'd often marveled at the way she'd moved, all poise and grace—had seen how brutally she could break someone just months after she and all the interns had started working for them, just a week before they'd decided who was going to go and stay.

Which one he, Hanji and Erwin would pick to take under their wing.

It had been a curious morning—Erwin had called him into his office, two security guards nervously standing with their hands clasped in their laps.

"Have a look at this, Levi."

Erwin had pointed at a large screen on the wall opposite from them, the video fuzzy and choppy. It was a view of the street right outside their building—and before Levi could ask why the hell he wanted him to watch a street he saw Mikasa walk out the front doors.

She walked down the sidewalk—ignorant of the two men trailing closely behind her. Levi felt his gut clench, his body moving forward of its own will, as if he could reach into the screen—and before he could think rationally Mikasa whirled, dropping her purse and briefcase, decking the two men before they even realized what the hell was going on.

And for a moment Levi was completely stunned—something he rarely was—and then he felt the relief wash over him, along with a black, black humor. He felt the edges of his lips curl up, shook his head as he watched Mikasa calmly pick up her belongings and keep walking, disappearing off the edge of the screen.

"That one is mine, Erwin."

Mikasa walked towards him now, breaking him of the memory—he eyed the huge box beneath her arm in dismay.

"What the hell is in there? A small child?"

She frowned. "It's a gift from Jean…they're sweets."

Levi stayed quiet for a few moments—moved away from her doorway, motioning for her to follow behind him as they walked down the hall. "I would say it was a thoughtful gift." Levi tapped the button for the elevator twice, catching Mikasa's gaze through the blurry reflection of the stainless steel doors. "Except you don't like sweets."

He saw the surprise that lifted her brows and parted her lips—before she promptly looked away, tugging her scarf up with a finger. "It's not—"

The elevator gave a soft ping, the doors gliding open, presenting the posh elevator; all mirrored tile, mirrored walls, a softly glowing light above.

A small twig of mistletoe ominously hung in the center.

Mikasa stepped away. "I'm taking the stairs."

Levi sighed wearily, catching her elbow before she could move away. "Get in the elevator." He glared at the stupid sprig. "No doubt done by Connie and Sasha." He made a mental note to have a word with them. He tugged Mikasa forward—and realized he couldn't. "I'm not going to bloody kiss you so get in the—"

"It's not that." Mikasa bit out, looking away carefully. "I…don't like elevators."

Levi's brow furrowed—reached out when the doors began to shut, forcing them back. "Claustrophobic?"

She nodded. "Not…excessively. Elevators make me…uncomfortable."

Levi kept his hand around her elbow. "The stairs are locked."

Her eyes flew open. "What?"

"They're locked." He shrugged. "We had a few homeless straggle in a few nights ago and so Erwin decided to lock them to keep them out while we were gone for the holidays. He was the keys for those doors." He nodded towards the elevator. "You're going to have to get in there or stay here the whole bloody night."

Mikasa reluctantly set her teeth, and he watched with idle fascination as a tic appeared in her jaw—until she stepped forward, all poise and grace vanquished, rusty hinges in its place.

He followed, pushing the bottom to take them to the bottom floor. The doors shut—and Mikasa stayed in the far corner of the elevator, leaning against the wall and glaring at the offensive mistletoe above them.

Yes, Levi mused, she most definitely despised him.

Most of the (reluctantly shared) elevator ride was silence laced with loathing—until the lights flickered, reflected a million times in the mirrored walls about them, the cab jolting awkwardly and stopping midway.

It went pitch black.

"Levi," Mikasa murmured, her breath hitching, shutting her eyes as her pale hands gripped the railing behind her tightly, knuckles bone white. "Why did the elevator stop?"

Levi moved forward, punching button after button—the levels, the service button, emergency—every hit becoming progressively more violent when the elevator didn't react. "It's not working." Levi spat out a slew of obscene epithets. "The power's out." He pinched the bridge of his nose for several moments, calming himself. He tugged out his phone—his lip curling when the screen lit up. "No fucking signal. My battery is about to die—and its two hours 'till fucking midnight." He dropped his briefcase, turning to face Mikasa, his expression grim. "Merry fucking Christmas to us."

It was the last thing she heard before she fainted.

~10:15p.m.~

"Don't you dare fucking pass out on me, Mikasa."

It was the first words out of his mouth when he caught her, fumbling to keep her upright—cursing and folding onto his knees instead.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." He put her on her back, grabbing his phone and using it to light up her face, relief cracking through him when he saw her lashes fluttering. "Mikasa," He growled, shaking her. "Mikasa wake the fuck up." What the fuck were you supposed to do when someone fainted? He'd seen it a few times—you carry them, get a doctor—but where the devil was he supposed to carry her to if they were trapped in a fucking box?

He searched her pockets, finding her phone. He checked the signal—damn near threw it at the wall when he saw that it had none.

He lifted her head, checked her breathing, her pulse—all seemed relatively strong.

Perhaps it was just the fright?

"How in the hell," Levi unbuttoned her coat swiftly. "Can someone fearlessly fight two thugs on the sidewalk without batting an eye…" He peeled it off her shoulders, tugging her arms out. "But faint when the bloody lights go out?" He lifted her against his chest, slapping her cheek gently—calmed slightly when her hand lifted to push his away. "Mikasa wake up."

Her lashes fluttered, her chest rattling with an unsteady breath. The elevator was still glowing with the multiple reflections of her cell phone, and her eyes met his in the white blue glow.

"Levi?" She murmured thickly.

"Are you alright?" He scanned her features, saw her realize they were still in the elevator.

She pressed her fingertips over the backs of her eyelids. "We're still trapped." Her breath quickened.

"Don't pass out again." He snapped. "Sit up."

He leaned her away from him and against the wall, saw her head loll back weakly. "Here." He pressed her cell phone into her damp palm. "Keep it lit up. I'm going to try to climb the hell out of here."

"Climb?" She muttered thinly.

"Up there." He jerked his chin towards the ceiling, dropping his coat and suit jacket onto the ground. "There's a latch, isn't there?" He began deftly rolling up his sleeves, yanking impatiently at his tie. "Stay awake. It's just a damn elevator."

