Inside the musty barn, Mikasa rewarded herself with a needed breath. Listening to herself speak about her recent romantic adventures with Levi sounded like a work of fiction; lousy fiction at that because Mikasa couldn't—no matter how many times she restarted her sentences or how many tangents she went off on—articulate her feelings clearly.

On the inside, her feelings for Levi were complicatedly beautiful. Outwardly, those feelings manifested into unsure stutters and hand gestures that conveyed nothing more than her frustration when words failed her. Expressing herself verbally wasn't her specialty; Levi and her shared that in common, though unlike her he could at least rely on brazen assertion to get his point across.

Mikasa dared to glance at her friends, hoping they could make sense of her tangle of words. Eren and Armin were sharing a look of confusion, wordlessly pondering everything she had just told them.

"Guys?" she prompted, eager to hear their thoughts.

Armin opened his mouth, his eyes lowering. "This is sudden, Mikasa. I don't know what to say."

"What do you mean?" she asked, her heart sinking. "You always have something to say."

"Well, I have plenty of thoughts, but..."

"Bravely vocalizing yourself is your strong point, isn't it?" Normally, Armin didn't need time to dwell or be told something twice. Nothing he could say could worry Mikasa more than the silence. "Tell me. I want the truth. Don't worry about hurting my feelings if that's what's stopping you."

Armin began to pace, as if he were working out a complicated plan. In a single breath, he regurgitated everything he tried to hold back, "I don't mean to question you on a personal matter, Mikasa, so please don't take this the wrong way. I know your bond with the captain improved, I'll take that into consideration, but I can't ignore the vindictive chemistry you've once had. I'm having trouble understanding how your relationship took a romantic turn. You said so yourself that you don't remember your early history with him—yet you're going through with this engagement confidently as if you've been lovers from the start. I know you're capable of making rational decisions on your own, but I don't want you to do something you might regret later."

"Armin," Eren hissed. "You're thinking too deeply about this. Love can't be calculated and explained. It just happens, like a bolt from the blue that changes your life forever."

Armin uttered a cracked vowel before he hung his head, regretting his words. "I...suppose I might not be considering this from an emotional standpoint. I didn't mean to sound insensitive."

While Armin spoke, Mikasa had let her eyes slide over to Eren, who sat there on the wooden gate casually but not in a withdrawn way. She didn't expect such a mature comment to come from him; a guy that was seemingly clueless in regards to love.

"I'm sorry, Mikasa," Armin said sincerely. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea—I'm not against you and the captain together at all. Honestly. I'm just stunned. If I were here to witness the development at a gradual pace, maybe it wouldn't be so hard to swallow." Armin wanted to say more, but closed his eyes. "Forget I said anything."

"No, it's alright," Mikasa said at last, gripping his arm softly. She hated seeing her friend struggle to carefully tell her that she sounded like a lovesick idiot. She knew his intentions were good and he was only looking out for her. "As my friend you deserve a better explanation."

Eren was no stranger to complex emotions, perhaps that made it easier for him to understand her and fill in the blanks with his own interpretations. If sharing her feelings will help ease Armin's concerns, she could live with the embarrassment that may come with it.

Hay crackled underfoot as Mikasa made a lap around the barn, her friend's eyes following her carefully. "I don't think my affections for Levi popped up overnight. I think they were always there, buried someplace deep and built up over time. Recently, those feelings finally raised to the surface and overflowed. I wasn't aware at the time, or I was in denial—who knows. All I know is Levi's confession helped me recognize my feelings and a part of myself I never knew existed before.

"In the beginning, I saw him as a strange man that I despised, and yet I've come to admire him over time. Whenever I caught myself praising or idolizing him in the privacy of my own mind I'd always feel alarmed and I would try to push those thoughts back, just for them to return subconsciously. While I can't say for sure whether or not I had a crush on him in the traditional sense back then, I do know these feelings of mine bloom into something romantic now. As sudden as this transition might seem to everyone else, it all came natural to me—to us. You're not wrong to question our relationship, Armin. Considering how fast Levi and I are moving anyone would wonder if something built so quickly would crumble in time, but I promise you what Levi and I have is authentic and strong. There's no need to repress these feelings for a better time. Life is too short for that, and the life of a soldier is even shorter."

Mikasa sighed. "I don't know if that helped put anything in perspective. You guys know me. When I end up thinking too hard about what I have to say I end up saying nothing or my words get all jumbled."

"You should give yourself more credit, Mikasa," Eren said, giving her a fond gaze. "I understand what you're saying—and I understand how you feel. It's hard to put into words; that feeling when admiration turns into love, when you look up to someone and you think so highly of them and admire their courage. You can't help but to fall in love after a while."

All of her previous thoughts rushed from her body, leaving her with a familiar sensation: a strong sense of worry for Eren. She gave him a thousand yard stare and said, "Eren."

