So I haven't written fanfiction in about two years, but this ship finally got me out of my slump.

Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:

1. Physiological
2. Safety and Security
3. Love and Belonging
4. Esteem
5. Self-Actualization

For those who aren't familiar with it. :)

Also, this is probably going to be within the span of 10-15 years. I'm not exactly sure yet. Mikasa is aged up a little bit, and since there isn't anything concrete about Levi's age, he's in his early-ish/mid 20's at the start of the story.

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Basics

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Levi leans against the stone wall in aggravation, cursing himself at being found out by the commander of the Scouting Legion. He had been looking for an out from this dangerous lifestyle for a while now, but he expected to be handcuffed and sent off to be executed-considering the substantial bounty on his head-rather than be asked to join the military. Erwin Smith was persistent, he'll give him that, but he wasn't sure if he was prepared to sign his life away to something as sketchy and miserable as the Survey Corps.

Scowling, and not really wanting to think about Erwin's proposition, Levi tugged the hood of his cloak over his head and stalked off before someone recognized him.

He journeys back to his hideout, rain nearly soaking through his attire and hands and feet rapidly becoming numb from the chilling wind. Just as he passes a tavern, he overhears a pained whimper not too far from his position. It's a surprise that he even catches it though the pounding of the torrential downpour.

He discerns that the cry came from a covered wagon parked near the rear entrance of the inn. Upon further inspection, he recognized that the cart belonged to three scumbags that collected women and children for sex trafficking in the underground. Nausea suddenly builds up in his throat, his eyes squeezed shut in an effort to keep it down.

It was said that the only rule of the underground was to not interfere with the affairs of others. But Levi was not one to follow the rules, and he was already hellbent on saving whoever was being held in the clutches of those filthy bastards.

It's a young girl lying feebly on the floor of the wagon, bound and gagged and inky eyes filled with unshed tears. Levi feels his chest constrict when she struggles to put more space between them, fear even more evident in her eyes as she lets out an alarmed sob.

"I'm not one of them, I promise," he whispered, trying to reassure her that he wasn't a bad man-though that technically wasn't true. He had stolen, tortured and killed plenty of other bad men, but the prostitution ring was something that he would never fathom nor fail to be disturbed by.

Once he sees relief soften her features, he pulls out his knife, hastily severing the rope that fettered her wrists and ankles. As she shakily removes the filthy cloth from her mouth, Levi drapes his coat over her shoulders; his last article of clothing that stayed somewhat dry. Her legs give out once her feet hit the cobblestone, collapsing against him. Wasting no more time, Levi lifts her into his arms and leaves before the fugitives realize she's missing.

He runs. Runs and runs and runs. Refusing to let the rain hold him back. Never slowing down even if he feels like his legs are about to fail him.

Levi gets a good look at her once they're settled in his home. She's kneeling in front of the fire, eyes devoid of any emotion as she possessively clutches his coat. Her long onyx hair would have been a lovely complement to her pale skin if it wasn't littered with purple bruises. She didn't look like any of the girls around and vaguely wondered if that was the reason for her capture.

Pushing a bowl of stew in front of her, Levi made himself comfortable beside her. "Eat. There's no meat, but it still tastes okay. I'll make sure to get some tomorrow."

The girl glanced at the hot meal for nearly a minute before picking it up, tentatively bringing the spoon to her lips. "I swear it's not poisoned," he encouraged flatly, noticing that she didn't actually take a bite yet. Her cheeks turned crimson before she finally ate what was on the spoon.

"What's your name?" she asked him, voice so soft that he scarcely heard it. He swallowed his food, a bit shocked that she initiated conversation with him. "Levi. What's yours?"

"Mikasa."

"That's a pretty name," he muses, entertained at the way her cheeks remain flushed along with small smile that graces her lips. He doesn't want the smile to abandon her features, so he holds back the question of her kidnapping on the tip of his tongue. "How old are you?" he asks instead, finishing off his meal and reaching for a bottle of alcohol.

"Eleven," she murmurs, silently scrutinizing him with those ebony eyes as he indulges himself with vodka. Levi exhales as the fiery liquid trickles down his throat.

"Damn you're young."

Fixating him with a glare, Mikasa pushes her half eaten food aside. "I'm almost twelve!" Her objection only makes him chuckle. "Still very young, Mikasa." The girl merely crosses her arms and avoids his stoic gaze. Levi rolls his eyes since she's just proving his point by acting immature, proceeding to drink more of the liquor until his vision becomes slightly bleary.

Succumbing into drunkenness most definitely isn't a good idea, considering he has to take care of this little girl until he can find a home for her. But he can't bring himself to care, especially with Erwin's proposition corroding his mind.

Levi curses under his breath. Pushing the thought of Erwin and the Recon Corps away from his head, he focuses on a more important matter.

Mikasa.

What the hell was he doing? Taking this girl into his home was a poor judgement call on his part. Sure, he saved her, but what now? He wasn't capable of taking care of someone younger than him. He was a dangerous man with even more dangerous men after him. How could he do that to her?

Using every ounce of willpower he had left, he forces himself to push the drink aside and sit up.