He stepped up onto the railing, lithely holding himself upright up against the corner, reaching upwards with a grimace. "Fucking hell," He cursed.

He heard Mikasa give a strangled sound—couldn't quite decipher what it meant.

"You can't reach." She whispered.

Levi scowled, shoving the small door above aside. "Are you amused, Acker—shit." The railing snapped beneath his foot, and he was falling—Mikasa kicked away from the wall, trying to catch him in time.

She didn't—his body hit the floor hard but she caught his head, cradling it in her lap as he groaned. Mikasa brushed his hair away from his forehead.

"Are you alright?"

He spoke between jagged breaths. "Does it fucking look like I'm alright?" He tried to stand—she pressed her palm to his forehead, kept him on his back.

"Stay still for a few minutes."

Levi grunted—but obeyed, oddly soothed by the way her fingertips smoothed over his brow and into his hair.

He stared at the mistletoe dead center above them until his pulse returned to normal.

~10:30p.m.~

"I'll try this time." Mikasa let Levi help her to her feet. "Give me a boost."

Levi nodded, crouching onto his knees.

"What are you doing?"

"Sit on my shoulders."

"No."

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose again. "Then how?"

Mikasa looked disgruntled. "I don't know."

"Get on my fucking shoulders."

~10:35p.m.~

"Can you reach it?"

"Yes." Mikasa pulled herself up, her body halfway through the opening—when suddenly the entire cab jolted back to life, the cables beside her rolling. "Levi—"

He slid her down instantly, her stomach dragging over his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her steady as everything shifted. "Are you hurt—?"

She clamped her hand over his mouth as the lights flickered on weakly.

"The electricity is back up." Mikasa slid her hand away from his mouth, curled her fingers into the fabric over his shoulders. "We're going to get out."

Levi nodded grimly, felt his eyes latch onto the thrashing pulse at the base of her pale throat. "About fucking—" The elevator jerked to another stop, the lights flickering again.

"No." Mikasa whispered.

And the elevator gave another lurch but stayed in place, the lights dimming but staying lit.

And it still didn't move.

Lev gripped the back of Mikasa's blue dress in his fist. "Fuck."

~10:45p.m.~

"Do you know what I would have been doing at this time if I wasn't stuck here?" Levi asked Mikasa, sprawled across the ground with his jacket rolled up beneath his head.

"Celebrating." Mikasa murmured, her knees drawn up as she sat in the corner opposite of him. "Party with your business partners."

"Sleeping." Levi admitted, dark amusement thick in his voice. "Or perhaps I'd be sitting in bed, catching up on bills and other shitty, seemingly never ending paperwork." He turned his head, catching her gaze, eyeing her pretty pale legs, her skin glowing softly in the low light. "And you?" He let his voice deepen. "What would you be doing right now if you weren't…" He gestured flippantly about them. "…trapped in here with me?"

She pressed her cheek to her knee, tracing invisible circles on the dark blue fabric of her dress skirt—making Levi dimly realize the fabric had the slightest of shimmers to it. "Eating and watching T.V." She eyed the wine bottle he'd gifted her. "Drinking."

Levi exhaled wearily. You have no one either. "How dreary."

She turned away. "It'd be better than being trapped in here."

He smirked. "I bet so."

~10:50p.m.~

"What are you doing?"

"You can see what I'm doing."

Levi narrowed his eyes as she opened the huge box of sweets Jean had given her, a letter slipping out and sliding between them. There was a name written on it in a strong hand—

Mikasa. From Jean.

"Is that a fucking love letter?"

Mikasa slid it towards her quickly, tucking it into her coat pocket with flushed cheeks. "No."

"Open it."

"No."

"We need some fucking amusement or we're going to go insane."

"I'm fine."

"Tch," Levi raked his hair back, glanced at the time. "I'm going mad."

She slid the wine bottle towards him silently.

~11:00p.m.~

"Are you going to eat the whole fucking box?"

She slipped another chocolate between her lips. "I haven't eaten today."

Levi curled his lip when his own stomach growled.

"Don't eat them all."

~11:12p.m.~

"You don't like me very much, do you?" Levi took another swig, placing the bottle back between them.

Mikasa paused in the middle of stretching. She turned her head, sprawled on her back, her coat the only thing between her and the cold floor. She looked at him with a frown—saw him sitting against the wall, one knee drawn up, his fingers idly toying with a silver candy wrapper.

She reached for the bottle, drinking from it deeply before speaking. "You're abrasive."

He let out a dark huff of amusement. "That's a fucking understatement." He tossed the wrapper back into the box. "You aren't exactly all sugary sweetness either, Mikasa."

She smiled softly—saw him go very still. "Also another understatement, Levi."

~11:25p.m.~

"So…you and Jean?" Levi gestured to the letter peaking from her coat pocket beneath her.

She shook her head. "I'm not discussing my love life with you, Levi."

"Not much of one, I'd say." Levi shifted, moving to lie down beside her. They faced the mirrored ceiling, locking gazes through their reflections. "He buys you sweets when you could care less for them." He handed her the bottle. "Do you think he knows your favorite wine?"

Mikasa leaned up to take another drink. "You gave everyone wine, Levi." She handed him the bottle, looking at him from over her pale shoulder. "Jean gave me something…different from what he gave the others."

He took the bottle—placed it aside. He reached up, slowly—almost tentatively—touching her bottom lip, wiping away a stray drop of wine. "Do you honestly think me gifting you a bottle of your favorite wine was a lucky coincidence, Mikasa?"

She shut her eyes as his fingertips brushed over her cheek. "You're drunk."

He pulled his hand away. "I spent fifteen fucking minutes trying to pick out that wrapping paper."

She flushed, lying back down. "Shut up, Levi."

~11:35p.m.~

"I'll give you a pay raise if you open the shitty love letter."

"It's not a love letter." Her small smile disarmed him. "And no."

~11:40p.m.~

"And if I threaten to fire you?"

Mikasa sighed. "I have plenty of other job offers."

Levi cursed, his words slurred. "You—from who?"

She shook her head and ignored him, tipping the bottle into her mouth.