"What?"

"Did you hit your head? Did Hanji run weird experiments on you?" She perked up with a tremble of fury. "If she did I swear I'll—"

"No, no." He waved his open palms at her sincerely. "Nothing like that."

The sudden shift in Eren's personality was starting to worry her, and Eren must've sensed that. He tousled his hair in a bother motion, his eyes straying down to the ground to avoid Mikasa's wide eyes staring at him point blank.

"This might be a good time to tell you." He directed his attention to Armin. "What do you think?"

Armin seemed to have found mental balance within the whirlwind of confusion, and calmly said, "I don't see why not. I understand now that Mikasa's feelings for Levi are genuine. Therefore, there's no risk of anyone getting hurt now."

Mikasa tilted her head, shifting a glance between them as she stood paralyzed on the spot. "What are you two talking about? Tell me what?"

Eren tried to take a deep breath but it caught in his chest. He used the little air he gathered to say: "I'm dating Historia."

"Dating?" Mikasa nearly choked on the word as she took an unsteady step back and collided with the solid door behind her. She leaned against it, second guessing her hearing—but Eren's words were crystal clear and his cheeks were burning hot. There's no mistaking what he said.

"That's..." she paused. Shocking might not be the most gentle word to use, no matter how much it suited the situation. Mikasa didn't think Eren had any interest in love and dating. Sometimes she wondered if he ever would ever abandon his burdens and rage and settle down with someone special.

"I always thought you had no interest in that stuff."

"Yeah, neither did I until I got closer to her," Eren said. "Historia is more than just a girlfriend—she really helps keep me stable. Before we started dating I wondered if I was losing my sanity sometimes. Because of her I can keep my cool longer and found better ways to relieve my frustrations. She's amazing."

"When did this happen?" Mikasa wondered.

"Suddenly." Eren smiled. "Just like you and Levi."

Dusty shafts of light poured in from a crack in the roof and shone on Eren like a spotlight as he painted the scene for her. Mikasa remembered the day clearly; her and Levi were ordered to infiltrate the warehouse imprisoning a disguised Jean and Armin while the real Eren and Historia were kept in a safe location together.

"We had nothing to do other than nap and talk all day while everyone was out on the mission. I got to know the real her better, and I'm sure you already know the real her is nothing like the bubbly Christa we used to know. She went through so much, and I wracked my brain trying to figure out a way to cheer her up—but then I realized she didn't need fixing. She needed acceptance and love. She was broken and I was too, and somehow when we came together we felt a little whole."

Hearing Eren speak with such gentle passion made Mikasa's heart swell with warmth. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? As shocked as I am I'd always support anything that made you happy, Eren. You know that."

Eren's face lifted with regret. "I wanted to tell you right away...but Armin told me to keep it a secret."

Her eyes, flaring with hurt, shot over to the distressed blond. "How come?" The three of them never kept things from each other, not something big like this. Why was she the only one left in the dark?

"I thought you had romantic feelings for Eren," Armin admitted miserably. "I was afraid you might get heartbroken if you found out. I was only trying to look out for you and preserve your friendship with him."

"I never got that impression from you. You're too much like a mom." Eren shrugged. "But Armin's intuition is usually spot on, so I decided to wait until things calmed down to tell you. That way we'd have time to repair our friendship in case it did get damaged."

Mikasa taut lips bent into a feeble smile. "And here I was thinking you two didn't think of me as a close friend anymore."

Armin couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I know Eren and I are closer than conjoined twins at times, but you're just as stuck to us."

"He's right. We're family, and nothing will ever change that. The three of us will always be close no matter what, even if we let our little family expand by welcoming in Levi and Historia and whoever Armin falls in love with." At that, Eren's expression popped with realization. Hopping down off the gate, Eren rushed up to Armin energetically and slapped him on the back. "I guess this makes you the only single one left in this trio."

"S-So? I don't have time for that stuff anyway…" Armin stuttered, folding his arms in a bothered motion.

"Neither do Mikasa and I, but we still made time for it. There's gotta be someone you have a crush on by now."

"I don't…" Armin tried to back away with fumbling feet. Behind him, a horse whinnied and made him leap with a startled shriek.

"He definitely has a crush on someone." Mikasa declared, noticing his jittery behavior. She set a tapping finger on her lip. "Could it be Sasha?"

Armin shook his head. "The person I like has no interest in me. At all. There's a zero percent chance of him ever liking me back. Really, guys, just drop it."

"Him?" Eren said as if he struck gold, and Armin winced at his slip up. "That helps narrow it down. It's gotta be Connie then, right? Talk about opposites attract…"

Armin chuckled nervously. "No way. I'm positive this guy isn't interested in other guys, so my feelings are quite pointless and there's no reason to even discuss this."