One step at a time, he thinks, sluggishly climbing to his feet.

He notices Mikasa cleaning some dishes at the sink, which irks him for some reason. No doubt because he was a clean freak and didn't like other people cleaning his things. Clumsily making his way over to her, he grasped her wrist and forced her to stop, still mindful that they were still tender from the ropes chafing against them.

After rifling through some drawers, he hands her a clean white towel.

"Wash yourself up instead. I don't want you spreading your filth on my sheets." Mikasa obeyed him, much to his surprise, scurrying off to the washroom without a single word.

Levi awakens much too early for his liking, and soon realizes that he passed out waiting for Mikasa to finish her bath. Fear grips him for a fleeting second, hoping that she didn't leave him in the middle of the night. But he sees that she's sleeping peacefully behind him, curled up in his jacket even with the thick wool blanket draped over both of them.

xxxxx

Months pass and they quickly become accustomed to each others presence - even though they're constantly bickering and at each others throats. It all starts when Levi returns home the next day, finding his bed covered in dirt and crumbs, only becoming more irritated to learn that Mikasa had done it on purpose. Even when he was threatening to throw her out, her eyes gleamed mischievously, smirking like she didn't care.

She wasn't afraid of him. No one has been able to break his calm demeanor so fast. And it's such a stark contrast to her timidness the night before that it makes him borderline neurotic.

Another thing that secretly vexes him was her ability to hide his alcohol. When he questions her about it one evening, she only places a cup of hot green tea in front of him.

Levi never knew how much he was fond of tea until then.

Even though she's still defiant towards him, he later discovers that she's far more mature than he figured her out to be. Most likely because of what she had to suffer through before he rescued her. It was still something he hadn't come around to asking her about. She needed time, and he would ask her when the time is right.

They soon fall into a routine they're both comfortable with.

She would clean their home while he spent the day making an effort to acquire money. He barely got by when he lived by himself, and now that he had someone else to care for, he had to resort to doing manual labor for a measly amount of coin. But that alone wasn't enough and he eventually goes back to bounty hunting, much to his displeasure. All that effort he put into straying away from the underground for nothing. Not only that, but he was also putting her life in even more jeopardy than when she first came to his home.

Mikasa never questions him on how he manages to get food on the table, or when he quietly hands her the spare coin to spend on herself.

As soon as the sun set he would arrive home, scrubbing himself clean until his skin turned red before he would eat dinner. Mikasa would nearly be done preparing their food when he emerged from the bathroom, and he would seat himself at their makeshift table while he waited.

It was strange that she hadn't left him yet. She seemed to genuinely like his companionship, even if they did butt heads more often than not. But didn't she have a family to go to? Aren't they worried sick? Levi knew every happenstance in the city, and he hadn't seen nor heard about any distraught parents seeking their daughter.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but don't you have a home or a family to get back to? I don't want them to think that I kidnapped you," he inquires once she sets his meal in front of him. Mikasa goes rigid right as she pulls out her chair, black orbs becoming misty as memories of the day of her abduction clouded her mind.

She eventually sits beside him, idly stirring her soup around in her bowl. "I don't have a family anymore. The men that kidnapped me killed my mother and father. They actually weren't even supposed to kill my mom."

"Do you know why?"

"Because my mom and I were the last of the orient. They said they should have killed me instead, since I'm only half." Her voice wavered slightly, hand trembling as she picked up the spoon and sipped at her soup. Levi mirrored her movements, painful memories also making way into his mind.

Her experience was relatively identical to what had occurred to him when he was her age, but there weren't any strangers willing to take him in like she did.

"I know how you feel. Like there's nothing left to live for. But trust me, letting yourself rot away isn't going to make anything better. And it might take years, but you'll be okay, and you'll find something else to live for."

Mikasa's eyes shimmered with tears as she gazed at him. The corners of her lips eventually quirked up into a sly smile. "You better be right, or I'll have to kick your ass."

Levi chuckles, knowing full well that she wasn't joking. "I'll hold you to that, brat."

They fall into a pleasant silence, but Levi is the one to reluctantly break it.

"Mikasa," he spoke seriously, "I'm not a good person. There's criminals and government soldiers after me. It's not safe." He's not sure if he's ever been this honest with anyone before.

Squeezing his hand softly, Mikasa smiles warmly at him. "I know."

There wasn't anything he could do now. He offered her an out in a round about way, and she readily declined it. Fate brought them together and no matter how much he, or anyone, tried, they could never be parted.

She hugs him for the first time that night while he's occupying himself with the dishes. Her arms wrap around his waist from behind, embracing him tightly like she doesn't plan on letting him go any time soon. "Thank you, Levi," she murmurs against his back. Though not one for intimacy of any kind, Levi returns her hug because he figures that she definitely needs one, and because he's thankful that she accepted him for who he really is.

What he also suddenly realizes is that he has grown to actually care for the girl. That he would fight for her if the situation ever arises. And that he had finally come to a decision regarding his, now their, future.

So when he speaks to Commander Erwin a week later, it doesn't take much to remind himself why he's doing this.

For her sake.