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"Guys, you'll never guess what! Captain Levi is engaged" Eren called out with a huge grin, rushing over to where the small group sat in a patch of grass, dressed in their civilian clothes. 

Mikasa froze, her grip tightening as she let Eren thoughts hover inside her head a little longer than any rumour he's passed on over the past two years. She bit her lip, controlling her breathing down before being snapped out of it by Armin.

"Mikasa, I think you killed my apple" Armin commented with worry as he looked to the Apple she was meant to be passing over to him, it now sat squashed in her grip and a slushy mess in the grass. 

"Sorry" Mikasa quickly muttered, releasing her grip and taking the offered handkerchief by Jean to help clean her hand a little. Mikasa was now fifteen, proving her skills to all of 104th and gaining a name for herself already.

"I'll still eat it" Sasha offered from where she laid.

"We love you and all, you're our favourite pet in the group but please find a limit over your love for food is. There should be a firm line over what not to eat at a certain point" Marco spoke like a tired mother, glancing to Sasha who seemed unbothered by his words.

"Ha, your seen as a pet" Connie laughed earning a playful kick from Sasha since he laid beside her. 

"More important, Captain Levi is engaged?" Jean asked as he turned to Eren who finally reached them.

"Yeah, my mum heard about it during her shopping in the market. Also, Hannes a garrison soldier heard something similar" Eren explained as he kneeled down beside Mikasa, ready to show his letter to anyone who didn't believe him. 

"I might go wash my hand, it's getting rather sticky. Sorry Jean, I'll pass your handkerchief back after I give it a good wash as well" Mikasa spoke as she waved her hand a little, standing up and holding Jean handkerchief knowing it needed a wash as well. 

"I'll come along, I want to grab a book anyway" Armin smiled and pushed himself to stand as well. 

Mikasa and Armin nodding to the others, speaking over returning once they done and the others just waved them away before Eren went back on his excited rant over a lucky lady marrying Captain Levi himself. 

A content silence stayed between Mikasa and Armin, all the way to the girls bathroom making Armin stand outside awkwardly. He looked to the sky, listening as Mikasa washed her hands first before filling the sink a little more to wash Jean handkerchief. 

"Captain Levi, he's your special someone" Armin commented, hearing a slight splash from inside.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Mikasa scoffed back as Armin smiled.

"I saw you with him, the day we met. I noticed the SC were returning and knew you were waiting for your family. The rain had stopped and I asked my grandpa if I could go out and wish you a goodbye. I rushed over to the main street as fast as I could and I saw .. you got told some bad news by him. He had his hood up, almost like he was trying to disappear and he lifted you to his horse, pulling your hood up as well to hide your face. He was a bit younger but it was clearly Captain Levi" Armin explained his findings, he wasn't going to play the long game and he wanted Mikasa to know she had a friend to lean on.

"You're correct, that day I found out two of my family members were killed by a single titan. Levi killed the titan that took their lives, took them from us. He scooped me up, heading straight back to camp without waiting for orders because he was still breaking down. The hoods were over her heads to hide our expressions because we do feel and we lost part of our family .. we let our emotions show that day" Mikasa calmly spoke, walking out and shaking Jean handkerchief to make sure no more water dribbled from it after she tried draining it.

"Sorry" Armin whispered, lowing his head but Mikasa shook her own to tell him not to worry over it. 

"Other's can't find out I know Levi, not since he started gaining a name for himself over these past two years. If other's find out, they might try using me to get to him or only expect me to stand as a soldier because of him. Once I pass my training and join the Survey Corps, I won't have to hide anymore but until than, please keep my secret" Mikasa replied as she looked to Armin, her eyes pleading and a slight bit of pain held in them.

"I won't tell but Eren is going to be so mad once he finds out you know his hero" Armin smiled, playfully hitting Mikasa arm as they started walking once more.

"I'm not even sure if Levi would want to see me, things changed a little before I left. I made a choice, one I don't regret but I know he won't see it that way" Mikasa admitted with a frown making Armin look to her with worry.