"How many times do we have to tell you your feelings matter?" Eren raised his voice. "Come on, Armin. Mikasa and I told you all about our love lives. It's only fair if you share yours, even if it's one-sided."

Mikasa nodded. She didn't like putting her friend on the spot but she was very curious. "At least give us a hint."

Knowing how stubborn his friends could be at times, Armin sighed out further protest and admitted defeat with a curt, "Fine."

Stepping up to the pens, Armin reached out and grasped one of the horses by its bridle and urged its face in Eren and Mikasa's direction. "Here's your hint."

"Huh?" Eren cocked up a brow at the horse. "How is that a—oh my god it's Jean."

~x~

Sometime later, Eren busted inside the cabin like a bolt of lightening, smiling and trotting with a bounce as he flew across the kitchen. Mikasa and Armin arrived a few seconds later to see Historia crushed beneath Eren's affectionate huddle.

"Eren…!" Stunned, Historia lightly tried to wriggle free, her face stuck with fear as she glanced at Mikasa. Eren's tufts of hair covered over her expanding blue eye when he kissed her right then and there where everyone could see.

Red-faced and gasping, Historia pushed away and backed into the counter behind her, firmly holding the lip in case her shaky legs gave out.

"It's okay," Eren assured his girlfriend. "I told Mikasa. We don't have to keep it a secret anymore."

"Whoa." Hanji perked her head up. "Those two are dating now too?" She adopted a cautious pose, looking around at the walls suspiciously. "What's with this love shack? Am I next?"

"We've need dating a while," Eren said, proudly.

Levi, nursing his third cup of tea, perked his brows up at the news. He couldn't help but be secretly happy for those two depressing brats.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Historia looked guilty. "I thought you said Mikasa—I-I don't think it's right to hurt her feelings like this right in front of her."

Mikasa stepped forward. "I have nothing but familial love for him. You won't hear any objections from me—in fact you have my blessing."

Then, the widest smile Mikasa ever saw Historia wear spread across her face. It seemed as though Mikasa's words were an antidote to cure Historia of a heavy burden that had infected her so long. With some tears of joy and a perky gait, Historia hopped up and threw her arms around Mikasa, who stiffly caught the girl's weight.

Being with Eren must've been therapeutic for her, she thought as she returned her embrace. The real Historia always had a forlorn look in her eye and seemed so lonely even if she was in a room full of people—there was no trace of that girl now. Mikasa never knew how to relate to her horrible upbringing without love, and fearing she'd say the wrong thing, she decided to say nothing at all back then. But Eren broke that wall Historia built around herself and freed her from that loneliness. Mikasa was proud of Eren for giving his love to this young woman who desperately needed it.

"I'm so relieved, Mikasa. I know how close you and Eren are. You're such an important person in his life. That's why your approval means so much to me. For a while I was worried about how you'd react."

"You had nothing to worry about, Historia." Although Mikasa understood her concern wasn't unfounded; she could get downright scary when it came to Eren. "As long as you make Eren happy, I'm happy."

The sight of his two favorite girls showing affection at last caused Eren to overdose with joy. Slowly, he turned to Levi and spread open his arms.

Levi blinked up at him, his eyes shrinking critically. "What."

"I thought, um…" he mumbled. "Maybe we can hug too?"

Levi bitterly rose his teacup. "Get that idea out of your head this instant, you dirty bastard."

"Quit being such a grouch. Hug the boy!" Hanji pat Levi's back hard, making his tea spill over the brim of his cup and onto the table. Cursing, he stood up. When he went to fetch a rag to clean up the spill, Eren made an attempt to hug him. Cautiously, Levi paused in his tracks and trapped him in a deadlock stare.

"Eren," Levi hissed in warning.

"Captain," Eren said, smiling. "Or should I call you brother from now on?"

"You shall not, you deluded idiot."

"But we're going to be brother-in-laws!"

Unswayed by the sentiment, Levi adopted a stiff stance on the opposite side of the dining table and anxiously looked around in search of an exit. Eren slowly prowled about, and Levi inched his way in the other direction.

"Alright guys, settle down." Mikasa released Historia from her arms and eyed her rattled fiancé and the mischievous smile on Eren's lips.

A second of stillness passed, and then Eren charged for him. Levi bent into a rapid dash. Because of Eren's quick countering, Levi had nowhere to flee. So, round and round they went, their speed increasing until it was hard to tell who was chasing who.

Hanji, being the instigator she was, laughed like a jolly monarch all the while, pointing at Levi and Eren as if they were her own royal fools.

"I had a feeling something like this would happened," Armin said through a smile.

On the contrary, Levi was not prepared by any means and looked like a stressed child refusing his bedtime by running from a parent's arms. Eren was always a few seconds too late, or Levi would manage to slip out from Eren's hold as if he were a pesky bar of soap.