~11:55p.m.~

"I've never been kissed under the mistletoe." Mikasa suddenly murmured, her dark eyes latched onto the greenery hanging above them. "Really kissed. I was caught beneath it once with Eren." She touched her cheek, deep in memory. "I…leaned in to kiss him on the mouth—he kissed me on the cheek instead." She swallowed. "I felt…" She took a jagged breath. "I knew he'd never…"

Eren's a fucking idiot.

"Neither have I." Levi lifted himself up, his head swimming as he crouched over her. He slid his hand beneath her head, angling her mouth beneath his as his lips touched over hers gently. He felt her sharp inhale—paused. "There." He rasped thickly. "Wasn't so special." He dragged his lips over hers again. "Was it?"

Her tongue touched his bottom lip—and his breath caught. He swept his tongue into her mouth, tangled it with hers, tasting the bitterness of the wine, the sweetness of the chocolates she'd eaten. She slid her hands up his back, her thin fingers tangling in his hair as they deepened the kiss—the quiet buzzing of her phone vibrating against the ground between them.

They broke the kiss—lips kiss stung, breathless—and Levi glanced at her phone. He huffed, pushing her hair back. "It's midnight." Her dark eyes were clouded—a mixture of alcohol and lust, her blush lovely in the soft light reflected about them. "Merry Christmas, Mikasa."

~12:10a.m.~

"What the hell is going to happen when we need to take a piss?" Levi asked out loud.

Mikasa sighed, rolling to her side and shutting her eyes.

She'd been starting to wonder the same thing.

~12:20a.m.~

Somewhere between being half asleep and half-awake Mikasa found herself gathered within Levi's arms, his mouth tracing over every inch of exposed skin. "You're so soft." He kissed down her throat, his hands bunching up her dress, her thighs parting for him. "I never knew."

Her hands yanked at his shirt, tearing the buttons apart, peeling the shirt away from his shoulders impatiently. He slipped his arms out of the shirt, let her run her palms over his bare chest, his arms, her nails lightly scratching down his back. He held still for her as slid her hands to his hard stomach, her fingertips slipping beneath his belt.

He hissed, catching her mouth in another hard kiss, muffling his groan when her palm dragged over his clothed erection, gripping it tightly. He broke the kiss, buried his face in her throat as she unbuckled his pants, her hand slipping in eagerly.

"Mikasa," He breathed, gritting his teeth when her hand found him, fingertips dragging over the rigid length. "Mikasa, fuck." He grabbed her wrist—grabbed both of them—pinned them above her head in one fist. He caught her gaze, saw the look of almost triumph in it, the power she felt at working him up so quickly.

I see, Levi thought, trying to clear his head. "My turn." He dragged his free hand over her front, rasped his fingertips down her throat, over her chest and down to her stomach—parting her thighs. "Hold still." He snaked his hand beneath her skirt, fingers tickling the inside of her thighs—she arched, her hips jerking up. He smirked. "I said hold still."

She jutted out her chin defiantly—made a strangled sound when his fingers cupped between her legs, teasingly tracing over the lacy fabric, the wetness seeping through.

"Levi." His name cut from her lips.

"You're wet." He murmured—hooking his fingers into the fabric, yanking it down roughly. "But not enough." He slipped her lace down her legs, the material tangling on her heels briefly. He tossed them aside, his fingers cupping her ankle, sliding his palm up her leg, back up her thigh—pausing. He released her hands, slipping his beneath her back, searching. "Where—where's the fucking zipper?"

Mikasa caught his wrists, dragged them to her chest. "Here."

He frowned—until he felt a small fold, a long line in the fabric from the top of the dress to the hem. He found the zipper—dragged it down achingly slowly, reveling in every newly exposed inch of skin. When he reached the end he leaned back on his knees, parting the fabric like he was unwrapping a desperately needed gift.

And when he bared her to his gaze—his lungs locked. "You weren't wearing a bra…" He smoothed his hands up her bare stomach. If I'd known…he crouched over her—saw their bodies reflected about them in the low light from above. His fingers slid between her legs, his fingertip brushing against her teasingly, making her arch beneath him wantonly.

Slowly, he slid one long finger into her, curling it forward. "Wetter," He observed, his mouth finding the side of her neck, his teeth nibbling. "Still not quite ready for me."

"Levi." She moaned, wrapping her long legs around him, her nails digging into his back viciously as his finger worked within her. "I need…"

"I know." His thumb slid up, pushing in, searching. "I know what you need." His mouth slid down her chest, his breath tickling her skin, tongue tracing small circles as his thumb found the small button of sensitive flesh. "Here." He rasped his thumb over it roughly—her cry muffled with her own hand. "Don't." He reached up with his other hand, tugging her palm away from her mouth. He circled her clit in time with the movement of his finger, driving her up, watched her arch her back, her neck, her pulse thrumming. He lowered his head, catching the tip of her breast between his white teeth, dragging another strangled moan from her lips.

He worked over her slowly, methodically, savored every touch, every moan, looking up to see her watching their reflection on the mirror over their heads. He smirked—brought her as close to the edge as he needed her—and slid her breast out of his mouth, pried his hand away from her.

"Don't—" She was shaking beneath him violently. "Levi—what—?"

"Just a little more." He dragged his lips down her stomach, dipping his tongue into her belly button.

He moved lower still, dipping his head between her legs, her soft curse satisfying him immensely. He dragged his tongue over her, sifting into her restlessly until he found the soft button, circling it easily once he did.

"Levi—please."

He angled his head, suckling—and she fractured, her fingers tangling in his hair tightly, holding his mouth to her as she bucked beneath him, a long drawn out moan pried from her lips. He gentled the movements of his tongue, nurturing her through it until she begged him to stop.

He conceded, his mouth dragging back up her stomach, pausing to nibble at her collarbones, kissing his way up her throat. His fingers curled into her—gentled when she flinched. "Still sensitive." He murmured, his fingers still delving deeper into her. "But you're ready now."

She couldn't quite open her eyes, her mouth pressing against his clumsily as his hand fumbled into his pocket. He found the condom, tearing it open and rolling it on quickly—pressed the tip against her entrance.