"What was your family members names, the ones that died" Armin asked instead, trying to remind Mikasa of old nice memories.

"Furlan, he's the one I call as my brother and than their was Isabel. She acted like my big sister. You remind me of Furlan but at the same time you're both rather different. Same with Isabel, Eren reminds me of her but is complete different as well. It was a nice change, I think that's why I got along with you two so well at first. I don't see you as replacements over them, I never could. Your both my friends not my past family" Mikasa added on with a fond smile, Armin just smiling as he listened to her. 

"I never met my parents, they died when I was a child but my grandpa says I'm just like them. I've always been bullied and my only friend made was Eren. He would always come running to save me from my bullies, fighting them like the idiot he was. But he chose me as his friend compared to others, we were the strange children in class and I learnt to like it. Than we met you, you didn't judge either one of us and you made us both feel more special then we ever did before. You cheered on our different skills and our spirits, you're a good person Mikasa" Armin spoke, a small smile on his lips as he slipped his hands in his pocket and Mikasa just glanced to him before turning to the sky. 

"I want Levi to see me as me like he always have but I fear he would see me as a stranger. I asked him to wait, it wasn't a lovers promise nor a family promise, it was a selfish wish on my part. I don't understand it but hearing him become as famous as he has within two years of me leaving and now hearing he's engaged. It hurts, whatever happened to just me and him, just us" Mikasa weakly spoke, grabbing at her skirt a little and stopping in her steps making Armin come to a stop and look to her with worry. 

"Don't give up hope, we have one year left and soon you'll be able to stand with him as an equal. You can learn what rumours are true and what ones are false. Just hold out, you'll see him again soon" Armin smiled kindly, pulling Mikasa into a caring hug and feeling proud as she returned the hug showing a small amount of weakness to him. 

"I can't lose him, I won't be able to survive it" Mikasa whispered in a broken and fearful voice making Armin just hug her tighter. 

One Year Later..

She stood cold and silent as the main speech was given, the top ten standing in a single line before the rest of the 104th cadets.

It was her, Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, Eren, Jean, Connie, Sasha and Christa at the end.

104th cadets were finally full pledge soldiers and within the next week they would chose where they would serve for their rest of their lives.

Only the ten allowing to join military police if they wanted to. 

Most joining the Garrison as it was the common one chosen by soldiers. 

And the last option, the Survey Corps. You had to have some guts to join up with them willingly. 

"He's such an asshole" Mikasa growled under her breath as she stood leaning on the wall outside of the bar that mast of her classmates were still drinking away for the celebration over graduating.

She knew Levi was getting his name known to let her know he was still alive, that he was out there and still thinking of her. Giving updates over his life by letting rumours be all about him.

She wasn't happy over the marriage rumour, she was clearly going to hit him when they first meet. 

It didn't fade away over the past year, a name was even given over the women he's rumoured to marry. 

Petra.

She was as dead as Levi would be once she got her hands on him. 

Three years, she asked him to wait just THREE FUCKING YEARS and he get's himself a true love that's he willing to marry. 

Bullshit!

She had a full right to be angry at him and she wanted him to explain everything once they met again. She really hoped the first titan she met was gross enough that it would make Levi cry as she shoves him up the Titan ass. 

"Hey Mikasa! Not joining for the next round?" Armin drunkenly asked as he came wobbling outside, holding a half filled mug, beer left inside that he'll surely drink.

"I've still got this mug to drink, are you okay? You aren't normally one for alcohol since apparently it makes you dumber" Mikasa asked with a raised eyebrow, lifting her half filled mug to show she was still drinking her last one from whenever  she snuck outside.

"I'm celebrating, I passed ... I bloody passed and became a soldier. Someone was clearly drunk when letting me pass or I've just used up all my luck. I might die by a titan next week, getting drunk sounds like a great idea" Armin answered with a bright smile, lifting his mug in the air as Mikasa just nodded amused.