"Captain, listen. Stop running away from me," Eren said, persistent in both words and actions.

"Back off," he ordered, quickly weaving around a chair that he intentionally tipped down as he passed. Eren agilely hopped over the barricade.

Levi made a hard stop, his mussed bangs draping over a nasty glare. Directly across the table, Eren wordlessly consented to a mutual time-out to catch their breath.

"You stay the hell away from me," Levi spat, pointing at Eren. "This is your last warning."

"But captain," he huffed. "I just want a hug."

"A subordinate can't hug his captain. That's highly inappropriate."

Hanji raised a pointed finger. "A captain screwing his subordinate, however, is a-ok."

Smirking, Armin cornered Mikasa with his squinting eyes. "You left that part out earlier."

A bead of sweat glided down her cheek. "Nothing stays private in the Survey Corps for very long, does it?"

"You were naive if you ever thought otherwise, dear," Hanji said without a hint of shame. "Soon enough this news will spread to the other military branches, circulate within the walls and deep below the underground city. Hell, even the titan's will be shocked by this scandalous affair between captain and subordinate."

"I told you, Mikasa. Like wildfire," Levi said. "This idiot can commit arson with her big mouth alone."

Hanji took that as praise and hummed with a satisfied smirk. That only burned Levi's rage more. And as he was distracted Eren went in for the attack, grabbing Levi. By the way Levi jolted he looked as if he'd been stabbed. Quickly, he tried to wrench himself free, but it was no use.

Hanji dabbed a finger under her eyeglasses, sweeping away a tear. "Our little captain learned how to love," she sniffed. The emotions overtook her made her blind: there wasn't a shred of love left in Levi's body as he continued to wrestle against Eren's embrace. If anything, he learned how to curb his violent impulses—if Eren pulled this stunt any other time he'd end up regrowing a fresh row of teeth.

"Mikasa, tell him to back off," Levi ordered as his arms dangling limply at his side.

She hummed a razzed note. "No. Consider this Eren's revenge for going overboard at the trial."

"I'd rather him beat the shit out of me."

"This is a more satisfying alternative." Levi could take a beating just fine, but seeing him squirm like a bratty child being coddled by an overbearing mother was a form of payback she hadn't known she wanted until now.

"Do you hate me that much?" Eren mumbled.

"I don't hate you, but I am a second away from granting Hanji permission to run excruciating experiments on you."

"Even with permission I'd never hurt my dear friend Eren," Hanji said.

"You couldn't play along, could you?"

"And help you wiggle out of this amusing pickle you found yourself in? Never."

Going limp, he put his strength into his words. "Fine, then. Get off me or I'll rip your arms off."

"If you murder Eren we'll have to call off the engagement," Mikasa said dryly.

"Removing his arms won't kill him," he reminded her, his eyes begging for consent, but Mikasa just shook her head in response.

A sigh filtered through his clenched teeth. Reluctantly, Levi not only submitted to Eren's embrace but he also reciprocated the hug, much to Eren's delight.

"Eren...maybe you should let the captain go now," Historia said, and her words tethered him away from Levi at last.

"Sorry," he laughed. "I got a little carried away by the big news."

Levi brushed himself off, as if Eren's affections left a filthy stain on his clothes. "I assume he and Armin took the news about us well?"

Mikasa nodded. "I think he's more excited about us getting married than we are."

"So it's true then..." Historia wondered aloud. All eyes in the room pinned to her. She returned Levi's stare, "I...I couldn't help but overhear you before when you said you and Mikasa were engaged." Historia switched her eyes to Mikasa, and a genuine smile crept up her face. "That's great. I'm happy for you both."

"You guys should have a double wedding." Armin threw the suggestion out there for the two couples. The idea warmed Mikasa's heart, and she peered over to smile at Levi, and he smiled back.

"Maybe it'll be a triple wedding," Mikasa said, nudging Armin and indicating her head toward the living room, where Jean miraculously napped on the couch through all the commotion. Armin did his best to repress his smile.

~x~

Dinner had been a chaotic mess that night. Once everyone sat down at the crowded table to eat the feast Sasha and Jean had cooked up, a flurry of topics flew around the kitchen. Questions about the engagement and stories about the Survey Corps' journey north were popular topics, but there was also playful gabbing in between, like when Connie and Sasha cracked inappropriate jokes (which Levi found amusing) and when Jean and Eren bickered between bites until they choked themselves quiet.

Afterward, while everyone else settled their stomachs with the tea Levi brewed, Mikasa baked cookies with Historia and exchanged some shy whispers about their lovers as they kneaded out the dough. Mikasa couldn't recall the exact measurements in her mother's recipe, and she had to replace chocolate chips with raisins, but they managed to bake two scrumptious batches of cookies all the same.