He dragged in a badly needed breath, bracing himself over her. "Wrap your legs around me." She obeyed, gripping his hips and lifting her own, pressing him into her in one smooth movement. "Wait," He cursed, letting her impale herself onto him helplessly. His hands gripped her hips, pulling them higher, burying himself deeper—she was all damp, unbearable heat, scorching him. "Fuck, Mikasa." He pushed harder against her, burying himself to the hilt, a groan tearing from his throat when she pushed against him roughly. "Stop moving."

She kept grinding onto him, finding an easy rhythm, her breath hitching as her pleasure began to build again.

Shit.

He pinned her hips down, almost slipping completely out of her. "I'm trying to slow down." He bit her bottom lip in punishment. "I'm trying to be fucking gentle—"

"Don't." She flipped them over—slid him back into her body, spreading her thighs, seating herself fully onto him. "I don't want slow." She threw her head back as she began to ride him, spoke between ragged breaths. "I don't want you to be gentle."

I don't want you to be gentle either.

She flattened her palms against his chest as she rode him roughly, greedily searching for her own pleasure, nails digging into his skin. He watched her, clenching his jaw as he tried to hold on, waiting for her to find her own pleasure—realized he wasn't going to be able to hang on for much longer.

He slid his hand down her stomach, his fingers tips pressing up between her legs, dragging across her soft flesh with every shift of her hips.

She moaned—moved faster, and fuck he couldn't hold back, couldn't—she gave a small cry, hunching forward and collapsing onto his chest, grinding onto him fiercely, breaking his control.

His hands fumbled, grasping the sides of her head, muffled his moan against her mouth, his hips bucking upwards as he came.

His hands gripped her ribs hard enough to bruise.

He tore his mouth away from hers, his pulse slowing gradually. They said nothing as their breathing returned to a normal tempo, her cheek pressed against his shoulder, the delicate, powerful lines of her back reflected in the mirror above them.

He slid his palm up her spine soothingly, quieting her small trembles. "Are you okay?"

The look she gave him was almost insulted—but mostly tired.

He smirked, brushing her hair away from her flushed face. "Stupid question, I suppose." She sat back up, pulling away from his body, curling onto her side beside him.

He removed the condom with a grimace, tossing it into a small bag of empty treats. He reached for his coat and draped it over her bare body. He shifted as he adjusted his pants, searching for his shirt. "Do you want your dress?" He looked back at her—found her eyes were shut, her breathing slow and even.

"You're asleep." Levi murmured, feeling rather winded himself. He sighed, rolling onto his back, glancing at their reflections on the mirrored ceiling, on the walls. "Merry fucking Christmas to us."

~1:00a.m.~

He woke feeling her stir, seeing her shut his jacket closed over her front—her heels still on. She looked lovely—all flushed cheekbones, bare body wrapped in a jacket too short for her, the curve of her hip exposed, her slender feet still prettily arched in strappy heels.

Naked except for his jacket.

And she looked as if she wanted to be anywhere but here.

Levi looked away, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. She looked uncomfortable—and he didn't want her to be but neither did he know how to go about easing her distress.

Don't make it worse.

"A little too late to get all skittish now, isn't it?" He arched a thin brow as he looked at her. "Considering…" He eyed her half exposed form pointedly.

Levi discovered that heels could be quite painful when dug into the skin.

~1:20a.m.~

"How long do you think it's going to take for someone to notice that we aren't anywhere to be found?" Levi murmured, carefully devouring a small sweet off of her stomach.

Mikasa's breath quickened, her fingers grasping his shoulders tightly. "Eren and Armin…always call me at midnight."

"Hmm," His mouth found the next sweet—lower down, the small caramel carefully placed over her thigh. "Hanji and Erwin call me, also." He sucked at her skin lightly, enjoying her little gasp. "They also show up in the morning to wish me happy birthday—ridiculous."

He moved lower—but she shifted, rolling over so that he was beneath her.

He scowled. "I wasn't done."

Mikasa straddled his legs, a furrow between her brows. "It's your birthday?"

Levi nodded. "It's not as if I'd do anything special to celebrate it anyway." He grasped her hips. "I hate birthdays anyway."

She eyed him grimly—and then something changed in her expression, a glint of determination, a look he'd seen when they'd been struggling through a meeting and a moment of clarity broke through her.

She reached up, grabbing a small handful of chocolates—neatly placing a line of them over his chest and down his stomach. She crouched, her mouth working over him, her tongue seeking sweet after sweet.

Levi shivered, chills plucking over his skin as her head moved down his stomach. "Shit—Mikasa." Levi clenched his jaw, his fingers cradling the back of her head as her lips encircled the sensitive head.

She glanced up through her lashes, her warm breath tickling him. "Happy birthday, Levi."

She took him into her mouth—and he cursed, arched his neck back—decided maybe he didn't hate birthdays after all.

~2:00a.m.~

"Levi," He felt her fingers sift into his hair. "Levi the lights are flickering."

He cracked open his lids, his head still in her lap. "They are." He looked up at her, still not quite awake. "It's making you nervous."

She inhaled deeply. "No."

He moved, pulling her onto him, cradling her head against his chest. "Sleep."

Her fingers gripped the side of his ribs tightly as his hand smoothed down her back and over her bottom.

"Thank you." She whispered.

Levi eyed their bare, entwined reflections—wondered what the hell would happen once they got out.

If she'd pull away.

If he would.

They both fell asleep soon after.

~6:00a.m.~

The sound of a loud buzzing woke them, along with the sudden flicker of the lights brightening. Levi sat up—pulling Mikasa up with him, held her when she slipped sideways.

"Levi—?"

"Shit." He stood, helping her onto her feet. The elevator began to move down. "Shit, shit."

They dressed as quickly as they could, barely managing to make themselves decent when the elevator stopped, the doors gliding open.

A group of technicians—along with Erwin and Hanji—stared at them openly.

Levi cleared his throat, buttoning his suit coat stiffly. "About fucking time." He grabbed his briefcase—eyed the mess of torn gift wrap and candy wrappers strewn about the elevator, the hand prints marring the mirrors, Mikasa's mussed hair—his own.

"Oh." Hanji muttered.

"Well," Erwin cleared his throat. "Thank you, gentlemen." He shook hands with the technicians, discreetly but firmly dismissing them. "Thank you for getting my coworkers out. Merry Christmas. You're free to go now."