"As long as you're enjoying yourself" Mikasa smiled slightly and Armin gave a happy nod.

"Oh right, I know why we came outside. We um I mean me .. Do I? Anyway, Jean and Eren stripped off their tops and are having a belly dancing contest .. I think they may be more drunk than me and might pass out soon but want to watch?" Armin mumbled out, leaning side to side without any control why he spoke.

"What happens if Jean or Eren wins?" Mikasa asked with her free arm around her stomach.

"Eren will kiss Jean if he wins and Annie will kiss you if Jean wins .. no wait, that's wrong. I'm wrong! It's the end of the world" Armin started to answer before crying as he messed up his words making Mikasa walk closer.

"Come on, let's go watch two shirtless boys try and belly dance while being drunk. That will cheer you up" Mikasa smoothly talked, placing her free arm around Armin and leading him back inside, taking care he didn't fall over or got knocked by someone.

Mikasa found where most was standing around, Eren and Jean standing shirtless on a table trying to belly dance but failing. Others drunkenly cheering them up and Mikasa sat Armin down on a free seat before wondering over to Annie who got dragged along tonight just like she did.

"So, what do they get if they win?" Mikasa asked, leaning on the wall beside Annie.

"If Eren wins, apparently he get's to try and kiss me. If Jean wins, apparently he get's to try and kiss you. I love how they already got consent by us apparently, it's like their drunken minds forget we can hear them" Annie sighed as she rolled her eyes, sipping from her mug as she was thinking about sneaking outside and just leaving.

"I'm so glad Armin dragged me back inside, I would love to see you put Eren on his behind for trying to kiss you" Mikasa smirked slightly, that would be first class amusement clearly when Eren drunk while Annie only slightly tipsy but mostly sober still.

"Same goes for Jean trying to kiss you. If I'm honest, it's the only reason I haven't left. Can't miss the chance of you flipping Jean over" Annie replied with a slight smirk of her own, Mikasa sipping from her mug.

"We're the parents over 104th, I hope you know that" Mikasa sighed, she was on her fourth mug by now and was only tipsy but mostly sober unlike everyone else inside the pub.

"Not for long, we'll all be joined up to the Military police, Garrison or survey corps. No more being their parents but just ex cades together. We'll all fade away and slowly forget all these memories like everyone else before us did" Annie reminded with a shrug.

"Plus, in a year .. some of us might be dead or a limb missing. Armin and Eren still stubborn enough to join the survey corps. Don't say a word over me joining up with them because it was my single goal from the start. Plus, I hear that a couple others will be joining up as well thanks to Eren damn speeches about being trapped forever and ever unless we defeat every single Titan left" Mikasa mumbled, running a hand through her hair.

"Will you grow out your hair, you'll be finding the one your chasing after .. right? You cut your hair for them but now you'll be with them again or know of their fate at least. Will you grow it out again?" Annie asked, she barley remembers Mikasa with her long hair, a distance memory since she's kept it short for the past three years.

"I don't know, maybe?" Mikasa answered and Annie just nodded.

"They passed out, I'm heading home. Goodbye Mikasa, if you ever need a hand .. I'm offering one. We're not such a bad team when it's something important" Annie smiled slightly, placing her empty mug down and offering her hand to Mikasa since they'll both be going separate ways tomorrow.

"Same goes for you, you've gained a comrade if you ever need one. Goodbye Annie, make sure to keep that home" Mikasa replied with a small smile, shaking Annie hand before she watched the women sneak out and leave.

"Mikasa .. I feel sick!" Armin groaned sickly as he wobbled over making Mikasa chug down the rest of her beer before placing the mug down.

"Come on, let me collect Eren body than we'll head back and get you some water and sleep" Mikasa replied calmly, taking Armin hand to lead him away. Throwing Eren over her shoulder before leaving with the two for the night, nodding in farewell to any of her drunken classmates who turned to her.