Flour and sugar dusted over every surface in the kitchen now and dirty utensils and plates piled up wherever space was free. To Levi, the kitchen looked more horrifying than a field after a bloody battle. Runny egg yolk found its way on the palm of his hand when he leaned up against the counter to assess the state of the kitchen. With the way he looked at his palm with revulsion, one might of thought he considered chopping it off at the wrist.

When a few members of squad Levi tried to whistle away without contributing to the clean up, Levi knocked his fist down on the counter. "You gluttons are forbidden to leave until this pigsty is spotless."

"I'm too full to move." Sasha rubbed her rounded belly softly as if it were a babe growing inside her.

"Same," Connie burped. "I might puke if I move and that will just give you guys more to clean."

Levi smacked them both with a rag. "I suggest you get started, or I'll make sure you'll permanently lose your mobility."

Two hands cupped his stiff shoulders from behind. "Breathe," Mikasa said in an attempt to mollify her fiancé.

"How can I possibly find time to breathe when the kitchen is in shambles?"

"We'll get it cleaned up. Calm down and go have another cookie."

Some anxiety lifted from Levi as he slid his eyes over to the tray of hot cookies. Meekly, he bobbed his head and scuffled his feet across the floor. He watched the crew clean up with narrowed, meticulous eyes as he nibbled. He was impressed how Mikasa managed to bake something reminiscent to her mom's recipe while adding her own unique flair. There was a sour aftertaste, however—by no fault of Mikasa's, but because he realized there was someone else who this treat should be shared with. With much reluctance, Levi picked a cookie out of the batch, set it on a smaller plate, and left with it in hand.

Mikasa watched him leave with a knowing smile.

"Thank Sina he's gone." Sasha collapsed to the floor, holding her aching stomach.

"Move it, I'm trying to sweep here." Jean prodded her bulging side with the broom but all she did was groan.

A humming tune drifted into Mikasa's ears. Turning, she saw Eren and Historia at the sink, washing and drying the dishes as a team. Eren dabbed her nose with a finger full of foam and she giggled up at Eren's heartwarming grin. At least they were making the best out of their mandatory chores.

Mikasa broke away unnoticed then to join up with Levi in the basement. Familiar banter filled her ears as she descended down the stairs.

"You're lucky I'm even giving you desert. Actually, you're lucky I even feed you. Don't be greedy about the quantity."

"Listen runt," Kenny rasped, "I'm a big man and I require more food. A little guy like you wouldn't understand a real man's appetite."

Instead of contending, Levi turned at the sound of the creaking stairs. "Don't tell me those brats ditch their duties."

"Nah, I just felt like hanging out with you guys." Mikasa whipped around a support column and leaned her back against it. "There's a whole other batch of cookies, Kenny. I'll bring you down some more if you'd like."

"What a sweetheart," he smiled, then frowned at Levi. "She's too good for an asshole like you."

"I hope you get fat." Levi mumbled.

"Honestly, you two are worse than children." Mikasa shook her head fondly at the pair.

Kenny broke off a piece of the cookie and tossed it in his mouth. As he chewed he asked, "Are we leaving this shithole soon?"

Levi glanced down at his hands. "Yes. Tomorrow morning. What we plan to do or go after that is still a mystery."

"Do you plan to lug me along until you figure out what you're doing? I'm not the most compact cargo, you know."

"We can't let you go." Mikasa said, glumly. "We were supposed to extract information from you here. That was our mission objective and we failed."

An amused frown appeared on Kenny's lips. "Don't look at me like that. You two got distracted with each other and forgot about your own mission."

Bashfully, Mikasa and Levi lowered their heads.

Kenny washed out his mouth with a swig of moonshine. "Honestly, between us, there isn't much I can share. I'm just as much in the dark as anyone."

"Bullshit." Levi spat, seeing through his lie.

Kenny rolled his neck with a crack. "For fucks sake, we're on opposite teams. We gotta keep some secrets from each other."

"If that's how it's going to be, we can't afford to let you go. But for now, can we just…"

"Forget we're enemies?" Mikasa finished and Levi bobbed his head.

Miraculously, the Ackerman's managed to mutually agree with that. For a while longer they spent time together, swapping stories, jokes, insults—the usual. All along, a poignant feeling lingered with them because they knew this camaraderie would disappear by morning and might not ever return.

~x~

"Is the kitchen cleaned?" Levi asked as he emerged from the hall, Mikasa lagging behind to shut the basement door. Exhausted and stuffed, the Survey Corp soldiers had retired in the living room.

"Spotlessly, sir," said Armin, a trusted source. That put Levi at ease.

Fellow comrades did their best to find comfort in their new surroundings, but Mikasa and Levi were right at home as they nestled close on the couch, a quilt spread across their laps.