~7:00a.m.~

Levi and Mikasa sat beside one another on the sidewalk outside, the cold biting the tips of their noses and their chapped lips. Erwin and Hanji had brought them two cups of coffee before they'd given them some privacy, and they held them between their cold hands, a stilted silence hanging between them as the sun began to peak over the tops of the buildings.

"We don't…" Levi paused, frustrated with himself. "We can pretend this never happened, if you'd like."

Mikasa kept her pretty dark eyes on the sunrise as she took another sip of her coffee. "If that's what you wish."

Levi frowned. "It's…not."

Mikasa looked at him, her expression unreadable—until the smallest of smiles touched her petal pink lips. "What now?"

He shrugged. "Dinner. Dates." He grabbed an end of her scarf, tugging her forward for a brief kiss, the movements of their mouths tinged with the relief that broke through them. He broke the kiss, kissing the side of her neck. "My apartment is just down the street." He moved to the other side of her neck, giving it the same treatment. "Spend Christmas with me, Mikasa."

Mikasa nodded, breathless.

They stood—gloved hands clasped as they walked away. Levi paused when they reached the corner, frowning at Mikasa suddenly. "This isn't just some ploy to get a pay raise, is it?"

She shoved his arm away and walked away from him—he gave a dark huff of laughter, wrapping his arm around her waist and tugging her back to him. "It was a damn joke."

She let him kiss her. "I deserve a pay raise."

He smirked. "You're just a younger woman out for my money and company, I see."

She shifted her hips against his. "Is it working?"

"Not one bit."

She pulled away, tugging her scarf up over her mouth as she linked their fingers. "I suppose I'll have plenty of time to work on that."

He smirked, tugging her into step beside him, letting her keep the chill away as the sunlight enveloped them. "That you will."

[aickerman-s]

Oasis of Bliss (Rivamika Jam 2019)

Or as I like to call it: ”Two thousand three hundred and fifty-six words of pure stress relief”

Hello everyone! I’ve not been very active the past few months, and that is because it’s officially work-kicking-my-ass season again. Some of you may already know from my ramblings that I am a writing student, and it can be stressful (this semester more than most). But I want to thank @rivamikaevents​ for organising this Rivamika Jam, because when I sat down to start writing this piece my stress melted away and I genuinely looked forward to every writing session I had with it. So while it may not be very polished due to computer-related technical issues, I am very happy to be able to present it! (And on time!)

And of course I couldn’t have done it without the fabulous @moraleewright​ and their inspiring prompts! I wanted to try something a little out of my comfort zone with this prompt (i.e. slightly nsfw), but still putting my own little dramatic twist on it:

‘Levi follows a path in the woods that leads him to a stream...and a naked Mikasa having a dip. Very naked. And very grown up. And Levi’s very, very confused.’

But enough of my rambling, you came here for Rivamika ;) Have a great day everyone!

---

Trees, trees, and more goddamned trees. That was all Levi could see.

He’d long lost track of how many days, weeks, even months he’d travelled, hoping to find some sign of civilisation. But all he’d seen were trees.

A twig snaps beneath his boot, and he grows more anxious as he can feel the sharpness through his worn down soles. It won’t be worth wearing them soon enough. His worn down boots, his dull and broken blade, and his near-empty waterskin; that was all he had left on him, bar the tattered remains of his uniform. He’d ditched the jacket a few days ago. The summer sun was blaring down on him as he travelled and the fabric that was left of it did nothing but warm him up. He tore off a strip to tie around the wound on his arm and used the rest as campfire fuel. He wouldn’t last until the weather grew cold again.

Levi coughed – that involuntary, dry sort of cough when your throat is parched and hot – spluttering as he felt his pace slow. He opened his waterskin, and let out a wheeze of a laugh as he saw the thimbleful of water he had left for himself. He stared at it for a moment, tilting it towards the sunlight for examination. Maybe it was better to leave it. Get it over with sooner.

He sighed to himself, and tipped the water out on to his tongue, savouring the rivulet of water as it trickled down his sandpaper throat. His legs carried him onwards, not so much from his own will as from the force of habit. He lost his horse maybe a week ago.  Not enough water for the two of them.

Streaks of midday sunlight broke through the dense canopy of leaves high, high above him, falling down like spears to the forest floor. Shade from the burning intensity of the sun’s rays was nice, although the thick vegetation that enclosed him in this forest created a close humidity that suffocated him wherever he went.

Levi was tempted to stick out his tongue, and catch the sweat that ran down his cheek, but had learned that the saltiness would only make him thirstier.

But still he walked. He had almost forgotten why once or twice since he entered the forest. Was it just for the shade? Was he hunting wildlife? A bloody change of scenery?

It was smoke, far off in the hazy horizon; a couple days ago he could’ve sworn he’d seen smoke. He’d blinked and it was gone, he couldn’t quite find it again, but he knew the direction he’d seen it, or thought he’d seen it. And after traveling without hope for so long, it was as good a direction to walk as any.

Deep down he hoped it’d been a flare - maybe a unit were riding towards him, if he were lucky. But he also knew it could have been anything. Could’ve been a forest fire for all he knew.

But still, he walked.

His feet dragged behind him, losing power with every step. His blade - broken, blood-splattered, and blunt - trailed by his side, pushing its way through the dirt with him.

The soft trickling of water.

Levi lifted his chin from his chest, looked up momentarily and immediately felt stupid. It was the same scene as before, as it always had been: trees and nothing more.

The faint gurgling of a stream.

Levi shook his head, smacking his cheek a little with his free hand. This wasn’t his first hallucination in recent days.

A glint of sunlight.

Not from his sword, too blemished by rust and grime and blood. It came from somewhere else.

And then he saw it – up ahead, not far from the path, sunlight sparkled off the broken surface of a tiny stream, shifting between stones and dribbling down the hill.

Levi’s legs carried him towards it before he could conjure the command, stumbling over the overgrown forest brush. He fell to his knees by the edge of the stream. At its widest, it was still no wider than his wrist. He dropped his sword and reached a tentative hand out to touch it.

His fingertips tingled as they met the shallow water. It was real.