A wind whistled through gaps in the timber, but the crackling fireplace kept them all toasty warm. The majority of the squad were hunched together in groups of two; Eren sat on the ground with Historia's head resting upon his shoulder, Sasha and Connie were laying on their bellies on the floor, snug between two towers of pillows and a blanket awning over them. Jean, who had been in a dour mood all day, shared witty whispers and a blanket with Armin.

In front of the hearth, Hanji paced in short strides, her shadows dancing all about the room as she prattled on about intricate plans no one cared to hear at the moment. Leaned up against the mantel was Moblit, dozing off to the sound of Hanji's voice.

Drowsiness sprinkled over the room and everyone was affected by the spell, thanks to Sasha unleashing a loud contagious yawn.

"Am I boring you?" Hanji asked.

"Oh give it a rest," Levi yawned at last, "Everyone's tired."

Her jaw snapped closed tightly. She turned around to stare into the flames. "We must go over the mission details before we set out tomorrow."

"Why don't we listen to the plan before we leave, when everyone is refreshed?" Connie suggested with a yawn. Sasha praised his strike of genius.

"No, we have to go through this now because we'll be too busy packing up to hold a meeting, unless you all want to get up earlier."

"Let's vote," Mikasa suggested. "All in favor of listening to the plan now, raise your hand."

Only Hanji's hand rose until she startled Moblit awake with a kick to his leg, and he quickly mimicked Hanji's gesture cluelessly.

"Now, raise your hand if you'd rather hear the plan tomorrow."

Nearly every hand in the room rose. Those who didn't contribute was Hanji, Moblit, and Historia, who was fast asleep.

"Fine," spit flew from her mouth. "But don't complain when I wake you all up at the crack of dawn!" Hanji stomped off, and Levi noted the tension in her stride.

Historia woke briefly to release her hair tie and shake out her golden hair. Then, moaning groggily, she crawled in next to Eren on the sleeping bag he rolled out.

"Dibs on the couch," Jean said, crashing down on his belly as soon as Levi and Mikasa stood.

"I'll let you become king of this pillow fort if you give up the couch," Sasha pleaded.

"Hell no. I had a rough day. I at least deserve some comfort." He rolled over, and that was the end of negotiations.

Mikasa made for the bedroom, tugging the cuff of Levi's sleeve, but he pulled back and kept his gaze fixated on the front door.

"I'll join you in a moment. I need to check up on the horses real quick, a lot of them are cooped up in there and I wanna make sure they're alright."

"Okay, be careful."

Levi held a swinging lantern by the handle, its flame guttering behind the glass. Out on the porch, the light glowed on Hanji, who was crouched down with her hands lost in her tangled hair.

"Cooling off?"

She lifted her head up. "Trying to. Sorry for snapping back there."

"You're the commander now. Emotional outbursts are part of the job."

"Erwin always hid his stress better than me." She wrinkled her nose ruefully at the mention of him.

"Keeping that tension locked up isn't healthy. He must have good genetics, otherwise he'd be as bald and wrinkly as Dot Pixis."

Her eyes rolled under her lenses. "You know what I meant."

"I do." Levi stepped down from the porch and got Hanji to her feet with a beckoning wave. "Walk with me to the barn."

As they followed the scarcely lit path, Levi gazed up at the twinkling stars speckled throughout the dark-blue sky. Other than the rustling bushes and ululating cries from nocturnal creatures lurking nearby, only the sound of their soft footfalls crushing a thin layer of snow could be heard. Residing in the peaceful hinterlands had caused Levi to dissociate himself with all the chaos currently erupting in the cities, though the reality came rushing back to him when he glanced over at Hanji and the stress lines carved on her face.

"What has you so stressed?"

"Everything." She stomped irritably. "Erwin's a step away from hanging off a noose, humans are killing humans, a false king rules the walls and the Survey Corps are wanted. Everything is falling apart and when I try to arrange everything back in order I just end up breaking off more pieces."

"There's no way to uncrack an egg once it falls. You just gotta sop up the mess."

"If our problems manifested into an actual mess I'm sure it would be too much for even you to clean up," she sighed a cloudy breath.

"We'll figure a way out of this." Levi turned his head to the dark unknown in front of them. The life of a soldier was just one long—or short, depending on how unlucky you were—walk through the dark. "You'll figure out a way, I mean. You're the only one among us who has the brains to dig us out of this."

"Don't leave Armin out like that." In the dim light, Levi made out a stripe of a smile. "It was his idea to come here...though I can't help but feel it was a waste."

"I can argue with that."

She chuckled. "You got yourself a lovely bride out of this mission, yes. I guess it wasn't all for nothing. But that doesn't help our situation. It's unfortunate Kenny turned out to be a relative...otherwise might've been able to force information out of him other ways, like we did with Sannes."

"We can still do that."

The icy cadence in which he said that made Hanji halt her footing. Levi walked on ahead up to the barn doors, then turned to shine the light on Hanji, who stood there gaping like a stunned animal.

"We can't."

"Why not?"

Avoiding his gaze, she looked around at the blackness beyond the circle of light, hugging herself with a shiver. "I have to be honest with you, Levi. For what Kenny did to my squad I can't ever forgive him. Having said that, I can clearly see he is special to you and Mikasa."

"Apparently you can't see clearly, shitty glasses. Like hell he's special. What drew you to that conclusion?" Levi did his best to make that sound genuine.

"I know it's complicated. You don't have to feel ashamed. I'd never think any less of you for defending him. Family is family no matter how batshit crazy they are."

Hanji's teasing earlier had some truth to it: Kenny was the closest thing Levi ever had to a father figure. Parents were never perfect, especially in this day and age. Eren's dad left him with the weight of the world on his shoulders and Historia's father left her in the hands of the military and she never received a spec of love from her mother—Kenny fell somewhere on that shitty parental spectrum. He wasn't suited to be a parent, and never tried to be. He went by instinct and followed the scent of anything he desired like a mad dog, but even the wildest wolf in the pack will lick the wounds of an abandoned pup.

Levi let his gaze fall to the rusted handle of door. "Mikasa is the only family I need."

"You say that but..." Hanji slammed her back against the side of the barn and crossed her arms. "Forget it. I still stand by what I said. We'll find a pacified way to deal with him."

"Don't you get soft on me, now." He smirked, and a yank later the doors opened with a creak.

Dark shadows scattered away as Levi walked inside with the lamplight dangling high in his hand. And a few steps later the light touched upon something no eyes should ever bear witness to.

~x~

The walls of the cabin were made of thick timbers, but that didn't block the muffled noise pouring in beyond the door. There was some giggling and what sounded like an argument between Eren and Jean going on—until a throaty holler cut off the revelry. Levi's tired tone was unmistakable. Once he threatened them to settle down, it went quiet and the bedroom door cracked open. A shadowy figure slunk inside.

"How are the horses?" Mikasa wondered, feeling the mattress sink as Levi crawled in beside her.

All Levi could offer was a groan into the pillow he had fallen face-first into.

"Don't tell me you have bad news..." Her heart skipped.

"It's nothing bad," he drawled. What the light touched in that barn came rushing back to his mind, making him cringe. "I saw them...well, let's just say someone didn't secure the hatches to the stalls and our horses decided to get friendly with each other."

"You..." Mikasa snorted into her hand. "Did you walk in on them mating?"

"Yes," he admitted miserably. "I guess I can't blame them; they're war horses, bred for battle and long expeditions. They were probably bored out of their minds and needed to exert some energy."

"That's one way to do that," she laughed. "I wonder if my horse is pregnant."

"If so, I promise, my horse will take full responsibility and father the foal."

"I'm sure you're secretly thrilled at the idea of your horse becoming a father, you're so fond of him."

He shrugged indifferently. "He keeps me alive and gets me where I need to go."

"Your bond is closer than comrades. I saw you hug him once, and you let him lick your hand before."

"...And you dare call me out for having a staring problem? I think you have one too."

"Sorry, I didn't realize I was invading the intimate privacy between you and your horse."

Ripping the pillow out from under her head, Levi hopped to his knees and smothered her giggling.

Breathless, Mikasa tossed aside her pillow and pressed him back down to the mattress, then inched in close to rest her head upon his chest.

"Today went well, don't you think?"

"Yeah." His fingertips rubbed along her shoulder in delicate, circular motions. "They took the news better than expected. Well, except Jean."

"I can live with Jean being bitter for a while."

The sound of Levi's heart thumping against her ear lulled her. Just as Mikasa was about to close her eyes, her head shifted up. "This will be the last time we'll have a normal bed to sleep in for a while."

Levi groaned at the reminder. He dreaded the long, uncomfortable journey south. "I've gotten quite used to this bed, and sharing it with you."

"Me too," she smiled sadly. "If and when the name of Survey Corps is restored, the two of us could christen your bed back in the city. We'd find privacy there. Best of all I won't have to sleep in the noisy barracks anymore."

"That's the best part?" he chuckled. "Here I thought you liked sleeping with your future husband. This was all a big scheme to get into the officer suite, wasn't it?"

She slapped his mouth gently. "Oh quiet, you."

What Mikasa said did give him some needed assurance, though. So long as he could still have one-on-one time with her after their departure here, leaving didn't seem as unbearable.

With her hands pressed to each side of his pillow, Mikasa stared intently down at him. The scant moonlight shining in through the window illuminated half her face. "You know, I never got to return the favor earlier."

"For what?"

The shadows of night hid the crooked smirk tugging at her lips. She spread herself over him, grinding her hips against his groin until it woke with a twitch.

"That certainly refreshed my memory," he said with a rattling breath, his hands wandering up the slopes of her body. "What sort of compensation do you have in mind?"