In an instant he dove forward, pressing his face against the smooth pebbles to try and catch the meagre flow of water tumbling over them. He couldn’t get much, barely more than what he had in his waterskin, but it was fresh and cool, and he felt the wave of bliss pour through him as the chill spread through his chest. He gasped as he rose, uncapping the waterskin and pressing it against the rocks, but the bed was too shallow to collect any water.

Levi rose to rest on his haunches, gathering his sword once more and looking upstream. The water ran ever so slightly faster further up the hill.

He followed the stream, opposing the flow, for a few minutes and sure enough, it got a little wider. He kept going, his pace quickening and his strength returning with adrenaline as he watched the weak stream growing wider, stronger, deeper, fuller.

Soon the sound of the water was clear, rushing down the steep incline he now ascended. But the sound was stronger still at the top of the hill, more aggressive, like a river. He climbed higher, not daring to stop lest his legs gave up for good. The burn in his thighs threatened to send him back down, but the fire in his gut drove him on through the tangling roots and grasses that threatened to snare his ankles. He pushed through, using all his limbs to carry his weary body to the top of the hill, where he could see now the stream opened to something larger.

A song, a hallucination, grew louder as he approached the top: a soft, out of tune humming that called him closer, and as he pulled himself up, over, and crested the horizon – what he saw stopped his heart.

An oasis. Above him, lush green and vibrant plant life draped over a craggy outcrop guarding a pool of water. A small waterfall tumbled over the rocks and down through the vines, crashing into the pool and disturbing the glistening surface below. Shards of sunlight scattered in all directions and the ripples travelled outwards to the drooping leaves that circled it, swaying with the rhythm.

If it were just the oasis he saw, Levi might have felt himself inexplicably lucky. But the humming creature bathing in the water made him feel that he had finally passed on from this world, and was sent an angelic escort to the afterlife. Maybe this was heaven.

By the base of the waterfall, a beautiful woman ran delicately pale fingers through her pitch dark hair. The water caressed and cradled her hips, as the sunlight bathed her back in a silvery glow. In the warmth of the sun, a mist rose around her; an ethereal halo, signalling her celestial purpose. He never thought he would deserve such a peaceful death.

Dropping his blade, he crawled towards the creature, humbled and willing. He tried to speak, to call out to her, but his voice was no longer with him. Instead, a feeble croak just reached her ears over the drum of the fall, and she turned to him sharply, exposed.

The shock in her eyes and the way she tensed at the sound made him think perhaps she was not an angel after all, but rather a naiad of myth, a rare spirit of the water appearing to him as a parting gift from this life. Her naked form shone like a star in her surroundings, and Levi suddenly wished that he were an artist; for surely if he could put paint to canvas and capture the scene before him, he would create a masterpiece... preserving this view forever. It mattered little now, he supposed, as close to death as he was.

She watched with wide eyes, arms protecting her torso as Levi’s feeble hands clutched the earth, his feeble arms inching him closer to her. His vision grew dim around her, and he watched as the frightened look on her face turned incredulous. As his body finally failed him, he heard the urgent splashing of water, and as his lids drew shut, he saw her running towards him, reaching for him...

It was dark, wherever he was. Cool like the water of the stream. He could hear his name being called faintly on a distant breeze.  He didn’t recognise the voice, but that didn’t mean much. He hadn’t heard anyone else’s voice in a long time.

Until the oasis. That strangely off-key song. It captivated him, calling him onwards like a siren.

He vaguely felt the sensation of floating. Then he felt the arms that cradled his back. The palm of a hand on the crook of his neck. He was being held. When was the last time someone held him like this?

He started to feel the warmth on his face, on his chest. Then he heard his name again, closer, yet muffled and distorted.

‘Levi. Wake up.’

He obliged the voice, focusing his energy into opening his eyes. He squinted them against the intense light that shone upon him, before a shadow blocked it from view.

It was a hand – her hand. She held it above his eyes as they adjusted to the light. He blinked as drops of water fell onto his cheek. There she was, leaning over him, protecting him from the light of the sun. Her porcelain face leaned close over his, her eyes searching his. Levi raised a hand to meet her face. She seemed uncertain, but she let him continue. He traced her cheekbones with rough, calloused fingers, and stared unseeingly.

‘Levi?’ she whispered.

He lowered his hand. This woman knew him. How? Did he know her? Yes... yes he does. But where from?

He tore his eyes from her face, looking to her short wet hair, and the scar on her cheek. He looked down to her broad, strong shoulders – to the way she wore his now wet shirt, and how the fabric clung to her every contour from her collarbone to her breasts. He looked back up into her face, and started to remember, faintly. Maybe.

‘Water...’ he croaked.

She nodded, and unwrapped her arms from around him, leaving him gently floating in the water. He heard the water swish and swirl around him as she moved, though she kept one hand steady on his bare shoulder. She took his waterskin from the bank, and he closed his eyes as he heard the water gurgling into it.

She returned quickly, cradling his head and lowering the drink to his lips. He drank heavily from it, gasping for air when she pulled it away from him.

She was silent, for a moment, studying him. ‘Where have you been?’

Levi didn’t respond. He didn’t have the energy, or the answer. He heard her sigh as he struggled to stop his eyes from closing, and felt her shifting in the water around him. Her hand came to his face, her thumb wiping away at his brow and under his eyes. He listened contently as she cupped water in her palm and trickled it over his cheeks, rubbing at his lips. Levi focused on the sensations, of her hands, of being cradled; the pressure of her arms across his back and her chest against his side. Her hands paused as his hand found her elbow.

‘... Are you real?’ he said, grasping tight. Levi’s raspy voice was foreign even to him. He opened his eyes again to see the rosy tint in her cheeks.

‘Yes,’ she whispered back, ‘Are you?’

Levi tried to find his footing in the pool, holding tighter to her arm to steady himself as she grabbed his waist. ‘You should be resting, stay still-‘

Levi struggled against the wave of vertigo, gripping her shoulders as he caught his breath.

‘You’re wounded, you need time to heal-,’ she was saying.

Levi’s hands wound themselves around her waist, clutching at her back as he pressed his ear to her chest. He heard her sharp breath rattle through her sternum, but she didn’t move. Neither of them did.