"I wanted to use my mouth, like you did..."

Levi noticed the strain in her voice, like it took all her willpower to say it. He also noticed his own breath shorten at the very thought of her suggestion.

"But I should warn you, I'll probably be bad at it."

His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb rubbing along her bottom lip. "You'll do fine. You're a woman of natural talent."

She shook her head against his palm. Her natural talents resided in the battlefield, not the bedroom. "To me, killing a man is less intimidating than getting him off..."

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm about to bust out of my laces and you haven't even started yet."

Scooting further down his lap, Mikasa's fingers traced his body down to the protruding bulge between his hips. She cupped it firmly, feeling the heat rising through the fabric. She tucked a few free strands of hair behind her ears as she lowered her head. To familiarize her tongue with the taste of his skin, she licked a few spots below his bellybutton. The way his abdomen rose and fell with unsteady breaths gave away how nervous Levi was. But it was a good kind of nervous, Mikasa could tell, because she felt the same way.

When her lips met fabric she slipped her fingers into his waistband and tugged. Levi stilled, even his breathing was scarce as he listened to the rustle of fabric. To calm the nerves boiling inside him, he tried to loosen his muscles one joint at a time and relax.

His hips buckled as he felt her fingers closing around him.

Mikasa had crafted the art of surprise well, and he suspected she was using that tactic against him now. And just when he was about to start begging, he felt wetness glide up the underside of his length. He muffled out a moan with a fist pressed against his lips. He wouldn't want his squad just outside the door to hear their captain make such a weak and embarrassing sound.

"How was that?"

"You'll have to demonstrate again so I can give a full analysis on your skills," he joked.

She gave another long lick.

"One more time."

This time she pampered the tip with a few flicks of her tongue. He twitched.

"Again..."

"...again..."

"...again."

The weakening decline in his voice gave Mikasa the answer she wanted; she was doing a fine job.

~x~

"Mikasa," Levi groaned, rolling and reaching for her. Then he opened his eyes and found the space beside him empty. Mikasa must've started the day without him. In search of her, he crossed down the drafty hall and carefully leaped over Sasha and Connie, who had somehow wormed their way all the way across the floor in their sleep.

Pre-dawn light fell upon his sleeping squad. Historia and Eren cuddled close by the dwindling fire. Armin was lying alongside the couch, and so when Jean's arm fell off the side it lightly smacked him in the face. Levi jolted when Hanji broke the silence with a sleepy laugh (Moblit mumbled a stressed reply). No sign of Mikasa, though. He moved on to the kitchen.

There was no sign of her here either, only a hot kettle and traces of sugar on the counter. He examined them like important clues before making a cup of tea for himself. Framed in the window over the sink he saw the Survey Corps insignia embroidered on a green cloak wrapped over Mikasa's shoulders.

"Morning," Levi greeted, closing the door quietly behind him. The morning was brisk but the steam rising up from his cup kept him warm from the chilled gust rolling in.

"You're just in time," she smiled over her shoulder and turned back around just as the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon of trees.

Without looking away, Levi stepped in closer and wrapped an arm around Mikasa's waists, his head falling on her shoulder.

Lingering stars dusted over the tip of the sky, not yet succumbed by the rising sun. Miles of grassy snow blanketed the rural landscape, twinkling brilliantly in the golden light. Mikasa's gleaming eyes soaked up the stunning view, memorizing every detail, from the shivering pines, the wispy clouds, the gleaming frost, the fog sweeping in. The view was worthy of a frame and signature.

A wicker basket of berries sat atop the rail, and Levi plucked one out for himself and popped the treat in his mouth. Cupping a handful, Mikasa threw the berries out into the frosted grass. The chirping birds left their branches, soared into the fresh morning sky, then swooped down for a peck.

Mikasa watched the birds as Levi stepped behind her and buried his face between her shoulder blades, taking a whiff of her scent. He wanted to preserve this moment for as long as he could but he could already feel the moment slipping away when he heard his squad stirring awake inside.

Mikasa twisted in his embrace and saw that Levi's eyes were like blue chips of ice thawing in the glittering sunrise. A mixture of happy and sad tears came seeping from his eyes.

"Are you crying?" she asked.

He rubbed his face against her chest to soak up all evidence of tears, "No," he answered, the word sounded wet.

Mikasa didn't question why because her own supply of tears leaked out for the same unspoken reasons. They'll have to leave this little home they established together today and pack up their memories and peace of mind and store them safely in the back of their minds. Leaving will be hard, but they're leaving with more than they came with. And they'll always find a comforting home within each other, no matter where they are, or what difficulties they faced. Dark days may lie ahead, but they were certain peace would shed upon their lives one day, just as sure as the sun would rise.

A/N: This may seem like the end but there's actually one more chapter to come, so stay tuned!