Levi listened close, counting the heartbeats and the breaths, feeling the rise and the fall of her lungs. He felt the warmth of his breath against her skin, and felt their chests pressed together, breathing together.

‘You are real...’ he murmured against her.

She let out a shaky breath, and he raised his head to hers.

‘Did you not believe me?’ she stammered.

‘No.’

He watched the way her lips parted and suddenly the urge to press his against them became too great to resist.

When you brush with death, and are granted the chance to live again, you are not one to suffer regrets, Levi learned. This woman, he knew, was one he would have regretted not kissing had he died. His second chance at life was a gift, and he would use it wisely.

So he kissed her softly, then less softly. He kissed and held her and she did the same in return. Her fingers ran across the muscles in his back, and he did the same. His hands travelled to the hem of her shirt - his shirt? Whoever’s shirt – up to the buttons and tore them open so that he could feel her heavenly figure for himself. His hands moved to her hips and his lips moved to her neck, and that enchanting hum of hers came back as a moan. He felt every inch of her, all the while struggling with his sense of reality. But the more he explored the more he appreciated the defined contours and her sharp edges, felt the strain and the pull of her muscles against his as they tangled and intertwined. They were the same, and they were real, and they were soon lost together in an oasis of bliss.

[aickerman-s]

Rivamika prompt: Mikasa asking Levi a date

Anon, I give to you 2,000 words about Mikasa asking Levi on a date.

AMan, in a Bar

Mikasasat rubbing Armin’s back as he coughed and spluttered, steadying himselfagainst the bar with tears forming in his eyes. Eren slammed down the latest ina growing line of shot glasses next to him, and raised his arms triumphantly.

‘Youokay Armin?’ Mikasa asked as gently as she could while still yelling over themusic.

‘He’sfantastic!’ Eren slurred, stumbling towards them, throwing his hands down ontoArmin’s back, ‘Aren’t you buddy?’

Armingrew visibly greener at the impact.

‘I thinkhe’s had enough for now Eren. You win.’ Mikasa mediated.

‘Yes! Ofcourse I won, I’m… amazing…’ Eren trailed off as he blinked hard. Mikasafollowed his gaze to the group in the crowd; the others, Sasha, Connie, andJean, were all dancing next to the DJ. Sasha was waving them over.

‘Eren?’

He shookhis head slightly, looking at Mikasa like she was a stranger for a moment,before his lips pulled into a huge grin. ‘Let’s go dancing!’

‘Dancing?’Mikasa laughed.

‘Yeah,all three of us! Let’s go, c’mon Armin!’ Eren tugged at Armin’s elbow until he slidoff his seat, stumbling into some sort of footing, and letting himself bedragged, unawares, to the centre of the crowd. ‘Come on Mikasa!’ Eren calledover his shoulder, already joining the thick of the crowd.

Mikasapursed her lips for a moment, before looking back to the collection of bagsaccumulated at their table. They’ve left their stuff unattended again. She gavea small sigh as she left the bar, heading towards their belongings. The lasttime they did this Connie got his wallet stolen.

Shethrew herself down into the comfiest seat, sipping her drink. Frowning, shetried to manoeuvre Eren’s jacket from under her butt. Eventually, she had tostand, stopping a moment to take the wallet out of his pocket and sliding itinto her own for safe keeping. She stretched over to dump the jacket on anotherchair across the table. When she sat herself down again, she jumped as adark-haired man leaned in beside her, his hands resting on the back of thechair adjacent to her.

‘Is thisseat taken?’ His voice was smooth like silk, deep and in no strain to be heard.

Mikasastared at him dumbly for a moment. He was handsome. His black hair, elegantlyswept back, left strands that fell and framed his piercing eyes. She couldn’tquite tell their colour in the nightclub lights, but she couldn’t stop staringat them.

She wasshaking her head before she knew it, ‘No, go ahead,’ she said unconsciously.

Mikasawatched as his hips swung round the arms of the chair, and he sat himself nextto her. The folds of his shirt stretched across his shoulders as he leanedforward to set his drink down on the table. He offered his hand to her. ‘Levi.’

‘Mikasa,’she took it, noticing how soft his grip was.

‘You uh…I hope I didn’t scare you,’ Levi said, gesturing to Mikasa’s lap. She frownedand looked down. Her drink had spilled on her skirt when she jumped.

‘Ahshit, no it’s fine,’ she fumbled nervously for a napkin. Levi offered her one.

‘Thanks,’Mikasa smiled at him, far more meekly than she intended.

‘So,Mikasa,’ she liked the way he drew out her name, ‘you’re not here alone areyou?’

‘No, I’mnot. My friends are around here somewhere.’

‘I see,’he paused for a moment, ‘you don’t mind the company, do you?’

‘No, no,’Mikasa said eagerly, ‘not at all.’

Shehesitated, desperate not to let the conversation slip. Say something, anything…

‘What isit you do, Levi?’ she tried.

‘Ah, Iwork in the military.’

Mikasa’seyebrows rose, ‘Really? My friend wants to join.’

‘Well, tellthem it’s not quite the life it seems.’

‘So, areyou here on leave?’

‘Yes, Iam,’ he stopped to take another sip of his drink, ‘What about you Mikasa? Whatis it you do?’

‘Oh, I’mstudying nearby, or well, I wasstudying nearby.’

Levi’seyebrow rose. ‘Past tense,’ he smirked, ‘Good or bad?’

Mikasareturned a smirk of her own, ‘Good. I’vejust graduated.’

He rosehis glass to her, ‘Congratulations.’

‘Thankyou,’ she smiled, lifting her glass. He took a sip, his eyes never leaving herown, as did she.

‘I comehere from time to time when I’m about, but I’ve never seen you. Is this yourfirst time here?’

‘No, Icome here sometimes.’

‘Ah, soyou like a party then? You don’t strike me as the type.’

Mikasastarted to blush, ‘Well no, not really. My friends like it here; I more justkeep an eye on them… and their stuff.’She gestured to the pile of bags next to her.

‘Wellthat’s no fun. Don’t you like todance?’

‘Yeah,’Mikasa wasn’t really sure before, but with Levi, she was.

‘Wellthen,’ he seemed to consider her for a long moment. ‘Would you like to?’

She didn’thesitate. Mikasa nodded slowly, looking him up and down as he stood. He heldout his hand as she rose to meet him. He led her to the dancefloor, snakingtheir way through to just inside the outskirts. As they walked Mikasa began towonder how she would dance with this stranger. The music was so fast, and shesuddenly couldn’t remember the last time she danced with anyone.

As if hecould read her mind, Eren climbed up to the DJ as the song began to wind down.She and Levi watched as he waved about, trying to get their attention. The DJbegan to fade out the music so they could hear him, but Eren was shoutinganyway.

‘Can youplay a slow song? My friends want to dance to a slow song!’ Eren slurredloudly. He pointed frantically behind him to Jean and Armin, who were already slowdancing without any music.

The DJmotioned for him to leave, but Eren just moved closer, as if the DJ couldn’thear him. Before he could yell any louder, the DJ shook their head, and beganto fade in something soft and slow.

Levileaned in close, smiling. Mikasa was very aware of his hand still holding hers,‘Not one of your friends is he?’

Mikasalaughed, but didn’t answer.

Sheturned towards him as he slowly moved his free hand to her waist, watching herfor any sign of protest. Seeing none, he placed her held hand up on hisshoulder as they began to find the beat. Together they swayed, Levi’s handapplying the slightest pressure on her hip in time with the music, Mikasa’sother hand trailing itself from his arm to his collarbone. They seemed to losethemselves in the music, not really caring to continue the conversation whenthey could dance.

Mikasacaught his eye, and found him staring deep into her gaze. She couldn’t quiteunderstand his expression, the mix of eagerness and hesitation. She was suddenlyaware of how close they had drifted towards each other, their chests brushingclose together. She found herself leaning in, and found him doing the same.Mikasa looked down to his soft, delicate lips-

‘Levi!’A short red-haired girl with big bright eyes bounded straight into them. ‘Levi,come quick it’s Farlan he’s-!’ She cut herself off as she examined Mikasa, andLevi’s hands around her.

‘Isabel…’Levi grumbled, a surprising air of anger in his voice. Mikasa leaned back asshe saw a sharp frown darken his eyes. They were suddenly far less inviting,and far more intimidating.

The girlaverted her wide eyes down to Levi’s shoes, stepping closer to him and speakingquietly, ‘Is now a bad time?’

Leviglanced at Mikasa out of the corner of his eye, then back at Isabel. He let outa harsh breath through his nose. ‘Fine, let’s go.’ He turned to a confused Mikasa,gently lifting his hands away from her waist, lingering as long as he could. ‘I’msorry, Mikasa, I have to go.’

‘Is everythingokay?’ Mikasa blinked a few times, bringing her hands down sharply, feelingherself come down from her high.

‘It’s…’Levi seemed to struggle with the words.

‘It’sour friend, he’s in trouble. We really need to go,’ the red-head interjected.

‘Oh,well, of course, no you should go.’

Levinodded solemnly, turning to leave.

‘Levi?’Mikasa had opened her mouth before she could think.

Heturned back to her. His frown softened, ‘Yes?’

‘Um, I…Can we do this again sometime?’ Mikasa could almost feel the sweat running downher spine.

Isabelwatched on in amazement, eyes darting from Mikasa, to Levi, and back again.Levi was silent for almost too long.

Anothersmirk spread across his lips, ‘I’d like that.’

And withthat, he turned and left, Isabel quick behind him. Mikasa watched until theywere both out of sight, and let out a tense and shaky breath.

What hadjust happened.

Not longafter, Isabel and Levi turned the corner of the street, the music of the nightclubfading quickly behind them. From the dim light at the end of the road, a figurewalked towards them. A head of messy blond hair emerged from the shadows.

‘Farlan!’Isabel called out.

‘Well?Any luck?’ the man greeted them warmly.

‘Not onmy end,’ Isabel pouted, turning her pockets inside out, ‘though Levi seemedquite lucky tonight, if you know what I mean!’ She jabbed an elbow into Levi’sside.

‘Shutup,’ he muttered.

‘You oldcharmer you,’ Farlan chuckled, ‘but seriously, any cash?’

Levisighed, pulling a thin wallet out of his back pocket, ‘As much as a student ona binge can leave behind.’

‘So,nothing, is what you’re saying,’ Isabel groaned, walking ahead of the boys.

Theyfollowed after her. ‘Pretty much,’ Levi said.

Isabellooked back over her shoulder with her eyebrow raised, ‘You’re feeling prettycalm about all this Levi. We’ve had a bad night.’

Farlannoticed Levi was still smirking, ‘Some of us more than others, it would seem.’

The nextmorning, Mikasa brought hot tea through for Eren and Armin. Both had passed outon the couch of their flat, and were now trying to untangle themselves withoutmoving too quickly.

‘Mikasa,thank you for looking after us last night,’ Armin whispered, his own voice tooloud for his ears.

‘Noproblem,’ Mikasa smiled, passing the tea into his eager hands.

‘YeahMikasa, thank you,’ Eren took a gentle sip. ‘How did you get us home lastnight?’

‘I tookthe chance that you wouldn’t throw up in a taxi.’

‘And?’

‘I lost.Driver charged us extra.’

Erengroaned into his cup, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘I’m so sorry Mikasa. Justtake the money out of my wallet.’

Mikasaraised an eyebrow, ‘Is there any cash left?’

‘Well,maybe not. Where’s my jacket? It should be in there.’

‘I’llget it.’ Mikasa patted Eren’s knee and left them to their hangovers.

Out inthe hall, she fished around in the pockets of Eren’s jacket, before rememberingwhere she put it. She went back to her room and found the skirt she was wearingthe night before. She held it by the waistband, remembering how Levi’s handsheld on to it the night before. She didn’t even realise how light it was whenshe picked it up.

Mikasafrowned as she patted down the fabric, searching but not finding. She dug herhands into both pockets and fished around, but they were empty. Well, notcompletely empty, there was something here…

From thepocket that had held Eren’s wallet, she pulled out a small bar napkin. Sheopened it up to find written on it a phone number, signed ‘Levi’.